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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.
In this epic new series, Anna Carey imagines a future that is both beautiful and terrifying. Readers will revel in Eve’s timeless story of forbidden love and extraordinary adventure.
Category romance meets YA dystopia in this poorly executed trilogy opener specializing in juvenile romance and adult violence.
Twelve years after a plague kills off 98 percent of the population, the United States is a monarchy. Girls are educated in boarding schools, reading literary novels and learning to paint and play the piano. Graduates, they're told, move on to learn a trade or profession. When the eponymous heroine discovers that the only trade they're headed for is broodmare (imprisoned in Spartan dorms, forcibly and repeatedly impregnated, bearing children in a royal repopulation scheme), she flees west, seeking the safe community of Califia. Finding assorted allies and villains along the way, Eve falls for manly, protective Caleb. (Gender roles are deeply regressive—next to Eve, Bella Swan is a radical feminist.) Conceptually childish, the plot never achieves credibility, in part because the style veers between awful and unintentionally funny. Unanswered questions abound: Why provide future broodmares with an elaborate great-books education? How can jeeps and trucks drive for days across deserts and up mountains without refueling or recharging? Isn't 12 years a short window for even the most efficient and dedicated evildoers to turn the U.S. into a full-blown dystopia?
Count this calculated effort to surf the wave of popular dystopian romance a wipeout.(Dystopian romance. 12 & up)
Anna Carey graduated from New York University and has an MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College. She lives in Los Angeles.
taralh4
Posted August 31, 2011
I was really excited to get an advance reader of this. I am a little in love with dystopians right now, and this is a really cool concept. The world is intriguing and mostly believable, packed with danger and well-built suspense. The writing flows well and there are no slow points in the plot to amount to anything. She makes constant reference to other books throughout, which gave the story an intellectual feel. At the same time, the book seems to encourage kids to question what they learn in school, and that is a noble pursuit. The author has some profound things to say about death and its effects on young people. But that is pretty much where the good parts of this book end. The secondary characters are incredibly shallow. The only one with any development is Leif, and even with a back story he's essentially flat anyway. I was disappointed with the love interest, Caleb, as well. He's basically the same as most YA heroes - rugged, handsome, self-sacrificing, and instantly head over heels for the heroine. But he lacked any depth to speak of. The heroine herself is relatively well-done. She doesn't have the innate strength of Rhine from Wither or the raw determination of Tris from Divergent. The closest parallel I can draw for the heroine would be to Delirium. But Lena has a resourcefulness that makes up for her ignorance in most cases; Eve does not. In fact the comparisons to Twilight were pretty dead on. She's pretty pathetic at the beginning, whiny and unable to fend for herself, relying on others for pretty much everything - protection, food, directions, etc. She does grow throughout the story though, and by the end I liked her more. The reasons for the government to be after Eve were thin at best. There is one scene where they are on horseback and a bear chases them for what, in the book, feels like miles because Eve messed with its baby. That was completely unbelievable. But my major beef with this book, and it's a big one for me, is the blatant, rampant sexism. Caleb is the only "good man," as she calls him (except for one 75-year-old man she meets in the woods). Every other male character is a rapist, murderer, or both. She was taught at School to fear men, and you would think this would be disproven along with all the other lies her teachers told her about the world. But no, this is quite true, apparently. Every man she meets is more awful than the last. Even those that seem for a few minutes to be alright, turn out to try to rape her, or sell her, or cut her throat. I have a profound problem with this because of the impression it gives young women. All men do not want to rape you. They don't all look at you with "hungry eyes." There is more than one "good man" in the world. All these things said, I will probably read the sequel, if for no other reason than because the world really intrigues me and I'm interested to see where the author goes with it.
22 out of 33 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Eve starts with a letter... A heartbreaking letter from mother to daughter.
"I know I will die soon. The plague is taking everyone who was given the vaccine."
*tears*
Years later, Eve is about the graduate- as valedictorian at the top of her class. To her, there is no higher honor. Soon she will walk across the bridge to the 'finishing school' where she will begin the equivalent of college in this post apocalyptic world... Or so she has been told her whole life.
Lately things have been different at school, the teachers making them take their vitamins, eat more and more... and they've been obsessively tracking each girl's monthly cycle. *RED FLAG* When Eve catches Arden (the school trouble-maker/snob) trying to LEAVE school property- which is totally NOT allowed, she threatens to tell on her if she does anything to ruin graduation day. Then Arden tells Eve what awaits her on the other side of the bridge... They are to be bred, like animals to repopulate the Earth.
Oh. My. God.
With the help of an unlikely accomplice, Eve escapes the school. Then finds herself scared,unable to properly fend for herself and ALONE. Until, by chance she runs into Arden... and then she meets... *swoon* Caleb. While she's obviously very leery of him in the beginning, after Arden falls ill and Caleb offers to take them back to his camp, she has no other option but to put her trust in a MAN!
Oh, how sweet it is... You know those love stories that leave a lump in your throat? Eve and Caleb's romance is one of those!
"Did he know that he'd worked his way into my dreams, where I missed him, even in sleep?" ~Eve
She's wrongly accused, sold out, offered as 'payment', taken hostage and SHOT at! You MUST read this book!!!!
Honestly, at first I was OUTRAGED by this ending!!! I gave it 4 stilettos and thought I was being generous! Because I DEVOURED this book... LOVED EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY SECOND... until the end- which KILLED ME.
This is until I realized that this is part of a trilogy! DUH... Brunette was having a horrible case of misunderstanding! I have no problem with cliff hangers... leaves me begging for the next book, which is kinda the point, correct? But, I thought this was a stand alone book and I was SO mad. Now, I'm not- so all is well in the world again after I read this on Anna Carey's website:
Yes-Eve is a trilogy. I've always known the first book was the beginning of a larger story. Sometimes I can't imagine containing it to even three books. ~ from Anna Carey's Q&A section
HUGE sigh of relief... because this book is AMAZING!! Fast-paced, totally romantic- in a tragic kind of way... HORRIFYING because I can think of no worse fate than the one Eve was almost forced into.
11 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.FuzzyCoffeeBooks
Posted November 29, 2011
What I Liked: 1) Arden. She was strong and confident, and wasn't afraid of going after what she wanted. She's was very resourceful, the kind of person I'd want along with me if I was on a journey like this, out in the unknown. 2) The concept of the story definitely appealed to me. Mysteries about the future, and what's become of the world, and what would happen if...those always intrigue me. 3) Eve and Arden have been raised to fear men. That in itself was interesting, but then when they decide to trust Caleb and the rest of the guys in his adopted family. I liked that evolution, especially on Eve's part. 4) How all of the characters, not just Eve and Caleb, are learning how to love, and what love is, in a place where love has become obsolete.
What I Didn't Like: 1) Things were happening very fast. About the time you had settled into the storyline, we had to bounce around again. I don't think I ever felt as invested in the book because of that. The changes weren't smooth, so I felt like I was ripped out of the story when we changed. 2) I didn't like the ending at all. It made me very sad. 3) I wanted to know more about Eve. She was just kind of...blah for most of the book. Finally she got a personality towards the end, and I liked that, but in the next book I'll be looking for a more well-rounded character in her.
Overall thoughts: Interesting concept, a few relatable characters, and some really well-written action scenes come together for this dystopian book. I am interested to see where this series will go, and if my heart can be won over after the ending that just really broke it. Anna Carey's Eve is worth a read, but be prepared for a somewhat unhappy ending.
7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I LOVE this book! I couldn't put it down! I laughed at some points & cried at some points. I also felt my heart filled with love & then break into a million pieces. Anna sure has a magical way with words. I would love to see a sequel . . .
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I love, love, love this book! When you read it, you will understand why all the loves. Eve is a beautiful story. It's about firsts, forever, sacrifice, unconditional love, and Eve growing from a naive girl who has believed lies of what she's been taught, into a young women, who discovers her own truth for herself. And about true friendship. You'll definitely need tissues when you read this one.
Eve is eighteen, and has lived a secluded life from the outside world. But she's a strong and courageous girl, and she's smart, even if she has been taught one way her whole life. She has enough courage to find the truth for herself, when the one person she hates tells her it's all a lie. I really liked Eve. She's not a shallow girl. Anna Carey wrote Eve's character perfectly. Caleb is also prefect. I love this gorgeous, sensitive, protective, kind-of-cocky, fun guy. Caleb and Eve are made for each other. Where Eve is naive, Caleb is worldly, and there are a lot of laughs and tears with these two. The love between them is so tender and intimate, also strong and bold.
This is one trilogy I wish I found out about after Anna Carey had written all three books so I could a just read all at one time. That's how much I didn't want this book to end. The cliffhanger with Eve and Caleb had me in tears. I so love, love, love The Eve Trilogy, and I highly recommend it as a must read!
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I requested Eve by Anna Carey because I'm addicted to Dystopian right now. It's gritty and realistic and as a fan of series like Delirium, The Hunger Games and Divergent, I was eager to get my hands on this hot little ARC.
Eve has a good recipe for success: it's post-apocalypse(ish), taking place after a great plague has wiped a lot of man-kind from the planet. It showcases a supposedly Utopian government and believable world-building. The premise of the "after" (post-plague) is quite believable as well: orphaned children are taken to segregated schools, taught to read, write, and learn the arts before supposedly being sent off to the new City of Sand the King has built in the desert. I don't want to say much more than that, because what really happens is a key plot point.
But in the end I was a little disappointed. As much as I liked the main character, I also didn't like her. She was whiny and predictable...and weak. I think in a Dystopian world, your main character needs to be strong. Now, maybe she's weak in this first novel of the series so the author can grow her in the sequels, but who knows? Right now, the genre is saturated, so without this key element, I have mixed emotions about it. I was also confused at some of Eve's actions; they seemed out of character for her and that made it a little unbelievable. Why would Eve believe this fellow schoolmate she despises when that schoolmate tells her what the school is really for and then breaks out? Why on earth would Eve, the consummate good girl and model student, follow her?
{{{SPOILER ALERT!}}}I also didn't like how she arrives at this camp and falls into the role of a teacher to a bunch of orphan boys. It felt too convenient. And the boys didn't act like any young boys I know. I didn't expect these kids to be savages, but it was not how I would imagine a bunch of rebel boys to act. I was also expecting a love triangle, because I think a relationship could have been developed between Eve and another central character and...well we don't get that at all. We get violence instead and it's left rather open-ended. It's hard for me to describe exactly what actually happens, so unfortunately, I'll have to leave it at that. {{{/SPOILER ALERT}}} The ending was also a bit unsatisfactory, but I'll probably read the next just to find out what happens.
There were a lot of strong characters (just not the characters I think need to be strong), and the story is conceptually awesome. This is not The Hunger Games or Divergent, and I think part of my problem with Eve is that I went into it expecting something just as stupendous. But in the end, this is a good read, especially if you are a fan of novels such as Possession or Matched.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 16, 2012
I loved this book.....every second of it. It brought me to tears, laughs, and anger at some parts. The character Caleb, in this book, is such a nice guy. I honestly wish i had a guy like him in real life.....oh well, a girl can dream right??
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 3, 2011
This book had a great concept and i loved it from page 1...i liked the character development of arden and eve but felt like we shoulf know more about caleb. I loved the chemistry between eve and caleb but the last 50 pages and the ending were really sad :( i wish the author would have given more to the book and made a longer plot. The storyline was mainly just a cat and mouse game with some character development and romance. If not for the ending and shortness, it would have been perfect!!!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book left me feeling very conflicted. I really enjoyed the world that Anna Carey built and I loved most of her characters. The plot was fast paced and introduced enough new characters to keep me flipping the pages in anticipation of what was to come. I loved the concept of Eve, graduating school (that rite of passage into adulthood) and then discovering that the world as she knew it was a lie. Suddenly this book smart yet incredibly naive young girl is running loose in the wilds of a post apocalyptic America and struggling to survive.
However, at some point about half way through the book...I came to the realization that I really didn't care much for Eve. Her constant naivete and foolish decisions became annoying and soon seemed worse than naive but rather self centered. She made reckless decisions, one after another, and when others suffered for her mistakes...or even lost their lives...she seemed to feel that an apology and acknowledgement of her mistakes would be all it took to "fix" things and move on.
Despite not loving the main character, I did find this book to be quite entertaining..I really enjoyed many of the secondary characters and was caught completely by surprise by the end. I may not rush out to buy the sequel the day it is released...but I suspect that I will eventually need to know how the story continues.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.With the rampant dystopian novels to choose from, EVE takes us for a turn into a future riddled with few survivors struggling to get the next generation from "schooled" youth.
EVE is the beginning of a turbulent new trilogy from author Anna Carey. Carey has created this amazing post-plague world where civilization is overrun in Califonia by a King and children , what are left, are rounded up and penned in in schools for their future education. Now, now, no spoilers so we are not revealing what they are being groomed for, but that is all about to change when the most promised of her school EVE finds herself challenging everything she believes in one night as she sees a fellow student Arden slip away and escape.
If you were only told one version of the world and you really believed it to be true, would you be able, be strong enough to leave it and escape before your future is taken away from you? What would you give up to have the choice of your future.
Eve was a breathtaking novel, the main character Eve and her struggles in her world, as well as the unraveling of her reality into this new realization of how the world works outside of her walls, as well as what was happening in it, was amazing to read. There was this depth and character to the people in the story that real gripped me as a reader and I felt rapidly like falling for both Eve and Caleb in their struggle for survival, freedom, hope, danger, sacrifice and their love.
Seeing as how this will be a trilogy I am totally taken away with Carey's fabulous story building and her beautifully written character relationships.
the story really had a great sense of flow, and I could not put it down. I ate up the pages and was totally in awe by the end. I cannot wait to see what comes up next. The ending with tear at you, so there will be excitement in the air for the second releases surely. The series and the expectation for book two is now overwhelming. Carey' sbook will capture you.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ParaBooks
Posted July 30, 2011
Wow! I LOVE this book! I love the characters, I love the plot, I love, love, love. And I love the love story. I read. A lot. Like, more than any one person should, probably. And though I enjoy most of what I read, everything after a while starts to kind of blend together. Just like, yeah, I enjoyed it, okay, pick up next book. I had to take a couple of days before doing this review. I had no idea what to say, and EVE stayed with me. I kept thinking about the story long after I put the book down.
I connected with Eve right away. Even though she was completely sheltered and had no reason to doubt what she'd believed to be the truth of her existence, when faced with it, she had pause. She questioned the logic of her world. And she didn't take forever tossing it back and forth; she took action to discover the truth for herself.
One thing I loved about this story, the author quoted from some of my favorite books. I notice a lot of books doing this, but she did it in a way that truly applied to the story, and I had that moment where I felt like I was falling in love with reading, all over again, for the first time. Powerful.
Eve and Caleb. OMG. Yes please. Two of my now-favorite hot couples. Caleb is the lead YA I always endeavor to see in my books. He's hot, but not just hot, he's smoldering in that I'm-tough-and-I-know-it-but-I'm-also-going-to-rock-your-mind-with-my-awesomeness hot. Eve grew up fearing boys, men. Was taught that she could never trust them. And throughout their relationship, Caleb showed Eve the other side, the good side, of being able to trust him and fall in love. There are no words for how much I loved experiencing them falling in love. Again, powerful.
So, I could go on and on about the many things I LOVE about EVE, but I'm going to end it here. If you are addicted to YA Dystopians the way I am, this is a must read. I'm so going to stalk Carey until she gives me the next book soon as it's finished.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 15, 2012
Good, but missing out an the action. It's more a love story than the description tells you. Keep that in mind.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.WOW! Just wow...I have to admit, I wasn't overly excited going into Eve. All I knew was that is was dystopian with romance, but I got so much more from it! I immediately fell in love with the story and the characters. Anna Carey definitely knows how to wrap a reader up in a web of danger, romance and heartbreak. I just love it.
Eve is excited to finally be graduating school and moving on to, what she hopes are bigger and better things. Unfortunately, The New America doesn't have the same hopes that she does and deciding to run away to find Califia, a safe haven, and free herself from the life chosen for her prevails above all else. But, school teaches her to never trust those outside of the compound and she struggles to do the right thing and have faith in herself to trust the right people.
Eve was a little bit annoying in the beginning. I got the vibe that she thought was better than everyone else, which I think was the point. After her decision to leave, I was so surprised at her turn around. Her walls lowered and her true self shined through, which was a relief. It was hard not to root for Eve when she was put to the test! Another amazing character was Caleb...Oh. My. Goodness. I loved this boy. He was sweet and caring and his relationship with Eve was raw and realistic.
The writing is fresh and stood out from the rest. Carey does an amazing job with the levels of trust and emotions Eve experiences along the way. The story never gets boring or dull. In addition to the many things that I love, is the fact that no one was perfect. Everyone had their flaws. This is very relatable and will make readers care for and connect to those in the story.
Overall, I recommend Eve to anyone who is a fan of dystopian or just venturing into the dystopian genre. It is the epitome of a wonderful book. Its a journey unlike anything else and it will make you fall head over heels for Eve and Caleb.
For those who like: Dystopian, empowering heroines, romance, action
Source: Bought
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 23, 2012
Anna carey has done it again! Another great story! I for one enjoyed this book, but i think it could have been a little bit longer. It had a good story line, but, a little choppy at some parts. Overall, good book! Enough to get me to read the second one coming up. Cant wait to see how carey continues the story! Keep reading!!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 3, 2012
I can't say it was a bad book. It had my attention and kept me reading till the last page. To me the story didn't have as much flow as it needed to be a page turner. Somewhat choppy but good.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 2, 2012
This is my favorite book! It so good! I think i even cryed twice!
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 31, 2011
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 26, 2011
I loved this book so much i read it in a day! Carey has you flipping the pages non stop!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 1, 2011
Eve By Anna Carey is a futuristic story that captured my attention. The story is well written, and captures a reader¿s attention like it did mine. However, I found it a bit dull. The idea was unique, but the story was lacking in some things.
Sixteen years after a deadly virus wiped out the world¿s population, the earth is a dangerous place, or so they say. Eighteen-year-old Eve has been told that beyond the walls of her school it is not safe. Eve stays with two-hundred other girls who have high expectations. What they don¿t know is the secret that awaits them. Eve finds out what her future holds, and flees. She meets with her classmate, who has also escaped, and a teenage boy, who she learns to love. They undergo many dangers while trying to seek refuge is the City of Sand.
This story was well done, but some things could have been changed in the story line. I have not taking a liking in the main character, for she seems very clueless. She endures and escapes many dangers, which seems incredulous. The story also doesn¿t explain everything; much is left for our imagination. The story is very fast- paced and I felt like the story was done before I actually grasped it all. I was also disappointed in the ending, it was not what I expected. Though, it does leave you wanting for more.
In conclusion, I have enjoyed Eve, but I think that it needs more work. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good and different kind of story. It is filled with adventure, though it moves fast- paced.
Eve was an interesting read, and the first story I had ever read with this kind of genre. It was fast paced and a bit bland. It lacks in some excitement, but in all is a fascinating story. I am looking forward to Anna Carey¿s next book.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 19, 2011
It was good until the end. I'm all for a happy ending. I guess thats just the person I am, so the ending was a disappointment for me:( Im a realist, I know life isnt always going to end up happy and perfect but when it comes to books I just cant help myself. I want it to end with me feeling good and hopeful, however this book just left me sad and I dont like being sad lol
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
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 ...