Revived by Cat Patrick

Synopsis: As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life. A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger—and more sinister—than she ever imagined.

Review: I was very curious to read Revived – Cat Patrick’s second novel. Having read and enjoyed Forgotten, I have to say I expected something pretty similar but also better. In fact it wasn’t really the case and I confess that at first I was a little disappointed. Both books, despite they deal with different things, are actually alike. Revived still remains a very entertaining read, it’s just that for me it wasn’t as exciting as it seems to be. Though, the subject was very original and interesting as above all it hadn’t yet been explored in this way in other YA books. I’m referring of course to ‘resurrection’.
Indeed, the heroine, Daisy, died five times! The story begins at her fifth death in high school, during a Physical Education course. Back to life thanks to Revive, she and her ‘fake parents’ are forced to move to another city, under a new identity, where she has to start all over again, as always when she dies. There’s a certain weariness wich emanates from the teenager. Especially as her sixth life looks like very different from previous ones: first, she has a true friend, and then she falls in love. All of this will push her to question everything in which she believed and the merits of the Revive program.
How far can science go to defy death? Revive is an experimental and top secret drug that allows people to resurrect. What consequences may result from the manufacture and the administration of such medication? What is the other side of the coin? And in a religious or ethics point of view, what to think? These are questions we would like to see raised here. But unfortunately, the author chose to focus on Daisy and her relationships with other teenagers and her romance with Matt, which is a real pity. I expected something a little different, which brings more reflection and ultimately I found myself with a typical YA romance. I wanted to learn more about this famous drug, the origins of the Revive program and what happens within this top-secret government agency because very little is known about this. And how this man, who is the Revive project mastermind – and that the agents have become used to call God – ended up here? All of these questions would have deserved further developments.
As for the characters, I liked Daisy, she’s an intelligent teenager and a little reckless (normal, she has faced death so many times!). I also enjoyed her relationship with Mason, the agent who is very good at making people believe he’s her father. But what touched me the most is undoubtedly the friendship that binds her to Audrey. The two girls are really close and have a such complicity, it’s always nice to see that. Some passages were soul-stirring. However, concerning her love-story with Matt, I wasn’t convinced as we don’t have this little something that makes thrill all young girls. Nevertheless, although very simple, their romance is still beautiful. It’s cute and cuddly, with a very prude side; there is no outpouring of affection because of the young age of our two protagonists. Nonetheless it’s a very pleasant read, and I devoured it in just a few hours! 

11 thoughts on “Revived by Cat Patrick

  1. It does sound like a good and unique premise, but it sounds like it’s not explored enough. That’s a shame. I found that to be the case with Forgotten, as well – there was far too much emphasis put on the relationship in that book and not enough on the actual plot. Sounds like that might be this authors downfall!

  2. Hmm, I feel like I would have a lot of the same questions you had while reading Revived. It’s unfortunate that YA authors seem unwilling to explore the world’s they’ve created in depth sometimes. Great review Inessa!

    • Yes I was a little disappointed! I thought the plot would be more detailed but finally it’s like Forgotten: a very original idea but not enough exploited.

      Thank you Kelly ;D

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