Review: CRESCENDO by Becca Fitzpatrick

CRESCENDO
by Becca Fitzpatrick
Hardcover, 427 pages
Published October 19th 2010 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks

Summary:
Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but atleast she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.

Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperatly searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

Review:
Becca writes a riveting second book to her series. Usually middle books often fall a little bit short, their entire plot is to set up another book, but this one certainly holds its own.

I literally sat down to read this after slowly reading the first few chapters, and then read the bulk of it (like chapter 3 to the end) in one sitting. I just couldn't put it down.

The best part was Becca kept me guessing and second guessing myself the whole time. Too often in YA (even in YA novels I love) it is too easy to predict what is going to happen, even though I still enjoy how it plays out. But with Becca she really made me question the characters I love and the ones I don't.

I have to admit how much I love this series. It seems like with other reviewers it's a love/hate thing with the book, mainly because the main male protagonist, Patch, is a bad boy. I have to admit I love Patch, and although I spent a long time in this book being mad at him, I still liked him and had hope for him the whole time.

Lastly, one thing you MUST be aware of is the ending is a HUGE cliffhanger. Things finally start to settle down the climax is resolved and you feel a sigh of relief SO briefly you don't even have time to enjoy it before BAM!!!!!! Cliffhanger and the end. I literally screamed out loud. The thing that drove me nuts about it the most was that it left me with too many questions. Of course, that is the point. But...if that type of ending bothers you, I would suggest waiting to read this one until TEMPEST comes out in October 2011.