The sequel to the New York Times bestselling phenomenon, Hush, Hush!
Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.
The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?
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Feisty teen Nora Grey somehow survived the crises of Hush, Hush!, but dangers just as frightening loom in this standalone sequel. Patch, her guardian angel and love interest, appears to have a dark side and a wandering eye. Worse yet, he seems intent on obstructing Nora as she hunts for the truth behind her father's mysterious death. Even better than the first.
Children's Literature - Lisette Baez
The unique character of Norma Grey is back in Crescendo, the sequel to Hush, Hush. The novel quickly throws the reader into a dark, exciting, tumultuous plot of romance, jealousy, fear and intrigue. The relationship with her newly acquired guardian angel, Patch, seems to be anything but angelic. His questioning behavior and new found friendship with Norma's archenemy, Marcie Miller, quickly puts a wedge in their once blissful romance. Norma now finds herself drawn to Scott Parnell, an old family friend, although her instincts are screaming that he may be hiding something. Danger and Norma seem to go hand in hand as she begins to seek answers about her Nephilim bloodline. Haunted by the images of her murdered father, she believes her ancestry may have something to do with his death. Relying heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel may not be enough to keep her safe. Can she trust Patch or does he possess some dark secrets as well? Norma Grey is a take charge character full of courage and resiliency. Her recent obsession with her father's death may potentially destroy everyone and everything if the secrets are revealed. Crescendo captivates the reader with its web of suspense as Norma fights to uncover the truth. Reviewer: Lisette Baez
VOYA - Lynne Farrell Stover
Nora Grey is trying her best to do well in a summer school chemistry class, find a part-time job, and keep up with a group of dubious friends. Adding to this frenzy of activity is a difficult relationship with Patch, her guardian angel, the unsolved mystery of her father's brutal murder, and an often-absent mother. Interwoven into the complications of Nora's life is the escalating conflict between a band of fallen angels and their Nephilim hosts, which may soon take its toll on all of mankind. This sequel relies on the reader having knowledge of its predecessor, Hush, Hush (Simon & Schuster, 2009 / VOYA December 2009). Unfortunately a short recap does not appear until the middle of the book. Nora, the story's narrator, is a walking contradiction. She is an outstanding student who continues act foolishly. She is a self-professed good girl who has no trouble using a fake identification card, dressing provocatively, visiting shady pool halls, and slugging people. She steals her nemesis's diary, but is too ethical to read it. She trusts bad-boy Patch with her life (even though he tried to kill her in the prequel), but not with another girl. Although Nora's sensual dream sequences advance the story and add romance while keeping her innocent, they come across as contrived insertions. More information about the paranormal world the archangels inhabit may have made up for an overly long story with unlikable characters, a convoluted time frame, and contrived plot twists. Reviewer: Lynne Farrell Stover
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up—In this sequel to Hush, Hush (S & S, 2009), 16-year-old Nora Grey (still leggy, naïve, and constantly home alone in her farmhouse, but inexplicably no longer anemic) starts summer school in Coldwater, ME. It's been a few months since her sleazy lab partner, Patch, turned out to be a fallen angel bent on killing her to acquire a human body, then saved her from his murderous Nephil (half-human/ half-fallen angel) vassal and became her guardian angel. Now they're dating, but Nora starts to doubt his love and her safety when she realizes that he's holding back information about a secret Nephilim blood society; its mysterious leader, "the Black Hand"; Nora's mean-girl nemesis, Marcie; and Nora's father's murder. Fitzpatrick jumbles together a large cast of inconsistent, stereotyped characters and familiar teen horror/thriller scenarios as a foolish Nora wrestles with her tortured passion for Patch and gets drugged, shot at, chased, and seduced sleuthing for answers amid teen parties, seedy pool halls, a creepy amusement park, and cryptic dreams. Pseudo-biblical supernatural elements are confusing and underdeveloped, as is the cluttered, illogical plot. Nora's narrative and the story's pacing suffer from awkward phrasing, clichéd dialogue, and persistent use of the passive voice. An unsatisfying ending, mid-scene, anticipates a third book, but readers may be unwilling to put in the effort.—Riva Pollard, Prospect Sierra Middle School, El Cerrito, CA
Kirkus Reviews
The forbidden romance between Nora Grey and fallen angel Patch that began in Hush, Hush (2009) remains off-limits in this predictable, repetitive sequel as Patch, now Nora's guardian angel, is warned by the archangels to keep his distance from his charge. Prompted by Patch's furtiveness and recent detachment and fueled by his involvement with Nora's longtime rival, Marcie Millar, their steamy relationship becomes a jealous push-pull for the upper hand. When a former classmate and fallen-angel vassal, known as a Nephilim, returns to Delphic Beach, Maine, and she begins seeing visions of her deceased father, Nora's obsession with Patch turns to finding out more about a secret Nephilim blood society, its Black Hand leader, their possible connection to her father's death and their threat to all of humanity. As in the first novel, Nora is continuously placed or places herself in dangerous situations that leave her vulnerable to physically powerful men and that require being saved. Just as the drawn-out plot answers Nora's lingering questions, it introduces a new dilemma and opener for another sequel. (Supernatural thriller. YA)
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