by Lauren Oliver
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 400
Genre: YA Dystopian
Source: ARC
Purchase: Amazon
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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.
Only mild series spoilers
The last book of a beloved series is always hard to review. Been thinking about this book for weeks now and I absolutely loved this series. I thought the concept of love being a disease and needing a cure was so unique and really thought provoking throughout. It not only showed the affects of possibly curing heartbreak from a boyfriend or husband but how someone would feel with love taken completely away. With the cure people no longer loved their kids, their family, their friends, even their dogs or their love of running. To not love took so much more from them than just saving them from heartbreak. It also explored that to feel something amazing means at times you have to feel something awful. Takes risks and pain for rewards. Sometimes you might want to give up and get the cure. I thought Hana's POV in this book was really important because we got to see the perspective of someone cured. How she felt numb but still thought of Lena. How she felt wrong about her match and decided to research into him and find out how truly evil he was. How she missed running but then couldn't really find the love for it anymore. But she was stuck with no real choices. The cure took away her right to choose.
Then on the other side we have Lena with the group of rebels that have the freedom of choice but it still doesn't mean they use it. They have the right to choose to do nothing. To not fight for that right. They can not live free unless they fight for it so a large part of her POV is getting plans together to fight back. Sadly not as much is resolved with Alex and Julian as I hoped. Alex is hurt and rightfully so. Lena didn't know he was still alive but I can only imagine how much it would hurt to rot away in prison thinking of your loved one to only get out and see they moved on. A bible story was used as a metaphor for sacrifice and if you should let someone you love go or stay and cause them pain. Mostly I was mad that Lena and Alex never really talked and resolved anything. She ran back to Julian which I thought wasn't fair to him. He is a good guy even if I did want Lena to dump him for Alex. I at least wanted her to be honest. I think Julian was new to love and maybe pushed her feelings away hoping she could just forget about Alex.
The ending. I definitely wanted more. Lena makes her feelings clear but we don't really know what happens. It is very open but it does end on a hopeful note. But for a series with so many huge cliffhangers I wanted more closure. It was fitting and I enjoyed the ride all the way till the end. I still think this series is amazing with beautiful writing and an excellent concept. I knew the ending before I started reading so I was a bit prepared. Here is a video of Lauren Oliver talking about how she prefers us to finish the story ourselves. http://lauren-oliver.tumblr.com/post/45265352285/i-know-the-ending-of-requiem-has-been-somewhat I'm not completely on board with that since I could finish the story myself even if everything that was open was tied up LOL but it's her book and still a great series. I cried during every one of them! I am on board with a Grace spin-off which she mentioned she might one day do but nothing is definite yet.
"For a second I think about how easy it would be to pass back to the other side, to walk straight into the laboratories and offer myself up to the surgeons.
You were right; I was wrong. Get it out.
"My former people were not totally wrong. Love is a kind of possession. It's a poison. And if Alex no longer loves me, I can't bear to think that he might love somebody else."
"We don't have enough force to threaten them. I can't convince them if they won't listen. Welcome to the free world. We give people the power to choose. They can even choose the wrong thing. Beautiful, isn't it?
"He who jumps may fall, but he may also fly. It's time to jump."
"I will make a pact with you: I will do it if you will do it, always and forever. Take down the walls."
Rating: 5/5
I definitely agree with your view that the ending was too open. I found it unsatisfying after all the waiting we had to do! And I also found that I liked Julian well enough as a character, just not as Lena's love interest.
ReplyDeleteAww, I want Lena with Alex as well! I figured ms. Oliver would have them be together in the end. I definitely expected Alex to be hurt to see Lena with Julian but I figured they'd work it out. :(
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you really loved this one. I felt so disconnected with this last book. The first two absolutely shattered me and had my emotions spilling out, this one really left me feeling indifferent. I didn't feel anything really, which is sad because that is why I loved the first two so much. They made me feel so much. Great review hon!
ReplyDeleteArg, this book. It did a number on me. I hated that it was left so open. Plus, I think not enough happened in this one...I think I was just expecting so much more. :( Bummer for me, but glad you loved it.
ReplyDeleteI need to read this series. I went from not having much interest in it when the 1st book came out, to wanting to read them super bad now.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this yet but i really do want to thank you for the review.
ReplyDeleteI have only read the first one, but I don't know how I feel about the open ending. Though if it still merited 5 stars, lots of things went right.
ReplyDeleteBrandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog
I loved the series as a whole, but I don't accept the whole "make up your own ending" concept. I want closure, even if things don't turn out the way I want.
ReplyDeleteJen @ YA Romantics
I admit the ending wasn't everything I was hoping it woudl be but I still liked it and who knows, maybe it left it open enough for something else to come along?
ReplyDeleteI did love that we got Hana's pov in this one, I liked her so much better after reading this.
Great review!
This is like the first positive review I read for this one. I am actually debating reading this series. It definitely sounds intriguing, I am worried for this book. But I love the sound of the characters, so I am excited to meet them!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed this, despite the ending let down! :D
Fabulous review, Jennifer!
~ Maida
Literary Love Affair
I agree with you quite a bit on this. I did enjoy the book when I was reading it, but when I got to the end, I just... wanted more. I dunno. I like open endings for the most part, but this one just felt lacking.
ReplyDeleteBrynna
I totally agree with you about the end. I loved this book, but it was too open ended for me. I would've liked to know what happened after the rebels came through and what happened to Julian, Alex, and Lena. I felt really bad for Julian, because he was honestly a good guy but I still wanted Alex and Lena together. Great review though, I still really enjoyed the Delirium trilogy!
ReplyDelete