Review--Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

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 and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, 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 feeling that he's hiding something.

Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperatly searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.

Becca Fitzpatrick's Crescendo was pretty good. And yet I wasn't thoroughly in love with it. Why? Because now I understand all the Nora-bashing I remembered reading about when this first released. Nora wasn't a horrible character, she was just a little too annoying this time around. I read Hush, Hush back in January and already I forgot some of the details of Nora's past, about her dad and this is what Crescendo focuses on.

It was still all rather interesting. As I read, I realized the mystery behind his death. There was definitely something to learn here. Overall, it was rather good! I mean I was totally thinking one thing, but it turned out to be another. Those who read it know what I mean. I had thought there had to be a reason for why it happened, why this character did what they did. I just didn't know what. But I was off base and I actually like that sometimes! Sure, it's fun being right, but it's also fun to be taken by surprise!

Now I will only make this a short paragraph on ranting about Nora. Nora was trying to get used to her new relationship with Patch who was now her guardian angel instead of being a Fallen. But there are rules to his new status, rules that Nora doesn't comprehend. So when she's willing to be open and honest with Patch and he isn't reciprocating, she kind of freaks. There were a lot of reasons behind Patch's behavior, which I kind of inferred as I read, but Nora totally took everything at face value almost and it drove me nuts! She hates Patch, she loves him, she hates him! Urg! I felt like she wasn't taking a timeout to think the situation with her and Patch through, instead she just reacted horribly and kind of childishly. I could understand her frustration but before she decided to make rash judgments she should have did some thinking and talking to Patch!

Okay, rant done. Went a little longer than expected, so I had to cut myself off before I might have went into spoiler territory! Despite Nora's behavior the storyline was still interesting. A lot of new surprises and a few answers came out of the mess. And I am very curious to see how things will all end in Silence this fall. The pacing was pretty good, except of course when Nora started being Nora I got a little miffed which made it hard not to throw the book across the room! But since it was on my Kindle the urge wasn't as strong. A real book? It's likely that it might have ended up across the room at least once...or twice! ;)

Overall rating 3.5/5 stars--not 4 since Nora acted up a little too much, but either than that, I totally loved the book!