Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

I'm so sorry for being absent. I have been sick for the past two days with terrible headaches and a runny nose and a sore throat! Yikes, it's been awful. Hopefully, I will feel better soon because with my head hurting I don't get much reading done and even if I do, I don't enjoy it as I should! :(

I had already finished this book but I hadn't gotten around to writing a review, so there you go! :)

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Genre: YA/Paranormal Mystery?

Summary: 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 Path 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 desperately searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.


Review:
I started this only days after finishing Hush, Hush. I really enjoyed Hush, Hush, even though I thought the ending was a bit anti-climactic (I think I am too ruined after reading only Forensic Fiction and Dark Urban Fantasy books for a while there lol).
So when I saw it was out at a Greek Bookstore (that must be a first, I mean wow... I was seriously impressed because in Greece we are way behind when it comes to publishing books in this genre), I had to pick it up because I didn't want to wait.
You should also know that books in Greece are usually like 30-40% more expensive though. I guess it's the shipping and I don't blame them, but that is why poor me always orders from Book Depository and Play.com, instead. Sorry Greek Bookstores, but you suck a little :P)

Anyways, back to the book. I had already read some reviews and a lot of people where angered by Nora's attitude... But let's take it from the start.

I absolutely adored the opening. What can be more spectacular than watching colorful fireworks and stuff with your boyfriend? (Ok, don't answer that I know I'm a silly romantic!). I thought it was a special way to open a book and my heart just melted. I loved how Patch was around Nora and how Nora was herself and the mutual trust they had. Of course, I knew it wasn't going to last but I didn't see that coming.
Well, that wasn't exactly the opening since we did get to see Nora's father and what more or less happened the day he was killed, but honestly I was dying to read about Nora and Patch so I hurried a little!

They were really adorable together and I just loved how protective he was of her, after she run into Marcy who once again hurt her with her words. It is on thing to have a rivalry at school due to grades and ambition and quite another to constantly put down someone and even mention their dead, no murdered, father.
So yes, Marcy not on my Christmas list of people to give gifts.
Anyways, I have to say that we get a lot of answers in this book.

We, finally, get to know exactly why Nora is in danger and why Fallen Angels use Nephilims and not humans in general for their “hosting- parasitic” needs. We get to know more about how their society on earth functions and what exactly happened to Harrison. Who killed him and why and who has been after Nora the whole time.

I have to admit that I didn't see that coming and I really liked the fact that it was unexpected.
I enjoyed the pace of the book and the wonderful descriptions only Becca Fitzpatrick can give you. We saw everything through Nora's eyes and it was so beautifully described that we felt her frustration and her anger and pain.

I was really disappointed in Patch regarding some of his actions but I also have to say that Nora wasn't entirely rational all the time, either.
She was quick to judge and jumped to conclusions and it was frustrating to see how little faith she had in Patch after only a few incidents. I am not sure if it was because she was insecure or because she can be pig-headed, but I didn't like that about her.

I didn't like Patch's disregard of her feelings either. I know there was a bigger picture and in the end he was an Angel again so he had a “Facade” to uphold so that the two of them wouldn't get separated but he could have been more subtle.

He showed remarkable affection and tolerance towards Marcy , whereas he often left Nora alone with no explanation. I know some people might say that if you love someone and trust him, you wait for him, but on the other hand, when you are in love you can be jealous and feel hurt if your lover doesn't give you the necessary attention.
And well, wasn't Patch supposed to be in love too? If he was in love then he should have shown a little trust to Nora as well, letting her know what was going on, so I think both parties were at fault here, although Patch was calmer and it showed how much it was hurting him inside.
Nora was the one who kept picking fights and again with the stalking like I mentioned in the review of “Hush, Hush”.

It was like an everyday couple fighting for the relationship and I love that dynamic in the book.
And I kinda liked Scott too. He wasn't what I initially thought and although he is not my favorite character I understood his part in the book.
Then, the unthinkable happened. I got to understand Marcy better.

We finally know why Marcy hates her and let me tell you, it wasn't what I expected. I was literally staring at the page, mouth agape. It was astonishing! I mean wow!!!
At first I thought it was that childish thing Marcy said at the bar, that Nora stole her 5-th Grade boyfriend (well kissed him was more like it), but that WAS NOT IT!!!

You have to read the book, but it is worth it!!

Memorable Scene/Description:

“Are you insane?” I told Patch, blood rising in my cheeks.
Patch sliced his eyes toward me. “You don’t want to be here.
Not with him.”
“You don’t get to make that call!”
Scott brushed past me. “Let me take care of him.”
He made it another two feet before Patch shoved his fist into
Scott’s jaw with a sickening crunch.
“What are you doing?” I yelled at Patch. “Did you break his
jaw?”
“Unnuh!” Scott moaned, clutching the lower half of his face.
“I didn’t break his jaw, but if he lays a hand on you, it will be
the first of many things to break,” Patch said.
“Out!” I ordered Patch, thrusting a finger at the door.
“I’m going to kill you,” Scott growled at Patch, opening and
closing his jaw, making sure it still worked.
But instead of taking the cue to leave, Patch crossed to Scott
in three steps. He flung him around to face the wall. Scott tried
to get his bearings, but Patch slammed him against the wall
again, disorienting him further. “Touch her,” he said in Scott’s
ear, his voice low and threatening, “and it’ll be the biggest
regret of your life.”
Before leaving, Patch flicked his eyes once in my direction.
“He’s not worth it.” He paused. “And neither am I.”
I opened my mouth but didn’t have an argument. I wasn’t here
because I wanted to be. I was here to shove it in Patch’s face. I
knew it, and he knew it.

Verdict: Awesome. I loved the book. even though I wish we could have gotten a few more sweet moments between Patch and Nora. The love between them shone through, though, so I'm still satisfied! :) And there were bombshells of revelations which render this book stunning.

Rating: I think what is fitting is 4 ½ stars. I have to subtract half a star because I thought some scenes were not consistent with what I think Patch should have done or would have done when faced with Nora's words and actions. This whole thing could have been settled a lot sooner if he wasn't so secretive and stubborn.

~Kelly~