This weekend I had a little something waiting for me: "Torment" by Lauren Kate, the sequel to "Fallen" which I quite liked. My experience is that often the sequel is better than the first - at least that's how I felt about Twilight and Hush Hush. So after reading "Fallen" I was of course really interested in getting my hands on "Torment" and so I devoted most of my Saturday to enjoying this one. So what did I find when I was done reading "Torment"?
Well actually, I found that the title was very appropriate, it was tormenting. And not really in a good way either. Let me explain. "Torment" begins where "Fallen" left off. Daniel is escorting Luce - the love of his eternal life - to a new and safer boarding school in California. And just as grim, grey and forbidding as her former school was, just as free, luxurious and posh is the new one. Here Luce is put in a class for specially advantaged kids - a phrase used to camouflage that the kids in this class all have some angel running in their blood.
Luce is fighting to adapt and to make friends with her less than friendly roommate, she is fighting to keep up in class and she is parted from Daniel. With this parting comes the opportunities to get a lot of new information about her boyfriend and also about her former lives. Wanting to know more about herself and get to know about the things that Daniel remembers and she doesn't, Luce persuades her friends to help her tackle the shadows that hold the keys to her past. This quest leads her into not so few life-threathening situations and it leads to some so relationship-threathening knowledge.
All this is quite good but something was missing. I not sure exactly what it is but there seemed to be a lack of storyline going through the book. I wanted more glimpses into the past and less boarding school. It took away from the love story - which was further diluted by the lack of Daniel in the book. And then there was the ending which was a bit of a mess really. Too much, too fast, too confusing. Too many characters and loose ends.
So all in all not a favourite with me - tormenting having to read it and not being swept away and tormenting having to wait for "Passion" (third in the series) and not knowing if the mess left behind in "Torment" will be untangled.
I think I've already mentioned that I didn't like Fallen but in a strange way I felt compelled to read this second book as I'd heard it was a much better story. After reading your review now I'm not so sure. Thanks for a very honest review.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome :-) I liked the book but it just really didn't live up to expectations...
ReplyDeleteFunny, I posted a review of Torment today as well! I was disappointed and liked Fallen much better.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a big fan of Fallen, but I'm still interested in Torment. Maybe I'll like it better than you because my expectations aren't high in the first place. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think sequels can sometimes be better than the first book, because you already understand the basics of the world in which the books are set.
Hilarious review, I love your play on the title! I liked Torment because it showed something we don't get much - the lead girl showing doubts and fighting for her independence against the lead dreamy male :) But you are right, Fallen was better for other reasons. Here's hoping the next book is the best!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments :-) I really appreciate hearing what your opinions are and I'm glad to hear that I was not the only one disappointed. That would have made me feel a bit alone :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen I read Fallen, I wanted more of the past too!! I think she should write a book of the flashbacks so we can see why they love each other so much.
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