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sarahskorupa's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shighley's review
4.0
This book was not what I was expecting. I thought it would be more suspenseful, but that didn't hit so much until near the end, and then it became more creepy than anything else. I also didn't expect the big turns it took in the end, and the major plot reveal.
I will say that the marketing for this book, including http://enterdarkeden.com/home/ is very clever. The websites for Skeleton Creek have been a huge hit with our students, so they were wise to do this. I didn't go to the Eden site until after I had finished the book, because I wanted to visualize the characters and setting in my own way. Is the future of book marketing in creating apps to entice readers?
I'm sure my students will like this, although I'll admit I was a little disappointed, because I was expecting this to be a '5'.
I will say that the marketing for this book, including http://enterdarkeden.com/home/ is very clever. The websites for Skeleton Creek have been a huge hit with our students, so they were wise to do this. I didn't go to the Eden site until after I had finished the book, because I wanted to visualize the characters and setting in my own way. Is the future of book marketing in creating apps to entice readers?
I'm sure my students will like this, although I'll admit I was a little disappointed, because I was expecting this to be a '5'.
wisecraic's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
que_bella's review
4.0
I really liked this book! With this one, I tried to focus more on the writing techniques and how they impacted the story (the aspiring author in me decided to work on this smallish book and see if I could really do it ;). It worked pretty well. That is, until I got the the plot twist. (I would tell you but then I would spoil it!!!)
Anyways, I really learned some things about creating suspense (thanks Patrick Carman) and how to keep that 'Oh my gosh that did not just happen' going and turning it into 'That so did happen! What are they going to do now?!' and then getting to 'They did not! Oh yes they did!!' and so on. (thanks again Patrick Carman)
As I mentioned earlier, I did get pulled into the book. How can I not? However, you can only learn to write by reading, right? Well, I really learned a lot. Also, here's another thing: There are pictures! It really helped with the story (although when I was pages away from the final chapter I got some 'spoilers' (Doctor Who reference ;) from a friend). Anyways, all in all there was a lot to learn from this book and you can't ignore the plot. I really loved it!!
Will knows something is wrong from the start. He knows he's messed up, but he won't go through with it.
As Fort Eden comes into view, Will separates from the group and waits for his opportunity to enter the other bunker undetected. What he finds is a bomb shelter with computers hooked up to a security camera feed from inside the Fort where everyone else is. He gets more than he bargained for though. And that's not a good thing. Will he be able to come out of it alive, and what he knows?!?!?!?
READ IT AND WEEP! Ok, not really, but still read it. (You won't cry. I promise).
Anyways, I really learned some things about creating suspense (thanks Patrick Carman) and how to keep that 'Oh my gosh that did not just happen' going and turning it into 'That so did happen! What are they going to do now?!' and then getting to 'They did not! Oh yes they did!!' and so on. (thanks again Patrick Carman)
As I mentioned earlier, I did get pulled into the book. How can I not? However, you can only learn to write by reading, right? Well, I really learned a lot. Also, here's another thing: There are pictures! It really helped with the story (although when I was pages away from the final chapter I got some 'spoilers' (Doctor Who reference ;) from a friend). Anyways, all in all there was a lot to learn from this book and you can't ignore the plot. I really loved it!!
Will knows something is wrong from the start. He knows he's messed up, but he won't go through with it.
As Fort Eden comes into view, Will separates from the group and waits for his opportunity to enter the other bunker undetected. What he finds is a bomb shelter with computers hooked up to a security camera feed from inside the Fort where everyone else is. He gets more than he bargained for though. And that's not a good thing. Will he be able to come out of it alive, and what he knows?!?!?!?
READ IT AND WEEP! Ok, not really, but still read it. (You won't cry. I promise).
readingdolphin's review
3.0
I think overall it was a good book it just never really went anywhere. It was a really cool idea and I felt he could have built more off it and done more with it. So I guess I was kind of disappointed.
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Horror? No. Spooky? No. Suspenseful ... okay, I guess I'll accept that. I experienced this book in audiobook format, and admittedly, very broken up (10min here, 10min there) ... I think that made it a bit hard to follow (my own fault there). I really wasn't enjoying the book that much, but enough that I figured I'd finish. Little unexpected twist there at the end, which did make it more interesting, and had me leaving the story with a positive recollection. Portions will stick in my memory!
frootjoos's review
4.0
Posted here: http://www.readnowsleeplater.com/2012/02/dark-eden-review.html
Dark Eden is the first Patrick Carman book I've ever finished, not because the writing is so snoozeworthy--the complete opposite, in fact! I can't fall asleep even after I decide to put the book down, wrap it in foil, and stick it in the freezer (this is what happened with Skeleton Creek--and for those of you who are too young to remember, this is a reference to the TV show Friends--look it up!) The additional audio/visual components for Skeleton Creek were so creepy that of the three times I've tried to finish it, I could not go on. My husband has teased me for being such a chicken. Obviously it's all staged, not real... but gosh darnit, it freaks me out!
Dark Eden begins quickly, and the story unfolds from the point of view of Will Besting, complete loner--so committed to being alone that when the van drops him and six other patients at Fort Eden, the treatment facility where they are supposed to be cured, he runs off into the woods alone and refuses to join the rest of the group. Thus begins a harrowing tale that reminded me a lot of Lost, with its experiments, old-school banks of surveillance equipment, and numerous side-character stories. If I could have read this book with my eyes closed, I probably would have.
The concept of the story is not the most original, and putting audio and video with the text is a standard format for Carman. However, the action unfolds the plot cleverly enough that I could not stop reading even to sleep. The only thing that would have made me put the book down would have been watching the action for real instead of just reading it! Being such a chicken, this would definitely have ended up in my freezer.
If you're braver than I am, you can get the interactive version of the book on your iPhone or iPad. The initial episode is free, and the full app costs $9.99 (about the price of the book). You can also download individual episodes, but why would you want to do that? There is also a Kindle Enhanced version with audio and video, though I'm not sure which of the Kindle products displays it properly. I tried the iPhone app but there was no sound :(
Dark Eden is the first Patrick Carman book I've ever finished, not because the writing is so snoozeworthy--the complete opposite, in fact! I can't fall asleep even after I decide to put the book down, wrap it in foil, and stick it in the freezer (this is what happened with Skeleton Creek--and for those of you who are too young to remember, this is a reference to the TV show Friends--look it up!) The additional audio/visual components for Skeleton Creek were so creepy that of the three times I've tried to finish it, I could not go on. My husband has teased me for being such a chicken. Obviously it's all staged, not real... but gosh darnit, it freaks me out!
Dark Eden begins quickly, and the story unfolds from the point of view of Will Besting, complete loner--so committed to being alone that when the van drops him and six other patients at Fort Eden, the treatment facility where they are supposed to be cured, he runs off into the woods alone and refuses to join the rest of the group. Thus begins a harrowing tale that reminded me a lot of Lost, with its experiments, old-school banks of surveillance equipment, and numerous side-character stories. If I could have read this book with my eyes closed, I probably would have.
The concept of the story is not the most original, and putting audio and video with the text is a standard format for Carman. However, the action unfolds the plot cleverly enough that I could not stop reading even to sleep. The only thing that would have made me put the book down would have been watching the action for real instead of just reading it! Being such a chicken, this would definitely have ended up in my freezer.
If you're braver than I am, you can get the interactive version of the book on your iPhone or iPad. The initial episode is free, and the full app costs $9.99 (about the price of the book). You can also download individual episodes, but why would you want to do that? There is also a Kindle Enhanced version with audio and video, though I'm not sure which of the Kindle products displays it properly. I tried the iPhone app but there was no sound :(
beeboisourgod's review against another edition
3.0
I was skeptical about this book, it’s been on my shelf for a while, another Value Village find, of which most I’ve grown wary of now after a lot of bad apples, but it was actually a quick, pleasant read. Though that might’ve been helped by the fact that the power went out at my house and I had nothing else to do.
Either way, it may not be the greatest thing I’ve ever read, but it was interesting enough to hold my attention and finish in one sitting. The story was fast paced and definitely had a few surprising turns and details which I didn’t expect, and then some I did expect. Though the lack of character depth meant some of those twists and details didn’t really make me feel the way they probably should have. Like you could have replaced the whole cast and I wouldn’t have noticed because there was barely any development of any of them. But that seems to be a problem with most YA books I’ve read recently: The characters merely being cardboard cutouts of basic tropes or stereotypes just there to move the plot along. In fact, you could probably swap the cast of the last YA book I read with this one and there would be literally no difference. The loner, the smart kid, the popular girl, the jock, etc.
So overall: it was a decent concept, it moved along well enough, and was a little predictable, but not overly so, I don’t know how I actually feel about the twists because I didn’t really feel anything, but the characters definitely needed more fleshing out. Also, there was a bout of insta-love, which usually warrants an instant sound of disgust from me, but in this case it was only a small annoyance like a buzzing fly, so it didn’t require my anger so much as simply my suspension of disbelief.
Anyway, this is one of those books that probably won’t stick with me too long, but I don’t regret reading it and though I wouldn’t actively go out searching for the sequel, if I saw it at a thrift store or a yard sale, I would probably pick it up to see how the story continues. Solid 3 star rating.
But I was trying so hard to not picture the main character as the guy on the cover because he looks like not one but several annoying kids I used to know.
Either way, it may not be the greatest thing I’ve ever read, but it was interesting enough to hold my attention and finish in one sitting. The story was fast paced and definitely had a few surprising turns and details which I didn’t expect, and then some I did expect. Though the lack of character depth meant some of those twists and details didn’t really make me feel the way they probably should have. Like you could have replaced the whole cast and I wouldn’t have noticed because there was barely any development of any of them. But that seems to be a problem with most YA books I’ve read recently: The characters merely being cardboard cutouts of basic tropes or stereotypes just there to move the plot along. In fact, you could probably swap the cast of the last YA book I read with this one and there would be literally no difference. The loner, the smart kid, the popular girl, the jock, etc.
So overall: it was a decent concept, it moved along well enough, and was a little predictable, but not overly so, I don’t know how I actually feel about the twists because I didn’t really feel anything, but the characters definitely needed more fleshing out. Also, there was a bout of insta-love, which usually warrants an instant sound of disgust from me, but in this case it was only a small annoyance like a buzzing fly, so it didn’t require my anger so much as simply my suspension of disbelief.
Anyway, this is one of those books that probably won’t stick with me too long, but I don’t regret reading it and though I wouldn’t actively go out searching for the sequel, if I saw it at a thrift store or a yard sale, I would probably pick it up to see how the story continues. Solid 3 star rating.
But I was trying so hard to not picture the main character as the guy on the cover because he looks like not one but several annoying kids I used to know.
reddninja's review
3.0
First off I'll start with saying I won this book in a Goodreads first reads giveaway. It sounded really good and I was excited to get the chance to read it. Dark Eden did not disappoint. It was full of suspense, and a great read. I loved hearing about the fears and could relate to them, especially that of Will Besting. I totally recommend this book.