Review: EDEN by Keary Taylor

EDEN
By Keary Taylor
page count 408
Release date: 6/6/2011


product description from goodreads.com

Eve knew the stories of the Fall, of a time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. She's seen the aftermath of the technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter, able to grow new organs and limbs, how it evolved out of control. The machine took over and the soul vanished. A world quickly losing its humanity isn't just a story to her though. At eighteen, this world is Eve's reality.

In their Fallen world, love feels like a selfish luxury, but not understanding what it is makes it difficult to choose between West, who makes her feel alive but keeps too many secrets, and Avian, who has always been there for her, but is seven years her senior.

The technology wants to spread and it won't stop until there is no new flesh to assimilate. With only two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction. While fighting to keep Eden alive, Eve will discover that being human is about what you will do for those you love, not what your insides may be made of. And even if it gets you killed, love is always what separates them from the Fallen.


My Review:

please note: This review was written before the book was made into a trilogy, so the title and some information has since been changed.

EDEN marks yet another great self-published book by a truly talented author. This book tells the story of Eve and a group of humans struggling to survive in the chaos of a technological outbreak. The human race has been plagued by an Infection of technology, turning almost everyone into The Fallen--cybernetic monsters hell-bent on spreading their "disease".

From the very beginning, Eve is presented as strong, independent and loyal. But as the pages progress (and they do oh-so-well), we learn things about Eve that changes the reader's perception of her (in a good way). I'm not going to give anything away here for the sake of those who have yet to read it, but know that Eve is a brilliantly written character who struggles with the same issues all of us do...even in the midst of unimaginable circumstances. One of the issues she faces? Choosing between Avian and West.

Oh yes, Avian and West. Two guys who love Eve more than anything. One saved her, one is the only connection to her past. Both fill her heart and help her discover things about herself she never knew. Of course there is a love triangle (it's YA!), but please don't let that deter you (I know some people despise them, but I happen to enjoy the triangle!). This one is so touching and realistic that you can't help but feel for both guys and Eve all at once. Which will she choose? The caring, protective Avian, or the vibrant, loyal West? You'll have to read it to find out. And just so you'll have as hard a decision to make as Eve does, here's what the author imagines these two look like.

First up, Avian



Ahem.

And of course, West.



Ahem again.

So, you can clearly see Eve's dilemma, yes? Add into that fighting The Fallen, struggling with her own inner issues, and trying to save the world, and you'll be amazed that Eve has enough sense to wake up in the mornings.

And here's another really cool pic created by the author (she's super-talented at not only writing, but graphics as well. I mean, did you see the book's cover? To. Die. For.) She went so far as to imagine an actual movie poster for EDEN, and I can easily picture it hanging in theaters across the globe. I only hope that someone in Hollywood gets a copy of this book and reads it, because I would love to see this as a movie!

Isn't that awesome! Love it.

My Rating:

As I said at the beginning of this review, EDEN is a self-published title by a superbly talented author. But in my opinion, it ranks right up there with other traditionally published YA dystopians like Divergent with it's unique, clever plot, strong female heroine, and swoon-worthy guys--only proving once again that the publishing world is a-changin'. I'm not going to give anything away, but I am beyond happy to give EDEN 4 stars, and I urge you all to order a copy and join Eve in her fight against The Fallen!