Hallie Reads: A Thought-Provoking Dystopian Trilogy | The Uncloaked Trilogy by J. Rodes

ABOUT THE BOOKS

From sellout to hero, by way of the Den. Braxton Luther finds himself in the crossfire of a new order and discovers apathy is a dangerous option.

The Uncloaked

Goodreads | Amazon

Tearing the Veil

Goodreads | Amazon

Charging the Darkness

Goodreads | Amazon

MY REVIEW

A trilogy for the fan of faith-based dystopias, The Uncloaked, Tearing the Veil, and Charging the Darkness by J. Rodes deliver thought-provoking and fast-paced drama, tragedy, belief, and even a bit of romance.

The trilogy begins with Braxton Luther’s sole perspective in The Uncloaked, showing the horrific consequences of the implementation of a new president’s ideals and party platform. Each book then incorporates more points of view as the danger heightens and the choices become more complicated.

Each of the main characters feels adequately fleshed out. The choices aren’t always predictable, nor the reactions agreeable and simple. At times, they were frustrating (especially Braxton, in the beginning), but overall, the character growth and development proves well-arced, complex, and encouraging. Their circumstances may be dark and discouraging, but there’s always a glimmer of hope.

Now, there were times I found the plot of the story a bit over the top and too dramatic—at first thought. However, when considering the context of history’s tragedies and persecutions of people of faith, as well as history’s tendency to repeat itself, I have to admit that most of the events then don’t seem too far-fetched—uncomfortably so. This trilogy, while fictional and dystopian, had me really thinking about how I might act in such a situation, and though very overt, the faith element incorporated throughout the trilogy delivers a convicting message.

I was privileged to receive the audiobooks of the books in this trilogy. The narrator does an excellent job with the story and all its characters, and I quite enjoyed listening to them. Any reader interested in this trilogy who also likes audiobooks, I highly recommend checking them out.

★★★★

Thanks to Singing Librarian Book Tours, I received complimentary copies of The Uncloaked, Tearing the Veil, and Charging the Darkness and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. Rodes lives on the wide plains somewhere near the middle of Nowhere. A coffee addict, pickleball enthusiast, and storyteller, she also wears the hats of mom, teacher, and friend. Mostly, she loves Jesus and wants to see the kids she’s honored to teach fall in love with Him too.

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INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR

1. What intrigues you to write science fiction dystopian YA fiction?

Funny that. I never dreamed that I would write dystopian. Ever. I like the genre—The Giver is one of my favorites—but I couldn’t see myself writing it, until one day I did.

I like dystopian because it opens up new possibilities in writing. You can play out a “what if” storyline that goes to an extreme and do it in a way that captures a whole different kind of reality. For example, in The Giver, we discover through an extreme society that we think is impossible, but that Lois Lowry paints in crisp (black and white) life, that life is too multifaceted to invoke sameness. We’re too unique. Emotions are too precious. Experiences are too vivid and valuable to override for the sake of unity. In other words, we discover equality and fairness aren’t the same, and we can’t contrive forced unity. The human experience is simply too complex, and what is required to forsake in the name of sameness isn’t worth the cost. I can’t imagine delivering this concept in a better way than in through Lowry’s dystopian world.

Perhaps it’s that unique story power that is possible through a dystopian that intrigues me the most. Teach a lesson with facts, and I’m likely to forget. Show me with a compelling story, and I’m gonna remember it for the rest of my life. Somehow dystopian accomplishes that goal in a way that other genres seem to fall short. Not always, but often. Especially with a young adult audience.

2. What is your current WIP? What can you tell us about it?

Haha! Well, right now I’m working on a fun chicklit romance.

Quite a diversion from a dark dystopian trilogy, isn’t it?

I’ve finished the rough draft for Evergreen—the final book in the Grace Revealed series (Blue Columbine, Red Rose Bouquet), which is Women’s Fiction. Now I’m working on a light, fun novella set to hit the world on Valentine’s day. I can tell you that The Cupcake Dilemma is quirky, fun, and about a kitchen fail girl finding her place in the small town of Rock Creek (the setting of Reclaimed and Ordinary Snowflakes). It is a total departure from my more serious books, but hopefully you’ll still find my touch of emotion and genuine characters—this time through humor rather than tears.

I have an idea rolling around in the back of my head for another young adult novel—though not dystopian. I’d like to flesh out So-J, one of the secondary characters in Evergreen (she was also in Red Rose Bouquet), and give her her own story. It’ll be at least a year though, because I have other projects scheduled.

3. If you were to go on a vacation to visit one of the characters from this series, what character would you visit and why?

Hmmm… not sure going to see any of these characters in their world would be a “vacation.” But I would so very much like to see the world as it shifts into Eliza’s vision post-Progressive Party’s rule. She sees, in the place of her worst nightmares, a place of healing and forgiveness, a work that is beyond immediate comprehension, but she believes is possible because she experiences it in her own heart. Eliza’s vision is profound—and something that I borrowed from Betsy ten Boom as she envisioned her place of imprisonment during World War II transformed into a place of hope and healing. What a sight that would be. Someday…

4. What inspired the idea for the Uncloaked Trilogy?

A dream. Not kidding. I dreamt it one night—book one, that is, and started writing it the next day. The other two books weren’t as easy to visualize—I had to work a lot harder for those stories. Much of my inspiration came from researching how Christians survived during the times of Roman persecution, and then from digging into details from World War II, which I’m sure is evident throughout the books. I read and then listened to Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place—which still makes me weep—and then sat back in awe at the ten Boom’s solid faith and surrender to Christ. Talk about courage. And love. And forgiveness.

I wanted those characteristics manifested in the story line, and they came mostly through Eliza. But also, I wanted a hero that wasn’t always heroic, who was ordinary—and actually, even a failure at some points. That came through Braxton. I’ve found that some of my readers really couldn’t stand Braxton—they were so mad at him for his decisions and failures. But I keep thinking back to the disciple Peter…

Can God still use a sellout? Yeah. Peter will tell you, God totally can, and He does. That’s the heart of the story there—not that my heroes have anything super “special” about them. No extraordinary gifts. They can’t walk through walls, fire a bow and arrow like no one else ever has, or fight off the enemy with their brute strength and cunning metal powers. They’re everyday people. Kids. Making choices—sometimes good, sometimes bad. But when the darkness falls, and no one knows what to do, there is God. That’s where they find their footing, where their courage is drawn, and where the story begins to turn. Where we find hope, and we dare to dream of things that are otherwise impossible. Because there is God.

5. What do you want readers to take away from reading the Uncloaked Trilogy?

Um, see above.

6. When you are not writing, what other “hats” do you wear?

Taxi cab driver, mostly. Oh, wife. Mom to four awesome kids (thus the taxi cab driver). Teacher (Sunday school, AWANA, and subbing in our public schools). Friend.

GUEST POST

Kid's Interview

The truth about my mom, the writer…

We sat down with our three teenaged daughters (code names: The Oldest, SweetnSassy, and Stuck-in-the-Middle) to find out their take on living with someone who writes out her imaginary friends’ stories. Here’s the truth, from their perspective:

What’s it like having an author-momma?

The Oldest: It’s normal to me because that’s what I know.
SweetnSassy: It’s cool. I get to brag about her to all my friends! One thing that’s funny is when my friends see a book by my mom, they always ask, “Hey, is that like a relative of yours or something?” And I have to laugh and say, “Yeah! It’s my mom!”
Stuck-in-the-Middle: Fun, but sometimes annoying (or maybe just silly) because people come up to me and say, “Hey! Your mom writes books!” And I’m like, “What!? You’re kidding me!”

Do you have a favorite book from your mom?

The Oldest: (Thinking….) Blue Columbine or The Uncloaked.
SweetnSassy: Tearing the Veil.
Stuck-in-the-Middle: Charging the Darkness or Blue Columbine. Red Rose Bouquet was really good too, but it made me cry!

How did you feel about your mom writing a YA trilogy?

The Oldest: I thought it was different than what she had been writing in the past, but not in a bad way.
SweetnSassy: That’s awesome! Because good Christian young adult books can be hard to find.
Stuck-in-the-Middle: It’s kind of cool that she writes YA books, but occasionally made me angry because bad stuff happened in the books.

What do your friends think about your mom being a writer?

The Oldest: They think it’s cool I guess, but we don’t talk about it very much.
SweetnSassy: They think it’s awesome because, WOW, they’ve met a famous author before!!
Stuck-in-the-Middle: Some of them think it’s cool I guess, but most of my friends don’t really say what they think about it.

Has your mom’s writing affected your relationship in anyway?

The Oldest: Not much, sometimes she is busier than she used to be, but not too much. Sometimes I will ask her something and she doesn’t answer my question because she is writing.
SweetnSassy: Sometimes she doesn’t listen very well and forces me to ask her about 3 times about something because she is lost in her writing, but other than that, no. Like, sometimes, I’m like “Mom.” And she’s like, “What”. “Can I have some chocolate milk?” And she doesn’t answer so I wait like five minutes and then I’m like, “Mom?” And then she’s like, “Yes, you can.” Five minutes later.
Stuck-in-the-Middle: Yeah, same. Also, sometimes I’ll ask her a question while she’s writing, and she’ll say, “What, son?” even though I’m her DAUGHTER. One last thing that changed is that sometimes I’ll come home from school, and as soon as I walk into the office, she’ll say, “Just ten more minutes without disturbance.”

What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen your mom do for a story?

The Oldest: One time my mom was trying to get a cover photo, but we had free range chickens at the time and while she was trying to get her cover photo she decided she was going to have a conversation with one of our chickens (even though she didn’t like them), then I snapped a picture of her talking to this chicken and I still have the photo today.
SweetnSassy: One time I walked into the office and my mom was having conversations with her characters… so basically, she was just sitting there talking to herself.
Stuck-in-the-Middle: She tells us that one of her characters “Sidney” was kind of inspired by us, which is very… interesting.

What do you wish your mom would write next?

The Oldest: A book that’s interesting to read.
SweetnSassy: I wish she would write another book for The Uncloaked (trilogy)
Stuck-in-the-Middle: I wish she would write the book, “Super Sidney Saves a Duck.”

What character do you identify with most?

The Oldest: Probably Eliza because she’s quiet.
SweetnSassy: I identify with Sydney (from Ordinary Snowflakes, and also she has some kid books staring Sydney that aren’t published yet). “Stop laughing at me. It’s not funny. This is a serious matter.” Also, sometimes a little bit like Hannah because sometimes I’m very stubborn like her and want to go my own way, even if other people tell me what’s best.
Stuck-in-the-Middle: I identify most with Sydney. My mom tells me that she (Sydney) was kind of based on all of us.

How do you feel when you know about something your mom is working on, but is not published yet?

The Oldest: Sometimes it’s frustrating because I want to talk to other people about the stories, but I can’t because they won’t know what I’m talking about—and sometimes I’m not supposed to. It’s against the mom rules. Like one time my friend was waiting for Charging the Darkness (book three in The Uncloaked Trilogy) to come out, and she was so excited for it. I was dying because I’d already read it, but I couldn’t tell her about it yet!
SweetnSassy: So special. And then I can brag to all my friends and they’ll be so jealous.
Stuck-in-the-Middle: It’s fun, especially when she reads to me (she only reads us the fun stories), but it’s hard to wait for them to come out (like the Super Sydney stories)!

Reflections from the mom (aka the author):

Sometimes I feel like I’m not doing the mom job right—and that’s the more important job. We laugh at those stories of my delayed responses (it happens a lot!) or my full-story-immersion-can’t-tell-my-son-from-my-daughter, but in truth, it’s a massive challenge to live in two worlds (or more). I really need to work on being fully present when I’m with my kids, and not plotting, working out dialogue, or solving a story hole. It’s honestly a struggle I haven’t mastered yet.

There are some really awesome things about being a writer-momma, though. When I working on something lighter, or something aimed at kids, I get to involve them in a way that many adults can’t involve their kids in their work. We discuss characters, plot ideas, motivation, what-ifs… and I do read to them as I’m going if it’s something I feel like they’ll engage with. The Super Sydney stories have been really fun for us to all come around together, and because there is so much of my kids in those stories, they have a very special place in my heart.

I’d never be able to do what I do without the full backing of my family. I’m a pretty blessed girl, because they give it with so much enthusiasm that I feel a little bit spoiled. They give up their mom to a world that exists only in her mind more than they probably should have to, and they are super gracious to me about it. And they’re my biggest cheerleaders. Who couldn’t love that?

SNIPPETS FROM THE UNCLOAKED TRILOGY

The Uncloaked

Uncloaked? What was that?

Tristan smirked. “Clearly. Family?”

“All Uncloaked.”

“Noted.” He leaned over Kipper, who cowered like he expected a blow. “Fix it, boy. You’re in our sights.”

Kipper didn’t respond. I detected a tremble in the boy’s hands, but he held a strong gaze. A gaze that seemed somehow familiar in nature. I glanced to Eliza. She was biting her lip as she kept her eyes fixed on Kipper. My view widened, encompassing both of them. His eyes darted to her, and she nodded ever so slightly.

Wait. What just happened? My chest expanded with a fierceness I hadn’t anticipated. I zeroed back in on Eliza, wanting to take her by the arm and pull her to my side. What was this guy doing, looking to Liza for strength? She didn’t have any to spare. And she’s mine.

Wasn’t she?

“What do you expect me to say?” Kipper’s weak voice ripped me out of my Braxtonian-centered universe.

Tristan still hovered over the guy. “Show us a sign of loyalty.”

“What do you want?”

“I think you’ll find life much easier if you comply.” Tristan tapped Kipper’s tab. “Try it. See what happens when you check the correct box.”

My attention dropped to my own tab. The correct box. Not the right box—as in what is true of you, but the correct box—as in PC.

Congratulations, Citizen.

The words burned in my vision.

Check a box. Get on with your life.

My own voice echoed in my ears. Was it really that easy? We were living like impoverished beggars at the Knights’ house, and it could have been avoided by checking the correct box?

“I won’t.” Kipper’s meek voice beckoned my attention again.

The air seemed to turn cold and hard. Eliza pulled in a long breath and held it. I scowled, first at her and then at Kipper. Tristan looked to his right and then to his left. The bulky guys flanking him returned his glance with smirks.

He smacked Kipper on the back of his head, sending the kid’s face toward the desk. “It’s your funeral.”

I assumed that was figurative. Couldn’t be anything but, despite the zinging sense of fear rising in my chest. Not in this country.

Tearing the Veil

Braxton
Why would she even think about the Pride? Didn’t she understand that I lived in a nightmare? How could two sisters be so completely different anyway?

Hannah was headed for trouble. She needed to leave. Soon. Now.

But for the moment, I had to protect her. I owed Eliza at least that much. No, I owed her so much more than she understood, than anyone understood, and the guilt sat like a slow burn in my stomach every single day.

God, is she still alive? She had to be alive. She still called to me in my dreams.

My attention fell back to Hannah, who sat stiff by my side. The girl was spinning in her head like a tire on a bicycle, and because she was way too much like me, I could guess what she was thinking.

“It isn’t better out there.” I tipped her chin so I could see her eyes—something I usually tried to avoid. They looked like Eliza’s, and I hated the ache that pressed into my chest. But I needed to make sure she was listening. “You’ve got to believe me on this. It’s not what you think. Stay with your family. Go to the Refuge.”

She stared back at me, but not like Eliza would have. Eliza would listen—hear what I was saying and process it intelligently, which was why she could always come up with a logical answer to my dumb schemes. Hannah…well, she processed with emotion, just like me. There was no reasoning with emotion.

I sighed and began transferring the food I’d squirreled away from the Den to her burlap sack. “You’d better get going. Remember, never the same place two times in a row, okay?”

Still stiff, she stood and, with a cool nod, took the sack. Not listening. Not good.

“Hannah, wait.” I couldn’t let this happen. “I need to speak with your dad. Tell him I asked for him to meet me next time. Okay?”

She dipped one curt nod.

Great.

“I really need to talk to him…alone,” I said, knowing that last part was going to spark her defiance.
An icy stare was her only response. So not like Eliza.

I pushed my fingers through my hair, stuffing a growl down into my chest. “Do you even know why you’re mad?”

She spun on her worn-out tennis shoe, and I watched her shoulders, jammed straight and rebellious, as she wove through the trees.

Fine. Just as long as she was stomping back to the cellar. She had no business thinking about the Pride.

Charging the Darkness

Braxton
She leveraged another shove against my chest and then ran.

Who could blame her? How could God let this happen?

I pressed my back against the brick wall lining the hallway so I wouldn’t have to look at Hulk and slid to the floor. He’d taunted her since we were kids. The bully. The beast. He’d targeted her once the Party had taken over, hell bent to see her broken.

And she had broken.

So had he.

We had been right. Hulk had been in DC when the explosion had released the virus. Charlotte must have sent him away when she realized what had been done. But it’d been too late. He’d been exposed. And now here he was, dying alone. No one to mourn his cruel life. No one to care if Eliza interceded for him or not.

I cared though. Something in me knew this decision of hers would chart a new course for her future. The one she was choosing was dark and lonely, and my heart ripped thinking of her chained to that path. The other was steep and difficult, and I resented that it was so unbelievably hard.

But there was life beyond the hard. And if the old Eliza were here, and I was in her place right now, stepping onto the path she was choosing, I knew what she would have done.

She would have fought for me to live.