Thursday, June 28, 2012

Review ~ EVE (Eve #1) by Anna Carey

Eve (Eve, #1)The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her. Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life. ~From GoodReads


Unlike approximately seventy-five percent (I made this number up) of other readers, I am not a big fan of dystopian books. I often find the plots to be formulaic and predictable. And although EVE may be follow that path, to some extent, I found the story to be engaging and beautifully written.

After most of the population was demolished by a plague, the orphaned children have been separated by gender. Eve, and all the girls around her, have been taught to fear boys and men. The girls are raised in a strict school setting, and then will move on to another school to learn their trade. Eve believes that once her training begins, she will become a true artist. What will actually happen is more like a nightmare. Unwilling to succumb to that life, Eve runs away, unsure of where she is going, but determined to try. When she meets Caleb, her eyes are opened to the fact that the people she trusted, not men, are the enemy.

This story is led by a remarkable heroine, Eve. I found her to be admirable, and relateable. Eve was intelligent and thoughtful. She doesn't waste time in denial, or not seeing the truth for what it is. She is ever-evolving. Her reaction to the horror of her world was realistic. She doesn't react like a cyborg when something bad happens. She does what most of us would do: curl up in a ball and cry, get the emotional breakdown out of the system, wipe the tears away and move forward as best we can.

The relationship between Eve and Caleb undergoes a natural progression. Though she is taught to fear all males, she's not blind. Eve can quickly see that Caleb is not her enemy. That doesn't mean that she throws herself on him at the first chance she get. They move ahead with caution, yet trust. It was a nice-building relationship that felt true.

EVE was a briskly-paced story. Anna Carey doesn't waste time, but dives quickly into the plot. I felt like I could never let my guard down, the action was constant. I loved that the story progressed so quickly. And the ending? Broke my heart. But not in a bad way. It was just so emotional and unexpected. I'm so happy I had book two, ONCE, to begin immediately.

EVE felt similar to UNDER THE NEVER SKY to me. I think if you enjoyed that story, you would enjoy this as well.


Favorite Quote:

"Tomorrow, and the next day, and every day until we left I would send out more messages. My voice would echo in that cavern, the words wound together in coded sentences, recited over and over until they reached him, there in the night." (pg 251)

"In School, and out of School, I had believed that love was a liability - something that could be wielded against you. I began to weep, finally knowing the truth: love was death's only adversary, the only thing powerful enough to combat it's clawing, desperate grasp." (pg. 270)






Published October 4th 2011 by HarperTeen

You can purchase EVE at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository


Source: Personal Purchase.

14 comments:

  1. Interesting. I had the exact opposite reaction to this book. I LOVE dystopic novels, but I really didn't enjoy EVE. When I finished the audio, I actually wasn't sure that I'd continue the series. But I think my curiosity will win out and I'll have to give the series another chance. I'm probably in the minority, though. Still, I'm glad you enjoyed it!!!

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  2. It took me a while to really get into Eve but by the end I loved it. That ending! I can't wait to read your review on Once.

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  3. Great review hon!! I am big on Dystopian, but still haven't read this book yet. It's on my TBR list, along with hundreds of others lol. It sounds really good though. Hopefully I can get around to reading it.

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  4. Great review! I really liked this one but dystopian is definitely my thing.

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  5. Awesome review! Like you, I'm part of that approx 25% that doesn't care for dystopian novels. However I'm really intrigued as to what "really" happens when these girls grow up. Originally I wasn't planning on it, but I just might have to add Eve to my tbr list now. :)

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  6. Ohhhhhh I loved this book SO MUCH!!! If you enjoyed this one, you're definitely going to like ONCE! It's SO MUCH BETTER! And filled with way more emotions that were just crazy. Glad you liked this one love!

    Anna @ Literary Exploration

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  7. I'm super glad you liked this one - it just wasn't for me. Eve irritated the heck out of me. I've been reading the early stuff about book 2 and I may give it another chance. Maybe it is the dystopian thing but I did love Under the Never Sky.

    Valerie
    StuckInBooks.com

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  8. I'm not a dystopian fan either, but I might give this one a shot. Nice review lover mine.

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  9. I admit to being a sucker for dystopia! Can't wait to read your review on the next book in the series. I've never heard of this one, but I see that's available at Audible. I'll add it to my wish list over there. :)

    Great review!

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  10. AWESOME reveiw! Can't wait to hear more! :D

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  11. The only dystopian books I've read are The Hunger Games... probbably no surprise or shock with that one... which I did love, and I've been working up to the idea of reading Insurgent. I can't really say whether I love them or hate them, but I can say I've been a little stand-offish about the dystopian books. This one sounds really good though. I like your review of it! I will be adding this one to my TBR list...

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  12. I have this one but I've been kind of burned out on dystopians of late so I'm waiting a bit until it will feel fresher to me. I hear Once has a killer cliffhanger O_O

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  13. I love dystopians but I actually read a ton of negative reviews for this and decided to skip it. Darn you for making me want to pick it up since my TBR pile can't hold anymore. I hate heart breaking endings. I started reading your ONCE review and spoiled myself. What an interesting world to separate men and women and make women fear men. How do they have babies then?! LOL Very curious now so great review!

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  14. I have been so on the fense about buying this one. I'm so glad you liked it, because you may have swayed me.. I had just read so many not great things, but we tend to like some of the same stuff. It's only 2.99 on kindle right now, I should snatch it up.

    haha, snatch.

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