Publication: August 18, 2013
Publisher: Merit Press
|
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? |
“But
the Reverend didn’t want control of just our hearts. He wanted our minds as
well.”
-Elisa Nader, Escape from Eden
I’m sitting here and I am not even sure what I want to say
about this book…other than it left me with such feelings!
I have always had this mild curiosity when it came to
cults. It’s...for lack of a better word, fascinating how someone can manipulate
a group of people into believing something; even things that do not make much
sense.
“How
could anyone in Edenton believe anything the Reverend told them? You believe
the people you love and trust-blind love is still love.”
-Elisa Nader, Escape from Eden
Mia lives in Edenton with her mother and younger brother.
They have been living there for the past six years. And even though her mom
seems content to abide by the rules and live out the rest of her life there,
Mia is feeling restless. She wants more from her life. She still remembers her
past life before she came to Edenton, and she isn’t satisfied with how things
are run at the compound. I loved Mia. I
thought she was strong and fearless. She took some chances, and even though she
may have been scared, she knew she had to do whatever it took to help save her
family.
There is a little bit of romance that happens between Mia
and Gabriel, the seventeen year old who recently moved into the compound with
his parents. Hoping that it would supposedly help heal them from past family trauma/issues.
Gabriel had such a sad backstory. I felt
so bad for him. Despite all that he has gone through, he was incredibly
sarcastic and sweet.
The Reverend Elias Eden and Thaddeus are a pair of sick and
twisted SOB’s. I was expected something nefarious, but I was still surprised by
what went on in that compound and the true extent of it. I wanted to hurt them badly
and make them suffer before I was even halfway through the book!
The first chapter got me hooked and I couldn’t stop
reading till it was over. This is definitely one story that stayed with me long
after I read the last page. Escaping Eden
was a fascinating and enjoyable story filled with enough action and suspense
to keep me entertained throughout the whole book.
RATING: 4 out of 5.
** I
received this book on behalf of the Publisher in exchange for nothing, but my
honest opinion. Thank you. **
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