Review: Crescendo, by Becca Fitzpatrick.

Crescendo, by Becca Fitzpatrick
Published: October 19th, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages: 432
Source: ARC, courtesy of Barnes and Noble
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5

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?

Crescendo was quite an emotional roller coaster. It was vastly different from Hush, Hush, in the sense that it was more about Nora and her heritage, than her relationship with Patch.

I enjoyed reading about Nora's family, and the rolls everyone in the story played.  There were a few surprises involved, and while some of the story proved to be predictable, there were definitely things I did not see coming.  I like a book that can keep me guessing.

The one thing I didn't like, was the way Nora and Patch handled their relationship. Both of them had me so infuriated, I wasn't even sure how to absorb it. I don't want to say much because I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but let's just say they both had their issues.

Did this stop me from reading? Absolutely. Not. I still very much enjoyed the story. There is action in every chapter. Doors are being closed, while two more seem to open.

I still wasn't much of a fan of Vee. There were a few chapters where she redeemed herself, but then she'd do something that made her look so, so gullible. That girl will believe anything out of a guy's mouth, I tell ya. As long as it isn't Patch.

The ending wasn't necessarily a huge surprise, but it definitely opened us up to a world of possibilities. And boy oh boy what a cliffhanger! I can honestly say I have absolutely no idea where Fitzpatrick could possibly be taking this story, because there seem to be so many options. I cannot wait to find out!!

Cover:

5/5

Plot:

4/5

Pace:

5/5

Characters:

4/5

Ending:

4/5

Writing Style:

5/5