Torment (Fallen, #2)

by Lauren Kate

[jeannamichel]

Luce and Daniel are back. Daniel and Cam had made a truce, in Fallen, and had left her on an island, trying to figure out what their best move was next. Daniel decides to take Luce to the safest place he can think of, Shoreline, a special school in California. Luce doesn’t quite understand what Daniel means by all this. She definitely does not understand the way he is treating her, telling her to do this with no questions answered. Luce begins to doubt their relationship. Shoreline is a school to help her grow and learn about her past and Daniel’s. As much as she doesn’t comprehend a lot of things, she learns to trust her heart to tell her what to do next.

Lauren Kate was setting up their love story in Fallen, whereas in Torment, Daniel and Luce get to finally have some moments. Kate is just pure genius, taking something that was just the building blocks and adding a piece one by one. In Fallen, I had a lot of questions not answered and Kate started to answer them one at a time, in Torment. Even Luce felt that she wasn’t getting enough answers and I was content with learning what she did in the novel. This series is surely a piece of work that just keeps getting better with each new book.

With a new school, comes new characters. Enter in Shelby, the new roommate: Shelby takes time to warming up to Luce but overall Shelby has attitude that leads to some hilarious comic relief in scenes of the novel. On one of the first few days at her new school, she meets Miles, who is the cliché of a sidekick. He is the little puppy dog-friend that every heroine needs these days. As much as I thought that, Miles does have a mind of his own, surprising even me at the end with his skills.

The plot, once again because Lauren Kate never disappoints, is filled with nonstop action that always leads you thirsting for more. I never stopped learning new things, when I thought I had gotten the scoop on Daniel’s past, I am filled with even more questions than when I started this book, but Passion, the third in the series, will hold some of the answers. I loved Luce’s discovery about the Announcers. I have been wondering about them since they were introduced in Fallen and now we have a little understanding of what their purpose is there.

The ending left me wondering and certainly wanting more, as usual. For those of you who have read the book, LUCE, what is she doing? I realize that she wants to develop more and learn more about the past that she has been working on in Torment, but she could have, at least, said something to anyone before doing that. Let me just say, that was the most action-packed Thanksgiving that I have ever experienced.

Overall, this book was amazing and I really don’t have any complaints. Lauren Kate gave us a gorgeous work of art, with wonderful characters, nonstop action, and interesting enemies. Make sure to check out the next installment, Passion, if you loved this book as much as I did.