Summer Reading Challenge: The Revealed by Jessica Hickam #SRC2014

Here is another stop for SparkPress' Summer Reading Challenge which we are participating in. Today's post is for The Revealed, in intriguing YA dystopian title. Enjoy!

The Revealed by Jessica Hickam
YA dystopia/romance/mystery

Paperback/eBook, 314 pages
Published June 17th 2014 by SparkPress

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.

Buy the book: Amazon 

Lily is the only daughter of a prominent politician in a dystopian America. At eighteen, she is on the brink of adulthood, but in this new world, she is also living with the threat of being abducted by a mysterious rebellious group called The Revealed. The teen's every movement is under watch by security, her scrutinizing mother, and occasionally her father when he's around. What does Lily do? Act like a typical teen and anger her parents every chance she gets.

What I really liked The Revealed was how Lily tried so hard to be a normal teen despite how different her life truly is. With a father running for president, a controlling mother, the media always ready to snap a picture and print gossip, Lily is stifled. Add threatening black envelopes with The Revealed logo, and the tension mounts. The new world Jessica Hickam creates is rooted in our current one with just enough to make it different. The novel beings with action and keeps the reader entertained and excited as the mysteries unwind. One of my favorite scenes was the party scene where we first meet some of the members of The Revealed and see them in action. All I can is they are very cool and reminded me of certain characters from the X-Men franchise.

There is romance for Lily involving a childhood friend, Kai. Lily has enough dealing with the black envelopes and Kai's return adds more tension and some very special moments which I thoroughly enjoyed. Watching Lily change from a good girl who follows orders to a young woman who asks questions and grabs car keys while trying to rein in her feelings for the temperamental Kai really made her character endearing.

The Revealed is a very cool read. A realistic world ravaged by war, some fighting to better it while others simply want power, Lily's story is highly visual (easily pictured as a movie), emotional, and a real page turner. I read it in one night. If you've seen the latest X-Men movie, are waiting for the next Hunger Games installment, read The Revealed and get sucked into Lily's world. And now I need book two (please).

Rating: 4

Cover comment:

I'm glad the cover is kept ominous and doesn't show Lily in a ballgown (even though she does wear one). I like it.

Book source:

Netgalley. Also thanks to BookSparks.

About the author:

After graduating from Arizona State University in 2011, Jessica relocated to Los Angeles where she now works in the film industry. From acting to assisting on the Paramount feature Star Trek: Into Darkness, her experiences have only reinforced her love for living in other worlds – whether they be from her own imagination or someone else’s. The Revealed is her first novel.

Connect: Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads