This may be an unpopular opinion, but Torment is a much better book than Fallen.

I began to reread the series to refresh my memory and understand why they are so hated - oh how I get it. The way Luce is written is quite insulting for someone who is supposed to be an intelligent, ‘something-special’ protagonist. Kate writes her to be an annoying, obsessive and whiny character, which is unfortunate because Luce does have the potential to be better. Although the first book left a terrible and frustrating impression, even as a reread, I was pleasantly surprised by Torment.

Yes, Luce is still obsessed with Daniel and the eternal love she feels for him. I can only excuse it because.. well... she is cursed to be reincarnated just to be with him. Nevertheless, once she is sent to California and becomes confronted with new characters, obstacles and revelations, not only is our Lucinda more bearable but I am now rooting for her. She begins to question things, learn about herself and the world around her and finally has nice friends (rip Penn) who help her in every way possible. I can empathise with her anger and emotional baggage that is seeing her past family, questioning her relationship with Daniel and Miles, and calling out those that are meant to be on ‘her side’ for not explaining everything to her and treating her like a fragile vase. Overall, she is a much better character and the adventures she gets up to with Shelby and Miles make the book a lot more enjoyable and not as dreading, never-ending as Fallen was (which was 460 pages of on-and-on-please-get-this-over-with).


Now onto the bad stuff:

1. What is UP with that timeline???? The book starts in November????? But as far as I was aware we left off in SEPTEMBER PREVIOUSLY?? I have confusion, lauren kate explain !!!!

2. Daniel - ohohoo where do I begin. In Fallen, if I had not been aware of the storyline already, I could justify his rudeness towards Luce. A girl keeps running after you, and stalking you and your family history - the bad attitude is justified. I would have called the police if a guy did that to me. However, overtime he becomes a more apparent jerk, to the point of me just wanting to rip my hair out. He treats Luce like a child. Instead of explaining why she should stay in school and filling her in on his plan to protect her, he just scolds her like a primary school pupil for leaving the playground where kids should play within the teacher’s eyeline.

I could, honestly, go on and on about why I want Luce to stop entertaining him and go for the guy (hi miles) that looks out for her, wants to help out and displays actions of honesty and true partnership. I don’t care that Daniel and Luce are a match made in heaven, Miles is a much better guy for her and any self-respecting girl with a good-guy radar can tell that it is him she should choose. Towards the end of the book she even forgets her issues with Daniel !!! Even after their kiss has happened, he does not make things too awkward, he stands by her and lets her know that he IS THERE and that EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY. Hell, I wanted to be with Miles for a moment there.


Overall, based on the opinions of the general public, I was expecting Torment to be worse, but actually as far as stories go, this is a much better one and I was hooked. I won’t comment too much on language because I am an average reader and never studied the art of creative writing.

Definitely give this book a chance, don’t judge it based on its older sibling

PS shoutout to Shelby, ily girl. Also Molly exuding lesbian energy when talking to Shelby and protecting her from Outcasts *chef’s kiss*