REVIEW: The Human (The Eden Trilogy #2) by Keary Taylor

Title/Series: The Human | The Eden Trilogy #2
Author: Keary Taylor
Publisher: Keary Taylor
Published: June 18th 2013
Format: eBook | Pages: 270
Genre: YA, Dystopian, Sci-Fi
Source: Author in exchange for an honest review
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!!!

Keary Taylor | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

The city of New Eden is cleared, but it won’t stay that way forever. The Bane continue to advance in horrific ways that will wipe humanity from the face of the Earth. A storm is coming, one none of them could have dared imagine. 

When a group of outsiders come to the city, everyone is on edge. They have too many questions and not enough answers about where they are from or what they want. Just because they are human doesn’t mean they can be trusted.

Eve made a choice–one that could have deadly repercussions. Desperate hearts bring about desperate actions. Now she must make another decision as her world continues to crumble: come to terms with who she really is, or risk her sanity. She thought she had unlocked all the secrets from her past, but there are truths still buried that leave her questioning what is real and what is not.

Since this is book 2 in the series there may be spoilers for book 1 so if you haven't read it please turn away now. I can't guarantee I won't reference something from the previous book, even though it may be small I hate doing that to people so you've been warned...

I received an eBook copy of this book from Keary Taylor in exchange for an honest review. It's been a few days since I finished The Human and I'm still trying to recover. There is no grey area for me when it comes to Dystopia. I either abso-freaking-lutely love it or I don't care for it at all. The Eden trilogy would fall under the former category. I fell in love with The Bane instantly and couldn't wait to move on to The Human. Of course there's always a bit of worry moving on from the first book in a series no matter who the author is. Especially when it ended on such a high for me. Can it live up to it's predecessor? My answer is unequivocally yes and then some.

The Human picks up a few months after The Bane ends. Life's a bit different from how it was in the first book and everyone is trying to figure out how to adjust. Especially Eve. She's going through a major struggle. Going through adjustments to lessen her emotional blockers and become more..."human" get to be overwhelming. Having no previous memories of life before the Evolution, living in the city isn't something she's cut out for and she feels imprisoned in a way, but she won't abandon those she views as her family. West's situation has become a drain on her mentally. She feels herself slowly starting to crack.

While the first book was more about the world building, I found this one to be much more intense and action packed. Especially after the arrival of a group of armed strangers shows up at New Eden and turns their lives upside down. In a world with so very few humans left, the Bane don't seem to be the only threat to survival. We also find out some new and interesting twists about Eve and her past. Just when she thinks she has herself figured out, she gets blindsided by new information.

There is unforgivable betrayal, in my opinion, and from someone I cared a great deal about from the series start. It brought forth a lot of frustration and anger. More secrets, more danger, more action. It was a heart pounding, perfect second installment to the Eden trilogy. And the ending...are you kidding me? I think my jaw hit the floor. It doesn't so much as leave you hanging as it leaves you absolutely dying to get your hands on The Eve. It definitely set the scene for what's sure to be an explosive finale. I. Can't. Freaking. Wait.

REVIEW: The Bane (Eden Trilogy #1) by Keary Taylor

Title/Series: The Bane | The Eden Trilogy #1
Author: Keary Taylor
Publisher: Keary Taylor Books
Published: June 6th 2011
Format: eBook | Pages: 422
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Source: Purchased Amazon
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!!!

Keary Taylor | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won't stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.

Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn't need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.

Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.

The Bane is The Terminator meets The Walking Dead with a heart-twisting romance.

Previously published as Eden, due to reader demand it has been revamped and rereleased as The Bane: book one in The Eden Trilogy.

The description "The Bane is The Terminator meets The Walking Dead with a heart-twisting romance" could not be more accurate. Though not so much a fan of The Terminator myself, I found I was completely caught up in the world of Eden. I started reading, feeling like only 5 minutes had past and find I was at 25%, then 60%, then 80% and next thing I knew I was done. There was no hesitation in picking this up, already being a fan of Keary Taylor's work. I knew she could write Contemporary, having read and loved "What I Didn't Say" and I knew she could write Paranormal having also read and loved "Branded (Fall of the Angels #1)". It left no doubt in my mind that when it came to my "go to" genre, Dystopia, that I wouldn't be disappointed, and I wasn't! 

The post-apocalyptic world that Keary Taylor presents us with is both amazing and pretty scary. It's 5 years after the TorBane virus took out basically the entire population. Those who aren't infected, the "survivors",  take to the countryside, far off from the cities that The Bane are so attracted to. Houses, electricity, plumbing all the things that we take for granted daily are things of the past. Cities are avoided because a single touch from a Bane spreads the infection and you're turned into a half human half machine type of thing with inhuman speed, strength and so on that craves spreading the virus.

Stepping into Eve's world was so interesting. She doesn't remember anything of her existence before the Evolution. Just her name. She knows nothing of the way things used to be before being found and brought to Eden, the community of about 30+ survivors. She's tough and all she knows is survival. She's doesn't feel emotions like the rest of us and in many ways she's very childlike. Things that are so natural and common sense for us she doesn't know what they are or understand the meanings. Like the first time she hears the word restroom she whispers to a friend to ask what it means and even after it's explained she's even more confused as to why it's called a restroom. She's so endearing.

The arrival of West to their family like community stirs things up within Eve. She starts to feel things for the first time and discovers that he may have the answers to the questions of her past. He lets his feelings show for her, but he also hides things, keeps secrets and she struggles to trust him even though he makes her feel alive. Then there's Avian who also makes her feel things once her emotions are awakened. Avian has been there for her from the beginning. He's sweet and caring and takes on a lot of responsibility for Eden as a doctor of sorts. She feels things for both but finds it hard to make the distinction between her feelings for the two and what love really is. With everyone's feelings out and obvious they both let her know she had to decide because she couldn't have both. I can tell you I wavered back and forth between the two all the way up to the end. My heart feels like she made the right choice and swooned like crazy.

But the love story is just a portion of what makes this book amazing. It's fast-paced action and had me on the edge of my seat. Every free moment I had I used to absolutely devour this book. The action was intense and really got my heart pounding. The increasing boldness and aggression of the Bane begin to cause survival issues with the people of Eden who are forced to make tough choices. 

Everything seems to wrap up quite nicely by the end. You could almost stop right there and be satisfied. There are still lingering questions and things left open for the next book. But you aren't left dangling with a major cliffhanger. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'm really excited to move on to The Human and see what's in store for everyone. 

REVIEW: What I DIdn't Say by Keary Taylor

Title/Series: What I Didn't Say
Author: Keary Taylor
Publisher: Keary Taylor
Published: April 30th 2012
Format: eBook | Pages: 326 
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: Purchased B&N

★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!

Keary Taylor | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat. 

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.

When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.

I really loved this book. When I read this I could relate growing up in this area, I understood the teenage outlook on how it is to grow up here. There really is that small town feel of everyone knowing you and your business.  Not to mention there not being much in the way for teenagers to do with their free time and I remember the bonfires and drinking with my friends.  Not to mention other crazy stuff.  Though at least back in my day, oh man I can't believe I used that phrase..., none of my friends or I were stupid enough to have gotten behind the wheel after partying.  Though of course it happens.  

There is such a realistic aspect to this book.  Which is one of the reasons I was drawn to it, along with the fact that the overview totally sucked me in.  I've become highly addicted to these kinds of books lately. The ones that have such a realistic setting and story line.  This book does not disappoint.

Jake is such an amazing character.  Here's this guy with a pretty good life for himself. Great family, good friends, football team, graduation just around the corner, pilot license and panning a future to fly in the Air Force.  And it takes just one night and one stupid drunken decision to take each one of these things and have them crash down all around him. The struggles he goes through after the accident are all so real as are his reactions to the situation. On top of everything that Jake is struggling with, Samantha has a huge set of burdens of her own to share. Yet somehow they seem to find the strength, to make it through, within each other.

I really can't say enough about this book it's become one of my top 10 favorite reads and I look forward to reading more from this author.