Enclave Audiobook Review

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 while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She's worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing's going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce's troubles are just beginning. Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn't like following orders. At first she thinks he's crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don't always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she's never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace. As Deuce's perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy... but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she's ever known.

OK, first let's get something out of the way. Deuce. Her name is Deuce. And it's pronounced the way a crude person may use when describing his fecal matter. I swear, every time someone said Deuce's name I chuckled.

I cannot decide if this is the best name ever thought up, or the worst. Anyways, onto the review.

After hearing some mixed things about Enclave, I went into it cautious and not quite sure what to expect. Apparently I should've listened to my instincts in this case, because this book was just not for me.

It is not that Enclave has giant horrendous flaws. It's not that I hated it. It's just that's so shockingly average that I didn't feel anything towards it. Enclave follows the basic formula of basic dystopian YA hitting the shelves today with some zombies thrown in to make up for the lackluster world that I never could picture clearly or really bought, despite some serious info-dumping.

The characters can fight, I'll give them that. I'll also say that Aguirre's fight scenes seemed to be where her writing shone. But in the end I felt no connection to this story or these characters, and I don't think I'm interested in reading the sequel.

Emily Bauer narrated the audiobook, and she's okay. She's definitely not the worst narrator I've ever heard, but her voice does get kind of squeaky sometimes, and she has a tendency to shout whenever things get physically or mentally intense for Deuce. 

Plot: Average.

Characters: Average.

Writing: Average.

Ending: Interesting, actually. I'm not sure how that will play out in book two.

Content: A bit edgy, but nothing shocking.

Overall:

Not for me.

Plenty of people have loved this. But I just...didn't. Maybe it was the book, or the narrator, or maybe it was me. I guess I'll never know.

I received this for review from the publicist. Thanks! And sorry this review took forever.
Jessica

Guest Post by Rusty Fischer, author of Zombies Don’t Cry

Today, we've got ourselves a guest post from Mr Fischer, who wrote the upcoming YA novel, Zombies Don't Cry.

Why Zombies? Why YA? Why Now?

It’s funny but, when I sat down to write Zombies Don’t Cry (Medallion, 2011), somehow I never felt like I was writing a horror book, or a YA book, or a genre book… or even a book about zombies. I was just writing a book about a character who happened to be a young adult – and a zombie.

It was no different than writing about a guy who’s a football player or a kid who runs track. But there must be some reason, right? I mean, why not make my character just a regular human girl facing human problems in a human way? Why does she have to die and, in dying, come back as one of the living dead?

Which brings us to three questions I’m asked frequently these days:

Why zombies?

Why YA?

Why now?

I’ll try to answer them in that order:

Why zombies?

I think zombies are the closest things to superheroes that a cynical guy like me can really imagine happening in real life. I know they can’t fly, or leap tall buildings in a single bound, or see through bank safes and they’re not bulletproof and they don’t wear capes but, just think about it: you don’t have to sleep, nothing hurts you, you can walk for miles without a sip of Gatorade, you can hold your breath forever – the possibilities are endless.

Okay, sure, you have to eat brains every now and again but… Popeye needed his spinach, right? Swamp Thing needed the sun? Even Thor needs his hammer to be on his A-game, so… what’s the big difference?

Seriously, though, to me zombies are the epitome of cool. Where vampires are a little too regal for me and werewolves too jockish and faeries and demons and ghouls a little too complicated, zombies are just… simple, no nonsense, no muss, no fuss. They’re just cool. They’re like the silent, mysterious, thuggish types who don’t have to say much to get their point across; they’re just that cool.

Why YA?

For me, zombies and YA just… go together. I’m not as interested in adult zombies as I might be a teen zombie, and I think for me that’s because zombies – at least, the ones I write about – are still kind of locked in their own generational time zone.

If I were to turn into a zombie, I’m not sure I’d want to spend the rest of my life as a 20-, or 30- or even 40-something zombie, but it would be more fun, I think, to be a teenage zombie and live forever.

I think that’s important for kids, too. I think the idea of being immortal appeals to kids, maybe more so than adults, because there is so much left to do and reason to be excited about everything.

Writing YA as an adult is a great way to go back in time and do it all over again; be cooler, smarter, funnier, more popular, etc. And to imagine doing it all as a zombie, and doing it forever, that’s the ultimate “do over.”

Why now?

Zombieland. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The Walking Dead. Zombies, suddenly they’re all over the place. I know not everybody is into them, and I never realized until just now that writing about zombies could actively turn readers off (sorry about that), but whatever you think – or don’t think – of zombies, there’s no denying they’re here to stay.

People often ask me why now? Why all of a sudden are zombies making a resurgence but, for me, zombies have always been around. I’m a huge Night of the Living Dead fan, and have spent the last few years watching a steady diet of zombie-type movies. I think what’s happening now to make people sit up and notice is you not only have zombie movies now, but zombie comics and zombie books and zombie TV shows.

I think the timing is as much about finance as it is wish fulfillment. One zombie book or comic or movie or TV show makes money, people rush to cash in on that. It’s no different with comic books or superheroes or whatever. But, also, when times are bad I think people start thinking, “What if…?”

“What if I could feel no pain?”

“What if I didn’t have to pay my bills anymore?”

“What if I didn’t care if I was popular or cool or where my locker was?”

So I think part of the thing with zombies popping up all over the place is that temptation we all have to give it all up, throw in the towel and just run away. Zombies let us do that without having to actually, you know… do it.

So, those are my answers to the three questions I’m most frequently asked. They’re not very scientific, and maybe they won’t be all that popular, but I’ve been thinking about them a lot lately and I appreciate the chance to get them off my chest!

Happy reading,
Rusty

About the author: Rusty Fischer is the author of Zombies Don’t Cry: A Living Dead Love Story, due out from Medallion Press in April 2011. Visit his blog, www.zombiesdontblog.blogspot.com, for news, reviews, cover leaks, writing and publishing advice, book excerpts and more! And look for his next book, Vamplayers, due out from Medallion next year!

Um, if you haven't seen Zombieland yet, CHANGE THAT. I love that movie. And I love this guest post! Thanks again, Rusty.

Z Review

Author: Michael Thomas Ford
Release Date: September 7, 2010
Pages: 376 (ARC)

Publisher: HarperTeen

Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: For review from publisher

The First Rule of Torching: Cleanse with fire.

Josh is by far the best zombie Torcher around—at least, he is in his virtual-reality zombie-hunting game. Josh has quickly risen through the player ranks, relying on the skill, cunning, and agility of a real Torcher.

The Second Rule of Torching: Save all humans.

But luckily for Josh, zombies exist only in the virtual world. The real zombie war is now more than fifteen years in the past, and the battle to defeat the deadly epidemic that devastated his family—and millions of others—is the stuff of history lessons.

The Third Rule of Torching: You can't bring them back.

Charlie is the top-ranked player in the game. Since all the players are shrouded in anonymity, Josh never expects Charlie to be a girl—and he never expects the offer she makes him: to join the underground gaming league that takes the virtual-reality game off the screen and into the streets. Josh is thrilled. But the more involved he gets, the more he realizes that not everything is what it seems. Real blood is spilling, members of the team are disappearing, and the zombies in the game are acting strange. And then there's the matter of a mysterious drug called Z. . . .
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I had some issues with Z, but as a whole I enjoyed it.

I think my main problem with it was the characters. They just kinda fell flat for me. Normally I find one that I connected with, or found entertaining or unique, but with Z, not really. I didn't like them or dislike them, they just kind of...were. Except for maybe our main character, Josh, who seemed too selfish. Honestly, I think Ford relied on the plot so much that he didn't think characterization mattered all that much.

But, I can sort of see why. The plot was unlike anything I've ever read. It combined zombies, with drugs, and a sprinkle of futuristic society that I wouldn't mind revisiting to make a story that you surely won't forget.

A thing I didn't like about the futuristic society was that too much went unexplained. What's with the people who dress up as animals and lie a lot? Or the "boarders"? I guess that it was some kind of weird fashion trend...? It was kind of strange.

Oh, and I have to mention how much I enjoyed the explanation of what happens to a person once they've started to become a zombie. It seemed logical, well-researched, and I'm just happy to FINALLY have an explanation instead of just going "Oh well, maybe it was something in their toothpaste that causes their teeth to rot and their gums hurt and they need human flesh to chew on...." Thank you Michael Thomas Ford!

So, I had parts of Z that I really enjoyed, and parts that I didn't. I think reluctant guy readers who crave action would enjoy it a lot more than I did.

Book Report:

Plot: Original and full of action.

Characters: Blah.

Writing: Not too shabby.

Ending: Only a little predictable, and left room for a sequel.

Kid friendly? Yeah. This book talks a lot about drugs (but it's not any drug that we could possibly have today), and maybe has 1 or 2 swears but that's it.

Should I read it? Ummm...maybe. If you're looking for a lot of action.

Overall:

 

The Forest of Hands and Teeth Review

Author: Carrie Ryan
Release Date: February 9, 2010 (paperback)
Pages: 336 (Paperback)

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Most Appropriate For Ages: 12+
Where I Got It: Won

In Mary's world there are simple truths.
The Sisterhood always knows best.
The Guardians will protect and serve.
The Unconsecrated will never relent.
And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?
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 I went into The Forest of Hands and Teeth expecting something dark, but good. I got just that and more.

Carrie Ryan immediately builds a fascinating world that's easy to get lost in from the first page. The plot kicks off with a bang and soon you find yourself unwilling to put it down. I've heard so much about how depressing this book is, and sure, it's sad, but it fit with the story, and it certainly didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.

I had kind of a love/hate thing going on with the main character, Mary. One moment she seemed strong and likable, the next she seemed selfish and never happy. In the end I think she grew and learned from her ways, and I enjoyed watching her grow. I loved Travis. A lot. I didn't realize how much romance would be in The Forest of Hands and Teeth when picking it up, but it definitely didn't bother me. I loved their realistic chemistry together.

The writing was absolutely beautiful...which is a hard to accomplish with a gory post-apocalypse. But Carrie Ryan's writing was elegant and was one of my favorite aspects of the entire novel.

The ending was...sad, but some goodness came out of everything too. Overall, a beautifully written sad story that I really enjoyed.

How kid friendly is it? There's no language or sex, but lots of gore.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreafuls Review

Author: Steve Hockensmith

Release Date: March 23, 2010

Pages: 287 (Paperback)

Publisher: Quirk Classics

Most Appropriate For Ages: Adult
Where I Got It: From publisher in exchange for my honest review
Other titles in series: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (sequel)

Journey back to Regency England-Land of the Undead!

Readers will witness the birth of a heroine in Dawn of the Dreadfuls--a thrilling prequel set four years before the horrific events of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. As our story opens, the Bennet sisters are enjoying a peaceful life in the English countryside. They idle away the days reading, gardening, and daydreaming about future husbands--until a funeral at the local parish goes strangely and horrible awry.

Suddenly corpses are springing up from the soft earth--and only one family can stop them. As the bodies pile up, we watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naive young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. Along the way, two men vie for her affections: Master Hawksworth is the powerful warrior who trains her to kill, while thoughtful Dr. Keckilpenny seeks to conquer the walking dead using science instead of strength. Will either man win the prize of Elizabeth's heart? Or will their hearts be feasted upon by hordes of marauding zombies? Complete with romance, action, comedy, and an army of shambling corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls will have Jane Austen rolling in her grave--and just might inspire her to crawl out of it!
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Before I start this review, let me clarify something: I've never read Pride and Prejudice, or Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Now, with that being said:

It took some wading through, but I did enjoy PPZ:DotD.

The plot was interesting. It never fully grabbed me, though. I would've liked more background on Mr. Bennet's previous experience with the dreadfuls (or unmentionables, as they're called through most of the book) or why the dead are coming out of their grave, but neither of those wishes were granted. But, I was entertained by the action and romance that the description on the back cover promises.

Elizabeth was such an outspoken, loyal, lovable heroine. I really liked her. The story was told from her perspective for most of the book, and I enjoyed it much more than any of the other character's perspectives. As for her love interests, I thought that I had a major character crush on Master Hawksworth for most of the book, until the ending when I was as devastated as Elizabeth herself. Then I read the epilogue, and I liked him more after that, but I still don't like him like I thought I did. Dr. Keckilpenny was funny, but I never loved him.

I was worried about having trouble with the writing, but I understood it easily. Whether this is a good or bad thing for Steve Hockensmith's writing, I'm not sure. But I did feel like the action could've been more descriptive and possibly even dragged out longer.

I'll be brutally honest-I hated the few illustrations that there were. That's all I'll say about them since I don't want to sound too mean.

The ending was climactic and wrapped it up nicely. Overall, a good book. It's definitely gotten me more interested to read Pride and Prejudice.

This book is technically adult, but could a teen read it? I would say so. There's hardly any language, and the violence and sexual references are no worse than what I've read it YA books.