A quick warning to those who haven’t picked up Rule, you should stop reading this review now, because I would hate to spoil an amazing story! Now, I’ve been waiting for Rise for about a year, and didn’t have the opportunity to pick it up until very recently. I’d been dying to jump back into the world of Kolonya and the Reaches, and I was definitely in for more than a fair share of surprises, suspense, and so much more. The character development is intense, and Akeylah, Zofi, and Ren were just masterfully created. Their suspicion will seep into your own thoughts, and you’ll be wondering who’s the cause right along with them. If you’ve read Rule and need an excuse to go and pick up Rise, this is definitely it!
As we learned in Rule, Zofi, Akeylah, and Ren are sisters that have been summoned by the ailing king in order to vie for the throne. Unfortunately, each sister has a hidden secret that can rock the kingdom of Kolonya, and someone is using that information to blackmail them. Now in Rise, the blackmailer isn’t holding back any punches, and the king soon finds out of the girls’ betrayals. As the web of fear and lies begins to grow, the sisters will have to trust and rely on one another, if they’d like to protect the kingdom and those they hold dear.
That’s the shortest summary I’ve ever written I think, and it’s mostly because I really can’t say anymore without potentially spoiling something in the story. Like in Rule, the story still has this urgent feeling, like something sinister is afoot and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it. As the girls try to solve the mystery of who’s blackmailing them, it’s clear that it’s not as simple as following breadcrumbs. Everyone has something to gain…or lose, making everyone a suspect. Lots of characters are called into question, and I was definitely shocked to find out who the blackmailer was.
One of my favourite things about Zofi, Akeylah, and Ren is that they’re not damsels in distress. They aren’t waiting for some prince or perfect solution to come along and rescue them. They’ve been hardened by their stations in life, Zofi and Akeylah especially. These girls take matters into their own hands (sometimes at a detriment to their lives) in order to not only help each other, but to help the kingdom survive. There was something to be said about the theme of sisterhood in the story. Despite the fact that the girls were pitted as enemies in Rule, they grow and learn what sisterhood means to each one of them. They use their backgrounds and upbringing to their advantage, and we see three completely different personalities come into play. These girls were completely unforgettable.
There are definitely some darker elements of course, particularly in how magic is practised in the world of Kolonya. It deals with blood-letting, and so if you’ve read Rule and were averse to it then, there’s a little more of that happening in Rise, so I’d steer clear if it makes you uncomfortable. Otherwise, it made for an interesting magic system, and I felt like I definitely got to know more about it in this book. I had so many questions as to how the girls were perceiving certain things, and I felt like those got answered within the story.
I have to say that I loved the romances happening in this book. We had a tenuous relationship develop into a trusting bond, one developing out of mutual friendship despite it’s taboo origins, and another out of rebellion. If that sounds extra vague, it definitely is. I don’t want to give away a single thing from this book. Although I will say that I wished the forbidden romance in this book hadn’t formed in the way it did. It felt a little taboo, but you’ll have to read it to see what I mean.
When I was thinking about things that I didn’t like about this story, I came up empty. I started this late at night and finished the story within three hours. I couldn’t put it down, I was so engrossed in what was going to happen next. If I’m being honest, this would have been an amazing story to turn into a series. There were still some things about Kolonya that I would have loved to see developed. We get to see quite a bit more of the history of some of the people, but not of others. However, the ending of the book was very satisfying for me to read. It’s still an incredible journey that is memorable, and everyone will have some aspect of the story that they love. Whether it be the sisterhood, romances, magic system, or backstabbing kingdom politics, there will surely be something in there for you to love.
I’m rating this a 9/10. It’s a stunning read. You should pick this up and give it a go, because I have a feeling that it will pull others into the world as it did me. You’ll sit on the edge of your seat wondering who the culprit is, and their motivations behind their actions will make you gasp in shock. I cannot say it enough, go and pick this up!
Rise is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
Have you read Rise? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Sisters Akeylah, Ren, and Zofi are all a step closer to their dying father’s throne, a step closer to the crown that will allow one of them to rule over Kolonya. But the sisters’ pasts continue to haunt them. Each hides a secret marked with blood and betrayal, and now their blackmailer is holding nothing back. When King Andros discovers the sisters’ traitorous pasts, the consequences will shake the entire kingdom to its core.
As Kolonya’s greatest threat stalks closer and closer, weaving a web of fear and deceit around Ren, Zofi, and Akeylah, even the people they love are under suspicion. If the sisters are going to survive, they’ll have to learn to trust each other above all else and work together, not only to save themselves, but to protect everyone and everything they hold dear.
