Enclave (Razorland, #1)

by Ann Aguirre

Review originally posted at Simply Adrift.

One thing I have to say about Enclave is: I have not read anything like it. Ever. Therefore, this was one epic read!

The Apocalypse? Check!

Deuce lives in the Enclave, which is one of the village’s tunnels underground. The Enclave is surrounded by barricades used to protect the people from the Freaks, the Hunters guard it day and night. The Freaks are mindless creatures that are driven to madness by starvation, they only eat flesh. They resemble humans yet they have rows of sharp teeth used to tear meat and flesh apart and their eyes aren’t quite right. They eat any meat they can get their hands on, including their own kind. They hunt  by smelling blood, they are drawn into it and go into a crazy frenzy when they come near fresh meat.

The Enclave is lucky, their settlement includes a constant small stream of fresh water, the only light is the light from their wooden torches which causes the air to continuously be smoky, the hunters set traps for their food and they are the only ones allowed to venture out into the blackness. Whether it be to do their rounds of traps for food or to take a trading party to Nassau, one of the other underground villages three days trek away.

No one else is allowed to leave beyond the barricades for their own safety from the Freaks. No one dares to go Topside which is said to have water and light that burns flesh off of bone. But those that break the strict rules of the law that have been set for everyone’s safety are banished from the Enclave and forced to protect their own.

Deuce has been training to be a hunter all her life, on her naming day she’s proud to get the six burn marks that represent she is a huntress. As her hunting partner she ends up being paired with Fade, the outsider that was found alone out in the tunnel’s a few years back. Fending off Freaks by himself. The Enclave brought him in but he never truly ever tried to belong, and so he has mostly been treated like an outsider. Deuce is a little disappointed at the turn out but doesn’t question it. She is finally a hunter after all, now she will be respected just like all the other hunters.

Originality? Check!

I loved that names of things weren’t names that we call them, in the enclave children were called brats, ‘children’ wasn’t even a word. Sex was called breeding: “They will try and breed you.” were said. Then there was the fact that these words were only used for the people of the Enclave. Other words were used for the different branches of people.

I loved that there were different ‘branches’ of humans that looked different or lived different because they were brought up in a completely different way. Yet they spoke English except, perhaps with an accent. I even loved that there were different evolution's of Freaks. It made everything so much more interesting and layered.

I loved this whole plot.

Fast-paced action? Check!

I loved how excited I felt when I read this book. The freaks scared me, in a really thrilling and exciting way. The fighting scenes had me holding my breath. The must-know-what-happens-next train of thought kept me awake till the early hours of the morning every night until I was able to finish this book. There was so much going on but it was extremely exciting getting to see the vastly different world through Deuce’s eyes.

Must read next books now? CHECK!

Overall I really loved this book, although I do have to say that it took me a large portion of the book to get used to the minimalist style of writing.

Enclave had me wanting more, more, more. It was exciting, thrilling and had me holding my breath from beginning to end!

I definitely recommend this book if you like dystopian, post apocalyptic stores, zombies (Although technically the 'freaks' aren't zombies, they still eat human flesh however), survival stories and the minimalist style of writing.

Always,
Jordon

This review was originally posted on Simply Adrift