This is the second book in the Eden Saga and follows seventeen year old Lilah as she tries to hide her true self in post-apocalyptic Chicago. After the war, most of the world was destroyed, apart from small pockets of survivors. Lilah is one of only a few hundred citizens who exist in the Chicago enclave, who are watched over by Wardens, who look out for any mutants amongst them. Since the war and the problems it caused to life everywhere, some have become mutants that are out of control and more are born as normal looking people, but with unusual mutant powers. Lilah is one of the latter and she has to work hard to control her emotions and control her power. She was stopped some years ago by a Warden and had her blood tested, but managed to pass. Now some thugs are picking on her and she has to protect herself, burning one boy’s arm, in view of a Warden!
He takes her for testing, to an unknown site near the old market, and carries out more than a blood test, which she manages to pass again. He takes her home but tells her he will be back to take her for more testing. Her family are really worried about her and a member of the Resistance comes around and gives her directions to a place out in the wastelands called Eden, where she should be safe. It is at least a two week walk and she may not even make it there. But it is her only chance of survival. Another person who is wandering the wastelands is a young man called Adam, who came from Indianapolis, and has taken up a position as a Warden. He and a couple others were taken by plane to Chicago to meet Kane, the man who has taken over what is left of the States. He thinks of himself as a replacement President of the remaining cities and has enough money behind him to do as he wants. Adam becomes one of ten new young Wardens paraded in front of Kane and an audience, as the new faces of the fight against the Resistance and an Incident of some years before when three Wardens were killed by members of the Resistance.
Adam and another young Warden are sent out to the wastelands to try and find the location of this Resistance hideout called Eden. He has his orders and he has a very strong hatred of mutants after witnessing his neighbouring being attacked by one and almost killed. He believes that all mutants are dangerous and need to be killed. That is until he meets up with Lilah in the wastelands with his partner and he cannot deny a spark of attraction to her that seems to be reciprocated. Adam and his partner find her after they hear a scream, as she is attacked by a mutated creature. She is somewhat wary of two strange young men, but needs their help to survive the next couple of days. Adam plays his cards very carefully, not revealing what they are actually doing there and going with her story of looking for Eden. They tag along, but as Lilah lets down her barriers, Adam allows his preconceived ideas of mutants to keep him following orders and danger is brought to Eden.
Adam will have to reconsider what he thinks of the Resistance and especially of mutants, after meeting Lilah and the others, both mutant and normal humans that they meet in Eden. He has to decide where his choice lies, with his orders and duty to Kane or with his heart and the reality of the truth he is just beginning to discover. It seems the war didn’t create all mutants, there were groups working on changing people’s DNA for an advantage in war and even for survival of the fittest mentality, and some are still working with the ability to use these mutated powers whenever they wish. Their world is changing and not necessarily for good, if those in power have anything to do with it.
A great read, showing life after an apocalyptic war and the destruction of most living things. The one percent that survived, has a degree of mutation within it and those are hunted down without mercy. Resistance is starting to grow, as secrets are revealed about Kane’s true plans for mutants and their powers. A really easy read, that kept me interested the whole way through and I read it straight through in one sitting! There is another book by the author, Saving Eden, which is set before the events in this book and tells the tale of sixteen year old Angela and her father, who thought they were the last survivors on earth, until someone stumbled into their garden paradise. I look forward to reading that book and any others in this series. Very original and well told story that keeps your interest and carries on at a great pace. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.