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A review by divsbookcrumbs
Rising by Nelle Nikole
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
The last of us meets Legend of Korra with some resident evil sprinkled in!
Rising is a gripping and non-stop adrenaline rush! The world-building of this sci-fi fantasy is so unique and creative. I never knew I needed an apocalypse that created both zombie-like creatures and elemental magic wielders. This book lowkey had me at the edge of my seat and jumping outta my skin at every little bump and noise (I'm such a scary cat lol) Rising is a mesmerizing and authentic adventure I won't soon forget!
Tropes and Stuff:
Rising is a gripping and non-stop adrenaline rush! The world-building of this sci-fi fantasy is so unique and creative. I never knew I needed an apocalypse that created both zombie-like creatures and elemental magic wielders. This book lowkey had me at the edge of my seat and jumping outta my skin at every little bump and noise (I'm such a scary cat lol) Rising is a mesmerizing and authentic adventure I won't soon forget!
Tropes and Stuff:
- true enemies to lovers, like they hate each other.
- found family
- "you're not alone"
- post-apocalyptic and dystopian
- strong FMC lead
- lgbtqia characters
- slow burn (no spice but angst and tension)
- morally grey love interest
- plot twists
How this book impacted me:
I love love love Amaia! Amaia's character is so relatable to me. She's the strong friend in the friend group though, something I have had to work on not being over the years, but I still remember that journey well. After all she has lost it makes sense that she is so hyper-vigilant or that she feels guilty for everything she has had to do or become to survive. And not only survive but protect the found family she has left in the world. There's a quote from Rising that really struck me right in the feels, "Because to keep the people we loved safe, we could not kill our beast, only embrace it." I think this message is so important. I think it is important for us to remember that our beasts are still a part of ourselves. So to reject it is to reject ourselves. After all that she's been through, that quote is the beginning of Amaia's healing journey. Self-acceptance has to come before self-love to keep our empathy for ourselves and others intact, otherwise our love becomes performance bases. This quote about embracing our beasts from Amaia is such a full-circle moment for her character. Knowing that she has her own beast allows her to see the good or hope for the best in others. Embracing your own flaws will always lead you down a road of compassion for others. And this is why when her whole compound only sees the pansies as beasts and creatures she still see the human within. Amaia supremacy!
I love love love Amaia! Amaia's character is so relatable to me. She's the strong friend in the friend group though, something I have had to work on not being over the years, but I still remember that journey well. After all she has lost it makes sense that she is so hyper-vigilant or that she feels guilty for everything she has had to do or become to survive. And not only survive but protect the found family she has left in the world. There's a quote from Rising that really struck me right in the feels, "Because to keep the people we loved safe, we could not kill our beast, only embrace it." I think this message is so important. I think it is important for us to remember that our beasts are still a part of ourselves. So to reject it is to reject ourselves. After all that she's been through, that quote is the beginning of Amaia's healing journey. Self-acceptance has to come before self-love to keep our empathy for ourselves and others intact, otherwise our love becomes performance bases. This quote about embracing our beasts from Amaia is such a full-circle moment for her character. Knowing that she has her own beast allows her to see the good or hope for the best in others. Embracing your own flaws will always lead you down a road of compassion for others. And this is why when her whole compound only sees the pansies as beasts and creatures she still see the human within. Amaia supremacy!