Review: Once by Anna Carey

Posted 15 September, 2012 by Pushy in Blog, Danny's Book Review, Pushy / 9 Comments

Once by Anna CareyOnce

Genre: YA Dystopian Romance
Publication: July 3rd, 2012 by HarperCollins
Audiobook purchased from Audible
Get your own: Amazon | B&N | Indiebound
synopsis from Goodreads
Rating:

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.

Eve’s journey didn’t end when she got to Califia…she still longs to see Caleb, if even just Once

The Journey Continues

Once picks up mere months after Eve ends. Eve, in Califia, still longs for Caleb, worrying over how he’s surviving, alone and wounded, out in the land. She still worries over Arden, whom she lost along their way. And yet, She herself is not safe in Califia and soon she’s gone from that hidden community, reunited with Arden, pulled apart from her again, reunited with Caleb, pulled apart from her again, going on and on through the twisting turning adventure of this book.

What I loved most about Eve’s journey was how true to herself she stayed throughout it. She winds up in the City of Sand, in situations she could never have imagined and still she holds to her core beliefs, she doesn’t forget the needs of her friends or the other dissidents around the new America, and she’s always trying to do what’s right.

Romance….*sigh*

The romance is definitely ratcheted up a level in this book. Everything’s still PG-13 but *fans self* there are some scenes with Eve and Caleb that are just…HOT!

Anna Carey does introduce a rival of sorts for Caleb in the City, but while I liked him and thought he had potential, I was happy that there wasn’t a traditional second book love triangle. And for that I can only say, “THANK YOU, MS. CAREY!!!”

Cliffhangers

If you’ve read Eve, you know it ends with a huge cliffhanger!! When I read it, I was devastated and the only silver lining was that I had read it late and would be able to read Once in less than a year. With Once there’s still a cliffhanger, and a BIG one!! But this time I was thrilled by it! It’s not a good thing that’s happening but there are so many secrets revealed at the end of this book that I don’t care how long I have to wait for Rise, the final book in the Eve trilogy, I know it’s going to be an AMAZING read!!!!

I FREAKING adored Eve’s journey in this book and I give it a magical 5 star rating!

Bewitched Rating

 

Bottom Line

Adventure, romance; so many secrets revealed and still so much to learn in the next book make Once a MUST read!

 

Get your own Audiobook at audible: Once (unabridged, 7hrs 9min)

Tavia Gilbert returns as the narrator for this book and she does an amazing job! Her ability to portray all the characters makes this riveting book even more compelling! The audio version is superb!

Now go and get lost…in a book!
The following two tabs change content below.
Lover of words and authors; absolute fan girl of books! Give me a good story, with characters I can love (and hate) and I'll follow you anywhere. Sing me a song of worlds I can dream of, and I'll listen forever.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Divider

9 Responses to “Review: Once by Anna Carey”

  1. Yay I’m glad to hear that this series is worth reading! I know so many people either loved or hated Eve that I’ve been afraid to pick my copy up off my shelf and read it.

    Now that I know the series is worth the time I shall get my butt in gear and read it. 🙂
    Thanks for the great review!
    Alexa recently posted..Beautiful DisasterMy Profile

    Reply »

  2. Wow, such a great review and a 5 star rating! I didn’t like EVE that much and found it rather slow and wasn’t really into the love story. But your rave reveiw of ONCE makes me really think about picking up the sequel!
    Miss Page-Turner recently posted..Cover QuizMy Profile

    Reply »

  3. I had to go back and make sure that said PUSHY at the end of the review. I mean your reviews have been awesome but to be so excited about a cliffhanger ending and a PG13 romance? And not minding waiting for a year for the last book? I had to make sure it didn’t say Danny. I haven’t even started this series, but I might just wait for the last book to come out. I have the first one, but I’m not a patient person as far as cliffhangers. But you’ve definitely made me want to read the series. I’ll get Once when I have some extra money so I can get Rise when it comes out. Awesome review!

    Heather
    hrose2931 recently posted..Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff a ReviewMy Profile

    Reply »

  4. Kristin

    Didn’t read the review, just looked at how many matroyshkas you gave it because I have the first book sitting in my to-read pile. I was just trying to decide what to read next and it just got moved to the top of the pile!

    Reply »

Leave a Reply

CommentLuv badge