Tuesday, April 10, 2018

The Revolutionary by Kristen Hogrefe Blog Tour


About the Book


 Title: The Revolutionary: Liberate the Captives  
Author: Kristen Hogrefe
Genre: Young Adult, Action, Adventure  
Release Date: March, 2018  
Freedom costs more than Portia wants to pay, but revolutions run on sacrifice … and blood. Three months a satellite prisoner, Portia wonders if the Brotherhood has left her to die—until she plunges into the domain of an underground smuggler contacted by her brother. But her rescue comes with a price tag only she can pay, and now, she must forfeit her identity to act as a spy back in the dizzying politics of Crystal. There, she learns that her enemies want the Dome to approve mass satellite executions. No one knows why. Worse, they’re using her friend Luther, now a Court Citizen intern, to sign the short-term orders. She desperately wants to confide in Luther, but can she still trust him with the company he keeps? Plagued by shadows and guilt for leaving her protector Gath behind on the satellite, Portia must find a way not only to rescue him and the other prisoners, but also to destroy the slave camps
once and for all.

My review:


 This is the second book in a series and the first should be read before this one as there is not enough back story included in this novel to help readers truly understand the ongoing plot. You can read my review of that first book, The Revisionary, here.

The major theme of this part of the ongoing series is identity. The novel opens with Portia imprisoned and being referred to as merely a number. She plays many roles in this book, such as servant and spy. There are also those with whom Portia interacts whose identity often puzzles her. She is told that Gath, a man who helped her in the horrible mines, is a brutal and murderous man. Does she really know this man? Included with the identity issue is a clear presentation of the gospel.

There is almost continuous action in this novel. Older teens should like the suspense. The concentration is on action more than moving the plot forward. There is much more of Portia finding out who her true allies are and her role in all this than revealing more information about the revolution and how it will occur. Because of the nature of some of the violence, I would recommend this series to older teens.

 My rating: 4/5 stars.

Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author


 Kristen Hogrefe is a multi-published novelist and teacher who challenges young adults and the young at heart to think truthfully and live daringly. Her publishing journey began in 2010 with the first book in her young adult (YA) suspense trilogy Wings of the Dawn. She completed the trilogy in the fall of 2014, and in 2016, contracted with Write Integrity Press for a new YA dystopian trilogy: The Rogues. Kristen also has the heart of an educator and mentor. She teaches secondary language arts for Alpha Omega Academy and served in youth ministry for many years. Through Word Weavers International, she encourages aspiring writers and acts as president for an online writing group. She enjoys speaking events that allow her to connect with readers and other writers. A lifelong Florida resident, Kristen loves adventuring outdoors and running with friends. Connect with her online at KristenHogrefe.com.

Guest Post from Kristen Hogrefe


 Identity, Coffee, and a Sprinkle of History in The Revolutionary The primary purpose of fiction is to entertain, but I think good fiction goes deeper by teaching us something about human nature, something about ourselves. The Revolutionary begins three months after Portia arrived at a satellite prison camp. She feels forgotten by her brother and friends who promised to rescue her. Deeper than the physical pain of starvation, she battles the emotional rawness from the dehumanization of her identity. A number replaces her name, and the Wasps who mistreat prisoners mockingly call them “rabbits.” When a two-faced smuggler helps her escape, her identity struggles continue. She dons multiple aliases to survive and help the Brotherhood launch a daring plan to destroy the satellite camps and oust the ruling Friend and Dome. The theme of identity is one I hope will resonate with teens and adult readers alike. At some point, we all ask ourselves, “What defines me?” Is it our friends, an academic program, a relationship, or a job? While those things describe our day-to-day lives, they themselves shouldn’t define us. The source of our true identity must come from somewhere deeper. That’s the question Portia has to wrestle with, and one I hope readers will consider.

 A Cup of Joe Confession: One aspect of characterization I enjoy is giving my characters a small piece of myself. One of my early readers for book one, The Revisionary, remarked, “Let me guess. You like coffee.” I laughed and replied, “How could you tell?” Maybe lines like this one gave the fact away: “I start a pot of coffee. At least the aroma makes life smell better” (Portia, The Revisionary). In book two, I incorporate the memory-association of coffee for Portia as she thinks back to simpler times (like dorm life with Lydia). Coffee also serves as a catalyst for an important scene where Portia, in disguise, serves her enemies and in turn learns of their disturbing plans for the satellites. What about you? Are you a coffee drinker? If you are, I hope you’ll enjoy a giveaway opportunity for a Starbucks gift card. After all, coffee does make life smell better. 

 A Sprinkle of History Two summers ago, my brother and I had the opportunity to visit the North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. It’s the historical site for the “shot heard round the world” that ignited the American Revolution. In book two, Portia and the Brotherhood launch their own threadbare revolution. Though the odds are against them, they’re determined to stop the abuses by those in power. My own visit to this famous site helped inspire Portia’s journey of discovery and the Brotherhood’s fictional parallels to the American Revolutionary War. Writing the scene where she rediscovers this birthplace of liberty was one of my favorites, because I walked the North Bridge and poured over books researching what happened that fateful day. I hope the scene comes alive for my readers and quickens their interest in history and its relevance for us today.

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, April 10
Aryn the librarian, April 13
Multifarious, April 13
A Greater Yes, April 14
Texas Book-aholic, April 15
A Reader’s Brain, April 16
Carpe Diem, April 18
Simple Harvest Reads, April 22 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)
Pursuing Stacie, April 23
Bigreadersite, April 25
Reading is my Super Power, April 25 (Interview)


I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.
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