The Fall

The Glimpse Duology #2

by Claire Merle

London, in the not-so-distant future. Society has been divided into Pures and Crazies according to the results of a DNA test. But seventeen-year-old Ana, whose father invented the Pure test, has uncovered a recording with dangerous evidence that the tests are fake. Ana has escapes to the Enlightenment Project - a secluded sect living on the outskirts of the City. Back in the arms of Cole nothing is simple. Some in the Project believe her presence jeopardizes their safety, others interpret her coming as part of their prophetic Writings. When the recording Ana stole goes viral, the Project comes under attack. Now Ana's father isn't the only one looking for her. She's come to the attention of Evelyn Knight, the Chairman of the Board - a powerful woman with a sinister plan. Ana must take greater risks than ever to unravel the truth and discover the secrets that lie beneath the Pure test. But unlike her father, the Chairman doesn't want her safely home. She wants Ana's spirit crushed, permanently. And she will destroy everyone Ana cares about to do it.

Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Fantasy

358 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2013

About the author

Claire Merle grew up in London and moved to the outskirts of Paris in her twenties. She is the author of four books for Young Adults, including the award-winning fantasy, Shadow Weaver.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second and final book in The Glimpse duology.

Book one was a real page turner, and I'm happy to say that the momentum continued.

We continue to follow Ana in a world split into two. Two societies, one country. Those with mental health issues are segregated, medicated, and regulated, while the 'Pures' live a life of luxury and freedom.

This was a decent conclusion on the overall plot, and while it felt very surface level, I think the author made her point well. For a YA series, this is pretty decent.

Four stars.

[Melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads

DNF

Thank you Allen and Unwin for sending me this copy. No compensation was given or taken to alter this review.

I feel like I'm coming to the point where I just am so sick of the same stupid books that I have zero effort to rant about it. Books like The Fall suck all the energy out of my body, leaving me nothing but empty frustration.

Dear The Fall,

It is in my greatest reluctance to write, for what is to fourth-come is my dreary thoughts that have been dried up after reading you.

I don't think I'll ever remember you. I already have forgotten you. You are easily forgettable. You are easily replaced. With something better. With something more worth my time. With something more worth my effort. Maybe if I read you first I would have loved you more? But I have read enough of your type of books. The same old. The same boring. The same cliché. The same old boring cliché novels that suck all my love for reading at times. However then I forget you and pick up another novel, not the old boring cliché novel like you are.

Your brain, is weak and illogical. I cannot bear character who speaks the words and does the actions. She's not genuine, she's whiny and effete. She's not relatable, she's impromptu and stubborn. For the main character- your brain- is not convincing, and I do not wish to befriend such stupidity. But not that I hate her. She's okay at times, she has compassion and does what she deems right, but the brain is not always right. And The Fall, your brain, to my greatest sorrow, is never correct.

Your heart, it is unreliable but still works. After all, if it did not, then you wouldn't be alive, you wouldn't be working. The Fall, you are here with a working heart, but you are wheezing for breath, struggling to keep your hands on the cliff. Your world, your plot- your heart- is not unique. It is odd, it does not suit you at all. I was not caught by your hearty intentions, this structure of world was not entrapping. This plot was so typical. For your heart is the same, it isn't independent like other dystopias.

Your soul, is lame. It's not chemistry, hell, it's not even science. Your brain says hi to amazing strangers, but it's never as sweet to your love. To your Soul. Mate. And when it is, I feel like I need a toilet stop. To puke. I don't like to puke. So cheesy and angst-driven, it can be. Your soul is unreliable, it could slip from your body if your brain sees someone else, then you are no one. The Fall, you are no one. No book, I mean.

I am so sorry you and I could not connect. I am sorry I didn't like your brain (main character), your heart (world and idea) and your soul (romance). I don't need to see you again. I don't wish to see you again. I don't want to see you again.

Goodbye.

Forever.

From Melanie.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!!!! Mind blowing at every turn! You will fall and fall hard.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The thing about 'The Fall' is that it was too simple; simple characters, simple plot, simple ending. Good dystopians should make you think and question and this one just didn't. There wasn't any moral conflict in the novel - the good guys were good and the bad guys were bad and there wasn't any blurring of this line.

Ana's dad became my favourite character, because he was the most complex of them (though that's not saying much). Evelyn Knight - the baddie - wasn't given any real backstory or fleshing out, other than an affair with Ana's dad when they were younger, which she's still bitter about. Her reasons for the Pure/Crazy split weren't explained, and I just don't think she was a strong character. I also didn't understand the character of Jack Dombrant - I couldn't work out his motivations or reasons for doing things. He seemed to switch sides pretty quickly.

The relationship between Ana and Cole became increasingly hard to believe - he broke up with his girlfriend of like 10 years because of his vision of him kissing Ana? How is that at all plausible? And of course the ex-girlfriend has to have no redeemable characteristics at all, and placed at odds with Ana. Ana and Cole had instalove in the first novel, and there's not any study or examination of it in this one; they are just together. I wasn't very convinced by their relationship.

The ending was also hard to believe; it was like a magic fairytale ending, where everything ends happily ever after. I refuse to believe that just because Evelyn Knight dies and they reveal some of those atrocities, that everything will just reverse themselves and all prejudices will just reverse themselves. That doesn't ring true to me, which is why I thought the ending was just too happy.

I will say that there was character development on Ana's part - she was certainly stronger in this novel. Also, the book was more action-packed than the last one, and I began to come round to the idea of glimpses. I liked that they showed you at the best version of you, even if I found it weird that this supernatural-type element was embedded within the novel with no explanation.

This is the second and final book in the series (I believe) and I just found the whole series a bit lacklustre

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Glimpse and I was really excited to read The Fall. It was everything I had hoped it would be - exciting, unputdownable action, suspense, emotion. Ana is faced with lots of soul-searching challenges, incredible revelations. No one is quite who they first appear to be... I feel like I've travelled a long way with Ana - on her journey of finding out who she really is, what stuff she is made of. I will miss her. I will miss her bright light in her amazing, mysterious, dark and twisted world. I can't wait for Claire Merle's next book - where else will she take me?

[Jennifer Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! My eyes were glued to my kindle and I didn't want to put it down. It was action-packed, with twists and turns throughout the book. I loved it!!

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read and tremendously enjoyed "The Glimpse", I couldn't wait to get my hand on "The Fall". I was so excited by the premise of the first book, it even prompted me to include a discussion on top of my review to explore the mental health and discrimination issues. As it is, perhaps high expectations can sometimes mar our final enjoyment of a book. Had I not read the first book, I might've given half or even a full star more in the ratings. Thing is, once the premise, the setting and the characters are already in place, I think that it is the plot that carries the weight of drawing in the reader. Sadly, it always the plot that left me hanging out to dry.

The resolution did not reflect the reality that had been set up and in a bid to tie up all the loose ends, a number of sub-plots came up short. They were simplistic and convenient. I mean, how can the complicated relationship between Jasper and Ana, as a result of his eradicated memory that he partially managed to recover along the way, be resolved so directly? The twists and turns between the two were presented as vastly circumstantial and failed to delve into the dynamics of their relationship. As much as I was intrigued by Cole in "The Glimpse", somehow that interest in him did not sustain very well in "The Fall". He became more of an obstacle than someone integral to Ana's actions and motivations, seeing how determined she had been to join the Enlightenment Project because of him.

At the end, the idea of the Pures and the Crazies drowned amidst all these sub-plots and while the resolution did address what would become of their society in future, it didn't pan out as extensively anymore in "The Fall" as it first did in "The Glimpse". For those who took offence at the portrayal of discrimination based on mental illness, maybe this is welcome news. Still, I think reading about things that offend us reminds us to retain our humanity, and to never engage in such inhumane practices.

Fuller review here.

[Kate Ormand]

The second and final book in The Glimpse duet. Both books serve up fast-paced action and spectacular twists. The prophetic glimpses are a unique and interesting quality that sets the books apart from other titles in its genre. I love this series and would recommend to fans of Teri Terry’s Slated and Emma Pass’s ACID.

[Julia Leru · Rating 2 out of 5]

Перенесла отзыв со старого аккаунта.
Очень скучная книга, сюжет в которой еле развивался. С удовольствием начала читать, потому что сеттинг все-таки обещал много, и в итоге - разочарование. Да, я была предвзята - но как раз предвзята в хорошем смысле слова, я была действительно настроена дать книге шанс стать одной из тех, которые с удовольствием дочитаю до конца.
Но нет. Где-то на 15 главе я поняла, что мне совершенно неинтересна ни любовь Аны и Коула, ни ее отношения с Чистыми и Психами, но вообще сюжет. Бессмысленная и беспощадная скука. В этот раз мне даже не хочется пытаться и анализировать, почему.
Это просто разочарование.

[Kodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I like this book? Idk it felt super rushed but here's the thing. I somehow couldn't find this sequel for TEN YEARS. Ten years I waited to read this sequel. Ten years I wondered vaguely what happened but didn't put much effort into finding a copy of this book. So I am unable to properly rate this book because at the very least it was there in the back of my mind for TEN YEARS.

[Hermione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing duology. fantastic. Love it.

[Lisa Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story about destiny and your choice to choose your own amazing story

[Blue · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first one and stupidly read the second one...it did not get better.

[Lauren B · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books have mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed them.

[Jemma Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this and the first book. Definitely recommend

[Catherine Thorpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fall is a fantastic representation of mind control, disguise. It uses technology that any 21st century person would like to own. We now live in the age of gadgets but this book takes it to the extreme. Who would't want to own an “interface”?
As it was a full year since the first book was available to the public it did take a few chapters to truly settle back down into that world but the necessary elements of the plot were present, the plot quickly came back. Time doesn’t seem to pass too much between books so they link up quite well.
Set in the “not so distant future” as it was aptly put in the blurb, in the familiar surroundings of London, Ana and Cole’s adventure to uncover the dark truth is such an exciting read. There are some very action-packed scenes, none of which were predictable or cliché. In fact every sequence held that mystery to keep the reader guessing.
There were however a few issues that couldn’t be missed, one of which was the ending- it was far too sudden! There were two books which was felt to be more than enough capacity to introduce the main characters in depth, set the plot and motive then build it up and up without any constraints. Where was the satisfying ending? You build up this great relationship with the characters and are then ripped apart from them with no chance to say goodbye properly. It is incredibly frustrating.
But what Claire Merle should be commended for is her choice of protagonist. It is refreshing to read of a heroine who can physically and mentally adapt to her ever-changing environment. There is nothing more frustrating than reading about a soppy teenager who cries all the time and spends most of the book repeating indecisive inner monologues. With Ana, she has the determination to stick with the choice she has made and a will to live in times where death is almost imminent.

[Big Book Little Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline for www.bigbooklittlebook.com
Read as part of Finish It Feb reading challenge

I love duologues and I really need to read more of them. They are the perfect solution for readers like myself who want more, more, more from their favourite characters, who wish to be re submerged in familiar worlds, who enjoy the anticipation of waiting for the next instalment. BUT without the agony of years of commitment to reach a conclusion, of series fatigue, of memory loss, filler, and the predictable formula of trilogies. I’m happy to have some questions left unanswered, to imagine my own epilogues, to be left wanting more without the expectation that I will receive it.

The Fall delivered just that. It was a great second instalment to a book I really enjoyed. A second, essential, economical part which moved the characters and story ARC forward, which answered the essential questions from the original and allowed me, the reader, to imaging my own endings. It made me want to go back to the first book and rediscover the story, and as a two book series, it is something that feels achievable despite my busy blogging schedule.

Verdict: I throughly enjoyed my time back in segregated London and I will be looking out for more from Claire Merle and investigating more duologues.

[Daniela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like so many series, the first book was so much better than the second. I really enjoyed learning about the dystopian version of London and meeting the characters in The Glimpse, but the Fall just didn't have the satisfying pay off I was looking for.

I think the author wrote herself into a cliché corner - the suspense was built on whether the heroine or her love interest would survive the ending, but it felt like it would be predictable whatever happened. If Ariana had died it would have felt like *spoiler alert* a divergent rip off and Cole dying wouldn't have had the emotional impact needed because we hadn't spent much time with him. But *spoiler alert* both of them surviving seemed far too neat. Perhaps I'm just a sadist!

That said, I enjoyed the surprise fantasy/magic element and the core message of the book which was different to the dystopian YA I've read before. Nice to see mental health featuring in a YA book.

Overall worth reading but not the best of its genre.

[Kaykay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a little more confusing than The Glimpse, especially at the end. You swap between lots of different scenes, and you forget what just happened with the other scenes and you end up a little more than confused.

I pushed through on this one, because I wasn't content with just the ending from the last book.

But I did like the storyline and the ending. Evelyn wasn't a prominent character in the first book, so when she had been behind the whole thing, it was a surprise; you definitely couldn't have guessed it from the start.

I'm content with the ending/Epilogue. It was just ok. I would like to know more about Louis, the boy she rescued from the Board. I'm confused as to why he was important.

But all in all, it was an entertaining book.

[Tiana411 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had been a long time since I read the first book and I was too lazy to re-read it again before starting this one. Usually authors have a way of reminding us of previous events leading up yo present day.
I did enjoy it but I found myself losing interest part way through. I was looking for a romantic story with some action but found it too political for my taste.
By the end I still had questions that remain unanswered and perhaps I missed it because I was skimming.
Not a bad read but quite intense.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waar ik in The Glimpse overdondert werd door de originaliteit van het verhaal, was haar vervolg The Fall voor mij toch eerder een doorsnee dystopisch verhaal. We krijgen te maken met een love triangle, mensen moeten vechten om te overleven en er is een duidelijk onderscheid tussen de ‘goeden’ en de ‘slechten’. Het boek is zeker niet slecht, maar helaas ook niet heel bijzonder..

Mijn complete review lees je op Oog op de toekomst.

[star_fire13 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm... I didn't like this one as much as the first one. Also! It actually wrapped up in two books! Was totally not expecting that xD haha

Of course, when you kill off the Big Bad, it's easy to wrap things up. I dunno. I don't really have much to say about this one. It was good, but it felt lacking somehow. I feel like it was just a series of revelations. I could've done with a bit more weight added to them.

Oh well

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I thought THE FALL has a lot going for it and it will appeal a lot to readers, and I think many readers of the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver especially will definitely enjoy this book as it has the same vibe about it. There's action and plenty of romance to satisfy readers, so if you love one of those two things then you'll love this series without a doubt!

Full review: http://talesoftheinnerbookfanatic.blo...

[Irene Brouwer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty decent conclusion to a decent enough series. Clearly the author struggled with pacing and content as this was only a two-part duet instead of the usual dystopian YA trilogy, but it was a solid series, if nothing spectacular, and it was a good way to pass the time.

A lot of the characters were underdeveloped and many of the relationships left unexplored, but all in all the two books in this series get a solid 3 stars each.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and seeing Ana develop, such a well-written book that I couldn't put down. The ending is brilliant.. Won't say anymore, please take the time to read this and the first bookThe Glimpse

If anyone has anymore Claire Merle related recommendations please let me know.

[Carlyle Labuschagne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Merle does not disappoint! A wonderful, thrilling, suspenseful, tear-jerking read to end the amazing dystopian duet. I am gong to miss Anna and Cole, Lila and all the colorful characters. I enjoyed every second of the book - loved the ups and downs, the twists and turns. Executed beautifully - anxiously awaiting to read more of this brilliant Author!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Finished in two days. I particularly liked it as it is set in future London, and ends in the part of London I first moved to. Likeable characters, interesting plot, exciting action sequences and lovely, believable romance. I really hope they make a film out of these books, but I don't see how it could be less than a 15 to do it justice.

[Devon Ashley]

WHOA! This came out like two months ago??? Where the hell was I????

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

For some reason, it was impossible to get into this. It started just so generically, it was reading like every other YA dystopian. Nothing clever, nothing original. I may come back and finish it one day, but I doubt it.

[Kaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Better than the first book.