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Luminous Rise
On the highest cliff of Sanska, lies a garden above the sea, where the sun leans down to grant worthy citizens elemental magic . .
Cyra is anxious to attend her Sun Ceremony and dreams of being chosen for the elite Sun Court like her sister, Eden. But when her Sun ceremony takes a surprising turn, Cyra draws the suspicion of the four powerful Empyreans, and her bright future crumbles.
The Empyreans order Cyra into elemental training until she proves her magic is not dangerous. When Cyra discovers her sister Eden is missing, she aligns with Atlas, a handsome outlier with his own secrets. Together, they search for their magic’s purpose and the reason why magic in Sanska is fading.
As Cyra and Atlas delve deeper into the Sun Court, they learn that too much power can corrupt anyone and that Sanska’s history was purposefully rewritten. Cyra and Atlas race to uncover the truth before their unusual power condemns them to exile, and Eden, along with Sanska’s true magical history, are lost forever.
Cyra is anxious to attend her Sun Ceremony and dreams of being chosen for the elite Sun Court like her sister, Eden. But when her Sun ceremony takes a surprising turn, Cyra draws the suspicion of the four powerful Empyreans, and her bright future crumbles.
The Empyreans order Cyra into elemental training until she proves her magic is not dangerous. When Cyra discovers her sister Eden is missing, she aligns with Atlas, a handsome outlier with his own secrets. Together, they search for their magic’s purpose and the reason why magic in Sanska is fading.
As Cyra and Atlas delve deeper into the Sun Court, they learn that too much power can corrupt anyone and that Sanska’s history was purposefully rewritten. Cyra and Atlas race to uncover the truth before their unusual power condemns them to exile, and Eden, along with Sanska’s true magical history, are lost forever.
404 pages, Paperback
Published July 28, 2026
About the author
Sara Knightly
4 books78 followersSara Knightly is the author of Secrets Ever Green, Castle Ever Dark, Forest Ever White, and her newest release, Luminous Rise. Her books have been selected by Barnes & Noble as a Top Indie Favorite.
Sara lives in Idaho with her husband and two daughters. When they're not exploring, Sara spends her days dreaming up the next story idea, searching for the perfect coffee shop, or planning another trip to the Redwood Forest.
For information on upcoming releases, ARCs, giveaways, and exclusive content, join the newsletter at https://www.saraknightlybooks.com/
Instagram: @saraknightlybooks
Sara lives in Idaho with her husband and two daughters. When they're not exploring, Sara spends her days dreaming up the next story idea, searching for the perfect coffee shop, or planning another trip to the Redwood Forest.
For information on upcoming releases, ARCs, giveaways, and exclusive content, join the newsletter at https://www.saraknightlybooks.com/
Instagram: @saraknightlybooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 23, 2026
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ALC
4.5/5 ⭐️
Sara Knightly has created such a captivating YA world filled with mystery, magic and intrigue. The writing painted such vivid imagery in my mind, and I thought the world-building was exceptional. I loved discovering the different magical elements and gradually uncovering the mysteries surrounding power, its origins, and the corruption that can come with it.
Cyra was such a wonderful protagonist. She’s kind, intelligent and determined, but with an appealing naivety that made her journey all the more enjoyable. Watching her search for the truth and grow into her own sense of power and confidence was one of my favourite parts of the story. Along the way, she’s surrounded by genuine friendships and the sweetest slow-burn first love.
And Atlas… I absolutely loved him. The chemistry between him and Cyra was so lovely, particularly the immediate sense of trust between them despite how many unknowns surrounded their situation. Their relationship added such a warm, emotional layer to all the mystery and magic.
I did guess the connection between Atlas and some of the later characters, but that honestly didn’t take away from the enjoyment at all. This was such a fun, atmospheric standalone with a really intriguing world, and I would 100% read more books set in this universe. ✨
4.5/5 ⭐️
Sara Knightly has created such a captivating YA world filled with mystery, magic and intrigue. The writing painted such vivid imagery in my mind, and I thought the world-building was exceptional. I loved discovering the different magical elements and gradually uncovering the mysteries surrounding power, its origins, and the corruption that can come with it.
Cyra was such a wonderful protagonist. She’s kind, intelligent and determined, but with an appealing naivety that made her journey all the more enjoyable. Watching her search for the truth and grow into her own sense of power and confidence was one of my favourite parts of the story. Along the way, she’s surrounded by genuine friendships and the sweetest slow-burn first love.
And Atlas… I absolutely loved him. The chemistry between him and Cyra was so lovely, particularly the immediate sense of trust between them despite how many unknowns surrounded their situation. Their relationship added such a warm, emotional layer to all the mystery and magic.
I did guess the connection between Atlas and some of the later characters, but that honestly didn’t take away from the enjoyment at all. This was such a fun, atmospheric standalone with a really intriguing world, and I would 100% read more books set in this universe. ✨
August 18, 2026
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Sara Knightly has once again created a wonderful YA world full of mystery and magic. Few authors have the ability to create such vivid images in my head, and Sara is one of them.
I was immediately drawn into the world of Sanska and its wonderous elemental power and earthly beauty. From start to finish, this story felt like sunshine, warmth and pure delight.
I enjoyed following Cyra on her journey of wielding magic, learning how powerful she really is, developing true friendships and finding love. Luminous Rise encapsulates many different life lessons – learning who to trust, the importance of self-belief and the joy that building relationships with those around you can bring.
If you love magic, mystery and cozy vibes, Luminous Rise is for you!
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
Sara Knightly has once again created a wonderful YA world full of mystery and magic. Few authors have the ability to create such vivid images in my head, and Sara is one of them.
I was immediately drawn into the world of Sanska and its wonderous elemental power and earthly beauty. From start to finish, this story felt like sunshine, warmth and pure delight.
I enjoyed following Cyra on her journey of wielding magic, learning how powerful she really is, developing true friendships and finding love. Luminous Rise encapsulates many different life lessons – learning who to trust, the importance of self-belief and the joy that building relationships with those around you can bring.
If you love magic, mystery and cozy vibes, Luminous Rise is for you!
(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)
September 30, 2026
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ALC. My opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book! I listened to it every chance I got. I was curious, especially in the beginning, of how the world building would unfold. I liked the mix of religious tones and mythological creatures. The plot is predictable, but I found that I didn't mind that because there were no annoying characters. Overall, a really pleasant read.
I really enjoyed this book! I listened to it every chance I got. I was curious, especially in the beginning, of how the world building would unfold. I liked the mix of religious tones and mythological creatures. The plot is predictable, but I found that I didn't mind that because there were no annoying characters. Overall, a really pleasant read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley and the author.
Publication Date: July 28, 2026
4.25 stars!
Oh my goodness, this book was absolutely enthralling!!! With a richly developed world, a unique magic system, and strong leading characters, Luminous Rise by Sara Knightly is a stunning story of hope, justice, and following truth (The Divine in this novel) instead of the ways of the world. It was so hard to put down this book as every chapter draws you deeper into a vibrant world!
Cyra is a strong FMC with a gentleness and naïvety drawing a sense of realness into the story. Atlas… he’s honestly such a wonderful MMC. He has genuine care for others as well as a strong drive to protect them. Both demonstrate kindness, mercy, and forgiveness, though both are not without faults and stumbles of their own.
Now, I do wish the characters (mainly the side characters) could have been fleshed out a little bit more. There was the push and pull to some extent, but at times the characters felt as if they were missing that aspect of a relationship. The ending also felt a little rushed— that wanting for more from the resolution— but overall the pacing felt natural!
This is a clean read: no spice (non-descriptive kissing occurs two-to-three times) and no swearing! Thank you, Sara Knightly!!! Other content considerations: magic system (though there is no ‘dark’ magic), manipulation, deception as well as non-graphic scenes involving (or touching on) violence, injury, and death. The creator of the world within the book is known as the Divine, who longs for a personal relationship with his people, though there are a group who manipulate the people in believing they are not ‘good enough’ to know the Divine and must trust this group to do it for them. The magic is element-based and a gift from the Divine.
Overall, this was such an incredible read, and I highly recommend if you enjoy fast-paced, clean, YA, slow-burn, cozy, unique mythology/magic system, and beautifully written books!!! Also, the setting was exquisite as it is based in the Greek Isles.
Happy reading :)
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Portal Publishing, and Sara Knightly for providing this ARC of Luminous Rise in exchange for a free, honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Publication Date: July 28, 2026
4.25 stars!
Oh my goodness, this book was absolutely enthralling!!! With a richly developed world, a unique magic system, and strong leading characters, Luminous Rise by Sara Knightly is a stunning story of hope, justice, and following truth (The Divine in this novel) instead of the ways of the world. It was so hard to put down this book as every chapter draws you deeper into a vibrant world!
Cyra is a strong FMC with a gentleness and naïvety drawing a sense of realness into the story. Atlas… he’s honestly such a wonderful MMC. He has genuine care for others as well as a strong drive to protect them. Both demonstrate kindness, mercy, and forgiveness, though both are not without faults and stumbles of their own.
Now, I do wish the characters (mainly the side characters) could have been fleshed out a little bit more. There was the push and pull to some extent, but at times the characters felt as if they were missing that aspect of a relationship. The ending also felt a little rushed— that wanting for more from the resolution— but overall the pacing felt natural!
This is a clean read: no spice (non-descriptive kissing occurs two-to-three times) and no swearing! Thank you, Sara Knightly!!! Other content considerations: magic system (though there is no ‘dark’ magic), manipulation, deception as well as non-graphic scenes involving (or touching on) violence, injury, and death. The creator of the world within the book is known as the Divine, who longs for a personal relationship with his people, though there are a group who manipulate the people in believing they are not ‘good enough’ to know the Divine and must trust this group to do it for them. The magic is element-based and a gift from the Divine.
Overall, this was such an incredible read, and I highly recommend if you enjoy fast-paced, clean, YA, slow-burn, cozy, unique mythology/magic system, and beautifully written books!!! Also, the setting was exquisite as it is based in the Greek Isles.
Happy reading :)
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Portal Publishing, and Sara Knightly for providing this ARC of Luminous Rise in exchange for a free, honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
July 21, 2026
This book feels like sunshine, from the very first moment to the very end.
I enjoyed learning about each magical element and the intrigue that leads you into entangled paths of mystery and power (and the corruption it brings forth). The main character, Cyra, is kind and intelligent along with an endearing sense of naivete. Her path to truth and empowerment is supported with genuine friendships and the sweetest slow burn first love. I loved the chemistry between Cyra and Atlas - and the immediate trust amidst so many unknowns.
The world building and character development are in-depth and slowly build up the story for the first half, then the mystery and hunt for truth pull you all the way in. This journey includes unexpected results and plot twists, magical trials, mysterious strangers, secrets, and learning who to trust.
This is a perfect summer read! It highlights believing in self and divine guidance over blind trust, as well as forgiveness, and the power of community. I felt so much unconditional love written in these pages - this book truly feels so delightful and heart-warming to read.
So much gratitude and thanks to the author, NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Portal Publishing for an ARC of this book.
This book is spice free.
Content: Very lite/gentle undercurrents of de*th, grief, and m*rder
I enjoyed learning about each magical element and the intrigue that leads you into entangled paths of mystery and power (and the corruption it brings forth). The main character, Cyra, is kind and intelligent along with an endearing sense of naivete. Her path to truth and empowerment is supported with genuine friendships and the sweetest slow burn first love. I loved the chemistry between Cyra and Atlas - and the immediate trust amidst so many unknowns.
The world building and character development are in-depth and slowly build up the story for the first half, then the mystery and hunt for truth pull you all the way in. This journey includes unexpected results and plot twists, magical trials, mysterious strangers, secrets, and learning who to trust.
This is a perfect summer read! It highlights believing in self and divine guidance over blind trust, as well as forgiveness, and the power of community. I felt so much unconditional love written in these pages - this book truly feels so delightful and heart-warming to read.
So much gratitude and thanks to the author, NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Portal Publishing for an ARC of this book.
This book is spice free.
Content: Very lite/gentle undercurrents of de*th, grief, and m*rder
October 19, 2026
Luminous Rise
A fresh standalone fantasy set in the greek isles, filled with elemental magic, cozy sun lore, and a slow burn romance.
by Sara Knightly, author and with Grace Noble, narrator.
Rated: 5 star rating
I just finished listening to the audiobook Luminous Rise by Sara Knightly, and it is a really great fantasy story. It takes place on a cool coastal island called Sanska, where the sun gives people elemental magic. The main character, Cyra, is super sweet and just wants to pass her Sun Ceremony so she can join the elite Sun Court with her sister, Eden. But during the ceremony, something goes totally wrong with Cyra's magic, and the powerful rulers of the island get really suspicious of her.
Things get crazy when the rulers force Cyra into strict training. Her sister Eden suddenly goes missing, and the island's magic starts fading away. Cyra has to team up with a mysterious guy named Atlas, who is an outcast and has a lot of secrets.
They end up investigating the missing sister, dealing with magical trials, and finding out that the island's rulers have been lying about their history for a long time.
My favorite part of the book is definitely the romance between Cyra and Atlas. It is a slow burn where they actually learn to trust each other and talk through their problems in a world where everyone else is lying to them.
Grace Noble does an awesome job narrating the audiobook. She makes Cyra sound strong and determined, and she gives Atlas a really great protective vibe.
It is a completely clean romance, which is really nice. Since this is a standalone book, the whole mystery gets wrapped up perfectly by the end, so you do not have to worry about a frustrating cliffhanger. It is a perfect, fun listen if you want a good fantasy book.
Thank you, NetGalley, Portal Publishing, LLC, and author, Sara Knightly, and Grace Noble narrator, for providing me with a copy of this ebook for review consideration. All review opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#PortalPublishingLLC
#Sara Knightly
#Grace Noble narrator
#LuminousRise
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
A fresh standalone fantasy set in the greek isles, filled with elemental magic, cozy sun lore, and a slow burn romance.
by Sara Knightly, author and with Grace Noble, narrator.
Rated: 5 star rating
I just finished listening to the audiobook Luminous Rise by Sara Knightly, and it is a really great fantasy story. It takes place on a cool coastal island called Sanska, where the sun gives people elemental magic. The main character, Cyra, is super sweet and just wants to pass her Sun Ceremony so she can join the elite Sun Court with her sister, Eden. But during the ceremony, something goes totally wrong with Cyra's magic, and the powerful rulers of the island get really suspicious of her.
Things get crazy when the rulers force Cyra into strict training. Her sister Eden suddenly goes missing, and the island's magic starts fading away. Cyra has to team up with a mysterious guy named Atlas, who is an outcast and has a lot of secrets.
They end up investigating the missing sister, dealing with magical trials, and finding out that the island's rulers have been lying about their history for a long time.
My favorite part of the book is definitely the romance between Cyra and Atlas. It is a slow burn where they actually learn to trust each other and talk through their problems in a world where everyone else is lying to them.
Grace Noble does an awesome job narrating the audiobook. She makes Cyra sound strong and determined, and she gives Atlas a really great protective vibe.
It is a completely clean romance, which is really nice. Since this is a standalone book, the whole mystery gets wrapped up perfectly by the end, so you do not have to worry about a frustrating cliffhanger. It is a perfect, fun listen if you want a good fantasy book.
Thank you, NetGalley, Portal Publishing, LLC, and author, Sara Knightly, and Grace Noble narrator, for providing me with a copy of this ebook for review consideration. All review opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#PortalPublishingLLC
#Sara Knightly
#Grace Noble narrator
#LuminousRise
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
September 15, 2026
Sara Knightly delivers the perfect blend of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s elemental magic and the dystopian slow burn of Divergent for a groundbreaking 4⭐️ Young Adult fantasy!
On the highest cliff of Sanska lies a garden above the sea, where the sun shines down to grant worthy citizens elemental magic…
Cyra dreams of being imbued with elemental magic and chosen for the elite Sun Court like her sister, Eden, before her. But when her Sun ceremony takes a surprising turn, the four governing Empyreans turn their focus on her. The Empyreans order Cyra into elemental training until she can prove her magic is not dangerous. But when Cyra discovers her sister Eden is missing, she aligns with Atlas, a handsome outlier with his own secrets and reasons that brought him to the garden. As Cyra and Atlas delve deeper into the shadows of the Sun Court, they learn that too much power can corrupt anyone and that history can be rewritten. Cyra and Atlas race to uncover the truth before their unusual power condemns them to exile, and Eden, along with Sanska’s true magical history, are lost forever.
I truly enjoyed the elemental magic aspects and the mysteries that lead you into an entangled web of rewritten history and the downsides of unrestricted power. The world-building and character development are in-depth, which may make it feel like the first half of the book is slow, but serves a necessary purpose as lies unravel and our heroes face down their governing forces.
Additionally, I love a young adult fantasy because authors just KNOW how to write tension and yearning without it needing to spill over into spice. Cyra and Atlas are unbelievably cute together, and I truly don’t have many complaints about their relationship overall when we take into account their ages and the forced proximity of threats to them at all times.
The audiobook, narrated by Grace Noble, is such a fun way to experience this story. Noble truly captures Cyra’s determination at odds with her naivety as she progresses throughout the Sun Court and hones her powers.
☀️ Elemental Magic
🌙 Slow Burn Romance
☀️ ATLA x Divergent
🌙 Political Intrigue
☀️ YA Fantasy
Thank you to NetGalley, Portal Publishing LLC, and the author for the ALC - I’m so excited to share my honest opinions!
On the highest cliff of Sanska lies a garden above the sea, where the sun shines down to grant worthy citizens elemental magic…
Cyra dreams of being imbued with elemental magic and chosen for the elite Sun Court like her sister, Eden, before her. But when her Sun ceremony takes a surprising turn, the four governing Empyreans turn their focus on her. The Empyreans order Cyra into elemental training until she can prove her magic is not dangerous. But when Cyra discovers her sister Eden is missing, she aligns with Atlas, a handsome outlier with his own secrets and reasons that brought him to the garden. As Cyra and Atlas delve deeper into the shadows of the Sun Court, they learn that too much power can corrupt anyone and that history can be rewritten. Cyra and Atlas race to uncover the truth before their unusual power condemns them to exile, and Eden, along with Sanska’s true magical history, are lost forever.
I truly enjoyed the elemental magic aspects and the mysteries that lead you into an entangled web of rewritten history and the downsides of unrestricted power. The world-building and character development are in-depth, which may make it feel like the first half of the book is slow, but serves a necessary purpose as lies unravel and our heroes face down their governing forces.
Additionally, I love a young adult fantasy because authors just KNOW how to write tension and yearning without it needing to spill over into spice. Cyra and Atlas are unbelievably cute together, and I truly don’t have many complaints about their relationship overall when we take into account their ages and the forced proximity of threats to them at all times.
The audiobook, narrated by Grace Noble, is such a fun way to experience this story. Noble truly captures Cyra’s determination at odds with her naivety as she progresses throughout the Sun Court and hones her powers.
☀️ Elemental Magic
🌙 Slow Burn Romance
☀️ ATLA x Divergent
🌙 Political Intrigue
☀️ YA Fantasy
Thank you to NetGalley, Portal Publishing LLC, and the author for the ALC - I’m so excited to share my honest opinions!
August 26, 2026
Unique standalone, definitely a must read!!
I got this as an arc and was intrigued by synopsis and how unique the magic system was. This is a kingdom that has elemental powers gifted to wield an element after going through the sun ceremony. Cyra and Atlas go on a journey to discover truths that were buried and to bring everything to the light. I really love how sweet and determined Cyra is. How she is very devoted to doing the right thing even if she is outcasted by the elite. Atlas is also sweet, determined to expose the lies and help Cyra with her powers. Its not a slow burn or an instant love but still leaves you wanting more of them together. how they feel connected right away in more ways than their powers. This a unique way of how they receive their elements which is through the sun and the Divines are the ones who grant them the elemental powers. This was such a fun read that im sad is over but hope she makes other interconnected standalones. Definitely recommend for something different that isn't a long series!
I got this as an arc and was intrigued by synopsis and how unique the magic system was. This is a kingdom that has elemental powers gifted to wield an element after going through the sun ceremony. Cyra and Atlas go on a journey to discover truths that were buried and to bring everything to the light. I really love how sweet and determined Cyra is. How she is very devoted to doing the right thing even if she is outcasted by the elite. Atlas is also sweet, determined to expose the lies and help Cyra with her powers. Its not a slow burn or an instant love but still leaves you wanting more of them together. how they feel connected right away in more ways than their powers. This a unique way of how they receive their elements which is through the sun and the Divines are the ones who grant them the elemental powers. This was such a fun read that im sad is over but hope she makes other interconnected standalones. Definitely recommend for something different that isn't a long series!
September 20, 2026
I quite enjoyed this. I think it’s been a while since I’ve read about a kind-hearted female lead in Fantasy, Cyra feels so wholesome. I could understand her naivety since she technically has been idolizing the Sun Court. I do wish she showed an even bigger reaction when she realized that what she had known and believed were in fact lies. I really liked the quote: “So they gave us rules and called them truths.”
The slow burn was nice too. There was instant attraction, but they took time cultivating it into something more.
I wanted to know more about the Divine and Eden’s time in the Sun Court. Also hoped for more of a found family vibe but didn’t get so much of that unfortunately. And I wanted a bit more from the ending — I thought we would see how they would catch the Lexon and the fetter-maker (?) and I wanted to know what they would do about the possible tensions with the Tides coming back. But they did address it as future directions, so I guess it wasn’t too bad. Overall, I enjoyed this book.
Thank you to the author, Portal Publishing LLC, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the audiobook!
The slow burn was nice too. There was instant attraction, but they took time cultivating it into something more.
I wanted to know more about the Divine and Eden’s time in the Sun Court. Also hoped for more of a found family vibe but didn’t get so much of that unfortunately. And I wanted a bit more from the ending — I thought we would see how they would catch the Lexon and the fetter-maker (?) and I wanted to know what they would do about the possible tensions with the Tides coming back. But they did address it as future directions, so I guess it wasn’t too bad. Overall, I enjoyed this book.
Thank you to the author, Portal Publishing LLC, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the audiobook!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2026
This is the first 5 star I've rated in a while, so I was very ready for a book I loved. Luminous Rise is a clean YA fantasy stand alone, all things which I loved. Cyra was also a great MC. She was kind, strong, empathetic, ready to stand up for herself and others, and willing to do the right thing, even if the result will be negative for her. It's a refreshing change from many other main characters I've read. Atlas is also devoted, kind, and a great support for her. Overall, their slow burn romance was perfect. I loved the character arc that Cyra had too. The world-building was wonderful, the pacing was good, and I loved the elemental magic. The narrator was also great. My only drawback was that some of the points brought up weren't resolved at the end. But they were minor enough that it's not enough to knock off a star.
October 13, 2026
Luminous rise is a well-structured young adult fantasy with elemental magic, an academia atmosphere and a tiny subplot of romance
The first few chapters reminded me about The Trial of the Sun Queen with a character sharing a name and the sun tacking a huge part of the story. But the story is quite different, I realized quickly.
I loved the world building ! This was seamless. I was eager to learn more and more about this magic system and how the divine was giving magic to people. This took a huge part of the story and I think it was the main strength of the book.
The plot is a bit predictable, but to be fair, it is for young adults so it is completely expected.
The narrator of the audiobook, Grace Noble, give maybe a little too much hints about who to trust with her voice but does a great job overall.
Thank you NetGalley, the author, the narrator and everyone involved for this ALC.
The first few chapters reminded me about The Trial of the Sun Queen with a character sharing a name and the sun tacking a huge part of the story. But the story is quite different, I realized quickly.
I loved the world building ! This was seamless. I was eager to learn more and more about this magic system and how the divine was giving magic to people. This took a huge part of the story and I think it was the main strength of the book.
The plot is a bit predictable, but to be fair, it is for young adults so it is completely expected.
The narrator of the audiobook, Grace Noble, give maybe a little too much hints about who to trust with her voice but does a great job overall.
Thank you NetGalley, the author, the narrator and everyone involved for this ALC.
October 1, 2026
The magic system of this world is so freaking cool, elemental magic is always a favorite of mine and the way she made it her own was incredibly fun.
I also appreciated how this book was an actual standalone. A new world and characters were introduced and by the end of it I had basically all of my questions answered and wrapped up in a nice little bow. I definitely wouldn't mind exploring this world more but I love how this one was written.
Listening to this as an audiobook was quite the experience! I felt like I could feel the wind blowing and see the skin prickling on the characters. I would definitely listen to this narrator again!
I also appreciated how this book was an actual standalone. A new world and characters were introduced and by the end of it I had basically all of my questions answered and wrapped up in a nice little bow. I definitely wouldn't mind exploring this world more but I love how this one was written.
Listening to this as an audiobook was quite the experience! I felt like I could feel the wind blowing and see the skin prickling on the characters. I would definitely listen to this narrator again!
October 15, 2026
What an amazing listen this was. Sara did an amazing job at writing this story and the narrator brough it to life so beautiful, I couldn't get enough. The way things are describe is like you are watching a movie right before your eyes. The narrator did an amazing nob at brinfing the characters to life in a way I was never lost at who was talking or what was happening. This book has magic, elements, adventure, romance, hard training, mystery and secret, and so much more. Cyra and Atlas I promise not to forget you or your story, it was absolutely amazing. Sara, your writing is beautiful and I can't wait to read/listen to more of your books♡ 10/10 recommend!!
August 22, 2026
3,5⭐️
First of all, thank you very much to Sara Knightly, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me access to the book. All the opinions expressed in here are my own.
Liked this book very much, the writing, the magical elements, the characters, the plot, the slow burn. It was a very refreshing read. I’m very tempted to start reading more books from this author.
If you like a greek island environment, enriched with magic, a slow burn romance and a good writing you definitely should give this book a go. I recommend the book 🖤
First of all, thank you very much to Sara Knightly, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me access to the book. All the opinions expressed in here are my own.
Liked this book very much, the writing, the magical elements, the characters, the plot, the slow burn. It was a very refreshing read. I’m very tempted to start reading more books from this author.
If you like a greek island environment, enriched with magic, a slow burn romance and a good writing you definitely should give this book a go. I recommend the book 🖤
August 23, 2026
The layers of this story were beautifully done, and even though I guessed several of the big reveals, I really enjoyed how they were revealed in the story.
The characters were wonderfully nuanced, and the hope despite the darkness flowed through the pages. I loved the unique twist on elemental magic, the world-building, and the journey overall.
While I'm a bit sad that this is a stand-alone, the story doesn't feel incomplete. Absolutely beautiful.
The characters were wonderfully nuanced, and the hope despite the darkness flowed through the pages. I loved the unique twist on elemental magic, the world-building, and the journey overall.
While I'm a bit sad that this is a stand-alone, the story doesn't feel incomplete. Absolutely beautiful.
September 10, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to listen in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, Sara Knightly has done it again! I adored this book. I loved the plot, the slow burn and the magic.
If you enjoyed her other series, you'll love this book for sure! I think this book deserves more hype than it's given.
Narrator immerses me in the story instantly and from the beginning I could not stop listening.
Wow, Sara Knightly has done it again! I adored this book. I loved the plot, the slow burn and the magic.
If you enjoyed her other series, you'll love this book for sure! I think this book deserves more hype than it's given.
Narrator immerses me in the story instantly and from the beginning I could not stop listening.
September 30, 2026
#gifted Portal Publishing and NetGalley
I was engaged in this story right from the start! The magic is super neat, the main character is great. It's written in the YA fantasy formula we all love but with its own creative magic and kingdoms. It had better be the first of a series because I totally want more!!!!
The audiobook narration is excellent. I was able to listen at 3x speed and it was clear. There is some weird background noise occasionally?
Clean romance, no swearing
I was engaged in this story right from the start! The magic is super neat, the main character is great. It's written in the YA fantasy formula we all love but with its own creative magic and kingdoms. It had better be the first of a series because I totally want more!!!!
The audiobook narration is excellent. I was able to listen at 3x speed and it was clear. There is some weird background noise occasionally?
Clean romance, no swearing
October 7, 2026
Nicely narrated fantasy audiobook for teens and YA and also adults. The story has action, romance and a little bit of peril, all in a form suitable for the intended age range.
It’s also nice this is a complete story, no cliff hangers here.
The Thank you to Portal Publishing LLC and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
It’s also nice this is a complete story, no cliff hangers here.
The Thank you to Portal Publishing LLC and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
July 4, 2026
I read this as an ARC and it was so good! There was so much wisdom in it. The plot was interesting and I so enjoyed the characters of Cyra, Atlas, Valna, and more! I recommend if you enjoy: stories centred around training in magic, humble heroes, and pearls of wisdom.
September 28, 2026
Thanks NetGalley for a copy of this book!
4⭐
I really enjoyed this one! The world was beautiful, the magic was fun, and it was an easy YA read that was really easy to get into. A little slow in some parts, but overall a fun, enjoyable read!
4⭐
I really enjoyed this one! The world was beautiful, the magic was fun, and it was an easy YA read that was really easy to get into. A little slow in some parts, but overall a fun, enjoyable read!
October 3, 2026
WOW!! This was an amazing read!! I wish it wasn’t a stand alone! I need more!
July 18, 2026
ARC review. Great young adult fantasy standalone novel. Elemental magic that has some twists to it. Good world building with a plot that feels different from so many fantasy plots out there which was refreshing.
Want to Read
July 3, 2026☀️🌊 Luminous Rise 🌊☀️
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Elemental Magic
• Slow Burn Romance
• Cozy Fantasy
• Hidden Secrets
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 28, 2026
Thank you to Portal Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
✨ What to Expect
• Elemental Magic
• Slow Burn Romance
• Cozy Fantasy
• Hidden Secrets
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: July 28, 2026
Thank you to Portal Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
July 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Portal Publishing, and Victory Editing for an ARC of Luminous Rise.
I loved the setting and Sara Knightly’s writing transported me to the Greek Isles. The characters were complex - the reader will spend the majority of the book trying to decipher who is “wrong” and who is “right.” Definitely a page-turner. Elemental magic, power struggles, greed, betrayal…
I did feel like the ending was rushed. Some of the world building and training could’ve been shortened to leave room for more at the end. While I really enjoyed the elemental magic, some of the other magic/creatures in the story almost seemed out of place.
Overall, this is a great read. Perfect for poolside relaxation as you dream of Greece. The romance is very tame and sweet, so this book is appropriate for younger readers as well as adults.
I loved the setting and Sara Knightly’s writing transported me to the Greek Isles. The characters were complex - the reader will spend the majority of the book trying to decipher who is “wrong” and who is “right.” Definitely a page-turner. Elemental magic, power struggles, greed, betrayal…
I did feel like the ending was rushed. Some of the world building and training could’ve been shortened to leave room for more at the end. While I really enjoyed the elemental magic, some of the other magic/creatures in the story almost seemed out of place.
Overall, this is a great read. Perfect for poolside relaxation as you dream of Greece. The romance is very tame and sweet, so this book is appropriate for younger readers as well as adults.
September 19, 2026
Luminous Rise was one of those fantasy reads where I liked the world, respected what the story was trying to do, and still finished wishing the book had trusted its strongest ideas more. Lush, sun-drenched, magical, and built around a genuinely interesting system of power, worthiness, and institutional control, it had the bones of a much deeper story than the one I ultimately felt I got.
I received an advanced listening copy of Luminous Rise, and I want to be very clear that the narration was not my issue with this book. Grace Noble gave the story a grounded, polished performance that fit the tone and world well. She handled Cyra’s perspective with enough warmth and clarity that the audiobook remained easy to follow, and I never felt like the performance itself was making the characters feel younger or flatter than they were written. If anything, the narration helped smooth over some of the places where the dialogue and pacing did not fully work for me. My rating is about the story and its execution, not the audio performance.
The thing I found most interesting about Luminous Rise was not that Cyra discovers she has extraordinary power. It was that she has to confront the possibility that the people who taught her what power means may never have had the right to define it for her in the first place. That is such a strong foundation.
Cyra begins the story wanting the very thing the system has taught her to want. She wants to be chosen. She wants legitimacy. She wants the validation of the Sun Court and the Empyreans. So when that same structure begins treating her power as dangerous rather than sacred, the book has the opportunity to explore something much more interesting than a standard chosen-one arc.
What happens when the institution you trusted to tell you who you are becomes afraid of who you actually are? What happens when worthiness turns out to be something other people have been defining for their own benefit? And what happens when the framework you used to understand yourself stops making sense?
Those are the questions I wanted more of.
The worldbuilding itself was one of the strongest parts of the book for me. The elemental magic, the Sun Ceremony, Sanska, the Empyreans, the fading magic, and the tension between divine power and institutional authority all work together in a way that feels intentional rather than decorative. I especially liked the distinction between something being sacred and someone claiming authority over it.
The power is not necessarily the problem. The gatekeeping is. And underneath all of that is a question I think is even more interesting: What if worth was never something the institution had the authority to grant in the first place?
That is the version of Cyra’s arc I wanted the book to push all the way toward.
Because there is a difference between being told you are worthy and realizing your worth was never theirs to measure. That is much harder. Much more destabilizing. And much more interesting.
But I wanted the character work to go as deep as the concept did.
Too often, the book spends time explaining the world instead of allowing the consequences of that world to fully change the people living inside it. That is probably my biggest criticism. I did not need less worldbuilding. I needed the worldbuilding to create more emotional fallout.
If I am going to spend this much time learning what the Sun Court means, what the Empyreans represent, how power is distributed, and what Cyra has been taught to believe, then when that belief system begins collapsing, I want to live inside the collapse. I wanted more grief.
More anger.
More confusion.
More betrayal.
More of Cyra asking herself whether she ever truly wanted what she spent so much of her life wanting, or whether she had simply been taught that wanting it made her worthy. The book gives Cyra the revelation. I wanted more time watching that revelation remake her. That is the difference.
Because learning that the world is not what you thought it was should not simply change the plot. It should change the person. And for me, the story moves through some of those realizations before they have enough time to become emotionally transformative.
The dialogue was also uneven. There were moments where the characters felt appropriately young and sheltered, which works for a YA fantasy. But there were also scenes where the dialogue felt younger than the emotional stakes of the story, and that occasionally made the book feel simpler than the themes it was trying to explore.
I do not mind YA.
I do not mind clean romance.
I do not mind naïveté.
What I need is emotional specificity. And there were places where Luminous Rise had very sophisticated ideas being carried by characters who did not always feel equally developed.
Atlas worked for me more as emotional support inside Cyra’s journey than as the center of the book. Their relationship is sweet. It is gentle. It gives the story warmth.
But it never became the thing I was reading for. I wanted more of the relationship architecture underneath the romance, more of what specifically makes these two people uniquely necessary to one another beyond proximity, loyalty, and affection.
The slow burn is there. The emotional inevitability was not quite there for me. And that is okay, because I do not think the romance is actually the most interesting thing this book is doing.
Cyra’s relationship to power is. Her relationship to authority is. Her relationship to belief is. Her relationship to the version of herself who once desperately wanted approval from the same system that later fears her is. That is the story I wanted the book to trust more.
The ending is where I felt the structural imbalance most strongly. The book takes its time establishing the world, the rules, the history, and the stakes. Then, once the larger truths begin coming into focus, the story accelerates. And I wanted the opposite.
I wanted the beginning to trust me enough to explain slightly less. And I wanted the ending to trust the emotional consequences enough to stay longer. Because a revelation is not the same thing as transformation.
The book gives Cyra enough information to understand that her world is not what she believed. I wanted more time watching her decide who she becomes once that understanding takes something from her.
This book felt like standing in a beautiful temple after discovering the people who taught you how to worship had been lying about what was behind the altar. A 3.5-star read for a strong magical concept, beautiful atmosphere, thoughtful themes, and a story that I respected more than I emotionally connected with.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
Vibe: Sun-soaked • Mythic • Elemental • Politically spiritual
Emotional Impact: Thought-provoking more than devastating. The ideas stayed with me longer than the individual character moments did.
Romance: Sweet • Clean • Supportive • Light slow burn
Spice: N/A
Heroine: Cyra: 3.75/5
Her ideological journey is more interesting to me than her power itself. I wanted more interiority once the beliefs she built her identity around began collapsing.
MMC: Atlas: 3.5/5
Kind, supportive, and likable, but the relationship never reached the emotional inevitability I need for a romance to become one of the reasons I love a book.
Audio Performance: 4.5/5
Grace Noble gave the story a polished and engaging performance. She was not the issue for me. If anything, the narration helped carry some of the sections where the pacing and dialogue were less effective.
Connection Factor: Perfect for readers who love YA fantasy, elemental magic, Greek-isles-inspired settings, clean slow-burn romance, institutional secrets, chosen-one-adjacent heroines, and stories about questioning the systems that define worthiness and truth.
Aftertaste: Like leaving a beautiful place with more questions than answers, wishing I had been allowed to stay inside the most uncomfortable ones a little longer.
Final verdict: Not a book I disliked. A book I wanted to go deeper. Luminous Rise has genuinely interesting things to say about power, worthiness, truth, faith, and the institutions that appoint themselves guardians of all four. But the most interesting thing about Cyra is not that she is powerful. It is that she has spent her life wanting validation from a system that becomes threatened the moment her power exceeds the boundaries it created for her.
That is where the story became compelling to me.
Because sometimes becoming yourself is not about earning the right to take up more space. Sometimes it is realizing the people who taught you to shrink were never qualified to measure you in the first place. And that is the emotional transformation I wanted more time inside.
More room for Cyra to grieve it.
Question it.
Get angry about it.
Rebuild after it.
The book spends a lot of time teaching Cyra what her world believes. I wanted more time watching her decide what she believes after that world stops making sense.
That is where my 3.5 stars lives.
A beautiful world.
A strong idea.
A solid audio performance.
And a story I think could have become extraordinary if it had trusted its characters with as much depth as it gave its mythology.
I received an advanced listening copy of Luminous Rise, and I want to be very clear that the narration was not my issue with this book. Grace Noble gave the story a grounded, polished performance that fit the tone and world well. She handled Cyra’s perspective with enough warmth and clarity that the audiobook remained easy to follow, and I never felt like the performance itself was making the characters feel younger or flatter than they were written. If anything, the narration helped smooth over some of the places where the dialogue and pacing did not fully work for me. My rating is about the story and its execution, not the audio performance.
The thing I found most interesting about Luminous Rise was not that Cyra discovers she has extraordinary power. It was that she has to confront the possibility that the people who taught her what power means may never have had the right to define it for her in the first place. That is such a strong foundation.
Cyra begins the story wanting the very thing the system has taught her to want. She wants to be chosen. She wants legitimacy. She wants the validation of the Sun Court and the Empyreans. So when that same structure begins treating her power as dangerous rather than sacred, the book has the opportunity to explore something much more interesting than a standard chosen-one arc.
What happens when the institution you trusted to tell you who you are becomes afraid of who you actually are? What happens when worthiness turns out to be something other people have been defining for their own benefit? And what happens when the framework you used to understand yourself stops making sense?
Those are the questions I wanted more of.
The worldbuilding itself was one of the strongest parts of the book for me. The elemental magic, the Sun Ceremony, Sanska, the Empyreans, the fading magic, and the tension between divine power and institutional authority all work together in a way that feels intentional rather than decorative. I especially liked the distinction between something being sacred and someone claiming authority over it.
The power is not necessarily the problem. The gatekeeping is. And underneath all of that is a question I think is even more interesting: What if worth was never something the institution had the authority to grant in the first place?
That is the version of Cyra’s arc I wanted the book to push all the way toward.
Because there is a difference between being told you are worthy and realizing your worth was never theirs to measure. That is much harder. Much more destabilizing. And much more interesting.
But I wanted the character work to go as deep as the concept did.
Too often, the book spends time explaining the world instead of allowing the consequences of that world to fully change the people living inside it. That is probably my biggest criticism. I did not need less worldbuilding. I needed the worldbuilding to create more emotional fallout.
If I am going to spend this much time learning what the Sun Court means, what the Empyreans represent, how power is distributed, and what Cyra has been taught to believe, then when that belief system begins collapsing, I want to live inside the collapse. I wanted more grief.
More anger.
More confusion.
More betrayal.
More of Cyra asking herself whether she ever truly wanted what she spent so much of her life wanting, or whether she had simply been taught that wanting it made her worthy. The book gives Cyra the revelation. I wanted more time watching that revelation remake her. That is the difference.
Because learning that the world is not what you thought it was should not simply change the plot. It should change the person. And for me, the story moves through some of those realizations before they have enough time to become emotionally transformative.
The dialogue was also uneven. There were moments where the characters felt appropriately young and sheltered, which works for a YA fantasy. But there were also scenes where the dialogue felt younger than the emotional stakes of the story, and that occasionally made the book feel simpler than the themes it was trying to explore.
I do not mind YA.
I do not mind clean romance.
I do not mind naïveté.
What I need is emotional specificity. And there were places where Luminous Rise had very sophisticated ideas being carried by characters who did not always feel equally developed.
Atlas worked for me more as emotional support inside Cyra’s journey than as the center of the book. Their relationship is sweet. It is gentle. It gives the story warmth.
But it never became the thing I was reading for. I wanted more of the relationship architecture underneath the romance, more of what specifically makes these two people uniquely necessary to one another beyond proximity, loyalty, and affection.
The slow burn is there. The emotional inevitability was not quite there for me. And that is okay, because I do not think the romance is actually the most interesting thing this book is doing.
Cyra’s relationship to power is. Her relationship to authority is. Her relationship to belief is. Her relationship to the version of herself who once desperately wanted approval from the same system that later fears her is. That is the story I wanted the book to trust more.
The ending is where I felt the structural imbalance most strongly. The book takes its time establishing the world, the rules, the history, and the stakes. Then, once the larger truths begin coming into focus, the story accelerates. And I wanted the opposite.
I wanted the beginning to trust me enough to explain slightly less. And I wanted the ending to trust the emotional consequences enough to stay longer. Because a revelation is not the same thing as transformation.
The book gives Cyra enough information to understand that her world is not what she believed. I wanted more time watching her decide who she becomes once that understanding takes something from her.
This book felt like standing in a beautiful temple after discovering the people who taught you how to worship had been lying about what was behind the altar. A 3.5-star read for a strong magical concept, beautiful atmosphere, thoughtful themes, and a story that I respected more than I emotionally connected with.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
Vibe: Sun-soaked • Mythic • Elemental • Politically spiritual
Emotional Impact: Thought-provoking more than devastating. The ideas stayed with me longer than the individual character moments did.
Romance: Sweet • Clean • Supportive • Light slow burn
Spice: N/A
Heroine: Cyra: 3.75/5
Her ideological journey is more interesting to me than her power itself. I wanted more interiority once the beliefs she built her identity around began collapsing.
MMC: Atlas: 3.5/5
Kind, supportive, and likable, but the relationship never reached the emotional inevitability I need for a romance to become one of the reasons I love a book.
Audio Performance: 4.5/5
Grace Noble gave the story a polished and engaging performance. She was not the issue for me. If anything, the narration helped carry some of the sections where the pacing and dialogue were less effective.
Connection Factor: Perfect for readers who love YA fantasy, elemental magic, Greek-isles-inspired settings, clean slow-burn romance, institutional secrets, chosen-one-adjacent heroines, and stories about questioning the systems that define worthiness and truth.
Aftertaste: Like leaving a beautiful place with more questions than answers, wishing I had been allowed to stay inside the most uncomfortable ones a little longer.
Final verdict: Not a book I disliked. A book I wanted to go deeper. Luminous Rise has genuinely interesting things to say about power, worthiness, truth, faith, and the institutions that appoint themselves guardians of all four. But the most interesting thing about Cyra is not that she is powerful. It is that she has spent her life wanting validation from a system that becomes threatened the moment her power exceeds the boundaries it created for her.
That is where the story became compelling to me.
Because sometimes becoming yourself is not about earning the right to take up more space. Sometimes it is realizing the people who taught you to shrink were never qualified to measure you in the first place. And that is the emotional transformation I wanted more time inside.
More room for Cyra to grieve it.
Question it.
Get angry about it.
Rebuild after it.
The book spends a lot of time teaching Cyra what her world believes. I wanted more time watching her decide what she believes after that world stops making sense.
That is where my 3.5 stars lives.
A beautiful world.
A strong idea.
A solid audio performance.
And a story I think could have become extraordinary if it had trusted its characters with as much depth as it gave its mythology.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2026
I greatly enjoyed this book. Sanska sounds like a town I would love to have been a part of.
It had always been said that kids received their powers at their Sun Ceremony, not before. But Cyra had felt the call of the Divine before her Sun Ceremony. The day of her sun ceremony she met Atlas who it seemed to her had also come into his powers before his sun ceremony as well though he did not let on that he had. Also, it was always said that the Divine would bestow a child with 1 power either Air, Water, Earth, or Fire. It had never been heard that any one person would have more than one element. But 5 kids from the sun ceremony that Cyra attended claimed just that, that the Divine had bestowed 2 or more elements to each of 5 kids with Cyra claiming all 4 elements. This was a rarity indeed and the head of the House of Air, Empyrean Sant had a major problem with anyone claiming the element Air because the Divine had supposedly not bestowed Air upon anyone in a long, long time. Or had the other Airs been snuffed out?
Something was wrong in the Sun Garden and Cyra and Atlas intended to find out what was going on. Magic seemed to be disappearing. All used to be able to wield some sort of magic and now it was only a select few.
This book explored themes of standing up for what is right, courage, aiding others when they can't help themselves, knowing when something is wrong and fixing it instead of looking the other way. I think we could all stand to be more like Cyra and Atlas. We could all stand to be more bold, more courageous, more firm in what we believe.
I loved learning about Cora's magic and what she was capable of, about how powerful she actually was. Also, Atlas was full of more magic than he was letting on. I love reading about this world and those in it who fought to bring back the old way where the Moon wasn't a threat and anyone whose magic came from the moon was also not a threat.
Such a great story!
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
It had always been said that kids received their powers at their Sun Ceremony, not before. But Cyra had felt the call of the Divine before her Sun Ceremony. The day of her sun ceremony she met Atlas who it seemed to her had also come into his powers before his sun ceremony as well though he did not let on that he had. Also, it was always said that the Divine would bestow a child with 1 power either Air, Water, Earth, or Fire. It had never been heard that any one person would have more than one element. But 5 kids from the sun ceremony that Cyra attended claimed just that, that the Divine had bestowed 2 or more elements to each of 5 kids with Cyra claiming all 4 elements. This was a rarity indeed and the head of the House of Air, Empyrean Sant had a major problem with anyone claiming the element Air because the Divine had supposedly not bestowed Air upon anyone in a long, long time. Or had the other Airs been snuffed out?
Something was wrong in the Sun Garden and Cyra and Atlas intended to find out what was going on. Magic seemed to be disappearing. All used to be able to wield some sort of magic and now it was only a select few.
This book explored themes of standing up for what is right, courage, aiding others when they can't help themselves, knowing when something is wrong and fixing it instead of looking the other way. I think we could all stand to be more like Cyra and Atlas. We could all stand to be more bold, more courageous, more firm in what we believe.
I loved learning about Cora's magic and what she was capable of, about how powerful she actually was. Also, Atlas was full of more magic than he was letting on. I love reading about this world and those in it who fought to bring back the old way where the Moon wasn't a threat and anyone whose magic came from the moon was also not a threat.
Such a great story!
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5 stars, rounded up!
Elemental magic, complex politics and a beautiful world based on the beautiful and sunny greek isles! This story centers on Cyra, who has been raised outside of the city after her mother left her wealthy family for somewhat mysterious reasons. She finally attends her own Sun ceremony, to receive her elemental magic from the divine power. However, her life changes suddenly when she is granted control of all four elements, something that has never happened before, and is greeted with suspicion from her peers and the ruling Empyreans. Cyra enters a training program to prove that her powers can be controlled and are not harmful, along with several others who received more than one elemental gift. She teams up with Atlas, a mysterious and handsome outsider, as they begin to discover that the world created by the Empyreans is not as it seems.
The strengths in this novel lay in the complex magic and political systems. I really enjoyed the elemental aspect to the magic, and we continued to discover nuances about how the system works all throughout the story. The political environment was complex and well built, with complicated figures, motives, and a hidden history that was slowly uncovered as Cyra's eyes are opened beyond what she has been told previously. The plotline flowed well, and the scenery and magical creatures were vividly described.
It did feel like the characters and dialogue were a little immature at times, even for a YA novel. However, the romance was sweet, slow burn and age-appropriate. The story came together well and the conclusion was satisfying, I appreciate a standalone that doesn't leave too many loose ends to wonder about. All in all, I think this would be a great read for early/middle aged YA readers who love fantasy!
Thank you to Sara Knightly, Portal Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Elemental magic, complex politics and a beautiful world based on the beautiful and sunny greek isles! This story centers on Cyra, who has been raised outside of the city after her mother left her wealthy family for somewhat mysterious reasons. She finally attends her own Sun ceremony, to receive her elemental magic from the divine power. However, her life changes suddenly when she is granted control of all four elements, something that has never happened before, and is greeted with suspicion from her peers and the ruling Empyreans. Cyra enters a training program to prove that her powers can be controlled and are not harmful, along with several others who received more than one elemental gift. She teams up with Atlas, a mysterious and handsome outsider, as they begin to discover that the world created by the Empyreans is not as it seems.
The strengths in this novel lay in the complex magic and political systems. I really enjoyed the elemental aspect to the magic, and we continued to discover nuances about how the system works all throughout the story. The political environment was complex and well built, with complicated figures, motives, and a hidden history that was slowly uncovered as Cyra's eyes are opened beyond what she has been told previously. The plotline flowed well, and the scenery and magical creatures were vividly described.
It did feel like the characters and dialogue were a little immature at times, even for a YA novel. However, the romance was sweet, slow burn and age-appropriate. The story came together well and the conclusion was satisfying, I appreciate a standalone that doesn't leave too many loose ends to wonder about. All in all, I think this would be a great read for early/middle aged YA readers who love fantasy!
Thank you to Sara Knightly, Portal Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley & Portal publishing LLC for a chance to review this arc!
« Did they miss the beauty they covered with their lights? »
Luminous Rise was a decent read. It packed a lot of elements in a fluid way (chosen one, elemental magic, slow burn romance, political/religious elements) for a YA Fantasy. I did feel that the setting fit the YA genre but the characters & dialogues belonged in a middle grade read. The dialogues were unnatural for YA and felt stilted and juvenile. The characters were also behaving one way and then doing something completely different on the other page and it took me out a bit. I never felt like the characters were fleshed out or meant to be known by the reader.
While the worldbuilding is flawless, I will admit the enormous quantity of info dumps snapped me out of the book a few times. The info dumps relied on two methods that don’t work for me but that is very subjective (having a character that doesn’t know anything so everyone has to tell him & teacher dumps).
There were various plots that were sometimes dropped for the convenience of picking another one up ; and some didn’t bring a satisfactory resolution in my opinion. I did feel that a lot of things were convenient and the ending was rushed in a way that made me wonder why we read 50-60% of info dumps for that.
I did like the political aspect & thought it was flawlessly done. I also liked that the characters kept asking questions & didn’t just do as they were told.
Overall, as mentioned, it was a decent read. I recommend it for a younger audience!
« Did they miss the beauty they covered with their lights? »
Luminous Rise was a decent read. It packed a lot of elements in a fluid way (chosen one, elemental magic, slow burn romance, political/religious elements) for a YA Fantasy. I did feel that the setting fit the YA genre but the characters & dialogues belonged in a middle grade read. The dialogues were unnatural for YA and felt stilted and juvenile. The characters were also behaving one way and then doing something completely different on the other page and it took me out a bit. I never felt like the characters were fleshed out or meant to be known by the reader.
While the worldbuilding is flawless, I will admit the enormous quantity of info dumps snapped me out of the book a few times. The info dumps relied on two methods that don’t work for me but that is very subjective (having a character that doesn’t know anything so everyone has to tell him & teacher dumps).
There were various plots that were sometimes dropped for the convenience of picking another one up ; and some didn’t bring a satisfactory resolution in my opinion. I did feel that a lot of things were convenient and the ending was rushed in a way that made me wonder why we read 50-60% of info dumps for that.
I did like the political aspect & thought it was flawlessly done. I also liked that the characters kept asking questions & didn’t just do as they were told.
Overall, as mentioned, it was a decent read. I recommend it for a younger audience!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a wonderful fantasy romance set in an alternate world full of elemental magic. The descriptions of the sun garden, the different elemental houses, and the magic were vivid and really transported me into the world. I thought the world building and lore were appropriately interspersed throughout so as not to feel too much like info dumping. I was surprised by a few of the plot twists and betrayals and didn't have any idea how everything would work out in the end.
The romance between Cyra and Atlas was so sweet and cute. I loved that we met Atlas in chapter one and got to watch their relationship grow from beginning to end. I also loved that Atlas was immediately protective of Cyra, coming to her defense on the first day they met. They had so many cute private moments throughout the story that had me grinning and looking forward to the next.
I did feel the resolution to the main conflict and the ending as a whole was rushed and a little too easy, and that the allusion between the Divine in this fictional world and God in the real world was a little heavy-handed. This is the reason I rated this story 4 stars instead of 5.
The ending wrapped most everything up, but there were a few loose ends that could lend themselves to more story if the author decides to write more. I would certainly like to read about Cyra and Atlas's future adventures since I loved the characters and their love story so much.
Spice Level: 0/5 🌶️ - a few kisses
I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The romance between Cyra and Atlas was so sweet and cute. I loved that we met Atlas in chapter one and got to watch their relationship grow from beginning to end. I also loved that Atlas was immediately protective of Cyra, coming to her defense on the first day they met. They had so many cute private moments throughout the story that had me grinning and looking forward to the next.
I did feel the resolution to the main conflict and the ending as a whole was rushed and a little too easy, and that the allusion between the Divine in this fictional world and God in the real world was a little heavy-handed. This is the reason I rated this story 4 stars instead of 5.
The ending wrapped most everything up, but there were a few loose ends that could lend themselves to more story if the author decides to write more. I would certainly like to read about Cyra and Atlas's future adventures since I loved the characters and their love story so much.
Spice Level: 0/5 🌶️ - a few kisses
I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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