Review: Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Title: Requiem
Author: Lauren Oliver
Series: Book Three in the Delirium Trilogy
Published By: HarperTeen (March 5, 2013)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Dystopian
My Rating: 4 Stars!

Book Description:
Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight. After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

Purchase Links: Amazon/B&N

My Review:

I both hated and loved the ending of Pandemonium. I loved the fact that we got to see what we had all been hoping would happen since the end of delirium but I hated how it all played out. I hated that it ended so abruptly. I wanted to throw my book across the room and shoot out “Noooooo! How could you Lauren Oliver!? How could you leave the ending on that horrible cliffhanger?”

But of course, I didn't, always truthfully, I really really wanted to.

So it was with great excitement and trepidation that I went into reading Requiem. Not only did we have that crazy cliffhanger to deal with but we also have the ending of a trilogy that I have come to absolutely love. To saying goodbye to characters that have been nothing short of becoming friends as I have journeyed with them over the course of the series. To care about and love. So to say I was also sad while starting this, would be an understatement.

I love how much Lena has grown throughout this series. She is so strong and capable now. She still gets confused and scared but she never lets it control her. She still pushed on and forges ahead. She is brave and truly someone to be proud of.

I am so glad that she finally got moments with her mom. I don't want to say too much because I don't want any spoilers but, I am happy with what Ms. Oliver gave us.

Hana. Oh Hana, how I disliked thee after reading your novella. She did redeem herself though, I will say that much and I found myself liking her once again.

So much happens in this and yet so much doesn't. I really feel it is hard to write this review without giving anything away. Alex, Julian, the resistance, the fighting, the dying, the heartache, the resolve. Gah! How can I say all that I want to without spoilers?

I will say that the ending, while it was a definite ending, which okay, was a little disappointing and left me feeling a little bit sad, it did give me hope too. It is one of those ending where really the possibilities are limitless. Anything could happen because you can make that ending yourself. You can choose to believe whatever you want to believe.

Am I disappointed that there wasn't a set in stone ending? That Lauren didn't spell it all out for us? If I am being honest, yes. Yes I am a little disappointed but I understand why she left it the way she did and I am okay with that, I really am.

The author has done such a great job with the whole trilogy that it is hard to be too upset with her that she didn't give me the exact ending I wanted, after all, this wasn't my series, my dream or my creation. This was hers and she could end it however she wanted to.

She did give the characters redeeming qualities for past wrongs and mistakes. She did make me love and care for them even more after it was all said and done. And she did make me mourn for the loss of those that died and the loss of the series as a whole so in part, she did her job. She brought out emotions in me only a good writer can.

So am I angry it ended the way it did? So open to interpretation that it was? Nope. Not at all. In fact, well done Ms. Oliver. Well done.