Review-Enclave

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Paperback, 272 pages

Published April 12, 2011 by Feiwel and Friends for Young Adults

Rating: 4

Enclave starts out at Deuce’s naming ceremony, where she receives her scars as a huntress. After a day of celebration, she is given her first job as a huntress as well as a partner, the dark and brooding Fade, who was found in the tunnels. Rumor has it that he came from topside. After a terrible discover involving the changing mentality of the Freaks, half human, animal like creatures, with rotted skins and sharp teeth, they race back to their enclave, only to be met by ridicule. Deuce, as well as Fade are then banished from College, and are sent topside.

A few months ago, I read Divergent and I fell in love with it. It was one of the best dystopian novels I had ever read. The best being my one true novel love, Fahrenheit 451. But then I read Enclave, and completely changed my mind. Enclave excelled in ways Divergent didn’t. While both had strong female characters, Deuce from Enclave, not only had physical strength but mental strength as well. Her skills as a huntress not only helped her but hurt her as well, as she battled an inner war, questioning the morals of College, the enclave where she grew up and questioning the morality of a life as a huntress. Even with the advances of Fade, and he discover that maybe all kissing and touching aren’t always bad to non-breeders, she doesn’t let that weaken her. In fact, her love makes her stronger, while in Divergent the main heroine is weakened by it. Outside of a slip in continuity, the book is full of action and is gripping from the very start.