Eden's Root by Rachel Fisher Review

Title: Eden's Root
Author: Rachel Fisher
Publisher: Self-Published
Publish Date: December 17, 2011
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Pages: 352
Source: Author

It is 2033, and the world hovers on the edge of explosion as unexplained crop deaths lead to severe global food shortages. In the United States, the Sickness is taking lives slowly, creeping its way into every family. Fi Kelly has already faced the Sickness in her own family, toughening her beyond her years.

But a shocking confession from her dying father will push her toughness to its absolute limits. Saddled with an impossible secret and the mission of saving her little sister, Fi sets out to transform herself into the warrior that she must become to survive the coming collapse. Along the way, she will discover that evil can be accidental and that love can be intentional.

The year is 2030, and the world is on the brink of utter catastrophe. Faced with crop deaths, food shortages and imminent destruction, the human race is just barely struggling to survive. Fi is just a young girl, watching as the Sickness begins to touch her family, creeping into her house and threaten the ones she loves. When her dying father tells her his darkest secret though, Fi’s world is turned upside down. The secret is bigger than her father, bigger than herself and it’s bigger than anything one girl should ever have to bear alone. But Fi must make a decision – grow touch, and strong, and vigilant, or watch as the world crumbles around her, and her family falls first.

You know how much I like dystopians, guys. It’s my thing. Well, that and issue books. Do you think that says something about my psyche? I digress. Eden’s Root is a self-published novel by newcomer, Rachel Fisher. With a fascinating premise and startling realistic imagery, this novel fits seamlessly into the genre, standing apart, as well. Rather than simply taking an old idea and rehashing it, yet again, Eden’s Root tackles issues that could, potentially, happen, and it gives a heroine in which we can become invested and care for. Disastrous and disheartening, somehow the book seems to draw you into a world that, thought bleak, is one that you find a semblance of hope in, and you continue to look for more.

Because of my extreme love for dystopians, I should point out that I have very high standards. Eden’s Root features a complex cast of characters that are struggling against all odds to survive. The world is very much a bleak one, and it seems as though the conflict surmounts anything in the novel. Yet, somehow, through the action and suspense, we get to watch a Fi’s character grow and evolve, which is truly one of the strengths of the novel. Furthermore, the plot spins us into a web that’s multi-layered and tangled, but we never feel lost or confused as to how we’ve arrived in a certain place in the novel. The true beauty of Eden’s Root lies within the premise, itself though. We’re given a disastrous dystopian world that could actually come about. Imagine knowing that every bite of food you eat is slowly killing you, but you have no choice but to eat it and sustain yourself for a small while. It’s eerie, and it’s frightening, which lends a great strength to the story. My main issue with the novel, however, was that it felt a bit rushed and unfinished. We’re given a great set of plot arcs, conflicts and characters, but it seemed to piece itself together too quickly in the end, and I wanted to know more. In that sense, I feel as though the novel fell a bit short.

Overall though, Eden’s Root was a strong novel that will definitely find its place in the dystopian market, and I definitely expect to read a lot more from Rachel Fisher. I give it a 3.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy dystopian fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

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In an effort to raise awareness for Eden’s Root and author, Rachel Fisher, I’m giving away my copy to one lucky reader! Here are the rules: 

 You do NOT have to be a follower to enter but, as always, it’s much appreciated if you are! This giveaway is open internationally and will end promptly at midnight (12 AM EST) on March 15, 2012. Good luck! 

 Click HERE to enter!