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all fall downWhat: All Fall Down (Embassy Row #1) by Ally Carter

Who: Scholastic Australia

When: February 1st 2015

How: A copy of this novel was provided by Scholastic Australia for review.

Grace Blakely is absolutely certain of three certain things:

1. She is not crazy

2. Her mother was murdered

3. Someday she is going to find the killer and make him pay

The thing is, nobody else believes her and there’s no-one she can trust. Not her grandfather, a powerful ambassador. Not her new friends, who all live on Embassy Row. Not Alexei, the Russian boy next door, who is keeping his eye on Grace for reasons she neither likes nor understands.

Grace’s past has come back to haunt her… and if she doesn’t stop it, Grace isn’t the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes and one wrong move can make them all fall down.

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I was a bit hesitant to go into All Fall Down because I’d read some mediocre reviews from fellow bloggers. I had no right to be, because I ended up LOVING All Fall Down. I remember bloggers saying that All Fall Down didn’t really compare to Carter’s other books, so I suppose I had the advantage that All Fall Down was my first Carter book – and I know it won’t be my last.

I absolutely loved the fact that Grace was so imperfect. She had no true self esteem to think of. She didn’t trust anyone. She didn’t trust herself. She was the kind of heroine that I adore, and I am so thankful to Carter for creating such a complex character for the YA genre. One that has actual problems, that can’t just be solved with a kiss or a short story arc. Grace has been struggling with her mother’s death for years, and this struggle doesn’t end at the final page of All Fall Down. It doesn’t end with a nice revelation. It doesn’t end with a boy. It just doesn’t end. And it’s painful to read about how much pain Grace has gone through, and how her entire family has been disbelieving of her. It broke my heart.

The other characters that really made an impression on me were Noah and Alexei. Noah more so because he’s just dorky and adorable, and I prefer that (in this case, at least) over the brooding and mysterious Alexei (although I did like him – I would be lying if I said I did not). These two boys were both there for Grace in different ways. There was little to no hint of romance, and for that I was thankful. I don’t really think Grace was in any kind of state of mind to be dealing with romance on top of everything else. But I do have a boy I would prefer her to end up with, and I’ll be really sad if it doesn’t turn out that way. For once I would like the boy I like to get the girl, but we’ll see.

All Fall Down completely captivated me from page one, mostly because of Grace (who I loved), but also because of the storyline and the writing style. Carter has done such a lovely job with both of these, and I cannot wait to read the sequel to All Fall Down as soon as it releases. I’m also keen to read her other books because if they’re anything like this one – I know I will be fan.

I also loved the racial diversity in this book – it was great to have such a wide range of characters from different backgrounds. I was a huge fan of this, and it was simply refreshing not to read about all American people who are all white. Yes for representation!

There’s a bit of a twisty and cliffhangery ending and I have an extreme case of the grabby hands for the next book. GIMME. COME TO ME, PRECIOUS.

© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

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Posted on: April 24, 2015 • By: Chiara

18 Responses to Review: All Fall Down by Ally Carter

  1. YES I LOVED IT TOO. DAT CLIFF HANGER. Noah was so adorable <3 Didn't like Alexei at all. I'm super-excited for the second one now :)

  2. Mawa Mahima says:

    This sounds brilliant! Reviews for this one have always been quite fifty-fifty but I think that if I did see it on a library shelf I would grab it…maybe. :D

  3. Benish says:

    This book actually sounds very different – the cover is catchy as well. I like the sound of Grace, I love imperfect characters, and I just might like her. This is on my TBR so I’m hoping to pick it up sometime soon xD Lovely review Chiara!

    • Chiara says:

      It IS really different, and I ADORE this cover. The colours are just too pretty. If you like imperfect characters, I think you will warm to Grace, Benish! :D Thanks, lovely :)

  4. Prima says:

    I literally bought this book because of the really pretty purple on the inside of the cover so I wasn’t really expecting much. But I loved the characters, loved the mystery. The only complaint I had was it felt way too fast! I totally agree with you that the racial diversity was great and really made the book more interesting and unique!

    • Chiara says:

      The cover is WAY too pretty. I love it, and I hope the cover for the second book is as pretty!

      Yay :D I’m glad you liked it, Prima! I think it was a great read. Things did flow quite quickly, especially towards the end, but I found I didn’t mind too much. Everything was so good!

  5. I actually DNF-ed this :( Not because I hated the book or there’s something wrong with it, I just don’t think it’s for me. I’m glad that you enjoyed it! Maybe someday when I have extra time, I might try to pick it up again :)

    • Chiara says:

      Oh no! D: That’s so disappointing, and I’m sorry you didn’t love this one, Paula. :( I hope if you ever do pick it up again – you love it!

  6. Valerie says:

    Ooo I thought this would be all political? Honestly I don’t know anything about this book hahah, but I’m glad you loved it! Also haven’t read anything by Ally Carter though. Awesome review Chiara!

    • Chiara says:

      It’s not TOO political yet, but to be honest I think that will change with the coming books! I’m definitely keen on more Ally Carter after reading this :D Thanks, Valerie!

  7. Jules says:

    I’m glad that you enjoyed this Chiara ;) I think I’ve read two books from Carter, just not quite sure if it is what I think it was… anyway, I’m kinda not sure if I dig it tho, I am happy that you enjoyed it, but reading the synopsis, it didn’t pack a punch ya know? Maybe I should try something epic. Hmmm

    • Chiara says:

      Me, too! I have heard pretty positive things about her other books, so I am definitely willing to give them a try. It’s a shame you’re not too interested, I definitely think it’s worth the read :D

  8. acps927 says:

    I just posted my review for this book today and my thoughts are pretty much the same as yours! This was my first Carter book and I really enjoyed it, and I too especially appreciated the characters.

  9. Romi says:

    Oh, I love what you wrote about Grace’s problems not being fixed so simply. That does happen a lot, doesn’t it? Having a character who is genuinely hurt and isn’t fixed by a dose of romance is lovely, because of how real it is. How utterly lifelike.
    I don’t think I’ll read this, or I don’t plan to at the moment, but I am reading Ally Carter’s Heist Society, which is quite fantastic and I highly recommend. I have the first book in her other series, so I’m looking forward to getting to that, too. So I hope you like her other work, too! And the next book is as good as you’re hoping. Lovely review, Chiara, as usual. Xx

    • Chiara says:

      It doesn’t! So I was super glad for that inclusion in this book. Her problems were DEFINITELY not fixed by romance, and I think that sends a true-to-life message out to readers, to be honest.

      I shall definitely check out Heist Society. I have heard pretty good things, and after reading this book I know I like Carter’s style. I hope you like her other books, Romi!

      Thank you, dear <3

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