Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver

Goodreads summary:
I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.


My thoughts: SPOILER ALERT!
I had this book on preorder and it finally showed up the other day in the mail. I wasn't going to read it until Spring Break but then it was looking at me and I had to pick it up. I loooooooved the first book in this series. This book I have not fully decided on how I feel about it. I liked how the story was told from the same person but in two different time frames. Then and Now. I felt like that way of writing kept me really wanting to read the next chapter. I felt bad for Lena for having to go through the grieving process of losing Alex (her boyfriend) all while trying to adjust and just survive the wilds.
One complaint I have about this book and others like it is the fact that they really reinforce the concept that you can't trust anyone. I wish there was less back stabbing or secret keeping between some of the main characters.
I am torn on how the book ended (SPOILER ALERT) with Alex coming back. Through out this book we go through the grieving process with Lena over Alex. As a reader I am happy for her when she finds someone else that she can connect with. I do not like that right as Lena is getting over Alex and with someone new he shows up, literally on the last page.
I can see why the book ended where it did. It creates loads of drama and anticipation for the third book. I do not like though that there is a love triangle in a book that really should be showing the good bits of love since that is what the Invalids are fighting for. I can't say what the third book will bring when it comes to this love triangle but I just hope it isn't sappy or lame as they so often are. I will be really disappointed if the third book sucks.
I do have high hopes for finding out more about Lena's Mom in book three. (SPOILER ALERT) since Lena had all of two minutes with her Mom (without knowing she was with her Mom) in this book. I want to learn more about the Resistant/ Freedom fighters and what their goal is.

I would recommend this book to those who read the first one and liked it. I would recommend the first book to anyone who enjoys odd stories that are well developed.

While writing this review I was listening to the Oingo Boingo Only a Lad which has been stuck in my head for days and my dog panting because she is getting hot from baking in the sun.