Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

It's been six months since readers first met 17-year-old Lena Haloway, desperately in love in a world that considers such feelings an infection to be permanently and irrevocably "cured." This much-anticipated sequel to Delirium (2011) picks up right where the first novel left off, with Lena and Alex's only partially successful attempt to escape to "the Wilds." Lena, alone, heartbroken and near death, must reach deep within herself to find the strength and the will to survive. "Step by step--and then, inch by inch," she is reborn. The story of Lena's new life as a rebel Invalid, determined to honor the memory of Alex by fighting for a world in which love is no longer considered a capital offense, is told through a series of flashbacks and present-day accounts that will leave readers breathless. The stakes only get higher when Lena realizes she has feelings for someone new. The novel's success can be attributed to its near pitch-perfect combination of action and suspense, coupled with the subtler but equally gripping evolution of Lena's character. From the grief-stricken shell of her former self to a nascent refugee and finally to a full-fledged resistance fighter, Lena's strength and the complexity of her internal struggles will keep readers up at night. (Dystopian romance. 14 & up)

ALA Booklist

Having evaded the required government procedure that eliminates amor deliria nervosa (aka love) at the end of Delirium (2011), Lena now lives in the Wilds among the Invalids her migratory uncureds who plot to raise awareness of the evils of living without passion. In this swift, cunning sequel, Oliver splits the time line between Lena's early acceptance into the group (and mourning of her lost love, Alex) and a later maneuver that goes awry when a splinter group known as the Scavengers kidnaps both Lena and Julian e current poster boy for the benefits of the procedure. Thrown together, the two begin to have strong feelings for each other, and Oliver gets a lot of play out of Julian's virginal arousals at the very touch of a female. Whereas Delirium felt more like fantasy, this is a romance in the purest of senses, where just the longing for the faintest taste of love is worth the greatest of risks. Like all successful second volumes, this expands the world and ups the stakes, setting us up for the big finale. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Delirium was the kind of book that inspired breathless teen reviews and the publication of special editions. Expect the same here, with two book tours, heavy advertising, and floor displays.

Horn Book

Delirium, the first book in the trilogy, introduced a dystopia in which love is a deadly disease to be eradicated. Chaos reigns as Lena begins working for the resistance and is swept into a battle for freedom. Plenty of action and rising stakes move the story briskly along; the cliffhanger ending offers some rewards while anticipating more dramatic turns to come.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

It's been six months since readers first met 17-year-old Lena Haloway, desperately in love in a world that considers such feelings an infection to be permanently and irrevocably "cured." This much-anticipated sequel to Delirium (2011) picks up right where the first novel left off, with Lena and Alex's only partially successful attempt to escape to "the Wilds." Lena, alone, heartbroken and near death, must reach deep within herself to find the strength and the will to survive. "Step by step--and then, inch by inch," she is reborn. The story of Lena's new life as a rebel Invalid, determined to honor the memory of Alex by fighting for a world in which love is no longer considered a capital offense, is told through a series of flashbacks and present-day accounts that will leave readers breathless. The stakes only get higher when Lena realizes she has feelings for someone new. The novel's success can be attributed to its near pitch-perfect combination of action and suspense, coupled with the subtler but equally gripping evolution of Lena's character. From the grief-stricken shell of her former self to a nascent refugee and finally to a full-fledged resistance fighter, Lena's strength and the complexity of her internal struggles will keep readers up at night. (Dystopian romance. 14 & up)

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Following directly on the heels of Delirium (HarperCollins, 2011), Pandemonium is equally riveting. It shifts back and forth between "then," as readers discover how Lena adapts to her life in the Wilds even as she grieves for Alex, and "now" where she is infiltrating the DFA, an organization committed to offering the "cure" to all citizens regardless of their age in spite of the known risks to anyone under the age of 18. She begins to have feelings for Julian, the son of the leader of the DFA, when they are incarcerated together following a mass demonstration. They discover they have more in common than they could have imagined despite their initial mutual antipathy and distrust. Oliver's descriptions of life in the unregulated Wilds with its deprivations and dangers are powerful and vivid. The characters are fully realized and heartbreakingly human. The underlying theme that love will win out regardless of prohibition is a powerful idea that will speak to teens. Readers who gravitate toward dystopian literature with high-stakes action and flawed humans who are willing to risk all for their ideals will enjoy this novel and eagerly await the next one in the trilogy. Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK