"Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen--and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life."
Originality (5/5): In the mass production of girl-meets-boy-who-turns-out-to-be-a-supernatural-being books, this one definitely stands out. And it's not just because the supernatural being happens to be a fallen angel (which is pretty cool). The angel mythology that makes up the subplot of this book is extremely unique; I actually wished it was more prevalent throughout the book, instead of only fully appearing towards the end.
Plot (5/5): The book has a great pace. Sometimes it may seem to be a bit on the slow side, but those are the instances that you really need to pay attention--it's all in the details. The action sequences are riveting. I was trying to switch off between reading one chapter and doing one math problem...yeah, that didn't work out so well. I ended up not finishing my math homework because I just had to keep reading. The plot twists were great, too!
Characters (5/5): Let's start with the anti-hero of the novel, Patch Cipriano. Cynical, darkly handsome, and eternally confident, this sexy fallen angel will definitely have you swooning quite a few times. At first, Patch comes across as a pretty big jerk (I didn't really care for him too much back then! Oh, how things change...). His laissez-faire attitude towards everything--especially Nora--was just plain irritating. BUT! As the novel moves forward, you see exactly why acts that way. You learn about his past--the trials and tribulations that forces him to have such a hard, cruel exterior. By the end of the book, you will definitely want to order a bumper sticker that says "I <3>
Now, on to Nora. Like I keep saying in earlier postings, I feel that this year's cropping of books has been very redeeming for the paranormal romance genre. Books like Shiver, Fire, and now Hush, Hush have given rise to some awesome book heroines that help me get over my biased hatred of them (thanks to that inane Bella Swan...). Nora is no exception. She has all the inner strength that Fire's monster heroine had and mixed with the unfailing independence that Shiver's Grace displayed, Nora is one of my favorite heroines. Ever. Her character also appealing to me because she reminds me of myself. She's a serious student and far more mature than most girls her age. Admittedly she did irk me by her stubborn "I-refuse-to-fall-for-him" attitude towards Patch...but at least she made him work for it!
Nora's best friend's name is Vee Sky (which I will never understand. I understand that it's quirky and all, but really?) and she is the polar opposite of Nora. And not just physically. She's loud, assertive, immature, and extremely boy-crazy. I don't know if this was Becca Fitzpatrick's' intention, but I don't think Vee was meant to be a very likable character in this book. She constantly gets herself into situations that Nora has to risk her own safety to save her from. She's a bit selfish--but aren't all teenagers? Once again, the friendship between Nora and Vee reminded me of my friendship with my best friend, Sarah. I'm the more bookish, quiet, "mature" one, whereas she is louder, more attention-seeking, and slightly immature in her outlook on life. I think the latter qualities describe Vee's character perfectly. You don't hate her or anything, but you definitely sympathize with Nora for having to deal with constantly having to save her butt on a daily basis. She does have some great lines in the book, though, that will definitely put a smile on her face.
The other two main characters were Elliot Saunders and Jules. So I don't reveal too much, let's just say that there is more to those two than meets the eye...you'll see!
Romance (5/5): So hot. When Patch and Nora are in the same room, the air practically crackles with unresolved sexual tension. Lets' just say there are quite a few scenes in there that will get your heart beating fast and have you wishing that you had your very own Patch...
Nora also has some great chemistry with other characters in the novel. Once again, I can't give away too much, so I can't really go in-depth with this. But let's just say, it's great!
Writing (4/5): It wasn't particularly beautiful in any way, but it was good. I wished she would have written more description--I would have appreciated knowing a little bit more about the emotions of the characters in the book other than Nora (even though I know it's narrated sfrom her perspective).
Cover (5/5): Ohmygod. LOVE THIS COVER!! The model's pose is so hot/perfect for the book. Plus, that's exactly what I pictured Patch to look like! The contrasting red and black feathers are a perfect touch as well.
Overall (29/30): 96.7%!
Favorite Quote: "Right then, I wanted to go back in time and relive every moment with him. One more secret smile, one more shared laugh. One more electric kiss. Finding him was like finding someone I didn't know I was searching for. He'd come into my life too late, and now was leaving too soon." (pg. 378)
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