Review: Enclave

Title: Enclave
Author: Anne Aguirre
Series: Razorland #1
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Find it Here: B&N, Goodreads, Mysterious Galaxy
Source: Purchased

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 Deuce 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.

My thoughts:

I wasn't sure what Enclave was about when in first came out. Well, obviously since I didn't even read it until I received the audio book of Outpost. I thought, well great, another dystopian that will probably disappoint me. It is definitely a book that took me by surprise and made me wish that I had read it sooner!

The world building in Enclave is fantastic! I imagine that the enclave is somewhat like a world that children would create. If a bunch of children were left to learn how to survive and fend for themselves, I imagine that the College enclave is what has evolved from that beginning. I was so fascinated by the various roles that the citizens played; especially the word keeper or the one who keeps all the artifacts from the old world. Breeders, hunters, builders and elders are what create this society where its citizens don’t live past the age of twenty-five. I wanted to know more about this world and how they ended up living in the New York City subway tunnels!

I loved the characters! They’re so strong and fierce! The ones that the readers meet, the ones who have names, are the strongest of their generations and aren't even allowed to have a name until they make it to a certain age. Everything they do is about survival and nothing more. Duce is a no-nonsense type of girl and wants more than anything to be a huntress. She knows her way around a pair of knives like it’s no one’s business! I love Fade too! He’s this stonewall of a guy who doesn't let anyone in until he knows he can trust them with his life because that’s the type of world that they live in!

Some of my favorite parts were after they made it to the surface! Duce had never known or even seen any kind of modern convenience so it was quite entertaining when she discovered a sink or a faucet or a toilet or a couch. And then to see all the different types of people that they ran into and to see how they managed to survive in various ways! It’s really quite fascinating! I really don’t have any complaints about this book and it brought up so many little sub plot that can be expanded to further the series. I give Enclave 5 hearts because I have so many questions about the zombie-like “freaks” that fight and I can’t wait to know the rest of the story!