Ascension

by Hannah Rials

Life is supposed to be perfect after Cheyenne Lane's Ascension ceremony, but it turns out awakening her vampire half only complicates things more. Burdened with a patronizing family and constant surveillance by the Vampire Council, Cheyenne welcomes a summer vacation to the magical city of New Orleans. But Cheyenne quickly realizes that she can't escape her problems, no matter where she goes. After seventeen years of fearing exposing her secret to humans, Cheyenne's world is rocked when she starts to fall for a witch named Eli. When he shows Cheyenne how complex the world really is, she must accept that everything she thought she knew about being a Deuxsang is a lie. As if all this isn't problem enough, Cheyenne finds herself the pawn of a conspiracy hatched by those who should be protecting her. Her whole life Cheyenne is told what to believe and who to trust. Now, she's forced to choose for herself who and what is right. No matter which choice she makes, it will cost her everything.

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Vampires, Paranormal, Witches

248 pages, Paperback

First published August 27, 2016

About the author

Hannah Rials is a Maryville, TN native and alumni of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Hannah began writing her first novel at age twelve. Eight years later, the result was debut YA novel Ascension. She is a current graduate student at Bath Spa University's Masters in Creative Writing for Young People, studying how to write the best young adult fiction she can.
When not writing, she's READING, loving on her Corgi buddy, knitting, and traveling all over and as often as possible.

Reviews

[Gabby (What's Beyond Forks?) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Review at: What's Beyond Forks?

I wasn't sure what I was going to think about this book, but I was curious, so I gave it a go. I'm super glad I did, because I liked it quite a bit. There are vampires, witches, Deuxsang, which are half human/half vampire, and a few humans thrown in the mix. Their world is pretty interesting, if not always pleasant. Cheyenne was a wonderful and strong character. I loved her. Aside from her cousin, I'm not a fan of her family, at all. The other supporting characters, both good and bad, are all relevant to the story.

I've never been to New Orleans, but the setting was written in such a way that I almost feel like I've seen it for myself. This one was a complete page turner. There's so much going on...from the action and family secrets to the danger and innocence of the romance.

Ascension by Hannah Rials was kindly provided to me by YA Bound Book Tours for review. The opinions are my own.

[Amber Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheyenne is half vampire, half human. Also known as Deuxsang. She gets to go spend time with her sister in New Orleans for the summer but things aren't always as they seem. Cheyenne is thrown into a world she has never known and now has to make up her mind of what she wants to believe in and what she wants to do with her life!

This was such a good book. The author does such a great job with describing the city to us. I have been to New Orleans many times and I can say she was spot on with her descriptions. I could picture all of it just as I know it truly is. It makes me want to go back there so badly!

Cheyenne is a very strong character. I knew when her power didn't show up that there was more to the story and I couldn't wait to find out what exactly was to come of that. I loved her as a character. She had moments of close-mindedness but I feel like we got to watch her come into her own and fight off what was put into her head by her family and see her make her own decisions. She struggles with most problems that most normal teenagers suffer from, but she also has the struggle of trying to figure out the truth of her family and who she truly is.


The flow of the story has moments of calmness but that changes very quickly throughout the pages between calm and suspense. The balance is done beautifully and makes you not able to stop reading. There is so much that you have to know that it makes you propel through the book, even if you have to neglect the real world in order to keep reading!

I loved the characters as well as the setting and plot of the story. I was able to get sucked in with no problem and I kept reading until the book was over. There was a huge cliffhanger at the end and I found myself even messaging the author to try to see when the next book comes out because I have to know what happens!! I can count on one hand how many times I have contacted an author to know about the next book, so that just proves how good it truly is!

Now for me to sit and wait patiently, okay, very un-patiently, for the next book to come out!! I need answers!!

[Angela]

Read from a young local author whose signing event we attended at our local independent bookstore.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different kind of book for me with a lot of unfamiliar terms.

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah Rials is a new young author for me and her beginning to a new series is a wonderful addition to my library. She has a quirky light feel to her words and yet she takes the vampire thoughts and adds a new twist. We get half breeds and witches but also vampires. We get the setting of NOLA and how all these different types of people survive being teenagers, family obligations, life and love. How they like each other and go against feuds and anger towards one another. Such a interesting twist. The other vampire series that had a twist and wasn’t all about the idea of a vampire but them surviving life was Vampire Academy and I loved that series.

Cheyenne is unusual for her race of hybrid human/vampire. Her ascension went wrong and no one is telling her anything. Her parents don’t really understand, they love her but aren’t helping. They suddenly sent her to NOLA and her world changes. I hated to see her try to figure out that she is a pawn in a dangerous game but loved watching her discover who she is and who was there for her.

The world and character building was great. not too much description but just enough to get you caught up and understand more of what is happening and why.

Cheyenne is strong and confused. she doesn’t know what was happening to her and suddenly she is taken away to her sisters. Her brother in law is a controlling jackass and he is creepy. The blood thing not cool Thomas. And the Eli sitch really not cool Thomas.

Eli is the witch that takes Cheyenne’s heart and opens her eyes to different worlds and what is happening to her. He also uncovers the truth about her and her ascension or at least partly and what her race has done with those like her in the past. He is a great guy. Sweet and fun loving. He gets Cheyenne to see beyond their races and see that they are just teenagers getting to know the one they like. He is brave and strong as well. I love all he does for Cheyenne. The ending and all he risked sigh….

The plot is fascinating and quirky. We get characters exploring who they are and becoming friends. Some in love some crossing divides to be friends. No feuds or hate because of what they were just people learning about each other. A part of family is plotting against their race and using others to do it. Deception going on and a upheaval trying to occur. We have someone like the evil queen in Lillian. That woman is uber creepy. She is not nice and controlling. She yields power as a way to control and force people into submission.I would love to see her get her comeuppance. Kara will shock you and I thought she was nice ugh….

This is a quirky and entertaining beginning to what I hope is a series. We have danger, intrigue, romance, betrayal and finding yourself. We gets some wonderful characters in Eli, cheyenne and their friends. Oh and Rose will warm your heart. We get betrayal at its finest and an ending that has you wanting to know what is next. A great beginning for this young author and I look forward to reading more work from her.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Cheyenne Lane's Ascension ceremony that awakens her vampire side her magical ability is supposed to show itself but unlike her peers hers does not. Not is only is Cheyenne upset over the fact that she has not received her ability yet she is also worried that she will one day reveal her vampire side to humans resulting in severe consequences.

In the vampire world of Ascension the vampires live life just like humans except they drink blood but not human blood they only drink cow’s blood. They can go out during the day, they can have babies and they can eat human food as well if they so desire.

But one thing they cannot do is associate with humans and especially with witches. Guess what Cheyenne does once she goes to visit her sister in New Orleans? She meets and falls for a witch. Once she discovers that he is a witch she tries to back off but the feelings she has just won’t allow it.

There is a lot of things that Cheyenne has been taught about her people the Deuxsang just might not be true. She wants to go along with everything she has been raised to believe her whole life but after hearing things from the other side she is not so sure that she can do that now. Cheyenne is now torn between her family, the Deuxsang and the people she has come to love.

I love reading about vampires, witches and the paranormal but I must say that Ascension has put a whole new light on the world of the vampires. Ascension is unlike is any book about vampires I have ever read. I can’t wait to read more about Cheyenne, the witches and the vampires and what comes next in their world. This has been one amazing journey through the vampire world one I hope continues in the near future.

[Savannah Hendricks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern take on Romeo and Juliette with vampires and witches.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ascension, a young adult paranormal romance which begins the coming-of-age story of Cheyenne Lane, is a surprisingly lovely and graceful book. In a genre where this isn't the norm, the characters are deeply complex. The good guys are flawed good guys, and at least some of the bad guys are well-intentioned if misguided. And, as an adult, it's refreshing for me to find a YA novel in which the adults are as well-rendered as the teenage characters. The novel is distinctly plot-driven and well-paced, and Rials has done an excellent job using the paranormal elements as an overlay to what is an otherwise very real-world set of characters and events. The main characters--young half-vampires and witches discovering both how to live in the world as who they are and uncovering the complicated politics of their peoples--would not, if stripped of their unique backgrounds, feel out of place in a social realist novel... they're first and foremost people transitioning between childhood and adulthood, with all the growing pains and unexpected moments of discovery that that moment in a life entails. Clearly the first in a series, Ascension introduces us to characters whose lives we want to follow through the coming books. For all the fascinating world-building that Rials does, it's really our affection for Cheyenne and our desire to see her come to a good end that pulls readers through this--and the coming--novels. I'm excited to read the next one.

[Katie Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

There comes a point when, as a lover of the YA genre, you feel like you might lose it if you read another vampire novel. I haven't gotten to that point yet, (but I imagine one day I will) and I"m grateful, because I would have hated to miss out on Ascension by Hannah Rials. While other books in this niche recycle the same old material, Rials manages to breathe new life into the vampire mythos with the wholly original concept of the deuxsang or two-blooded. The book is quick paced, sweet without being syrupy and the main character, Cheyenne is brooding without between irritating. You are rooting for her and her motley crew from page one and curious at every corner as to where this book will take you next. Very excited for the next one to drop in (fingers crossed) 2018.

As a bookseller in a small independent bookstore, we are asked to read a ton of books each week and only occasionally do we have a gem like Ascension come across our paths from a debut writer. So do yourself a favor and run to your local bookshop and grab a copy of Ascension. It's the perfect treat for your bookshelf this summer.

[Mary Aalgaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ascension by Hannah Rials is a terrific read. You have within the 248 pages, a heroine to root for, enough mystery to keep you turning pages, a little romance, a whole lot of soul-searching and identity crisis, mixed with racial tension, albeit in this story the races are Witches and Vampires. Now, I'm not one to pick up a vampire book. I started reading Dracula back in my early 20's and quickly abandoned it. Way too dark for me. I didn't even watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer, nor did I read the Twilight series (gasp). A friend handed me this book, said it was YA with a little mysticism, teenage angst, and mystery. "Okay," I said, "I'll give it a try." I read this book on a plane trip to Mexico, and it kept me engaged through the whole journey, plus another day of poolside reading. I am anxious for the sequel!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very compelling and addictive YA read! I finished in a few days because the plot was so complex and fast-moving. I can't wait to see what happens to the unique and memorable characters in the sequels.

[Mia Wenjen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Ascension by Hannah Rials and it was fantastic! Definitely recommend for anyone who enjoyed the Twilight series! I loved how it is set in New Orleans too! Rials keeps it a pageturner with fast-paced plot twists and characters that you fall in love with.

[Valarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing first release by Hannah Rials. It is a page turner that I could not put down. Can hardly wait for the next book in the series!!!

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

In ASCENSION, Cheyenne is a half-vampire who is governed by the full vampires. All her life, she's been taught that witches killed their kind and are the true enemy. But when Cheyenne meets Eli, it's hard to believe that he's evil.

When Cheyenne leaves with her sister to stay in New Orleans for the summer, she's surprised to see Eli there, but it turns out to be his hometown. Cheyenne also befriends another half-vampire named Anna and her human boyfriend Mason. The more time Cheyenne spends with them, the more her prejudices against humans and witches weakens. Not everything is as it seems within Cheyenne's controlled world. Can Eli open her eyes before it's too late?

I loved Eli's character. He was so sweet and had me cheering for him the whole time. I loved that this story was an original take on vampires and was completely different from the standard ones. The author had me trying to figure out what was going on even before Cheyenne started looking.


Final Verdict: I recommend this story for fans of the nontraditional vampire stories and those who also enjoy witches. This is also a story of forbidden love which is one of my favorite types.

[I go by 'Jo' now · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Soon :)

[Kayleigh Hawker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high expectations for this book after reading some of the reviews but unfortunately this one didn't really hit the mark for me.

The characters are well written and you do become invested in them and their journey however i felt the story took awhile to pick up any pace at all only to start moving in the last few chapters and leave it on a cliff hanger that doesn't intrigue me enough to want to buy & read the others.

[Lilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I missed reading a book with vampires. I have read so many that I am sometimes scared of starting a new one because I might not be completely satisfied. So I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this blog tour. The idea of half breads becoming more powerful than the vampires, the mix between vampires and witches really made me very enthusiastic.

Still, I would have wanted a lot more from the story. I would have wanted a lot more attention to details, it mostly seems as an introduction to a more complex action which will unfold later in the coming books.

I do not feel very comfortable with the chosen title. The entire action starts with Cheyenne’s Ascension when she was a young girl. Since it was a traumatizing event, she has not managed to get over it. She understood then that she’s not just an ordinary Deuxsang, but somehow nobody cared to enlighten her on what she actually is. Since that moment she has grown up and other changes start to happen. The title underlines an important event in her life, but an old one chronologically speaking.

Regarding the action, on one side I felt like it was rushed, but on the other it lacked details like why she’s not like the others. Like why there are so many lies, what are the interests that other have. I don’t know, too much mystery. The characters are quite alright. We find out a little bit about everybody. Cheyenne is quite indoctrinated by her family when it comes to history and she always has followed the rules. I did not like her not insisting more on why she had such a violent Ascension. She simply accepted everything. I could go on and on with things that don’t add up when it comes to other characters as well, but I don’t want to turn my review into a negative one.

So without further comments I decided to give it 3.5 stars, mainly because it’s a book with or about vampires and there are some signs of this becoming a great series. I hope next one will be better though.

[E.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

( I received a free copy of this boo in exchange for my honest review )

Well, that went in a completely different direction then I expected. Holy plot twist! Talk about hiding the not-so-quite-anti-hero/not-that-evil-but-sort-of-is/ out-to-lunch ending that threw me for a loop. Brovo! That was wicket!

Lets get down to it. I loved the opening, it was mysterious, heart pounding and for me sad. It got me hooked on this read, and I dove right in. But, there is a but. It's felt like the plot came to a screeching halt after the MC gets to the big easy. There's a lot of major plot points left out, and well, it started to get to me. About 60% into the book nothing exciting happened, aside from the MC almost getting toasted. The middle of this book is a slow go, and it was frankly annoying. It wasn't boring, the writing was quite good, but I felt like I was being tossed around too much, and main plot was an after thought.

I get that you want to build a connected between the MC and the romantic lead, but there are ways to do that without forcing it. And, that's what it felt like. There are to many gaps, and that is why I can't give this unique read that 5 star. It just made into the 4 start because of the ending. That is how you do a plot twist people!

Also there are a few plot bombs that are nonchalantly dropped that the characters simply ignore. Like really, one of which comes at the end and no one bats an eye ರ_ರ... WFT... I get that this book is setting up for what I believe will be an epic series, but common, there's no rule saying that the first books can't get equally as epic as the series that you've planned.

In all I do highly recommend this book, it could use another around of Edits, and fluffing. More so at the start, we didn't get much on the MC's life or school life (because there is a major player in there) before we're tossed into a episode already in progress. As I said, this book sets the tone for the rest of the series, the ending, this book is all about the ending. I can't wait to see where this cliché stopper is headed.

Happy Reading

E.A. Walsh

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story. I expected it to follow the Twilight plot but it didn't!! I'm excited to read the others. The only negative side is the MAJOR cliffhanger at the end.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story brimming with magic, mystery and mayhem.

Ascension, Hannah Rials’ debut novel, has everything you could want and it is set in historic New Orleans.

My Thoughts…

Man, as if being a teenager isn’t bad enough! Imagine having to endure a creepy rite of passage at only thirteen, where your vampire overlords have to snack on you to awaken your vampiric side? I would think that learning how to be a “Deuxsang” would be worse than puberty.

Hannah’s debut novel Ascension, is delightful. Cheyenne is a wonderful character–Snarky, intelligent, brave and funny. I love that she questions everything. Considering, the world she lives in, having an opinion could be dangerous, nevermind daring to question her elders or breaking rules. And Cheyenne doesn’t just break rules, she commits serious transgressions.

One of my favourite things about this book is that it takes place in New Orleans. The perfect setting for ancient myths and mysterious happenings. Another, is that yes Cheyenne meets and falls for a witch BUT the story doesn’t revolve around their romance. This is not Twilight! Which for me, is a good thing because everything thing else that goes on around them is far more interesting.

Hannah is a great story-teller. Ascension is well-researched, thoughtful and engaging. The writing is good and the plot, entertaining. I’m not particularly fond of cliff-hangers but in this case it is quite obvious that there is more to Cheyenne’s story and I look forward to reading it.

Rating… B

www.readsandreels.com

[Cristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I read this book in two days. I could not put it down. I am so disappointed that I have to wait for the next book to come out. I highly recommend this book to any fans of vampire and/or witch books. Great read!

I'm not going to give any details on what the book is about because I hate reading reviews that summarize the book for me. I just want to know if the person liked the book.

I loved the book!

[Caden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much anticipated novel that I had been waiting for. Ascension was a great book that gripped you from the very beginning. I never wanted to put the book down from the moment I started it. It drew us in with riveting surprises from start to finish. I cannot wait for Rials to publish the next installment in the trilogy.

[Jen Culliford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my teenage daughter. She has been a reluctant reader for a while and this book reignited her enthusiasm. We fell in love with Cheyenne and her world and are really looking forward to reading the remaining books in the trilogy.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun, exciting read! I can't wait for the second!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book.

[Cristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I read this book in two days. I could not put it down. I am so disappointed that I have to wait for the next book to come out. I highly recommend this book to any fans of vampire and/or witch books. Great read!

I'm not going to give any details on what the book is about because I hate reading reviews that summarize the book for me. I just want to know if the person liked the book.

I loved the book!