ARC Review: The Bane by Keary Taylor

The Bane by Keary Taylor
Release Date: March 5 2013
Publisher: Keary Taylor Books
Format: E-Galley
Pages: 352
Genre: YA/ Sci-Fi
Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Synopsis:
Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won't stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.

Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn't need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.

Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.

The Bane is The Terminator meets The Walking Dead with a heart-twisting romance.
Previously published as Eden, due to reader demand it has been revamped and re-released as The Bane: book one in The Eden Trilogy


My Thoughts:

Zombies are all the rage now. The Walking Dead, Warm Bodies; everyone wants to tell a zombie story. So, how do you make a zombie story unique? Cause, let’s face it, nobody wants to read a book that follows a very similar storyline to the one you read last week, or the movie you watched last night. How about if the zombies were part machine?

The Bane is the very unique story of Eve. Five years ago, Eve wandered into Eden, a camp of survivors, and had no idea who she was, where she was from, or why she was mostly naked and covered in blood that was not hers. She moved on with her life and became a valuable, contributing member of Eden.

Survivors from what you ask? The Bane or TorBane; originally created by NovaTor Biotics, Bane as in Biological and Nanorobotic Enhancement. Boy, did it enhance, all right. Using cybernetic molecules, the scientists were able to give back lost limbs, new hearts, lungs, eyes. It was a miracle and people came from everywhere to get it. But then things went terribly wrong. Those enhanced cybernetic parts began to take over the body and within hours, the recipient began trying to infect others. NovaTor had created the perfect virus, because it only took one touch to spread it and that’s exactly what it did. It took over large populations of big cities.  People fled to the country, to camps like Eden; only raiding the cities for supplies at night while the Bane slept.

But the Bane are evolving and running out of people to infect. They are getting smarter, and they’re hunting more efficiently. It is getting harder to hide. The remaining uninfected have to keep running or find a way to stop the Bane.

I very much enjoyed The Bane, finding it to be a fresh take on both zombies and apocalypse stories. The plot ran smoothly and was easy to get into. It had a good combination of romance, tragedy, and adventure. The characters were well-rounded, each playing into the storyline well.

Avian would have to be my favorite character, starting out quietly, as camp doctor and the heroine’s best friend. But, as the story develops, he takes on a stronger, more authoritative role. All through the story, I kept hoping that Eve would come to her senses and pick Avian already, but I thought it was right that he was so patient with her.

Miss Taylor creates a very believable world, with detailed descriptions, making the story come to life as you read. I very much enjoyed The Bane; I wish Miss Taylor had elaborated a little more at the end, but this is only book one. I am sure the answers I seek will be in book two, which I am very much looking forward to. I would definitely recommend The Bane to fans of apocalypse and zombie stories.

Have you read any good zombie stories lately? Was there a twist that made it unique?