Review: Enclave by Ann Aguire

Goodreads Summary:
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 Deuce 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.


LONG STORY SHORT:

This was such a blah book. And pretty disappointing, because it was my first zombie novel and I expected to get excited. But actually...Enclave just told the story of two people wandering around in an apocalyptic setting. Yippieh! I mean, the characters were quite likable and the romance was really great in the first half of the book, but the actual plot - in my opinion - failed big time. The book is pretty short, though, so that I didn't mind too much.

REVIEW:

Actually, I got what I thought I'd get. There were zombies and they were so disgusting at times I had shivers running down my spine. And there was a somewhat likable heroine and a nice guy. But the action, people? None! Nothing! As far as I could see .... okay, that's not exactly correct, either. The fighting scenes in this novel were quite long and frequent. But it was always about boring, old survival. There was no fighting for a better world or rising up against the evil...no it was just humans against zombies and again zombies against humans...

The plot felt kind of glued together for me. Like a quilt, in a way. The book just followed this one girl through an episode of her life and then things happen and then it's the end. Okay, maybe I should make myself a bit more understandable: This book wasn't going anywhere. There was no beginning leading up to an end, no strings pulled together, no secrets revealed. That's what bothered me a LOT.

Enclave wasn't all bad, though. As I said before I really liked the main character and her love interest. At first, they had chemistry and I found myself routing for them and hoping for them to end up together. Well...there is one point in the book that I won't mention here because I'd spoil it for you - when my attitude towards them changed. The couple, I mean. It was that last little thing - another random element thrown in - that ruined the book for me at last.

So all in all, this review somehow sucks. I don't even know why. I know what I didn't like about Enclave but I can't find the words for it. The plot was annoying and pretty much nonexistent. The characters didn't help much. There you have it. My last attempt.

RATING: 1/3 Smarties