Book Review: Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick

Title: Crescendo (Hush, Hush #2)

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Release Date: October 19th 2010

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Pages: 427 (hardcover)

Goodreads 

Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it. A mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever (if that's possible) and what's worse, he seems to be spending time with Nora's archenemy, Marcie Millar. 

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Patch hadn't been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude, Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feelings that he is hiding something. 

If that weren't enough, Nora is haunted by images of her murdered father, and comes to question whether her Nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death. Desperate to figure out what happened, she puts herself in increasingly dangerous situations to get the answer. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

I bought Crescendo the same time I got Hush, Hush (last year), so immediately after falling in love with the first book, I devoured this one... and fell deeper in love!

Crescendo started out with a glimpse of Nora and Patch's happy months together after the events in Hush, Hush, then the problems trickled in again, but this time, it was in the form of archangels and Nora's bloodline. The plot thickened with shocking truths and new characters, and I just kept turning the page - I still did even during re-reads, and I just finished my third for this year. 

In this book, Nora learned that being with Patch wasn't going to be easy, and I loved that fact because it is not supposed to be easy. He's an angel, she's a human, and the hardest kind of love is probably the one between two different kinds of DNA. 

I understood Nora's mistrust towards Patch when he wouldn't tell her about his business with Marcie, but not how she thought he was faking his feelings for her. If he was, she wouldn't be alive! That part just irritated me, but what's worse was how, for the most part, Crescendo was Nora's rollercoaster ride of conflicting emotions. She did stupid things and made questionable decisions, but in the end, she came out a better and more mature person.

Although I don't think Crescendo suffered the "second book syndrome", it was a letdown compared to Hush, Hush. The pace was okay, and it didn't have enough action for me. But when it comes to the amount of laughable moments, this book kicked its predecessor's butt. And did I mention the killer ending? Wow! Becca Fitzpatrick sure loves to torture her characters and readers.

MY FAVORITE PART was Nora sneaking in to Marcie's bedroom, especially the way she got out of there. Swoon.

RATING: 4/5

(photo and summary from Goodreads)