The beautiful cover first caught my attention, but the mythology theme clinched it for me - I needed to read this book.
Along with Analiese and Marek, I enjoyed trying to figure out the obscure clues left by Marek's grandfather, and the beautiful and sometimes dangerous locations where those clues lead. The pacing is brisk, with little downtime between action scenes. As a mythology fan, the numerous gods and goddesses thrilled me - but so many of them are mentioned, I quickly lost track.
Analiese is likable, and finds herself in many intense, life-threatening situations, but her internal thoughts about Marek's smile or how he looks at her during these moments pulled me out of the scene more than once. Until almost the end of the book, I never got the feeling he considered her more than a friend. Flying across the world with Marek, someone Analiese has known only a couple of days, then successfully hiding that fact from her mother requires a sizable suspension of disbelief.
If a fast pace, nearly non-stop action, quests, and puzzles are your thing, you may enjoy Analiese Rising, but I'd recommend jotting down the gods and goddesses names to keep them straight.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.