Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

From the Back Cover:

Nora Grey should have known her life was far from perfect. Even though her boyfriend, Patch, also happens to be her guardian angel, things are not looking up. First there is summer school and facing the nightmare of her enemy Marcie Millar as her lab partner. Then Patch starts to pull away with no explanation. And finally, she is having nightmares and visions about her father's murder.

As Nora chooses to ignore her better instincts and delves deeper into the mystery of her father's death, she also begins to question whether her Nephilim bloodline had something to do with it, which casts more doubt on her relationship (or lack thereof) with Patch. Does he know more than he lets on? Why does he always seem to be standing in front of the answers she is looking for? And if he really is her guardian angel, why is her life always in danger?

I received this ARC, which is the sequel to the very popular Hush, Hush, before I'd even read the first book so I borrowed a copy of Hush, Hush to read first. (By the way, if you have not already done so you should definitely read Hush, Hush first as Crescendo jumps right in and does not waste time rehashing the backstory.) I had a couple of issues with Hush, Hush. I liked the story. I really liked Nora, and I was really drawn to Patch just like she was. But I was thrown a little bit and disappointed when his motivations were revealed and I also thought the big ending was kind of abrupt and out there. So I wasn't sure what to expect of Crescendo, but from the moment I picked it up I could not put it down.

Crescendo really takes this series to the next level. It's got a smart, well-planned plot and it's full of so much angst and emotion as Nora begins to doubt Patch and their relationship unravels. There's some great character development here, too. Nora is not a butt-kicking warrior, but she is smart and passionate and tenacious, and now she's got to prove she can take care of herself. And I felt like I finally got a grasp on the real Patch and his feelings for Nora and the big sacrifices he's made to be with her. When I went back and reread Patch's role in both books, I realized I'd misunderstood him a bit and I came away with a lot more respect for him by the end of Crescendo, and I appreciated Hush, Hush more, too.

A couple of big secrets are revealed at the end of Crescendo that are really going to propel the story forward into the final book, Tempest. I finished the last scene and thought, Man, I totally didn't see that coming! and Oh My God how long do I have to wait for the next book?? It should be explosive, to say the least. I am really looking forward to it and I hope it doesn't disappoint! Patch and Nora are a couple of characters that stand out among the deluge of paranormal young adult books. Their love story has become one of my favorites and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a kick-ass finish in Silence!

Rating:  4.5 Stars out of 5

*Please note: This review references an advance copy received from the publisher, and therefore the final published copy may differ. Though I received this book from the publisher, these are my honest and unbiased thoughts, and I was not compensated in any other way for reviewing this book.