Dark Eden (Dark Eden Series #1)

Engrossing and Suspenseful!

Dark Eden is as engrossing as it is suspenseful, and it will have you guessing up until the end. The story revolves around a group of 7 teens, all which have crippling phobias. Together, they are sent to a rehabilitation center by their therapist, in an attempt to help them face their fears. We read the story from Will¿s point of view. I found will to be a very interesting character. I was really able to connect with his character because we have a phobia in common, although mine is not quite to the extent that his is. I enjoyed reading the book through his eyes. The secondary characters were quite interesting as well. The other teens were well developed; I really enjoyed them, and would have enjoyed reading more about them. Each teen had a distinct phobia that set them apart, and I found them all to be interesting. There were a few characters in the book that were really mysterious to me. They are the ones that you will love to hate, mostly Rainsford. While the book was a bit slow in some parts, for me, it was just building the suspense. I just had to know what was going to happen! The book was still very quick paced, and I had it finished in just a few hours time. Toward the end of the book is where we see most of the action, and it was definitely an ending I wasn¿t expecting. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was definitely a lot different from a lot of the books I have been reading lately, and it was a really nice change of pace.

6 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Dark Eden

This book is way different from something i would normally read. Its a mystery book. Its from the point of view of Will. Seven teenagers go to this place, Dark Eden, where they get "cured" of their acute fears. The writing style threw me off at first, but then i got used to it. For most of the book, the chapters were very dull and boring until the end, making me not want to read the book. Even though half the stuff in the book seemed pointless when i read it, there ended up being a point to almost everything that happened. I would recommend this book to someone who wants a short read and likes mysteries.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Original, suspenseful, thrilling! Loved it!

Everyone has fears, right? Imagine having phobias so debilitating, they prevent you from living a normal life, doing things that most people take for granted. For the seven teens who are sent to Fort Eden (a sort of rehab for people with severe phobias), therapy to has failed them and this is their last chance to be cured.

The entire story is told from Will Besting's perspective and he is a great main character. Even though Will is quirky, Patrick Carman writes these little details that make the character so endearing and well rounded. I love the way Will depends on his recorder and listens to everything, preferring audio over video, choosing sounds over words. While we don't spend a lot of time with the other characters, we get to know them through Will.

Carman does an excellent job of building suspense throughout the book. I was on the edge of my seat to know what all the character's fears were and exactly how Rainsford was curing them. I'm happy to say that I was a good girl and restrained myself from peeking at the end of the book while still in the middle of it and I was rewarded with the cool way the story unfolded. I don't want to give too much away because experiencing Dark Eden's mystery as it unfolds is a huge part of enjoying the novel.

Dark Eden is original, thrilling, suspenseful and an all around enjoyable read. While I recommend it for anyone who likes a really good YA thriller, I especially recommend it for reluctant readers. Another thing I love about this book, no cliffhanger! This book could totally stand alone even though I would love another book in the series.

Content: Kissing, some scary imagery.

My Rating: Really Good!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Book sbout

I loved this book

Dr.robert x

Ahhh i love babys

Had the potential to be so much more.

Dark Eden started off quite slow. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. After reading the blurb, I thought the book would be a YA paranormal, but the further I progressed, the more it just seemed like a book about a boy with a phobia. In fact, I wasn’t even sure what his phobia was at first, only that he was elusive… and a bit of a stalker. I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed the book was so far off from what I’d expected. I’m not saying a book about kids with mental disorders couldn’t be interesting. After all, I quite enjoyed Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson. It was more on the lines, I had no idea what the ultimate purpose of the story was until well into the book. What were the stakes? Simply spying on kids with phobias wasn’t enough for me. Eventually, I did discover what was at stake: be cured of the phobias using some weird, undisclosed method or continue to live with the fear. Even with the stakes laid out, they weren’t big enough to make this work stellar. Interestingly enough, the bread crumbs left as I followed the story kept me entertained and eager for the big reveal. Unfortunately, it never came. I hit the end of the book, well what seemed like the end, and was sorely disappointed in the conclusion. The ending was followed by several short sections which explained what was really going on in Dark Eden, and this is where I hit the paranormal aspect of the book. The oh by the way, this is what happened and why wrapped up everything in a nice package, but the presentation was flat and lacking in appeal. I hate to be overly critical, but Dark Eden by Patrick Carman was mediocre, which is a shame, because it had the potential to be so much more. I received this work from the publisher in exchange for a review. 2.5 stars

Great twists and turns

I liked this book! ohhhh the twists. One after another it just came at you. The idea of the plot is interesting by itself. A bunch of teens at an institution trying to deal with their own fears. Some of their fears were horrifying and made you want to cringe when you read through them. I liked how the book was divided up into their own fears (with the appropriate pictures to accompany it). The plot was good, the twists were appropriately placed and the overall mood of the story was dark and suitable. The characters were all right, I can’t really say they were likable. It was more like they were just there for your reading pleasure. I liked the explanation and the back story as to why this institution was created. I wasn’t expecting that AT ALL. It’s creative, and different and puts an interesting spin on this story. The ending leaves you wondering what’s going to happen but it keeps you curious and wanting more. The second book is out already and I’m going to grab it. The ending of Dark Eden was good enough to get me curious as to what was going to happen next. YA readers would enjoy this one. Especially fans who want a thriller.

With the buzz created by the release of its book 2 Eve of Destru

With the buzz created by the release of its book 2 Eve of Destruction, I decided to buy this book and read it. I have good experience in reading Patrick Carman's books ( I really dig Land of Elyon Series and thoroughly enjoyed Black Circle) so I have a lot of expectations with this book.
Onward with the review :D

First thing that popped in my head after finishing the book is that it was a well written Goosebumps book. I found some similarities with the story plot and where the story went. Even the ending and resolution. But I think its a good thing right that series is a big hit back in the days :D

I like how Psychology played a major part in this book. Being a person who finished a course with psychology on its subject, I can totally relate to the some or majority of the protocol done in this book. I think the book is well researched evidenced by some terms like "Flooding".

The Illustrations were great. It adds to the darkness of the story. But it was a little bit of a give away on what the teen's fears are. Nevertheless it adds to the overall atmosphere of the book.

Will Bestings, the protagonist, has a very good character. Even though he was sick, he has a great character. He is that person who despite of having fear, goes for what he believes in. He has a great sense of adventure in the book and it is clearly seen through his actions. (Although it did not turn out good for him) But neverthless I really like him as a person in the book.

The other characters for me are just average. Nothing special about them. They were just there to add something for the story.

Overall I liked this book. One of the better writings of Patrick Carman. But sadly it does not beat Land Of Elyon. It is still the best series he have so far.
I give this book 4 whales.

So awesome!

I read this book in one day in my Nook Tablet! I LOVED IT!! I felt that I could really relate to Avery, Will, amd Marisa! Best Patrick Carman (<3) book ive read!

I want it

This book looks very good i realy want it

Umm

Good concept.....not very goid execution though. It was hard to get into....i havent finished it, and im not sure i will. There are better books. Dont waste your money.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great read! Very inventive!

The premise of the story is very original. I knew that something was strange from the get-go as did the main character Will. The true purpose of the "cure" really surprised me. I can not wait to read the sequel! I will also recommend this to my middle school students!

Awesome Read with Great Ending

Truly enjoyed this book. Had me turning pages from page one. The ending was nothing like I thought it would be. Completely surprised me. LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!

Great Read. NEED TO GET NOW!!

I am so glad this book has finally came out. I have been waiting months and months for this book and its finally here. :) Patrick Carman will not disappoint in this book. You will not be able to put it down. I know this book will be eerie and very suspenseful. The app is beautiful designed and created. It's a great addition to this book. I think everybody should go and grab this book today. I'm sure they will be flying off the shelves. :)

Just Okay...

In One Word ~ Confused

I think my one word summary pretty much explains my thoughts on Dark Eden. I wasn't confused by the storyline, it wasn't hard to follow. I wasn't confused by the characters, their reactions or motivations. I was confused by my complete lack of feeling toward this book.

I'm an emotional creature. If you've ever read my reviews, you'll know that. I'm dramatic, emphatic, prone to extreme reactions when it comes to reading. If I love a book, I will shout it through the blogosphere. I've been known to cry (sob actually) while reading a book. I cried last night while writing a review for a book that I loved. So, I was caught totally off-guard about my reaction, or lack thereof, for Dark Eden. I just kept reading and waiting for that moment when the book would suck me in. It simply never came. There was a moment towards the end of the book where main character, Will's,big, dramatic secret was revealed. I'm sure I was supposed to be shocked by that moment. I simply thought "Huh" and turned the page.

I think the main reason I had very little reaction to the characters and what they went through was because there was very little background given into their pasts. I knew they all had debilitating phobias, but there was nothing there that made me actually care. The barest glimpse into the psyche of each character, Will excluded, was given. And to be honest, I felt little more treatment was given to him. Shouldn't I at least know and care about the main character of the book? I think so.

Another aspect of the book that really bothered me was the ending, the motivation given to the man behind all the machinations at Eden camp. It felt rushed, completely off-base and not very well explained. When I read this, I just felt...disappointed.

I know that I have given several reasons why I didn't like Dark Eden. I absolutely hate when I have to write a review like this. But if I can't be honest, what's the point. I will give a couple of positives, though. While I didn't care for some parts of the story, I do like the author's style. Much of the book was extremely easy to read, with a nice pace. Dark Eden is an extremely quick read. The idea in general was a good one. If I could have really gotten behind the story, it could have been fantastic.

Favorite Quote:

"That's the way it is with secrets. They pile on top of the other until it's like a house of cards
that requires a lot of work to maintain."

*I received a copy of Dark Eden from Harper Teen, in exchange for an honest review.

He's Done It Again!

Once again Patrick Carman has proven himself to be a master at what he does: telling interesting stories in interesting ways. Dark Eden is not only available in the traditional book format, but also as an interactive app form for the iPhone. The story, which examines the fears of seven teenagers, is suspenseful and mysterious, and Carman's writing style is a joy to read. I can't wait to read more!

Thrilling and compelling!

7 teens. 7 fears. Countless twists and turns. This a great teen read that adults will surely enjoy, too. As a reader we can all relate to being afraid of something and Dark Eden will pull you in. If you don't want to wait for the book, go ahead and get the Dark Eden app for your phone. A whole other way to experience the story. Patrick Carman is at the forefront of 21st Century literature and Dark Eden is a continuation of his successful ventures with an interactive/multimedia experience for readers.

Not Your Average Cure

This book sucked me right in from the first page! I couldn't get enough of it! It only took me two days to finish the whole book, I couldn't put it down! The creepiest story of the year!
Both the book and the app are amazing! I love how you feel like you're right in the story, like Will Besting is talking to you. You also don't see anything coming your way until BAM! It hits you right in the face! When you also think that you've figured the mystery of Fort Eden, it suddenly sends you in a different direction. I never saw anything coming all the way until the end, and I was enjoying every minute of it!
This book was constantly sending chills up my spine. If you're looking for a terrifying mystery that will leave you speachless, Dark Eden, both the app and the book, is perfect for you!

Interesting premise

Will Besting has a crippling fear of being around groups of people. When his psychiatrist decides she can no longer help him, he is sent to Fort Eden. It is here that he and six other kids his age, also with crippling phobias, will meet with Dr. Rainsford who guarantees to cure them all of what ails them. Upon arrival at Fort Eden, Will purposely hangs back, distancing himself from the group, despite his immediate attraction to Marisa. He feels something is off here, and he does not want to be stuck in a house with a group of people he doesn't know. Will sneaks away and finds himself hiding out in a bunker. It is here that he discovers a room filled with monitors. On these monitors Will is able to watch the others as they socialize, and eventually, as they go one by one into a mysterious room to be cured.

What Will discovers is that each of them is forced to face their fears head on, and Will is able to watch their fears played out on the screen before him. The "cure" definitely seems to have a negative side effect, as each kid develops an ailment that they didn't have before their procedure. The more Will witnesses in his hideout, the more desperate he is to get out of there before they find him. The only problem is, that may not be possible.

The premise to this book definitely intrigued me; it seemed like it was right up my ally. In the end, I thought the book was just okay. It starts out kind of slow, but it definitely picks up by the middle.The writing is fluid, and I especially liked the cast of characters. Each one of them brought their own special dynamic to the story that made it feel real. My problem with the book is that it felt like it barely scratched the surface. There is so much material here and I really wanted to immerse myself in it, but I never got the opportunity. I could go on and on about everything I felt could have been expanded on, but that would ruin the book for others, so I'll just leave it at that. If you like a good mystery, especially one with an interesting premise, definitely check this one out.

On a side note, there is an iPhone/iPad app that you can download that lets you experience Fort Eden and what Will discovers. You can download episodes which contain maps, videos and audio files. I downloaded it, hoping I would find information, and maybe more back story that wasn't in the book. Unfortunately, that wasn't what is contained in the app, but hearing Will's voice and seeing the characters in action in the small little videos is definitely an added plus. If you enjoy the book, I would recommend the app.

(Review based on an advanced reader's copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley)

Woah....

All I can say is that this is one of the best books Patrick Carman has written. I was able to read an Advanced Reader Copy, and it's full of action, fear, and suspense, and a great book to read. I would definitely recommend this book, and will reread it multiple times because of its awesomeness.