The 5th Wave

By: Rick Yancey

Narrated by: Brandon Espinoza, Phoebe Strole

Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

The Passage meets Ender's Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After the first wave, only darkness remains. After the second, only the lucky escape. And after the third, only the unlucky survive. After the fourth wave, only one rule applies: Trust no one.

Now, it's the dawn of the fifth wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker.

Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing her brother - or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

©2013 Rick Yancey (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Gripping!" (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"Nothing short of amazing!" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

"Yancey's heartfelt, violent, paranoid epic, filled with big heroics and bigger surprises, is part War of the Worlds, part Starship Troopers, part Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and part The Stand ... a sure thing for reviewers and readers alike." (Booklist, starred review)

Entertaining

It kept my attention during my commutes. The ending was predictable. Will read the next book.

AWESOME

I'm so glad I listened to this book!!! Definitely my favorite ever, thank you audible (:

it was okay.

it was an interesting listen but not great. Not sure if I'll get the next.

Love it

I really enjoyed the movie so I had to listen to the book. This was great. I could really picture the events as they occurred. I will definitely check out the other books in the series.

Okay story that I would NOT recommend

The voice acting is solid, so I'm glad I listened rather than read, but the story is just okay. It takes a very long time to get to a not-particularly-interesting resolution. The character development is not terrible, but not awesome. The conflict could be pretty compelling, but falls a bit flat. There are just too many improbable details that negatively impact believability.

At the end of the day, I wouldn't recommend it, but it's not the worst story in the world either.

STORY, CHARACTERS, AND THE PERFORMANCE WAS AMAZING!

I loved the relatable characters and the unique story different from other books like The Hunger Games. It never disappoints! I not could stop reading this masterpiece!

The best I have listened to in a while.

What made the experience of listening to The 5th Wave the most enjoyable?

Everything. The narrator, the story, the characters, the prose. There is not a single thing I did not like about this book. LOVED IT!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cassie. She is very likable, interesting, and so freaking hilarious!

Any additional comments?

I finished listening to this book and was very impressed with how much I loved the story and the characters. I had no idea I was going to love it so much. I cannot wait for the second!!!

Original Twist on An Alien Invasion

It takes a lot to wipe out the billions of people residing on Earth and as we experience one of those tactics (the fourth wave) we gradually get filled in on the previous waves that have hit our home planet hard. Each alien attack has resulted in a catastrophic loss of life and as the main protagonist, 16 year old Cassie Sullivan worries about what could possibly be next - the fifth wave - a gripping story of her survival unfolds.

The odd thing is how under the radar these aliens are. Bad things are happening, but there are no strange looking creatures walking around shooting people. There is a huge spaceship that gives people something to blame when a plague hits (one of the waves), but there are no aliens in sight, no smaller ships attacking earth installations or anything you usually expect to read about in a grand invasion from outer space.

This is a series and this first book starts out with a lot of quality. There are a lot of mysteries to be solved during Cassie's adventures and the explanations that come near the end of the book are quite satisfying.

I raved about another Science Fiction series in a previous review and while my daughter (who doesn't see herself as a science fiction fan) thought it was okay - she loved this book and talked me into buying the second volume. I'm noticing this first book is currently on sale for 6.95. .

Use a credit, or get it on sale. You won't regret getting this book.

Awesome new dystopian fantasy series

This is my first experience with this author. I am very pleased to say that I have a new fav to add to my collection. So good I dreaded the ending. Now what am I going to do while waiting for the next book in the series? sigh...

Really good character voicing and POV

What made the experience of listening to The 5th Wave the most enjoyable?

The book keeps you in a constant state of tension because you are always waiting to understand more about the aliens and what is actually happening. This tension is something that pulls you forward.

What did you like best about this story?

Lots to like. Cassie's POV, some great action sequences, good humor, etc.

Which scene was your favorite?

I have to say the rescue of Jamie

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Maybe I'm just dull emotionally, but it sure could have done those things. For me, it was more intriguing and enjoyable and made me think what would I do in such situations?

Any additional comments?

I learned some things about writing from this book. Thanks Rick.

As to the performance, both of you did a great job and were VERY believable!