Review: Falling Under (By: Gwen Hayes)

Title: Falling Under
Author: Gwen Hayes
Publisher: New American Library (A division of Penguin Group)
Published: March 1, 2011
Genre: YA Fantasy
Paperback: 324 pages
Dimensions: 20.2 x 13.8 x 2.4 cm
ISBN - 10: 0451232682
ISBN - 13: 978-0451232687

Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.



As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.


And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

**********

 
 
There is something hauntingly beautiful about this cover, don't you agree? The hair, the dress, the black roses; all stunning. It will please you to know that what lies inside this book holds just as much intrigue. Falling Under may be a debut novel, but Gwen Hayes has managed to deliver something that will sit well with YA fantasy lovers.
 
Falling Under might just be one of the most quotable books that I have ever read. For days as I read it I was Tweeting the sweetest lines and the sassiest catch phrases. A bunch of our Twitter followers kept asking, "What book is that from?". To honour the wonderful writing I thought I would share the quotes that were most "Tweetable"...

 

"My hand tingled where he kissed her and the bastard knew it."

 

"I'm probably half in love with a boy I don't really like."

 

"My very own goth Mr. Darcy. Jane Austen would be so proud."

 

"The steady beats of his heart were the best kind of music, and I considered myself a pretty good ear."

 

"As they worked a sort of devilish makeover, I sat in the chair and cried silent tears."

 

"'I sleep in your room. I'm fairly pathetic about it. I wear your T-shirts to bed and watch your movies.' She paused. "And you don't even remember me."

 
 

As you can see from the above quotes, much of what is said revolves around a certain boy in our heroine Theia's life. Haden is everything that us girls want from our hero with his two distinct personalities; he's as bad as Jace Wayland and as sweet as Edward Cullen. As much as Haden will make you love him, he will make you hate him. Hence the, "I'm probably half in love with a boy I don't really like". What balances Haden's two sides? Theia. With her British charm and her uncomplicated view of the world, she makes sense of a boy from Under.

 

The most interesting part of this book for me was the juxtaposition of life on earth and life in Under. The dull backyard of Theia's house transforms each night when she dreams. The atmosphere takes on this gothic grace that is only disturbed by the creatures that are lurking. The way that Hayes has chosen to reveal the darker elements of this book truly captures her inherent focus on passion and pleasure. Although Falling Under is a fantasty novel though, it tends to focus more one the relationship between Theia and Haden. My only quam with this is that it seemed to be the reason that the story lagged a little at the end.

If you are looking for an enjoyable YA read then look no further. Falling Under is a delectable debut novel with tongue lashing one liners and a passionate love story. The end of the book is more like a beginning so hopefully there will be another tale to follow. 

-C