09 Jan 2012 No Comments

Enclave by Ann Aguirre (Audio)

Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Audiobook: 6 discs
Publisher: MacMillan Audio (April 12, 2011)
Razorland Series #1

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.

Aguirre draws readers into this amazingly intense apocalyptic adventure from the very first page, never ceasing to capture your attention with the unusual lifestyle the characters live. As the story begins, we are immediately introduced to Girl 15 as she prepares for her naming ceremony, where she is renamed Deuce and given the scars that mark her as a huntress. Names are very special in Enclave, as many brats do not live long enough to experience the ritual. Deuce is one of the lucky ones and takes it very seriously. She wished more than anything to become a Huntress and wear her Huntress marks with pride. After she receives her marks, she soon realizes that the Enclave isn’t as perfect as she once thought.  Once she is teamed up with the enigmatic Fade, many questions arise as their time together progresses. Once the Freaks begin to slink ever closer to the Enclave and the other colonies, survival becomes increasingly difficult.

Enclave was a breath of fresh air as far as apocalyptic tales go. The mystery of the Enclave and the elders added drama to an already intense situation. The characters were vibrant and memorable, making it easy to cheer them on as they found themselves between a rock and a hard spot. Seeing them grow as individuals only made them more likable. The Freaks are definitely freaky. I could easily imagine them as being similar in nature to the zombies on The Walking Dead or 33 days Later. I’d like to have learned a little more about them. Aguirre’s world-building and descriptions are phenomenal, keeping you engulfed in the nightmare world Deuce and Fade call home. I don’t know if I would stand a chance in Aguirre’s world but the realistic, yet horrifying feel, is definitely unsettling.

Overall, Enclave is an action-packed read that stands out amongst the scores of apocalyptic novels available today.  I highly recommend it to readers that enjoyed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and the The Last Survivors Series by Susan Beth Pfeffer.

Special Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the review copy.

by Jennifer in Audio Books, Reviews, Young Adult Tags: Ann Aguirre, Audiobooks, Enclave, Macmillan Audio, Susan Beth Pfeffer, Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games, The Last Survivors Series