Reviews - Burn Down, Rise Up

646 reviews for:

Burn Down, Rise Up

Vincent Tirado

3.77 AVERAGE

lilshelly's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

The plot and all was interesting, but I felt like there was a lot missing. There were also a lot of inconsistencies or errors or contradictions in the writing that needed another good editing pass through. That made some parts more confusing to understand. I wanted more detail in some places to really understand what was happening. Some of the pacing was also too quick.

Content Warnings

thetrashqueen's review against another edition

3.0

I read this as a part of an MLIS class on YA literature! I would probably give this 4 stars if I didn't feel like it was pretty slow to get moving. The premise is cool and Charlize and Raquel are cute (I wish their relationship was a little more fleshed out but that's just me). I just thought the whole thing was pretty slow moving, even in the action parts I was sorta like yeah, okay. BUT to be fair this is a book intended for a YA audience and I'm a little older (and more seasoned with the horror genre) so the "scary/suspenseful parts" didn't really get me.

I would recommend it to those that aren't super into horror but want something to get them started.

meesvsbooks's review against another edition

3.75

Over the last year teens have been disappearing from the Bronx. No one knows where they are.. And if one comes back, they are infected with a mysterious mold. There are rumors about an underground game, taking people to an alternate universe, a burning universe..

When Raquel’s mom gets infected with this mold at the same time as Charlize’s cousin goes missing, the two teens team up to find out what’s been plaguing the Bronx and their community. After all, the police are only investigating the white kids’ disappearances.

This sapphic novel is based on the real history of the Bronx, terrifying stuff happened there in the 1970s. I think the author did an amazing job at mixing the Bronx’s past and social issues with horror components. I enjoyed the use of metaphors for certain issues like the mold and the slumlords. It all worked so well and despite all the horror, Tirado’s love for the Bronx was very obvious. I’ve seen some people call it “A love letter to the Bronx” and I think that describes it perfectly!

Plot wise I didn’t understand some decisions the characters made and ended up with a few questions after finishing the book. But that might be part of choosing to read about 16 y/o teens (with very obvious crushes).

This story reminded me again that I love stories based on real history. It often gives me a small hyper fixation. Which I consider as a very good thing to happen after reading a book!

liroyes's review against another edition

3.5

Creepy, but not too too scary

heidipolkissa82's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

virgilsinferno's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Fun story and interesting premise but the way the MC is written got on my nerves. Along with the inclusion of the love triangle trope :/

assmatica's review against another edition

5.0

"Weirder things happened in New York, and much stranger things in the Bronx."
Wow, wow, wow. I'm finishing this book at midnight and it got me shaking with fear. So so good.