Once: An Eve Novel [Hardcover]

Anna Carey (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 3, 2012 | Series: Eve

When you're being hunted, who can you trust?

For the first time since she escaped from her school many months ago, Eve can sleep soundly. She's living in Califia, a haven for women, protected from the terrifying fate that awaits orphaned girls in The New America.

But her safety came at a price: She was forced to abandon Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve gets word that Caleb is in trouble, she sets out into the wild again to rescue him, only to be captured and brought to the City of Sand, the capital of The New America.

Trapped inside the City walls, Eve uncovers a shocking secret about her past—and is forced to confront the harsh reality of her future. When she discovers Caleb is alive, Eve attempts to flee her prison so they can be together—but the consequences could be deadly. She must make a desperate choice to save the ones she loves . . . or risk losing Caleb forever.

In this breathless sequel to Eve, Anna Carey returns to her tale of romance, adventure, and sacrifice in a world that is both wonderfully strange and chillingly familiar.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-In Once, Carey continues the story of Eve, a teenager living in a postapocalyptic world. In Eve, she escaped becoming a forced child-bearer only to discover that she had been specially marked by the King of New America and could not get away so easily. Here, she is being sheltered in an enclave for escaped women, another look at the series' theme of separation and distrust between the genders. When she is drawn out of her safe haven to search for her lost true love, Caleb, all does not go as planned. A twist quickly changes Eve's situation, but unfortunately fails to make her story any more probable. Likewise, detailed explanations of the formation of New America don't illuminate the story so much as reveal the poor foundation on which it is constructed. Interesting side characters are regularly shunted aside in favor of the bland protagonist and her cardboard love interest, and attempts to explore larger ideas fizzle before they develop. Purchase only where the first book was popular.-Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

“A gripping, unforgettable adventure—and a fresh look at what it means to love.” (Lauren Kate, New York Times bestselling author of FALLEN on EVE. )

“A thoughtful, heart–wrenching, and romantic book that I inhaled in one sitting.” (Cynthia Hand, New York Times bestselling author of Hallowed )

“Carey…keeps pages flipping throughout most of the story…[and] the sudden, menacing ending ought to propel readers to the next book in the series.” (Kirkus Reviews )

“Eve again narrates, savvier and stronger, with plentiful backstory and former characters appearing. [ONCE] remains an exciting page–turner for female readers.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) )

“Eve’s first–person, intimately detailed narrative—which incorporates suspense, romance, and fantasy elements—make this dystopian fiction an absorbing, well–paced read.” (Booklist )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (July 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062048546
• ISBN-13: 978-0062048547
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1.1 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,918 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Anna Carey has been a gift wrapper, face painter, nanny, horrific cocktail waitress, sofa saleswoman and children's book editor. She graduated from New York University and has an MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College. She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she can be found writing, reading, and doodling on the giant chalkboard in her kitchen.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Read July 3, 2012

By Amanda Welling

Format:Hardcover

First Impressions: Eve was one of the first books I read and reviewed on our blog. At the time, I loved it. I would have considered it a teen romance kind of novel, but I still liked it. The premise of the story was interesting. The love interests where slightly over the top, but not obnoxious. And the story had real potential.

I couldn't wait for the sequel to come out. Eve left off with such a fun pseudo cliffhanger. What was this women's colony? What happened to Caleb? Where did the other chick go? What about this hunt for Eve? What about the child factory?

Plenty of questions went unanswered.

Characters & Plot: This is where Once picks up. A few months after Eve enters Califia, she runs off again, for her/their safety. She also wants/needs to find Caleb. And the book takes off from there. I don't want to discuss too much of the specifics of the storyline because I hate giving surprises away.

Caleb is reintroduced in this novel. We see him making a return, of course, as Eve's love interest. We also see Eve's friends making a bit of a return too. Not much has changed here. Once is full of new characters though.

We meet another interesting character with direct impacts to Eve. I really haven't decided if I love or hate him yet. We also get to meet the king. He is the typical story villain, although a bit more likable. And there are so many other characters introduced too. It would take forever to get through them all.

But these characters make for a twisting story. Once follows a different mood and atmosphere than Eve. Eve was all about discovering truth and survival. Eve is very gullible and naďve in the first book. She is still gullible in Once, but not so naďve. Once is all about the behind the scenes stuff; how society really works and what this King is really about. The mood is darker this time around.

Traversing the plot line does have a very nice flow. Anna Carey is an excellent writer, certainly better than other authors I've read lately. I really do enjoy her style of writing and word usage. This only adds to the plot line.

Her plot twists are somewhat expected though. I'm not sure of the foreshadowing between the two books is intentional but it doesn't leave room for a lot `WOW!' I enjoyed the book but I wasn't awestruck.

What I'm not too fond over is discrepancy in detail. Eve is still infatuated with Caleb. Alright, a little romance never hurt anyone. I like brief infatuations, but Eve's obsession is a little weird. I still am not exactly sure why she is so in love with Caleb. In the first book she could have easily fallen for any other guy at their camp, which would have led to Eve's and mystery guy's extravagant escape to Califia. Why was it Caleb? In Once, she is still head over heels with no apparent reason why.

Sometimes I feel that Anna Carey is more in love with the romance with Eve and Caleb than anything else. More detail is spent on that than any other part of the storyline, including the big spoilers, the action, the City in the Sand, etc...

Final Thoughts: Once does leave with any big cliff hanger. It kind of stops suddenly and drastically just like Eve did.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It wasn't a drastic page turner that I felt that I had to keep going. But it was enjoyable. If you have read Eve than you'll want to read Once. If you like dystopian teen romance novels, than you'll love this book. If you prefer action and suspense you might want to borrow it first or read a couple of sample chapters online.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent continuation of a gripping story July 13, 2012

By K. Sowa

Format:Hardcover

The last line of book one (Eve) almost killed me and I gladly jumped back into New America, eager to find out what happened to Eve and Caleb. Well, in case you are wondering, a lot happens. In a market that's awash with dystopian plots, the Eve series stands out for many reasons. I think the most compelling for me is Eve's slow but sure development from someone who believed without questioning into someone who was disillusioned and is now discovering the risks and rewards of having a choice and being free. Freedom is a common theme in this genre, of course, but the writing tends to weave a very compelling argument for the other side, at times, which makes you want to believe that perhaps the villains have a point. For me, it created a real sense of moral conflict, which you can see in Eve's character, as well. In the end, it is her memories of school and her love for Caleb that drives her decisions. Her ultimate discovery is that if she wants freedom for others, she might have to give up her own to obtain it.

I have forgotten how emotional this series is. Eve comes across some surprising revelations about her mother and father which triggers memories of her time with her mother before the plague took her life. As Eve finds out more of her history, the memories become almost painful to read. As I said in my review of Eve, much of the emotion of this book is in its proximity to the world that we live in now. This is not a dystopian that is hundreds of years in the future. This world exists in a time where abandoned Ikea stores are still standing, full of furniture and left to rot. It is familiar, believable and very eerie. The plot twists, action and nail-biting moments inside the city made this book a very quick read because I could not put it down. If you loved Eve, you will be equally invested in Once. If you haven't started this series, you are missing out. It's going to be a very long wait for book three!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A fast, suspenseful sequel July 3, 2012

By The Compulsive Reader VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Eve thought that she'd finally be safe and happy in Califia...only to find that it's a female-only refuge and seeking shelter means leaving Caleb behind at the gates. Trying to start a new life without him is almost unbearable, but when she finds out that she's not as safe as she originally thought, Eve flee Califia...only to stumble right into the king's trap. Eve quickly learns the shocking true reason behind the king's determination to bring her to the City of Sand--a revelation that will change her life forever.

This sequel to Eve is fast-paced and highly plot-driven. It'll grab your attention right away, picking up only a few weeks after Eve leaves off. Carey does an excellent job at expanding this dystopian world, bringing both Califia and the City of Sand to life. They two settings are nice contrasts to the rigid school and dangerous wilderness that are the settings of the first novel, and help make Once a very different novel from Eve. Carey drops a handful of surprising twists throughout the book that radically change Eve's life as she attempts to prove herself to the resistance fighters, and help build suspense. Many favorite characters also return as Eve find that sometimes, in order to save the ones you love, you have to make painful sacrifices. Carey leaves readers hanging with another shocking, abrupt end, and it's anyone guess as to where she'll go next in book three.

Cover Comments: I like the tunnel and the pink and purple colors of the cover! It's pretty and mysterious, and sort of symbolic to Eve's struggles in the book.