Pandemonium picks up shortly after where Delirium left off. The old Lena is long gone and the new Lena struggles with the loss of everything she had ever known, left behind in her past life. As the new girl among a group of so-called “invalids”, Lena has to adjust to this new life in the Wilds as part of the resistance. Told in alternating chapters between then and now, glimpses of Lena’s adjustment to her new life are mixed in with the current situation she is faced with as the timelines piece closer and closer together.
Can I take back the 5-star rating I gave Delirium and apply it to Pandemonium instead? Because honestly, I thought I loved Delirium… but I loved Pandemonium so much more, if that’s even possible! Where Delirium sets up the story, with it’s build-up of the disease known as love, Pandemonium quite literally lives up to it’s name. It is a darker, action-packed story right from the get-go and keeps you stringing along with both then & now storylines.
Where the first installment is set in Portland, Maine – a “safe” suburban city, reflective of the name Delirium, Pandemonium was mostly set in New York City. I really enjoyed the imagery between the “concrete jungle” with Lena’s time in the Wilds. The grittier story filled with mystery, espionage and full-on fight scenes make for an exciting read that I couldn’t put down. While I had a feeling where the story was heading, it still kept me on the edge of my seat on how it would get there. Oliver is a great storyteller, pacing out the narrative in a fantastic way, planting plot points and red herrings at certain innocuous moments only to bring it up again later when you may have forgotten about it.
I feel like I have so much more to say about it, but can’t find the words to express those thoughts – especially not without giving anything away! Therefore, I shall leave it at this: READ NOW. Pandemonium = Phenomenal.
This and other reviews can be found on my blog JustaLilLost.com
