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Daybreak Rising #1
Daybreak Rising
Celosia Brennan was supposed to be a hero. After a spectacular failure that cost her people their freedom, she is offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance at redemption. Together with a gifted team of rebels, she not only sets her sights on freedom, but defeating her personal demons along the way.
Now branded a failure, Celosia desperately volunteers for the next mission: taking down the corrupt Council with a team of her fellow elementally gifted mages. Leading the Ember Operative gives Celosia her last hope at redemption. They seek to overthrow the Council once and for all, this time bringing the fight to Valeria, the largest city under the Council’s iron grip. But Celosia’s new teammates don’t trust her—except for Ianthe, a powerful Ice Elementalist who happens to believe in second chances.
With Council spies, uncontrolled magic, and the distraction of unexpected love, Celosia will have to win the trust of her teammates and push her abilities to the breaking point to complete the Ember Operative. Except if she falters this time, there won’t be any Elementalists left to stop the Council from taking over not just their country, but the entire world.
Now branded a failure, Celosia desperately volunteers for the next mission: taking down the corrupt Council with a team of her fellow elementally gifted mages. Leading the Ember Operative gives Celosia her last hope at redemption. They seek to overthrow the Council once and for all, this time bringing the fight to Valeria, the largest city under the Council’s iron grip. But Celosia’s new teammates don’t trust her—except for Ianthe, a powerful Ice Elementalist who happens to believe in second chances.
With Council spies, uncontrolled magic, and the distraction of unexpected love, Celosia will have to win the trust of her teammates and push her abilities to the breaking point to complete the Ember Operative. Except if she falters this time, there won’t be any Elementalists left to stop the Council from taking over not just their country, but the entire world.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2016
18 people are currently reading
929 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 27, 2016
If you're looking for a spec fic new adult novel with rich world-building and diverse characters, Daybreak Rising is the book for you!
There's a lot to like in this book. While the story takes a little while to get going, I loved the rich and varied world-building that sees magic coexisting with technology. This isn't a common pairing and I think it was handled well in this story with some Elementalists (mages) even having magic that affected technology. I thought that was pretty cool.
But what definitely sets this book apart from the rest is the diversity of the characters. There are physically disabled characters, various LGBT+ characters, and characters with mental illness. None of these characters feel like mere tokens, but rather seem organic to the story world. There's a particular awareness of what it means to be trans - such as access to adequate health care - even in a fantasy setting. This is the first time I've read content like that, where such choices were affected by and consequently affected elements of the plot.
There were however, also things I didn't love in this book. I enjoy reading more poetic, purple prose which this book is not. There were also times I wanted more of the plot, more of the tension and action, and less of the characters getting to know each other and chatting over meals. I think that's what happens in first books though, in that there's so much that needs to be set-up for the sequels, so while I understand it, I did sometimes find the pacing frustrating to the point where I skimmed a few dialogue scenes in search of more action.
Overall, I think this book is something very different and definitely takes new adult spec fic to the next level, especially when it comes to diversity.
There's a lot to like in this book. While the story takes a little while to get going, I loved the rich and varied world-building that sees magic coexisting with technology. This isn't a common pairing and I think it was handled well in this story with some Elementalists (mages) even having magic that affected technology. I thought that was pretty cool.
But what definitely sets this book apart from the rest is the diversity of the characters. There are physically disabled characters, various LGBT+ characters, and characters with mental illness. None of these characters feel like mere tokens, but rather seem organic to the story world. There's a particular awareness of what it means to be trans - such as access to adequate health care - even in a fantasy setting. This is the first time I've read content like that, where such choices were affected by and consequently affected elements of the plot.
There were however, also things I didn't love in this book. I enjoy reading more poetic, purple prose which this book is not. There were also times I wanted more of the plot, more of the tension and action, and less of the characters getting to know each other and chatting over meals. I think that's what happens in first books though, in that there's so much that needs to be set-up for the sequels, so while I understand it, I did sometimes find the pacing frustrating to the point where I skimmed a few dialogue scenes in search of more action.
Overall, I think this book is something very different and definitely takes new adult spec fic to the next level, especially when it comes to diversity.
July 31, 2016
there is more diversity in this book than in tumblr, I swear.
not only you get that but you also get magic plus a heroine that fails at saving her country and just wants redemption.
basically, if harry potter had failed and everyone was queer.
why wouldn't you love this.
March 16, 2016
disclaimer: got an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Daybreak Rising is basically the sort of book that comes to mind when one thinks of a YA spec-fic beach read. There's an oppressive government that's entirely awful (except for free healthcare,) a secret society? military cabal? of magical people forced to hide their powers or risk death, and a heroine whose incredibly powerful fire magic correlates to her flaring emotions. All in all, it's the sort of thing people have made aesthetic photosets of since time immemorial.
EXCEPT WITH LESBIANS. WHOSE SQUADMATES ARE TRANS.
LGBT PEOPLE ALL UP IN YOUR TROPES LIKE IT'S NO BIG DEAL.
also the cover is so beautiful.
so if you're going into barnes and noble like "i want to read a fun typical fantasy novel about a Plucky Band of Misfits with an Emotional Heroine overthrowing an Evil Empire... but i want it with LGBT PEOPLE LIKE ME AND MY SQUAD" then you could probably read this.
the worldbuilding isn't too infodumpy and the romance is pretty cute. thumbs up for cute romance.
peace out
Daybreak Rising is basically the sort of book that comes to mind when one thinks of a YA spec-fic beach read. There's an oppressive government that's entirely awful (except for free healthcare,) a secret society? military cabal? of magical people forced to hide their powers or risk death, and a heroine whose incredibly powerful fire magic correlates to her flaring emotions. All in all, it's the sort of thing people have made aesthetic photosets of since time immemorial.
EXCEPT WITH LESBIANS. WHOSE SQUADMATES ARE TRANS.
LGBT PEOPLE ALL UP IN YOUR TROPES LIKE IT'S NO BIG DEAL.
also the cover is so beautiful.
so if you're going into barnes and noble like "i want to read a fun typical fantasy novel about a Plucky Band of Misfits with an Emotional Heroine overthrowing an Evil Empire... but i want it with LGBT PEOPLE LIKE ME AND MY SQUAD" then you could probably read this.
the worldbuilding isn't too infodumpy and the romance is pretty cute. thumbs up for cute romance.
peace out
June 9, 2016
I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Daybreak Rising caught my attention immediately for the basic premise alone - a twist on the "chosen one" standby. The desperate, all-or-nothing assault on the powers that be has already occurred, many years ago. The teenage prodigy heroine that the oppressed masses were pinning their hopes on - failed. Celosia Brennan is a disappointment. People speak her name with bitterness. Actually, they don't even speak her name. They call her "Daybreak," a reminder of her ultimate failure.
That alone was a refreshing change from stories about endless successes. Maybe I'm tired. Maybe I wanted to see someone fallible. And maybe I wanted to see a cast filled with queer and transgender people (with a slow-burn - ha - f/f romance at the center) so normalized that the worldbuilding not only takes their existence into account but works them into the world mechanics. The oppressive government earns some humanity points by providing education and comprehensive medical care for the underprivileged, including transitions. That makes it very hard to argue with an empire, when they hold survival over your head. Of course, like all empires, this one demands a high price. Magic seems too precious to surrender and a gift worth fighting for.
The action does take a while to build and some readers might want a quicker pace, but given that it's an eARC, I anticipate most issues to run more smoothly by publishing. In any case, I assure you, the payoff (a very steamy payoff, in one case) and representation is well worth it. Couple that with a few very nice twists (seriously, one in particular) and an intriguing magic system made of opposites combined with technology - it reminded me of some old-but-good classic fantasy by Weis and Hickman, "The Death Gate Cycle" - and you've got a very solid read. Highly recommended.
Daybreak Rising caught my attention immediately for the basic premise alone - a twist on the "chosen one" standby. The desperate, all-or-nothing assault on the powers that be has already occurred, many years ago. The teenage prodigy heroine that the oppressed masses were pinning their hopes on - failed. Celosia Brennan is a disappointment. People speak her name with bitterness. Actually, they don't even speak her name. They call her "Daybreak," a reminder of her ultimate failure.
That alone was a refreshing change from stories about endless successes. Maybe I'm tired. Maybe I wanted to see someone fallible. And maybe I wanted to see a cast filled with queer and transgender people (with a slow-burn - ha - f/f romance at the center) so normalized that the worldbuilding not only takes their existence into account but works them into the world mechanics. The oppressive government earns some humanity points by providing education and comprehensive medical care for the underprivileged, including transitions. That makes it very hard to argue with an empire, when they hold survival over your head. Of course, like all empires, this one demands a high price. Magic seems too precious to surrender and a gift worth fighting for.
The action does take a while to build and some readers might want a quicker pace, but given that it's an eARC, I anticipate most issues to run more smoothly by publishing. In any case, I assure you, the payoff (a very steamy payoff, in one case) and representation is well worth it. Couple that with a few very nice twists (seriously, one in particular) and an intriguing magic system made of opposites combined with technology - it reminded me of some old-but-good classic fantasy by Weis and Hickman, "The Death Gate Cycle" - and you've got a very solid read. Highly recommended.
August 17, 2016
Let me start off by saying Daybreak Rising is definitely worth reading. My favorite thing about this book is how well developed and varied the characters all are. Both the "good" and the "bad" guys are quite complex and you're left really wanting to figure out what makes everyone tick. The main character, Celosia, has had to deal with quite a difficult past and a even more daunting future that seems unreachable but she keeps moving forward. Quite often in the books I read the heroes are impossibly perfect and can do not wrong, just a bit too much to feel true in most cases. For Celosia that is not the case, you really get the sense that she is real person and that when she overcomes her challenges it will be through sweat, tears, and a lot of struggle so that you can feel her victories and defeats as she goes through them. The various characters that join her all bring their own quirks and strengths to the mix in a delightful and sometimes heart wrenching manner. The world is a mix of magical and technology, the government powerful and corrupt and terrifying yet in some ways better than our own. You also get to see different places and how other lands differ. Like I said nothing is black and white. So you end up with a slightly rag tag group of diverse characters who are united to try and do something that seems impossible but that won't stop them from trying. There is romance and the building of friendships to look forward to. I'm trying to not give away the story but it's a gripping story that ends in a good place that leaves you content but looking forward to seeing what develops later. (I'm not a fan of intense cliff hangers where you have to wait to find out what happens!)
disclaimer: received this as a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
disclaimer: received this as a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2017
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I decided to read Daybreak Rising because I’ve been looking for an interesting dystopian series and also because one of the main characters is demisexual (on-page)!
It’s #ownvoices for demisexual representation.
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I was intrigued from the start. The first scene just took hold of me, and I needed to know how it continued. The premise is gripping and the entire plot is just amazing. And seriously, those two plot twists at the end, have got me wishing that the second book will be released sooner!
It’s got a lot of action, some very adorable romance, and what I especially enjoyed, a lot of no-romance between characters. Usually, when you get a group of main characters in a fantasy novel, they all pair up, fall for each other and end up starting romantic relationships, but that’s not the case here and there isn’t really a hint that this will end up happening with all the people in the group.
The world-building is really cool. It was interesting how the political system was tied in to the magic concept. I liked how the characters with magic are called Elementalists, and that their powers are based on the elements but not just on the standard four: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. There’s so much potential in this magic concept, and I assume that the next books will give the reader more information about it.
The story has a diverse cast of characters, including people who are being queer, disabled, or not white. Multiples groups of people are being oppressed in this society, thus leading to many characters who are marginalised in more than one way. It was interesting to see how Kiran Oliver worked intersectionality into the plot. What I also really enjoyed is that we really got to know the characters, even some of the minor ones, not just as to how they are useful for the plot, but little things, like their hobbies or how they feel about their family – things you don’t always find out about characters in a dystopian novel.
There were loads of puns in the writing, which is something that I live for. It’s such a cute way of lightening up the mood, especially since this is a dystopian novel. At times, I felt like the characters spent too much time describing a person or an event, and I would have preferred a shown description. Since there are quite a few main characters in this novel, there was so much going on, thus at times I got slightly confused.
__
I enjoyed Daybreak Rising very much and had so much fun getting to know all of the characters. I’m pretty sure that you’ll enjoy this book if you’re looking for a New Adult fantasy book.
I will certainly be looking forward to the next book, and hoping for new characters, so that I can find out more about the different types of Elementalists.
I decided to read Daybreak Rising because I’ve been looking for an interesting dystopian series and also because one of the main characters is demisexual (on-page)!
It’s #ownvoices for demisexual representation.
__
I was intrigued from the start. The first scene just took hold of me, and I needed to know how it continued. The premise is gripping and the entire plot is just amazing. And seriously, those two plot twists at the end, have got me wishing that the second book will be released sooner!
It’s got a lot of action, some very adorable romance, and what I especially enjoyed, a lot of no-romance between characters. Usually, when you get a group of main characters in a fantasy novel, they all pair up, fall for each other and end up starting romantic relationships, but that’s not the case here and there isn’t really a hint that this will end up happening with all the people in the group.
The world-building is really cool. It was interesting how the political system was tied in to the magic concept. I liked how the characters with magic are called Elementalists, and that their powers are based on the elements but not just on the standard four: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. There’s so much potential in this magic concept, and I assume that the next books will give the reader more information about it.
The story has a diverse cast of characters, including people who are being queer, disabled, or not white. Multiples groups of people are being oppressed in this society, thus leading to many characters who are marginalised in more than one way. It was interesting to see how Kiran Oliver worked intersectionality into the plot. What I also really enjoyed is that we really got to know the characters, even some of the minor ones, not just as to how they are useful for the plot, but little things, like their hobbies or how they feel about their family – things you don’t always find out about characters in a dystopian novel.
There were loads of puns in the writing, which is something that I live for. It’s such a cute way of lightening up the mood, especially since this is a dystopian novel. At times, I felt like the characters spent too much time describing a person or an event, and I would have preferred a shown description. Since there are quite a few main characters in this novel, there was so much going on, thus at times I got slightly confused.
__
I enjoyed Daybreak Rising very much and had so much fun getting to know all of the characters. I’m pretty sure that you’ll enjoy this book if you’re looking for a New Adult fantasy book.
I will certainly be looking forward to the next book, and hoping for new characters, so that I can find out more about the different types of Elementalists.
August 1, 2016
Featured on All Our Worlds!
Daybreak Rising is one of the most anticipated books of the season in diverse fiction circles, and it's one of the most diverse books I’ve recently read, not only in its characters but also in its landscapes and settings.
In this world, the Council rules strong, and Elementalists with magic powers are either killed or turned to the Council’s purpose. And our heroes are those who stand against them, even if they’ve failed before.
Our protagonist is a queer woman with PTSD, her girlfriend is demiromantic, a trans woman and man join in a little later on, and so does a blind woman. Their squad leader is nonbinary. And none of this is unusual or challenged.
Despite the conflict and the oppressive social structure, this is a world where queerness is accepted more often than not. Trans people get medical support from the government (even if this is often only a way for the regime to earn their loyalty), accessibility tech is commonplace, and the characters’ identities and romantic choices are rarely if ever challenged.
The cast comes from various social backgrounds, and this disparity causes tension at times, but they figure out to work together and they don’t need to be taught to appreciate each other's point of view.
The vibrant worldbuilding deserves special mention. The characters come from and travel to many different countries and regions, all with varying climate, geography, religion, race, language, even food. All the details that make a world live and breathe: the smells of Kayvun’s seaside home, the silent religion of Basau, countless other little things, nothing is overlooked.
This attention to details comes through especially well in the sections from Kayvun’s point of view. Kayvun is blind, and so her parts of the story are brimming with tactile and auditory detail. She makes use of accessibility tech built into the base camp’s systems, a memorable example being serving dishes that announce the ingredients of the food being served.
These characters deal with both larger political and social issues and smaller personal issues: getting along in tight quarters and stressful circumstances, minor and major romantic entanglements, doubt and confusion, family issues, and the trauma that comes with war and oppression.
As in life, interactions can be uncomfortable and raw. Tempers fray in stressful situations. Celosia’s panic attacks become more frequent as situations come close to her past experiences. People make mistakes, offend others. People are forced to choose between their morals and their goals. But they keep on going, working towards freedom.
On the critical side, I found the writing style awkward at times, especially when something was explained directly that could have been implied or shown. Characters were frequently referenced by awkward epithets that I hope get cut in the final edition. At times the villains didn’t seem to have much of a motivation besides being something for our heroes to oppose. But those are mostly personal qualms, and other readers might see differently.
If you’re looking for a diverse ensemble cast, a fight for justice over oppression, and the coexistence of magic and technology, read Daybreak Rising.
Daybreak Rising is one of the most anticipated books of the season in diverse fiction circles, and it's one of the most diverse books I’ve recently read, not only in its characters but also in its landscapes and settings.
In this world, the Council rules strong, and Elementalists with magic powers are either killed or turned to the Council’s purpose. And our heroes are those who stand against them, even if they’ve failed before.
Our protagonist is a queer woman with PTSD, her girlfriend is demiromantic, a trans woman and man join in a little later on, and so does a blind woman. Their squad leader is nonbinary. And none of this is unusual or challenged.
Despite the conflict and the oppressive social structure, this is a world where queerness is accepted more often than not. Trans people get medical support from the government (even if this is often only a way for the regime to earn their loyalty), accessibility tech is commonplace, and the characters’ identities and romantic choices are rarely if ever challenged.
The cast comes from various social backgrounds, and this disparity causes tension at times, but they figure out to work together and they don’t need to be taught to appreciate each other's point of view.
The vibrant worldbuilding deserves special mention. The characters come from and travel to many different countries and regions, all with varying climate, geography, religion, race, language, even food. All the details that make a world live and breathe: the smells of Kayvun’s seaside home, the silent religion of Basau, countless other little things, nothing is overlooked.
This attention to details comes through especially well in the sections from Kayvun’s point of view. Kayvun is blind, and so her parts of the story are brimming with tactile and auditory detail. She makes use of accessibility tech built into the base camp’s systems, a memorable example being serving dishes that announce the ingredients of the food being served.
These characters deal with both larger political and social issues and smaller personal issues: getting along in tight quarters and stressful circumstances, minor and major romantic entanglements, doubt and confusion, family issues, and the trauma that comes with war and oppression.
As in life, interactions can be uncomfortable and raw. Tempers fray in stressful situations. Celosia’s panic attacks become more frequent as situations come close to her past experiences. People make mistakes, offend others. People are forced to choose between their morals and their goals. But they keep on going, working towards freedom.
On the critical side, I found the writing style awkward at times, especially when something was explained directly that could have been implied or shown. Characters were frequently referenced by awkward epithets that I hope get cut in the final edition. At times the villains didn’t seem to have much of a motivation besides being something for our heroes to oppose. But those are mostly personal qualms, and other readers might see differently.
If you’re looking for a diverse ensemble cast, a fight for justice over oppression, and the coexistence of magic and technology, read Daybreak Rising.
April 10, 2016
So, I could swear I had already written a review for this book, but apparently my memory isn't the best (nothing new here). Anyway, Daybreak Rising is a book I had been waiting since before it was called Daybreak Rising, and I was, of course, really excited about it. Thankfully, it didn't disappoint. C.K. Oliver's debut has everything I love in fantasy: battles, magic, good characters and a charming romance.
The characters first. Celosia, the protagonist, wasn't my favorite (it was Ianthe and Adan, because they are awesome), but she is a great character and it is really easy to relate to her & feel for her. I think she was really the best choice for the main character; she wants the operative to succeed so bad that it's impossible to not want it to work too. Her romance with Ianthe is cute and I liked it, but I wish there were more scenes where we got to see them get closer.
The other characters are really good too. Like I said, Adan and Ianthe were my favorites, but I liked them all (well, all of them except for Riva... sorry, I just don't like them oops). I can't wait to see more of Adelin, though. I think she has the potential to take over Adan and Ianthe's place.
Another thing I liked was the worldbuilding. I loved the blend of technology and magic, and was really curious about the many countries and their culture. The plot takes a while to take off, but the book is never boring.
Also, the diversity of the characters is amazing. We have a blind bisexual healer, a trans man, a demisexual ice elementalist... The list goes one. I don't think there is a cishet male in this book, now that I stop to think about it (which in my opinion is a good thing).
Only two things bothered me. First, I would liked it more if the reason why Adan and the others were chosen was more... I don't know, showed? Like, I get that they are powerful, but I wanted to know why it had to be them and not other powerful elementalists. Second, I think the writing needed a little more polishing. Some sentences jerked me out of the story and some scenes could have been longer/more emotional. I'm sure it'll be corrected in the final version, though; the author had already warned everyone that the current version haven't gone through the final round of revisions.
Overall, Daybreak Rising is a good book and I can't wait to see what happens next!
The characters first. Celosia, the protagonist, wasn't my favorite (it was Ianthe and Adan, because they are awesome), but she is a great character and it is really easy to relate to her & feel for her. I think she was really the best choice for the main character; she wants the operative to succeed so bad that it's impossible to not want it to work too. Her romance with Ianthe is cute and I liked it, but I wish there were more scenes where we got to see them get closer.
The other characters are really good too. Like I said, Adan and Ianthe were my favorites, but I liked them all (well, all of them except for Riva... sorry, I just don't like them oops). I can't wait to see more of Adelin, though. I think she has the potential to take over Adan and Ianthe's place.
Another thing I liked was the worldbuilding. I loved the blend of technology and magic, and was really curious about the many countries and their culture. The plot takes a while to take off, but the book is never boring.
Also, the diversity of the characters is amazing. We have a blind bisexual healer, a trans man, a demisexual ice elementalist... The list goes one. I don't think there is a cishet male in this book, now that I stop to think about it (which in my opinion is a good thing).
Only two things bothered me. First, I would liked it more if the reason why Adan and the others were chosen was more... I don't know, showed? Like, I get that they are powerful, but I wanted to know why it had to be them and not other powerful elementalists. Second, I think the writing needed a little more polishing. Some sentences jerked me out of the story and some scenes could have been longer/more emotional. I'm sure it'll be corrected in the final version, though; the author had already warned everyone that the current version haven't gone through the final round of revisions.
Overall, Daybreak Rising is a good book and I can't wait to see what happens next!
June 23, 2016
I'll be posting my full review of this one on Books and Ladders as part of New Adult August!
I think this one was pretty good but I had some difficulty following the story line 100% of the time. I think that the plot could have used a little more polishing because there are things I'm a little confused about that I should have a pretty firm grasp on after finishing the whole novel. The magic system was really intricate, well thought out, and well explained. However, the novel didn't give me enough to understand why there was an uprising, what the uprising was supposed to be doing, etc. etc. which was kind of disappointing in that sense.
Read this as part of the #ReadProud Challenge.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
I think this one was pretty good but I had some difficulty following the story line 100% of the time. I think that the plot could have used a little more polishing because there are things I'm a little confused about that I should have a pretty firm grasp on after finishing the whole novel. The magic system was really intricate, well thought out, and well explained. However, the novel didn't give me enough to understand why there was an uprising, what the uprising was supposed to be doing, etc. etc. which was kind of disappointing in that sense.
Read this as part of the #ReadProud Challenge.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
November 14, 2016
Daybreak Rising is a great addition to the NA Spec Fic crowd! I really enjoyed the innovative world the author created as well as the idea of magic coexisting with technology so much that there are actually those whose magic works with/over technology-- how *cool* is that? Answer: pretty freaking awesome. This book absolutely stands out in NA Spec Fic and brings to the table aspects that haven't been seen before in this age category and genre. I can't wait for the next installment and to see where this story goes!
dnf
February 23, 2019DNF @ 12% with no rating.
I'm saaaaaaaad. The world building sounds intriguing and the characters interesting from the bit I read, but the writing.... It's NOT working for me. It's incredibly disconnected in every conceivable way. It just felt awkward and I was constantly confused.
So this is bye for now. Maybe sometime in the future I'll give it another try.
I'm saaaaaaaad. The world building sounds intriguing and the characters interesting from the bit I read, but the writing.... It's NOT working for me. It's incredibly disconnected in every conceivable way. It just felt awkward and I was constantly confused.
So this is bye for now. Maybe sometime in the future I'll give it another try.
March 15, 2016
You know that feeling you get when you're thrown into a series and suddenly you're a less jaded and less crusty version of yourself again? Well, that's how I felt while reading CK Oliver's first to-be-published novel "Daybreak Rising." I received the book as an early advance review copy, and blew through it during the course of a weekend, and oh my gosh. I'll try to avoid both spoilers and reiterating the above book summary in my review, but will have to spoil a little bit so I actually have something to discuss :'D. I think the best words to describe Oliver's book are "refreshing" and "warm," and that's just not a cheesy reference to the elementalists in the book. You can feel the author's love for his world and characters--something the desperate optimist in me needs from her media sometimes.
Locations in the book are vivid and well-thought out, embodying the entirety of the phrase "science fiction fantasy." Oliver writes each of his regions with a clear respect of cultures, economies, religions-- and food!! There is so much delicious-sounding food!! "Plank smoked salmon with rice pilaf and fiddlehead ferns"? I mean, woaah. Anyways, the author avoids much of that colonial condescension that tends to present itself in less "self-aware" SFF books when they visit other places. Each locale is just different, not inherently more "savage" or "noble" or "~sexy/exotic~" or "weird!" than the other, which makes my WoC/anthropology minor-self just so darn happy. I am hoping, though, there will be a drawn map located somewhere in the final version of the book. The characters travel across several regions in the book, and my mental map sometimes gets a little confused. I guess it is now obvious that I do very poorly at playing older RPGs. I gotta have that mini-map!
As for our little band of revolutionaries, I enjoyed Oliver's style of characterization. His people read like individuals with their own inner lives and hobbies, running the gamut of appearances, careers, genders, sexualities, socioeconomic backgrounds, personalities, and beliefs about their cause. My favorite is the soap-making-necromancer-lawyer-who-is-also-trans Adan, but I will abstain from much spoiler-spewing, flailing fangirlism...for now. His introduction is entertainingly film-noir and you can read it here (http://www.ckoliver.com/blog/meet-ada...). Another of my favorite parts of the story is how Oliver writes different characters' perceptions of their surroundings. For instance, a character growing up without much financially perceives a scene much differently than someone who has had that privilege. I'm all for that empathy, bro. I love it. I feel like the older I get, the more I need stories that show that people aren't uni-dimensional and beyond redemption or understanding, and I've not been disappointed by Daybreak Rising.
Also, Oliver writes great romance scenes. I normally feel awkward and want to leave the room when I read one or I feel like the couple is hurting each other and I should call the police or something, but gosh, the leading couple's scenes in this? Sssss and sweet. I will abstain from making "hot" puns. And while not romance scenes, per se, I really enjoyed Oliver's description of the characters at the gym. I know, it's a weird thing to like, but I take joy in the smaller, everyday things in life, okay? SFF sometimes glosses over facts about the body or the mundane, emphasizing the supernatural and such (which is cool, too), but I feel like Oliver is so acutely aware of his characters' humanity that he pays particular attention to these things. These sort of "slice of life" scenes of say, Celosia and Ianthe benchpressing and spotting each other, really have stuck with me. I'm a future healthcare provider okay? Health is important! And ladies smashing expectations! And supporting each other.
Anyways, I can't wait until the next books are released, as this one ends with some closure, but puts me squarely in the "need more!!" phase as there are many questions yet to be answered. For instance, what happens to the cats? Sassy ponytail person?? Overall, It's a great read that tackles many issues of difference that are difficult to discuss, but is still so fun to read and so optimistic. The environments are lush and characters lovable, and darn it if I'm not hungry every time they stop to eat something. Seconds, please.
Locations in the book are vivid and well-thought out, embodying the entirety of the phrase "science fiction fantasy." Oliver writes each of his regions with a clear respect of cultures, economies, religions-- and food!! There is so much delicious-sounding food!! "Plank smoked salmon with rice pilaf and fiddlehead ferns"? I mean, woaah. Anyways, the author avoids much of that colonial condescension that tends to present itself in less "self-aware" SFF books when they visit other places. Each locale is just different, not inherently more "savage" or "noble" or "~sexy/exotic~" or "weird!" than the other, which makes my WoC/anthropology minor-self just so darn happy. I am hoping, though, there will be a drawn map located somewhere in the final version of the book. The characters travel across several regions in the book, and my mental map sometimes gets a little confused. I guess it is now obvious that I do very poorly at playing older RPGs. I gotta have that mini-map!
As for our little band of revolutionaries, I enjoyed Oliver's style of characterization. His people read like individuals with their own inner lives and hobbies, running the gamut of appearances, careers, genders, sexualities, socioeconomic backgrounds, personalities, and beliefs about their cause. My favorite is the soap-making-necromancer-lawyer-who-is-also-trans Adan, but I will abstain from much spoiler-spewing, flailing fangirlism...for now. His introduction is entertainingly film-noir and you can read it here (http://www.ckoliver.com/blog/meet-ada...). Another of my favorite parts of the story is how Oliver writes different characters' perceptions of their surroundings. For instance, a character growing up without much financially perceives a scene much differently than someone who has had that privilege. I'm all for that empathy, bro. I love it. I feel like the older I get, the more I need stories that show that people aren't uni-dimensional and beyond redemption or understanding, and I've not been disappointed by Daybreak Rising.
Also, Oliver writes great romance scenes. I normally feel awkward and want to leave the room when I read one or I feel like the couple is hurting each other and I should call the police or something, but gosh, the leading couple's scenes in this? Sssss and sweet. I will abstain from making "hot" puns. And while not romance scenes, per se, I really enjoyed Oliver's description of the characters at the gym. I know, it's a weird thing to like, but I take joy in the smaller, everyday things in life, okay? SFF sometimes glosses over facts about the body or the mundane, emphasizing the supernatural and such (which is cool, too), but I feel like Oliver is so acutely aware of his characters' humanity that he pays particular attention to these things. These sort of "slice of life" scenes of say, Celosia and Ianthe benchpressing and spotting each other, really have stuck with me. I'm a future healthcare provider okay? Health is important! And ladies smashing expectations! And supporting each other.
Anyways, I can't wait until the next books are released, as this one ends with some closure, but puts me squarely in the "need more!!" phase as there are many questions yet to be answered. For instance, what happens to the cats? Sassy ponytail person?? Overall, It's a great read that tackles many issues of difference that are difficult to discuss, but is still so fun to read and so optimistic. The environments are lush and characters lovable, and darn it if I'm not hungry every time they stop to eat something. Seconds, please.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2016
Celosia Brennan was supposed to save the world. A dual-touched Elementalist with the ability to cast fire and see glimpses of her own future, she was supposed to take down the Council--an authoritarian government that oppresses Elementalists and treats their very existence as a crime--and free her people. But things went horribly, horribly wrong. Now, years later, she has a shot at a second chance. As a member of the Regime, an underground resistance movement, she trains and leads a group of eclectic Elementalists with powers ranging from ice-casting to speaking with the dead in an effort to overthrow the corrupt government once and for all.
But the past is hard to shake. With the Council's constant threat looming and in-fighting straining the team, the Elementalists find themselves up against overwhelming odds as they fight to restore freedom.
Pause for disclosure: I received a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Also, the version I read was a pre-edited draft, so I'm not commenting on grammar or anything because at this point, it's beside the point.
Anyway, Kiran Oliver's fantastic superhero-esque novel occupies that weird territory between sci-fi and fantasy. If I had to pick one, I'd say fantasy just because magic is the driving force behind the Elementalists and what they do--plus, the book seems to take place on an alternate world. But there's also advanced technology, futuristic cities, and a dystopian government--staples of sci-fi. It definitely FELT like a superhero story... in fact, the combination of an government that sees innate gifts as criminal with an eclectic team of power-wielders reminded me of X-Men :-).
The book starts by introducing us to the members of the Ember Operative team one by one, starting with Celosia (of course). Let me start by saying that Celosia is one kick-ass character. Though she's haunted by her failure years ago and struggles with mental illness (PTSD and panic attacks), she takes crap from exactly no one. She's tough-as-nails when challenged, yet can be vulnerable and sensitive as well--in other words, she's a well-rounded character. Another favorite of mine is Ianthe, an ice-wielding Elementalist (kind of like a girl Frozone from the Incredibles movie) and Celosia's love interest. Yup, this is a queer book! (and #ownvoices as well!)
The Ember Operative team features the kinds of characters not often (if ever) seen in sci-fi/fantasy--queer characters, trans characters, non-binary characters, a blind character (and no, she doesn't use magic to "see"), characters of color (Ianthe was described by another reviewer as "badass brown Elsa"--which is totally accurate!). Oliver weaves in social commentary on a number of issues, from inequality to mental illness and more, and yet it's done in a way that makes it integral to the story and world-building. This is a book that explores issues, but isn't an "issues book." I especially found it interesting how the trans characters felt compelled to join the Council, which offers "plea bargains" to Elementalists who do their bidding in exchange for the right to live relatively normal lives, because this was the only way they could access the medical care to transition. As those who follow the news may be aware, the U.S. military recently announced that trans people could serve openly and would even cover the costs of transition... Not to say that the real-world military is anything like the dystopian Council, but the parallel was striking.
Anyway, DAYBREAK RISING is at its heart a fun and action-packed superhero story about a team of gifted individuals coming together and facing overwhelming challenges. Things really heat up in the book's third act, with danger and fights and more than one crazy twist. With memorable characters, edge-of-your-seat plot turns, and cool superpowers, this book was exactly my cup of tea.
Of course, it being the first in a series, it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, but wrapped up the "Book One" stuff in a way that felt satisfying, even if it's going to be a bit of a wait before I get to read the sequel. If you're a fan of X-Men or enjoy action-packed science fantasy in general, then I highly recommend that you check this book out.
But the past is hard to shake. With the Council's constant threat looming and in-fighting straining the team, the Elementalists find themselves up against overwhelming odds as they fight to restore freedom.
Pause for disclosure: I received a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Also, the version I read was a pre-edited draft, so I'm not commenting on grammar or anything because at this point, it's beside the point.
Anyway, Kiran Oliver's fantastic superhero-esque novel occupies that weird territory between sci-fi and fantasy. If I had to pick one, I'd say fantasy just because magic is the driving force behind the Elementalists and what they do--plus, the book seems to take place on an alternate world. But there's also advanced technology, futuristic cities, and a dystopian government--staples of sci-fi. It definitely FELT like a superhero story... in fact, the combination of an government that sees innate gifts as criminal with an eclectic team of power-wielders reminded me of X-Men :-).
The book starts by introducing us to the members of the Ember Operative team one by one, starting with Celosia (of course). Let me start by saying that Celosia is one kick-ass character. Though she's haunted by her failure years ago and struggles with mental illness (PTSD and panic attacks), she takes crap from exactly no one. She's tough-as-nails when challenged, yet can be vulnerable and sensitive as well--in other words, she's a well-rounded character. Another favorite of mine is Ianthe, an ice-wielding Elementalist (kind of like a girl Frozone from the Incredibles movie) and Celosia's love interest. Yup, this is a queer book! (and #ownvoices as well!)
The Ember Operative team features the kinds of characters not often (if ever) seen in sci-fi/fantasy--queer characters, trans characters, non-binary characters, a blind character (and no, she doesn't use magic to "see"), characters of color (Ianthe was described by another reviewer as "badass brown Elsa"--which is totally accurate!). Oliver weaves in social commentary on a number of issues, from inequality to mental illness and more, and yet it's done in a way that makes it integral to the story and world-building. This is a book that explores issues, but isn't an "issues book." I especially found it interesting how the trans characters felt compelled to join the Council, which offers "plea bargains" to Elementalists who do their bidding in exchange for the right to live relatively normal lives, because this was the only way they could access the medical care to transition. As those who follow the news may be aware, the U.S. military recently announced that trans people could serve openly and would even cover the costs of transition... Not to say that the real-world military is anything like the dystopian Council, but the parallel was striking.
Anyway, DAYBREAK RISING is at its heart a fun and action-packed superhero story about a team of gifted individuals coming together and facing overwhelming challenges. Things really heat up in the book's third act, with danger and fights and more than one crazy twist. With memorable characters, edge-of-your-seat plot turns, and cool superpowers, this book was exactly my cup of tea.
Of course, it being the first in a series, it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, but wrapped up the "Book One" stuff in a way that felt satisfying, even if it's going to be a bit of a wait before I get to read the sequel. If you're a fan of X-Men or enjoy action-packed science fantasy in general, then I highly recommend that you check this book out.
June 17, 2017
While the story is an interesting concept, it's badly written, rushed, and most of it makes no sense. There is no discernible timeline and the transition from paragraph to paragraph is sloppy.
Many descriptions of the characters and their traits/personalities seemed rushed and out of place, as the author tries to incorporate different gender identities and sexualities without knowing how to incorporate the reveals into the storyline properly.
This book is a hot mess.
Many descriptions of the characters and their traits/personalities seemed rushed and out of place, as the author tries to incorporate different gender identities and sexualities without knowing how to incorporate the reveals into the storyline properly.
This book is a hot mess.
November 22, 2017
This was a book with an amazing concept and really fantastic characters, but the execution needed work.
The author gets a lot of credit for a creative plot, interesting magical system, and a diverse, oh-so-queer, and very believable cast of characters. I adore imperfect protagonists, rebellions, complicated relationships, and people learning to work together, all of which are major features of Daybreak rising! I'm glad that this story exists, and I really wanted to love the book.
However, I wasn't able to enjoy it as much as I'd hoped because it is desperately in need of some heavy editing and rewriting. The exposition was muddled, making it difficult to understand the background of the world or the characters. I had trouble following what was going on in most of the action sequences, which were often quite short. I don't need a story to have a lot of direct conflict, but I do want to be able to understand the stakes and to feel a real sense of the danger the characters are facing, and I rarely had that in this book. In addition to the lack of information, the flow of the narrative was disrupted at several points with the insertion of background information at an awkward place or overly detailed descriptions of things that were irrelevant to the story. Additionally, there are several key pieces that are either contradictory or else too confusing for me to understand what the author was actually trying to convey.
I think this story has a lot of potential, so I really hope the author considers revising this book and continuing on with the series.
The author gets a lot of credit for a creative plot, interesting magical system, and a diverse, oh-so-queer, and very believable cast of characters. I adore imperfect protagonists, rebellions, complicated relationships, and people learning to work together, all of which are major features of Daybreak rising! I'm glad that this story exists, and I really wanted to love the book.
However, I wasn't able to enjoy it as much as I'd hoped because it is desperately in need of some heavy editing and rewriting. The exposition was muddled, making it difficult to understand the background of the world or the characters. I had trouble following what was going on in most of the action sequences, which were often quite short. I don't need a story to have a lot of direct conflict, but I do want to be able to understand the stakes and to feel a real sense of the danger the characters are facing, and I rarely had that in this book. In addition to the lack of information, the flow of the narrative was disrupted at several points with the insertion of background information at an awkward place or overly detailed descriptions of things that were irrelevant to the story. Additionally, there are several key pieces that are either contradictory or else too confusing for me to understand what the author was actually trying to convey.
I think this story has a lot of potential, so I really hope the author considers revising this book and continuing on with the series.
April 10, 2016
Disclaimer: I received an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There's a LOT to be excited about in DAYBREAK RISING. First I'm always here for a rebels-overthrow-shitty-government story, and the unique spin of having a leader who already failed at exactly this task is icing on the cake. Second, Magic + Technology mixed together doesn't happen often enough, and I love it, and it is integrated in fascinating ways throughout Esonith. In short, the worldbuilding surrounding this (and actually, all the worldbuilding) is top notch. Complete all of this with a diverse cast of characters and a *demisexual protagonist* and boy was I ready for this book!
So did it deliver? Mostly, yes. DAYBREAK is a solid debut novel, the relationship between Celosia and Ianthe is A+, and as the story unfolds shades of grey are added to the Rebel VS Government plot. The pacing is somewhat unequal through the story--the beginning his slow, the characters spend a lot of time discussing events, and the actual action scene are short--but DAYBREAK draws a lot of its strength from the characters (a good chunk of it are soo great), which helps. I also sometimes got confused about events, but that is often the fate of early ARC copies. DAYBREAK is already a novel well worth your time and love, and I have no doubt it will shine even more in its final form.
There's a LOT to be excited about in DAYBREAK RISING. First I'm always here for a rebels-overthrow-shitty-government story, and the unique spin of having a leader who already failed at exactly this task is icing on the cake. Second, Magic + Technology mixed together doesn't happen often enough, and I love it, and it is integrated in fascinating ways throughout Esonith. In short, the worldbuilding surrounding this (and actually, all the worldbuilding) is top notch. Complete all of this with a diverse cast of characters and a *demisexual protagonist* and boy was I ready for this book!
So did it deliver? Mostly, yes. DAYBREAK is a solid debut novel, the relationship between Celosia and Ianthe is A+, and as the story unfolds shades of grey are added to the Rebel VS Government plot. The pacing is somewhat unequal through the story--the beginning his slow, the characters spend a lot of time discussing events, and the actual action scene are short--but DAYBREAK draws a lot of its strength from the characters (a good chunk of it are soo great), which helps. I also sometimes got confused about events, but that is often the fate of early ARC copies. DAYBREAK is already a novel well worth your time and love, and I have no doubt it will shine even more in its final form.
April 12, 2016
This book has more diversity than a QUILTBAG support group. But that isn't the only reason you should read it. Daybreak Rising combines a magical military (!!), fascinating relationships of both romantic and platonic nature, and a world that mixes familiar fantasy elements with modern technology. At it's heart this is a book about redemption, friendship, and self-forgiveness.
The romance between Celosia and Ianthe is tender and progresses at a natural rate - a must for any fictional relationship for me. But honestly, the friendships of everyone and the dynamic between all of them together was fascinating. It took a bit of a while to get them all together, and for the story to kick into gear, but when it did it was awesome. I enjoyed the simmering rebellion and the magical combat, but the characters drive this novel. Each one is interesting and compelling in their own way, and I'm excited to learn more about them as the series goes on. (Particularly Riva, who I actually disliked in parts but who fascinates me!)
If you like fantasy, badass magic, and gender, race, sexuality, or disability rep in your fiction, read this book ASAP!
The romance between Celosia and Ianthe is tender and progresses at a natural rate - a must for any fictional relationship for me. But honestly, the friendships of everyone and the dynamic between all of them together was fascinating. It took a bit of a while to get them all together, and for the story to kick into gear, but when it did it was awesome. I enjoyed the simmering rebellion and the magical combat, but the characters drive this novel. Each one is interesting and compelling in their own way, and I'm excited to learn more about them as the series goes on. (Particularly Riva, who I actually disliked in parts but who fascinates me!)
If you like fantasy, badass magic, and gender, race, sexuality, or disability rep in your fiction, read this book ASAP!
March 30, 2016
Daybreak Rising is a unique read filled with rich world-building, modern diversity, and a fresh take on political struggles. It gives a Red Queen vibe, in that it has magical abilities meshed in a world of technology, mixed with an Avatar: The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra feel. That in itself is a feat for a writer to pull off, but what mostly sets this book apart from the rest is the prism of detailed characterization of its diverse cast. You won't find your typical Mary Sues in this book. You'll find creatures of various physically-challenged, mentally-challenged, and sexually-oriented origins, banded together in a mix that somehow seems to fit.
This innovative story takes the reader on a journey filled with action laced with drama, with hidden surprises along the way. The action scenes made me think of the Naruto video games my son likes to play, while the drama resonated with the Grey's Anatomy fan in me. The book doesn't exactly end in a cliffhanger, but it is clear it is just the beginning of the battle, which I'm certain escalates in the next book.
This innovative story takes the reader on a journey filled with action laced with drama, with hidden surprises along the way. The action scenes made me think of the Naruto video games my son likes to play, while the drama resonated with the Grey's Anatomy fan in me. The book doesn't exactly end in a cliffhanger, but it is clear it is just the beginning of the battle, which I'm certain escalates in the next book.
June 16, 2016
Ok ok ok.
So, I got a free copy of this book from the author because I beg strangers for things on the internet. And, yay, they said yes!
As we all know I hate reading non finished versions because of the basic writing/ formatting errors that punch me in my eyeballs. So, I'm not going to mention those here... :x
This is the story of Celosia who would really do anything to live down her failure in a mission a bunch of years ago... It's not really her failure, IMO, but she's been the one handed the blame. This is also a story about the new recruits that join Celosia on her mission of redemption, a mission to save magical people from oppression and misuse.
Related Blog Post: http://bookedupandbossy.blogspot.com/...
So, I got a free copy of this book from the author because I beg strangers for things on the internet. And, yay, they said yes!
As we all know I hate reading non finished versions because of the basic writing/ formatting errors that punch me in my eyeballs. So, I'm not going to mention those here... :x
This is the story of Celosia who would really do anything to live down her failure in a mission a bunch of years ago... It's not really her failure, IMO, but she's been the one handed the blame. This is also a story about the new recruits that join Celosia on her mission of redemption, a mission to save magical people from oppression and misuse.
Related Blog Post: http://bookedupandbossy.blogspot.com/...
June 12, 2017
This book started out a bit slow and confusing, but stick with it - it really picks up in the second half. The story is unique and interesting and I can't wait for the next book in the series.
June 2, 2016
This book brings to life a rich fantasy world I can easily lose myself in. The unique and vibrant characters hooked me immediately and the twisting plot kept me turning the pages. I'm so happy to see a canon demisexual character like Ianthe! (I'd fall for her too, TBH.) I can't wait for book 2!
*I received the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*I received the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2017
Review (print version. It’s relevant, trust me)
Celosia Brennan was supposed to be a hero. After a bunch of military (?) commandos put way too much on the shoulders of a teen and she fries a town, Celosia has joined the resistance. She is part of a corp of elemental magic users (GO PLANET!) bent on taking down The Council. I don’t know what The Council is. I don’t know what it’s motivations are. Apparently it either kills elementals or tries to leash them to do its bidding, and so our ragtag band is out to take it down. Among them is a blind woman, at least two lesbians, a trans man, nonbinary people, among others. There is a reasonable smattering of black people, although two have problematic blue eyes. That’s a whole different blog post.
Diverse books hold a special place in my heart.
Diversity is not, however, enough to hold an entire story together.
Books need plot. They need character development. They need a copyeditor and a proofreader and page numbers. This book had…none of those. Typos were abundant (double periods, quotation errors, NO PAGE NUMBERS), the prose was stilted and super telly (constantly telling, then showing, then sometimes telling again, ad nauseum), and the story lacked a discernible arc or plot through line. So let’s break it down, issue by issue.
Typos and redundancy
I realize this book was self-pubbed, but that isn’t an excuse for not having an editor, copyeditor, and/or proofreader. This book also suffered from a heavy amount of word redundancy within paragraphs, which made it read very fanfic and amateurish. Fundamentals were left out as well, such as, and I’m still not over this, a lack of page numbers in the print version.
Writing style
If I hadn’t wanted to leave a thorough review for this book, I’d have DNF after the first fifteen pages or so. No clear plot emerged until about halfway through the book. The backstory of the lead character didn’t come through until about thirty or so pages in. There was no way to get character buy-in, or world placement, for the first half of the book, and that was really frustrating.
There was no multi-act structure for this book. Tension was never built, save for the Big Reveal about three-quarters of the way through (which was the only moment of true interest I had in the book). The book wasn’t even a complete arc, with it ending just before the Final Battle. The primary plot appears to be getting Celosia over her PTSD (admirable, for sure), but her whole situation is confusing. She was used by the rebels, screwed up her job because she was a kid, and now everyone holds her responsible for the screw up. I have no empathy for people who hold a child responsible for failing an adult task which again, made world buy-in next to impossible.
The author mainly told instead of showed, maybe as a way to speed up the slow pace of the book (which was achingly slow). The occasional show was always followed up by a tell, which really treated the reader as a moron. Most readers can pull intent and feelings from context and motions, we don’t need to be beaten over the head with it.
The White Gaze
Black people with blue eyes. Just. Don’t.
Don’t.
Characters
Too many POV characters for the length and type of book. This was no five hundred page epic fantasy. I don’t actually know how long it was, because it HAD NO PAGE NUMBERS, but there was barely recognizable growth in our lead POV character, Celosia. All the other POVs seemed thrown in for plot relevance, but not enough time was spent with any of them to make them real people. Even three quarters of the way through the book, new POV characters were being introduced, which was very frustrating.
Romance
The main romance line felt forced, rushed, and lackluster. The two characters had no chemistry, and Ianthe seemed more like a plot device than a character.
Queer representation
This was the one strong point of the story. The trans romance line was handled well, the gender discussions were thorough, and the lesbian romance was…well, there was a lesbian romance, so that counts for something.
Final thoughts
I so wanted to like this book, but I felt like it reached up and smacked me every other numberless page. The typos, the lack of tension, the poor character development, the lack of any type of formal act structure, all came together in a book that felt rushed. It felt like I was reading a draft zero of a book that had a lot of potential, but the author didn’t want to go through revisions. I was left disappointed–in the book, the characters, the flailing plot, and the typos I almost drowned in.
Celosia Brennan was supposed to be a hero. After a bunch of military (?) commandos put way too much on the shoulders of a teen and she fries a town, Celosia has joined the resistance. She is part of a corp of elemental magic users (GO PLANET!) bent on taking down The Council. I don’t know what The Council is. I don’t know what it’s motivations are. Apparently it either kills elementals or tries to leash them to do its bidding, and so our ragtag band is out to take it down. Among them is a blind woman, at least two lesbians, a trans man, nonbinary people, among others. There is a reasonable smattering of black people, although two have problematic blue eyes. That’s a whole different blog post.
Diverse books hold a special place in my heart.
Diversity is not, however, enough to hold an entire story together.
Books need plot. They need character development. They need a copyeditor and a proofreader and page numbers. This book had…none of those. Typos were abundant (double periods, quotation errors, NO PAGE NUMBERS), the prose was stilted and super telly (constantly telling, then showing, then sometimes telling again, ad nauseum), and the story lacked a discernible arc or plot through line. So let’s break it down, issue by issue.
Typos and redundancy
I realize this book was self-pubbed, but that isn’t an excuse for not having an editor, copyeditor, and/or proofreader. This book also suffered from a heavy amount of word redundancy within paragraphs, which made it read very fanfic and amateurish. Fundamentals were left out as well, such as, and I’m still not over this, a lack of page numbers in the print version.
Writing style
If I hadn’t wanted to leave a thorough review for this book, I’d have DNF after the first fifteen pages or so. No clear plot emerged until about halfway through the book. The backstory of the lead character didn’t come through until about thirty or so pages in. There was no way to get character buy-in, or world placement, for the first half of the book, and that was really frustrating.
There was no multi-act structure for this book. Tension was never built, save for the Big Reveal about three-quarters of the way through (which was the only moment of true interest I had in the book). The book wasn’t even a complete arc, with it ending just before the Final Battle. The primary plot appears to be getting Celosia over her PTSD (admirable, for sure), but her whole situation is confusing. She was used by the rebels, screwed up her job because she was a kid, and now everyone holds her responsible for the screw up. I have no empathy for people who hold a child responsible for failing an adult task which again, made world buy-in next to impossible.
The author mainly told instead of showed, maybe as a way to speed up the slow pace of the book (which was achingly slow). The occasional show was always followed up by a tell, which really treated the reader as a moron. Most readers can pull intent and feelings from context and motions, we don’t need to be beaten over the head with it.
The White Gaze
Black people with blue eyes. Just. Don’t.
Don’t.
Characters
Too many POV characters for the length and type of book. This was no five hundred page epic fantasy. I don’t actually know how long it was, because it HAD NO PAGE NUMBERS, but there was barely recognizable growth in our lead POV character, Celosia. All the other POVs seemed thrown in for plot relevance, but not enough time was spent with any of them to make them real people. Even three quarters of the way through the book, new POV characters were being introduced, which was very frustrating.
Romance
The main romance line felt forced, rushed, and lackluster. The two characters had no chemistry, and Ianthe seemed more like a plot device than a character.
Queer representation
This was the one strong point of the story. The trans romance line was handled well, the gender discussions were thorough, and the lesbian romance was…well, there was a lesbian romance, so that counts for something.
Final thoughts
I so wanted to like this book, but I felt like it reached up and smacked me every other numberless page. The typos, the lack of tension, the poor character development, the lack of any type of formal act structure, all came together in a book that felt rushed. It felt like I was reading a draft zero of a book that had a lot of potential, but the author didn’t want to go through revisions. I was left disappointed–in the book, the characters, the flailing plot, and the typos I almost drowned in.
October 23, 2019
this, unfortunately, falls under the category of "fantasy that tries too hard to be fantasy," making the character and place names are a bit.. hard to digest. the worldbuilding is shaky and at times confusing; I really don't know what the setting is supposed to be, if it's pure fantasy or some re-imagined version of Earth, because the society seems to mirror ours pretty much entirely (minus the dystopian/fascist/magical elements, of course). it's just really unclear, and I think more in-depth explanations would have really aided the story. I don't really know what happened the majority of the time, because the writing really needed more editing and a finer polish. it's very much a "this happened, then this happened" style, telling more than showing. it just doesn't feel like a lot of planning actually went into the lore and the plot. it's very messy.
I do appreciate the diversity, though I have some issues with it, too. the handling of the two trans characters does make me a bit uncomfortable because it's stereotypical and just kind of hurtful. I don't like how they were put into horrible situations and essentially treated like prisoners just to be able to transition (and on a similar note, I don't get how the council is supposed to be so fascist but.. the world is so.. Good? there's healthcare, free education, plenty of food, etc (except for in Dakul, but, I digress) it just.. feels so weird that the council is intended to be this oppressive force yet everyone lives pretty good lives, even those with magic who are the targets of the oppression.) also really didn't care for the interactions between Adan and Kavhyun re: Adan coming out as trans to her. it was just weird and uncomfortable.
there's also not really an element of suspense. the main characters are supposed to be rebels, renegades, outlaws... but it never really seems like an actual threat is chasing them. they apparently have barracks in cities advertising their rebellion? which? okay? there's also this weird shopping montage/going out to eat sequence when they're supposed to be on the run which just, feels entirely out of place. it's like halfway through the author decided that it was going to be a fluff novel and entirely forgot that there's supposed to be a war going on.
I don't know. I just don't really like it, because I don't know what it's supposed to be. I love representation and diversity, with visibly trans and nonbinary and wlw characters, but you can't just have these things and have a good book. lore, plot, character development and writing is SO important, and Daybreak Rising just didn't cut it in terms of writing and lore. it's disappointing.
I do appreciate the diversity, though I have some issues with it, too. the handling of the two trans characters does make me a bit uncomfortable because it's stereotypical and just kind of hurtful. I don't like how they were put into horrible situations and essentially treated like prisoners just to be able to transition (and on a similar note, I don't get how the council is supposed to be so fascist but.. the world is so.. Good? there's healthcare, free education, plenty of food, etc (except for in Dakul, but, I digress) it just.. feels so weird that the council is intended to be this oppressive force yet everyone lives pretty good lives, even those with magic who are the targets of the oppression.) also really didn't care for the interactions between Adan and Kavhyun re: Adan coming out as trans to her. it was just weird and uncomfortable.
there's also not really an element of suspense. the main characters are supposed to be rebels, renegades, outlaws... but it never really seems like an actual threat is chasing them. they apparently have barracks in cities advertising their rebellion? which? okay? there's also this weird shopping montage/going out to eat sequence when they're supposed to be on the run which just, feels entirely out of place. it's like halfway through the author decided that it was going to be a fluff novel and entirely forgot that there's supposed to be a war going on.
I don't know. I just don't really like it, because I don't know what it's supposed to be. I love representation and diversity, with visibly trans and nonbinary and wlw characters, but you can't just have these things and have a good book. lore, plot, character development and writing is SO important, and Daybreak Rising just didn't cut it in terms of writing and lore. it's disappointing.
December 20, 2017
Sapphicathon Read Two. Unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. Partly because the only two characters I cared about--Kayvun and Adelin--were tangential to the plot, partly because there was too much magic power training going on (which is never my favorite thing), partly because we had to pause every few pages to discuss some issue or gender, sexuality, or disability in very modern terms. I'm not saying that a setting for a sci-fi shouldn't be politically correct or envision a world that accepts various sexualities etc, I'm saying that taking a couple minutes to monologue about your sexuality is a little distracting from the plot sometimes? Idk. I prefer sexuality/gender/disability to be blended more subtly into the story than that.
But, still might be for you if you like lots of diverse representation and fairly typical sci-fi shenanigans. It's quite possible it just caught me in a bad mood, and I was more bored than annoyed. A matter of taste.
But, still might be for you if you like lots of diverse representation and fairly typical sci-fi shenanigans. It's quite possible it just caught me in a bad mood, and I was more bored than annoyed. A matter of taste.
June 27, 2021
Slow start, interesting ending
On the positive side I loved how diverse the characters were and how interesting the magic system is specially in regards with the concept of dualities and how they play out on both the plot and in the characters personalities. I thought the book lacked a bit on finding the right pacing, until half of the book it feel like it was mostly information dump, I missed having things being implied or hinted at and slowly reviewed through the history, it picks a bit towards the end but and I wish the first half of the book was more like that too.
On the positive side I loved how diverse the characters were and how interesting the magic system is specially in regards with the concept of dualities and how they play out on both the plot and in the characters personalities. I thought the book lacked a bit on finding the right pacing, until half of the book it feel like it was mostly information dump, I missed having things being implied or hinted at and slowly reviewed through the history, it picks a bit towards the end but and I wish the first half of the book was more like that too.
November 8, 2018
I loved the way magic was used in this book and the mix of characters. Can't wait to read the sequel!
June 25, 2020
I really wanted to like this book because it’s a cool concept and has great queer representation, but the writing is just too jumbled and awkward :/
October 10, 2016
The book holds heaps of promise and doesn't deliver on any. Compared to Avatar The Last Airbender but nothing resembling it!!? Characters don't make sense, read to the end and remains obscure what or who The Regime and The Council are. Writing is poor and amateurish. World building is childish and shallow. The magic system is daft. Why a failed hero is chosen to lead an important mission?
One pity star.
One pity star.
November 18, 2020
This was such a difficult book for me to rate because I kept going back and forth between three stars and four. I finally settled on three because, even for as much as I love the idea and the wonderful amount of diversity, (racial, LGBT+ and we even have a blind character) the actual story was just a little disappointing.
Review from my blog: https://athousandworldssite.wordpress...
I have been looking for a book like this.
Basically, this is the story of a failed ‘chosen one’. Years ago, Celosia Brennan was tasked to take down the controlling Council. However, she did what no one thought she would: failed. Now, she’s desperate for a chance to redeem herself.
And she gets that chance, heading the Ember Operative with a group of her fellow mages that don’t trust her.
While the plot is one I adore – I mean, how many times does the ‘chosen one’ actually fail? – what really gets me is the diversity in this book.
We have nearly every main character (of which there are six) fitting somewhere on the LGBT+ spectrum, as well as racial diversity and one character that is blind as well as (at least) one character suffering from PTSD.
This is a book that listens to the voices begging for diverse books and it provides. Provides in a wonderful way and it’s delightful to read.
Now, that being said, as much as I adore the idea behind the story, the characters and the plot itself, the writing is a bit difficult. In fact, it’s a letdown because if the writing had been easier to connect with, I could have given this five stars in a heartbeat.
The descriptions, the way some things – usually minutiae – is over described and things that actually important is barely hinted at was the first problem I noticed.
For example, the main group goes into a pub and it is described as an ‘inviting brick building’ that was ‘full of university students and people getting off work’ while two decent sized paragraphs are dedicated to the food and drink as well as what the eight people eat.
The writing is a bit choppy. There are breaks sometimes after less than a full page, other times after five pages, but even for how short most of the sections are, sometimes the POV character changes in the middle of a section with no indication that it is changing. There are few transition scenes. And, I really hate to say it, this book seems to suffer a bit for that old issue of too much telling instead of showing.
Finally, the story covers a lot of time – something I’ve never been happy with. In the first half of the book, eight months pass. That that much time is passing was indicated once and prior to that, the only mention that any time was passing at all was a character that was imprisoned for three months. Otherwise, I would have suspected that mere weeks had passed.
I’m sincerely hoping that the writing hiccups will be smoothed out in the sequel, because this series shows a lot of promise and the author is doing a wonderful job at answering the cry for more diverse books.
Review from my blog: https://athousandworldssite.wordpress...
I have been looking for a book like this.
Basically, this is the story of a failed ‘chosen one’. Years ago, Celosia Brennan was tasked to take down the controlling Council. However, she did what no one thought she would: failed. Now, she’s desperate for a chance to redeem herself.
And she gets that chance, heading the Ember Operative with a group of her fellow mages that don’t trust her.
While the plot is one I adore – I mean, how many times does the ‘chosen one’ actually fail? – what really gets me is the diversity in this book.
We have nearly every main character (of which there are six) fitting somewhere on the LGBT+ spectrum, as well as racial diversity and one character that is blind as well as (at least) one character suffering from PTSD.
This is a book that listens to the voices begging for diverse books and it provides. Provides in a wonderful way and it’s delightful to read.
Now, that being said, as much as I adore the idea behind the story, the characters and the plot itself, the writing is a bit difficult. In fact, it’s a letdown because if the writing had been easier to connect with, I could have given this five stars in a heartbeat.
The descriptions, the way some things – usually minutiae – is over described and things that actually important is barely hinted at was the first problem I noticed.
For example, the main group goes into a pub and it is described as an ‘inviting brick building’ that was ‘full of university students and people getting off work’ while two decent sized paragraphs are dedicated to the food and drink as well as what the eight people eat.
The writing is a bit choppy. There are breaks sometimes after less than a full page, other times after five pages, but even for how short most of the sections are, sometimes the POV character changes in the middle of a section with no indication that it is changing. There are few transition scenes. And, I really hate to say it, this book seems to suffer a bit for that old issue of too much telling instead of showing.
Finally, the story covers a lot of time – something I’ve never been happy with. In the first half of the book, eight months pass. That that much time is passing was indicated once and prior to that, the only mention that any time was passing at all was a character that was imprisoned for three months. Otherwise, I would have suspected that mere weeks had passed.
I’m sincerely hoping that the writing hiccups will be smoothed out in the sequel, because this series shows a lot of promise and the author is doing a wonderful job at answering the cry for more diverse books.
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