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Dark Legacy Series #1

Fluidus Rising

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Magic. Romance. And a fight to the death.

The Secret Circle meets Sookie Stackhouse in this pulse-pounding, fast-paced YA parnormal read.

Torn away from her high school graduation, Sierra Reeves discovers that everything she thought she knew is a lie.

In a flash, she’s no longer a normal girl preparing for college, but a Fluidus—a rare supernatural with telekinetic powers. Her new abilities attract the attention of both the Ardere regency and the Culpatus, a group that wants to overthrow the supernatural government. Fearful for Sierra’s future, her grandmother decides to leave their home state Vermont and hide out in Savannah, Georgia.

In Savannah, Sierra forms an alliance with the overprotective and handsome Ardere marshal Gavin McLoughlin. With his help, she slowly accepts her new powers and that she’s a part of the supernatural community.

Just when Sierra begins to settle into her new life, her world is rocked again. In addition to the Culpatus discovering her location, a serial killer is on the loose in Savannah.

Fighting to control her developing power, and facing danger on multiple fronts, Sierra will have to use all her resources to stay alive.

Fluidus Rising is the first book in The Ardere Series.

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

114 people are currently reading
822 people want to read

About the author

Margo Ryerkerk

40 books129 followers
Margo Ryerkerk is the author of two YA paranormal series, Dark Legacy series and Nocturna Academy series, as well as the author of the YA fairy tale retelling series Cursed Fairy Tales. Filled with intrigue, adventure, and romance, her series transport the reader to a magical world.

After completing a BS in Psychology, a MS in Marketing, and a two-year stint in the fashion world, Margo became a full-time author and can’t believe she gets to spend her days creating stories. When she’s not writing, she loves to read, travel, and dance to pop anthems.

Raised in Austria, Margo now lives in the USA with her husband and her Pomeranian.

Be sure to sign up to Margo's reader group to get her prequel The Fracture for free. You'll also be notified of sales, freebies, and new releases.

Sign up here https://margoryerkerk.com/contact/

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5 stars
136 (45%)
4 stars
96 (32%)
3 stars
48 (16%)
2 stars
11 (3%)
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8 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
Profile Image for ☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣.
2,560 reviews19.2k followers
October 19, 2019
I start at 5 stars:
+1 star for a magical society hiding in plain sight
+1 star for interesting genetics, sets of powers, etc - Nice!
-1 star for the characters being underdeveloped and one-dimentional
-1 star for plot vehicles being simple and average (people get dropped dead, enlisted into service, kidnapped into whatever and it's all happens in a row without anyone even blinking at any of those antics)
-1 star for ludicrous villains (Louis made me want to roll my eyes for hours on end)
-1 star for emotional incongruity: do you really go on a date right after your father and grandmother are killed dead? Do you? It's not just the reader that doesn't connect with characters, even the characters don't connect with whatever happens to them?
So, the overall rating seems to be in the immediate vicinity of 3 stars.
Profile Image for Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘.
1,314 reviews3,123 followers
February 3, 2021
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*YA Really Isn't For Me*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

I'm a horrible person. I received this book way back in either 2017 or 2018 in exchange for a review. I wanted to give this book, and a couple of others, a true chance with me and I kept waiting. You see, if you know me and read my reviews, you know I'm a harsh critic. Rarely do I love a book. I've been in a deep, deep reading slump for the past three or four years, and I realized that I'll probably never fully get out of it. So I knew that I just had to read the books, reading slump or not, as I had said yes to read them. I hope the author doesn't get mad at me for reading it so late, or reading it at all now. I know that there's a chance that the book has been altered since I got this ARC so be aware that the newest release - if it has one - might be different from the one I'm reading now.

The review:
The book centers around Sierra Reeves (18) and Gavin McLoughlin (21), the marshal in Savannah responsible for the safety of the town, and the owner of Veneficia, a bar. At Sierra's graduation, her life changed forever. Finding out her father was dead is only the beginning; the supernatural are real. Trust into a new world Ardere and the Culpatus, who both wants Sierra on under their control, Sierra has to decide what to do.

Overall, the book itself isn't bad per se. The new world that the author has created is interesting and has potential. However, the book is quite predictable - I know who the bad guy was straight away - and I felt zero connection to any of the characters. I didn't even find Gavin hot. There was nothing special about the characters, no one stood out. Everything was quite meh. It might be because me and YA doesn't go well together anymore, or it might be that I just needed more to the story. More depth, more feelings, more differences of characters so that they don't all blend together. That said, I don't think I'll continue the series.

Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (YA) Urban Fantasy (M/F).
Series: - Series, Book One.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Gavin McLoughlin.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Not really.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2.5/2 Stars.
Profile Image for Amanda .
432 reviews177 followers
March 29, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
This review can also be found here:https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....

When I read the description of this book I was intrigued, but also a little wary. I have read a lot of books about telekinetic superpowers, some good, some bad, but the idea isn't super fresh to me. But neither are vampires and I keep coming back to read about them as well. But lately the fantasy genre has been lacking in originality, so I started this one out a little wary of this fact. 

As for the beginning, I was impressed. If there were supernatural beings in this world I can totally see someone, especially governments, using these people as weapons. So when Sierra's grandma immediately wants to leave town upon the awakening of her powers, I was excited. This book was off to a good start and had potential. The world built in this novel captured me pretty fast. As many books as I've read about telekinesis, Fluidus Rising still managed to be original. 

Along with being a good fantasy read, this story also tied in a serial killer mystery. For the most part it kept me guessing, but close to the reveal I did figure out who the killer was. I felt pretty proud of my detective skills because it wasn't obvious. 

I'm also super glad that Sierra comes into her powers gradually because I always find it unrealistic when suddenly someone can do almost anything with their powers. This was a cool fantasy world built in this novel and I'm really glad I gave it a chance.

If you read my reviews then you know that I hate when characters are perfect. I like flaws. I like my characters to be gritty and authentic. But in this case, Gavin might be a little too flawed of a character. Yeah, sometimes a dark past can add intrigue to a character, but here it feels a tad overdone. He's not my type, that's all I'm saying. 
Profile Image for ✶Rachelle✶ .
266 reviews144 followers
December 17, 2017
4 stars

***I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review***

I really enjoyed this book! It's a mash up of YA urban fantasy and murder mystery and it worked. I really enjoyed the world the author created. It's not unique per say, but it doesn't feel like I have read it before. I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
Profile Image for Miriam.
738 reviews39 followers
April 5, 2018
On the edge of young adulthood, Sierra is ready for life. High school's done. She's one summer away from being whatever she wants to be. Life couldn't be better.

Until it isn't.

In a moment, literally a moment, the life she's known, the immediate future she's anticipated, is ripped away, and she's thrust into a world she didn't know existed. The one person who stood between a simple human life and a complicated magical one, is dead. The only person she can rely on in this new world is the only family she left, Gran.

The journey is perilous, and I don't just mean danger like magic meant to harm and bleeding to death. I mean that, at eighteen, Sierra is kind of a danger to herself. Even though she has help--Gran and Gavin (he's incredibly helpful though a lot rough around the edges)--she only listens until she gets frustrated and wants to do things her way. Good thing? I say yes. Sometimes rushing headlong is the best way to learn. Sometimes rash actions makes you appreciate the wisdom that's been spoken to you.

But that's the point of this story. It's about a young woman stepping into adulthood and finding herself. Though this isn't the life she imagined, it is her life now. The good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful. Everything that comes with being who she is, is hers. Will she crack under pressure or rise to the occasion and prove her worth?

Fluidus Rising is a spectacular beginning to this series. It's amplified teenage angst (amplified because how many teens discover they're a magical creature and that their entire life is a lie?) softened with hope. The path carved out for Sierra in this book isn't easy so far. I imagine the second book won't be either. But what she and I discover along the way to whatever the end may be, will be (I hope) one hell of a ride.
Profile Image for Nancy (The Avid Reader).
3,119 reviews139 followers
December 27, 2017
On the night of her high school graduation strange things start happening around Sierra Reeves like her diploma starts floating through the air and she can see the auras of the people around her. And after receiving her diploma her Gran whisk her away from graduation early and rushes home so they can pack and leave. She won’t tell Sierra what all the hurry is Gran says there is not time that she will tell her on the road.

But of course Gran does not give her much information. But she does tell her that she has magical powers and that she is a part of the supernatural world that she has always believed to be a myth. Gran says they are going to Savannah, Georgia where they will be safe from the ones that are trying to either kill or kidnap Sierra. The people in Savannah will hide them and keep them safe.

In Savannah Sierra meets the Andere marshal Gavin McLoughlin. Gavin helps her to accept the supernatural world and helps her learn how to use her new powers. It is a slow go for Sierra in learning how to use her powers. She is having a hard time in figuring out how to use them or make them work when she wants them too.

Sierra is cautioned about running around on her own because someone is out to get her. They either want to kill her or kidnap her for her magical powers. Not only does she have to worry about someone wanting to kidnap her but there is a killer loose in Savannah. Someone is going around killing young women.

But Sierra is an eighteen year old girl/woman who has just graduated high school and is ready to take on the world and doesn’t like being treated like a kid so therefore she doesn’t pay much attention to what her Gran or Gavin tells her to do and is always running off herself.

I will give it to her most of the time she has consulted with Gran before going out but she usually ends up just a little farther off the trail than what she discussed with Gran. To Sierra she is a grown woman now and can take care of herself but on a couple of occasion she does find herself in peril.

Sierra gets herself a job working in a bar after being highly advised against it she meets this young man, Maxim who asks her out. Maxim and Sierra hit it off pretty quickly. Sierra is not sure exactly want she wants as she also likes Gavin. But Gavin is sort of standoffish and seems to push her away but Maxim on the other hand doesn’t no; he takes her in his arms and wraps her up tight.

Fluidus Rising takes off right from the beginning at a very fast pace and doesn’t let up until the very end. It will have you on the edge of your seat flying thorough it wanting to know what is around the next corner. I really loved this new take on the supernatural world that has been created in Fluidus Rising. I can’t wait to learn more about the supernatural world and about Sierra’s new world in the next book.

Come join Sierra as she takes us on this epic journey with her while she learns about her new world and her magical powers and all the magical powers that is around her.

I would recommend Fluidus Rising to anyone who loves to get lost in a magical world.
Profile Image for Pottermnm Montse.
475 reviews22 followers
December 25, 2017
I received a copy in exchange for a review.Here are my two cents about the book :

The story has it all.It's an action packed combo of magic, romance and mystery. Take The Mortal Instrument's strategy of keeping a girl with powers protected by keeping her away from her kind. Take Jedi mind tricks. Take a Criminal Minds case, with it's speculation, analysis, victimology, even Penelope's computers skills and searches. Take the usual feisty heroine and bossy love interest. Add a love triangle of a sort. The typical abrupt change when our heroine reaches a certain age.Add loss of loved ones , a new world being discovered.Mix it all in a blender and tadaaaa, you have your story...Not bad at all, I read it and was never bored.Yet some aspects leave me wanting.

I was told to be honest, and being a Gryffindor I could not do less.So, here are some things I think could be improved.

At first , there are some parts that felt choppy.Jumping from one event to another,the timeline felt weird, there was not a smooth transtion or plot development in some parts. But hey, this could be the author's style.I am definitely not a writer , so what do I know. Look at Gabriel Garcia Marquez who goes from present to past,to past of the past, to present , so...

Then character relationships.I dunno, I felt something was missinng.More interaction perhaps.Not only between Gavin and Sierra. Among all characters, I could see why Gavin was loyal to Sierra's Grandma, but his interaction with Sierra were so little , so few, I have trouble understanding why he feels like he does. There is no mating excuse in this story , so....it felt lacking there .

A plot twist. I dunno, perhaps because I am a Criminal Minds fan, but I knew who the murderer was very close to the strart of the story. I only confirmed my theory, when the victimology started being explained, and we see details that start poping.Now I am not a profiler, but I guess it was too easy to guess.

BUT...the story was interesting.Like I said, I did not get bored. It shows a lot of promise. I enjoyed reading it and will , without a doubt be waiting for the next book !
1,272 reviews7 followers
December 19, 2017
You would not wish having Sierra’s graduation happen to anyone. This story was fast paced, filled with lots of action, murders, magic, and a different kind of supernatural world in terms of the types of beings. The character development was done well, some love interest but not insta love, and a plausible world. The mystery element kept things interesting for a while but seemed to become obvious. However, the how and why behind it was pretty dark and twisted. Overall, a nice start to the series. I’m looking forward to the next book.

I was provided a copy of the book by the author in exchange for a review.
Profile Image for Crystal.
126 reviews13 followers
February 22, 2018
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. This is my first book by Margo Ryerkerk. This book was fast paced from page 1. It sucked you in right from the beginning, and never let off with all the action. Having recently turned 18, our main character, Sierra, is coming into some supernatural powers. Not only is she now thrust into a world she’s never known, she is the only person with these particular powers. A person everyone in the supernatural world wants to get their hands on. Everyone wants to use Sierra as their own personal weapon for their own agendas. That ending! The ending leaves you wanting more, wanting to know what happens next! I can’t wait to get my hands on Mirror Sacrifice!!
317 reviews4 followers
February 25, 2018
***i received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.***

I loved this book. From the moment Sierra realized something was strange with her, i was hooked. We don’t get too much details about how she came about, but we did get a little information in general about what she was. Some of the parts were sad. I cant wait for the next one. I’m excited to read about Sierra’s next adventure and what Gavin’s mission is.
Profile Image for Jill Gauger.
1,226 reviews12 followers
November 20, 2017
I was sent a copy of this book from Margo for a honest review and I absolutely loved this book. Sierra always thought she was normal but at her graduation ceremony everything changed
First, as she was receiving her diploma it floated over to her. Second, she glanced at her grandma to see if anyone else noticed and her grandma was glowing green. After the ceremony her grandma told her they needed to leave and she would explain on the way. What her grandma told her was unbelievable. Sierra was a supernatural called a Fluidus. On their way to Savannah they are attacked and her grandma injured. She makes it to Savannah and finds Gavin. He takes her grandma and her to his house and checks out her grandma’s wound. Things go from bad to worse with people trying to kill her or kidnap her. This book was exciting and very addictive. I can’t wait for everyone else to read this and looking forward to the next.
Profile Image for Erika Escariz.
111 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2018
First time reading Margo and I loved it. This book was amazing. I could not put it down until I finished reading it. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking to read it and aren’t sure if they want to. Trust me, you will love it. Cant wait for book 2

I voluntarily read an Advanced Reading Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Dee Smith.
629 reviews9 followers
February 20, 2018
This book grabbed me from the very beginning and I didn't want to put it down. It was full of action, danger, mystery and romance.The story was intense and very well written. I loved all of the characters , but especially Gavin and Sierra. I can't wait to continue the story in book 2.
Profile Image for Leah Dynes.
1,039 reviews11 followers
February 19, 2018
This book was great! Sierra has her world turned upside down on graduation day, when her father is killed and her overbearing grandma has them on the run. She then finds out she’s a supernatural, and is thrown into a world she has no idea about. I loved the story, the action, and all the great characters. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Ashley .
1,160 reviews4 followers
January 21, 2018
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Everything about this book was exciting and kind of unexpected! I was never sure what I was going to get, but I loved that about this story. It was well written with interesting characters :)
Profile Image for Hannah D.
326 reviews53 followers
April 21, 2018
description
Fluidus Rising is a story of a young woman named Sierra Reeves with special powers. She has telekinesis, but she didn't know about it until she graduated high school. When her powers emerge, she is taken by her grandmother to flee from those who would want to use Sierra for her special abilities. Sierra is a Fluidus, a special and incredibly rare cross breed of two other magical species. As she attempts to learn how to use her powers and stay safe at the same time, killers and kidnappers get closer and closer to her hiding place.
Boring. I found Fluidus Rising incredibly boring. There was nothing a true substance in the story and the characters just felt incredibly underdeveloped and weak. It was incredibly difficult to care about anybody in the story, and none of the characters really rounded out or grew in anyway. Besides that, there is not much to say about this book. There is nothing really original in it, and the plot was all over the place (and not in a good way). I wouldn't really recommend this book and I give Fluidus Rising the rating of TWO AND HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE!
description
Want more of me? Go to: http://thenotsopubliclibrary.blogspot.ca
Profile Image for Brandy Barber.
971 reviews23 followers
February 27, 2018
I was giving this book for a honest review. I enjoyed the story and people. This book was a fast read. You can tell from the beginning that there is going to be some action packed drama. Gran seems to be a tough one but with the job she has you understand why she is the way she is. Sierra has a lot to learn in a short time. I felt the book as a whole was great. I can't wait to move on to the other ones. I did have a few things that made me not do a 5 star review. The story seemed a but out of sorts at some points. It jumped around and I had to pause because I felt I missed something. There was a few parts I felt somethings where thrown in at last minute. In the time frame we had at some point I thought the training would pick up more. There are a handful of people that could have helped. I felt bad for Sierra any time she tried to do something and it didn't work. The relationship between Gavin and Sierra didn't seem to work for me. Why was he feeling like he did? They were hardly around each other. The times they where together it didn't make me feel like this is it something is going to happen. Again, Great book Very good different fantasy story. Yes, I would recommend it. I will read the next one. The plot and story are interesting. I want to see where this goes.
64 reviews
December 20, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this book.
It had me hooked from the beginning. It was very intriguing and kept me guessing what was going to happen next.
I liked both the main characters and the secondary characters and the magical world that Margo created.
I can’t wait to read the second book in this series!!
If your looking for a good ya fantasy book then give this book a chance
Profile Image for Ashley McLeo.
Author 62 books719 followers
December 7, 2017
4 Stars! There were many things I liked, even loved about this book and very few I found wanting. Let's start with the likes first!
First off, the cover. I mean . . . wow! It is gorgeous. It also clearly tells me the genre is fantasy and YA, which I really appreciate. The title is also intriguing and enough for me to want to pick it up. I know something is going to "rise" and probably throw a wrench in the world the author created.
Now onto the meat of the story!
The action starts right away and there was only one or two times that I found my attention drifting over the course of the entire book. For me, that's a very good ratio and a compliment to the author's pacing and ability to keep me engaged.
Character development in this story was very good. Sierra, the protagonist starts off fairly meek and knowing nothing about the supernatural world she's about to enter into. At the end she still doesn't know much (I'd probably have traded in my bar shift for a few more Fluidus lessons but to each their own.) but she's strengthened in ways I would never have envisioned the new high school graduate could in the opening scene. Gavin also has an arc, though it's smaller and mostly at the end, which is okay because for me at least, Sierra is the main draw of this story.
The world building was unique, fun, and interesting. I like the idea of different humanoid creatures that all seem to fall under two 'species' Ardere and Umbra but can do very different things. The author doesn't get too much into the political system (I sense this is to come in book two) but from what she said, I get the idea that it is very much like the system in The Sookie Stackhouse Series with top dogs ruling over regions and Marshalls patrolling and informing the top dogs of what's happening.
Gavin and Sierra's relationship was done really well. Not insta-love which never feels believable to me. They really have to learn about each other and deal with their own demons before they find who they're meant to be to the other.
Now for the parts I didn't love as much.
The question of who the murder could be was never a question for me. The instant the character appeared on the page I knew he/she was bad news and as soon as the murders began I know he/she was the culprit. In my opinion, tossing in at least one more believable suspect would have helped keep me guessing. Or perhaps shortening the time between first murder and capture. As it was, the closer I got to the reveal the more sure I was about my suspicion and ready to just get to the reveal so the story could move on.
My only other gripe is the introduction to the species (Charmers, Blurs, etc) powers is kind of slow. I realize we don't want to know everything right away. That would be overwhelming. However, I felt there were a couple parts that species powers/quirks were inserted right before they were needed to explain something. I'd have preferred to read about that ahead of time and figure it out myself. I find that a more satisfying experience.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Fluidus Rising and would recommend it to readers who enjoy urban fantasy akin to The Sookie Stackhouse Series. I'm excited to see where the series will go and have a feeling it's about to get a little dark (which I'm totally OK with!). Bravo to Margo Ryerkerk for crafting such a fun, new world. I can't wait to read more!



4 reviews
December 22, 2017
Alright lets say first that this was a great book and I really enjoyed reading it and can recommend to anyone who likes fantasy. But to start from the beginning.

I think the beginning of the book was just a little to fast, because the action starts like immediately after 4% of the book, but you get into it really quick and can follow the storyline easily so that wasn't a problem to me.

characters:
I really, really liked the character of Sierra. She is strong and absolutely by herself. She didn't need anyone to save her, she always tried to get out of bad situations by herself. She wants to have a right to know whats going on and demands to know which I also count as a great character trade of her. She acts according to her age, maybe even a bit mature, but that is something absolutely positiv because you don't get tired of reading it because the main character keeps making bad decisions - absolutely not here. To sum it up - a real great female main character!
Gavin is also someone you like immediately while reading, he is so kind and really cares about his old friend (Sierras grandmother), so much that he keeps them there despite all odds. The more you get to know him the more you can understand his actions. I also liked that he isn't the complete bad boy, he has little sparks of a bad boy but you know from the beginning that he is a good guy.
The relationship between the two of them is developing absolutely great during the book, neither to fast nor to slow and it keeps being interesting. The little love triangle wasn't annoying like it often is, because you really believe both of the characters that they are trying to overcome the attraction to one-another.
-> absolutely great characters you can identify with and whose actions can be understood

writingstyle:
The writing style of the author was really in detail when it comes to the feelings or actions of the character, so it was easy to feel with them and understand them. The storyline was easy to follow and made absolut sense. The story is told from different point of views, which was also transformed into action very well.
Great writing style!

story:
The story was great to follow and interesting. The tension didn't lessen and the plot was great to so you couldn't stop reading till you reached the end. But I don't want to give more details at this point so I don't spoiler anything ;)
What I probably liked best is, that it is again something new, unknown, not the same vampire, werwolf thing - no - Margot Reyerkerk developed something new and really cool.

conclusion
To me it was a really great book I can absolutely recommend to anyone who likes fantasy and new ideas (not the same vampire or werwolf story). The writing style is great as are the characters and der development.
I can't wait to know how the story goes on - and saying this without the book having an real big cliffhanger just tells me how good the story was!
A great book you should really read!
Profile Image for Infinity Sisters Reviews.
101 reviews2 followers
December 18, 2017
Graduation is supposed to be the start of a brand new life, but when Sierra's diploma just seems to float into her hands, her whole life changes. In the blink of an eye, her father's been murdered and she's on the run with her Gran. She discovers another world hidden before her eyes where supernatural beings exist, and learns the shocking reveal that she's the rarest one of all called a Fluidus. As Gran whisks Sierra away to the town of Savannah to be put under the protection of the abrasive town marshal Gavin McLoughlin. Gran promises they'll be safe in their new life, but just as she begins to accept her new abilities, a murder occurs a little too close to home. To make her life more complicated, she finds herself in the middle of a struggle between powerful people that want her for their own.

Sierra's biggest concern was going to college and trying to figure out how to get her overprotective Gran to let her live a little, then everything changes and she's no longer an ordinary girl. She spends the course of the plot trying to find a new place to belong, but she's also able to truly discover what she's really capable of. It makes for an interesting challenge for Sierra as she deals with a coming of age story that just happens to have magic. Her journey of self-discovery is easy to relate to, because she's just a modern teenager that wants to live her life and have a little freedom. It's not her fault that supernatural beings are fighting over her. A fun and complicated love triangle takes a subtle place in Sierra's life as she finds herself drawn to Gavin who keeps her at a distance while she's exploring a new relationship with a human named Maxim who is very studious and serious. Gavin is that tragic hero type that has a darkness in his past and has cut himself off from letting people in, but also takes on the weight of the world and puts everyone's lives above his own. The plot is split between her and Gavin so their stories balance each other out, while giving a thorough insight into why they're thinking. A murder mystery is at the core of the plot, providing a grittier balance to Sierra's magical journey. Margo Ryerkerk blends every thread together in a clever way and weaves the hidden supernatural world flawlessly into a modern world. Every thread balances out combining the supernatural suspense of sinister and powerful people after her with a complicated love triangle, a dangerous murder mystery, and a magical journey. The first in an exciting new series, Fluidus Rising will leave you wanting more, with can't miss romance, danger, and magic.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
33 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2018
I received Fluidus Rising from the author, Margo Ryerkerk, in exchange for an honest review. I've had a stressful last couple of weeks. I moved and drove across the country from Michigan to Utah and I just finished my first week at a new University. Fluidus Rising got me through all of it! When I was overwhelmed or was so over homework, I turned to this book and was immediately transported from all of the craziness.

Sierra Reeves is enjoying one of the most exciting times during life. She just graduated from high school and is looking forward to the future. But then her whole world turns upside down. It turns out she and her family are not who they say they are. Sierra learns that she's a Fluidus. She has telekinetic abilities and her powers are incredibly rare. Many people would love to use her powers for their gain. With trouble approaching and being fearful for Sierra's safety, she and her grandma move to Georgia looking for refuge under the protection of Gavin (side bar- he's super hot and I felt that important to mention haha), the marshal in the area for those with powers. However, trouble is approaching and she can't stay hidden forever.

Fluidus Rising is a YA Urban Fantasy novel and if you know me, then you know I LOVE a good Urban Fantasy novel. They give me life. Fluidus Rising did a really good job of weaving together the fantasy aspects with the real world. It was done in a way which all things considered, seemed realistic. The plot moved along well so I didn't feel that things were being dragged out but everything was still well developed.

I loved the characters in the book, some more than others, but I won't spoil anything. I liked seeing Sierra deal with the struggles that she's facing by developing a support group of sorts, of friends who are there to help her as she's in a new town and is exposed to a whole new aspect of her life. I enjoyed the relationship that built between Gavin and Sierra. It wasn't perfect all the time but you got both characters' perspective and I really liked that.

I had so much fun reading this book! There's definitely more to explore in this world and to learn about the characters, so lucky for both me and you, there will soon be a second book in this series! Yay!!

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Profile Image for debturk1970_bookvibes.
1,867 reviews18 followers
February 17, 2018
An intriguing, unusual & promising Paranormal Fantasy Romance!!

I loved how this book flowed. Sierra, I think & hope, will turn into a real badass of a heroine in subsequent books. I feel, as she learns to control all of her powers & faces more threats & matures, that she'll start to wield her powers with confidence & with the snark that we were starting to see creep in to her personality, Yes 👍!!
She was completely out of her element in the beginning, having had no idea that Supernatural's even existed. All that changed for her on graduation day which was also her 18th birthday. They go on the run as Sierra has suddenly come into her 'Fluidus' powers. She will become extremely powerful with unique powers so therefore the Rulers want her on their side, as do the 'Bad guys'. Both will want to use her to get her to wield her powers for them!! Gran wants her to choose for herself 💖

Gavin is the 'Marshal' of Savannah. That means he's the person in charge of supernatural's & dealing with their crimes & punishments if needed in that area. He then reports to the area's Ruler. He's known Sierras' Gran since his childhood & they go to him for help & protection when they flee their home!! He a nice guy, runs a lovely bar but he has high thick emotional walls guarding his heart. They were formed since past heartache. He's loyal though & has a few close friends!!

The characters are well rounded, the plotline is interesting & I'm really looking forward to reading more in this series 😀 The secondary characters, even the one's we've only met very briefly & others we haven't met at all yet, are all pretty intriguing!! The concept of these different factions of power, though not unique, is a spin I haven't read before & the way the concept is written makes it stand apart & feel new!! My only real negative, it could do with some lighter, humorous moments interspersed throughout!! 👍

(I can't get the feeling that Sierra's Mum is going to be alive & running the Umbra Gang out of my head, I don't know why, but it would be a great twist 😂)

I definitely recommend this read, I'll be back that's a certainty 👍
(Read using Kindle Unlimited)

Debbie, 1970, UK
Profile Image for Carli Liles.
75 reviews1 follower
December 24, 2017
This book really captured my attention.

This book takes a new approach to magic-users. The characters were interesting.

Sierra's your main character. She's JUST turned 18 and graduated high school. The story kicks off at her high school graduated. Pretty much as she walks across the stage, her whole life changes.

There is much that happens to/for our main character in this story. Not all of it very happy. But she does very quickly come into herself. It was really nice to have a young main character who knew who she was and was relatively confident in who she is and being independent. Despite the fact that much about her life has been hidden from her until it can't be anymore.

She and her grandmother are forced to move to a Savannah, GA. This is also where we meet a whole handful of new supernaturals including Gavin who "runs" the supernaturals in the area. He's also got a previous connection with Waldeburg, Sierra's grandmother.

You get to learn a lot about the different supernatural abilities. The way you're introduced to the different types of supernaturals/aderes is very organic though. It worked really well.

The pacing of the book is really good. Things aren't stuck on one scene/relationship too long. The main character makes a friend and gets a job and those characters get built out well.

I was a little annoyed at how much people tried to protect the MC and how weakly she protested against it. I understand that she's the ignorant one to this world, but that's not her fault. You would think they would just start teaching her about what to be concerned about rather than just trying to lock her away.

Additionally, I wasn't a HUGE fan of how Sierra's and Gavin's relationship finally came to a head. It felt a little rushed/forced. They've both been fighting these feelings and building walls and rationalizing a certain way. But it's not irredeemable. A lot will depend on how things progress with them in the next book. Communication is going to be huge there.

Ultimately, this was a great paranormal murder mystery with a heavy dose of YA romance. There's some really good character and world building that's taken place.
Profile Image for Tyler.
204 reviews
December 22, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I give Fluidus Rising by Margo Ryerker 4.5 stars but I don’t know how to do it. This was an interesting book. It is the first of The Ardere Series and it is a very interesting storyline. I’m kinda of on a roll with the YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy kind of books and this a fresh take on the genre. I enjoyed the concept behind the story.

The character development was good. There was action, but it wasn’t full on action. It worked for this book, but I’m curious to see if that grows with the characters. This book kept me on my toes, made me think, and kept me guessing. I like that the romance was partially subtle in this book. Not totally subtle but not totally part of the main focus either. The writing was pretty good. It sort of felt or sounded younger than the other books that I’ve read but it doesn’t harm the book at all. I still had outbursts and reactions at certain parts, so it’s doing the job.

After reading the first chapter, I really wanted to the read the second. And then the same thing happened so I ended up reading three chapters the very first night! I wanted to read the fourth but couldn’t but I really wanted to! The smaller side stories kind of jumps and skips and sometimes leaves you open ended. Most of it eventually gets tied together at the end, but not all. Which, is the reason for taking away half a star. But other than that, this is a really good book.

It’s a really good quick read for anyone and it’s enjoyable. It’s interesting and keeps you wanting to find out what happens next. I am curious as to what could happen in the series. The development of the series is going to be to be very interesting. Thank you, Margo, for giving me the opportunity to read your book!
Profile Image for Holly.
720 reviews116 followers
March 6, 2018
* I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review*
When I first started this book I was intrigued by the synopsis but overall didn’t know much about it. The author contacted me to read it in exchange for a review and i decided to give it a chance. AND HOLY GOD AM I EVER GLAD I DID. For a debut novel, this was insane, the magical system was complex and well though out, the names were unique and the villains were thrilling. I did guess who the killer was before it was revealed but everything else was a surprise to me. This book took lots of twists and turns and I was here for every second of it. It was fast paced and I demolished it in just two sitting.

I didn’t exactly see how this was based off of the Sookie Stackhouse novels because I saw it as something completely unique and complex in its very own way. As much as I love the Sookie Stackhouse novels, from what I have read, it is pretty much just vampire smutt. This book however, is complex and well planned, while throwing in the easy going read of a smutty novel.

Gavin was the typical bad boy who has been broken by a girl in the past and refuses to let another girl in, and Sierra made him question all of his intentions. I have seen this pairing done many times before, but honestly, it didn’t deter me from shipping it any less.

This book was such as surprise for me, but I am already so connected to the characters and the storyline that I can’t wait to see what the next books have in store. Margo Ryerkerk, threw me off guard and made me fall in love with paranormal romance all over again. I can’t wait to follow this author and see her writing and stories grow in the future!
Profile Image for Brenna.
95 reviews
January 4, 2018
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fun read and a cross between a YA paranormal and mystery with a dash of romance thrown in.

One of the most unique aspects of the story is that the author creates a brand new paranormal society made up of Guardians, Charmers, Blurs, and others. I found it quite refreshing to see a world built with new categories of characters rather than the same old vampires and ware wolves. It was enjoyable to get familiar with this new hidden society, its hierarchy of leadership, and the special powers of its superhuman people. There are also some very interesting dynamics between some of the "bad" characters and those characters that are more pure in background.

A strength of this author's writing is her ability to show us the development of the main character over time. At first, Sierra comes across as very immature, and while she was obviously dealing with major, life altering events, at times she comes across as "young" and perhaps even petulant. Over the course of the story though, Sierra begins to grow, stand on her own two feet, and demonstrates increasing maturity and ingenuity.

Having a mystery thrown into the mix with this story was a fun twist! Although it was fairly obvious who the guilty party was, the reason why and what he was doing was both surprising and horrifying.

I very much appreciated the sweet ending to this story. Everything was wrapped up for the time being but it still left me excited to see what happens next when the main character enters training and to see how the romance plays out.

I would recommend this book to others that enjoy this genre!
Profile Image for Denise.
3,789 reviews
March 3, 2018
I am very intrigued by the first book in the Ardere series. I debated between four and five stars, but decided that though the "girl suddenly has powers" concept is old, the Ardere concept is very different and unique.

Sierra Reeves starts out her day as an excited, about - to - graduate, high school senior, with a best friend and a nice home where she lives with her grandmother and an often absent father. She ends it on the run with only her grandmother and her diploma. The two flee south from Vermont, and along the way Sierra learns that her whole life has been a lie. After an attack ın a motel room leaves her grandmother wounded and unresponsive, Sierra must get them the rest of the way to Savanah and find help.

Gavin is the Ardere protector in Savanah. He runs a bar and oversees the small group of Ardere in the city. We only learn a little about his past but Sierra's grandmother, Waldeburg, has known and looked out for him for years. She knows he will help hide and protect Sierra as she comes into her powers and learns of her heritage.

I am not going to spoil the story for you. There is a lot to learn about the Ardere and their power structure. No place is really safe for Sierra until she can protect herself and a string of unusual murders in the city add to the danger. In the end, Gavin must make a decision that will change both of their lives.

I want to read more in this series and find out what happens. I was given a copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.
Profile Image for Unity.
195 reviews25 followers
February 12, 2018
**I received a free copy of this book via the Author: Margo Ryerkerk. I am voluntarily leaving a review.**
I want to start off by saying I finished this novel within a day and wanted to spend a minute gathering my thoughts together. That being said I helplessly fell into the story so easily and so deeply. I literally screamed, cried and squealed all within the same chapter again and again.
I had my doubts about the book and while I found some doubts to be sound I can't help but ignore them due to the complexity of the world created by Ryerkerk. I'll start with my one con of the story . The only con is that because I have studied for 2 years how to analysing and critique literary texts I found that the forshadowing was everywhere in the story. While this made it hard to read because most of my guesses about what would happen next were right it was still very easy to ignore.
First pro was that the love interest wasn't a generic one but rather pushed the boundaries of both characters making them more relatable. Second, the plot twist and I will be honest here... I saw it coming from a mile away but it was so genuinely intriguing to read due to the details and structure of the story putting distractions and consequences for each of the characters to over come was a breath of fresh air. Third, and I could go on forever, pro was that the dynamic of the characters and world were thoroughly thought out and full of depth making it easy to fall into the world but also made everything much more realistic without making the story to complicate or overdeveloped.
Overall this book was well worth the read and I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes diving into new worlds.
Profile Image for Tracy Kaufman.
191 reviews4 followers
March 19, 2018
Full disclosure:
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review

First off, I am a series reader. I am not usually a fan of YA; but this book blew me away. I have a short attention span so I need lots of stuff going on; this book fulfilled it. I am new to this author so am looking forward to reading more from her. She has taken the tried and true paranormal and put a new twist; which I must say is hard. Nicely done.

I really enjoyed this book. For being a YA, it did not have the whininess that I find a lot of the YA lead females have. She was really sweet and tough trying to find her way when her entire world is dumped upside down. I tend to be super picky with female characters so when Sierra came about so well and enjoyable I could not help but be pulled into her world. Of all the characters I have a soft spot for its Sierra’s Grandmother (she is who I want to be when I grow up), her apparent love for her family and Gavin, not to mention she just kicked serious butt was my favorite.

The only reason I am giving it a 4 star instead of a 5, is because in my opinion the characters and the world being created just is not the same as if it was book 3 or even 2. I can see so much growth potential for the characters, and I am looking forward to their next journey. I do not think there is any way the author could have made this book any more interesting.
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