Enclave by Ann Aguirre (Review)

Genre:	Young Adult, Adventure, Dystopian
Publication.Date	April 12th 2011
Pages:	259
Published By:	Feiwel & Friends
Website	Anne Aguirre | Enclave
	Enclave - Goodreads
My review copy:	Provided by the publisher (thank you!)
Where to get:	Barnes and Noble | Amazon  | Book Depository

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.

(goodreads.com)

“I have your back. I didn’t mean only when it’s easy. All the time.”

 “We weren’t always inclined to credit the truth around here, if it ran counter to our experience.”

“People’s value came from their actions. In the enclave, the strong and the physically perfect survived, but if you were strong, you protected the weak until they had an opportunity to grow into their own power.”

 “I never belonged anywhere until I met you”

 “Fade had told me about the pricks of light above; he didn’t know what they were, exactly. I imagined they were torches from a city built on high. It would take a bird to reach it, so maybe the people who lived up there had wings. They would be pale and beautiful with ivory feathers and starry hair.”

“I wished I had the ready words of a Breeder or the ability to comfort with a soft touch. I didn’t. Instead I had daggers and determination. That would have to do.”

 “There were different kinds of strength. I knew that now. It didn’t always come from a knife or a willingness to fight. Sometimes it came from endurance, where the well ran deep and quiet. Sometimes it came from compassion and forgiveness.”

        

     Enclave by Ann Aguirre is definitely MY kind of book. To put it simply, I loved it. I don’t even know where to begin describing how much and why. I loved everything about this book! It’s a fast-paced, bone-chilling adventure set in a post-apocalyptic /dystopian world, where people are forced to live in underground enclaves and rarely live to see their 25^th birthday. 

     Deuce, the main protagonist of this story, is not a nameless brat anymore. Today is her birthday. She did it, she proved that she’s capable of surviving in the cruel world of the second holocaust. Today she will become a Huntress, she will be marked and named. The naming ceremony is the most important event in every brat’s life. So many kids don’t survive the first few years of their lives that naming them seems pointless. They are called Boy or Girl, along with a number. Only those strong enough to survive will be assigned their names and they will also get their scars. Hunters get six scars, Builders get three, and Breeders get only one. In Deuce’s world everyone has a specific role to play, there’s no place for weakness or sentiment. Only the strong ones survive. 

     Deuce is a Huntress now, which means she will be sent on daily patrols to hunt for meat and to fight Freaks (zombie-like creatures with razor-sharp teeth and claws instead of nails). Freaks feast on the dead, but they also like fresh meat and they don’t shy away from attacking humans. Hunters are responsible not only for finding food for their enclave, but also for protecting people from Freak attacks. 

     Hunters are patrolling the underground tunnels in pairs. Deuce is matched with Fade, a mysterious, handsome Hunter, who, unlike most, hadn’t been born in the enclave. No one really knows where exactly he came from or how he managed to survive entirely on his own. He doesn’t talk about his experiences in the tunnels, doesn’t try to make friends, but he’s a great fighter and that seems to be the only reason for  him being allowed to stay. 

      When Deuce and Fade get in trouble for saving a starved, blind brat, as a punishment they get sent to a neighboring enclave (Nassau) to check out the rumors about it being attacked by Freaks. They discover that the zombie-like creatures are not as brain-dead as everyone thought they were. In fact, they are growing more and more organized, showing signs of intelligence. The elders, however, refuse to listen to warnings. Things get even worse when Deuce is accused of stealing and hoarding, and together with Fade they’re exiled from the enclave. What will happen to them now? Can they find a way to survive? What will they find when they reach the surface? 

     This was a really great, gut-wrenching and exciting read. I enjoyed it A LOT. It reminded me of all the great dystopian/zombie movies, like I Am Legend, 28 Days Later or Resident Evil, and yes, I am a huge fan of those and I had a huge kick out of reading this book! The characters were well developed and I liked them a lot (especially Stalker, don’t judge me!). Deuce was AWESOME. I don’t think I ever read a book with a more likable, kick-ass protagonist. The plot line was just fabulous, perfectly balanced and full of tension! I loved that the romance part was tiny and really well-served, not overwhelming, very subtle and with a great build-up! That’s exactly how I like it! (I’m pretty sick of all the love-at-first-sight-BS). 

     Aguirre's writing style is marvelously hypnotizing and irresistible. Ann does not beat around the bush, she goes straight to telling us about the frightening reality of Deuce’s world. Through skillfully crafted first-person narrative, we can see everything that Deuce is seeing, it’s realistic and intense. 

     The cliffhanger ending left me wishing I wouldn’t have to wait the whole year for the next installment in the series. It will definitely be an agonizing wait, I so want to find out what happens next!