The 5th Wave
Author: Rick Yancey
Series: The Fifth Wave #1
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Summary:
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 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.
From award-winning author Rick Yancey comes a gripping epic of catastrophic loss, unthinkable odds, and unflinching courage.
First Sentence: There will be no awakening.
My Review:
Why did I listen to the hype again?
When I heard all about The 5th Wave and how awesome it is, how different it was, and how you could not not love it; I’ll admit it, I got swept along with the hype. I purchased The 5th Wave the moment I saw it because well, everyone couldn’t be wrong right? Wrong.
Don’t get me wrong, The 5th Wave wasn’t bad. The problem is, it wasn’t that good either.
The prologue did what it was supposed to do – it immediately caught my attention and got me super excited to officially start the book. Maybe the hype, for once, was trustworthy. However, once I turned the page and read on, my excitement for The 5th Wave slowly died down.
You know how sometimes you tell yourself that you have a choice, but really you don’t have a choice? Just because there are alternatives doesn’t mean they apply to you. (96)
The first third of the book was slow and confusing. The first part of the book was told from Cassie’s point of view. She tells readers about her past using flashbacks, which alternates between different chapters. Here’s the problem: I didn’t know when she was remembering the past or when she wasn’t remembering the past and was in the now. One moment I would be reading a flashback, and suddenly, without warning, I was reading what she was doing in the present day. It was confusing and I had to flip back to the previous pages to see if I had missed something or had read wrong.
The 5th Wave is told from four different points of views written in two different ways. Cassie and Ben’s point of view is told from the first person point of view while Evan and Sammy’s point of view is told from the third person point of view. It gets confusing when you finish reading Cassie’s point of view told from the first person point of view, only to turn the page and see Evan’s point of view told from the second person point of view.
Cruelty isn’t a personality trait. Cruelty is a habit. (138)
I couldn’t find myself connecting with any of the characters. I liked Cassie at first in the beginning of the book and connected with her because we both care deeply about our younger siblings, but then, the romance element midway through the book got in the way of that. I felt distant from Ben and there was absolutely no way I could connect with Evan.
The 5th Wave was also predictable. Every single twist that happened – you guessed it – I saw it coming from a mile away. Nothing caught me unaware and everything that happened, I was already expecting it to happen. That really took the fun out of reading The 5th Wave.
It’s like a cockroach working up a plan to defeat the shoe on its way down to crush it. (1)
I did like how Rick Yancey compared the aliens we believe in – the aliens in E.T. and the flying saucers we make up in movies – to his version of the aliens. It was creative and added to the premise, but as I read on, my curiously about them slowly diminished.
But I think he knew in the end it wouldn’t be the lucky ones left standing. The ones who tell Lady Luck to go screw herself. The ones with hearts of stone. The ones who could let a hundred die so one might live. The ones who see the wisdom in torching a village in order to save it…And if you’re not okay with that, you’re just a corpse waiting to happen. (75)
Overall, The 5th Wave was an okay read, but disappointing nevertheless. Maybe it’s because I had high expectations, especially with the hype. Either way, I can definitely say that I would definitely not be checking out the sequel to The 5th Wave.
THANK GOD someone who thought the same as me!! I spent the book going…okay when does it get “ZOMG AMAZING, BEST BOOK EVA!” which is all I seemed to be seeing on reviews. The switching povs really bothered me and it was a bit too predictable. If it hadn’t been over hyped then I think I’d have enjoyed it a lot more.
Danielle recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday #11
Yay, high five please! :D
I was really surprised with the switching POVs, it was pretty pointless in my opinion. The switch from first person to second person POV was awkward too.
And the predicatableness, ugh. Saw everything coming from a mile away.
And I definitely agree, if it wasn’t for the hype and the pressure for me to love the book, I would have definitely enjoyed The 5th Wave a lot more, but all I was thinking while reading the book was when am I going to fangirl all over the book like other people? Like, when?!
But at least, we’re now not alone! ;D
Kelly recently posted…Book Review: The 5th Wave – Rick Yancey
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy this as much as many others. I’m still so excited about this book, because I love the concept and I haven’t read a book about aliens before. It’s always hard when you can’t connect with the characters. Great review :)
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…WoW 38. Retellings: Scarlet in snow & Unhinged.
I hope you enjoy reading the book Mel! :D
I feel sad that I didn’t like The 5th Wave more, especially with all the hype out there.
Thank you! (:
Kelly recently posted…Book Review: The 5th Wave – Rick Yancey
That’s sad to hear. I admit I have high expectations for this too because of all the hype but I guess it’s really not right to have expectations. I might just borrow it from a friend, I guess. Especially that it’s part of a series and I’m kinda on a buy-only-standalones-have-pity-on-your-wallet. Hee. Thanks for the honest review, Kelly!
Dianne recently posted…Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Maverick by Anna Cruise
Yeah, it’s not right to have expectations, but you can’t help it. You read the summary, you get excited, you have certain expectations.
The thing I hate is when standalones become un-standalones (example: Splintered by A.G. Howard). It’s so ugh. ):
Kelly recently posted…Book Review: Chosen at Nightfall – C.C. Hunter
I was on the fence about this book but your review cinched it for me. It’s worth a shot it seems and you broke down the nuances well! <3
Claire K. recently posted…The Oxford Diaries: (1) How Not To Get Into Grad School
Yeah, definitely try out The Fifth Wave Claire! I’m in the minority on this one, tons of other people LOVED it.
Kelly recently posted…YA Icons Tour Signing + Giveaway (INT)
FINALLY, Someone that feels the same about The 5th Wave as I do! I really did NOT enjoy it! Which was sad b/c I wanted to so bad, but it feel short for me!
New GFC Follower: Alicia Batista, I hope you follow back @ http://addictreaders.blogspot.com/
Yay, another person that doesn’t agree with the hype! :D
I wanted to like it so bad, which was why I bought it before I actually read it.
And thanks for the follow! (:
Kelly recently posted…Summer Lovin’ Read-a-thon Sign-Ups
I was really excited about this, and at first all I saw were great reviews, but now I am seeing a lot of not so good ones. I already bought it and now I am wondering if maybe I shouldn’t have!
Most people seem to like The 5th Wave, so hopefully you’ll be in that majority!
Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Book Featuring Travel In Some Way
I LIKED the read I just didn’t LOVE it. I agree with you 100% that there was way more hype to this book than it deserved. I enjoyed some characters and plot aspects but it could have been better.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who felt that way Morgan. There were so many aspects that could have been better in The 5th Wave. I personally think that this book is over-hyped. :l
Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: This Song Will Save Your Life – Leila Sales
I too had a high expectations on this one, but I haven’t got the chance to read it (you know, lack of money, stuff like that). Do you think I should still go read the book anyway?
Nadine recently posted…{Blurb & Excerpt} Chaotic by C.A. Williams
You should definitely read it because other people absolutely LOVED The 5th Wave. However, I recommend you to borrow the book instead of directly buying it. o:
Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: Thornhill – Kathleen Peacock
Wow. I’m really blessed that I didn’t buy The 5th Wave and I read your review. I’ve been wanting to buy The 5th Wave but something just told me that I shouldn’t just buy it yet and whew thank goodness I didn’t! To read a book that is as confusing as you say, is definitely not a book for me. I’m so disappointed though. :\ A lot of people in the booktube community have praising it so much, and now I don’t want to even consider that book anymore. I’m scratching that book on my most wanted books list. :\
Ellen Le recently posted…Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
I don’t know about this one Ellen, maybe it’s just me and a select few that didn’t like it. o:
My advice to you is to go to your library and borrow The 5th Wave, then see if you’ll like it or not. If you like it, then great, you can buy it. If not, at least you didn’t spend your money on something you don’t like.
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [57]
Oh, I really want to read this book! Since I heard about The 5th Wave,
I was super curious and instantly added it to my TBR list.
Well, now your review makes me a little worried lol, but even so I think I’ll still check it.
great review!
Ha ha, well, there has been a huge mix of positive and negative reviews for this one Kassi, so I guess in the end, it all depends on your taste in books. o:
Thank you! (:
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [57]
I think the premise of this book is really interesting but I’m not sure I’m up to reading anything too confusing. There are so many great books on my TBR list that I find I’m getting really picky and this one may not make the cut!
I understand what you mean Susan. There just so many books and so little time, there’s no possible way we can read every single book that catches our attention, so why not just avoid books that we may not like?
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [57]
I’ve heard a lot of hype about this book too and I’m a little hesitant to read it. It just sounds really confusing to me.
Yeah, I totally get you. The hype can also be intimidating.
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [57]
I’ve heard and seen The 5th Wave, but for some reason it’s never caught my interest. I looked at it and maybe browsed through it, but I never thought I’m going to buy it right now. It’s more like maybe next time. But the book does sound interesting and you’re rating of 3 out of 5 doesn’t look so bad. I’m not sure when I would read this one though. I’m kind of like you where I don’t want to be able to predict the plot “from a mile away.” I kind of like surprises too :)
Yeah, The 5th Wave was a maybe next time book for me too, except the hype made me read it sooner rather than later.
If you like surprises, then this book is definitely not the one for you. It’s really predictable.
If you ever decide to read this one, I hope you’ll enjoy it more than I did Hillary! (:
Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: Crash Into You – Katie McGarry
This looks really interesting. I love a good sci-fi and the cover looks gorgeous! I need this book now. Hopefully it would be good. So no high expectations…
Alice Chu recently posted…This Month’s Goal
I hope you’ll like this one Alice! (:
And having lower expectations is definitely better when you start a book. ;D
Kelly recently posted…Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss – Stephanie Perkins
I was so close to buying this book but something told me to hold off on it :o
I guess if I read it, I’ll be checking it out(:
It really does seem like it’d have a lot of potential though. I mean, that synopsis and prologue? So interesting. I’ll be skeptical about this now. I like when books surprise me. And if this doesn’t do that, I guess I’ll hold off some more
Joanna V recently posted…Writing Adventures #2
I should have listened to that smart voice when it told me the same thing.
Yeah, I’ll recommend you to borrow it from the library first before you actually read it. That way, you won’t be spending money on a book you may not like.
The 5th Wave definitely does have a lot of potential, but it was just not my kind of book.
Kelly recently posted…Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss – Stephanie Perkins
Oh, I’m sorry you didn’t like it all that well. 5TH Wave was pretty good for me. I’ll admit the starting was slow and confusing but I thought it picked up in the middle. Let’s hope the sequel is better than the first one.
I liked it…it did have an awful lot of hype behind it, and I’m not sure it quite lived up to it. I did enjoy it, and I will read the Infinite Sea…
I’m sorry you found this book disappointing. I actually enjoyed The 5th Wave so much that my expectations for the sequel has reached an impossibly high level and has disappointed me in the end. I still liked The Infinite Sea, though. Just not as much as The 5th Wave.
A recently posted…BOOK REVIEW: The Infinite Sea | Rick Yancey