Eve (Eve, 1)

To say that Eve surprised me would be a massive, massive understatement. The only reason I picked up this book to begin with was because I have an ARC of Once, Eve's sequel, sitting around, and I felt bad for neglecting it. I had fairly low expectations before going into Eve, and quite honestly, I expected my rating at the end to be at most two or three stars, after reading some of the negative reviews that almost assured I would have a similar experience.And I think it may be because of those very reviews that I had an experience almost completely opposite with Eve. Before even opening the pages Eve, I expected a boring read with mediocre characters and horrible world-building, as that is what most of the negative reviews led me to believe, but instead, what I got with Eve was a disturbing and emotionally raw novel with great characters that made me cry a countless amount of times. I found Eve to be a powerful and beautifully written little novel, and it was one that punched me in the gut over and over and over again.In the world of Eve, a disastrous plague has swept the entire nation and left ninety-eight of the entire population dying. After the aftermath of the plague, and after seeing her loved ones slowly fall at the hands of the plague, Eve is brought into the School - a housing place for young girls. At the School, the girls are fed, taught, and treated to until they turn eighteen. However, a day before her graduation from the School, Eve escapes to find out what really happens to the women after they graduate. Horrified by what she finds out to be the truth, she escapes from the School in a mission to go to a place called Califia; a place where she will be safe. But how will Eve, having been sheltered and kept from the outside world almost all her life, know who to trust?As I am writing this review, I am struggling to find another instance where a book has had as great of an emotional impact on me as Eve has. In fact, upon reading the very first pages in Eve, I found myself tearing up. This book is about love, it is about loss, it is about moving on, and, alongside that, it is about a young girl trying to run away from her future while also escaping from a deadly plague. And it handles all of that amazingly."I'd once read about amputees, and how they had pains where their arms and legs used to be. Phantom limbs, they were called. I'd always thought that was the best way to describe my feelings about my mother. She was now just an ache for something I'd had lost." - quote taken from EveEve is not the smartest heroine you'll ever read about, or the strongest, and she is at times a bit selfish and difficult to like, but I just found that to be the effects of her being sheltered and monitored and lied to her entire life. She's at times naive, and she is imperfect, but she learns from her mistakes and she feels guilt for her wrong decisions, seemingly miniscule and incapable of harm to her, that, unfortunately, impacted other people's lives. Eve feels regret for those decisions she's made, and she betters herself as a person through those wrong decisions. Or, in other words, she's human. And she's a lot more of a believable character than half of the heroines in young adult dystopians on the market today.As well as Eve, the secondary characters, and Eve's love interest, Caleb, were incredibly likable and developed throughout the course of the novel. I have to say that my favorite character in Eve was Arden, and that my favorite relationship in Eve was the one between her and Eve. The two girls are incredibly different and not ideal friends at first, but throughout the novel they learn that they are similar in many ways, and their relationship has one of the most interesting and well-developed dynamics I've had the pleasure to read about this year. I only wish I could say the same for the relationship between the two central characters, Eve and Caleb. While I definitely found Caleb to be a likable character, and Eve an at times likable character, I was never really sold on their relationship together. It was sweet, and it wasn't insta-love, but to me it just felt like there was no basis behind the purpose of the romance. Though I guess sometimes relationships are like that in the real world, as well.While the novel itself is certainly not without its flaws - the biggest one pertaining to the world-building, or lack thereof, I found Eve to be an engaging and powerful read, set in a grisly and disturbing world that is scarily possible, and the emotional impact it had on me is one that I am sure to remember.

All her life Eve has been told that Men were dangerous and WILL harm and prey on innocent girls. She has been told that so long as they stay in School grounds and stick with the system they will be protected, after a plague has wiped out most of the population. But, on the night before her graduation, Eve discovers that the things she has been told are far from what truly is and flees her all-girl school, hoping to find refugee at a camp where she will be safe, REALLY safe. But those plans are led astray when she finds herself in the path of a young hunter named Caleb, and the theories of how dangerous men really are, are put to the test...Eve, I must say, was an interesting read. Such a fascinating concept and idea and good execution. While it did take me a while to finish, I managed to stay entertained from cover to cover. The world, or New America, was an intricate creation. Such vision and descriptions, I don't know if I would even have the strive to try to survive such a wild world. (probably not) This is something that COULD happen. There are many viruses that are mutating each and every day. Getting less susceptible to antibiotics and vaccines, and adapting to the world. So the theory that a virus, plague, or other pandemic could wipe off many of the population like a stain on the kitchen counter is entirely plausible.The main character, Eve, is not one I particularly favored at the beginning. I somewhat warmed to her in the middle, but felt a little cold come the end, but am still hopeful for what she will bring in the sequel, ONCE. There were also a few character I felt that didn't need names. I found it difficult trying to memorize all of these names and placing them that I felt, "One of the boys" might have fared better in some instances.I must admit that this novel was not what I thought it was going to be from watching the book trailer. It was something almost entirely different, but this is not a bad thing. While in some ways it was divergent from what I thought it was originally, in other ways it was a pleasant surprise. I am a big romance-junkie so when things with Caleb started, you can BET I was all up in that. I am someone who likes my romance hot and steamy, and while there indeed was something there between the two, it was just shy of warm for me. I would have liked more romantic tension, more scenes that would have me begging for more. But soon warmth will have to give way to heat, and I am left in anticipation for what may come in ONCE!There is action, drama, suspense, and other elements incorporated into this first book, which leaves off in a good place for continuation. Overall, Anna Carey has crafted what will be an interesting series, and I am left impatiently waiting for the sequel, which releases July 3rd, 2012.

Liked this book, good first instalment. I often read this genre and most have the three book series too. Book two is often a space filler so it'll be interesting to see if I enjoy it as much. I like the characters and the story flows well so far... Not going to spoil it for anyone but if you've read books like the flow series, the testing series or the watchers of Eden (some of my more recent reads) I'm sure you'll like this too... dystopia... Female lead... Struggles and twists... And a subtle love interest...

I'm not sure about Eve....It is very readable, certainly I enjoyed it, but it was a peripheral enjoyment. There is not much depth here despite a good premise and a thought provoking set up, it then went, well a little flat.I think its because it is SO FAST. The world building is not really there (yet) we meet Eve at school, then BAM she discovers a conspiracy, runs away, has a bit of a road trip where she comes across boys for the first time, hooks up with the mean girl from school (Arden who frankly is a MUCH more interesting and compelling character than Eve) and various things occur that are often a little cliched.Things I loved:Arden - she is cool, has depth and strength of character, held my interest and I want to know more about her. To be honest I would have preferred it if she had been the focus rather than the sideckick.The basic idea's: Girls being used as breeding tools to repopulate the planet, very Attwood and in the right hands can be emotive and make a social statement. Here it is not really explored much beyond being a reason for Eve to run, but I do sense that this plotline will intensify so I'm giving that a tick.The bear and the Horse. Yep.Things I didnt like:Eve's attitude and her general whiny musings, plus the way she is inherently selfish. Also seriously, she's spent her WHOLE LIFE being told about the dangers of the male species and the first boy she comes across she goes all ridiculous for in moments. It just didnt ring true.On the plus side for Eve, she grew with the story so by the end I was a little more fond of her Just. Still...Arden...There are some great plus points to "Eve" that means I am definitely going to read the rest of the trilogy. As a book one it was fine, it set us up for the next instalment, as I said at the beginning it is eminently readable, the author has a lovely turn of phrase and a way of pulling you in despite yourself sometimes.Overall this was good without being the best thing ever. I'm intrigued to see what happens next, I do really like Anna Carey's writing style, it appeals to me so if the next book can up the ante on the world building and be just a bit more edgy and less popcorn, I think this will grow on me a lot.Happy Reading Folks!

Review by Deanna CunninghamEveAuthor: Anna CareySeries: Eve #1Pages: 336Genre: DystopiaRating: 2.5/5My Review"I do this funny thing sometimes," he said, shooting me a mischievous grin. "I open a book, and I look at each page, It's called reading." - CalebI have to admit I don't like this genre at all...(gives me the hepey jepeys thinking about the close future and all...you get it? Good you do well if not sorry just me)Anyway I thought why not give it a try and It did not change my mind I did not like it at all. The plot line was good but a little strange in places, it was very jumpy. This was quite a extream idea for a book with everything going on. The plot to me made me think that there was about 5 climaxs points. If you are a aderline junkie this is definaly the book for you.Here is a quick overview of the book without spoilers. Eve blongs to a world with a poplulation that has decreased because a virus had spread through the world. The narrator of the book Eve has lived in a bording school for many years and it has all been about the building. The teachers said that is where you would learn your craft or is it? Anyway she learns the truth and sets of into the wild wilderness but when she finds Caleb she takes forever to build up trust with him. Moreover she finds out that someone is after her and will do anything to get her. Eve lives at Calebs home for a couple of weeks until someone betrays her after a incident. That is my overview hope I did'nt give any spoilers.I did not like Eve very much I thought she was very nieave and childish at the beginnig of the book. Her charcater developed quite alot but something key was missing from her. Eve is beautiful and very intelligent and a total perfectionist, so when she leaves for the out door world she is completly out of her element and has to get others to help her alot.Caleb on the other hand is her complete opposite to Miss Perfection. He has a rough extreior but is a softy in side. His charcter was alot better than Eves, but has alot of blank spots to his cheeky and quirky character.The plot/story line for this story was intresting and I liked it but the characters needed a bit more depth. I think it could do with a bit more of a develpoed romance between Caleb and some thought on some of the chapters. I felt that there was a lot of pointless activity in some of the chapters. This is why I gave the story a 2.5 but it does not help that I don't like this particular genre.

Having read many of the reviews on here, I was a tad sceptical about purchasing 'Eve'. That said, I am thoroughly pleased that I did, as I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down! Once the characters had been introduced, the action picked up and it became a definite page turner!Unlike many dystopian main characters, I have to say that I didn't particularly 'like' Eve from the outset. This is unusual, as I normally prefer the characters at the beginning and later on they become less likeable. I'm not sure why this was. Perhaps it was because she was the school valedictorian and I found it hard to believe that she would all of a sudden start questioning everything that she had been taught? Perhaps it was becuase I didn't have enough time to see what she was truly like in the school environment? Either way, I had some difficulty bonding with Eve at the start of this book, hence the 4 stars instead of 5.Nevertheless, once the plot picked up and Eve escaped, I started to like her more and more. I certainly liked the relationships that she formed with the other characters in the book. She was a caring mother-like figure when teaching Benny, Silas and others to read. She looked after Arden - who had always been quite cold to her - at her time of need. And then there's Caleb. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about their blossoming relationship, particularly as Eve battled with herself over her teachings at school. She had to constantly surpress what she had been taught about men and their malicious motives. For me, Caleb was a fantastic character. He didn't mock Eve's naivety, he was humorous and he also had a sensitve side. What's not to like?If you are still unsure about reading this book, I would say at least give it a go! You won't be bored because there's lots of action and little time is spent in one place; the characters are frequently on the move. There are lots of twists and turns throughout the novel, and I have to say, I didn't expect the ending. I didn't particularly like the ending (I'm not sure Eve would have really accepted it) but I was pleased with the surprise element.

I really enjoyed some aspects of the book. The start of the book was very interesting based in the boarding school and its dystopian aspects. Eve's character was not the most interesting, infact she was very dull. She was said to be beautiful once or twice in the book but I felt I needed real descriptive details to understand why Caleb, The Kind and Leif wanted her. She was also supposed to be intelligent, however she somehow seemed to make stupid decisions and put the lives of actually interesting characters in danger.I liked Ardens personality very much and would have enjoyed reading alot more about her. She is feisty, brave and beautiful. I do believe her character was the most realistic and likeable.Caleb, the love interest. I did not believe there was any chemistry between Eve and Caleb. I do enjoy a good love story and I was extremely disapointed. I did however like his personality, I would be interested in finding out more about the work camps and the male perspective of the plagues aftermath. I am still very confused about their relationship and I do hope it will develope more in the next book.I do look forward to reading the next book, the ending left me wanting to know more. A good dystopian YA book, but definatley room for development.