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Enclave
It's been 50 years since the Great Crash and what was once America is now a collection of enclaves, governed on the local level and only loosely tied together by the farce of a federal government. Catawba, one of the largest and most affluent enclaves in the southern states, is relatively stable and maintains a successful business of trade with nearby enclaves, including the one at Charlotte Township. But when a new vein of gold is found beneath the feet of those in Catawba, it's only a matter of time before trouble finds them.Now the future of Catawba may be in the hands of an untried 21-year-old trader named Caleb. And Caleb knows that if his secret were ever to come out, he would never see another dawn.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2018
66 people are currently reading
1743 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Locke
29 books305 followersThomas Locke is an award-winning novelist with total worldwide sales of seven million copies.
His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction and his 2014 induction into the Christy Hall of Fame.
Thomas divides his time between Florida and England, where he serves as Writer In Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University. He holds a lifelong passion for epic fantasy, science fiction and techno-thriller stories.
Thomas's screenplay adaption of EMISSARY is under development as a feature film with a British production company.
Contact Thomas at info@tlocke.com
His work has been published in twenty languages, and critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction and his 2014 induction into the Christy Hall of Fame.
Thomas divides his time between Florida and England, where he serves as Writer In Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University. He holds a lifelong passion for epic fantasy, science fiction and techno-thriller stories.
Thomas's screenplay adaption of EMISSARY is under development as a feature film with a British production company.
Contact Thomas at info@tlocke.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
December 11, 2018
I wasn’t sure at first on whether to request this book or not, but I’m glad I did! The story was interesting and how can you say no to a book with a cover like this one?
Enclave follows two characters : Kevin and Caleb. Kevin risk his life to help others but when he gets caught he gets an assignment. Bring people with unique gifts like Caleb to the government or he and his mother will be hanged. Kevin refuses right away which I get but I think the story line could have been much more suspenseful if he had gone along with the government at first. He and Caleb also crossed paths right away which I wasn’t a big fan of. Again, I would have liked to seen a little more suspense.
Overall, this was a good book and it has an action packed beginning that’ll pull you right in. I’d definitely recommend giving it a try!
“I received a free copy of this book from Revell in exchange of my honest review. All thoughts are my own.”
Enclave follows two characters : Kevin and Caleb. Kevin risk his life to help others but when he gets caught he gets an assignment. Bring people with unique gifts like Caleb to the government or he and his mother will be hanged. Kevin refuses right away which I get but I think the story line could have been much more suspenseful if he had gone along with the government at first. He and Caleb also crossed paths right away which I wasn’t a big fan of. Again, I would have liked to seen a little more suspense.
Overall, this was a good book and it has an action packed beginning that’ll pull you right in. I’d definitely recommend giving it a try!
“I received a free copy of this book from Revell in exchange of my honest review. All thoughts are my own.”
June 20, 2020
I'm so glad I just happened to stumble upon this sci-fi dystopian novel. It's a short standalone but it's well worth the time. Even though there are X-Men-esque elements to this dystopian/ western vision of the future it still feels quite realistic.
November 30, 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of its merits.
I must admit up front that I am a fan of Thomas Locke, so I had high expectations coming in. His writing under various names, has engaged me for years.
So, when I began this book, I assumed I would be getting a dystopian thriller with a few stylistic flairs for which the author was known. This was my first mistake and why it took me a while to get into the book.
Once I realized this author, whose expansive career has covered multiple genres for teens and adults, was doing something different, then I was able to dive into the tale. I read a great deal of dystopian literature and much of it is sci-fi based with characters in peril because of something bad that has happened.
Sure, Enclave has this but, Locke, in his skill, has given us just enough of that to meet the standards of the genre. Instead of churning out another title just like the last one put out a few years ago, he has melded his ability to craft a quest story to this genre and given us something altogether new. Call it "future fantasy" if you will, but Locke's genius is to apply what he already does very well, the Hero's Journey", and give it to us in a new format.
In Enclave, it become clear that Thomas Locke truly is a Jack of all Trades.
I must admit up front that I am a fan of Thomas Locke, so I had high expectations coming in. His writing under various names, has engaged me for years.
So, when I began this book, I assumed I would be getting a dystopian thriller with a few stylistic flairs for which the author was known. This was my first mistake and why it took me a while to get into the book.
Once I realized this author, whose expansive career has covered multiple genres for teens and adults, was doing something different, then I was able to dive into the tale. I read a great deal of dystopian literature and much of it is sci-fi based with characters in peril because of something bad that has happened.
Sure, Enclave has this but, Locke, in his skill, has given us just enough of that to meet the standards of the genre. Instead of churning out another title just like the last one put out a few years ago, he has melded his ability to craft a quest story to this genre and given us something altogether new. Call it "future fantasy" if you will, but Locke's genius is to apply what he already does very well, the Hero's Journey", and give it to us in a new format.
In Enclave, it become clear that Thomas Locke truly is a Jack of all Trades.
Read
March 16, 2019Wow! Gotta chew on this for a bit...
RTC
RTC
October 28, 2019
This story has a fascinating premise. It’s a hundred years after the ‘Great Crash’ and America is now thrown back into what I’d almost describe as “Civil War’ times. The country is now broken down into ‘enclaves’ as the peoples in this dystopian world seek to rebuild their nation without the luxuries of power, gasoline and the like.
Caleb is a young trader from Catawba which is one of the more affluent enclaves in the south as a result of various mineral deposits. They’ve recently discovered gold and he heads off to find a suitable buyer who he can trust with their ‘find’ so that Catawba doesn’t befall the craze of another ‘gold rush’ where they are overrun by zealous marauders.
This all seems very logical a story premise but things move on from this as he meets another gentleman, an ex-deputy Sherriff, Kevin, who volunteers to assist Caleb. But it soon becomes apparent that Caleb has something far more interesting than gold in his possession as does his colleague, Forrest. They are ‘specials’, think X-men, with these unique powers that enable them to do things that other humans are unable to. Forrest, for example, has this wonderful power of being able to sense people coming from a long distance away by simply listening to the wind. This comes in handy when the Government sends out bounty hunters to round up all the ‘specials’ and house them in concentration camp-style clusters.
As is common in these dystopian stories, this soon develops into a quest. Caleb and Kevin seek out other “adepts” as these ‘specials’ are officially known as. One in particular, Maddie, is Caleb’s girlfriend and they are able to telepathically hear each other thousands of miles apart. Maddie is in danger and Caleb, her white knight, goes after her.
The story gets bogged down as it moves from being a story of a young trader selling his wares to a quest to save the ‘adepts’ from the government hunters. Frankly, there was probably a third of the book I glazed over as not a lot really happened. But, the last forty or so pages are great. It was just like reading an X-men story, we meet different adepts, each with their own powers, who unite their powers to tackle the government hunters. There’s even a boy who has “Storm-like’ powers and Pablo, wow, just fabulous.
By all accounts this is a standalone novel, but it’s every easy to see this as the first in a series of ‘Adept’ adventures.
Even though only 269 pages, it probably could have only say, 200 and the whole ‘trading’ sub-plot just removed. It would have made it tighter and given it a fast pace that kept the reader on the edge of their seats.
Caleb is a young trader from Catawba which is one of the more affluent enclaves in the south as a result of various mineral deposits. They’ve recently discovered gold and he heads off to find a suitable buyer who he can trust with their ‘find’ so that Catawba doesn’t befall the craze of another ‘gold rush’ where they are overrun by zealous marauders.
This all seems very logical a story premise but things move on from this as he meets another gentleman, an ex-deputy Sherriff, Kevin, who volunteers to assist Caleb. But it soon becomes apparent that Caleb has something far more interesting than gold in his possession as does his colleague, Forrest. They are ‘specials’, think X-men, with these unique powers that enable them to do things that other humans are unable to. Forrest, for example, has this wonderful power of being able to sense people coming from a long distance away by simply listening to the wind. This comes in handy when the Government sends out bounty hunters to round up all the ‘specials’ and house them in concentration camp-style clusters.
As is common in these dystopian stories, this soon develops into a quest. Caleb and Kevin seek out other “adepts” as these ‘specials’ are officially known as. One in particular, Maddie, is Caleb’s girlfriend and they are able to telepathically hear each other thousands of miles apart. Maddie is in danger and Caleb, her white knight, goes after her.
The story gets bogged down as it moves from being a story of a young trader selling his wares to a quest to save the ‘adepts’ from the government hunters. Frankly, there was probably a third of the book I glazed over as not a lot really happened. But, the last forty or so pages are great. It was just like reading an X-men story, we meet different adepts, each with their own powers, who unite their powers to tackle the government hunters. There’s even a boy who has “Storm-like’ powers and Pablo, wow, just fabulous.
By all accounts this is a standalone novel, but it’s every easy to see this as the first in a series of ‘Adept’ adventures.
Even though only 269 pages, it probably could have only say, 200 and the whole ‘trading’ sub-plot just removed. It would have made it tighter and given it a fast pace that kept the reader on the edge of their seats.
January 7, 2019
Infused with action-packed scenes, fascinating characters, and a science fiction scenario that seems like it could burst into reality, "Enclave" is an intensely addictive novel from Thomas Locke. Fortunately, I knew what I was getting myself in for when I picked up this novel, so I'd already set aside the hours I'd need to read this one from start to finish, time that flew by all too quickly as I was drawn into the world of enclaves and refugees and people with inexplicable special powers. The heroes and the villains quickly emerged, but I enjoyed how Locke keeps readers guessing in this novel, not revealing everything right away. Some readers may be bothered by the fact that the history of what brought the characters to where they are isn't told all at once in the beginning. But you will quickly realize that the characters themselves don't have a great sense of what has occurred in the past, and really you are learning along with them. I, for one, loved how this story unfolded as it gave the novel a continuous sense of excitement as the full picture gradually emerged. The pace of the overall novel flies by with suspense and drama aplenty. And as the characters learned about their powers and how to work together, I found I just couldn't get enough of this story. In fact, as I came to the final pages, I was definitely left wanting more. While "Enclave" does conclude the original story arc, there is so much left unsaid and so much left to explore that I'm truly hoping that Locke will be returning readers to these characters in the future. I can find no hint from the actual novel of whether there is more to come, but we can only be so lucky!
Those readers who've already become fond of Thomas Locke's mind-bending novels will no doubt enjoy this latest novel as much as I did. And, if you haven't yet given Locke's novels a try, well, what are you waiting for? Get your hands on "Enclave" and enjoy the ride! I award this novel 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Those readers who've already become fond of Thomas Locke's mind-bending novels will no doubt enjoy this latest novel as much as I did. And, if you haven't yet given Locke's novels a try, well, what are you waiting for? Get your hands on "Enclave" and enjoy the ride! I award this novel 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
November 19, 2018
In the book Enclave, author Thomas Locke writes about life 50 years after the Great Crash. America is now controlled by different regional factions. Caleb and Kevin become leaders of a group of refugees known as Adepts who have special abilities. While I like Thomas Locke this book was a bit confusing at times. And the book just ended with the start of a battle.
However, I do look forward to the continuing adventures. I would recommend this book! I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
However, I do look forward to the continuing adventures. I would recommend this book! I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2018
Enclave is not from my most go to genre. I did have a hard time in the beginning trying to understand what was going on. After about a quarter of the way through, I caught on and started enjoying what I was reading. In the end, I found it refreshing to read something new, different and unique.
I give Enclave three and a half stars. It is definitely worth the read. I will be looking for more by Thomas Locke in the future.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I give Enclave three and a half stars. It is definitely worth the read. I will be looking for more by Thomas Locke in the future.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
November 20, 2018
I really struggled in reading this book. I kept reading small pieces and trying to make all the story lines coincide, but it was a lot of work and slow. I really wanted to love this book. The synopsis sounded amazing, but in the end it was a lot of work, a lot of confusion and very little fun in reading it.
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
November 26, 2018
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” This quote by William Shakespeare comes to mind as I finish Enclave by Thomas Locke(Davis Bunn). Indeed, Kevin and Caleb, two of the major players of this dystopian scenario, are just going about their daily business as we first meet them. Kevin is a deputy by day and “underground railroad” leader at night. Caleb is the untried son of a successful enclave leader, whose group needs to keep their discovery of gold a secret. The two young men are eventually joined together as they try to protect “specials” from the various officials that want this dangerous group destroyed. There is a bit of violence in a novel of this nature, which causes me to recommend it for older audiences. Once I understood the direction of the story, the tension built incrementally until I felt like I was clutching the bottom of my seat as I raced for the ending. I did feel like I was in an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie. What a movie that would be! The end itself is nebulous enough to allow for a sequel.
I liked the fact that each person in the group has to figure out his gift and use it for the team to work. This reminds us of the body of Christ. While some gifts seemed more impressive or had more wow-power than others, none could be ignored for the group to accomplish its objective. And what an objective that is! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I am not obligated to leave a positive review, and all opinions are my own responsibility.
I liked the fact that each person in the group has to figure out his gift and use it for the team to work. This reminds us of the body of Christ. While some gifts seemed more impressive or had more wow-power than others, none could be ignored for the group to accomplish its objective. And what an objective that is! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I am not obligated to leave a positive review, and all opinions are my own responsibility.
November 4, 2018
Though Thomas Locke is a favorite author of mine, I wasn't sure I would enjoy a more dystopian setting even if he were writing it. I am happy to say that ENCLAVE exceeded my hopes for an entertaining novel.
Co-leads Caleb and Kevin have different backgrounds but are able to work together to help refugees known as Adepts escape capture and imprisonment. With the help of Caleb's friend Zeke and others, the first part of a larger mission is complete.
I entered Locke's post-Great Crash easily and found myself carried away by the story and the characters. There is obviously more to come, based on the ending, and I eagerly await the next chapter in the saga.
Highly recommended!
I received a copy of the book from Revell through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Co-leads Caleb and Kevin have different backgrounds but are able to work together to help refugees known as Adepts escape capture and imprisonment. With the help of Caleb's friend Zeke and others, the first part of a larger mission is complete.
I entered Locke's post-Great Crash easily and found myself carried away by the story and the characters. There is obviously more to come, based on the ending, and I eagerly await the next chapter in the saga.
Highly recommended!
I received a copy of the book from Revell through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
November 6, 2018
With all the lawlessness of a Wild West tale, this intense story is a stark look at a future where hope is rare and fear is rampant.
(complete review posted on Hope by the Book: https://www.hopebythebook.com/blog1/2...)
(complete review posted on Hope by the Book: https://www.hopebythebook.com/blog1/2...)
October 23, 2018
Enclave is an enjoyable science fiction story. Author Thomas Locke keeps characters at the heart of the story, even while exploring superhuman possibilities and strange new places.
December 18, 2018
Enclave was...
It was like The Last Ship meets X-Men while being tinged with the Wild West!
That sounds awesome, right? Well, it was awesome! Dystopian and post-apocalyptic story lovers, Enclave needs to be added to your TBR immediately!
The story is told from the point of view of Caleb and Kevin, two very different men thrown together by hate and power-grabs from the mongrels welding their unlawful position against everyone, especially those with special secrets.
Sorry, no spoilers. Hehe!
I would have loved a little more backstory, specifically details about the Great Crash because I like to have ALL the details. However, it wasn't hard for me to imagine the country turning into the lawless wasteland described in Enclave. I especially loved the message the story spoke to me, about fighting for each other, standing by one other, and about welcoming all. Enclave showed a true democracy founded on equality rising out of muck of the evil. Truly inspiring, like a futuristic revolutionary war!
Four Stars ~ Enclave by Thomas Locke was exactly the type of thrilling story that I'd like to read a lot more! I am unaware if this is a series or not. The ending wrapped up the important details like a standalone story, but it also left some room for a sequel. So...we will see! LOL!
Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.
It was like The Last Ship meets X-Men while being tinged with the Wild West!
That sounds awesome, right? Well, it was awesome! Dystopian and post-apocalyptic story lovers, Enclave needs to be added to your TBR immediately!
The story is told from the point of view of Caleb and Kevin, two very different men thrown together by hate and power-grabs from the mongrels welding their unlawful position against everyone, especially those with special secrets.
Sorry, no spoilers. Hehe!
I would have loved a little more backstory, specifically details about the Great Crash because I like to have ALL the details. However, it wasn't hard for me to imagine the country turning into the lawless wasteland described in Enclave. I especially loved the message the story spoke to me, about fighting for each other, standing by one other, and about welcoming all. Enclave showed a true democracy founded on equality rising out of muck of the evil. Truly inspiring, like a futuristic revolutionary war!
Four Stars ~ Enclave by Thomas Locke was exactly the type of thrilling story that I'd like to read a lot more! I am unaware if this is a series or not. The ending wrapped up the important details like a standalone story, but it also left some room for a sequel. So...we will see! LOL!
Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 15, 2020
This story is so horrible I don't know if I should even waste my time writing about all the ways it fails.
-the main characters, all heroes, are all men (likely caucasian, because there are references to others as African-American, Hispanic, Latino)
-yes, there are a few female characters but they feel like tokens
-all the "good people" are generally attractive, speak proper English, and are "liked" by the other characters (I'm not sure why it is so important, but incidental characters who are helpful and on the side of the good guys are "liked" by the main characters -- seriously, the author uses the word like, as in "Kevin liked this guy". Terrible writing)
-all the "bad guys" (and they're generally all male except for a few token females) are ugly, badly dressed, and/or speak uneducated English as though they were raised in a rural, non-schooled environment. Oh I wish the world was so neatly divided and it was so simple to distinguish the good people from the bad people.
-speaking of neat divisions, while this book would officially fit in a "dystopia" category, as it takes place 300 years in the future, it is more of a utopia. If your perfect world is Wild West meets the Incredibles/X-men. The guns are all rifles and pistols, they use horse & buggy (eventually trucks that never run out of fuel or breakdown), the heroes have literally struck gold, and when they get to their destination (Atlanta...a reference to the city of Atlantis or just Southern pride, I can't tell) it is like they enter the Emerald City of Oz because suddenly there are all of our modern conveniences. --Which is leads to my next critique, for a civilization 300 years in the future NOTHING HAS CHANGED. There is no new technology, they use the one remaining satellite for a GPS phone, but otherwise it is today's stuff or 150 years ago tech. Yes, there is some unexplained "Great Crash" but 300 years gives them a lot of time to re-invent or invent new stuff. No imagination for what this world would look like other than what currently exists (even in the Emerald City/Atlanta. And the racial divisions that exist today still exist in this story. I'm hoping 300 years of procreation blends the population to greatly diminish these lines or at least change the terminology. But not in this world.
-the premise of the book is to rescue a main character's love. Groan. The men actually say they feel like warriors, and the girl just knew he'd find her. All the male characters want to get married and have a family and it's so Little House on the Prairie in terms of family values. (Yes, I know this is a Christian publisher but it's very conservative right). The treatment and attitude towards women is enough to make this book terrible. it's not overt, but it is blatant when you open your eyes.
-the super powers of the "extras" (my term for the characters who have genetic modifications; they are called specials or mentats in the book, but they get no personalities and many would barely get a credit line beyond "Special #1" if this was a movie), anyways, the superpowers are pulled out so perfectly at the end and so neatly conquer the enemy that it isn't interesting. "it would be helpful to scramble the brains of the guards so they just let us in" "oh, we have someone who can do that" etc. They talk about needing a leader (our heroes) but these people have such great powers, why are they treated like minions who have no brains of their own and couldn't organize themselves without some man who feels specially called to lead them?
That's enough. I think this book goes straight to the blue bin.
I got it through LibraryThing early reviewers...a few years ago. It took a pandemic for me to actually read it. That in itself is telling.
-the main characters, all heroes, are all men (likely caucasian, because there are references to others as African-American, Hispanic, Latino)
-yes, there are a few female characters but they feel like tokens
-all the "good people" are generally attractive, speak proper English, and are "liked" by the other characters (I'm not sure why it is so important, but incidental characters who are helpful and on the side of the good guys are "liked" by the main characters -- seriously, the author uses the word like, as in "Kevin liked this guy". Terrible writing)
-all the "bad guys" (and they're generally all male except for a few token females) are ugly, badly dressed, and/or speak uneducated English as though they were raised in a rural, non-schooled environment. Oh I wish the world was so neatly divided and it was so simple to distinguish the good people from the bad people.
-speaking of neat divisions, while this book would officially fit in a "dystopia" category, as it takes place 300 years in the future, it is more of a utopia. If your perfect world is Wild West meets the Incredibles/X-men. The guns are all rifles and pistols, they use horse & buggy (eventually trucks that never run out of fuel or breakdown), the heroes have literally struck gold, and when they get to their destination (Atlanta...a reference to the city of Atlantis or just Southern pride, I can't tell) it is like they enter the Emerald City of Oz because suddenly there are all of our modern conveniences. --Which is leads to my next critique, for a civilization 300 years in the future NOTHING HAS CHANGED. There is no new technology, they use the one remaining satellite for a GPS phone, but otherwise it is today's stuff or 150 years ago tech. Yes, there is some unexplained "Great Crash" but 300 years gives them a lot of time to re-invent or invent new stuff. No imagination for what this world would look like other than what currently exists (even in the Emerald City/Atlanta. And the racial divisions that exist today still exist in this story. I'm hoping 300 years of procreation blends the population to greatly diminish these lines or at least change the terminology. But not in this world.
-the premise of the book is to rescue a main character's love. Groan. The men actually say they feel like warriors, and the girl just knew he'd find her. All the male characters want to get married and have a family and it's so Little House on the Prairie in terms of family values. (Yes, I know this is a Christian publisher but it's very conservative right). The treatment and attitude towards women is enough to make this book terrible. it's not overt, but it is blatant when you open your eyes.
-the super powers of the "extras" (my term for the characters who have genetic modifications; they are called specials or mentats in the book, but they get no personalities and many would barely get a credit line beyond "Special #1" if this was a movie), anyways, the superpowers are pulled out so perfectly at the end and so neatly conquer the enemy that it isn't interesting. "it would be helpful to scramble the brains of the guards so they just let us in" "oh, we have someone who can do that" etc. They talk about needing a leader (our heroes) but these people have such great powers, why are they treated like minions who have no brains of their own and couldn't organize themselves without some man who feels specially called to lead them?
That's enough. I think this book goes straight to the blue bin.
I got it through LibraryThing early reviewers...a few years ago. It took a pandemic for me to actually read it. That in itself is telling.
December 7, 2018
So I hate reading books out of order, like a LOT. Consequently, my favorite thing about Goodreads is that it (usually) tells me when a book is part of a series. According to Goodreads, Enclave is NOT such a book. The problem is – it felt like a book that was part of a series.
There’s a lot going for this book. The premise is great. Set around a century after the “Great Crash,” America looks nothing like it does today. Instead, a lack of electricity and gasoline means that people have gone back to doing things the old-fashioned way. And instead of a central government over a bunch of states, there are lots of city-states known as enclaves. Each enclave has its own rules and its own hierarchy. And much like the wild west, in this America, the strongest rule.
So great premise, right? The problem is, I got most of that from the synopsis of the book, not from the book itself. While I sometimes enjoy the world-building method that doesn’t specifically explain things, but instead allows the reader to observe how things work, unfortunately Locke doesn’t particularly do either. There aren’t any explanations at all, and there isn’t always anything clear to observe. For instance, everyone is riding horses. Then, later, some of the characters ride a Greyhound bus (albeit an old, decrepit one). So… there is some gas? Where is it? Why doesn’t everyone have access to it any more? Is it just really expensive? Do we just not have contact with any Middle Eastern countries any more? If it’s so expensive, how can people afford to ride a bus?
It also seems crazy to me that people seem to know how to do stuff again, like make their own clothes/shoes, forage in the woods, make whisky, whatever. I don’t really know a lot of people who can do those things, and I live in a pretty rural area. It seems like if there really was a “Great Crash” (which is also never explained – was it a financial crash? Another dust bowl? All the power grids collapsed? A nuclear bomb? ??????), there would also end up being a significant amount of death, because I’m not really sure how people would survive if suddenly no one had access to a supermarket. I realize this book is set a hundred years after said Crash, but it honestly still seems like the population would be struggling to catch back up.
I really liked the characters, and I liked the direction Locke went with the story, but I was constantly distracted by questions that were never answered, which really detracted from the enjoyment of this read. It really felt like this was the second or third book in a series. Even the way the characters were introduced felt like I should already kinda sorta know about them.
Still, I was set to give this book a solid 3.5* until the end. The end just… stops. Nothing is resolved. I mean literally nothing. It’s like Locke had a limit on how many pages he could have in his book, and he just wrote until he got there and then just stopped. I presuming – hoping?! – that this is the first book in a series. If so, I would rate this book slightly higher. But if this is genuinely a standalone book, it really lacks credible world-building and any conclusions to the plot lines followed.
I really did enjoy this book while I was reading it, and would definitely read another book in a series. But as a standalone, I wouldn’t come back to this one.
NB: This book was provided to me free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
There’s a lot going for this book. The premise is great. Set around a century after the “Great Crash,” America looks nothing like it does today. Instead, a lack of electricity and gasoline means that people have gone back to doing things the old-fashioned way. And instead of a central government over a bunch of states, there are lots of city-states known as enclaves. Each enclave has its own rules and its own hierarchy. And much like the wild west, in this America, the strongest rule.
So great premise, right? The problem is, I got most of that from the synopsis of the book, not from the book itself. While I sometimes enjoy the world-building method that doesn’t specifically explain things, but instead allows the reader to observe how things work, unfortunately Locke doesn’t particularly do either. There aren’t any explanations at all, and there isn’t always anything clear to observe. For instance, everyone is riding horses. Then, later, some of the characters ride a Greyhound bus (albeit an old, decrepit one). So… there is some gas? Where is it? Why doesn’t everyone have access to it any more? Is it just really expensive? Do we just not have contact with any Middle Eastern countries any more? If it’s so expensive, how can people afford to ride a bus?
It also seems crazy to me that people seem to know how to do stuff again, like make their own clothes/shoes, forage in the woods, make whisky, whatever. I don’t really know a lot of people who can do those things, and I live in a pretty rural area. It seems like if there really was a “Great Crash” (which is also never explained – was it a financial crash? Another dust bowl? All the power grids collapsed? A nuclear bomb? ??????), there would also end up being a significant amount of death, because I’m not really sure how people would survive if suddenly no one had access to a supermarket. I realize this book is set a hundred years after said Crash, but it honestly still seems like the population would be struggling to catch back up.
I really liked the characters, and I liked the direction Locke went with the story, but I was constantly distracted by questions that were never answered, which really detracted from the enjoyment of this read. It really felt like this was the second or third book in a series. Even the way the characters were introduced felt like I should already kinda sorta know about them.
Still, I was set to give this book a solid 3.5* until the end. The end just… stops. Nothing is resolved. I mean literally nothing. It’s like Locke had a limit on how many pages he could have in his book, and he just wrote until he got there and then just stopped. I presuming – hoping?! – that this is the first book in a series. If so, I would rate this book slightly higher. But if this is genuinely a standalone book, it really lacks credible world-building and any conclusions to the plot lines followed.
I really did enjoy this book while I was reading it, and would definitely read another book in a series. But as a standalone, I wouldn’t come back to this one.
NB: This book was provided to me free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
September 28, 2019
STORY
I enjoyed the plot, the setting, and the story, to an extent... The apoc/dysto setting was really cool and I've played with similar elements as an author, myself. Lots of people have. It's a cool story line to write and read!
While the story itself held my attention, piqued my interest, and never gets old, I must admit, I was confused occasionally (especially at the beginning and the ending). It might've just been me! But some things were barely elaborated or described, so I struggled to fully grip the story, and I really wanted to.
On the note of the story, it did feel a bit... lackluster at the end. I'm not usually one to cry over cliffhanger endings (and I don't think this novel has a sequel coming), but it... spent so much time building... and brewing... that if the novel had been longer, or had a second book, I would have felt way cooler with struggling with the plot points and government details, haha.
THEMES
Not many themes that stood out to me. We have main characters struggling with who they are, what they must become, and finally, choosing what they will be. Typical hero's journey and it was nice.
The themes of family, bonding, trust, etc, were all well portrayed. I must admit, the themes of most of the characters 1) being in love, 2) pining after other characters, 3) getting over past relationships was a bit irking. I came in for a wild ride with pain, angst, apoc setting, and maybe one or two romances to even the field. But the two main characters were love obsessed, my favorite character, Zeke, pretty much lost his personality after randomly falling for your typical "strong female" character, and yeah... just a bit much for the mood I was in. You can have a solid character arc and character goal without love...
Also, I think the themes regarding the human experiments and special powers was nicely handled and showed the characters still being human, even if they were "mentats".
CHARACTERS
I really didn't ever care about any of the characters, not deeply, anyway. Again, Zeke was the only one who immediately grabbed me, but he sorta lost... something after meeting Hester. Kevin was a cool character, but again, most of his character journey (or so it appeared to me personally) ended up in a romance, too. I'm ALL FOR ROMANCE, OK. I'm a hopeless romantic. But it just wasn't quite what I was in the mood for and it seemed that none of the characters would've become better people without their S/Os and I don't like that sort of romance very much.
CONTENT
Pretty clean. Limited violence, barely described, some battles, wounds, etc. Mentions of alcohol. No sensual content. I can't remember anything else.
OVERALL
I can't wait to keep reading Thomas Locke/Davis Bunn, but this one just didn't do much for me.
I enjoyed the plot, the setting, and the story, to an extent... The apoc/dysto setting was really cool and I've played with similar elements as an author, myself. Lots of people have. It's a cool story line to write and read!
While the story itself held my attention, piqued my interest, and never gets old, I must admit, I was confused occasionally (especially at the beginning and the ending). It might've just been me! But some things were barely elaborated or described, so I struggled to fully grip the story, and I really wanted to.
On the note of the story, it did feel a bit... lackluster at the end. I'm not usually one to cry over cliffhanger endings (and I don't think this novel has a sequel coming), but it... spent so much time building... and brewing... that if the novel had been longer, or had a second book, I would have felt way cooler with struggling with the plot points and government details, haha.
THEMES
Not many themes that stood out to me. We have main characters struggling with who they are, what they must become, and finally, choosing what they will be. Typical hero's journey and it was nice.
The themes of family, bonding, trust, etc, were all well portrayed. I must admit, the themes of most of the characters 1) being in love, 2) pining after other characters, 3) getting over past relationships was a bit irking. I came in for a wild ride with pain, angst, apoc setting, and maybe one or two romances to even the field. But the two main characters were love obsessed, my favorite character, Zeke, pretty much lost his personality after randomly falling for your typical "strong female" character, and yeah... just a bit much for the mood I was in. You can have a solid character arc and character goal without love...
Also, I think the themes regarding the human experiments and special powers was nicely handled and showed the characters still being human, even if they were "mentats".
CHARACTERS
I really didn't ever care about any of the characters, not deeply, anyway. Again, Zeke was the only one who immediately grabbed me, but he sorta lost... something after meeting Hester. Kevin was a cool character, but again, most of his character journey (or so it appeared to me personally) ended up in a romance, too. I'm ALL FOR ROMANCE, OK. I'm a hopeless romantic. But it just wasn't quite what I was in the mood for and it seemed that none of the characters would've become better people without their S/Os and I don't like that sort of romance very much.
CONTENT
Pretty clean. Limited violence, barely described, some battles, wounds, etc. Mentions of alcohol. No sensual content. I can't remember anything else.
OVERALL
I can't wait to keep reading Thomas Locke/Davis Bunn, but this one just didn't do much for me.
January 15, 2019
A fast-paced dystopian adventure
My rating is 4.5 stars
As with many dystopian novels, the world of Enclave was a militant society ruled by the strong preying on the weak. An entire section of the population was targeted for experiments to see how those in power could exploit their abilities. . .
I receive newsletters from this author and read in a recent one about the inspiration for this book. Before then, it really wasn’t even on my radar to read. While I do enjoy some dystopian stories, I don’t usually seek them out. Strangely enough, once I read the book, I re-read the e-mail and had to really think to see how this was tied in. Then I realized. Oh. Not what I was thinking it would be but it was there. I don’t want to go into detail here – if you are interested you can follow that link to see what he had to say.
While the story wasn’t what I was expecting, I enjoyed the fast-paced adventure as Caleb, Kevin and Zeke end up on an unexpected journey to rescue Caleb’s childhood friend, Maddie. There were plenty of elements of danger as they were being hunted.
I found the characters endearing and was cheering for them along the way.
A number of things about this world were not explained or were not explained in great detail. For some readers, I know that can be an issue. I didn’t find this to be a distraction or a detraction and was able to immerse myself into the story.
The ending did feel abrupt, but this isn’t totally uncommon. The conflict was mostly resolved and the ending showed the resolution of the last part of that conflict. It appears that the author wanted to allow the reader to fill in their own details about what happened next instead of tying everything up with a neat bow. There was a preview of another book that appears to be of a similar story-line in a different part of the state, and though it doesn’t indicate this anywhere, this might be the first book in a new series. I guess time will tell.
Read my full review with a Preview at Among the Reads
I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
My rating is 4.5 stars
As with many dystopian novels, the world of Enclave was a militant society ruled by the strong preying on the weak. An entire section of the population was targeted for experiments to see how those in power could exploit their abilities. . .
I receive newsletters from this author and read in a recent one about the inspiration for this book. Before then, it really wasn’t even on my radar to read. While I do enjoy some dystopian stories, I don’t usually seek them out. Strangely enough, once I read the book, I re-read the e-mail and had to really think to see how this was tied in. Then I realized. Oh. Not what I was thinking it would be but it was there. I don’t want to go into detail here – if you are interested you can follow that link to see what he had to say.
While the story wasn’t what I was expecting, I enjoyed the fast-paced adventure as Caleb, Kevin and Zeke end up on an unexpected journey to rescue Caleb’s childhood friend, Maddie. There were plenty of elements of danger as they were being hunted.
I found the characters endearing and was cheering for them along the way.
A number of things about this world were not explained or were not explained in great detail. For some readers, I know that can be an issue. I didn’t find this to be a distraction or a detraction and was able to immerse myself into the story.
The ending did feel abrupt, but this isn’t totally uncommon. The conflict was mostly resolved and the ending showed the resolution of the last part of that conflict. It appears that the author wanted to allow the reader to fill in their own details about what happened next instead of tying everything up with a neat bow. There was a preview of another book that appears to be of a similar story-line in a different part of the state, and though it doesn’t indicate this anywhere, this might be the first book in a new series. I guess time will tell.
Read my full review with a Preview at Among the Reads
I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
December 6, 2018
Upon arrival Enclave, by Thomas Locke, quickly went to my night stand. Most days I only get to read before bed, so that is the most logical place for it to be.
Unbeknownst to me, the book did not remain there. If you want an author that will grab you, and even your teenage bookish boys, this one is for you!!! Jacob (my 17 year old) kept asking me if I had read it yet. I kept saying no, and finally asked why he was pestering me. Well, he read it. Yep. Snagged it off my night stand, took it to work and flew through it during his breaks. That should tell you something!
Thomas Locke has written many of our favorites, and books I have reviewed. (Fault Lines, Merchant of Alyss). We read these books to review, but insisted to finish the series each time!
Enclave is a post apocalyptic story where there is no electricity. Our world has become a place where groups of people live and they rule their own area. Gone are the days of National Law, or State Law, or even sometimes local law. Corruption is high, dangers are rampant, life is a struggle every day.
One of my favorite parts of this story was the characters - there is not just one main hero, but instead there are a few guys who come together willing to risk everything to find a better way for their loved ones. Caleb and Kevin are thrown together and forced trust each other with one common goal. However, evil lurks everywhere, and it is hard to know who to trust.
Catawba is the enclave that Caleb is from, and when they find a thread of gold in the mining hills, they must find a way to harvest and sell without letting the competing government factions know. Caleb and Kevin embark on a adventure to find freedom for their friends, and wealth for their enclave, but at great risk to themselves.
NOTE: I highly recommend this book, and any other by Thomas Locke - and Jacob does too!! This book will be passed around the family and then put on a shelf to pull out again in the near future! I was offered a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Unbeknownst to me, the book did not remain there. If you want an author that will grab you, and even your teenage bookish boys, this one is for you!!! Jacob (my 17 year old) kept asking me if I had read it yet. I kept saying no, and finally asked why he was pestering me. Well, he read it. Yep. Snagged it off my night stand, took it to work and flew through it during his breaks. That should tell you something!
Thomas Locke has written many of our favorites, and books I have reviewed. (Fault Lines, Merchant of Alyss). We read these books to review, but insisted to finish the series each time!
Enclave is a post apocalyptic story where there is no electricity. Our world has become a place where groups of people live and they rule their own area. Gone are the days of National Law, or State Law, or even sometimes local law. Corruption is high, dangers are rampant, life is a struggle every day.
One of my favorite parts of this story was the characters - there is not just one main hero, but instead there are a few guys who come together willing to risk everything to find a better way for their loved ones. Caleb and Kevin are thrown together and forced trust each other with one common goal. However, evil lurks everywhere, and it is hard to know who to trust.
Catawba is the enclave that Caleb is from, and when they find a thread of gold in the mining hills, they must find a way to harvest and sell without letting the competing government factions know. Caleb and Kevin embark on a adventure to find freedom for their friends, and wealth for their enclave, but at great risk to themselves.
NOTE: I highly recommend this book, and any other by Thomas Locke - and Jacob does too!! This book will be passed around the family and then put on a shelf to pull out again in the near future! I was offered a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 20, 2018
With post America in shambles, a special group of humans may be the only hope!
Caleb lives with his father in a West Virginia enclave making a living as a trader, but Caleb has a secret, he is able to sense things about other people. During a heated encountered between his father and two tribal leaders, Caleb senses that one of the leaders aims to kill his father. When he turns and yells this to his dad, the leader realizes that Caleb is what they call specials. Realizing that he can never return home, Caleb sets out to meet up with his dad along the road later to determine what he can do now. He comes upon another young man named Kevin, who has run the underground railroad for refugees to get them to safety, but the militia have cracked down on Kevin and want him to round up specials. Kevin and Caleb strike up a quick but trustworthy friendship that will set a course to change the future for all involved.
The dystopian post-apocalyptic genre has quickly become one of my favorite. It gives every author a blank canvas to create what they believe the world is going to look like in the future and many of the authors have focused solely on America. Locke chooses to use this same approach and has a little bit of supernatural tied in as well. Human experiments mixed with a plague causes devastation throughout the country. Now most people live in enclaves with some townships remaining a mega power centers. Locke has never disappointed me with the quality of his writing. He always comes up with new ideas, especially in his future worlds. They are always action packed and the short chapters really move the books along. I’m looking forward to the characters getting developed during the next books to see how they flesh out more. If you need a new series to end your year, grab a copy!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
Caleb lives with his father in a West Virginia enclave making a living as a trader, but Caleb has a secret, he is able to sense things about other people. During a heated encountered between his father and two tribal leaders, Caleb senses that one of the leaders aims to kill his father. When he turns and yells this to his dad, the leader realizes that Caleb is what they call specials. Realizing that he can never return home, Caleb sets out to meet up with his dad along the road later to determine what he can do now. He comes upon another young man named Kevin, who has run the underground railroad for refugees to get them to safety, but the militia have cracked down on Kevin and want him to round up specials. Kevin and Caleb strike up a quick but trustworthy friendship that will set a course to change the future for all involved.
The dystopian post-apocalyptic genre has quickly become one of my favorite. It gives every author a blank canvas to create what they believe the world is going to look like in the future and many of the authors have focused solely on America. Locke chooses to use this same approach and has a little bit of supernatural tied in as well. Human experiments mixed with a plague causes devastation throughout the country. Now most people live in enclaves with some townships remaining a mega power centers. Locke has never disappointed me with the quality of his writing. He always comes up with new ideas, especially in his future worlds. They are always action packed and the short chapters really move the books along. I’m looking forward to the characters getting developed during the next books to see how they flesh out more. If you need a new series to end your year, grab a copy!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
December 2, 2018
What caught my eye initially was the cover. I like dystopian themes, which is probably why I enjoy The Walking Dead and other zombie stories. To read about a society attempting to rebuild after a global disaster is interesting. Keep in mind, Enclave doesn't have zombies, but that doesn't mean it's boring. In fact, I really enjoyed reading this novel.
The story of Enclave happens roughly 50 years after the Great Crash. America is controlled by different regional factions (Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta). Kevin Ritter and his mother have been running an underground railroad of sorts, helping to transport refugees with unique abilities. But they soon find themselves running for their lives as Kevin is tasked with not saving these refugees, but rather rounding them up. The alternative? He and his mother will be hanged. Refusing to give up innocent people, they run and find help in Caleb and his friend Zeke. While his mother stays behind in the safety of the enclave, Kevin, Caleb and Zeke continue on to the Overpass. We, the reader, quickly discover that Caleb and Zeke aren't the only ones with special abilities.
This was an enjoyable read. It started off reminding me of a dystopian future with a wild west kind of feel. Reading about the Adepts (those with special abilities), felt like the origin story of mutants. Each had a different ability (telekinesis, telepathy, etc). Yet, it didn't feel like rehashing of old stories or characters. This book held something new, refreshing and a bit different. At first, I thought Zeke would be my favorite character, but I ended up liking Kevin the best. I think possibly because he showed the most growth. He started out as a deputy, turned into a runaway, and finally savior for a large group of refugees. If you enjoyed Dystopian or Science fiction novels, I recommend giving this book a try. I received a copy from Revell. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The story of Enclave happens roughly 50 years after the Great Crash. America is controlled by different regional factions (Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta). Kevin Ritter and his mother have been running an underground railroad of sorts, helping to transport refugees with unique abilities. But they soon find themselves running for their lives as Kevin is tasked with not saving these refugees, but rather rounding them up. The alternative? He and his mother will be hanged. Refusing to give up innocent people, they run and find help in Caleb and his friend Zeke. While his mother stays behind in the safety of the enclave, Kevin, Caleb and Zeke continue on to the Overpass. We, the reader, quickly discover that Caleb and Zeke aren't the only ones with special abilities.
This was an enjoyable read. It started off reminding me of a dystopian future with a wild west kind of feel. Reading about the Adepts (those with special abilities), felt like the origin story of mutants. Each had a different ability (telekinesis, telepathy, etc). Yet, it didn't feel like rehashing of old stories or characters. This book held something new, refreshing and a bit different. At first, I thought Zeke would be my favorite character, but I ended up liking Kevin the best. I think possibly because he showed the most growth. He started out as a deputy, turned into a runaway, and finally savior for a large group of refugees. If you enjoyed Dystopian or Science fiction novels, I recommend giving this book a try. I received a copy from Revell. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Read
August 23, 2020DNF AT PAGE 120.
Okay. I think it's safe to say I'm not a Thomas Locke fan.
And trust me, I'm not the one too DNF a book, but I just couldn't this time.
I read another book by this author, (Recruits) and gave it 2 stars. It was really bad. And this book has almost the exact same problems.
Once again a very good story executed poorly.
First, let me start off by saying this author can't write compelling characters. All the characters I've read by him have been very dull and unrealistic. Just...bleh.
Then you have how boring this books is. Like, come on, give me some action, some suspense. Something that will keep me reading, but no, nothing.
And the writing? There where times reading this book where I, a very amateur writer, was like "That doesn't make sense" or "That's not how you write that" etc etc.
The world is also really weird. Was it suppose to feel dystopian? Isn't that what it's shelved as? It definitely didn't have the dystopian feel to it. It kinda felt like Rambo.
I would honestly get rid of this book if it wasn't for how nice the cover is. Seriously. WHO DOES THIS MANS COVERS? All his covers are just really nice. If only his books were as good, he would make a killing.
Please, don't get fooled by his covers. These books are bad! But, there are still multiple people who like this book here on GR, so maybe you will, but his books definitely don't do it for me. Too boring.
Now, this isn't the worst book I've read by any means (*cough* Siege by Chris Ryan *coughs) but it's still probably a 2 star if I would rate it.
I definitely won't' be buying any other books by this author. The last book I read by him put me in the biggest slump of my life, and I really didn't want that to happen again.
I don't even know what else to say right now.
Disappointing.
This won't be added to my reading goal.
Okay. I think it's safe to say I'm not a Thomas Locke fan.
And trust me, I'm not the one too DNF a book, but I just couldn't this time.
I read another book by this author, (Recruits) and gave it 2 stars. It was really bad. And this book has almost the exact same problems.
Once again a very good story executed poorly.
First, let me start off by saying this author can't write compelling characters. All the characters I've read by him have been very dull and unrealistic. Just...bleh.
Then you have how boring this books is. Like, come on, give me some action, some suspense. Something that will keep me reading, but no, nothing.
And the writing? There where times reading this book where I, a very amateur writer, was like "That doesn't make sense" or "That's not how you write that" etc etc.
The world is also really weird. Was it suppose to feel dystopian? Isn't that what it's shelved as? It definitely didn't have the dystopian feel to it. It kinda felt like Rambo.
I would honestly get rid of this book if it wasn't for how nice the cover is. Seriously. WHO DOES THIS MANS COVERS? All his covers are just really nice. If only his books were as good, he would make a killing.
Please, don't get fooled by his covers. These books are bad! But, there are still multiple people who like this book here on GR, so maybe you will, but his books definitely don't do it for me. Too boring.
Now, this isn't the worst book I've read by any means (*cough* Siege by Chris Ryan *coughs) but it's still probably a 2 star if I would rate it.
I definitely won't' be buying any other books by this author. The last book I read by him put me in the biggest slump of my life, and I really didn't want that to happen again.
I don't even know what else to say right now.
Disappointing.
This won't be added to my reading goal.
December 10, 2018
Enclave
By Thomas Locke
Since the Great Crash America has descended into an almost medieval feudal system of enclaves and townships. Many areas are nearly lawless as the need to survive at the cost of others becomes the norm. Another who is different is seen as a threat and a small group of people who have been labeled by some as abominations are seen as a threat to the future.
Some label these gifted individuals as specials and they are being hunted for there abilities. Abilities that could make the powerful even more so. And Caleb is about to be targeted after accidentally revealing his gift. When a chance encounter brings Caleb, his best friend Zeke and Kevin Ritter together the world is about to change yet again.
Kevin is now a man with a bounty on his head when he refuses to go against his conscience and help round up these specials. But is he ready to join them?
Enclave is one of those books that takes you on a journey that you are unsure just where you will end up and it is one that is well worth the time spent getting there. This book appears to be a single novel but I'm hoping for a sequel just to see where everyone goes from here. Enclave is a book that deals with fear - fear of the unknown, fear of taking a stand, fear of what was lost - and confronting this fear and overcoming it.
This is a dystopian fiction with a bit of speculative thrown in for a well-balanced and engaging read. Perfect for the colder weather reading. And the cover does this book justice.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher Revell with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.
By Thomas Locke
Since the Great Crash America has descended into an almost medieval feudal system of enclaves and townships. Many areas are nearly lawless as the need to survive at the cost of others becomes the norm. Another who is different is seen as a threat and a small group of people who have been labeled by some as abominations are seen as a threat to the future.
Some label these gifted individuals as specials and they are being hunted for there abilities. Abilities that could make the powerful even more so. And Caleb is about to be targeted after accidentally revealing his gift. When a chance encounter brings Caleb, his best friend Zeke and Kevin Ritter together the world is about to change yet again.
Kevin is now a man with a bounty on his head when he refuses to go against his conscience and help round up these specials. But is he ready to join them?
Enclave is one of those books that takes you on a journey that you are unsure just where you will end up and it is one that is well worth the time spent getting there. This book appears to be a single novel but I'm hoping for a sequel just to see where everyone goes from here. Enclave is a book that deals with fear - fear of the unknown, fear of taking a stand, fear of what was lost - and confronting this fear and overcoming it.
This is a dystopian fiction with a bit of speculative thrown in for a well-balanced and engaging read. Perfect for the colder weather reading. And the cover does this book justice.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher Revell with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.
November 30, 2018
Enclave, by Thomas Locke, is a dystopian novel that takes place many years in the future. Almost 100 years after the Great Crash and the country is basically cities governing themselves with very little support from the federal government. Kevin and his mother are part of a group that rescue refugees, give them new identities and sneak them into society. With the government suspecting this is happening Kevin and his mother find themselves fleeing for their lives.
Caleb is one of many people who have special gifts that allow them to know what is happening with others. The federal government is trying to find these people so he is now being forced to flee for his safety.
This story takes off with so much going on and so many characters that I struggled through the whole story to keep up with what was happening. The story is full of action and suspense, which I enjoy, but it did not flow smoothly. The background of the story is filled in very nicely and the story ends with a fight starting. This makes we wonder if this is the beginning of a new series. If you enjoy science fiction or dystopian stories and do not mind a lot of characters and multiple stories taking place at one time, this is a story for you.
I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads Blog Tour Program. This is my honest review.
Caleb is one of many people who have special gifts that allow them to know what is happening with others. The federal government is trying to find these people so he is now being forced to flee for his safety.
This story takes off with so much going on and so many characters that I struggled through the whole story to keep up with what was happening. The story is full of action and suspense, which I enjoy, but it did not flow smoothly. The background of the story is filled in very nicely and the story ends with a fight starting. This makes we wonder if this is the beginning of a new series. If you enjoy science fiction or dystopian stories and do not mind a lot of characters and multiple stories taking place at one time, this is a story for you.
I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads Blog Tour Program. This is my honest review.
November 24, 2018
Science Fiction is not a genre into which I typically delve nor do I find it pleasurable to read. I do, however, enjoy the writings of Davis Bunn and thought I would venture into this story by his pseudonym, Thomas Locke.
Venturing into the future by 50 years into an American society deplete of rule of law, defined states, and society completely rife of any sense of fairness or democracy, the story presented a plethora of characters who venture out of their geographically defined area called an Enclave to cross boundaries prohibited in an effort to transact business.
The story evolves to the point of conflict where good overcomes evil and this is, of course, the outcome that we all enjoy seeing. But what seems to begin as an adventuresome business venture becomes a battle for rule of law and democracy.
Definitely dystopian, science fiction, post-tech period story with characters with weird abilities and who seemed as befuddled by their abilities as this reader was by the story.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the Revell Publishing review program to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given.
Venturing into the future by 50 years into an American society deplete of rule of law, defined states, and society completely rife of any sense of fairness or democracy, the story presented a plethora of characters who venture out of their geographically defined area called an Enclave to cross boundaries prohibited in an effort to transact business.
The story evolves to the point of conflict where good overcomes evil and this is, of course, the outcome that we all enjoy seeing. But what seems to begin as an adventuresome business venture becomes a battle for rule of law and democracy.
Definitely dystopian, science fiction, post-tech period story with characters with weird abilities and who seemed as befuddled by their abilities as this reader was by the story.
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the Revell Publishing review program to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given.
December 5, 2018
I started this book with good intentions. The synopsis of the book had me intrigued along with the book cover. A society destroyed and then reborn into small enclaves of people. Gone is the states and in its place townships.
The book starts off well and has me intrigued and captivated. Then chapter 2 starts and I am now confused. Where am I and what is this bit about Caleb's dad? I thought he was dead. So now I'm wading through this chapter and trying to piece things together while wishing I could go back to the story line that was started in the first chapter.
After chapter 3, I started flipping through the pages, hunting for my story. I realize that the other miscellaneous details in these random chapters were probably used as a set up for the rest of the story, but it just didn't work for me. After a few chapters in I gave it. It wasn't worth the effort to figure out the story.
Would I recommend this book? No.
I received a complimentary book from Revell Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
The book starts off well and has me intrigued and captivated. Then chapter 2 starts and I am now confused. Where am I and what is this bit about Caleb's dad? I thought he was dead. So now I'm wading through this chapter and trying to piece things together while wishing I could go back to the story line that was started in the first chapter.
After chapter 3, I started flipping through the pages, hunting for my story. I realize that the other miscellaneous details in these random chapters were probably used as a set up for the rest of the story, but it just didn't work for me. After a few chapters in I gave it. It wasn't worth the effort to figure out the story.
Would I recommend this book? No.
I received a complimentary book from Revell Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
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December 8, 2018DNF
I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, because it's a post-apocalyptic type of novel, but also with a sort of X-men element that will garner interest from people like...well, like me. The thing is, even with this premise, this book was very difficult for me to get into. The beginning was confusing because of all the characters, and ultimately I ended up giving up because even though it's a short book, wading through it was just such work for me, and I wasn't really enjoying it. I thought about pressing through, but I have felt the same way about the few other Thomas Locke books I've read (except under the author's actual name, Davis Bunn) so I have a feeling his writing style just isn't for me. That doesn't mean others won't like the book, though, so if you're a Thomas Locke or Davis Bunn fan, you may want to try it.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, because it's a post-apocalyptic type of novel, but also with a sort of X-men element that will garner interest from people like...well, like me. The thing is, even with this premise, this book was very difficult for me to get into. The beginning was confusing because of all the characters, and ultimately I ended up giving up because even though it's a short book, wading through it was just such work for me, and I wasn't really enjoying it. I thought about pressing through, but I have felt the same way about the few other Thomas Locke books I've read (except under the author's actual name, Davis Bunn) so I have a feeling his writing style just isn't for me. That doesn't mean others won't like the book, though, so if you're a Thomas Locke or Davis Bunn fan, you may want to try it.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
December 10, 2018
Thomas Locke practices his gifted ability in this complex novel. The distinct old western dialogue and the fun cowboy backdrop made this an enticing read for me. Each and every narrative is as gripping as the one before it, and the characters ground with expressive realistic reactions. Not everything is as it seems in this dystopian earth. Who are the specials? Why are they different? Why are they being rounded up? Who is gathering them? Locke keeps you turning the pages in this edge-of-the-seat wild ride. The thrill and suspense will keep you coming back for more!
An interesting concept of a future earth and I am wondering where this series will take us. I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Reviewed by JackBo
https://pausefortales.blogspot.com/20...
An interesting concept of a future earth and I am wondering where this series will take us. I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Reviewed by JackBo
https://pausefortales.blogspot.com/20...
December 11, 2018
This is the first Thomas Locke book I’ve read. I was intrigued by the look of the cover. The story sounded like one I would be interested in. I like dystopian novels and this seemed to fit that type. I liked it at the start but quickly became so confused. There seemed to be so many people, so much going on, so many terms used without explanation of what they meant, I felt like I missed a previous book. As a matter of fact, I looked several times to see if this was the 2nd or 3rd book in a series. I really wanted to like this book. The initial premise seemed great. Super unique and interesting... but I had such a hard time following the storyline. I felt like there should be a prologue or a glossary or something. If you’re a fan of Thomas Locke you’ll probably love this book. It just wasn’t for me.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was in no way required to write a review. This has in no way influenced my review. All thoughts are my own.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was in no way required to write a review. This has in no way influenced my review. All thoughts are my own.
January 21, 2020
Another great story from a favorite author. Enclave by Thomas Locke tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world where it was 'hard for people to dream about tomorrow when they were struggling to survive today.' Caleb is a young man on a mission that endangers the lives of everyone he holds dear. Would he choose to back off and stay the same or be something more--to be the leader the 'specials' with awakening abilities and strengths needed? To lead them to a future, to a place where they could live without fear of imprisonment for the crime of being different. Strong characters, lots of action, and a great plot with enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning. I pretty much read the book in just a few hours and I am hoping there is more to Caleb and his friends' story.
I won a complimentary copy of the book in a Goodreads contest and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
I won a complimentary copy of the book in a Goodreads contest and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
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