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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
I was interested in reading this book because of the mythology aspect, and let's be honest, it's the only thing I liked about this story. I couldn't like Ana, the main character, what she did versus said didn't make sense (example: saying "I haven't been on my phone" or something like that when she was just texting her brother earlier? And making a little snob comment about how she knew a lot about mythology, more than what was just on tv, and yes she did know what every god.ess or deity was by their names but when she saw a sculpture or something of Remus and Romulus and the wolf she didn't know what it was? This may simply be me being petty because I don't like her but it's a pretty famous thing she should know if she's such a big expert on mythology....). And I got tired pretty early of her saying every boy she meets was "hot", "gorgeous", "muscular" like???? Please don't that's precisely the kind of thing that makes me hate a book...
For the plot I also enjoyed the "treasure hunt" but it didn't really make sense? They kept giving us reasons why but it still didn't really make sense with everything that was happening. I felt like a lot of parts of this story were just people making nonlogical actions just so something could happen. AND we were given informations from the summary but it actually happens (or Ana learns about it) like more than a third into the book. I had read half of it and was "so when is she going to learn that thing I learned before even reading the book itself??"
I feel like this is more of a rant than anything else but this book really frustrated me, it definitely wasn't for me.
For the plot I also enjoyed the "treasure hunt" but it didn't really make sense? They kept giving us reasons why but it still didn't really make sense with everything that was happening. I felt like a lot of parts of this story were just people making nonlogical actions just so something could happen. AND we were given informations from the summary but it actually happens (or Ana learns about it) like more than a third into the book. I had read half of it and was "so when is she going to learn that thing I learned before even reading the book itself??"
I feel like this is more of a rant than anything else but this book really frustrated me, it definitely wasn't for me.
This is a fun to read YA fantasy romance full of mythology. Analiese is supposed to be going to a bereavement camp with her brother Dalton, but she is drawn into a mystery with a good looking guy named Marek and together they are chased by ancient gods, raise the dead, and travel to Rome and France. I think that fans of mythology and romance will enjoy the story!
2.5/5*
This book read on the young side of YA. The writing style and most of the language used felt more suited for 13-15 year-olds even though the characters are supposed to be 17-18. This didn't really affect my enjoyment of the story except if I never have to hear the phrase "my vans slapped the concrete" again, I wouldn't be angry lol.
I think the concept was a bit overambitious for a standalone* novel. I would have liked to have more about the gods and goddesses from various cultures. The book seemed to almost gloss over them to instead focus on how hot Marek was. Also, the ending left a lot to be desired.
Overall, this book was okay. I found myself rolling my eyes a few times, but the concept was unique enough to keep me interested.
This book read on the young side of YA. The writing style and most of the language used felt more suited for 13-15 year-olds even though the characters are supposed to be 17-18. This didn't really affect my enjoyment of the story except if I never have to hear the phrase "my vans slapped the concrete" again, I wouldn't be angry lol.
I think the concept was a bit overambitious for a standalone* novel. I would have liked to have more about the gods and goddesses from various cultures. The book seemed to almost gloss over them to instead focus on how hot Marek was. Also, the ending left a lot to be desired.
Overall, this book was okay. I found myself rolling my eyes a few times, but the concept was unique enough to keep me interested.
Full Review posted at Book Lovin' Mamas
Rating: 3 stars
Do I recommend this book? Although, this book did not grab my attention that does not mean other readers may not like it.
Will I read other books from the author? Yes, definitely.
Elements: Adventure (Travel with history elements due to traveling to Rome/Paris) and Mythology (Gods/Goddesses)
Rating: 3 stars
Do I recommend this book? Although, this book did not grab my attention that does not mean other readers may not like it.
Will I read other books from the author? Yes, definitely.
Elements: Adventure (Travel with history elements due to traveling to Rome/Paris) and Mythology (Gods/Goddesses)
This book certainly took me by surprise. By the cover you'd think that it's a high fantasy with a complex magic system or something, but nope. It's all about Gods and Goddesses from different mythologies messing everything up and not letting people live good and peaceful lives (surprise, surprise!).
I really liked the main character Analiese, and I loved Marek so much! Also, is quite diverse, which is always enjoyable. I really need to read more about these characters. But there were some things that I didn't like that much.
The romance felt a bit weird. It wasn't quite insta-love, but the way they were attracted to each other threw me off quite a bit. Also, I was expecting more that the ending we got, to be honest. I enjoyed this book overall, but I felt that we needed a bit more of everything.
If you enjoy Rick Riordan books, a good mystery and mythology then you'll definitely enjoy this!
I really liked the main character Analiese, and I loved Marek so much! Also, is quite diverse, which is always enjoyable. I really need to read more about these characters. But there were some things that I didn't like that much.
The romance felt a bit weird. It wasn't quite insta-love, but the way they were attracted to each other threw me off quite a bit. Also, I was expecting more that the ending we got, to be honest. I enjoyed this book overall, but I felt that we needed a bit more of everything.
If you enjoy Rick Riordan books, a good mystery and mythology then you'll definitely enjoy this!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley*
This story is about a girl named Analiese who finds her name on a list given to her by a stranger, which leads her to the strangers grandson and sends them on quest for answers. Ana finds out she's a "riser" and is able to raise the dead with just a touch. Seems pretty cool until she realizes this puts her right in the middle of a war between Gods.
If mythology is your thing, this book is for you. You'll meet a lot of gods in this book, and I like the take on the war between the powerful gods and the lesser gods. There's a ton of action and adventure in this book as Analiese and Marek try to solve the mystery of how to stop the war and save themselves.
I will say this book felt a little more middle grade to me. Ana is a very young acting 16 and the romance aspect felt super one sided and gushy up until the book was almost over. Part of this is simply because we see the story through Ana's eyes, but it still would've been nice to get a better read on Marek. I would've loved to see more of Dalton, Ana's brother. But the set up for the next book looks like we'll see more of him.
I will say I appreciate the representation in this book. Sometimes authors seem to stick LGBT characters in the books and give them exaggerated stories to let you know they're LGBT, but this book really does weave these characters in seamlessly and without fuss. The main romance is M/F, but the LGBT couples are a part of the entire tapestry, as it should be.
Overall, this book was okay for me. It has potential to get better with the trilogy, so I'm hoping that's what happens here. If you love mythology and lots of action, definitely give it a read!
This story is about a girl named Analiese who finds her name on a list given to her by a stranger, which leads her to the strangers grandson and sends them on quest for answers. Ana finds out she's a "riser" and is able to raise the dead with just a touch. Seems pretty cool until she realizes this puts her right in the middle of a war between Gods.
If mythology is your thing, this book is for you. You'll meet a lot of gods in this book, and I like the take on the war between the powerful gods and the lesser gods. There's a ton of action and adventure in this book as Analiese and Marek try to solve the mystery of how to stop the war and save themselves.
I will say this book felt a little more middle grade to me. Ana is a very young acting 16 and the romance aspect felt super one sided and gushy up until the book was almost over. Part of this is simply because we see the story through Ana's eyes, but it still would've been nice to get a better read on Marek. I would've loved to see more of Dalton, Ana's brother. But the set up for the next book looks like we'll see more of him.
I will say I appreciate the representation in this book. Sometimes authors seem to stick LGBT characters in the books and give them exaggerated stories to let you know they're LGBT, but this book really does weave these characters in seamlessly and without fuss. The main romance is M/F, but the LGBT couples are a part of the entire tapestry, as it should be.
Overall, this book was okay for me. It has potential to get better with the trilogy, so I'm hoping that's what happens here. If you love mythology and lots of action, definitely give it a read!
Let's make something clear first: I did not go into this book with any kind of expectations whatsoever, apart from perhaps the one that I might be underwhelmed and end up not liking this or possibly DNFing it. It was a bonus book included in an Unplugged Book Box, one they noted was a self-published addition, so I was willing to give it a shot on that basis.
I did end up enjoying it. Truthfully, there are moments where I was rolling my eyes just a little, as there are aspects of this book that feel like the author was trying to show off how many obscure things in various mythologies she knew about. Additionally, I felt the climax of the story and the falling action and conclusion were somewhat sloppy and rushed, and overall very different in tone from the rest of the book, but again, this wasn't a bad read. I did enjoy it and I'm glad that I read it.
Another couple of points of note, I do think this book has decent representation of a main character who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, and when I read the Acknowledgements page in the back, I was happy to see that the author herself states that she struggles with this same aspect of her mental health. An additional thing I noticed (and please understand this has no bearing on anything whatsoever, I just thought it was rather weird that it happened so often over and over in the book) was that the characters shower a lot. Every time they shower or bathe, we're told about it. And it's just a touch awkward to realize you're reading and you suddenly find yourself with the thought "wow, the characters haven't showered at all in the last three chapters." Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but certainly an awkward one.
I also can't say I really connected with any of the characters in particular, none of them really stood out or grabbed me in that sort of way, but I did feel like they were all pretty unique enough to stand apart from one another.
Minor disappointment,I sort of wish Brenda Drake had spent a little more time in this book on exploring Analiese's heritage as a descendant of a death god, because it certainly feels like all the other deity characters she and Marek encounter act like it's a big deal. Analiese and the narrative itself treat this as a huge deal, but I ultimately feel like, aside from using this as an explanation of her power of being able to resurrect the dead, there is nothing done with the heavy implications of this aspect of her heritage. It's just sort of shunted to the side when her powers aren't being discussed, and even then, there's not a lot of detail that we get regarding why she has these powers apart from "~she's a descendant of a god of death, wooooo~."
So is this worth the read? I'd say yes, especially if you're a fan of Rick Riordan's writing or any of the authors he helps to spotlight. It's definitely a little more mature in terms of thematic writing, at least in part, but it vibes very much on the same wavelength.
I did end up enjoying it. Truthfully, there are moments where I was rolling my eyes just a little, as there are aspects of this book that feel like the author was trying to show off how many obscure things in various mythologies she knew about. Additionally, I felt the climax of the story and the falling action and conclusion were somewhat sloppy and rushed, and overall very different in tone from the rest of the book, but again, this wasn't a bad read. I did enjoy it and I'm glad that I read it.
Another couple of points of note, I do think this book has decent representation of a main character who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, and when I read the Acknowledgements page in the back, I was happy to see that the author herself states that she struggles with this same aspect of her mental health. An additional thing I noticed (and please understand this has no bearing on anything whatsoever, I just thought it was rather weird that it happened so often over and over in the book) was that the characters shower a lot. Every time they shower or bathe, we're told about it. And it's just a touch awkward to realize you're reading and you suddenly find yourself with the thought "wow, the characters haven't showered at all in the last three chapters." Again, not necessarily a bad thing, but certainly an awkward one.
I also can't say I really connected with any of the characters in particular, none of them really stood out or grabbed me in that sort of way, but I did feel like they were all pretty unique enough to stand apart from one another.
Minor disappointment,
So is this worth the read? I'd say yes, especially if you're a fan of Rick Riordan's writing or any of the authors he helps to spotlight. It's definitely a little more mature in terms of thematic writing, at least in part, but it vibes very much on the same wavelength.
3.5⭐*
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I would like to thank NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. All of the following opinions are my own. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Analiese Rising is a supernatural modern mythology romance young adult novel which is most definitely going to be the first book in a series and it is a really fun read. I know I used up about all the genres in existence to describe it but it is what it is folks. I keep it real around here xD. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Anyway, the story begins when Ana is an unfortunate witness of a man's death who uses his last breath to tell her to pass on a belonging of his to his grandson. Also this apparent stranger knows her name and everything and that freaks her out big time. Then when she meets the grandson, he is not only what one might call eye candy, but also the bearer of all things not so fun and dandy. There's a quest. Freaking Thor chasing them around. Lots of action and a little bit of smooching. It's fun, like I said. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I really enjoyed the plot in this novel, but I had issues with structure and pacing. Something was just...off about them. It is a page turner, but it does miss that certain "umpfh", you know? I would spend all day reading the book, sure, but the moment I closed it, I was just...out of the world. There was nothing keeping me immersed there. This, when I compare it with something like Crooked Kingdom which was so immersive that I remembered even the tiniest of details for days, was something that was a let down.
The same goes for the characters in this novel. They're okay...kind of captivating but they're missing something but I'm not sure what. I'm sure a sixteen year old teen reading this would be enjoying it but I can't tell if she'll like the characters because they're actually relatable or because they're bland enough to let the teen project herself ont them. There is, however, an immense potential for a series in this novel, so I'm looking forward to how the characters are developed there.
Another thing that really impressed me was the anxiety rep in this novel. It wasn't over the top or pivotal to the story, but it was kind of nice to see this girl thinking about her medicines and taking them when she needed them even when she was running around being chased my demon gods and what-not.
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The writing in this book is actually pretty good...except..it doesn't do anything to elevate the story as such. It's perfectly okay for the story, but it isn't adding that something-extra to the story. It was more reporter-styled than anything else and I think it could have been more enjoyable had it been a little more engaging.
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The ending though...whooo! That was some fun stuff right there. The whole novel was a little on and off for me, but the ending was definitely very engaging and action packed and it was SO MUCH FUN! It definitely made me want to keep reading more...except there's no more here.
I've seen book series' that start out very okay and develop into something really impressive before and I'm hoping this book turns into a series and does the same because I WANT TO SEE MORE! I want to know what happens with Ana and I was a war, GODDAMNIT! Is it too much to ask for, really?! XP
All in all, I found this book to be a pretty okay read. Like...I wouldn't recommend you stop everything you're doing to go read it, but if you're free and are looking for some chill YA to chill with, you should definitely check this out!
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I would like to thank NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange of an honest review. All of the following opinions are my own. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Analiese Rising is a supernatural modern mythology romance young adult novel which is most definitely going to be the first book in a series and it is a really fun read. I know I used up about all the genres in existence to describe it but it is what it is folks. I keep it real around here xD. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Anyway, the story begins when Ana is an unfortunate witness of a man's death who uses his last breath to tell her to pass on a belonging of his to his grandson. Also this apparent stranger knows her name and everything and that freaks her out big time. Then when she meets the grandson, he is not only what one might call eye candy, but also the bearer of all things not so fun and dandy. There's a quest. Freaking Thor chasing them around. Lots of action and a little bit of smooching. It's fun, like I said. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I really enjoyed the plot in this novel, but I had issues with structure and pacing. Something was just...off about them. It is a page turner, but it does miss that certain "umpfh", you know? I would spend all day reading the book, sure, but the moment I closed it, I was just...out of the world. There was nothing keeping me immersed there. This, when I compare it with something like Crooked Kingdom which was so immersive that I remembered even the tiniest of details for days, was something that was a let down.
The same goes for the characters in this novel. They're okay...kind of captivating but they're missing something but I'm not sure what. I'm sure a sixteen year old teen reading this would be enjoying it but I can't tell if she'll like the characters because they're actually relatable or because they're bland enough to let the teen project herself ont them. There is, however, an immense potential for a series in this novel, so I'm looking forward to how the characters are developed there.
Another thing that really impressed me was the anxiety rep in this novel. It wasn't over the top or pivotal to the story, but it was kind of nice to see this girl thinking about her medicines and taking them when she needed them even when she was running around being chased my demon gods and what-not.
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The writing in this book is actually pretty good...except..it doesn't do anything to elevate the story as such. It's perfectly okay for the story, but it isn't adding that something-extra to the story. It was more reporter-styled than anything else and I think it could have been more enjoyable had it been a little more engaging.
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The ending though...whooo! That was some fun stuff right there. The whole novel was a little on and off for me, but the ending was definitely very engaging and action packed and it was SO MUCH FUN! It definitely made me want to keep reading more...except there's no more here.
I've seen book series' that start out very okay and develop into something really impressive before and I'm hoping this book turns into a series and does the same because I WANT TO SEE MORE! I want to know what happens with Ana and I was a war, GODDAMNIT! Is it too much to ask for, really?! XP
All in all, I found this book to be a pretty okay read. Like...I wouldn't recommend you stop everything you're doing to go read it, but if you're free and are looking for some chill YA to chill with, you should definitely check this out!
I loved this story and greatly enjoyed joining Analiese and Marek on their adventures through Rome and Paris. It was fast paced and exciting!
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Analiese Rising is a young adult fantasy romance by Brenda Drake. I love Brenda's Library Jumper series hardcore, so I was super excited to see a new novel come out from her. Analiese Rising is a standalone novel, but I can easily see a sequel, spin off or companion novel come from this world and these characters, and I really hope we do get to see more into this world. It is no secret that I am a huge fan of mythology, and the awesome thing about Analiese Rising is that this book does not only incorporate one area of mythology, but instead pulls in gods and goddesses from all types and aspects of myth from many different cultures, which was really cool.
I loved that this book set us off on an instant adventure with our main character, Analiese, who finds out that she is a descendant of a god of death. She runs into a stranger that hands her a mysterious list of names. And one of the names is her own. He then tells her that she is in trouble and that she needs to find his grandson and deliver a package to him. I love instant adventure/quest type stories because they immediately draw you in and hook you, which is exactly what happened to me with Analiese Rising. I was gripped from pretty much the first page, which is a big deal. No slow build here. On her journey to figure out why she is sent to deliver a bag to a stranger's grandson, Analiese uncovers a whole new world of magic and mythology. Along the way she meets Merek (the grandson) and their adventure was filled with so much fun. It had Percy Jackson and Meg Cabot's Abandon series vibes, but on a more diverse mythological scale.
Analiese learns more about her powers and about who she is throughout the story as well, which was pretty cool. She is a Riser, which means she has the power to raise the dead. I loved learning about her powers, and seeing her uncover some other secrets about Risers and the Gods. Though there were a few cringe worthy moments with the characters, and although the ending felt a bit rushed to me (which is part of why I am hoping for another book in this world!) I really enjoyed the adventure and the romance. Merek is awesome! I think a ton of characters will love him instantly. Analiese Rising is a really fun romantic fantasy. Perfect for fans of mythology.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Analiese Rising is a young adult fantasy romance by Brenda Drake. I love Brenda's Library Jumper series hardcore, so I was super excited to see a new novel come out from her. Analiese Rising is a standalone novel, but I can easily see a sequel, spin off or companion novel come from this world and these characters, and I really hope we do get to see more into this world. It is no secret that I am a huge fan of mythology, and the awesome thing about Analiese Rising is that this book does not only incorporate one area of mythology, but instead pulls in gods and goddesses from all types and aspects of myth from many different cultures, which was really cool.
I loved that this book set us off on an instant adventure with our main character, Analiese, who finds out that she is a descendant of a god of death. She runs into a stranger that hands her a mysterious list of names. And one of the names is her own. He then tells her that she is in trouble and that she needs to find his grandson and deliver a package to him. I love instant adventure/quest type stories because they immediately draw you in and hook you, which is exactly what happened to me with Analiese Rising. I was gripped from pretty much the first page, which is a big deal. No slow build here. On her journey to figure out why she is sent to deliver a bag to a stranger's grandson, Analiese uncovers a whole new world of magic and mythology. Along the way she meets Merek (the grandson) and their adventure was filled with so much fun. It had Percy Jackson and Meg Cabot's Abandon series vibes, but on a more diverse mythological scale.
Analiese learns more about her powers and about who she is throughout the story as well, which was pretty cool. She is a Riser, which means she has the power to raise the dead. I loved learning about her powers, and seeing her uncover some other secrets about Risers and the Gods. Though there were a few cringe worthy moments with the characters, and although the ending felt a bit rushed to me (which is part of why I am hoping for another book in this world!) I really enjoyed the adventure and the romance. Merek is awesome! I think a ton of characters will love him instantly. Analiese Rising is a really fun romantic fantasy. Perfect for fans of mythology.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs