This is a spoiler free review!
The 5th Wave
Written by Rick Yancy
Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction/Dystopian
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 7, 2016
Pages: 457
Source: Library
Places to Get this Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository
Recommended Age: 13 and up!
Summary:
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother-or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.
Review:
I read this book pretty quickly because I wanted to see the movie adaptation of it. And I was surprised at how much I actually enjoyed it. It was such an action packed dystopian book that it was hard to put it down.
COVER
I actually think the cover is really intriguing. It makes you want to know what the book is about because of what is on the cover. I feel like it is a cover that would make you pull the book off the shelf.
WORLD-BUILDING
This is set on earth and there isn't much world-building because of that respect. But we do get to know a lot of new places such as the “safe heaven” for the people after the aliens attack. Any world building we got, was really interesting.
Then there are the characters.
CASSIE
We first meet Cassie when she is in the forest. Then we have flashbacks to what her life was like before and during the alien attacks. Cassie was by far my favorite character in this book. She had so many strengths and she knew exactly what she wanted and what was important to her. She is. determined to find her little brother who had been taken to a “safe haven”. She is a great fighter and very strong willed and strong minded. She doesn't let what others say and do get in her way. She also has a strong relationship with her little brother which I liked.
EVAN
Evan…he's a total mystery. You aren't sure which side he's on at all and he's always making decisions that are super fast and quick and don't always make sense. He jumps head first into danger for Cassie though he hasn't known her for long. But he does have some redeeming qualities such as he's loyal and kind. He treats Cassie after she's hurt as well.
I confess, I still don't know what to make of him. I'm not sure whether I like him or am for his and Cassie’s relationship. I don't hate him but I am still slightly confused as to whether I tolerate him or love him.
BEN (ZOMBIE)
Ben. I loved him so so much. He does seem rather cold and calculating at times which was weird but I liked him more than Evan. You knew he would do the right thing and protect those he cared about. He developed such a good relationship with Cassie’s brother that I was shipping him and Cassie so so much.
RINGER
Ringer was cold and didn't seem to have many redeeming qualities. She tended to do her own thing and not listen to Ben. But then later she got a little better and I tolerated her. She's still not my favorite character at all but she's not as bad as she first seems.
SAM
Sam. I love him. He's Cassie’s little brother and just the cutest. When he's basically taken to a military camp to fight, he doesn't complain. He goes with it. He develops a strong friendship with Ben and I think he really admires him for his strength of character. Also Sam was called Nugget at the camp and it's so adorable.
PLOT
I can't believe on most reviews, I forget to talk about the plot. Well the plot was fantastic. It had so much action and adventure. I must admit that the point of view changes confused me at times but it gave us different character's thoughts on what was happening which really helped me see everything clearly. The book starts off in the action and then does flashbacks so we can see what happened before. The plot was very unique and exciting which I loved.
ROMANCE
I must admit, I didn't think the romance would be this insta-lovey but books have a way of surprising you. To be honest, I didn't really like the romance. It happened way too fast and I don't think anyone could feel the way the characters thought they did, in that short amount of time. I like romance they develops slowly over time and gives us readers something to look forward to. Evan and Cassie didn't do that. Only a week or so after they had met bs passed and Evan was already kissing her. Ben and Cassie would probably work better because it would be slow-burning.
WRITING
I liked the writing which helped me fly through this book. It helped the story be fast paced and action packed.
Final Thoughts:
I highly recommend this book, it has aspects of sci-go, action and dystopian. The characters are three dimensional and the plot is amazing. I would be down for a re-read anytime
Quotes from the Book:
“Some things you can never leave behind. They don't belong to the past. They belong to you.”
“We’re here, and then we’re gone, and it’s not about the time we’re here, but what we do with the time.”
“Cruelty isn't a personality trait. Cruelty is a habit.”
“You can only call someone crazy if there’s someone else who’s normal. Like good and evil. If everything was good, then nothing would be good.”
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Crowns
