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State of the Union #1
Rising
The Before doesn’t matter, only The After.
In a post-apocalyptic Earth ravaged by nuclear war, humanity struggles to survive amidst the aftermath of radiation that has altered their DNA. Amongst the survivors, elemental magic runs through their veins, while a select few have developed extraordinary powers.
Amaia is a fierce leader in The Compound, a powerful community in Monterey, California, that’s been fighting to defend its borders against a series of attacks from the undead. But when her partner is tragically killed in an explosion, Amaia is consumed by a burning desire for vengeance.
When a mysterious stranger appears at the gates of The Compound, the truth behind the undead attacks is revealed; Amaia, her most trusted friends, and the stranger must embark on a dangerous mission to another territory. Along the way, they must navigate treacherous obstacles and captivity, ultimately uncovering a sinister plot involving a common enemy and a shocking betrayal that will test everything they know about trust and loyalty.
In a post-apocalyptic Earth ravaged by nuclear war, humanity struggles to survive amidst the aftermath of radiation that has altered their DNA. Amongst the survivors, elemental magic runs through their veins, while a select few have developed extraordinary powers.
Amaia is a fierce leader in The Compound, a powerful community in Monterey, California, that’s been fighting to defend its borders against a series of attacks from the undead. But when her partner is tragically killed in an explosion, Amaia is consumed by a burning desire for vengeance.
When a mysterious stranger appears at the gates of The Compound, the truth behind the undead attacks is revealed; Amaia, her most trusted friends, and the stranger must embark on a dangerous mission to another territory. Along the way, they must navigate treacherous obstacles and captivity, ultimately uncovering a sinister plot involving a common enemy and a shocking betrayal that will test everything they know about trust and loyalty.
478 pages, Paperback
First published June 19, 2023
282 people are currently reading
4210 people want to read
About the author
Nelle Nikole
8 books175 followersNelle Nikole, a California native now based in Atlanta, has been writing thrilling stories since her early days in elementary school. With a background in Anthropology, Nelle’s passion for understanding diverse cultures took her on research journeys to Rio de Janeiro and Cuba. Her love for knowledge didn’t stop there—she later earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy, which fuels the complex societal themes in her writing. Nelle is the author of two gripping series: the Kuxtal Academy series and a separate dystopian fantasy romance series, featuring Rising, Echoes of War, and Before Their After, Ashes of Honor. Through powerful themes of survival, morality, and human resilience, her work resonates deeply with readers from all walks of life. Nelle finds herself inspired by all things fantasy, apocalyptic and anything in between. When she’s not writing, Nelle enjoys life with her husband Ben.
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March 19, 2024
Update 3/19: RISING has undergone a round of proofreading edits. ebook/KU effective: 3/4/2024 & paperback effective: 3/18.
UPDATE 2/18: Please see my Instagram post (@authornellenikole) for further details. RISING is currently undergoing another round of edits based on reader feedback. I would like to extend a thank you for your honesty, and please know your concerns have been heard.
So tomorrow is release day and I can't believe it.
I'll save all the sappy mess for my acknowledgements but I will say this; RISING is a story straight from the depths of my soul. Yes, the sci-fi and fantasy elements aren't "real" but the feelings of grief, and the importance of trust & loyalty are. I am not any of the characters, but each the characters are a piece of me.
So since you've read the blurb (and made it this far) let's talk details:
- RISING is a story filled with characters that are diverse in every meaning of the word. Their ethnicities, race, linguistic abilities, culture, sexuality, religious beliefs, personalities, are all purposely diverse in order to reflect the world around us. There is someone for everyone in this story, and I hope you love them as much as I do. If diversity and representation aren't your jam, then maybe pass this one up.
- RISING is a story that pulls out all the feelings. You may experience a range of emotions from reading this, from laughter to tears to feeling warm inside, or not. Some of us are dead inside, but that's a spoiler for book 2 ;) Amaia was purposely written as a flawed main character to reflect the realties of the world around her. She is not perfect, and makes decisions based on the information she has on hand, mixed with a bit of trauma. This is a Mary Sue free zone!
- That said, RISING is not without triggers. If trigger warnings and red flags get you excited, then go into this blind and enjoy the ride baby!
If there are things that may bring you concerns, please see the trigger list below:
* Drugs/alcohol (both referenced and on page)
* Violence/gore/blood/death
* Mental Health themes
* Graphic Language/Adult themes
Now, that's out the way and it's time for me to disappear. I get it, this is a readers paradise. I hope you all enjoy this story as much as I did writing it. It's my favorite story ever, but I'm a little biased.
xo,
Nelle
P.S. If this story leaves you thirsty for more, don't forget to head over to my website or scan the QR code inside your book to read the origins of Amaia, Reina, and Tomoe in the world of RISING.
UPDATE 2/18: Please see my Instagram post (@authornellenikole) for further details. RISING is currently undergoing another round of edits based on reader feedback. I would like to extend a thank you for your honesty, and please know your concerns have been heard.
So tomorrow is release day and I can't believe it.
I'll save all the sappy mess for my acknowledgements but I will say this; RISING is a story straight from the depths of my soul. Yes, the sci-fi and fantasy elements aren't "real" but the feelings of grief, and the importance of trust & loyalty are. I am not any of the characters, but each the characters are a piece of me.
So since you've read the blurb (and made it this far) let's talk details:
- RISING is a story filled with characters that are diverse in every meaning of the word. Their ethnicities, race, linguistic abilities, culture, sexuality, religious beliefs, personalities, are all purposely diverse in order to reflect the world around us. There is someone for everyone in this story, and I hope you love them as much as I do. If diversity and representation aren't your jam, then maybe pass this one up.
- RISING is a story that pulls out all the feelings. You may experience a range of emotions from reading this, from laughter to tears to feeling warm inside, or not. Some of us are dead inside, but that's a spoiler for book 2 ;) Amaia was purposely written as a flawed main character to reflect the realties of the world around her. She is not perfect, and makes decisions based on the information she has on hand, mixed with a bit of trauma. This is a Mary Sue free zone!
- That said, RISING is not without triggers. If trigger warnings and red flags get you excited, then go into this blind and enjoy the ride baby!
If there are things that may bring you concerns, please see the trigger list below:
* Drugs/alcohol (both referenced and on page)
* Violence/gore/blood/death
* Mental Health themes
* Graphic Language/Adult themes
Now, that's out the way and it's time for me to disappear. I get it, this is a readers paradise. I hope you all enjoy this story as much as I did writing it. It's my favorite story ever, but I'm a little biased.
xo,
Nelle
P.S. If this story leaves you thirsty for more, don't forget to head over to my website or scan the QR code inside your book to read the origins of Amaia, Reina, and Tomoe in the world of RISING.
June 12, 2023
nelle nikole’s debut book rising sounded promising, enticing and fresh when i came across an advertisement on instagram to be an arc reader, so i signed up, wanting nothing more than to leave a glowing review for a fellow writer pursuing a dream. grab your cup of tea and sit back because this is gonna be on the longer side.
before i get into my full review i want to offer my most sincere congratulations to nelle nikole on her debut book. publishing is a big deal and this is an incredible achievement. she should be very proud of herself. i am looking forward to the second book as i am hoping the final product will be a lot better than this. in addition, this review is purely honest without sugar coating. at the end of the day it is just my opinion.
rising presents itself as a new and exciting take on a post-apocalyptic world caused by nuclear fallout and the effects that the radiation caused on the human race. and maybe it would be, if not for a sea of poor sentence structure, mind-boggling lack of grammar, spelling errors, heaps of unanswered questions, varying chapter lengths (i’m talking seven page chapters compared to THIRTY) and more. overall, it reads as an early draft that needs at least two more rewrites before it should even be considered for publishing.
“Water, there was water on my face. It was salty. No, those are tears.” — yes, this is an exact sentence from the book. i’m still in disbelief over the fact that this ended up in the final draft. which leads me to my next (and maybe even biggest) qualm: the editor. it feels as if there was no editor present for the entire process of this book. with the amount of grammatical issues and even lack of punctuation throughout, it’s like there wasn’t an editor in the first place.
to me, almost every single character is unlikeable, ESPECIALLY amaia. so you can imagine how much fun i had reading this. amaia is the alcoholic general of a compound that is home to over 30 THOUSAND people, CHOSEN to fulfill the role. yet every single thing she does throughout the book is either in her own interest or in the interest of her “family”, aka all of the most privileged people in the compound that don’t need her to act in their favor whatsoever. honestly the only character i actually liked was finley and she was in the story for like 10 glorious minutes to give the narrative some seasoning that i desperately needed to continue to push through. actually, scratch that. i liked two whole characters. finley and RILEY. riley was the mvp of this whole book just to get sidelined for the final mission, which i didn’t even understand because by then the book was just a big mess but whatever. riley ftw. he should’ve been the general in the first place.
the attempt at enemies to lovers between amaia and alexiares was just horrible. their hatred towards each other was built on shaky, even petty ground and the further on we went through the book the ground got shakier and shakier until it just collapsed pitifully. this is exactly how you do not sell enemies to lovers. from my perspective they had zero chemistry the entire time. it was painful to read at times. i’m talking amaia getting so offended over a nickname that she pointed a gun at the back of his head?? no.
there are so many ideas and backstories for nikole’s characters and the plot in general that i feel like she lost sight of the bigger picture and tried to cram a whole bunch of unnecessary crap into the book, which is even more disappointing when she is working on a sequel, therefore rendering all the info dumping and randomly introducing new characters halfway through and towards the end of the book (sloan?? luna?? who are these people and why do i care??) completely pointless.
the seth plot twist was not a plot twist at all. it was entirely obvious from the beginning, especially because we got no explanation as to wtf his problem was. the “plot twist”, aka when his true intentions were FINALLY revealed, made me like him. he had motivation. it made a stale storyline interesting.
i really do think that nikole has a great idea with rising. i just don’t think it was anywhere near ready to be published. i want this idea to be successful because it’s premise is exactly as i said in the beginning of this review— promising. enticing. fresh. but in the state that this book is in, it’s none of that. this should have gone through many more rounds of editing and rewriting before going to the publisher’s. as i said at the beginning of my review, i truly hope that the sequel is a lot more polished and put together when it’s sent to the publisher’s.
before i get into my full review i want to offer my most sincere congratulations to nelle nikole on her debut book. publishing is a big deal and this is an incredible achievement. she should be very proud of herself. i am looking forward to the second book as i am hoping the final product will be a lot better than this. in addition, this review is purely honest without sugar coating. at the end of the day it is just my opinion.
rising presents itself as a new and exciting take on a post-apocalyptic world caused by nuclear fallout and the effects that the radiation caused on the human race. and maybe it would be, if not for a sea of poor sentence structure, mind-boggling lack of grammar, spelling errors, heaps of unanswered questions, varying chapter lengths (i’m talking seven page chapters compared to THIRTY) and more. overall, it reads as an early draft that needs at least two more rewrites before it should even be considered for publishing.
“Water, there was water on my face. It was salty. No, those are tears.” — yes, this is an exact sentence from the book. i’m still in disbelief over the fact that this ended up in the final draft. which leads me to my next (and maybe even biggest) qualm: the editor. it feels as if there was no editor present for the entire process of this book. with the amount of grammatical issues and even lack of punctuation throughout, it’s like there wasn’t an editor in the first place.
to me, almost every single character is unlikeable, ESPECIALLY amaia. so you can imagine how much fun i had reading this. amaia is the alcoholic general of a compound that is home to over 30 THOUSAND people, CHOSEN to fulfill the role. yet every single thing she does throughout the book is either in her own interest or in the interest of her “family”, aka all of the most privileged people in the compound that don’t need her to act in their favor whatsoever. honestly the only character i actually liked was finley and she was in the story for like 10 glorious minutes to give the narrative some seasoning that i desperately needed to continue to push through. actually, scratch that. i liked two whole characters. finley and RILEY. riley was the mvp of this whole book just to get sidelined for the final mission, which i didn’t even understand because by then the book was just a big mess but whatever. riley ftw. he should’ve been the general in the first place.
the attempt at enemies to lovers between amaia and alexiares was just horrible. their hatred towards each other was built on shaky, even petty ground and the further on we went through the book the ground got shakier and shakier until it just collapsed pitifully. this is exactly how you do not sell enemies to lovers. from my perspective they had zero chemistry the entire time. it was painful to read at times. i’m talking amaia getting so offended over a nickname that she pointed a gun at the back of his head?? no.
there are so many ideas and backstories for nikole’s characters and the plot in general that i feel like she lost sight of the bigger picture and tried to cram a whole bunch of unnecessary crap into the book, which is even more disappointing when she is working on a sequel, therefore rendering all the info dumping and randomly introducing new characters halfway through and towards the end of the book (sloan?? luna?? who are these people and why do i care??) completely pointless.
the seth plot twist was not a plot twist at all. it was entirely obvious from the beginning, especially because we got no explanation as to wtf his problem was. the “plot twist”, aka when his true intentions were FINALLY revealed, made me like him. he had motivation. it made a stale storyline interesting.
i really do think that nikole has a great idea with rising. i just don’t think it was anywhere near ready to be published. i want this idea to be successful because it’s premise is exactly as i said in the beginning of this review— promising. enticing. fresh. but in the state that this book is in, it’s none of that. this should have gone through many more rounds of editing and rewriting before going to the publisher’s. as i said at the beginning of my review, i truly hope that the sequel is a lot more polished and put together when it’s sent to the publisher’s.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2024
SO EXCITED FOR BOOK TWO!!
Now for the review! This may be a ramble I've never left one this long before so I think I'll break it into sections
Plot -
The story really takes off from the first page I wasn't expecting that since I'm such a slow reader but I couldn't put this down every chance I got. I haven't read anything dystopian in years but this was a great pull back into the genre. It was refreshing and new. A fun read even though some of the themes are heavy. Could really tell this was personal for the author while reading. This is a story about grief and hope with bits of comedic relief throughout.
I also really appreciated how diverse it was and I felt I learned some things along the way which is always nice. Rising is rich with history and culture.
The plot twists at the end TORE ME TO PIECES! How unfair I need more now 🤧
Characters -
The FMC is tough, I wouldn't say she's unlovable because I do love her but she's rough around the edges and you can totally see her growth throughout. Without spoiling too much, she deserves to act the way that she does and I can't wait to see her growth. She's been through a lot of trauma and I do think the beginning of the book sets up the turmoil we see her go through as the story moves along. She's constantly torn between her own emotions, being a good leader and living up to other expectations of her.
The author advertised as Throne of Glass being inspiration behind this and I can see that with the main characters and romance.
The side characters are very unique and all have their own personalities that are explored. They aren't just randomly generated NPC's with a bleh voice. Reina is a favorite.
I'm a sucker for multi-pov so I really appreciated the ability to see what was happening around The Compound from a different perspective. Each pov shed the overall story in a new light, which makes sense considering the multiple plot twists at the end. I tend to stray toward the belief that unreliable narrators tend to lead to the best plot twists while still keeping the plot twists relevant and not seeming to come from out the blue.
Romance -
Listen as a romance gal, this is slow burn! Emphasis on slow burn. So many books claim to be slow burn but then the characters end up together before half the book is over. That's getting boring. These two have moments of tension and then she sucks it right away from us! The angst 🤌🏻
Another reviewer mentioned there is a reason for the slow burn and that's important to remember while reading. Amaia and Alexiares relationship is witty and full of enemies to lovers banter I'm thirsting for more. Back to what I said about Throne of Glass, they don't end up together for a few books. I get the vibe that we won't have to wait that long for these two, at least I hope not. There was a promise of spice for the second book so here's to hoping 🤞🏻
The side characters have their own romances going on, nothing spicy on page but it's inferred and definitely cute but makes the ending that much more satisfying (or devastating depending on how you read).
Other things -
I like how each character had their own voice and way of speaking. The writing is very descriptive with just the right amount of extra fluffyness, which is a personal preference for me. I can see how it may not read that way for everyone.
The world building is AMAZING. The author somehow took a world that already exists around us and made it into something that I haven't seen before. Again, how refreshing I feel as things tend to be copy and paste in the book world now. It was pretty simple to follow, didn't leave me with any disruptive questions. Nelle Nikole has a knack for easing world building throughout the story and not just an "info dump" that you see a lot in fantasy books.
In the next book I'm hoping to explore a bit more of the settlements away from Monterrey and more of Reina! Lots more on our lgbtq queen 👸
CONS:
Like the other reviewer, there could be some better wording in some of the sentences for the sake of an ease in reading and there were a few spelling errors but nothing that took away from the story. Some of it is just how the characters talk I think but it kind of reads like a movie so its not so much of a con as it is personalizing the characters lol
Overall - 4.8/5
Characters- 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Romance - 2/5
Now for the review! This may be a ramble I've never left one this long before so I think I'll break it into sections
Plot -
The story really takes off from the first page I wasn't expecting that since I'm such a slow reader but I couldn't put this down every chance I got. I haven't read anything dystopian in years but this was a great pull back into the genre. It was refreshing and new. A fun read even though some of the themes are heavy. Could really tell this was personal for the author while reading. This is a story about grief and hope with bits of comedic relief throughout.
I also really appreciated how diverse it was and I felt I learned some things along the way which is always nice. Rising is rich with history and culture.
The plot twists at the end TORE ME TO PIECES! How unfair I need more now 🤧
Characters -
The FMC is tough, I wouldn't say she's unlovable because I do love her but she's rough around the edges and you can totally see her growth throughout. Without spoiling too much, she deserves to act the way that she does and I can't wait to see her growth. She's been through a lot of trauma and I do think the beginning of the book sets up the turmoil we see her go through as the story moves along. She's constantly torn between her own emotions, being a good leader and living up to other expectations of her.
The author advertised as Throne of Glass being inspiration behind this and I can see that with the main characters and romance.
The side characters are very unique and all have their own personalities that are explored. They aren't just randomly generated NPC's with a bleh voice. Reina is a favorite.
I'm a sucker for multi-pov so I really appreciated the ability to see what was happening around The Compound from a different perspective. Each pov shed the overall story in a new light, which makes sense considering the multiple plot twists at the end. I tend to stray toward the belief that unreliable narrators tend to lead to the best plot twists while still keeping the plot twists relevant and not seeming to come from out the blue.
Romance -
Listen as a romance gal, this is slow burn! Emphasis on slow burn. So many books claim to be slow burn but then the characters end up together before half the book is over. That's getting boring. These two have moments of tension and then she sucks it right away from us! The angst 🤌🏻
Another reviewer mentioned there is a reason for the slow burn and that's important to remember while reading. Amaia and Alexiares relationship is witty and full of enemies to lovers banter I'm thirsting for more. Back to what I said about Throne of Glass, they don't end up together for a few books. I get the vibe that we won't have to wait that long for these two, at least I hope not. There was a promise of spice for the second book so here's to hoping 🤞🏻
The side characters have their own romances going on, nothing spicy on page but it's inferred and definitely cute but makes the ending that much more satisfying (or devastating depending on how you read).
Other things -
I like how each character had their own voice and way of speaking. The writing is very descriptive with just the right amount of extra fluffyness, which is a personal preference for me. I can see how it may not read that way for everyone.
The world building is AMAZING. The author somehow took a world that already exists around us and made it into something that I haven't seen before. Again, how refreshing I feel as things tend to be copy and paste in the book world now. It was pretty simple to follow, didn't leave me with any disruptive questions. Nelle Nikole has a knack for easing world building throughout the story and not just an "info dump" that you see a lot in fantasy books.
In the next book I'm hoping to explore a bit more of the settlements away from Monterrey and more of Reina! Lots more on our lgbtq queen 👸
CONS:
Like the other reviewer, there could be some better wording in some of the sentences for the sake of an ease in reading and there were a few spelling errors but nothing that took away from the story. Some of it is just how the characters talk I think but it kind of reads like a movie so its not so much of a con as it is personalizing the characters lol
Overall - 4.8/5
Characters- 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Romance - 2/5
March 1, 2026
This is the first apocalyptic zombie book that I’ve read and I loved the vibes. I really enjoyed hearing the characters stories and how they got to the compound. It was a good balance of plot, romance, and character development. It was nice to see how even in this kind of world you still find the happiness in the small things. The magic system was really cool and unique and added an extra pizazz to the story.
February 4, 2024
PREPARE TO BE SICK OF ME. This is a masterpiece of everything we’ve ever wanted in an apocalypse book. Every single character was dynamic and flushed out and their relationships were spot on.
I loved the magic system and the suspense of this worlds “zombies”. It was a journey from start to finish and I can not recommend this one enough! I’m obsessed!
I loved the magic system and the suspense of this worlds “zombies”. It was a journey from start to finish and I can not recommend this one enough! I’m obsessed!
May 28, 2023
I would suggest reading this book, I’m personally looking forward to the second book because I am hooked to a certain budding romance and need more. I wish I’d have gotten more in this book BUT I’m hoping book two finally let’s things unfold. Before I go into detail I want to say that I think the author took a common scenario and added her own fresh, unique ideas to it to make it a fun read. I enjoyed the plot and the story line. I received this as an ARC from Goodgirlspr.
I’m going to talk about what I liked and what I didn’t like
WHAT I LIKED: (without too much detail because I don’t want to spoil).
The story the author built is very diverse, with people of varying ethnicities, sexual orientations, and personalities.
I was nervous when I first started reading because the FMC was cold, like so cold I didn’t think she’d be relatable. That didn’t last long as things started to unfold and I actually came to enjoy that cold contrast at the beginning. Like a mini character arc of sorts.
There were a lot of quotes that I saved and highlighted, for the sake of not spoiling too much I’m going to share two.
“Civilization needed the arts to ground themselves in humanity.”
“Prescott, leader of this place, had told me from day one to always pay attention to brave women. They shape history.”
This book is post apocalyptic and usually those stories are just about surviving, combat, etc. While this book has those elements, it also puts emphasis on culture and empathy. There was a lot of people retaining their individuality and doing what they love, while of course doing what was required to be safe. And it wasn’t the naive sort of like carefree be happy with imminent danger, there was an appropriate mix of realism in survival while also letting people live. I liked that.
I also liked the twist you get that the end. You find something out about someone, I won’t spoil it but I didn’t guess it and I liked it even though it was a little devastating.
WHAT I DIDNT LIKE:
I want to say I think this author is a first time author who had to put her own effort and money into this so I’m not being judgmental and it’s also why I debated docking stars for it.
This book, in my opinion, does need some editing. There are a lot of spelling errors and issues with sentence structuring. I know to some people, that doesn’t even matter. But for me and people like me, having to stop and read a couple of sentences a few times over to understand it, it pulls me out of the story.
I’m not sure if the author was going for a more casual type of vibe with the language, I think so, but I personally didn’t like it. Also, about halfway through the book the characters start using a lot of slang. I didn’t enjoy it, it felt like a weird switch.
I think if someone went through and fixed a lot of the spelling errors, the fragmented sentences, and the over use of slang, I’d be happier to give it five stars.
(I don’t qualify my personal opinion on the romance as a negative because everyone wants something different when it comes to romance and who and I to tell the author how things between her characters should go? As a romance lover this was just my thought)
On another note, I wanted to talk about the romance. I signed up for this ARC having seen “one bed / forced proximity, slow burn, enemies to lovers, and slow burn. It’s definitely a slow burn as in romantically, almost nothing happens. I won’t say that I don’t understand why the romance had to go slow there are reasons, but I was begging for a little crumb, just a little morsel of real romance. There’s a little bit, a VERY TINY bit, and to be fair the author has the plot set up to be a good enemies to lovers, slow burn, but I think with this first book it kinda fell flat. We needed more. Hoping that in book two there is more. So I guess my point is if you’re thinking about reading this book, don’t read one bed forced proximity and think you’re going to see some action finally breaking between two enemies because that does not happen.
Overall, read this book!
I’m going to talk about what I liked and what I didn’t like
WHAT I LIKED: (without too much detail because I don’t want to spoil).
The story the author built is very diverse, with people of varying ethnicities, sexual orientations, and personalities.
I was nervous when I first started reading because the FMC was cold, like so cold I didn’t think she’d be relatable. That didn’t last long as things started to unfold and I actually came to enjoy that cold contrast at the beginning. Like a mini character arc of sorts.
There were a lot of quotes that I saved and highlighted, for the sake of not spoiling too much I’m going to share two.
“Civilization needed the arts to ground themselves in humanity.”
“Prescott, leader of this place, had told me from day one to always pay attention to brave women. They shape history.”
This book is post apocalyptic and usually those stories are just about surviving, combat, etc. While this book has those elements, it also puts emphasis on culture and empathy. There was a lot of people retaining their individuality and doing what they love, while of course doing what was required to be safe. And it wasn’t the naive sort of like carefree be happy with imminent danger, there was an appropriate mix of realism in survival while also letting people live. I liked that.
I also liked the twist you get that the end. You find something out about someone, I won’t spoil it but I didn’t guess it and I liked it even though it was a little devastating.
WHAT I DIDNT LIKE:
I want to say I think this author is a first time author who had to put her own effort and money into this so I’m not being judgmental and it’s also why I debated docking stars for it.
This book, in my opinion, does need some editing. There are a lot of spelling errors and issues with sentence structuring. I know to some people, that doesn’t even matter. But for me and people like me, having to stop and read a couple of sentences a few times over to understand it, it pulls me out of the story.
I’m not sure if the author was going for a more casual type of vibe with the language, I think so, but I personally didn’t like it. Also, about halfway through the book the characters start using a lot of slang. I didn’t enjoy it, it felt like a weird switch.
I think if someone went through and fixed a lot of the spelling errors, the fragmented sentences, and the over use of slang, I’d be happier to give it five stars.
(I don’t qualify my personal opinion on the romance as a negative because everyone wants something different when it comes to romance and who and I to tell the author how things between her characters should go? As a romance lover this was just my thought)
On another note, I wanted to talk about the romance. I signed up for this ARC having seen “one bed / forced proximity, slow burn, enemies to lovers, and slow burn. It’s definitely a slow burn as in romantically, almost nothing happens. I won’t say that I don’t understand why the romance had to go slow there are reasons, but I was begging for a little crumb, just a little morsel of real romance. There’s a little bit, a VERY TINY bit, and to be fair the author has the plot set up to be a good enemies to lovers, slow burn, but I think with this first book it kinda fell flat. We needed more. Hoping that in book two there is more. So I guess my point is if you’re thinking about reading this book, don’t read one bed forced proximity and think you’re going to see some action finally breaking between two enemies because that does not happen.
Overall, read this book!
June 1, 2023
- Apocalypse
- Sci-fi
- Diverse characters
- Multi-pov
- Slow burn (enemies to lovers)
This is a very solid debut novel from Nelle Nikole. It’s a post-apocalyptic dystopian where our main characters are struggling to survive and protect their wards from zombies and attacks. The female characters are very strong and are leaders/commanders in this world which I loved. I thought the author did a good job making every character distinct and different from each other.
There is a lot of word-building especially in the beginning which is expected as this is the first book in a trilogy. It did a good job setting up the rest of the trilogy because I’m even more excited about the next book and the characters. The romance is very slow burn and isn’t the focus, there’s enemies-to-lovers banter which will definitely play into the rest of the books.
There are some pacing issues especially with the world-building but Overall a good read that sera up the rest of the trilogy well. Thank you, Nelle Nikole and Good Girls Pr for this arc.
- Sci-fi
- Diverse characters
- Multi-pov
- Slow burn (enemies to lovers)
This is a very solid debut novel from Nelle Nikole. It’s a post-apocalyptic dystopian where our main characters are struggling to survive and protect their wards from zombies and attacks. The female characters are very strong and are leaders/commanders in this world which I loved. I thought the author did a good job making every character distinct and different from each other.
There is a lot of word-building especially in the beginning which is expected as this is the first book in a trilogy. It did a good job setting up the rest of the trilogy because I’m even more excited about the next book and the characters. The romance is very slow burn and isn’t the focus, there’s enemies-to-lovers banter which will definitely play into the rest of the books.
There are some pacing issues especially with the world-building but Overall a good read that sera up the rest of the trilogy well. Thank you, Nelle Nikole and Good Girls Pr for this arc.
June 19, 2023
A newly imagined take on the post-apocalyptic dystopian genre. The plot was interesting and full of twists and turns and betrayal. The characters were diverse, flawed, and relatable. The book was easily binged and well-written.
Really enjoyed this and cannot wait for book #2!
If you're looking for:
🔥Dystopian
🔥Post-apocalyptic
🔥Multiple POVs
🔥Elemental Magic
🔥Diverse & Morally Gray characters
🔥Found Family
🔥Slow burn enemies to lovers
then this is for you!
Tysm for letting me be an ARC reader. I am looking forward to your next book!
Really enjoyed this and cannot wait for book #2!
If you're looking for:
🔥Dystopian
🔥Post-apocalyptic
🔥Multiple POVs
🔥Elemental Magic
🔥Diverse & Morally Gray characters
🔥Found Family
🔥Slow burn enemies to lovers
then this is for you!
Tysm for letting me be an ARC reader. I am looking forward to your next book!
August 26, 2024
This was such an interesting twist to the apocalyptic world. It's not the world we usually read about. A nuclear war results in radiation alternating the human DNA. Some survive it and gain some sort of elemental magic. Others don't survive and turn into what they call, pansies.
We mainly follow Amaia, a powerful fmc who leads the compound she resides. There's never really any down time, but soon there will be so much chaos all due to betrayal none of us seen coming.
The twist at the end had me shocked, even though I kinda seen it coming at the same time. There was another twist I didn't see coming.
This was a slow paced read for me.
The world building just kept me reading at a slower pace than my usual, but it was intense and thrilling and a bit emotional too.
Tell me why I instantly loved Alexiares. The ending proved my point on why. 😆😍
Overall this was a good read. The cliffhanger though, can't wait to see what book 2 will bring.
We mainly follow Amaia, a powerful fmc who leads the compound she resides. There's never really any down time, but soon there will be so much chaos all due to betrayal none of us seen coming.
The twist at the end had me shocked, even though I kinda seen it coming at the same time. There was another twist I didn't see coming.
This was a slow paced read for me.
The world building just kept me reading at a slower pace than my usual, but it was intense and thrilling and a bit emotional too.
Tell me why I instantly loved Alexiares. The ending proved my point on why. 😆😍
Overall this was a good read. The cliffhanger though, can't wait to see what book 2 will bring.
June 20, 2023
There was so much about this book that I really enjoyed. I loved the concept of a dystopian zombie apocalypse where those who weren't turned into zombies gained a mutation that manifested as magical powers. The world building of what a post apocalypse society could look like was really well developed and fun to explore as well. I loved the diverse cast of charters. Tomoe, Riley, and Alexiares were my favorite, definitely would love to see more from their POVs in book 2.
For me the pacing on this book was a little off. I loved the first 10% of the book where Nikole quickly had me emotionally invested in her characters and wanting to know more. However from that point until about 60% into the book the pace was far too slow for me. There is a huge focus on the emotional side of what a post apocalypse experience would be like. About half of the book focuses on the trauma, grief, survivors guilt and trauma bonds that the characters develop. I respect this approach but for me it would have worked better if it had been woven into the adventure part of the book, which all happens in the last 30%. I also wish that some of the plot points from the last third of the book had been better foreshadowed in the first half of the book, it would have made them hit so much harder.
The world, concept, and characters where so great! I just wish that a few issues had been addressed in the editing phase so that I could give this book all five stars. That being said I look forward to seeing what happens in book 2.
For me the pacing on this book was a little off. I loved the first 10% of the book where Nikole quickly had me emotionally invested in her characters and wanting to know more. However from that point until about 60% into the book the pace was far too slow for me. There is a huge focus on the emotional side of what a post apocalypse experience would be like. About half of the book focuses on the trauma, grief, survivors guilt and trauma bonds that the characters develop. I respect this approach but for me it would have worked better if it had been woven into the adventure part of the book, which all happens in the last 30%. I also wish that some of the plot points from the last third of the book had been better foreshadowed in the first half of the book, it would have made them hit so much harder.
The world, concept, and characters where so great! I just wish that a few issues had been addressed in the editing phase so that I could give this book all five stars. That being said I look forward to seeing what happens in book 2.
May 30, 2023
It's really hard to do a worldbuilding dump in the first chapter, at least it's hard to do it properly without overwhelming your reader. The fact that Nelle Nikole actually managed to do that, in a dystopic novel nonetheless, was a first glimpse of a good book.
That is exactly what I would like to highlight about this book: it’s an easy and fun read.
Wether you’ll like it or not I would say it’s only a matter of which kind of dystopia you like. Recently, there has been a discourse (mostly on tik tok) which states that a dystopic novel cannot achieve its goal without including a heavy social commentary. If you share that opinion I would say you should skip this book.
You won’t like Rising if you are hoping for a Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes-The Handmaid’s Taleish book, however if you want something with more of a Legend-Delirium vibes but a bit more adult THIS. IS. YOUR. JAM.
In my case, I enjoy both of those opposites. If you are like me, dancing in that “in between” territory I say you should give it a try.
For my part, I will be waiting for the sequel.
March 4, 2026
Thank you to Nelle Nikole and No Market for That Book for the advanced listening copy.
Wow! This book has been on my TBR for a year now, and when I heard there was an audio book coming out, I jumped on it. First of all, Ruthie Bowles was such a fantastic narrator. There were multiple POVs in this book, and Bowles did a phenomenal job of creating each voice in a distinctive and seamless manner. The production flawless. This was such an enjoyable read through audio. It felt like binging The Walking Dead back in the day.
Now for the story itself - I need more people to be reading and talking about this book! Gritty, post-apocalyptic dystopian that was hard to put down. I loved the messy characters and the world building in this book. The slow-burn romance and political backdrop. It’s the first in a series, and I think it sets it up nicely. I can’t wait to continue.
Wow! This book has been on my TBR for a year now, and when I heard there was an audio book coming out, I jumped on it. First of all, Ruthie Bowles was such a fantastic narrator. There were multiple POVs in this book, and Bowles did a phenomenal job of creating each voice in a distinctive and seamless manner. The production flawless. This was such an enjoyable read through audio. It felt like binging The Walking Dead back in the day.
Now for the story itself - I need more people to be reading and talking about this book! Gritty, post-apocalyptic dystopian that was hard to put down. I loved the messy characters and the world building in this book. The slow-burn romance and political backdrop. It’s the first in a series, and I think it sets it up nicely. I can’t wait to continue.
June 18, 2023
Nelle Nikole writing is wonderful and her world-building even better. She did a good job making her character diverse. This post-apocalyptic dystopia with magic had me on the edge of my seat. The plot twist at the end left me needing to know what happens next. I’m looking forward to the next book.
We hit the ground running from the beginning seeing the main character just trying to survive a world with Pansies (zombies) attacks and magic. This book has multi-POV, suspense, betrayal, and action pack scenes. I am hoping to read more on a specific couple that has enemies to lovers vibe in the next book. We didn’t get much but the slow burn between them leaves you wanting more.
Overall, this was a fun and quick read. Congratulations Nelle Nikole on your debut.
We hit the ground running from the beginning seeing the main character just trying to survive a world with Pansies (zombies) attacks and magic. This book has multi-POV, suspense, betrayal, and action pack scenes. I am hoping to read more on a specific couple that has enemies to lovers vibe in the next book. We didn’t get much but the slow burn between them leaves you wanting more.
Overall, this was a fun and quick read. Congratulations Nelle Nikole on your debut.
June 19, 2023
Who would want anything more than fighting zombies? What about fighting zombies with your new magical abilities?
Rising follows leadership of a survival compound as they navigate their new world. After surviving attacks from Russia, the would has developed mutations to their DNA, either causing new abilities (elemental affinities seem to be the most popular) or causing you to become a mindless, flesh-eating Pansy.
There is heavy worldbuilding throughout the book that could sometimes be a little overwhelming, especially when it takes the reader out of the current scenario. While this is absolutely necessary to the story, I think it could have been executed a little better. There are also a handful of grammatical and spelling issues throughout the book that could have been caught through editing.
The story starts to set up an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, one bed trope romance but this too, I feel falls short. The characters don't have very much chemistry and by the time anything happens between them, they just don't make sense.
With all that being said, I am looking forward to the next book as this story has a lot of potential. I love a good zombie book, but add in some romance and I am THRILLED. The other characters besides our FMC and MMC are well rounded and are interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing their backstory as well as their growth through the rest of the series.
Rising follows leadership of a survival compound as they navigate their new world. After surviving attacks from Russia, the would has developed mutations to their DNA, either causing new abilities (elemental affinities seem to be the most popular) or causing you to become a mindless, flesh-eating Pansy.
There is heavy worldbuilding throughout the book that could sometimes be a little overwhelming, especially when it takes the reader out of the current scenario. While this is absolutely necessary to the story, I think it could have been executed a little better. There are also a handful of grammatical and spelling issues throughout the book that could have been caught through editing.
The story starts to set up an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, one bed trope romance but this too, I feel falls short. The characters don't have very much chemistry and by the time anything happens between them, they just don't make sense.
With all that being said, I am looking forward to the next book as this story has a lot of potential. I love a good zombie book, but add in some romance and I am THRILLED. The other characters besides our FMC and MMC are well rounded and are interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing their backstory as well as their growth through the rest of the series.
June 12, 2023
"At that moment, I saw her for who she used to be, who I thought I'd come to hate, only to find a sorry version of her instead. The woman now in front of me was fierce.
A warrior-like woman on a mission, and God Bless whoever ended up in her path."
This was a fantastic debut novel by Nelle Nikole. I was fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy of this book and once I made it through the first few chapters I was hooked.
In this dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel, you will find a story of a found family battling loss, betrayal, and survival. With a light, slow burn enemies to lovers story - I am eager to see where this takes us in book two.
An enjoyable read!
Congratulations on your debut novel Nelle Nikole!
A warrior-like woman on a mission, and God Bless whoever ended up in her path."
This was a fantastic debut novel by Nelle Nikole. I was fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy of this book and once I made it through the first few chapters I was hooked.
In this dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel, you will find a story of a found family battling loss, betrayal, and survival. With a light, slow burn enemies to lovers story - I am eager to see where this takes us in book two.
An enjoyable read!
Congratulations on your debut novel Nelle Nikole!
March 1, 2024
Prepare for emotional damage
I have no words. I've seen a few people say this is similar to the Walking Dead and yes, I agree. It's better though as I was not a fan of TWD but I loved this.
I loved Amaia and Alexiare and kept rooting for them to angry bang already... I'm disappointed they did not.
Alexiare made me soooo mad with his actions when they reached St.Cloud (trying not to spoil anything lol) but nothing like the anger I feel torward Seth right now. I liked Seth from the beginning and to have him do THAT... I wanna fight him myself.
So yes, if you enjoy an emotion charged book set in a dystopian USA with zombies then this is the book for you.
I have no words. I've seen a few people say this is similar to the Walking Dead and yes, I agree. It's better though as I was not a fan of TWD but I loved this.
I loved Amaia and Alexiare and kept rooting for them to angry bang already... I'm disappointed they did not.
Alexiare made me soooo mad with his actions when they reached St.Cloud (trying not to spoil anything lol) but nothing like the anger I feel torward Seth right now. I liked Seth from the beginning and to have him do THAT... I wanna fight him myself.
So yes, if you enjoy an emotion charged book set in a dystopian USA with zombies then this is the book for you.
August 7, 2025
generally a good book, especially cause I'm a big dystopian lover, but something bugged me, something was missing for me to deeply care about these characters... still liked them very much, especially Riley (the platonic but deeply loyal love will always win me over)
Maybe I really should've started with the 0.5 book, but I want the TEARS Nelle promised. Anyway, definitely gonna continue right away :)
Maybe I really should've started with the 0.5 book, but I want the TEARS Nelle promised. Anyway, definitely gonna continue right away :)
May 28, 2023
oh this book was absolutely delicious. i love strong vengeful women who also struggle with mental issues
fav part is that there isn’t any race based trauma in the book but everyone’s severely traumatized
pls read, there’s some spelling issues but keep in mind that this is an indie authors first (amazing) book
fav part is that there isn’t any race based trauma in the book but everyone’s severely traumatized
pls read, there’s some spelling issues but keep in mind that this is an indie authors first (amazing) book
Did not finish
February 9, 2025Unfortunately it was a DNF for me at around 38% mark. I tried several times to get into the plot and the characters but ended up deciding to give it up.
June 19, 2023
The world-building in this one is nothing I have quite seen before. The amount of detail in this before and after of an apocalyptic event was incredible to read.
My favorite part has been watching Amaia grow. Still being hesitant as taking on the General role, but watching her grow into it, was so beautiful to watch. Even when she doubted herself, she still was pretty much a badass before and after.
Watching her open up to another relationship with Alexaires in the picture was also beautiful. A person can only take so much loss, and then to have to just let someone else come in with the risk of losing them as well ... it is tough! The tension between these two is undeniable, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I love Amaia's inner circle. Finding people that you would trust with your life is top notch. And Nelle was able to capture that found family so beautifully.
Definitely recommend this read!
My favorite part has been watching Amaia grow. Still being hesitant as taking on the General role, but watching her grow into it, was so beautiful to watch. Even when she doubted herself, she still was pretty much a badass before and after.
Watching her open up to another relationship with Alexaires in the picture was also beautiful. A person can only take so much loss, and then to have to just let someone else come in with the risk of losing them as well ... it is tough! The tension between these two is undeniable, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I love Amaia's inner circle. Finding people that you would trust with your life is top notch. And Nelle was able to capture that found family so beautifully.
Definitely recommend this read!
March 9, 2026
I’m not sure where to start… but I LOVED this book! The story is amazing! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an incredible job!
NELLLEEE!!! I didn’t want this to end. Story? Amazing! Performance? Incredible! All of the twists and turns *chefs kiss*. If you haven’t read this you need to go get it right now because LAWWWDDDD.
I have a feeling that this series is going to take me on a WILD ride.
NELLLEEE!!! I didn’t want this to end. Story? Amazing! Performance? Incredible! All of the twists and turns *chefs kiss*. If you haven’t read this you need to go get it right now because LAWWWDDDD.
I have a feeling that this series is going to take me on a WILD ride.
January 14, 2025
I was RUNNING for book two by the end. It’s so easy to look at each character and find a bit of yourself in there. Dealing with grief is one of the most relatable writing I’ve ever read. First five are of the year
June 9, 2024
Thank you for providing me with an arc copy of this book.
Overall I gave this book 3 stars as although I don’t think this was the right book for me, I know of a few people who would have really enjoyed this, so I would still encourage others to try it out. This book is very much worth reading for fans of post-apocalyptic/dystopian/survival/zombie reads I just think unfortunately it wasn’t quite right for me.
I enjoyed that this book did more than your typical zombie apocalypse book by combining different types and levels of magic whilst still keeping some of the more traditional elements of ‘zombie lore’. Overall, I enjoyed the story although it was a little slow to pick up and it did seem to have quite an abrupt end (although it does set up for a second book). I would have also liked to have seen some more action, zombie fights or knowledge about the ‘pansies’ as I felt this was not developed a lot (although it seems some of the knowledge is a secret for book 2) and most of the focus was on tension between leaders and the ‘right’ way to navigate a new world.
Throughout the book we are introduced to a range of characters and are able to see a range of POVs which was effective and fitted in nicely with the story. However, the characters are described to be like family and I thought the chemistry and connection between the characters as a whole could have been developed more since they seemed to split off into pairs a little bit.
Overall I gave this book 3 stars as although I don’t think this was the right book for me, I know of a few people who would have really enjoyed this, so I would still encourage others to try it out. This book is very much worth reading for fans of post-apocalyptic/dystopian/survival/zombie reads I just think unfortunately it wasn’t quite right for me.
I enjoyed that this book did more than your typical zombie apocalypse book by combining different types and levels of magic whilst still keeping some of the more traditional elements of ‘zombie lore’. Overall, I enjoyed the story although it was a little slow to pick up and it did seem to have quite an abrupt end (although it does set up for a second book). I would have also liked to have seen some more action, zombie fights or knowledge about the ‘pansies’ as I felt this was not developed a lot (although it seems some of the knowledge is a secret for book 2) and most of the focus was on tension between leaders and the ‘right’ way to navigate a new world.
Throughout the book we are introduced to a range of characters and are able to see a range of POVs which was effective and fitted in nicely with the story. However, the characters are described to be like family and I thought the chemistry and connection between the characters as a whole could have been developed more since they seemed to split off into pairs a little bit.
February 17, 2024
From the second I read the description of Rising, I was intrigued. And I’m so glad I really liked this book!!
I very much enjoyed the world building and characters; I was so interested in the story, and loved learning about the different settlements that formed after the world went to sh*t. The characters were quite likable to me; I was a bit iffy on Amaia at first, but she grew on me. I completely understood she was grieving and had to make hard decisions. Riley and Moe are my absolute favorites!
The writing was simple and easy to follow, which I liked. I also really loved reading the multiple POVs; we learned so much about the Compound and the characters’ relationships with each other.
I do wish we had seen at least one scene where Jax and Amaia interact before the the explosion happens, and I feel like we were told more than shown things. However, I also understand that there was a lot of ground to cover in this book.
I hope the bond between Alexiares and Amaia can deepen in the second book (Echoes of War); however, I know that the main plot was more about the potential war/conflict, so I’m not too pressed about this, considering it’s a book series and slow burn.
The book also has a variety of characters with different backgrounds and identities, which I loved!
Overall, I’m excited to read Echoes of War, since I’m an ARC reader for it! It comes out February 29th (2024), so keep a lookout for my review of that as well.
(I’ve already started Echoes of War and I’m loving so far!)
NOTE: While there are a few spelling mistakes and typos in the book, it didn’t take me out of the story. I did talk to the Nelle Nikole and she does have plans to have them fixed.
I very much enjoyed the world building and characters; I was so interested in the story, and loved learning about the different settlements that formed after the world went to sh*t. The characters were quite likable to me; I was a bit iffy on Amaia at first, but she grew on me. I completely understood she was grieving and had to make hard decisions. Riley and Moe are my absolute favorites!
The writing was simple and easy to follow, which I liked. I also really loved reading the multiple POVs; we learned so much about the Compound and the characters’ relationships with each other.
I do wish we had seen at least one scene where Jax and Amaia interact before the the explosion happens, and I feel like we were told more than shown things. However, I also understand that there was a lot of ground to cover in this book.
I hope the bond between Alexiares and Amaia can deepen in the second book (Echoes of War); however, I know that the main plot was more about the potential war/conflict, so I’m not too pressed about this, considering it’s a book series and slow burn.
The book also has a variety of characters with different backgrounds and identities, which I loved!
Overall, I’m excited to read Echoes of War, since I’m an ARC reader for it! It comes out February 29th (2024), so keep a lookout for my review of that as well.
(I’ve already started Echoes of War and I’m loving so far!)
NOTE: While there are a few spelling mistakes and typos in the book, it didn’t take me out of the story. I did talk to the Nelle Nikole and she does have plans to have them fixed.
March 22, 2024
I’ve received an arc in exchange for my honest review First things first, I need book two immediately. As someone who is new to dystopian, I loved this book so much. I have said it in other reviews and will say it again I LOVE LOVE LOVE multi-pov and that’s exactly what you get with this.
I will say it is different, usually I am used to each chapter being a different POV but they are sprinkled everywhere sporadically and I enjoyed it so much tbh.
This book started off on 10, so this was not one of those dystopian books that took awhile to get into. From chapter 1 it just took off and I had a very hard time putting it down.
Listen, when I tell you Nelle Nikole has an absolute GIFT for world building, trust me. If I was gifted enough to know how to draw what I envision I bet I could draw The Compound even down to the tiniest details. Reading this was more like watching a movie, THAT is how good her descriptive writing is.
The way this book ended killed me. I need book two by tomorrow ms. Nikole.
If you are a fan of dystopian and like a fast paced intense read, this book is for you. I absolutely loved it so much. Thank you Sam and Nelle for the opportunity to read
I will say it is different, usually I am used to each chapter being a different POV but they are sprinkled everywhere sporadically and I enjoyed it so much tbh.
This book started off on 10, so this was not one of those dystopian books that took awhile to get into. From chapter 1 it just took off and I had a very hard time putting it down.
Listen, when I tell you Nelle Nikole has an absolute GIFT for world building, trust me. If I was gifted enough to know how to draw what I envision I bet I could draw The Compound even down to the tiniest details. Reading this was more like watching a movie, THAT is how good her descriptive writing is.
The way this book ended killed me. I need book two by tomorrow ms. Nikole.
If you are a fan of dystopian and like a fast paced intense read, this book is for you. I absolutely loved it so much. Thank you Sam and Nelle for the opportunity to read
March 10, 2026
Update for audiobook review: The audiobook is FANTASTIC! I am so grateful for the ALC because I loved getting to experience this world all over again.
Rising is fascinating. I love this notion of The Walking Dead but with a twist of magic. It's the end of the world, and zombies have awoken. But what's turning them is all a part of their genes. If you have the zombie gene, you turn. Otherwise, get ready to learn your new magic!
I love all of the magic in this series already. There's elemental magic, but there's also so much more! The magic asks a beautiful fantasy flare that I love. The characters are pretty much all morally grey which tracks with who they have all had to become in this dystopian world.
There were some pieces of this book that could have potentially been smoothed out for me (like typos, etc), BUT the characters and the story kept me engaged the whole time. I could see the potential of the human component and seeing how their lives continued as they navigate this wild world.
Rising is fascinating. I love this notion of The Walking Dead but with a twist of magic. It's the end of the world, and zombies have awoken. But what's turning them is all a part of their genes. If you have the zombie gene, you turn. Otherwise, get ready to learn your new magic!
I love all of the magic in this series already. There's elemental magic, but there's also so much more! The magic asks a beautiful fantasy flare that I love. The characters are pretty much all morally grey which tracks with who they have all had to become in this dystopian world.
There were some pieces of this book that could have potentially been smoothed out for me (like typos, etc), BUT the characters and the story kept me engaged the whole time. I could see the potential of the human component and seeing how their lives continued as they navigate this wild world.
September 14, 2025
Desperate to escape what feels like an actual American apocalypse - I started Rising. 10/10 would recommend. I have not been able to stop shoving this series at anyone who will listen since the moment I started.
If we descend into an apocalypse I hope, at the very least, that some of us get powers and we don't all become flesh eaters or their dinner. Ya know? I also really hope somewhere like The Compound exists. A place to still be human, for as long as possible.
Sleep was a cruel overlord that forced me to stop reading occasionally but I spent every moment that I could with Amaia, Reina, Tomoe , and Riley, (and Alexiares, too). I'd absolutely recommend just grabbing the entire series at the same time because each ending leads you to the next book with a scream fresh on your lips.
If we descend into an apocalypse I hope, at the very least, that some of us get powers and we don't all become flesh eaters or their dinner. Ya know? I also really hope somewhere like The Compound exists. A place to still be human, for as long as possible.
Sleep was a cruel overlord that forced me to stop reading occasionally but I spent every moment that I could with Amaia, Reina, Tomoe , and Riley, (and Alexiares, too). I'd absolutely recommend just grabbing the entire series at the same time because each ending leads you to the next book with a scream fresh on your lips.
April 1, 2024
I went into this book expecting a book about a zombie apocalypse. This book was an example where the synopsis was amazing, but the execution was lackluster. We focused on the characters which isn't necessarily an issue, but nothing was really happening with them. It felt dragged. Once the action really started it was not as brutal as anticipated. The plot twist was seen from the very beginning. I do think the Scifo elements of this book would have made me enjoy it so much more & maybe Book 2 will take a deeper dive but it's 600 pages so I will respectfully pass. I wouldn't say I don't recommend this book; it just was not for me. I would read what the author writes next, outside of this series.
March 23, 2025
Please, Nelle, I am begging you to hire a different editor. They have done you so dirty 😭
The concept is really good but 90% executed through telling not showing. When we were “shown” something, it would be made redundant by also being “told” it immediately before or after. Again - I think this is partly on the editor as a new writer trying to find their way!
The author’s creativity shone through with the worldbuilding, however the characters’ dimensionality and plot progression/pacing fell short for me.
I still read it in 3 sittings and might give the next one a go as it’s such a unique concept.
The concept is really good but 90% executed through telling not showing. When we were “shown” something, it would be made redundant by also being “told” it immediately before or after. Again - I think this is partly on the editor as a new writer trying to find their way!
The author’s creativity shone through with the worldbuilding, however the characters’ dimensionality and plot progression/pacing fell short for me.
I still read it in 3 sittings and might give the next one a go as it’s such a unique concept.
December 27, 2024
this book has my heart. followed grief, betrayal, leaders having to make tough decisions, found family and finding yourself again after tragedy. I read this often because i love it.
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