Oct26

Review: The Twelve by Justin Cronin

by Christy on October 26th, 2012
Posted In: Uncategorized


Title: The Twelve
Author: Justin Cronin
Published: October 16, 2012
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Series: The Passage #2
Source: Publisher for review

Purchase from Amazon

At the end of The Passage, the great viral plague had left a small group of survivors clinging to life amidst a world transformed into a nightmare. In the second volume of this epic trilogy, this same group of survivors, led by the mysterious, charismatic Amy, go on the attack, leading an insurrection against the virals: the first offensives of the Second Viral War.

To do this, they must infiltrate a dozen hives, each presided over by one of the original Twelve. Their secret weapon: Alicia, transformed at the end of book one into a half human, half viral—but whose side, in the end, is she really on?

*spoiler free*

Ah!  This is so hard.  As I read The Twelve, I knew this book was going to be difficult to review.  I really love this series, but I didn’t always love it as I do now.  When I read The Passage almost two years ago, I liked it a lot, but it wasn’t until a year or so later that I realized that I absolutely loved it!  Never has a book stuck with me so much, that I found myself randomly thinking about it many times.  Then of course I became more and more excited to read The Twelve.  So when an ARC copy arrived unexpectedly on my doorstep, I was beyond ecstatic!  And oh how I loved it.

The Twelve seemed to have a slightly different feel to it.  I don’t know if it was just me, or if there really was more of a paranormal aspect to it.  Which is completely fine, it just felt a little different than The Passage.  My favorite thing about this book, though, is how everything is connected and there is a reason for everything. There were a couple of times I wondered why Cronin was switching over to a new set of characters, but then it would eventually all come together and completely wow me.  I loved all those moments when I realized how certain people were linked.  There is a list of characters in the back of the book, but honestly, I’m glad I keep my own notes, because there are a few connections I would have missed if I hadn’t.  Seriously, Cronin is a master at weaving the lives of past, present, and future together.   I am such a stickler for details and constancy, and he ties the whole thing up extremely well.

Like I said, this book is tough to review, because there is just so much and I don’t want to give spoilers. What it come down to is this: Everything about The Twelve is fantastic; the characters, the world-building, the plot, the twists and turns… everything.  This series definitely deserves all the hype it gets.

I can’t believe I have to wait two years for the third and final book.  I swear, if I die before I get to read it, I will haunt the author.  You have been warned, Cronin!

***

If you haven’t read The Passage yet, Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer currently has a giveaway for 3 copies.

 

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