Synopsis
In Compound Eleven, the hierarchy of the floors is everything.
My name is Eve Hamilton, and on my floor, we fight.
Which at least is better than the bottom floor, where they toil away in misery. Only the top floor has any ease in this harsh world; they rule from their gilded offices.
Because four generations ago, Earth was rendered uninhabitable—the sun too hot, the land too barren. Those who remained were forced underground. While not a perfect life down here, I’ve learned to survive as a fighter.
Except my latest match is different. Instead of someone from the circuit, my opponent is a mysterious boy from the top floor. And the look in his eyes tells me he’s different… maybe even kind.
Right before he kicks my ass.
Still, there’s something about him—something that says he could be my salvation... or my undoing. Because I’m no longer content to just survive in Eleven. Today, I'm ready to fight for more than my next meal: I'm fighting for my freedom. And this boy may just be the edge I've been waiting on.
Review
This is one of the best Dystopian YA novel I have ever read. The characters are well-developed and lovable, the plot is intriguing and the story is well-paced. There is enough drama, violence, sadness, and romance to keep the readers at the edge of their seats. You won't want to put it down once you started this page-turner. I absolutely loved it and would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good Dystopian story. It's not a standalone and ends with a cliffhanger. Now, I can't wait to read the next book.
Eve lives in an underground compound. Her life is a mess and she hates the entire class-based system where some people are treated like royalty while others like animals. She wants to get as far away from this place as possible. Unfortunately, there is no escape. Yet, she is determined to find a way out even if it killed her.
Wren is a Preme (an upper-class citizen of the compound). By all accounts he should be happy with his privileged life, but nothing could be further from the truth. When he meets Eve, things change. She is like no other girl he has ever known before. He doesn't care that she from the lower floor or that she is prone to violence. Her life has just been different from his.
Will the two ever find a way to live in harmony when their reality is one of hatred, division, and violence? I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in a trilogy and will be looking forward to the next books. I remember when the Dystopian books were all the rage, but I never read any. Just didn't feel like my kind of thing. Still, I am glad I read this book. It was worth it.