Review of Eden

[Steinkar]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Eden" by Verity Turner.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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Verity Turner begins Eden with FBI agent Ally Dolente on the painful task of cleaning out the house of Martin, her father, who has just tragically passed away under questionable circumstances. Shifting through his personal belongings, she realizes that her father had been keeping life-threatening secrets from her. As she begins to put the pieces of this extraordinary puzzle together, she also discovers that she has been given special abilities connected to a necklace and a bangle that she uses to travel to Eden, a mystical world that holds powers beyond any human can imagine. These powers have the ability to create invisible energy waves that could be lethal if they fall into the wrong hands. In pursuit of keeping these powers safe, Ally finds herself and her friends in danger from adversaries she can’t even identify, and they struggle through adventures not knowing whom to trust. At the end of the book, Ally learns that her greatest strength lies in accepting that both the past and the future are beyond her control, but in every present moment, she has freedom and choice.

I love the concept of this book! The reality and fantasy settings are both well-built, and the transitions between Earth and Eden are creatively drawn. While there is a big picture conflict about saving the world, I more enjoyed the progressive struggles Ally goes through trying to decide the difference between the good guys and the bad guys, questioning even her beloved father’s actions and intentions. Turner grounds Ally as an FBI agent, used to dealing with dangerous, complicated situations, but suspense is heightened when she is faced with the unknown powers of Eden. I also like Turner’s theme about humanity: thinking about the past stirs up self-doubt and vulnerabilities, and thoughts of the future can handcuff us with uncertainty and dread.

The book is not without flaws, however. There are several unrealistic incidents in the book that defy my efforts to suspend disbelief. First, after being chased by two men who brutally killed her neighbor and realizing the life she led with her father was a “fabrication,” Turner describes Ally as feeling “butterflies of excitement.” Another example is when Max, Ally’s guardian, gets shot in the shoulder and “starts to fade” after having “lost so much blood”; yet as they flee down the highway, Ally actually falls asleep in the back seat! Also, after Max is treated by a physician, there isn’t really any other mention of this near-death experience, and Max seems physically able to fight the bad guys without much effort. While I completely bought into the idea of a fantastical Eden, I simply couldn't stretch my imagination far enough to accept these illogical examples.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. Turner ingeniously fashions the wondrous world of Eden and deftly manufactures scenarios that build intensity throughout the novel. However, there are some flaws: inconsistent realism and a few grammatical errors.

Although there is nothing in this novel that might offend younger readers, the complex nature of the relationship between Earth and Eden might make it better suited to mature readers.

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Eden
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[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

Wow! I must say, while reading your summary of the book, I found myself enchanted. I think the mixing of two genres as superb from the author. Thank you for taking time to share your opinion with us. Enjoyed every sentence.

[NetMassimo]

I can see this novel's potential from your review with the fantasy scenarios turning Ally's life upside down. A professional editor might help the author in properly developing that potential improving the parts that right now don't work. Thank you for your honest review!