How to resolve AdBlock issue?
X
Review Detail
Young Adult Fiction
616
exciting start to a new series
Overall rating
3.7
Plot
3.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
4.0
ANALIESE RISING is a YA fantasy that sets us up with a new world and new characters. Analiese (Ana for short) is walking with her brother when they witness a car hit a pedestrian. As they go to help, the pedestrian is insistent that Ana not touch him, that he will die, and that Ana take his bag to his grandson. Ana and her brother go to the hospital, but it is too late and the man is dead. Not wishing to deny his death wish, Ana finds his address inside the bag and takes it to his grandson, Marek.
Soon, Ana is pulled into a hunt with Marek for something his grandfather left for him. They do not yet know what it means or even what they are looking for, but considering that the bag also contained a list of names with Ana and her parents crossed off, it seems to involve her and her family also. Together, the travel to Europe where they continue a scavenger hunt while also dodging people who seem to be after them.
The book was a slow build but did not feel slow while reading, particularly considering the clues that increase interest and time sensitivity imposed by the people following them for seemingly nefarious purposes. I did find myself lost in a few places- the same way Ana and Marek were lost trying to discover this new world of gods and goddesses and where their place in the mess is. Ana and Marek are way smarter than I am in terms of figuring out the clues and cryptic hints left for them- at times unbelievably so. However, this is explained by the coaching they have had since childhood for such things.
The reader is still left with a lot of questions at the end of the book, and I assume we'll get more answers in future books of the series. However, with that, it felt more like a prequel for something bigger to come. I would have liked more answers, but that is also my personality style (I don't like not knowing things!).
Overall, I liked it and look forward to more books in the series. I do wish there were more answers in this book, but it was a really fun and at times very intense mystery/hunt with some interesting fantasy elements that I look forward to learning more about in the future.
Soon, Ana is pulled into a hunt with Marek for something his grandfather left for him. They do not yet know what it means or even what they are looking for, but considering that the bag also contained a list of names with Ana and her parents crossed off, it seems to involve her and her family also. Together, the travel to Europe where they continue a scavenger hunt while also dodging people who seem to be after them.
The book was a slow build but did not feel slow while reading, particularly considering the clues that increase interest and time sensitivity imposed by the people following them for seemingly nefarious purposes. I did find myself lost in a few places- the same way Ana and Marek were lost trying to discover this new world of gods and goddesses and where their place in the mess is. Ana and Marek are way smarter than I am in terms of figuring out the clues and cryptic hints left for them- at times unbelievably so. However, this is explained by the coaching they have had since childhood for such things.
The reader is still left with a lot of questions at the end of the book, and I assume we'll get more answers in future books of the series. However, with that, it felt more like a prequel for something bigger to come. I would have liked more answers, but that is also my personality style (I don't like not knowing things!).
Overall, I liked it and look forward to more books in the series. I do wish there were more answers in this book, but it was a really fun and at times very intense mystery/hunt with some interesting fantasy elements that I look forward to learning more about in the future.
Comments
Already have an account? Log in now or Create an account
Powered by JReviews
How to resolve AdBlock issue?
X
FEATURED GIVEAWAYS
YABC's Valentine's Day Giveaway Extravaganza 2021 (Children's) ~ (US Only)
Welcome to YABC's fourth annual Valentine's Day Giveaway Extravaganza! We're featuring titles that reflect love, happiness, and plenty of heart! Check out all of these amazing books that are perfect f...
Posted in News & Updates
Giveaway: Merci Suarez Can't Dance (Meg Medina) ~ (US Only)
Merci Suarez Can't Dance (US Only) by: Meg Medina Release Date: April 16th, 2021 Publisher: Candlewick Press About The Book Seventh grade is going to be a real trial ...
Posted in News & Updates
Spotlight on Time Travel for Love and Profit (Sarah Lariviere), Excerpt, Plus Giveaway! ~ (US Only)
Today we're excited to spotlight Time Travel for Love and Profit (Sarah Lariviere). Read on for more about Sarah, plus a excerpt & a giveaway! Meet S...
Posted in News & Updates
Author Chat with Cambria Gordon (The Poetry Of Secrets), Plus Giveaway! ~ (US Only)
Today we're excited to chat with Cambria Gordon author of This Poetry of Secrets. Read on for more about Cambria and her book, plus a giveaway! ...
Posted in News & Updates
Giveaway: Leonard (Carlie Sorosiak) ~ (US Only)
Leonard (US Only) by: Carlie Sorosiak Release Date: April 13th, 2021 Publisher: Walker Books US About The Book The cat that Olive rescues from a flood has a secret: he’s not reall...
Posted in News & Updates
Giveaway: The Threads Of Magic (Alison Croggon) ~ (US Only)
The Threads Of Magic (US Only) by: Alison Croggon Release Date: April 13th, 2021 Publisher: Walker Books US About The Book Pip lives by his wits in the city of Clarel....
Posted in News & Updates
Latest Book Listings Added
Award-winning author-illustrator Susan Stockdale welcomes you to the Bird Show,...
Inspired by the Montessori method of education this unique board...
Critically-acclaimed author-illustrator Satoshi Kitamura (Hat Tricks) celebrates the value of...
Everyone’s favorite hard-working hamster Stanley introduces young readers to a...
Richly illustrated and lovingly told, this book is a warm...
Everyone’s favorite hard-working hamster Stanley teams up with friends to...
From New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Sheinmel comes the...
Discover the incredible story of a young daughter of immigrants...
Latest Member Reviews
"THE PROJECT is an intense and captivating YA psychological thriller. After Lo was critically injured in the car crash that..."
"THE OBSESSION is a creepy and riveting YA thriller. Delilah lives with her mother and her mother's abusive boyfriend, a..."
"Lo Denham, magazine assistant and loner, is looking for her sister, Bea. Six years ago, Lo's parents died in a..."
" *Connor is Deaf and has implants *Alex has light brown skin..."
"SIX MONTHS LATER was a YA suspense/thriller that kept me hooked from the beginning. We meet Chloe, who often feels..."
"Roisin has moved from Dublin, Ireland to the Boston area with her mother and older brother Michael. Her mother works..."
"FIVE TOTAL STRANGERS is a thrilling ride that kept me guessing. Mira is on her way to her mother's house..."
"NONE SHALL SLEEP is an engaging YA psychological thriller. The book follows Emma Lewis, who in the past was captured..."
"THEY WISH THEY WERE US is an engaging YA thriller reminiscent of GOSSIP GIRLS. The book follows Jill, who had..."
"Friends Dan and Liss find a Black book of magic and try a spell. Only the spell goes terribly..."
"Perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying A delightfully twisty page-turner, fans of Karen M. McManus will..."
"LITTLE CREEPING THINGS was definitely a engrossing read, as I finished it pretty quickly. Here, we have Cassidy, who has..."
"The Story: Chloe is after revenge for what happened the year before to her best friend. She blames the..."
"FRACTURES follows up ECHOES with a similar adventure and eventually leading to the answers we sought in the first book...."
"I KILLED ZOE SPANOS is an engaging YA thriller. The book switches between the present and a few months earlier,..."
"Ivy and her twin sister Iris parents divorced when they were ten. Ivy got to live with their father and..."
"JANE ANONYMOUS follows two timelines: one while Jane was captured for 7 months and one after she is back home...."
" THIS WAS INCREDIBLE. This book reads like BUTTER...… Moldy, rotten, disgusting butter,..."
"Told from the perspective of a girl who was captured and escaped, JANE ANONYMOUS is a thriller of both physical..."
"PAX NOVIS is an engaging YA sci-fi novel that takes place in the future, when humans have colonized other planets...."