Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Summary from GoodReads:

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.

My Review:

First. FIRST PEOPLE. How cool is the name Deuce for a girl? Like.. seriously, I wanted to read this book just to see that name on multiple pages and think, “I want to be named Deuce.” My inner teenager is coming out just thinking about it!

So Enclave is a razor sharp (no pun intended), action-filled, zombie wasteland of a novel that has action, a butt-kicking heroine who doesn’t make her male counterpoint pointless, and a great post-apocalyptic world that didn’t have me cringing in horror. I mean – basically it was just about everything I could have wanted in a book.

In Enclave, Deuce lives in a world where children do not receive names until they have reached an age where they can contribute to society – be it through breeding, hunting, or building. Deuce has trained and is ready to become a hunter – but little does she know what that actually means … as she is paired up with one unsavory dude.

My imagination came to life as I read this story. I could see the tunnels and the zombies (yes, zombies!!), and felt the heart-racing excitement as events unfolded. I felt the injustice that Deuce must have felt, and was thrilled as the story moved from those deep caverns to a completely different atmosphere. And y’all, I think I read one of the most horrifying passages I’ve ever read – to paraphrase, something had been “chewing quietly” on a person. Um… EW.

I think this is a fantastic title to recommend to lovers of the horror/zombie fad – it ranks up there with Feed and The Forest of Hands and Teeth for some of my all-time favorites.

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