What do you think?
Rate this book
Giants Rise
She bonded too soon.
Now humanity's war may depend on her!
The All-Father has given the Tribes of Men many gifts to aid in their ancient war against the giants, but the most special is the ability of some to bond with animals. Those with the ability to bond are sent every year to one of the four Great Lodges to train so that they can eventually bond to a powerful animal. This path is essential to winning the war against the giants and ensuring humanity's survival.
Sira has spent her whole life preparing for this, but when she accidentally bonds early in a moment of need it throws her whole life plan into jeopardy.
Will her bond be strong enough to make a difference?
Now humanity's war may depend on her!
The All-Father has given the Tribes of Men many gifts to aid in their ancient war against the giants, but the most special is the ability of some to bond with animals. Those with the ability to bond are sent every year to one of the four Great Lodges to train so that they can eventually bond to a powerful animal. This path is essential to winning the war against the giants and ensuring humanity's survival.
Sira has spent her whole life preparing for this, but when she accidentally bonds early in a moment of need it throws her whole life plan into jeopardy.
Will her bond be strong enough to make a difference?
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 10, 2026
Narnia meets Harry Potter
The stakes rise quickly in this story for ages 9 - 99. While you won’t find a crunchy magic system or hundreds of pages of worldbuilding, the author quickly finds his strength at the core of the novel. The relationships between the characters are compelling and I quickly found myself invested. Sira’s classic coming of age story evoked feelings I remember from reading books like Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia as a kid. I was surprised by how quickly I became attached to Tatiana, Sasha, and even Ivan. Looking forward to the next book!
The stakes rise quickly in this story for ages 9 - 99. While you won’t find a crunchy magic system or hundreds of pages of worldbuilding, the author quickly finds his strength at the core of the novel. The relationships between the characters are compelling and I quickly found myself invested. Sira’s classic coming of age story evoked feelings I remember from reading books like Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia as a kid. I was surprised by how quickly I became attached to Tatiana, Sasha, and even Ivan. Looking forward to the next book!
July 7, 2026
Couldn't stop reading
You know how for some books sometimes you intend to just read one chapter and end up staying up till 3 AM to finish? Giants Rise is one of those books that, once started, is impossible to put down. I have read many stories about animal bonds over the years, but never one where the main character bonds an ermine. I fell in love with the creature from the first time it appeared on-page. Luchka (the ermine) is direct, honest, and tenacious with a healthy dose of humor. Sira may be a teenager but I appreciated her character. She stands up for what's right, isn't afraid to run from a fight, and can still acknowledge her limits. Her and her friend group forge strong friendships throughout the book, demonstrating loyalty. I think the instructors are dynamic with stories of their own which is rare in these types of stories when there are more than one. There is clearly a story of good versus evil but with nuance. I liked the emphasis on looking beyond behavior to understand the reason behind it. Sometimes there's a reason. Other times, there's not, but one's background doesn't dictate his/her future. I also think it was important the way the instructors explained the validity of having multiple approaches to achieve a task. More literary characters need to practice critical thinking without snap judgments!
Giants Rise ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! This book is clean in language, though there is some mild bathroom humor. Content is a little heavier for younger readers but should be fine for middle grade readers and older. Highly recommend for readers who enjoy animal bonds, engaging stories, and compelling characters.
Age Range: 12+
Genre: Middle Grade YA Christian Fantasy.
Language: Clean. There is some mild bathroom humor, but there's no profanity.
Romance: None. All relationships between characters are platonic friendship.
Violence: Moderate-Heavy. The students are there to train for war with the giants and protect the people from einu. There are courses involving combat. Tests involve fighting. Characters are injured and killed by each other, giants, and einu. The giants’ magic stones require human sacrifice, and there is mention of cannibalism.
Mood: Moderate. Sira's concerns are primarily related to their academic training camp, including fitting in, managing the bond, and studying alongside her friends. However, there are moments that are very intense and emotionally charged, usually during or after fight scenes.
Worldbuilding: Solid. The animal bonds are fascinating in how they provide supernatural skills to both parties involved. The culture and people feature prominently. There's a history that goes back centuries, and it adds a layer of depth and richness to the present day conflict.
You know how for some books sometimes you intend to just read one chapter and end up staying up till 3 AM to finish? Giants Rise is one of those books that, once started, is impossible to put down. I have read many stories about animal bonds over the years, but never one where the main character bonds an ermine. I fell in love with the creature from the first time it appeared on-page. Luchka (the ermine) is direct, honest, and tenacious with a healthy dose of humor. Sira may be a teenager but I appreciated her character. She stands up for what's right, isn't afraid to run from a fight, and can still acknowledge her limits. Her and her friend group forge strong friendships throughout the book, demonstrating loyalty. I think the instructors are dynamic with stories of their own which is rare in these types of stories when there are more than one. There is clearly a story of good versus evil but with nuance. I liked the emphasis on looking beyond behavior to understand the reason behind it. Sometimes there's a reason. Other times, there's not, but one's background doesn't dictate his/her future. I also think it was important the way the instructors explained the validity of having multiple approaches to achieve a task. More literary characters need to practice critical thinking without snap judgments!
Giants Rise ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! This book is clean in language, though there is some mild bathroom humor. Content is a little heavier for younger readers but should be fine for middle grade readers and older. Highly recommend for readers who enjoy animal bonds, engaging stories, and compelling characters.
Age Range: 12+
Genre: Middle Grade YA Christian Fantasy.
Language: Clean. There is some mild bathroom humor, but there's no profanity.
Romance: None. All relationships between characters are platonic friendship.
Violence: Moderate-Heavy. The students are there to train for war with the giants and protect the people from einu. There are courses involving combat. Tests involve fighting. Characters are injured and killed by each other, giants, and einu. The giants’ magic stones require human sacrifice, and there is mention of cannibalism.
Mood: Moderate. Sira's concerns are primarily related to their academic training camp, including fitting in, managing the bond, and studying alongside her friends. However, there are moments that are very intense and emotionally charged, usually during or after fight scenes.
Worldbuilding: Solid. The animal bonds are fascinating in how they provide supernatural skills to both parties involved. The culture and people feature prominently. There's a history that goes back centuries, and it adds a layer of depth and richness to the present day conflict.
September 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.75/5
This was such a fun, quick fantasy read! I think this book would especially appeal to younger fantasy readers who are looking for an adventurous story without an overwhelming amount of worldbuilding or complicated magic systems.
I really enjoyed following Sira as she navigates an unexpected bond that completely changes the path she had spent her whole life preparing for. Her journey has that classic coming-of-age feel, and it reminded me a little of the kind of wonder and adventure I loved in books like Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia when I was younger. 🥹✨
One of my favourite parts was definitely the relationships between the characters. The story doesn't spend hundreds of pages building its world, but it quickly gives you characters to care about.
The stakes also rise pretty quickly, which kept the story moving and made it an easy read. I did find myself wanting a little more depth in the world and some of its elements, but I think the simpler approach works well for the audience this book seems to be written for.
Overall, Giants Rise is a charming coming-of-age fantasy filled with adventure, friendship, animal bonds, and a young protagonist trying to figure out where she belongs.
A sweet choice for younger fantasy readers or anyone looking for a lighter, easy-to-read adventure! 📚💗
This was such a fun, quick fantasy read! I think this book would especially appeal to younger fantasy readers who are looking for an adventurous story without an overwhelming amount of worldbuilding or complicated magic systems.
I really enjoyed following Sira as she navigates an unexpected bond that completely changes the path she had spent her whole life preparing for. Her journey has that classic coming-of-age feel, and it reminded me a little of the kind of wonder and adventure I loved in books like Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia when I was younger. 🥹✨
One of my favourite parts was definitely the relationships between the characters. The story doesn't spend hundreds of pages building its world, but it quickly gives you characters to care about.
The stakes also rise pretty quickly, which kept the story moving and made it an easy read. I did find myself wanting a little more depth in the world and some of its elements, but I think the simpler approach works well for the audience this book seems to be written for.
Overall, Giants Rise is a charming coming-of-age fantasy filled with adventure, friendship, animal bonds, and a young protagonist trying to figure out where she belongs.
A sweet choice for younger fantasy readers or anyone looking for a lighter, easy-to-read adventure! 📚💗
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews