Reviews

A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow

icarrion's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

laylay1994's review

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

dame_samara's review against another edition

4.0

I read this book directly after reading A Song Below Water. So my bitterness towards Naema was still incredibly fresh. Which honestly made the first part of the book a trudge that I don't think I would have experienced if I had, had more of a gap between them.

I do think this book is an intriguing take on Privilege, Social Justice, and Racism paired with the powder keg that is Social Media. In contrast, A Song Below Water made me think more broadly of events in the last several years.
A Chorus Rises left me feeling like I had been taken back to Fall/Winter 2020 and January 2021. Specifically to how Social Media had been twisting and warping our real lives, showing how much damage can be caused by what happens within the World Wide Web pages.

Naema gets a redemption arc that I long to see in works of fiction. It does not feel ingenious, though. It isn't a 180, where she completely turns her back on her old self. But we get to watch him grow and learn as she branches out. This causes it to feel genuine rather than just expecting the reader to believe someone has changed.

This was an excellent follow-up to A Song Below Water, and I would recommend it to those who enjoyed it.

(Thanks to NetGalley Macmillian Audio and Tor Teen for allowing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!)

draculaura21's review against another edition

medium-paced

2.25

sarahelisewrites's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

5.0

guessgreenleaf's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Outing

10aya's review against another edition

I think I somehow enjoyed this book, even more than the first!? The protagonist is difficult, but challenging in all of the best ways. The first person narration though, is going to be dated in 10 years and it was just a little bit too tumblr-speak for me. 

chelrabush's review

challenging inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

iorangi's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

destinylmw's review

4.0

I was unsure about this sequel because it's from the pov of the antagonist from the first book. I do think the first book is better but I really liked this one too. She really annoyed me at the beginning but I loved seeing her character growth and her acceptance that while what happened to her was inexcusable, she also did some bad things and was able to own up to that. I think this one focuses a lot more on intersectionality because althouch she is a black girl she is also a type of magical creature that has a lot of privilege in this universe and she has to come to terms with what that means for herself and for other black girls. I think parts of the ending were a little unrealistic but not so much so that they ruined the story.