Review: Eve by Anna Carey


Title: Eve
Author: Anna Carey

Genre: YA Dystopian
Publisher: Harperteen

Length: 336 pages
Original Publishing Date: October 4th, 2011
Series: Eve #1
Where I got it: Powell's Bookstore

Links: Goodreads Amazon Author's Website

Synopsis from Goodreads:
 

The year is 2032, sixteen years after a deadly virus—and the vaccine intended to protect against it—wiped out most of the earth’s population. The night before eighteen-year-old Eve’s graduation from her all-girls school she discovers what really happens to new graduates, and the horrifying fate that awaits her.

Fleeing the only home she’s ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Separated from men her whole life, Eve has been taught to fear them, but Caleb slowly wins her trust...and her heart. He promises to protect her, but when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life.


Main characters: 4/5
I like how Eve was kind of a goody two shoes and a little unlikeable at times to be honest. Having a character that is unlikeable might alienate them to some, but I think it can also humanize them. For a girl who is described as beautiful, intelligent and kind, it was nice for her problems to be drawn out early. Compared to Arden, she was whiny, unequipped for the outside world, and was a bit of a brown-noser. Eve gained some confidence and hardness in this new world which was a nice development.

Secondary characters: 3/5

Caleb was physically different than a lot of love interests: he has dreadlocks which I've never encountered before. I liked Caleb, but ultimately he was bland and didn't stand out. There was nothing special about him. Arden was a perfect foil to Eve: prickly, hardened and didn't care what others thought. The interactions between them brought out the best and the worst of both. However, besides Arden, most of the minor characters were one-sided, or developed entirely around a flaw. Others had odd moments where their actions didn't reflect their characterization.

Writing style: 2.5/5

I wish there were more time between the intro and the reveal of the big secret. I wanted to be immersed more into the world building of the "utopia" that Eve thought she was living in before that was ruined and the dystopia was really revealed. Carey's writing style was fast paced with effective descriptions, however it lacked a bit of grace in some parts. The language was basic and utilitarian. Ultimately, the pacing felt a little rushed in some parts where I encountered problem after problem for Eve and I just wanted a deep breath. 

Plot: 3.5/5
There wasn't a whole lot of originality to the plot which was a little disappointing. I feel like there are so many dystopians out there that there needs to be an ounce of originality and uniqueness to some aspect of the book to make it stand out from the rest. The plot was very similar to The Handmaid's Tale. However, this aside, the rest of the plot was mediocre. It almost seemed like it lacked direction and there were some parts that I didn't understand.
Ending: 2.5/5
The ending was not quite a cliffhanger but there was definitely a twist. Obviously as a reader I was a little frustrated but it was effective in making me want to read the next book.

Best scene: When Eve and Caleb first met


Reminded Me Of: The Handmaid's Tale

Positives: Making a flawed character engaging, Caleb's unusual look, the writing pace (mostly)


Negatives: Too quick transitions at beginning, unoriginal plot, flat secondary characters, ending


Cover: The range of colors is beautiful, and I love the imagery. The font is beautiful but not my favorite.


Verdict: An unoriginal addition to the YA dystopian genre that was still a fun read. 


Rating: 6.2/10 (3 stars)


Your Thoughts: Have you read it? What did you think? If you haven't, will you be adding it to your TBR list? Let me know!

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