The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Finished- July 28th 2015

STARS 4 1/2* 

I don't normally go for the whole alien end of the world concept in books, normally more of a Angel/Demon lover. However I was drawn to this book, I thought the name was intriguing as I was wondering what it would be about. The blurb is super interesting and really makes you want to see what is going on.  However you dont really know its about aliens, it sounds more like natural disasters. 

I like the way Rick Yancey has written the book, first looking at the beginning and how it all started. I did not really understand it to begin with however more is uncovered the further you go in the book, which is good because it keeps you on your toes. You never really guess whats going to happen.

Cassie the main character, really worked for me as she was interesting strong willed and determined. Even though she goes trough hell she pushes on. Which for me is what a strong female lead should most defiantly do! 

You learn about Cassie and her life before the first wave in the begging, about her crushes and her ‘boring, normal’ way of living. Bet she wishes it was like that again. 

We find out all about the first wave and what happened to Cassie, from where she was to what she is doing now.  Her mum died of the disease brought in the First wave, then its just her brother and Dad. (I started to develop an emotional attachment to Cassie, you feel for her and it makes you love her more and more)

The three of them move on to a camp with other survivors…MISTAKE. The think they are safe, especially when they see a helicopter scouting out the area. This is when things really start to heat up!!!!

Turns out the Army are not that helpful in this book, because they are not really the Army. They troops come into the camp, and take all the children. This means Cassie’s bother Sammy. 

Leaving Cassie and her dad back at camp with a few soldiers, TENSE moments follow…leading to the death of everyone but Cassie. I think this is the first point where she realises that you can trust no one. People are not people, friends are not friends…Basically you are screwed no matter what.  

In the next chapter we meet ‘Zombie’ He is one of the people who is being trained to go against the aliens and help save humanity…Or so we think. 

Sammy Cassie’s brother turns up at the same camp…WEIRD because we know the people who took them are not friends they are the bad people. This whole thing is frustrating because we know what they don’t. Clever of Yancey because it makes you want to keep reading!

We tend to jump between Cassie’s adventure and Zombie/Sammy’s. This is the middle part of the book and it is ACTION PACKED. 

Cassie meets death a few time, and maybe what turns out to be trying to kill her saves her? This is a great twist to the plot. The Good guys are B A D…And the Bad guy G O O D….. What the hell. Major mind twist here! Anyway we meet ‘the silencer/ Evan’ the guy who has tried to kill her as that is his job ;his mission…and yet he cant. We get a whorl wind romance between Evan and Cassie, its very exciting and frustrating but makes the book that bit better. The fact that Cassie does not really know that Evan is ‘the Silencer’ makes in interesting as she starts to become suspicious.

We jump back to Zombie and Sammy were they are being trained to kill along with other members of there team. Ringer, Dumbo, Teacup and Poundcake are also there. They are sent out on a mission to kill the infected humans who are helping the aliens…This is when they realise that the people they are killing are human, and not alien and everything is backwards. I found this part of the book really interesting and very thrilling. 

Zombie works it out and hatches a plan to get back to camp to rescue Sammy while letting his team go free. Its really quite clever.

The two parts of the book then collide when Cassie meets Zombie, who turns out to be Ben they guy she had a crush on when they were a school back when the world was ‘normal’. Both Cassie and Zombie are wanting to free Sammy so they work together to get him out. Evan saves the day by creating a distraction that will help to save them but will break Cassie’s heart, as she learns she loves him no matter what! 

What and amazing end to the book! Its emotional, thrilling and exciting. Which is what sums the book up entirely. I really loved reading it! Well done Rick Yancey.

Love the cover as well! Graphics are very interesting and the images used are beautiful!

Original Image, not mine 

You really cant wait to read the next book!

I think I chase down the postman for a week waiting for the sequel to arrive! No jokes……