At first glance, Silence had me annoyed. Was it really necessary to erase Nora’s mind to move the story along? Was it really going to make for an interesting novel when I already knew everything Nora forgot? Was this just going to be a gimmick to get readers from the second novel to the fourth?

Was the amnesia really needed? Yes. Nora had learned too much in the first two novels, meaning a lot of what she had to relearn and go through in Silence wouldn’t have happened. It made her more vulnerable, which is exactly what was needed to set up the ending of the novel. It makes Nora come across as a little weaker than in the previous two novels; however, I don’t see it completely that way. She fights back to regain her memory, all the while fighting against forces she can’t help but get wrapped up in.

Was the recapping out of control? Not really. Fitzpatrick didn’t spend half the novel condensing the first two novels; rather she left most of it untouched, only reintroducing information when it was necessary. It was never information heavy and when things were brought up that I already knew and Nora didn’t, Fitzpatrick didn’t draw it out.

Was this just a filler novel? Not even a little bit. Yes, it was set up for the final book, but it was also its own story. It had Nora growing as a character and Patch coming to terms with his decisions, as well as finding a way to move past them and create the future he wants. Yes, it was set up for the fourth novel, but it was also its own interesting story.

Silence didn’t wow me quite as much as Hush, Hush and Crescendo did, but it was still a fantastic novel and I can’t wait to see how Nora and Patch’s story ends.