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)

Great story but the narrators...not so much.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend the written book. I had a hard time getting past the first 20 chapters because the narrators were so ho hum.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the twists in the plot. Just when I thought ah that's what is going on the road moved again.

How could the performance have been better?

I would have preferred narrators who could actually use appropriate inflection. They were both a little flat.

Could you see The 5th Wave being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I guess so since it has been.

Really good I must say

this book held my attention the whole time. Phoebe sounds cute, which she is... 😆

Interesting concept

Rick Yancey offers many surprises in his "The Fifth Wave." This YA novel blends in action, romance, and scifi. The key to the books rests with strong characters. The female lead, Cassie, is smart, tough, and determined to find and save her brother. The male characters seem to revolve around Cassie either directly or indirectly. The pace of the novel keeps the reader engaged, and Yancey keenly reveals the truth about the alien invaders in pieces until the picture becomes menacing clear near the desperate climax of the book. Excellent performances by the voice actors. Overall, a great reading or listening experience.

Underwhelming

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The plot was very cliche and shallow. Character development was lacking.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

"Oh, that's it?"

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Haha it is going to be a movie! I'll probably catch it when it comes to Netflix.

Highly Recommend

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend, in fact I have to all of my friends! It's a great story that leaves you guessing most of the time and the main characters are overall very relatable.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sammy! He is so innocent and adorable, but maybe it also has to do with the voice that the female narrator gives him.
I also really liked Evan, he was pretty badass.

What does Brandon Espinoza and Phoebe Strole bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

They bring a lack of eye movement.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The part where Cassie runs away and is screaming in the forest, and then Evan comes back and forces her to see what is really happening. It brings back Cassies strength and determination.

Any additional comments?

I want the next book and I want it now!

heartbreaking, but not without hope

very well written, it made me hug my loved ones just a little bit tighter

Slow at first, but stay with it!!

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

The narrators were really good! I also love that this is becoming a movie so I can picture the characters as the ones they will be portraying in the movie so I won't be disappointed!

What did you like best about this story?

The story is so great! Instead of it just being a typical "alien takes over the planet" story he added a different element to it by describing it all in waves.

Which scene was your favorite?

I really liked the Evan kills the Teds through the vent shaft scene. Cassie and Evan take out the Teds in like 3 seconds before Ben even knows what is going on.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

What is the 5th wave? No one knows, buts it's coming

Any additional comments?

This book really started out slow for me. There is so much inner head talking and it gets a little boring. I actually read one hour into it and stopped it because it was boring me. I started it again though because a friend said it picked up. Once the action started happening it was really nice. I did like the change of narration between the characters, but I didn't like that it would be like 6 chapters here, 2 chapters there. Over all this was a pretty decent book if you can make it passed the first couple of chapters. It really does pick up. I am kind of nervous to start on the second book because a lot of people didn't like it and I don't want to ruin anything. I will give it a try though!

Keeps you wanting to know what happens next

Would you consider the audio edition of The 5th Wave to be better than the print version?

I really liked the story. I liked how it was separated into parts so you knew you were about to hear what's happening to the next character. There was a lot of action and great character detail.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Well, they've already made one :-)

1st Impressions - Wowed

Great story & well performed! A movie in my head, couldn't ask for more!
I really enjoyed how the author weaved the story and the performance of those reading was excellent. One of my favorites yet from and audible book.

Loved having two different voices read the book

A good suspenseful story. It kept my attention. Now I want to see the movie.