Enclave by Ann Aguirre
pages: 259
released: April 2011
publisher: Feiwel & Friends
cover love: ♥
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. (from Goodreads)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON 10/26/2011 ON BOOKSLIKESTARS.NET
Review:
Enclave is set in a post-apocalyptic New York City, where people live underground in tunnels and hardly live past 25 years. Deuce is a huntress, one of the three groups people are assigned when they turn become of age. You can either be a Hunter, a Breeder, or a Builder. Her job and what’s she’s been trained for her whole life is to protect the people of her clan from the human-like zombies called Freaks that live right outside their territory. She loves to fight and battle these creatures but she’s less than satisfied being paired up to patrol with Fade, the clan outcast. He’s from Topside (above ground) and though he’s an excellent battle buddy, Deuce fears his differences will effect her chances of gaining full respect as a huntress from her elders.
The enclave Deuce and Fade reside in is a very authoritarian society. You are to work and breed and keep your opinions to yourself or suffer the consequences. There are many rules and orders to be followed. The wrong step could leave you exiled. Deuce understands this and tries not to make waves. But when her best friend is called out for stealing, she cannot watch him be thrown out to the Freaks. She makes a fake confession and she is banished, along with Fade, who contributed to her lies. Once outside the enclave walls, they both know they have to make their way up and out, to Topside. Deuce was always led to believe that nothing and nobody survived above the tunnels and now she’s going to discover there is a world out there still intacted and just as dangerous as her underground home was.
Enclave had its ups and downs with me. I did like Deuce, I felt that she was a strong character and by that I mean she was a fierce fighter that could take down anyone standing in her way. She was willing to go as far as she could, pushing her body past its limits. She’s a survivor. But Fade was the more emotional character. He wasn’t afraid to lean in and touch her but she wasn’t use to physical comfort or feelings of compassion. She felt those things were for breeders, not hunters. It takes her awhile, but slowly you see her come around to how she feels about him. The story wasn’t my cup of tea. It was purely action-based, a fight scene in every chapter, the two of them battling one thing or another and though it kept me reading, I’m not really an action/adventure lover. Nor am I Team Zombie Apocalypse. On the cover, you will see that Publishers Weekly say, “For fans of The Hunger Games“, but I didn’t really see any similarities between them except for the formation of citizens into separate groups. This was more like a dystopian Resident Evil. I did enjoy reading Enclave to a certain extent, however, I don’t think I will be venturing on to the sequel, Outpost. I’m satisfied with the way it ended and not curious to find out what happens after that.
3