"Fallen" is a suspenseful, gothic-flavored young adult novel... for about the first two-thirds. A hint of the supernatural, forbidden yet destined love -- all the makings of a hit. I liked the main character, Luce, and her troubled yet mysterious past. Luce has seen strange and menacing shadows all her life, and after a boy dies tragically in her presence, Luce is sent to a last-chance boarding school (with the very weird name of Sword & Cross). Here, Luce meets the too-beautiful-for words Daniel, who does everything possible to push Luce away, despite her growing suspicions that they've met before and have some sort of deep connection. The final third of "Fallen", when the pieces begin to come together and Luce starts to unravel Daniel's secrets and their strange connection, makes very little sense and at the same time, feels derivative of about a dozen other young adult novels. Apparently, fallen angels are the new vampires. The plotline in "Fallen" doesn't really hold up to its ambitious beginning, and what's worse, "Fallen" is apparently the first in a series. I think I'll pass on the rest.