Fallen

Fallen

by Lauren Kate

Published 1 July 2010 by Corgi

I am aware I am very late to this particular YA party. Fallen was published in 2010 and is the first in a series of four books. There was huge hype about it when it came out with Lucinda and Daniel having enough fans to topple the Edward and Bella Twilight 'ship. It was this hype however that kept me from reading Fallen and, true to its title, it had fallen from my memory and been packed away into a TBR box.

This year I decided not to go on a book buying ban (I mean...could you imagine!) but instead actually read the books I own rather than read borrowed ones (I work in a public library). It was because of this that I uncovered Fallen and gave it a go.

I am sorry to say I have not 'Fallen' in  love with the story. Or with Lucinda and Daniel. Or with any part of it other than the cover art (gorgeous). It is an easy read but I found it sooooo slow and therefore tedious. The action that did occur fell flat until about the last 100 pages during which **SPOILERS INCOMING** my favourite character died and it was all just a bit...meh.

The premise is that Lucinda and Daniel are meant to be. Over and over again. The problem is Daniel is a fallen angel which means they can't be together and when they do get together, Lucinda dies - usually when they kiss. This time is different. Lucinda killed a guy when she kissed him which got her sent to this creepy reform school which is actually a front for the angels. When she and Daniel do lock lips, she's still breathing. Cue celebrations and research but of course, not everyone is happy that Daniel and Luce are together again.

As I said, it is the first of four books and I would have passed it on to a charity shop but as I looked at the front again, discovered it had been personally dedicated and signed by Lauren herself. Awwww! I haven't met Lauren so I am guessing my cool colleagues at School's Library Service did an event with her and brought me a book back. I shall therefore be keeping the book and may even try Torment - the next in the series (after I've emptied another couple of these TBR boxes).