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Eden
From the bestselling author of Netflix's The Silence comes a brand-new horror eco thriller.
In a time when Earth's rising oceans contain enormous islands of refuse, the Amazon rainforest is all-but destroyed, and countless species edge towards extinction, the Virgin Zones were established in an attempt to combat the change. Off-limits to humanity and given back to nature, these thirteen vast areas of land were intended to become the lungs of the world.
Dylan leads a clandestine team of adventurers into Eden, the oldest of the Zones. Attracted by the challenges and dangers posed by the primal lands, extreme competitors seek to cross them with a minimum of equipment, depending only on their raw skills and courage. Not all survive.
Also in Dylan's team is his daughter Jenn, and she carries a secret––Kat, his wife who abandoned them both years ago, has entered Eden ahead of them. Jenn is determined to find her mother, but neither she nor the rest of their tight-knit team are prepared for what confronts them. Nature has returned to Eden in an elemental, primeval way. And here, nature is no longer humanity's friend.
In a time when Earth's rising oceans contain enormous islands of refuse, the Amazon rainforest is all-but destroyed, and countless species edge towards extinction, the Virgin Zones were established in an attempt to combat the change. Off-limits to humanity and given back to nature, these thirteen vast areas of land were intended to become the lungs of the world.
Dylan leads a clandestine team of adventurers into Eden, the oldest of the Zones. Attracted by the challenges and dangers posed by the primal lands, extreme competitors seek to cross them with a minimum of equipment, depending only on their raw skills and courage. Not all survive.
Also in Dylan's team is his daughter Jenn, and she carries a secret––Kat, his wife who abandoned them both years ago, has entered Eden ahead of them. Jenn is determined to find her mother, but neither she nor the rest of their tight-knit team are prepared for what confronts them. Nature has returned to Eden in an elemental, primeval way. And here, nature is no longer humanity's friend.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2020
167 people are currently reading
4621 people want to read
About the author
Tim Lebbon
294 books1,535 followersI love writing, reading, triathlon, real ale, chocolate, good movies, occasional bad movies, and cake.
I was born in London in 1969, lived in Devon until I was eight, and the next twenty years were spent in Newport. My wife Tracey and I then did a Good Thing and moved back to the country, and we now live in the little village of Goytre in Monmouthshire with our kids Ellie and Daniel. And our dog, Blu, who is the size of a donkey.
I love the countryside ... I do a lot of running and cycling, and live in the best part of the world for that.
I've had loads of books published in the UK, USA, and around the world, including novels, novellas, and collections. I write horror, fantasy, and now thrillers, and I've been writing as a living for over 8 years. I've won quite a few awards for my original fiction, and I've also written tie-in projects for Star Wars, Alien, Hellboy, The Cabin in the Woods, and 30 Days of Night.
A movie's just been made of my short story Pay the Ghost, starring Nicolas Cage and Sarah Wayne Callies. There are other projects in development, too.
I'd love to hear from you!
I was born in London in 1969, lived in Devon until I was eight, and the next twenty years were spent in Newport. My wife Tracey and I then did a Good Thing and moved back to the country, and we now live in the little village of Goytre in Monmouthshire with our kids Ellie and Daniel. And our dog, Blu, who is the size of a donkey.
I love the countryside ... I do a lot of running and cycling, and live in the best part of the world for that.
I've had loads of books published in the UK, USA, and around the world, including novels, novellas, and collections. I write horror, fantasy, and now thrillers, and I've been writing as a living for over 8 years. I've won quite a few awards for my original fiction, and I've also written tie-in projects for Star Wars, Alien, Hellboy, The Cabin in the Woods, and 30 Days of Night.
A movie's just been made of my short story Pay the Ghost, starring Nicolas Cage and Sarah Wayne Callies. There are other projects in development, too.
I'd love to hear from you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
May 7, 2020
I was so excited to be approved for an ARC of Eden. I adored The Silence by this author and the premise for this one reminded me a bit of The Ruins or maybe even a little like Area X: The Southern Reach Trilogy both of which I loved. Well, to be honest, I was rooting for everyone to die in The Ruins so I was hoping for a story like that but with more likable people. Perhaps I held too many preconceived notions because this was disappointing and not really at all what I was expecting.
This book is basically about climate change gone bananas. Areas around the world are essentially given back to nature. No humans are allowed into these zones and they are heavily guarded by soldiers. The zones were created as a chance for mother nature to repair itself. Of course when you tell people that they aren't allowed to go into these places it will inevitably draw people to it and so in comes our cast of characters: A group of 6 extreme sports enthusiasts whose mission it is to race across each zone in the fastest time. This time the zone they are crossing is Eden and let's just say that Eden isn't fond of company from outsiders.
"We were turning the air toxic, water levels were rising, average global temperatures were increasing year on year, the oceans were turning acidic, we were discovering plastic pollution in the deepest parts of the ocean and on the highest, remotest mountains. We were burning, degrading, deforesting, depleting, destroying, and even the most optimistic scientists would admit, in private, that the Zones were little more than an indulgent long shot. But in our arrogance, there was something we didn't take into account. And that was Nature's eagerness to move on."
That sounds amazing, right? Well for the first 50% absolutely nothing happens. Mentions here and there that "something isn't right" but that was about it. Granted, I know that Lebbon was world building and trying to give us character insight but at the end of the day I had no grasp of the world he created and the characters were so flat I felt like I hardly knew them. Therein lies the problem, once things finally went bonkers for them (and it's a gorefest!) I really didn't care at all.
I was definitely the wrong reader for this and I do believe many others will find this a rip roaring time so while it was a 2 star experience for me I think others are going to love it! 2 stars!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Titan Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book is basically about climate change gone bananas. Areas around the world are essentially given back to nature. No humans are allowed into these zones and they are heavily guarded by soldiers. The zones were created as a chance for mother nature to repair itself. Of course when you tell people that they aren't allowed to go into these places it will inevitably draw people to it and so in comes our cast of characters: A group of 6 extreme sports enthusiasts whose mission it is to race across each zone in the fastest time. This time the zone they are crossing is Eden and let's just say that Eden isn't fond of company from outsiders.
"We were turning the air toxic, water levels were rising, average global temperatures were increasing year on year, the oceans were turning acidic, we were discovering plastic pollution in the deepest parts of the ocean and on the highest, remotest mountains. We were burning, degrading, deforesting, depleting, destroying, and even the most optimistic scientists would admit, in private, that the Zones were little more than an indulgent long shot. But in our arrogance, there was something we didn't take into account. And that was Nature's eagerness to move on."
That sounds amazing, right? Well for the first 50% absolutely nothing happens. Mentions here and there that "something isn't right" but that was about it. Granted, I know that Lebbon was world building and trying to give us character insight but at the end of the day I had no grasp of the world he created and the characters were so flat I felt like I hardly knew them. Therein lies the problem, once things finally went bonkers for them (and it's a gorefest!) I really didn't care at all.
I was definitely the wrong reader for this and I do believe many others will find this a rip roaring time so while it was a 2 star experience for me I think others are going to love it! 2 stars!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Titan Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 17, 2020
Review originally published in issue #60 of the May/June SCREAM magazine
My own, personal style as a book reviewer is to lean into my experience reading the book rather than spend too much time retelling the plot. It’s my opinion that plot summaries are readily available to readers; reviews are for readers who want to know how the book is being received.
However, in the case of Tim Lebbon’s EDEN, I must set this story up for you because the concept is one of my favorite aspects of this book.
Our planet is under attack. The enemy? Its inhabitants- us. Global warming and the systematic destruction of our living resources have forced our best minds to devise a plan to bring us back from the brink of ruin. They create ‘Virgin Zones’-large swaths of land given over to nature and allowed to run rampant. The oldest Zone and the most inhospitable to man is called, Eden.
This book has two distinct parts. Part one might be too much of a slow burn for some but being a long-time High Fantasy fiction enthusiast, I’m patient with long stretches of character development and world-building. I find those aspects critical to an immersive horror fiction experience.
Part Two is where our characters engage with Eden. If you’re familiar with Lebbon’s work at all, you know that he is a skilled nature-horror writer. The descriptions of evolved/adapted flora and fauna are fascinating and thrilling. I found the scenes of our explorers traversing Eden for the first time, a bit reminiscent of Vandermeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy, especially Annihilation but without all the ‘ alien lifeform’ confusion. This is terrifying in the same way, man vs. nature (nature clearly the aggressor) but with Lebbon behind the wheel, it’s more accessible.
I think the biggest selling point for this novel is that it is textured like a movie. The visuals Lebbon is able to evoke are cinematic. This would make an easy translation into a screen adaptation. I have my fingers crossed we won’t have to wait long.
My own, personal style as a book reviewer is to lean into my experience reading the book rather than spend too much time retelling the plot. It’s my opinion that plot summaries are readily available to readers; reviews are for readers who want to know how the book is being received.
However, in the case of Tim Lebbon’s EDEN, I must set this story up for you because the concept is one of my favorite aspects of this book.
Our planet is under attack. The enemy? Its inhabitants- us. Global warming and the systematic destruction of our living resources have forced our best minds to devise a plan to bring us back from the brink of ruin. They create ‘Virgin Zones’-large swaths of land given over to nature and allowed to run rampant. The oldest Zone and the most inhospitable to man is called, Eden.
This book has two distinct parts. Part one might be too much of a slow burn for some but being a long-time High Fantasy fiction enthusiast, I’m patient with long stretches of character development and world-building. I find those aspects critical to an immersive horror fiction experience.
Part Two is where our characters engage with Eden. If you’re familiar with Lebbon’s work at all, you know that he is a skilled nature-horror writer. The descriptions of evolved/adapted flora and fauna are fascinating and thrilling. I found the scenes of our explorers traversing Eden for the first time, a bit reminiscent of Vandermeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy, especially Annihilation but without all the ‘ alien lifeform’ confusion. This is terrifying in the same way, man vs. nature (nature clearly the aggressor) but with Lebbon behind the wheel, it’s more accessible.
I think the biggest selling point for this novel is that it is textured like a movie. The visuals Lebbon is able to evoke are cinematic. This would make an easy translation into a screen adaptation. I have my fingers crossed we won’t have to wait long.
April 5, 2020
EDEN is a smart, thrilling, relentless, eco-nightmare that will worm its tendrils deep into you. Let your own ghost orchid grow.
August 30, 2022
Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.
I’m quickly finding a new sub-genre to fall in love with, and Tim Lebbon’s Eden is the most recent example of just exactly why that is!
I fully believe in the restorative powers of nature and escape to any green space I can, as often as I can. I’m not sure I would find as much solace in the greenery surrounding me became if it grew to dwarf skyscrapers and sought to reclaim the planet back from man, though! But this is exactly what Lebbon’s characters might face, here.
Humanity has deconstructed the world we know and now only a few natural spaces remain. These aren’t mere beauty spots, however, and remain largely untouched zones where mother nature has been allowed to thrive and survive exactly how she wants to. Those who enter these spaces do so as intruders, and who knows what they might find when they leave the concrete jungle far behind.
This is an eerie and unsettling tale I easily immersed myself in and absolutely loved how it combined a creation of clever suspense with a moralistic undertone. The biological horror was ripe, heady, and ever present and I had no idea where the next surprise would stem from, or just how these characters would survive as nature became increasingly determined to take back what was originally theirs…
I’m quickly finding a new sub-genre to fall in love with, and Tim Lebbon’s Eden is the most recent example of just exactly why that is!
I fully believe in the restorative powers of nature and escape to any green space I can, as often as I can. I’m not sure I would find as much solace in the greenery surrounding me became if it grew to dwarf skyscrapers and sought to reclaim the planet back from man, though! But this is exactly what Lebbon’s characters might face, here.
Humanity has deconstructed the world we know and now only a few natural spaces remain. These aren’t mere beauty spots, however, and remain largely untouched zones where mother nature has been allowed to thrive and survive exactly how she wants to. Those who enter these spaces do so as intruders, and who knows what they might find when they leave the concrete jungle far behind.
This is an eerie and unsettling tale I easily immersed myself in and absolutely loved how it combined a creation of clever suspense with a moralistic undertone. The biological horror was ripe, heady, and ever present and I had no idea where the next surprise would stem from, or just how these characters would survive as nature became increasingly determined to take back what was originally theirs…
October 22, 2022
Took half a book for this one to get going, but once it did it didn't stop!
The story revolves around a 'Virgin Zone' known as Eden. Eden is one of several zones around the world released back to nature in a future where humans feel the need to atone for the mess they've made of the planet. No one is allowed in these zones, but there are adventure racers that take crossing these zones as a challenge. Jenn and her dad, Dylan, are part of such a team and Eden is their next challenge. But no one has ever made it out of Eden alive ...
I love the setup of this, and the notion of this completely wild, abandoned area of death. Things were always going to go awry for the team, but the 'nature fights back' aspect is one I was really looking forward to.
The first half of the book is more of an adventure story - it's about the team entering the zone, the gear they take, the whole notion of the zones and adventure racing, and the looming fact that Jenn's mother, Kat, was last heard from via a text saying she was taking on Eden. There's almost a repetitive focus on Kat, and the relationship between her and Dylan. It was a little tedious for me, and I was really anxious to get to the action instead of dealing with all the personal drama.
That halfway mark, though, sees things take a turn for the worst and suddenly the team are really fighting to survive.
The ecological horror was real and fresh, and I loved the way plants became truly terrifying to me. I was honestly afraid for this team from the time of that first confrontation through to the end because it seemed like literally everything around them was trying to kill them.
There is a lot of talk of relationships and personal connections, where I kind of just wanted more carnage. This is a balanced sort of novel, and there's a logic to it that almost makes it too real. I was expecting a little more horror and fast energy, but this novel takes time to talk about how these people feel as they're dealing with all these horrors.
I also found it a little hard to picture at times, but that's possibly on me and my wonky imagination. This is a wild race across wild, abandoned terrain, and it was hard for me to grasp just how extreme the nature-takeover was.
At the end of the day, though, it was a fast, unique horror featuring a homicidal mother nature figure that kept me thoroughly entertained.
The story revolves around a 'Virgin Zone' known as Eden. Eden is one of several zones around the world released back to nature in a future where humans feel the need to atone for the mess they've made of the planet. No one is allowed in these zones, but there are adventure racers that take crossing these zones as a challenge. Jenn and her dad, Dylan, are part of such a team and Eden is their next challenge. But no one has ever made it out of Eden alive ...
I love the setup of this, and the notion of this completely wild, abandoned area of death. Things were always going to go awry for the team, but the 'nature fights back' aspect is one I was really looking forward to.
The first half of the book is more of an adventure story - it's about the team entering the zone, the gear they take, the whole notion of the zones and adventure racing, and the looming fact that Jenn's mother, Kat, was last heard from via a text saying she was taking on Eden. There's almost a repetitive focus on Kat, and the relationship between her and Dylan. It was a little tedious for me, and I was really anxious to get to the action instead of dealing with all the personal drama.
That halfway mark, though, sees things take a turn for the worst and suddenly the team are really fighting to survive.
The ecological horror was real and fresh, and I loved the way plants became truly terrifying to me. I was honestly afraid for this team from the time of that first confrontation through to the end because it seemed like literally everything around them was trying to kill them.
There is a lot of talk of relationships and personal connections, where I kind of just wanted more carnage. This is a balanced sort of novel, and there's a logic to it that almost makes it too real. I was expecting a little more horror and fast energy, but this novel takes time to talk about how these people feel as they're dealing with all these horrors.
I also found it a little hard to picture at times, but that's possibly on me and my wonky imagination. This is a wild race across wild, abandoned terrain, and it was hard for me to grasp just how extreme the nature-takeover was.
At the end of the day, though, it was a fast, unique horror featuring a homicidal mother nature figure that kept me thoroughly entertained.
March 13, 2024
3.5 stars
The setting is an alt/near future where vast areas of the world have been set aside as a kind of nature preserve where human visitation is strictly prohibited. Of course, that doesn't stop people from trying to get into these protected places.
Jenn and her father Dylan are extreme adventurers, who along with their team, make an attempt to infiltrate and cross the oldest of these Virgin Zones, Eden, which has been sealed from visitors for 50 years. The team has done a lot of adventuring together in various places, but Eden is the most difficult and potentially dangerous site they have tackled. Not only has the environment transformed far beyond what they were expecting, it turns out some of the members of the team have personal agendas at play, increasing the level of danger to to the group.
The story plays out pretty much as you might expect, with gory action scenes and a lot time spent trying to escape. But while predictable, the story is nevertheless an engaging read. Lebbon is an experienced writer, and it shows. The pacing and buildup of tension, followed by the inevitable chase to the finish is well done and basically delivers exactly as promised. It's nature horror done well but with no real surprises.
The setting is an alt/near future where vast areas of the world have been set aside as a kind of nature preserve where human visitation is strictly prohibited. Of course, that doesn't stop people from trying to get into these protected places.
Jenn and her father Dylan are extreme adventurers, who along with their team, make an attempt to infiltrate and cross the oldest of these Virgin Zones, Eden, which has been sealed from visitors for 50 years. The team has done a lot of adventuring together in various places, but Eden is the most difficult and potentially dangerous site they have tackled. Not only has the environment transformed far beyond what they were expecting, it turns out some of the members of the team have personal agendas at play, increasing the level of danger to to the group.
The story plays out pretty much as you might expect, with gory action scenes and a lot time spent trying to escape. But while predictable, the story is nevertheless an engaging read. Lebbon is an experienced writer, and it shows. The pacing and buildup of tension, followed by the inevitable chase to the finish is well done and basically delivers exactly as promised. It's nature horror done well but with no real surprises.
May 15, 2020
This book starts with a solid "Annihilation" vibe. A group of extreme athletes wants to infiltrate and cross one of the Virgin Zones, zones created for nature taking back what is hers and therefore off limits for humans. It starts with a subtle creepy feeling as they trespass into the unknown that seems more changed than the 50 years would warrant.
Each chapter starts with some sarcastic, poignant quote about the project and topics related to it. This sets a great overall feeling for the world and the mind setting of the groups involved. A successful structure to my liking.
The subtlety ends about halftime when the story evolves in a rather conventional splatter horror. Absolutely not bad for the genre, but with this beginning I was hoping for something more weird and mystical. So in the end I was left with an unsatisfied feeling.
Each chapter starts with some sarcastic, poignant quote about the project and topics related to it. This sets a great overall feeling for the world and the mind setting of the groups involved. A successful structure to my liking.
The subtlety ends about halftime when the story evolves in a rather conventional splatter horror. Absolutely not bad for the genre, but with this beginning I was hoping for something more weird and mystical. So in the end I was left with an unsatisfied feeling.
June 28, 2020
ugh... that was a whole lotta nothing.
One of the few things I'll take away from this lame story is Dylan thinking constantly about his ex-wife Kat. What was he thinking you ask? How about this every stinking time her name comes up (and it comes up a lot): "we're divorced, I still love her even though she left me".
The other things: running, eating energy bars, running some more, and someone thinking something is watching or following them.
Save time and avoid this one.
One of the few things I'll take away from this lame story is Dylan thinking constantly about his ex-wife Kat. What was he thinking you ask? How about this every stinking time her name comes up (and it comes up a lot): "we're divorced, I still love her even though she left me".
The other things: running, eating energy bars, running some more, and someone thinking something is watching or following them.
Save time and avoid this one.
September 3, 2020
Eden is a science fiction eco-thriller in which a group of extreme sports enthusiasts and supposed environmentalists race through one of the last places on Earth that has been reserved for nature. Eden is known as a Virgin Zone, a place where all the humans have been relocated, and whose borders are agressively protected by paramilitary groups (Zeds? Zions? I don’t really care). These places have been given back to nature in an effort to preserve them from human pollution/poaching/ deforestation/etc..
I had been looking forward to this since I first heard about it. It sounded like it might be one of those SciFi-Horror crossover books I’m so fond of (a la Crichton) and best of all it was set in a jungle- which is one of my favorite settings for a book (especially one that contains elements of horror).
Which is why I am so very displeased to tell you that this is probably one of the most mediocre, vanilla, unexciting books I have ever fucking read.
I didn’t even know it was possible to write a Science-Fiction-Eco-Thriller-Horror-Genre-Bender that was this fucking boring.
First of all- the character motivations don’t make any sense. Supposedly all these characters care deeply for the environment. They believe in the purpose of the Virgin Zones. They think what humans have done to the planet is horrible.
So what the hell are they doing violating the laws of these zones? Contaminating these pure zones with their presence? For bragging rights? I don’t buy it. And judging by the number of times the author made his characters repeat some justification of their actions, I don’t think he really bought it either.
But that’s not really my problem with this book. I can get down with a good popcorn thriller where the idiot victim is running up the stairs instead of outside. It’s basically my favorite kind of book (and movie for that matter).
What is not forgivable, is that the big bad guys are a lynx, a coyote, and a wolf.
…
First of all. I thought Eden was supposed to be what was left of the Amazon Rainforest. None of those animals are native to that area (I have yet to even mention the grizzly that shows up- I’m not spoiling this. I’m doing you a favor.). I am willing to accept that perhaps I am mistaken about where Eden is set. I still think that these are ridiculously boring choices for what is supposed to be a horror book.
It was borderline insulting. As if the author put no thought or effort into the book at all. Like these were the first animals he thought of so he went with it and never bothered to edit them into something more exciting (hell I would have accepted the bear- but it gets no action).
What about a crocodile? A huge nest of giant poisonous spiders? An anaconda? A leopard?! A terrible alien predator thing with too many teeth?
Forgive my rambling. The characters weren’t too terrible for what they are. I can’t say I cared too much for any of them but it’s not the kind of book you read for it’s deep character building.
There wasn’t much suspense built in. The author reveals his hand too early, doesn’t take the time to build up the suspense properly. There are subplots that don’t make much sense…. ugh. The reason for the animal attacks is never given any explanation or thought (and frankly, that subplot was a lot scarier than what actually happened).
I know this is a very rant-tastic review so I’d like to close this by saying Eden isn’t really as bad as all that… but it’s also not worth reading. I’d check out Devolution by Max Brooks if you’re looking for something in this vein. Or a re-read of Jurassic Park. Or pretty much anything else. #SorryNotSorry
I had been looking forward to this since I first heard about it. It sounded like it might be one of those SciFi-Horror crossover books I’m so fond of (a la Crichton) and best of all it was set in a jungle- which is one of my favorite settings for a book (especially one that contains elements of horror).
Which is why I am so very displeased to tell you that this is probably one of the most mediocre, vanilla, unexciting books I have ever fucking read.
I didn’t even know it was possible to write a Science-Fiction-Eco-Thriller-Horror-Genre-Bender that was this fucking boring.
First of all- the character motivations don’t make any sense. Supposedly all these characters care deeply for the environment. They believe in the purpose of the Virgin Zones. They think what humans have done to the planet is horrible.
So what the hell are they doing violating the laws of these zones? Contaminating these pure zones with their presence? For bragging rights? I don’t buy it. And judging by the number of times the author made his characters repeat some justification of their actions, I don’t think he really bought it either.
But that’s not really my problem with this book. I can get down with a good popcorn thriller where the idiot victim is running up the stairs instead of outside. It’s basically my favorite kind of book (and movie for that matter).
What is not forgivable, is that the big bad guys are a lynx, a coyote, and a wolf.
…
First of all. I thought Eden was supposed to be what was left of the Amazon Rainforest. None of those animals are native to that area (I have yet to even mention the grizzly that shows up- I’m not spoiling this. I’m doing you a favor.). I am willing to accept that perhaps I am mistaken about where Eden is set. I still think that these are ridiculously boring choices for what is supposed to be a horror book.
It was borderline insulting. As if the author put no thought or effort into the book at all. Like these were the first animals he thought of so he went with it and never bothered to edit them into something more exciting (hell I would have accepted the bear- but it gets no action).
What about a crocodile? A huge nest of giant poisonous spiders? An anaconda? A leopard?! A terrible alien predator thing with too many teeth?
Forgive my rambling. The characters weren’t too terrible for what they are. I can’t say I cared too much for any of them but it’s not the kind of book you read for it’s deep character building.
There wasn’t much suspense built in. The author reveals his hand too early, doesn’t take the time to build up the suspense properly. There are subplots that don’t make much sense…. ugh. The reason for the animal attacks is never given any explanation or thought (and frankly, that subplot was a lot scarier than what actually happened).
I know this is a very rant-tastic review so I’d like to close this by saying Eden isn’t really as bad as all that… but it’s also not worth reading. I’d check out Devolution by Max Brooks if you’re looking for something in this vein. Or a re-read of Jurassic Park. Or pretty much anything else. #SorryNotSorry
April 18, 2021
3.5 rounding to 4! Eden releases 4/7!
Fans of Lebbon's, The Silence, Adam Nevill's The Ritual and World War Z will love this one. A documentary style, nature horror novel.
Fans of Lebbon's, The Silence, Adam Nevill's The Ritual and World War Z will love this one. A documentary style, nature horror novel.
May 6, 2020
From Sci Fi and Scary
Eden is probably one of the very few “eco-horror” novels I’ve read. Preceding this was The Ruins by Scott Smith and a few others I fail to remember. Tim Lebbon has managed to create a fast-paced thriller/suspense which kept me engaged throughout.
At first, I just enjoyed getting to know the characters and the future world they inhabit. Several zones throughout the world are given “back to nature”and things are quite different. The ragtag group of explorers presented is fascinating, with interesting, developed backstories. I found the writing quite straightforward and it only lagged for me in a few places. I was not, however, prepared for what followed.
“She cannot scream because her mouth is not her own. Control recedes…” – Tim Lebbon, Eden
The last part of this book is a race to the finish. The quote above is chilling and so representative of the dread and terror that rips through the last three quarters of the novel. As the synopsis above mentions, “nature has returned to Eden in an elemental, primeval way,” and even if the reader thinks they know what might happen, they are quite likely incorrect. As a reader and a horror fan, I had a ball with the last half of this book. Lebbon’s writing flows and the action pounds across the silver screen of the page.
This book is a perfect read for this spring and summer. I think readers will be immersed in Eden. For fans of The Ruins, Thomas Harris, and other fast-paced thriller/suspense/horror mash-ups.
Eden is probably one of the very few “eco-horror” novels I’ve read. Preceding this was The Ruins by Scott Smith and a few others I fail to remember. Tim Lebbon has managed to create a fast-paced thriller/suspense which kept me engaged throughout.
At first, I just enjoyed getting to know the characters and the future world they inhabit. Several zones throughout the world are given “back to nature”and things are quite different. The ragtag group of explorers presented is fascinating, with interesting, developed backstories. I found the writing quite straightforward and it only lagged for me in a few places. I was not, however, prepared for what followed.
“She cannot scream because her mouth is not her own. Control recedes…” – Tim Lebbon, Eden
The last part of this book is a race to the finish. The quote above is chilling and so representative of the dread and terror that rips through the last three quarters of the novel. As the synopsis above mentions, “nature has returned to Eden in an elemental, primeval way,” and even if the reader thinks they know what might happen, they are quite likely incorrect. As a reader and a horror fan, I had a ball with the last half of this book. Lebbon’s writing flows and the action pounds across the silver screen of the page.
This book is a perfect read for this spring and summer. I think readers will be immersed in Eden. For fans of The Ruins, Thomas Harris, and other fast-paced thriller/suspense/horror mash-ups.
April 30, 2020
This book had a really interesting concept but unfortunately it was not for me
It's hard to say what genre this book really falls under. At the start, I thought it was more science fiction/ dystopian but as the book goes on it becomes more of a horror.
I'm not sure if this book is a sequel, but at the start it did feel like it was. We are thrown into this world with little explanation, it was hard to work out what was happening.
The biggest issue I had with this book was that I thought it was really boring. It wasn't engaging and I found it hard to follow what was happening. But that could just be because I'm struggling to concentrate at the moment.
I would say, that I did like the writing style and it was fast paced. But it just wasn't my cup of tea.
It covers really important issues e.g about the environment and climate change. At times was almost to close to home.
Overall, I definitely wouldn't say this is a bad book but it wasn't my cup of tea
TW: violence, murder and animal abuse
It's hard to say what genre this book really falls under. At the start, I thought it was more science fiction/ dystopian but as the book goes on it becomes more of a horror.
I'm not sure if this book is a sequel, but at the start it did feel like it was. We are thrown into this world with little explanation, it was hard to work out what was happening.
The biggest issue I had with this book was that I thought it was really boring. It wasn't engaging and I found it hard to follow what was happening. But that could just be because I'm struggling to concentrate at the moment.
I would say, that I did like the writing style and it was fast paced. But it just wasn't my cup of tea.
It covers really important issues e.g about the environment and climate change. At times was almost to close to home.
Overall, I definitely wouldn't say this is a bad book but it wasn't my cup of tea
TW: violence, murder and animal abuse
May 15, 2020
2.5 stars. At first it seemed like this would be something different. Unusual group of protagonists and hints of worldbuilding to come, but it never delivered on its promise. The protagonists' skill as adventurers and endurance athletes just meant they would go somewhere really dangerous and be able to run a lot, there were too many bland and boring romantic connections that existed just so that the characters would feel extra pain when they were wrenched away from one of their teammates. The idea of this future world with its preserved no-human zones is interesting, but we don't get to explore it in any depth. At first, the chapter intros gave us some enticing details, but they never moved beyond the basics.
By the time you hit the actual danger about halfway through, it loses momentum instead of gaining it. Pages and pages of the characters saying "but insert-plant-or-animal doesn't behave like that" when yes we have already established normal natural rules do not exist, maybe let's take that as a given! I also felt that the third point of view, from a previous adventurer, took away suspense and intrigue rather than added to it and would rather it not have existed at all.
Definitely had potential, but ultimately the second half was about as by the book as you can get.
By the time you hit the actual danger about halfway through, it loses momentum instead of gaining it. Pages and pages of the characters saying "but insert-plant-or-animal doesn't behave like that" when yes we have already established normal natural rules do not exist, maybe let's take that as a given! I also felt that the third point of view, from a previous adventurer, took away suspense and intrigue rather than added to it and would rather it not have existed at all.
Definitely had potential, but ultimately the second half was about as by the book as you can get.
March 20, 2020
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
‘The Silence’ from Lebbon was my first experience with his writing and boy was it a treat. I still need to read ‘Coldbrook’ and his release with Christopher Golden ‘Blood of the Four,’ but when this was offered up for reviewers, I reached out and was kindly sent a PDF.
Tim’s a really nice guy, nice enough to have even let me interview him for my professional publication about his pursuit of running and Iron Man races. After reading his responses, the passion he has for distance endurance was evident, which makes the story in ‘Eden’ all that sweeter.
What I liked: I absolutely loved this book. We’ve frequently been introduced to post-apocalyptic landscapes or Man-vs-Nature storylines, but Lebbon added his own stamp on this with two particular plot lines. The first is the reclamation of large sections of Earth. The world governments banded together and in order to try and undo some of our destruction, they’ve designated areas that humans are not allowed to live in or enter. These are areas complete with ruthless border patrols and nature re-terraforming the cities. Each chapter was started with a snippet from a diary/journal/book etc talking about how this occurred and what resulted because of it. I would love to read more about these zones in the future.
I really loved the cast of characters Lebbon assembled, which brings me back to the second plotline. The endurance runners trying to set a zone crossing record. I loved that. It showed why this mixed bag of people regrouped time and again and why Dylan, the leader and father of one of the runners, was so focused on the task at hand, even as things began to go south. Returning to what I mentioned earlier about Lebbon’s love of endurance running, this shined through and I found that little nuances that only someone who had spent years training and prepping for this time of competition would think of, like the carrying of supplies etc.
Lastly, Eden itself is spectacular. The scope is massive, impressive and for me reading, absolutely claustrophobic. I’ve always said I’m scared to death of the forest, much like people are with deep water. We can only see so far into the trees, into the darkness of the water – it’s what lurks just beyond what we can see that we need to be worried about. Lebbon delivers some fantastic twists and as Eden unfolds, and begins to show exactly what it has planned for our group of explorers, Tim goes full out with letting his imagination take over. Well done.
What I didn’t like: There was only once aspect to this that I felt a bit unnecessary – the random chapters from Jenn’s mom. Whenever I would end a chapter and then a chapter from Kay started, I personally didn’t find it added much to the story, or much on top of what was already being delivered. Saying that, others may very well like them and they do serve a purpose.
Why you should buy this: There’s a reason this book is on so many “most-anticipated” lists. It bristles with emotion. This is Lebbon doing a better version of a Jon Krakauer survival book. If you followed my progress on Goodreads, you’ll see that it actually took me a long time to read this. That was purely due to my copy being a PDF. I knew what I was getting into when I accepted it, so it took me a bit longer. I know for a fact if I had a mobi review copy, I would have read this in three sittings. This book is just so outstanding and Tim did a marvellous job of creating real characters, an amazing reason for them to be together and a simply stunning way to retell or recreate the “Man-vs-Nature” storyline.
This is a must-read.
‘The Silence’ from Lebbon was my first experience with his writing and boy was it a treat. I still need to read ‘Coldbrook’ and his release with Christopher Golden ‘Blood of the Four,’ but when this was offered up for reviewers, I reached out and was kindly sent a PDF.
Tim’s a really nice guy, nice enough to have even let me interview him for my professional publication about his pursuit of running and Iron Man races. After reading his responses, the passion he has for distance endurance was evident, which makes the story in ‘Eden’ all that sweeter.
What I liked: I absolutely loved this book. We’ve frequently been introduced to post-apocalyptic landscapes or Man-vs-Nature storylines, but Lebbon added his own stamp on this with two particular plot lines. The first is the reclamation of large sections of Earth. The world governments banded together and in order to try and undo some of our destruction, they’ve designated areas that humans are not allowed to live in or enter. These are areas complete with ruthless border patrols and nature re-terraforming the cities. Each chapter was started with a snippet from a diary/journal/book etc talking about how this occurred and what resulted because of it. I would love to read more about these zones in the future.
I really loved the cast of characters Lebbon assembled, which brings me back to the second plotline. The endurance runners trying to set a zone crossing record. I loved that. It showed why this mixed bag of people regrouped time and again and why Dylan, the leader and father of one of the runners, was so focused on the task at hand, even as things began to go south. Returning to what I mentioned earlier about Lebbon’s love of endurance running, this shined through and I found that little nuances that only someone who had spent years training and prepping for this time of competition would think of, like the carrying of supplies etc.
Lastly, Eden itself is spectacular. The scope is massive, impressive and for me reading, absolutely claustrophobic. I’ve always said I’m scared to death of the forest, much like people are with deep water. We can only see so far into the trees, into the darkness of the water – it’s what lurks just beyond what we can see that we need to be worried about. Lebbon delivers some fantastic twists and as Eden unfolds, and begins to show exactly what it has planned for our group of explorers, Tim goes full out with letting his imagination take over. Well done.
What I didn’t like: There was only once aspect to this that I felt a bit unnecessary – the random chapters from Jenn’s mom. Whenever I would end a chapter and then a chapter from Kay started, I personally didn’t find it added much to the story, or much on top of what was already being delivered. Saying that, others may very well like them and they do serve a purpose.
Why you should buy this: There’s a reason this book is on so many “most-anticipated” lists. It bristles with emotion. This is Lebbon doing a better version of a Jon Krakauer survival book. If you followed my progress on Goodreads, you’ll see that it actually took me a long time to read this. That was purely due to my copy being a PDF. I knew what I was getting into when I accepted it, so it took me a bit longer. I know for a fact if I had a mobi review copy, I would have read this in three sittings. This book is just so outstanding and Tim did a marvellous job of creating real characters, an amazing reason for them to be together and a simply stunning way to retell or recreate the “Man-vs-Nature” storyline.
This is a must-read.
August 15, 2024
Held such promise but didn’t feel like the idea was fully explored.
May 31, 2020
My first thoughts reading Eden were that it reminded me a lot of Jeff VenderMeer's Annihilation (which many other reviewers have also stated), though written more in a voice like Josh Maleman, and a bit like The Andromeda Evolution. If you enjoyed those forays into mysterious jungles, you should enjoy Eden as well. An adventure into the unknown, it's not just man vs. nature but man vs. a nature tainted in unimaginable ways.
April 6, 2020
Rating: 8.5/10
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance copy of Eden for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
Eden is a hauntingly beautiful look at nature’s reclamation from man and the lengths it’ll take to protect it. Lebbon has crafted a top-notch eco-thriller that is destined for the big screen.
This was my first go at a full-length novel from the author, so I was pretty naive going in. I’d seen the Netflix adaptation of his novel, The Silence, a little while back and also had a chance to chat with the author on my podcast a couple of months ago, so I decided to give it a go and see if all of these rave author blurbs held up.
Well, they did.
While I found myself stumbling a bit in the beginning (say the first quarter or so) while we are being introduced to the characters, their reasoning behind traveling to Eden in the first place, and what they hoped to achieve by crossing it, it is all relevant to set up the rest of the novel. Oh boy, I did not expect to absolutely DEVOUR the last 75% of this novel in a matter of a couple hours. Lebbon’s writing accelerates off the page; we are talking from a brisk walk to full on sprint in the matter of pages once our adventurers find themselves deep within this Virgin Zone. Things that go bump in the night tend to have teeth, and they are typically razor sharp.
The characters themselves were fairly engaging, though a majority of them were there for the intent of fluff and dramatics. The main focus sat with Dylan and his daughter, Jenn, and their reason for traveling into Eden. The constant fight they put up to survive and find what they were looking for was so engaging and heart-breaking; I don’t see how you could be unmoved by their story. Mixed in with the groups’ story are glimpses into a parallel story of a woman named Kat, who we come to find out is Jenn’s mother, which I felt added a very ominous tone to the narrative but didn’t ultimately add a ton to the story.
The real reason I enjoyed this novel so immensely was how gorgeously displayed Eden was. The author’s ability to bring Eden to life and let it entangle the reader in its vines was absolutely breath-taking. It is a stunning world to bring these characters into, and while they fell for its innocent beauty just like I did, the darkness it hides may be even more tantalizing.
All in all, even with a bit of a trip at the beginning, Eden turned into a fantastic read with a photo finish. Perfect for fans of Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy. Can’t recommend it enough.
Thanks to the publisher and author for an advance copy of Eden for review consideration. This did not influence my thoughts or opinions.
Eden is a hauntingly beautiful look at nature’s reclamation from man and the lengths it’ll take to protect it. Lebbon has crafted a top-notch eco-thriller that is destined for the big screen.
This was my first go at a full-length novel from the author, so I was pretty naive going in. I’d seen the Netflix adaptation of his novel, The Silence, a little while back and also had a chance to chat with the author on my podcast a couple of months ago, so I decided to give it a go and see if all of these rave author blurbs held up.
Well, they did.
While I found myself stumbling a bit in the beginning (say the first quarter or so) while we are being introduced to the characters, their reasoning behind traveling to Eden in the first place, and what they hoped to achieve by crossing it, it is all relevant to set up the rest of the novel. Oh boy, I did not expect to absolutely DEVOUR the last 75% of this novel in a matter of a couple hours. Lebbon’s writing accelerates off the page; we are talking from a brisk walk to full on sprint in the matter of pages once our adventurers find themselves deep within this Virgin Zone. Things that go bump in the night tend to have teeth, and they are typically razor sharp.
The characters themselves were fairly engaging, though a majority of them were there for the intent of fluff and dramatics. The main focus sat with Dylan and his daughter, Jenn, and their reason for traveling into Eden. The constant fight they put up to survive and find what they were looking for was so engaging and heart-breaking; I don’t see how you could be unmoved by their story. Mixed in with the groups’ story are glimpses into a parallel story of a woman named Kat, who we come to find out is Jenn’s mother, which I felt added a very ominous tone to the narrative but didn’t ultimately add a ton to the story.
The real reason I enjoyed this novel so immensely was how gorgeously displayed Eden was. The author’s ability to bring Eden to life and let it entangle the reader in its vines was absolutely breath-taking. It is a stunning world to bring these characters into, and while they fell for its innocent beauty just like I did, the darkness it hides may be even more tantalizing.
All in all, even with a bit of a trip at the beginning, Eden turned into a fantastic read with a photo finish. Perfect for fans of Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy. Can’t recommend it enough.
November 8, 2021
1,5 - 2 Sterne
Ich hätte mir mehr erwartet als eine langatmige Einleitung, die nach der Hälfte in 0815-Horror abdriftet und flache Charaktere, die trotz angeblicher enormer Expertise teilweise schon fast lachhafte Einschätzungen und Handlungen zeigten und mir gänzlich egal blieben, von den Dialogen ganz zu schweigen. Sehr schade um die Idee, das gelungene world building und die zumindest zum Teil aufkommende Atmosphäre.
Ich hätte mir mehr erwartet als eine langatmige Einleitung, die nach der Hälfte in 0815-Horror abdriftet und flache Charaktere, die trotz angeblicher enormer Expertise teilweise schon fast lachhafte Einschätzungen und Handlungen zeigten und mir gänzlich egal blieben, von den Dialogen ganz zu schweigen. Sehr schade um die Idee, das gelungene world building und die zumindest zum Teil aufkommende Atmosphäre.
June 9, 2020
Do you know when people say that a book 'reads like a movie'? This is Eden.
As I have mentioned before, whenever I read an author that is new to me I manage to feel excited, intimidated, a bit anxious and happy—it's a crazy mixed bag of feelings.
I had The Silence sitting on my TBR but ended up watching the movie before I had a chance to read the book. I rarely do that, but it does happen from time to time. I did enjoy The Silence (movie), but I can't really tell whether the book is better or not. If I had to take a guess, I'd say the book is probably great.
So, when Titan Books asked if I wanted to take part on the Bookstagram tour for the upcoming Eden, I knew I had to jump right in.
From the bestselling author of The Silence comes a brand-new supernatural eco-thriller. In large areas of the planet, nature is no longer humanity's friend...
I must admit that I have never heard of eco-thriller or eco-horror before. Yet, the term fits perfectly with Eden.
The connection with Tim's writing happened immediately. He didn't have to go deep into each character in order to grab my interest (this doesn't happen often).
The story itself was very interesting and quite fitting: Nature being scary.
If you've enjoyed any of the movies/books below, give Eden a try:
Annihilation
The Ruins
The Ritual
Jurassic Park
Eden was a great surprise. Something completely different from my usual range of horror.
Was it a perfect read?
Nope. There were some elements that I didn't enjoy.
Although it did force me to knock a star off of my rating, it certainly didn't affect my overall enjoyment of the book.
Huge thanks to Titan Books and Tim Lebbon for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review. And for the opportunity to take part in the UK promotional tour.
As I have mentioned before, whenever I read an author that is new to me I manage to feel excited, intimidated, a bit anxious and happy—it's a crazy mixed bag of feelings.
I had The Silence sitting on my TBR but ended up watching the movie before I had a chance to read the book. I rarely do that, but it does happen from time to time. I did enjoy The Silence (movie), but I can't really tell whether the book is better or not. If I had to take a guess, I'd say the book is probably great.
So, when Titan Books asked if I wanted to take part on the Bookstagram tour for the upcoming Eden, I knew I had to jump right in.
From the bestselling author of The Silence comes a brand-new supernatural eco-thriller. In large areas of the planet, nature is no longer humanity's friend...
I must admit that I have never heard of eco-thriller or eco-horror before. Yet, the term fits perfectly with Eden.
The connection with Tim's writing happened immediately. He didn't have to go deep into each character in order to grab my interest (this doesn't happen often).
The story itself was very interesting and quite fitting: Nature being scary.
"Coming to Eden, she never meant any harm. She hoped to die on her own terms. She wasn’t expecting something worse."
If you've enjoyed any of the movies/books below, give Eden a try:
Annihilation
The Ruins
The Ritual
Jurassic Park
Eden was a great surprise. Something completely different from my usual range of horror.
Was it a perfect read?
Nope. There were some elements that I didn't enjoy.
Although it did force me to knock a star off of my rating, it certainly didn't affect my overall enjoyment of the book.
Huge thanks to Titan Books and Tim Lebbon for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review. And for the opportunity to take part in the UK promotional tour.
May 7, 2020
Since the 1990s, Tim Lebbon has been one of the most prolific writers of dark fiction, comfortably hopping between fantasy, science fiction and horror. Recently, it was great to see his outstanding 2015 novel
The Silence
adapted into a decent Netflix film and I hope this encourages new readers to dig a little deeper. It is worth it, as his back-catalogue is vast, ranging from film novelisations and additions to existing franchises. However, he is at his most creative when producing original material, with
Echo City
being a personal favourite. Lebbon maintains that high standard of originality with his latest work, Eden, which again blends genres, this time with a strong environmental theme backing up a very entertaining survival story.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
March 4, 2021
Comparisons to the Area X trilogy seem about as apt as comparing “Independence Day” to “Arrival” because they both happen to be about aliens. Thematically, I’d say the two are diametrically opposed (the moral of “Eden” seems to be “what if we did conservation a little too much? What if our solutions to climate change are as bad as climate change?”—which...ok).
Between paper thin characters, bland prose and boring action scenes, I’m going to probably forget it tomorrow, but the way it suffers most in the comparison to “Annihilation” is how little imagination is on display. It just isn’t that weird. Strip away the speculative conceit (which is easy to do, the philosophical questions that arise aren’t deeply explored anyway) and you have a bog standard man-vs-nature story, sans the monsters and creep factor you’re probably hoping for.
Between paper thin characters, bland prose and boring action scenes, I’m going to probably forget it tomorrow, but the way it suffers most in the comparison to “Annihilation” is how little imagination is on display. It just isn’t that weird. Strip away the speculative conceit (which is easy to do, the philosophical questions that arise aren’t deeply explored anyway) and you have a bog standard man-vs-nature story, sans the monsters and creep factor you’re probably hoping for.
June 8, 2020
3.5 / 5 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
Global warming and climate change have wrought intense havoc on Earth, spoiling the planet almost beyond recognition. Smog clouds the formerly azure sky. Rivers run brown with sludge, silt chokes the water. The Amazon has been whittled to nothing, the remnants torched. The Arctic is hot and dry, its residents long dead. Pollutants run rampant across the planet. The Earth is dying, but not yet dead. And humanity has killed it. Or, nearly has. In a last-ditch effort to combat the change, the world establishes a number of preserves. Refuges for animals and nature, Virgin Zones are just that; zones dedicated entirely to nature, with no human involvement or activity. Zeds patrol their borders, guarding against incursion in the virgin wilderness. This is humanity’s last hope—and they won’t let anyone screw it up.
Though intended to provide the planet with badly needed air, the Zones draw incursion like dung draws flies. Extreme athletes and adventurers flock to the Zones, eager to prove their mettle at the last challenge the Earth has to offer. They compete in illicit races, tests of endurance and speed, each netting huge rewards on the black market. The Zeds may protect the Zones, but not even they are infallible. With the proper motivation—and for the right price—anyone can enter one of the Zones. But after that, they’re on their own.
The oldest and most famed Virgin Zones, Eden represents the ultimate test of endurance for athletes. It is the Everest of Zones, the Ironman of races, the… you get the idea. Teams will do anything to cross it—or die trying. And yet in the half-century since Eden’s creation, there has never been a successful crossing.
Jenn and her father aim to change that. Just two of the members of one of the most elite adventure race teams on the planet, they represent years of skill and success. A tight knit group of six, they have crossed over half the Virgin Zones—some multiple times—often posting record times in the attempt. For three years the team has considered testing their skills on Eden—now is their chance.
Unlike the other Zones they have crossed, Eden has never conquered. What lurks beyond its borders is shrouded in mystery. The team goes in expecting the unexpected, confident that Eden holds nothing that can defeat them. Yet the Zone may surprise them, because—contrary to their beliefs—Eden is truly wild.
I like a good thriller every now and then, especially one with supernatural elements. Eden provides this and more; an entertaining and fast-paced mystery intertwining with a slowly building horror story rife with primordial glee. While the plot tips its hand early, ruining some of the anticipation, I was still thoroughly absorbed in the story through the halfway mark, when the pace really gets rolling. And when the reason behind Eden’s mystery breaks—the story starts to falter.
The problem with writing the perfect thriller is threefold. It has to be a steady build at first, something to tow the reader along, tempting them with clues to keep them reading, while not doing anything to overt to tip its hand. When it comes to the heart of the mystery and everything breaks loose, it must mix action and suspense in such a way that the pacing neither slows down too much or burns too fast so as to keep the reader’s attention. And then there’s the hook. Something presented in the beginning, something that teases a revelation further on, something juicy enough to keep the reader wondering, wallowing in the mystery and suspense until the realization finally breaks free.
Eden does the first part masterfully well. The mystery and suspense blend superbly beneath the primordial backdrop—an Earth undisturbed by the hands of mankind. The suspense builds slowly as the runners infiltrate Eden, set out across its primeval landscape, slowly creeping closer to the heart of the wild. And then the trap is set: mysterious happenings and clues begin to crop up, making the team question their choice, without overtly scaring them off. I read to the halfway point with little issue, despite the mistake Eden makes early on.
The hook is the first problem. It’s too revealing, too soon. Before this, it’d been revealed that it hadn’t been a fluke that Jenn decided to go to Eden when she did. Her mother—Dylan’s ex-wife—had come here first. She had sent Jenn a photo with a cryptic note, prompting her daughter to follow her. Kat has come to Eden to die, but her reasons are her own. And she’s just far enough ahead of her daughter that the others might not be able to do anything to stop her. We’re given one interlude in Kat’s POV every ten chapters or so. In her first one, she states she’s come to Eden to die, but no more. In the second, she more or less gives away the mystery.
The suspense had been building slowly to this point. I wasn’t sure what was going on in the book, but was keen to find out. The hook—when it came—was too revealing. It gave away the suspense, the mystery, almost the plot. Eden was still a good read after that, until the SHTF moment makes the pacing go sideways. There’s a lot of action, then a break, more action, more break, action-sequence, wait, action, wait, action—in that order. Every now and then, the book tries to reintroduce the mystery, the suspense, but for me that ship had sailed. Since it broke the surprise so early on, there’s nothing to pace the action to the end. It’s just action, and less-actions more-waiting parts. Shockingly, this combination doesn’t blend well. The second half is so strangely paced—it’s almost reason enough to read Eden to see it. The story is still good, however. It kept me reading, entertained me enough to see it through. While the mystery of Eden itself is blown wide-open, some other threads are still up in the air. Characters I’d grown to care about, possible conclusions I’d like to see come to pass. It kept me reading, almost up to the end. It struggles a bit then, as we leave some threads open. I would’ve liked to see a more adequate conclusion, on the whole. Instead the story veers, giving an ending to one of the stories being told. But not the other.
Furthermore, the whole thing has a bit of an After Earth vibe (not the kinda thing any media wants to be compared to) (If you don’t understand that reference, feel free to google it). It comes down to evolution. And leads up to the question—how could something have evolved this quickly? To which the answer is—it really couldn’t’ve. Which kinda kills the premise.
TL;DR
Eden is a thrilling eco-horror novel with some brilliant suspense, but with the added feeling of an After Earth kinda vibe. So as you might expect, I was a little torn. I loved the beginning and the slow build, but thought the author might’ve tipped his hand too early on. This glimpse into the mystery all but killed it, and the suspense, for me at around the 1/5 mark. Moreover, with the jig up, the story gets into it well before it’s ready—at around the halfway point. After that it’s one extended action sequence to the end, which really screws the pacing all to hell. That said, I enjoyed Eden, on the whole. It was a good eco-thriller, despite some outlandish parts. And a decent mystery, despite giving it away too early. I would’ve liked to’ve seen a more thorough ending, but there is AN ending, which I suppose is enough. I left the book having enjoyed my time reading, annoyed though I was about a few pieces of it. I’d recommend Eden, just realize it’s not perfect. But it IS waaay better than After Earth.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
Global warming and climate change have wrought intense havoc on Earth, spoiling the planet almost beyond recognition. Smog clouds the formerly azure sky. Rivers run brown with sludge, silt chokes the water. The Amazon has been whittled to nothing, the remnants torched. The Arctic is hot and dry, its residents long dead. Pollutants run rampant across the planet. The Earth is dying, but not yet dead. And humanity has killed it. Or, nearly has. In a last-ditch effort to combat the change, the world establishes a number of preserves. Refuges for animals and nature, Virgin Zones are just that; zones dedicated entirely to nature, with no human involvement or activity. Zeds patrol their borders, guarding against incursion in the virgin wilderness. This is humanity’s last hope—and they won’t let anyone screw it up.
Though intended to provide the planet with badly needed air, the Zones draw incursion like dung draws flies. Extreme athletes and adventurers flock to the Zones, eager to prove their mettle at the last challenge the Earth has to offer. They compete in illicit races, tests of endurance and speed, each netting huge rewards on the black market. The Zeds may protect the Zones, but not even they are infallible. With the proper motivation—and for the right price—anyone can enter one of the Zones. But after that, they’re on their own.
The oldest and most famed Virgin Zones, Eden represents the ultimate test of endurance for athletes. It is the Everest of Zones, the Ironman of races, the… you get the idea. Teams will do anything to cross it—or die trying. And yet in the half-century since Eden’s creation, there has never been a successful crossing.
Jenn and her father aim to change that. Just two of the members of one of the most elite adventure race teams on the planet, they represent years of skill and success. A tight knit group of six, they have crossed over half the Virgin Zones—some multiple times—often posting record times in the attempt. For three years the team has considered testing their skills on Eden—now is their chance.
Unlike the other Zones they have crossed, Eden has never conquered. What lurks beyond its borders is shrouded in mystery. The team goes in expecting the unexpected, confident that Eden holds nothing that can defeat them. Yet the Zone may surprise them, because—contrary to their beliefs—Eden is truly wild.
I like a good thriller every now and then, especially one with supernatural elements. Eden provides this and more; an entertaining and fast-paced mystery intertwining with a slowly building horror story rife with primordial glee. While the plot tips its hand early, ruining some of the anticipation, I was still thoroughly absorbed in the story through the halfway mark, when the pace really gets rolling. And when the reason behind Eden’s mystery breaks—the story starts to falter.
The problem with writing the perfect thriller is threefold. It has to be a steady build at first, something to tow the reader along, tempting them with clues to keep them reading, while not doing anything to overt to tip its hand. When it comes to the heart of the mystery and everything breaks loose, it must mix action and suspense in such a way that the pacing neither slows down too much or burns too fast so as to keep the reader’s attention. And then there’s the hook. Something presented in the beginning, something that teases a revelation further on, something juicy enough to keep the reader wondering, wallowing in the mystery and suspense until the realization finally breaks free.
Eden does the first part masterfully well. The mystery and suspense blend superbly beneath the primordial backdrop—an Earth undisturbed by the hands of mankind. The suspense builds slowly as the runners infiltrate Eden, set out across its primeval landscape, slowly creeping closer to the heart of the wild. And then the trap is set: mysterious happenings and clues begin to crop up, making the team question their choice, without overtly scaring them off. I read to the halfway point with little issue, despite the mistake Eden makes early on.
The hook is the first problem. It’s too revealing, too soon. Before this, it’d been revealed that it hadn’t been a fluke that Jenn decided to go to Eden when she did. Her mother—Dylan’s ex-wife—had come here first. She had sent Jenn a photo with a cryptic note, prompting her daughter to follow her. Kat has come to Eden to die, but her reasons are her own. And she’s just far enough ahead of her daughter that the others might not be able to do anything to stop her. We’re given one interlude in Kat’s POV every ten chapters or so. In her first one, she states she’s come to Eden to die, but no more. In the second, she more or less gives away the mystery.
The suspense had been building slowly to this point. I wasn’t sure what was going on in the book, but was keen to find out. The hook—when it came—was too revealing. It gave away the suspense, the mystery, almost the plot. Eden was still a good read after that, until the SHTF moment makes the pacing go sideways. There’s a lot of action, then a break, more action, more break, action-sequence, wait, action, wait, action—in that order. Every now and then, the book tries to reintroduce the mystery, the suspense, but for me that ship had sailed. Since it broke the surprise so early on, there’s nothing to pace the action to the end. It’s just action, and less-actions more-waiting parts. Shockingly, this combination doesn’t blend well. The second half is so strangely paced—it’s almost reason enough to read Eden to see it. The story is still good, however. It kept me reading, entertained me enough to see it through. While the mystery of Eden itself is blown wide-open, some other threads are still up in the air. Characters I’d grown to care about, possible conclusions I’d like to see come to pass. It kept me reading, almost up to the end. It struggles a bit then, as we leave some threads open. I would’ve liked to see a more adequate conclusion, on the whole. Instead the story veers, giving an ending to one of the stories being told. But not the other.
Furthermore, the whole thing has a bit of an After Earth vibe (not the kinda thing any media wants to be compared to) (If you don’t understand that reference, feel free to google it). It comes down to evolution. And leads up to the question—how could something have evolved this quickly? To which the answer is—it really couldn’t’ve. Which kinda kills the premise.
TL;DR
Eden is a thrilling eco-horror novel with some brilliant suspense, but with the added feeling of an After Earth kinda vibe. So as you might expect, I was a little torn. I loved the beginning and the slow build, but thought the author might’ve tipped his hand too early on. This glimpse into the mystery all but killed it, and the suspense, for me at around the 1/5 mark. Moreover, with the jig up, the story gets into it well before it’s ready—at around the halfway point. After that it’s one extended action sequence to the end, which really screws the pacing all to hell. That said, I enjoyed Eden, on the whole. It was a good eco-thriller, despite some outlandish parts. And a decent mystery, despite giving it away too early. I would’ve liked to’ve seen a more thorough ending, but there is AN ending, which I suppose is enough. I left the book having enjoyed my time reading, annoyed though I was about a few pieces of it. I’d recommend Eden, just realize it’s not perfect. But it IS waaay better than After Earth.
September 27, 2020
Quite an interesting idea, though it could have been executed a little better. Long discussion below.
Eden is one of the world's Virgin Zones, large areas of land forcefully vacated by humanity and given back to nature. The borders are heavily patrolled and not everyone that manages to sneak in, come out. Jenn and her group are adventure racers, a team that run, hike and climb their way through difficult terrain as fast as they can to set new records. They've tackled Virgin Zones before, but have now set their sights on Eden. But things go horribly wrong inside the first and oldest zone.
First off, I'll say that most of the deaths (it's a horror/thriller, there's deaths) are well described and interesting. The bodies that are found are also described quite well and are all found in bizarre positions (I won't say anymore because of spoilers), but this aspect was handled well.
Most of the rest of this review is a somewhat negative or neutral discussion/questioning of various aspects of the book and plot. It's basically explaining why I've given it 3 stars. There is one paragraph with a spoiler warning above it, then the rest is unspoilery (that's a real word lol)
Poke's introduction was handled really poorly. It was so clunky and felt almost... Backwards? I don't know it was very weirdly done.
The characters aren't developed very well, though it could certainly have been worse. So when deaths occured it didn't effect me as it should have. The relationship between Dylan and Jenn (father-daughter) also felt unreal and underdeveloped at times as well. I didn't really have any issues with Jenn's relationship with Aaron though. I can't really tell you what anyone looked like either... I think some breif descriptions may have been given at the beginning but they weren't mentioned again. Other than Kat having green eyes and Gee missing a hand, I can't remember anything else. Though it was mentioned constantly that Jenn has nightmares. Constantly.
There's a couple instances where a conversation/interaction between characters doesn't quite make sense... Almost as though the author forgot to explain things properly, or assumed we knew the characters as well as he did and could read their minds. I didn't include an example here as I wasn't sure how to do so.
There were also cases where descriptions didn't make sense, because Lebbon used particular words as synonyms when they weren't quite that. There was a description of a body at one point that jumped between it being a skeleton and a decaying corpse. I was very confused as to what they were looking at. In addition to this, descriptions were often repetitive. The way the forest looked, memories of bodies and how Eden was reclaiming humanity were repeated almost constantly, there needed to be some variation within this, some different way to describe it or just mention it less.
Jenn and the group have been to other Virgin zones before and have clearly never experienced anything like what they face in Eden. Yet the quotes at the beginning of each chapter clearly suggest that all the Virgin Zones are dangerous and have had similar occurances inside to what happens in Eden. So how come they've never even heard of this before, in all their research and planning before they run the zones? And their community of runners is meant to be very tight-knit, surely this would have come up? A little plot hole but that's ok, it happens.
I also have to say that deciding to go back to their entry point via a DIFFERENT way when they'd lost their map was a dumb move and didn't make any sense other than plot opportunities. One of the team suggested that it might get the animals of their scent (how they came to that conclusion is beyond me) but Selina, our resident scientist, rightly points out that that's not true. I don't mean to winge so much but I also have to wonder at Selina's character. She's the scientist of the group, but she seems to know everything. As in, from fields other than her own. There's more than just 'science', you have environmental, medical, physics etc. And whilst there's some basic overlapping, your environmentalist won't be able to tell you tons of medical facts etc. But Selina seems to know more than she should about a wide range of topics.
There was a line used at one point that didn't make sense and came out if nowhere. It's a case that I wonder if Lebbon meant one of the words as a synonym for something else and it just made things a mess. "He was being hunted, like those prehistoric people whose memories he shared." Is Dylan actually a psychic? Did I miss something? Perhaps he meant "like prehistoric people." There is no memory share there, mate.
Spoiler in the below paragraph:
Gee's death, or rather it's reporting had me confused. "Gee's head lolled back, his eyes wide and sightless." Now that rather sounds like he died. Why else would this sentence be there? But then, as the group is running away, Dylan talks about how the decision to leave him behind would haunt them forever, and that he expected to hear Gee shout in pain again but he didn't, that "his old friend was quiet until the end." But, we just watched Gee die? These few paragraphs don't make sense and contradict what just happened. There were a few other instances where contradictions occured but with more minor details.
This book is obviously meant to have an underlying environmental message. Nature has been pushed to the brink and is fighting back because of pollution, damage etc. But whenever comments about humanities filth and destruction were brought in, they felt out of place for the characters that thought these things or said them. It felt more like Lebbon trying to tell people rather than his characters. Other than how terrible people are, I didn't really get a sense for what the outside world is really like.
Despite these things, I did enjoy the book. I felt that whilst it could have been executed better, it was still a good read.
If you enjoyed this book, you may also like:...
- Zoo by James Patterson
- Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
- A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
Eden is one of the world's Virgin Zones, large areas of land forcefully vacated by humanity and given back to nature. The borders are heavily patrolled and not everyone that manages to sneak in, come out. Jenn and her group are adventure racers, a team that run, hike and climb their way through difficult terrain as fast as they can to set new records. They've tackled Virgin Zones before, but have now set their sights on Eden. But things go horribly wrong inside the first and oldest zone.
First off, I'll say that most of the deaths (it's a horror/thriller, there's deaths) are well described and interesting. The bodies that are found are also described quite well and are all found in bizarre positions (I won't say anymore because of spoilers), but this aspect was handled well.
Most of the rest of this review is a somewhat negative or neutral discussion/questioning of various aspects of the book and plot. It's basically explaining why I've given it 3 stars. There is one paragraph with a spoiler warning above it, then the rest is unspoilery (that's a real word lol)
Poke's introduction was handled really poorly. It was so clunky and felt almost... Backwards? I don't know it was very weirdly done.
The characters aren't developed very well, though it could certainly have been worse. So when deaths occured it didn't effect me as it should have. The relationship between Dylan and Jenn (father-daughter) also felt unreal and underdeveloped at times as well. I didn't really have any issues with Jenn's relationship with Aaron though. I can't really tell you what anyone looked like either... I think some breif descriptions may have been given at the beginning but they weren't mentioned again. Other than Kat having green eyes and Gee missing a hand, I can't remember anything else. Though it was mentioned constantly that Jenn has nightmares. Constantly.
There's a couple instances where a conversation/interaction between characters doesn't quite make sense... Almost as though the author forgot to explain things properly, or assumed we knew the characters as well as he did and could read their minds. I didn't include an example here as I wasn't sure how to do so.
There were also cases where descriptions didn't make sense, because Lebbon used particular words as synonyms when they weren't quite that. There was a description of a body at one point that jumped between it being a skeleton and a decaying corpse. I was very confused as to what they were looking at. In addition to this, descriptions were often repetitive. The way the forest looked, memories of bodies and how Eden was reclaiming humanity were repeated almost constantly, there needed to be some variation within this, some different way to describe it or just mention it less.
Jenn and the group have been to other Virgin zones before and have clearly never experienced anything like what they face in Eden. Yet the quotes at the beginning of each chapter clearly suggest that all the Virgin Zones are dangerous and have had similar occurances inside to what happens in Eden. So how come they've never even heard of this before, in all their research and planning before they run the zones? And their community of runners is meant to be very tight-knit, surely this would have come up? A little plot hole but that's ok, it happens.
I also have to say that deciding to go back to their entry point via a DIFFERENT way when they'd lost their map was a dumb move and didn't make any sense other than plot opportunities. One of the team suggested that it might get the animals of their scent (how they came to that conclusion is beyond me) but Selina, our resident scientist, rightly points out that that's not true. I don't mean to winge so much but I also have to wonder at Selina's character. She's the scientist of the group, but she seems to know everything. As in, from fields other than her own. There's more than just 'science', you have environmental, medical, physics etc. And whilst there's some basic overlapping, your environmentalist won't be able to tell you tons of medical facts etc. But Selina seems to know more than she should about a wide range of topics.
There was a line used at one point that didn't make sense and came out if nowhere. It's a case that I wonder if Lebbon meant one of the words as a synonym for something else and it just made things a mess. "He was being hunted, like those prehistoric people whose memories he shared." Is Dylan actually a psychic? Did I miss something? Perhaps he meant "like prehistoric people." There is no memory share there, mate.
Spoiler in the below paragraph:
Gee's death, or rather it's reporting had me confused. "Gee's head lolled back, his eyes wide and sightless." Now that rather sounds like he died. Why else would this sentence be there? But then, as the group is running away, Dylan talks about how the decision to leave him behind would haunt them forever, and that he expected to hear Gee shout in pain again but he didn't, that "his old friend was quiet until the end." But, we just watched Gee die? These few paragraphs don't make sense and contradict what just happened. There were a few other instances where contradictions occured but with more minor details.
This book is obviously meant to have an underlying environmental message. Nature has been pushed to the brink and is fighting back because of pollution, damage etc. But whenever comments about humanities filth and destruction were brought in, they felt out of place for the characters that thought these things or said them. It felt more like Lebbon trying to tell people rather than his characters. Other than how terrible people are, I didn't really get a sense for what the outside world is really like.
Despite these things, I did enjoy the book. I felt that whilst it could have been executed better, it was still a good read.
If you enjoyed this book, you may also like:...
- Zoo by James Patterson
- Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
- A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
June 17, 2020
"She wasn't sure she would ever see anything so beautiful again, and that more than anything was reason to leave them behind."
Sci-fi novels are usually a hit or miss with me. I really expected a great adventure when I picked this up. That synopsis built it up really good. Who wouldn't want to explore a world gone haywire because of man's negligence and shortsightedness? Not that we aren't right smack in the middle of a dying planet ourselves, but this world actually did something unusual about it.
"Cruelty is a human conceit."
This world Lebbon made is similar to our world. People are killing off this planet to the best of their abilities, but at a little more intense level, if you can believe this world can get any sicker and sadder. Thus, the powers that be around the globe have decided to cordon off thirteen protected zones where nature is left to run on its own without any human presence. Sounds good so far. I was very intrigued and curious to learn more about this world, especially the 13 unknown/unexplored zones. There are brief mentions of what it's like but this novel explores--what else? Eden, the first and oldest of these protected zones.
As soon as the group ventures into Eden, we already get a lot of ominous talk and feelings among the characters and a bit of unusual behavior from the animals. Definitely building up the tension and mystery around the place. What could possibly be in this area?
Unfortunately, the first few days before left so much unanswered about what made this place so special from our world. And what little answers we get were superficially touched upon and too short or brief to have made a lasting impact on why this place was so terrible. I felt it was such a waste of introducing this world.
The other half of the book was just so absurd and corny that even though I wanted to suspend all disbelief, I could not. Come on, Oh, man. The main plot and back story was just so flat and unexciting. A few novels have done this whole but you at least have to give it a spin to make it your own.
Aside from this, I didn't like any of the characters. And there were 7 to choose from. The main characters, Jenn, was selfish. And don't get me started on her dad, who is just as equally brash and selfish. The other five characters all meld together into 1 giant character. It could just as well have been a 3 member team
The writing itself wasn't terrible. I liked the short quotes at the start of each chapter. It lent to the depth of the world where Eden was. What it was like for the Zeds and the adventure seekers and even the uprooted citizens of the protected zones. In fact, I think I liked it more than the story itself. At least those seemed original and exciting to learn about.
After finishing this one, I realized how long I waited for the adventure to begin. And I was left hanging in midair until the very end. For better dystopias or similar plots but with exciting adventures, you're better off with The Host, Vessel, or Severance.
Sci-fi novels are usually a hit or miss with me. I really expected a great adventure when I picked this up. That synopsis built it up really good. Who wouldn't want to explore a world gone haywire because of man's negligence and shortsightedness? Not that we aren't right smack in the middle of a dying planet ourselves, but this world actually did something unusual about it.
"Cruelty is a human conceit."
This world Lebbon made is similar to our world. People are killing off this planet to the best of their abilities, but at a little more intense level, if you can believe this world can get any sicker and sadder. Thus, the powers that be around the globe have decided to cordon off thirteen protected zones where nature is left to run on its own without any human presence. Sounds good so far. I was very intrigued and curious to learn more about this world, especially the 13 unknown/unexplored zones. There are brief mentions of what it's like but this novel explores--what else? Eden, the first and oldest of these protected zones.
As soon as the group ventures into Eden, we already get a lot of ominous talk and feelings among the characters and a bit of unusual behavior from the animals. Definitely building up the tension and mystery around the place. What could possibly be in this area?
Unfortunately, the first few days before left so much unanswered about what made this place so special from our world. And what little answers we get were superficially touched upon and too short or brief to have made a lasting impact on why this place was so terrible. I felt it was such a waste of introducing this world.
The other half of the book was just so absurd and corny that even though I wanted to suspend all disbelief, I could not. Come on, Oh, man. The main plot and back story was just so flat and unexciting. A few novels have done this whole but you at least have to give it a spin to make it your own.
Aside from this, I didn't like any of the characters. And there were 7 to choose from. The main characters, Jenn, was selfish. And don't get me started on her dad, who is just as equally brash and selfish. The other five characters all meld together into 1 giant character. It could just as well have been a 3 member team
The writing itself wasn't terrible. I liked the short quotes at the start of each chapter. It lent to the depth of the world where Eden was. What it was like for the Zeds and the adventure seekers and even the uprooted citizens of the protected zones. In fact, I think I liked it more than the story itself. At least those seemed original and exciting to learn about.
After finishing this one, I realized how long I waited for the adventure to begin. And I was left hanging in midair until the very end. For better dystopias or similar plots but with exciting adventures, you're better off with The Host, Vessel, or Severance.
April 18, 2020
I am a huge Lebbon fan. The Expanse series is an extraordinary feat of science fiction so I was chomping at the bit to read Eden.
Lebbon's strengths are character and worldbuilding - and he is a plot master- all of which were in evidence as I read Eden.
However, and I'm well aware that this is a proof copy so final edits may not be quite finished, I was a wee bit disappointed.
I often felt that I was in a romance novel - lots of erroneous details about who loved who and what strong women they all were and almost falling into woke stereotypes which, if you read my other reviews is something I dislike intensely. I don't enjoy being patronised as a woman.
Endless descriptions of the forest and strange beasts which are detailed and vivid - as were the fascinating insights into ultra-marathon runners - the uber-fit elite - and how they bond and set up explorations.
Or at least the initial descriptions were. After pages and pages or running for several hours, feeling creeped out by the forest and discovering corpses that are being reclaimed by Eden itself - I was losing interest - and for one of the only times in my reading history - I DNF and gave up at 80%.
I wanted to love this so much and still think Tim is a fabulous writer & will keep him in my top 10 Sci-Fi novelists for all time but this wasn't for me. I expect that I'll be in the minority, and huge swathes of readers will love it, and that's how it should be.
Many thanks to Titan books, Tim and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book honestly and without payment.
Lebbon's strengths are character and worldbuilding - and he is a plot master- all of which were in evidence as I read Eden.
However, and I'm well aware that this is a proof copy so final edits may not be quite finished, I was a wee bit disappointed.
I often felt that I was in a romance novel - lots of erroneous details about who loved who and what strong women they all were and almost falling into woke stereotypes which, if you read my other reviews is something I dislike intensely. I don't enjoy being patronised as a woman.
Endless descriptions of the forest and strange beasts which are detailed and vivid - as were the fascinating insights into ultra-marathon runners - the uber-fit elite - and how they bond and set up explorations.
Or at least the initial descriptions were. After pages and pages or running for several hours, feeling creeped out by the forest and discovering corpses that are being reclaimed by Eden itself - I was losing interest - and for one of the only times in my reading history - I DNF and gave up at 80%.
I wanted to love this so much and still think Tim is a fabulous writer & will keep him in my top 10 Sci-Fi novelists for all time but this wasn't for me. I expect that I'll be in the minority, and huge swathes of readers will love it, and that's how it should be.
Many thanks to Titan books, Tim and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book honestly and without payment.
June 3, 2020
An interesting work of eco-horror mixed with environmental awareness and adventuring. The concept was interesting - creating natural "Virgin" zones around the world for nature to rebound and keeping them off limits to human activity. Of course, with all the environmental awareness, the main characters still built their lives on breaking into and sporting/racing through these places not meant for them, so ... eyeroll. A bit like "Annihilation" without the super-far-out-there-crazy-alien stuff. But WAAAAYYY too long. It could have been half the length and avoided some of the more boring bits. The entire first half was nothing happening, and the presumed slow-build goal fell flat and went boring rather than building. It was fine, overall, and I did get through it, but I feel like they all got what they deserved by even thinking they just had to go into these off-limits nature-rebuild spaces at all. Of course humanity tries to take environmental action, finally, and the first thing humans do is break into it.
May 14, 2020
"A single rose stem grew from one of the woman's empty eye sockets, its rich red bloom resting on her left cheek. A fat slug pulsed in the remains of the other eye. Her throat had been ripped out, spine exposed, skin and flesh tattered and torn, home to crawling insects."
This was quite the trip! Part The Ruins, mixed with the excitement of Jurassic Park, Eden is all fast paced action and adventure.
I loved the lush descriptions and brief backgrounds on each character, but wanted more about these nature Zones and the guards that patrol the perimeters.
If you enjoy eco thrillers and the idea of Nature seeking her revenge you'll like this one.
Just be warned that there's some animal death.
This was quite the trip! Part The Ruins, mixed with the excitement of Jurassic Park, Eden is all fast paced action and adventure.
I loved the lush descriptions and brief backgrounds on each character, but wanted more about these nature Zones and the guards that patrol the perimeters.
If you enjoy eco thrillers and the idea of Nature seeking her revenge you'll like this one.
Just be warned that there's some animal death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2022
This was less Little Shop Of Horrors and more Annihilation, but not as good as Annihilation. I did not really get into this book there was running teams that I did not understand and the dialogue was stilted.
"jen said" Lucy Said" Kat Said"
Ugh not for me, I disliked every character
"jen said" Lucy Said" Kat Said"
Ugh not for me, I disliked every character
January 8, 2020
Shrouded in mystery and more relevant today than ever — EDEN breaths new life into our planets future... whether humanity has a place in that future remains to be seen in Lebbon's latest, thought provoking, survival horror epic.
June 17, 2020
The Earth’s oceans are filled with islands of refuse, the Amazon rainforest is all but destroyed, and countless species on the brink of extinction. The Virgin Zones have been recreated in an attempt to let nature reclaim parts of the world. These vast areas are off-limits to humanity. With every guarded area, come those that want access. Dylan, along with his daughter Jenn, lead a team of adventurers into Eden, the oldest of the Zones. These adventurers are adrenaline junkies and extreme competitors looking to cross the Zones with a minimal amount of equipment, depending on their raw skills and courage to make it out alive. What if the Zone was to fight back?
Tim Lebbon has crafted a brilliant supernatural eco-thriller with EDEN! I’ve never read something that fell into this category, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started reading this book. What I found was a story that felt like a suspenseful movie drenched in tense moments.
EDEN brings us a group of extreme adventurers who have a goal to make it through all of the Virgin Zones. They've run, climbed, and swam their way through several and now they have their eyes set on the Zone the world knows the least about. No one has ever trekked over Eden. Dylan is the leader of this group and one of the main characters that the reader is able to bond with. I felt like ultimately, I formed a stronger bond with his daughter, Jenn, who stole the storyline from Dylan. Both characters are strong-willed and a delight to read about. It wasn’t one character that made this story work so well for me, but the entire team dynamic and watching everyone interact.
Hands down, my favorite part of this book is the vivid imagery. Lebbon does a phenomenal job of bringing Eden to life and describing everything in a way that transported me to this fictional place. I love when authors are able to describe a location and the actions in it to such a level of detail that I can feel my heart racing along with the characters, which is exactly how I felt reading this book!
EDEN is a tough book to talk about in terms of plot because it’s truly something I think you should experience blindly, just like those exploring the land in the book.
A huge thank you to Titan Books for my gifted copy!
Tim Lebbon has crafted a brilliant supernatural eco-thriller with EDEN! I’ve never read something that fell into this category, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started reading this book. What I found was a story that felt like a suspenseful movie drenched in tense moments.
EDEN brings us a group of extreme adventurers who have a goal to make it through all of the Virgin Zones. They've run, climbed, and swam their way through several and now they have their eyes set on the Zone the world knows the least about. No one has ever trekked over Eden. Dylan is the leader of this group and one of the main characters that the reader is able to bond with. I felt like ultimately, I formed a stronger bond with his daughter, Jenn, who stole the storyline from Dylan. Both characters are strong-willed and a delight to read about. It wasn’t one character that made this story work so well for me, but the entire team dynamic and watching everyone interact.
Hands down, my favorite part of this book is the vivid imagery. Lebbon does a phenomenal job of bringing Eden to life and describing everything in a way that transported me to this fictional place. I love when authors are able to describe a location and the actions in it to such a level of detail that I can feel my heart racing along with the characters, which is exactly how I felt reading this book!
EDEN is a tough book to talk about in terms of plot because it’s truly something I think you should experience blindly, just like those exploring the land in the book.
A huge thank you to Titan Books for my gifted copy!
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