The Twelve by Justin Cronin
The second installment of The Passage Trilogy by Justin Cronin takes us backwards to the beginning of the viral outbreak, a government experiment gone awry.
As the world begins to realize that there is evil among them and it will be their downfall, we are introduced to a new set of characters who are struggling to survive. These new characters lives are woven in with the characters we already know. The story surges forward 100 years into the future, where everything comes down to a last stand between Amy, mankind’s’ savior and The Twelve, the original vampires they created.
I wasn’t as enthralled with this book as I was with the first. It jumps back and forth through time, we get numerous POVs and when we rejoin the characters from The Passage, quite a bit of time has elapsed. The landscape of their lives has completely changed, some of the characters have died and one is incomprehensively resurrected. This left me feeling adrift and unsatisfied. The book also featured another theme that I’m a bit tired of, the evangelistic leader with the wrong agenda. This is a theme that seems worn to me.
Did I say that Cronin yanks us around? You’re just getting invested in the character, place and time you’re in, when BAM! he changes it up and totally leaves you hanging, wondering where what you just read fits in with the rest. But he does eventually bring it all together in the end. Though his writing style can be a bit bumpy and frustrating, the man is a great storyteller and I don’t give up that easily. I continue to firmly believe in Justin Cronin and where he is taking us, so I will be reading the final installment.
Book Haunt 
I’ve read ‘The Passage’ and really enjoyed it. I was also looking forward to this sequel, but now I’m not so sure….Great Review
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I think it depends on the person. Some seem to like this one better.
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I read this and the first so long ago, so I’m going to have to read some summaries before I venture to the third, which I already have waiting for me. I know what you mean, though. I loved the first and the second was not as good, but it was still good. I do remember that I loved realizing that The Last Stand in Denver was Alicia Donadio’s ancestor. (father, grandfather? – I can’t remember, but it was an awesome revelation).
Rebecca @ The Portsmouth Review
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Thanks for you comments Rebecca! I thought I was in the minority, being that I liked this one less than the first. It’s nice to know you concur. I’m going to have to go back and browse it now because I totally missed that revelation, but it’s definitely a good one!
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