Eden's Root

Eden's Root Trilogy #1

by Rachel Fisher

It's 2033, and the world hovers on the edge of explosion as unexplained crop deaths lead to severe global food shortages. In the United States, the Sickness is taking lives slowly, creeping its way into every family. Fi Kelly has already faced the Sickness in her own family, toughening her beyond her years. But a shocking confession from her dying father will push her toughness to its absolute limits. Saddled with an impossible secret and the mission of saving her little sister, Fi sets out to transform herself into the warrior that she must become to survive the coming collapse. Along the way, she'll discover that evil can be accidental and that love can be intentional.

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Romance, Post Apocalyptic, Fiction, Apocalyptic

293 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

I think cliches are undervalued and that ellipses are just *asking* for abuse. :)

Since I was a girl I've been an avid reader, a science-fiction fanatic, and a lover of words.

A scientist by background, I've always loved biology-based science-fiction. It is in this vein that I offer my work.

Reviews

[Bunny]

**Originally posted at www.bunnycates.com/reading **

My Thoughts:

Man this book. This book makes me shake my fist angrily at it, while I say “Youuuu…” Why is it giving me drama? Well, because it’s fantastic. And it’s not. This story has so much going for it, and then the one thing that is probably not so good. I’m going to tell you ALL the goods first, because if I tell you the bads first – you’ll just stop reading the review. lol.

World building – Scary. Ass. REAL. There is no other way to explain it. The stuff that goes down in this book, feels REAL. It’s actually POSSIBLE. The world in this story goes to shit because we, people, tampered with food. We DO tamper with food. Hybrids, growth hormones, it’s not a “made up” thing. We do DO those things! Who knows what will happen 50 years from now, after all the changes are changed again and again? How these changes are affecting us? Holy CRAP – this book could be the start of the zombie apocalypse! The author should contact Robert Kirkman RIGHT NOW. excuse me a minute… I just blew my own mind! omgosh!

Plot wise – AMAZING! I am not a big dystopian post-apocalyptic fan. I should say that right up front. I keep trying to like them because that seemed to be all that was coming out for a while, but man. I don’t think I have liked one, to date. Until now! This story goes apocalyptic DURING the story. So, everything is fine. In the beginning. We get to meet Fi, her folks, her friends, and then her dad gets sick. Then, all hell breaks loose. Throughout the story, we follow Fi as the entire world goes in the crapper. She has to accept, adapt, overcome. A girl doing that. Kind of awesome. *Side note: I love strong female characters. No *batting doe eyelashes* begging for love here. Which leads me to…

Characters – These people are so well fleshed out. All of the important ones are, anyway. They just “feel” like real people. The littler ones act – as you would think a littler one would in that situation. Nothing feels off about them. The parents do parenty things, the kids do kid type things, and those in the middle have to “nut up” to protect and save everyone around them who can’t do it for themselves.

Everything in this story is perfect except… the bad thing I was going to tell you about. Remember that?

Listen, I have always been really polite, I thought, when it comes to reviewing. I really try not to mention the editing or typos in general. I always thought if I started talking about the actual “writing” in the book, it would cause this big drama. I’m no english major, so who am I to criticize, you know? The thing is, I’m just a blogger. No one is paying their hard earned cash to read this blog. Who cares if I make a typo? This is you and me chatting it up, you know? In a book, typos are something totally different. Last week, I had a friend actually kind of rip me a new one. She had bought a book because I said it was great. I said it was great, but I didn’t mention the typos. My friend was so put off by them she couldn’t finish the book. I understand, I usually don’t finish badly edited books either. She felt like she’d wasted her $12. She’d wasted it because I had misled her. *ouch* With that being said, and now that you know I am not trying to attack this author in any way – I am only trying to tell you about the story, I have to tell you this…

The bad – the only negative that I have to say about this book is it needs an editor. REALLY needs an editor. As in, the typos are so bad…I turned it into a game to see how many pages I could get before I saw the next typo. If I were a drinker – this book’s typo game would make an excellent drinking game. I’m not saying that to be mean, either. See. I started marking the pages with the typos. That’s a lot.



To be totally honest, I kind of knew there would be a few typos before I started reading it. The day I received it, I noticed a typo on the title page. So I knew. I just didn’t think there would be that many.



In Conclusion:

Even with all its faults, I LOVED this story. This is so good, I could see it as a long running tv series. It would be way better than 99% of the crap on network tv right now. They could make it last how ever long they wanted, and when they decided to end the series – just use the last 5 or 6 chapters of the book for the 2 night big finale. It’s almost PERFECT. Well, except for the afore mentioned issues. If those issues wouldn’t bother you, then I say READ THIS BOOK. It’s actually kind of awesome, typos and all.

Mom Notes:

Does contain: cussing, violence (even a rape – though it’s not graphic), and a lot of death.

[Beckie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Impressions: I was contacted by Rachel Fisher the author of Eden's Root a couple months ago and asked to read her novel. I feel in love with the book cover and the whole idea of the story being set in the future. While I have read many Dystopian novels within the past two years, Eden's Root sounds like nothing I had ever read before so I decided to give it a go. I will be honest and say I was kind of put off by how long the book was, but knew it would be worth it.

My Review: Eden's Root is set in the year 2033, the world as we know today is very much like the one described in the book but with one huge difference. The world itself is slowly dying. Fi Kelly's father is dying of cancer and on the last days of his life her father decides to tell Fi something that will change her life as well as everyone lives in the world. The food eaten and the drinks that were drank is killing everyone slowly. Known as "Sickfood". Scientist do not know what is causing this and why crops are dying out around the world. Now everyone must continue to eat this "sickfood" to survive hunger even knowing the food is what is causing the world to slowing crumble around them. Fi was been told by her father days before he passes away that she and her family must find a safe haven away from this apocalyptic world. She will need to find a way to be strong and lead her family to safety. All the while knowing the road ahead will be filled with hardships, horror, and even sadness. Fi and her family are now on a quest to find the one place that could save them all, Eden!
First let me say that I loved the whole idea behind this novel. The apocalyptic whole and it's surrounding were told in a way that I felt I was right there with Fi and her family. I could almost feel her pain and see in my minds eye what she was going through through-out the story. The story idea of the food we eat everyday being the one thing that will end the world and the people in it is scary to think about but a very unique concept. I adored Fi Kelly as the main character. Her inner strength and willingness to survive was astonishing and gave the book a "never give up" feel to it. On another aspect I did feel the story was dragged out a bit and long. While this is not always a bad thing because it gives the reader a full understanding of the book and all of the events that took place within. For me personally I would have liked it more if it was a shorter book to read. I found myself taking breaks and coming back, not because the story itself was lacking but the length was a bit intimidating to me.
All in all Eden's Root was worth the read. I feel in love with the character's in the story and the things that they were made to endure were so motivating. I loved reading about the journey in itself that took to reach safety.

Final Thoughts: I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves Dystopian stories. While for me I felt it was a bit slow at parts and a long book to read the story within was amazing and very unique. Rachel Fisher has written a great debut novel and I look forward to seeing what else she may has in store for the future. ( Hopeful not a future like the one in Eden's Root! ^__^ )

[Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

From http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....

At A Glance
I liked the concept but the execution wasn't great.

The Good
I LOVED the concept of this book. The crops are dying and aren't growing back. A famine is on the horizon. Only a select few know about it. Before he died, Fi's dad warned her of what was coming. So Fi has prepared herself mentally and physically for the chaos that is about to descend on the populace. Because it is her job to take her Family to a place where they will be safe, where healthy food grows and thrives.

I was so excited as I started this book. I have never read a book like it before. And after finishing it, I knew this book would stick with me forever.

Fi fascinated me. She did exactly what someone should do when they know a famine is coming, she prepared. She trained and learned how to fight, how to use weapons, how to live off the land, and how to be an adult at age 13/14. I was so proud of her. She didn't shy away from the things she had to do. She didn't allow herself to break down as her father died and her mother got sick. When the violence and cruelty started all around her, she lead her Family (her real family and others who joined along the way) with precision and courage. Even when she had to do things that ate her up inside, she kept on a brave face in front of everyone else so they wounldn't be frightened.

I was so happy to see Sean and his family go with Fi. They had been best friends and neighbors since forever. Without Sean, I don't know if Fi could have braved through the whole trek. Sean was her sidekick in a way, but he was also her emotional support. With Fi's mom weak from her sickness, it was Sean who supported Fi every step of the way as she had to protect both adults and children from the outside world.

I was so tense throughout Eden's Root. I couldn't imagine being in this situation, having to lie, steal, and even kill to survive. Fi and her Family faced some horrible situations. Fi usually came back from food raids internally traumatized by what she faced each time. When Fi finally met Asher, I was shocked by how Fisher had them meet. It was pretty horrific. But Asher was really amazing. With his trusty sword, he had survived the unthinkable. Gangs had been after him from the beginning, but he made it through and stronger for it. I felt so much better when he joined the Family because he was a fighter like Fi.

Eden's Root was a suspenseful thrill-ride. The characters made you want to keep reading to see what would happen to them next. I loved how they all uniquely contributed to the group in some way. It was a unique idea that hit close to home because I have a family member that got very sick because of processed and altered food. He can only eat organic food now. But his life is forever changed because of this.

With the way we genetically alter our food, who knows if this is our future. It's a scary thought. I also think it's a wake-up call. I think going back to organic, non-processed/altered food is important to our futures and our health.

The Bad
I think the biggest problem with this book is the execution. There was a lot of little things that kept bothering me. First, it was often very hokey and cheesy. The concept and story were very serious but the characters would joke around sometimes and it felt forced.

Then the idea that these educated adults and their children would follow every word of a 14 year old girl was sometimes unbelievable. I just didn't buy it. And with only a few months of training, I just didn't see Fi being that great of a leader.

Another thing, the book felt too long. One-third of it could have been cut and it would have been stronger for it. The beginning preparation Fi went through took too much room in the book as well.

Lastly, I often felt like I was being taught a lesson. It was all too much scientific info and moral lessons.

The Snuggly
We have to wait a long time for the romance to start but once it did, I loved it. Fi and Asher were so cute together. But just kissing between them, that's all.

Caution, there is a rape scene in this book.

Final Thoughts
I have to admit, there is a lot about this book that didn't quite hit me right, but I really did enjoy it in the end. The concept alone made me want to read it and the characters' journey kept me reading. I hope this isn't our future, but I am happy Fisher shared this story with us. Recommended.

Quotes
“Love is like water,' Fi murmured, 'You can't squish it down and make it any smaller. No matter how you squeeze it,' she held Kiara close as her chest tightened. 'It just keeps busting out. So when you lose someone, you don't lose the love. It stays with you just as big in your heart as it always was. We may want the ache to go away, but we can't give up the love. So you live with both.”

*****

“Seriously." Asher whispered. "You are pretty badass. It's a good thing you're little or I would be afraid of you.”

[Nancy The book junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember when i first added the book on goodreads the summary got my attention, i mean a dystopian novel with an original storyline? I'm all for it! So of course when i've been offering the opportunity to read and review this book i jumped on the occasion. I first have to say a huge thank you to Rachel Fisher for kindly offering me a copy of her novel!

When i started my reading and saw very early in the story that the mankind was pretty much responsable for a spreading sickness and for the destruction of almost every crops on the planet it made me pause. I have to admit at first i thought i would me reading about the typical virus story (or something along these lines) destroying the humanity and here i was reading about something that could happen, because let's be honest here folks, the way everything is genetically modified these days i don't think it would be a surprise if we learned someday that we did irreversible dammage to our health and to our food sources.

The main character Fi is a thirteen year old girl, at the beginning of the story she lives an ordinary life with her mother Maggie and sister Kiara. Her father is dying from cancer and this sickness already took the live of her little brother a couple of years ago. Knowing he don't have much time left her dad feels the need to tell Fi what he actually did when he was working a secret project for the governement and tell her the truth, the planet will soon be suffering global food shortage and more than 2/3 of the population won't make it. Her father want her to prepare herself so that when the time comes she can save the rest of the family and brought them to Eden, a secret facility who's probably the last glimpse of hope for any person wanting to survive what is coming.

At first i was scared that i couldn't relate to a character half my age but also i couldn't imagine a thirteen year old girl basically be ordered by her dad to train herself like some sort of crazy surviving fanatic in order to protect and save her family. She learned how to fight, shoot guns and bows, hunt and a lot of others surving skills in order to be able to provide for her family. But she also had to live with an unbearable burden...having the knowledge of an imminent disaster but keeping it to herself. Obviously i thought it would be a little much to ask to a young girl like that....how i was wrong! Without giving away the plot let's just say that Fi is not your typical teenage girl and i mostly forgot how young she was through her very mature speeches and actions.

I don't wanna give away to much so i'll only say that the story is on a two years timespan and is mostly told from Fi POV but the author still provided good backgrounds to her secondary characters and they're all very likable. This is something i appreciated because a lot of authors tend to minimalize less important characters to focus on the main one which often makes it harder to connect to the storyline. Plus this story wouldn't be the same without Maggie, Ki, Sean (even if i wanted to hit is head on a tree trunk from time to time!) and all the other members of the family...and of course Asher....how could i forgot Asher, i think i have one more guy to add to my fictionnal guys crush list!

Overall if you like dystopian books this one should definitely be on your to-read list. It's been a real page turner and my only thought when i finished it was....can i get the next one right now?

[Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that I noticed about the story was that it's a pretty big read. I read this on my kindle and there were no page numbers but there were 7191 locations that is above the normal teen reads I get that average between 3000-5300 locations.
It starts out describing the world and explaining the main plot of what the story is going to be, the reader gets to see right away that Fi, the main character who is 13 in the beginning of the novel is going to have to grow up fast. She is smart and takes everything her father tells her to heart. She begins preparations for the time when she is going to have to leave town with her little sister when the time comes. There is a lot of stealing and lying and storage of necessities by her over the next couple of months. As well as learning how to fight, hunt, and some plant knowledge for food reasons. She eventually decides that she cannot leave her family and friends and decides that she just cannot leave them without some idea of what's going on. Plus the neighbor boy Sean has noticed she is missing school and that something is going on.
There were some parts of the book where they cannot travel because of the weather and settle down. The story slows and there is not a lot of things happening in those sections. We get to learn more about the individual characters and scout for more food and supplies in the abandoned towns.
This story contains a lot of characters. We start off with around 14 people traveling in the group (the plan was just supposed to be three) so we have a lot of people to get to know and as they travel more people are brought into the story. Not all of them play the major role in the story, but there were a couple places I found the amount of characters hard to remember and especially their ages and which ones were sick or not and what skills they had to provide for the group.
The story eventually starts to involve a little bit of a romance and a lot of complications that the family must get through to find their way to safety.
I was offered a copy of this for review, but when I checked online to see that it was selling for $2 for the ebook I was surprised, especially because of the length of the book. I think it is 100% worth that and more. That is a very good deal for this story.
My favorite character is Sean. I admired him, his actions and how supportive he was of Fi. Fi is a very strong leader and it really shows in this story that she had to grow up very fast in a short amount of time. I was torn at times that some of the adults in the group did not insist that she did not go out to scavenge herself because she knew where they were going and could not risk her getting hurt. But she always held her own and kicked ass when she needed to.
I think the main story behind the story is how the world treats our food supply.
With all the cross breeding of plants and use of chemicals in our foods, if not watched carefully could cause global damage, and in this story to the extent of global famine.

[Humayra Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 21 years in the future. Genetic modification of foods has led to a disaster, as crops begin to die all over the world. Fi is only 13 years old, but a secret revealed to her by her dying father makes her realize that she will have to mature quickly if she is to survive. Because while chaos and wreckage tear the world apart, there is one hope for her family. One chance that they might make it. And it's up to Fi to save them.

First of all, a big THANK YOU to Rachel Fisher for giving me an ARC of this book and letting me review it! I loved doing so and only apologize that I couldn't have done it faster! (The cons to being a college student...)

This is the book for people who hated the Hunger Games series. Did you think it was ridiculous that the Capitol created the Games in the first place? Did you have a hard time believing it? With "Eden's Root", let the REAL Hunger Games begin! Famines and food shortages create a whole different atmosphere on Earth, and the problems with genetic modification are frighteningly real. This is something that could actually HAPPEN in our society, and I loved that! I'm a big fan of dystopian books to begin with, but this was a unique idea that impressed me. I also LOVED the main character. Unlike Katniss (who drove me crazy), Fi is unbelievably strong. She is determined, ambitious, resourceful, and passionate. She grieves and fights her inner demons but does NOT let them get the best of her. She is a heroine to admire- one that is worth reading about. The book also reminded me of Kristin Cashore's "Graceling" because of the overall theme of survival. But I thought its characters were much better developed. Strong family ties were emphasized throughout the book and you come to care for each and every character. That's impressive!

Definitely worth the time I put into reading, and I'm eagerly looking forward to book #2! GO READ IT! :)

[Rachel Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my OWN book. I am just figuring out how to get friends to review me here. If you read this title and like it please REVIEW me and recommend to friends.

[Anagha Uppal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot:
My favorite thing about Eden's Root is the circumstances around which the apocalypse happened. It wasn't the plan of evil governments, it wasn't bombs or volcanoes. It was - quite simply - man's greed. Scientists had, for centuries, cross-bred plants and animals and added pesticides and preservatives, convinced that they were helping to make more food to end hunger. Instead, all the blind tinkering with food sources led to all the plants and animals quickly dying (resulting in a famine) and many people becoming Sick with cancer and other diseases. The most chilling thing is... the logic's really convincing. We know scientists have added all these things to our crops, this frightens people enough that they are willing to pay much more for "organic" food. So it's not difficult to take that leap and believe that some harm could come of this food. And Rachel Fisher, well, she could probably make me believe anything. =)

Narration/Tone:
I was planning to give Eden's Root three stars for the first half of the book. Why? Because the author felt the need to describe Every. Single. Event. Seriously, I had to read every discussion Fi had with her dying father, every part of her training, and after the apocalypse, so much of the trek was described in excruciating detail. Okay, maybe I'm being too hard on the first half. It wasn't excruciating, but I can tell you, I was BORED. But then, Fi and Asher met. The tone of the novel suddenly changed. Things started actually happening. The story went at a much faster pace. I could sense hope in the characters, especially Fi. It's like Asher came and revived them all. There were fights and deaths and joy and grief - a whole depth of emotion and that's when I got hooked, baby!

Characters:
First half, I didn't like Fi. Not at all. She was so domineering! How did the adults handle following her? A person's level of preparation for the apocalypse doesn't automatically qualify her as Leader, but Fi leaves the Family with no option. It's like: "Here, become part of my Family and obey me no matter what with me as Leader and I'll protect you. Otherwise, go away." It worked out well in the end, but that's not the point. The fact that she could be so undemocratic in that matter made me think she was insensitive and I didn't care for her. As soon as she met Asher though, she completely changed. She was... fun! She finally started letting her emotions show and she started joking around more; thank goodness, because it was getting a little dull reading about a stoic survivor. Despite her unemotional attitude, I deeply respected her as a character. She was, without a doubt, a more-than-capable Leader and a formidable opponent in a fight and you just have to admire a 14-year-old who shuts off her grief and trains so hard for a year that she can successfully lead a group of 15 or so people across who-knows-how-many miles to safety.

Asher I pretty much loved from beginning to end, no question. I think it was the sword as a weapon of choice that did it. He can be my book boyfriend!

Romanciness:
Yes, there's a love triangle, but I loved the romance in this book anyway. It's a nice distraction from the extremely depressing conditions of Fi's world. I don't want to give anything away, but it's not a love triangle in the tradition sense, with two boys vying for the girl's heart. It's better. A lot better and so much more aww-worthy!

Overall:
Rachel has studied biochemistry and biogeochemistry and other unpronounceable courses, she is now a nutrition expert and truly knows what she's talking about. She always is a bit of a word nerd and has a certain way with words. This fearsome combination makes for a book with a dynamite plotline. In her story, you can get the actual scientific reasoning behind the apocalypse in such a simple and interesting way, you actually understand and start to believe in it. I think Rachel would make an fantastic teacher.

UPDATE (9/27/12): Aargh! I hate when this happens! I fell in love with this cover and it turns out the girl was just a stock photo, plus the added background. Check it out for yourself: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95...

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY REVIEW
I'll start with the cover, the female with the lovely red curls on the front is Fi Kelly, a strong young girl who has to grow up quickly s she soon becomes responsible for not only her own survival but that of her mother and sister too. The cover also depicts the dry cracked earth of a dying planet and the nourished flourishing planet. I love the cover as it really does fit the book well. Also (I know this book is only on kindle) but this book has the type of cover you would pick up in a store and want to know more about the story belonging to it.
I loved this book. I would describe it as a dystopian/post apocalyptic novel but it also has sci-fi, fantasy and futuristc elements too. I have read quite a few books of this genre and I would put this book up there with the best of them!
So a little about the book now, The year is 2033 and plants and food sources have continued to be genetically modified and cross bred so much that they hardly resemble what they used to be. the problem is they have been altered so much that lots of the nutritional value of them has been lost. People are dying of a "sickness", sure the doctors and scientist may come up with different cancers or different names for the "sickness" but the result is the same people get ill, they get weaker and weaker until they die. Is anyone doing anything about this? Fi is told by her dying father about the truth of the "sickness" and the forthcoming collapse of the world as we know it. He helps her as much as he can to be prepared for what will happen. He also gives her hope. The hope of taking her family to a place called Eden. To get to Eden, if she can even find it Fi with have to do many things she thought she wouldn't or couldn't do. To say Fi is tested to her limits is an understatement she is tested above and beyond any normal limits a youngster her age should have to face. This novel is the story of Fi, her mum Maggie and sister Kiara, and the extended family (her neighbours) who she decides to take along with her, John, Lucy, Sean, Rachel and Zoe.
Fi and her band of followers meet many along the way, good people who join them, good people who continue on their own and also bad, bad, people too.
The book is simply but really well written, it flows really well as you follow Fi as the leader of her Family. There are many issues dealt with in the book, for example death, but it I dealt with in a really compassionate way. I loved the concept of the book, the ideas behind Eden and Disapora (it will make sense when you read the book!) The details in Eden are brilliant!
One thing that confused me a little was the way how Fi constantly called her mum Maggie, but that is kind of explained later when a newcomer asks Fi the very question I had been asking Why do you call your mum Maggie? I think Rachel Fisher writes really well, you go through the trials and tribulations with Fi and the "Family". The ending of the book is done in such a way it makes you want to pick BK 2 up straight away to continue reading all about what happens next. You really want to read more about the "Family" and where they are staying, and you want to know how relationships and the world around the characters will evolve.
So did I enjoy the book? YES Would I read Bk 2? YES please asap! Would I read more books by Rachel Fisher? Yes I adored her descriptions and writing! and Finally Would I recommend? YES to all dystopian lovers, all who love a good book!
This book reminded me a little of The Great Collapse by Jeff Horton , Heir To Power by Michele Poague and the adult dytopian Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield.

Available at Amazon

[Rachel V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this dystopian tale even though there were a few things that seemed to easy. I liked how the author made most things that happened in the story believable. I recommend checking this story out if you like dystopian tales. I give the story 4 stars.

Plot – First of all I feel this was a well written tale and it feels like the author really did her research. The story kept me interested and reading to find out what happens. Everything about this story seems like it could happen. The food shortages because of genetically altering plants and the riots once the food shortages started. The people running scared in the streets, the rumors of nukes and how people acted and reacted in the book are all a possibility should this ever happen. Also the thought of Eden is something I believe someone (hopefully) would have come up with if there was enough warning. I enjoyed going on raids with Fi and Sean and really enjoyed it once Asher joined in. The fact that there was no miracle cure for Fi’s mother made the story more real to life because there isn’t a cure.

The things I didn’t care for in this book is how easy it seemed for Fi and The Family to find good people who conveniently had the skills they needed to be added to their group. The Family did not turn anyone away or disagree over letting people in. It seemed the only conflict was when Asher was going to join and that wasn’t much of a conflict. I believe people living this close with no modern amenities are going to argue or disagree at times. Also I would have preferred to have a little less on the descriptions and maybe a little more action in the story.

Characters – The characters were well written and we learned quite a bit about them and their backgrounds. I liked that the story was written from different points of view. It gave us more insight into what was going on inside different characters minds and different locations also. Fi was the POV that the story was most often written from. I found her to be a strong person and a good leader no matter what her age was. She was capable of leading all these people to safety and able to steal enough to keep them all alive. I liked how she thought out her choice of weapons also. This was a big point for me because my husband is a gun enthusiast. A 22 as opposed to a Glock is going to be a better gun for a young girl and as long as you can shoot it is just as capable of injuring or killing as any other gun. The same goes for the bow and arrow vs. the cross bow.

The Romance – At first this was a little surprise for me with the romance. I kept expecting something to change between Fi and Sean. However I do like the way it turns out. I really like Asher and I love that the author had his weapon as a sword. Also you got to see some of the adults become more solid in their relationship as opposed to actually dividing them farther which was nice. The romance was good and it looks to continue in the next book.

All in all I liked this story even though I had a hard time believing parts of it. This seems to be a good start to a series. I would love to read the second book in the series to see where the author takes this.

[Molli Moran]

The entire time I was reading Eden's Root, one thought kept resonating: this wasn't just sci-fi - this was realistic science fiction. And for me, that is usually the most terrifying kind...the sort that isn't out of the real of possibility. This suspenseful novel forced me to think about possibilities that, although they scared me, also made me appreciate the Fi and her family live in, and the choices she makes to keep them safe. Ultimately, Eden's Root had a few issues that detracted from my enjoyment of it, but I still found it to be a wild ride I won't soon forget!

While reading Rachel Fisher's novel, I struggled a bit with some of the characters. I've waited awhile after finishing to write my review, and I think there was something off in the character's voices for me. I liked the actual characters themselves well enough - Fi was brave and loyal, Sean was protective and strong, Asher was devoted and swoon-worthy, and the other members of the Family all had important roles to play. But in retrospect, even though I understand she was forced to grow up fast, Fi never felt like a teenager, nor did Sean or Asher, really. The only way I can describe it is that maybe Rachel struggled to really find their identities as teens - even teens who had grown up before they should have had to, due to their circumstances. Also there was a bit of a distance between the writing and their voices, almost as if she was afraid to get to close to the characters.

However, I did find a lot to like about Eden's Root. I really loved the scenes with Fi and her father - to me, that's where part of the heart of the story lies, in Fi's devotion to her father, and in his wish to prepare her for the harsh realities she'd face after he was gone, another victim of the Sickness, a cancer-like disease transmitted through the very food they're eating.

I also liked the unexpected romance between Fi and Asher! At first I thought Rachel Fisher was going in a different direction with the romance, but I'm happy with the way it all played out - it felt natural. Despite the fact that the pacing when it came to large passages of time felt choppy, Asher and Fi ARE given time to grow as friends and as a couple, so that their pairing felt more natural than rushed.

Overall, I liked Eden's Root, and read it in one sitting, so that says something about the story being told and about the writing! I think Rachel Fisher has a lot of promise, because while there are a few aspects to this book that felt under-developed, there was also a great deal of potential for a brilliant sci-fi trilogy!

[Book Addictions by Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

First if all i loved this book! Really wonderful read especially if you love Dystopian...which I do. At first i thought it wouldnt take long to read because its only 350 pages when i picked it up and felt the weight, then I opened it an saw the small type.... and i knew it was going to be a bit mire than I thought.....it was alot more than I thought. Which is just awesome because i loved reading it. I really felt like i took this journey with Fi and her Family. The writing was good and the characters were so strong. I fell for them all. Its heartening to see such love and compassion in a world so desolute and cold. I loved and bonded with the characters and felt their losses and their hardships. I also was up lifted by their journey and every small good thing that happened. Fi the main character felt so real. I connected to her almost instantly when things started to turn up side down. All the character s grow so much its wonderful and when its over you feel like you really know these people. Rachel has built an amazing world filled with outstanding characters. So much of it felt like something i would write myself. Like we were on the same page (pun intended). The whole idea of the world falling apart the way she described is just so feasibile to me. It makes you think .... Are we headed down that road now? Everything was well thought out and i loved knowing what more than just Fi was thinking and feeling. Had it been written in first person POV so much would have been lost. I have to say that I've fallen completely in love with this book. I laughed out loud and cried a few times. I love a book that you can feel. And i felt Eden's Root to my core....

Thank you Rachel for giving me the opportunity to know these characters.

Hoping for a book 2.........;)

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2

Eden's Root is not your ordinary Science Fiction YA novel. It does not contain vampires, aliens, nor zombies.This novel is frightening, too frightening with its realistic situation. You are never lost through out this book. Fisher does a excellent job of keeping her readers informed on whats happening. I was good in Biology, but this takes it to a whole new level, when the food becomes the main source of the dwindling population. Set in the year 2033, which is not far off, food is manipulated to "Sickfood" -- by accident, of course. Scientists thought that all the experimenting would help people from starving, but that did not turn out so well. With people getting Sick as time passes by and starving with no resources, the world turns into a dark, horrid place, in which Fi (protagonist) is forced to lead a group of people to a safe haven her dad mentioned. With leading comes great responsibility and traumatic obstacles.

"That was just the way it was."

Fi is a girl you want to be very good friends with at the end of the world. You will be safe. I liked Fi. Sometimes she was a bit irritating, but she was courageous and selfless, and that makes a good leader.

"'What drives the warrior in me isn't the courage Larry,' she said with a shrug. 'It's rage.'"

The other characters are also very likable, each being very unique. Sean, Fi's best friend, could be a pain, but that is for you to find out why. :) Asher, well, read this book. That is all. Oh, and the ending, seriously? Now I cant wait for the second book. :)

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is quite a book. The author did a lot of research, it is evident, but it isn't splashed on every page. The research proves this to be a great sci-fi in the real sense that REAL science is involved.

I want to thank Ms. Rachel Fisher for this complimentary Kindle copy for reading and reviewing. I got to know her a bit through email exchanges and found she was friendly and accessible to her readers.

On to the book. I would say that the first 86% of it was fascinating. I didn't want to put it down. I don't want to tell what happened at that point in the book as I don't want to spoil it for others. Needless to say there was less adventure and strength of character being shown. That for me was what made the first part so exciting. Not sure how I would have changed it. The information given in the next 15% (give or take) was necessary, and hopefully will be played on in future sequels?????

The last few pages pulled me back in and I am hoping there is more to read about these people and their situations.

The main character is gutsy and has to be. I am glad to see that the author chose a young girl and proved it all could be done by a female. The growth physically and emotionally of Fi is a joy to watch. The story-line/plot were engaging and thought provoking. I wish I weren't finished reading this book. That is a sign of a great one.

At first I gave this four stars. Mostly because of the last part of the book, but I am changing it to five stars because this is an unforgettable story with a very important message.

Great job, Ms. Fisher!

[Yvensong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chilling and exciting YA tale that takes place in the near future. The MC, Fi, learns that life as we all know it is about to take a disastrous turn. Genetic Modification of our world's food goes awry. In a short time, food supplies pretty much disappear.

What makes this dystopia chilling is the sense that the future represented within, is possible. The author uses her knowledge to create a very believable scenario to take her characters, and her readers, through.

I like novels with strong, female characters, and Fi does not disappoint. She has to grow up fast and hard. The only stretch for me was that the adults were so willing to abdicate any and all control over their lives and the lives of their children to her without question.

The other characters complimented the story well. There are friendships that evolve, romances, deaths, survival struggles and a touching relationship between Fi and her father - even after he passed.

I only had one real issue with the story. The early introduction of Asher was very distracting and destroyed the flow of the story. The salient points could easily have been shared with the reader, later.

I received this book from the author through Smashwords for free. I thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review this.

[HebaH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eden’s Root is an apocalyptic surprise! The world is falling into destruction, and the danger lies in the genetically enhanced foods that become known as 'Sickfood'. Fi Kelly’s father entrusts her with the serious task of getting her sickly mother and younger sister safely to Eden, but doing so means traveling far and wide through the troubles of hunger, sickness, and violence.

Rachel Fisher thoroughly details the breakdown of the world, which is why the novel seems a little slow in the beginning. The upside to reading the world’s end from the very beginning is having the opportunity to see Fi grow from just the average girl to a fierce survivor. Surrounded by family and close friends she hurtles over obstacles and tough situations. Fi even finds love in one of the darkest cities in America since the sickness and famine became widespread.

Although there is a dark gray cloud cast over Fi and her family for most of Eden’s Root readers are eventually left with a hopeful feeling. There’s a plan in the works to bring the world back to its former glory, but only time will tell if all of mankind’s problems can be solved. Thankfully, Fisher will keep the anticipation and hope rolling in the next installment of the Eden’s Root Trilogy, Seeds of War!

Candace Hawkins

[K.C. Hilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful book! In my opinion, if you enjoyed Hunger Games, you will enjoy this book.

*** SPOILER BELOW ***

In the year 2033, an unexpected devistation occurs to the world's food source. Few people knew about the coming of hard times. Fi Kelly, a fourteen year old girl, was burdened with this knowledge before her father died. Her father was one of the people who knew what was coming and planned ahead. He urged Fi to learn survival tactics to keep the family safe and more importantly to find her way to a place called Eden.

Along the way, Fi and her extended family had to survive by looting, and living off the land. They had to not only feed themselves, but to also keep away from other people. The need to survive is not without trials. Danger hangs over their heads constantly.

(A good explanation of Sickfood and Real-Food is given. I believed!)

Fi is keeping her family safe and urging them to Eden, on foot. She takes her father's dying wish to a new level. Fi must do things she never dreamed of to survive or her family will NOT survive.

I can't wait to read the second book in this series, Seeds of War.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

booknook — Young Adult book reviews

Eden's Root is a great example of a realistic dystopian book! I'm not a scientist, so I don't really know how accurate or realistic the science in the book is, but the scary thing is that I can see this happening. I believed it. Eden's Root is basically about crop deaths—due to food modifications or engineering plants or pesticides, etc.—and those deaths leading to a global food shortage, and eventually global starvation.

This book will make you think, it will make you scared, and it will make you realize that there is a lesson to be learned here and that all actions have consequences.

Eden's Root also talks a lot about humanity. It was fascinating to see how the world changed during a global crisis. My favourite part was New York City! Basically the city became deserted, leaving only a few gangs. The gang environment was absolutely terrifying! ..but also quite cool to read about. I envisioned like.. a Batman kind of scenario. You know, in Batman Begins when Gotham gets closed off and all the crazy imprisoned people are roaming free and terrorizing the streets at night. But this time, there's no Batman to protect everybody... Although, there is Asher. And he is sexy and has an awesome sword. But there are some truly devastating and scary scenes that will terrify you or almost make you want to cry. There's a lot of loss, violence, desperation, and death.

I found the main character, Fi, to be extremely likable! She is truly a kickass girl. She's only a young teenager but she carries the world on her shoulders and deals with this crisis extremely well. She trains for it, and then leads her family through it, promising them a brighter future. Although she is only 13 in the book (and ages a few years throughout the story), she often seemed much older. It really shows how much children can "grow up" more quickly in times of crisis. There's not as much time to have a true childhood. People harden and have to adapt to handle the difficulties they face.

I only really had two issues with the book, both of which happen in the first half. I felt like the first half of the book had some awkward pacing. Basically the author would spend ages going over a lot of detail for one small event, then jump forward a few weeks and zoom in again, then jump forward a few months and zoom in again. Sometimes it was just hard to keep track of how much time had actually passed. I actually didn't mind all the extensive detail (but it seems like that did bother some people), I just found the pacing to be weird.

My second issue is that I felt like we never saw much about the crisis before it happened. We get a lot of details about the starvation period (when Fi and her family are traveling and encountering violence or abandoned cities, etc.), but we never see much about news leading up to the food shortage. I mean surely there had to have been a lot of news announcements leading up to the point before soldiers were deployed to keep everyone in line, but we barely saw any of that. It's almost like people woke up one morning and the president was like, "We suddenly have no food left." I would have liked to feel like I saw the events coming from a "news" perspective.

A romance does develop in Eden's Root and I loved it! It honestly took me a while to warm up to it because there's kind of a scary age gap (15 and 19). My initial impression was something like, "Eeeehh, this is a bit weird," and characters actually acknowledge that in the book (which is good — at least they didn't act like it was normal). But I guess you have to really understand that Fi really ages beyond her years. Really, relationships are about sharing a similar level of maturity, which is why 15 and 19 is kind of weird, but 30 and 34 isn't. Age is ultimately just a number. I think it's more important to be in a similar stage of life and/or have a similar level of maturity, and Fi and Asher definitely share that. Fi might be 15 but she acts like a leader and I often found myself imagining her to be closer to 18 based on her behaviour.

My favourite part of the book was definitely the second half. The first half is good, but the second half will completely draw you in and keep you totally hooked. The author Rachel also sets a fabulous stage for the second book! I sense that there are some very exciting things to come!

[Sarah Kalaitzidis · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the beginning I wasn’t to sure I would ever start reading this book, but I did have it on my To-read list on Goodreads should I ever get the desire to read it. When the author came to me and asked me if I wanted to read and review this book, I was very excited. No other author has asked that of me before. I was happy to receive this copy to read. My only regret is not reading this book sooner!


The main character in this book is called “Fi”. It's her nickname, with only her father using her full name. I think it's a beautiful name, but no spoilers from me! She’s a strong character, and even as a 14-year-old girl she knows how to take care of her family from everything that is happening in the world. For months, Fi’s been training for the day the world goes to hell. She made sure she trained in how to use a gun and even a crossbow. She’s the leader of her group as they travel across the United States to reach Canada. On the way they pick up new people to add to their group, which they call “Family”. Each person Fi tells them that she is the leader and that they need to fallow under her rules so that they get to their destination safely. Another important character would be Sean, which Fi has known for most of her life because of how close their parents are. She even mentions how Sean’s parents were like a second father and mother to her. Sean is a very smart person and knew right away that something was up with Fi and didn’t stop to second guess her when she told the truth about what was happening. He actually got to work with training with her. Though he isn’t much of a fighter, he did do his best at training and knows how to fend off people as well as he could. The family that she travels with is a mix of society. There is already quite a few when her and Sean escaped their town to head north but as they went they began to gather more people. I found it a little convenient that they first find a doctor, then a teacher for the little kids and later two kids who were good at outdoor survival and they were both Orienteering experts. With their help they got to Eden a lot easier. I just thought it was to covenant that they found these people, but anything to make the journey easier is a bonus. The last main character they meet is Asher. He carries around a sword, and is the only character to do so. You first meet him sometime in the middle of the story where he decided to stay in his city while many other people left. He was in charge of his own gang, since that was the only way to get by in a city. When he met up with Fi, the meeting didn’t go that well, but soon he joined their group, never looking back on his past with that city.


The romance in this book was strange but so very cute. Asher and Fi are cute together, although Asher is roughly 5 years older then Fi when they meet up. She’s 15 while he just turned 20. I guess in the old world this wouldn’t be right but in this world people have to grow up quickly. It’s cute how at first their just teasing each other before they tell each other their true feelings. Even at the end Asher surprises me by what he says to her. There was some happenings with Fi and Sean, Sean has always loved Fi but Fi only loved him as a sister/brother relationship. Every time he tries to show Fi his true feelings she would pull away. Then she starts to be with Asher and you can see how hurt Sean is and you know what Sean just accepts her feelings for Asher and moves on. This doesn’t make sense to me, how could someone give up his feelings for the girl he has loved for so long so fast? I guess he either really never loved her enough if he’s not willing to fight for her, or loved her so much that he was willing to let her go so she could be happy with another man.


What I liked about this book was how real this dystopian type life could be. It gets you thinking on what we’re doing to the plants and how they are so different from plants century’s ago. We don’t know that what we’re doing to the plants that could kill us, so this book has a very interesting point. This plot was so interesting; I enjoyed every moment of it. From Fi becoming leader of a small group to a big group. Even having time to fall in love with someone and acting like a normal teenager for once gives some normal to the crazy world they are now living in. As well as to see how each character brings the story together so well.

Overall

I love every moment of this book and if your interested in Dystopian novels I highly suggest you read this book it’s really good!

See more at my blog: http://howlingbooksanddesign.blogspot...

[Lani · Rating 4 out of 5]

~I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review~

Well, doesnt this book just really make you think about things a little differently!?

Eden's Root is a dystopian/sci-fi (though, in the authors words, not the robots and space sort of sci-fi. But science based fiction)set around 30 years in the future. It's based on the idea that our food has been genetically modified ALOT over the past century or two. Nothing is as it was back in the 1800's- food is all crossbred and pumped full of chemicals to make things bigger, better, taste different, grow faster. In Eden's Root, all this genetic modification has caught up with us, and things are starting to go pear shaped. Crops are beginning to die before they can be harvested and Cancer of all forms (or The Sickness, as it becomes known throughout the book) is killing people at a crippling rate and some believe it is caused by the food.

13 year old, Fi Kelly's father, is one of those believers. On his deathbed, he tells Fi that the world as she knows it is coming to an end.That soon, there will not be enough food to go around. The only glimmer of hope for Fi, is Eden. A colony sealed off from the rest of the world, that her scientist father helped to create. In Eden, they are growing heirloom crops, or 'True Food" as Fi comes to call it. These True foods come from unmodified seeds, from hundreds of years before. Fi and her family can be saved from the famines and the sickness that are sure to come, but first, they have to make it to Eden.

Fi spends the first few months after her fathers death, training to become a fighter. Learning to hunt and gather. Preparing herself for the trek to Eden and this new world. Armed with her fathers journals and his dying words, she makes her plans. And when the events her father foretold start to come true, and soldiers roll into town, locking up food stores and riots begin, Fi knows its time to leave. To find Eden.

Eden's root is told mostly from Fi's point of view, though we also have chapters from Sean (Fi's best friend and side kick), and Asher (who remains in the city, whilst everyone else is fleeing). From Fi and Sean's points of view, we follow them as they travel from their home in search of Eden. Picking up others along they way, whom they deem fit to join their family. Going on raids for suplies, hunting and gathering, trying to keep an ever growing amount of people alive while food is largely unavailable and everyone is out for themselves.

My thoughts: Firstly, this hits a bit too close to home for me. It is not really a stretch of the imagination, to think that this could actually happen. We really do mess with food ALOT, under the guise of making things better, but are we really? Im not a scientist, i dont know the answer to that, but this book certainly makes you think about it. Love it when a book actually makes you think.

Fi starts out in this book at 13 years old, and is 16 by the end of it, so the book spans quite a period of time. I found it hard to like Fi. She is an extremely determined, strong willed, gutsy leader and i found that hard to swallow, being she was a 13 year old girl. She leads a large group, which includes many adults, including her mother, and they all just follow her, pretty much without question. Yes, she trained to be a warrior for a few months, and yes, this new world would make a young girl grow up quickly, but i found her "voice" to be of someone alot older than 13. Like maybe someone of 40. If she'd started out at age 18 i think i would have had an easier time accepting her. It is explained many times, why she is the way she is (and there are ALOT of reasons in her past), I just found it a bit hard to buy. But this is really my only complaint in the whole book.

Its a very easy read, the book flows well, without many slow spots.There is the occasional typo, but it wasnt enough to be distracting. Theres plenty of action, and an a little bit of a romance (even an almost love triangle). All the supporting characters are likable, and i would have loved to have seen some more from Asher's point of view when he was still in the city. I think an ebook novella from his point of view would be amazing!(hint hint Rachel!)

Overall, an enjoyable read, and a really promising debut novel from Rachel Fisher. This probably wasnt quite a 4 star read for me, but it definitely deserves more than 3 stars. So i give it 3.75, because i like to be precise :) I'd recommend this to any dystopian YA fan. The sequel is already out, so im looking forward to reading that sometime soon. Thanks Rachel, for asking me to review your book :)

[Marked By Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite things about reading books set in the not so distant future is the idea that something like this may actually happen. The thought is a little unsettling, but I think that it makes a novel a lot more relateable because the readers are imagining how they would react if they were in a situation similar to the characters in the novel. It adds a really interesting perspective, and every action carries a lot more weight because some part of us may believe that what we're reading may not turn out to be as fictitious as we originally thought.

I felt very similarly with Eden's Root, though I don't know if I can accurately compare myself to Fi. For someone as young as she is, she turns out to be a lot tougher than I would have ever been able to be. She leads people five times her age with courage and strength, and takes all of the realities of her new world in stride. Sometimes it was really hard for me to believe that she was only thirteen-years-old when she started training because she always acts so mature throughout the journey.

Though the majority of this book is told in third person limited, leaning towards her perspective, there are two other people that also get to share some of their thoughts: Sean and Asher. Fi doesn't really meet Asher until a little after halfway through the novel, but there are one or two instances before that point when we read things from his perspective. Honestly, I do wish that there were a few more of those passages before they meet up because the jump from the pre-Famine Asher in the beginning to the version of him that Fi meets is very large. He explains some of that story to Fi, but I still feel like my idea of him would have been strengthened if I got to see the progression from his point of view as it happened.

Sean is the one I'm still trying to figure out. I really liked him in the beginning of the novel because of how much he cared for Fi and the rest of his family, but I started getting a little peeved with him later on. I really was rooting for him for most of the novel and mentally begging Fi to just give in and give the poor guy a chance, but once Asher was introduced into the picture, I started to have doubts. Now, that's not my excuse for saying that the best friend should never win because I completely disagree there. I love to root for the best friend, and they are almost always my original preference. The only problem is that whenever a love triangle is introduced, the best friend kind of starts being a bit of a jerk. I don't really understand why, but that seems to be the natural progression in most books like this. The new guys comes in, the best friend starts acting all bratty and snooty, and suddenly instead of me wanting them to get the chance I thought they deserved, I really just want them to shut up.

That being said, Sean did manage to redeem himself as time went on. I'm very proud of how maturely he was eventually able to handle everything, even if he did have to endure a few rough patches in order to get there. The progression of the relationship between Fi and Asher couldn't have been easy for him to watch, and I certainly know that it wasn't easy for me to read. Now, I know that I don't live in the type of world present in Eden's Root, and that people act differently when they are put to the test, but I still feel like they got way too chummy very quickly. If you look at their first meeting to where they were less than a day or two later, you can see that it's a little suspicious. The big surprise at the very end was a little too soon for me, but like I said, it's not like I completely disagree with all of the reasoning behind it. My reaction was more like "eh, I'm not so sure about that" than "HAVE YOU TWO BOTH LOST YOUR MINDS?!."

So aside from Sean's new attitude (which really didn't even last that long anyway), and the much too rapid development of all of the relationships, I really don't have all that much to complain about in this book. I loved the scientific explanations behind the Famine that Fi's father gave her, as well as all of the other glimpses into how the Sickness changed her family. I also really enjoyed how Rachel Fisher looked at the way people can change when they really aren't given another choice if they want to survive, no matter who they started out as.

Taylor


For the original review and more, please visit Marked By Books.

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted at The Cozy Armchair!

When Eden's Root first came to my attention, I was immediately intrigued by the summary. Not only do I love post-apocalyptic novels, but I had never read a book that tackled the idea of humanity having to deal with the severe consequences of genetically engineered food crops gone bad. When I first received the author's email, I had just finished writing a paper for my bio class on the topic of genetically modified foods, so I was definitely excited to read this story.

We follow Fi from the moment she finds out about the coming disaster, so we see her quickly grow from a naive girl into a strong warrior. It was hard to believe that she began her journey at 13, but she is an admirable character, so I was willing to accept the profound changes she undergoes. She is one kickass leader, and it was great how she matured and persevered despite a million obstacles standing between her family and safety. She is supported by quite the secondary cast. Everyone has their story, and while we only skim the surface when it comes to personality, it was still a good way to weave a heartwarming theme of family throughout the story and emphasize that not everyone loses their humanity post-societal collapse.

Sometimes it was hard to keep track of who was who in their huge family, and everything is a bit too neat in the character department, with people being added to the family that have just the right abilities they need to keep surviving! And I still find myself wishing that we could have delved a bit more into Sean's personality because while we're told that he's Fi's bff and that they're super close, he doesn't show up until we're quite a ways into the plot. Sean was grating, and for a moment the book skirted around a love triangle but thankfully that situation was cleared up quickly. As for Asher, well, I can't deny that he has his appeal. Typically swoony love interest, his inclusion in the novel could have been smoother than a random introduction in one chapter and forgotten until it was time for him to meet Fi. Perhaps a back-and-forth between their two journeys would have been more effective.

In the technical department, the narrative is hampered by "telling" and info dumps, but my biggest issue lies with the stilted dialogue. Contractions are essential to the natural flow of conversation, so it was jarring to have characters saying "I am ready" or "I do not know". It really detracts from the story, characters, everything, and it was a constant, simmering irritation throughout the book. Fixing this would really help the flow of the narrative and improve its overall quality. Otherwise, the writing was straightforward and easy to read.

With a little suspension of disbelief, Eden's Root is a fast-paced post-apocalyptic adventure. Surviving the fallout is always my favorite part of these kinds of books, and it was interesting to see the characters roughing it out in the woods, making their way to safety. The plot felt rushed at some points, while at other times it just seemed like events were being set out in a neat way. However, I still liked the way things played out.

Creatively, Eden's Root has a great concept at its core. It was interesting to see our food being tackled as the cause of the end of the world as we know it. It's true that the long term effects of genetically modified foods on the environment and our bodies have not been documented, so this is perfect for crafting a terrifying vision of the future. In the book, not only are GM food crops self-destructing, long-term ingestion of such foods has caused whole families to become more susceptible to illness. Scientists have literally engineered humanity's downfall.


FINAL VERDICT: Buy/Borrow.
Eden's Root feels unfinished, like the first draft of a great book. It has a lot of potential to be a fantastic look at the effects of genetically modified foods in a post-apocalyptic world, and it could very well reach that potential with some polishing. While I enjoyed reading it, I did so while struggling with my annoyance at technical imperfections (i.e. no contractions in dialogue). How well you deal with the elements I outlined above will determine whether you can enjoy this book and appreciate what it has to offer.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I put Eden's Root on my shelf because I was intrigued, and then Miss Rachel Fisher contacted me and willing to give me a copy in exchange for a review. So, first, I want to say 'Thank you' for Miss Fisher's generosity, for giving me a very good book. Eden's Root may be one of the best dystopian books I ever read. I'm not really a big fan with dystopians, but I like them. Especially because dystopians are usually original. I love books with originalities on them. At first I was skeptical with my own ability to finish it, with more than 850 pages in MOBI. Grrrh. I was like, well, let's finish this slowly, and I did read it with snail's pace.

It's 2033, and Sickness creeps its way to United States' families. Fi Kelly, 14 year old, has lost her brother and her father, and now she must keep her remaining family from dying. She has to take her family to Eden, a sanctuary that may save their lives, but to reach there is not an easy thing to do. But her family isn't the only one she must take to Eden. She can't leave Sean's family, her bestfriend, behind. So she becomes the Leader on her Family. Protecting her family is hard, and she must keep the secrets of Sickness's 'origin'.

Fi's father, Mike, told her about the beginning of the Sickness. Before he gets sick, he worked for NASA's (or the Government of USA) secret project, Diaspora. But then, a good will doesn't always end well. Because of the changes Diaspora does to plants, the plants begin to alter and it is 'so diabolical, so insidious, as Mike says. So, the Sickness is originally a disease that the government creates for themself. Eh, eh, it's scary in some ways, and when I read this part of the book I thought 'what a stupid, stupid bunch of scientists.'

I felt some kind of similarity between Eden's Root and The Host by Stephenie Meyer. Like, a few of remaining humans form a colony (or in this book, Family with capital F) to survive, set up some rules to stay alive. But when The Host's biggest enemy is creatures from another planet, Eden's Root main problem is human's own greed. It reminds me a little with The Hunger Games, especially the parts when Fi shows her love to her baby sister, Kiara. Like Katniss loves Prim, I guess. And Asher, oh yeah. He's good, too. Though I've been interested with both Asher and Sean, but in the end, it's Asher who takes my heart. The twist in their love story just added a bit of flavor, because if there's one thing I dislike about apocalypse, it's that sometimes the love part is just flat. Bleh.

Fi Kelly is a little too young for my liking, actually, to deal with this kind of problem. I mean, in fourteen, she has to keep her family safe. At fourteen, I was a rebel and I'm no more mature than a ten years old kid. But maybe that's what excite me more, that a fourteen years old girl can stand strong in the midst of approaching apocalypse *I kinda like using the word apocalypse*

I think it's human nature, trying to 'Playing God' like USA's goverment does in the book. We want to get the best of the world without even thinking what we should or shouldn't do.

The year, oh my, it's too close T^T In 2033, I would be only 39, and hence, I wouldn't have any chance to live in the USA. I think Ms. Fisher should set up in 2080's or so. Say, like Psy-Changelings, which
sets in 2070. I think it's a bit better. The closeness of the year 2033 is kinda creepy for me, and it makes me think that if the Sickness does really exist, and it affects USA and Europe the way the book describes, it will affect Asia--and then Indonesia--as well *shudder* Oh, and the book does mention Southeast Asia! Hieeeee *crying*
*slap my forehead* get a grip on yourself, Nina. Well, there are many apocalyptic issues concerning with space, sun, the weather, but by your very own food? It's original. People should be aware that apocalypse can be caused by anything.

Even though Eden's Root is a dystopian, it's not a post-apocalypstic and it looks way more possible to happen. The characters are tough and strong, the story flows with good pace and it's just nice. Good book to read, a good book for children, and it opens my eyes that maybe, maybe, if human race keeps 'Playing God' like this, we'll be doomed.
Literally.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real Rating: 4.5 Stars!

Set not too far away in the future, EDEN'S ROOT is the story about what happens when science goes too far and the struggle and journey one Family takes to make it to safety.

This story was scary. Very scary. The apocalypse that has taken over the world was caused by food. Yes, food. You all know the case: science has tweaked and enhanced and fixed crops and food to make them seem healthier and to grow faster. Genetic engineering, basically. For some reason, we can't just let foods grow as they may. We have to speed up the process, add genetic mutations to make them "better" and last longer on our shelves. But what happens when this just becomes too much? The world goes into a global famine and more and more people are being diagnosed with cancer than ever before. The world goes into mass chaos over the shortage, millions die, and it's hard to find something healthy to eat. This is exactly the world that Fisher has created in EDEN'S ROOT. Everything that led up to the current situation could very well be happening under our noses right now and we wouldn't even realize it until it was too late.

The whole time while reading this novel, I worried. This extreme realism was terrifying and made me question everything. Fi is the Leader of her Family and has been given the burden by her late father to protect and provide for her Family and take them to a promised Eden, located in Canada. Supposedly there, only True, non altered food is grown and where no one is Sick. For a 15 year old, she is incredibly strong, determined, and has the world resting on her shoulders. I couldn't imagine having the responsibility she has at that age. Her Family is growing every day and times are getting harder and harder. But she's willing to do anything to protect her loved ones. She's such an amazing heroine, I would only wish I could be like her in that type of situation. And even though she's lost so much, she is extremely brave and never lets her sorrows show.

This story was told from 3 different points of views, all in third person. We have Fi, her childhood best friend Sean, and the newcomer Asher. I'm not usually a fan of multiple POVs but I thought Fisher did a magnificent job with the transitions. All three characters are so different, it was great seeing how they perceived certain situations. I loved both Sean and Asher. Sean has been Fi's best friend since they were little and would do anything for her, even if that means loving her when she doesn't feel the same way. Asher is an ex gang member who gladly trades in that life to be a protective Family member. He truly cares for Fi and understands the loss she's experienced. He takes it upon himself to ease that burden from her and make sure she lives her life as normally as possible, aside from always being the fierce Leader she is. All the other characters in the book truly add to the plot. I loved all the members of the Family and thought it was great how they each offered something to the group. They come from different backgrounds, but you would never be able to tell that. Survival and family, it's what it's always about.

My one only major flaw was that it moved slowly at some parts. Some scenes, to me, were dragged out a bit longer than necessary. I also was taken aback in the beginning with Fi calling her mom Maggie sometimes and then just calling her mom during other parts. It made it sort of confusing, especially since I was just learning all the character's names. Other than that, I really have nothing negative to say about this book!

EDEN'S ROOT is a journey of what happens when the world falls apart. Told from multiple POVs, you follow this great cast of characters through the hardships and suffering of surviving post-apocalypse. Despite everything that has been thrown their way, they have this incredible optimism and undeniable love for one another. Edge of your seat thrilling, EDEN'S ROOT is a great addition to this genre! You'll not want to set this one down.

I received an ebook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This review can be found at: The Bookish Daydreamer

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew! This novel is a definite page turner! Fi Kelly is only 13 when she learns about the awful famine that is coming and what will most likely happen when it occurs. Her dying father charges her to save her family, her already sick mother and her little sister. She cannot tell anyone about the coming collapse. Since Fi has to grow up in a matter of months and become an adult, it's a little hard to warm up to her. She's a bit like Katniss from The Hunger Games (I've only read the first one so I only refer to her in that one). She's tough, makes the adult decisions despite adults being in the group and isn't afraid to kill if she has to for protection. She goes on food raids by herself in the middle of the night when she might face armed killers, crazy people starving to death or later in the story people called Others, desperate for food and to protect their remaining resources no matter the cost.

What has caused this famine, world wide, killing millions of people. A combination of things, stuff we hear in the news daily. Pesticides, genetically altered food, fertilizers, unnatural foods filled with artificial everything. It's what becomes known as "Sickfood" named by Fi. "Truefood" is the wild game, fish and nuts and berries they can gather from the forest. "Sickfood" is the cause of cancer, lupus, anything else that people are dying of, which is now just called the "Sickness". Food will not grow in the ground anymore because there is something in the seed that kills the plant before it reaches maturity.

Fi at 14 is The Leader of her Family that includes her sick mother, Maggie, her 4 yr old sister Kiara, The Stillmans, mother Lucy, father John, brother and best friend Sean, and sisters, Rachel, who is also sick and Zoe who is around two. Along the way they pick up others to add to the family. Where are they going? Eden, a place supposedly built to weather this calamity and where the Kelly's were going before her dad got sick. He was kicked out because the policy is no "Sickness" allowed. Cold hearted.

The storyline is one of the best apocalyptic stories I've read. I read a very, very early version of the story and I'm sure that some of my issues with the story have been fixed so I won't mention them. I've been in touch with Rachel and she assured me it's been through several edits since then. My biggest issue is that I love a character driven novel and I couldn't connect with this child that was an adult in her world. But, this is definitely a plot driven novel and like I said, the plot is incredible. Nothing is overdone, which I think for this type of epic journey novel is hard to do. The raids were mentioned, but only a few were gone into detail and only because something really interesting happened. The journey wasn't so detailed that you were bored with days and days of walking and scenery. Only certain days were detailed. And I honestly didn't expect to cry when the inevitable happened, yet I found myself sobbing. Fisher does a great job of bringing some of the characters to life while others feel a little stilted.

Again, I read an ARC, and an early one at that. I am looking forward to reading the second in this series.
I think the horror of this novel was the reality that this could happen. If nothing else will make you go organic, this novel will! Might even make you plant your own vegetable garden! I highly recommend this novel.

There are some violent scenes in the novel, some sexual in nature, strong language and some pretty tough situations. As always choose your books based on your maturity level.

Thanks to Rachel Fisher for this copy of Eden's Root that has been sitting here since January! I'm glad I finally read it! It was such a pleasure to read and I'm looking forward to the next in the series, Seeds of War.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fi Kelly is a normal 13-year-old girl, thinking about and doing things that you would expect any 13-year old to do, that is until her father becomes ill with cancer and her world turns upside down. Fi's father confesses a secret to her that relates to his work, Fi and her family's future, and the future of the world, the consequences of which are coming, quicker than anyone imagined. Unbeknownst to Fi, her mother is sick also, and her father tells her it is up to her to prepare and save the family. Little did Fi know, but her father could see that strength in her that she would later come to find in herself, and then use to protect her family. With her father's help, she prepares herself for what lies ahead, physically, mentally, and emotionally. When disaster strikes, at 14 years old, Fi becomes the leader of her family, a family that started out as three, and kept on growing. With the help of her best friend Sean, they embark on a journey in a world that has been ravaged by the negligence of its own inhabitants, facing famine, danger unimaginable, the elements, and the sickness. Fi rises up and becomes a great leader, guiding her family across country in search of their Eden. In the process she faces things and does things that she never thought possible, and she and the family that have come together form a bond like no other. She even manages to find love.


I am a huge dystopian fan, so I was intrigued by this book as soon as I read the synopsis. In this apocalyptic, science fiction novel, the world's food supply has been threatened, and they come to find out that the sicknesses many people have been plagued with have been caused by genetically altered food. This books is really kind of scary, because I can really see something like this happening. The plot and the story line are very imaginative, yet very realistic. Despite her age, Fi rose up and did what had to be done to take care of her family in their fight for survival. I loved watching her grow and mature, and evolve in to one kick-butt heroine. The saying dynamite comes in small packages may seem cliche, but it is absolutely true in the case of Fi Kelly. I know to some it may seem unrealistic to have a 14-year-old taking on the "weight of the world," but Fi Kelly is definitely not your typical 14 year old, and in the world they live in, you've seen more and experienced more at that age than most people do in a lifetime. There is a wide array of characters in the story as this group of people meld together into one family. Some have known each other for years, and others have just recently met, but the bond between them was unbreakable. I loved Fi's mother Maggie. I also loved the relationship that Sean and Fi had. She loved him dearly, he was her best friend, and like a brother to her, and though he felt something different for her, their friendship meant too much to let that get in the way. I really loved Asher, not only was he super hot, he was was a pretty bad-ass dude himself. I guess that is why he and Fi hit it off so well, they had so much in common. Their family unit consisted of both young and old, and those in between.


Eden's root was a very enjoyable and sometimes intense read. It had action, adventure, heartache, and suspense, with just the right amount of romance in the mix. Rachel Fisher has done an excellent job in creating a dystopian world that centers around realistic issues, and leaves you pondering on the "what if's" that could actually someday take place. If you are a dystopian fan, then Eden's root is one of those books you definitely don't want to miss, and I highly recommend it. I am looking forward to reading Seeds of War, the second book in the Eden's Root Trilogy to see where the story goes.

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally reviewed on A Reader of Fictions.

Eden's Root is unique amongst my Dystopian August reviews, in that it is the only indie title included in the bunch. I don't review too many independent titles, because of the possibility of author wrath, the often-terrible editing, and the fact that they're a bit more difficult to acquire (assuming you don't get one for review). When Rachel offered me a review copy of Eden's Root, though, I was happy to oblige, since she approached me very politely and with knowledge of me as a reviewer. Plus, it didn't hurt that I'd seen some positive reviews of her book already.

First, I feel the need to address the editing, which is generally my biggest concern when it comes to indie books. Eden's Root obviously received editing. There were occasional problems, but definitely nothing worse than I've seen in some big six titles. Both the writing and the editing passed muster with me. My only issues in that regard were some bizarre time jumps and the awkwardness of the parents being referred to both by their names and by mother and father in the third person narration.

The post-apocalyptic future of Eden's Root depicts a society stricken by famine. All of the genetic modifications to food and pesticides and chemicals have lead to global crop failure, as well as a significant upswing in diseases. Oddly enough, I've been slowly working through The Windup Girl, which has a very similar premise, although in a very different setting and group of characters. Futures like this are frighteningly possible.

Fisher wrote in the third person, following three perspectives: Fi, Sean and Asher. The bulk of the book follows Fi, though, even up to perhaps 75%. Given advance warning of the impending crisis by her scientist father, Fi throws herself into preparing for what comes. She learns to fight, to shoot and to hunt for food, both of the animal and vegetable variety. Fisher manages to convincingly make Fi sound like young teen she is (13 at the outset and 16 by the end), while also selling her as a very powerful, mature force.

Fi steps up to the plate and leads her family on a trek through the wilderness, heading for Eden, a community that supposedly could save them. She faces tough decisions along the way, especially since there's no telling if the community will let her family in. Despite the knowledge that more people could lower their odds of being accepted to Eden, Fi, a caring, family-oriented person, builds up a sizable group, a true Family. Though she planned not to, she just could not abandon the neighboring family, the Skillmans, such close friends to her family. As they travel, they add more people to the group.

Sean Skillman, Fi's best friend since infancy, has a huge crush on her. Enter romantic difficulties. Fi loves him deeply, but she cannot see him as more than a brother, and feels incredibly uncomfortable when he tries to broach the possibility of more. Further down the road, they meet up with Asher, four years her senior, and a love triangle is born, though not one that should make anyone throw their hands up and walk away in frustration. Fi's honesty and love for her Family keeps the situation from straying into melodrama.

However, the ending was so incredibly cheesy. I just need to mention it, even though I can't say why. I thought maybe that was going to happen and then it did. Otherwise, Eden's Root was a strong, people-focused post-apocalyptic story. I recommend it most to younger readers, as Fisher's story is not as dark as most and much less violent.

[Philippa (Tea in the Treetops) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted at Tea, Daydreams & Fairytales on 19th July 2012.

I’ve read a lot of Dystopians but Eden’s Root has to be one of the hardest I’ve read to date purely because of how very gritty and real this book is. Unlike many Dystopians where you get a vague idea that at some point in the past something went horribly wrong leading to a completely different way of life and governing body, in Eden’s Root you are there from the beginning experiencing with the characters in a breaking and changing world. The main character Fi by the tender age of 14 has already experienced some traumatizing life events including the death of her brother and father to cancers and also the knowledge that her mother is soon to join them. The rise of cancers is attributed to all the modifications science has done over the decades to our food sources leading to the eventual loss of all new planatation in 2033 when Fi must help her family find the Eden complex in order to survive. I have personally seen both my own mother and my father in law sucumb to cancer way before there time and this book hits frightenly close to home.

The actual world building was very well done, you really felt you were there and part of the chaos after the government involved the military and started to ration the food. The only problem I had was that the actual story was just too long and could have done with some editing, especially in the early parts with Fi’s preparation and training. This is a long book and it took me quite a while to get through the first third of the novel and I think this is one of the story’s biggest faults.

The characters are beautifully done. Fi is a great heroine even if she is only 13 at the start of the novel. While at first I found it a bit hard to believe that she was incharge of her “family” including the adults after awhile I really did accept it, at the end of the day some people really are born leaders and Fi is one of these. Now she really grows in this story partly because of her training and partly because of the changing world around her forcing her to tackle some real moral issues. While I could imagine that some people would be irritated with her thoughts and reactions to events I thought that they rang quite true because at the end of the day regardless of how the world changes having to be involved in death, rape, pillage and all those other awful chaos activities would not be easy.

Sean irritated me a little bit, he was a bit too passive agressive for my tastes but I really liked the character of Asher. Some reviews I’ve read has put both these guys in a love triangle with Fi but I never really saw any romantic connection between her and Sean. But then Asher carries a sword around and is totally awesome so perhaps I was a little judgemental :) The family itself was nicely done if a little bit too lucky when it came to adding new members that just magically had skills the group could use. I also wonder if it was realistic how well their rules and meetings would actually work in this situation – I think I would find it very hard to always take direction from a teenager personally and I’m not entirely sure if there wouldn’t be more tension in reality.

Overall even though it took me awhile to get into this story I really loved it and I think that anyone who enjoys Dystopians/Post Apocalyptic stories should add this to their to-read list – it’s a fascinating read!

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on the blog: What the Cat Read

This was an interesting take on the post-apocalyptic/dystopian themes that are becoming popular in YA of late. While there were elements to the story that I enjoyed, I have to admit that this book left me rather disappointed when all is said and done.

Let me first talk a bit about the strengths this novel has.

First off, Fisher does a wonderful job creating a set of rich, complex characters. When we first meet Fi she is only 14 years old, but she doesn’t act like your typical young teen. In fact there were times where I found myself thinking of her as being much older than she was, much much older to be honest. I loved how Fisher would periodically remind the reader of Fi’s age based on the reactions of those she meets throughout the story. She’s a strong, determined, ready to do what must be done type of character. The only draw back is, she’s a bit too good to be true. It might be just me, but I don’t know that many 14 year old’s who would so easily take on the responsibilities that Fi takes. Still, she does kick some serious butt throughout the book! Sean’s got a boy next door type vibe going for him. To be honest, he sort of reminded me of Peeta from Hunger Games regarding his personality. He’s loyal and there’s no question he would do what ever was necessary to protect Fi and the Family, but he’s not exactly a fighter. I liked that Fisher didn’t force them into a romance together and instead kept them as friends.

Another strength the book had going for it was the famine and the Sickfood verses Truefood discussion. Though it was not the main focus of the entire book, I found it to be an intriguing plot idea. In a time when so many of the foods we eat are chemically manipulated or enhanced, it sort of makes you wonder whether such an event as depicted in this story could occur. I don’t know about the rest of you all, but this feline is definitely going to be taking a closer look at the kibble she eats in the future. Murr!

So, what was it about the book that left me disappointed? Well, it was slow and there was just too much unnecessary information. Yes, there were action scenes, but the scenes leading up to them dragged. Honestly, I think a lot of the initial scenes, Fi’s training and preparation for the disaster to come and the long trek to find Eden with the Family, could have been more effective if they were summarized rather than given many chapters worth of attention. I couldn’t help but feel bombarded by needless details.

I also found the shifting between Fi, Sean, and Asher’s points of view to be distracting. Yes, it was nice to get a different perspective on events at times, but I think it would have been more effective to have just the story told from Fi’s perspective. I mention this because at one point early on you get introduced to Asher, and then he just disappears for half the story! This was rather disappointing for me because I actually found his views of events to be a lot more interesting mostly because he was looking at events through a journalist’s eyes.

At any rate, while Eden’s Root didn’t grab me as much as I hoped it would, I still think it has a lot of potential. And I will admit that I am curious to see what Fisher has planned for the next two books in the trilogy.

And speaking of the trilogy, Fisher has recently released the second book of the series, Seeds of War. You can find it by visiting Amazon and Smashwords. Also, there is an Eden’s Root Backstory which you can find by visiting Fisher’s Blog.

[Chapter by Chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seriously had no idea what I more could expect from author Rachel Fisher’s novel Eden’s Root, after reading the synopsis on Goodreads, I was seriously pumped. The novel sounded just like my cup of tea and post- apocalyptic stories are always bound to be amazing, so I’m sure you’re wondering is something along the lines of: So was the story as good as you were hoping. Well… obviously yes! Or else I wouldn’t have started the review that way! Eden’s Root is a novel that I personally had high hopes for and it is a science fiction novel that you most definitely can’t predict yourself.

Famine is the one thing that has caused our world to destroy itself thirty years from now, the time that Eden’s Root is set in. Main character, Fi Kelly is given her father’s dying wish to protect her family by learning to protect them herself and by finding them a way to get them to Eden before it’s too late. Embarking on this journey with her new skills in hand and her group that is known as the Family, Fi heads off to find Eden and meets the challenges that come with this new world which consist of starvation, death, and Sickness.

If there’s one thing that caught my eye with this story is the main character. Fi Kelly is a strong female character who I personally felt a strong connection with. She reminds me a lot of Katniss Everdeen in the sense that she is willing to do anything and everything to keep her Family safe. Not to mention that just before she turns fourteen, Fi begins to train in martial arts and becomes a total butt kicking machine. She sounds a lot like me, in that sense *grin*. I loved Fi. I loved how Fi was so willing to kill anybody who could potentially harm her Family and of course, she wasn’t a character with a heart of stone even though she has a warrior spirit.

Fi still felt sorrow and other emotions such as… love *winky face*. The only thing about Fi that I found unrealistic was that, when she escaped from her hometown with the Family, she was described to have these really visible, really defined Catwoman muscles which… considering that she was a fourteen year old girl was really unrealistic since I train and work out just as much as Fi does in the novel… and I don’t look like Catwoman. Just saying. I envied Fi for that.

The world that Rachel Fisher introduced me to was one that I found myself falling in love with because it actually held a realistic reason for the world to end. It wasn’t zombies or giant bunnies destroying the Earth (the bunny thing will happen, mark my words), it was our own ignorance and need to be superior that caused our downfall in Eden’s Root. The food shortages were described as leaving people desperate, and I loved that Fisher actually described other characters who weren’t in the Family as being in a desperate state where they would create gangs and kill other gangs and groups for food.

But don’t worry, there was no cannibalism in the novel.

The romance portion of the novel is something that I personally described as young love when it came to Sean’s feelings towards Fi. But when it came to Fi and Asher, I have to admit that despite the age difference between the two, I was totally falling for Asher. He was so romantic, brooding and at the same time able to kick some major behind.

All in all, a story that I loved with a main character who is ruthless. I loved it! I would recommend Eden’s Root to fans of Post-apocalyptic novels, science fiction and readers who want a story with a strong female character who can kick some butt and then some.