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The 5th Wave (Book 1)

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About this listen

*NOW A MAJOR FILM by Sony Pictures, starring Chloe Grace Moretz*

'Wildly entertaining . . . I couldn't turn the pages fast enough' The New York Times

*The 5th Wave is the first book in the bestselling series from award-winning Rick Yancey. Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent and Maze Runner*

After the1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

NOW IS THE DAWN OF THE 5TH WAVE

On a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs.
Runs from the beings that only look human, who have scattered Earth's last survivors.

To stay alone is to stay alive, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan may be her only hope.

Now Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death.

www.rickyancey.com

'Remarkable, not-to-be-missed-under-any-circumstances' Entertainment Weekly

'A modern sci-fi masterpiece . . . Should do for aliens what Twilight did for vampires.' USA Today

'The pace is relentless' Heat

'Chilling' Sun

'Nothing short of amazing' Kirkus (starred review)

'This book's scary!' Teen Now (5 starred review)

'A twisty survival story that borrows elements from romance, horror and dystopian fiction' Wall Street Journal

'An epic sci-fi adventure about a terrifying alien invasion. You'll read it in one sitting' Bookseller

'Heartfelt, violent, paranoid epic, filled with big heroics and bigger surprises' Booklist (starred review)

'Gripping' Publishers Weekly

'Borrow this one from your teen's nightstand while they're at school.' People Magazine

*Winner of the 2014 Red House Children's Book Award
*2014 Children's Choice Book Awards Finalist for Teen Book of the Year
*A YALSA 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults
*A YALSA 2014 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers
*A Booklist 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults
*A VOYA 2013 Perfect Ten
*An Amazon Best Book of the Year

Books in the series:
The 5th Wave (Book 1)
The Infinite Sea (Book 2)
The Last Star (Book 3)

 Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Fiction Survival
All stars
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Very rare to find an audiobook to transpose so well to multiple characters and plots without feeling lost or confused at certain junctures, a really nice read to follow cassie as she works her way back to a life lost.... An immersive read, very wall played.

Loved it

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loved this book. it was a tad predictable in places but a fantastic premise and a fantastic performance by the actors

excellent book

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absolutely loved this book, especially when it got near the end. everything got so intense and i couldnt take my earphones out for a moment, not to miss a single word.

intense

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Very good story and especially good if you like End of the World, Mystery and Tech. Tell the story though many of the characters perspectives. I loved it so much I am going to buy the sequel

Great read

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Listening to The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, narrated by Brandon Espinoza and Phoebe Strole, is an intense, edge-of-your-seat experience that absolutely thrives in audio form.

The pacing is relentless in the best way. From the opening moments, there’s a constant undercurrent of tension — a world that has already fallen apart and could collapse further at any second. The structure of the story, shifting perspectives and gradually revealing the scope of the invasion, creates a rhythm that keeps you hooked. Quieter, reflective moments are spaced perfectly between bursts of action, giving just enough time to process before the next emotional or physical blow lands.

The dual narration elevates everything.

Phoebe Strole brings a raw, emotional depth to Cassie’s chapters. Her delivery captures the fear, determination, and vulnerability of a teenager forced into impossible circumstances. You can hear the isolation in her voice, the internal battle between hope and survival instinct — it makes the story feel personal rather than purely apocalyptic.

Brandon Espinoza complements this brilliantly. His tone carries intensity and urgency, especially in action-driven scenes. He keeps the tempo sharp during combat and high-stakes moments, but also brings subtlety to quieter exchanges, making the shifting perspectives feel seamless rather than jarring.

Together, their performances mirror the book’s pacing — alternating between intimate and explosive, reflective and relentless. The transitions between narrators add energy and keep the story dynamic, reinforcing the layered tension that defines the novel.

The result is an audiobook that feels cinematic, immersive, and emotionally charged. The pacing keeps your heart rate elevated, and the narration ensures you feel every moment of uncertainty and resolve.

A gripping sci-fi thriller made even stronger by two compelling performances.

Four Waves Down… and the Fifth Hits Even Harder

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