I wasn't expecting the emotional aspect of death & bereavement captured in this book.
I did think it would be paranormal romance but government conspiracy I adore. Fab narrative voice, utterly unique premise, defies classification.

Revived is the highly anticipated second novel from Cat Patrick. Although I hate to compare books and authors my reaction to this book was the same as when I read Delirium after Before I Fall. As a reader, I think there is a style of writing you love more than others making you prefer a particular book over another even if it is by the same author. For me it was Before I Fall with Lauren Oliver and now its Forgotten with Cat Patrick.

Don’t get me wrong there isn’t anything negative I have to say about this book its just that I personally preferred Forgotten. Possibly its the romance within the narrative that tips the scales for me.

Revived is told in first person narrative from Daisy’s perspective. Daisy is part of a secret drug trail for Revive, a drug that actually brings people back from the dead. Such an utterly unique premise delivered in a realistic and believable fashion.

Daisy is understandably a loner by necessity. Constantly on the move to protect her and prevent the discovery of the Revive testing. Moving is unavoidable when Daisy develops an allergy to bee stings causing an anaphylactic shock she has to be revived from. She can’t risk people knowing she’s alive thanks to the miracle drug. She takes solace in decorating and creating a unique space for herself with each move. However, this last move has caused something to unlock deep within Daisy; she realizes that while she may have been ‘revived’ she isn’t living.

Daisy finds herself forming a friendship and a romance. However, her friend has secrets of her own that adds a whole new dimension to the story.

The story as a whole reads like a mystery while tackling some really weighty issues such as death and bereavement. The element of the drug testing provoked questions relating to the quest for power, ‘playing god’ if you will alongside the themes of control and manipulation. The narrative examines the extent some people are willing to go to in order to obtain something as powerful as a drug that can bring back the dead in most circumstances. Both the good and bad were identified in having this type of ability.

The portrayal of the secret government department and the testing controls were really well developed. The test subjects lives akin to those of people placed in the witness protection program. Daisy is the only orphan and is placed in the care of one of the agents, Mason. Their relationship although professional does take on elements of the traditional father/daughter structure providing a really sweet element to the character development in the plot.

There are a number of twists within the narrative that maintain the action and pacing. While Daisy’s narrative voice is fabulous I can’t say I developed any real connection to her or to any of the other characters for that matter. Although I will admit to crying in parts of the book, lol.

Although I enjoyed Revived, I didn’t love it in the same way as I loved Forgotten. I am aware of a few people who have the opposite opinion proving just how subjective reading is