Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Crescendo (Hush, Hush)-Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: October 19, 2010
Source: Library
Author Website

The sequel to the New York Times Best selling phenomenon, Hush, Hush! 
Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.
The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine? 
(Amazon)


There's something about trilogies. In my experience, the second book in the series is usually the weakest, and unfortunately I felt that was the case with Crescendo. This series is not the type of book I usually read, but I have to say I fell hard for Nora and Patch's chemistry in Hush, Hush, despite my overwhelming misgivings about their relationship. I couldn't help myself, which is why I think this series is such a wonderful guilty pleasure!

In Crescendo, the link between Patch and Nora is not as strong as it once was, and therefore the book fell a bit flat for me. I also felt the resolution of the book felt a bit similar to Hush, Hush, but perhaps that's my faulty memory, it's been over a year since I read it.

The positives: Nora has a bit more backbone in this book, and is slightly less of a damsel in distress. There was a twist I didn't see coming, and I enjoyed the introduction of Scott.

Overall, I'm glad I got this out of the library, and will probably do the same for the third book in the series. I don't regret reading the book, and I do have hopes that the third book will bring back more of what I liked in Hush, Hush. 

.5