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Reverence #1
Reverence: The Reverence Trilogy, Book 1
Twelve years ago, a global pandemic known as the Job virus decimated the world’s population. One city withstood the virus by going into lockdown during the early days of the pandemic and erecting a massive barricade wall to insulate themselves from the sick and the dying. Now called Vita Nova--meaning New Life--the city is overcrowded and its resources are quickly dwindling. The area outside the wall, known as the Unregulated Zone, is a vast wasteland filled with crumbling buildings, overgrown highways, and the Lawless: brutal bands of marauders intent on breeching the barricade and claiming the city’s resources for themselves.
To combat the problem of overcrowding, the leadership of Vita Nova has implemented two programs: The Compulsory Program, which requires that anyone over the age of sixty, or anyone who requires medical treatment for a chronic illness, be humanely euthanized…and the Volunteer Program, which offers residents the chance to be revered at a public ceremony and receive a Final Week of luxury, gifts, and praise...all in exchange for giving up their lives for the good of all.
After losing her mother as a Compulsory, Kira Liebert became a volunteer advocate for Vita Nova. She works closely with the Volunteers, arranging their stay at Rolling Meadows, a lavish, country-club estate where Volunteers spend their last few days. She also fulfills any special requests they might have for their Final Week.
But when young, handsome Will Foster enters her office, wishing to end his life as a Volunteer, he has just one request for his Final Week.
He wants to spend it with Kira.
Unable to refuse the Volunteer's last request, Kira gets swept into Will’s world, leaving everything she knows behind and going somewhere she never thought she’d go: beyond the barricade. With the end of Will’s Final Week rapidly approaching, Kira begins to realize that Vita Nova is not the utopian sanctuary she once thought it was.
And some people—the truly brave ones—will sacrifice everything to prove it.
REVERENCE is the first book in Raena Rood’s thrilling new faith-based dystopian series.
To combat the problem of overcrowding, the leadership of Vita Nova has implemented two programs: The Compulsory Program, which requires that anyone over the age of sixty, or anyone who requires medical treatment for a chronic illness, be humanely euthanized…and the Volunteer Program, which offers residents the chance to be revered at a public ceremony and receive a Final Week of luxury, gifts, and praise...all in exchange for giving up their lives for the good of all.
After losing her mother as a Compulsory, Kira Liebert became a volunteer advocate for Vita Nova. She works closely with the Volunteers, arranging their stay at Rolling Meadows, a lavish, country-club estate where Volunteers spend their last few days. She also fulfills any special requests they might have for their Final Week.
But when young, handsome Will Foster enters her office, wishing to end his life as a Volunteer, he has just one request for his Final Week.
He wants to spend it with Kira.
Unable to refuse the Volunteer's last request, Kira gets swept into Will’s world, leaving everything she knows behind and going somewhere she never thought she’d go: beyond the barricade. With the end of Will’s Final Week rapidly approaching, Kira begins to realize that Vita Nova is not the utopian sanctuary she once thought it was.
And some people—the truly brave ones—will sacrifice everything to prove it.
REVERENCE is the first book in Raena Rood’s thrilling new faith-based dystopian series.
298 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2022
856 people are currently reading
3081 people want to read
About the author
Raena Rood
10 books111 followersRaena lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and three children. When she’s not writing, she enjoys exploring historic battlefields (her kids always drag her up the tallest lookout towers), family movie nights that feature cheesy 80's and 90's action films, and daydreaming of expanding her backyard farm (goats are still under discussion). Her goal is to write stories that challenge, encourage, and remind readers that even in the darkness, when all hope seems lost, God is always in control.
Find out more at:
https://www.raenarood.com
Find out more at:
https://www.raenarood.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
September 23, 2022
Review to come! This was an intense (but in a good way) book. And that cover-! Once you read the book, it seems to be even more perfect!
Review:
“For the good of all.”
Sounds nice, doesn’t it? ‘For the good of all’ might even sound Christian.
But, as Reverence so clearly demonstrates, it’s a selfish lie used to justify the murder of others.
Having read a dystopian novel by Raena Rood before, I knew she wouldn’t sugarcoat it and that she was a good writer. Thus, seeing that she had a new ARC available with a stunning book cover, I had the ebook sent to me through BookSiren. And it was exactly, nay, more than what I expected.
You know exactly what you’re getting into from the first chapter. It punches, and sets the tone for the world Kira lives in. A world where ‘Compulsories’ and ‘Volunteers’ are ‘sacrificed’ for the good of all. And where you may have life, but not a choice as to whether you get to keep it. A world where it is so tempting to think that death can equal life.
It is interesting to watch Kira come, slowly, to the realization of just what is happening. How wrong it is, covered up with ‘selflessness’ and ‘sacrifice.’
Now, I will be honest, I feel a bit betrayed by Will. I never expected him to SPOILER: However, he turned out alright in the end, and you’ve got to admire his guts.
Now, as for the faith element, it wasn’t as strong in this book as in others that I’ve read of Raena Rood’s. But it is there, and I’m thinking that it will come out more strongly later on in the series. It is definitely a clean read, but an intense one, and I’d mark it for ages 16 and up.
So, that is my review of this insightful dystopian book! And if you like that genre, or just Christian fiction that won’t gloss over things, I recommend it.
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced by this.
If you like book reviews, book hauls, writing, reading, Christian ramblings, etc. etc. than please check out my website: https://abbyswriting.wixsite.com/abby...
Until the next review,
Abby
Review:
“For the good of all.”
Sounds nice, doesn’t it? ‘For the good of all’ might even sound Christian.
But, as Reverence so clearly demonstrates, it’s a selfish lie used to justify the murder of others.
Having read a dystopian novel by Raena Rood before, I knew she wouldn’t sugarcoat it and that she was a good writer. Thus, seeing that she had a new ARC available with a stunning book cover, I had the ebook sent to me through BookSiren. And it was exactly, nay, more than what I expected.
You know exactly what you’re getting into from the first chapter. It punches, and sets the tone for the world Kira lives in. A world where ‘Compulsories’ and ‘Volunteers’ are ‘sacrificed’ for the good of all. And where you may have life, but not a choice as to whether you get to keep it. A world where it is so tempting to think that death can equal life.
It is interesting to watch Kira come, slowly, to the realization of just what is happening. How wrong it is, covered up with ‘selflessness’ and ‘sacrifice.’
Now, I will be honest, I feel a bit betrayed by Will. I never expected him to SPOILER: However, he turned out alright in the end, and you’ve got to admire his guts.
Now, as for the faith element, it wasn’t as strong in this book as in others that I’ve read of Raena Rood’s. But it is there, and I’m thinking that it will come out more strongly later on in the series. It is definitely a clean read, but an intense one, and I’d mark it for ages 16 and up.
So, that is my review of this insightful dystopian book! And if you like that genre, or just Christian fiction that won’t gloss over things, I recommend it.
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced by this.
If you like book reviews, book hauls, writing, reading, Christian ramblings, etc. etc. than please check out my website: https://abbyswriting.wixsite.com/abby...
Until the next review,
Abby
December 10, 2022
"Let's stay awake together."
WHEW! This was the first dystopian book I've read in a long time. I've recently gotten more into high fantasy, but this may pull me right back into my early 2010 years, and I'm here for it!
After a worldwide plague wiped out most of the population, the city of Vita Nova closed itself off to the outside world in an attempt to keep its people safe. But over the years, as resources dwindled and fear of the Lawless beyond the barricade increased, the city turned to drastic measures: euthanizing anyone who was sick or over the age of 60, and implementing the Volunteer program where people could choose to sacrifice their lives "for the good of all."
Kira is a Volunteer Advocate in the city of Vita Nova. After her mother was euthanized two years early due to a cancerous tumor, she has dedicated herself to helping the brave Volunteers through their final week of life by making them as comfortable as possible and fulfilling any last wishes they may have. However, when a young, handsome Volunteer (Will) walks into her office one day, he has only one request: he wants to spend his last week on earth with her.
Throughout her time with Will, Kira experiences new adventures, uncovers dark secrets, and begins to question everything she knows about their perfect, safe life in Vita Nova. Will she turn a blind eye to the shadowy corners of the city, or will she "stay awake" and reveal the truth for all to see?
Ya'll... this book broke me. The opening pulls no punches, and I found myself tearing up more than once in the first chapter. The characters and world are incredibly well developed, and the last half of the book had me gripping my kindle in bed at 1am trying to read as fast as I could to get to the ending. There's more than a few twists in the story, and I loved watching as Kira uncovered more about Vita Nova and the truth of what was happening in the city and beyond.
HIGHLY recommend this to any lover of dystopian fiction or romance. It does deal with some really heavy themes surrounding death, manipulation, grieving, so just be aware of that with younger audiences, but it is a clean read overall (no swear words, gratuitous violence, or explicit content). The subtle Biblical references and themes were woven beautifully into the story as well in a way I think anyone could appreciate.
5 stars. I would give this 6 stars if I could. Now go read it!
WHEW! This was the first dystopian book I've read in a long time. I've recently gotten more into high fantasy, but this may pull me right back into my early 2010 years, and I'm here for it!
After a worldwide plague wiped out most of the population, the city of Vita Nova closed itself off to the outside world in an attempt to keep its people safe. But over the years, as resources dwindled and fear of the Lawless beyond the barricade increased, the city turned to drastic measures: euthanizing anyone who was sick or over the age of 60, and implementing the Volunteer program where people could choose to sacrifice their lives "for the good of all."
Kira is a Volunteer Advocate in the city of Vita Nova. After her mother was euthanized two years early due to a cancerous tumor, she has dedicated herself to helping the brave Volunteers through their final week of life by making them as comfortable as possible and fulfilling any last wishes they may have. However, when a young, handsome Volunteer (Will) walks into her office one day, he has only one request: he wants to spend his last week on earth with her.
Throughout her time with Will, Kira experiences new adventures, uncovers dark secrets, and begins to question everything she knows about their perfect, safe life in Vita Nova. Will she turn a blind eye to the shadowy corners of the city, or will she "stay awake" and reveal the truth for all to see?
Ya'll... this book broke me. The opening pulls no punches, and I found myself tearing up more than once in the first chapter. The characters and world are incredibly well developed, and the last half of the book had me gripping my kindle in bed at 1am trying to read as fast as I could to get to the ending. There's more than a few twists in the story, and I loved watching as Kira uncovered more about Vita Nova and the truth of what was happening in the city and beyond.
HIGHLY recommend this to any lover of dystopian fiction or romance. It does deal with some really heavy themes surrounding death, manipulation, grieving, so just be aware of that with younger audiences, but it is a clean read overall (no swear words, gratuitous violence, or explicit content). The subtle Biblical references and themes were woven beautifully into the story as well in a way I think anyone could appreciate.
5 stars. I would give this 6 stars if I could. Now go read it!
July 2, 2022
This book was very good, and this world is very haunting, in here a town is keep isolated from the rest of the world because of a sickness called job, and things are very grim because the supplies only go so much, people are either compulsory or voluntaries to die, almost no one dies of natural death and people… compulsory are the people that for some reason are forced to die, either for old age or because they have some sickness that would consume many of the few supplements of the city, and of course, this doesn’t apply to the ones ruling the city… and voluntaries are people that chose to end their lives and they are celebrated as celebrities, during 7 days they live as they want with all their wishes realized, and could stay in a luxury hotel that serves as a hospice for the voluntaries and their loved ones…
The book start with kira and her mom being brought to a compulsory clinic, where they will end her mother life… and she will be left almost as an orphan because her mother has found a lump on her breast and without tests or anything the doctor decided that it was cancer and she had to die because that would consume many resources from the city that they couldn’t expend… (uhmm I just didn’t get something who was her mother talking about when she was dying in the first chapter, who was made to leave, that wasn’t sick, because at the time I thought it was kira’s father, but later we will discover who he is, so it wasn't that… maybe a lose end?) two years later kira is working as a volunteer advocate, she is the person that helps to make come true all the wishes of the volunteer (like I said before the people who chose to die to stop wasting resources of the city, so for the greater good, or is it?) and is at work that she meets will, and will is the change that she needed for her life, she make him some forbidden questions that he doesn’t really reply but instead he ask for his last wish to be able to spend the week with kira, and no he doesn’t mean to do “forbidden” stuff with her (this book is quite pg safe really) and will with this will shake her life in a way that she starts to see the world around her in a different way, and I do love this change, because what would be the meaning of reading a dystopian story if the main character would be oblivious from start to end?…
Actually you will love some characters and hate others with passion, some parts of the story will fill you with sadness, if you’re like me, you’d wish to end the life of other characters…
yes from beginning to end you feel and you know what is wrong here… but people need to have the will to change and search for change for themselves because staying is worse than dying because death is the only outcome in the city…
I wont enter in spoilers but I will let you know that this book feels like a complete story, yes it leaves space to the continuation, but you wont feel cheated of a satisfactory ending.
I highly recommend this book, I had to read it from start to end, and I really enjoyed the way the author used her words, also loved that the romance in the book was important but not the main focus of the story,
“Even in a city that honoured death above all else, people still understood love.”
One of the many favourite quotes of the book, I really want to read what comes next, and I really thank BookSirens for the free ARC, and this is my honest opinion.
The book start with kira and her mom being brought to a compulsory clinic, where they will end her mother life… and she will be left almost as an orphan because her mother has found a lump on her breast and without tests or anything the doctor decided that it was cancer and she had to die because that would consume many resources from the city that they couldn’t expend… (uhmm I just didn’t get something who was her mother talking about when she was dying in the first chapter, who was made to leave, that wasn’t sick, because at the time I thought it was kira’s father, but later we will discover who he is, so it wasn't that… maybe a lose end?) two years later kira is working as a volunteer advocate, she is the person that helps to make come true all the wishes of the volunteer (like I said before the people who chose to die to stop wasting resources of the city, so for the greater good, or is it?) and is at work that she meets will, and will is the change that she needed for her life, she make him some forbidden questions that he doesn’t really reply but instead he ask for his last wish to be able to spend the week with kira, and no he doesn’t mean to do “forbidden” stuff with her (this book is quite pg safe really) and will with this will shake her life in a way that she starts to see the world around her in a different way, and I do love this change, because what would be the meaning of reading a dystopian story if the main character would be oblivious from start to end?…
Actually you will love some characters and hate others with passion, some parts of the story will fill you with sadness, if you’re like me, you’d wish to end the life of other characters…
yes from beginning to end you feel and you know what is wrong here… but people need to have the will to change and search for change for themselves because staying is worse than dying because death is the only outcome in the city…
I wont enter in spoilers but I will let you know that this book feels like a complete story, yes it leaves space to the continuation, but you wont feel cheated of a satisfactory ending.
I highly recommend this book, I had to read it from start to end, and I really enjoyed the way the author used her words, also loved that the romance in the book was important but not the main focus of the story,
“Even in a city that honoured death above all else, people still understood love.”
One of the many favourite quotes of the book, I really want to read what comes next, and I really thank BookSirens for the free ARC, and this is my honest opinion.
December 16, 2025
I picked this book up trying to get myself out of a reading slump, and boy did it work! It’s been years since I’ve finished a dystopian novel in a single day - last time it happened I was 12 and reading The Hunger Games! I usually stick to the true crime and psychological thriller genre, however this one reeled me in and did not let go. I’ll be starting book two shortly! If you’re in a slump, or just wanna feel that hooked on, breathless feeling you felt after reading The Hunger Games or Divergent all those years ago, pick this one up!
November 30, 2025
Good book
A good start to the trilogy. I thought it would be more faith based, otherwise I think its a good novel.
A good start to the trilogy. I thought it would be more faith based, otherwise I think its a good novel.
July 4, 2022
This author has a great imagination and the twist and turns this book took captivated me that it was so hard to put down. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a little mystery, thrills and romance always sneaks in... so many things didn't see coming but I found myself holding on cheering some on while hoping others would be eliminated. I saw a couple of more titles that caught my attention and hope that carry me through more of Kira's adventures.
When the description of this book caught my attention, I'd not realized I had read this author's work before but as I began to read about the author I realized she sounded familiar and I had read a book back in 2020... now I've got to go grab the other two in that trilogy.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily
When the description of this book caught my attention, I'd not realized I had read this author's work before but as I began to read about the author I realized she sounded familiar and I had read a book back in 2020... now I've got to go grab the other two in that trilogy.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily
July 5, 2022
Absolutely fantastic, and suspenseful from start to finish! I’m a big of Raena Rood, and her writing skills suck the reader in quickly. This book is fast-paced, perfect for readers that enjoy dystopian novels with a sweet love story mixed in. Perfect for readers of The Hunger Games.
March 27, 2024
Great book!
Enjoyed this faith based book, we need more of these! Thanking the Lord there are authors like you! Please continue writing!
Enjoyed this faith based book, we need more of these! Thanking the Lord there are authors like you! Please continue writing!
December 27, 2025
“Let’s Stay Awake Together” 💙🥀🩵
Absolutely amazing!!! What a great read!
I haven’t read a dystopian series in a long time and it was so nice to get back into this genre.
This book had me hooked from the beginning
- there were no slow spots - and I absolutely loved the Christian themes.
And, guys, look at that cover!!😍 Yep, I was in love the first time that I laid eyes on it.
This book popped up on my Goodreads feed as the trending in “Christian fiction”. When I first saw it, I did a double-take because I couldn’t believe that an mesmerizing cover like that was Christian fiction. Sure enough, I looked into the book, checked out the author, and I knew it was a keeper.👏🏻
My favorite part of this book (which also makes me want to create fan art) is the quote, “Let’s stay awake together”. For someone who has never read this book, these words have 0% value because they are common words in our culture today - but in the context of the story, these words hold great power and give the perfect “spine-chilling” effect.
I love how Kira is growing and searching for true Christianity, for the truth of God and Jesus - I also love how Will is already grounded in his faith and can help Kira in her journey. It was amazing to see how everything in Kira’s life prepared her for the last few chapters of the book. It reminded me how every chapter of my life has prepared me to be where I am now, and what I am going through now is preparing me for the future.💙
I am so excited to read the next book in this series!
“Let’s stay awake together” 💙🥀🩵
Absolutely amazing!!! What a great read!
I haven’t read a dystopian series in a long time and it was so nice to get back into this genre.
This book had me hooked from the beginning
- there were no slow spots - and I absolutely loved the Christian themes.
And, guys, look at that cover!!😍 Yep, I was in love the first time that I laid eyes on it.
This book popped up on my Goodreads feed as the trending in “Christian fiction”. When I first saw it, I did a double-take because I couldn’t believe that an mesmerizing cover like that was Christian fiction. Sure enough, I looked into the book, checked out the author, and I knew it was a keeper.👏🏻
My favorite part of this book (which also makes me want to create fan art) is the quote, “Let’s stay awake together”. For someone who has never read this book, these words have 0% value because they are common words in our culture today - but in the context of the story, these words hold great power and give the perfect “spine-chilling” effect.
I love how Kira is growing and searching for true Christianity, for the truth of God and Jesus - I also love how Will is already grounded in his faith and can help Kira in her journey. It was amazing to see how everything in Kira’s life prepared her for the last few chapters of the book. It reminded me how every chapter of my life has prepared me to be where I am now, and what I am going through now is preparing me for the future.💙
I am so excited to read the next book in this series!
“Let’s stay awake together” 💙🥀🩵
November 15, 2023
This book was recommended to me, and I loved it! I’m not usually one to pick up dystopian books but every time I read one I get sucked in!! Lol.
12 years after a virus wipes out most of the population, a young woman finds herself living in an isolated world. She knows no different, just knows that’s where she is safe. Due to population and ration control, her safe world humanely ends the lives of those who are terminally ill and the elderly. And then there are the volunteers. The people that volunteer themselves for the “good of all”. They are revered for a week, wishes granted, until they give up their own lives.
When Kira meets a volunteer, Will, his wish is to spend his last week with her. What he opens her eyes to is the realization that the world she lives in is not what it seems.
If you are a fan of the The Hunger Games, Divergent and the like, you will love this!
12 years after a virus wipes out most of the population, a young woman finds herself living in an isolated world. She knows no different, just knows that’s where she is safe. Due to population and ration control, her safe world humanely ends the lives of those who are terminally ill and the elderly. And then there are the volunteers. The people that volunteer themselves for the “good of all”. They are revered for a week, wishes granted, until they give up their own lives.
When Kira meets a volunteer, Will, his wish is to spend his last week with her. What he opens her eyes to is the realization that the world she lives in is not what it seems.
If you are a fan of the The Hunger Games, Divergent and the like, you will love this!
July 28, 2025
Really great book. I super enjoyed it. Best part was Will. He had me cracking up constantly. I love how this book wrapped itself up while clearly communicating that there's more to come. While the romance is quick, it doesn't feel like it. The pacing and balance of action and romance was perfect. I'm very glad I read this now since the the third book is coming out soon.
August 2, 2022
An impossible to put down non stop thriller
Raena once again creates another brilliant story . I have been waiting since I finished last series ; eagerly awaiting her next book. it was well worth the wait and I have missed her brilliant and captivating story telling .
Raena once again creates another brilliant story . I have been waiting since I finished last series ; eagerly awaiting her next book. it was well worth the wait and I have missed her brilliant and captivating story telling .
January 11, 2026
A riveting story. Truly hard to put down. I love the sweet love story, and the good message about valuing life and how God provides even when circumstances look bleak.
Thank you Raena Rood for using you gifts of writing and story craft to worship God!
Thank you Raena Rood for using you gifts of writing and story craft to worship God!
October 20, 2023
Held my attention from page 1
This end-of-the-world scenario is suspenseful with a sweet love story. I was engaged from the very beginning. The depth of the story and character development was spot on, but not too convoluted. The growing love story was presented in a very tasteful manner.
This end-of-the-world scenario is suspenseful with a sweet love story. I was engaged from the very beginning. The depth of the story and character development was spot on, but not too convoluted. The growing love story was presented in a very tasteful manner.
August 26, 2024
Masterfully written! My heart raced, my commentary was audible, and I even had tears in my eyes a few times! I cannot wait for the second book to be released in September! I could totally see this becoming a movie!
September 21, 2024
Very enjoyable!
Ill be honest and admit I had never heard of this author until the trilogy was recommended by author Jamie Gray. This was a very interesting book and I am excited to read the next book in this series. Very well written with interesting and relatable characters. Highly recommended!
Ill be honest and admit I had never heard of this author until the trilogy was recommended by author Jamie Gray. This was a very interesting book and I am excited to read the next book in this series. Very well written with interesting and relatable characters. Highly recommended!
October 12, 2025
This was such a refreshing dystopian read with Christian undertones. I love that Christianity and listening to God’s direction played a role in this tale! I can’t wait to continue this series.
November 4, 2025
great book!
This book had me on the edge of my seat! I can’t wait to read book 2 to see where this story goes next! 6/5stars
This book had me on the edge of my seat! I can’t wait to read book 2 to see where this story goes next! 6/5stars
January 6, 2026
A page turner for sure!!
I loved this book way more than I thought I would! If you love a dystopian romance you’ll enjoy this book!
I loved this book way more than I thought I would! If you love a dystopian romance you’ll enjoy this book!
January 7, 2026
this book was very good....it doesn't have some Christian aspects which honestly i didnt realize it was meant to be Christian based until I was 3/4 of the way through and I saw an ad....yes I noticed mentions but if you arent into religion it really didnt take away from the story at all
August 11, 2023
It was a good story good twists and turns, well written. I'm not into this theme generally but gave this a try for a friend. Worth reading.
August 2, 2022
After reading Raena Rood's Subversive trilogy, I had high expectations for Reverence. Alongside these expectations came a little hesitation: in all honesty, this new series sounded a little too similar to Rood's debut and I was worried there would be too many similarities between the two. My fear was completely unfounded. It turns out Rood has just found her niche, and boy does she excel at it.
I'm not kidding when I say I devoured this book - and I mean that entirely unironically. I read it in three days, around three 12-hour shifts, otherwise I would have finished it quicker. It was utterly captivating. Rood's prose is simple and yet enthralling; it is incredibly easy to read and even easier to lose yourself in. Her pacing is immaculate, ending each chapter with a mini cliffhanger that made me desperate for more, to the point where I gave up sleep just to see what would happen. The world of Reverence is fascinating and, while I initially thought it was cutting a little close to home with a widespread pandemic, it ended up developing the consequences of particular responses to that pandemic in a way that made me both eager to learn more and also relieved we didn't go down that path ourselves. If you're concerned about the escapism aspect, don't worry - Rood doesn't dwell on the pandemic all that much, but rather uses it as a springboard with which to catapult her world into existence.
I don't want to spoil any plot aspects, or the initial surprise I had when realising what exactly made this society dystopian, so I won't give any details here. Trust me, you'll want to read the book yourself to find out. It is such a brilliant and unique way of addressing a post-apocalyptic/walled city scenario, one I hadn't particularly thought about exploring before. What I will say is that Reverence strongly reminded me of The Hunger Games, in all the right ways. The contrast between the privileged and the poor; the greedy, capitalist morals Vita Nova is built upon; the solution to their shortages; all of it was reminiscent of Suzanne Collins's bestselling series without drawing any elements directly from it. The best part? Reverence has no love triangle, just a blossoming relationship between protagonists Kira and Will.
Speaking of characters, I loved how Kira was the heart and soul of this book. Her kindness and her determination paired beautifully to lead into the thrilling conclusion, in which her reactions are so completely human it's astonishing. I commented on it in my reviews of the Subversive trilogy, but Rood's characterisation is one of her many strengths. All of her characters are well-rounded and realistic, and I could honestly believe Kira and Will were real people. I loved their relationship, and I especially loved how the final act reflected the first chapter. It's hard to describe what I mean without giving anything away, but trust me - it's a true representation of Kira's development as the protagonist and an excellent starting point for the sequel, wrapping up enough to finish the book but leaving wider questions still unanswered for the rest of the series.
Going from the first book alone, the Reverence series will have all the hallmarks of being a fantastically popular dystopian series, and I wish it all the success in the world.
I was offered a copy of this book with a request for an honest review.
I'm not kidding when I say I devoured this book - and I mean that entirely unironically. I read it in three days, around three 12-hour shifts, otherwise I would have finished it quicker. It was utterly captivating. Rood's prose is simple and yet enthralling; it is incredibly easy to read and even easier to lose yourself in. Her pacing is immaculate, ending each chapter with a mini cliffhanger that made me desperate for more, to the point where I gave up sleep just to see what would happen. The world of Reverence is fascinating and, while I initially thought it was cutting a little close to home with a widespread pandemic, it ended up developing the consequences of particular responses to that pandemic in a way that made me both eager to learn more and also relieved we didn't go down that path ourselves. If you're concerned about the escapism aspect, don't worry - Rood doesn't dwell on the pandemic all that much, but rather uses it as a springboard with which to catapult her world into existence.
I don't want to spoil any plot aspects, or the initial surprise I had when realising what exactly made this society dystopian, so I won't give any details here. Trust me, you'll want to read the book yourself to find out. It is such a brilliant and unique way of addressing a post-apocalyptic/walled city scenario, one I hadn't particularly thought about exploring before. What I will say is that Reverence strongly reminded me of The Hunger Games, in all the right ways. The contrast between the privileged and the poor; the greedy, capitalist morals Vita Nova is built upon; the solution to their shortages; all of it was reminiscent of Suzanne Collins's bestselling series without drawing any elements directly from it. The best part? Reverence has no love triangle, just a blossoming relationship between protagonists Kira and Will.
Speaking of characters, I loved how Kira was the heart and soul of this book. Her kindness and her determination paired beautifully to lead into the thrilling conclusion, in which her reactions are so completely human it's astonishing. I commented on it in my reviews of the Subversive trilogy, but Rood's characterisation is one of her many strengths. All of her characters are well-rounded and realistic, and I could honestly believe Kira and Will were real people. I loved their relationship, and I especially loved how the final act reflected the first chapter. It's hard to describe what I mean without giving anything away, but trust me - it's a true representation of Kira's development as the protagonist and an excellent starting point for the sequel, wrapping up enough to finish the book but leaving wider questions still unanswered for the rest of the series.
Going from the first book alone, the Reverence series will have all the hallmarks of being a fantastically popular dystopian series, and I wish it all the success in the world.
I was offered a copy of this book with a request for an honest review.
August 24, 2024
* Raena Rood has done it again with another emotional, compelling, & slightly futuristic story that is actually very realistic and current. As with her Subversive series, this new series is torn right out of the pages of today but set in the future. Some may call this book dystopian, but it reads as if it is prognostic.
* I adored Kira and Will. They are vulnerable, brave, scared, and fearless. They have solid backstories and both characters are genuine and relatable. Character-building is a strong suit of this author, so Will and Kira will feel like your friends.
* This is an amazing roller-coaster ride!! It is chock-full of suspense, intrigue, car chases, corruption, kidnapping, explosions, murder, and more! But it is also filled with emotional elements like new love, a first dance, loss of family, fear of the unknown, and faith. Because the balance between excitement and emotion is so perfect, the pacing of the book is exceptional. You won’t get bored because there is always something going on to hold your interest. So start this book on the weekend, because you won’t want to put it down!
* I have not been interested in reading “pandemic” books at all after living through it in real life for the past couple of years. But this is one of my most favorite authors, so I knew I was going to read this even though the synopsis mentioned a pandemic. I was happy to discover that while the pandemic is the catalyst to the events in this book, it isn’t the focus of the book at all. This is about the aftermath of a pandemic… and in a lot of ways that is scarier!
* This book is sweet and exciting. It is disturbing and hopeful. It is frustrating and satisfying. As I said before, this author strikes a unique emotional balance in this book and I absolutely loved everything about it. I’m on pins and needles for Rebellion (book 2) and Ransom (book 3). Write quickly, Raena!
* I adored Kira and Will. They are vulnerable, brave, scared, and fearless. They have solid backstories and both characters are genuine and relatable. Character-building is a strong suit of this author, so Will and Kira will feel like your friends.
* This is an amazing roller-coaster ride!! It is chock-full of suspense, intrigue, car chases, corruption, kidnapping, explosions, murder, and more! But it is also filled with emotional elements like new love, a first dance, loss of family, fear of the unknown, and faith. Because the balance between excitement and emotion is so perfect, the pacing of the book is exceptional. You won’t get bored because there is always something going on to hold your interest. So start this book on the weekend, because you won’t want to put it down!
* I have not been interested in reading “pandemic” books at all after living through it in real life for the past couple of years. But this is one of my most favorite authors, so I knew I was going to read this even though the synopsis mentioned a pandemic. I was happy to discover that while the pandemic is the catalyst to the events in this book, it isn’t the focus of the book at all. This is about the aftermath of a pandemic… and in a lot of ways that is scarier!
* This book is sweet and exciting. It is disturbing and hopeful. It is frustrating and satisfying. As I said before, this author strikes a unique emotional balance in this book and I absolutely loved everything about it. I’m on pins and needles for Rebellion (book 2) and Ransom (book 3). Write quickly, Raena!
July 28, 2022
Twelve years ago the world was ravaged by a deadly pandemic. One city had the foresight to close its borders and expel anyone afflicted by the Job Virus to protect its citizens.
To prevent supplies running out the city instituted two schemes to control the population. The Compulsory Program for people who reach 60 years of age or are diagnosed with a serious illness, and the Voluntary program for anyone wanting to sacrifice their lives for the benefit of the city. The Voluntary program comes with a week filled with benefits and luxury leading up to the final day.
Kira Liebert is a Volunteer Advocate. Her job is to make sure the volunteers get everything they want or need in their final week. Her world is turned upside down the day Will Foster walks into her office and volunteers on the condition that Kira spends the week with him.
As Kira begins to fall for Will he slowly reveals that everything she knows about the city and the Unregulated Zone beyond its walls is not as straight forward as she has been led to believe.
An excellent novel to kick off the Reverence trilogy that brings great characterisation and an intriguing finely tuned plot that whisks the reader along right from the beginning.
I would gladly add the ‘Unputdownable’ label on this one as the writing style flows beautifully and tempts you to stay up way pass bedtime
To prevent supplies running out the city instituted two schemes to control the population. The Compulsory Program for people who reach 60 years of age or are diagnosed with a serious illness, and the Voluntary program for anyone wanting to sacrifice their lives for the benefit of the city. The Voluntary program comes with a week filled with benefits and luxury leading up to the final day.
Kira Liebert is a Volunteer Advocate. Her job is to make sure the volunteers get everything they want or need in their final week. Her world is turned upside down the day Will Foster walks into her office and volunteers on the condition that Kira spends the week with him.
As Kira begins to fall for Will he slowly reveals that everything she knows about the city and the Unregulated Zone beyond its walls is not as straight forward as she has been led to believe.
An excellent novel to kick off the Reverence trilogy that brings great characterisation and an intriguing finely tuned plot that whisks the reader along right from the beginning.
I would gladly add the ‘Unputdownable’ label on this one as the writing style flows beautifully and tempts you to stay up way pass bedtime
July 22, 2022
I was pleasantly surprised with Reverence. I enjoy a good dystopian tale, predictable as they may be. Raena has an effective writing style that hooked me from the beginning and kept me enthralled. She captures her characters and their struggles well. No part of the story felt rushed, forced, or incomplete. Kira is genuinely trying to do her best to honor the Volunteer’s after losing her mother as compulsory. The premise is a little morbid, but what is done with the story and how it is written infuses hope and challenges the reader to wake up and look beyond their own shadow. Will is genuinely likeable and succeeds in showing Kira there is more going on that what is right in front of her. He’s not pushy or preachy. He’s patient and kind and lets her process in her own way. There is a great chemistry between Will and Kira that keeps the story moving at a good pace. I am genuinely hooked and can’t wait to see where the tale goes in the next two books. I certainly recommend to those who enjoy YA clean dystopian stories. This is a faith based novel.
I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
July 6, 2022
Ugh! I’m sad I can’t pick up the sequel RIGHT NOW. I loved this book!!
The post-apocalyptic/dystopian world created here was chilling and believable (to me). The book didn’t focus too much on the disease that caused the collapse. That would’ve been interesting but the story was great anyway. All the characters were really well fleshed out.
I’m not sure if this is considered YA. Like most good YA books I’ve read, it doesn’t matter. I didn’t feel the author was dumbing anything down to appeal to a young audience. There isn’t anything too explicit or gruesome either, so it’s a story I’d be comfortable recommending to a young teen. I can’t help but compare this book to The Hunger Games but, honestly, I think this is better.
The faith aspects of the story were subtle and fit in with the story well so that shouldn’t turn away any potential readers who don’t like “preachy” books.
I really enjoyed this book & was happy to have received an advanced copy free and I am reviewing it voluntarily.
The post-apocalyptic/dystopian world created here was chilling and believable (to me). The book didn’t focus too much on the disease that caused the collapse. That would’ve been interesting but the story was great anyway. All the characters were really well fleshed out.
I’m not sure if this is considered YA. Like most good YA books I’ve read, it doesn’t matter. I didn’t feel the author was dumbing anything down to appeal to a young audience. There isn’t anything too explicit or gruesome either, so it’s a story I’d be comfortable recommending to a young teen. I can’t help but compare this book to The Hunger Games but, honestly, I think this is better.
The faith aspects of the story were subtle and fit in with the story well so that shouldn’t turn away any potential readers who don’t like “preachy” books.
I really enjoyed this book & was happy to have received an advanced copy free and I am reviewing it voluntarily.
August 25, 2022
*I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. My review is voluntary*
Vita Nova is a dystopian city that has closed itself off from the rest of the world in order to survive a global pandemic. Resources are scarce, and anyone deemed a burden is euthanized, either compulsorily or voluntarily. The ones who come forward voluntarily are celebrated and ‘revered’ for their final week.
The citizens seem to all be on board with this requirement - until our young protagonist is forced to see the truth.
This book was so well written. I was pulled into this world right from the beginning, and really felt the emotions of the characters. Other than a few parts that bordered on “too much description”, I loved the book and stayed up way too late into the night as I simply could not put it down. I really need to know what happens next, so i hope the next book is out soon !
Vita Nova is a dystopian city that has closed itself off from the rest of the world in order to survive a global pandemic. Resources are scarce, and anyone deemed a burden is euthanized, either compulsorily or voluntarily. The ones who come forward voluntarily are celebrated and ‘revered’ for their final week.
The citizens seem to all be on board with this requirement - until our young protagonist is forced to see the truth.
This book was so well written. I was pulled into this world right from the beginning, and really felt the emotions of the characters. Other than a few parts that bordered on “too much description”, I loved the book and stayed up way too late into the night as I simply could not put it down. I really need to know what happens next, so i hope the next book is out soon !
June 11, 2024
Thank you to the author Raena Rood for giving me an ARC of this book.
Reverence by Raena Rood
Genres: YA, dystopian, romance
Synopsis
The leaders of Vita Nova created two programs that would help decrease the population. These two programs were the Compulsory and the Volunteer program. Kira meets a young man named Will who becomes a Volunteer. Will's last request is to spend time with Kira.
Review
This is the first book in a long time that had me crying and feeling so many emotions. I felt emotional reading this book. I had to stop reading many times just so that I could take a moment to myself before continuing to read. This book made me feel connected to Kira. I could feel how Kira felt in different situations.
This is a book I can't stop recommending to readers. I can't wait for the second book to come out. If you end up picking this book up I hope you enjoy it as much I did or even more.
Reverence by Raena Rood
Genres: YA, dystopian, romance
Synopsis
The leaders of Vita Nova created two programs that would help decrease the population. These two programs were the Compulsory and the Volunteer program. Kira meets a young man named Will who becomes a Volunteer. Will's last request is to spend time with Kira.
Review
This is the first book in a long time that had me crying and feeling so many emotions. I felt emotional reading this book. I had to stop reading many times just so that I could take a moment to myself before continuing to read. This book made me feel connected to Kira. I could feel how Kira felt in different situations.
This is a book I can't stop recommending to readers. I can't wait for the second book to come out. If you end up picking this book up I hope you enjoy it as much I did or even more.
July 15, 2022
Reverence is Book 1 in The Reverence Trilogy by Raena Rood. I will say up front that Raena Rood is one of my favorite authors, I love everything she writes. Reverence is, I believe, very different from her last series, Subversive. There is a world wide virus called Job Virus. Vista Nova (new life) has built built a wall to keep their citizens in and "the Lawless" out. The story is so emotional and I found Reverence to be gripping from page 1 to the end. Kira loses her mother to compulsory death due to breast cancer. In this new world, few live to see 60. Kira meets Will and her life is changed forever. Are those in power right or is there life outside in the Unregulated Zone? This new adventure is just beginning and I can't wait to see what happens next! I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
July 31, 2022
A wonderful romantic adventure that weighs the sanctity of life against the evil man is capable of in the name of "conservation of resources" when the truth is instead the " pursuit of wealth and power". Mandatory compulsion orders putting people to sleep after they develop chronic or terminal issues or simply as they age past 65-70 years. Exceptions can be made by "The Council", but strangely enough these exceptions seem to be granted for only the very wealthy and powerful... There is also the Volunteer Program where anyone may volunteer to be put to sleep no matter their age or health in return for which the are granted a week in which they are revered and allowed to live in luxury along with having the ability to have those dear to them cared for until death once they are put to sleep... A nice scam or true humanitarianism? You will have little question as you are moved to tears...
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