Thursday, September 20, 2012

Audiobook Review: Once by Anna Carey

Thursday, September 20, 2012 with 5 comments
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Title:  Once
Author:  Anna Carey
Narrator:  Tavia Gilbert
Series:  2nd book in the Eve series
Publisher:  Harper Audio
Publication Date:  July 3, 2012
Source:  purchased audiobook
Purchase:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

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.



After giving Eve only two stars, I probably shouldn't have continued the series.  But my curiosity being what it is, rubber-necking syndrome kicked in and I just had to pick up the next book to find out what happens to our "heroine".  Seeing as how it would have truly brought tears to my eyes to actually purchase a hard copy of this series and have it sitting on my shelf, hating it all the while, I opted for the audio again.  (Though I don't deny that the covers are kind of pretty.  There again, I should have known better...post-apocalyptic novels shouldn't have pretty covers IMHO.)

And again, all that saved me from ripping out my hair in frustration was Tavia Gilbert's narration, even if I did hear some of the same character voices from the Night Huntress books:  The King very much sounds like Mencheres and Eve is still a very ramped-up, overly-dramatic version of Cat.  Rather than making me excited for Once, it made me long for Cat and Bones.  *sigh*

Aside from a hastily thrown together plot, my biggest complaint with this series is Eve's continued naïvete.  She never doubts for a second that her plans are going to work, that she might be the only one trying to manipulate and con people to get what she wants.  Sure, some might see this as optimistic, but I see it as a big ole character flaw, especially considering everything in her world has already gone all wrong.  I just can't get on board with a protagonist like Eve.

I've seen so many rave reviews for this series, and I just don't get what I'm missing.  I expect a sequel to be an improvement upon the first book, and I really didn't see that here.  Granted, I shouldn't have expected anything spectacular considering my luke-warm feelings toward the first book, and I should count my blessings that it's not one of those info-dumping middle books, but I'm still not convinced I should read the next book.  Even though I know I probably will.  Damn curiosity.

Rating:  Photobucket

5 comments:

  1. Thanks for your honesty. I get the feeling. I've been iffy about starting this one too and i feel like i'll be disappointed because the series is so hyped up, just like my recent read. anyways, good review and sorry you didn't enjoy it.

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    1. Well, we can't like every book we read, unfortunately. :P I gave it a chance, and that's all that matters, I guess.

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  2. I had luke-warm feelings for Eve, but then thought this was *slightly* better because she grows like an INCH. But I just got the last one, and hope it all ends soon. It's not my favorite, but I've read worst, like Matched. Which also seems too hyped up. :P It's hard to find good dystopia these days...

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    1. Huh, I liked Matched well enough, but Crossed drove me nuts in the beginning...could that pacing have BEEN any slower? I'll still end up reading the final book in each series because apparently, I'm a glutton for punishment. I think I much prefer post-apocalyptic with a touch of dystopia than outright dystopian-themed books these days...aside from The Hunger Games, that is. :)

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  3. Ahh, I love this series, but am "meh" about almost all other dystopian/post-apocalyptic books. I'm sorry you didn't like it. But I think it's a total win that Tavia Gilbert is the narrator!

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