I was almost afraid to read this book because I loved Fallen, Lauren Kate's first novel. There was no way she could top it. I was mistaken. If Fallen was great, then Torment was ten times that! Luce is much more grown up and starting to question why? She's pouty in the beginning but begins to grow up as she is sequestered in another school once again for her protection. The prologue is a must. Don't ever skip a prologue in a book. It often has more information than the whole book itself and this one tells you so much. If you don't read it, you won't understand what's going on, a little like Luce most of the time. After the prologue, the novel begins with Luce on a plane suspicious of the man sitting beside her. She can't wait to see Daniel and she seems to be young, innocent, and in love. When she gets off the plane, of course, Daniel is there and she feels like she is home in his arms.
They drive off in a car that was hers once in another life time, an Alpha Romero. But Luce soon starts to pout when she learns she won't be able to see Daniel while she's at the new school. In fact, she wastes several hours of their drive, not talking at all because she's angry at him. Finally they talk a little and he flies her in his arms the rest of the way to the school. It's for Nephilim kids, one parent human, one parent angel. Most of the Nephilim kids have special powers, some more interesting than others. And in Nephilim classes, Luce learns for the first time about the shadows that she's run from all her life. They can show her glimpses into her past if she can learn how to use them.
Though he's supposed to stay away from her, Daniel visits Luce, he's unable to stay away from her. But they seem to end up in fights every time as Luce questions him more and more and begins to stop taking things at face value. Like how many parents and families had to face her death and suffer the grief of her loss because of Daniel. Could he have just stayed away from her and let her lead a Daniel free life? And she's being hunted by something that keeps mistaking another student for her. Two attacks are made on the student until she finally leaves school. The only thing that saves Luce is her impulsive decision to bleach her dark hair blond.
And then there is Miles, a boy Luce could have feelings for if it weren't for her eternal love for Daniel. She gets flustered around him and finds so many great things about him. She compares him to Daniel and finds that he's more open, easy to get along with, friendly, trustworthy, etc... but he isn't Daniel and she's supposed to love Daniel. I was a little confused about why any boy would go after Luce when they knew the Daniel and Luce story. Apparently its a bed time story for any kid that knows an angel. So if you know they are fated to be together, then why try to win Luce's heart. It would just end in heart break, right? And the same for Daniel. Why bother when he waits for her lifetime after lifetime? Must be something we don't know. Maybe Luce actually has a choice in this after all. I don't know.
The end is another battle scene but it's Cam and Daniel and their group fighting against a new opponent at Luce's. Actually in the backyard at Thanksgiving. Everyone invited themselves and angels, demons and Nephilim and humans sat down together. The end is inevitable for Luce. She's been controlled by Daniel and kept in the dark by everyone and she's tired of it. She makes a choice and goes with it. And just as inevitably, Daniel makes his choice as he always will, to be with her.
Don't read the Amazon website for Torment with the questions and answers with Lauren Kate because it has what I consider spoilers for Torment. Ahh, now I've tempted you. Just don't read it. After you finish and catch your breath, read the interview with Lauren Kate. Sounds like the next book will top this one. I absolutely don't know how she wove such a tangled story together and I have no idea how she'll weave the next one together but I have complete faith in her storytelling abilities.
I know people write about character development and plot lines etc, but I just choose to read a book for pleasure. This book gave me pleasure to read it. It's all I ask of a book. Take me away from the swirl in my mind, the troubles in my life and put me in your world. And I totally was there every step of the way from Daniel's hug to flying in his arms to the battle at the end, I felt every emotion and saw everything through every one's eyes. That's a great book to me!
Heather
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Torment: A Fallen Novel, Book 2
4.5 | 3,740 ratings
Price: 15.75
Last update: 02-16-2025
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Goose GirlEven better than Fallen
Michelle Lynn