Escape from Eden

Title: Escape from Eden

Author: Elisa Nader

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Dystopia

Release Date: August 18, 2013

My Rating:
♥♥♥♥♡

Since the age of ten, Mia has lived under the iron fist of the fundamentalist preacher who lured her mother away to join his fanatical family of followers.  In Edenton, a supposed “Garden of Eden” deep in the South American jungle, everyone follows the Reverend’s strict but arbitrary rules—even the mandate of whom they can marry.  Now sixteen, Mia dreams of slipping away from the armed guards who keep the faithful in, and the curious out.  When the rebellious and sexy Gabriel, a new boy, arrives with his family, Mia sees a chance to escape. 

 But the scandalous secrets the two discover beyond the compound’s façade are more shocking than anything they ever imagined.  While Gabriel has his own terrible secrets, he and Mia bond together, more than friends and freedom fighters.  But is there time to think of each other as they race to stop the Reverend’s paranoid plan to free his flock from the corrupt world?  Can two teenagers crush a criminal mastermind?  And who will die in the fight to save the ones they love from a madman who’s only concerned about his own secrets?

~ Goodreads

I was slightly reluctant to read Escape from Eden just because the summary sounded so... intense.  But I'm so glad I decided to get this eARC on Netgalley!

Mia is living a simple life in a harmonic and "peaceful" utopia called Eden.  The people of Eden are controlled by the "sacred and holy" Reverend and his advisor, Thaddeus.  But everything is not as perfect as it seems.  When Gabriel jumps into the picture, Mia starts to doubt the environment she has grown up in and she finally melts the thin layer of ice that has been placed in front of her eyes like a shield.  Mia sees Eden for what it really is.  She and Gabriel make terrifying discoveries about a place many people call home and how the ones they have looked up to for so long are the biggest traitors in Eden.

This book was so incredibly good!  There was never a dull moment in the story; it was very well paced.  The action, romance, mystery, suspense, it was all there along with lovely narration.  I also liked the fact that this book had such a unique story-line, which made it even more intriguing.

Gabriel.  *cue involuntary sigh*  He's the dark, gorgeous, bad-boy that comes barreling into Mia's life with no warning.  He was a bit hot-and-cold, but you delve into the reason behind that in the story.  Totally swoon-worthy.  And, honey, I was swooning ;) 

Isn't the cover so pretty?  Love it!

There were some topics frequently mentioned that weren't exactly kid-friendly.  So, I wouldn't recommend Escape from Eden to anyone under 13, but I do recommend it to anyone 13+ that loves unique dystopias that have sort of a diluted Hunger Games esque plot.

Overall, I'm giving Escape from Eden a 4.5/5 for the originality of the plot line and the brave characters.

♥ Get this book!  You won't regret it!