Reviews of The Unmaking of Eden

"The Unmaking of Eden is a brilliant, epic, immersive piece of storytelling. It is hard to believe it is the work of a first-time writer, such is the confidence and sophistication of the story-telling."

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"I was bowled over by the phenomenally powerful storytelling here. In our heroine, Eden, we have one of the most engaging, spiky, heartbreaking 12-year-olds I have had the pleasure of encountering on the page. She brings real heart and high emotional stakes to this intricately plotted story of the collision between a commune, a drug company and a fierce and damaged young woman. There is an unlikely but beautiful relationship at the core of the story – one that swells your heart with hope and makes you desperate to keep turning the pages to see where this pair will end up. I was wholly in its grip from first page to last and can’t wait to see more from this writer."

Literary agent Victoria Hobbs of AM Heath

 

"Dakota Canon has a hugely confident commercial prose style and is superb at bringing to life the inner voice of her young protagonist-on-the-run Eden. Dakota’s first novel is full of atmosphere and culminates in a startling twist that makes you want to go back to the beginning and start all over again." 

Ed Wood, Publishing Director, Sphere Fiction / IP Director, Little Brown Book Group

"Dakota Canon’s construction of her protagonist’s voice is a real achievement: immediate, intimate and indelible. Eden’s narration announces itself with a confidence rarely seen in unpublished work."

Emma Paterson, Literary Agent at Aitken Alexander Associates

"I think it's brilliant. I can't remember the last time I said that, about anything. I would not hesitate for a second to read The Unmaking of Eden again."

Author, David Poynter

"I read the whole thing in one sitting, I COULD NOT STOP, the story was just that compelling. It's a great book, a fantastic book, due to the writing.
 
In the history of movies, how many millions of movies have been made?  Some good some bad -- and then you see a Quentin Tarantino film and you suddenly understand that no one's ever made a movie before. It took him to come along and make a movie, and we see it and go, damn that's what a movie is supposed to be. That's how I feel about this story. [The author] gets it. [She] gets what a story is supposed to do. That is a rare talent."

Award-winning author, Liz Lopez

 

"This is fantastic writing. This has to be published. I don't know anyone who will not love this character. She gets better and better. A witty, paranoid schizophrenic, love-chick."

Author John Cambridge

 

"Fantastic prose throughout. Breathtaking at times. Just amazing."

Author Susan Conner

 

"A brilliant writer who keeps us guessing with every turn of the page."

Author Kathleen Keenan

 

"Ohhh, man. What a ride. Damn if that isn't powerfully and wonderfully heart-wrenching material. I loved it!"

Author Lauren See

 

"From the beginning, you’ll be taken in by Eden’s world—mysterious, tragic, special. The author’s writing style pulls you in and makes you part of the story. It’s so riveting you will put your life on hold in an effort to stay in this world and find out what was hinted at, what will happen next. Don’t read at your lunch hour or you’ll be late getting back to work. There’s mystery, action, a touch of romance, tragedy, and a wake up call. The author uses various literary devices and a touch of foreshadowing but so subtle you might not notice. How much of this is real life told through a fictional story? It’s over too soon and you’re yearning for a second book."

Writer Julie Kano