Riser

The Riser Saga #1

by Becca C. Smith

Chelsan Derée can control the dead. She lives in a future where the world is overpopulated and a little pill makes you immortal. Where people are secretly being exterminated and serial killers are sanctioned by the government. When Chelsan's mother is killed by one of these exterminations, she vows to take down the man responsible.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Zombies, Paranormal, Dystopia, Fantasy, Horror

370 pages, ebook

First published June 5, 2010

About the author

Becca fell in love with storytelling at an early age. The first book she ever read was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, and she’s been looking for the door to Narnia ever since! She’s a passionate reader, consuming any mix of paranormal, mystery, thriller, sci-fi, or fantasy. So it’s no surprise that she writes in these genres as well. When Becca is not writing, she loves to sew, from cosplay to elaborate magical creature bags, she just loves to create!

Reviews

[Wicked ♥ (Wickedly Bookish Reviews) aka Bat-Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wickedly Bookish Reviews
http://wickedlybookish.blogspot.com/

Chelsan is a young girl with the power to raise the dead. When tragedy strikes, she finds herself in the midst of a frightening conspiracy and discovers the truth about her past. Along with her gang of friends, Chelsan tries to uncover the whole truth and reveal it to the world.

I really thought this was going to be my kind of book. All the reviews have described it as a dark and gritty dystopia novel. While there is darkness involved, it was definitely muted by all the inane teenage drama. YA writers of science fiction, dystopia, fantasy, and paranormal romance are constantly having to balance their epic, heart pounding story lines with the everyday concerns of their teenage protagonists. Dating, mean girls, and homework are all things we expect to see these characters dealing with if they are living in a futuristic or contemporary world. The problem comes in when these things pop up in awkward moments. This happened a lot in Riser. Caught up in a life-threatening situation? Who cares! Let's go shopping! Or better yet, let's worry if my crush like, likes me. Yes, that term is actually used in this book by persons older than 11 years old. This part of the book overwhelmed the potentially gritty plot and just left me feeling like the book was just silly overall.

The main character Chelsan is your classic Mary Sue. She lives in a trailer park with her parents, has average looks, goes to a school for rich kids, and has two hot, wealthy guys vying for her attention. Wow, go figure. I'll give Chelsan this, at least she knows who she wants and isn't ping-ponging back and forth between the two. She makes a definitive choice early on and sticks with it. For that I definitely have some respect for her. Other than that I was a bit annoyed with her inner commentary that was constantly throwing me off of the dark vibe I so wanted out of this book. She sure says "ewww" a lot for a girl who has been playing with dead things her entire life. More often than not, the light-heartedness of the dialogue and narration just ruined any grittyness the book had. Here are some examples:

"I couldn't see his face, my sight was too blurred and the angle of the light made him look like a walking black shadow of doom coming toward me." (Black shadow of doom? Sounds like the name of some Dr. Doom wannabe)

"'Sleep.' He sounded like the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz." (Honestly, this quote made this particular bad guy much less scary for me)

"He was so cute when he was thinking." (Oh dear lord...)

"It was like walking into a safe haven of awesomeness." (Seriously? This from a straight A student at a prestigious academy of the wealthy who managed to get in based on her academic achievements alone?)

The characters are fairly two-dimensional for the most part and I never really felt a connection to any of them. However there was a scene with Chelsan's love interest, Ryan that got me pretty steamed. The mean girl of the school, Jill, finally gets on Ryan's last nerve. What does he do? He punches her in the face so hard she falls on her ass and has a nasty shiner the next day. Regardless of how cruel teenage girls can be, I think we can all agree that this is unacceptable behavior. So what does Chelsan do? She is totally gaga over the fact that Ryan is willing to beat on other girls for her. As this is a YA book and predominately directed toward teenage girls, I guess the thing that steams me the most is that this is teaching them (1) they do not have to fight their own battles and (2) to romanticize violence towards women. I'm positive this wasn't the author's intent, but the message is loud and clear. Beating on girls is sexy.

Another thing that really put me off this book was the poor editing. If there was actually any editing done on this book at all. I was constantly coming across grammar errors and incorrect vocabulary. I cringed every time I came across a sentence in which the author uses the completely wrong word. It was made even worse by the fact that I could tell exactly which word she had meant to use. Here are some examples:

"They were inhumanly pitch black and they began chanting illegible words." (Speak up! I can't read the words that are coming out of your mouth!)

"He was going to gauge my eyes out." (Obviously she meant gouge... Unless there is some new body modification fad I'm not aware of?)

"Would everyone stop obsessing about my bowl movements..." (Can I buy a vowel please?)

"Perfectly coifed grass separated the parallel lined mansion-sized houses." (No, no, no, no!)


coiffed: past participle, past tense of coif (Verb)
Verb:

1. Style or arrange (someone's hair), typically in an elaborate way.
2. Style or arrange the hair of (someone).

As my good friend Wigs said, "What is this English? How does it work? Does it have rules?" This had to be the most frustrating, and admittedly entertaining, part of the book for me. And before all the 4 and 5 star reviewers start jumping all over me, check out the FTC disclosure at the bottom of this review.

The Final Verdict

Riser has an interesting idea that is unfortunately executed poorly. The concept of a character with the power to raise the dead is far from new. If you want to read a YA necromancer story that balances the gritty and fluffy elements well, I would suggest you check out Kelly Armstrong's Darkest Powers Trilogy. Riser still needs some work and a thorough edit.

FTC Disclosure

I was provided with a review copy of this book by the author and IO Tours in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.

Update Shout out to Becca C Smith for taking this review like a boss. It takes a truly awesome person to enjoy a negative review of her own book. Thanks again for your kindness and understanding.

[Mary Loesch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riser Review for All Things Writing

Okay, not only did I get to interview Becca Smith about her book Riser, but I get to review it as well. Ah, some days I'm just too spoiled….

So let's get to it. Here is the book synopsis.

Black swirling holes churning madly in the center of every corpse. This is how eighteen-year-old Chelsan Derée sees the deceased. Her ability to connect to the black spinning holes allows her to control every dead thing within a four-mile radius. But that's the least of her problems. It's 2320 and Chelsan Derée has to survive another year of high school, which for her is pure and utter torture, mainly due to the fact that her schoolmate Jill Forester's favorite activity is making Chelsan's life a living hell. If that isn't enough, Chelsan's impossible crush on Ryan Vaughn makes her brain do somersaults on a regular basis, especially since she is positive he doesn't know she exists. And being eighteen Chelsan has to deal with the pressure of whether or not she should take a little pill called Age-pro, which cures aging, making the world eighteen forever and highly over-populated. When Chelsan's mother, Janet, is brutally killed, along with everyone else in her trailer park, Chelsan finds out that she was the intended target. Chelsan must use her power to raise and control the dead to save herself, protect her friends and take down the man responsible for murdering her mother.


Riser rocked. That's all there is to it. It's a fast paced, futuristic YA that touchs on something many people worry about at one point or another in their life: aging. In Ms. Smith's future, they've created a handy dandy little pill called Age-pro which if you take it at the right age makes you look around nineteen or so forever. Pretty sweet, right? Um….well, kind of. Like anything Age-pro has its drawbacks as Chelsan (our heroine) discovers. But then again, aging is the least of Chelsan's worries. She has an extraordinary talent for raising dead things--and not just dead people. Dead spiders, dead plants, some really pissed off bees, and cockroaches are just a few of the things she works with.

I thought this was a clever idea and a new twist on necromancy. All the characters are well developed, and the bad guy is pretty darn bad. The world the author created (futuristic L.A.) was creative and I suppose if you are from that area, it's filled with landmarks the reader would recognize. As someone who just released a book that deals with voodoo, I thought it was interesting to see how voodoo might be used in the future.

The other thing I liked about this book was the eye catching cover. Nice work!

[Robert C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a published sci-fi/fantasy writer myself, I am impressed by "Riser" and it's blend of future technology with the probable realities of human nature: same old traffic congestion, social classes, and rivalries -- "the more things change..."

And that makes "Riser" a must-read in this genre of fiction: the fun is still there, in plenty, but it has a core of "this could be" that keeps its characters (and our involvement with them) firmly grounded in the reality of the story.

And, as I wrote above, it's a fun read.

[L.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Article first published as Book Review: Riser by Becca C. Smith on Blogcritics.

Recognizing death by the black swirling holes located at the center of each corpse she can see, Chelsan Deree finds she has the ability to manipulate the dead. However, not only can she manipulate these once live bodies, but she can also see those that are re-animated by others of her bent.

Chelsan learned at a young age that she has a strange and macabre talent when she killed her brutal and malevolent stepfather. Using her own talent of re-animation, she has maintained the facade not only for her mother but also in order to live a seemingly normal family life. Finding she could not be very far from the corpse though, she found herself quite restricted, including in her choice of schools. The only school close enough to keep up this charade, was a wealthy private school. Understanding she would be out of her element, she is accepted to attend.

Living in a trailer park, barely eking out an existence, she and her family do not have the type of money that those from her new school find necessary. Befriended by two different students, Nancy and Bill, she is relieved. They like her and are not ashamed to be with her. Nancy, because she can and does not care what others think, and Bill, while he has the same motivation, is also one of the richest kids, and makes his own rules. It is Ryan Vaughn though that really intrigues Chelsan. While he tutored her, he was kind and considerate, and just a bit shy. Once the tutoring was completed though, he then barely seemed to acknowledge she existed.

In Riser by Becca C Smith, we follow the lives of Chelsan and her friends. When Chelsan’s life is turned upside down by the death of her beloved mother and her already dead stepfather, she feels as though she has nowhere to turn. In an odd dream like state her mother is able to communicate to her how she was killed as well as how Chelsan became the way she is. It is only now that Ryan makes a stand to stick with her, but Bill and Nancy rally around as well. However, one student in the school, Jill, continues to mimic and create problems for Chelsan, setting her up for trouble at every turn.

Now hunted by the man responsible for her mother’s death, she must make some decisions, and utilize the help and ingenuity of her friends. Death and danger seem to follow them everywhere, and Chelsan finds she must take a stand. Can she and her friends end the killing and find a way for others to hold those responsible, accountable for their actions? Using her skills and talent, can she overcome one of the most powerful men in the world?

Smith has found an interesting and unique talent to highlight her heroine. She brings us a futuristic world, and yet maintains a realistic verve, by creating a very life like rendition of high school as a backdrop. She introduces many of the same games and hazing that occurs in schools everywhere, an used this spring board to catapult our characters into danger and despair.

The characters are wonderful, very much like those we encounter at school and at home, although coming from a high-end lifestyle. They have the same fears and prejudices that create many of the same problems world over, and it is easy to understand the insecurities. Even Jill our protagonist engenders a bit of sympathy at times, based on the information we learn about her own background.

This is a fast paced book full of energy, but with a unique blend of both the believable and unbelievable. We have a form of zombies, a bit of transference, a futuristic world, great friendships, and romance.

This is a fun and frenetic YA read, and if you are your family enjoy fantasy with any of the above mixtures this will be a hit. The action is exciting, the story is both sad and yet a bit strange and the romance is fun. Throw in some re-animation of not just dead people, but bugs and plants as well, you get a generous helping of this unique and strangely credible talent. Smith has written a distinctive and compelling story full of generous and interesting characters, with just that blend of evil and destruction that keeps you guessing.

This book was received through the Cadence group. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

[Jas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just an amazing story, the main character Chelsan is a fascinating teenager with a special gift. And our forseeable future as a society obsessed with living forever and the consequences of that obsession. Kept me on the edge of my seat to the very end! Excellent, I would recommend this to anyone who loves sci-fi/adventure and teen fiction...

[iamjenai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. The author wove a unique futuristic storyline that definitely grabbed my attention. I think writing a futuristic storyline can be hard as there are so many things to consider.

In this book, in the year 2020, anti-aging pill or Age-pro was invented and by taking this pill anyone could be eighteen forever. You can actually determine whether a person is rich or poor by their looks since Age-pro is quite expensive. People who had money can start taking the pill at eighteen while those people who had less money, they usually start taking the pill at the age of thirty. The story is unique too because the lead character, Chelsan has the ability to raise or re-animate every dead thing within the four-mile radius. Reminds me of Anita Blake, the lead character in the Anita Blake Series who's main job is to raise zombies. Such an interesting power to have.

I would have rated this book 5-star if not for the following reasons:

First, all three guys here are drooling over Chelsan and Nancy. To be honest, it was a little bit annoying to read. I would really prefer guys do not drool over girls.

Secondly, the story became predictable when the killer was known right after Chelsan's mother was murdered. So there's nothing much to think about except the revelation of Chelsan's mom and pop's love story.

Overall, it was a great book. If you are looking for a nice refreshing story, you might want to pick-up this book.

[Natasha Troop · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a high school teacher, I'm always looking for new fiction to get my students excited about reading. While I was not a big fan of the Twilight series, I was just happy my students were reading books. A friend of mine gave me a copy of this to read because she thought I might like to share it with my students. I was a little skeptical, but once I started reading this, I had a hard time putting it down. Ms. Smith shows a great deal of maturity in her first work, spinning a compelling tale that combines elements of science fiction and fantasy seamlessly. Chelsen's gift is unique in fiction. Trust me, you have not read this story before. It is so rare to find something so original handled so well. I was surprised to find myself caught up in the story so quickly and, to be honest, I did not put it down until the final page was turned. I was only upset that it ended!

I shared this with a couple of my students and now they are both on Team Chelsen! We all cannot wait for the next book in this series.

[Redheaded Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark dystopian novel that kept me wanting more. There is a lot going on in this book. Chelsan has to deal with bullying, teen love triangle, being an outcast, an abusive step father, her mother's death, and her strange gift all while surviving high school. I really liked this book. The characters are great. I was rooting for them all through the book. Fast paced and very well written. Jill, Chelsan's nemesis, was a great villain that you love to hate. There are twists that you don't see coming and keeps your heart pumping. From the way it ended, I believe there may be a second installment coming soon and I can't wait to read it!

[Marni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a college English instructor. I've been one for over 15 years. I've got a couple of master's degrees and a couple decades of writing and editing experience under my belt, too.

We like to teach kids to write like they speak. It's a great method for getting kids to enjoy the writing process. Unfortunately for me - a grammar geek and language nerd - most people don't speak properly.

Isn't it ironic that I'd want to read a YA fiction?

I picked "Riser" because of its subject matter. I love books about dystopic futures and I love the idea of living forever. I'm also interested in psychic powers. Three interests in one book! Why wouldn't I want to read it?

Ms. Smith created a vibrant world for us. America in the future is much greener, with hovering cars and tons more trees. It's also much darker, with secret methods of population control (with everyone living forever, it should get awfully crowded, right?). But what makes "Riser" so extraordinary real for me was that Chelsan, the main character and heroine, narrated this story in her own words... as if she were speaking.

As a teacher of language, I pay abnormal attention to how things are written or spoken. As much as my English teacher alarm went off as I read this novel, I absolutely LOVED the natural way Ms. Smith captured the voice of the "typical" teenager. For some reason, lots of people think that if it's a novel, it should be written in some formal, Dickensian prattle (If you understood what I just said, you're probably a literary snob :-D).

Let me be clear: I'm talking about writing style. Ms. Smith captured a voice in the style she obviously consciously chose for "Riser." Like 99% of every novel on this planet, there are bound to be one or two editing oversights. Heck, if I red-lined any of the first four books of the "Harry Potter" series, no one would be able to read it. Again, I'm talking about an expertly executed writing style that anyone who knows or is a teen should identify with immediately.

Along with the YA language in "Riser" is the angst we all remember when we were in high school. These aren't adults who are suddenly thrust into life-threatening situations; on the contrary, these characters are high school students who, although quite wealthy (besides Chelsan), have lived up to this point in a typical, protected environment. All they knew before this moment was how much they liked each other and how intimidating the teachers can be. With this in mind, Chelsan and her friends face the sudden realization that the very forces that designed their safe, everlasting world were also destroying populations en mass with surprisingly typical reactions.

To make matters even more traumatic, Chelsan reveals to her friends that she can control the dead. How would you absorb that kind of news from your best friend? If you were a teenager, you run to the nearest form of "normalcy" for you, which could be shopping.

Brilliant, if you think about it.

For me, as an over-seasoned English language arts instructor, "Riser" is a refreshing novel. I've never been a literature fiend, mostly because too much of the literary canon represents the snobbery of the high classes. "Riser" is fun, exciting and real (for a sci-fi, horror, futuristic story). I've read the other reviews and, frankly, some people are just too full of themselves. There's nothing to pick apart here. Ms. Smith obviously had a great time writing "Riser" and she wanted her readers to have a great time, too. She wasn't aiming for the Pulitzer or to be the newest edition of the literary canon. She was, plainly and simply, telling a story.

[S.f. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, teen/tween fiction isn't normally my thing... but, this book rocks! The thing that made it work for me was the voice of the lead character. That and the incredibly unique world that Mrs. Smith created. First the voice: the book is written in first person, almost like a diary or a stream of consciousness entrance into the mind of a young teen named Chelsan. She's gifted with some rather unique powers, and in this volume, we get to learn the origin of her powers and ride along with her as they develop and evolve. Her voice is just really feels like a teenager. Very authentic. But a teenager who can raise the dead! It's crazy cool.

The world counterbalances her ability dramatically. It's a future where everyone is immortal by medical choice. This aspect of the book really had me going. It made me stop and think of all the repercussions of a "fountain of youth." I don't think I've read anything that delves into this topic with quite as much detail and thought.

So to be able to raise the dead in a world of immortals. Very unique.

Then of course, there's the love triangles, teenage drama, and all that good stuff that you just need in a book like this.

Lastly, I'd like to give a shout out to one particular chapter, regarding a serial killer. It's my favorite chapter, almost like a mini-short story within the book. It's creepy, realistic, and the outcome is quite spectacular.

I'd support Mrs. Smith and give this book a read. I liked her work on the Ghost Whisperer Comic Books a lot, but this volume seems like a huge evolution for her. Kudos.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable book, high-paced book, and pretty original "bring back the dead" book with the whole Life-Pro pills! Really enjoyed this book!

[Kayla Beck Kalnasy]

Review Originally Posted at Bibliophilia, Please*

Riser is a science fiction novel by Becca C. Smith that is aimed at a young adult audience. It tells the story of Chelsan Derée, a young girl who lives in the United States in the year 2320. Although aging has been cured, people (and other animate creatures) still die of other causes – and Chelsan can raise the dead. While she tries to discover herself and the source of her powers, she has to overcome betrayal, heartache, and figure out why someone wants her dead.

I’m not going to review this book under my new “guidelines” because I did not finish it. Before you skim off, I want you to know that Riser started strongly for me. I am a huge fan of science fiction, and this was a very fun read. Chelsan, who narrates the story, has a very bubbly voice and personality, and Becca C. Smith's writing is fantastic. I enjoyed learning about the world that Smith created in this futuristic America where over-population is a huge problem because of the age cure, trees are one of the most important resources, and immortality is government-sponsored. It had all of the right ingredients.

Like many young adult books centered around high school kids, there is this “mean girl” who makes the protagonist’s life a living Hell. In Riser, it was a super rich chick named Jill. She was a horrible little bitch, but most teenage girls are. (Sorry, I was one. I wasn’t a bully, but I was still awful. It’s the hormones.) I liked to dislike her. I couldn’t wait for her to get what was coming to her. (Aren’t nasty villains fun?) Unfortunately, for me, she got what was coming to her by getting punched in the face. By a guy. And not just any guy, but a guy Chelsan liked. I know violence happens in books, but none of the characters in the book saw a problem with this. Chelsan thought it was sweet that he would do that for her.

He. Punched. A. Girl. In. The. Face.

I kept reading a few chapters further in, but I just couldn’t stomach that character hanging around or Chelsan’s fascination with him. Yes, Jill was a full-fledged Missus Nasty-Pants, but she was still a girl. And guys shouldn’t punch girls in the face. Period.

Why do I care so much? I had a guy – my boyfriend – punch me in the face when I was a young adult. He knocked me out. I justified his behavior and stayed – not long, but longer than I should have. This is why I could not with a clear conscience recommend this book to anyone. I would hate to think that a girl may read this book and think it’s okay that a guy hit her because she was being a bitch. You know, some guys will tell you that’s why they did it. It. Is. Never. Okay. Got it? However, that’s not to say I will discourage anyone from reading Riser – it has all the makings of a great book. I just can’t bring myself to finish it or put it in someone else’s hand. But I’ll still read Becca C. Smith’s next novel. In fact, I’m looking forward to it.

To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received the book for free from the author through Innovative Online Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. It has in no way affected the outcome. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

*After my review was posted on my blog, the author (Becca C. Smith) stated that she would be changing the problematic scene due to continued complaints, as it was unnecessary to the novel. This review is based on Riser as it was in July 2012.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chelsan is an 18 year old living in L.A. in the year 2320. Although some technology breakthroughs have allowed civilization to have some wicked technology, life pretty much remains the same. Except for one tiny detail… Immortality comes in the shape of a pill. You read it right; the secret for immortality has been breached and encapsulated for public consumption.

But Chelsan, our protagonist, has other things on her plate to be worrying about looking youthful forever. A high school student, Chelsan has to deal with the everyday hassle of being the “poor” scholarship kid at an elite, private school. And if that isn’t enough to give nightmares to most people, Chelsan has to also deal with a dark secret, a power that she knows little about, the ability to raise the dead.

I could’ve done better with less angst. Personally I don’t enjoy love triangles, I cannot think of a single one that hasn’t frustrated me (in a “I want to stop reading” kind of way). They just make characters feel shallow, even if they are not. I love romance in books; PNR is one of my favorite genres. That said, when you are in a character’s head and said character keeps debating the proverbial “loves me, loves me not” it distracts you from the story.

However, the thing that I enjoyed the most about the story was its social critic. Chelsan lives in a future where everyone can effectively live forever. They are lucky that society discovered Age-Pro (the miracle pill) when there was still time to save our ecosystems. The major issue, society wise, is overpopulation; and there are some serious drastic measures in place to ensure “quality” living worldwide.

Although this is a sci-fi novel, let’s remove the fiction elements for a bit and see what we are left with. Worldwide population has reached such an all-time high placing such a strain on natural resources that the priorities of all nations have irrevocably shifted.

Some quotes from the book:

“Once the International Law of 2142 was passed requiring the planting of a tree every twenty feet, most people decided to re-plant near extinct trees like the California Oak.”

“The first law to be passed was in 2068 that outlawed anything printed on paper.” “Only e-books were legal. But it just wasn’t enough. There just wasn’t enough plant life on the Earth to sustain the amount of people inhabiting it so they had to make planting more trees a worldwide law.”

For this and more reviews, visit my blog: Journey with Words

[Tabatha]

Unique + Suspenseful = Riser


Riser is a fast paced novel that takes place in the year 2320. Where since Chelsan was a little kid she had control over the dead. Anything dead. Not just humans - animals, bugs, even plants. She keeps this a secret from everyone, including her mom for fear of being seen as freak. (Even though she already is considered a leech by her classmates because she lives in a trailer park with her mom and step-father.) She can make the dead do whatever she wants- walk, talk, even cook for her. One day everything is normal, least normal as it can be for a girl who can control the dead. But it all changes when her trailor park is terrorized by green smoke killing everyone in it. Including Chelsan's mom, Janet. Chelsan quickly learns that she was the one the green smoke was suppose to kill. The murderer knows she is still alive and will stop at nothing to kill her. She also learns that she is not the only one who has control over the dead...

In Riser all the characters have depth to them. From flirty Nancy, a rich girl who is shunned by the popular kids since becoming bestfriends with the moneyless Chelsan, to Ryan the smartest kid in school who Chelsan has the biggest crush on. And the plot is intricate. There is never a dull moment. This is a book that would be hard for anyone to put down. Even though it takes place in the future it has a realistic feel to it. You can almost imagine this happening hundreds of years from now. Riser is imaginative and original. I look forward to reading the sequel.

[Kattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book for free in exchange for a free and honest review.
This book was unputdownable! This book is set in the future (year 2320). This book is really creative. Boy has the future changed: hover cars; all paper products are outlawed, so you can only use e-readers or computers; a pill that makes you live forever, and makes you stop aging. And yet, not so much has changed: high school is tough, and high school girls are bitches; there is a distinct class system, and the rich people think they are better than everyone else; boys are clueless. It stars Chelsan, an 18 year old high school student, who has the power to raise the dead. She has a scholarship to go to a ritzy private school, where almost everyone hates her, because she is poor. She has to go to the private school, so that she can stay within four miles of her stepdad, who died 11 years ago, and she is keeping alive. Her powers quit working if she is more than 4 miles away. The book was written in first person, kind of like a diary/memory, with dates as the chapter names. So much happens in this book! It is non-stop action and drama. Chelsan finds out why she has powers, and no one else does, she also finds out her mom was murdered, and someone is out to kill her too. There is a semi-love triangle thing going on also. There is some strange things to consider about this future, like the fact that people can be over 100 years old and look 18, and dating seems to be based on the age you look, not the age you are. I loved this book. Book 2 is on my wish list for sure!

[Hmr28 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok. I know this is YA. The thing is...I read YA all the time. Having said that this book is juvenile. Really juvenile...as in written juvenilely (yes I made that word up...but that is how it is written!). The author misuses words (apparently a thesaurus is her best friend) and there are so many editing errors I could not finish it. This one is dnf'd at 27%.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought Riser was a good story but was bothered by all the grammatical errors.

[Jess - The Hexed Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Full disclosure. I am friends with this author.

This book has one of the most interesting plots I've ever read. The "magic system" it's based on, the futuristic world it's set it? It really just blew my mind. Things are so similar and yet so different! I really enjoyed the small look into Chelsan's powers and a possible outcome of where they might have come from. It's something I hope we get to explore more of as the series progresses.

Really here though, the thing that stands out for me is the villain. The things they've done, the lengths they'll go through? Just amazing and not just evil. You can almost see their side of things in a sick twisted way and it just makes the story that much more interesting.

I enjoyed the characters and the writing. I know the ebook version I read has some errors in it (grammatically and otherwise) but I also accept that A) it was self-published nearly a decade ago and B) it was free on Amazon so it's not like I paid for it.

Also, let's talk about the whole age-pro thing. It's not a spoiler to say that in the future, they take this pill called age-pro and it stops you from aging. Most people take it by the age of 30. We have to discuss that there are 100-year-old people who are dating 20-year-olds. Like, what is that doing to society as a whole? I hope there is more discussion on this in the future.

There were a couple of things I took issue with. Mostly the locations and the way populations were separated, but I did get a chance to speak with Becca on it and I understand what she was formulating. I come from a relatively small town and I've never lived in a big city and from my understanding, this setting was more based on larger cities. So that solves that issue but if I wasn't someone who could talk to the author, that would have continued to bother me.

Also, while I do understand the characters are teens I do feel like there were some "romantic" and "overtly teenagery" that just didn't seem to fit in the moment properly. Like, we're in a life or death situation, we should probably focus a little harder on that.

Other than that I thought it was a solid story with super interesting world building and I've very excited to continue on with the series!

[Sally the Salamander · Rating 1 out of 5]

A DNF at 14%

Self-published e-books can be pretty good. Usually, however, they are not. Usually they lack editing and are overall just not good. That's the case with Riser.

The premise is a little silly but that alone didn't cause me to stop reading. Our main character can bring the dead back to life with sheer will, and she can identify the dead by a swirling black vortex in their bodies. Ok. And she keeps her formerly abusive stepfather alive, controlling his actions and making him the kind father and spouse her and her mother lacked. Ok. And she can't go more than a few miles from her house or she'll lose connection with her stepdad and he'll die. Ok. And she attends a richy-rich school because of her amazing grades. Oooook.

Three things caused me to lose any desire to continue this book: the awful prose, a Mary Sue main character, and the immediate and hamfisted introduction of a love triangle. With two absolutely gorgeous guys of course.

The prose is uneven and sounds like a high schooler's last-minute creative writing assignment. The author switches between tenses at least once a chapter, and the main character addresses the audience (something which can sometimes work), but that isn't consistent either.

The main character is unpopular and poor, but is apparently attractive, is intelligent, is a hard worker, is willing to sacrifice her future and happiness to keep her puppet stepfather alive to please her mother, can bring the dead back to life, and is irresistible to the two hottest guys at the school.

The high school drama was the final straw. MC is persecuted by the stereotypical super rich arch-nemesis. Being fought over by two guys. I'm done. That stuff is unbearable even when written well, let alone written poorly.

[S.L.Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Want to love. (No spoilers)

When I picked up this book I wanted to love this because I really enjoy the author. If you’re looking for early 2010 YA this has all the tropes. For me having read a lot of YA in that time period I found myself wanting to love the story, but I feel like this book was great for the authors first push into publishing novels.

I feel like several of the story beats should have taken longer, and even for this book to have been bigger with all the ground that is covered.

This does have a very fascinating world, and I am a sucker for when death powers are used. Right now I’m not sure if I will finish the series or not, but I will be reading new books from this author knowing we all start somewhere and with more books under her I am hoping she knocks her new stuff out of the park.

[Elyse Buonassisi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great ideas, rushed writing?

The book was ok, great ideas that were just brushed on leave me wanting more but the last half of the book seems really rushed. Lots of unbelievable situations that seem a little too much like the author just added whatever she felt without considering how far a reader can suspend their disbelief.

It wasn’t horrible, I enjoyed contemplating the fresh ideas but I think the book may need another editor to tie it together a little smoother. I don’t think I’ll continue the series, but I enjoyed pondering the moral and social implications of using Age Pro.

[Heather H. Pogson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Atlas first!

Okay. Apparently this is the absolute first book of the entire Riser/Atlas saga. There were parts that kind of fell below my maturity level mainly because it's aimed at a teenage demographic. Lots of lovey-dovey stuff that I wasn't totally against. It all comes together in the end. Having read Atlas first, I sort of spoiled some character storylines but it wasn't disappointing. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I will be picking up the next book REAPER. I'm curious how everything will come together!

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

If had read this book in my middle school year I would have probably love it more than I do. I found that the love happen to fast for me but overall it was okay. I want to give this author more chances since I see maybe a new favorite author. I would recommend this to anyone who is in there middle school years since to me I would have pick this up in my middle school years. Don't take this comment to seriously this is just my opinion on this book

[Kirsten McNeill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't decide between 3 and 3.5 stars. This was an entertaining book. The premise of necromancy and this futuristic world was intriguing and it's what got me to read the whole book. There was a bit too much teenage drama for my taste, but the main character Chelsan was strong and smart. I'm still intrigued to read more from this author, but there were some parts that could have been edited more and toned down of the teenage angst.

[Sheryl G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling plot

I don’t consider myself fan of horror or teen fiction, so the fact that I picked up this book is surprising. Riser may have just changed my mind about both those generes. This storyline was just too good to put down. Loved every twist and turn, to the very last page. Looking forward to more!

[Martine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Five things:

- Power to control the dead
- Generational angst
- Found family
- Dystopic setting
- Young-reading YA

The funniest moment of this was how the line about 2020 has aged...in the world-building, 2020 is the year where humanity eradicates death. Ouch! lol

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wicked weird. The ability to control dead people would never have occurred to me. Not your basic super power. Good characters.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things are too surreal at times, making it a bit hard for me to care about the story.

[Queen Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

gripping!! I couldnt sleep properly until I got the next book!!

[Karielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riser by Becca Smith
Release Date: June 5th, 2010
Publisher: Red Frog Publishing
Page Count: 361
Source: Free copy provided by author, via Innovative Online Book Tours in exchange for an honest review, as part of the Riser book tour

Black swirling holes churning madly in the center of every corpse. This is how eighteen-year-old Chelsan Derée sees the deceased. Her ability to connect to the black spinning holes allows her to control every dead thing within a four-mile radius.

But that's the least of her problems. It's 2320 and Chelsan Derée has to survive another year of high school, which for her is pure and utter torture, mainly due to the fact that her schoolmate Jill Forester's favorite activity is making Chelsan's life a living hell. If that isn't enough, Chelsan's impossible crush on Ryan Vaughn makes her brain do somersaults on a regular basis, especially since she is positive he doesn't know she exists. And being eighteen Chelsan has to deal with the pressure of whether or not she should take a little pill called Age-pro, which cures aging, making the world eighteen forever and highly over-populated.

When Chelsan's mother, Janet, is brutally killed, along with everyone else in her trailer park, Chelsan finds out that she was the intended target. Chelsan must use her power to raise and control the dead to save herself, protect her friends and take down the man responsible for murdering her mother.

What Stephanie Thinks: Becca Smith is a new author for me, but I absolutely love her debut into the YA Paranormal genre. Riser is complex because it contains so many elements of suspense, romance, and dystopian havoc. As we are introduced to the various, likable (though, disappointingly static) characters, the plot propels forward. Eventually, the line between technology and the paranormal is blurred, but the action never falters.

As a whole, I would say I'm pleased by Riser. It is sentimental, entertaining, and thrilling in all the right places. The plot is SO creative and fast-paced, and it definitely makes me want to keep turning the pages. The concept of raising and controlling the dead is completely new to me. Chelsan isn't your everyday tomb-raider, and Riser isn't your everyday zombie story. Chelsan can control any living thing, weather it be goldfish or beetles or even plants, and throughout the story, she uses this skill to her advantage. In a way, it is a fresh approach to the paranormal genre because it introduces not only a supernatural dilemma, but one wrapped with a supernatural superpower.

As with most books, it isn't without flaws, however.

First and foremost, I am not impressed by the writing style. Smith's tone is often stale and sometimes just awkward. I emphasize that it is not the author's way with words that makes this book interesting. It is her ideas, her imagination, that shape it into a good read.

As a Young Adult novel, it does broach a few dark topics, but it isn't one of those shocking and scandalous YA books. Overall pretty clean; mothers, you can hand this off to your daughters. But let's be honest. From a teenager's perspective, shocking and scandalous does make for interesting, which, in turn, indicates Riser could be received as rather bland. Not the plot, no — the plot is exciting and fun. But the overall mood is placid because of how chaste it is.

I think there could be much improvement in characterization. While each of the cast members are well-defined (we know exactly who the protagonist, antagonist, best friend, love interest, et cetera are... no twisted betrayals or sudden disturbing plot turns), they all seem very superficial. The main character, Chelsan, especially. We do receive a glimpse of her innermost thoughts and insecurities, but I feel all the individual 'turmoil' is very frou-frou — just not realistic. Combined with the fact that she just happens to be super lucky in SPOILER SPOILER always finding a way out of abductions, attacks, and the like, and having boys crawl all over her despite her 'geekiness', I can't say all of it is very believable. This statement rings true for not only the action, but also the dialogue and personal conflicts.

But thanks to the plot that continuously plows through the risky circumstances of Chelsan's deadly mission, I did enjoy this one fairly and recommend it to fans of Young Adult romance and the dystopian (futuristic) paranormal genre.

Stephanie Loves: "'We were so worried. You should have seen Ryan, he was a crazy man trying to find you.'"

Radical Rating: 7 hearts- A few flaws here and there, but overall enjoyable.