Activate

by Adele Jones

Josh Hammond is not who he says he is ...

To stay alive, he must guard his identity, existing isolated from his former life and those he loves. The one enemy he can't outrun is his failing health, and time is short. Desperate for a solution, Josh leaves the protection of his safe house unapproved. Instead of a cure, he's left powerless against a cunning adversary. Determined to reclaim his life, he grasps an opportunity for escape, but things go drastically wrong. Can he find a way to expose the lies of a criminal mastermind, or will he be silenced? Forever.

Genres: Young Adult

226 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2016

About the author

Adele is an Australian author of "Science fiction for the real world". Writing YA fringe and near sci-fi stories, she tackles complex teen issues including self-worth, disability, loss, domestic violence, youth crime and more, drawing inspiration from her passion for family, faith, friends, music and science.

Reviews

[Lynne Stringer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little while to get into Activate, perhaps because what has always intrigued me most about it is the scientific element of Blaine's condition and the story veered away from that for the first little while. It was certainly a thrilling ride, with a few twists along the way. I especially loved the things we got to experience from Blaine's point of view in various stages of his journey (I won't say too much in case I spoil it). And it was moving to experience the despair that you would expect from a person who is struggling with a condition like that. Well worth the read.

[Ruth Bonetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

It says much that I read this book in one sitting, and a late night was worth it. You could call it an easy read, unless you try to understand the science. As my knowledge of that field is limited, I trust the author with this–or it should be said she writes so convincingly that I don't feel the need to decipher a treatment or formula.
It would be wise to read the first two books of the trilogy, to best appreciate this. As with the earlier books, the pace is fast, the characters believable (except perhaps for SUCH a villainous baddy–may we never have to contend with the likes of him!)
Our hero (who I will leave nameless to avoid spoilers) at last finds peace to get on with his life, and with the family and girlfriend who supported him all the way. Against odds stacked harder than most encounter.
Well written.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Activate is the exciting conclusion to the Blaine Colton trilogy by Adele Jones. Integrate was thrilling, Replicate upped the stakes and dug deeper, taking the story in surprising, heart wrenching but believable directions. Given the strong writing in the first two, I had high expectations of Activate - and I wasn't disappointed.

The book begins sometime after the emotional cliff hanger conclusion of Replicate, as Blaine (I would say spoiler alert - but his face is on the cover) - Blaine is given another bombshell about his treatment and is frustrated by the restrictions of his current situation. Things very soon spin rapidly out of control and become more and more desperate -and one wonders if our young hero will survive.

There's a lot to like about this book - fast-paced, on the edge of your seat action; it's unpredictability; it's fearlessness to go deep and it's deeply satisfying ending achieved without pulling a genie out of the lamp or waving magic wands. I particularly like how even when constrained and disabled and beaten - Blaine remains the hero, his life valuable, his choices significant. I also liked how people who made poor choices in the previous two books were able to take a different path. And the deepening of the romance added to the story.

While there was a lot of info to assimilate in the first couple of chapters, this is a book that kept me engaged, took me for a wild and satisfying ride and left me pondering afterwards. All I can say is, well done Adele Jones :)

[Catriona McKeown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began 2016 by reading the first two books in this series, Replicate and Integrate, and finished the year reading the newly released final in the series, Activate. Having been almost a year between the first two and the last book, I regret not having gone back over the first two quickly before beginning Activate, as it took me a little while to catch up on who was who and what had happened to them in the previous books. It was okay, but it slowed me down as I pondered at some of the character's actions, until I remembered what they had done previously.
Anyway, despite this, I think this was my favorite of the three books. I knew Blaine well, and easily fell in love with him and the drive to see him survive all over again. There was plenty of suspense and intrigue, especially toward the end as the reader is well set up to not know where exactly the story is going to go, especially in relation to Blaine's health.
Definitely don't read this without having read the others in the series first, but definitely give the series a go. Especially good for YA boys, but I really enjoyed it and think girls would too, especially if they prefer action over romance, though there's a little of that woven throughout the story as well.

[Jenny Glazebrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping read. The author sure likes to keep you on the edge of your seat! Believable characters, fast pace and clever plot with unexpected twists and turns. Loved this book. A perfect finish to Blaine Colton's story. Written in such a way that I was drawn in and felt everything Blaine felt. Really made me think about the value of life even when we cannot 'do' and have to just 'be'.

[Meredith Resce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This being the third book in Adele Jones' YA series, it was a satisfactory end. When I finished reading the second in the set, I was frustrated to realise that a number of story threads were still unravelled, and that it would not be until I'd read the third that it would all be resolved.
Activate has tension, action, frustration and a dash of romance. It is a good action series (with a hint of science fiction, given the gene therapy). Perhaps there was a little too much of the same frustrations going on over the three novels, but in general, the different narratives and characters were engaging enough to keep me committed to the end.

[Mazzy Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a delight to finally have Activate, the third book in Adele Jones' Young Adult trilogy about Blaine Colton's traumatic world of gene therapy and scientific researchers gone awry, in my hot little hands. I grabbed every spare moment I had over the last couple of days to read it.

First, let me say I thoroughly enjoyed Book 1: Integrate, absolutely reveled in Book 2: Replicate and, after Replicate's cliff-hanger ending, waited for Activate with some degree of trepidation ... could the author actually manage to bring the trilogy to an exciting and satisfying conclusion given all the thrills, spills and spine-tingling chills that had gone before? More importantly, given the speculative and bizarre nature of the science involved, could Jones also manage to keep it real and believable, because I was in no mood for a convenient 'miracle' to arrive 'in the nick of time'?

I'm pleased to say the answer to both questions is yes. And Jones has done so with pizzazz. Within the pages of Activate, she's managed to twist her protagonist's life tighter and tighter into a knot of impossibility, and then untangle it with an unexpected, fast-paced, hope-filled (but still very human) hand (or should I say pen?). All I can say is, 'Phew!' and 'Well done!'

If you want to see how she did it, you'd better read the book! Recommended.

[Paula Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and final novel in a trilogy. (I might leak a few plot spoilers from the earlier books, assuming that if you're reading this review, you've probably read them too. I'll try to keep them minimal.) To recap, Blaine Colton is the young man who was given a new lease of life when a miraculous new cure for his mitochondrial disease worked well on him. He's now in witness protection under the alias Josh Hammond, as nasty characters from a crime syndicate who think he knows too much want him dead. He's discovered that his trusted pills, Ramer's Cure, have been a two-edged sword, keeping him alive but doing irreparable damage to his DNA. And now Professor Ramer himself has been arrested, suspected of being part of the crime syndicate.

It's good to see familiar faces from the first two books. Blaine has no choice but to put his life in the hands of Dr Eddie Jonick, who's been regarded with suspicion after his involvement with the crooked Dr Melissa Hartfield. You might remember Eddie as the 'complete package' guy, with intelligence, athleticism and good looks. I'm pleased that from the start of this novel, he proves to be a good friend to Blaine. And the romantic tension between him and Dr Kate Archer is fun to read.

Blaine's biological mother Jennifer, who betrayed Blaine in the last novel also reappears. This story continues to stir up any maternal feelings she might have deeply buried. Will she continue going along with bad plans for the sake of her financial security and personal safety? Most importantly, the story gets us wondering how far you can push a mother. And of course, there's Blaine's sweet, long-suffering girlfriend Sophie, who has been through so much in a short time for such a young woman.

The bad guy (I won't mention his name, in case it lessens the impact) is a particularly dangerous villain because he's so intelligent. Wow, how many last ditch efforts to sabotage everything can he possibly cook up? It's so often practically beneath the good guys' noses, and particularly nasty and spiteful. I wanted to read quickly to find out how long it would take the heroes to latch on to all his shenanigans.

Finally, you've got to love Blaine himself. For a good chunk of the book, he's in a more helpless position than we've seen him in the prequels, but it makes him come across stronger and more admirable than ever before. This boy takes the chance to be pro-active whenever he can, and I'm sure it's this attitude that gives him his fighting edge, increasing his odds for survival and surprising everyone. He has the challenge of trying to impart vital information when it seems there's no way he possibly can. And he grapples with the even deeper question of the value of a person who can seemingly do nothing but merely exist.

Now that all three stories in this series are available, I'd recommend new readers to read them straight through, back to back, if possible. What a ride that would be. Enough to make your head spin, as Blaine's so often does.

Thanks to Rhiza Press and NetGalley for my review copy.
For more reviews and book talk, visit my blog, http://vincereview.blogspot.com.au/

[Susan Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit apprehensive about reading Activate because I haven’t read the first two books in the series. However, Adele does a great job of providing sufficient backstory and keeping the story moving at the same time.

Blaine is in witness protection, but frustrated with his lack of freedom, he takes unnecessary risks and is caught by those who would do away with him. Despite failing health, he is determined to see justice done and overcomes many obstacles in the process.

The medication dramas that Blaine faces are complicated and the science behind it all is incredible, yet Adele makes it sound believable and it creates an action-packed, fast-moving story. Adele generates significant amounts of tension and conflict, which is well communicated. I also enjoyed some of the minor characters and thought they were well portrayed.

My personal preference would have been to have a little more Christian input in the story. Blaine struggles with faith throughout the story, without resolution and without much contribution from others. Nevertheless the story finishes with a sense of hope.

I enjoyed the story, although it is a bit complex, especially not having read the previous books.

An action packed read.

[Anusha Atukorala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Activate, (the third book in a trilogy by Adele Jones) is a fast paced thriller for young adults. It is a page turner with characters you can believe in. Who is Josh Hammond? Will the hero make it out of the story alive? As the story unfolds, that seems impossible. Which is why it’s a book you cannot put down.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and was sorry when it ended. It was easy to read and easy to get lost in. The fast pace is kept up right through the book with many twists and turns in an exciting, hair-raising plot. I thought it was the best of the three in the series and the other two (Integrate and Replicate) were also very enjoyable, exciting stories. I fully recommend it.

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third and final novel in Adele Jones’s trilogy about mitochondrial disease patient Blaine Colton, and I don’t recommend you read this without reading the other two books first: Replicate and Integrate.

Activate has the same fault as the final book in many other Young Adult series: you’re desperate to read it to find out what happens to characters you’ve come to know and love (or not!) through the previous books, but at the same time you don’t want it to end because that means saying goodbye to those same characters.

And while you’d like to believe it’s going to have a happy ending, the previous novel killed off a major character, which means you’re not entirely sure if Blaine is going to get his happy ending … after all, he has an incurable degenerative disease. Odds are, this isn’t going to end well.

I’m not going to say too much about the plot. Suffice to say it met expectations (which were high, given how much I enjoyed the earlier novels). Yes, there is a lot of science stuff. No, I didn’t understand it all, but that didn’t matter. Yes, there is plenty of suspense—not just in the main plot, but in the underlying race against time to find a cure for Blaine.

Overall, Activate and the other books in this series are fast-paced Young Adult thrillers with a male protagonist—so great options for any teenage boys you know who love reading but don’t want novels with any of that silly romance stuff (although Blaine does have a romantic relationship, it’s not the focus of the plot). The series is also unique in that it’s set in modern-day Brisbane, Australia, not some dystopian future version of the USA, and it reflects a Christian world view.

Thanks to Rhiza Press and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. It was a great conclusion to the journey of Blaine. I can't wait to see the next adventures penned by Adele Jones.

[John Thiesfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good end for an interesting series. The author builds the tension to a satisfying conclusion. It reads rather linear, but that was an interesting difference. A recommended read.

[Ray Woodrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a fantastic, and gripping end to a great story. Love the suspense, chilling and somewhat sad too. But, all in all, a wonderful wrap up. Can't wait for the next instalment.

[Kate Hilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The exciting conclusion to the trials and testing of Blane Colton. Drama ensues and takes unexpected turns, moving beyond the Brisbane streets to other modern Australian cities. A very satisfying conclusion....