The Rise of Issa Igwe

by Shanna Miles

Delightfully creepy. Ghostly good fun. A school for magic like no other. Despite a lifetime of breaking the rules, twelve-year-old Issa Igwe never expected to land in witch prison. At least that’s what she calls The Siren School outside of its hallowed halls. It’s actually the country’s most prestigious boarding school for magically gifted girls, and Issa’s parents insist that she attend . . . even though the school’s creepy history is the stuff of legend. When a devastating loss overturns Issa’s world, Issa decides to break one of her new school’s biggest rules of she’s going to use bitter magic to turn back time. To succeed, she must snatch sleep-inducing feathers from the backs of magical creatures, sneak out while avoiding the Night Children—whoever they are—and even raise the dead. Her nighttime explorations bring the school’s darkest secrets to light, and reveal a new power within Issa herself. It turns out that a rule-breaker might be just what The Siren School needs to undo an ancient evil . . .This spooky and delightfully magical middle grade companion novel to The Fall of the House of Tatterly introduces an indomitable heroine and an unforgettable school of magic based in hoodoo and Gullah Geechee culture.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Paranormal, Childrens, Gothic

360 pages, Hardcover

Published October 22, 2024

About the author

Shanna Miles is an author, reviewer and librarian who lives in Georgia with her two daughters, and educator husband and advocates tirelessly for appropriate representation for marginalized people in children’s fiction. Her passion is Paranormal Romance, but she also has a deep affinity for diverse Science Fiction like that of Octavia Butler and Sherri L. Smith. “Willow Born” is Shanna Miles’ latest work.

Reviews

[Terry J. Benton-Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Issa Igwe instantly captured my heart. Shanna Miles masterfully crafts enthralling stories steeped in Black culture and history that make me as proud to read as I’m sure every Black kid who picks up Issa Igwe or any of Shanna’s books will feel.” —Terry J. Benton-Walker, author of the Alex Wise vs the End of the World series

[dedareads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was so much fun I was dozing off ngl and the ending was confusing but overall great story AMAZING narration would 100% recommend for younger readers ( middle school)

[Haerlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully creepy. Ghostly good fun. A school for magic like no other.

Despite a lifetime of breaking the rules, twelve-year-old Issa Igwe never expected to land in witch prison. At least that’s what she calls The Siren School outside of its hallowed halls. It’s actually the country’s most prestigious boarding school for magically gifted girls, and Issa’s parents insist that she attend . . . even though the school’s creepy history is the stuff of legend.

When a devastating loss overturns Issa’s world, Issa decides to break one of her new school’s biggest rules of all: she’s going to use bitter magic to turn back time. To succeed, she must snatch sleep-inducing feathers from the backs of magical creatures, sneak out while avoiding the Night Children—whoever they are—and even raise the dead. Her nighttime explorations bring the school’s darkest secrets to light, and reveal a new power within Issa herself. It turns out that a rule-breaker might be just what The Siren School needs to undo an ancient evil . . .

This spooky and delightfully magical middle grade companion novel to The Fall of the House of Tatterly introduces an indomitable heroine and an unforgettable school of magic based in hoodoo and Gullah Geechee culture.

My Take:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The 12-year-old protagonist deftly balances bravery and rebellion, avoiding the pitfall of becoming disagreeably headstrong. Although I was initially unaware that it was a companion to another book, my enjoyment was not hindered; rather, it piqued my interest in the companion volume. I would definitely recommend this book to younger readers exploring dark academia, especially as an introduction to the "spooky season."

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Rise of Issa Igwe is an engaging middle grade fantasy set in a school by Shanna Miles. Released 22nd Oct 2024 by Union Square on their Kids' imprint, it's 360 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a top notch dark academia magic/ghost story for ca. 8-12 year old readers. It features some crossover appearances from characters in The Fall of the House of Tatterly, but it's not a sequel and it functions fine as a standalone read. Issa herself is intelligent, determined, a bit headstrong, and creative. The mystery is well constructed, and it's creepy, but not too scary for the target audience.

This is Issa's story (she's also in Tatterly), and it's nice to see high quality books with a black girl in a central role. Representation is important. There are also central plot elements featuring Gulla culture and beliefs.

Four and a half stars. It would make a great choice for public library acquisition (possibly for middle to secondary school as well, although acquisitions personnel should read it beforehand in areas of the USA subject to book challenges). Recommended for fans of dark academia, fantasy/ghost story readers, and maybe a binge/buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Mysia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

The Rise of Issa Igwe is the perfect blend of nostalgia and Black girl magic. When Issa's parents force her to attend The Siren School to control her conduit powers, she is not happy about it. But a loss shortly after her arrival makes her rethink her perspective, drawing her deeper into the mysteries of the school. While honing her abilities, Issa begins to uncover long-buried secrets about The Siren School, its history, and its intentions.

I loved this book from beginning to end. The fresh take on the magic school trope felt inventive and compelling, while the subtle nods to Black culture added a layer of authenticity and heart. The characters were vibrant: Lionel was so sweet, and Rachel had me laughing out loud with her humor. Shanna Miles’s writing is enchanting, and I’ll absolutely be reading more from her.

CAWPILE Rating
Characters: 8
Atmosphere: 8
Writing: 9
Plot: 7.5
Intrigue: 9
Logic: 8
Enjoyment: 9

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

In THE RISE OF ISSA IGWE, despite her protests, Issa’s parents enroll her in the Siren School, a boarding school for those with magical powers, to help her harness her gift of being a conduit. After a tragic accident shortly after she arrives at the school, Issa is determined to use forbidden bitter magic to go back in time and reverse events. As she explores this possibility, she learns disturbing information about the school and sets a plan in motion to put a stop to the evil around her. A well-balanced mix of fantasy and mystery with a brave heroine at the center, the book will be enjoyed by fans of stories set in magical schools.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an eARC of the book with me.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a delightful story, about a young girl with a very special family background, who can see ghosts and communicate with spirits. Unfortunately for 12 year old Issa, she can't always control what happens at such moments.

And that is one of the reasons she ends up at the Siren School, a place that teaches about magic, in essence training those who must live with it. After all, going to a regular school really didn't work out so well for Issa!

The story draws on indigenous traditions of magical manifestation, and is an easy read, with a lot of humour. It will be immensely appealing to readers in the target age group. It gets 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[PelicanFreak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was different from most other magical / fantasy / witchy academy reads I’ve experienced, so that made it fun. And it took an interesting approach while packing in some fun world-building. If you like books with magic that are set in the ‘real’ world, you’ll like this one, I expect.


Academy setting.
Orphan female lead.
Magical classes / lessons.
Mythical creatures.
World-building.
Possession.
Necromancy.

4 stars.
Would read more by this author.


🎧 Audio:
Excellent performance! This narrator almost made this sound like a full-cast production. Smooth overall sound quality. 5 stars.

[Sweetmusicwoman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the copy of this book. I had the opportunity to read this from the publishing company requesting on Net Galley. I am very grateful. This was super interesting and fun from the start. The story unique and the characters very likeable. I am a sucker for a good fantasy book. I believe anyone can find enjoyment in this book. I have recommended this to those I know personally but also recommend to anyone reading this review right now. I do not want to post any spoilers as my reviews talk about the feelings the books bring me. I love when a book can suck me into the story where I temporarily live there. This book did that for me.

[libreroaming · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently, this is a companion novel and it feels like it was written for people who already read something else. So much of the world building was skipped over, briefly mentioned like it should be important but never came back, or just erroneous. A world based on Gullah magic is a wonderful idea, but the execution is flawed. I wanted to like Issa's prickly reaction to grief more but honestly she wasn't given a lot of time to be a character on her own terms, getting randomly hijacked by ghosts.

I'd stick to "Maya and the Rising Dark" or "Amari and the Night Brothers."

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

This was a fantastic fantasy mystery and story of friendship. I really liked Issa in The Fall of the House of Tatterly so seeing she was getting her own story, I was so excited. This was definitely rough at times with what Issa was going through, but I love the friendships and Issa coming into her own power and confidence.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook Review 🎧 | NetGalley ARC

This made me want to read more children’s book! (Well technically middle grade)
A journey through grief and discovery for Issa, where she is able to embrace herself and her power. By accomplishing great things and making friends.

My rating system:
Narration: 4
Story: 4
Entertainment: 4
Emotions: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for providing an advanced listener copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Brittany Luo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shanna Miles takes you on a journey through Issa’s eyes that expands beyond the book covers. This story brings the sweet taste of family life, doesn’t avoid the sharp parts and allows you to feel the devastation and joy of Issa’s experiences as she learns about herself and the beautiful legacy of her people. A great read for anyone who loves real raw emotion in a well-crafted fantasy setting, and a cozy read that leaves you wanting more glimpses into Issa’s world.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird read -- in a good way, I think. It's almost mesmerizing in writing style. Fast paced, nearly stream of consciousness, steeped in something between Gullah Geechee and Voodoun lore. While there are lots of cool things about it, I often found it confusing or just hard to believe. It has got some strong friendships and family support. It's also got a really interesting magical system. I suspect the intended audience will very much enjoy it.

[Nadia Meriouli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

The creativity in this book it’s incredible. It was so enjoyable and would be for all ages ! I was amazed and completely intrigued the whole way through. The characters were fun, the writing was so well done and I felt a part of the story. Very enjoyable I recommend.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded up to 4.

Liked this more than Tatterly. Better build up, but the battle with the big bad felt resolved too quickly. A lot of characters and backgrounds to keep track of. Overall, enjoyable and loved the magic and the magic school.

[Kristy B. (SwaggerWaggon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story for kids/young adults. It was age appropriate but deff attention grabbing. I loved the main character and how the book taught the importance of building friendships and bonding with family.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

[Revelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely a cute little read and I actually enjoyed it even though it is geared toward middle grade readers it’s a nice read for anyone during spooky season.

[rachel x]

⚠️ Companion novel to The Fall of the House of Tatterly

[Jessica Lerbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story (not a creepy ghost story, although there are ghosts involved) with a neat magic system

[Shantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

she know she was a baddie .