Thursday 11 November 2010

Torment by Lauren Kate


September 2010, Doubleday Children's books 
464 pages, Paperback
Review copy 

Young Adult

Angels! Angels at war, some moderate violence, moderate teen relationships, teen angst, lots of tension, some humour, tissues needed. 

In Torment fallen angel Daniel and his mortal love Lucinda think they are safe but evil forces are massing against them. As Luce learns more about her past, and discovers that the lives she’s already lived hold the key to her future happiness; she starts to wonder if Daniel has told her the whole truth. What if his version of events isn’t the way things happened? What if that means that she’s really meant to be with someone else?

Nayuleska's thoughts
Events in Torment feel natural. When she has time to think about everything, she wonders why Daniel made the choices she did. There's no doubt that he is hiding a lot from her. She is desperate to find out why, and I don't blame. If it is information about her, she has a right to know. She finds ways of getting that information, and it isn't what she expected. The knowledge complicates her life, filling her mind with a lot of uncertainty. She isn't perfect in this book, and makes mistakes (the hair issue was really the least of her worries. However, it signifies the turmoil that she's suffering). It felt realistic that she questions the reasons behind her many lives. I hope Passion reveals exactly why this is going on, why the cycle hasn't broken until now. 

I loved how the angels from both sides live and learn side by side - it demonstrates peace between conflicting nations is possible. Final ideals may differ, but some information crosses all borders. I was thrilled to learn more about shadows - or Announcers, as they are called. They had caught my interest in Fallen, and I think I know almost everything about them. Luce is a favourite character of mine, but equally I loved Callie for her bubbly friendship, all the angels (whatever side they are on). I was cheering for those who, in a black and white world, would be on the evil side. But, just like our world, there is a lot of grey. 

Final conclusion 
Luce - figuratively - spreads her own wings, leaving all her friends far below as she carves her own timeline. At the moment I don't know if Passion will have a HEA ending - Lucy is definitely in a crossroads of life. Whatever happens, I'm sure the cover will be as fab as this one!) 

Make sure you check out Torment, and Lauren Kate on her website

2 comments:

Krispy said...

I'm starting this one now. Excited to learn more angel-lore!

Nayuleska said...

Looking forward to finding out what you think about it!