Thursday, May 30, 2013

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Genre: YA Scifi/Dystopian
Series: The Fifth Wave #1
Publicaton Date: 7th May 2013
Pages: 460
Book Source: Penguin Books Aust & NetGalley

Synopsis: After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

My Thoughts:
Alien invasion of earth and eradication of mankind is not exactly new, actually it's been done to death but The 5th Wave still felt new, or at least something I haven't read in a while. I read it blissfully unaware of reviews or hype and it's a pretty compelling number, just a little short of addictive. Move over zombie apocalypse ... the aliens are in town!


Cassie's resilient and she does get some kick-ass time, Evan I just didn't warm to and Zombie ... Zombie carried the story for me. I liked the ominous undercurrent topped with paranoia and a good helping of fear; lots of death, destruction and cruelty to small children ... what did you expect? It is the alien apocalypse. 

The trust-no-one mantra got a bit old (what else can you do when the enemy looks like you and not *cough* little green men) but it had me wanting to *head desk* when survivors tended to eventually ignore their gut instinct. 

I'm not gushing but minor issues aside I really liked The 5th Wave and the questions it raised regarding humanity. I'll definitely be reading the next installment ... good enough recommendation? 

Watch the trailer, it's pretty wicked.




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18 comments:

  1. Wow!! That trailer is wicked!! Gonna check this out!

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    1. I think there's a movie coming too ... awesome!!!

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  2. I'm too much of a wimp to read this genre. But I say any time you want to read the next book in a series - that's a good recommendation.

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  3. Great review - I've been wanting to read this one for quite a while - I don't think I have ever read a book about aliens (racking my brain and coming up with nothing even though I'm sure that is next to impossible). I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it! Usually I'm not much of a book trailer kind of persion, I usually find them off-putting, but I really liked this one.

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    1. Looking forward to your thoughts Bonnie. This trailer was a winner, I usually only put up the ones I really like.

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  4. I'm not a huge alien fan, but if that is what it takes to get zombies put back on the shelf, I'm all for it.

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    1. I wouldn't have said I was a fan of either but hey I've read a few zombie books that have won me over.

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  5. I am looking forward to reading this eventually. I kind of like not knowing a lot about the book beforehand. Maybe then I won't be disappointed because of high expectations.

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    1. I agree Christina, some books just work better like that! Hope you enjoy this one when you get around to it!

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  6. Oh wow awesome trailer. I'm not a big alien fan, but this looks good. Thanks for the review.

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    1. thanks for visiting Shandy Jo, I thought the trailer was great, it'll make a good movie :)

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  7. The trailer is really good. I have put myself on the waiting list at my library for The 5th Wave.

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  8. OMG - Whoa! Spooky and scary trailer. I'm rarely spooked by trailers anymore...but this one kind of got to me. (goes and hides under covers....)

    Good book, huh?

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  9. Not much of a zombie or alien fan but sometimes it's done well enough to win me over. I've seen some really great reviews of this one.

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  10. Yay! I'm all over this one!!!!

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