Reviews

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

lnocita's review against another edition

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3.0

In a postapocalyptic world, Deuce lives underground in the subway tunnels of NYC. She has never been topside. Her clan claims it is fatally dangerous. Their only chance of survival is to remain in the tightly controlled enclave that controls all aspects of life from birth to death. Deuce is a Huntress, someone who patrols the tunnels outside of their enclave looking for food (rats) and protecting the enclave from the freaks, zombie-like creatures who seek flesh. She is skilled and fierce. It has never occurred to question the tactics of the leaders. She is obedient and terrified to step out of line. Shortly after her naming ceremony and induction as a Hunter, she is paired with Fade, a boy who has always been an outcast with a mysterious past. Deuce is sure that she is being punished somehow but Fade turns out not to be who she expected him to be. When they are sent on a dangerous mission to check on another enclave with whom their group trades, they discover that the other group has fallen to the freaks and, what's more, the freaks seem to be getting smarter and more tactical. When they return with this disturbing news, the leaders of the enclave are quick to dismiss their story and threaten them to keep quiet so as to keep peace in the enclave. Deuce begins to realize that the leaders of the enclave may not have the best interests of the group at heart and that perhaps they have purposely kept the members of the group weak and uninformed. After one too many incidents of their abuse of power, Deuce can keep silent no longer. Consequently, both she and Fade are exiled from the enclave and declared enemies of the tribe. Deuce, stunned, leaves behind all she has ever known and begins the journey for the answers to all of her questions with Fade by her side.

Dystopian fans will enjoy this addition to the genre. It resonates with tones of Delirium, Insurgent, Water Wars, and Legend. There is romantic tension between Deuce and Fade but it is chaste. Tegan, a minor character who may become a more significant protagonist in the future, is rescued from the Wolves, one of the topside gangs; she has been brutalized and raped as referred to in the narrative, so it may be best for more mature readers.

pswords72's review against another edition

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4.0

Feels like a cross between Hunger Games and The Passage. Interesting first book of the series. Curious to see where the next book goes.

saharzez's review against another edition

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4.0

While reading this, at some point I was reminded of "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner. Probably because of the whole Hunter/Huntress role in things.

The world of Enclave was slightly different from most dystopian books, mainly because Deuce wasn't initially unhappy with how things worked in her world, unlike the main characters in the other books.

Deuce's partnership with Fade, to me, seems to be a little much like love at first sight. I know that it's not, since she hated the guy when they first met. But the dislike just went away after one or two chapters and then it went all romantic from there. It would've been a tad more realistic (and funny. I love when the main couple argues and throws sarcastic comments at each other when they first meet).

Other than that, Enclave was a very neat book. In a sense, it reminded me of "Inside Out" by Maria V. Snyder. I'm honestly really interested in learning more about the Freaks, since they did seem to have some intelligence and human comprehension halfway through the book.

Totally loved the book, and I'm eagerly waiting for the second book to come out!

nothingremarkable's review against another edition

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2.0

The storyline and the world Ann has created for her self was interesting, but I found the writing flat and unenthusiastic and so the characters. I missed all the details all the small peaces that makes a story come alive.

But there is no denying that Ann has some real talent and an astonishing fantasy.

I am curious to see what will come next.

etrim's review against another edition

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2.0

1.5/5

kerrycarskadon's review against another edition

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5.0

Definitely not for everyone, but I loved this series.

bxboricua7's review against another edition

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4.0

I LOVE this book! I loved the characters of Deuce and Fade. My one issue was the introduction of Stalker as a possible love interest for Deuce. Considering that one of her jobs as a Hunter was to protect the weak,I didn't like the addition of violent ganger/former rapist Stalker as someone Deuce would actually go for. It really irked me. Otherwise, I can't wait to read the next book.

mehsi's review against another edition

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4.0

I am not really in the mood to write a normal review, so I will write a good/bad review. :)

Good things:
*The zombies/freaks/whatever they are. They are seriously scary, and I would say maybe scarier than normal zombies. With their longer claws, sharp teeth and seemingly more brains they make up for one scary enemy that you don't want to meet. They are terrifyingly smart, they can make decisions, they can take revenge, they will follow you, they will get rid of their own to get to things they want.
*The main character. Deuce is an awesome character and I loved her from the beginning, though I have to say I started loving her more when she had to go to the surface. She was so amazed by everything she saw, had to be taught new things (and didn't mind, just soaked it up like a sponge does water) and she was so strong. Keeps going on and on no matter what. Of course she was afraid, of course she worried, but that made her human, that made her more real. I think I would have hated it if she would have taken everything for granted, if she hadn't cared or worse, if she had cowered when she saw each new thing.
And she learns so much, you can just see her grow, stronger but also smarter and more world wise.
*Fade, he was a really great side-character, though I want to know more about him, about his father, about his life on the surface before he ran to the sewers/train systems.
*The world-building, there are a lot of questions (see bad things later on), but I at times felt like I was standing next to Deuce, fighting alongside of her in the sewers/train system, seeing her talk to people she knew in the Enclave. Everything is pretty detailed and that made it really a great book to me.
*Several other things, like the situation in the Enclave, I just had my suspicions about what happened there and also the stories they told. Also Stalker turned up to be an interesting character when stuff happened.

Bad Things:
*We have no answers (but a few things) what the hell happened to the world? A disease? Some new vaccine that turned up badly? Some magic occurrence? Aliens? I was hoping that we would get things answered when Deuce and Fade would go to the surface. However, we get some snippets, but nothing much.
It seems that bites or something don't turn people? I can be wrong, but I read something about Deuce being bitten, and yet she didn't turn. So how do people turn into Freaks? Are freaks really zombies? Or aliens?
In the end I am more confused than anything. So many questions and so little answers, I am hoping that they will be answered in the next book. Yes I am buying the next book.
*Why are all the freaks in the sewers/train systems? At least I have to deduce that from the book. During several events it seemed like having Freaks in the city was a new occurrence and that the Wolves didn't even know what they faced.
*The love triangle. Urgh, and with Deuce being still totally oblivious to girl things I am sure this will turn out to be highly annoying.
*The systems in the Enclave. So you can't pick? You are either a Builder, Breeder or a Hunter? I don't think I would like to be forced to be a Breeder. Or for that matter be stuck in Builder or Hunter. I would rather pick something myself.
*More questions, why do people in the Enclave die so soon? The oldest people there were just ~20 years old.
*That cliffhanger. Of course it was expected, because, hey, we have a whole series, but it still annoys me.

All in all a balanced book, and a fun one at that. I will be sure to check out the rest of the series. :)

Review first posted: http://twirlingbookprincess.com/

kelly97mc's review against another edition

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1.0

I liked this book right up to the point where Deuce and Fade went above ground. Then a disgusting and unnerving love triangle was introduced--with a rapist as the third side of the triangle. I liked Fade, more than I thought I would, but when he was put on the back burner for a guy who sat back and allowed innocent girls to be repeatedly raped, Enclave's rating dropped faster than I would've ever thought possible.

ohyouread's review against another edition

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5.0

It has been about 10 years since the first time I read Enclave and I will tell you that it is still just as good now as it was then.

I have always been a huge fan of post apocalyptic wasteland dystopian books. Plus, if it takes place in the ruins of a big old world city… in the case of Enclave, it’s the subway tunnels of NYC. My mind has always been amazed at the thought of the world it could be down below… and this series just feeds into my thoughts.

Also the idea that there are people living in those subways now who have been down there for 60+ years, present day. I had heard of mole people long before reading this book, but it just makes me so much more curious about them now.

If you haven’t picked this up, you need to. I am still reeling over how incredible it is.