Review: Fallen

Fallen by Lauren Kate

Pages: 452, paperback

ISBN: 9780385618021

Publisher: Doubleday

Date Released: December 17th, 2009

Genre: YA / paranormal / romance / angels

Source: library

Premise:

Seventeen-Year-Old Luce is a new student at Sword & Cross, an unwelcoming boarding/reform school in Savannah, Georgia. Luce’s boyfriend died under suspicious circumstances, and now she carries the guilt over his death with her as she navigates the unfriendly halls at Sword & Cross, where every student seems to have an unpleasant—even evil—history.

It’s only when she sees Daniel, a gorgeous fellow student, that Luce feels there’s a reason to be here—though she doesn’t know what it is. And Daniel’s frosty cold demeanor toward her? It’s really a protective device that he’s used again . . . and again. For Daniel is a fallen angel, doomed to fall in love with the same girl every 17 years . . . and watch her die. And Luce is a fellow immortal, cursed to be reincarnated again and again as a mortal girl who has no idea of who she really is. (Taken from Goodreads)

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I have to begin this review by stating that I did not enjoy this book at all. It struck me as a generic copy of Twilight, or Hush, Hush, as the craze seems to be lately.

The writing was plain, and it had no redeeming qualities to speak of. I thought that the point of view didn't seem right. As much as I hate to say this, I think first person would have worked better. I mean, I'd hate to be any closer to Luce than I already was, but the third person just felt awkward as I tried to trudge on. The use of third person lost any potential voice that would have otherwise been given to us.
Also, the phrase "Oh my God" is often used. Now, in third person, that just sounds sloppy and trashy. Like I said, better off suited for first person.

The chapter titles are easily forgettable, and often didn't seem to hold any relevance to the chapters themselves. After a while, I ended up ignoring them completely, because they were just a distraction.

Now, onto problems with the story:
The setting was odd; it was set in a sort of school-slash-detention center for troubled teens. The students are forced to wear black--what the heck is wrong with Ms. Kate? Sure, make the students who have mental problems or aggression issues wear black, and force them to take random pills for the sake of it.
Now, I'm very knowledgeable in the ways of therapy, pills and the treatment of people under extreme stress, but Lauren Kate doesn't even seem to have the basics. When it comes to pills, there's a lot of trial and error in trying to find the right kind, but Luce seems to just have been given some random pills from some seedy guy in a back alley way (well, not quite, but she might as well have), not a real doctor who actually knows what he's doing.
In fact, everything that goes on in this place--this asylum, just about--is insane. I literally just can't understand the stupidity of it all.

So, after Luce moves to this new school/asylum, she sees this uber hawt guy. Who gives her the finger when he sees her, clearly indicating that he's not interested. This guy is Daniel, the man who will steal her heart. So, instead of ignoring him, or hating him for being a dick to her without even getting to know her, she goes through his school files to search for information on him, searches his family history on the internet, and actively stalks him until he finally caves in from her pressure. No joke! Fallen is essentially telling girls that it's okay to stalk the love of your life--even though he doesn't know it--in order to gain his affections.

The story itself was hardly anything original. It was a dark, wannabe-goth version of Twilight with angels, and the main character is the creepy stalker instead of the love interest. Although, the love interest hardly makes things right.

The whole concept of Daniel and Luce's reincarnation, and how they're supposed to be together for eternity just bothers me. It takes away all the choice in relationship. Luce and Daniel hardly have any choice in anything pertaining to them. They might think it, because they do get together but even in the second book--and if you haven't read it yet, then SPOILER ALERT--Luce finally figures out that she has a choice, but it's far too late for that. That time and time again they've been together through time, unable to be with anyone else. There's just something wrong with the idea that they're forever stuck with each other. At least, that's just the way I see it.

The story picked up in the last fifty pages or so, but by then, I just wanted it to all end. I was sick to death of everything that was happening.
When Miss Sophia, the apparent bad guy, tries to kill Luce and tells her how much of an idiot Luce is, I found myself nodding along, agreeing with everything the old woman was saying. Which is not a good sign, just sayin'.

So, would I recommended this book? Sure, if you want to read a long and tiring book about a girl who is TSTL. Not gonna lie, though, it was all of the above that made the book hilarious to read.

I suppose this just wasn't for me. This is clearly not a book you should read if you analyse everything you touch, but I could totally see it becoming a big hit with the younger, Twilight influenced crowd.

Cover Art: 3
Plot: 2
Characters: 2
Writing: 2
Level of Interest: 2

Total: 2/5 stars