Panic by Lauren Oliver {POCKET REVIEW}

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.
Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.
Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.
For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most.

Book Title: Panic
Author: Lauren Oliver
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Thriller, Romance
Publication Date: March 4th 2014
                               by HarperCollins
[REVIEW COPY]

 

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

My Review:

Panic is good in the sense that it has a certain and unique thrill to it. The plot is quite unconventional. However, the beginning seems a little too dragging. Plus, I found myself struggling to understand what the so hyped up game 'Panic' actually is.
Like the plot, Heather is different as a character too. Regarding Dodge though, I feel he is what we call in literature 'an unreliable narrator'. The chapters where I get to see his pov are good, but it has a certain vagueness to it. Maybe the author had planned to keep it that way or it is totally unintentional, I don't know. Whatever the reason is, the only thing that kept me curious about Dodge's character is this unreliability of his, it's like you can never know what's going on in his head and it'll annoy the hell out of you! 

The story appeared too serious at times (like, way too serious for my liking). I'd become author Lauren Oliver's fan after reading her Delirium trilogy (like so many people out there). I'd started reading Panic majorly because of this. I can't say I'm wholly disappointed, since it's not horrible. I would never write a review if that was the case. But it could have been better, compared to what I've read from the author previously. I know many who like this book, so I won't say just go ahead and skip it. Specially, if you're a Lauren Oliver fan, you can give the book a try, but be prepared (whether you do or do not like it)!

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