Crescendo By Becca Fitzpatrick
Pub. Date: October 2010 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Format: Hardcover, 427 pages Genre: Young Adult Source: Bought
Rating 
My Thoughts - Crescendo gives us a lot of answers to past questions, and even sheds light when it comes to both Nora and Patch's past. Nora and Patch are having their fair share of issues pretty much straight off. Patch all of a sudden is spending a lot of time with a certain someone and is for some reason being very mysterious and low key. The more he drifts away the more silly things Nora ends up doing.
I didn't feel Patch anymore, and this is hard for me to admit since I have always been such a fan but he just didn't do it for me. I'm guessing the fact that he was such a jerk and made things so dramatic when really he could have just told her what was going on made him harder to sympathise with.
Nora isn't to far off since she really pushed my buttons. The things she did made no sense at all and due to her constant denial I had to put the book down countless times to cool off! There is, however, supposed to be a triangle which I was quite excited about when I first heard of it. I thought it would add something different and interesting into the novel but as soon as Scott was introduced I saw it right away, and I was pretty let down. I wanted to like Scott, in fact, I did warm to him at first because he seemed misunderstood and had the whole tormented thing going on, but most of the time his creepy and emotionally abusive threats completely put me off. He did redeem himself towards the end I must admit and I see potential for him and Nora, although inside I pretty much have an idea of how it will end.
Another new character introduced is Rixon: Patch's friend! Now who knew Patch had friends? It was quite pleasant to see Patch happy in someone else's company rather than just Nora. They make quite the amusing duo and Rixon comes across as a very nice genuine guy: I liked him, at first.. that is.
I loved all the characters in Hush Hush apart from one: Vee who annoyed the heck out of me. Funnily enough she was perhaps now my favourite! She really shined in this book, not to mention her loyalty is really tested. More - so though it was just great to see what a supportive friend she was to Nora who I felt wasn't doing the same for her. Nora also came across as selfish despite having this great thing with Patch just because things were not going great between them for that period of time. For me personally it felt like she resented Vee for having found someone which I found very off putting and shallow. On the other hand Patch wasn't the same smexy bad boy I knew and loved. Something had changed and it saddened me that with this new Patch my feelings towards him had too.
I would, however, recommend fans of Hush Hush to read Crescendo. We have to take into account that the author had five years to finish Hush Hush whilst just a few months to write Crescendo which gives her some brownie points from that aspect. Since a lot of light is shed on some characters as well as Patch's real name which I particularly liked makes the book worth reading even if by the end you may not find it your cup of tea.
Just like Hush Hush you don't have to worry about the book dragging because that was hardly the case: I whizzed through the book despite my thoughts. One thing Becca is, is a great writer. I will be looking forward to Tempest. I adored Nora and Patch in Hush Hush so I am not going to give up hope on them quite yet! The ending is fantastic and finishes with a great cliff-hanger leaving you curious for more!
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