(Eve #1)
3 out of 5 stars
Published 2011 by HarperCollins
The first few pages of Eve got me completely hooked. School of misguided girls? Mysterious place where they go when they graduate? 98% of the population killed by the plague? Hell yes!
But then everything goes downhill. This is a very short book, and I was looking forward to a quick read. I got my quick read, but it was expense of the plot. Almost every single plot-point in the book was rushed. The love interest turned into insta-love. People get killed off and pretty much forgotten. Most characters are either shallow or completely unpredictable. The more I think about it, the less impressed I am by the plotline. Almost nothing is explained and there aren't any subplots.
Another thing that started to annoy me after a while are the mistakes. Several times there was talk of bare shoulders while they were wearing long-sleeved shirts. They walk on bare feet, but it never gets mentioned that their feet hurt. Try walking without shoes in a forest. It hurts, I can tell you!
I don't get why the guys in this book are so absolutely awful. In School, Eve gets learned that men are disgusting, manipulative and primitive, except for the King, who is all kinds of awesome. After she escapes from school, she meets men for the first time in her life. Of course she is afraid of them. Of course she views them as alien life forms. But why did the men themselves have to be that god-awful? Why should they run around in murderous pacts that rape every girly thing they see? Every man in this story is pictured as an abusive, traitorous, and overall disgusting person. Except for the love interest. And a few six year olds. The rest of them? Pigs. Another fun fact: every bad guy smells like alcohol. Good guy hero doesn't drink. Prejudice much?
I really liked the premise, and the story itself was enjoyable and quick, but the man hating nature of Eve put me off. If you're looking for a fast-paced story with a dystopian backdrop, you can give Eve a try.
Blurb
Where do you go when nowhere is safe?
Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—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 Arden, her former rival from school, and 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.
Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth’s population, the world is a perilous place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a future as the teachers and artists of the New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school’s real purpose—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 Arden, her former rival from school, and 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.
Other reviews you might be interested in
- Review: Ashfall by Mike Mullin (4/5 Stars)
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- Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano (3/5 Stars)
- Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer (5/5 Stars)
More links
15 comments:
Hmm I've been trying to decide whether or not to add this one to my to-read list for awhile now. The premise definitely sounds interesting, but everything being rushed and the weird thing with the men doesn't sound very appealing. Probably won't read it. Thanks for the review! :)
tnx 4 the review
ppl diffr it was a 4 for me
You're welcome Rogier!
Hm yeah, I've been doubting whether to read it or not for a while too, but when it was super cheap on Amazon I decided to go with it. In the end I probably should have read some more reviews, a lot of people have mentioned the guy-hating thing. I hate books that hate guys. Oh well (: Thanks for stopping by!
No problem, Celine! And I know I've made some quick decisions without researching when it comes to on sale books, haha. I usually regret it though. :P
It seems like if they had just said "Guys are bad! Etc etc" at the school but then when she leaves, she finds out they're not bad, then that would've been all right.
I actually really liked this one... probably the only person who did, ha! I thought it felt like Peter Pan in a dystopian setting and I really like Peter Pan. :) but yeah, it did feel rush at points--and I hated the ending.
Ashelynn
@ gypsy book reviews.
HUH. Well, that sounds vaguely scary (the way men are portrayed in this book). I was very put off by the overwhelming negative reviews on GR and it looks like they're right. I dislike hating on guys!
That man hating thing is sort of weird! Even though I really like dystopians, it's a little off-putting. Awesome review though! Love the blog design (: x
Hmm, I only know Peter Pan very vaguely, so I have no idea :D Quite a few people have enjoyed Eve, and I can see why. It's an exciting fast-paced read. The ending was rather lame though, lol
Me too! Guys are fun! I like guys! I totally feel like defending them.
Thanks for stopping by (:
Thanks Shan (: If you like dystopians, I'd recommend other books than Eve. The dystopian setting in this book isn't as gruesome as in others, and it doesn't really make any sense.
Thanks a lot for your honesty! I have yet to read EVE and even though I really want to pick up my copy that has been sitting on my shelf way too long, I'm continually put off by mixed reviews like your. I agree that the premise sounds so promising, but I don't like being disappointed by such expectations. And chlichés like the ones you mentioned and unbelievable plot lines will disappoint me.
Lovely review! :)
Carina
Fictional Distraction
I still need to re-read this one before I start 'Once', just to refresh my mind. I really liked this book. The man hating thing.. I think it's just because of the way she grew up. If someone tells you something every time, I think you're going to believe it (I know I did..)
Thanks for the honest review! I'm a new follower now :D
Thanks Carina! I guess you will just have to jump in and find out (: I know some people have enjoyed Eve quite a lot, maybe you can overlook its faults and be one of the lucky few. If you read it, let me know what you think!
Thanks for stopping by Mel! Really appreciate the follow (:
I guess my problem with this book wasn't the fact that Eve hates men, it's the fact that Ms Carey seems to hate men. I find all the men in the book quite disgusting, not by how Eve sees them but because of how they are written. To each their own, I guess. In my life it was mostly the girls who made it miserable, so I might be a bit biased.
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