Blog Tour Stop : Escape from Eden by Elisa Nader

The Escape from Eden Blog Tour is hosted by YA Bound.

 

Hi guys!

Welcome to my tour stop for the Escape from Eden blog tour. I had a lot of fun reading this book, so I'm excited to be sharing with you all my review of the book and a giveaway.
Also, be sure to check out the other tour stops right here!

Summary (from Goodreads)

Title : Escape from Eden
Author : Elisa Nader
Publication Date : August 18th 2013
Publisher : Merit Press
Goodreads - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

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?

Personal Thoughts

Escape from Eden was an exciting, nail-biting book that had me on the edge of my seat from the very first page. Elisa Nader definitely has a successful debut with this book and I can't wait for you all to read it and experience it's brilliance.

 Mia was an endearing protagonist who I found myself rooting for from the very first page. There was something about her voice that made it effortless to identify with. She had been in Edenton for a long time, but she ached for freedom and wanted to see the world. The author managed to show her restlessness to get out of Edenton and her dreams in a realistic manner. Mia was written in such a way that it was easy for me as a reader to want her to be able to achieve her wants. Throughout the book, the reader experiences Mia's growth, from a relatively innocent character to a bold and fearless girl who wasn't afraid to take down evil for the sake of her loved ones even if it meant putting herself in the path of danger. Gabriel was the new boy who came to Edenton who forced Mia to see that everything in Edenton was not what it appeared. I enjoyed his character very much. He was charming, flirty and hilarious. He brought a lightness to this otherwise dark story and provided comic relief. Another character I want to address in this review is the main antagonist, the Reverend. He was twisted, manipulative and completely out of his mind, characteristics which made him a fascinating and perfectly evil character that I loved to hate. He was intriguing and very well-crafted.

The plot in Escape from Eden was action-packed too. From the beginning of the book, the book was fast-paced and exciting. I was completely immersed in the story line and there were times I refused to put down the book because it was such a thrilling experience. In addition, the author kept throwing twists and turns, shedding light on the darkness present in Edenton, this so-called utopian society, that took me off-guard. I definitely expecting that when the truth was revealed. The world building was also well-done. Elisa Nader took her time to develop what life in the cult was like helping me understand what the mentality of the members in the cult was like. It helped that I'm fascinated by cults, so it made reading this book so enjoyable. There was also a bit of romance, but it developed slowly and never took over the plot. It progressed in the side lines, without interfering with the actual story line, which I thought was essential for the story. Mia and Gabriel had great chemistry together and I loved the banter they had, with Gabriel constantly teasing Mia. Elisa Nader's writing was also addictive and she had me hooked onto the story throughout the whole book. This might be her debut, but it showed what a promising author she is. I'm excited to see more from her.

I have always had an odd fascination with cults and that was one reason why I enjoyed Escape from Eden so much. Add to that a brilliant cast, an intense plot line and strong world-building and a dash of romance, there's no happier reader than me. If all those are qualities you look for in a book, then go ahead and give Escape from Eden a chance. It's, without a shadow of doubt, worth it.

Rating

Cover : 4/5
Plot : 4/5
Characters : 4/5
Writing : 4/5

Author Biography

Hi. I’m Elisa. I like cheese and reading and TV show marathons. Writing is scary, but not as scary as, say, Civil War amputations. I’m an Aquarius. Uh… let’s see… I’m not very good at writing my own biography. Or autobiography. I guess this is reading more like a slightly incoherent personal ad.

Author Links:

http://www.elisanader.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6891472.Elisa_Nader
http://www.twitter.com/elisanader
https://www.facebook.com/ElisaNader.Author
http://pinterest.com/elisanader/

Giveaway

Prizes :
(2) Sets of Moleskine Sketchbook, set of Le Pen colored fine tip pens, a copy of Otherkin and Othermoon by Elisa’s crit partner Nina Berry, and a personalized copy of Escape from Eden
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you guys enjoy books about cults?
Is this book one that interests you?
Let me know in the comments below!

Thank you to YA Bound Blog Tours for letting me take part in this event.

Be sure to visit their page.