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The Upwelling
Three misfits.
Two warring spirits.
One chance to save the world.
Kirra is the great-granddaughter of a truth dreamer, and, like Great Nanna Clara, no-one believes her night-visions are coming true. When an end-of-the-world nightmare forces her to surf where her brother was killed, she time-slips into a place that could ruin her life, here, and in the Dreaming.
Narn is the son of a well-respected Elder and holds an enviable role in his saltwater clan. Though he bears the marks of a man, many treat him like an uninitiated boy, including the woman he wants to impress.
Tarni is the daughter of a fierce hunter and the custodian of a clever gift. Somehow, she understands Kirra when no-one else can. But who sent this unexpected visitor: a powerful ancient healer or an evil shadow-spirit?
When death threatens all life, can a short-sighted surfer, a laidback dolphin caller and a feisty language unweaver work together to salvage our future?
Two warring spirits.
One chance to save the world.
Kirra is the great-granddaughter of a truth dreamer, and, like Great Nanna Clara, no-one believes her night-visions are coming true. When an end-of-the-world nightmare forces her to surf where her brother was killed, she time-slips into a place that could ruin her life, here, and in the Dreaming.
Narn is the son of a well-respected Elder and holds an enviable role in his saltwater clan. Though he bears the marks of a man, many treat him like an uninitiated boy, including the woman he wants to impress.
Tarni is the daughter of a fierce hunter and the custodian of a clever gift. Somehow, she understands Kirra when no-one else can. But who sent this unexpected visitor: a powerful ancient healer or an evil shadow-spirit?
When death threatens all life, can a short-sighted surfer, a laidback dolphin caller and a feisty language unweaver work together to salvage our future?
369 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2022
15 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 15, 2022
When Kirra turned sixteen, the strange dreams began, the dreams that come true. Her counsellor calls them coincidences, but Kirra isn’t so sure … especially when her latest dream is about the world being destroyed. Soon.
Narn’s life should be simple. He’ll take over his father’s role as dolphin caller. He’ll be joined with Tarni. So he thinks until he finds a secret undersea cave, which his father tells him is N’gian’s cave, and that as a N’gian, he can’t join with anyone who has the N’gian symbol.
Tarni has the N’gian symbol, but her father ignores her gifts. Instead, he has arranged to have her joined with the son of the head of another tribe … even though she wants to join with Narn, and her intended is violent and cruel.
But women who show signs of having N’gian’s gifts are going missing. When a stranger arrives from beyond the waves, Narn and Tarni have to work together to solve the mystery of where the women have gone.
The Upwelling is written in first person, from three points of view. Kirra is the contemporary surfer girl who is sent back in time. Tarni is the girl she meets who has the gift of language, which means she can speak and understand modern English. Narn is the romance interest who has his own secrets.
The Upwelling reminded me of The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera for the way it seamlessly blends the contemporary and the traditional, and The Navigator in the way Kirra travels through time to save the world from destruction. There was also elements of Romeo and Juliet in the relationship between Narn and Tarni.
I loved the insight into the culture and traditions of the Yugambeh and other Aboriginal people groups.
It shows how much we have to learn from the traditions of many of our native cultures, in particular around the sustainability and good stewardship of our natural resources – what the New Zealand Maori call kaitiakitanga.
I also enjoyed the look at a different time. In our sophisticated modern world, it’s often tempting to look down on our more primitive ancestors. But while the Yugambeh people live a hand-to-mouth existence, there is much to admire in their society. They live as a true community, where all are welcome, where no one lacks for food or warmth, and there is plenty of time for telling stories and enjoying each other’s company. They also have a remarkable knowledge of health and healing, which us modern sophisticates have largely lost.
But The Upwelling also a compelling story – which is important, because Young Adult readers aren’t interested in a book simply because it has lots of Worthy Messages and Strong Themes. No. YA readers want strong characters and a great story, both of which The Upwelling has. They also want great writing, and The Upwelling has excellent writing,
If you’re looking for a strong Young Adult novel that introduces Australian aboriginal life and culture while still delivering a strong story of good vs. evil, then you’ll want to read The Upwelling.
Narn’s life should be simple. He’ll take over his father’s role as dolphin caller. He’ll be joined with Tarni. So he thinks until he finds a secret undersea cave, which his father tells him is N’gian’s cave, and that as a N’gian, he can’t join with anyone who has the N’gian symbol.
Tarni has the N’gian symbol, but her father ignores her gifts. Instead, he has arranged to have her joined with the son of the head of another tribe … even though she wants to join with Narn, and her intended is violent and cruel.
But women who show signs of having N’gian’s gifts are going missing. When a stranger arrives from beyond the waves, Narn and Tarni have to work together to solve the mystery of where the women have gone.
The Upwelling is written in first person, from three points of view. Kirra is the contemporary surfer girl who is sent back in time. Tarni is the girl she meets who has the gift of language, which means she can speak and understand modern English. Narn is the romance interest who has his own secrets.
The Upwelling reminded me of The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera for the way it seamlessly blends the contemporary and the traditional, and The Navigator in the way Kirra travels through time to save the world from destruction. There was also elements of Romeo and Juliet in the relationship between Narn and Tarni.
I loved the insight into the culture and traditions of the Yugambeh and other Aboriginal people groups.
It shows how much we have to learn from the traditions of many of our native cultures, in particular around the sustainability and good stewardship of our natural resources – what the New Zealand Maori call kaitiakitanga.
I also enjoyed the look at a different time. In our sophisticated modern world, it’s often tempting to look down on our more primitive ancestors. But while the Yugambeh people live a hand-to-mouth existence, there is much to admire in their society. They live as a true community, where all are welcome, where no one lacks for food or warmth, and there is plenty of time for telling stories and enjoying each other’s company. They also have a remarkable knowledge of health and healing, which us modern sophisticates have largely lost.
But The Upwelling also a compelling story – which is important, because Young Adult readers aren’t interested in a book simply because it has lots of Worthy Messages and Strong Themes. No. YA readers want strong characters and a great story, both of which The Upwelling has. They also want great writing, and The Upwelling has excellent writing,
If you’re looking for a strong Young Adult novel that introduces Australian aboriginal life and culture while still delivering a strong story of good vs. evil, then you’ll want to read The Upwelling.
December 30, 2022
A First Nations teen surfer time travels to precolonial Aus, where she teams up with two teenagers to help them save their tribe from an evil spirit. A wondrous escape into Indigenous lore.
February 25, 2023
What an amazing book, to paraphase Bern Young's endorsement in the front, I really did feel like I was walking with the Yugumbeh peoples from centuries ago.
I live in Yugumbeh land, and just as the author, Lystra Rose, says in the acknowledgements, I too wondered what the land and the lifestyle of the peoples who lived here was like before 'white settlement'. I acknowledge that this is fiction but I get the sense that Lystra has made every effort to try to get it somewhat correct when it comes to local indigenous language and customs. I found I had to have two bookmarks - one for where I was up to, the other for the language guide in the back. I know some Yugumbeh words but I think there are more being added to my repertoire.
In a sense this is a multilayered book fundamentally in the fantasy genre but using Dreaming mysticism. The characters and plot could be transferred to almost any other culture but landing it in our local culture makes it different. In summary, this book was not gunang.
I live in Yugumbeh land, and just as the author, Lystra Rose, says in the acknowledgements, I too wondered what the land and the lifestyle of the peoples who lived here was like before 'white settlement'. I acknowledge that this is fiction but I get the sense that Lystra has made every effort to try to get it somewhat correct when it comes to local indigenous language and customs. I found I had to have two bookmarks - one for where I was up to, the other for the language guide in the back. I know some Yugumbeh words but I think there are more being added to my repertoire.
In a sense this is a multilayered book fundamentally in the fantasy genre but using Dreaming mysticism. The characters and plot could be transferred to almost any other culture but landing it in our local culture makes it different. In summary, this book was not gunang.
November 19, 2023
There is some fabulous worldbuilding here, both in the recreation of a historical community and an integrated world of lore. It is ambitious to recreate an Aboriginal community of the past, and with evident deep research and the right dose of imagination, Rose really pulls it off.
The plot is also a strength, and, while the pacing is gentle, it is compelling to read. I found some of the characterisation a little shaky, especially in the modern day sections, and some of the dialogue can land a little heavy. But the book is an escape, and one that leaves you seeing more possibilities, and there is nothing wrong with that.
The plot is also a strength, and, while the pacing is gentle, it is compelling to read. I found some of the characterisation a little shaky, especially in the modern day sections, and some of the dialogue can land a little heavy. But the book is an escape, and one that leaves you seeing more possibilities, and there is nothing wrong with that.
August 7, 2022
A time-travel novel that focuses on connection to Country, family, lore, law and culture. I really loved the First Nations rep in this book and loved exploring more about the knowledge of our oldest living culture. This book was really engaging and I really loved the writing style too, it really helped me immerse into the world of the past.
This book is highly recommended to everyone!!
This book is highly recommended to everyone!!
July 13, 2022
Involved, complicated time travel novel about righting wrongs.
Strong cast of characters. Strong voices.
(My ongoing beef with current YA - a bit long in my view).
Strong cast of characters. Strong voices.
(My ongoing beef with current YA - a bit long in my view).
September 9, 2024
Not good.
January 7, 2023
Wow.
I have never read anything like this book! The level of research that clearly went into this story was so impressive and as a result it was so easy to get completely swept up because everything felt so genuine.
All characters were fully realised and believable and it was so easy to feel what they were feeling.
A spectacular debut, can't wait for the next!
I have never read anything like this book! The level of research that clearly went into this story was so impressive and as a result it was so easy to get completely swept up because everything felt so genuine.
All characters were fully realised and believable and it was so easy to feel what they were feeling.
A spectacular debut, can't wait for the next!
January 26, 2023
A First Nations young adult time slip novel that explores culture, Country, lore, family and Dreaming through the perspectives of three protagonists working together to stop the end from occurring. A very interesting read. The pacing was a bit challenging at times but the concept was very clever.
December 24, 2022
Great concept, poor execution. I enjoyed how the last 50 pages wrapped up the narrative and think it was done well. The issues throughout the book were not fleshed out well and the ‘climax’, was resolved in a couple of sentences and I had to go back over it and see how, as it was so incredibly rushed. Characters were one dimensional and plot was disappointing. I liked the inclusion of a First Nations language and looked for a glossary while I was reading, but couldn’t find it (it was straight after the last page of the novel; silly me!)
I would’ve liked to have seen more of an adventure, as I thought that was what this was penned as being.
2 and a half stars ✨
I would’ve liked to have seen more of an adventure, as I thought that was what this was penned as being.
2 and a half stars ✨
August 1, 2024
3/5 ⭐️ Took me a while to get through it but kinda kept delaying it as I had to reading for school. ☹️
Although compared to other books 📕 we could’ve gotten I didn’t mind this read!
It was interesting, 🧐 reading an Aboriginal YA Fantasy, first time and honestly would love 💕 to see more! The strong 💪🏾 cultural connection really came through and when I see some of the actual things mentioned in the book, 📚 like ‘ochre’ I’m immediately like, ‘Hey! That’s in my book!’ 😅😍
Kirra, Tarni and Narn are the cutest friends (not so for some..) hero trio and their friendship with each other was really binding. 😌
Tarni and Narn is the biggest ship, literally. 💘💘💘 For me, it was adorable how they waited for their Elders approval and proper ceremony and everything, something that is very rare in Romantasy books 📚 today. Them getting married 💍 in the end was the best ending for me and absolutely 💯 loved that. ❤️🔥
Kirra I honestly felt bad for, she was swept 🧹 this totally different time, even though she knew she was Aboriginal, compared to the tribe she knew nothing and was really different. 🥸 But as she slowly learnt more about her people and their ways it was a great journey.
When she went back, thinking 💭 about how she couldn’t go to any of Tarni or Narn’s burial 🪦 places as it’d be toppled by high rise buildings and such, actually made me think of how sad 😢 that was. 💔
Narn turning out to be WUZ was crazyyy! 🤯🤯🤯 Since the start, his “death” was a minor history that gave Kirra background information ℹ️ for us, but that topic came back again and I was like wait a minute??? WUZ?!! 😱 That was amazing, 😻 for Kirra and Narn but also unfortunate as they wouldn’t be able to hang out for long as Kirra had to go home. 😞
At this point, if I were Kirra I’d just stay there, in that peaceful ☺️ tribe with family and friends, ain’t no way I’d want to come back here. 🙂↔️🙅🏾♀️
Great read, and absolutely would love ❤️ the 2nd book, The Unwarping and would 💯 read it.
Although compared to other books 📕 we could’ve gotten I didn’t mind this read!
It was interesting, 🧐 reading an Aboriginal YA Fantasy, first time and honestly would love 💕 to see more! The strong 💪🏾 cultural connection really came through and when I see some of the actual things mentioned in the book, 📚 like ‘ochre’ I’m immediately like, ‘Hey! That’s in my book!’ 😅😍
Kirra, Tarni and Narn are the cutest friends (not so for some..) hero trio and their friendship with each other was really binding. 😌
Tarni and Narn is the biggest ship, literally. 💘💘💘 For me, it was adorable how they waited for their Elders approval and proper ceremony and everything, something that is very rare in Romantasy books 📚 today. Them getting married 💍 in the end was the best ending for me and absolutely 💯 loved that. ❤️🔥
Kirra I honestly felt bad for, she was swept 🧹 this totally different time, even though she knew she was Aboriginal, compared to the tribe she knew nothing and was really different. 🥸 But as she slowly learnt more about her people and their ways it was a great journey.
When she went back, thinking 💭 about how she couldn’t go to any of Tarni or Narn’s burial 🪦 places as it’d be toppled by high rise buildings and such, actually made me think of how sad 😢 that was. 💔
Narn turning out to be WUZ was crazyyy! 🤯🤯🤯 Since the start, his “death” was a minor history that gave Kirra background information ℹ️ for us, but that topic came back again and I was like wait a minute??? WUZ?!! 😱 That was amazing, 😻 for Kirra and Narn but also unfortunate as they wouldn’t be able to hang out for long as Kirra had to go home. 😞
At this point, if I were Kirra I’d just stay there, in that peaceful ☺️ tribe with family and friends, ain’t no way I’d want to come back here. 🙂↔️🙅🏾♀️
Great read, and absolutely would love ❤️ the 2nd book, The Unwarping and would 💯 read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2025
2.5/5
Decent story if a little basic, but the quality of writing was all over the place. There were so many awkward lines thrown especially in the last quarter of the book that I really started to notice. It got so bad such that in the middle of a passage any one of Kirra, Narn or Tarni would think or even say something like "But we have to focus because all that matters is defeating the big bad and saving the world". I wish I was exaggerating, but at some point a character literally says "Does this mean the big bad and the end of the world are coming closer?". Out loud. Like no one says that and if they would we shouldn't write about it cause its a dumb thing to say. And this character is not dumb.
In contrast, there was one specific chapter which I thought was particularly well written about the death birds and how their calls are the echo of death. Great chapter with a great line, but unfortunately I was struggling to find many great lines when so many bad ones lurched out throughout the book.
There were also parts in the book where character's mood changed in the matter of moments and it was so jarring I had to reread multiple parts just to make sure i hadn't skipped a few paragraphs or something.
The main romance in this book was very cute and nice to read and a good through line in all the characters chapters. How the romance ends is great too. Actually, the author did quite a good job with the last 50 or so pages up until the last few sentences. Why does this have to have a sequel? It was a perfectly good ending without having to do what she did in order to write another book.
The whole stuff around dolphin calling and N'gian was also quite well written and researched and really stood out from the rest of the book.
I did overall enjoy the book and have many more thoughts on it, even if the final product was about as cookie cutter of a story you could get. I really appreciated the amount of research that went into the aboriginal culture and language surrounding this story, and it was really awesome to learn more about their practices and traditions. I only wish that the same level of research was done into writing better prose and a better plot.
Below are some other spoiler thoughts I had where I talk a lot more about some problems and missed opportunities.
Decent story if a little basic, but the quality of writing was all over the place. There were so many awkward lines thrown especially in the last quarter of the book that I really started to notice. It got so bad such that in the middle of a passage any one of Kirra, Narn or Tarni would think or even say something like "But we have to focus because all that matters is defeating the big bad and saving the world". I wish I was exaggerating, but at some point a character literally says "Does this mean the big bad and the end of the world are coming closer?". Out loud. Like no one says that and if they would we shouldn't write about it cause its a dumb thing to say. And this character is not dumb.
In contrast, there was one specific chapter which I thought was particularly well written about the death birds and how their calls are the echo of death. Great chapter with a great line, but unfortunately I was struggling to find many great lines when so many bad ones lurched out throughout the book.
There were also parts in the book where character's mood changed in the matter of moments and it was so jarring I had to reread multiple parts just to make sure i hadn't skipped a few paragraphs or something.
The main romance in this book was very cute and nice to read and a good through line in all the characters chapters. How the romance ends is great too. Actually, the author did quite a good job with the last 50 or so pages up until the last few sentences. Why does this have to have a sequel? It was a perfectly good ending without having to do what she did in order to write another book.
The whole stuff around dolphin calling and N'gian was also quite well written and researched and really stood out from the rest of the book.
I did overall enjoy the book and have many more thoughts on it, even if the final product was about as cookie cutter of a story you could get. I really appreciated the amount of research that went into the aboriginal culture and language surrounding this story, and it was really awesome to learn more about their practices and traditions. I only wish that the same level of research was done into writing better prose and a better plot.
Below are some other spoiler thoughts I had where I talk a lot more about some problems and missed opportunities.
December 1, 2024
3⭐️
Read this as a part of the DANZ children’s book awards and I did like this one. Very different to what I normally read, again, but it almost felt like a fantasy since it is set in this world I know nothing about. I did like all the characters, the settings, the spirituality and just these ancient Australian techniques used by aborigines. i enjoyed reading the contrasts in writing between Narn and Tarni and then Kirra. I did think though that there was a lot going on for a 368 page book. I would understand what was happening in the moment but I would have a harder time remembering what had happened previously. I couldn’t understand what the main objective of the book was until the last 100 pages because the first 250 pages just felt like the characters running around the forest and getting caught in different things. It also didn’t help that the blurb wasn’t very descriptive. Overall I did enjoy this place where the story took place, but I did find it hard to read/understand in parts
Read this as a part of the DANZ children’s book awards and I did like this one. Very different to what I normally read, again, but it almost felt like a fantasy since it is set in this world I know nothing about. I did like all the characters, the settings, the spirituality and just these ancient Australian techniques used by aborigines. i enjoyed reading the contrasts in writing between Narn and Tarni and then Kirra. I did think though that there was a lot going on for a 368 page book. I would understand what was happening in the moment but I would have a harder time remembering what had happened previously. I couldn’t understand what the main objective of the book was until the last 100 pages because the first 250 pages just felt like the characters running around the forest and getting caught in different things. It also didn’t help that the blurb wasn’t very descriptive. Overall I did enjoy this place where the story took place, but I did find it hard to read/understand in parts
February 5, 2023
I absolutely loved this. It's probably actually a 4.5 star rounded up, but I think it deserves that generosity.
I think the lore that went into it, the imagination, it was just fantastic. It had so much more depth than I expected. And I genuinely did not see one of the major twists coming.
It wrapped up the storyline with the major antagonist pretty rapidly which I guess could be a bad thing? But honestly that was like.. less interesting than the other aspects of the story. I was glad to have that part over in all honesty.
I was a fan of the Obernewtyn series as a kid, and this book would have DELIGHTED ME. it still does. I would also recommend it for semi fans of the narnia chronicles - anyone who loved the lore of that, but hated what it did.
Overall this was just such an entirely enjoyable read, and it is so obvious how much care went into this book. Just a delight
I think the lore that went into it, the imagination, it was just fantastic. It had so much more depth than I expected. And I genuinely did not see one of the major twists coming.
It wrapped up the storyline with the major antagonist pretty rapidly which I guess could be a bad thing? But honestly that was like.. less interesting than the other aspects of the story. I was glad to have that part over in all honesty.
I was a fan of the Obernewtyn series as a kid, and this book would have DELIGHTED ME. it still does. I would also recommend it for semi fans of the narnia chronicles - anyone who loved the lore of that, but hated what it did.
Overall this was just such an entirely enjoyable read, and it is so obvious how much care went into this book. Just a delight
October 16, 2022
I loved this! Brilliant writing that is a refreshing mix of contemporary Aussie youth-speak and ancient indigenous voice. The story telling is thoroughly engaging, the setting is so amazingly well established that I could smell it, and the characters are going to hang out in my heart until I get to read the next book in this series, which I believe is on its way.
There was a totally unexpected twist and I love that in a book.
I also love the fact that while this is Lystra Rose's debut novel it is also a story packed with ancient lore that has been told and shared and passed down (and also hidden to a certain extent) for countless centuries. The story is old and new all at once. I'm hooked, and will be watching for more from this amazing author.
There was a totally unexpected twist and I love that in a book.
I also love the fact that while this is Lystra Rose's debut novel it is also a story packed with ancient lore that has been told and shared and passed down (and also hidden to a certain extent) for countless centuries. The story is old and new all at once. I'm hooked, and will be watching for more from this amazing author.
November 7, 2023
‘The Upwelling’ gives an insight into Australian indigenous culture within a complex, time shift fantasy narrative. The three narrators have different strengths and come together to fight a dangerous threat in the compelling second half of the novel. Recommended for strong readers from Year 8+ who can manage changing narrators, time travel and a complex but rewarding plot.
August 1, 2023
This is a beautiful, gripping, and inspiring read. I loved learning about the cultural heritage of first nation's customs. There are magical abilities, time travel, found family, sea-side settings, and romance. The ending has me reeling though. I'm hanging on for book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2022
This was the coolest book I’ve read this year! Magical.
December 31, 2023
Loved this debut novel by Lysta Rose - a truly intriguing and fast-paced time slip narrtive between contemporary Australian Gold Coast & anceient Indigenous culture as Kirra, Narn and Tami face their own pasts while working against a creeping evil that threatens to destroy the world.
March 8, 2024
3.7 - there were some really beautiful parts of the story but the pacing was too slow for me. The writing had some great moving parts and then there were parts that weren’t good at all 😭
April 19, 2024
this book was so good!! I had to put it down a lot to make sure I wouldn't zoom through it too fast!!! It was such a good story! I cried all the way through the last few chapters!!
August 31, 2024
Too many ideas thrown in, learn to write them out completely.
October 16, 2023
3.75 stars. I’m a bit late to this review but I liked this book! I loved learning the Yugambeh language and I loved how Kirra, Narn, and Tarni all came from different places but still found a way to connect. I think what brought the book down for me though was Narn and Tarni’s relationship. It had a rocky foundation and middle and yet they still ended up together. I think something else that brought the book down was how slow I read it (which is on me and not in the author’s control) so it didn’t flow as well and it felt disconnected to me. But anyway, with that ending, I NEED a sequel!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 30, 2025There were parts of this I really enjoyed, particularly the immersion into Yugambeh indigenous culture and exploration of life in what we now call Australia before invasion and colonisation. And that last page! It's living in my head rent free. In saying this, I felt there were some parts that could've been better, such as more fleshed out characters and better pacing (particularly through the middle and the resolution of the conflict). I also wasn't particularly invested in the romance, which took up a bit of time in the second half, which may have been why the pace felt a bit slow for my liking.
Overall, I would recommend this as a novel with fantasy elements that explores First Nations culture, history and experiences. The downfalls, in my opinion, are understandable for a debut novel, so I would be interested in reading another by this author in the future.
Note: I debated giving this a higher rating, understanding that we don't have as much First Nations fiction as we should, but I decided to go with my gut feeling at the end. Anything 3 stars or above is a good rating to me, and means I enjoyed the book and would recommend.
Overall, I would recommend this as a novel with fantasy elements that explores First Nations culture, history and experiences. The downfalls, in my opinion, are understandable for a debut novel, so I would be interested in reading another by this author in the future.
Note: I debated giving this a higher rating, understanding that we don't have as much First Nations fiction as we should, but I decided to go with my gut feeling at the end. Anything 3 stars or above is a good rating to me, and means I enjoyed the book and would recommend.
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