Torment (2010)

Torment is the second novel in the Fallen series written by Lauren Kate. It is a young adult, fantasy, paranormal romance published in 2010 under Delacorte Press. It continues the story of Lucinda Price, who is cursed by being reincarnated every 17 years after involving herself in a romantic relationship with a fallen angel named Daniel. Something seems to be different during this lifetime, and Daniel is determined to keep Luce safe from hostile forces while he teams up with other angels and demons in an eighteen-day long truce. He installs Luce at the prestigious Shoreline school in Northern California, where she meets a number of nephilim students who have yet to choose between good and evil. Luce is frustrated by Daniel's unwillingness to be honest with her and is determined to discover the truth on her own. The book still revolves mostly around the concept of religion, fallen angels and reincarnation with the introduction of shadow travel.

The book received a rating of 3/5 in Common Sense Media and 8.7/10 in Fantasy Book Review. Carrie R. Wheadon of Common Sense Media said, "This book is romance purgatory -- stuck and seemingly going nowhere. Oh sure, Lauren Kate had a good thing going in the first book -- that is, if you liked Twilight at all and wished the vampires really had wings instead." while Book, Nerd & Critic said, "This book was just incredible. Once you reach a certain high in the book, you just can't stop reading! With twice the amount of drama, suspense, mystery and passion as the last book..."

Torment debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List, remaining at that position through the week of October 17, 2010. Like its predecessor, the book has also been translated in more than 30 languages.

Synopsis

Plot

After the dramatic events of Fallen, Cam and Daniel make an eighteen-day truce to protect Luce from the Outcasts—beings who are neither angels nor demons. Luce is hidden at Shoreline, a school where both humans and Nephilim attended. Luce finds out more about her past lives with the help of two Nephilim friends: Shelby, Luce's roommate, and Miles, whose affection for Luce causes her to doubt her relationship with Daniel. Daniel will do anything to protect her, which includes forcing her to stay at Shoreline to keep Luce safe. Discovering some of her past lives, Luce realizes how their love hurt the thousands of families she once lived with. During her time in Shoreline, Luce's division between angels and demons becomes blurry when she discovers that Daniel and Cam are fighting side by side. At times, Daniel visits her to try to make her feel happier about her situation. She then finds out he had a fling with Shelby many years ago. At one time, when Daniel comes to visit her, he sees Miles kiss Luce on a window sill. She finds out that not only the Elders want her, but that the Outcasts want to capture her. Luce's parents have a Thanksgiving party, and when her parents go out, the Outcasts arrive in Luce's backyard to fight the angels. Luce finds out that Miles has feelings for her, as he can replicate a person, but only if he loves them. Luce is stressed from the violence and decides to find out more about her past lives by jumping through one of the shadows, leaving everybody behind her, leaving her past and into her future while Daniel, her true love, follows her.

Recurring Characters

Lucinda 'Luce' Price

Daniel sends Luce to a new school in California called Shoreline, where, as he said, she will be safe. Luce doesn't really know safe from what - that is something she will only discover through history. She is now hungry to find out about her past lives as Daniel won't tell her anything. As the story evolves, Luce shows a deep resentment to Daniel. If they had never met in another past life to begin with, she could have had a normal life without having to die and be reborn every 17 years. These feelings will come in conflict with the love she still feels for Daniel, while developing feelings for Miles which she constantly feels guilty for. The feeling of resentment towards Daniel is largely due to the fact that she doesn't understand anything which is why she jumps through an announcer towards the end, in order to learn about her past lives and her love for Daniel.

Daniel Grigori

Daniel is a fallen angel, and in Torment he is Luce's boyfriend. He is forced to leave Luce in Shoreline in order to protect her. He makes a covenant, or rather a truce, of 18 days with Cam, so they can hunt those who want to hurt Luce together. Despite the fact that he is not meant to see Luce as it draws too much attention, he still finds a way to get near her. However, every time results in an argument between the pair as Luce grows impatient with the fact that Daniel cannot tell her anything.

Cameron 'Cam' Briel

Cam is also a fallen angel. He makes a pact with Daniel for 18 days so that both could hunt outcasts sent by the elders who are trying to kill Luce. He doesn't have a huge role in this book, but he does show a more caring side as he helps protect Luce from getting killed when she is lured off campus and starts to seem more protective over her.

Arriane Alter

Arriane is another fallen angel, from Daniel's side. After rescuing Luce, Shelby, and Miles from a revealing moment gone wrong, she decides to stay in Shoreline, from then on, to keep an eye on Luce. Like Cam, she doesn't have a huge role in the book but she turns up at a convenient time and sort of clues Luce in a little bit without revealing too much. She tries persuading Luce to forget her feeling for Miles and stick with Daniel.

Roland Sparks

He is another fallen angel, from Cam's side. In Torment, he will also transfer and study at Shoreline to oversee Luce better. Roland is friendly, and popular as ever.

Mary Margaret 'Molly' Zane

Fallen angel on Cam's side. She says that Shelby's personality reminds her a lot of herself.

Gabrielle (Gabbe) Givens