Review #32: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Crescendo
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: October 19th, 2010
Pages: 427 (Hardcover)
Source: Bought
★★★★★

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away, and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch, or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

Expectations for Crescendo had been growing on me since I closed my Hush, Hush hardback a year ago. I am glad I was not disappointed, and that it put me in such an exciting mood while reading that I could not sleep until I was finished with it, at almost 4 in the morning.

Narrative has not changed much since the first book, and keeps light and natural, though still very descriptive – sometimes I was bored of lots of paragraphs describing places, people and actions. Being sincere? There were times I skipped a few lines of description. Yet, Becca can be fantastic as a story teller planting feelings, like fear, in me that tied me to read her book for hours.

After reading reviews and now Crescendo itself, I must agree how annoying Nora was at least during the first 180 pages. She had completely lost her own sureness and bravery, thinking like a silly, jealous and in-love person. But I am afraid of spoilering, so I am just going to say this Nora left a few pages ahead, and the old one was just back, which I appreciated. Patch is another story, not so long like Nora. He kept being the same as always: mysterious, dark and cold. And hiding lots of secrets, which I still do not get why. Ah. Have I mentioned that we get to know his real name, afterall? It sounded super weird to me, though may be simply appropriated.

Many other characters that we only knew superfically in Hush, Hush become major in this one, allowing everything to be finally revealed about Nora's dad's death and the past. Then we also have Vee, who becomes one of the best things of Crescendo – provoking great laughs – and shows her friendship with Nora as a really important aspect of it. Really, Vee is unforgettable when talking about this book. For other surprises like Scott, Rixon and Ecanus, you will have to read Crescendo to discover. They have won my heart.

Although the beginning certainly would never draw me to continue reading if the story and Nora kept annoying like that, I am also glad Becca knew what to do with the great ideas she had for this novel. Surely, the historical aspects about the fallen angels, the Nephilim and their descendents were what did not let me close this book before finishing. I was resolute to discover everything. But HOW COULD BECCA LEAVE ME IN SUCH A CLIFFHANGER? I don't get it. Please, tell me Tempest is right there with you, fully written, ready, so I can steal it. Please.

BOOK DEPOSITORY | AMAZON | CULTURA*
*Ganhe 10% de desconto ao comprar CRESCENDO através deste link.