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The 5th Wave  By  cover art

The 5th Wave

By: Rick Yancey
Narrated by: Brandon Espinoza, Phoebe Strole
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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)

What listeners say about The 5th Wave

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    5,071
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Story
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Definitely for younger readers

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

A good read for younger readers. As a forty something adult this book lacked a little bit of edge. I enjoyed the story but at times I wished certain things could have been expanded upon. The performance was the first I've listened to by two narrators and both were excellent.The characters were well presented, you thought of them as real. The only item lacking was more detail in the story. Again, excellent for younger readers but slightly lacking but still entertaining for adults.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Zombie and his squad are sent on their first mission. the tension was excellent. And the realization of what they were actually doing made for an exciting turn of events.

Do you think The 5th Wave needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Most definitely. And despite my criticisms, I'll read it also.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting take for an alien ya dystopian novel

I’m not quite sure where to begin with this one. My emotions were just all over during this listen. I was excited about this listen, I heard some GREAT things about this book. Initially there was excitement as I started this one, then curiosity. Curious because the book takes a whole new take on the alien invasion concept. Keep in mind I’m not really into aliens at all, but it sounded interesting. Curiosity continued for a while then to confusion. There were several narrator/point of view changes happening in the book. When I started to get into the current pov, it would change. Then came the frustration and boredom. I felt like some aspects were just dragged out a little longer than I would have wished. Then back to excitement…gah…see why I’m all over!

Okay, it could be my ADHD, I don’t know!

Back up! Alright, the story begins with Cassie telling her story. The first 4 waves have already happened and the human race is trying desperately to survive. Cassie is lucky, she still has her brother and father. They can’t trust anyone! Humans are anticipating there will be a 5th Wave but they don’t know what it is yet.

The other primary point of view is from Ben Parrish aka Zombie….LOVE HIM!! His journey was completely different from Cassie’s. He was basically brainwashed at a place called Camp Haven. A place where all the children were rounded up and made and trained into being soldiers. It’s not easy when the youngest on his squad is a 5 year old, the same age as his sister that passed away. Ben started out wimpy and quickly had no other choice but to toughen up and become a man.

Cassie meets Evan Walker. Evan becomes Cassie’s sort of partner in crime. Can I just say that I love Evan Walker? I knew who he was pretty early on into their meeting which brought on more confusion. He’s so cute and sweet. And of course he was another reason for confusion with me. Is he REALLY good or does he have ulterior motives?

The 5th Wave had some kick ass kids fighting against an alien invasion. Come on…doesn’t that sound interesting?

I just have to say a certain character BETTER come back. That’s all I’m saying. I look forward to reading the next installment to find out what happens.

Narration note: Both narrators are new to me. I thought they both did great. They both have opportunity to do child like voices and big booming voices and did well all around. Brandon Espinoza’s narrator sounded exactly like I would imagine and I think I liked his the best.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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...

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very entertaining

Meant for younger audience, but not juvenile enough to knock off a star. Entertaining with an original storyline. Will be waiting the next installment.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Intriguing is an understament!

With all the fanfare, Rick starts a new and adictive novel of survival. An entertaning rambling of apocaliptical proportions. – Inkish Kingdoms

For more about this review and review! or even for other books, check out my Audible Profile! Inkish Kingdoms!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

disappointing

Just another teeny-boppers-save-the-world esque book. I tried to get to the end but it just became too tedious. No trilogy for me. Yawn.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This story grabbed me from the start

Wow! This was a great start to a wonderful new YA dystopian series. Although the story may not be entirely original, the writing was superb. It's another alien invasion plot but this time they do not come in peace. From the start I was immediately sucked into the story and could not get enough. Even though I don't care for the typical trilogy set up, I am happy this series will continue for at least 2 more books.
Narration was great as well.

5 Stars

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Compelling and Intense!

What did you love best about The 5th Wave?

The World. The 5th Wave built an exciting world that was a blast to watch unfold.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The 5th Wave?

Watching the separate points-of-view careen toward one another!

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

It's always nice to read different POVs, but hearing them brings an added level of depth.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • a
  • 05-21-13

Ok but not out of this world

Any additional comments?

It's not a bad book and there are some fascinating (and terrifying) ideas in it, I just felt that some of the heroine's (and the heroes') reactions didn't ring true.

I also felt like too many of the key scenes relied on 1000 to one chances (or on characters being completely oblivious).

It is definitely worth a listen but in the rapidly growing field of teenage dystopian books, it really doesn't stand out.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best Book I've read in a while! Hard to put down!

This book is full of suspense. I never came to a point where I was bored with the characters or the plot. It really is an attention keeper. It was well written with enough twist and turns, you stay interested in the story line and find yourself rooting for the main characters.

Rick Yancey really makes you feel for Cassie, as she struggles to find Sammy and the storyline between Cassie, Evan and Ben keeps you guessing, which one can she really trust. This book is a run away train that keeps moving until the ending.

I am looking forward to a sequel.

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