A few days after
finishing one of the most fascinating trilogys, I have to sit down and tell you
about a breathtaking story. For the second time I have fallen in love with a
character without noticing it at first. When all of the sudden I started to be
protective of him I knew it happened again. My first love was Newt from The
Maze Runner. I have to admit though it started with the voice Mark Deakins gave Newt. And it deepened with his self-sacrificing, fearless but caring character as a leader.
This time I
fell in love with Peter Jaxson. At first I didn’t really notice him because
there were a lot of characters to get to know and I had no idea who to focus on. But as the story evolved I stood
by his side and watched him grow into a man I would admire in real life. I
guess I have a thing for fearless but at the same time caring males. ;) But who doesn't?
It’s been a
while since I read the first two books so I hope I can still give you the review
they deserve. No spoilers, I promise!
The Passage
The book
starts off a little slow. The chapters are written from different viewpoints
so you have to really concentrate to keep up, especially when the time aspect
kicks in and you have 100 years and several characters to keep track of.
The bottom
of the story is this: (And yes this will change in the third book as the back
story is revealed.) An experiment went wrong and the US Army is trying to fix it
and at the same time keep it under control. They experimented with Death Row prisoners to create a
stronger and faster soldier who lives longer and who’s wounds heal quicker. What they
got was a vampire like species without remorse and a never ending hunger for
blood. I know now the pejudice of vampire books kicks in! But let me tell you, you are very wrong!
The FBI
agent Wolgast is bringing in the orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte so they have an
innocent test subject who is not a heartless murderer. With her they hope to correct the mistake of creating monsters and continue their research to createing a new and improved human they can also control. As the "virals" free themselves Walgast’s conscience
kicks in and he rescues Amy as the apocalypse breaks
loose.
100 years
later the world is a primal landscape of predators and prey. Some refugees have built a new society and are trying to survive. But when the lights go
out everyone will die.
The Twelve
Lila is an
expectant mother who is hiding somewhere deep in her mind from the chaos and
the violence that has spread around her. Kittridge, also known as “Last Stand
in Denver” hast to flee his stronghold and is trying to survive the world that
has formed around him. April is a teenager and trying to protect her brother.
These three learn how much they need each other in the attempt to survive.
One hundred
years later Amy and her allies are fighting for the right to live. They stand against the Twelve in a battle
they can’t win because if they do some their own will go down with them.
Honestly I
didn’t really care that much for the present story. I don’t even remember it
enough to complain much.
I loved the
future though. I love Peter Jaxon, Michael Fisher and Alicia Donadio and how they become Peter the Man of Days, Michael the Clever and Alicia of Blades.
The City of Mirrors
The fight
has been fought. It seems like they won. Darkness has turned from inevitable
death to a comforting blanket.
Far from
hope Fanning, the Zero, the father of the Twelve, waits for them to forget. One
moment can change everything. Anger and sorrow take over a man and turn him
into a monster. One moment triggered by one person's mistake made the world collapse. You have to go back
to the beginning to change the future. An epic finally unfolds. You will lose
friends but in the end you will learn that every ending means a new beginning. With loss and sacrifice
you earn the right to make the future better for the ones to follow.
I liked the third book the most. At first I was taken a little aback. I didn’t see the
necessity of telling such a detailed background story. But in the end I
understood why it was essential to give such an in depth insight in Fanning's mind.
Résumé:
I listened
to the books on Audible. Scott Brick has a pleasant voice and did a good job in
setting the mood. Him reading The City of Mirrors made all the difference for
me. I don’t know if I would have liked the books as much if I read them myself.
I was mesmerized by how he brought Fanning to life. Every time he called out
“come to me” I couldn’t help but also hear him call out for Grey in my mind. It is amazing how how he built an accustic bridge between The Passage and The City of Mirrors.
If you like a quick read these books will probably not be for you. I feel like Justin Cronin did not only paint a very detailed and broad picture but also took the time to let the story unfold unhurried. The world he is writing about has nothing to do with the hectic world we know and therefore I feel like his writing is underlining their sence of time.
The Twelve
Lila is an
expectant mother who is hiding somewhere deep in her mind from the chaos and
the violence that has spread around her. Kittridge, also known as “Last Stand
in Denver” hast to flee his stronghold and is trying to survive the world that
has formed around him. April is a teenager and trying to protect her brother.
These three learn how much they need each other in the attempt to survive.
One hundred
years later Amy and her allies are fighting for the right to live. They stand against the Twelve in a battle
they can’t win because if they do some their own will go down with them.
Honestly I
didn’t really care that much for the present story. I don’t even remember it
enough to complain much.
I loved the
future though. I love Peter Jaxon, Michael Fisher and Alicia Donadio and how they become Peter the Man of Days, Michael the Clever and Alicia of Blades.
The City of Mirrors
The fight
has been fought. It seems like they won. Darkness has turned from inevitable
death to a comforting blanket.
Far from
hope Fanning, the Zero, the father of the Twelve, waits for them to forget. One
moment can change everything. Anger and sorrow take over a man and turn him
into a monster. One moment triggered by one person's mistake made the world collapse. You have to go back
to the beginning to change the future. An epic finally unfolds. You will lose
friends but in the end you will learn that every ending means a new beginning. With loss and sacrifice
you earn the right to make the future better for the ones to follow.
I liked the third book the most. At first I was taken a little aback. I didn’t see the
necessity of telling such a detailed background story. But in the end I
understood why it was essential to give such an in depth insight in Fanning's mind.
Résumé:
I listened
to the books on Audible. Scott Brick has a pleasant voice and did a good job in
setting the mood. Him reading The City of Mirrors made all the difference for
me. I don’t know if I would have liked the books as much if I read them myself.
I was mesmerized by how he brought Fanning to life. Every time he called out
“come to me” I couldn’t help but also hear him call out for Grey in my mind. It is amazing how how he built an accustic bridge between The Passage and The City of Mirrors.
If you like a quick read these books will probably not be for you. I feel like Justin Cronin did not only paint a very detailed and broad picture but also took the time to let the story unfold unhurried. The world he is writing about has nothing to do with the hectic world we know and therefore I feel like his writing is underlining their sence of time.
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