Publishing Date: January 10th, 2012
Page Count: 307
Source: Sent to me by Sand Dollar Press
Format: Hardcover
Description from the cover jacket:
Would you betray your loves ones - and maybe your entire race - to avoid a horrible death?
In a post-apocalyptic world where resistance to an overheated environment defines class and beauty, Eden Newman's white skin brands her as a member of the lowest class; a weak and ugly Pearl.
The clock is ticking: if Eden doesn't mate before her eighteenth birthday, she'll be left outside to die. If only a dark-skinned Coal from the ruling class will pick up her mate option, she'll be safe. But no matter how much Eden darkens her skin and hair, she's still a Pearl, still ugly - cursed with a tragically low mate-rate of 15%.
Just maybe one Coal sees the real Eden and will save her - she has begun to secretly date her handsome co-worker Jamal. But when Eden unwittingly compromises her father's secret biological experiment, she is thrown into the eyes of a storm - and the remaining patch of rainforest, a strange and dangerous land.
Eden must fight to save her father, who may be humanity's last hope, while standing up to a powerful beast-man she believes is her enemy, despite her overwhelming attraction. To survive, Eden must change - but only if she can redefine her ideas of beauty - and of true love.
Acclaimed writer Victoria Foyt blends equal parts suspense and philosophy, adventure and romance, in this captivating novel set in a terrifying future, which is all too easy to imagine.
Review:
Revealing Eden is a very good novel. It is very different and a tad controversial since it deals with race, but overall I think it was wonderfully done. The concept of sun radiation taking over the earth causing new social standards was a very interesting idea. You could really envision this happening. Living underground and being terrified of going out in the sun were only minor fears in this world. The people around you and their status was an everyday fear.
I think Foyt did a very good job writing this. I really like her writing style and how it is very simple. She never tried to over complicate things, when she very easily could have. I also really love her world building, you could very easily picture what was going on. Although I did end up really liking this novel, and besides all the good, there were a few things that I didn't like.
One of those things was the insta-love that took place. I mean I always hear other bloggers complaining about insta-love, but I usually don't mind it all. Some characters are very swoon-worthy and even I instantly fall in love with them. The only difference with this novel is that Eden falls in love with someone who has yet to show us a good side. All we see is this mean, monster of a man. It was hard to go along and agree with Eden's feelings when he was such a bad guy. Bramford is even psychologically abusive. He acts nice to her one moment and then is throwing her in a jail cell the next. It is all emotionally jarring. He wouldn't explain anything to her and was never ever really nice to her. Usually I always have the authors back on creating an instant love connection, but I just couldn't be behind this one 100%. Towards the end Bramford does turn into a really nice guy so I have a feeling I will enjoy book two much more.
The other thing I didn't really like about this book is the science experiment is a little farfetched. This was the only thing I couldn't picture in my head. I usually don't read any fantasy novels or science fiction novels for this exact reason; they are too far fetched. I know its extremely weird that I can be completely behind werewolves, vampires, zombies, etc., but I can't grasp the concept of a part animal/part human new hybrid race. I just couldn't picture it really happening. I could picture it for the sake of the book, but I couldn't connect it to happening in real life.
Overall:
I really ending up liking this novel. There were a few things I didn't love like the instant love and the farfetched-ness of the jaguar man, but overall the writing was great. This is a very unique book with a very, very interesting concept and theme. You could really picture this happening in real life (minus the jaguar man). The world building was fantastic and you could easily picture it in your head. Although there were a couple things I didn't love about the book, I definitely liked it as a whole. I recommend this to those who like fantasy novels and those who like a little dystopian. I will more than likely be continuing on with this series.
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 4/5
*Cover photo and book information was found on Goodreads.com and from inside the book itself. The goodreads page has been linked back to. All other opinions and work is my own creation. This novel was sent to me by the publishing house in exchange for an honest review.*
