Title: The Bane
Author: Keary Taylor
Publisher: Keary Taylor
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Sci-Fi
Received for review from NetGalley

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I couldn't request this book fast enough.  I read another of Taylor's books earlier this year and loved it.  When I heard that this story was being re-released as part of a trilogy, I was all over it.

Eve has no memory of her past before the world fell apart.  She only remembers stumbling upon Eden in the middle of the woods at the age of thirteen.  The world has been devoured by an evil strain of cybernetic DNA that turns everyone it touches into the Bane...basically zombie robots.  

Eve is stronger and faster than even the strongest men in Eden, but she has no idea why.  She knows nothing of her past but only that she will stop at nothing to protect the people that she loves, especially the two men who have her torn in two: Avian and West.  Avian has been her companion since she arrived and West is a mysterious stranger from her past who challenges her emotionally...and physically. 

When the Bane begin to threaten Eden, the group must decide to see who else has survived the outbreak or stay and challenge the evil undead army.   

Taylor drops you straight into the story on page one.  At first, I was afraid that the abrupt beginning would hinder the ability to connect with the characters, but on the contrary, I loved the technique of learning to love them along the way.  
I love post-apocolyptic novels, this is no secret.  Eden is no exception.  It's really a very cohesive community and I could really feel their bond.  This isn't one of those dark, morbid stories of survival, but an uplifting one.  

As for Eve, I had trouble connecting with Eve at first.  She felt very cold, and too even-keeled for me.  I didn't feel like Eve was reacting to anything properly.  I was surprised because this wasn't what I expected from Taylor.  However, once you learn more about Eve, you realize that Eve's voice is actually very clever and well-written.  You get to watch her evolve throughout the novel, and she felt more validated for me by the end.  Eve may seem cold in the beginning, but she makes it up in the end.  

Now, about that love triangle.  What torture that was!  The good kind, of course.  Eve sure had a tough choice to make.  Avian was devoted and nurturing.  West was sexy and electrifying.  Obviously, I won't give anything away, but there was a certain scene in the end that I read three times before I could move on.

My only complaint?  The girl on the cover, while beautiful & exactly how I would imagine Eve, is wearing too much makeup.  Eve would never.  

I love Keary Taylor's imaginative storytelling.  The dynamic between the three characters is really a beautiful one, but underneath there is a theme of human survival and the importance of community.
Can't wait to read more in this series.

The short story prequel is available on Kindle...currently free.
Delirium
The Maze Runner
The Hunger Games

Find it here // Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble

Currently only $3.99 for the eBook!

If you read this, let me know what you think!