Enclave (The Razorland Trilogy)

TRIGGER WARNING: RAPE AND VICTIM BLAMING.

I actually re-read this because the new one came out and I just looked at most of the reviews for this one and thought, "Damn, maybe I was just in a bad mood when I read it."

The re-reading actually made me lower the rating from 2 stars to 1.

The first time I

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read it I was in the middle of exams, and I wasn't really thinking about what I was reading, it was mostly to get my mind off things for a bit - and it failed even at that, since I only gave it a 2 back then.

But now that I've re-read it... I mean, what. the. fuck.
Seriously what the fuck is this bullshit? A girl is gang raped for years and spends most of her life giving birth to still-born babies only to be raped again and again, and the main character goes on about how weak this girl is? How she should have died fighting her rapists?
I mean are you serious with this shit?!

Then the guy who was the rapists's leader becomes a love interest for the main character...
I JUST CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS LEVEL OF FUCKERY!

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This is advertised as a read alike for The Hunger Games and it is, but not as good. Distopian novel where the action takes place partly in an underground society and partly above ground where the results of biological warfare are evident. A good glymps into what makes a society work or fail after a

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catastrophy. Good friendship novel too.

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Yes, Enclave by Ann Aguirre is another YA plague induced, dystopian, rather gloomy, slathering zombie story set both in the underground subway tunnels and the ruins of New York City. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. There is lots of zombie action and fighting by a strong

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ass-kicking heroine and her mysterious partner, and the author also took the time to develop an interesting world with an intriguing backdrop. Any gamers reading this book would be hard pressed not to see similarities between this story and the game of “Fallout”.

The timing appears to be a 100 years or so after end of civilization as we know it, and for the people living underground, this is all they know. They are convinced that no one can survive above ground, so they exist in groups called Enclaves and spend their time hunting for food (mostly rats and other small creatures) and killing the flesh-eating freaks that are to be found in the tunnels.

Girl 15 has been training her whole life, and upon her naming day becomes Deuce. She is now ready to embark on her career as a hunter. Career choices in the Enclave are limited to three, you become a builder, a breeder or a hunter. Partnered with the quiet outsider Fade, one of their first missions leads her to believe that the people of the Enclave are not being told the total truth by their leaders. Eventually her questions lead her and Fade to be exiled and thrust out on their own. They decide to head topside and see if they can find a place of safety.

This is the first book in a trilogy, and although it really doesn’t offer anything new in the zombie genre, it’s a fun read with full-on action, good writing and yes, slathering zombies. I read this book in one big gulp and it won’t be long before I am looking for my next fix in this series.

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After receiving a copy of this book from GoodReads friend Lucy, I was immediately drawn to the Publisher’s Weekly quote declaring the book to be “for fans of The Hunger Games”. Such comparison quotes, while attention grabbing and common practice amongst publishers, immediately set up a

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certain level of expectations, even in the most cynical of readers. While I haven’t actually finished reading The Hunger Games yet (I’ll get round to it eventually, I swear!), I began this book with the same expectations I have for every dystopian novel – strong world-building and a real threat & sense of danger.

There are books that make me consider discarding use of the flawed star rating system for reviews. Sometimes it’s close to impossible to summarise the qualities of a book into a simple rating out of 5, 10 or however one chooses to do so. A book can be a relatively enjoyable and competently written piece of work that would otherwise deserve a solid rating, but a certain element, event, etc, can bring its rating tumbling down. This happened to me with Sarah Beth Durst’s “Ice” and it happened with “Enclave”. But before I get to why I cannot give this book anything higher than one star, I shall discuss other elements of the book that succeed and fail.

I’m sure you’re all sick of me going on and on about this but the foundations of a strong dystopian novel lie in its world-building. Unusual or disturbing events can’t just happen for shock value. They need to be rooted in the origins of the society, grounded in reason, meaning the reason of this world. This fundamental lack of reason within the world-building in “Enclave” left more than a few questions unanswered. The underground society Deuce lives in does not name its young, known as brats, until a specific age, which is never mentioned. Why? There doesn’t seem to be any specific reasoning behind this rule and seems too impractical to fit in with a world that works to prove itself as fundamentally practical. There are hints of a cult-like mentality to the ruling class of the world but it’s barely touched upon and leaves us with half-built reasoning. Children are sanctioned into one of three groups – warriors, builders or breeders – yet the reasons for specific grouping once again seem at odds with the necessary practicality & needs of this society. One breeder, Deuce’s friend, is seen as ideal for his calling because he is handsome, but I failed to see why this would be a relevant quality in a world where death & disease are rampant. Other extremely questions go unanswered – how does this enclave have clean water after generations underground? How does Deuce go from a lifetime underground to full on exposure to sunlight and only get slightly burned with no damage to her eyesight?

The writing itself is adequate, if simple, and has well-paced action scenes, although the overall pacing is erratic. Certain scenes are evident padding and clumsy plotting, which coupled with several under-developed plot points proves to be somewhat frustrating. No character other than the heroine is given adequate time to develop beyond basic tropes, although I did warm to Deuce somewhat throughout the first half of the novel. However, it is one particular character and how others react to him that soured things for me.

A little more than midway through the novel, Deuce is kidnapped by a gang who make their intentions towards her clear – they intend to use her for breeding purposes, forcefully if need be. Later we are introduced to Tegan, a fellow kidnapped woman who has been raped repeatedly and given birth to stillborn children. After altercations with the story’s main monsters, the Freaks, the head of the gang, Stalker (yes, really), decides he will go along with Deuce, Tegan and main love interest Fade in order to have a better chance of surviving. Fade and Deuce agree to this, despite Tegan’s protests that she does not feel safe around the leader of the gang of rapists who repeatedly violated her for years. Later on, Stalker pushes Deuce against a tree and kisses her.

Deuce willingly reciprocates.

I’ve made my thoughts clear on the ‘bad boy’ trope in YA; I don’t like it. I understand the fantasy behind being the one girl who changes the rebel but ultimately I think it’s a problematic trope that is all too often used as an excuse to have the love interest treat the heroine like dirt, often being rough with her and belittling her.

Patch from “Hush Hush” held his love interest against a bed and talked about how much he wanted to kill her after stalking her, harassing her and generally making her feel uncomfortable and unsafe.

Stalker is the leader of a gang of rapists. It is hinted at in the book that he has raped women before. It is also implied that he may have raped Deuce during her kidnapped period.

He is presented as a potential love interest to Deuce.

The aim of a good dystopian novel is to create a sense of dread. I have seen rape mentioned in other dystopian novels and within the constraints of this world where humans die young and need to reproduce quickly, it makes sense that a patriarchy dominated society would view women in such a manner. However, I have never seen rape used so casually and tossed aside so simply by a character and an author in a YA novel. There is a cruel lack of empathy for Tegan in “Enclave”. Even within the constraints of the novel’s world, one ruled by social Darwinism, to force Tegan to interact daily with the man who stood by & let her be raped repeatedly, possibly ordering the rapes himself or even engaging in the horrific act himself, is baffling at best and disgusting at worst. As the novel progresses, Tegan grows (lazily from a characterisation point-of-view) from a victim into a ‘strong’ young woman who can fight back, but all I could think about was how her rape was used in such a cavalier fashion. Deuce, who started off with such potential (even if she did fall into the typical romantic plot tropes with mysterious bad boy Fade), does not question Stalker or his past actions. Instead, she lays some of the blame on Tegan. The dismissive attitude she has towards a victim of multiple rapes is abhorrent. At one point she asks herself how Tegan could have been so weak as to allow the events to happen. Deuce’s general attitude is that life is tough, and if she can suck it up and get on with her life, so can Tegan. Even within the context of the novel, this felt wrong on every level. Deuce, who had previously shown moments of true empathy, becomes someone who sympathises more with a rapist than the victim of rape. I shouldn’t even have to explain why this made me sick. And that’s why I can’t give this book anything more than one star.

I don’t expect every book in the world to be a beacon of social justice and feminism; that would be stupid. What I do expect is for a book to follow the rules it sets for itself. “Enclave” fails on this thanks to its inconsistent and confusing choices in its world-building, which seem to exist more for shock value than any real sense of reason. It’s a mediocre novel that becomes disgusting when something as serious, life changing and horrific as rape is used so clumsily. Rape is NEVER the woman’s fault. She’s never ‘asking for it’ and she’s certainly never deserving of pity or scorn because she was unable to fight back. Bad boys are problematic enough, but making a rapist not only a sympathetic character, one who receives a degree of sympathy from the heroine not rewarded to the victim, but a potential love interest is flat-out inexcusable.

1/5.

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All her life Deuce has lived underground in an enclave called College. She was born during the second holocaust and has never seen the surface. People in the enclave don't live past the age of twenty-five. They are split into three categories, Breeders, Builders & Hunters. Deuce is a huntress.

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Along with her partner, Fade, she patrols the tunnels and checks the traps for food. When they are assigned to travel to a nearby enclave to check if they are ok, they find something they didn't bargain for. The Freaks (zombies) have always been a threat, but now they are becoming smarter, more organized. But no one at College believes them, especially the leaders.

This is a great story, twists and turns and edge of your seat moments. I liked Deuce. She is naive in that she never questions what the leaders tell her, but how could she know better? Her partnership with Fade is great. He is the perfect mysterious stranger in a place so contained that they all know each other. He was found wandering in the tunnels. Somehow he managed to survive alone and nobody knows how. He is quiet and keeps to himself. When Deuce is paired with Fade, her life begins to take a new direction. It's obvious from the tension between them, that somehow they will end up in a relationship and the inevitable love triangle.

I'm reading the second book now and loving it. Really looking forward to the third!!

Recommended to:
Fans of young adult fiction, dystopia, zombie and apocalypse stories. Another great young adult series. Read this!!

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In the future New York City, society has moved underground, and residents receive a name on their sixteenth birthday. After receiving her name, Deuce is marked as a Hunter. Her job is to patrol the extensive underground tunnels to protect her society of Breeders, Builders, brats, elders, and others

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from flesh-eating Freaks. Deuce and her Hunter partner, Fade, the only person in their enclave to be born aboveground, discover a rising threat to the enclave, but no one will listen to them. But other problems arise as Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, and they must face the dangerous unknowns of life aboveground.

This book reminded me of why I sometimes HATE when writers for adults attempt to write for younger audiences. People, how many times do I have to remind you that having a good premise and combining that with sloppy worldbuilding, a teenaged protagonist, and a love triangle does NOT automatically qualify a book as YA? I managed to finish ENCLAVE, but only because the whole time I kept on expecting it to get better, for it to eventually blow me away. Well, there was definitely no blowing away: my butt remained firmly in my chair, my forehead practically glued to my desk in frustration.

Good things first, I guess. I like Deuce. She belongs in the new, Katniss-esque camp of female protagonists: resourceful, emotionally reserved, tough on the outside, vulnerable and endearing on the inside.

Now for the litany of issues I had with this book, i.e. Why Poor Deuce Deserved a Better Story. Where do I begin? The writing was mediocre. I felt like no sooner was a character or detail introduced then he/she/it either died, got destroyed, or became Significant, rendering all of those introduced characters and details glaringly device-y. Changes in Deuce and Fade’s lives occurred with little regard for logistical backstory: when Deuce is in danger of death by Freak, a random group of dwarf-people who—surprise!—have been secretly living within the tunnels all along come out to save her. Deuce and Fade are cast to the surface for a tradition that, in essence, should make sense as a way that the elders enforced obedience, but, when it actually happens, feels so contrived.

And that’s the problem I continued to have throughout this book. Despite the promising premise, I feel like ENCLAVE only scratched at the surface of its world’s possibilities. For me, a story’s world has to feel like it can exist without an author’s interference: the book has to read like, say, contemporary YA reads to us, which is to say that all the complexities and possibilities of the world have to feel natural. ENCLAVE’s world did not feel natural to me. It felt like the author was writing in aspects of the world as the story went along, and I was left with too many logistical questions and an utter lack of investment. For example, I’m aware that I was supposed to see Deuce’s enclave as a stifling, cruel, and totalitarian governing system, but I never felt stifled on Deuce’s behalf. Everything in this book was begging me to consider it as dangerous, as suspenseful, as intense—which did not allow me to feel anything naturally, except perhaps boredom. It was just not credible.

Deuce was about the only character in this book that I felt like was even remotely well developed, and I’m beginning to suspect that that’s just a trick of the first-person narration. Fade I felt was trying so hard to fit the mysterious-hot-love-interest quota that he ended up being very uninteresting. And OH GOD CAN I JUST RANT HERE ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE LOVE TRIANGLE? So Deuce and Fade get into an altercation with a gang. The gang leader, who displays sociopathic tendencies towards homicide, randomly has a change of heart and joins them on their journey to find utopia, or whatever else is a better word for what they’re looking for. He and Deuce hook up when she’s busy agonizing over Fade. Yawn. The obviousness of the romantic elements of ENCLAVE didn’t help dissuade my snarky notion that the author was trying to fulfill some checklist for How to Write Bestselling YA or something.

I also think ENCLAVE took a big (and ultimately unsuccessful) risk in incorporating “idea-dropping” into its narration. “Idea-dropping” is my just-made-up term for a concept similar to name-dropping. It involves describing common modern items in such a way as to make it clear to us what the characters are describing without actually naming it, since, obviously, the characters don’t know the name for it. The one other time I’ve seen idea-dropping used was in another YA dystopian that ultimately didn’t agree with me. I think it’s a literary technique that panders to readers and doesn’t add anything to the world or the characters. I don’t freaking care that they’re eating Spam. All I needed to know was that they were eating long expired canned food. Spam only has implications for us readers, not the characters. Thus, idea-dropping spoon-feeds the dystopian aspect of a story, but I personally find the spoon-feeding offensive to my readerly intellect. There are better ways to write a dystopian than to idea-drop.

And what is up with the Freaks? Are they supposed to be flesh-eating zombies, or a mutation gone terribly wrong, or something else? Why wasn’t there more of an explanation for their existence so that they would also be less device-y? And are you SERIOUS about the disembodied voice that “speaks” to Deuce (or comes to her in a dream, I couldn’t figure out which) and convinces her to make the right decision, etc etc? I didn’t realize that deus ex machinas were so easily accepted! And don’t even get me started on how Tegan is an expendable ninny who inspires no empathy and is like a girl trying desperately not to be TSTL (“too stupid to live”) but, due to shoddy writing, ends up fitting exactly that expendable role.

My problem with ENCLAVE wasn’t that it read like a setup for the rest of the series. Rather, I just cannot respect a story that skimps so heavily on plot, characterization, and worldbuilding. As far as the trilogy is concerned, this is the end of the road for me. I wish all brave travelers who wish to journey beyond this point the best of luck. I’m going to spend my time on more well written books.

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Christ on a bike, this book was so damn difficult for me to rate & review. After a month-long on-and-off-again reading relationship with Enclave, I was left with such muddled feelings that I was kicking myself for not jotting down some notes to later help me decipher my tangled opinions. And then I

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had a light bulb moment and came up with a way to organize & summarize my thoughts: an emoticon flowchart. BAM!

I will say upfront that I found myself disappointed with Enclave. While reading, I kept waiting for the book to rock my world & blow my socks off, but my world remained perfectly grounded & my socks stayed firmly on my feet. That's not to say that I thought everything about the book was bad, but there were definitely quite a lot of shortcomings.

Let's start with a rundown of Enclave's positive attributes.

Firstly, I liked how descriptive the writing was. It helped get me more engaged in the story and allowed me to better understand & appreciate the differences between our world and the one Deuce was born into. Secondly, there was lots of action—gory, violent action—which totally appealed to my inner action junkie.

Plus, Deuce was a fairly kickass heroine. Girl had some serious lady balls. Furthermore, I enjoyed how she gradually started to open up to new ideas and different ways of thinking & feeling, and I liked that this didn't come easily to her or happen overnight.

I also liked Fade (at least for the first half of the book). Fade, like Deuce, was a hardcore badass, but he had a soft, gentle, caring side. He had a quiet but strong presence about him (initially). And I was wholeheartedly rooting for his budding romance with Deuce, which started off hesitantly, turned sweet, took a brief detour into sexy town and then...hit the breaks so damn hard I got whiplash.

This segues me into my problems with the book.

At times, Enclave was a total tease. Not in the neener-neener sort of way, but the kind in which it got me all excited and then left me unsatisfied & frustrated. Fade, for example, was shaping up to be a contender for Swoon-Worthy Fictional Boyfriend of the Year, and then he basically faded into the background and morphed into a wet blanket. Same goes for his romance with Deuce. Just as their bond began to skirt love territory, a completely contrived, nonsensical and VERY disturbing/disgusting love triangle was forcibly injected into the story (Note to authors: a sociopath/abuser/rapist should NEVER EVER under any circumstances be used as a contender for the heroine's heart. Not cool. And if you can't handle serious subjects like abuse & rape in a responsible manner, then don't write about them at all.)

Anyways, another tease moment came in the first half of the book when it was revealed that there's a rebel group within the enclave as well as a conspiracy involving innocent citizens being framed & punished for crimes they didn't commit. Right away I got excited thinking that Deuce & Fade would join the rebels and play some kind of role in fighting & exposing the corrupt officials, but nothing of the sort even came close to happening. Both intriguing concepts were discarded almost immediately after being introduced. This occurred again & again with other ideas & plot points (murder in the enclave, smarter freaks, topside gangs, etc.)

I found the last third of the book to be rather boring. It felt like filler with not much substance. To spice things up, a bit of melodrama & angst was thrown in towards the end, but it had absolutely no emotional impact on me whatsoever...zero, zilch.

As for the ending, well, my reaction to it can be summed up thusly: WTF? #$%^@#*!! For a second there, I seriously thought my copy of the book was missing pages. I can't remember the last time I came across such a haphazard cliffhanger. Describing it as anticlimactic would be a gross understatement.

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I listened to this book and at first I didn't think I was going to like it. The reader was quite young sounding and I was really sure that it worked -- and the way she voiced the male characters in the novel was somewhat distracting. But it was Aguirre's story that kept me going and eventually

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allowed me to just ignore whatever it was about the narrator that bothered me. While I've read a lot of series books that ended with cliffhangers and left me never wanting to read another book in the series again, Aguirre's novel did not do that. Instead, even when I finished the book I didn't realize there was going to be another. The story is self-contained and while there are plenty of unanswered questions, I didn't need to have them to feel satisfied at the ending. I am, of course, curious as to find out what happens next, but I probably won't pick up the audio book unless there's a different reader.

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Amazingly fast read, it was over before I could realize what happened! I am just kidding of course, but once this book gets rolling, it's off! It's like you can't turn the pages fast enough because you know something is going to happen, and the next big thing is just a couple pages away. And then

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your heart it beating so fast wondering if they are going to make it. Then it's over and your wondering..can I have book 2 now please?

It does not leave you with a huge cliff hanger ending. But it will leave you wanting more. Tons of adventure, action, kicking butt and weird cannible like creatures that will freak you out! (zombie's?)

The humans do not act much like humans either. They live underground, they have very short life spans and they are very protective of the little they have managed to save.

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It's interesting to watch the current book trends as they evolve. Not too long ago it was all about vampire romance, then it went into supernatural/paranormal romance, now it seems to be about young adult dystopian novels or what I call "young adult dystopian romance" and post-apocalyptic fiction.

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Author Ann Aguirre introduces her dark and gritty vision of a post-apocalyptic future in Enclave, the first book in a new series called The Razorland.

Enclave takes place in a small well, underground enclave of a group of people fighting to survive and must protect themselves from horrible mutants and monsters that will be more than happy to eat them. Survival is so grim that children aren't named until they turn fifteen (and are usually know as "brats"), and society has been clearly divided into specific jobs in order to keep civilization going. After Deuce takes a name on her fifteenth birthday, she becomes a Huntress, in order to protect the enclave and provide food -even though she may have the heart of a Breeder. After leaving the enclave with Fade, Deuce goes Topside and finds a world she never expected.

Enclave was a rocky ride for me. Though it started out great, it seemed like it kind of ran out of steam a little bit as it went on and, in particular, the second half of the book didn't quite feel like it lived up to the first half, almost like once we got past the initial setup, things got a but hazy and uncertain for the author. In the first half, when Deuce and co. are down in the enclave, everything is described with excellent detail (perhaps at times, maybe even too much detail) and thrilling action. Readers also got the opportunity to really dive into the characters and the unique post-apocalyptic mythos Aguirre has created. But once we go Topside, things start to fall apart a little bit -the detail becomes almost too scant, the romance starts to come around (and seem a little forced), characters and facts start to seem fuzzy or even slightly contradictory -and it all goes crashing to an uncertain ending that throws readers at the sequel.

Despite this, I generally enjoyed Enclave. Aguirre introduces a unique and unexpected world and a fascinating view of what the world could be like after it ended. I was particularly impressed by her thorough and well-thought out approach to the enclave society -it feels well-structured, realistic and well, it just makes sense. Deuce is also a fun character to route for. She has great adventures that readers will want to read more about and just enjoy.

With some flaws, but excellent action and world-building, Enclave will satisfy any fan of YA post-apocalyptic and/or dystopian fiction.

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Enclave is, hands down, the most terrifying book I’ve ever read. Set half in eerie underground subway tunnels and half in the desolated, crumbling remains of New York with enemy gangs and horrifying creatures, it definitely left me with nightmares to remember.

The scariest part about it is that I

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don’t think it was written to be that scary at all. The Freaks (mutated people-eating creatures that very much reminded me of the cave monsters from The Descent) are regarded as everyday nuisances, as if nothing more than a common house rat. What’s really terrifying is how realistic it felt. I’m aware that this is fiction, but the mere idea that our world would be reduced to that gives me goosebumps.

Something I loved was how careful the author was about the characters. Deuce and Fade get off to a rocky start, but as they explore the ruins of New York, just the two of them, their dynamic is extraordinary. When other characters are introduced, the rockiness returns. If you’re rooting for the characters to get together, it can be frustrating at times, but it’s definitely a trait that I admired the author for.

Overall, Enclave is terrifyingly realistic and disturbing and even depressing, but for some reason, I absolutely loved it. I couldn’t put it down. Even with all the dystopian novels being released lately, this one manages to differ from the rest. I definitely recommend!

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Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

In the past week, I have been gorging myself on Ann Aguirre in three different series and subgenres: SHADY LADY (urban fantasy), NIGHTFALL (paranormal romance), and now ENCLAVE (paranormal YA). If I didn’t already have her on my short list of authors par

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excellence, there is no question that ENCLAVE would have catapulted her over the edge. It’s a creepy and shocking and thrilling look at post apocalyptic New York that will remind readers of THE HUNGER GAMES and LORD OF THE FLIES.

Speaking of LORD OF THE FLIES, in an interview, Ann Aguirre has set that she was heavily influenced by William Golding’s book when it came to writing ENCLAVE. Children forced to band together and form societies (some more successfully that others) is as much a commentary on human nature as FLIES, but in a more flattering way since Ann shows both the depravity that would emerge in this reality as well as the altruism of others, and even the misguided groups that fall into the middle of that spectrum.

As always, Ann’s writing is a sensual delight. I felt my own heart race as Deuce and Fade were being hunted by the zombie like Freaks in the tunnels underground, felt when they were injured, when they escaped. I experienced the first fluttering awareness that developed between them, the sheer terror when they faced down the gangers above ground. Hunger, dehydration, and exposure. They come to life in a way that I could swear I was traveling alongside the characters. It is an amazing feeling that few authors can deliver.

I already made a comparison to THE HUNGER GAMES, and while there are a lot of similarities between the two, it’s unfair to expect ENCLAVE to match such a beloved book. But if you want a different kind of apocalypse with another brave and resourceful heroine, you won’t be disappointed with ENCLAVE. The trailer does an excellent job of conveying the tone of the book: harsh yet hopeful. Bleak and bloody, yet with moments of undeniable beauty. Can’t wait for more. The next book in the Razorland series is titled OUTPOST and will be released in Fall 2012.

Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to rape.

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I'm always a little suspicious of books that try to compare themselves to wildly popular books. The front cover of Enclave, at the top, says for readers of the Hunger Games. For months now, I've had students asking if I have anything "like the Hunger Games". Well, I wouldn't say Enclave is

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necessarily as satisfying as the Hunger Games, but I would agree that there are certain similarities between the two books which will grab the YA crowd, and I will recommend it to Hunger Game readers. For starters, both books take place in a post-apocalyptic world. Secondly, adults do not have a very important role in either book, and thirdly, the main character is a strong, no-nonsense heroine who can look after herself. Finally, there is a boy, who eventually has significance to the main character.
Enclave begins underground, in abandoned subway tunnels, where Deuce is first branded with the cuts that show she is a Huntress. She is partnered with Fade for patrols, and finds this difficult, since he was not born to the Enclave, but is an outsider. Later, Fade and Deuce are banished for a crime that neither committed, and they are forced to go topside, to a world that is almost as scary as the one they left; filled with gangs and intelligent Freaks.
I guarantee this will be a hit with YA readers. Be sure to buy a couple copies before you book talk it, because it won't stay on your the shelf for long!

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Deuce has been raised in an underground enclave which is a highly controlled society. People have assigned roles. Deuce is a hunter whose job is to protect the enclave and bring in meat. She is partnered with Fade who wasn't born in the enclave. They are not popular and are exiled on trumped up

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charges. They need to go Topside. Fade was born there but it is all new to Deuce. They meet other dangers as they look for a safe place to live.

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I kept seeing buzz about this book and was excited to read it, but did not really know what to expect when I finally got my own copy. I have not read a dystopian book in a while but post apocalyptic societies always fascinate me, so I began the book hoping for the best.

That is exactly what I got.

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This book is fantastic! It is told from Deuce’s eyes, a girl who has just been given a name and the job she has always wanted: A Huntress. What does this mean? Oh, she goes out and hunts the “Freaks” which are basically zombies. Flesh eating, bodies roting, foul creatures who sole purpose seems to be eating humans and anything else that contains meat, even their own dead. Yeah, not pretty. Plus, they seem to be getting harder to kill and smarter. This concerns both Deuce and her new partner Fade, but the elders in their society won’t listen to reason even though it appears that their enclave might just be next on Freaks the hit list.

Deuce and Fade are both stong willed characters that do not get along right off the bat. He is from the outside and does not just follow blindly where Deuce does. Well, she follows almost blindly, she does question things sometimes, but is pretty much a rule follower at the beginning of the book. This causes obvious tension between the two, but as new partners they are forced to work out their differences so they can work together fighting the Freaks. As the book develops there is a budding romance in the background, but it does not dominate the story which I appreciated. I enjoyed the slow development of their dependency on each other, it made the relationship feel more genuine and I hoped to see it explored more in future books.

One of the elements I really enjoy about dystopian novels is watching the characters eyes get opened to how society could be. What things were in their races past that they never knew about. For example at one point Deuce and her friends come across a wedding invitation and have absolutely no idea what a wedding is, let alone what an invitation to one is. Watching the characters piece the clues together is always fascinating to me, because as a reader you are trying to figure out what happened to their world and these little clues can be helpful.

Ann also shows no fear with her characters and death is a regular occurrence throughout this book. Is it hard to watch characters die? Yes. Is that what would actually happen in a society like the one in Enclave? Absolutely! It makes the story more believable and frighteningly real. She also does a good job of describing the scenes as they play out. Ann gives you enough information so you have a mental image of the events taking place, but you are not bogged down with erroneous details.

Overall, this book was amazing! The world in Enclave is terrifying, but Deuce and Fade offer hope in a world filled with despair and it is impossible not want to ride along with them. It is one of those books that I know is going to stay with me. I still have the characters and events running through my head as I type this. I cannot express how much I loved it. Unfortunately, the sequel is a long way off, but I know I will be waiting anxiously for its arrival.

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WELCOME TO RAZORLAND

Meet Girl15. She lives underground not by choice, but by necessity. War and plague have obliterated New York City forcing most of civilization to migrate underground. The elders have long since warned the enclave of the severe dangers of Topside with horrific tales of acid rain

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and a sun that melts your skin off. Instead, they take their chances with the Freaks down below, a nasty breed of human-like creatures with a serious appetite for flesh. Living Down Below is rough and life expectancy is in the early 20's. Because many are lost at a young age, names are not given until they reach age 15. A naming ceremony is conducted and a role is provided: Breeder, Builder or Hunter.

Girl15’s naming ceremony leaves her with a new identity. She is now known as Deuce and will become a Huntress, something she has been training for her entire short life. She is immediately paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter wise beyond his years. Fade was found years before in the tunnels, a deranged, animalistic young boy who had been left to fend for himself…and survived. Welcomed into the enclave for his fighting skills alone, he is as much an outcast as he is a badass.

Deuce and Fade soon discover that they work well together, although their penchant for following directions is mediocre at best. They soon learn that you do not disobey the elders. As punishment, they are sent on a death mission to investigate the status of the neighboring enclave, a mission they aren’t expected to return from. Returning with horrific news of which the elders quickly dismiss, the duo find themselves wondering whose side the elders are really on. Later on, Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave. Fade assures Deuce that Topside is not as bad as the elders make it out to be, although it presents its own set of dangerous issues. With nothing more than a few key items, the pair travels to new territory, in search of hope, freedom and salvation.

MY THOUGHTS

Not since The Hunger Games have I read such a thrilling book that I inhaled in 12 hours flat. The world that the author has created is one that easily sucks you in via pure horror. You are presented with a dark, terrifying existence underground, where space is limited, food and medicine are scarce, and Freaks threat your very existence. There is nothing joyful about this stark existence, as every day is spent ensuring the survival of the enclave. The elders are relentless in their mission to keep the population in the dark about reality outside their home, and should anyone threatens their rule, well, use your imagination…

Duece is one hell of a heroine. She is a fierce huntress who is completely content living the dangerous life. However, she is also extremely compassionate, a character trait that is not respected or tolerated within the enclave. She is intelligent yet lacks real-life experience, including that of love and intimacy, as no one but Breeders are allowed to be romantically involved. This makes for interesting plot as love is presented to Deuce, and she remains completely oblivious. Most of all, however, Deuce is a survivor, and her perseverance to keep herself and her party alive are beyond admirable. Although her life has been nothing short of hellish, she never gives up on breathing.

Fade. Wow. What a character. He is the best Hunter the enclave has ever seen, yet he remains an outcast and is used only for his frightening ability to kill. He is an enigma, at first, but once his history and personality are slowly revealed, you begin to appreciate his depth. Fade’s tragic life experiences allow him to weasel his way into our hearts. As we watch him battle both physical and emotional threats, we cheer for his victory all the way. Fade is fierce, protective, and downright magnificent, in my eyes. He is an intense character with many layers.

The naming ceremony was a wicked cool idea! I will not go into details but I was very impressed with the author’s conception of this important event. It was quite creative. On a different note, I was left wondering about the Freaks and how they came into existence. I hope this is relayed in future books. This was my first book by the author, and I must say I am her newest fan girl. She has an amazing quality to her writing that is quite hypnotic. Her ability to make the reader feel as they though they, too, were fighting Freaks, experiencing intimacy for the first time, and enduring much despair and loss, was quite amazing. The ending to Enclave is abrupt, and makes your heart yearn for more connection between the characters. However, we haven’t seen the last of Deuce and Fade. When we meet again, I am more than prepared for greatness.

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When I first read the synopsis of this book, I just knew I had to read it. The above synopsis gives a very good description of the book; actually, I think it gives TOO much away. I mean, some of the major plot points of the book are already spilled in the synopsis, which is kind of frustrating. I

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like a nice vague overview of what the book is about, not giving too much away. But don't let that stop you from reading the book because it is very good.

I liked the characters in this book, I just didn't connect with them as much as I wanted to. Why? I'm not sure...I mean I did connect with them some but not as much as I would have liked to. And I do have to say, toward the end of the book I really started to care more about them, so I have super high hopes for the next book! Deuce is a touch chick who knows what she wants to do in life. All she's ever wanted to be is a Hunter and she's very good at it. She's loyal and brave, but as a result of growing up in the enclave she is entirely too trusting of their leaders, accepting everything they say as the ultimate truth. At least until she meets Fade, who doesn't really fit in with everyone else. They really begin to get close as they are paired up to go hunt together. At first Deuce is mad that she is paired up with Fade, seeing it as a punishment because she views him as being slightly unstable. As she gets to know him, however, she finds out what an excellent Hunter he is and how dedicated/loyal he is as a partner. Fade is very mysterious at first, but throughout the book you really learn a lot about him and what happened Topside that drove him underground. I really enjoyed two of the people they meet along the way: Tegan and Stalker. I'm not going to say too much about what the second half of the story holds because I don't want to give away too much. Let's just say, I could see myself begin Team Stalker. Yeah, I know, he's a LOT rough around the edges (he's pretty much raised himself Topside and it's basically a "dog eat dog" world), but ok so I like the bad boys! :)

Life expectancy underground in the Enclave is poor. The oldest, Whitewall, being 25 which they liken to being pretty much ancient. And it's no wonder: without proper medicine it's hard enough to fight of illnesses. But then you have to add in the threat of the Freaks. The Freaks are basically like zombies, feasting on the flesh of living beings, and occasionally their own dead. Unlike zombies however, their bites and scratches do not appear to turn people into the undead; in fact, it's kind of a mystery as to where they came from. One theory being that it was the result of an illness, but maybe we will get answers in the next book! I love zombies so it was a nice addition to this dystopian story, made for a lot more suspense and fight scenes (which I of course love!).

That's really about all I'm going to include in my review for this book. Like I said, I don't want to risk giving too much away because you really should read it for yourself! It's a great addition to the young adult dystopian genre and I am very much looking forward to what the next book in the series has in store!

My rating: 4/5 stars

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Oh. My. God.

I mean really, what else is there?

Enclave was FANTASTIC like you can't believe if you haven't already read it! (WHY haven't you read it?)

It seemed to me to be a cross between The Hunger Games and the Chaos Walking series with maybe a little, teensy tiny bit of The Maze Runner thrown in

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the mix. Since I freaking LOVED all those books... Well, for lack of anything better- WIN.

Deuce was an amazing heroine! She is fierce, brave and completely confident in her role as a Huntress. She was flat out breath-taking, and probably my favorite heroine of the year!

Then there was Fade... Ahhhh, Fade.

I rarely quote in my reviews, but I MUST quote Fade here,

"I never belonged anywhere until I met you."

MAJOR *SWOON* for Fade. I loved seeing Fade and Deuce together... then they are forced topside and they meet a few interesting people. I'm sorry, but when Stalker kisses Deuce in the woods... I almost, ALMOST forgot Fade. It was smokin' hot.

I loved so many things about this book, but one thing just made it all round FIVE stars... there were zombies!!!! YES!

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I'm a fan of Aguirre's Sirantha Jax series, so I was eager to see what her YA debut would be like. Sometimes I'm a mood reader and the first time I picked up Enclave it wasn't working for me. When I picked it up for a second time- things finally clicked.

Enclave is a dark and captivating story. I

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haven't had the best luck with dystopian books - but ended up really enjoying this one. I loved the characters and their unique names. The "Freaks" definitely add to the creepy factor. I wasn't a big fan of the ending. It wasn't a bad ending, but I was just hoping for more. I look forward to book two and I hope we'll see more of Deuce and Fade.

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Thank you Velvet for referring me to Ksenia to read and review this amazing book!
When I read Velvet's review, I knew I had to read this book.
Imagine what life will be like when the world suffers much devastation and hunger. Where would the people go if meteors hit the world?
Well, this book gives an

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idea, a pretty cool idea too, into what life would be like after disaster. The things that happen, and the characters make this such an exciting tale!
I really hope there is a book 2.
I sincerely suggest getting a copy.... I don't want to give anything away, but I guarantee you will enjoy it!
A definite must read for all fantasy or dysotopian fans!

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Oh, my gosh! Sooo good! I'm a big fan of Ann Aguirre's Corine Solomon series (adult urban fantasy) and so I was looking forward to seeing what she did with YA. And, ooh boy, did she write some awesome!

Deuce is a great character. She's very focused, knows what she wants (to be a Huntress and

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feed/protect her home and family) and works extremely hard to get there. She's so proud when she makes it, with the six scars on her forearm to prove her status. But she's also willing to stand up for what she believes is right. Unfortunately, some of those ideals are quite different from what the elders believe and because of her actions, she and her partner, Fade, are exiled Topside. There's interesting chemistry between her and Fade, though she isn't really sure what to do with it, since that kind of stuff is left for the Breeders. Touching isn't encouraged in her society. Once exiled, she no longer has to follow her society's rules but then they're more concerned about survival than love.

The first part of this book takes place underground in a harsh society where kids die young and the "elders" might make it to twenty-five. Knowledge is scarce, disease is rampant, and you follow the rules or you're exiled, a death sentence in most cases. There's something about the dark that's frightening enough but add in almost-human monsters known as Freaks with claw-like nails and a thirst for flesh of any kind, and I'm sleeping with a nightlight and my dogs close for protection.

What I really liked about this story, aside from the characters, story, and overall creepiness (that's pretty much everything, isn't it?), was that I could actually picture this happening. This second holocaust, brought on by a rampant disease, decimates society, scattering those who survive. Some remained human and regrouped. Some turned into Freaks, twisted by disease, and went feral.

Placing the reader squarely in the action, in the dark, and fighting for her life against the Freaks, ENCLAVE is another 2011 Favorite. I'm really looking forward to book two, which is due out next year. (Ah--A whole year to wait! Darn.)

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You know this is just one of those types of books that you can not put down. I just love dystopian books. Enclave had everything you could want in a book. Lots of kick butt fighting, a love that no one talks about, and lots of running. I was having a hard time catching my breathe reading this book.

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So much was going on the my mind was reeling. I felt the characters fear, strength, and hope to find a new place.

The characters were totally awesome. Deuce and Fade were great characters I can literally feel in my heart. I love the whole plot line. The plot build up was awesome. If anything, it kept you entertain at every twist and turn. I think the way the whole society was put together was good. I enjoyed learning about their rules and how things went. I love where plot lines are not only unique but very attention grabbing.

Enclave left me speechless. I adored reading every minute of it. It is a action-packed, great dystopian book that I love to see as a movie. Plus, this book has zombies and who couldn't love that?

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Deuce lives underground in an enclave called College. Their colony is split into three factions: Hunters, Breeders and Builders. These three factions work to ensure the society lives on. All citizens are warned by their elders they must follow the colony rules and ask no questions or else they

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could be exiled, forced to leave the colony and brave the tunnels, or worse, Topside (above ground) where it is believed there are dangers far worse than the zombie-like “Freaks” that hunt underground. When Deuce comes of age, she is finally branded a Huntress – something she has longed for since she was a child. She is paired with Fade, a strange Hunter that was found wandering the tunnels as a child. He is smart, quick and dangerous and claims to have lived above ground before finding his way to the underground tunnels.

As Deuce settles in to her new life as a hunter, she and Fade discover the freaks are becoming smarter. During a routine daily patrol of the tunnels the two of them happen upon a boy from a neighboring colony who warns them of impending doom. When their own colony refuses to believe their warnings, and when they realize the elders are hiding something from them, Deuce and Fade take a stand against their leaders and are banished from the colony. With Fade’s help, Deuce finds herself following him above ground to a world Deuce has never seen. One that provides hope for a new beginning if they can survive the dangers they encounter there.

This book had pretty much everything I love in a novel. A dystopian theme, zombie-like creatures and lots and lots of action (with a smidge of romance thrown in for good measure). I tore through this book in less than a day. I simply couldn’t put it down. The story does travel down many of the same paths as most of today’s dystopian fiction – teen girl comes of age, is branded into a new way of life, something is amiss in the government so she and her hot boy-toy decide to make changes – but the story is still engaging and worth reading. I look forward to “Outpost”, the next installment in the series.

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Apparently I have a thing for dystopian sagas this year...The Hunger Games series, The Chaos Walking trilogy and now The Razorland series.

I recently finished the first in this wonderful new YA series by Ann Aguirre. I really enjoyed this novel (one of my favs of the year) and am looking forward to

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seeing what befalls the characters in the next installment of the trilogy.

In this gritty post-apocalyptic zombie story the reader follows Deuce (our awesome teenage heroine that kicks-butt) through her naming ceremony in which she officially becomes a "huntress." She and her partner (an outcast boy named Fade) must do their duty to hunt for food and kill the "freaks" that come near their underground enclave. Soon, Deuce's world is turned upside down and she must fight for her life in ways she never imagined.

There, I hope that gives you enough of a taste to whet your appetite. I love the character of Deuce. She's a strong female role model but she's also made more realistic through her faults and her naivete. I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Enclave encompasses an imaginative world with lots of action, adventure and romance - go get a copy!

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