Enclave

Enclave by Ann Aguirre, aka Razorland #1, was refreshing and enthralling.

A Young Adult/Dystopian/Zombie type and I didn’t put it down until my eyes dropped from lack of sleep. The post apocalyptic genre is one of my very favorites.

A society of tunnel dwelling children and teens with no memories of sunshine or fresh air. No room for error when you very livelihood is threatened around every corner. Will the new girl and the outsider survive?

Spoilers Ahead!

A world where people die as young as their twenties is a grave state. I’ve noticed a lot of people have a problems when scenarios are painted this way. It’s not something to easily accept. It’s also not something for the faint of heart. This type of society is undoubtedly more harsh. The one thing you have to keep in mind is that is a work of fiction. This is not real. If you’re easily offended or upset by the following; abuse, rape, and the death of children, you’re probably better off going with something else. Please keep in mind I said EASILY offended because those things don’t actually happen in real time, they’re simply underlined. You know it had to have happened but it’s never detailed.

Personally this type of social hierarchy fascinates me. It’s primal and dark. We didn’t use to always have the life span we do today. The younger you die, the younger you have to fight and the younger you have to procreate in order to continue humanity.

We open up with a young girl attending her coming of age ceremony. Happy 15th birthday. At this point she finally receives a name and class.

She’s a woman now and not just any woman, she’s a huntress. Three classes exist within her enclave, Builder, Breeder, and Hunter. She’s been chosen to fight. As a huntress she is to protect and provide. If only it were that simple right? Teamed up with Fade, the foreigner and rebel, things aren’t easy for her.

Enter in the “Zombies”, aka the “Freaks/Eaters/Muties”. [¬º-°]¬

I loved the feral version the author gave the creatures. Not like your typical walking and groaning zombies. These were still animals bent on survival. Seeing a difference between the starving and the rested was vivid. Comparable to a stray dog, they were either driven by hunger or weighed their options, leaving survival the only deciding point. Needless to say, these were not the easiest target in dark tunnels, subway ruins, and sewers. How could they fight anything in places like that? Evolution of course. Just like the Freaks, they acclimated to the world around them. Generations underground and your senses will adapt. Just like any living thing when moved to a new environment. Survival of the fittest.

Each action sequence was intense. They were trained to fight their entire lives so they make do, but the strains of battle take their toll. Small glimpses of self discovery and revelation occur here and there, but knowing this is the first installment to a series, I was happy it didn’t throw everything at me all at once. Relationships between people have to build and experience in life is the only true way to learn.

So when an adjacent colony is wiped out and their own teeters on the edge of destruction, who will win? If only Deuce and Fade were there to find out. Sadly, they find exile before that. Topside they go.

(⌐■_■)

Deuce is stricken in amazement and fear all at once. Casadastraphobia – the fear of falling into the sky. I’m happy to see the author give Deuce this fear, since she’s known nothing more but the underground. An entire life taught to fear the world above. After pushing herself on they make some decisions. Time to find some answers and head North for safety.

Along the way Fade and Deuce draw ever so slightly closer. Before more can develop, they pick up a girl being held prisoner, Tegan, and eventually her captor, Stalker. Weird? No. This bothered a lot of people though since it was mentioned how Tegan was treated by Stalkers clan. Beaten, raped, and kept prisoner for breeding. Was Stalker the one who did it? No. It was actually mentioned how Stalker never used his power as leader to claim women. Since this fact is established and talked out, the two put their past behind them and as a group of four they continue North.

(I’m not particularly appalled by the topic of rape in books. It happens. I’m not saying I’m ok with it in real life though! Yes, it’s a fucking atrocity and yes, I wish with all my being that it wasn’t something people had to fear. Once again though, this is fiction. I also wish bambi’s mom didn’t die and nemo wasn’t left crippled or without siblings, but they did. Ever seen Up? Yeah. As for placing the topic of rape in a Young Adult novel, it’s not the first time. Go Ask Alice and Speak are two phenomenal titles about the lives of young women who experience such tragedies. If you’re uncomfortable with these topics, I’d recommend not reading about them.)

While continuing North, they unfortunately receive more resistance along the way. The Freaks are getting smarter, tracking, hunting, and countering moves. Finally with Deuce and Tegan injured, they rest and with a little help from a fallen comrade on the other side, they’re found by an actual adult.

(￣▽￣人)

It was like the final scene out of I Am Legend. Finally, they’ve reached some sort of civilization with adults and proper structure. Tegan is rushed to medical care while the others find shelter, but will she make it?

I don’t know! I’m super excited to read the the next installment though. Although Dead Island is next on the list (in preparation for Rip Tide on Tuesday), it’s definitely going to come after that.

There were a few things that contradicted themseleves and that bugged me a little. I was also unable to figure out what the author was discribing in a couple of instances. It was clear she had the picture of what she was discribing in her head and she was trying to not be too obvious, but. One example was when the characters were first at Stalker's place, I couldn't figure out where they were.

I did leave the book wondering what would happen in the second one.