Monday, April 22, 2013

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.


Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.


Pitched as The Passage meets Ender's Game, The 5th Wave is already creating a lot of hype. I am not a sucker for hype, guys, especially in a genre that has, at times, been over-saturated. I didn't read much about The 5th Wave before beginning it, and I liked it that way.


The first thing that captured me about it was Cassie's authentic teen voice. Compelling, genuine and refreshing. More so  the tone and opening chapters of the book reminded me of Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden (my fave YA series of all time, MY GOSH, I love it so). By chapter four I was seriously (suddenly) excited.


I love the feeling of realising you are reading (what is bound to be) a favourite new book. The premise sucked me in, the characters were relate-able and the plot moved along so expertly: revealing new information at crucial moments, bursts of action perfectly balanced with introspection and flashbacks and just when the book felt like it couldn't get more awesome BAM along came some swoon* (nicely done).


I charged through this book. It felt fully realised and intricately plotted. There's four POVs (although two of those are just a smidgen). What I really loved about this book (and look forward to exploring as the series continues) is all the shades of grey. Who can you really trust? Even when you decide who you are going to trust, have you made the right decision? Who is the enemy? What is the future?


I loved the creativity in this fallen earth. The waves and the terror and the survival of a remnant.      


Also: the prose. I can't quote from the e-galley but I highlighted some lush and gorgeously worded lines. It helped seal the deal the for me.


Yes, I think this deserves the hype. So many people are going to love this book. I'm excited for such a high quality YA post-apocalyptic to recommend to fans of The Hunger Games and Tomorrow When the War Began. I cannot wait for my own kids to read it, my husband and my family and friends.   


*as for the swoon, MY GOSH. It's not all mushy and dramatic. It's more achey with it's quietness and the sense of whether or not they can trust one another. Still, he's a babe and the romantic tension is just fab and I can't wait for more. 


The Fifth Wave @ goodreads


Thanks to Penguin Australia and netgalley for my review copy

16 comments:

  1. This is my next read and I can't wait to get started on this Nomes. I'm always looking for a different post-apocalyptic read and The 5th Wave exactly sounds like it will provide something unique. And the romance, oh my gosh this sounds perfect! Beautiful review Nomes! :)

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  2. WOW! Sold, Nomes! Your recs are always great and I have loved so many books I heard about through you. :0) I will definitely check this out.

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  3. Well, gosh. I'm going to have to order this one too!

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  4. Fab review Nomes! Am looking forward to this one now that it has your tick of approval xx

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  5. I'm definitely looking forward to reading this one, and even more so after your review! You make it sound amazing!

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  6. I keep hearing such good things about this book and I so want to read it now!! :)
    I'm glad it sounds more like tomorrow when the war began, because that's one heck of a good book.

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  7. YES to Tomorrow When the War Began! That was the series that got me into YA. Can't wait to read this one.

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  8. I'm so glad you think this book deserves the hype!! I see this book EVERYWHERE... I think I will be very disappointed if it's not amazing. LOL
    I am going to read this book when it comes out...
    I'm a new follower. Please follow back! Thanks ^_^

    Sapir @ Diary of a Wimpy Teen Girl

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  9. I don't like hype either, lately it means I will dislike a book but I have listened to the hype and am planning on reading this soon, even though I dislike anything to do with aliens!

    You had me at swoon, especially as it's done so well!

    And thanks for the comment, I really hesitated before posting my review of Shatter Me :)

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  10. Ahh, I loved this book! And YES, the romance was so swoon worthy! <3 So psyched for the sequel. Great review. ^^

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  11. I've been seeing this everywhere too, so many adverts and trailers and amazon emails! I'm glad you enjoyed it and I'll definitely check it out now. The swoon sounds intriguing :)

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  13. I always give in to your hype, Nomes, and it has worked out for me every single time. I'm picking this one up next. It was by luck that a review copy arrived in my mailbox the other day! Already read this review on Goodreads but I love it. And anything that reads as genuinely as Tomorrow, When the War Began (in terms of description and character voices) is something I've got to check out for myself.

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  14. I've heard so much about this book and am just DYING to tear into it when it releases. I love, in particular, that the romance is of the slow, unassuming type, filled with tension which I just LOVE. It's far more swoon-inducing than any amount of making out possibly could be. Lovely review, Nomes! :)

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  15. Hi, I just noticed this review and wondered if you would like to link it in to the current monthly collection of books that people loved on Carole's Chatter. This is the link There are already over 20 books linked in that you might be interested in. It would be great if you came on over. Cheers

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Thanks for the commenty love :)