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pants0701's review
I just can't read it right now. I think I'll go back and read it when I'm in the mood.
jadeyrae's review
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley for the earc of this one!
I had a real fun time on Maya’s journey. Maya is a 12 year old girl, when on the search for her missing father she finds herself in the middle of a war between two sides of the world - the Orishas and the Darkbringers. It was great to read a middle grade with African mythology, as this is definitely not something I’ve read before!
When putting this through CAWPILE (the rating system I use) this came out at an overall score of 6.71, which is a high 3 star rating. I found the characters great fun and very easy to root for, their individual personalities shining through along with the bond of their friendship. The community atmosphere of Maya’s home town was very apparent, with clear references to the side characters that make the community cast.
I feel this story is quite comparable to Percy Jackson, for a number of reasons (not in any sort of ‘rip off’ way, it was still incredibly original). 1. The story follows a young ‘godling’ (child of a god and human) coming into their powers and learning about the godly side of their parentage. 2. The chapter titles were similarly structures (I.e. I Nearly Become Bird Food). 3. The inclusivity and diversity of the cast of characters. 4. The writing style, it was humorous in a way, easy to follow and fall into the story.
I definitely had a fun time with this, and enjoyed my reading experience, but it was missing something for me - I didn’t feel particularly emotional for the characters or at any point throughout the plot, it just didn’t suck me in that way. The plot was definitely action packed with conflicts and troubles facing the main trio often, but I didn’t feel any emotion unfortunately.
That being said, I had an enjoyable reading experience and would for sure recommend to a fan of middle grade fantasy!
I had a real fun time on Maya’s journey. Maya is a 12 year old girl, when on the search for her missing father she finds herself in the middle of a war between two sides of the world - the Orishas and the Darkbringers. It was great to read a middle grade with African mythology, as this is definitely not something I’ve read before!
When putting this through CAWPILE (the rating system I use) this came out at an overall score of 6.71, which is a high 3 star rating. I found the characters great fun and very easy to root for, their individual personalities shining through along with the bond of their friendship. The community atmosphere of Maya’s home town was very apparent, with clear references to the side characters that make the community cast.
I feel this story is quite comparable to Percy Jackson, for a number of reasons (not in any sort of ‘rip off’ way, it was still incredibly original). 1. The story follows a young ‘godling’ (child of a god and human) coming into their powers and learning about the godly side of their parentage. 2. The chapter titles were similarly structures (I.e. I Nearly Become Bird Food). 3. The inclusivity and diversity of the cast of characters. 4. The writing style, it was humorous in a way, easy to follow and fall into the story.
I definitely had a fun time with this, and enjoyed my reading experience, but it was missing something for me - I didn’t feel particularly emotional for the characters or at any point throughout the plot, it just didn’t suck me in that way. The plot was definitely action packed with conflicts and troubles facing the main trio often, but I didn’t feel any emotion unfortunately.
That being said, I had an enjoyable reading experience and would for sure recommend to a fan of middle grade fantasy!
drlisak's review
5.0
Such a delightful middle-grade read, with an empowered 12 year old girl leading the way. I also love journeying into the mythology of the Orisha gods.
mini_goddes's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! It gives a mythology that is easy to follow. It doesn’t feel like a dump of information all at once. The children are so lovable! And the fact that not only was Maya half orisha but her friends were too! I think that’s just such a fantastic concept since usually in these types of books the main character is one that will be different and have a hard time adjusting while their friends are there they don’t really have a full understanding of hard it may be for main character. But for this book, Maya has her friends who are also going through changes and discovery of what they are so it’s completely refreshing that they have each other and can understand each other even more! And by the end of the book, I felt so satisfied in knowing that the children still viewed themselves as children and didn’t feel the need to grow up faster. Like yeah they just went through it and made new discoveries but in end we are still middle schoolers. Fantastic read!
thelilbulldozer's review
2.0
MAYA AND THE RISING DARK - A RANT.
Okay, before we begin I feel as if I should tell you that I adored Rena's debut, and so I had very hype hopes with this book because, as already stated, I loved her debut and I also just adore middle-grade. But this was not it.
Before my blood begins to boil at an unhealthy level, let me say that this middle-grade was very similar to [b:The Serpent's Secret|32618983|The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond, #1)|Sayantani DasGupta|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495562210l/32618983._SY75_.jpg|53206336] and [b:The Lightning Thief|28187|The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)|Rick Riordan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1400602609l/28187._SY75_.jpg|3346751] , and seeing how it was very similar, I think it's fair to say that this was a horrible rip off.
The chapter titles had the same "snarky" names as those in the Percy Jackson series, the kids are godlings, and Maya's father tells her stories of monsters, which she doesn't believe actually exist - but, in reality, they do, etc. Like THE SERPENT'S SECRET, MatRD got really stupid at times, too stupid to even read.
Rena tried to put witty remarks throughout the story but they didn't make me smile or laugh, if anything they annoyed me.
Maya, Frankie, and Eli are all friends and (conveniently) they all find out that they are godlings. Stupidly, Maya runs after her father and into the Dark, a replica of our world just with gooey creatures, when he becomes kidnapped and her two friends follow behind her. But the thing is, the kids JUST FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE CHILDREN OF THE FLIPPING GODS, HOW STUPID ARE THESE? (THAT WAS RHETORICAL BECAUSE I ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER: STUPID.)
Even though the actual Orishas and older godlings tell Maya and her friends that they will save Maya's father, they don't listen and almost immediately throw themselves through a portal and into the parallel universe. Frankie didn't know she had magical powers until a few weeks ago (or was it a couple of days? I truly don't know) yet she can control her powers well enough to fight off a herd of Darklings and get herself and Eli through a wormhole crafted by Maya.
Eli finds out that he can turn invisible ON A BATTLEFIELD, and suddenly knows that with a touch of his finger he can turn both Maya and Frankie invisible as well.
Oh and don't forget about Maya who could only channel her magic through a staff that her father gave her, but when Frankie says "Just concentrate Maya, you can do it!" and Eli backs her up she can suddenly open a giant wormhole (in a minute flat) that takes just long enough to fill up that she has to leave Frank and Eli to fight of Darklings and make sure they don't fly into it while it's closing; but when she and her father need to get out otherwise they will die, she can barely open a hole big enough to fit a foot through! IT DOESN'T WORK.
AHAHAHAHHAHHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAH
---
My Rating: 2 Stars
Gran's Rating: 2 Stars
Okay, before we begin I feel as if I should tell you that I adored Rena's debut, and so I had very hype hopes with this book because, as already stated, I loved her debut and I also just adore middle-grade. But this was not it.
Before my blood begins to boil at an unhealthy level, let me say that this middle-grade was very similar to [b:The Serpent's Secret|32618983|The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond, #1)|Sayantani DasGupta|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495562210l/32618983._SY75_.jpg|53206336] and [b:The Lightning Thief|28187|The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)|Rick Riordan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1400602609l/28187._SY75_.jpg|3346751] , and seeing how it was very similar, I think it's fair to say that this was a horrible rip off.
The chapter titles had the same "snarky" names as those in the Percy Jackson series, the kids are godlings, and Maya's father tells her stories of monsters, which she doesn't believe actually exist - but, in reality, they do, etc. Like THE SERPENT'S SECRET, MatRD got really stupid at times, too stupid to even read.
Rena tried to put witty remarks throughout the story but they didn't make me smile or laugh, if anything they annoyed me.
Maya, Frankie, and Eli are all friends and (conveniently) they all find out that they are godlings. Stupidly, Maya runs after her father and into the Dark, a replica of our world just with gooey creatures, when he becomes kidnapped and her two friends follow behind her. But the thing is, the kids JUST FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE CHILDREN OF THE FLIPPING GODS, HOW STUPID ARE THESE? (THAT WAS RHETORICAL BECAUSE I ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER: STUPID.)
Even though the actual Orishas and older godlings tell Maya and her friends that they will save Maya's father, they don't listen and almost immediately throw themselves through a portal and into the parallel universe. Frankie didn't know she had magical powers until a few weeks ago (or was it a couple of days? I truly don't know) yet she can control her powers well enough to fight off a herd of Darklings and get herself and Eli through a wormhole crafted by Maya.
Eli finds out that he can turn invisible ON A BATTLEFIELD, and suddenly knows that with a touch of his finger he can turn both Maya and Frankie invisible as well.
Oh and don't forget about Maya who could only channel her magic through a staff that her father gave her, but when Frankie says "Just concentrate Maya, you can do it!" and Eli backs her up she can suddenly open a giant wormhole (in a minute flat) that takes just long enough to fill up that she has to leave Frank and Eli to fight of Darklings and make sure they don't fly into it while it's closing; but when she and her father need to get out otherwise they will die, she can barely open a hole big enough to fit a foot through! IT DOESN'T WORK.
AHAHAHAHHAHHAHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAH
---
My Rating: 2 Stars
Gran's Rating: 2 Stars
lilrongal's review
5.0
This book is ADORABLE. The writing drew me in right away—light and easy to read. I could feel the love Maya had for her family and them for her, and her friends as well. All of the characters felt real and complicated. I loved Maya's voice, and I loved her coming into her strength. I loved the Comic-Con references and I love the idea of parallel universes and secrets in our world right under our noses. In this case, the Dark, which is like a flip turned upside down version of our world.
I love when kids have powers, and I was thrilled when Maya got the staff. Look at her on the cover holding that thing! And I have a weakness for mysterious old ladies and there are two of them in this book.
I felt like the author got a lot of joy out of writing this book, and it shows in the words and the story. I'm very much looking forward to the next in the series!
I love when kids have powers, and I was thrilled when Maya got the staff. Look at her on the cover holding that thing! And I have a weakness for mysterious old ladies and there are two of them in this book.
I felt like the author got a lot of joy out of writing this book, and it shows in the words and the story. I'm very much looking forward to the next in the series!
booksandlemonsquash's review
4.0
Honestly a super fun and lovely middle grade read! This had everything you need - adventure, myths, super powers, friendship, family, and a great bad guy! I also found the West African influences beautifully done and well explained for an audience (like me) that might not be as familiar with them.
There are some lovely quiet nods to Percy Jackson, but this easily stands on it’s own two feet.
Maya is a great lead, and I also adore her two friends, Eli and Frankie. We get some quick backstory on them all, but it’s against the main backdrop of what Maya is going through and seeing. All done in a Chicago neighbourhood that is strangely full of people who know what’s up ;) That was one of my favourite things actually - such a good idea to have neighbourhoods for goslings and the Orisha. I also particularly love Frankie’s love of science and how she tries to explain everything - so nice to see magic and science not needing to fight!
The adventure itself is fun and full of just the right amount of peril and diversions. I loved that the kids really had no idea what they were doing or what to expect, and realised this very fast! But they learn quick, and soon are making some well educated guesses on how to get by :D
The lord of shadows is a perfectly creepy and wonderful bad guy - though I’d have liked to have seen a little more of him, I sure we will in future books!
I definitely recommend this for middle grade lovers - especially if you want to widen your mythical knowledge! 4.5 stars.
There are some lovely quiet nods to Percy Jackson, but this easily stands on it’s own two feet.
Maya is a great lead, and I also adore her two friends, Eli and Frankie. We get some quick backstory on them all, but it’s against the main backdrop of what Maya is going through and seeing. All done in a Chicago neighbourhood that is strangely full of people who know what’s up ;) That was one of my favourite things actually - such a good idea to have neighbourhoods for goslings and the Orisha. I also particularly love Frankie’s love of science and how she tries to explain everything - so nice to see magic and science not needing to fight!
The adventure itself is fun and full of just the right amount of peril and diversions. I loved that the kids really had no idea what they were doing or what to expect, and realised this very fast! But they learn quick, and soon are making some well educated guesses on how to get by :D
The lord of shadows is a perfectly creepy and wonderful bad guy - though I’d have liked to have seen a little more of him, I sure we will in future books!
I definitely recommend this for middle grade lovers - especially if you want to widen your mythical knowledge! 4.5 stars.
danacoledares's review
5.0
Holy smokes this was SO GOOD. Reminiscent of Shadowshaper, but EVEN BETTER (lo siento, Sr. Older!)
If you want to know more, ask questions in comments. I'm gonna go find out whether it starts a series and/or what else the author has written!
If you want to know more, ask questions in comments. I'm gonna go find out whether it starts a series and/or what else the author has written!