Review: Escape From Eden by Elisa Nader

Escape From Eden by Elisa Nader

Publisher: Merit Press

Pages: 271

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Since the age of ten, Mia has lived under the iron fist of the fundamentalist preacher who lured her mother away to join his fanatical family of followers. In Edenton, a supposed “Garden of Eden” deep in the South American jungle, everyone follows the Reverend’s strict but arbitrary rules—even the mandate of whom they can marry. Now sixteen, Mia dreams of slipping away from the armed guards who keep the faithful in, and the curious out. When the rebellious and sexy Gabriel, a new boy, arrives with his family, Mia sees a chance to escape. 

But the scandalous secrets the two discover beyond the compound’s façade are more shocking than anything they ever imagined. While Gabriel has his own terrible secrets, he and Mia bond together, more than friends and freedom fighters. But is there time to think of each other as they race to stop the Reverend’s paranoid plan to free his flock from the corrupt world? Can two teenagers crush a criminal mastermind? And who will die in the fight to save the ones they love from a madman who’s only concerned about his own secrets?


Kritters Thoughts:  Have you seen any of the news story about Jonestown?  A big news story of the late 70s where a crazy fanatical man took the lives of his followers including men, women and children.  One could say that Edenton made me immediately think about the many things I have heard and read about the life and times in Jonestown.  There were some details about Edenton that I hope were only unique to its members.

Mia moved to Edenton as a ten-year-old and had been living there for 6 years until a new move in changed everything for her and confirmed her uneasy thoughts about this so called utopia.  Although there was a bit of young love in the book, it was definitely not the focus of this adventure novel.  At a certain point towards the end, the action was so crazy, that I couldn't walk away.  I loved the mix of adventure, friendship and crazy people - it was so good!

With a 16 year old as a narrator, this book had a YA feel, but I would definitely have parents read this book first to see how you feel about the action that this book has, it was chock full and had a few questionable subjects.  


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2013 Challenge: 56 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Kelley & Hall Book Publicity.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.