Redeemer: An Honest Review

 

Redeemer

Enslaved Book #3

~ 5 stars ~ 

Author: Katie Clark

Title: Redeemer

Series: Enslaved

Genre: Dystopian Fiction

Audience: Young Adult

 

Synopsis:

In this final chapter of the Enslaved series, Hana is faced not only with a new life, but an entirely new way of thinking. Unexpected friends give insight into who the Greaters truly are. Deciding what to do with this information sends Hana on what may be her very last journey. Ever. 

My Review:

Okay...here we are. The last book in this amazing series. Honestly, it was the most action-packed out of all of them. I mean, I was hyped reading this. It could legitimately classify for a thriller. 

 

To begin, the plot for this book was amazing. It begins right where Deliverance left off and once again Clark immediately emerges the reader head-first into the thick of the story. The plot is incredibly fast-paced, filled with so many subplots and surprises that at times I found it hard to keep up. However, the rapid pacing of this book did not interfere with clarity. No lines got crossed and as far as I could tell there were no plot holes, which is rare considering how many adventures and conflicts are crunched into this one book. And as if that isn't enough, Clark still manages to end with the goal in mind. Hana's ending line in book #2 was 'I will find deliverance. And then I will spread it.' and that's exactly what she does at the end of Redeemer. Amidst the very complex plotting Clark does not stray from the main point of the book, beginning with a mission and ending with that mission completed.

    

The characters that were introduced and re-introduced in this novel were beautiful. As in Clark's typical style, she managed to make me care genuinely for each character I read about through her touching backstories and intriguing personas. It wasn't just Hana who had struggles in this novel, and Clark made that apparent. I got to see every character face personal conflicts and times of doubt, which only drew me more into the story. Hana's character development itself was very well thought-out and relatable. Unlike a lot of dystopian tales with female leads, she actually faces doubt, fear, and the temptation to give in to the pressure. Hana is constantly at war with herself in this book, mainly because the stakes couldn't be higher and one wrong move can make everything go downhill. The world is literally on her shoulders and she oftentimes finds herself doubting her capabilities and self-worth as she sees for the first time just how big the task before her is - something I think everyone can relate to. 

In the other two books, there isn't that much of a focus on romance, but with Redeemer it takes a front seat to the point that Hana actually has to choose between two young men. One a childhood friend and the other a person she has known for very little time yet cares for deeply. Rarely do you see a worthy love triangle in Christian novels - most are cheesy, it's obvious who the protagonist will pick, and no one really feels bad for the guy who lost the girl. In this book, however, that is not the case. I was literally lost at who Hana was going to choose, one minute it seemed like it would be Keegan, the next, Fischer. And surprisingly, I felt genuine pity for the man - who shall remain nameless - that got denied a romantic relationship with Hana. Additionally, the relationships between these three were very...real. The romance wasn't sappy or unrealistic, but tastefully done in a way that I think I lot of people can find relatable. Hana, Fischer, and Keegan all struggle with the emotional conflicts that many young adults have when in romantic relationships. Doubt, pain, temptation, patience, emotion vs. true love, confusion - all these topics are realistically addressed in this love triangle. 

For faith, Redeemer was somewhere between Vanquished and Deliverance in potency. Hana seems to have figured out what God wants her to do, and now spends her time executing that plan. Her relationship with Christ, as far as I can see, doesn't face as much growth as in the previous books. There is some discussion about knowing that you are never alone no matter where you are, but the time spent on this topic is brief. However that is not to say that there are not some very good Christian topics covered in this book. One that stands out the most is the age old question: What will you do when the end comes? Hana struggles greatly with deciding what is the right way to deal with end time events, especially when those close to her all have different ideas about what actions they should take. Should they take up arms and kill the enemy? Or, should they focus on the spiritual battle that lies before them instead? Maybe both? I'll leave you to come to your own conclusion when you read the book. 

As the final novel in the Enslaved trilogy, it was definitely a worthy book. It gave you an action-packed read, an emotional roller coaster, and soul-searching, relatable topics, all the while managing to provide the perfect conclusion to the series.