Risen Apes

by Vana Elaire

Damianos Eaton and Rickter Han couldn’t be more different. One survived a harrowing near-death experience that left him with questions too big for this world. The other, a cynical supermodel, battles the nightly curse of relentless sleep paralysis. Yet fate—or something darker—draws them both to Vale Academy, a secluded arcane institution that promises to reveal earth-shattering discoveries about the nature of human consciousness.

At Vale, the lines between science and the metaphysical blur. Here, students experiment with astral projection, scrying, and the boundaries of reality itself. Though around each of Vale’s winding corridors, disturbing secrets emerge from the shadows: a student who disappeared without a trace, assignments that border on the inhumane. And as Damianos and Rickter delve deeper into their studies, they uncover a chilling truth: some doors are better left unopened—because the academy's secrets are as dangerous as they are illuminating.

With its gothic allure and philosophical undercurrents, Risen Apes is a dark academia tale where the pursuit of truth could cost more than sanity—it might cost your soul.

Genres: Dark Academia, Gothic, Queer, Adult, Romance, M M Romance, LGBT

348 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 11, 2025

About the author

Vana Elaire is an introvert, an Infj and a hermit. She lives in North America and reads and writes in many genres. When not lost in the realms of imagination, she enjoys exploring new languages, discovering hidden bookshops, and indulging in endless cups of coffee. Find her on Instagram @veiled.in.ink

Reviews

[Ashleigh (a frolic through fiction) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 4.5/5 stars!

This is a criminally underrated dark academia book that may very well have given me an existential crisis.

We’ve all heard of rivals-to-lovers, but what about lovers-to-rivals? Can two academics undergo the same research and still have different answers? Immediately we’re circling Damianos and Rickter, their constant tension proving an inescapable draw that fits right into the allure of the academy. We’re drip-fed uncertainties and weird situations that are easy to shrug off in the allure of the school, before realising we’re in too deep.

The writing itself is subtly clever, adjusting sentence structure and tone to reflect our characters - Damianos’ rambling sentences, Rickters curt and to-the-point assessment of the world around him. It’s easy to get caught up in their constant theorising and projects, and truly holds a level of magnetism I think most fans of dark academia stories long for.

I loved this book, and if you loved Vicious by VE Schwab or An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson, then you will too, no doubt.


Note: this contains a couple of explicit (though not prolonged) M/M scenes, one minor explicit F/M scene, and heavy themes of death/near death experiences/self exit

I received this book via NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of the book.

[savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ this book felt like a really confusing movie that i had to go on reddit after to read fan theories after. in the best way.

disclaimer i think yall should go into this with little to no information so you can be as bamboozled as me🫵🫵

this book definitely was nothing like i expected. going in i expected a suspense filled dark academia book with romance. this book gave me almost no romance but tons of suspense and dark fantasy themes but im not mad about it. this book gave me very much 'vicious' by v.e. schwab vibes which i LOVED that book and this book had my brain spinning (and made me feel slightly too stupid for this😭😭)

i loved the writing style of this and the dual pov was done so well. both rickter and damianos were clearly differentiated in their povs and i loved both of these characters. also i thought this book would have more romance-y themes and be a little dark academic rivals-to-lovers it was more the opposite. BUT THEY HAD SO MUCH CHEMISTRY💥💥💥 as much as it hurt my romantic heart to watch these characters go from friends to lovers to rivals, i loved the progression of this story (though i felt the ending was *slightly* rushed)

i dont have major complaints except for the pacing felt weird like it was slow towards the middle and really fast towards the last 15%. also in that last 15% i felt like the characters changed into completely different people and the choices they made didnt seem like the people they were at the beginning. besides that i enjoyed the characters and the plot and the world of vale academy.

i dont know if this story has more to it cause it kinda left me wanting more so i hope there is another installment in this series or this universe because i need to see where these two end up. i fear i am invested...
thank you to NetGalley for this arc copy💗

[Creeyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book was extremely intriguing, a dark academia novel that explores inner turmoil and themes like sleep-paralysis and out-of-body experiences. It touches on complex thinking about our human consciousness, the purpose of life and the limitations of our existence. It also tackles topics like religion and differentiating morals, which were handled with care and precision, offering depth on these topics and exploring them accordingly.

However, I think the plot of the story was very ambitious which therefore made it quite confusing at some times. It takes a while to get into for a 300 page novel, which isn't necessarily bad but some aspects therefore felt rushed. There is some amazing groundwork laid but I think it could benefit from some extra work and editing. Vana Elaire her writing style is good, although it feels a bit young at times, there is definitely talent.

The two main characters, Damianos Eaton and Rickter Han were interesting to say the least. I enjoyed their dynamic but as characters themselves they fell a bit flat to me. They did compliment each other and their journeys nicely, however their characters alone, for me, could have been fleshed out a bit more. There was definitely interesting groundwork laid for these characters to be intriguing, complex and interesting, but I think the author left some of this lacking. Maybe we will see more character growth and development in the second book, I wish they were made a bit more complex and compelling in this novel. The side characters felt like they were only there to further develop the plot, sadly they didn't feel like entirely fleshed out characters of their own. Maybe because of the ambitious plot there was not enough time to develop these side characters adequately

I do have to admit I liked the dynamic between the main characters, I enjoyed their relationship development, even if it felt a bit fast, but that could be a personal preference. I do think their relationship develops nicely, as their dynamic is unique and they compliment each other quite nicely. I enjoyed their differentiating beliefs and morals, and how they co-existed and created a bond despite their different beliefs.

I want to keep this review as spoiler free as possible, as I do think that a lot of people will enjoy this novel. However, in its current state, it was not for me. I might, if there is a second book, will pick up the sequel to see how the author develops the story from that ending.

2,5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Rose & Ink Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Savannah (chapters_of_mayhem) · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were meant to change the world together. Where’d it all go wrong?

Well now I don’t know what to do with myself.
This was utterly captivating. The characters were perfection, the setting fantastic and the plot just kept evolving in a way that added depth to the premise.
It was so unlike anything I’ve ever read.

Rickter and Damianos are such incredible characters. The way they complimented each other’s journey and shared so much of their psyche and opinions only to be foil characters was exquisitely done.

The exploration of the metaphysical through the lens of a cynical mind was fleshed out so well. I think it’s definitely going to garner some strong opinions in the review field but for those that are curious about the what’s and whys of the universe are going to eat this up.

I wish I could delve into so much more of the plot in this review but I want to leave it as spoiler free as possible! The title reflects the contents in such a perfect way.

I can’t even make up my mind about which side I would choose after finishing this. There are strong pros and cons for both arguments.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an early copy of this work. This is my honest opinion.

[cc · Rating 4 out of 5]

e-ARC from NetGalley.

This book just ruined my life. I am in shambles. I don't know what else to say except that I am in pain.

Every dark academia I've read brings characters together with these moments of wholesome, innocent intimacy and slow-blossoming friendship, only to twist them into something sickening and unrecognizable. And this was no exception.

I fucking hate dark academia.

I loved Damianos. I loved Rickter. I just ... I don't understand, but I also do, and that's the most devastating part. I feel like I'm going through a breakup. I want to scream and cry and push them all down flights of stairs.

If I fling myself into the abyss, this book is why.

[Mireya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to NetGalley and Rose & Ink Publishing for the ARC copy. This has not affected my review at all, which are my own thoughts.

I'm really grateful that luck was on my side and I got a copy of Risen Apes, because I found one of my favorite reads of the year in its pages and characters. I'm still reeling from that ending, which left quite emotionally devastated, to be honest, so I hope this review makes any sense😂 And now, without further ado, let's get onto it.

As usual, first, a little "what is this book about?" section, where I tell you that Risen Apes is a standalone dark academia novel, with some fantastical elements, where two young men, Damianos Eaton and Rickter Han, get accepted into Vale Academy, a place that draw them both due to personal circumstances. Damianos, who survived a near death experience and, since then, has questions not for this world that eat at him and have make him socially distant; and Rickter, who battles every night with sleep paralysis that makes him appear dead to others or just fully asleep if they don't pay him even a second thought.
These very different personalities will have to join forces when they get pulled into a web of secrets and dangers surrounding the academy: students gone without a trace, class-assignments bordering on lethal, and whatever perils Damianos and Rickter feel like pushing their bodies through while studying the metaphysical.

For a standalone that promised such an ambitious world and plot, it was very well done, delivering enough world building details through the chapters until we get the whole picture and can understand it all, complimenting and embracing the characters in a way that they flourished in the academic grounds. Vale Academy is a place for great minds to develop and share theories with others alike, a place for the characters to build new relationship and get answers to their questions; but it is also a character of its own, having secrets, creating dangerous or hopeful environments and showing itself to us little by little. And those are the settings I loved the most in these type of books.

The characters were as amazingly crafted as well. This is a dual POV novel, the narration shared between Damianos and Rickter, both in first person, which tend to be complicated to master if you don't give the characters very easy distinguishable voices, but Vana Elaire (auhtor) manages to do that perfectly, and so the two are easy to follow in their theories and personal chapters, even when they were in each other spaces all the time.
Though, I have to be honest and say that my favorite of the pair is Damianos, with his calm demeanor, a great mind that always ends up picking on things no matter how much it takes him and his kindness toward others. Rickter was too much of a cynical and individualist for me to like him too much; that's not to say that he is a bad character, not at all, he is three dimensional and well-develop, with a believable personality that I just don't like😂
The good thing is, that these two together can accomplish anything they set their minds too, and that's what I'm gonna highlight from the whole book: Damianos and Rickter's relationship. The initial weariness of not knowing each other, to the finding an alike soul and mind in the other, to the developing friendship, to the tension and the side glances when the other's not looking, to trusting each other with their lives... to everything and beyond. I was rooting for them the whole time.

Risen Apes is a wonderful example of how to create tension, of all types, hinting at romantic and sexual possibilities between the characters and making the readers want them to end together. I'm said reader, not going to lie. More authors could learn from Vana and their book and implement some of these aspects into their books to better their romances, because I've read other works recently that couldn't have had worse romances even if they have tried, really😕
Anyway, back to our book in hand, the emotional roller coaster of Damianos and Rickter is what kept me glue to the pages, so much that I read the book in two days. Between that and the mysteries at Vale Academy, no matter what else I was doing, I kept thinking about Risen Apes and how much I needed to finish it, so I kept coming back to it until I reached the end. Which left me with a lot of answers, some questions and wanting to rewind back to a happier time.

Unfortunately, as much as I loved "Risen Apes", I can't, in good conscience, give it five stars. Because the ending felt rushed, things were happening between and to the character, but we were jumping ahead, skipping days and skipping the consequential emotional impact of it all in Damianos and Rickter, which was quite weak in my opinion given everything they've shared so far into the story. There are books that I consider sin from being too long and need trimming, well, not this one; this is the contrary case, it could have benefited from being longer, better developing that ending and reveling in it, giving the emotional punch we (the readers) deserved and I'm pretty sure no one would have complained.

And I know I've said I was left emotionally devastated by how their relationship develop between Damianos and Rickter, and that is going to haunt me for a while, but the rushed end gave me whiplash when I was still coming to terms with it, so of course I'm gonna complain about it, because I believe that it could have been better.

But, I'm not gonna blame the author entirely, because this could have been their full decision and kept it no matter what others said, or someone else could have forced them to keep it this short in detriment of the story suffering for it. Anyway, it's my only true issue with "Risen Apes", the rest was amazing, with an evocative prose and a challenging message, Risen Apes is perfect for fans of dark academia that also like to have their ideals debated and are in for a ride both intellectually and emotionally.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Rating: 4/5 Stars

Content/Trigger Warnings: Suicide, Suicidal ideation and mentions of attempts, Physical violence, Death (including off-page death of a parent), Explicit on-page sexual intercourse, Depictions of verbal abuse, References to professor/student relations and infidelity, Theological and existential discussions, Detailed depictions of parasomnia

"I don't claim to know what's out there. But whatever is, certainly isn't worthy of worship. Nor should it be respected. Not by you. Not by me. Not by anyone."

Review TL;DR

Decent writing and interesting MCs combine with some good conversations to create a story that's intriguing and dark. However, it falls a little flat on its "dark academia" vibe by not quite living up to the academic aspect. Anyone looking for a queer story that's a good baby step into dark academia, friends-to-lovers-to-rivals, and "Vicious" by V.E. Schwab will probably enjoy. Just please look up trigger warnings.

Full Review

This is one of those books I picked up on a whim simply based on one person's recommendation. I heard "dark academia" and "queer," and I was sold. I could have simply read it on KU, but...honestly, I wanted a hard copy of that gorgeous cover. I went in knowing next to nothing about the plot other than what the synopsis said.

First off, I really enjoyed this story. From the beginning to the end I was sucked in. It wasn't the most amazing writing I've ever seen, but the author did a fantastic job of telling the story through two different characters. I really enjoyed how, after a few chapters, I wouldn't even have needed the name headers to know which character's POV we were in. Damianos' chapters were filled with longer, more complex sentences, filled with more feelings and whimsy, while Rickter's chapters were filled with choppy sentences and a LACK of emotion, which matched both of their personalities so well.

I also enjoyed a lot of the conversations being had by the characters throughout the story. A conversation about having children, in particular, struck me since I am childless by choice. The discussions do feel largely one-sided (maybe because the author leans more to that part of the argument?) but they're still interesting nonetheless.

The last third of the story was particularly addicting because of what happens. I really encourage potential readers to go in knowing as little as possible about the plot so that you can really appreciate that latter part of the book. Trust me, it's worth it.

As much as I loved the story, there are a couple of things that prevent it from being a five star.

One negative of the book is that for a dark academia, the story is largely missing the "academia" part. Gothic university? Check. Dangerous secrets and research? Check. Actual discussions and learning related to the subject? Not so much. I would have really liked to dive more into the different classes the characters had to take, hear more of the discussions and how they add to the story. I wanted to see more of the campus, more of the dynamics between students and between the students and their teachers. Instead, after about the halfway point, the classes are basically ignored and instead we focus just solely on our MCs and their goal. Which isn't bad, but again, I really wanted more of the academia portion of the genre.

The other issue I had was how abrupt the relationship between Damianos and Rickter felt. Not even any physical/romantic one, but just friendship. Early on, Rickter describes Damianos in a way that had me scratching my head because it didn't match what I had seen of the other MC so far. Damianos just never quite matched what Rickter seemed to be seeing, and I'm not sure if that was purposeful or not. If it was, then I would have liked more of a scene discussing that. If not, I wish it could have been fixed.

Still, overall, I really enjoyed reading this and I would be SO happy to read a sequel that continues the story. If you like dark academia settings, friends-to-lovers-to-rivals, and "Vicious" by V.E. Schwab vibes, then you should definitely give this a try.

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Risen Apes was an experience that left me with more questions than answers, but in the greatest way possible. From the first page, I was drawn into the gothic world of Vale Academy, where science and the supernatural are constantly at odds and nothing is ever quite as it seems.

The tale follows Damianos Eaton, a man haunted by a near-death experience, and Rickter Han, a cynical supermodel who suffers from sleep paralysis. Their paths converge at the academy, where the line between science and the supernatural blurs. As they go deeper into their studies of astral projection and metaphysical phenomena, they discover alarming truths about the academy's evil past. The suspense is palpable, with the boundary between reality and the paranormal continuously moving, creating an unsettling, evocative environment.

What I liked best about Risen Apes was its philosophical undercurrents. The story is about more than just mystery and suspense; it also questions the nature of truth and knowing. It made me think about how much we're prepared to risk in search of answers, especially when those answers could cost us more than just our sanity. The characters' psychological depth was riveting, with Damianos and Rickter dealing with their own inner torment in genuine and authentic ways.

While the novel does explore darker issues such as suicide, death, and sexual material, it does so with purpose and never feels gratuitous. The stakes feel personal, and each twist in the story made me question the fundamental nature of what was going on at Vale. The tension gradually rises, drawing you deeper into the mystery, and the ending is both satisfying and haunting.

Risen Apes is not for the faint of heart, but it is a must-read for anyone who enjoys dark academia and metaphysical thrillers. The combination of atmospheric language, philosophical concepts, and suspenseful storytelling kept me flipping pages well into the night. If you're seeking for a novel that will make you doubt reality, this one is definitely worth reading.

✧˖°. ⤷ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Cella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this was an insane reading experience 😅. Like it kept me on the edge of my seat especially toward the last 100 pages or so. I was flipping through them so fast because the story was so interesting. Elaire's writing style is incredibly binge worthy and I loved the two main characters, Damianos and Rickter, especially Rickter. He was just, chef's kiss. Both of them felt like real people to me and our boy Rickter was so flawed and low-key felt like a villain to me at times but I love villains so 🤷🏾‍♀️. His dynamic with Damianos was so captivating to read and the chemistry. THE CHEMISTRY.

I especially loved the exploration of human consciousness and the bleakness of the story. That coupled with the exploration of metaphysics was an aspect that I really enjoyed. It was such a creative interpretation of sleep paralysis. And that grave scene in the greenhouse!!!!! Not to spoil anything but it will live in my head for a while lol.

This might be a mild spoiler but the ending felt open ended. I'm not sure if this is book one in a series ?? Either way the ending felt satisfying in that you can kind of come to your own interpretation. But overall this was so well written. I read Elaire's other book and did enjoy it but I think I enjoyed this one more. It scratched some kind of itch for me that others in the genre haven't. A while ago I read Vicious which isn't technically dark Academia but still about two students playing around with metaphysical stuff. I felt let down by that book. It just didn't hit and the two main characters (can't remember their names) just didn't do it for me. I had gone into Vicious expecting something more like what Risen Apes delivered. So I will definitely say that if you didn't like that book for those reasons then try this one out because it was such a satisfying read as long as you're okay with vague endings.

I received an ARC of this from Rose and Ink Publishing (thank you ) but I can't wait for it to come out so I can have a physical copy.

[Ash’s reading corner ✨🌈 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 NEW FAVORITE !! (I can't wait for the second book!!!)

Publish date of Risen Apes : 11th January

Vana Elaire's writing style is incredible. I read the book in one sitting, and nothing could have made me put the book down before I was done with.

My review won't be too detailed, on purposed, because I think discovering this story without knowing much is the best way to appreciate it. This is a dark academia novel, exploring profound themes such as human consciousness, out-of-body experiences, sleep paralysis, and metaphysics. It also tackles complex questions about religion, existence, the purpose of life, and the limitations of the human mind—all executed with remarkable depth and precision.

Some parts were a bit hard to follow, especially for someone like me who isn't used to read such books, but I don't think the author made it complicated to the point of making it inaccessible.

The two main characters were perfectly written. They both felt REAL. It was easy to relate to them and fall in love with them. The side characters are only included for the sake of the plot; each one has a purposeful role in the story. In addition to their contribution to the main narrative, they are also fascinating in their own right, with their personal struggles and beliefs adding depth to the overall experience. Vana Elaire created conflict and had the characters debating various subjects without ever sounding condescending or judgmental, which can be hard to do when you tackles religion and similar topics.

AND THE ROMANCE? GOD. The romance. The chemistry between Damianos and Rickter is out out his world. Their relationship evolves in such a way that you can't help but need more and more and more. They have such an unique dynamic and complete each other perfectly and as their bond deepens, it becomes impossible not to crave more.

Thank you NetGalley, Rose & Ink Publishing and Vana Elaire for providing me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[aestchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story follows two main characters, Damianos and Rickter, whose perspectives alternate with each chapter. Both are accepted into a school focused on exploring the metaphysical. With personal experiences in this realm, they’re drawn together to deepen their understanding and eventually work on uncovering new insights.

Initially, the characters felt quite flat—both the protagonists and the side characters. However, as the story unfolds, Damianos and Rickter develop more distinct and relatable traits, evolving from one-dimensional figures into well-rounded individuals. This growth is one of the book’s strengths, though some of the interpersonal dynamics felt oddly immature for characters of their supposed age, resembling the behavior of teenagers more than adults.

The book’s approach to communication is particularly intriguing. At times, conversations are refreshingly direct, while at others, they hold back and leave much unsaid, creating tension and keeping the reader engaged. Despite some slow moments, the story became increasingly compelling, and I found myself fully immersed in its world. The metaphysical concepts, especially the idea that the subconscious shapes reality, were fascinating and thought-provoking, making the book an engaging exploration of these themes.

That said, the pacing could have been better. Much of the story unfolds steadily, but the conclusion feels rushed, as if trying to fit too many developments into the final section. The ending felt abrupt—not just because it hopefully sets up a sequel, but because it left so many threads unresolved. Additionally, the frequent mentions of personal care products seemed excessive and distracted from the story.

Overall, the book is gripping and full of exciting ideas, even if it has its flaws. While the characters could have been more consistently developed and some parts of the narrative felt rushed, I enjoyed the journey and am curious to see how this universe will expand in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a weird book. There were some parts I really enjoyed and there were some that I hated. 

Let's start with what I liked, so basically the first half of the story. The introduction of our characters, the idea of this super closed-off school, the mystery of the missing student, and especially the chemistry between our main characters Rickter and Damianos. It all created this fascinating book that I couldn't stop reading. There's a lot of discussing philosophy and metaphysics, building up to the big reveal in the second half of the book.

And that reveal is not what I expected, I like to keep my reviews spoiler free, so I will just say that it's surprising, and for me, it doesn't match the rest of the book. The sudden change in the behaviour of Rickter and Damianos also doesn't make sense for me. They spent most of the book talking with each other, and now they cannot keep their calm and discuss everything? 
And the missing student plot... These two geniuses really didn't connect the dots sooner? 

This whole books feels like the author had a great idea for a story but couldn't figure out how to actually write it. There are few supporting characters, but they only appear for the plot to proceed or to show how smart Rickter is. The plot seems too similar to Schwab's Vicious series (but the characters here actually do something with their attraction to each other), the whole doing risky experiments together only to be divided by their beliefs... The problem is that Vicious does all of these much better (except for the mcs acknowledging how much they want each other) so I rather reread that series than go through Risen Apes again. The ending suggests that there will be another part of this story, but I don't think I will read this. 

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book. 

[Blake]

Rated 4.5/5 stars for The Storygraph and 4/5 for Goodreads.

As an avid fan of Olivie Blake’s The Atlas Six and M.L. Rio’s If We Were Villains (comparable to The Secret History), I was beyond excited to pick this book up. Now, when I tell y’all I devoured this shit… I mean, I obliterated my sleep schedule to finish this book. My friends have seen me do this before–I’ll stay up until like 8 in the morning finishing a book just to wail about how it’s over.

This time, I said, “I swear to fucking god, if there isn’t a second fucking book, I’m going to start a fucking fire.”

Vana Elaire is an incredibly talented author. Her way of writing is captivating and fun, and it’s easy to tell that she really lets herself get into the minds of her main characters. Their narrative voices feel so real and unique to them; Damianos and Rickter felt wholly individual and alive.

I can comfortably say that I definitely saw some things coming. This was at least a tiny bit predictable. However, I can also comfortably say that I didn’t see T H A T coming. You’ll know what if/when you read this. I like to think that I’m pretty damn good at predicting where things will go in a book, but I think Elaire does an amazing job of making sure that you aren’t expecting the ending. It left me with my head in my hands and a need for MORE.

Overall, I genuinely loved these characters (save Tobias and… others…) and cannot wait to see what Elaire does with them in the future. I had such a fun time reading this, even if it made me a bit existential here and there (it absolutely did–I feel like I will never stop thinking about consciousness and humanity and–).

Thank you to NetGalley, Ink & Rose Publishing, and Vana Elaire for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Andrea Rittschof · Rating 5 out of 5]

Risen Apes by Vana Elaire is a philosophical and gothic tale that blends the Metaphysical with science and academia. From the beginning, the secrecy surrounding the Vale adds the mystique and allure of the story along with the compelling natures of Damianos and Rickter. Each is intelligent but come together from different directions. The bond between them and the relationship weaves an intriguing narrative.
What the story does well is blend together secrets and how the pair delve into the power of the mind in the search for the truth. And yet, what they find leads to a truth that could be more dangerous than they expect. I also love how each character encounters and delves into the nature of reality. And when they do discover that illumination, I like how it twists and warps the connection between them, leading to an ending that will make you want more from these characters and this world.
If you like philosophical and gothic stories, this one is fascinating. It is all about both connections and bonds but also secrets and truth, about the metaphysical and the nature of reality. And at the end, you might question what you would do with the dangerous truth the pair discover, would you take the dark approach or would you want to create a beautiful world? I love how the story ends without a true resolution to that question, leading the reader to determine which is the better answer. This is a powerful and intriguing novel with intense ideas.

[Lyb · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.25 stars*
This was so good! I had such a good time reading this book. The story was super compelling and interesting, things went really badly really fast by the end, and I couldn't stop reading! I was totally not expecting all those twists and where the story was going lol
I also really like both MCs, they were really similar in some ways, but also had very different ways of thinking and different morals, that it truly made me think about our human consciousness. It kinda made me have an existential crisis!
I loved the chemistry between Damianos and Rickter, and their relationship was so interesting. I'm really looking forward to a next book! (maybe? PLEASE!) The ending felt like it could have a sequel, but it could also just be an open ending. I just really want to read more about this world and characters!
This really felt like a villain origin story, and I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ink & Rose Publishing, and Vana Elaire for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[cottageannotations · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has become my entire personality. I'm still recovering from the emotional rollercoaster it put me through. It's completely altered my brain chemistry and has become a new favourite of mine. 

This might be one of the most thought-provoking dark academia books I've ever read. From start to finish, every element of this book drew me in (and I can't stress enough how much it got me thinking!) I went into this book blindly, only reading the blurb and I highly recommend going into Risen Apes with as little knowledge as possible to fully immerse yourself in the experience.

I was hooked from the very first page. The writing is poetic yet informative with such a clear tone, language and pacing that really swept me away.
 
Damianos and Rickter are both well-written characters, different sides of the same coin, who feel real. Vana has done an incredible job of letting us into their minds and allowing us to see how they evolve throughout the story. I need book 2 immediately!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Vana Elaire for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Elpida · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very thankful to have gotten to read this book as an arc . This is a 3.5 star read but I rounded it up to a 4. I really enjoyed this book. The plot, the characters, the romance, the setting, everything was so perfect. It definitely gave off the secret history vibes. It was going to be a 4.5 star read but I disliked the last 20 percent of the book. It felt like we lost all the romance development and it also felt a bit rushed. Some decisions also felt like they didn't fit the characters and that threw me off. But it was still very interesting. There were so many plot twists that I didn't see coming and they left me on the edge of my seat.
The ending felt like there will be a second book which I really hope for, but then again it could also be an open ending. I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the secret history.

[akira · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We are born of risen apes, not fallen angels."

This was absolutely delightful to read. I usually hate comparing books but this felt a lot like The Atlas Six in some ways. There's a lot of time spent discussing theory; of philosophy, of mysticism, of people, of the world. In Atlas Six the theory is meant to explore the world to reveal the character (at least in my opinion). Here, the theory is used to explore the character, and slowly reveal the world.

In my notes, while reading, I put down at chapter 10, Rickter and Damianos were already anomalies in each other's lives. Instead of feeling rushed it feels inevitable. Reading them orbit each other and then finally come together was climatic. Reading them fracture was just a devastating.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for a ARC of this book.

[Lydia Hephzibah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.0

Setting: Pennsylvania
Rep: queer protagonists, Black author

This concept has so much potential but this book is a really poor execution. The writing left a lot to be desired - it needs to be edited heavily - and there's a LOT of repetition. I got very tired of the characters constant ranting about being brought into this world without consent. The main characters were very similar and difficult to distinguish and the side characters had no fleshing out at all. Despite being set in a university, we only see about 2 classes and for the most part it's big time jumps and long conversations. There was little chemistry between the boys, and the two sex scenes came out of nowhere and were poorly written. This needs SO much work. Also, the end was just stupid and way too rushed.

[angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and rose & ink publishing for the arc~

"we were born of risen apes, not fallen angels"

this was my first read of 2025, and it did not disappoint. i found myself itching to continue damianos' and rickter's stories. the premise follows them as they attend the mysterious vale academy, a school that studies the metaphysical, NDEs/OBEs, and human consciousness, to name a few.

i won't delve too deeply into the plot, bc i feel like it's one of those stories that you need to experience yourself with little to no background. the chemistry between our MCs was palpable. i started to kind of hate rickter towards the end, but when i finished the book and thought about it, i was like OHH i get it now lmaooo

[Michael Blackford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took a bit for me to get into, but once I did, I was hooked!

Our main characters, Damianos and Rockter have been accepted into a highly secretive school, Vale Academy, where the boys start working with human consciousness and somewhat paranormal experiences.

There is a lot to unpack with this one, and some twists you won’t expect. I’m hoping there will be a second book, because there were several issues that weren’t really tied up at the end of this one.

If you were a fan of the Matrix movies, this would be a good book for you to read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher/author for this copy of the book.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley for providing me an e-arc!

this was interesting, but at times was so slow in revealing information that it lost some points for me. the two main characters are interesting, doing research together of sleep paralysis and out of body experiences and realizing they are in over their heads once it was far to late. their perspectives are unique and the way that each POV is set up is character building in itself. watching the pressure mount was tense and interesting as these characters quickly fall in and out of a relationship was fun!

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Risen Apes,” by Vana Elaire

A M/M academy relationship with supernatural aspects to the plot was interesting. I liked the main characters and their relationship. I liked the book and the plot over all but it’s a little too religious and philosophical for my taste. It was a good book though, just not something I would read again. 3 out of 5 stars.

-Academy
-Supernatural
-M/M
-Religious/ Philosophical

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

really thrilling story with some awesome themes. it was very well written and worked quite effectlviely. 4.5 stars, rounded up. tysm for the arc.

[Sarah]

DNF 25%