This was my first Christian dystopian book and I didn't hate it, but I also had a hard time "loving" it too. If you are into these books, I feel like this would be a slam dunk for you.

My major complaint with the book is that I had a really hard time keeping all the characters straight because of the way the chapters kept going back and forth between them all. I'm sure the 2nd and 3rd book in this planned trilogy would make it easier to keep them straight, but I'm not sure I would continue the series.

I basically went into this one blind and it was definitely one of the more unique books for this year so far.

🕊 My friend @thebookdistiller has long been raving about this novel that she described as a Christian Hunger Games. I finally got to reading my @netgalley copy and it had me engaged to the very last page!!
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🕊 I don't know that I felt it was like Hunger Games (though the love triangle definitely was), but it definitely had the same intensity, hatred, fear, and devotion. It's in a dystopian society that has outlawed Christianity....dystopian usually feels like fantasy, but this didn't. This felt more like what could possibly happen in our country's future.
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🕊 This is the first of the trilogy and I'm really excited about reading the sequel! It was thought provoking and disturbing and full of despair, but then hope. It would make an excellent book club discussion!!!
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🕊 There is no language here and no intimate scenes. It is quite graphic as far as violence and blood goes. So be aware of that. It isn't constant or anything, there is a lot of plot, but if you're sensitive to that stuff, it may not be for you!
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🕊 Thank you @netgalley and @onefoundationpublishing for my Kindle copy!!!
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This book was really interesting and fast-paced. It had Hunger Games vibes, but maybe only because it was dystopian and had horrible totalitarian leaders. I think the writing is great and the story was good. In fact, there’s a second book and I really want to know what happens. But I’ll ask one of my friends what happens because unfortunately for me, it was just too violent for my taste. I don’t want to deter anyone from giving it a try- it was just a little too much for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my gifted copy.

Christian fiction isn't really my wheelhouse, but this book was interesting. The writing was good and the story was good; it's just not really a genre that I enjoy that much.

My Thoughts
I was contacted directly by the author via my blog and asked if I would be interested in reading and reviewing this book. I am so glad I said yes! Here are my pros and cons for Subversive:

Pros

1. I will say upfront that I am extremely tired of dystopian novels. I think the market is supersaturated with that genre and I stopped reading them a long time ago. I think this novel has dystopian elements; however, this isn’t your typical, science fiction, new world, futuristic, dystopian novel. This is today and right in your backyard… and that makes it more realistic and disturbing. I enjoyed this version of “dystopian”.
2. I am very impressed with the writing in this novel. I found myself pausing quite frequently to reread particularly well-crafted sentences. I don’t often do this, especially not in debut novels! So, when I come across such lyrical sentences, as I found in this book, I am very impressed.
3. I also found the story to be exceptionally descriptive without being verbose. One of my biggest pet peeves is when an author is overly or unnecessarily descriptive. It often feels like “filler” and it can absolutely ruin a book for me. So, when world-building and storytelling is described well without verbosity, as it is in this book, I am very impressed.
4. This book started off with a bang and held my attention throughout. The story takes place over a span of just a few days and it is unputdownable. It is part thriller, part suspense, part young adult romance, and part conflict/war.
5. The story has a Christian worldview that was represented well. The Bible, scripture, and Christianity are part of the story, but I didn’t think the book was “preachy” at all.
6. The characterizations were fantastic and relatable. Gemma is a particularly impressive and strong character. I’m not sure I could endure a tenth of what she went through!
7. I was impressed with Gemma and Taylor’s complex and honest relationship. Considering the intensely difficult situation they found themselves in, they were both very mature and level-headed.
8. As you read you will feel anger, joy, hope, love, fear, pain, loss… almost every emotion is covered!
9. The thought of living in a society without religious freedom is very scary and this book highlights exactly what that situation might be like.

Cons

1. There is some violence and gore in the novel. I am including this as a con simply because I want people to be aware it exists in the novel in case that type of thing is a trigger for anyone. None of the violence/gore is gratuitous in my opinion, but instead exemplifies the lengths some people will go to in order to make a point and/or to silence others.

Summary
This novel is attention-grabbing, fast-paced, and engrossing! The story is expertly crafted and the characterizations are genuine. While the novel is fiction, persecution of this type is not implausible and that made the book intensely thought-provoking. I am quite impressed with Subversive and I cannot wait for Ms. Rood’s next novel in this series! I know she can write well, but I hope she can write really fast, too!

I whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone. If you particularly enjoy thrillers with dystopian elements, this book is definitely for you!

Thank you NetGalley, One Foundation Publishing, and Raena Rood for a free eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and One Foundation Publishing for the opportunity to review the e-arc of Subversive by Raena Rood.

This is the first in a trilogy that is set in a world where religion has been outlawed. All those who continue to follow their faith are deemed subversives.

This is very much a dystopian story that appears to be set in the current day and focuses on Gemma, a young girl whose parents have been transported to a detention centre for their refusal to denounce their faith.

There are a number of triggers in this book, in particular violence, anti religionism and abuse, which the author does not hold back from.

The majority of the story is told from the perspective of Gemma, with flashbacks to her earlier life and Taylor, romantic interest.

The story is well told, and flows through to the conclusion, but it may be too harsh at points for some.

This isn’t a book to get comfortable with and is definitely outside of my usual genre. In fact, it’s quite disturbing to realise, particularly in our current world that thus could be applicable to many ‘isms’.

I think this book has a place in today’s world and I’m sure, like it’s predecessors it will encourage reflection and thought.

Get ready for a gripping, high octane page-turner with Subversive.

This taut thriller takes place in a post-Christian society where the First Amendment no longer exists. Religious freedom is a cobwebbed relic of the past. Churches are shut down. Pastors are rounded up and sent to shadowy detention centers. Bibles are illegal. Worship is in secret. Anyone who takes their faith seriously is a “dangerous criminal.” And “religious nuts” who are “detrimental to our society” are hunted down like cockroaches.

It's a society where believing Christians are treated like a disease.

Twenty one year-old Gemma Alcott is hiding out in an old mine with other believers after losing her devout parents to a raid on their clandestine basement church by the dreaded Federal Task Force.

The love of her life, Taylor Nolan, has turned his back on his faith heritage after his mother died when he was a child. He’s now a sergeant with the notorious, vicious Task Force. Their primary mission is to hunt down and round up “subversives” – re: Christians who take their faith seriously.

What happens when they stumble upon each other and are detained by the Task Force?

Meanwhile, dragons may be circling, belching fire and death. But God is still on the throne. And He’s still in the miracle business. “Stand firm, and you will find life.” It starts with one little word.

Fast-paced and engrossing, Subversive includes robust dialogue and sturdy characters. It features superlative descriptive phrases like a bullet “voiding her thoughts like cancelled checks.” Or, “breakfast sliding around in his stomach like a greasy bowling ball.”

Only a few short pre-pandemic months ago, the premise for this book may have seemed far-fetched. Not anymore. This highly engaging cautionary tale may not be quite as fictional as some would like to think. I'd buckle up 'fize you.

#Subversive
#NetGalley

In this realistic fiction novel, the government has declared Christianity illegal and any Christians that are apprehended by the Federal Task Force soldiers, and do not renounce Jesus Christ, are arrested and housed in detention centers. Gemma Alcott witnessed her parents' arrest and has been in hiding ever since. She has joined a secret group of Christians hiding out in an abandoned mine in the mountains. To the government, they are known as subversives.

Taylor Nolan is a Task Force soldier who had previously detained and arrested his own father, a pastor. He has an impeccable record in the Task Force and has moved up in rank quickly. He has never forgotten his true love, Gemma. While on patrol one night, he finds Gemma and the subversives hideout. This meeting sets in motion a chain of events that will put Taylor's sense of duty and Gemma's faith to the test.

This book is very thought-provoking. It takes place in a time in the not-too-distant future where this type of situation could be seen as a distinct possibility. It definitely makes the reader question how they would react if they were put into a situation like this.

The story takes place over a span of five days. So much happens, but it is a quick and relatively easy read. The descriptions throughout the book made me cringe (there is a bit of violence in the story, but it is handled well), get chills, and even cry. I felt like I was there with Gemma, rooting for her, and was inspired by her strength and bravery. Since this is the first book of a trilogy, the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger. It definitely makes me want to see what happens next with Gemma, Taylor, and the rest of the subversives.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The government has declared Christianity illegal and is actively pursuing Christians, whom they term 'subversives', with the aim of putting them in detention centres where they can be 're-educated'. Gemma went into hiding after her parents were taken away to such centres, and now lives with a group of other 'subversives' in an abandoned coal-mine near the town of Ash Grove. But a special task force of soldiers has been sent into the area to find them, starting by killing their main contact for supplies in the town. When Gemma encounters the boy she's always loved, preacher's-kid-turned-soldier Taylor, near their hiding place, a chain of events is set off that will force both to decide where their loyalties lie - and the stakes are high...

I wasn't really sure what to expect when I picked this up, but it grabbed me from the first page, despite the horrible opening scene. Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, such persecution feels a long way away because thoughts are turned elsewhere, but in many ways it feels like such a situation could arise quite abruptly where Christians are forced to deny their faith or face the consequences, whatever they may be. As a result, and due to the expert writing, I found this an enthralling and thought-provoking book, and I look forward to seeing the rest of the trilogy. From a writing point of view, I don't remember noticing any errors, which was great - and unusual! While part of a trilogy, it doesn't feel like a terrible cliff-hanger ending - the story will continue, but it's come to a satisfying, if temporary, end.

Readers should be aware that though the book is what I would call clean, there is definitely some violence (including torture) throughout. I wouldn't generally call it gratuitous violence and it's normally not overly descriptive, but the book does have more violence than I would normally read. Having said that, I do hope to read the next book, so I clearly don't feel too strongly against it!

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Dystopian books aren't my typical go-to genres, but this book was absolutely incredible. I literally could not put it down and stayed up way too late each night reading it. Perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent, Subversive was suspenseful from the very first page to the last. And I so look forward to reading the other books in the trilogy when they're published!