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The Rising: Supernaturals Book 1
Ethan is just an ordinary teenage boy—infatuated with sports music and, of course, girls. Or so he thinks. Heading home on a rainy night from an amateur guitar gig, he finds his life turned completely upside down—literally. His car spins and flips out of control after what he believes to be a small animal jumps out in front of him. The horrific accident is only the beginning of a series of mysterious and seemingly unrelated events that will change his life forever.
After awaking in the hospital, and following an encounter with an enigmatic doctor, Ethan discovers that something that occurred during the wreck allows him to hear others' thoughts, and even more perplexing, move objects with his mind. While trying to wrap his head around this mystery, he realizes he’s not alone. There are others out there with special powers. Not long after learning of this new world, Ethan’s ever increasing lack of control places those around him at serious risk. In order to protect those he loves, he makes the difficult decision to leave and accepts an offer to attend specialized training along with other so called Supernaturals to gain command over his newfound gifts. Shortly after beginning his schooling, Ethan is sent on a mission to kidnap who he believes to be the enemy leader in a well concealed Supernaturals war. But the further he becomes embedded in this new world, the more he discovers things are not quite what they seem and doesn't know who can be trusted.
In this first installment of the Supernaturals series, Ethan discovers that super powers aren’t always so super, and is faced with difficult decisions that will not only affect his own life, but which may determine the life or death of his newfound companions and mentor.
After awaking in the hospital, and following an encounter with an enigmatic doctor, Ethan discovers that something that occurred during the wreck allows him to hear others' thoughts, and even more perplexing, move objects with his mind. While trying to wrap his head around this mystery, he realizes he’s not alone. There are others out there with special powers. Not long after learning of this new world, Ethan’s ever increasing lack of control places those around him at serious risk. In order to protect those he loves, he makes the difficult decision to leave and accepts an offer to attend specialized training along with other so called Supernaturals to gain command over his newfound gifts. Shortly after beginning his schooling, Ethan is sent on a mission to kidnap who he believes to be the enemy leader in a well concealed Supernaturals war. But the further he becomes embedded in this new world, the more he discovers things are not quite what they seem and doesn't know who can be trusted.
In this first installment of the Supernaturals series, Ethan discovers that super powers aren’t always so super, and is faced with difficult decisions that will not only affect his own life, but which may determine the life or death of his newfound companions and mentor.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2016
4 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Troske
3 books17 followersA former Biologist, Ryan has since traded in his rain gear for bunker gear and a badge, working as a Firefighter and Police Officer in southeast Missouri for the last 4+ years where he resides with his wife, two young boys, and their very energetic dog. When he's not putting out fires, cleaning up the streets, or chasing his rambunctious boys around the house, Ryan enjoys writing, and hopes to make it more than a hobby rather than "that thing he tried one time."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 21, 2017
My rating is 4.3
As the title of the book says this is a story about people with supernatural powers. Believe me, there are really a lot, the writer described the many supernatural powers with which major and minor characters in the book are used to you just have to admire the writer's imagination. Writer us through the main character teenagers, Ethan, is drawn into the world of which he never dreamed existed. Ethan is an ordinary teenager who plays guitar, playing football in his school, hangs out with his friends and is in love with Chloe but still is not invited to the meeting. His whole life changed after returning home with his performances in one of the inn. Because of bad weather, he with his car turned onto a side road and experiences a car accident. When he awoke in the hospital, his whole world changes because it is beginning to emerge supernatural powers. The writer leads us to the world full of secrets in which Ethan goes unprepared. His world that he knew disappears like the dust in the wind and his supernatural power leads him to secret organizations that live hidden from normal human views. He will have to make decisions for which he is not ready, Ethan will have to reveal what is true and what not. They will have to discover the truth and truth are sometimes not what's on the surface. I have to admit that writer Ryan Troske has elegantly embedded me in the story of Ethan and the supernatural world of power. The premise of the story is solid and easy to enjoy the imaginary world. Although the book is written for a younger audience, I would recommend it to older science fiction fans who love supernatural powers. I'll be glad to read the sequel.
"I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review.
As the title of the book says this is a story about people with supernatural powers. Believe me, there are really a lot, the writer described the many supernatural powers with which major and minor characters in the book are used to you just have to admire the writer's imagination. Writer us through the main character teenagers, Ethan, is drawn into the world of which he never dreamed existed. Ethan is an ordinary teenager who plays guitar, playing football in his school, hangs out with his friends and is in love with Chloe but still is not invited to the meeting. His whole life changed after returning home with his performances in one of the inn. Because of bad weather, he with his car turned onto a side road and experiences a car accident. When he awoke in the hospital, his whole world changes because it is beginning to emerge supernatural powers. The writer leads us to the world full of secrets in which Ethan goes unprepared. His world that he knew disappears like the dust in the wind and his supernatural power leads him to secret organizations that live hidden from normal human views. He will have to make decisions for which he is not ready, Ethan will have to reveal what is true and what not. They will have to discover the truth and truth are sometimes not what's on the surface. I have to admit that writer Ryan Troske has elegantly embedded me in the story of Ethan and the supernatural world of power. The premise of the story is solid and easy to enjoy the imaginary world. Although the book is written for a younger audience, I would recommend it to older science fiction fans who love supernatural powers. I'll be glad to read the sequel.
"I received a free copy from the author without an obligation to review.
March 17, 2017
Teens can be superheros too!
'What if I were to tell you that some people aren’t quite who they seem to be; that there are those among us with special powers? Most likely you’d dismiss the claim without giving it much thought, maybe even look at me as if I’m some kind of crazy.'
Ethan Myers is a pretty regular teen until he has a car accident that leaves him with a piece of metal lodged in his brain. Then he finds he has developed telepathy and other superpowers. Ethan enters the secret world of superhero (and villain) teens, goes to (two) superhero schools and makes new friends and enemies - and often struggles to tell them apart.
'The Rising' is a YA superhero book in which teens rule the roost and any adult superheroes are thrust well into the background along with parents and all other grown-ups. This is teen v teen with a supporting cast of teens and one or two male, mentor figure, adults. It is a wonderful wish-fulfilment fantasy for boys that age, full of the sweet romance of first love and the struggle to define morality and choose friends wisely. It finishes with a number of unanswered questions and so is well set up for the next adventures in books to come.
“We have to fight back. We can’t just sit here,” Blake shouted. “Start firing. Ethan, Ella, Nova, line up over there. Niko, Murphy, Kari, take the opposite side. Paul and Brian, I want you throwing any cars not being used as barriers. Turn them into weapons. Yoki, if you have it in you, bring down whatever weather you can to slow them down."
The strength of the book is in its chatty main character who is very engaging and often breaks the fourth wall, making the reader feel as if this is someone they know well, who is sharing their life, loves, highs and lows with a good friend. The relationships the character has are well presented, such as the long arc of how Ethan tries to woo and win his Chloe. Characters are mostly defined by their superpowers rather than their personalities, but then there are a lot of them. A few stand out as real people, but often more in their role as regards to Ethan rather than as solid individuals pursuing their own lives.
The writing style is easy, flows smoothly and avoids the perils of purple prose or awkward sentence structures, thus allowing the reader to keep immersion. Pace is patchy, with some good sense of tension in the action scenes at times - but at others, the extended descriptions of not much happening for page after page, weigh the story down. Worldbuilding is inconsistent, which does create some issues as the story progresses.
“All right everyone, gather up the crowd, we best get this done quickly.” Blake ordered. Within minutes the crowd of onlookers had returned.
Overall, this is a great story about an engaging character with a fascinating tale to tell. So what went wrong? Firstly, it is about three times longer than it should be. The events are over-told and it is not until nearly a quarter of the way through the book we actually really get into the story itself. There is too much time spent on 'then we did this, then we did that' kind of events which have no real bearing on the plot or character development. Then there is the high number of other superhero teens Ethan meets - in two separate schools (we also get long details of classes in both too). Instead of introducing them in context, what we get given is effectively a list of names and abilities thinly written as narrative, and the superpower ability is pretty much all we ever learn about almost all those individuals.
The plot holes became troublesome. At the beginning of the book, Ethan lives in a world where he is being awestruck by any show of superpowers and can't believe they exist. In fact, throughout the book, each new ability he encounters produces this awestruck reaction. Then, a bit over half-way through, we are told that the world knows all about superpower individuals and persecutes them so they have to keep hidden. Another good example would be the lack of explanation for the suddenly appearing deus ex machina device which removes memory from entire (oddly co-operative) crowds and the equally unexplained super-technologies which can be created when the situation demands.
This is a story that teens may well love and I would suggest that fans of YA superhero genre books check it out and make the call for themselves.
'What if I were to tell you that some people aren’t quite who they seem to be; that there are those among us with special powers? Most likely you’d dismiss the claim without giving it much thought, maybe even look at me as if I’m some kind of crazy.'
Ethan Myers is a pretty regular teen until he has a car accident that leaves him with a piece of metal lodged in his brain. Then he finds he has developed telepathy and other superpowers. Ethan enters the secret world of superhero (and villain) teens, goes to (two) superhero schools and makes new friends and enemies - and often struggles to tell them apart.
'The Rising' is a YA superhero book in which teens rule the roost and any adult superheroes are thrust well into the background along with parents and all other grown-ups. This is teen v teen with a supporting cast of teens and one or two male, mentor figure, adults. It is a wonderful wish-fulfilment fantasy for boys that age, full of the sweet romance of first love and the struggle to define morality and choose friends wisely. It finishes with a number of unanswered questions and so is well set up for the next adventures in books to come.
“We have to fight back. We can’t just sit here,” Blake shouted. “Start firing. Ethan, Ella, Nova, line up over there. Niko, Murphy, Kari, take the opposite side. Paul and Brian, I want you throwing any cars not being used as barriers. Turn them into weapons. Yoki, if you have it in you, bring down whatever weather you can to slow them down."
The strength of the book is in its chatty main character who is very engaging and often breaks the fourth wall, making the reader feel as if this is someone they know well, who is sharing their life, loves, highs and lows with a good friend. The relationships the character has are well presented, such as the long arc of how Ethan tries to woo and win his Chloe. Characters are mostly defined by their superpowers rather than their personalities, but then there are a lot of them. A few stand out as real people, but often more in their role as regards to Ethan rather than as solid individuals pursuing their own lives.
The writing style is easy, flows smoothly and avoids the perils of purple prose or awkward sentence structures, thus allowing the reader to keep immersion. Pace is patchy, with some good sense of tension in the action scenes at times - but at others, the extended descriptions of not much happening for page after page, weigh the story down. Worldbuilding is inconsistent, which does create some issues as the story progresses.
“All right everyone, gather up the crowd, we best get this done quickly.” Blake ordered. Within minutes the crowd of onlookers had returned.
Overall, this is a great story about an engaging character with a fascinating tale to tell. So what went wrong? Firstly, it is about three times longer than it should be. The events are over-told and it is not until nearly a quarter of the way through the book we actually really get into the story itself. There is too much time spent on 'then we did this, then we did that' kind of events which have no real bearing on the plot or character development. Then there is the high number of other superhero teens Ethan meets - in two separate schools (we also get long details of classes in both too). Instead of introducing them in context, what we get given is effectively a list of names and abilities thinly written as narrative, and the superpower ability is pretty much all we ever learn about almost all those individuals.
The plot holes became troublesome. At the beginning of the book, Ethan lives in a world where he is being awestruck by any show of superpowers and can't believe they exist. In fact, throughout the book, each new ability he encounters produces this awestruck reaction. Then, a bit over half-way through, we are told that the world knows all about superpower individuals and persecutes them so they have to keep hidden. Another good example would be the lack of explanation for the suddenly appearing deus ex machina device which removes memory from entire (oddly co-operative) crowds and the equally unexplained super-technologies which can be created when the situation demands.
This is a story that teens may well love and I would suggest that fans of YA superhero genre books check it out and make the call for themselves.
August 4, 2017
Although it dragged a bit at the beginning, it was still an entertaining read. The character development was solid and the story could've been shorter. I don't think it should have been as long as it was.
The story revolves around a 16-year-old boy called Ethan, who after being involved in a car accident, and spending a lengthy time in hospital, wakes up to find that something has changed about him. Throughout the story, and struggling with his new powers, Ethan make some new friends, and a few enemies.
There were a few issues as regard to plot, but apart from that, everything was hunkydory.
True rating 3.5 stars.
The story revolves around a 16-year-old boy called Ethan, who after being involved in a car accident, and spending a lengthy time in hospital, wakes up to find that something has changed about him. Throughout the story, and struggling with his new powers, Ethan make some new friends, and a few enemies.
There were a few issues as regard to plot, but apart from that, everything was hunkydory.
True rating 3.5 stars.
February 6, 2017
I loved this book. It amazed me that Ethan went from being an ordinary guy, to being a supernatural within a few days. I liked that he stood up for others and was smart enough to realize who the bad guy was. I was disappointed when I thought Ethan had lost his powers, but was excited when I read the epilogue. I received this book from We ♥ YA Books! in exchange for my honest review.
June 27, 2017
The Rising is a story about a teenaged boy named Ethan Myers. At first he’s just an ordinary guy into playing his guitar, baseball, friends and one girl particular, Chloe. But the day he gets into a bizarre accident, everything turns on its head. He meets a mysterious “doctor” and begins to discover his hidden powers and the hidden world of others like him.
The story is written from Ethan’s perspective. The character’s voice is both humorous and engaging. I really enjoyed his one-liners and interactions with the people he meets. Chloe annoyed me, especially with her overreaction with the phone number. She tones down over time. I like Ethan’s friends, including Marcus. The mother is sweet, very mom-like, though I feel she put up with A LOT of weirdness for a long time . James Richards is quite amusing.
The introduction is great and drew me in immediately. Though this is an easy read, I do feel like it is very long when it didn't need to be. I kept wishing for the first set of chapters to hurry along and get to the part where he meets the other “supernaturals." Some of Ethan's headache scenes seemed repetitive, some sensory descriptions and extra details could've been left out and I think it would have greatly improved the flow.
Another issue I had was with originality. I went through an X-Men phase so I both liked & disliked the similarities. It was nice to have some familiarity, but I was looking for huge differences to set it apart and was disappointed when I wasn’t finding it where I expected it. I do like Ethan’s abilities, even the “growing pains” that go along with him coming to accept them. This being said, I commend the author for coming up with unique powers for each character--it is NOT easy.
Overall, this is a fun teen adventure, great for those into comics, with a lot of fight sequences and super powers. It'll be interesting to see where the author takes things in the next book.
The story is written from Ethan’s perspective. The character’s voice is both humorous and engaging. I really enjoyed his one-liners and interactions with the people he meets. Chloe annoyed me, especially with her overreaction with the phone number. She tones down over time. I like Ethan’s friends, including Marcus. The mother is sweet, very mom-like, though I feel she put up with A LOT of weirdness for a long time . James Richards is quite amusing.
The introduction is great and drew me in immediately. Though this is an easy read, I do feel like it is very long when it didn't need to be. I kept wishing for the first set of chapters to hurry along and get to the part where he meets the other “supernaturals." Some of Ethan's headache scenes seemed repetitive, some sensory descriptions and extra details could've been left out and I think it would have greatly improved the flow.
Another issue I had was with originality. I went through an X-Men phase so I both liked & disliked the similarities. It was nice to have some familiarity, but I was looking for huge differences to set it apart and was disappointed when I wasn’t finding it where I expected it. I do like Ethan’s abilities, even the “growing pains” that go along with him coming to accept them. This being said, I commend the author for coming up with unique powers for each character--it is NOT easy.
Overall, this is a fun teen adventure, great for those into comics, with a lot of fight sequences and super powers. It'll be interesting to see where the author takes things in the next book.
March 21, 2018
I love the X-men movies, so I really enjoyed this book. It seemed like another X-Men story because you have people with supernatural abilities attending a school led by someone the supernaturals respect. And of course there are bad supernaturals fighting against the good supernaturals. This story has teenagers crushing on each other also. Ethan is the main character, but that's all I'll say so I don't give anything away.
February 18, 2017
Though lacking a little polish, the enthusiasm of Ryan Troske’s storytelling makes this Young Adult Fantasy adventure an enjoyable read. Set in a contemporary story-world, the story’s hero is a musically talented sixteen year old called Ethan Myers. Injured in a car crash, Ethan wakes to find his perceptions and abilities altered. Seeking to understand and control these new abilities, he sets out on a journey of personal discovery that reveals a hidden world of Superhumans, who are both good and very bad!
It’s not long before we’re teleporting across the USA from city to city and immersed in tremendous battle scenes that showcase a whole range of inventive superhuman skills. There’s plenty of ‘smashing and bashing’, but also running through the story are touching and believable threads of innocent romance, new friendships, loyalty and betrayals. In summary, there’s plenty going on in this story to keep our emerging hero on his toes as the story builds towards its epic and lengthy climax.
It’s not long before we’re teleporting across the USA from city to city and immersed in tremendous battle scenes that showcase a whole range of inventive superhuman skills. There’s plenty of ‘smashing and bashing’, but also running through the story are touching and believable threads of innocent romance, new friendships, loyalty and betrayals. In summary, there’s plenty going on in this story to keep our emerging hero on his toes as the story builds towards its epic and lengthy climax.
December 18, 2016
The Rising (Supernaturals Book 1) was a fantastic book. I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying Ethan as he discovered and adjusted his life to new-found supernatural skills. The plot was engaging, humourous and offered twists right up to the end. I liked how at the beginning his powers were local and only affected himself, then they expanded and affected his family and the residents of a city.
Although, the book has been likened to that of X-MEN and Percy Jackson, I found this one to be individual, well-written and unique. I recommend it to anyone who loves YA fantasy and I look forward to the next in the series. As per the Goodreads guidelines, I was given an ARC in return for an honest review. Thank you, glad it came my way.
Although, the book has been likened to that of X-MEN and Percy Jackson, I found this one to be individual, well-written and unique. I recommend it to anyone who loves YA fantasy and I look forward to the next in the series. As per the Goodreads guidelines, I was given an ARC in return for an honest review. Thank you, glad it came my way.
December 26, 2017
Ethan Myers is a young man in high school with a promising future in music and a beautiful romantic interest. Things look to be going up for him, when he gets into an accident that changes his life. In his recovery, he stumbles onto the fact that he has special powers.
He is contacted and mentored by James, an older gentleman who takes him under his wing to teach him about the world of special and gifted humans called, supernaturals. In this world, Ethan meets other people like him with a dazzling array of powers. But he is also introduced to an evil enemy, Harold, and his own crew of supernaturals. But as Ethan learns to use his powers and as he is forced to confront their enemy, he learns that all is not as it seems, and must make heart-wrenching decisions about friendship and loyalty in a harsh world where one must take sides.
I found Supernaturals: The Rising, to be a well-written book with some nice poignant emotional moments. Ethan has a good strong voice and captures the interest of the reader right away and sustains it. The different abilities and the construct of the world is creative and the book does well to show them off. There are a number of great training and fight scenes, which are fun to imagine. I did find the plot to be a little underdeveloped in some areas.
If you enjoy superhero-type fiction with lots of action, fun characters with spunk and a little snark, then you’ll love Supernaturals: The Rising.
He is contacted and mentored by James, an older gentleman who takes him under his wing to teach him about the world of special and gifted humans called, supernaturals. In this world, Ethan meets other people like him with a dazzling array of powers. But he is also introduced to an evil enemy, Harold, and his own crew of supernaturals. But as Ethan learns to use his powers and as he is forced to confront their enemy, he learns that all is not as it seems, and must make heart-wrenching decisions about friendship and loyalty in a harsh world where one must take sides.
I found Supernaturals: The Rising, to be a well-written book with some nice poignant emotional moments. Ethan has a good strong voice and captures the interest of the reader right away and sustains it. The different abilities and the construct of the world is creative and the book does well to show them off. There are a number of great training and fight scenes, which are fun to imagine. I did find the plot to be a little underdeveloped in some areas.
If you enjoy superhero-type fiction with lots of action, fun characters with spunk and a little snark, then you’ll love Supernaturals: The Rising.
October 17, 2017
A derivative story that reads fairly well
The Rising is a novel that does not even try to hide its adoration for the X-Men comic series. It begins its tale with a 16-year-old musician named Ethan Meyers, smitten with a girl whom he believes beyond his reach, getting into a car accident that nearly kills him. In the aftermath of this traumatic incident, Ethan finds himself unexpectedly and irregularly exhibiting new and unusual powers: the ability to read minds, to move objects... and to destroy things when he's not keeping these new powers under control. It is in this state of confusion and lack of finesse with his newfound gifts that he is approached by a group called the Supernaturals, and offered a place on their team. Naturally, not all is as it seems...
This novel is clearly aimed at the teenage market, with its heavy focus on the main character's misadventures in relationships and on Ethan's frequent emotional swings described in loving detail. The story sports a decent mystery, with plenty of clues along the way to hint to the reader what's really going on, and a very large cast of characters. Indeed, the cast feels almost too large, with a great many of the players in this tale appearing perhaps twice before vanishing entirely. The flow of the narrative neatly hides the fact that this high-speed affair is rather lacking in much substance besides the main narrative. There is little genuine world-building going on, constantly borrowing famous real-world landmarks for setpieces. The narrative mostly focuses on the interactions between Ethan and other characters, with events taking place solely to push Ethan towards the next encounter and his next misadventure with his would-be girlfriends.
The entire affair feels like a love letter to the X-Men comics. The style of the writing, the events that take place, the theming of the novel itself, and even many of the characters feel highly inspired by the classic Marvel series. There is even a nod to this in the narrative itself, so the author is at least aware of this influence. That said, if you enjoy the X-Men comics, this novel will certainly feel right at home to you. It has its ups and downs, but overall it holds up alright. Don't expect anything groundbreaking (you can see the plot twists coming half the book away most of the time), but certainly you could do much worse.
The Rising is a novel that does not even try to hide its adoration for the X-Men comic series. It begins its tale with a 16-year-old musician named Ethan Meyers, smitten with a girl whom he believes beyond his reach, getting into a car accident that nearly kills him. In the aftermath of this traumatic incident, Ethan finds himself unexpectedly and irregularly exhibiting new and unusual powers: the ability to read minds, to move objects... and to destroy things when he's not keeping these new powers under control. It is in this state of confusion and lack of finesse with his newfound gifts that he is approached by a group called the Supernaturals, and offered a place on their team. Naturally, not all is as it seems...
This novel is clearly aimed at the teenage market, with its heavy focus on the main character's misadventures in relationships and on Ethan's frequent emotional swings described in loving detail. The story sports a decent mystery, with plenty of clues along the way to hint to the reader what's really going on, and a very large cast of characters. Indeed, the cast feels almost too large, with a great many of the players in this tale appearing perhaps twice before vanishing entirely. The flow of the narrative neatly hides the fact that this high-speed affair is rather lacking in much substance besides the main narrative. There is little genuine world-building going on, constantly borrowing famous real-world landmarks for setpieces. The narrative mostly focuses on the interactions between Ethan and other characters, with events taking place solely to push Ethan towards the next encounter and his next misadventure with his would-be girlfriends.
The entire affair feels like a love letter to the X-Men comics. The style of the writing, the events that take place, the theming of the novel itself, and even many of the characters feel highly inspired by the classic Marvel series. There is even a nod to this in the narrative itself, so the author is at least aware of this influence. That said, if you enjoy the X-Men comics, this novel will certainly feel right at home to you. It has its ups and downs, but overall it holds up alright. Don't expect anything groundbreaking (you can see the plot twists coming half the book away most of the time), but certainly you could do much worse.
October 6, 2017
The Rising is the story of Ethan who, after an accident, has an ‘impalement to the skull’ and acquires powers. He then discovers a universe with other people with superpowers. Power, being what it is, used for either good or evil.
I can’t help feel sorry for the poor guy. He chases after a would-be girlfriend (and is only aware of her crush when he hears her thoughts). He ends at least three times in a hospital bed. He hears people’s thoughts, move things with his mind (nearly kills his mother with a knife) and has to seek help. Initially, he sides with the ‘evil’ group but, twists and turns, without a spoiler alert, he ends up struggling.
I liked the action sequences, the Combat training, mind reading (especially if you don’t know whether your thoughts are yours). One instance that was really fascinating was when Ethan was able to possess a body. That was cool.
I also like Ethan’s voice and his snarky comments:
“Well, I left you my card shortly after hearing about your little bowling fiasco, and that was weeks ago.”
Goes to show how often I cleaned my room.
I lost track quickly of the number of abilities: Violet and the thorns, Doug and liquefication, Jace and healing, Eryk and energy blasts, Daric and strength, Aiden and bombs, Donovan and..scariest member. There are many more on this side of the X-Men: Raven, Kenny, etc.
When Ethan encounters the other side, another array of names props up: Ella, Luke, Kai, Yun, Blake, Nova, Harold and many others.
Interesting events, vivid description of action sequences, well-developed characters. The book was a fun read but there are many instances that are not plot-relevant, and they add up to over 120k words –much too long.
I can’t help feel sorry for the poor guy. He chases after a would-be girlfriend (and is only aware of her crush when he hears her thoughts). He ends at least three times in a hospital bed. He hears people’s thoughts, move things with his mind (nearly kills his mother with a knife) and has to seek help. Initially, he sides with the ‘evil’ group but, twists and turns, without a spoiler alert, he ends up struggling.
I liked the action sequences, the Combat training, mind reading (especially if you don’t know whether your thoughts are yours). One instance that was really fascinating was when Ethan was able to possess a body. That was cool.
I also like Ethan’s voice and his snarky comments:
“Well, I left you my card shortly after hearing about your little bowling fiasco, and that was weeks ago.”
Goes to show how often I cleaned my room.
I lost track quickly of the number of abilities: Violet and the thorns, Doug and liquefication, Jace and healing, Eryk and energy blasts, Daric and strength, Aiden and bombs, Donovan and..scariest member. There are many more on this side of the X-Men: Raven, Kenny, etc.
When Ethan encounters the other side, another array of names props up: Ella, Luke, Kai, Yun, Blake, Nova, Harold and many others.
Interesting events, vivid description of action sequences, well-developed characters. The book was a fun read but there are many instances that are not plot-relevant, and they add up to over 120k words –much too long.
July 28, 2017
Being an artist/musician type myself, I even found the non-action-thriller start intriguing. Just a plain old musician kid playing at a gig, hoping for an offer of a recording contract. It sort of looks like he'll get it too, but suddenly that changes. He wakes up in the hospital with injuries that has everyone worried, remembering only that he spun out of control in the pouring rain to avoid hitting what turned out to be an empty pair of shoes.
Will he ever sing and play the guitar again? Forget that question. Even while flat on his back in the hospital, other strange things start to happen: the weird dreams, things he hears people say that they didn't, out-of-control telekinetic episodes. His life has changed, and he knows it. He begins to recover after some brain surgery, but there's still something stuck inside his brain that the surgeons think is too risky to try to extract.
Then, he's told that there are others like him, and with some training, he can control his new powers. So he's off to summer training in New York. It begins to look like the X-men series from here on, but that doesn't make it any less captivating. It's a new world for him, others with similar gifts who don't welcome newly arrived "supernaturals", a world of potential enemies, and the big question of whether he's really on the right side. Nothing is what it seems, including himself. He learns more about himself and his world with every turn, makes good friends, loses a few, gains more, before he finally finds himself. And there is some intense thriller-action, despite the guitar strumming start.
I loved it.
Will he ever sing and play the guitar again? Forget that question. Even while flat on his back in the hospital, other strange things start to happen: the weird dreams, things he hears people say that they didn't, out-of-control telekinetic episodes. His life has changed, and he knows it. He begins to recover after some brain surgery, but there's still something stuck inside his brain that the surgeons think is too risky to try to extract.
Then, he's told that there are others like him, and with some training, he can control his new powers. So he's off to summer training in New York. It begins to look like the X-men series from here on, but that doesn't make it any less captivating. It's a new world for him, others with similar gifts who don't welcome newly arrived "supernaturals", a world of potential enemies, and the big question of whether he's really on the right side. Nothing is what it seems, including himself. He learns more about himself and his world with every turn, makes good friends, loses a few, gains more, before he finally finds himself. And there is some intense thriller-action, despite the guitar strumming start.
I loved it.
February 6, 2018
If you like the X-Men, you'll like this YA adventure. The book opens quite slowly as the hero, Ethan, wakes after a car crash to discover that he has developed telekinesis and telepathy. Soon he is recruited by James, who runs a school for supernaturally gifted teens, and he must learn to balance his home life in which he has a new girlfriend and concerned mum, with a school life in which he is immediately deployed in breaking into institutions and trying to kidnap people. As it turns out, James's intentions are not what they seemed, and - having 'met' a whole cast of superpowered teens each with their own gift in one school - we soon have to go through the process again as he joins a second mentor at a new institution.
Although Ethan is a likeable young hero with a strong personality which helps pull the reader through meeting all of this large cast, I did start to flag at this point - about half way in. But fortunately this was the point at which everything picked up speed and there was solid gripping action from this point onwards. I enjoyed the journey of taking responsibility that Ethan goes through, and after a shoot-out of cinematic proportions with cars and helicopters being hurled through the air, I rather appreciated Ethan's decision to turn his back on all of it and settle into a simple life. If only things were that easy!
If you're in the mood for fast paced, uncomplicated entertainment, this one is for you.
Although Ethan is a likeable young hero with a strong personality which helps pull the reader through meeting all of this large cast, I did start to flag at this point - about half way in. But fortunately this was the point at which everything picked up speed and there was solid gripping action from this point onwards. I enjoyed the journey of taking responsibility that Ethan goes through, and after a shoot-out of cinematic proportions with cars and helicopters being hurled through the air, I rather appreciated Ethan's decision to turn his back on all of it and settle into a simple life. If only things were that easy!
If you're in the mood for fast paced, uncomplicated entertainment, this one is for you.
December 10, 2017
The Rising has a comic-book feel that really pulls the reader along. Primary characters are fleshed out fairly well and easily relatable. And the writer takes his time to describe the settings well. The plot takes a little while to build, but moves very quickly and maintains a good pace. It’s easy to want to read this from start to finish.
Pro’s:
I especially enjoyed the love triangle – or in this case quadrangle! The relationships could go any which direction and I found myself rooting for ‘the other two’.
Location settings were done very well and I enjoyed moving from place to place. I felt the different locations really helped the mood.
The high-school camaraderie was excellent. I laughed quite a bit during the second half of the book.
Con’s:
The presence of certain characters really caught me off guard. For example, a girl who can walk through walls, another girl who controls the weather, or a guy who’s skin can turn to armor, these are characters who are very well established in the X-men Universe. Fans of the series might take offense.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this. The ending is wide open for a sequel, which I would definitely consider reading. The book is an easy 4 out of 5 stars, with the exception of the characters already established in other works.
Pro’s:
I especially enjoyed the love triangle – or in this case quadrangle! The relationships could go any which direction and I found myself rooting for ‘the other two’.
Location settings were done very well and I enjoyed moving from place to place. I felt the different locations really helped the mood.
The high-school camaraderie was excellent. I laughed quite a bit during the second half of the book.
Con’s:
The presence of certain characters really caught me off guard. For example, a girl who can walk through walls, another girl who controls the weather, or a guy who’s skin can turn to armor, these are characters who are very well established in the X-men Universe. Fans of the series might take offense.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this. The ending is wide open for a sequel, which I would definitely consider reading. The book is an easy 4 out of 5 stars, with the exception of the characters already established in other works.
February 3, 2018
Supernaturals -The Rising by Ryan Troske is a fun read filled with a huge cast. Told from a first person point of view, we follow the trials and tribulations of a teen, Ethan, newly aware of his incredible powers as he is introduced to good and evil mentors in schools designed to train such gifted teens.
The story is written well as a derivative of other similar tropes of superheroes in comics and movies. The main characters are developed nicely, and descriptions of locations are excellent. The author succeeds in bringing out the teen angst typical of budding love and relationships with peers. Additionally, having the story unfold from Ethan's perspective brings the reader in close, rooting for his success.
Despite the strong positives, The Rising is weighed down by its similarity to well-established superhero tales made famous by the TV series, Heroes and the comic/movie series, X-Men. More than half the novel is filled with actions scenes involving battles wherein explosions, fires, floods, and lightning result in little real damage to the combatants, making these scenes more tiring than exciting. The final battle scene was executed well, with mortality finally making its arrival.
The Rising is a fun read and I would recommend it as a light escape from reality.
The story is written well as a derivative of other similar tropes of superheroes in comics and movies. The main characters are developed nicely, and descriptions of locations are excellent. The author succeeds in bringing out the teen angst typical of budding love and relationships with peers. Additionally, having the story unfold from Ethan's perspective brings the reader in close, rooting for his success.
Despite the strong positives, The Rising is weighed down by its similarity to well-established superhero tales made famous by the TV series, Heroes and the comic/movie series, X-Men. More than half the novel is filled with actions scenes involving battles wherein explosions, fires, floods, and lightning result in little real damage to the combatants, making these scenes more tiring than exciting. The final battle scene was executed well, with mortality finally making its arrival.
The Rising is a fun read and I would recommend it as a light escape from reality.
August 31, 2018
The Rising is a bout a teenager, Ethan, that gains supernatural abilities after a live threatening accident. At first he’s confused and almost wants to pass it off as a bad dream. He has to face the reality and heaviness of the situation when he discovers a group of individuals just like him. With powers come responsibilities and often that’s where the line is drawn. Use your powers for good or for your own selfish desires. Ethan finds himself in the middle of the fight between good and evil.
I definitely enjoyed the book. It was an easy read that kept you interested the whole time. Ethan is humorous, sarcastic without being a cynic, and lover of puns. At least on the inside. He tends to suppress that a little on the outside. As the narrator of the story, he shares his thoughts and often flirts with the 4th wall.
My one struggle in the book is the tidal wave of characters to keep track of. It feels a bit like a necessary evil though and each character was introduced in a clever way, but in battle scenes it became a little confusing. I do think that, since this is the first book in a series, the stand out characters were well established and I would expect future books will expand on background characters. I’m excited for the next episode in the saga!
I definitely enjoyed the book. It was an easy read that kept you interested the whole time. Ethan is humorous, sarcastic without being a cynic, and lover of puns. At least on the inside. He tends to suppress that a little on the outside. As the narrator of the story, he shares his thoughts and often flirts with the 4th wall.
My one struggle in the book is the tidal wave of characters to keep track of. It feels a bit like a necessary evil though and each character was introduced in a clever way, but in battle scenes it became a little confusing. I do think that, since this is the first book in a series, the stand out characters were well established and I would expect future books will expand on background characters. I’m excited for the next episode in the saga!
February 2, 2017
I was intrigued when I read the blurb. An ordinary teenage boy who wakes up with superpowers after a car accident was different from I normally read. Well, I found it really enjoyable. The author's writing style was impeccable- witty and fast-paced. Appreciated the first person narration and our hero's humour. Lots of action, very detailed battle scenes. The never ending conflict between good and evil. Our protagonist Ethan has difficult decisions to make and has to determine who is friend and who is foe. He also has to learn how to live with these new powers and above all, learn to control them. Of course, it's not going to be easy. The epilogue paves the way for the next chapter which I'm looking forward to.
This will appeal to X men fans.What is more, I could really see it on the big screen in the future!
I received this book from We ♥ YA Books! in exchange for my honest review.
This will appeal to X men fans.What is more, I could really see it on the big screen in the future!
I received this book from We ♥ YA Books! in exchange for my honest review.
October 2, 2017
Overwlll, it's pretty good. It's a basic story about people with power fighting the their people with people with powers. The story is well written, the characters are well crafted, and all ideas mix well. It isn't the most original story out there, being a little too close to x-men to earn that title, and there are aspects of m n in black as well, but if you enjoy the ideas behind x-men, you will probably enjoy this book.
July 5, 2017
This is a slow builder but Ryan does a good job of luring the reader in with a familiar first-person narrative. This is a somewhat over used theme but there are untested complexities that make this an interesting read. Fans of the superhero-paranormal genres should find this entertaining. I'll definitely read the sequels to see how the characters develop.
February 4, 2018
This book is so fun! The author has written a likable main character with a strong humorous voice. The story will be a win for all teens who love superheros and superpowers. Plenty of action and a tad of romance. A win for all. Plus...there are more coming!
December 29, 2016
Fantastic book, couldn't put it down.
March 4, 2017
Ethan's life is pretty normal until an accident one night nearly kills him - but also gives him incredible powers. With his powers taking over his life and putting everyone in danger, he fears he needs help controlling them, but where would that help come from? It ends up coming from an unlikely source, who pulls him into a world of supernaturals that he never knew existed.
It's an exciting first part of the series that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I loved the voice of the book (save for the very beginning, which initially broke the wall between narrator and audience in a way that I just didn't think was engaging enough, and the voice seemed older, not really belonging to a 16-year-old, until about halfway through, though that may be because he announced that he was 16).
The romance aspect was sweet, and Ethan was kind of adorably oblivious to the trail of broken hearts he seemed to leave behind. I'll be interested to see how the author develops that further throughout the series.
The supernatural powers are awesome! It was interesting, though that Ethan seemed to be the only one that ever struggled with control (likely because of the chunk of metal still stuck in his brain from the accident).
My biggest complaints were that the action scenes were hard to follow with all the names (each time we meet a group of people, there's about 6-12 of them, all named and unique, and thereafter they're only referred to by name. We go through about 3 groups of names, so you can imagine trying to figure out who is who and which side everyone is on.).
My other problem with the story was Donovan's role. I'm pretty sure I know how he fits into the story, but why the adults in the situation wouldn't explain his relation (refusing to use it to manipulate or warn) seemed like an oversight. I understand why the author would want to drag out that mystery, but it didn't really make sense for the story, in my opinion.
Only other complaint is that the cover, while cool, does little to draw me into the story, which is unfortunate, because the story is awesome. I'd love to see something that focused more on the main characters and their powers than one that depicted a scene (no matter how dramatic).
I think young adult readers who enjoy fantasy, light sci-fi, and superhero tales will enjoy this story. The "emergence of a superhero: theme reminds me of another book I read, Beginnings: Family Heritage Volume 1 by Andrew M. Ferrell, which is another great plot.
I received a free copy from the author with no obligation to review. This is my honest opinion.
It's an exciting first part of the series that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I loved the voice of the book (save for the very beginning, which initially broke the wall between narrator and audience in a way that I just didn't think was engaging enough, and the voice seemed older, not really belonging to a 16-year-old, until about halfway through, though that may be because he announced that he was 16).
The romance aspect was sweet, and Ethan was kind of adorably oblivious to the trail of broken hearts he seemed to leave behind. I'll be interested to see how the author develops that further throughout the series.
The supernatural powers are awesome! It was interesting, though that Ethan seemed to be the only one that ever struggled with control (likely because of the chunk of metal still stuck in his brain from the accident).
My biggest complaints were that the action scenes were hard to follow with all the names (each time we meet a group of people, there's about 6-12 of them, all named and unique, and thereafter they're only referred to by name. We go through about 3 groups of names, so you can imagine trying to figure out who is who and which side everyone is on.).
My other problem with the story was Donovan's role. I'm pretty sure I know how he fits into the story, but why the adults in the situation wouldn't explain his relation (refusing to use it to manipulate or warn) seemed like an oversight. I understand why the author would want to drag out that mystery, but it didn't really make sense for the story, in my opinion.
Only other complaint is that the cover, while cool, does little to draw me into the story, which is unfortunate, because the story is awesome. I'd love to see something that focused more on the main characters and their powers than one that depicted a scene (no matter how dramatic).
I think young adult readers who enjoy fantasy, light sci-fi, and superhero tales will enjoy this story. The "emergence of a superhero: theme reminds me of another book I read, Beginnings: Family Heritage Volume 1 by Andrew M. Ferrell, which is another great plot.
I received a free copy from the author with no obligation to review. This is my honest opinion.
February 28, 2017
So, I've mentioned in other reviews that I've had bad experiences with superhero books in the past. I came to the conclusion that superhero stories were simply too visual to ever truly translate to pure text.
I revised that conclusion when I read The Antagonists, figuring that you could do superhero novels but you couldn't focus on the traditional superhero narrative. You could focus on Superman's experiences as an alien alone on earth, or on Wonder Woman's introduction to the world of man, but some narratives - like Spiderman's, for example - just wouldn't work.
I'm going to credit The Rising as one of the two books (the other being Not Your Sidekick) which have thoroughly changed my mind on the topic.
The superhero narrative couldn't be more traditional. The main character - Ethan - is in a car accident and then he wakes up with a piece of metal in his brain and the ability to read minds (as well as telekinesis).
He is then approached to join a group of other superpowered kids learning to control their abilities, and to say anything beyond that would be a spoiler.
The book was well-written, the plot never felt slow or stagnant, and the characters had strong voices and were engaging. I would definitely recommend giving it a read, even if you've been burned by superhero novels in the past. I'll definitely be reading book 2.
I revised that conclusion when I read The Antagonists, figuring that you could do superhero novels but you couldn't focus on the traditional superhero narrative. You could focus on Superman's experiences as an alien alone on earth, or on Wonder Woman's introduction to the world of man, but some narratives - like Spiderman's, for example - just wouldn't work.
I'm going to credit The Rising as one of the two books (the other being Not Your Sidekick) which have thoroughly changed my mind on the topic.
The superhero narrative couldn't be more traditional. The main character - Ethan - is in a car accident and then he wakes up with a piece of metal in his brain and the ability to read minds (as well as telekinesis).
He is then approached to join a group of other superpowered kids learning to control their abilities, and to say anything beyond that would be a spoiler.
The book was well-written, the plot never felt slow or stagnant, and the characters had strong voices and were engaging. I would definitely recommend giving it a read, even if you've been burned by superhero novels in the past. I'll definitely be reading book 2.
September 13, 2016
Characters
This is a first person book - I don’t see many of them anymore and it was refreshing. Ethan is great, if not a little cliché at the beginning, but he getting a little more complex as he is faced with issues. Chloe could have used a little more developing at the beginning but I get why not. She was sort of a meh character. I thought she was going to fall off, but was a little disappointed when she didn’t I started chanting to myself ‘please don’t do a love triangle, please don’t.’ We’ll I’m going to ruin that for you - the author goes there. Thankfully it is just the start of one, but be warned.
After Ethan’s powers start, there are just so many characters! With how fast paced it is, I was going a little cross-eyed. That being said the author did a good job keeping them distinct. The one character who I just couldn’t get my mind around was Harold - he could have used a little more developing because he sounded just like Ethan at times. I sort of wish he had something unique he said time and again because when he did monologue it felt flat. James on the other hand was vibrant and very easy to distinguish.
Plot
Seen the X-Men? Not much new here. I didn’t hate the cliché though. I haven’t read a superhero book in a while so it was kind of fun. Luckily it was in the mood for a fast paced book and this one charges ahead without much downtime.
The level of foreshadowing in this book was a little over the top but I had to remember this was a YA. The worse part was there were no twists for me because of the foreshadowing. I’m pretty sure I figured out the big twist already in future books and I don’t think I’d read the second one. That all being said it was well written and easy to follow along. There were tons of fight scenes and the author nailed them.
It was the author’s absolutely strongest trait - hands down awesome action scenes that I could see playing out in my head.
Overall
Ethan is a typical high schooler…until. That is basically what this book is about - his origin story. Just be ready for the onslaught of secondary characters. Despite the unoriginal plot, the author wrote it well. I did laugh out loud once or twice, it was amusing more than once which was nice. I noticed that Ethan is a bit punny at times, but it works for him. Most times the pun works too. Despite some of the serious nature of the plot the author endeavors to keep it light hearted.
What really killed it for me was the love triangle. If I’d gotten this request though my blog and not as part of a review group I would have sent it back the moment there was a hint of love triangle. However, I can’t hold that against the book but those who hate love triangles be warned.
Rating
3 stars
It was okay. A decent read and I would tell anyone who was in the mood for a superhero story like the X-men to pick this up. What really ruined it for me was the overly predictable plot (I started to get bored at parts) and the avalanche of secondary and minor characters (some of whom were disappointingly flat like Harold who was a critical character). The humor, great action scenes, and the fact that it was well written meant it deserves its 3 stars.
Where did I get it?
The author sent me a copy in exchange for an honest review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.com.
This is a first person book - I don’t see many of them anymore and it was refreshing. Ethan is great, if not a little cliché at the beginning, but he getting a little more complex as he is faced with issues. Chloe could have used a little more developing at the beginning but I get why not. She was sort of a meh character. I thought she was going to fall off, but was a little disappointed when she didn’t I started chanting to myself ‘please don’t do a love triangle, please don’t.’ We’ll I’m going to ruin that for you - the author goes there. Thankfully it is just the start of one, but be warned.
After Ethan’s powers start, there are just so many characters! With how fast paced it is, I was going a little cross-eyed. That being said the author did a good job keeping them distinct. The one character who I just couldn’t get my mind around was Harold - he could have used a little more developing because he sounded just like Ethan at times. I sort of wish he had something unique he said time and again because when he did monologue it felt flat. James on the other hand was vibrant and very easy to distinguish.
Plot
Seen the X-Men? Not much new here. I didn’t hate the cliché though. I haven’t read a superhero book in a while so it was kind of fun. Luckily it was in the mood for a fast paced book and this one charges ahead without much downtime.
The level of foreshadowing in this book was a little over the top but I had to remember this was a YA. The worse part was there were no twists for me because of the foreshadowing. I’m pretty sure I figured out the big twist already in future books and I don’t think I’d read the second one. That all being said it was well written and easy to follow along. There were tons of fight scenes and the author nailed them.
It was the author’s absolutely strongest trait - hands down awesome action scenes that I could see playing out in my head.
Overall
Ethan is a typical high schooler…until. That is basically what this book is about - his origin story. Just be ready for the onslaught of secondary characters. Despite the unoriginal plot, the author wrote it well. I did laugh out loud once or twice, it was amusing more than once which was nice. I noticed that Ethan is a bit punny at times, but it works for him. Most times the pun works too. Despite some of the serious nature of the plot the author endeavors to keep it light hearted.
What really killed it for me was the love triangle. If I’d gotten this request though my blog and not as part of a review group I would have sent it back the moment there was a hint of love triangle. However, I can’t hold that against the book but those who hate love triangles be warned.
Rating
3 stars
It was okay. A decent read and I would tell anyone who was in the mood for a superhero story like the X-men to pick this up. What really ruined it for me was the overly predictable plot (I started to get bored at parts) and the avalanche of secondary and minor characters (some of whom were disappointingly flat like Harold who was a critical character). The humor, great action scenes, and the fact that it was well written meant it deserves its 3 stars.
Where did I get it?
The author sent me a copy in exchange for an honest review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.com.
February 12, 2017
Ethan, a normal teen living in St. Louis, is your regular kind of guy. Or so he thinks. After he suffers a serious accident, strange things begin to happen. He can move objects with his mind and read the thoughts of others. But he soon finds he has little control over his new powers, endangering himself and others.
He meets James who invites him to join and train with a group of teens in New York. That’s where Ethan meets other teens with special powers. His first mission sends him to abduct Harold, a bad fellow with superpowers as well. Ethan gets into a discussion with Harold and upon learning that James is the true bad guy, decides to stay with Harold who also runs a boarding school for super naturals. And that’s where the fun ended for me as a reader.
The remaining portion of the book, which at 416 pages is quite long for YA, is spent with Ethan and a bunch of teens battling each other back and forth between two boarding schools. They throw water, fire, blow things up, send electrical shocks, read minds, change forms and…you get the picture, all to rescue or abduct Ethan’s adult leader, Harold. The last hurray is a fight on the Brooklyn Bridge, Harold dies, and Ethan returns home to his sweetheart and to have a piece of metal remaining from his accident removed from his brain.
What I missed throughout the book was genuine tension and to care enough for the characters. The battle scenes are drawn out and the action scenes are quite similar. Ethan is a likable character with a nice enough teen voice and typical teen logic. The book is also well edited. But the story is repetitious, lacks depth and some of the female side characters are not developed at all. The character soup of boys and girls, lots of names I couldn’t keep straight, confused me. I think a shorter version with fewer characters and maybe more involvement with the normal populace would’ve added interest. Maybe fans of super naturals will enjoy this story—it did not engage me.
He meets James who invites him to join and train with a group of teens in New York. That’s where Ethan meets other teens with special powers. His first mission sends him to abduct Harold, a bad fellow with superpowers as well. Ethan gets into a discussion with Harold and upon learning that James is the true bad guy, decides to stay with Harold who also runs a boarding school for super naturals. And that’s where the fun ended for me as a reader.
The remaining portion of the book, which at 416 pages is quite long for YA, is spent with Ethan and a bunch of teens battling each other back and forth between two boarding schools. They throw water, fire, blow things up, send electrical shocks, read minds, change forms and…you get the picture, all to rescue or abduct Ethan’s adult leader, Harold. The last hurray is a fight on the Brooklyn Bridge, Harold dies, and Ethan returns home to his sweetheart and to have a piece of metal remaining from his accident removed from his brain.
What I missed throughout the book was genuine tension and to care enough for the characters. The battle scenes are drawn out and the action scenes are quite similar. Ethan is a likable character with a nice enough teen voice and typical teen logic. The book is also well edited. But the story is repetitious, lacks depth and some of the female side characters are not developed at all. The character soup of boys and girls, lots of names I couldn’t keep straight, confused me. I think a shorter version with fewer characters and maybe more involvement with the normal populace would’ve added interest. Maybe fans of super naturals will enjoy this story—it did not engage me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2016
I was given a free version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Rising is a novel about Ethan gaining superpowers and him struggling to control it. I enjoyed reading it from time to time. Some places in the story I felt like it could have been written better. I think that there were some missed opportunities for the author to build the reader's connection to some of the characters. The storyline is a decent one but sometimes it seems as though it becomes kind of predictable.
As far as the plot goes, I didn't have a problem with it. I liked the plot and the concept...but the first chapter didn't really fit in with rest of the book. It was well written, though! It just felt like a different. That is the main thing didn't sit well with me. There is the main fight scene that could have been shortened a little. But that is it. I definitely it is worth a read.
The main issue I had with the book was that it had a lot of characters that I lost track of. Names would pop up and I would have to go back and find the name before. If there are a ton of characters, then I don't think it helps to mention their name, especially if they won't progress the storyline in any way. It just blurs the entire scene. On the topic of character issues, I think that Troske could have had more one-on-one moments with some of the characters like Ella or Raven because we don't know enough about them. Despite the fact that Ethan has definitely had some character development throughout the book, I wasn't feeling some of the other characters because they seemed irrelevant. But I do feel like Ethan is a reliable narrator and a strong character if he seemed just a tad bit more like an average teenager.
My favorite part about this book is definitely that humor. There were a handful of sarcastic comments made by Ethan from time-to-time but I thought that it lacked the light-heartedness that most teenagers have. You could compare it to the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan but the main difference in the comedy is that the dialogue is more genuine and light-hearted. Personally, I would have been more interested if the characters took a short break from their stressful position and just enjoy each other's company. I feel like if there was a scene or two like that then the book overall would be a bit more interesting and it might resolve the character issue I had.
Good plot. Good narrator. Humor. Just a lack of connection to the other characters. I would recommend reading it, though. Since this is Troske's first book, I would say that he has the potential to become a great writer and you should give it a try! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and you probably will too!
The Rising is a novel about Ethan gaining superpowers and him struggling to control it. I enjoyed reading it from time to time. Some places in the story I felt like it could have been written better. I think that there were some missed opportunities for the author to build the reader's connection to some of the characters. The storyline is a decent one but sometimes it seems as though it becomes kind of predictable.
As far as the plot goes, I didn't have a problem with it. I liked the plot and the concept...but the first chapter didn't really fit in with rest of the book. It was well written, though! It just felt like a different. That is the main thing didn't sit well with me. There is the main fight scene that could have been shortened a little. But that is it. I definitely it is worth a read.
The main issue I had with the book was that it had a lot of characters that I lost track of. Names would pop up and I would have to go back and find the name before. If there are a ton of characters, then I don't think it helps to mention their name, especially if they won't progress the storyline in any way. It just blurs the entire scene. On the topic of character issues, I think that Troske could have had more one-on-one moments with some of the characters like Ella or Raven because we don't know enough about them. Despite the fact that Ethan has definitely had some character development throughout the book, I wasn't feeling some of the other characters because they seemed irrelevant. But I do feel like Ethan is a reliable narrator and a strong character if he seemed just a tad bit more like an average teenager.
My favorite part about this book is definitely that humor. There were a handful of sarcastic comments made by Ethan from time-to-time but I thought that it lacked the light-heartedness that most teenagers have. You could compare it to the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan but the main difference in the comedy is that the dialogue is more genuine and light-hearted. Personally, I would have been more interested if the characters took a short break from their stressful position and just enjoy each other's company. I feel like if there was a scene or two like that then the book overall would be a bit more interesting and it might resolve the character issue I had.
Good plot. Good narrator. Humor. Just a lack of connection to the other characters. I would recommend reading it, though. Since this is Troske's first book, I would say that he has the potential to become a great writer and you should give it a try! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and you probably will too!
February 21, 2017
It’s every young person’s dream to discover they are something special, something different. When Ethan gets involved in a horrible accident, he discovers he has some previously unknown powers. These new-found powers give him a mandate to work with other teens in a Professor-X style team. However, not everything is how it seems at first.
The author creates long, complex battle scenes, but some of them seem a bit repetitive. Ethan is a great character with a believable voice. Dialogue and character interaction was natural and easy to follow. There were twists in the plot which kept it from being predictable. However, most of the female characters are rather one-dimensional. There were many characters which flew through in a somewhat confusing manner (sometimes literally). I felt like the book would benefit from a character index at the end, like Anne McCaffrey does with her Pern series.
Overall, it was definitely an enjoyable read, but nothing outrageous or new.
The author creates long, complex battle scenes, but some of them seem a bit repetitive. Ethan is a great character with a believable voice. Dialogue and character interaction was natural and easy to follow. There were twists in the plot which kept it from being predictable. However, most of the female characters are rather one-dimensional. There were many characters which flew through in a somewhat confusing manner (sometimes literally). I felt like the book would benefit from a character index at the end, like Anne McCaffrey does with her Pern series.
Overall, it was definitely an enjoyable read, but nothing outrageous or new.
February 11, 2017
I received a free copy of this title for review. This is my personal opinion. I'll try to keep this spoiler-free!
The Rising tells the origin story, if you will, of Ethan, a high school kid who ends up with some serious supernatural powers.
The first thing I commented on when starting this book was the fact that I liked the "voice" of Ethan. The author makes the first person narrative feel natural and real- something that is often missed in this writing style. I did find myself questioning some of Ethan's thought patterns though- things I would have serious concerns about, he doesn't, and where I would think a particular thing is normal by now, he suddenly takes issue.
While the first part of the book takes a bit to ramp up to where it's going, once it goes, it goes; you're suddenly bombarded with characters and action as Ethan and his new supernatural comrades train and learn to harness their powers. Unfortunately for me, some of the characters blurred together. I found myself double-checking who was who, simply because there are suddenly so many of them, and there are a few of them who never get fleshed out on the page as well as I had hoped. Still, it was a fun, action-packed ride.
Oh, and the Epilogue is killer. Make sure you read it.
Overall, I liked The Rising- I'd say it's a 3.5/5. I think it was a good setup for the rest of the series! The author's definitely got his roots firmly planted, and he's got a way with words that makes Ethan's story both natural and surreal.
The Rising tells the origin story, if you will, of Ethan, a high school kid who ends up with some serious supernatural powers.
The first thing I commented on when starting this book was the fact that I liked the "voice" of Ethan. The author makes the first person narrative feel natural and real- something that is often missed in this writing style. I did find myself questioning some of Ethan's thought patterns though- things I would have serious concerns about, he doesn't, and where I would think a particular thing is normal by now, he suddenly takes issue.
While the first part of the book takes a bit to ramp up to where it's going, once it goes, it goes; you're suddenly bombarded with characters and action as Ethan and his new supernatural comrades train and learn to harness their powers. Unfortunately for me, some of the characters blurred together. I found myself double-checking who was who, simply because there are suddenly so many of them, and there are a few of them who never get fleshed out on the page as well as I had hoped. Still, it was a fun, action-packed ride.
Oh, and the Epilogue is killer. Make sure you read it.
Overall, I liked The Rising- I'd say it's a 3.5/5. I think it was a good setup for the rest of the series! The author's definitely got his roots firmly planted, and he's got a way with words that makes Ethan's story both natural and surreal.
September 13, 2016
The Rising, by Ryan Troske, is an interesting take on the mutant and super hero theme, and one that I think young adults will really enjoy. The book follows the experiences of a young man who has developed superpowers after a bad car accident. He soon discovers that there are many more like him, as he gets involved with two different "schools" of young people who are all learning about their own powers and abilities.
I enjoyed reading this book and I commend Troske on his writing style. His fight scenes are engaging and keep the reader guessing. The plot has sufficient twists and turns to keep the reader interested. I found myself pleasantly surprised with the overall book, and would recommend it to others. There are few if any grammatical errors, and his writing style is easy to follow and provides just the right amount of entertainment to keep me turning the pages.
I didn't give the story five stars because there are a few things that detracted from the overall story. The first was that there were a lot of characters and names to keep up with. I understand because of the nature of the story that there has to be a lot of characters, but I found it difficult at times to keep up with who was who, and which person had which powers. It would have been nice to have a guide or a legend of all the characters and their powers, just so I could keep up with it.
The second thing is the final fight scene. The fighting went a little long, and it became a little difficult to believe that the characters' bodies could withstand the incredible punishment that he describes without having massive broken bones, contusions and inevitable death. However, most teenager readers think they are indestructible anyways, so they probably won't be bothered by this.
Overall, The Rising was an enjoyable read and one that I would recommend to a Young Adult audience. I think for a first book, it is a great entrance into the world of writing. Congratulations to Troske on a job well done.
*I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I enjoyed reading this book and I commend Troske on his writing style. His fight scenes are engaging and keep the reader guessing. The plot has sufficient twists and turns to keep the reader interested. I found myself pleasantly surprised with the overall book, and would recommend it to others. There are few if any grammatical errors, and his writing style is easy to follow and provides just the right amount of entertainment to keep me turning the pages.
I didn't give the story five stars because there are a few things that detracted from the overall story. The first was that there were a lot of characters and names to keep up with. I understand because of the nature of the story that there has to be a lot of characters, but I found it difficult at times to keep up with who was who, and which person had which powers. It would have been nice to have a guide or a legend of all the characters and their powers, just so I could keep up with it.
The second thing is the final fight scene. The fighting went a little long, and it became a little difficult to believe that the characters' bodies could withstand the incredible punishment that he describes without having massive broken bones, contusions and inevitable death. However, most teenager readers think they are indestructible anyways, so they probably won't be bothered by this.
Overall, The Rising was an enjoyable read and one that I would recommend to a Young Adult audience. I think for a first book, it is a great entrance into the world of writing. Congratulations to Troske on a job well done.
*I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
February 6, 2017
I received this book from We ♥ YA Books! in exchange for my honest review
This book was recommended to me by my mum who was also reading it to review it. She said to me “You will love the book that I’m reading. You’re a X-men fan, so I’m sure you will enjoy it”
In fact this book is perfect for X-men fans. The idea behind it is very similar. Two opposite mutants ( in the book they are called supernaturals) groups with two different visions about their role among humans.
The book is written in a first person point of view, which I always appreciate. The main character is Ethan who gains powers after a terrible car accident. Suddenly Ethan is transported in a new world that he doesn’t really understand. I really liked the author’s writing style. It’s really fluent with jokes when needed, great dynamic dialogues between the characters and the action scenes came alive between the pages. Not too much romance which I love. I find that lately YA books focus too much on romance between the two main characters instead of focusing on friendship or people finding their own independence.
I would have seen the story better as a movie. At one point there were so many names to remember with all sort of different powers that it was a bit confusing and difficult to follow, a visual aid would have been useful, LOL!
One particular discovery was hinted throughout the story but it never came out, so now I’m curious to see how it will continue in the next book in the series.
This book is a nice breath of fresh air if you want to try something different from the typical fantasy or sci-fi books.
This book was recommended to me by my mum who was also reading it to review it. She said to me “You will love the book that I’m reading. You’re a X-men fan, so I’m sure you will enjoy it”
In fact this book is perfect for X-men fans. The idea behind it is very similar. Two opposite mutants ( in the book they are called supernaturals) groups with two different visions about their role among humans.
The book is written in a first person point of view, which I always appreciate. The main character is Ethan who gains powers after a terrible car accident. Suddenly Ethan is transported in a new world that he doesn’t really understand. I really liked the author’s writing style. It’s really fluent with jokes when needed, great dynamic dialogues between the characters and the action scenes came alive between the pages. Not too much romance which I love. I find that lately YA books focus too much on romance between the two main characters instead of focusing on friendship or people finding their own independence.
I would have seen the story better as a movie. At one point there were so many names to remember with all sort of different powers that it was a bit confusing and difficult to follow, a visual aid would have been useful, LOL!
One particular discovery was hinted throughout the story but it never came out, so now I’m curious to see how it will continue in the next book in the series.
This book is a nice breath of fresh air if you want to try something different from the typical fantasy or sci-fi books.
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