Book Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Series: The 5th Wave #1

Genre: YA Post-Apocalyptic

 Publication Date: May 1, 2013

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Format: Hardcover

Source: Purchased

The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. 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 Walker 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.

This book was so good! The plot, the characters, the pacing, the writing, all of it! 

I was hooked from the start, from the moment I stepped into this world the action was raging. Not even 20 pages in and you're shown how Cassie's world has been turned upside down - literally - and how instinct has torn her heart apart in a frenzy for survival.

Cassie (short for Cassiopia) is on a lonely stretch of highway, running from the haunting past she has endured with no one to trust. The 4th wave is upon her, smothering her chances of survival while the 5th wave is unknown, but it's coming.

This story was just ghdfyjfhrhtfhj!!!!! It's an alien story, yes, but is it a typical alien tale? No. Hell to the no. This has been so intricately planned and written, it is unique and enthralling. It does remind me (slightly-ish-not-majorly) of another book out on the market but it'd be a spoiler to say which! 

Usually in alien apocalypse books/movies, aliens come down to earth in huge spaceships with large machines buried deep beneath the earth and the aliens are butt ugly baboons BUT The 5th wave puts an end to this. There is literally no confrontation (until the 4th wave - which you learn more about later in the book). Instead, the 1st wave consists of an electromagnetic pulse taking out all electricity/battery operated appliances etc. The 2nd wave is a tsunami, killing thousands and herding survivors. The 3rd wave sends out the pestilence (a deadly disease spread via birds because birds know no boundaries). The 4th wave brings Silencers, forcing survivors to stand alone. And the 5th wave? No one knows, but it's coming.

This fast-paced, action-packed plot is accompanied by some remarkable characters. There's Cassie (our protagonist) who is a head-strong, brave survivor of this otherworldly apocalypse - she's such a legitimate character, all of her actions and emotions are realistic, she's so human. 

Another character is Evan Walker BUT I can't really say anything about him (or any other characters) without slipping out a few spoilers. 

One thing I did love about this book was how you were never quite sure yourself who to trust or where others held their loyalties. You were in Cassie's shoes right up until the moment of truth.

I should have also mentioned that this book is written with alternating POVs between characters - who I cannot say. ;)

I definitely did love this book! It's a must read for everyone - particularly apocalypse/dystopian fans! I will certainly be picking up the sequel!

OH! And a little p.s.

The aliens in this book are called 'The Others'. I only figured this out after misreading the first couple sentences a million times. Oh and make sure you read the page titled "Intrusion 1995" before chapter 1. :)

Check out this awesome book trailer by penguin illustrating all 4 waves, it got me uber hyped up for the book!