{Review} Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Requiem
Series: Delirium #3
Author: Lauren Oliver
Release Date: March 5, 2013
by, Harper Collin's Childrens Books
Source: bought
Pages: 391

They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.

But we are still here.

And there are more of us every day.

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor.

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.

Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.

But we have chosen a different road.

And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.

We are even free to choose the wrong thing.

Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.{Goodreads}

~Review:
  Sigh...I don't know where to begin. I guess I will start with my thoughts. That's always a good start right? I mean that is what makes up reviews...

My first thought's when starting Delirium was "Love as a disease? Really? That sounds kind of really stupid. How far can you even go with that?"

My thoughts after Delirium: "Holy flipping crap! Why the heck had I ever doubted? This is one of the best books I have ever read!!"

My thoughts after Pandemonium: "What the flipping hell!! How could Lauren Oliver do this to us!? Do I seriously have to wait a whole year to read the finale?"

My thoughts before Requiem: "It's here! It's here! It is finally here! This book is going to be the death of me! I love Julian and I hope he gets a nice little girl for himself but Alex, Alex deserves the world. It will always be Alex at the top and he better be with her at the end. Holy crap I'm opening the book! Oh my gosh! Look there is the first word!"

My thoughts on Requiem:

  Alex is in my top five favorite guys! He is sharing the second place with Puck from The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa. Now, I had my dad read this series because he is the only other person in my family who loves books as much as I. I recommend books to him and he reads the ones I most highly recommend. I got him started and currently he is on book two. My point? He asked me why I liked Alex as much as I do. My answer: I don't know. I mean really he isn't as great as some. He is missing for all (or most?? sorry no spoilers) of the second book. His appearance in the third sucks because of circumstances. I guess maybe because he was one of my first book loves. Because in Delirium he was so high on life and freedom it was contagious. He had eyes that shone, a smile that gleamed and a laugh that could brighten a room. He was kind and loving and adventurous. He loved Lena unconditionally. He showed her things she never could have known without him. He was life. He was energy. He was love.

  Lena was different from protagonists. She grew. She was weak and vulnerable and innocent and ignorant. Seeing her grow throughout each book was amazing. I loved how she was scared and weak but she turned out to be courageous because of her fear and strong because she was weak. She had to work. She had to grow. It never came easy to her. She was shown different paths. She struggled. She knew love because of Alex. I liked following her throughout the series. In this final book she was the strongest she could be. I hated that she had to share a spotlight with Hana. I liked her POVs but I would have liked more of Lena.

  There wasn't a lot of action in the book but there wasn't much during the whole series. There are bits and pieces but its more of a love story wrapped up in a pretty little dystopia bow. It didn't need action to thrill me. There was enough tension and drama coming elsewhere.

  I had high hopes for this book. It is after all one of my ultimate favorite books. In some ways it succeeded and in others it failed. I wasn't all that happy with the ending. I was disappointed. I mean I can't complain too much because in the end I was well let's just say I was happy with specific choices. I hated it took so long for Alex to open up. I hated seeing Alex the way he was portrayed in this book. It was like someone constantly punching me in the gut. Happy, high on life, loving Alex was gone leaving a mirror image in its place. One that, like a mirror, could only mimic. It wasn't real and it wasn't true. I hated a certain girl throughout the whole book. Coral. Ugh. I hated seeing the light being dim in his eyes. No smile touching his lips but to be snide and hurtful. No words sweet and loving but vicious and cruel instead. It was torture. But when he finally opened up and let his wall down it was all over. The book was at its end and it...sucked.
There was so many loose threads.

SPOILER~
* highlight the paragraph to see spoiler!*

What happened to Hana? Julian? Did they get happy endings? I mean poor Julian he deserved better than that. I am happy Alex got the girl but Julian was way to sweet of a guy to just be left. I mean I seriously thought that was messed up.

~END SPOILER

  Then there were certain deaths that were stupid. Secrets that died with the person for no one to know. The death, I feel, unjustified. It was terrible! I felt like Lauren just kind of sent everyone over the the bridge and into the water waiting to be rescued...just...floating...This big huge ending was....ended. Too fast. Too quick. Not enough answers to leave me satisfied. There was no peace. It kind of just...ended. It was good but it wasn't great. The loose ends is what turned me off the most. Then the two lovers (not saying who) didn't get a great happy ending. No big kiss. No big ending.The finale to the fireworks show was worse than the opening. It was done backwards.

  And then the mother wasn't in it like....at all. After the big cliff hanger of Pandemonium she should have been a bigger part of Requiem I thought. I think Lauren Oliver was building up to the ending so much she forgot she actually forgot it needed to end. I don't know. I don't know if she left it like that to start a spinoff. An "after its all over" beginning. The world after the rebellion. Who knows. I have a hard time believing a woman with as much talent as Lauren Oliver would end a book like that. I thought for sure I would have a settling piece after finishing it. I big breath after the storm. A feeling of contentment. I don't even to this day and I read it almost a month ago. There is just things that unnerve me. I can't fully explain it.

My thoughts after Requiem (after my befuddlement and rage: "I can't believe it's over. I will miss them all."

My thoughts on the series: "Even though it didn't end quite like I wanted it is still one of my favorite series. I will always love Alex. I will always love Alex and Lena. I will always love Julian. These characters and this story will always be in my heart and mind."

  My thoughts to you: Read this series. Don't listen to me or others about how it ended. Read the first two books because it was worth it. those two books are outstanding. They are amazing in every way. Lauren Oliver's writing is beautiful and lyrical. The first two things that come to mind when I think of her writing is birds and water....and music. Birds because they are free. They have this peace about them when you see them in flight. They are beautiful. Water because it flows. It flows so easily. It doesn't need a constant hand pushing it along it rides its own drift. It goes where it wants and where it ends up is perfect. It quenches us. It fills us. It is essential in life. Music because it is both...free and fluid. Its peace to those who seek it. It is an extension of some. It can tell a story more than other things. It lets us into different versions of people ad ourselves. Call me corny but it's all true. This series is a story of love, loss, self finding and trust. Lies, betrayal, heart-break and redemption. The third one is great. the story is awesome its just the ending that turns people off. And its really not that bad. Its worth it. Trust me.

~Rating:

4 of 5 stars!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day,

~Jaiden