Justin Cronin: The Twelve

Hi everyone

This is my review for the second book in The Passage by Justin Cronin.
I read my father’s copy and it has 618 pages.
You can find all my reviews for the books in the series here.

                                                *    SPOILERS    *

Well, that opening chapter was unnecessary. A complete retelling of everything that happened in the first book but with an added bonus; religious references. Just what we needed. Or not. Big failure in my opinion.

The part set right after the outbreak is rather confusing. There’s a whole host of new characters and the story jumps around, trying to cover all of them. The pacing is off too, especially when changing characters and POV’s.
But I loved reading about those early days; the fear, the confused people, the anger all around. I loved that.

Horace Guilder is a very cliché bad character but most of the others are good. Where the characterization, world building and the general history of this world were amazing in the previous book, they’re just OK in this one. I felt distanced from the characters and the events. I didn’t care as much as before.
I still liked the story and it has it’s suspenseful, horrific, sweet and humorous moments too.
The story and characters don’t go the way you’d expect and I felt my mind wander from time to time, wondering why we spent so much time there.
Alicia’s torture and rape, the clear references to WWII and the general disdain for women made the book less enjoyable then the first one.

I think/hope we’re in for a truly, epic third book if the finale of this one is anything to go by.

3 STARS

Happy reading!
Helena

Justin Cronin: The Passage

Hi everyone

The Passage is the first book in a series called ‘The Passage’ by Justin Cronin.
I read my dad’s copy and it has 994 pages.
You can read all my Justin Cronin reviews here.

 “An epic and gripping tale of catastrophe and survival, The Passage is the story of Amy—abandoned by her mother at the age of six, pursued and then imprisoned by the shadowy figures behind a government experiment of apocalyptic proportions. But Special Agent Brad Wolgast, the lawman sent to track her down, is disarmed by the curiously quiet girl and risks everything to save her. As the experiment goes nightmarishly wrong, Wolgast secures her escape—but he can’t stop society’s collapse. And as Amy walks alone, across miles and decades, into a future dark with violence and despair, she is filled with the mysterious and terrifying knowledge that only she has the power to save the ruined world.”

The basic premise isn’t original or new, but it is executed really well and it is different enough to make it interesting. The story itself is pretty epic.
The world-building is really on-point and very strong and the book is well-written and reads easily.
I wouldn’t call this book ‘horror’ though. There’s too much filler and the overall atmosphere is one of tension but not of fear. I would have liked it darker, more ominous. Don’t get me wrong, the book is good; just not excellent.

The characterization is great for most characters but some of the minor ones felt very cartoonlike or wooden. The main-characters were amazing though; they had a decent background, a distinct voice, they were believable and realistic and acted like real people. I really liked the characterization.

But there’s so much drama! I hated the dreams and the drama that went with them. I could have done without the mysticism as well.
And lastly, the pacing is off. Some parts (the flashbacks and military reports for example) really sucked the momentum out of the story.

The story is easily compared to The Stand by Stephen King but I liked the later better.
I did enjoy The Passage a lot though, the first part especially. 

Definitely recommended!

4 STARS

Happy reading!
Helena