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. 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.

Review

Girl15 grew up in the tunnels (subways/sewers) underground the earth where the days held no sunlight, where disease, infection and malnourishment killed half of them and when living past 16 years old was considered a victory. When 15 makes it to naming day, endures her six scars and becomes a hunter her name is changed to Deuce and because shes one of the best, is teamed up with the Enclave's most vicious hunter...Fade. The hunters not only have to face the unknown like disease or tunnel animals, but they will face their biggest fears and fight the freaks, zombie like people living outside of the tunnel camps in search of food and supplies for the living. Each outing could be the last and one bite from a freak could lead to infection or worse...becoming one of them.

Its during these hunts and training with Fade, that Deuce begins understanding that the things she was taught aren't necessarily the way she should be living. She begins to see the injustice and unfair ways the people are treated in this almost communist-like setting and with uneasy understanding, Deuce realizes that they have been duped and raised with lies and fear to control them. When chance offers an opportunity for Fade and Deuce to go against the clave and protect an innocent breeder, they are banished and sent topside to a world unknown but not empty to the people who were left behind. Gangs, freaks, even sunlight all threaten to kill our two hero's making their way into a world abandoned by government and laws and a place where only the strong survive.

How could I describe Enclave to you, Id say I am Legend meets The City of Ember in this dark and grimy world. Aguirre presents a thrilling and dangerous ride, with a touch of paranormal in a mixture of dystopian reality and urban darkness. I found little fault with this book, its fast plot and great writing moved things along well, but that's not to say everything was perfect. I found its senseless violence for pure entertainment sake when it came to the gang issues somewhat disturbing. Survival of the fittest rang true among the humans just as it did fighting the freaks and as hard as it was at times to read about kids fighting and killing each other, I was also able to look past that and see this violence as a part of Deuce and Fades reality.

Parts of the story, its abrupt, oh that's where its going ending and especially the debacle of Deuce and Fades relationship irked me to no get out, as the reader I saw these characters letting unsaid words and miscommunication change them and I found side-characters taking on roles for only the love triangle dynamics, not something I wanted in this story, however for drama sake I can see the benefits of throwing these stones into the fragile couples relationship. Deuce herself makes up in character for her tough and edgy exterior where cliched ya romance failed- I hope Aguirre was punking me with that last jag of the book.....(Im looking at you Deuce in woods with tattoo boy)......All in all though, Enclave was a great read, it will make you gasp, leave you guessing and promise to make you come back for more.....

Rating

Enclave is recommended to teens (14&up) and adult readers. Contains: Graphic violence, murder, gang fights, combat style training, freaks/zombie gore, mild sensuality and mild if any language.

4.5/5- Ya-Dystopia
Thanks to Publisher for Review Copy