Once: A YA Dystopian Sequel of Breathless Adventure, First Love, and Dangerous Survival (Eve, 2)

Originally posted for my blog, Zach's YA Reviews (http://www.zachsyareviews.com/2012/06/book-review-once-eve-novel-by-anna.html)Characters: Once again Eve is front and center in this epic dystopian sequel, obviously. This time she's changed a little bit. She's spent a great deal of time with the women of Califia and has gathered new information and knowledge. You will definitely see her as a changed women at the start of the novel. One of the things I loved most about Eve's character development is something I can't say due to the fact that it's a BIG spoiler. However, it's a big game changer and brings Eve to question what side she's really on. Next we have Caleb, who we last saw leaving Eve in Califia with injuries to his leg. When we see him this time his physical appearance changes as well as his standing in the revolution. He doesn't feel like a progressed or changed character as much, in fact he's not in the book as much as he was in the first, however it seemed intentional and well thought out.Predictability: Wow, just wow. I was utterly blown away with the twists and turns in this book. Pretty much right away things go crazy and I am caught off-guard several times. Even though there are a few things that I could see from a mile away, they weren't things that ruined the book in any sense. However the amount of twists did make this review super hard to write, as a few game-changing curve balls are thrown withing the first ten chapters.Romance: One of the things that I loved about the romance in Eve was that there was no love triangle involved. While I am a sucker for a good love triangle, I feel as though many writers only do them to cause drama and not to progress the actual story line. In Once things change a bit. Eve is catches the eye of someone else and and while she does not return his affection do to her feelings for Caleb, his attention will cause some pretty big problems. I'd have to sat that this type of love triangle is done well, not only is it realistic, but it also ties in closely with where the storyline looks to be headed.Ending: I don't know what it is with me and endings lately, maybe I still can't get over the crazy cliffhanger from another book I recently read. but most of the endings I have read lately fall short of my expectations. I do have to admit that this ending is shocking and makes you go, "WHAT!?" but the last sentence isn't something that you will freak out about. Which may be a good thing, as I've said in previous posts, a crazy cliffhanger of an ending is a bittersweet thing, it may give you that adrenaline rush, but it makes the wait for the next installment seem much longer than it really is. I think it was done well but I would have liked a more cliffhanger like ending.Overall I give this book a full 5 out of 5 stars. It's fun and engaging, and I could never seem to put it down. I would say if you haven't read Eve yet go pick it up at your local bookstore or if you would rather borrow it from your local library that's cool too, and then don't forget to pick up a copy of Once here on Amazon!

ONCE is the absolutely thrilling, edge-of-your-seat exciting and utterly heartbreaking second book in author Anna Carey's Eve trilogy. Picking up a few months after EVE left off, this story transports readers once again to a world that is still recovering from the plague that ravaged it, to a country whose leader is a cruel dictator, and to a safe haven that is starting not to feel so safe.Filled with even more surprises, betrayals and heartbreak, a new setting to explore and new characters to meet, ONCE will keep readers hanging on to every word as they follow Eve to the City of Sand, discover what life is really like for its citizens and learn whether the King is someone who can be trusted or should be feared.Califia was not everything Eve had hoped it would be. Unable to forget all that she had lost, when given the chance to flee, she took it. But life outside of Califia was just as dangerous as ever and ending up in the City of Sand was an outcome that proved to be inevitable.However, life inside the City was not at all what Eve expected it would be. Especially when discoveries were made that threatened to turn her entire world upside down. Discoveries that will force her to choose whether to fight her fate and risk her safety or accept it and risk her only chance at happiness.Fast-paced and suspenseful, ONCE will keep readers engaged as they take this next step in Eve's journey. With characters old and new to connect with, to be betrayed by, to be heartbroken over, to love and to distrust, this story brings nerve-wracking tension to the page. It gives readers a heroine they can root for. And it leaves them hanging off the edge of a pretty big cliff with a number of questions still to be answered.Anna Carey has dived a little deeper into the world she created and showed readers its heart - the City of Sand. The author allowed her heroine to grow, even with every obstacle she put in Eve's way, or perhaps because of them. And she challenged readers to uncover the secrets, the lies, the deception and the characters behind them all.With shocking twists and turns that will keep readers guessing, a world that will give them the chills, a love story that will leave them heartbroken and an ending that will make them desperate to find out just what comes next, ONCE is an absolute must read second book in this electrifying and immensely entertaining series.

Liked this book, pleasantly surprised. I often read this genre and most have the three book series too. Book two is often a space filler and to a degree this was too, the story did flow, but no major twists happens until the end, that being said, it did add to the story and I'm guessing will set ways for the third instalment .I like the characters and the story flows well so far... Not going to spoil it for anyone but if you've read books like the flow series, the testing series or the watchers of Eden (some of my more recent reads) I'm sure you'll like this too... dystopia... Female lead... Struggles and twists... And a subtle love interest...

Having read Eve, I was looking forward to reading Once and I wasn't disappointed. I would say that it is nearly on par with the first book, but both are very, very different.From the beginning, there is an unexpected twist which I really didn't see coming. I like it when an author is able to surprise me in that way! There is a lot less movement in this book, most of it is set in the City of Sands, and it simply takes a completely different direction to Eve. Nonetheless, it was pleasing to be back in Eve's world, and I think Anna Carey has cleverly created a dystopian land that is easy to imagine.What I liked most about the book was Eve and Celab's growing relationship. Initially, I didn't think it was going to be possible (due to location) but of course, the romance element had to feature somehow. It was amusing (though slightly unrealistic) how Eve managed to escape the castle to see Caleb. Again, I enjoyed learning new things about Caleb's character and I liked how Eve didn't hold back in this book. She seems to have overcome some of her initial doubt, and is no longer the extremely naive character that she once was.I also liked how Eve seemed stronger in other situations too. She was quite demanding to the King and clearly let her views known. She didn't back down as easily and in cetain situations she was able to help the resistance independently.Unfortunately, one of the downsides to this book was the characters. In book one, I welcomed the many characters that Eve met on her journey. Marjorie and Otis, the boys in the dugout and even Leif added some variety to the plot. The character I missed the most was Arden. Though she features a little, in the first book I enjoyed her snide comments and her sarcastic sense of humour. I suppose I was just hoping that she would have a bigger role to play in this book. There are, of course, a few new characters to meet. The King of New America, Charles, Beatrice and Clara to name a few. I didn't particularly warm to any of these characters but I'm sure they will be explored in greater depth during book 3.As for the ending, I knew it was going to be left on a cliffhanger (especially after book 1!) I don't want to give too much away, but Anna Carey certainly threw in a big twist for her readers! My only problem with the ending is I'm not sure if it makes you actually want to read book 3? I found myself feeling a little depressed and thinking, is there much point in continuing the trilogy? That said, personally, I did carry on to book 3 so it can't have been too much of a disappointment!If you have just finished book 1, I would definitely recommend reading this book. Just don't expect this one to be similar to book 1, if anything, it needs to be treated as a completely different book with just a few of the main characters remaining the same.

There are very few books where I have not liked the main character, and this is one of them.Eve has been a whiny, annoying and rude person and if I could have then I would have happily given her a smack upside her head !!

Loving this series- struggle to put the books down

Like the title says "once is never enough" I've not put this book down since I got it and can't wait to read the 3rd one.