Crescendo

Written by Becca Fitzpatrick

Narrated by Caitlin Greer

The second book in the breathtaking New York Times bestselling Hush, Hush saga, soon to be a major motion picture!

Nora should have known her life wouldn’t stay perfect for long. Despite starting a relationship with her bad boy guardian angel, Patch, and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can’t figure out if it’s for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and starting to become obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father’s death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl when she has a guardian angel. Since Patch isn’t answering her questions, she has to start finding the answers on her own. But when she finds them, will she be able to count on Patch or are the things he’s hiding from her darker than she can imagine?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Oct 19, 2010
• ISBN: 9781442334205

Becca Fitzpatrick

Becca Fitzpatrick is the author of Black Ice, Dangerous Lies, and the Hush, Hush saga, including Hush, Hush; Crescendo; Silence; and Finale—all four of which debuted as New York Times bestsellers. She graduated college with a degree in health, which she promptly abandoned for storytelling. When not writing, she’s most likely running, prowling sales racks for shoes, or watching crime dramas on TV. She lives in Colorado with her family. Find out more at BeccaFitzpatrick.com.

Reviews for Crescendo

[Maca Gomez · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It's even worst than the first one, lmao, I can't deal with Patch.

[exactement · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In the beginning, Crescendo bothered me quite a bit. It seemed like it was very off-and-on between Nora and Patch; one minute they'd be kissing and the next she'd be saying the "You make me sick! I hate you! Get out of my house!" kind of thing. And the whole thing with Marcie? Gag. But once I realized why he was doing it...I kind of-ish forgave him. And then Scott annoyed me for quite some time...and then scared me...but then I guess I kind of accepted him. At some points, I was just reading with either my jaw hanging open or a creepy-beyond-belief smile plastered on my face. During the parts at Delphic I was practically speed-reading through it just so I could know what happened next! Becca Fitzpatrick really knows how to create suspense! Which is why I practically screamed at the computer when I read that the release for Silence, Hush, Hush #3, was not til October 25!

[Victoria Smith · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Really liked the first book but this one didn’t send the best message to women regarding relationships, in my opinion. And the bickering got quite redundant. Otherwise, good twists and turns.

[emc_n · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well, yet again...Becca Fitzpatrick has not failed to leave an impression. For the record...before I say anything else...I loved this book...LOVED it. I have read very few books that pull me in so deeply or make me feel so connected to the main character. I felt so much empathy towards Nora sometimes that I felt like I was in her shoes. I felt every emotion she experienced & found myself getting incredibly frustrated...but in a good way where I wanted to keep reading so everything would resolve itself...and I could actually sleep at night. :) The whole action throughout the book...especially the shenanigans with Marcie (*gag*) were enough to make me want to yell at Patch. However, I think that even though Vee is an essential support for Nora...she drives me crazy most of all. It's always her crazy boy-toys that are trying to kill Nora, I swear. Clearly, Vee needs some better taste in men/fallen angels/Nephilim. She's also all over the place...and the only thing that makes her endearing sometimes is that she loves her bff so much.The ending...jeez, oh man...again it got me. I don't know how Patch & Nora are going to get out of this whole daddy-issue/archangel mess, but I'm hoping it's favorable to their whole being together situation.I honestly think I'm going to count down the days until Silence comes out. I just can't get enough of Patch. :) If you haven't picked this series up...go do it now...you'll thank me later in the form of promoting this book & your lovely comments. :) Of course this book gets a perfect score...duh.

[Shievelli Williams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read these books in high school and was thrilled to find them here! They bring back memories and are also very entertaining

[myckyee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was so pleased to be asked to review Crescendo! I've been hearing how good the first book in the series is and have been wanting to read it for awhile so the offer of Crescendo was all the incentive I needed to read Hush, Hush. I wasn't disappointed by either book.Crescendo picks up where Hush, Hush leaves off. Nora Grey, a plucky but mature teenager (I would have said she is older than sixteen!) finds herself in the midst of danger once again. Nora has the kind of personality that any mother would be proud to have. Occasionally she makes wrong choices (what teenager doesn't?) but overall she's a good kid. Other characters we met in Hush Hush reappear in Crescendo and didn't fail to raise some sort of feeling in me. One high school girl, Marcie Millar, is the perfect antagonist; full of venom, she reminds me of several students I knew when I was in school.Another big plus with Crescendo (as well as Hush, Hush) are the settings. Dark roads, deserted towns, foggy fields and empty houses all take on a life of their own and give Crescendo depth and atmosphere. I particularly loved that aspect of this book.The author has a definite knack for creating tension between characters and within plots. The chemistry between the main characters sizzles. I wanted them to be together! I won't say what happens but I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to all fans of fantasy. And even if you aren't a fan - give this book a try - you may just become one.

[sable677 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Crescendo was a good read however I did enjoy hush, hush a little better. I think part of the reason was that it had been a while since I read the first book in this series. Fitzpatrick does deliver a tale full of twists and turns as well as revealing some startling secrets. The book begins with Nora and Patch in a happy place but that soon changes when Patch begins hanging out with Marcie, Nora's worst enemy from school. Nora is not alone for long because Scott, an old childhood friend, comes back into her life with secrets of his own. Torn between her feelings for Patch and wanting to find out the truth about her father's murder, Nora turns to her good friend Vee. The Nora/Vee friendship is one of the highlights of the book for me because no matter what these two friends have each other's back. Overall Crescendo was a good read, and if you enjoyed hush, hush I would definitely read it.

[jessicalouise23 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

So let me start off by saying I was a little reluctant about picking up Crescendo when my blog followers voted for this to be my Halloween read. Firstly because although I loved the plot for the first book in this series Hush Hush I really didn?t like the characters very much. Secondly a lot of people reviewing Crescendo were saying that they found Patch and Nora very annoying in this book and this was coming from people who loved them in Hush Hush so needless to say that really put me off reading it. I was convinced I?d hate it. But my followers wanted me to read and review it for them so not wanting to let them down I settled down with it on Saturday night and overall I loved it.However the same things that I didn?t like about Hush, Hush annoyed me in Crescendo. That being Patch and Nora?s characters. In Crescendo the couple have a lot of ups and downs. Sometimes I liked them and could understand their decisions, other times they infuriated me so much and I hate to say it but I?m still not a Patch fan. I know that a lot of girls love Patch but I just don?t. He?s a very closed off, secretive character and for that reason I don?t feel like I really know him, giving me nothing to like, and because he?s so guarded I don?t trust him one hundred per cent and I don?t feel his love for Nora. As for Nora she?s just one of those characters that lets us girls down. She?s very needy and risks her life by putting herself in stupid situations to see if Patch still cares enough to save her. I like my lead female characters strong and Nora?s just not my kind of heroine at all. I do however LOVE Nora?s best friend Vee, she?s such a good friend to Nora and I love her wit. The characters are for me the only thing that lets this series down. If they were a bit more likeable I would be in book heaven because the plot is just brilliant.Anyone who knows me knows how much I love books on Angels their my very favourite paranormal creatures and the plot for this series is fantastic. In Crescendo the plot definitely thickens and I?m so excited to see where Becca is taking this series. A lot gets revealed in the duration of Crescendo there?s so much suspense and so many twists and turns that make this book un-put-down-able. I was surprised and riveted and found myself on a few occasions thinking ?oh, just one more chapter!? that one chapter turning into two or three.Becca Fitzpatrick is a brilliant story teller. Her books are action packed and I love her style of writing. As I said at the beginning of this review I had my reservations about picking this one up but overall I?m very glad that I did. It?s not perfect but the plot more than makes up for it, making it a must read to find out more about this world. The twists are just amazing, well thought out and shocking. If you - like myself - are having problems with Patch and Nora whether you?re reading Crescendo or didn?t like them in Hush Hush it?s definitely worth getting past that because everything else about this book is brilliant. Be warned if you?re not a fan off cliff-hanger endings though because this book ends on a HUGE one! How could you do this to us Becca? It does the trick though, because I simply can?t wait to get my hands on the next book in this series. Recommended if you?re looking for a fast paced, paranormal read. 4.5 stars.

[rawrrbot_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I loved 'Hush, Hush.' It immediately grabbed me and pulled me in. I wanted to know every character and I was intrigued by the concept. In 'Crescendo' however, it took longer than I would have liked for that spark -- that moment when you realize you must finish -- to happen.

In the beginning, Nora and Patch have a perfect relationship, then suddenly things change. Nora becomes the type of female protagonist I cannot stand; insecure and jealous, letting her emotions trump logic and getting herself into terrible situations. She's as naive and impetuous as in the first book, but it's not acceptable anymore. It's annoying, because she should know better. Patch is the same person he was and I love his aloofness, but even he had his unlikeable moments.

We spend more time with Vee, who is outrageous and mildly annoying, and Marcie, who has an ongoing feud with Nora that comes to a head as Patch and Marcy seem to be getting closer. We learn more about Nora's heritage and whether or not her dad's murder has anything to do with her Nephil ancestry.

What I did like was that there are more threads to follow, unlike the first book which focused mainly on Nora and Patch. There's not only the complex relationship between Nora and Patch, but there's Nora's ongoing feud with Marcie Millar, the friendship between Nora and Vee, Vee's budding romance with Patch's close friend Rixon (who is also a fallen angel), and a new kid Scott, who's probablydefinitely trouble and may or may not be a threat to Nora.

The world expands in 'Crescendo' and it becomes increasingly difficult to discern the good from the bad, the wrong from the right and that is what makes the story intriguing; that everything falls in a gray area. There's no black or white, the villains and the heroes are non-existent and every character can go either way.


I rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I liked it, but I did not love it. However, I am anticipating the next book in the series.

[snazz_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Let me begin by saying that I absolutely loved Hush Hush. But the only thing that kept me reading Crescendo was that I hoped to get some answers to mysteries still unanswered. Crescendo was very slow paced and it maddened me me that the characters acted so irrationally, which wasn't the case in the first book. At around page 300 the story picks up and I stopped having to force myself to continue. The problem is that the story was almost over by then. Slow pacing might be forgivable, but the plot holes are ridiculous. I hate it when writers decide to make their main character stupid as a means of adding drama. **Spoiler Alerts***** Why was Nora so obsessed with keeping Scott's ring? Keeping it was no use to her. It just made no sense. She was completely rational in the first book and all of a sudden she is running around blind like a chicken with her head cut off. Moreover, for someone claiming to be so desperate for evidence, she sure tried as hard as she could to avoid hearing what Patch had to say in her dreams. It made no sense to me the way she refused to listen to what he had to say. Wasn't she at least curious if he had any useful information? And how about when for no reason she decides Patch must want to kill her? He refused her sacrifice in Hush Hush. Why would he suddenly decide he wants her dead? She had no reason to believe that. And this was before Rixon implicated Patch as The Black Hand. It was just nonsensical. I see that some people didn't like that Nora and Patch were separated. I didn't mind. It made sense. I liked that maybe Patch isn't so perfect. He was struggling with knowing he could never love Nora because if that happened, he'd go to hell. I can see how that whole separation played out. Nora's motivations however, seemed flimsy. It seemed like the author decided to make Nora stupid simply to keep the book going. I know the writer is capable of more. Hush Hush was an example of that. She needs to stop resorting to making Nora stupid and come up with another way to keep the book going.

[allandanybooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was amazing! I didn't catch the bad guy until the end and it made the all the more thrilling. Also I'm sucker for drama so I got my fill of drama from this book. I really enjoy books that make me feel real feelings toward the characters and this was that kind of a book. I hated Marcie and also Patch... Sometimes. I really felt for Nora too even though sometimes she was the one who started the fights and it was always just Patch's fault. The plot of the book is just perfect. It's full of surprises and twists and drama and everything a perfect book should have. Now I'm on to the third book of the series and I can't wait to read it!

[bookscantgetenough · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This didn't impress me. I thought that Nora ended up becoming to needy and seemed like she couldn't stand on her own. She was becoming extremely annoying. I wish it was better. I hope that the next book will be better.

[ecmross · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Becca Fitzpatrick has a way with words! She's a brilliant writer and keeps you engulfed and guessing until the very end. Patch and Nora's story is such the star-crossed romantic type and you just never know what will happen next.

[lisarector · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to like this book so badly. The first one in the series was so hot. But what happened?

Nora suddenly hates Patch and the whole novel is her moaning about how he's with another girl. Totally. The plot is like so non existent. Fitzpatrick draws out the mystery of Scott and her dead father far too long. Needs more story and less moaning. And just another classic case where characters never communicate with each other. Why? So many problems in life would be solved if characters just talked to each other.

Nora is explosive and sneaky and criminal. I want more of the fallen angel part, more of the action. Not the characters going to a beach party every night, and Nora getting upset because she sees Patch with someone else. Well, she is in high school. What did I expect? If I thought it was going to be along the level of the Twilight series or the Divergent series, (this novel bares a strong resemblance to the stupid fights Tris and Four always got in in Insurgent.) I was wrong.

Still a great concept. Clean read, Clean writing. I guess I go for the magical and this didn't bring it for me.

[mtlkch-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not nearly as good as Hush, Hush. Nora really got on my nerves in this one, so it was hard for me to enjoy her character. Great cliff hanger ending!

[myntop · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found myself enthralled yet again. It was heartbreaking in parts, to watch the struggle between Patch and Nora...I could see both of them wanting to be together despite it all. Again I was shocked at who the "bad guy" ended up being. And I found it all very fast paced and enjoyable to read. One thing that keeps bothering me throughout this one, is Vee. She's supposed to be Nora's best friend, but she seems very judgemental and flighty to me. I wish Nora had a more loyal best friend throughout all the stuff she's dealing with. Super mega cliffhanger at the end though! I'm so glad I have book three to start on now!

[mrsdanaalbasha · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I decided to reread 'Hush, Hush' before reading Crescendo.

I just began reading Crescendo and I reached chapter 3. I got to say I had that feeling from book one, that Patch is the one who killed Nora's dad, I'm not sure if I'm right or wrong yet.

I can't believe she told him she loves him then broke up with him the next day!

I was dead wrong!! Patch is just naughty!! The ending was great. I love Patch and Nora together! Can't wait for book 3!

[heatherlinc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not quite as good as "Hush Hush" but still an entertaining read and I loved Vee, Nora's quirky, long-suffering BFF.

[texasbooklover7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Yikes! What an ending!

[stembie3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I can only imagine how difficult it is to write a sequel as good as the first book in a series. Especially when you need to leave a cliffhanger to attract readers to a third book. Still I was not as enamored with this story as I was with Hush,Hush. As a book seller I often recommend Hush, Hush (and Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater) to teen girls as antidotes to the Twilight series. I'll continue to do so, and hope that the third book in the series has the protaganist returning to being a strong independent woman who just happens to be in love with an angel.

[kr_patterson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A little of a disappointment after the first. I did find it compelling enough to keep reading, but the girl protag in this book was acting far more immature than she did in the first, and I found it hard to read for that reason. I cringed at so many things she said and did and found it hard to believe that Patch was still interested in her. Sometimes it was painful to read, but sometimes interesting.

[sgcastellini · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Alot going on in this book, had to stop and think a lot! Frustrating ending too!

[shouldireadit · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this second part of the "Hush, Hush" series, Patch and Nora's relationship take more dips, curves and turns than a run away roller coaster. Plot twists will leave readers eagerly turning pages to see what happens next, while the cliff hanger ending will make you scream in despair - knowing you'll have to wait for part 3 to be released.

[lrhubble · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Contemporary, Paranormal, Young Adult, Coldwater, MaineNora Grey thinks everything is perfect now that summer is starting and Patch her extremely hot and protective guardian angel is by her side. Nora has to take a summer school class unfortunately and suddenly Patch has grown distant. He also seems to have developed an irritating interest in Nora’s arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.Nora never would have noticed Scott Parnell an old family friend if she hadn’t been so frustrated with Patch. Scott has moved back to town and his attitude is enough to normally drive Nora away but she is mysteriously drawn to him and the secrets he seems to have especially the ones about her own past.If that isn’t enough Nora is suddenly dealing with images that are haunting her about her murdered father. She is also questioning whether her Nephilim bloodline had something to do with his death. Nora is willing to risk everything in a desperate need for answers. And she is not going to let everyone’s warnings that things are better left buried stop her.This is another great book in this series. It gives more answers and keeps readers guessing as to what will happen next and just what some of the answers are. It also has a few surprises that readers will not see coming but adds so much to the storyline that is woven through the series. This second book adds a great deal to the first book and proves it is just as good as the first book was. It will also have readers wanting to see what is going to happen next and just where this is going to end up. This is proving to be a very good series that so far doesn’t disappoint. The suspense keeps building with each word and will have readers coming back for more.

[staciesnape-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Even though I read this a week again I've been struggling to find the words to describe it. But I think I finally have. Predictable. It was predictable from the start to the finish and I struggled to read it. I don't know what else to say other than that.Marcie was annoying, I still couldn't stand Nora's best friend (so unimportant that I don't remember her name) and Patch just did my head in. I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to write about it. Its literally taken me 2 weeks know to even finish this review. So now I pretty much give up. Don't hold your breath for a better one or one for Silence

[mirandalg14 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It took me a while to get into this as it has been a while since I read Hush, Hush and I had forgotten a lot. Overall, I think it tunraveled some interesting story lines and I will be interested to see where it goes in the next book.

[siquebella · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was a really good book better for teenagers. It was mysterious and dark with some romance mixed in. I liked it a lot!

[sreeparna-11 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book is definitely a let down.I didn't like the first one much but this one is horrible.I couldn't count how many plot holes it have.

Nora is damn annoying.2/3 of the book went on and on around the same things Nora,Patch and Marcie and again Nora,Patch and Marcie.Only the last 100 or some pages have something other than that.I felt like screaming at Nora's stupidity.Countless times she told Patch to get out from my house,my room,my dream,my head and the very next moment she went some place to see Patch.Then what was the point of telling him to get out!When Patch was not telling her the full truth,she was adamant to get it out from Patch but when he tried to tell her in her dreams,she put her fingers in the ears.She is the worst kind of heroine possible.

In the 2/3 of the book,Rixon never appeared physically and the moment he was physically presented to the readers,you can see it from miles away that he is up to something bad.And I couldn't believe the plot went to the same line of the first installment.Again a fallen angel tried to sacrifice Nora to get a human body.Honestly,couldn't Becca Fitzpatrick thought of something else than sacrificing Nora for the same reason again?

The ending was the last straw for me.How could she end a book like that!It was like the story ended because there was shortage of pages or something.What happened to the plot that Chauncey's descendant was avenging his death by trying to kill Nora?I can go on forever but I don't think wasting any more time on it is worth it.The first book was ok but this is plain awful.I am worried that I have to read the next one too.I can't abandon a series in the middle.Please think of something better next time than to sacrificing Nora for the same reason again.

[pamzaragoza · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well. This is the second book of the Hush Hush saga. And at first, I really found it dragging since Patch and Nora are having trouble in their relationship and it just got me a bit frustrated (since I've missed Patch and Nora fluffs, you know). As the story goes on though, there goes the page-tearing action that just got me going through the book! There goes Nora's mom and Hank Millar's affair which will soon be revealed by Marcie which makes matters worse for Nora. Nora's life sucked on this one. She thought she lost Patch to Marcie. She felt so alone. Her mom is having an affair with her enemy's father. What could make matters worse? Knowing that you're dad isn't your real dad after all. Sucks! Oh well. The ending is such a cliffhanger!! But a big thumbs up on this one!

[crashmyparty · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Crescendo is the sequel to Hush, Hush, the story of the infuriating Nora and her fallen angel lover boy Patch. Right from the start there was a lot about this novel that irked me. They may seem like little things, but they add up to the reading experience of the book as a whole. I'm going to remember those little things. Well, most of them, hopefully.At the start of Crescendo, Patch and Nora have been happily dating for two whole months. Wow! Good on them. There's been a lot of making out and...I don't think much else. Nora keeps blowing off her best friend to spend time with Patch (something like: I'm not going to answer her call because I'm not going to see Patch again until TOMORROW NIGHT. Must make the most of our time! That sort of stuff) and she's SO IN LOVE WITH HIM and SO HAPPY. Just in case you didn't know. So that's irritating enough to read as it is. Then Nora does stupid stuff like antagonize the mean girl, then go and cry when the mean girl is mean - what did you expect, Nora? And it's not like you were being nice (I could hear your snotty tone). That's just background stuff. The big thing comes when Patch drives her home, they're making out in his Jeep, he's saying he wants to be with her forever, she comes out with 'I love you'. Then he's gone. He leaves. Some more stuff happens, Nora gets mad for no reason, Patch is being mysterious and the next thing you know, they break up. I know what you're thinking. They're so much in love, how can this happen? Well Nora has a flair for melodrama, in case you hadn't realized. And that's pretty much why.There's a lot of back and forth of 'I love Patch' 'I don't trust Patch' 'but he can't be with anyone else' 'I'm going to break into his house' etc and unfortunately there's a lot of stuff with all these extra characters such as Scott and Marcie that overshadows the much cooler plot that seems to be neglected because of Nora's obsession with Patch - the fallen angel/Nephilim storyline! I enjoy these books much more when that is the main focus as opposed to Nora's little games she tries to play with Patch. Because you know what Nora? People who love each other do not hurt try to hurt each other, no matter how hurt they may be themselves. Which to me only further cements how silly and immature Nora is. But I get sidetracked. This book gets a raised rating of 3 stars, as opposed to 2.5, because there was more cool angel stuff in it, loved the little twists even though they were a little predictable. I think I would enjoy this more if Nora wasn't our heroine. I also think she should stop breaking into houses. Not cool, Nora. I don't care if your ex-boyfriend is seeing someone else, and you broke it off so you shouldn't either.The other problem is there's a few too many characters we're not supposed to like, as if Nora is getting attacked by everyone on all sides. She's not that special! Also there is a tendency for one bad thing to happen or revealing information learned, then moved on from in the next chapter. I think I'm done. Oh wait, one last thing. There's a few inconsistencies I picked up, like in the first book Nora's dad was dead, yes, it was sad but more about how her and her mum were now on their own. But in this book, even a hamburger makes Nora think of her dead father. So you didn't miss him then but you do now?I just realized this review was mainly complaints. Sorry about that - it's one of those books. Onward to book 3, hopefully we get some more angel stuff!