Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Book Review: Encalve

I've had this book on my to-read list for about a year now and have had a copy on my Kindle Fire since August 2012. The Clean Your Shelf Challenge finally encouraged me to read it.


Title: Enclave
Author: Ann Aguirre
Series: Razorland #1
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Original Publication Date: April 12, 2011
Format Read: kindle
Genre: YA Dystopia, YA Post-Apocalyptic, YA Zombies
Purchase: Amazon
Find on Goodreads


Description from the publisher:
New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters--or Freaks--who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight--guided by Fade's long-ago memories--in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs.

Ann Aguirre's thrilling young adult novel is the story of two young people in an apocalyptic world--facing dangers, and feelings, unlike any they've ever known.

Ann Aguirre has managed to put together an intriguing post-apocalyptic world. I like how she was inspired by the Mole People that lived in the underground tunnels of New York. In her world a great disaster has happened and everyone is evacuated from New York (or so the rest of the world thinks). Instead some of the poor have been left behind. Some of the poor retreated into the underground tunnels and formed the Enclave. The Enclave is just one of many "towns" in the underground tunnels. They have their own set of rules that create a "perfect" society. In this society brats are unnamed. If they survive until 15 they are given a naming ceremony where they bleed on a pile of scavenged objects. Where ever their blood first falls is what they are named.

Our heroine is named Deuce. She has chosen and was picked to be a Huntress. It is her responsibility along with other hunters to bring back food to the Enclave. Any, ANY infraction in the community will get you sent on the long walk. You are exiled and left for dead among the tunnels and "zombies."

As the book description leads you to believe Deuce and her hunting partner, Fade, are both exiled. They decide to leave the tunnels where Deuce sees that there still is a world living above ground. As they fight gangs and "zombies" while trying to head North hoping to find the people who original left the city, they learn more about themselves. 

Ann's version of "zombies" is an interesting one. They are like zombies as in they like to eat flesh, they swarm, etc...but they also have very sharp teeth and claws. They also bleed and can be killed just like you and me. I do not believe them to be true zombies, but they are a fun foe nonetheless. 

The story itself is a bit of a slow one, even though the reading is fast. Overall, I liked the book and plan on reading further into the series.

If you liked this book, it's possible you might like Born by Tara Brown (even though the writing could use a little polishing). Other possible books you might like are: 
Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

My Rating: 

2 comments:

  1. This sounds interesting! Is actually one I've had sitting on my kindle "shelf" for quite a while, too. I'll definitely have to read it soon. :) Nice review!

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