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lmpenguin's review
5.0
The Last Rising grabbed me from the very first chapter and pulled me into a unique story that I really didn’t understand at first but as each paragraph and chapter unfolded pulled me deeper into the heartbreaking and frustrating life of Phoenix Ice. I just could not put this book down. I had to know how Ice’s situation was going to turn out. The opening of this book she is face with a man on an airplane when she knows it is going to crash and he will be the only survivor. She dies over and over again saving the souls and yet unable to save her own. Ice is completely done with this and decides that her next death will be her last and beings to take steps to prepare the other women who travel with her. In Ice’s next assignment, she is to be a school teacher, something that she know she will have very little patience for. But she is stunned when she meets the father, Turner, of a young student Brodie, and he seems so familiar. He feels the same way about her. Ice is forced to try to keep her distance from Turner because she just wants him too much and knows she can’t have this. But can these two stay apart is the real question.
Rachel Firasek does an outstanding job with character building for all of the characters in her stories not just the main characters. I felt like each character from Brodie down to Grey and Sadie, all had their own story that intermingled in with the main story line of Ice and Turner and their ups and downs. Not only do the character stand up but the locations of the story as well everything from the homes to the workplaces and the plane crash for sure. They are well defined but for me personally I like to know the names of places and things like that so that would have made me enjoy this book even more.
The other thing that was a huge plus for me in The Last Rising was the heat factor. There chapters that were just sizzling. Nothing that was over the top or just too much but a honest situation for two people who should be together and are having trouble letting go what what they think they should do and what they want to do. Also, a reason why it was so hard to put it down not to mention all of the drama with Ice’s internal debates with herself.
I am excited to know that this is only one of three books in this series. I am forward to finding out what is next in store from this series.
Rachel Firasek does an outstanding job with character building for all of the characters in her stories not just the main characters. I felt like each character from Brodie down to Grey and Sadie, all had their own story that intermingled in with the main story line of Ice and Turner and their ups and downs. Not only do the character stand up but the locations of the story as well everything from the homes to the workplaces and the plane crash for sure. They are well defined but for me personally I like to know the names of places and things like that so that would have made me enjoy this book even more.
The other thing that was a huge plus for me in The Last Rising was the heat factor. There chapters that were just sizzling. Nothing that was over the top or just too much but a honest situation for two people who should be together and are having trouble letting go what what they think they should do and what they want to do. Also, a reason why it was so hard to put it down not to mention all of the drama with Ice’s internal debates with herself.
I am excited to know that this is only one of three books in this series. I am forward to finding out what is next in store from this series.
sparklingreader's review
4.0
This was a story that grabbed me at the beginning and didn’t let go. It is a steamy short story about Isis and Osiris, a unique take on old gods. In this one, Isis is known as Ice—ironic since she is also a phoenix and doomed to a fiery death.
Ice has spent centuries under the control of Osiris, attempting to atone for a wrong she committed that led to the death of their son, Horus. To teach her a lesson, Osiris sends her to Earth to redeem the soul of one person. Over and over again, Ice dies a horrific death allowing another to live. She is tired of it all. She wants out. Then she meets Turner and his son. And finally learns the lesson Osiris has been trying to teach her.
I really liked the unique take on the story. It was something fresh and new. What I didn’t like was the way Turner was even more controlling than Osiris. His actions bordered on abuse under the guise of passion. I also had trouble keeping straight exactly what was happening with the other three “students” of Osiris, especially when they met with Ice.
The story was a good story – it had romance, heat, passion, and compassion. They all worked well together and I cared what happened to Ice. If not for the above issues, I would have graded this much higher. But those issues were strong enough for me to cringe at times. Still, I do recommend it as a general good read, just be forewarned. The story will grab your attention right away! It's a fast paced and fun read! It has a few moments that will certainly pull at your heart strings. It also has a few scenes that are sure to steam up your day. It is a fast paced, easily read story that is worth overlooking a few cringes. And a good set-up for the following novels in the series.
Ice has spent centuries under the control of Osiris, attempting to atone for a wrong she committed that led to the death of their son, Horus. To teach her a lesson, Osiris sends her to Earth to redeem the soul of one person. Over and over again, Ice dies a horrific death allowing another to live. She is tired of it all. She wants out. Then she meets Turner and his son. And finally learns the lesson Osiris has been trying to teach her.
I really liked the unique take on the story. It was something fresh and new. What I didn’t like was the way Turner was even more controlling than Osiris. His actions bordered on abuse under the guise of passion. I also had trouble keeping straight exactly what was happening with the other three “students” of Osiris, especially when they met with Ice.
The story was a good story – it had romance, heat, passion, and compassion. They all worked well together and I cared what happened to Ice. If not for the above issues, I would have graded this much higher. But those issues were strong enough for me to cringe at times. Still, I do recommend it as a general good read, just be forewarned. The story will grab your attention right away! It's a fast paced and fun read! It has a few moments that will certainly pull at your heart strings. It also has a few scenes that are sure to steam up your day. It is a fast paced, easily read story that is worth overlooking a few cringes. And a good set-up for the following novels in the series.
sadiecass's review
5.0
My review of this is coming far too late. I did finish the book weeks ago, but something always pulled my attention away. Today I've put shiny things away, and shot all squirrels within sight so I can review this great trilogy.
I don't remember why I picked up this book. I think I saw it on my goodreads timeline and loved the cover art (happens a lot). I read the blurb, added it to my to-read. Unlike most books like that, I ended up buying within a week. I think it was the idea of the Pheonix stories - it was something I hadn't seen done before.
I had no idea what I was getting into.
Within two, maybe three pages at most Rachel had me hooked. The scene on the plane was amazing, intense, and oh how I wish the situation had been different because what a way to go that would have been.
Ice is an amazing, strong heroine. Turner, oh my. Just the perfect hero in every way. The thing that makes him the hottest? How much he adores his son. Totally drool-worthy.
This book had enough heat to steam my windows, and need a few fans to make it through - and yet so much heart I'm pretty sure I teared up a few times.
Rachel manages to blend all of this into a compact little novel that makes you wish it had been 600 pages of such bliss. It made me crave the rest of the series and snatch it up as soon as I could.
I look forward to more books by Rachel - she is at the top of my list of favorite authors now.
I don't remember why I picked up this book. I think I saw it on my goodreads timeline and loved the cover art (happens a lot). I read the blurb, added it to my to-read. Unlike most books like that, I ended up buying within a week. I think it was the idea of the Pheonix stories - it was something I hadn't seen done before.
I had no idea what I was getting into.
Within two, maybe three pages at most Rachel had me hooked. The scene on the plane was amazing, intense, and oh how I wish the situation had been different because what a way to go that would have been.
Ice is an amazing, strong heroine. Turner, oh my. Just the perfect hero in every way. The thing that makes him the hottest? How much he adores his son. Totally drool-worthy.
This book had enough heat to steam my windows, and need a few fans to make it through - and yet so much heart I'm pretty sure I teared up a few times.
Rachel manages to blend all of this into a compact little novel that makes you wish it had been 600 pages of such bliss. It made me crave the rest of the series and snatch it up as soon as I could.
I look forward to more books by Rachel - she is at the top of my list of favorite authors now.
jasmyn9's review
3.0
This book was a great quick read. Ice has been doing penance for Osiris for two millennia for a crime that she doesn't understand, and she's getting really sick and tired of it. Her last trip ended in a fiery plane crash after saving a man named Turner, and to her amazement her next assignment puts her right back into Turner's life. Ice is determined not to let Turner into her heart, but finds it becomes harder and harder to deny their attraction is just physical. Turner is determined to prove to Ice that he is the right guy for her.
The characters had a surprising amount of growth and development for such a short book, and it was great to watch has Ice and Turner each taught the other important lessons on life and love. The book ends with quite a twist that I had no idea was coming and set me up to read the next book, The Last Awakening.
The characters had a surprising amount of growth and development for such a short book, and it was great to watch has Ice and Turner each taught the other important lessons on life and love. The book ends with quite a twist that I had no idea was coming and set me up to read the next book, The Last Awakening.
chllybrd's review
4.0
THE LAST RISING was a great fast read filled with emotion, romance, self-searching and self-sacrificing. From the first chapter I was gripped by the situation that Ice and Turner were put in. The characters meshed well and their development and growth throughout the story was a delight to read about. I had no troubles getting into the story I didn't want to put it down. I loved that even though it was a short read there was still so much involved in the story and so much emotion behind everything. When I read the last page I was satisfied with the ending. This is a great start to a new Paranormal Romance.
buuboobaby's review
3.0
The protagonists were inconsistent, but the pacing kept the story moving right along. I enjoyed the premise for the story, and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series. Overall, this is a quick, fun read, despite some flaws.
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