There really is just one word to describe Ann’s novel about post-apocalyptic New York: Wow!
 
Under the Streets of New York, survivors have created their own civilizations and enclaves. Girl 15 is about to go through the naming day ritual to become a Huntress. She must endure a process of scarring, during which her blood falls on an item from above ground; this gives her the name Deuce. Deuce is put with a partner, Fade, and together they are sent out into the tunnels to keep the enclave safe from Freaks, mutants who live in the same tunnel systems as the other survivors, and to gather meat so the community doesn’t starve.
 
She is a firm believer in the laws and the way the enclave is run by the elders, right up until she and Fade find a blind child, the last surviving member of the closest enclave, and the elders kill him after letting him pass on the message that the Freaks are getting smarter, and to beware.
 
Fade and Deuce are sent to investigate, and, indeed, discover that the Freaks are getting smarter; but the elders will not heed the warnings, instead manufacturing a situation which leads them to be exiled from the tunnels.
 
Deuce is forced from everything she has ever known and Fade is thrust back into a life he thought he would never have to live again. They have to survive above ground.
 
Reading the author’s notes, I was given insight into the thought processes Ann went through to create such a nightmarish, yet plausible, New York. I even had the chance to view one of the documentaries she mentions in the notes, and it let me slip a little further into her headspace. It spooked me, but only at how possible it is that man would wipe himself out by his own greed and stupidity.
 
I could quite easily put myself into the shoes of Fade and Deuce– their fear, their desperation, their fight for survival and their desire to belong.  I found the expected lifespan of the tunnel dwelling enclave members rather confronting. The thought of a 26-year-old as an elder blew my mind.
 
The Darwin theory lives large in this grungy, meaty, ballsy tale of survival. 
 
If you like Resident Evil, I am Legend, and 28 Days Later, this is a lighter take on the same sorts of themes. 
 

Enclave – Ann Aguirre

Published 12 April, 2011, by Feiwel and Friends

Paperback, 262 Pages

ISBN 10: 0312650086 ISBN 13: 978-0312650087

Check out the incredible Enclave trailer here!

Bel Says:

The theme of the book is prom nights from hell, but even I couldn’t imagine some of these scenarios. They’re thrilling and scary, even downright hilarious at times. Each is different and they’ve all earned the right to be included. Here’s a quick rundown of each story.

Meg Cabot has her heroine, Mary, chasing Dracula’s son to save her friend, Lila, from a fate worse than death in The Exterminator’s Daughter.

Lauren Myracle explores the pros and cons of having three wishes available to you when you have a one-track mind in The Corsage.

Kim Harrison introduces us to her latest series with Madison Avery and the Dim Reaper. We hear the full story of the bungled assassination attempt of Madison Avery.

Michele Jaffe puts us smack dab in the middle of a moral crisis in Kiss and Tell. Should Miranda go back and save Sibby, the obnoxious tween she’s chauffeured to a suspicious house and risk revealing her supernatural abilities, or drive to her roller derby practice?

Stephenie Meyer takes the name of the book to heart when Sheba turns the high school prom into a night from hell to advance her career as a Demon in Hell on Earth.

This was a nice way to get away from the world over the last week. Each story is short enough to suck you in and give you something else to think about right before bed. I found at least two of the stories sparked my interest for more, and luckily in the case of Kim Harrison’s entry, this is just a mere taste of what is to come.

“Prom Nights From Hell” — Meg Cabot, Stephenie Meyer, Kim Harrison, Michelle Jaffe, Lauren Myracle

Published 1 July, 2009, by HarperCollins Children’s Books

Paperback, 304 pages

Bel Says:

I first read this book when I was in search of something that was the polar opposite of the books I was being asked to read for English class in high school. I found this little blue hardcover novel sitting amongst the plethora of romances that contained chapters upon chapters of nothing much. I curled myself up on a rainy Autumn day and devoured the book in record time.

This book is the reason I bothered to keep my library card. It is the reason I search for books with a conscience. It is the reason I am still reading to this day. But unlike so many people who never bothered to return the book when they fell in love with it’s characters, I did indeed return the book, and had never seen it since.

Imagine my utter surprise when I found a more recent reprint of the same book I’d spent that pivotal day with so many years ago. I had to have that book, I had to see if I was as moved by its storyline and its characters as I was when I was a teenager. I had to own it, so I would never again have to search the shelves of my local library without any luck. That day I was in luck: I am now the proud owner of the 2009 reprint of The Silver Kiss (which contains two new short stories).

I left the book on the shelf for at least a week before I found the nerve to revisit Zoë and Simon. To my astonishment, the story of the unfortunate life thrust upon Zoë holds as much, if not more, emotional resonance for me now than it did back then.

Zoë’s mother is dying of cancer, her father can barely cope with having to see the love of his life tormented by the horrible disease, and poor Zoë is left to fend for herself. Her best friend is moving away, and a mysterious boy walks into her life and sweeps her off her feet.
You are carried along on Zoë’s emotional roller coaster as she barrel rolls along between utter heartbreak and soaring high on the wings of young love.

I consumed The Silver Kiss, then turned my attentions to the two new short stories. The Summer of Love is a story of Simon’s first love, a cat that befriends him, despite his otherworldliness. The second short story, The Christmas Cat, is about Zoë, who is learning that she shouldn’t close herself off to life’s little pleasures. Now I know this is all a bunch of sentimental mumbo jumbo to pretty much all of you, but I’m sure you all have that one book out there that has holds you in the palm of its hand and inspires daydreams to rival any Hollywood love story.

I hope you’ll give Zoë and Simon a chance to embrace you as they have me.

“The Silver Kiss” — Annette Curtis Klause

August 1, 1992, by Laurel Leaf

Paperback, 224 pages

ISBN-10: 0440213460, ISBN-13: 978-0440213468

I spent longer than normal reading these books, mainly because it was
the busy season, but also because I didn’t want to just fly through
them, missing bits along the way. The webs were woven very well.

We’re introduced to a world where being in a family with special
abilities means you have a chance of being inducted into a ‘guild’. If
chosen, you’re disowned by your family and inducted into training with
whichever guild is harvesting in that year. Whether you are good at
telepathically communicating to animals or foreseeing the
future, there’s a guild for each chosen child.

Unluckily, or maybe not so unluckily, Aron Brailing is harvested by
the Stone Guild, the guild responsible for assassinations and mercy
killings alike.

In book 1, we follow Aron’s journey to the Triune, the stone guild
house, and his struggle with his abilities, which seem to be the
strongest of their kind in many a generation.

Aron’s early days in training to become a Stone brother take up most
of book 1. He’s building muscles and, perhaps, romance. He finds
friendship with some of the most unlikely characters and, as a whole,
the book lays a solid foundation for the treasures to come in A Prince
Among Killers.

We’re brought back into book 2 when Aron is making his first trip to
the Ruined Keep. It is a quest he and his Stone brother nemesis are
sent on to hopefully end the turmoil between the two, and forge an
unbreakable bond.

Aron embraces his ability and moves beyond his own expectations to
save lives, tip the balance of power between warring royals, and
become more than just a stone brother.

I do recommend reading these two beautifully written books in order,
as the foundations are extremely important to understanding each
character and the purpose behind decisions they make. I grew to really
enjoy the bond between Aron and his mentor, Stormbreaker.

I was a little disappointed with the lack of female characters, but at
least the few who star in the saga are extremely strong, and don’t
take their positions in society lightly. They have purpose and a
spine. The character growth is believable and intriguing, and you’ll
find yourself wanting to jump into the battles and kick some butt.

There was an added pleasant surprise when I got to the end of Book 1,
in the short author bios. You’ll have to read them for yourself. On so
many levels, these books were uplifting and inspiring.

Assassin’s Apprentice and A Prince Among Killers will be great for
adding pace to those lagging last weeks of the school holidays.

XBelindaX

Oathbreaker (Books I & II): Assassin’s Apprentice and A Prince Among Killers – SR Vaught & JB Redmond

Published by Random House, Australia

Assassin’s Apprentice: Januray 1, 2010 – 384 pages ISBN: 9781864719819

A Prince Among Killers: June 1, 2010 – 374 pages ISBN: 9781864719864

Bel Says

I invite you to come on a wild adventure with me and some of my newest friends; well, maybe they’re not personal friends, but they sure do feel like it after reading the steampunk-esque novel, Quillblade, by Ben Chander.

Lenis and his twin sister Missy have joined the crew of the Hiryu. They’re thrown into a life of intrigue and the whole crew is embroiled in a mission to save the world by finding and rescuing the last untainted Totem.

Ben Chandler has single-handedly rewritten what I think of as steampunk. His use of small mammals in place of coal, a mixture of East meets West for fashions, and an almost Middle Eastern flavour to the demons all contribute to sweeping you up in Ben’s unique worldbuilding.
If you even remotely enjoyed the movie Treasure Planet, this book will spark something inside of you that may have been dormant for a while. A sense of hope, a yearning for adventure, and a pure frustration that the next book in this six part series isn’t yet on the shelves.
I was enthralled by the gentle hints of spirituality. Between the tainted mind of the soul-stealing Lord Raiko, and the constant pursuit of ’the way’, I was left feeling intensely invested in the motley crew aboard the Hiryu.

If you decide to join me on this adventure, hold on tightly. With Lenis and his bestia, Aeris, powering the ship we’re in for a hair-raising ride.

All Aboard!

XBelindaX

“Quillblade” by Ben Chandler

September 1, 2010, by Random House Australia

Paperback, 432 Pages

ISBN: 9781864719789