The Compound - Book Review

The Compound (The Compound #1)
by S.A. Bodeen

What is it about:
Eli and his family have lived in the underground Compound for six years. The world they knew is gone, and they've become accustomed to their new life. Accustomed, but not happy.

For Eli, no amount of luxury can stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with only his two sisters, his father and mother, doing the same thing day after day after day.

As problems with their carefully planned existence threaten to destroy their sanctuary—and their sanity—Eli can't help but wonder if he'd rather take his chances outside.

Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe. But are they safe—or sorry?

What did I think of it:
This is a nice read.

This book started out intriguing. Eli and his family are trapped in the underground compound and supplies are dwindling fast. How will they manage? Then a couple of the solutions Eli's father came up with got revealed, and I had to raise an eyebrow. I felt like some of the solutions were only added to the story for shock value, because anyone with half a brain could see the so called solutions weren't solutions at all. I will confess grumbling over that for quite a while.

Those grumblings aside the story was entertaining enough to keep me reading to find out how things would work out, and if Eli would grow a pair of balls and take action, instead of continue his moping about how unfair things were. Yes: I didn't like Eli! Consider it a compliment to Bodeen's storytelling that I kept reading regardless.

Near the end of the story things derailed a bit and got chaotic. Eli was finally doing things, but should have thought things through at times. The conclusion felt a bit rushed and left me feeling underwhelmed.

Overall this is a nice read, but I most probably will not reread it, and will only pick up the next book if I happen to run into a bargain.

Why should you read it:
It's an intriguing setting and set-up.