Fallen by Lauren Kate Grades 8+ 464 pages Delacorte December 2009 Hardcover     After a terrible accident kills Luce’s boyfriend, she’s sent to the Sword & Cross boarding school for troubled teens. There she realizes the true meaning behind the shadows that have stalked her for her entire life - and learns that love can strike in the most unlikely places. It’s here that she meets Daniel Grigori, gorgeous and absolutely untouchable. She finds herself dreaming about him, even though he makes it clear he wants nothing to do with her. However, something draws the two of them together. In a dramatic climax that roars to an unforgettable finale, Luce learns Daniel’s shocking secret. The publishers were right about this one: it is the ultimate love story, standing out against the tens of Twilight rip-offs we’ve been presented with lately. When I started reading Fallen, I had initial doubts as to whether or not I’d enjoy it. I’m not a Twilight fan (don’t hate me) and thought Fallen would just be another ‘girl falls in love with a vampire and feels sad’ story. I’m more than happy to report that this isn’t the case. Fallen is mature, touching, and funny in all the right places. Luce’s classmates provide excellent comic relief from the more serious stuff (Arriane and Penn in particular), and Cam plays the part of the irresistible bad boy perfectly. Anybody who’s watched The Vampire Diaries is probably well aware of the gorgeous Paul Wesley (who plays the male lead, Stefan) – literally, the guy looks like a painting. That’s who Daniel Grigori reminds me of. Yes, yes - he isn’t real, I’m well aware of that fact, but seriously, Lauren Kate obviously spent a while crafting the perfect guy, and let me tell you, she succeeded. However, the whole ‘shadow’ thing seems a little unnecessary, even after the book’s twist is revealed. The novel is a bit long and drags in the middle; cutting out the shadow subplot may have resolved this. Fallen is a love story of epic proportions. Just try to resist swooning over Daniel/Cam (take your pick). Look out for the sequel, Torment, out September 2010.     web reviews   Carly Bennett/2010 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)