Pandemonium (Delirium) [Hardcover] [2012] (Author) Lauren Oliver

WARNING: Spoilers for Delirium ahead.

Pandemonium is the second book in Lauren Oliver's Delirium Trilogy. In the first book, Delirium, Lena lives in a future dystopian United States, where love has been designated a disease, and everyone is cured on their 18th birthday. Lena was eagerly anticipating her "cure" and her orderly, predictable life to follow, free from the "Deliria" that leads to mood swings, irrational behavior, violence, and death. That is, until she meets Alex, an "Invalid" from The Wilds - a boy who has never been cured and doesn't believe that love is something that needs a cure. Alex teaches Lena about love, and they plan to escape Portland to live in The Wilds together. But in the end, Alex sacrifices himself to allow Lena to escape.

Pandemonium's narrative alternates between two separate time lines. The first picks up right where Delirium ends. It follows Lena in the days, weeks, and months after she has escaped Portland, losing Alex in the process. Predictably, she meets up with other Invalids living in The Wilds, and slowly assimilates to life with them. Away from the familiar comforts of the city. Away from fear of the Deliria. Away from Alex.

The second takes place several months later. Lena is now an active part of the resistance, and is living undercover in New York City. Her cover is that she is part of a new political movement - the DFA or "Deliria-Free America." The movement's mission is for the cure to be administered to everyone in America before their 18th birthday. Lena's mission is to keep an eye on the DFA, especially its leaders: Thomas Fineman and his son, Julian.

[Spoilers Ahead]

But everything turns to chaos when Scavengers - a violent extremist group of uncureds - attack a DFA rally, and Lena and Julian are kidnapped and held hostage together. Their captivity forces them to question their preconceived notions about each other and about who their enemies really are.

Pandemonium was an enjoyable, exciting, fast-paced book. I did find it a bit predictable - I wasn't nearly as surprised as Lena at the twists and turns of the plot - but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of it at all. And as much as I loved Alex in Delirium and I wasn't sure initially if I would be able to accept if Lena moved on, I found that I loved Julian just as much as Alex. I appreciated how the evolution of Lena and Julian's relationship mirrored that of Lena and Alex - but with Lena's role reversed.

Ultimately, I thought Pandemonium was a great set-up for the third book in the trilogy. I anticipate the conclusion to the Delirium Trilogy will contain lots of action, a likely love triangle (which is overdone in YA books, but in a world where the entire plot focuses around the benefits and drawbacks of falling in love, it probably can't be avoided), and Lena's deeper involvement with the resistance. It answered some questions set up in Delirium while asking several more. And it introduced us to some great new characters.

My frustrations with the book were minor. I missed the characters from Delirium (but I suspect some of them will pop up in the 3rd book). I couldn't understand how just a couple days lost in the woods resulted in Lena needing weeks to recuperate, considering how physically fit she was at the end of Delirium. And several of Lena's great plans just seemed far too simple (especially in the couple parts where she has to deal with key codes).

But overall, none of that was enough to take away from my enjoyment of the book. The storytelling was excellent, and I found myself completely immersed in the characters and world that Ms. Oliver created. I'm intrigued and excited to see how she wraps up Lena's story in book 3. Highly recommend!

This is the middle book of the Delirium series and very unexpected turn of events in the life
of Lena. Reminds me of Divergent with its different factions. Exciting, sweet other love interest, and just plain good reading. Read this whole book while in a hospital waiting room and came home late and downloaded the third one on my Kindle that same day.

Fantastic. I avoided too long because I purchased by mistake ... I got it and it had rave reviews and "young adult" (I am a senior citizen). When I was out of things to read, I read it. And then bought every book I could find from this author -- all great. Young adult means not too much violence, gratuitous sex, etc. -- maybe it should say young adult and senior citizens :-)

This book was nothing short of amazing. The beginning was a little confusing and slow as it flips back from the past and the present, but half way through I really got back into it and could not put it down until I finished! I was wondering if she was going to put my mind to ease with several things that she left open from the first book, but by the very last page she will do just that! I can NOT wait for next spring so I can finish the trilogy!!!

After reading delirium I was devastated at the end! I was so angry that Lena did not get a happy ending that I did not want to read Pandemonium. I didn't think I was going to be able to handle Lena being with a new boy right after Alex died. Thankfully I gave this book a try because honestly I think it's even better than delirium in so many ways. The book is set up as "Then" and "Now" chapters which adds more tension to the end of each chapter as you are waiting to find out what happens in both time periods, but it is not confusing or hard to follow. It moves the book along perfectly! Lena's grief is not ignored either. We feel how devastated she is and how she works through it. Although I do not like most of the "Wilds" characters they are written very well. I know a lot of people do not like the way this book ends but I don't think it could work any other way. Overall this book is excellently written, very exciting, and well worth reading!

This book is unbelievable! I promise to all the Delirium fans out there you will not be disappointed! The only thing I found confusing was the chapter names; Now and Then. I found that 'Then' means how things were when Lena left Portland and went to the wilds. And 'Now' is how she is doing as an insider for the resistance. PLEASE BUY THIS BOOK! IT IS AMAZING AND I LOVE THE ENDING!

Again, I really enjoyed the story line. Anxiously anticipating the final book of the trilogy. I know this series, as well as The Hunger Games and Divergent are geared towards YA ( young adult ) readers but I am not a teenager and I thoroughly enjoyed
them all. The only downside is that I feel the author can be overly descriptive and wordy to the point where I often forget what she is describing.

I bought these books on the recommendation of "If you love the Hunger Games you'll love..." This is certainly not the case. If you loved the Hunger Games, don't buy this book. If you liked "Matched" go right ahead, the book is for you.

It's definitely much easier to read then the first. A better story all up, but maybe that's because we don't have to sit through the drone of, "do I want to rebel? Don't I?. Oh, a boy is completely worth running away from my family for!"

It's easier to read, I like the Wilds and the story that comes with them. What I didn't like was the jumping. It would've been much easier to put her story discovering the Wilds and then make a small jump to now, rather than trying to follow two stories at once (while I can usually do that, this is not the most well written novel)

Pandemonium is an improvement on the series in many ways but also weaker than the first book, Delirium in many ways. I"ll just dive right into this:

Improvements: Lauren Oliver definitely stepped up the pace and the action in this one. The story is split between Lena's past (what happens directly after the ending of Delirium) and her present and both storylines are equally compelling although at opposite times. What I mean by this, is her past storyline is really fascinating in the first half then beings to lag and her present storyline lags in the first half but really picks up in the second.

Lauren's action scenes got a lot better this time and quite frankly I think the "present" storyline was really well thought-out complete with intrigue, mystery, suspense, great fight scenes and even romance. I liked the new characters, Raven and Julian especially and I really liked that Lauren switched the setting from Portland, ME to be in the "Wilds" but also New York City.

Weaknesses: Even though the overall storyline was compelling, I found some aspects of this book irritating. For instance, Lauren used the word "twittering" at least three times. Either that's just bad writing or bad editing but either way I rolled my eyes everytime I read that word. But it also wasn't just that word, I found myself eyerolling a few times with her prose. In Delirium, Oliver's writing was poetic, unique, stark and at times beautiful and it overall felt effortless. But with Pandemonium, it felt like she was forcing it a little too much - she used really odd metaphors that just made no sense and sounded extremely fake in my opinion. She also seemed to focus on retelling us useless information over and over again like how hungry or cold Lena was.....we get it, enough already!

I also couldn't help but draw many comparisons during the "past" storyline to The Hunger Games. Lots of survival in the woods, emerging from the brink of death, fighting. I appreciate those elements, but Suzanne Collins just does it better than Lauren Oliver, so if I were Lauren I probably would have focused less on this.

Anyways, overall I thought this was a strong follow up to Delirium, certainly no "sophomore slump" here which was good. Will definitely be checking out the third in the trilogy to see how the story ends!

Pandemonium did not disappoint in any way, and I am so glad about that. The whole time, I found myself still wishing that Alex was alive by some miracle. Even when you can start to see Lena beginning to fall in love again, it still feels wrong because you know that she is still crazy in love with Alex. And every time she mentions that she thinks she catches a glimpse of him, I want her to be able to turn her head and see him there next to her. Their romance was one of the best I've ever read in a YA novel, or in any novel for that matter, and I was so distraught at the end of Delirium when he's just left for dead. And when everything seems to confirm his death in so many ways.

I apologize for any spoilers, and I'll try my best not to give too much away.

Then, Lena becomes Alex in a way. Just like Alex rescued her from the dystopian society she believed in, Lena rescues Julien from the same society. She is the Invalid that makes her way into his life, destroying all of his previous ideals and beliefs. She's the one who causes him to see that love is actually not as bad as it sounds. That love can do all kinds of good that the DFA wants everyone to ignore. And in the midst of all the heartbreak, hatred and apathy, Lena still manages to find love in places she didn't even know she could. She begins to love Raven, and Julien (of course), and all of the others at the homestead.

And then, finally, as soon as you think she might be getting over the heartbreak of losing her mother and Alex and Hana, and everyone else she's lost, Lauren Oliver comes up and slaps her (and you) in the face. And then, because once isn't enough, she does it again! And then a third time. And it's fantastic. I honestly don't know how Oliver created such a strong character in Lena, because if I were Lena I would just quit life.

I also really love that the book goes between "then" and "now." It gives a great picture of how much Lena grew during her time in the Wilds, and how she now uses her past experiences to get through difficult circumstances. Because living and surviving in the Wilds wasn't enough. She has to be kidnapped by a group of crazy people who shouldn't be organized enough to even pull off a kidnapping. And then made to rescue some kid she can't even stand at first, who represents everything she fights against.

I could honestly go on about this book for forever, but you should really just go pick it up and read it yourself. Read Delirium first though, because otherwise this book won't break your heart and impact you in the way it should. If these books were ever made into movies, I would probably be crying the entire time.

Definitely a strong 5/5, and I would totally give it more if I could. One of my favorite books, and so far series, that I've ever read. I can't wait for Requiem to come out, and I'm so sad that it won't be out until at least February 2013.

This book was absolutely amazing! I liked the way it switched back and forth between Lena's present and past. I was so into the book it only took me about 4 days to read it all (it would've been 3 but I had other stuff to do.) Anyway, I felt like I was right there with Lena. I almost felt her pain every time she would get hurt. When I got to the end, I was shocked (I'm not going to spoil it for anyone). So, if you've read the first one, you've got to read this sequel because it was really good. The only thing is what most people say about the one after this one, Requiem. I haven't read that one yet, but based on the reviews I've read many people aren't happy with how that one ends.

There were points I enjoyed and could relate to, but they were so few and I had to really think about it to notice it. In my opinion, there is too much detail, which I skimmed through yet I didn't miss anything important, and I don't really like the set up of going back and forth and that ending!!!! No.

I have read lots of trilogies and Lauren Oliver is right...you just get tired of the story dragging on and on. Not so with these books! I love the characters. The story twists and turns in ways that are not predictable and I love that! I'm excited to get started on the third book!! How will she end it? I hope not in a predictable ending! Love her writing!

Not exactly what I expected for the second book but still very interesting. This story was so much more detailed than the first book and with going back and forth from the past to present, you must, must take the time and pay careful attention while reading or you will be lost. Very eager to find out how the next book will play out.

With the way Delirium ended I knew there would be a sequel, but i was still excited to see that the next book was coming out. Pandemonium was great I love the theme about love being a disease. How creative! This book was great about picking up where the first book left off. It was fast paced and told an exciting story of deception, betrayal, hardship, freedom, and of course love. I enjoyed the characters and the way things panned out. Overall I thought it was a great story. Can't wait for the third book.

Great writing and what I like about this sequel is it's a different story than the first book, not just a continuation of the first book like so many sequels are. It has the same character but different story, equally as interesting as the first book.

I purchased this series for my middle schooler. She reads so fast its hard to keep up with her. She liked the books but said with so much out there it just wasn't one of her favorites series. It didn't keep her interest throughout. We have similar tastes in books. She told me not to waste my time reading the series.

I just finished a marathon of reading Delirium and Pandemonium over the course of a couple days. These books both kept me up at night reading and wondering what was going to happen. I liked Pandemonium slightly better than Delirium just because Lena became such a stronger person in this book. Someone who was unafraid to fight for what and who she loves, and someone not afraid to love. The ending of this book...wow. What a cliff hanger. I haven't been so riveted by a book in a long time and my jaw literally dropped open when I read the last word. I'm so bummed the 3rd book won't be out for nearly a year, but I'll be anxiously waiting for it.

Definitely check Delirium and Pandemonium out, and read "Before I Fall" too. That was also a really good one.

Words cannot begin to describe the feelings I had when I finished Pandemonium. I am a late bloomer to the Delirium series, but I can't believe I waited quite so long to get started on it.

Pandemonium picks up right where Delirium ends. Lena is on her own and is running for her life. I really loved Lena in this book. She is a completely different girl than the one we met in Delirium; she has become such a strong, independent young lady. More than once she did things that surprised me. I love watching her character grow more independent.

While Lena is still the main character in the book, we are also introduced to a whole set of new characters. Most of the characters I found to be very interesting, and each for very different reasons. We don't really get to see many of the characters from Delirium, and I have to say that I really missed a few of them.

One thing that disappointed me is that something is missing from the book. I'm not going to say what, but I will say that when you've read the book, you will totally understand what I'm talking about. I do, however, realize that without this one missing piece, we wouldn't have had this really awesome book.

Pandemonium will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat up until the very last page. The ending nearly killed me, and now I'm dying to get my hands on Requiem! Lauren Oliver does a wonderful job of grabbing your attention and never letting go. I love that while the storyline is still the same as Delirium, the book is just has a completely different aspect to it. SO GOOD!

Overall, this book was great. If you loved Delirium, just wait until you get your hands on Pandemonium!

We heard the first book, Delirium, as audiobook from local library..Good action and a weird world situation. So enough interest we purchase book 2 and 3..Not much going on in either book, lots of teen dramas about it. The action never leads to any understanding of why the USA has gone to the dark side. A lot of story which for me was not very interesting.

I was a little skeptical about what would happen in this book after the intense ending of the first book, but I loved it. I loved the first book in this trilogy and this was a perfect continuation of the story. I loved the new settings, new characters, and the plot developments. So intense! I can't say too much without spoilers but I loved it and can't wait to read the final book in the trilogy!

Yes, I am an adult that love YA dystopian novels. Lauren Oliver is one of the most exceptional writers in this genre. I loved Delirium and Pandemonium just added to the greatness. I can't wait for the third one to come out in a few months! If you loved the Hunger Games or any of those types of books, you'll love anything by Lauren Oliver.

I had high expectations for Pandemonium, and it surpassed them completely. Instead of clinging to the format and storyline of Delirium, Pandemonium launches off the foundation already built, stepping up the action and emotional electricity from page to page. The tension throughout the story was incredible. Oliver makes the characters so real and so emotionally powerful that I couldn't stop reading. I had to know what was going to happen next, and I couldn't predict where even the next page would take me. Incredible, incredible sequel. I think I might go crazy waiting for Requiem.

After I read Delirium, I was hesitant to continue the series. I'm so glad I did because this book blew me away! It's beautifully written in a past and present that keeps us invested in Lena's story at both periods of time.

The second part of the Delirium trilogy, was pretty good, but quite unbelievable, I had a hard time believing most of it. I mean not the scenario, which she describes amazingly well, but the relationships and how the developed.
Still I loved it and couldn't put it down! Totally recommend it its very entertaining!!!!!

I really liked the ideas behind this series. The rewrites of the Bible, etc. were great additions! There were times, though, when I felt the main character just jumped into the unknown without even a plan and it just worked out. That seemed unlikely. I love the way the author ended this novel though. I was frustrated that the next one was not yet written!

Love this trilogy but like all trilogies the first book is the bests. I was sorry to see it end; wanted more of the two main characters.
Recommend it if you love teen romance, set in the future with them battling the odds. Written well and a very intriguing concept.

Love this trilogy but like all trilogies the first book is the bests. I was sorry to see it end; wanted more of the two main characters.
Recommend it if you love teen romance, set in the future with them battling the odds. Written well and a very intriguing concept.

After reading Delirium, I wasn't sure what could possible happen next to Lena. Pandemonium picks up right where Delirium left off. The author made it easy to stand in Lena's shoes and feel the pain she felt of loosing her first love and her leaving her best friend behind. There were enough twist in turns in this novel that before you realize it the book is over and you can't help but crave for more!!!

This was such a captivating story. I loved how the author threaded together the stories of the past and present. I appreciated the character evolution of lena because of her experiences. Something Lauren Oliver said in one of the videos really echoed with me, she said "life moves forward and it moves you forward." There is much truth to this and really helps explain the thinking behind Lena's evolving heart.

I absolutely love these books I am currently on the 2nd book and I'm actually sad that it's going to end. So inventive and it has really gotten me out of my own world and into theirs! Love it and recommended it for all ages!

Lauren Oliver has quickly won me over with Delirium and Pandemonium! I am waiting on pins and needles for Requiem. Lena, the main character, takes us on an empowering, passionate and heart wrenching forbidden love story. Pandemonium dives further into this loveless world and the dangers of being part of the resistance that is building to take back the right to LOVE. Very well written and the concept will blow your mind.

This book seemed to be on explosion after another . There was plenty of excitement to go around in this lovely second novel. I really enjoyed the set up then and now chapters. Although I wish the author would have integrated the then and now a bit better. Over all this book will keep you on your toes until the last page.

I fell in love with the alternation between past and present. Lena's character seems so real to me; hurt, hate, unknown strength, love. I wasn't sure how I felt about the introduction of Julian, but by the time the ending hit, my heart tore into two directions. Excited to read what this world, and the characters have to offer in the third book!

Can't say enough good about this series. Finished the first two in about 48 hours. Completely different, but still felt a bit like the best of Hunger games and twilight rolled into one. It caught my attention immediately and now I am counting down the days until March 5th! My only complaint (although completely get it) was Alex not being in this book. Broke my heart a bit.

The second book of the series (Delirium). I liked the layout of this book. It jumps from Then and Now in each chapter until the Then and Now come together. I wasn't as impressed with the second book as was with the first, but that's not to say this one isn't amazing as well. It only took me one day to read this one, I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait for the last book to come out so I can see how this series ends.

This was so much better than the first book. Although this book was far more of an adventure, while the first was a love story. This book is a love story too, but there is much more depth. I do appreciate the metaphor of war, and how there can be more to one side than meets the eye.

I love this series and pandemonium was just amazing. I wish some of the characters were more involved than usual but other than that I love how lena manages to survive though everything she goes through. I also loved that it was in both Hana and Lena's perspective, which lets us as the readers know so much more. . such a good read, could not put it down!

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Excellent follow up to first book. Kept me very involved and interested. Hard to put down. The only negative thing about this book is there is not another one to read yet.

A clever author avoids a love triangle, but a good one gives us what we want. And why not, I say? A carefully crafted love triangle can have us cheering the whole game, set, match. Though we're always going to feel a pang of sorrow for the underdog.
Particularly when there is no clear underdog.

Alex obviously has the upper advantage, being the first love who haunts her thoughts from a distance. Julian is the uptown, circumstantial guy, who, as much as I tried to resist, somehow wriggled his poor-little-rich-boy way into my heart. A girl giving a boy a life defining awakening? What modern reader doesn't yearn for that?

Oliver has mastered that inexperience and awkwardness factor so vividly that desire practically cold-sweats itself off the font.

I could take or leave (but preferably leave) the "then" parallel story line. I think I would have been more interested if it wasn't competing with the
"now". But spliced up, as it was, it just became an irritating interruption to the kidnap, and of course, to the addictive Julian/Lena dynamic. It got in the way like a tall person at a concert.

I have to admit that I've become a bit desensitized to the cold-poverty-hunger element to dys-lit. It doesn't have that effect anymore of making me writhe in horror as they freeze. I no longer feel grateful for what I've got when they scavenge old clothes. Nor do I feel a genuine sense of satisfaction when they share a morsel of rabbit meat.

However, when they shower for the first time in weeks, after being unwashed and cooped up in stuffy conditions, yes, that still feels eminently gooood.

And that ending, wow. We all saw it coming, but Oliver somehow managed to lower our blood pressure anyway. I know I nearly fainted.

3 stars.
It would have been 4 but for the "then" padding. And for what it's done to my appetite for granola bars. I couldn't stomach one ever again.

The plot thickens in this second installment of Oliver's trilogy. It introduces new characters, new complications, and new ideas to challenge the reader. In a similar vein as the Hunger Games, the question of how far you can go when your cause is just is dealt with. Looking forward to seeing how the author gets out of the predicament left at the end of the book.

This is a fantastic series. Originally bought the first in an e-book and then bought the three in hardback. Sad that the e-book/kindle/google edition was shorter and not the same. Highly recommend reading this series for teenagers.

spoilers from the first book in the trilogy

This is an excellent second book in the trilogy. I loved the first and was drawn in, however I was devastated when Alex, the main love interest, was killed off. Lauren Oliver does a great job keeping the spirit alive and making me want to read more, even though I am a romance lover and Alex is gone. The ending is a surprising and absolutely wonderful twist, and I was literally shaking and fighting the urge to scream when I read it. This is a great book and a must read!!! I can not wait for the next book in the series.