The Revealed by Jessica Hickam

Jul 21, 2014 Chelsea ❤Peril Please❤ rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-favorite-covers, arc-netgalley

**ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Not too long ago I requested numerous books at once from netgalley and this was the first that got approved. Which, if that's any indication, this is the book that's been sitting and waiting to be read the longest. Which, in my mind, means I was the most unsure of this novel out of all the books that got approved. I mean, it has hardly any ratings, I'd never heard of it, yet it's one of the most requested. Which leads me to my las **ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Not too long ago I requested numerous books at once from netgalley and this was the first that got approved. Which, if that's any indication, this is the book that's been sitting and waiting to be read the longest. Which, in my mind, means I was the most unsure of this novel out of all the books that got approved. I mean, it has hardly any ratings, I'd never heard of it, yet it's one of the most requested. Which leads me to my last point-I don't know why this book has so little recognition and ratings.

And then the kiss is over. The feel of it still lingers on my lips. I know it will fade. I don't want him to fade from me.

Kai and Lily are the presidential candidates' children, therefore they were brought up close until they are separated after the families stop getting together after a tragic accident on Kai's side. No longer close, but more aware of what it's like to have to play it up to the media that all is well and the loneliness they hide behind, they are kindred spirits on different sides of the campaign, making them all but enemies. But once teens turn 18, they become targets for the Revealed. They come out of nowhere and capture these 18 year olds, never for them to be seen again. Once they turn 19, they are free and clear-Kai made it to 19 and went off to serve for the country, but Lily still has months to go before she's 19. She's starting to receive notes from The Revealed claiming they are coming for her, so her parents put her on lock down from leaving their house...but as the threats become more frequent and more threatening, will it be enough to prevent her from being stolen from right under their noses?

I was SHOCKED the minute I started reading this book. I am always so skeptical about ARCs and what it means that I'd never heard of the books before Netgalley. But the minute I started turning pages I was hooked. The characters, the story line, the suspense-it was all so GOOD. I didn't expect to feel bad for the main character when people talked about her behind her back or to swoon when the enemy candidate's son, Kai, saved her and inevitably fell for her. But I did. This story line is wholly original and well thought out. The writing was appealing and the direction the story went was intriguing. I can't say I loved EVERYTHING to do with The Revealed themselves, but I loved the idea behind their organization.

I can't tear my eyes away from the car.
The Revealed aren't trying to take me.
They're trying to kill me.

By far my favorite part of the story would have to be the beginning and middle. They were so suspenseful and alluring and we got to see Kai and Lily's fondness grow for one another. I liked the end, but it didn't quite grab me like that first 60% did. So, to those of you who have dismissed this (like I would have) because of the lack of ratings and little talk of the book, I'd say give it a chance. It's a fun, light read that promises more adventure and even more enemies in the future, and I'm proud to say I WILL be continuing onto the next installment.

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May 07, 2014 Leanne Crabtree rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, fantasy, on-kindle, dystopia, mystery-intrigue, read-2014, 5-star, netgalley

4.5 stars

I received this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I just love the cover of this! Don’t you agree it just grabs the attention?

I’m a big fan of dystopia stories and this sounded different, so I thought, “Why not?”

The USA has been mostly destroyed with only a few states remaining. Lily is the daughter of a politician running for President, along with another man, Roderick Westerfield, who Lily’s family used to be close to. Roderick has a son, Kai, a year older than Lily an 4.5 stars

I received this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I just love the cover of this! Don’t you agree it just grabs the attention?

I’m a big fan of dystopia stories and this sounded different, so I thought, “Why not?”

The USA has been mostly destroyed with only a few states remaining. Lily is the daughter of a politician running for President, along with another man, Roderick Westerfield, who Lily’s family used to be close to. Roderick has a son, Kai, a year older than Lily and someone she used to be close to until the politics got in the way.

Lily has been marked to be taken by the Revealed–a group of people with abilities–since her 18th birthday and like every other 18 year old in the city is being kept at home until they reach their 19th and are safe from being taken. Truly believing they’ll come for her despite all the precautions she just wants to live life to the fullest until then.

I really liked the concept. It was dystopia but had a very different take on it, it wasn’t all deserted and “every man for themselves” or strict dictatorship, it was…like now, only with billions less people populating the planet and with a need to bring the world back into some semblance of working order.

Now to the characters. Lily is our main character and we see her struggle to do what she wants while being a member of such an influential family and the effect her actions have on them. Then there’s Kai. I wasn’t sure about him to start with but he grew on me a lot. Then Rory, Lily’s best friend, she’s pretty awesome.

The story was pretty much continuous action, there was always something happening–which stops boredom from creeping in–and it kept me reading, and wanting to read it when I was busy. It was politics and supernatural and romance. I can’t really say much else without spoiling the plot but it was right up my street and I really enjoyed it!

If you’re looking for something dystopian and a little different then you should try this. If you’re looking for a new name to read, then this is a good story.

I’d definitely recommend this book/series! It’s a great start. ...more

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Jun 08, 2014 Stefani Sloma rated it really liked it

You can also read this review on my blog, Caught Read Handed, HERE. Actual rating: 7.5

What I thought:

I was both really surprised and really impressed with Hickam’s debut novel.

I requested this book on NetGalley because of that amazing summary (and that absolutely beautiful cover!). It sounds super cool, right? Well, it was. Take a dystopian novel then add in what are essentially X-Men mutants, and you’ve got The Revealed. The novel begins with our narrator, Lily, describing the current situation You can also read this review on my blog, Caught Read Handed, HERE. Actual rating: 7.5

What I thought:

I was both really surprised and really impressed with Hickam’s debut novel.

I requested this book on NetGalley because of that amazing summary (and that absolutely beautiful cover!). It sounds super cool, right? Well, it was. Take a dystopian novel then add in what are essentially X-Men mutants, and you’ve got The Revealed. The novel begins with our narrator, Lily, describing the current situation in what is now called the “North American Sector”, which is basically the ruins of the US after a huge war. The US has been mostly destroyed and everyone who survived the war all live on the East Coat. Lily is the daughter of one of two presidential candidates in the first election since the war. Roderick Westerfield is the other candidate, who has a son named Kai. Since the war, a group of people with special abilities called The Revealed has been kidnapping 18 year olds sometime before their 19th birthday. Lily has been marked to be taken, and as such, has been locked up in her home for the year just like every other 18 year old. I’d like to mention that her house is a freaking mansion.

So one of the things I really liked was that Hickam hints at the war, but never truly reveals any details. We don’t know what caused it, how it happened, and we only get a few details for what’s happened since then. I thought this was quite clever, and it kept me reading. I do hope, however, that we get more details as the series progresses. Another thing I liked was how well-done Westerfield was as a villain. He feels positively slimy and icky. When he is touching Lily while they dance at a party, my skin crawled.

The writing was fantastic. I’m surprised this is Hickam’s first novel. She’s a wonderful writer. Hickam’s got great descriptive abilities; I could picture everything she described and her characters are really well done (well, except one, which I’ll mention in a sec). Her writing was my favorite thing about this novel.

Okay. What I didn’t like was Lily actually. She was seriously inconsistent and selfish and immature. She’s gone through so much in her young life that I felt her immaturity was strange. All she wants to do is rebel against her family and she tries (and succeeds) to escape her house several times, which I do understand because her mother is horrible; however, she begins the novel saying her father came to her for advice all the time on his speeches and cared about her opinion, but later she says that since he announced his candidacy, they’ve been on bad terms. Um, what? Also, her love interest in Kai is crazy. Her family used to be close to his but then the war happened and her father and his announced their candidacies; things changed. He betrayed her when they were in high school then joined the military. Now he’s back and she trusts him again, even when he really doesn’t give her much reason to. It wasn’t exactly insta-love, but it was a little too close for my comfort. She was basically like this, “I hate him. I like him. I don’t like him. He’s so hot. I can’t like him. I do like him.” UGH. I would like to say that I thought Lily started off the novel so strong, independent and forceful, and then suddenly she’s whiny, vulnerable, and weak. This was strange, and it happened too quickly to be a believable change.

On the other hand, I really loved Rory, who is an intern in Lily’s mansion’s kitchen. Oh, yeah. She lives in a freaking mansion, but she keeps trying to rebel and escape. What? Anyway, Rory is Lily’s best friend, and she’s great. She’s feisty, strong, and rambunctious, and I would totally be friends with her.

Also, there’s a twist about ¾ of the way through that I thought I knew what was going to happen and was totally SHOCKED. So that’s really awesome. Additionally, I won’t give too much away, but when we finally meet The Revealed and they explain themselves and what’s been happening, I loved that. It was a really cool way to explain their powers. Just all around great ideas in this novel.

The bottom line:

I really like this novel, and I think this series has a whole bunch of awesome potential. I will most definitely read the next in the series, but I hope that our main character has grown some and gotten over herself. I would recommend this book for sure.

Rating: 7.5 – between pretty good and freaking fantastic ...more

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Jun 17, 2014 Nemo rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley

For Full and Edited review go to: Blame It On The Book

The Revealed is a good book for middle schooler’s and it definitely was a fun read. Although I will admit it wasn’t the best read, I had a huge problem with the main character and the overall premise wasn’t fully explained. I’ll start with the good things!

I loved the fact that the Revealed didn’t have a limit to their powers, instead they could control anything with a natural element. Normally in a dystopian/power books some are more powerf ...more

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Aug 29, 2014 Maxine (Booklover Catlady) rated it really liked it

Shelves: could-not-put-down, young-adult-read

The Revealed was an enjoyable read putting a slightly different twist on some recent books to feature Dystopian themes. I found the first half of the book and the second half quite different, I knew in the first half I was waiting, waiting for something (anything) to happen and I was duly rewarded for that patience by the second half of the book.

What is the book about?

Lily Atwood lives in what used to be called Washington, D.C. Her father is one of the most powerful men in the world, having been ...more

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Jul 01, 2014 Carrie Ardoin rated it it was ok

Shelves: gmta-luxury, dystopia

I do enjoy it when a young adult book has a well executed kidnapping in the plot. That probably makes me sound sadistic, but what I mean is it's hard to find one where the kidnapping itself doesn't take over the whole plot of the book. The difference with The Revealed is that the victim knew her kidnapping was coming. This is in large part why I decided to read this book. How can you hide from something and someone that you know is coming, but don't have any idea how to stop?

Unfortunately, the a I do enjoy it when a young adult book has a well executed kidnapping in the plot. That probably makes me sound sadistic, but what I mean is it's hard to find one where the kidnapping itself doesn't take over the whole plot of the book. The difference with The Revealed is that the victim knew her kidnapping was coming. This is in large part why I decided to read this book. How can you hide from something and someone that you know is coming, but don't have any idea how to stop?

Unfortunately, the actual kidnapping scene in this book was anticlimactic, and so many other negative issues overshadowed the plot that I barely got through to the end.

The main character, Lily Atwood is the eighteen year old daughter of a presidential candidate. The elections are the first that are scheduled to happen since a huge war changed the world several years ago. (I'm not trying to be vague on purpose--this is literally all the information the book gives on why this is supposed to be set in a dystopian America.) While the country is on the verge of electing a new leader, the world is also worried because eighteen year olds have been disappearing without a trace, and those to blame are called The Revealed.

The common people don't know much about The Revealed--just that they seem to have secret powers and to be able to do whatever they want to do without anyone being able to stop them. Since Lily turned eighteen, she has been under house arrest, her parents' attempt to keep her from being the next one kidnapped. But that doesn't stop the threatening notes she receives, and Lily basically does everything she can to defy her parents' wishes--including becoming involved with the son of the opposing presidential candidate, Kai Westerfield.

Right from the beginning, Lily Atwood rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it's because I'm older and a parent myself, but I found her to be very whiny and immature. After all, her parents, while the might not be the warmest, are just doing what they can to keep her safe. But Lily time and time again escapes the house and puts herself in harm's way, and The Revealed are not the only ones she has to worry about hurting her. With a highly emotional election about to happen, isn't it not the smartest idea for the daughter of a candidate to be out in public, unprotected?

What actually irritated me the most about this book was the so-called romance between Lily and Kai. Lily mentions that she and Kai have known each other since childhood, but once they got to high school he ignored her existence. However, once he comes back into her life, only one short year after high school, she immediately falls for him. As in, she is literally saying, "I hate him. I've never hated anyone more in my life." in one chapter, and in the next, "I can't stop thinking about Kai." It's not exactly insta-love since they have been knowing each other for so long, but the feeling of an underdeveloped, out of nowhere relationship is there anyway.

I really only kept reading because I wanted to find out what The Revealed were all about and why they were doing the kidnappings. I suppose what I found out was supposed to be a shocking twist, but it felt forced to me. I can't share too much because I don't want to spoil the book, but I will say that the X-Men comparisons I have seen in other reviews seem like a very, very far reach.

When the sort of love triangle got wedged in as well, I knew this book wasn't going to get a good rating from me. It felt as if the author was trying to cram in as many YA stereotypes as she could into one plot without it falling apart. Well, it didn't fall apart...but it didn't make for very good reading, at least for this no longer young adult. ...more

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Jun 07, 2014 Melliane rated it really liked it

Mon avis en Français

My English review

I was immediately attracted by the cover of the book when I saw it. Oh yes, because it is simply beautiful and I was curious to see how the story would be.

Lily Atwood turned 18 recently, but since the war is over, the young persons of this age are kidnapped by The Revealed, an organization with paranormal powers that nobody really knows about. Unfortunately, no one has ever been seen since. However, the young woman is receiving warning letters since her birth Mon avis en Français

My English review

I was immediately attracted by the cover of the book when I saw it. Oh yes, because it is simply beautiful and I was curious to see how the story would be.

Lily Atwood turned 18 recently, but since the war is over, the young persons of this age are kidnapped by The Revealed, an organization with paranormal powers that nobody really knows about. Unfortunately, no one has ever been seen since. However, the young woman is receiving warning letters since her birthday, threatening to come and take her very soon. This fact became very newsworthy, because Lily is the daughter of a man posing for the presidency, a man who hopes to change the world and to make it better. In an attempt to protect her daughter up, he assigns her to stay locked at home until the age of 19, trying to make her busy. But that does not change the arrival of letters and Lily wants therefore to run away. She makes every effort to escape, to forget the threats, this overprotection she does not support. But whatever she does she is always overtaken by many guards who keep an eye on her. Or at least this is the case until Kai, the son of the enemy of her father and a very old friend. He is back from his military mission and he seems very interested in the young woman. But boy has he really changed or is he just trying to coax her to save his father?

I loved the novel from the first pages, including the Lily’s desire for freedom, her desire to escape and to be more than the daughter of a future president. And all this will change when Kai arrives. I loved the young man, even if it is true that it is very difficult to understand if we can trust him or not. Oh yes, because he is very mysterious … But I was really curious to learn more about him and to see what would happen to the young woman. I must say that we also have some nice twists that I did not see coming and I really liked the ideas of the author. For cons, I have a little less adhered to the second part of the story where we learn more about The Revealed, I do not know why … But one thing is for sure everything was really good and I took lot of fun in discovering this new novel. I’m just very curious to see what will happen thereafter to the young woman, as well as for Kai.

A good story that has surprised me, featuring a heroine in search of freedom and love but who finally finds a new purpose in her life, even if it means being separated from those she loves. ...more

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May 12, 2014 Amelia Carter rated it it was amazing

I couldn't fault it. Not one bit.
I received this book through netgalley and, first off, to go into the way the book was actually written and such, I thought that writing flowed beautifully, picking up speed in the action then slowing back down for the sections of showing the reader more, such as the romance (oolala). Also, the plot was well thought out and out together expertly, never failing to cease my attention; especially with the many plot twists and turns in directions I never would have t ...more

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Jun 18, 2014 Alisha Tarran rated it really liked it

Most of my to-read list are books that are the next one in a series I'm reading, so I'm always excited to get to read a book that's a debut, and as soon as I saw the blurb for this I had a feeling it was going to be a good one.

I mean if you love X-Men you're gonna love this, it's all dystopian and there's pretty much mutants in it, and it's just....awesome. Lots of dystopian books are coming out lately thanks to The Hunger Games, but a lot of them are trying to be The Hunger Games and failing q Most of my to-read list are books that are the next one in a series I'm reading, so I'm always excited to get to read a book that's a debut, and as soon as I saw the blurb for this I had a feeling it was going to be a good one.

I mean if you love X-Men you're gonna love this, it's all dystopian and there's pretty much mutants in it, and it's just....awesome. Lots of dystopian books are coming out lately thanks to The Hunger Games, but a lot of them are trying to be The Hunger Games and failing quite miserable. I'm glad to say that The Revealed is a true stand out book in the dystopian genre, and to me, was really unique.

The beginning, with the background of the world, was very well written, it laid out what you needed to know, set the scene, and did it a concise and interesting way that drew you in straight from the beginning and made it impossible for you to not read on.

Now, there's an aspect to this book that readers are either going to really love, like I did, or really hate. The war that's going on in the book. It's hinted at, and there's very few details given, you don't know alot of the information about it, like what caused it and so on. Details are doled out very sparingly, and some readers may not like that, they'll want all of the information and they'll feel like it wasn't elaborated enough and so it was confusing or a missed opportunity or whatever.

I, on the other hand, actually enjoyed this aspect of the book. It creates a very intriguing and teasing kind of feel to the book, you want to know what the war's all about, you're guessing in your head, using the info you have to try and work it out and speculating and giving your brain a workout. It's also really clever of the author because the majority of readers are going to keep reading to find out what happens, good naturedly screech when the book ends and you've only got theories, and then have an agonizing wait until the next book to see if more information is revealed. To be honest, books these days are so predictable to me, that I cannot get enough of this aspect of the book. It also means you're not swamped with back story and endless pages of explanation.
I have a feeling Hickam is going to eke out the information over the series, and I'm excited, because I'm fairly sure that whatever theory you have, is going to turn out to be wrong, but it's going to be awesome to modify your own theory as you get more information, then getting to the final book, knowing everything and either being right, if you're a Sherlock Holmes type, or being all "damn I didn't figure that out". I LOVE INTRIGUE.

Not only has Hickam excelled at creating a world incredibly vividly, and that, to me at least, was all encompassing while I was reading, I mean it sucked me right in and it was a shock to the system coming back to reality; but Hickam has written her characters with so much life, and depth that they're almost real. I can honestly say I have not read a book where a villain has honestly made my skin crawl with their creepiness in an incredibly long time. The characters are so well written they effect you like that. I'm still a little creeped out if I'm honest.

The writing, and the world building is so descriptive, cinematic and atmospheric, not to mention the incredibly well written characters, that I was shocked this was the authors first book. Hickam is incredibly talented.

The only thing I didn't like was that the romance strayed dangerously close to "insta-love" territory, and we all know I loathe that. It didn't quite make it there, but it was suspiciously close, I mean I know they knew each other when they where younger, but he's not very trustworthy and she's trusting him. Idk.

Lily was another great character, she's strong and independent, everything I love in a leading lady, and I liked her, and connected with her. Yeah she could be whiny, but to be honest, considering everything, I think she's allowed to be a little bit whiny and vulnerable every now and again, it made her more human, and it added an imperfection that made her more realistic to me.

When reading this book a lot of people are going to be thinking "dude you live in a mansion, why are you complaining and rebelling" and so on and so on, but if you really think about it, wouldn't you if you where trapped anywhere, let alone a mansion? I would. Let alone if you where expected to be pretty much perfect because of who your dad is and what he's doing and everything.

I loved The Revealed. The explanation for their powers was awesome, and they're so cool, and there's a plot twist that you will never see coming, even if you have a freaking crystal ball, I'm serious. I can usually detect plot twists a mile off, and I can usually guess 95% accurately what was happening, but I'm reading along and then it's like BHAM and I'm like "what the hell just happened" and I must have sat in shocked silence for a couple of minutes. Which would have looked really odd I would imagine. And probably funny.

The Revealed is an explosive, incredibly debut novel from an extremely talented author. If you'd like a bit of X-Men type mutants with your dystopian, this is perfect. Astounding world building, a plot, world and characters that grab you from the first page and don't let you go, characters that jump off the page, and a plot that's hard to predict. I cannot wait for the next book. Seriously. Nooooww! ...more

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May 19, 2014 Amber (The Book Bratz) rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed, young-adult, 2014-reads

This review and more can be found at The Book Bratz

I don't have one negative thing to say about The Revealed. It captured my attention from the first word. There was and equal amount of everything I enjoy in a book. Romance, action, and adventure. With several "What the....!?" moments.

Here is the book in my own words:

Since Lily's eighteenth birthday she had been stuck in her home. In a world were eighteen year olds are kidnapped by a terrorist group called The Revealed, she's vulnerable. Espec ...more

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May 21, 2014 Jen rated it liked it

Shelves: dystopia, romance, sci-fi, arc, ebook, women-authors, young-adult

Sometimes a book aims high and hits the middle. That is this book. In the great race of dystopians, The Revealed is hanging with the pack - not in front, and not lagging behind. It's set a nice pace right in the middle.

The premise here is good: X-Men meets Chasing Liberty. It's a good setup for a potentially fantastic story. The writing is not outstanding but certainly readable. The pacing is good and there aren't any lags. There's a great bad guy and an engaging plot. So what is it with this bo Sometimes a book aims high and hits the middle. That is this book. In the great race of dystopians, The Revealed is hanging with the pack - not in front, and not lagging behind. It's set a nice pace right in the middle.

The premise here is good: X-Men meets Chasing Liberty. It's a good setup for a potentially fantastic story. The writing is not outstanding but certainly readable. The pacing is good and there aren't any lags. There's a great bad guy and an engaging plot. So what is it with this book that makes it just ok?

The main character is inconsistent, immature, and generally annoying. She is being kept safe in a secure compound - so why does she keep getting out so easily? There's a boy who betrayed her back in high school that she suddenly trusts. And trusts again after he gives her reason not to trust him. She herself garners the trust of some people in authority and when she breaks that trust, they give her a slap on the hand and tell her "people's lives are at stake."

There is no weight here, no serious tone, no depth to the action. None of these characters are taking their situations seriously. They're just talking about taking their situation seriously. So why should we care if they all get blown up or shot or generally just killed?

Cue love triangle. Enter cute boy while main character is pining away for other boy she can't trust or figure out. Give readers cause to shoot themselves.

This book is a good story told relatively well. The characters, for the most part, are likable (save the main character). There is a plot twist that isn't readily visible, although it becomes apparent. This book just has so much going for it -

And yet it's just not enough to push it into "great" territory. And that's a shame, because it really could be amazing. This is the beginning of a series and it has great potential to get better and better. Hopefully it will as the main character grows up and gets over herself. It's worth continuing.

But overall? Sadly, it's unremarkable. Hopefully it will gain a large following and distinguish itself. More likely it will hang right there in the middle with all the other dystopian hopefuls. This series has great potential, but it remains to be seen as to whether this author will pull off a hit. ...more

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May 09, 2014 -RadioactiveBookworm- rated it it was ok

Goodreads Synopsis: Lily Atwood lives in what used to be called Washington, D.C. Her father is one of the most powerful men in the world, having been a vital part of rebuilding and reuniting humanity after the war that killed over five billion people. Now he’s running to be one of its leaders.

But in the rediscovered peace on Earth, a new enemy has risen. They call themselves the Revealed – a powerful underground organization that has been kidnapping 18 year olds across the globe without reservat ...more

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May 28, 2014 Caitlin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs

4.5 stars

Received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another reviewer hit the nail on the head: "X-men meets Chasing Liberty." Can't say this is the next Hunger Games. But if you're a fan of dystopian YA with a dash of supernatural/fantasy, you'll LOVE "The Revealed."

No time is wasted as we jump right into Lily's world and story. I have to hand it to Ms. Hickam, as she does a fabulous job of establishing her dystopian world and characters, which are nicely woven into the firs ...more

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Jun 19, 2014 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, young-adult, 2014

"The Revealed" is one of those books that makes me realize that even though I get a little tired of dystopian sometimes that there are still really fantastic books in the genre. In "The Revealed," Lily is being chased by the super scary group called the Revealed. They are known to kidnap people and make them disappear. Lily fears that but she also hates all of the restrictions that her parents put in place to try to keep her safe so she rebels and tries to create her own fate. The book is the st ...more

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Oct 09, 2014 Sarah Elizabeth rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult, read-2014, dystopian, romance, fantasy, kindle-unlimited

(Read using Kindle Unlimited)

I was really looking forward to this book, but unfortunately I spent most of it bored.

Lily irritated me a bit. She knew the Revealed were planning on kidnapping her, but could she just stay in her house like a good girl, and wait out her last 200 days before she turned 19? No. I personally would have taken advantage of a year spent at home and done some serious reading, but Lily? Heck no. She wasn’t going to be sensible and possibly save her life, she was going to go ...more

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May 31, 2014 Katy Daniels rated it it was amazing

I received an ARC.

This book is fun, imaginative, suspenseful, and draws you in to find out why Lily is being targeted by the Revealed. The characters and their relationships are well developed and help to set the scene for the new world that they live in. The author's writing style is amazing and puts you through a whirlwind of emotions as the story develops. The suspenseful scenes make your palms sweaty and the teen love scenes give you butterflies. The plot is simply incredible and is well-pac ...more

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May 25, 2014 Lauren rated it really liked it

The Revealed was a sci fi thriller unlike any I have read so far. Lily and Kia have just begun their story together. I am sure there is much more to it. This book was fast paced and full of surprises. While I thought the Revealed change over was a bit quick for Lily, I was glad that the explanation was somewhat believable. I like stories that are based on enough truth to make you think that anything could be possible. I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my hon ...more

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May 09, 2014 Sarah rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, teen, netgalley, science-fiction, dystopian

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

3.5 stars. I liked this book. It had action, sci-fi elements, and romance (including a potential love triangle). I think I would have liked it more if I was still a teenager. A large part of the story is the main character wrestling with loving her parents but wanting to break free of their shadow and learning how to do that. Because of this storyline, I didn't feel I related to her much, but I think teen girls will love it. ...more

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Jun 10, 2014 Andrea rated it it was amazing

GREAT book!! It reminded me a bit of Gone Girl - not the story but how the story unfolds. Loved the twist...didn't see that coming at all. ...more

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May 06, 2014 Izze rated it it was ok

Shelves: science-fiction, mystery

This reviews also appears in my blog Bookworm Reviews.

Cool synopsis up there, right? That’s what I thought when I requested this book from NetGalley the moment I saw it. Sadly, this is an awesome premise to a book that completely failed to live up to it.

Slow plot progression, but sudden choppy plot changes; a lack of interesting characters and good character development; vague concept ideas; an insta-true-love relationship; and a co-dependant, whiny and immature main character… I’ve already sold ...more

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May 01, 2014 Echo rated it liked it

Shelves: novelfly-reviews

The Revealed is a great read if you're willing to call it what it is. It's probably not middle grade, but it's more like young young adult. Think seventh or eighth grade. It took me reading the whole book in a YA state of mind to realize this.

For starters, Lily is eighteen. In her world, eighteen-year-olds are abducted by The Revealed and never seen again. Since this started happening, it's become customary for eighteen-year-olds to be pulled out of school and kept at home until they turn ninet ...more

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May 12, 2014 Amy Softa rated it really liked it

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.

Requested this one over at Net Galley on a whim. The cover is beautiful and it sounded interesting. Almost didn’t cause I have been reviewing so many requested reviews that I have fallen behind in books already on my to-read list. I hemmed and hawed and finally hit that request button. As you can see I was approved for a copy, still blows my mind that publishers do this for readers…, and I put it in line to I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley for an honest review.

Requested this one over at Net Galley on a whim. The cover is beautiful and it sounded interesting. Almost didn’t cause I have been reviewing so many requested reviews that I have fallen behind in books already on my to-read list. I hemmed and hawed and finally hit that request button. As you can see I was approved for a copy, still blows my mind that publishers do this for readers…, and I put it in line to read for review. I AM SO GLAD I did. Wow. It was a really good book, couple points I will make later kept it from being five stars, but wow. This one has potential to do really well I think. This one is different from some of the other YA dystopianish books out there, and I’ll tell you why.

First of all it really didn’t feel like a dystopian book. I’m struggling to find a classification to put the book in. It has dystopian-ish qualities, but there are science fiction elements, political, and romance elements to the story as well. The only classification that I would say it definitely falls into is the YA billing that the titles is tagged with. The Revealed was a twist of a story that could appeal to readers of any of the aforementioned genres.

So what did I like about the book. I loved that it kept me guessing. A couple of points I kinda figured out, but most of the time I couldn’t tell which side of the good/evil fence a character fell on or what their motives were. In the very beginning I wasn’t sure that I liked Lily. she was kind of whinny and came off as a rich kid complaining about her soft life and the other mean rich kids she was surrounded by. The author did a good job of turning around my opinion of her though and I soon could see that yeah, maybe life wasn’t so great for Lily. Just because she was comfortable and protected didn’t mean she was happy, didn’t mean she had anymore freedom than the rest of the teens in this world.

The premise of the story was also interesting. I liked that we got in on this world as they were trying to rebuild things. I also was intrigued by why were 18-year-olds disappearing and who this organization The Revealed was. The fact that they had powers was also interesting. How did they have them? Was it natural or man-made? How were they able to move in and out of society without notice? Why did they target this age group and only certain teen? It all kept me reading. Partially because most of these questions were not answered or even addressed until the second half of the book.

The first half was very much just a love story, a captivating one, but it had little to do with The Revealed. The author focused on building up the chemistry between Lily and Kai Westerfield, who just happens to be the son of her father’s opponent. This part of the story had a very Romeo and Juliet feel to it. Star crossed lovers from rival families. Who doesn’t love this type of romance? In the second half of the book, we are introduced to another potential love interest, but it just felt flat to me. I don’t think the story needs it, lovers forced to be apart is enough of a draw.

So if it is so great what kept it from that fifth star? Under age drinking is a major problem I had with the book. Sure, it is a dystopian future society, but this is a YA book. The main characters are all around the age of 18, none of them were 21 I believe. In this world the author has created the rules might be different, but the teens in this one are not legal to drink until they are 21. I thought the club scene set a bad example along with the lead character’s actions in that part of the book. This is my only real complaint about the story. If this could have been handled differently I would have gladly given it a five-star rating.

Through my digging I have come to believe that this is going to be part of a series, or at least I sure how it is. The story left off at an interesting point, and I would love to see what happens next. I think this series could continue to follow Lily or could easily jump to another one of the missing 18-year-olds. I want to see how the author develops this world and the powers the teens have. It is an interesting setting Ms. Hickman has created I can’t wait to see what she does with it. ...more

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May 27, 2014 Leah rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebooks, for-review, books-read-2014

I’m slowly but surely making my way through all of my reads for Book Sparks fantastic Summer Reading Challenge – it’s introducing me to authors new and old, and next up on my list was Jessica Hickam’s debut novel The Revealed. It has a super pretty cover, and I thought it sounded really interesting. I don’t read many Dystopian novels – I’ve got a few to read on my shelf, and, of course, I’ve read The Hunger Games, but it’s not a go-to genre for me, but it is a genre I’m learning to enjoy, and I I’m slowly but surely making my way through all of my reads for Book Sparks fantastic Summer Reading Challenge – it’s introducing me to authors new and old, and next up on my list was Jessica Hickam’s debut novel The Revealed. It has a super pretty cover, and I thought it sounded really interesting. I don’t read many Dystopian novels – I’ve got a few to read on my shelf, and, of course, I’ve read The Hunger Games, but it’s not a go-to genre for me, but it is a genre I’m learning to enjoy, and I thought The Revealed was an excellent Dystopian novel and I am PUMPED for the sequel! Pumped, I tell you. Like I want it right now!

The Revealed is a very, very interesting novel. It introduces us to Lily who, because she’s 18, must stay in the house until her 19th birthday because there’s a group called The Revealed that go around stealing 18-year-olds, and they’re never seen again. And Lily knows she’s going to be taken, because she keeps receiving notes from the group, with their iconic symbol affixed to the letters. It turns out that Lily lives in a different world to the one we have now – America is only half of what it used to be, with the east coast completely wiped out and turned into wastelands, and the west coast slowly rebuilding and life is nowhere close to what it is now. Computers, cell phones, cars, they’re all for the rich people and The Revealed seem to run everything, despite the fact they’re rarely seen but because of their powers, they’re dangerous and everyone fears them. But Lily is not content to just stay in her big mansion for the year, because she knows that if the Revealed are going to come for her, they’re going to come no matter what…

I loved Lily as soon as I met her! She reminds me of a younger version of me, but it’s the current me who she represents – a bit stuck in life, wanting to do more, wanting to just get out there and DO something, and not be stuck in her house all day long. I can totally, totally see where she was coming from because I long to escape where I live, and the monotony of work-home-read-work-home-read that my life seems to be at the moment. Even more so, since as Lily rightly pointed out, her eighteenth year on Earth could well be her last, so why shouldn’t she enjoy it as much as she can? The first half of the book really explores that feeling of wanting to break free – with Lily even managing to escape a couple times, and while I could understand her parents’ frustration; they’re scared Lily’s going to be stolen, her dad is running for President so they don’t need the scandal, I also wanted them to just understand WHY Lily felt the need to escape and try to have adventures.

The first half of the novel really lays the foundation for the rock-and-roll second half of the novel where the pace really ramps up and secrets come out, and the novel just took itself up another level. I was very impressed. I don’t want to mention what occurs during the second half of the novel but it was mind-blowing and I was sitting reading and reading and reading at such a fast pace, desperate to know more, desperate to see what was going to happen! I just thoroughly enjoyed every page of the novel. I loved Lily as a character, and I loved her best friend Rory, and the novel just kept going at breakneck speed, the type of speed I adore because it keeps you hooked. I loved the hint of romance between Lily and Kai, who is the son of Lily’s dad’s Presidential opponent, it was very Romeo & Juliet, and it made my heart MELT. It made my heart race and my palms sweat, it was like Kai was looking and talking to me… I can’t wait for the next novel in the series and to see where the events of the second half of the novel takes Lily and co. I just hope we don’t have to wait too long to read the sequel! ...more

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Jun 01, 2014 Holly rated it really liked it

Shelves: i-liked-it, could-have-been-better, dystopian, netgalley-edelweiss, shocking-twists

*I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*Full review can be found at Part of that World.

It's so hard to write new and original dystopians because there have been so many in the last few years alone. It's hard to create something that isn't too closely associated with another book and that can stand on its own in the dystopian genre. I thought The Revealed had a unique take on societies after war and elementalists.

Actual rating: 3.5 Enjoyable Stars!

I was pulled *I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*Full review can be found at Part of that World.

It's so hard to write new and original dystopians because there have been so many in the last few years alone. It's hard to create something that isn't too closely associated with another book and that can stand on its own in the dystopian genre. I thought The Revealed had a unique take on societies after war and elementalists.

Actual rating: 3.5 Enjoyable Stars!

I was pulled in from the beginning! This was a fairly fast-paced novel with moments of quiet and contemplation. In the beginning, the main character Lily, is having a late teenage rebellion. But nothing is ever as it seems in this book..

Lily's been receiving notes taped to her bedroom window, leaving her with the knowledge of one thing: The Revealed are coming for her. Her parents have increased security, and she's literally not allowed out of the house. But Lily is a character who's been told what to do all her life and knows that she's going to be taken soon. It makes her reckless, stubborn, determined. She takes unnecessary risks, disobeys her parents, and almost gets herself killed. But it's more than just teenage rebellion. Lily was a strong character who only wanted to be normal, to be free of the politics and the fighting and the masks. To live her life! It's all she wanted. And by the end, she becomes the character she's meant to be. Strong, resilient, and choosing what's right over her own family.

I just wish the secondary characters had as much development as Lily. But they were kind of overlooked to bring Lily to where she needed to be. I was really hoping for a stronger relationship between Lily and her parents, as well as a bit more development with the romance between her and Kai. The romance seemed a bit too sudden for how they acted toward each other. I liked Rory, but she only had a few appearances until well past the halfway point. But, as this is only the first book, I have a feeling those relationships will change in the sequel. They'll either grow or die out.

As to the romance, I have an inkling that a love triangle will sprout. There is a setup, which I hope I'm wrong about. But with the other guy, it felt forced. So, we'll see what happens. Hopefully, it doesn't make me mad, because I really hate love triangles. Also, Lily spent a lot of time dwelling on her relationship with Kai, when I would have liked more on the politics and the war they just went through. There was a lot of information sprinkled throughout (no info-dumps, yay), but I still have tons of questions about how that war came to be.

The plot was very complicated, in that there were a lot of twists. I don't think many people will see some of them coming, and others seemed a natural direction in which the story would go. I loved the idea behind The Revealed, and I can't say much for fear of spoiling the story-line. But what I can say is that I liked where the story headed, and I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel.

The Revealed was a unique take on dystopians. But it still had a lot of the same elements--rebellion, dictator in charge, killer politics, and unrest. I really enjoyed the first book, and I want to know what happens to our characters in the sequel. ...more

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Jun 07, 2014 Valerie rated it liked it

Shelves: arc-read

Pretty cover, cover is so pretty. It's so shiny and bubbly-looking I just want to touch it. Too bad I received an e-book of it through Netgalley. Thank you Sparkpress!

On a different note, I kind of had some beef with The Revealed. Just a little bit though. Overall I thought the concept was cool, but many things could've been done better. I'll start with the summary first though.

The Revealed takes place in a future ravaged by war, yet the East Coast of the US is completely untouched. Lily Atwood, Pretty cover, cover is so pretty. It's so shiny and bubbly-looking I just want to touch it. Too bad I received an e-book of it through Netgalley. Thank you Sparkpress!

On a different note, I kind of had some beef with The Revealed. Just a little bit though. Overall I thought the concept was cool, but many things could've been done better. I'll start with the summary first though.

The Revealed takes place in a future ravaged by war, yet the East Coast of the US is completely untouched. Lily Atwood, the daughter of one of the presidential nominees, is locked away in her room after finding multiple threats against her, from The Revealed, a mysterious organization that kidnaps select 18-year olds. Her parents have maximum security around her, because if the future president can't keep his daughter safe, then how can he keep the world safe?

Unfortunately, we aren't introduced to The Revealed until halfway through the book. So instead, we get to listen to Lily's constant complaining about how she can't get out of the house, even though she gets to later on. Oh, and then there's also Kai, the romantic interest, who is the son of the other presidential nominee. And she can't stop thinking about him, even though he called her a snob and is also a playboy. The only thing we know about him is that he has looks, and is pretty much the dream boy. And he's also in the army, with the task of finding the hideouts of The Revealed.

My main problem with this book is that there are too many unanswered questions. Plus the world just doesn't seem right. The world has just been destroyed by nukes and war, but yet the East Coast is totally untouched, plus there's still internet, touch screen tablets, cars, etc. I understand that Lily's family is super rich, but why does her dad have an Aston Martin. And plus, a lot of emphasis is put on the social gap between the rich and the poor, with the poor basically only working in factories and the such. But we never see this. It really feels like everything is just the way it is in our world.

Along with this. I still know nothing about the war. What war? What happened to cause this war?

Even though the book is titled The Revealed, I didn't find out about it until halfway through. As much as I "loved" Lily's conversations with herself, and plus her constant escape attempts, I wanted to know more about the Revealed. Plus, pretty much every conversation went like "Mom, you can't keep me safe, The Revealed are going to get me one way or another", or something along those lines. Like, okay, I get it. NOW TELL ME ABOUT IT REALLY.

When I did finally get to the part of The Revealed, I have to say that I did like it. I won't spoil it, because it's far into the book, but I like the idea behind it.

And also, I did like that one plot twist. I really did not see that coming. That's the part of the book where things did finally pick up, and I'm glad for it. But overall, The Revealed wasn't bad, but it wasn't a heart-stopper either. Also, this might just be setting up for the next book in the series, and in that case it does a pretty decent job. I'm still not a fan of Kai though. His name reminds me too much of another character in another book too.
...more

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Jul 27, 2014 Janelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: coming-of-age, dystopian, adventure, conspiracy, sci-fi, ya-romance, love-story, mystery, teenager-drama, kidnapping

**I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review**

Solid 4 stars!!

I couldn’t put this book down – I read it in one day!

Lily Attwood has everything going for her – she smart, pretty, and the possibly the next First daughter to the President of the North American Sector. After a world war that has wiped out most of the world, and made most of the rest fairly destitute, Lily should feel lucky that she has a big beautiful home, with all the technology, staff, and **I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review**

Solid 4 stars!!

I couldn’t put this book down – I read it in one day!

Lily Attwood has everything going for her – she smart, pretty, and the possibly the next First daughter to the President of the North American Sector. After a world war that has wiped out most of the world, and made most of the rest fairly destitute, Lily should feel lucky that she has a big beautiful home, with all the technology, staff, and knowledge at her finger tips, but seeing as she is eighteen years old, and the mysterious rouge group known as The Revealed that takes eighteen year olds and then vanish into thin air is after her, she feels she has no real purpose in life. The Revealed will get her – it’s just a matter of when they will come and take her…to her death, as most think, just another of the Taken Eighteen (the name they have given the eighteen year olds that have been taken).

As her father and mother campaign for the first presidency since the world war against Roderick Westerfield, Lily just floats through every day – waiting for the Revealed to sweep her away from everything she knows. That is until she runs into Kai Westerfield (who should be her sworn enemy, as he is the rival’s son) at a gala her family throws one night – the night that the Revealed attacks the party, but spares her – leaving her unharmed. And while they were family friends before the war and acquaintances at school – Lily has some serious trust issues. But Kai tries to prove he is different – matured since high school, especially as he is now a part of the armed forces that help protect their Sector. After several meetings, she and Kai form a bond – he is the only other person that can possibly understand how she feels being cooped up in her home while their whole life is decided for them – who they can talk to, who they can be friends with, what they can learn…feeling cut off from the rest of the world with their fathers both vying for the presidency. But when Kai is sent off for a mission without so much as a text to tell Lily, she finds herself wondering if she ever really knew him at all.

And upon her next confrontation with the Revealed, Lily wonders if all she’s been taught is a lie, or the truth, and she has no idea who she can trust…as those she thought she could trust turn out to be the wrong choice, and those she thought were the wrong choice she can trust – but can she convince those that matter most to her in time to save their lives?

Lily is complex, but a little boring – all at once. At times, you wonder how anyone can be so naïve, and other times how someone could be so mature – she doesn’t make good decisions at first, but she definitely begins showing some maturity near the end of the book. She learns that being strong and loyal are important – and all of her decisions have consequences, good or bad, that she will have to live with. I thought it was a very intriguing story and concept – I mean, who wouldn’t love to have mind powers every once in a while?!? I’m really looking forward to seeing how things go for Lily in the next book – very promising future, but I guess it’s all about the decisions we make…free will can end up being our down fall! ...more

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Oct 18, 2014 Kari Anderson rated it really liked it

From Goodreads:
Lily Atwood lives in what used to be called Washington, D.C. Her father is one of the most powerful men in the world, having been a vital part of rebuilding and reuniting humanity after the war that killed over five billion people. Now he’s running to be one of its leaders.

But in the rediscovered peace on Earth, a new enemy has risen. They call themselves the Revealed – a powerful underground organization that has been kidnapping 18 year olds across the globe without reservation. From Goodreads:
Lily Atwood lives in what used to be called Washington, D.C. Her father is one of the most powerful men in the world, having been a vital part of rebuilding and reuniting humanity after the war that killed over five billion people. Now he’s running to be one of its leaders.

But in the rediscovered peace on Earth, a new enemy has risen. They call themselves the Revealed – a powerful underground organization that has been kidnapping 18 year olds across the globe without reservation. No one knows why they are kidnapping these teens, but it’s clear something is different about these people. They can set fires with a snap of their fingers and create a wind strong enough to barrel over a tree with a flick of their wrist. No one has been able to stop them, and they have targeted Lily as their next victim.

But Lily has waited too long to break free from her father’s shadow to let some rebel organization just ruin everything. Not without a fight.

My Thoughts:
As I prepared for the release of Mockingjay, I was hungry for a little dystopia in my life and this book fulfilled it!

I think that there’s a lot of pressure to be the next Hunger Games or Divergent. And those are very big shoes to fill. There are several things I think that Hickam did well with this book (and beginning of series). She set the stage for us as to where we are, which I think is extremely important. If we are in a dystopian society, I want to know where I am in proximity to where this is all taking place. In Hunger Games, I know that I am near District 12. That makes the story more real for me because I can relate to these people. As in any book, if it takes place in a location I am familiar with, I am more likely to gravitate toward it. I like being able to close my eyes and place myself there. Hickam set the center of this story in Washington DC. Even for those who haven’t been there, we know the location, we know the history, we know the importance of setting a dystopian political story in the nation’s capital.

I also think Hickam did a good job with the characters. I loved the strength of Lily. But at the same time, when things get super rocky, I love that she is real. She is a teenager. She is emotional. She is vulnerable. She is a bit reckless and certainly puts herself in more danger than necessary. But what teenager wouldn’t in that situation? They are few and far between. When it comes to Kai, shooo, he’s a tough one. You want to like him. He’s smooth and sauve and likable in a bad boy sense. But there are so many questions – Is he trustworthy? Is he the same boy that Lily remembers?

The one thing I’m hung up on on this book is what Hickam tried to do differently. It’s not magic, but it’s not necessarily realistic. I appreciate her working hard to put in a game changer and make her story different from others. It’s not exactly up my alley. However with that said, I am intrigued by it and interested to see where she takes it from here. I know I’m being vague…but I don’t want to give anything away.

The book was a gripping, adventurous, quick read. I will definitely keep my eyes out for the other books in this series.

I give The Revealed 4 out of 5 bookmarks. ...more

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Oct 28, 2014 Kim rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2014

To me, the one thing that makes or breaks a good post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel is the connection to the world as we know it in the moment. There has to be that thread of our own reality to truly bring the chilling possibilities home, to scare us with the potential for the utter destruction of our world as we know it. Hunger Games did that with the world of Panem. The Chemical Gardens did that with the total destruction of society in the United States. And I felt like The Revealed accomplished To me, the one thing that makes or breaks a good post-apocalyptic/dystopian novel is the connection to the world as we know it in the moment. There has to be that thread of our own reality to truly bring the chilling possibilities home, to scare us with the potential for the utter destruction of our world as we know it. Hunger Games did that with the world of Panem. The Chemical Gardens did that with the total destruction of society in the United States. And I felt like The Revealed accomplished that, too.

The story begins about six years after a nuclear war essentially destroyed the world. Most of the United States is now a wasteland and society is virtually unrecognizable. There are the very wealthy and there are the very poor with not a lot in between. There are also the Revealed, a covert group of indivduals with outwardly questionable motives who selectively "kidnap" eighteen year olds. It has become a part of life for the wealthy to hide their kids within secure compounds for the entire year in order to protect them, despite the fact that few get kidnapped and there is nothing that will stop those that are from being taken.

Our main character is Lily, currently on lockdown as her father vigorously campaigns for the upcoming presidential election. This is the first election since the world was destroyed and the future depends on which candidate is chosen. His opposition is the father of Kai, a childhood friend turned nemisis of Lily's. Both of these characters are extremely wealthy, the elite of new world. They have all the advantages that most in this new world do not. I did not expect to feel sympathy for them, but it is clear that money doesn't solve everything. If anything, it often makes things worse in this world.

There is so much to this story. There was a little bit of romance between Kai and Lily, unexpected and pretty quick to happen. This is something that usually bothers me, the concept of insta-love, but in this case... it works. It is a world of chaos and Lily's time is running out. Everything about her life is in chaos and their romance is what she sees to be her last chance at having a life. But this is so much more than romance. The political intrigue reads like a Vince Flynn novel with no end of betrayals and conspiracies. And there is a nice healthy dose of sci-fi right along with it.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me glued to the pages and reading. Although there is currently no mention of it on Goodreads or the author's site, there is another book coming caled The Enraged, which I am looking forward to.

Things to love...

--The connection to the world as we know it. That really highlighted the frightening possibilities for our own reality.
--Lily's choices. I love that her choices revolved around remaining true to herself and her beliefs, rather than a guy. Excellent role model!
--The mystery and the intigure. Loved it!

My Recommendation: If you enjoy post-apocalyptic/dystopian novels, this is a good one to pick up. I think this series has great potential! I gave this 4.5 mugs! ...more

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Jul 16, 2014 Anna Elizabeth rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: High School Students or New World Order Fans

Shelves: netgalley-s

I didn't mean to read this book in one solid sitting. I trudged into bed at 12:30am and thought "I'll just read a few pages." I checked the clock at 1:30 and kept on, I checked the clock again at 2:15. I checked the clock after I finished the book and it was 4:30.

I recognized relatively early on that this was going to be a series, or at least more than one book. Which, in this case was a good thing. It gave me time as a reader to build a relationship. At first, I thought this book was just going I didn't mean to read this book in one solid sitting. I trudged into bed at 12:30am and thought "I'll just read a few pages." I checked the clock at 1:30 and kept on, I checked the clock again at 2:15. I checked the clock after I finished the book and it was 4:30.

I recognized relatively early on that this was going to be a series, or at least more than one book. Which, in this case was a good thing. It gave me time as a reader to build a relationship. At first, I thought this book was just going to be Lily being a temperamental young adult falling in love with the bad boy the entire book. Throw in some "new world order" and you've got what you THINK is something like The Selection Series. You're wrong.

Lily was a completely relatable, endearing character. Struggling under house arrest, dealing with being in the spot light and the constant threat of life combusting around her, she handles it all like a real teenager would. Screaming, crying and kicking the whole way. But she is strong and destined for greater things.

Kai is the bad boy you want to love. You want to love Kai just as much as Lily does. You want to trust him, you want to believe he will be the prince charming and good guy. He is a surprise at every turn and by the end of it I was absolutely in love with him. It happened.

The Revealed are this big scary monster the entire book. When they show up the first time, you can't breathe. You hold your breath and tell everyone to run. When they show up the second time, you're a bit more prepared. But not really.

Rory and Skylar are probably my two favorite characters in the book. Both are supportive characters and Skylar doesn't even show up until the last quarter or so of the book. I can't wait to see what happens to them in the following book(s?). Rory is Lily's spitfire friend that becomes an increasingly more important player in this twisted game of life. Skylar is the....other male character? He's not quite a love interest, but I have a sneaking suspicion that in later books he could be. He's definitely a friend, almost a mentor and an all around nice guy. It doesn't help that he's super attractive.

This was just an all around solid book. The characters have dimension, there are twists and turns, but it's not overwhelming. I don't have an obnoxious book-hangover. I am excited and can't wait for the next book to be released but it hasn't overwhelmed my life. Hickam has left just enough to the imagination, just enough questions, just enough things left open to have drawn me in. I am totally ready for the second book. I feel like if I didn't get to read the second book that I would be ok. BUT I fully intend on reading the second book. I am super excited to see how Lily's life continues!

The Revealed would be a great book for my students. Not too much, not too little. Not too long or too short. Just enough action, romance, and drama to keep you interested. It is easy to get enamored with these characters and long to know what happens next. But I guess we'll just have to wait for that to be revealed. ;)
...more

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Sep 20, 2014 Jill rated it it was ok

This is a post-apocalyptic YA story about Lilith (“Lily”) Atwood, who lives in a large, well-protected house in Washington, D.C. Her father, Mark, is an important politician who now is running for president. His opponent is Roderick Westerfield, a man who used to be friends with Mark. But after the [apocalypse-causing] war in which Westerfield’s wife died, he became an embittered, vengeful man. While Lily’s father is running under the slogan “A Better Tomorrow,” Westerfield’s is “Never Again.”

Li This is a post-apocalyptic YA story about Lilith (“Lily”) Atwood, who lives in a large, well-protected house in Washington, D.C. Her father, Mark, is an important politician who now is running for president. His opponent is Roderick Westerfield, a man who used to be friends with Mark. But after the [apocalypse-causing] war in which Westerfield’s wife died, he became an embittered, vengeful man. While Lily’s father is running under the slogan “A Better Tomorrow,” Westerfield’s is “Never Again.”

Lily, like other 18-year-olds, is house-bound until after her 19th birthday. A secretive group calling themselves The Revealed have been kidnapping eighteen year olds for the past five years. None of the teens is ever seen again, so Lily is even getting home-schooled to keep her safer. In addition, the Revealed seem to have special powers. They apparently have learned how to manipulate the elements; they can move earth and create fire, wind, and water.

There is a further complication to Lily’s life. She is in love with Kai Westerfield, Roderick’s son. But their fathers are sworn enemies. And in any event, can she even survive until her birthday and the election? And what if Westerfield wins - will any of them have a future?

Discussion: Caution: Some spoilers in this section; Skip to Evaluation to Avoid Spoilers:

This plot has all kinds of problems. Neither Lily’s “instalove” with Kai, nor Kai’s apparent personality transformation are adequately explained. For that matter, the metamorphosis of Kai’s father from good family friend of the Atwoods to Evil Murdering Arch Fiend is also not realistically justified.

The whole special powers thing is totally out of nowhere. A special surgery has to be performed to enable it, but only some people have minds that are “susceptible.” If the wrong people have the surgery they could die. Therefore Revealed agents surreptitiously collect hair samples or tossed paper cups from all eighteen year olds to perform DNA sequencing in order to find potential recruits. Sound like a logistical impossibility and scientific improbability? I should note that this story doesn’t take place that far in the future, and most of the country is gone except for the East Coast, so it’s not like there are a lot of resources, or available and adequately trained manpower for expensive science research and development.

Furthermore, Lily was supposedly close to her dad, but when she tries to talk to him about the Revealed, he tries to have her locked up.

Of course, this is just the first of a series. And just in time, because a new boy has been introduced - Skylar, to help form a triangle, so all the necessary tropes are in place.

Evaluation: This book begins with an interesting premise, but as the story progressed it had too many plausibility problems for me.
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