The Rising: Awakening

by D. Ann Hall

A Tenacious Egyptologist. An Ancient Secret. A Vampire on a Mission... When Egyptologist Samuel 'Anubis' Clayton inherits a gold talisman with unusual markings, he’s driven to uncover its secrets. Where did it come from? What do they mean? And why when receiving it did a flood of forgotten memories and the ethereal red-headed beauty—who had seduced him in his youth—return with malice? His alliance with a questionable organisation, a team of scientists with agendas, and nightmarish visions plague him. Undeterred and locked within a destiny that will either consume or destroy him, he finds himself face to face with a vampire, whose very existence is tied to his past. Love, loss, and twisted truths have weaved through the vampire Kesha’s long life, and now an old threat is at her door. Pulled from her sanctuary in Scotland, she knows what must be done. She must stop the rising to keep the status quo and kill the one responsible. Then she meets the one who brings the dead to their deeds. The one they call Anubis. What is he to her? What justice is to be served? And on who? Follow Samuel and Kesha as they uncover a powerful ancient secret that could change the world forever. With unexpected twists and turns, this epic journey will take you through the sands of ancient Egypt, the halls of the British Museum, and beyond.

What's buried in the sand should never be exhumed! ( New fully edited edition as of May 2023. Author's preferred version.)
Editorial

★★★★★ An unusual tale - Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Rising by D. Ann Hall is a mixture of genres and is quite violent in places. There is some strong language but nothing out of keeping with the narrative. This is a well-written book. The story flows smoothly and the characters are well-developed - you get to know them and understand where they come from. It's a long and rather involved plot and requires your full attention or you'll lose track. It begins with our main protagonist as a child, giving us some helpful background, and then progresses through his journey to discover the secrets. There's plenty of family drama, and lots of twists and turns, providing us with a combination of the paranormal and sci-fi all rolled into one. An unusual tale, the action takes place across Egypt and at the British Museum, before coming to a natural conclusion. Recommended for those who enjoy paranormal stories and want something different to read. ★★★★ Enjoyable to the fullest - Ankita Khataniar for Reedsy Discovery

I was instantly drawn towards the book when I first laid my eyes on the blurb. The concoction of archaeology unearthing an ungodly secret is always a winner if excellently narrated. The story captured my attention starting from the prologue. Apart from the fascinating storyline, the most appealing thing about the book was the vivid narration that has lifted the story up a notch. The author has been careful not to be heavy-handed with too many details and in the process, has saved the readers from being bored. While reading, flashes of movies like Indiana Jones and Tomb raider combined with supernatural elements came to mind. That made the reading experience exciting. The characters are well written and there's a balance of thrill and action. Even though the story fits into several genres, there's no confusion and the story does not run all over the place. I could keep easy track of the events that were happening in the book. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and awaiting more from the author. Recommended to readers of horror, especially gothic horror. ( 18+ recommended )

Genres: Mystery, Horror, Fantasy

374 pages, Paperback

Published May 26, 2023

About the author

I've always been enthusiastic about great stories, there is nothing better than getting lost in another world. Telling stories is something I've done my whole life. I've an interest in the paranormal - got a bit of a crush on the old vampire, world history - especially ancient Egypt and generally anything with a bit of a mystery to it. It's a big universe, anything is possible.

Reviews

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting read and surprisingly philosophical in places! I loved the historical setting, the mystery and the supernatural (with a pinch of sci-fi too!) and the characters were all very fascinating.

If you, like me, have always been fascinated by archeology, this would be a great read, but if you’re also attracted by original vampire stories with a creative historical setting and cosmogony, then you’d enjoy this one too!

I found this story very original with clever use of egyptology and folklore that attracted me straight away. Not only that, the characters are intriguing, making it an easy read.
I loved some of the themes explored, such as the betterment of humanity and the sacrifice of others for a higher purpose, intermixed with the characters’ interpersonal stories and relationships, adding a dash of drama to the mix. There is also sexuality and romance that could appeal to some readers, although I didn’t care for those. They didn’t detract me from fully enjoying the story though, and I’m very much looking forward to the sequel.

I recommend this one to fans of mythology and egyptology in particular, but with an added layer of vampiric sexyness and suspense, all wrapped in a mighty battle for the fate of humanity.

Thanks to the author for a copy and this is my honest opinion.

[Kris10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb definitely drew me in...supernatural, Egypt, curses, treasure, vampires? I mean that has all the makings of being a blockbuster hit movie!! The story itself was very thought through and there was a clear direct path from beginning to end. However, there were parts of it that seemed disjointed from the regular smooth flow of the the story and there were a few misprints...but they were minor flaws. They didn't take away from the storyline. Some characters had multiple names, so at times it made me pause and remember who was being talked about. But on the whole, it was a great story and I am glad I have read it!! (It would make a really kick-ass movie...just sayin').

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

The preview of this story drew me from the start...archaeology, vampires, sci-fi. The plot is intriguing and is in your face from the get-go.
I would give this a 3.5 star rating. My main issue was the narration. In some parts it seems to stumble along and feels like a first draft with choppy sentences. Other areas flow so smoothly that you become engrossed in the action and lose time.
Also, some of the characters go by 2 different names (don't want to spoil anything) and this gets a little confusing.
That being said, the world the author introduces to us is dramatic, mysterious and thought-provoking. And the ending? Loved it!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/9/2022)! 🎁

[Stewart Laughlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional

It is very unusual to come across an author, who can hold you in such an enthralling story and keep you there to the end, and bad punctuation, sorry, but coming from Aberdeen, very close to home..way to go, looking forward to number two..x

[Lynn Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book half way through and would definitely recommend .. I’ll be getting more :)

[E Singer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read based on the author’s interpretation of the soul and existence of vampires. It did take some effort and thought with the constant jump back and forth through time.There were also some details I felt needed elaboration and left me with questions (not easter eggs, or foreshadowing). The author definitely left the reader with wanting more! I am curious to learn more about Anubis and his role in the world the author created based on Egyptian history. This is a unique take on the creation and existence of Egyptian gods. In addition to the basic premise of the story, there is a slow burn romance forming with even greater intrigue towards the end of the book.

My reason for four stars:
Though there are some interesting elements and unique tales of souls, vampires, and gods, I was underwhelmed. I didn’t feel the tension nor was I overcome with high stakes feelings or strong emotion. As a personal opinion, I didn’t much like the FMC Lilith and how she was portrayed. But again, that is just my personal opinion as the reader.

[Kathryn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book! The supernatural vibes with vampires, visions, secrets, and curses set in ancient Egypt are perfect. I thought the story is well thought out and interesting. The flow of the book was spot on. Great job with character development. I really liked the depth of development with Samuel's family, especially his grandfather.



I am looking forward to reading more of D. Ann Hall's books!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first half of the book but parts of the second half were a complete rip off of and almost plagiarised the Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles which nobody can compare to. I found the story confusing at times and the writing was a little guvenille but I guess it was an okay story but nothing special.

[Ali O · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rising: Awakening by D. Ann Hall
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is an entertaining and mysterious vampire story!
This book has lots of action, suspense and is very descriptive! I could picture so much of the story in my head! The book is intense and very exciting, which kept me intrigued to keep reading more! I enjoyed the originality of the storyline with the history/Egyptian and supernatural flare.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is a vampire with secrets which may just link her to his past. Now he needs to find out what she knows and if he can keep out of her clutches. What is going to happen next? Will he find everything out? How will it all go? See just what is going to happen for them both

[MRS M BARON · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed Genres

This book was a mixed bag. Archaeology, religion, creation, romance and vampires! Although, enjoyable in parts, it seemed long winded.

[Lena Southwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Read

Wonderful book. Vampires and Egypt. Everything I love. Well researched and fast paced. Can’t wait for the next one! Delicious.