Enclave (Razorland, #1)

Jun 15, 2013 Kira rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-ll-try-again-some-day, lost-the-will-to-live, dystopian, made-me-want-to-choke-myself, train-wreck-romance, zombies, ya, go-choke-on-your-sexism, made-no-sense

If you cherish Dr. Phil, I advise you to look away now.

That sounds random, on a review of a dystopian book about zombies (please. They're zombies) but I can assure you, it isn't.

Let me tell you a little story.

So just two days ago I sat down to watch an episode of Dr. Phil. I was particularly interested, because the premise was thus: a man claimed he was raped by his former girlfriend. Interest? Piqued.

I've grown steadily less enchanted with Dr. Phil over the past few weeks. It's been brewing fo...more

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Cat O fudge Dr.Phil
Jun 16, 2013 08:36pm

Jennifer Kira wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Rape happens in reality why cant this happen in a book? People have the same opinion of rape victims, havent you heard tha...more
updated 5 hours, 46 min ago

Mar 17, 2012 karen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dysto-teque, why-yes-i-ya

this book has absolutely nothing in common with the hunger games. sure, there are kids who fight, but the circumstances are entirely different. most of the kids in h.g. have not been trained to fight, they are being forced to fight for the entertainment of the capitol. the main character of h.g. is not a girl who has been honed to kill monsters that attack her community, nor one who has been raised in such a sheltered and specific educational-track focused entirely on fighting that emotions are...more

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Oct 10, 2011 Lucy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: disappearing-parent-syndrome, dystopian, gloomy, horror, how-did-this-get-published, make-room-for-that-sequel, milking-a-money-cow, oh-the-hype, open-ended-book, so-very-awful, vomit-in-a-hat, zombies, zombies-by-any-other-name

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I thought for a little bit about how to review this book, if I should go over all the weird mistakes and struggles with the world building chronologically or if I should just jump in at what bothered me most and work backwards. Generally, following the timeline of the book makes for a better review, but since I am so utterly horrified by the last third of the book I can't stomach talking about things like sewer systems, night vision, bad name choices, and human nature. All that keeps ringing in...more I thought for a little bit about how to review this book, if I should go over all the weird mistakes and struggles with the world building chronologically or if I should just jump in at what bothered me most and work backwards. Generally, following the timeline of the book makes for a better review, but since I am so utterly horrified by the last third of the book I can't stomach talking about things like sewer systems, night vision, bad name choices, and human nature. All that keeps ringing in my mind when I look at the cover of this book are quotes from the main character on the subject of rape. Enclave is a YA dystopian novel about an incredibly dark world. I've read a few YA dystopians where rape came into play, but I have never encountered the subject treated as cavalier by an author and the main character. The handling of it could not have been more repulsive.

As necessary background, Deuce grew up in a small and contained underground community which she is kicked out of after confessing to a crime she didn't commit to spare an equally innocent friend. She is thrust into a new world with a guide named Fade who hasn't been a part of the above ground world for many years. The people directly above their sewer grates are hostile. When Deuce and Fade come off a second battle with a gang who call themselves 'Wolves,' Deuce is taken off to be turned into a breeder -- essentially to be raped repeatedly in attempts to reproduce with her and grow their population, and Fade is taken off to be hunted down and eaten. Deuce manages to escape with the help of Tegan, a girl who was taken by the Wolves earlier and has spent much of her young life being raped and giving birth to stillborn children. Together, Tegan and Deuce rescue Fade.

Fade, Deuce, and Tegan are hunted down by the Wolves while trying to escape the city. Stalker, the head of this gang, manages to get a hold of someone who helped them along the way so he can lure them out of hiding. Before things can come to a fight they are attacked by Freaks/Eaters/Muties who are the story's monsters. They decide to join forces with Stalker who is the sole surviving Wolf. They do this despite Tegan's vehement protests. They do this despite knowing Tegan was raped by the gang he was in charge of for years, despite the fact that he would very possibly have decided to rape Deuce and despite knowing he probably committed similar horrific acts for years.

To a point, I could have tolerated almost all of this. I can deal with a lot of ugly things in books if it makes sense with the world building -- after all, our world is sometimes a very ugly place too. What I couldn't stand was Deuce's total lack of empathy for anything Tegan went through. She legitimately looks at Tegan at one point and wonders how Tegan could let herself be raped repeatedly, how she could let them and not die fighting them off -- this from a girl who grew up terrified she would get assigned as a breeder instead of a hunter in her own tribe, this from a girl who grew up small and nameless and helpless. The lack of empathy was not only disgusting but incomprehensible.

To make matters worse, Stalker is a potential love interest for Deuce. He practices fighting with her as an excuse to touch her and eventually pushes her against a tree and kisses her. She kisses him back. I wanted to vomit in a hat. He called her "Dove" after the bird as a fucking term of endearment. He says it's because doves are vulnerable and frail looking but they can fly away from predators. This does not even make sense, seeing as Deuce does not run/fly away; she fights. The nickname takes away from everything she built herself up to be and she lets him do it. Again, I wanted to throw up.

As for the lackluster world building: As far as I know, we aren't told how old Fade and Deuce are in the text, although the jacket description says 15. I believe the author was forced to play it loose by her own world building. Living to 25 in the Enclave makes you an ancient elder so one would think children would be named and assigned jobs much older. Even if you wait until they're 13 that's more than half the maximum expectation of their lives without a name, without contributing substantially to the community. Fade and Deuce don't have a listed ages within the text of the book because they were written as older than 13, but that does not fit with the world building. As far as I'm concerned the no name until you're all grown isn't practical and goes against human nature.

Tunnel system mistakes: I don't understand how there are defensible/livable areas in a tunnel system, especially with clean running water 100 years after the world ends. I'm not sure how people could live down there with the diet described in the book: essentially rat meat, mushrooms, and fish. I guess that's why 25 is considered old. In reality they all would've been wiped out by disease long before this book could've taken place.

Sunlight problems: I'm not going to pretend I know how a cave dwelling person would adjust to sunlight after living underground all her life, but I'm going to say that I think this was all highly unrealistic. She wears sunglasses she found and gets a slight sunburn? WTF? Those miners in Chile who were trapped underground for two months had to wear special sunglasses for almost as long as they were trapped or risk going blind. I don't think the author did appropriate research on this front, but I'm not inclined to do it for her and research out what actually would've happened to Deuce and Fade.

I could go on and on here, but I don't care. All I keep doing is thinking about Stalker as a love interest and feeling sick to my stomach. I don't understand how people can find him redeemable or the storyline acceptable. A lot of reviewers I respect rated it a fair bit higher than me, all I can think is that we did not read the book the same way.(less)

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Apr 01, 2012 Maja rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia, ya, favorites, my-flat-army, never-saw-it-coming, zombies-zombies-everywhere, reviewed-in-2011, own-a-dtb

3/29/12 Stop by The Nocturnal Library to read our interview with Ann Aguirre and enter for a chance to win one of 3 books: Enclave, Grimspace or Blue Diablo.

I am happy. I am shocked. I still can’t believe this. Ann Aguirre just got promoted to my favorite author. Ok, maybe not favorite, but close enough. I mean, come on! She writes this fantastic SF series, starting with Grimspace, a very good (if not great) and very unusual UF series with elements of horror (the Corine Solomon series), and now...more 3/29/12 Stop by The Nocturnal Library to read our interview with Ann Aguirre and enter for a chance to win one of 3 books: Enclave, Grimspace or Blue Diablo.

I am happy. I am shocked. I still can’t believe this. Ann Aguirre just got promoted to my favorite author. Ok, maybe not favorite, but close enough. I mean, come on! She writes this fantastic SF series, starting with Grimspace, a very good (if not great) and very unusual UF series with elements of horror (the Corine Solomon series), and now she does YA dystopian as well?!?!?

I was born during the second holocaust.

That’s all it took for me to fall in love with this book, and it’s only the first sentence. I have to admit I rolled my eyes when I first read the blurb. I was rightfully afraid of another Delirium or something equally forced. I’m so glad Aguirre proved me wrong. Her story is strong if not fresh (because, let’s face it, fresh is a long way gone in this genre). Her characters are very much alive and unusually smart. But the real magic lies in Aguirre’s perfect writing. She doesn’t make mistakes. She’s even added an author’s note explaining how she did her research and what led her to those conclusions. Everything she described is quite possible. (view spoiler)

We start following our heroine on the day of her naming ceremony – the day she stops being Girl15 and becomes Deuce, a Huntress trained to protect her Enclave and bring food for Breeders, Builders and Elders. She has spent the first 15 years of her life training incredibly hard just to be allowed to go into the tunnels with other Hunters and fight Freaks – terrible, mindless flesh-eating creatures with claws and sharp, pointy teeth. Deuce doesn’t mind risking her life every day for others – it’s a matter of pride and acceptance. But on her first day she gets partnered up with Fade, a strange and silent boy, the only outsider in the Enclave. Together they get into trouble and end up exiled with nowhere to go but Topside – where Deuce will see the sun for the very first time.

*edit: It's been a long time since I finished it, and it's still my favorite dystopia. Sometimes I get very excited about a book, but forget all about it as soon as it leaves my sight. This is not one of those books.

(less)

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Jul 01, 2011 Lora rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of YA dystopian fiction

Shelves: g-dystopia-post-apoc, lib-read

Enclave's premise drew my attention more than a lot of the other, more hyped YA dystopias. And I believe that most of it lived up to my expectations.

Enclave starts with Deuce - or rather, at the time, Girl15 - en route to her naming ceremony. In the enclave, your name is merely your gender and an exclusive number. But if you're lucky enough to make it to the age of fifteen, you get a real name.
Six cuts, three on each forearm - these are the marks that make you a Hunter or Huntress. It has been...more

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May 04, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2012, 2011-publication, dystopian-post-apocalyptic-utopian, action-packed, young-adult

Okay, I'm adding this note because I'm seeing some activity on this review as I'm updating my reading progress in the third book.

I need to reread this one at some point, because reading the sequel Outpost completely changed my perspective on certain issues. My mini reaction to that book is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

But for now, my initial reaction to the first book remains below. It's fascinating to see this society that the author created.

2.5 stars I really wanted to like t...more

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May 09, 2011 Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

2.5 stars out of 5.

The GOOD-

Character development (except later in the book).

When Deuce was underground (at the beginning of the book), the author really took her time to develop her characters. Deuce is a soldier underground. In the beginning, Deuce does what she is told, thinks what she is told and doesn’t question authority. However, it is clear to the reader that there is more to Deuce than her brutal surroundings and life. Fade, her partner, is mysterious not only to Deuce but to everyone...more

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May 22, 2011 Lyndsey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: future-releases, reviewed-2011, reviewed-4-stars, about-zombies-purple-people-eaters, about-dystopia-or-utopia, about-all-kids-or-ya-society, about-underground-cities-societies, pov-primarily-female, 1st-person

So, The Hunger Games had a baby with Fallout. Then, they broke up and The Walking Dead became the new step-parent. Giving rise to the strange child we call Enclave. Isn't she a cwute wittle one?

I had this big stupid flow chart all planned out for this review, but it seems there are like a hundred reasons why it won't work. Well, more like two. Images aren't working correctly on Goodreads at the moment AND I can't find a free site to host such a large image on AND it looks like crap small. Damn....more

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Oct 10, 2011 The Holy Terror rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: color-grey, borrowed, dystopia, post-apocalyptic, young-adult, science-fiction, forgot-to-drink-the-kool-aid, 2011

This was only the second book I’ve read by Aguirre, with the first being Skin Game, which I was less than impressed with. And yes, I realize I still haven’t read the one series lauded as her best, Sirantha Jax, but I will get to it one of these days. Although Enclave had some great ideas, some very quotable passages, and some fascinating characters, I think it also fell short in a number of ways.

This book tells the story of Deuce; a girl living underground in the tunnels and sewer systems of a p...more This was only the second book I’ve read by Aguirre, with the first being Skin Game, which I was less than impressed with. And yes, I realize I still haven’t read the one series lauded as her best, Sirantha Jax, but I will get to it one of these days. Although Enclave had some great ideas, some very quotable passages, and some fascinating characters, I think it also fell short in a number of ways.

This book tells the story of Deuce; a girl living underground in the tunnels and sewer systems of a post-apocalyptic New York City. She lives primitively in an enclave where you’re a hunter, a builder, a breeder, or an elder. If you aren’t strong, you don’t survive. Even the lowest of the classes, the breeders, are still the ones who are good looking and intelligent. The weak, sickly, or stupid don’t live long in this community.

Deuce is one of the hunters. She brings meat back for the rest to eat and keeps them all safe from the Freaks; grotesque monsters with a never-ending appetite who live outside the enclave. Problems arise when the Freaks encroach more and more upon the enclave, and Deuce is formally teamed up with Fade and forced to find out exactly why the Freaks are attacking closer and becoming braver. Nobody likes Fade, a teen boy a few years older than Deuce who had only recently arrived at the enclave, and Deuce has to deal with enduring feeling like an outcast alongside him for the first time. Her resolve is shaken and her faith in her people and the rules she’s lived by her whole life are greatly tested. It isn’t until she’s forced out of the enclave does she finally realize that she knows nothing about the world she lives in.

Deuce was an obvious choice for my favorite character, but only because she was the most developed. She’s struggling throughout the book for answers and warring with her upbringing and the rules forced down her throat, but it gets to the point where you just want to shake her. Yes, I get it, you were a huntress and important and now you’re not. The world is not what you thought, roles can be reversed, and people grow up differently depending on their situation. This gets reiterated time and time again, up until the last few pages of the book. I understand that when comparing Deuce’s life underground with her experiences above creates an interesting juxtaposition, but there comes a time when you don’t have to tell me how different things are. I liked her nonetheless though, and she was a decidedly strong character who time and time again did what she had to do. She definitely changed from the brat who blindly followed what her elders told her to a young woman who could think for herself.

The first third of this book focused on life underground in the enclave and introduced the rigid day to day activities and methods of survival that Deuce and the rest of her people live by. It’s a harsh life with little to look forward to, and the rules and regulations are practically beaten into every child since they’re born.

I think this part of the book really set things up well; you get a sense of the dank despair the group live in and how they have their rules to keep everyone alive. If the people are allowed to breed indiscriminately then diseases can flourish, if the hunters don’t train every day then they might get killed by a Freak, if you find an artifact and keep it for yourself then you’re denying everybody what little culture they could have. It’s a very depressing existence but it’s all they know.

Fade is the disturbing force in this equilibrium and it becomes obvious that he won’t be able to go with the flow for very long. I wanted to like him more than I did though. He’s the strong rebellious bad boy, and he’s also tall, dark, and mysterious, so what’s not to love? I don’t know, I just didn’t feel like I ever really got to know him. It also didn’t help that he was barely acknowledged in the last half of the book, except to talk about how distant he had become.

I also felt like the romance between Fade and Deuce didn't evolve as organically as I would have liked. I understood that their shared experiences and the amount of time they spent together and relied on each other moved their romance along faster than it would have in real life, but I still didn't believe that they could fall in love so quickly.

Once Deuce and Fade left the underground, the novel rushed forward more than I wanted it to as well. I did enjoy it when they found a new relic or came across a new type of food – the introduction of SPAM in particular was funny – but I still didn’t feel like enough time was spent developing this section as the time she took with the underground parts.

There are two other characters introduced after they leave the enclave, and neither of them really got fleshed out enough. This book was just too short to include them and expect me to become attached. Plus, the second boy, Stalker, isn’t one I could ever like when considering the circumstances he came from. The girl, Tegan, is there to elicit an emotional response as well, but it just didn’t happen for me. I felt more for the other enclave citizens and friends that Deuce and Fade left behind than these two new characters.

It’s funny, because Fade echoed my thoughts in the end:

"Don’t leave me, Deuce. I need you. I want it to be like it was, before the others came." (251)

Me too, Fade, me too.

The ending cut the story off at a point that was not very satisfying. It’s the kind that makes you turn the page and wonder where the rest is, and then you realize, oh, I have to wait for the next book now.

Will I be continuing on with this series? That’s more than likely, but the way it ended didn’t leave me with any feeling of excitement over the next installment, it left me feeling cheated out of the full story. It’s a bit ho-hum and less than ideal, and hopefully the next book is developed better. I guess I’ll just have to wait (over a year!) to see what happens in the next book in the series, Outpost.(less)

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Jun 12, 2013 Jord¥n rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fan of hunger games

Shelves: dystopian-apocalyptic, horror, sci-fi, zombies, young-adult, favorites-of-all-time, cover-love, reread

Reread 8/9/12
Even better the second time reading it :) Now I can read Outpost! Been waiting a year for this book.
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enclave has to be one of the most wonderful, heart pumping books i have read in a long time!!! i havent read much dystopian novels, but thats gonna change! this book has everything i love; zombies, a kick-ass herione, intense fight scenes and a forming love triangle.

summary: in deuce's world, underground NYC, her people earn the rights to a name a...more Reread 8/9/12
Even better the second time reading it :) Now I can read Outpost! Been waiting a year for this book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

enclave has to be one of the most wonderful, heart pumping books i have read in a long time!!! i havent read much dystopian novels, but thats gonna change! this book has everything i love; zombies, a kick-ass herione, intense fight scenes and a forming love triangle.

summary: in deuce's world, underground NYC, her people earn the rights to a name after they turn 15. anyone under the age of 15 are called brats and are identified by a number(example:girl26). when yu turn 15 you are sorted into one of three groups: builders, hunters, or breeders.

when deuce is chosen to become a huntress she is thriled. as a hunter, its her job to wonder around outside the enclave and bring back meat. its not so easy though. outside in those dark tunnels are beings called Freaks, who devour upon the living and the dead.(zombielike)

deuce is partnered off with a mysterious hunter named Fade. unlike everyone else, fade was not born and raised in the enlcave. he is from topside, above the tunnels. fade is somewhat of a rebel, he does not believe in how the enlcave is being run. he believes that the freaks are becoming smarter, being able to use strategy in order to hunt their prey. deuce soon realizes this too and tries to warn everyone about the newer and stronger freaks. in the end they ban her and fade to survive outbeyond the safety of the enclave. fade suggests going up to topside because he believes that the freaks will over run the tunnels. but up on topside they both find out that freaks arent the least of their problems.

i loved everything about this book, from the main character to the bloody gory fights. and fade!!!! holy cow....fade....yummmmy!!! even though hes not a sexy paranormal being, he is an easy character to fal in love with. he is right up there with patch and sam roth, in my eyes.

the fact that part one is in the enclave while part two is when fade and deuce reach the surface was really interesting. personally i liked part two was faster paced and more exciting to read than part one. i also found it amusing to read how deuce doesnt know harldy anything about the topside world and how it used to be.

enclave is far from a romance. although you can tell that deuce really has feelings for fade. i love that there isnt any fast romance, no she meets the boy and everything is about him. i really hate that in books, which is happening ALOT in the YA book world. i have a feeling in book two there will be a little more romance, which is fine by me. hopefully more of the kind of love traingle between deuce, fade and a gang member named stalker.

if your a fan of zombies, dystopian books and well...the hunger games, then you MUST pick up this book NOW!!!(less)

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May 01, 2011 Steph Sinclair rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads, i-really-enjoyed-it, zombies-zombies-everywhere, action-packed, dystopian, young-adult, ass-kickin-heroine, books-i-should-hate-but-i-don-t, could-have-been-better, made-me-angry, original-and-creative, post-apocalyptic, strong-heroine, triangle-of-love

Ummm....WOW.

Enclave was a breath a fresh air. If you are looking for a book with lots of action, a strong, ass-kicking heroine, and romance that takes a back seat, Enclave is your book.

This book is marketed towards, "Fans of The Hunger Games." Ummm...why? The only similarities I can possibly see is the strength of the main characters. Katniss and Deuce (how awesome is her name?!) are both hunters and get into a lot of fights. And both books do feature dystopian societies.

Enclave is very fast...more

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Aug 31, 2011 oliviasbooks rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, scifi-dystopian-apocalyptic, e-version, favorites, other-creatures, read-2011, to-re-read, love-triangle, zombies-monsters, favorites-of-2011, hug-them-lick-them-favorites, want-to-own, love-story-romance

Post-plague, underground, dystopian fiction set in a smallish, harsh, survival-of-the-fittest society, a deserted, crumbling New York City, unexpected friendship, a hint of romance and super-gory zombies!

"Enclave" turned out to be extremely engrossing. Although, sometimes, I was a little chicken to turn the page and find out what happened next, I craved to return to the story with a feverish intensity each time I decided to shut down my Kindle, since nourishing my body, working for my living an...more Post-plague, underground, dystopian fiction set in a smallish, harsh, survival-of-the-fittest society, a deserted, crumbling New York City, unexpected friendship, a hint of romance and super-gory zombies!

"Enclave" turned out to be extremely engrossing. Although, sometimes, I was a little chicken to turn the page and find out what happened next, I craved to return to the story with a feverish intensity each time I decided to shut down my Kindle, since nourishing my body, working for my living and catching the minimum amount of sleep seemed to be a sensible thing to do, but felt oh so annoying. Do you realize how lucky I am to have once again experienced that kind of addicted rush that turned me into someone who reads on a daily basis in the first place? If you glance at my current average rating of 3.1something you maybe do. I admit, I tend to forget again and again the huge emotional difference between reading a book I like and devouring a book with zest - sticky bones, minor flaws and all. Right now I am in the middle of an unquestionably clever, worthwhile book (The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms), and I eventually want to find out how it ends, but in comparison to spending time with the "Enclave" consuming it feels only marginally entertaining (to me).

When I wrote my original review yesterday - right on my Kindle - I thought I had to be fair and reduce my enthusiastic rating by half a star at least because of the completely unnecessary beginning of a love-triangle subplot and certain vagueness concerning the survival of a person who got dear to the socially already very deprived heroine - and certainly to me. Mainly because other books I have read would have suffered the same "punishment". Yet after Maya supplied me with a blog entry by the author in which she addresses the love-triangle-accusation and other reader complaints (http://www.annaguirre.cm/archives/201...) my fear for a "Who-on-dystopian-earth-should-I-love-now" sequel did not wholly subside, but turned into something wholesomely optimistic and made me wonder whether having a book which I enjoyed as much as "Enclave" really deserved to anonymously drown in the crowd of four-star-worthy books on my "read" shelf. My rating system is heavily depending on gut feeling and my personal enjoyment. Being fair is to my books would be a ridiculous endeavour. Another thing that helped me understand were the author's notes at the end of the book. I had been wondering how the community in the "College" Enclave had lost and forgotten so much of our culture and of former "Topside" life after a mere half century maybe. Deuce does not know about the moon, about rivers and snow, or what a zipper is, what a wedding invitation might be for, and what the material plastic is called. Aguirre explains that in her imagination only the the rich and powerful had the means to flee the cities when the catastrophe happened. So the people who survived and made the survival of the next generation possible by forming topside gangs and underground enclaves had been the underpriviledged and poor. People who - at least in the beginning - did not care about written material or about handing their offspring a sense of their species' history. It made sense to me. And the information about the long shelf-life of canned food smoothed my skeptical frown. What I still do not get is how the underground clans make do without carbonhydrates. Apart from rare finds (tinned fruit etc.) Deuce's community lives on meat, fish and mushrooms only. I know that the Enclave's ancient-looking eldests are only 25, but is the human brain able to function without glucose? I am not sure, but in the end I find I do not really care.

"Enclave" just offered a mix that was strangely irresistable to me – personally:
- A fifteen year-old girl, a huntress who takes pride in what she does, who sees the facade of her safe and perfect worlds crumble and starts to question the infinite authority of her community’s cruel and insincere elders.
- She gradually falls in love with her topside-born mysterious partner although she had been taught that romance was reserved for the weak and pretty, namely the chosen breeders.
- Part of the book’s charm is her open-eyed wonder about the sky, the moon, the buildings and the rest of our civilizations remains.
- Part of the book’s thrill is that she and Fade are admirably tough fighters and kill countless foul-smelling zombies out for their flesh in perfect choreography.
- This likable pair acts in front of two very bleak, but interesting settings: The dark metro tunnels in which you reach the neighboring enclave only by running three days through zombie-infested territory and the toppled ghost-town of New York ruled by raping, murdering teenage boys who will die young in a fight over their territories.
- The move to Topside presents Deuce unexpectedly with a real friend and with a deadly enemy turned into a valued companion.

Well. That somehow does not sound convincing, I know. But how should I talk with my guts? Can you tell me?
(less)

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Sep 28, 2012 Chelesbells rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Chelesbells by: Jen (The Starry-Eyed Revue)

This one kept me enthralled from beginning to end. I don’t care for book comparisons, so I won’t compare this book to the one I have deemed my favorite of the year… but there were some definite qualities reminiscent of said favorite book making Enclave a distinct runner up. I connected with the characters easily and early on. The fluidity of Ann Aguirre’s words and the imagery she creates are spectacular.

Just look at this quote:

“There were different kinds of strength. I knew that now. It didn'...more

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May 15, 2011 Steph Su rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: debs11, dystopian, stick-to-writing-adult-books

This book reminded me of why I sometimes HATE when writers for adults attempt to write for younger audiences. People, how many times do I have to remind you that having a good premise and combining that with sloppy worldbuilding, a teenaged protagonist, and a love triangle does NOT automatically qualify a book as YA? I managed to finish ENCLAVE, but only because the whole time I kept on expecting it to get better, for it to eventually blow me away. Well, there was definitely no blowing away: my...more This book reminded me of why I sometimes HATE when writers for adults attempt to write for younger audiences. People, how many times do I have to remind you that having a good premise and combining that with sloppy worldbuilding, a teenaged protagonist, and a love triangle does NOT automatically qualify a book as YA? I managed to finish ENCLAVE, but only because the whole time I kept on expecting it to get better, for it to eventually blow me away. Well, there was definitely no blowing away: my butt remained firmly in my chair, my forehead practically glued to my desk in frustration.

Good things first, I guess. I like Deuce. She belongs in the new, Katniss-esque camp of female protagonists: resourceful, emotionally reserved, tough on the outside, vulnerable and endearing on the inside.

Now for the litany of issues I had with this book, i.e. Why Poor Deuce Deserved a Better Story. Where do I begin? The writing was mediocre. I felt like no sooner was a character or detail introduced then he/she/it either died, got destroyed, or became Significant, rendering all of those introduced characters and details glaringly device-y. Changes in Deuce and Fade’s lives occurred with little regard for logistical backstory: when Deuce is in danger of death by Freak, a random group of dwarf-people who—surprise!—have been secretly living within the tunnels all along come out to save her. Deuce and Fade are cast to the surface for a tradition that, in essence, should make sense as a way that the elders enforced obedience, but, when it actually happens, feels so contrived.

And that’s the problem I continued to have throughout this book. Despite the promising premise, I feel like ENCLAVE only scratched at the surface of its world’s possibilities. For me, a story’s world has to feel like it can exist without an author’s interference: the book has to read like, say, contemporary YA reads to us, which is to say that all the complexities and possibilities of the world have to feel natural. ENCLAVE’s world did not feel natural to me. It felt like the author was writing in aspects of the world as the story went along, and I was left with too many logistical questions and an utter lack of investment. For example, I’m aware that I was supposed to see Deuce’s enclave as a stifling, cruel, and totalitarian governing system, but I never felt stifled on Deuce’s behalf. Everything in this book was begging me to consider it as dangerous, as suspenseful, as intense—which did not allow me to feel anything naturally, except perhaps boredom. It was just not credible.

Deuce was about the only character in this book that I felt like was even remotely well developed, and I’m beginning to suspect that that’s just a trick of the first-person narration. Fade I felt was trying so hard to fit the mysterious-hot-love-interest quota that he ended up being very uninteresting. And OH GOD CAN I JUST RANT HERE ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE LOVE TRIANGLE? So Deuce and Fade get into an altercation with a gang. The gang leader, who displays sociopathic tendencies towards homicide, randomly has a change of heart and joins them on their journey to find utopia, or whatever else is a better word for what they’re looking for. He and Deuce hook up when she’s busy agonizing over Fade. Yawn. The obviousness of the romantic elements of ENCLAVE didn’t help dissuade my snarky notion that the author was trying to fulfill some checklist for How to Write Bestselling YA or something.

I also think ENCLAVE took a big (and ultimately unsuccessful) risk in incorporating “idea-dropping” into its narration. “Idea-dropping” is my just-made-up term for a concept similar to name-dropping. It involves describing common modern items in such a way as to make it clear to us what the characters are describing without actually naming it, since, obviously, the characters don’t know the name for it. The one other time I’ve seen idea-dropping used was in another YA dystopian that ultimately didn’t agree with me. I think it’s a literary technique that panders to readers and doesn’t add anything to the world or the characters. I don’t freaking care that they’re eating Spam. All I needed to know was that they were eating long expired canned food. Spam only has implications for us readers, not the characters. Thus, idea-dropping spoon-feeds the dystopian aspect of a story, but I personally find the spoon-feeding offensive to my readerly intellect. There are better ways to write a dystopian than to idea-drop.

And what is up with the Freaks? Are they supposed to be flesh-eating zombies, or a mutation gone terribly wrong, or something else? Why wasn’t there more of an explanation for their existence so that they would also be less device-y? And are you SERIOUS about the disembodied voice that “speaks” to Deuce (or comes to her in a dream, I couldn’t figure out which) and convinces her to make the right decision, etc etc? I didn’t realize that deus ex machinas were so easily accepted! And don’t even get me started on how Tegan is an expendable ninny who inspires no empathy and is like a girl trying desperately not to be TSTL (“too stupid to live”) but, due to shoddy writing, ends up fitting exactly that expendable role.

My problem with ENCLAVE wasn’t that it read like a setup for the rest of the series. Rather, I just cannot respect a story that skimps so heavily on plot, characterization, and worldbuilding. As far as the trilogy is concerned, this is the end of the road for me. I wish all brave travelers who wish to journey beyond this point the best of luck. I’m going to spend my time on more well written books.(less)

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Sep 23, 2011 Lou rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: may-read, end-of-days-dystopian

We had Hunger Games to keep us entertained in dystopian adventures and now I think Enclave is a rightfully successor of a story. The main protagonist is a Hunter and all her life she has been breed to Hunt, hunting is all she knows. Equipped with basic tools of killing she kills Freaks amongst other things. She knows not much at all of the upside world, for she has lived underground has not tasted the Sunlight or seen, cars or guns. The Enclave are a gang who consist of Brats, Hunters, Breeders...more

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May 15, 2011 Katie(babs) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I’ve really got to hand it to Ann Aguirre for writing a fascinating post-apocalyptic YA that I was able to finish without rolling my eyes. To be honest, the amount of Dystopian YA’s being published bores me. Every one of these YA’s are being courted as the next Hunger Games just like a few years ago with every single YA with vampires, fairies or fallen emo angels was the next Twilight. Ann takes some interesting chances with Enclave, and this is not for the weak of heart. Nothing is sugar coated...more I’ve really got to hand it to Ann Aguirre for writing a fascinating post-apocalyptic YA that I was able to finish without rolling my eyes. To be honest, the amount of Dystopian YA’s being published bores me. Every one of these YA’s are being courted as the next Hunger Games just like a few years ago with every single YA with vampires, fairies or fallen emo angels was the next Twilight. Ann takes some interesting chances with Enclave, and this is not for the weak of heart. Nothing is sugar coated here. The first half of the book gave me a claustrophobic feeling while reading. Unfortunately the second half faltered because the action wasn’t as intense and Ann falls back to an all too familiar trope found in present day YA- the evolution of a love triangle that will most like appear in Outpost, the second book in this series.

Have you ever seen the movie, 12 Monkeys? Enclave (Razorland #1) is a YA version of that film. Enclave takes place sometimes after the second holocaust of the Earth. Humanity has suffered immensely from some unknown catastrophe that has occurred. (Most likely an atomic World War III). We’re introduced to this world through the eyes of Girl15 who becomes Deuce on her naming day, her birthday. Deuce lives underground and has never gone up to the above. Upon further reading, I would say Deuce lives in the former subways of New York City. Everyone has a role in the enclave and Deuce’s role is to become a Huntress. She will hunt for food in the tunnels. Deuce lives in a dark and dank world both literally and figuratively. Disease is rampant and hygiene is not the best. Some women are solely used to breed children, known as brats, while others keep their fortress strong and safe from the Freaks. Freaks are monsters who feed on the flesh of the living and even themselves. They roam the tunnels looking for their next meal. Hunting for food can be dangerous, but Deuce is strong and fast. She is partnered up with Fade, an older boy who came from the above when he was a small child. Fade is not well liked by the elders because of where he has come from and has the makings of being a troublemaker. The elders make sure the rules are followed with an iron fist. If not followed, they have no qualms in exiling those who don’t behave. Exile means certain death.

Deuce and Fade soon figure out that the Freaks are not the mindless creatures that only exist to eat that the elders think them to be. And because of that everyone is in danger. Fade is more than willing to break away from this near like prison community and move on, but Deuce is scared because the enclave is all she has known. But then Deuce something unselfish to save one of her friends, and she is exiled. Fade goes along with her and they go up to the above where a new fascinating world of danger awaits them. Deuce and Fade don’t only have to worry about the Freaks, but roaming gangs that will kill without warning and use women as their own playthings. And when Stalker, the leader of one of the gangs, targets Deuce and takes her, Fade will put his life on the line to save Deuce. They’ll try to find a place where they can be safe without the fear of starvation and targets of the flesh hungry Freaks.

Enclave has a great atmospheric feel to it. I was right alongside Deuce as she fights for her own survival. The sounds, scents and mind numbing fear are strong. Fade is a great partner for Deuce and they both bounce off of each other very well. These two are the strongest and most well rounded and dimensional characters here. That became one of my main problems while reading. Characters come and go without any real meaning of substance. Because the story is so centralized on Deuce and Fade, everyone else pales in comparison. I couldn’t connect or sympathize with anyone else because they came across very flat as the paper they were written on.

When Deuce and Face go up above, that’s where things go downhill. In the enclave, everything was wonderfully descriptive. In the above, we’re given a quick overview. Deuce and Fade spend most of their time running and finding food and shelter. That is until a gang right out of Mad Max (done YA style) finds them. They meet an abused rape victim named Tegan, who has been at the mercy of the gang run by Stalker, a nasty piece of work. But then at one point either Ann or her editor came to the conclusion, we can’t have Deuce happy with just Fade and we’ll make Stalker a bit ambiguous in his actions so he can be redeemable and a possible future love interest for Deuce. That is where I grew weary of the story. We’re told from Tegan that Stalker is a killer and most likely a possible rapist who may have raped her time and again. But then at one point Tegan changes her story and says Stalker only handed her over to the other men and never touched her. So, Stalker, who again is most likely going to be a love interest for Deuce in the next book, isn’t such a bad guy because he didn’t actually rape Tegan, but only gave her untouched to his men to share. Sorry, this doesn’t make him redeemable in anyway and I would hope Deuce will realize this and stick with Fade. Or perhaps in Outpost, Stalker will become the ultimate villain Deuce or Fade must battle. If so, I’d be very interested in seeing how that goes down and hope Ann doesn’t fall back on the classic, let’s redeem the near psycho and amoral bad boy so we can see that the world can be a wonderful place again because love from the heroine has set everyone free.

Enclave should appeal to those looking for something different with their Dystopian YA’s they’ve read. If the first half of Enclave continued that way to the very last page, then I would have considered Enclave one of the best books I read this year. Overall, it’s a solid read that could have been so much better.(less)

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Dec 01, 2012 Keertana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: why-the-hype

Enclave is amongst the few dystopian novels that has actually received a level amount of praise from practically everyone. As far as I know, there are no “haters” of Enclave, although there are those that feel simply ambivalent towards the novel, and as such, I went into it fully expecting to love it. Much to my disappointment, however, not only did I not fall in love with this novel, I couldn’t even bring myself to finish it. I was less than hundred pages from the end when I came to sudden real...more Enclave is amongst the few dystopian novels that has actually received a level amount of praise from practically everyone. As far as I know, there are no “haters” of Enclave, although there are those that feel simply ambivalent towards the novel, and as such, I went into it fully expecting to love it. Much to my disappointment, however, not only did I not fall in love with this novel, I couldn’t even bring myself to finish it. I was less than hundred pages from the end when I came to sudden realization that I simply did not care. Thus, this book is sadly joining my pile of DNF novels.

In theory, Enclave is a book I should have loved. We have a kick-ass heroine, an enigmatic young hero/romantic interest, and a unique dystopian world. Yet, everything was simply lacking in some manner or the other. What struck me first about the story was its lack of world-building. I’ve already mentioned that Aguirre has imagined a fantastic new realm, only we don’t know all that much about it. Of course, we are given details of the inner workings of this utopian society and are introduced to the “Freaks,” or zombies, but we are left completely in the dark as to the origins of this world. It isn’t a huge qualm as far as world-building qualms go and while our protagonist herself didn’t know the answer, a few theories as to how the Freaks came to exist or the manner in which the utopian society was formed would have been enriching to say the least.

Nevertheless, my true qualm took place in the shape of our protagonist, Deuce. Deuce is kick-ass, sweet when it comes to young love, fierce when it comes to fighting, and loyal when it comes to her job, but that’s all she is. Either than a couple of adjectives – strong, brave, kind – Deuce isn’t made up of much. In my eyes, she never had any real substance and I was unable to understand or connect with her as there wasn’t a person there to understand in the first place. It’s difficult to put into words, but more than just a lack of connection with Deuce, I couldn’t care for her or see her perspective on certain issues. Furthermore, this extended into her romance as well, making it all just fall flat for me.

Yet, the last straw in this novel was the love triangle. I thankfully didn’t make it to the point where this issue became an obvious forefront, but from skimming through other reviews, I can tell that it’s distasteful at best. Not only does it continue on in the sequel (turn-off much?), but it also centers on a former rapist. (I have no right to judge in this instance, however, since I haven’t seen how Aguirre deals with this issue and it CAN be dealt with very effectively, as can be seen with Melina Marchetta’s Lumatere Chronicles.)

Nevertheless, with any mention of a love triangle, I am usually running in the opposite direction and that, combined with the lackluster romance already present and my lack of feeling for the characters or their world simply resulted in a novel I couldn’t bring myself to continue. Yet, I haven’t quite given up on Ann Aguirre. I hope to read (and love!) her adult Sirantha Jax Series soon for as an author, Aguirre’s writing leaves little to be desired. Unfortunately, I simply seem to be the black sheep when it comes to this novel and, considering I’ve read too many dystopians, utopians, and zombie-related novels lately, I’m just hard to impress.

You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.(less)

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Sep 28, 2011 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of YA Dystopia

Shelves: dystopia-or-pa-favourites, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic

Enclave has shot straight up to my Dystopia Favorites shelf.

This books does not disappoint.

A quick summary:

Imagine if you had to wait fifteen years before you had a proper name. In Deuce's world, every 'brat' earns the right to a name only if they survive the first fifteen years of their lives. They are trained in one of three groups - the Breeders, Builders or Hunters. Our Deuce can only see herself as a Huntress. She will have to brave the world outside the enclave where dangerous Freaks dwe...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Giselle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, own, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic

This book, you love it, or you hate it. And then there's me.

Enclave starts out as a very captivating, very exciting read. The world building is terrifying; we've got society living underground, talk of barren wastelands and acid rain "Topside", beasts are roaming the tunnels which, let's face it, are zombies. These "Freaks" eat human flesh, they smell and look like death, and they are taking over! I was lost and absorbed by this dreary desolation. Though what makes it the most compelling is the...more This book, you love it, or you hate it. And then there's me.

Enclave starts out as a very captivating, very exciting read. The world building is terrifying; we've got society living underground, talk of barren wastelands and acid rain "Topside", beasts are roaming the tunnels which, let's face it, are zombies. These "Freaks" eat human flesh, they smell and look like death, and they are taking over! I was lost and absorbed by this dreary desolation. Though what makes it the most compelling is the plausibility of this post-apocalyptic world. Society would separate, and there are apparently already people living in the underground NYC tunnels (as per the author's notes). These types of post-apocalyptic settings are my favorites, the possibility makes it horrifying, and you all know by now that I'm a masochist. In the big picture, the world is brilliantly imagined, sharply described, and I loved it. I also loved the slow telling of its history. We don't know what happened to bring about this future from page one, we learn it as our characters do. When you look at the world closer, however, mostly in regards to the underground living, I was a bit less convinced. How have they been getting drinkable running water for a century? Or I guess the best question to ask would be: How exactly have they survived? If you tell me you lived under the earth for over a century, you will need to give me the full lowdown to make me believe it. I wanted it to be more fleshed out.

The transition from underground to Topside is also a part I wish would have been done differently. Someone who has never been exposed to the sun would not so easily adapt to it. Sunglasses, conveniently found might I add, would not nearly be enough protection. I was expecting a bigger reaction overall, not just physically, but mentally as well. Nonetheless, I will say that the world we do get Topside is very well described in all its ravaged glory. The planet is destroyed and the author depicts its bleak nature very vividly.

On to the most controversial aspect of the novel. The characters in Enclave are very particular. They have an extremely different upbringing; Deuce was brought up as a fighter, a warrior, with "the strong survive" as her biggest value, so she lacks social skills including, and especially, empathy. The way she reacts to situations and other people's distress is a source of complaint from many other reviewers and I can easily understand these reactions. Personally, I was able to do away with my own values to understand a culture that is completely unlike my own, but it does bring about harsh topics, such as rapes, that could very well leave a bad taste in your mouth. What I certainly could not stomach was when the arrow started pointing at an nauseating future love triangle - which I was confirmed does come about in the sequel. It's not the triangle that I have the problem with, but the love interest involved in it. This is a guy who let his people gang-rape a girl continually, and who most probably raped girls himself even though it's not specifically mentioned. He is a sick, vile man. While I understand the reasoning behind wanting him on board to help them survive until they reach their intended destination, I do not see myself garner anything but disgust in the possibility of a romance between our protagonist and this dirty, rotten fella. I just can't. Will I still read the sequel knowing this? Certainly. The world building and overall premise is very enticing and I was thoroughly entertained from page 1. But it will also likely annoy and disgust me. I guess we can't win em all.

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

(less)

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Dec 21, 2011 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

Here we have a super tough girl named Deuce, after her naming. This story is dystopia but not in the way you expect. I think of course you can still compare it to other dystopia and find similarities but I don't really ponder on that too much. You know how some compare everything to star wars, harry potter, pride and prejudice, twilight, and now the hunger games, etc.

The story about a girl living in a society where the elders are 30 years old and the rules are strict. There are three things you...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Kyle Monda rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review from BookBranch.
Phewf. Glad that one is done. I REALLY didn't enjoy it. I wanted to give up at around %50, but it cost $9 and I was desperately hoping that it would get better. It didn't. This review is full of minor spoilers, but there's really nothing you won't have predicted once you're in a couple chapters.

While planning this novel, I'm assuming the author visited the TVTropes page for every dystopian novel written up to this point and decided to integrate every cliche she could find....more

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May 14, 2011 Kara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian, horror, romance, young-adult, zombies

Enclave Summary:

WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group whi...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Anagha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: All dystopian fans!

"He'd said the sun could burn me. It certainly looked angry enough, all orange and glowing mad."

"There were different kinds of strength. I knew that now. It didn't always come from a knife or a willingness to fight. Sometimes it came from endurance, where the well ran deep and quiet. Sometimes it came from compassion and forgiveness."

"You could miss someone, but it did no good to fixate on loss. I wished I had the ready words of a Breeder or the ability to comfort with a soft touch. I didn't. In...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Natasha (Intertwined Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-for-intertwined-blog

For More Book News & Reviews. Visit www.http://paranormal-goddess.blogspo... and sign up by email or google friend connect

◆Book Review◆
Even before Enclave was released, I had a feeling it would be a great book to read, because I was lucky enough to read the first chapter online, watch the book trailer and also read amazing ARC reviews by fellow book bloggers and after first reading The Hunger Games Series By Suzanne Collins,"Enclave" would be my 2nd book from the Young Adult Dystopian Genre...more For More Book News & Reviews. Visit www.http://paranormal-goddess.blogspo... and sign up by email or google friend connect

◆Book Review◆
Even before Enclave was released, I had a feeling it would be a great book to read, because I was lucky enough to read the first chapter online, watch the book trailer and also read amazing ARC reviews by fellow book bloggers and after first reading The Hunger Games Series By Suzanne Collins,"Enclave" would be my 2nd book from the Young Adult Dystopian Genre and wow it didn't disappoint me at all.

I loved how the writing eased me into the post apocalyptic world, where the main character "Deuce" lives underground in a small group that acts like a community they call "Enclaves" While outside of the enclaves roam flesh eating mutants/zombies or freaks as they are known by Deuce and the others in the enclaves.

But during a routine mission Deuce and her partner Fade (an outsider, that was not born in the enclave, but came from topside, above ground) leave their post to investigate something *lol and no I'm not telling you what they find* but when Deuce and Fade come back to the enclave with new information about the freaks, the elders only see that Deuce and Fade have disobeyed orders by leaving there post, so they are sent to see if a nearby enclave is surrounded by freaks as a punishment. *Which I think the elders meant it to be more of a suicide mission*

Anyway after a few very close calls both Deuce and Fade return to warn the elders of what is going on and that the freaks are more organized, but once again their words fall on deaf ears and the elders refuse to believe that the freaks are changing and adapting.

As time goes by in the next few weeks, Deuce is starting to distrust the elders more. Eventually Deuce is forced to leave the enclave and Fade decides to leave with Deuce. After Deuce and Fade are out of the enclave they decide that they would have a better chance at survival and the freaks if they go topside/above-ground. *from this point on I couldn't put the book down till I was finished*

Following Deuce and Fade journey became even more of a action packed thrill-ride that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the the rest of the book.

I would love to tell you more, but really where's the fun in me telling you, when you can experience it for your self. I'm really excited and looking forward to the sequel "Outpost" which is due out in 2012. I just wish I could read it right now.(less)

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May 07, 2011 Kimberly rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, fantasy-sf, dystopias-postapocalyptic, young-adult, arc

This book frustrated me so much. The writing was good (despite a few clumsy passages) and it had good world-building, something that has been lacking in so many teen dystopias lately.

But.

This book, the first in a series (of course), is all exposition. It's got an incredibly thin plot that in no way differentiates itself from the multitudes of other dystopias (gang of survivors trying to find the perhaps-mythical land where things don't suck). Nothing really happens. No huge revelation is reached...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Joanna rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian-post-apocalyptic

Read this while camping out at a bookstore to kill time between classes. Can't be bothered to write up a proper review (like I ever write those!) but I do have something to say.
See, I found Enclave pretty unremarkable/generic as a whole and won't be picking up the sequel when it drops. Good for you, move along, nothing to see here BUT while throughout like... 75% of the book I just figured I'd finish it and never have to think about it again, it had to go and make me angry in the last part. A ~r...more

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May 09, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, ya, dystopian

I’ve glimpsed the future, and it kind of sucks. Enclave by Ann Aguirre envisions a post apocalyptic world where people live underground and zombie-like genetic mutations called freaks run rampant through the tunnels. Deuce, a teen girl, begins the story by going through a naming ceremony where she receives six scars to mark being a huntress, meaning she is awesome with a pair of knives, brings home the bacon, and keeps the enclave safe from freaks.

Read the rest of my review by clicking here

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May 23, 2011 Parajunkee.com rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, favorites

This one rocked it. Original. Anxiety Ridden. Zombies...a touch of romance. What more can you ask for.

Enclave by Anne Aguirre

If a book could render me speechless it would be ENCLAVE. So, I sat and thought about it for about a week. I don't want to destroy it with words like amazing, wonderful, spectacular, it just doesn't convey what this book was for me. It devoured me. Everything I was went into reading ENCLAVE within a 12 hour period. I opened the first page and did not take a breath until I...more This one rocked it. Original. Anxiety Ridden. Zombies...a touch of romance. What more can you ask for.

Enclave by Anne Aguirre

If a book could render me speechless it would be ENCLAVE. So, I sat and thought about it for about a week. I don't want to destroy it with words like amazing, wonderful, spectacular, it just doesn't convey what this book was for me. It devoured me. Everything I was went into reading ENCLAVE within a 12 hour period. I opened the first page and did not take a breath until I read the last page. The originality of this piece was fantastic. There are only so many ways you can pen a dystopian novel and I think Ms. Aguirre stepped out of the box, showed us bits and pieces that we were familiar with and then added so much more. I'm in love with some of the dystopian books that I have read lately and I can't believe I found another to add to it's ranks. It's hard being published in a world that is going to compare you to the craziness that is The Hunger Games legacy - but these books are giving THG a run for their money. ENCLAVE now joins the ranks of the amazing YA Dystopian revolution that is happening this year. I can't wait to be be devoured by book two.

In a world ravaged by war and plague, what is left of the human race has splinted off into groups and become basically separate entities. Deuce's is world is called the Enclave. In her world 20 years of age is pushing geriatric status. At her 15th birthday she is finally given a name instead of Girl and her number designation and she is also given a role. She has had only one goal for most of her life, to become a Huntress.

After her naming ceremony she is paired with Fade an enigma of a man. He came from outside to live within the enclave and has not made many friend. His former partner died and Deuce is unsure if her pairing with him is punishment or reward. She quickly labels it as punishment though because on their first hunt, Fade doesn't follow orders and lands them both in trouble. As punishment they are forced to travel to the neighboring enclave and find out why they have suddenly gone quiet. Just a few actions on both their parts will change their future entirely and everything that Deuce has known will come crumbling down around her.

This is not just another Zombie, Dystopian novel. This is so much more. The zombie, or Freak element in it just adds the intended anxiety, but the meat and bones of this novel is the break down of the world that Deuce and Fade live in. You think how could the human race get like this? But, it could, scarily it could. It would probably just take two generations. I think I might need to get off this dystopian, apocalypse kick because I'm scaring the heck out of myself. But, this is what these novels, in particularly ENCLAVE did for me.

What sets this series apart from the others?
ENCLAVE is action packed, this is not a romance. Deuce is a butt-kicking heroine, only 15 but in her world that is a mature woman.
There are so many levels to this story, which is reminiscent of THG, the Enclave, the underground, topside, the city...as more and more of the world is revealed it becomes much more complex.
The writing is spectacular. You feel in-tune with each place, like you can almost see it.
The characterization is also well-done, Aguirre will have you liking even the most despicable of characters.
The intensity of every moment. There is no downtime. So much things are accomplished in each page that you are constantly kept on your toes.

Recommended for fans of the dystopian genre. If you like The Hunger Games, Divergent or even adult titles like The Stand you should enjoy. This is a mature novel with some controversial topics and violence so it is recommended for a more mature teen reader. (less)

11 likes · like · see review

Jul 28, 2011 Peep (Pop! Pop!) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: addicted-to-ya, just-okay, read-in-2011, so-not-impressed, zzzzzzzombies

Looks like I'm going to rate this one a little lower than the majority! To be honest, I really liked the way it started out. In fact, throughout the whole book I loved how they reacted when they discovered some of the things we take for granted today. Things like watches, metal spoons, weddings, books.

Doors blocked off tiny rooms, except for the one, where the metal hung askew, revealing a squat chair with a hole in it. Curiosity got the best of me, then overwhelming disgust.

Hahaha!

I liked that...more

10 likes · like · see review

Oct 07, 2011 Erika rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia, ya, wont-continue-series

I really, really, really, REALLY enjoyed this one!!!!

This dystopia book was so interesting to read, while i was reading it i didn't find myself bored with some parts of the story like i tend to do with many other books. The whole book from the beginning to the end caught my attention, and i found myself wanting to know more. At the end I still stood with many questions unanswered which i guess I'll find out on the next book Outpost, but i have to wait to read that until 2012.. that's so sad!!, t...more

4 likes · like · see review

topics	posts	views	last activity
Fade or Stalker?	198	556	Jun 17, 2013 06:06am
!The Young Adult ...: Enclave-June 2013	3	13	Jun 10, 2013 05:25pm
Deuce and Fade	7	58	Jun 06, 2013 06:32pm
Fade and Deuce?	6	67	Jun 06, 2013 06:31pm
Dreamcast	15	47	Jun 03, 2013 07:14am
Lets Get It Paran...: Enclave - Ann Aguirre	1	2	May 31, 2013 05:37am

title link	preview: Enclave
avg rating	preview: Enclave Goodreads rating: 3.92 (22769 ratings)
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Enclave (Razorland #1)

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