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State of the Union #1
Rising
The Before doesn’t matter, only The After.
In a post-apocalyptic Earth ravaged by nuclear war, humanity struggles to survive amidst the aftermath of radiation that has altered their DNA. Amongst the survivors, elemental magic runs through their veins, while a select few have developed extraordinary powers.
Amaia is a fierce leader in The Compound, a powerful community in Monterey, California, that’s been fighting to defend its borders against a series of attacks from the undead. But when her partner is tragically killed in an explosion, Amaia is consumed by a burning desire for vengeance.
When a mysterious stranger appears at the gates of The Compound, the truth behind the undead attacks is revealed; Amaia, her most trusted friends, and the stranger must embark on a dangerous mission to another territory. Along the way, they must navigate treacherous obstacles and captivity, ultimately uncovering a sinister plot involving a common enemy and a shocking betrayal that will test everything they know about trust and loyalty.
In a post-apocalyptic Earth ravaged by nuclear war, humanity struggles to survive amidst the aftermath of radiation that has altered their DNA. Amongst the survivors, elemental magic runs through their veins, while a select few have developed extraordinary powers.
Amaia is a fierce leader in The Compound, a powerful community in Monterey, California, that’s been fighting to defend its borders against a series of attacks from the undead. But when her partner is tragically killed in an explosion, Amaia is consumed by a burning desire for vengeance.
When a mysterious stranger appears at the gates of The Compound, the truth behind the undead attacks is revealed; Amaia, her most trusted friends, and the stranger must embark on a dangerous mission to another territory. Along the way, they must navigate treacherous obstacles and captivity, ultimately uncovering a sinister plot involving a common enemy and a shocking betrayal that will test everything they know about trust and loyalty.
492 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2023
201 people are currently reading
3,367 people want to read
About the author
Nelle Nikole
7books112followersNelle Nikole, a California native now based in Atlanta, has been writing thrilling stories since her early days in elementary school. With a background in Anthropology, Nelle’s passion for understanding diverse cultures took her on research journeys to Rio de Janeiro and Cuba. Her love for knowledge didn’t stop there—she later earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy, which fuels the complex societal themes in her writing. Nelle is the author of two gripping series: the Kuxtal Academy series and a separate dystopian fantasy romance series, featuring Rising, Echoes of War, and Before Their After. Through powerful themes of survival, morality, and human resilience, her work resonates deeply with readers from all walks of life. Nelle finds herself inspired by all things fantasy, apocalyptic and anything in between. When she’s not writing, Nelle enjoys life with her husband Ben and their furkid, Sophie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
March 19, 2024
Update 3/19: RISING has undergone a round of proofreading edits. ebook/KU effective: 3/4/2024 & paperback effective: 3/18.
UPDATE 2/18: Please see my Instagram post (@authornellenikole) for further details. RISING is currently undergoing another round of edits based on reader feedback. I would like to extend a thank you for your honesty, and please know your concerns have been heard.
So tomorrow is release day and I can't believe it.
I'll save all the sappy mess for my acknowledgements but I will say this; RISING is a story straight from the depths of my soul. Yes, the sci-fi and fantasy elements aren't "real" but the feelings of grief, and the importance of trust & loyalty are. I am not any of the characters, but each the characters are a piece of me.
So since you've read the blurb (and made it this far) let's talk details:
- RISING is a story filled with characters that are diverse in every meaning of the word. Their ethnicities, race, linguistic abilities, culture, sexuality, religious beliefs, personalities, are all purposely diverse in order to reflect the world around us. There is someone for everyone in this story, and I hope you love them as much as I do. If diversity and representation aren't your jam, then maybe pass this one up.
- RISING is a story that pulls out all the feelings. You may experience a range of emotions from reading this, from laughter to tears to feeling warm inside, or not. Some of us are dead inside, but that's a spoiler for book 2 ;) Amaia was purposely written as a flawed main character to reflect the realties of the world around her. She is not perfect, and makes decisions based on the information she has on hand, mixed with a bit of trauma. This is a Mary Sue free zone!
- That said, RISING is not without triggers. If trigger warnings and red flags get you excited, then go into this blind and enjoy the ride baby!
If there are things that may bring you concerns, please see the trigger list below:
* Drugs/alcohol (both referenced and on page)
* Violence/gore/blood/death
* Mental Health themes
* Graphic Language/Adult themes
Now, that's out the way and it's time for me to disappear. I get it, this is a readers paradise. I hope you all enjoy this story as much as I did writing it. It's my favorite story ever, but I'm a little biased.
xo,
Nelle
P.S. If this story leaves you thirsty for more, don't forget to head over to my website or scan the QR code inside your book to read the origins of Amaia, Reina, and Tomoe in the world of RISING.
UPDATE 2/18: Please see my Instagram post (@authornellenikole) for further details. RISING is currently undergoing another round of edits based on reader feedback. I would like to extend a thank you for your honesty, and please know your concerns have been heard.
So tomorrow is release day and I can't believe it.
I'll save all the sappy mess for my acknowledgements but I will say this; RISING is a story straight from the depths of my soul. Yes, the sci-fi and fantasy elements aren't "real" but the feelings of grief, and the importance of trust & loyalty are. I am not any of the characters, but each the characters are a piece of me.
So since you've read the blurb (and made it this far) let's talk details:
- RISING is a story filled with characters that are diverse in every meaning of the word. Their ethnicities, race, linguistic abilities, culture, sexuality, religious beliefs, personalities, are all purposely diverse in order to reflect the world around us. There is someone for everyone in this story, and I hope you love them as much as I do. If diversity and representation aren't your jam, then maybe pass this one up.
- RISING is a story that pulls out all the feelings. You may experience a range of emotions from reading this, from laughter to tears to feeling warm inside, or not. Some of us are dead inside, but that's a spoiler for book 2 ;) Amaia was purposely written as a flawed main character to reflect the realties of the world around her. She is not perfect, and makes decisions based on the information she has on hand, mixed with a bit of trauma. This is a Mary Sue free zone!
- That said, RISING is not without triggers. If trigger warnings and red flags get you excited, then go into this blind and enjoy the ride baby!
If there are things that may bring you concerns, please see the trigger list below:
* Drugs/alcohol (both referenced and on page)
* Violence/gore/blood/death
* Mental Health themes
* Graphic Language/Adult themes
Now, that's out the way and it's time for me to disappear. I get it, this is a readers paradise. I hope you all enjoy this story as much as I did writing it. It's my favorite story ever, but I'm a little biased.
xo,
Nelle
P.S. If this story leaves you thirsty for more, don't forget to head over to my website or scan the QR code inside your book to read the origins of Amaia, Reina, and Tomoe in the world of RISING.
June 12, 2023
nelle nikole’s debut book rising sounded promising, enticing and fresh when i came across an advertisement on instagram to be an arc reader, so i signed up, wanting nothing more than to leave a glowing review for a fellow writer pursuing a dream. grab your cup of tea and sit back because this is gonna be on the longer side.
before i get into my full review i want to offer my most sincere congratulations to nelle nikole on her debut book. publishing is a big deal and this is an incredible achievement. she should be very proud of herself. i am looking forward to the second book as i am hoping the final product will be a lot better than this. in addition, this review is purely honest without sugar coating. at the end of the day it is just my opinion.
rising presents itself as a new and exciting take on a post-apocalyptic world caused by nuclear fallout and the effects that the radiation caused on the human race. and maybe it would be, if not for a sea of poor sentence structure, mind-boggling lack of grammar, spelling errors, heaps of unanswered questions, varying chapter lengths (i’m talking seven page chapters compared to THIRTY) and more. overall, it reads as an early draft that needs at least two more rewrites before it should even be considered for publishing.
“Water, there was water on my face. It was salty. No, those are tears.� � yes, this is an exact sentence from the book. i’m still in disbelief over the fact that this ended up in the final draft. which leads me to my next (and maybe even biggest) qualm: the editor. it feels as if there was no editor present for the entire process of this book. with the amount of grammatical issues and even lack of punctuation throughout, it’s like there wasn’t an editor in the first place.
to me, almost every single character is unlikeable, ESPECIALLY amaia. so you can imagine how much fun i had reading this. amaia is the alcoholic general of a compound that is home to over 30 THOUSAND people, CHOSEN to fulfill the role. yet every single thing she does throughout the book is either in her own interest or in the interest of her “family�, aka all of the most privileged people in the compound that don’t need her to act in their favor whatsoever. honestly the only character i actually liked was finley and she was in the story for like 10 glorious minutes to give the narrative some seasoning that i desperately needed to continue to push through. actually, scratch that. i liked two whole characters. finley and RILEY. riley was the mvp of this whole book just to get sidelined for the final mission, which i didn’t even understand because by then the book was just a big mess but whatever. riley ftw. he should’ve been the general in the first place.
the attempt at enemies to lovers between amaia and alexiares was just horrible. their hatred towards each other was built on shaky, even petty ground and the further on we went through the book the ground got shakier and shakier until it just collapsed pitifully. this is exactly how you do not sell enemies to lovers. from my perspective they had zero chemistry the entire time. it was painful to read at times. i’m talking amaia getting so offended over a nickname that she pointed a gun at the back of his head?? no.
there are so many ideas and backstories for nikole’s characters and the plot in general that i feel like she lost sight of the bigger picture and tried to cram a whole bunch of unnecessary crap into the book, which is even more disappointing when she is working on a sequel, therefore rendering all the info dumping and randomly introducing new characters halfway through and towards the end of the book (sloan?? luna?? who are these people and why do i care??) completely pointless.
the seth plot twist was not a plot twist at all. it was entirely obvious from the beginning, especially because we got no explanation as to wtf his problem was. the “plot twist�, aka when his true intentions were FINALLY revealed, made me like him. he had motivation. it made a stale storyline interesting.
i really do think that nikole has a great idea with rising. i just don’t think it was anywhere near ready to be published. i want this idea to be successful because it’s premise is exactly as i said in the beginning of this review� promising. enticing. fresh. but in the state that this book is in, it’s none of that. this should have gone through many more rounds of editing and rewriting before going to the publisher’s. as i said at the beginning of my review, i truly hope that the sequel is a lot more polished and put together when it’s sent to the publisher’s.
before i get into my full review i want to offer my most sincere congratulations to nelle nikole on her debut book. publishing is a big deal and this is an incredible achievement. she should be very proud of herself. i am looking forward to the second book as i am hoping the final product will be a lot better than this. in addition, this review is purely honest without sugar coating. at the end of the day it is just my opinion.
rising presents itself as a new and exciting take on a post-apocalyptic world caused by nuclear fallout and the effects that the radiation caused on the human race. and maybe it would be, if not for a sea of poor sentence structure, mind-boggling lack of grammar, spelling errors, heaps of unanswered questions, varying chapter lengths (i’m talking seven page chapters compared to THIRTY) and more. overall, it reads as an early draft that needs at least two more rewrites before it should even be considered for publishing.
“Water, there was water on my face. It was salty. No, those are tears.� � yes, this is an exact sentence from the book. i’m still in disbelief over the fact that this ended up in the final draft. which leads me to my next (and maybe even biggest) qualm: the editor. it feels as if there was no editor present for the entire process of this book. with the amount of grammatical issues and even lack of punctuation throughout, it’s like there wasn’t an editor in the first place.
to me, almost every single character is unlikeable, ESPECIALLY amaia. so you can imagine how much fun i had reading this. amaia is the alcoholic general of a compound that is home to over 30 THOUSAND people, CHOSEN to fulfill the role. yet every single thing she does throughout the book is either in her own interest or in the interest of her “family�, aka all of the most privileged people in the compound that don’t need her to act in their favor whatsoever. honestly the only character i actually liked was finley and she was in the story for like 10 glorious minutes to give the narrative some seasoning that i desperately needed to continue to push through. actually, scratch that. i liked two whole characters. finley and RILEY. riley was the mvp of this whole book just to get sidelined for the final mission, which i didn’t even understand because by then the book was just a big mess but whatever. riley ftw. he should’ve been the general in the first place.
the attempt at enemies to lovers between amaia and alexiares was just horrible. their hatred towards each other was built on shaky, even petty ground and the further on we went through the book the ground got shakier and shakier until it just collapsed pitifully. this is exactly how you do not sell enemies to lovers. from my perspective they had zero chemistry the entire time. it was painful to read at times. i’m talking amaia getting so offended over a nickname that she pointed a gun at the back of his head?? no.
there are so many ideas and backstories for nikole’s characters and the plot in general that i feel like she lost sight of the bigger picture and tried to cram a whole bunch of unnecessary crap into the book, which is even more disappointing when she is working on a sequel, therefore rendering all the info dumping and randomly introducing new characters halfway through and towards the end of the book (sloan?? luna?? who are these people and why do i care??) completely pointless.
the seth plot twist was not a plot twist at all. it was entirely obvious from the beginning, especially because we got no explanation as to wtf his problem was. the “plot twist�, aka when his true intentions were FINALLY revealed, made me like him. he had motivation. it made a stale storyline interesting.
i really do think that nikole has a great idea with rising. i just don’t think it was anywhere near ready to be published. i want this idea to be successful because it’s premise is exactly as i said in the beginning of this review� promising. enticing. fresh. but in the state that this book is in, it’s none of that. this should have gone through many more rounds of editing and rewriting before going to the publisher’s. as i said at the beginning of my review, i truly hope that the sequel is a lot more polished and put together when it’s sent to the publisher’s.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2024
SO EXCITED FOR BOOK TWO!!
Now for the review! This may be a ramble I've never left one this long before so I think I'll break it into sections
Plot -
The story really takes off from the first page I wasn't expecting that since I'm such a slow reader but I couldn't put this down every chance I got. I haven't read anything dystopian in years but this was a great pull back into the genre. It was refreshing and new. A fun read even though some of the themes are heavy. Could really tell this was personal for the author while reading. This is a story about grief and hope with bits of comedic relief throughout.
I also really appreciated how diverse it was and I felt I learned some things along the way which is always nice. Rising is rich with history and culture.
The plot twists at the end TORE ME TO PIECES! How unfair I need more now 🤧
Characters -
The FMC is tough, I wouldn't say she's unlovable because I do love her but she's rough around the edges and you can totally see her growth throughout. Without spoiling too much, she deserves to act the way that she does and I can't wait to see her growth. She's been through a lot of trauma and I do think the beginning of the book sets up the turmoil we see her go through as the story moves along. She's constantly torn between her own emotions, being a good leader and living up to other expectations of her.
The author advertised as Throne of Glass being inspiration behind this and I can see that with the main characters and romance.
The side characters are very unique and all have their own personalities that are explored. They aren't just randomly generated NPC's with a bleh voice. Reina is a favorite.
I'm a sucker for multi-pov so I really appreciated the ability to see what was happening around The Compound from a different perspective. Each pov shed the overall story in a new light, which makes sense considering the multiple plot twists at the end. I tend to stray toward the belief that unreliable narrators tend to lead to the best plot twists while still keeping the plot twists relevant and not seeming to come from out the blue.
Romance -
Listen as a romance gal, this is slow burn! Emphasis on slow burn. So many books claim to be slow burn but then the characters end up together before half the book is over. That's getting boring. These two have moments of tension and then she sucks it right away from us! The angst 🤌🏻
Another reviewer mentioned there is a reason for the slow burn and that's important to remember while reading. Amaia and Alexiares relationship is witty and full of enemies to lovers banter I'm thirsting for more. Back to what I said about Throne of Glass, they don't end up together for a few books. I get the vibe that we won't have to wait that long for these two, at least I hope not. There was a promise of spice for the second book so here's to hoping 🤞🏻
The side characters have their own romances going on, nothing spicy on page but it's inferred and definitely cute but makes the ending that much more satisfying (or devastating depending on how you read).
Other things -
I like how each character had their own voice and way of speaking. The writing is very descriptive with just the right amount of extra fluffyness, which is a personal preference for me. I can see how it may not read that way for everyone.
The world building is AMAZING. The author somehow took a world that already exists around us and made it into something that I haven't seen before. Again, how refreshing I feel as things tend to be copy and paste in the book world now. It was pretty simple to follow, didn't leave me with any disruptive questions. Nelle Nikole has a knack for easing world building throughout the story and not just an "info dump" that you see a lot in fantasy books.
In the next book I'm hoping to explore a bit more of the settlements away from Monterrey and more of Reina! Lots more on our lgbtq queen 👸
CONS:
Like the other reviewer, there could be some better wording in some of the sentences for the sake of an ease in reading and there were a few spelling errors but nothing that took away from the story. Some of it is just how the characters talk I think but it kind of reads like a movie so its not so much of a con as it is personalizing the characters lol
Overall - 4.8/5
Characters- 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Romance - 2/5
Now for the review! This may be a ramble I've never left one this long before so I think I'll break it into sections
Plot -
The story really takes off from the first page I wasn't expecting that since I'm such a slow reader but I couldn't put this down every chance I got. I haven't read anything dystopian in years but this was a great pull back into the genre. It was refreshing and new. A fun read even though some of the themes are heavy. Could really tell this was personal for the author while reading. This is a story about grief and hope with bits of comedic relief throughout.
I also really appreciated how diverse it was and I felt I learned some things along the way which is always nice. Rising is rich with history and culture.
The plot twists at the end TORE ME TO PIECES! How unfair I need more now 🤧
Characters -
The FMC is tough, I wouldn't say she's unlovable because I do love her but she's rough around the edges and you can totally see her growth throughout. Without spoiling too much, she deserves to act the way that she does and I can't wait to see her growth. She's been through a lot of trauma and I do think the beginning of the book sets up the turmoil we see her go through as the story moves along. She's constantly torn between her own emotions, being a good leader and living up to other expectations of her.
The author advertised as Throne of Glass being inspiration behind this and I can see that with the main characters and romance.
The side characters are very unique and all have their own personalities that are explored. They aren't just randomly generated NPC's with a bleh voice. Reina is a favorite.
I'm a sucker for multi-pov so I really appreciated the ability to see what was happening around The Compound from a different perspective. Each pov shed the overall story in a new light, which makes sense considering the multiple plot twists at the end. I tend to stray toward the belief that unreliable narrators tend to lead to the best plot twists while still keeping the plot twists relevant and not seeming to come from out the blue.
Romance -
Listen as a romance gal, this is slow burn! Emphasis on slow burn. So many books claim to be slow burn but then the characters end up together before half the book is over. That's getting boring. These two have moments of tension and then she sucks it right away from us! The angst 🤌🏻
Another reviewer mentioned there is a reason for the slow burn and that's important to remember while reading. Amaia and Alexiares relationship is witty and full of enemies to lovers banter I'm thirsting for more. Back to what I said about Throne of Glass, they don't end up together for a few books. I get the vibe that we won't have to wait that long for these two, at least I hope not. There was a promise of spice for the second book so here's to hoping 🤞🏻
The side characters have their own romances going on, nothing spicy on page but it's inferred and definitely cute but makes the ending that much more satisfying (or devastating depending on how you read).
Other things -
I like how each character had their own voice and way of speaking. The writing is very descriptive with just the right amount of extra fluffyness, which is a personal preference for me. I can see how it may not read that way for everyone.
The world building is AMAZING. The author somehow took a world that already exists around us and made it into something that I haven't seen before. Again, how refreshing I feel as things tend to be copy and paste in the book world now. It was pretty simple to follow, didn't leave me with any disruptive questions. Nelle Nikole has a knack for easing world building throughout the story and not just an "info dump" that you see a lot in fantasy books.
In the next book I'm hoping to explore a bit more of the settlements away from Monterrey and more of Reina! Lots more on our lgbtq queen 👸
CONS:
Like the other reviewer, there could be some better wording in some of the sentences for the sake of an ease in reading and there were a few spelling errors but nothing that took away from the story. Some of it is just how the characters talk I think but it kind of reads like a movie so its not so much of a con as it is personalizing the characters lol
Overall - 4.8/5
Characters- 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Romance - 2/5
February 4, 2024
PREPARE TO BE SICK OF ME. This is a masterpiece of everything we’ve ever wanted in an apocalypse book. Every single character was dynamic and flushed out and their relationships were spot on.
I loved the magic system and the suspense of this worlds “zombies�. It was a journey from start to finish and I can not recommend this one enough! I’m obsessed!
I loved the magic system and the suspense of this worlds “zombies�. It was a journey from start to finish and I can not recommend this one enough! I’m obsessed!
May 28, 2023
I would suggest reading this book, I’m personally looking forward to the second book because I am hooked to a certain budding romance and need more. I wish I’d have gotten more in this book BUT I’m hoping book two finally let’s things unfold. Before I go into detail I want to say that I think the author took a common scenario and added her own fresh, unique ideas to it to make it a fun read. I enjoyed the plot and the story line. I received this as an ARC from Goodgirlspr.
I’m going to talk about what I liked and what I didn’t like
WHAT I LIKED: (without too much detail because I don’t want to spoil).
The story the author built is very diverse, with people of varying ethnicities, sexual orientations, and personalities.
I was nervous when I first started reading because the FMC was cold, like so cold I didn’t think she’d be relatable. That didn’t last long as things started to unfold and I actually came to enjoy that cold contrast at the beginning. Like a mini character arc of sorts.
There were a lot of quotes that I saved and highlighted, for the sake of not spoiling too much I’m going to share two.
“Civilization needed the arts to ground themselves in humanity.�
“Prescott, leader of this place, had told me from day one to always pay attention to brave women. They shape history.�
This book is post apocalyptic and usually those stories are just about surviving, combat, etc. While this book has those elements, it also puts emphasis on culture and empathy. There was a lot of people retaining their individuality and doing what they love, while of course doing what was required to be safe. And it wasn’t the naive sort of like carefree be happy with imminent danger, there was an appropriate mix of realism in survival while also letting people live. I liked that.
I also liked the twist you get that the end. You find something out about someone, I won’t spoil it but I didn’t guess it and I liked it even though it was a little devastating.
WHAT I DIDNT LIKE:
I want to say I think this author is a first time author who had to put her own effort and money into this so I’m not being judgmental and it’s also why I debated docking stars for it.
This book, in my opinion, does need some editing. There are a lot of spelling errors and issues with sentence structuring. I know to some people, that doesn’t even matter. But for me and people like me, having to stop and read a couple of sentences a few times over to understand it, it pulls me out of the story.
I’m not sure if the author was going for a more casual type of vibe with the language, I think so, but I personally didn’t like it. Also, about halfway through the book the characters start using a lot of slang. I didn’t enjoy it, it felt like a weird switch.
I think if someone went through and fixed a lot of the spelling errors, the fragmented sentences, and the over use of slang, I’d be happier to give it five stars.
(I don’t qualify my personal opinion on the romance as a negative because everyone wants something different when it comes to romance and who and I to tell the author how things between her characters should go? As a romance lover this was just my thought)
On another note, I wanted to talk about the romance. I signed up for this ARC having seen “one bed / forced proximity, slow burn, enemies to lovers, and slow burn. It’s definitely a slow burn as in romantically, almost nothing happens. I won’t say that I don’t understand why the romance had to go slow there are reasons, but I was begging for a little crumb, just a little morsel of real romance. There’s a little bit, a VERY TINY bit, and to be fair the author has the plot set up to be a good enemies to lovers, slow burn, but I think with this first book it kinda fell flat. We needed more. Hoping that in book two there is more. So I guess my point is if you’re thinking about reading this book, don’t read one bed forced proximity and think you’re going to see some action finally breaking between two enemies because that does not happen.
Overall, read this book!
I’m going to talk about what I liked and what I didn’t like
WHAT I LIKED: (without too much detail because I don’t want to spoil).
The story the author built is very diverse, with people of varying ethnicities, sexual orientations, and personalities.
I was nervous when I first started reading because the FMC was cold, like so cold I didn’t think she’d be relatable. That didn’t last long as things started to unfold and I actually came to enjoy that cold contrast at the beginning. Like a mini character arc of sorts.
There were a lot of quotes that I saved and highlighted, for the sake of not spoiling too much I’m going to share two.
“Civilization needed the arts to ground themselves in humanity.�
“Prescott, leader of this place, had told me from day one to always pay attention to brave women. They shape history.�
This book is post apocalyptic and usually those stories are just about surviving, combat, etc. While this book has those elements, it also puts emphasis on culture and empathy. There was a lot of people retaining their individuality and doing what they love, while of course doing what was required to be safe. And it wasn’t the naive sort of like carefree be happy with imminent danger, there was an appropriate mix of realism in survival while also letting people live. I liked that.
I also liked the twist you get that the end. You find something out about someone, I won’t spoil it but I didn’t guess it and I liked it even though it was a little devastating.
WHAT I DIDNT LIKE:
I want to say I think this author is a first time author who had to put her own effort and money into this so I’m not being judgmental and it’s also why I debated docking stars for it.
This book, in my opinion, does need some editing. There are a lot of spelling errors and issues with sentence structuring. I know to some people, that doesn’t even matter. But for me and people like me, having to stop and read a couple of sentences a few times over to understand it, it pulls me out of the story.
I’m not sure if the author was going for a more casual type of vibe with the language, I think so, but I personally didn’t like it. Also, about halfway through the book the characters start using a lot of slang. I didn’t enjoy it, it felt like a weird switch.
I think if someone went through and fixed a lot of the spelling errors, the fragmented sentences, and the over use of slang, I’d be happier to give it five stars.
(I don’t qualify my personal opinion on the romance as a negative because everyone wants something different when it comes to romance and who and I to tell the author how things between her characters should go? As a romance lover this was just my thought)
On another note, I wanted to talk about the romance. I signed up for this ARC having seen “one bed / forced proximity, slow burn, enemies to lovers, and slow burn. It’s definitely a slow burn as in romantically, almost nothing happens. I won’t say that I don’t understand why the romance had to go slow there are reasons, but I was begging for a little crumb, just a little morsel of real romance. There’s a little bit, a VERY TINY bit, and to be fair the author has the plot set up to be a good enemies to lovers, slow burn, but I think with this first book it kinda fell flat. We needed more. Hoping that in book two there is more. So I guess my point is if you’re thinking about reading this book, don’t read one bed forced proximity and think you’re going to see some action finally breaking between two enemies because that does not happen.
Overall, read this book!
June 1, 2023
- Apocalypse
- Sci-fi
- Diverse characters
- Multi-pov
- Slow burn (enemies to lovers)
This is a very solid debut novel from Nelle Nikole. It’s a post-apocalyptic dystopian where our main characters are struggling to survive and protect their wards from zombies and attacks. The female characters are very strong and are leaders/commanders in this world which I loved. I thought the author did a good job making every character distinct and different from each other.
There is a lot of word-building especially in the beginning which is expected as this is the first book in a trilogy. It did a good job setting up the rest of the trilogy because I’m even more excited about the next book and the characters. The romance is very slow burn and isn’t the focus, there’s enemies-to-lovers banter which will definitely play into the rest of the books.
There are some pacing issues especially with the world-building but Overall a good read that sera up the rest of the trilogy well. Thank you, Nelle Nikole and Good Girls Pr for this arc.
- Sci-fi
- Diverse characters
- Multi-pov
- Slow burn (enemies to lovers)
This is a very solid debut novel from Nelle Nikole. It’s a post-apocalyptic dystopian where our main characters are struggling to survive and protect their wards from zombies and attacks. The female characters are very strong and are leaders/commanders in this world which I loved. I thought the author did a good job making every character distinct and different from each other.
There is a lot of word-building especially in the beginning which is expected as this is the first book in a trilogy. It did a good job setting up the rest of the trilogy because I’m even more excited about the next book and the characters. The romance is very slow burn and isn’t the focus, there’s enemies-to-lovers banter which will definitely play into the rest of the books.
There are some pacing issues especially with the world-building but Overall a good read that sera up the rest of the trilogy well. Thank you, Nelle Nikole and Good Girls Pr for this arc.
June 19, 2023
A newly imagined take on the post-apocalyptic dystopian genre. The plot was interesting and full of twists and turns and betrayal. The characters were diverse, flawed, and relatable. The book was easily binged and well-written.
Really enjoyed this and cannot wait for book #2!
If you're looking for:
🔥ٲٴDZ辱
🔥ʴDz-dzپ
🔥Multiple POVs
🔥Elemental Magic
🔥Diverse & Morally Gray characters
🔥Found Family
🔥Slow burn enemies to lovers
then this is for you!
Tysm for letting me be an ARC reader. I am looking forward to your next book!
Really enjoyed this and cannot wait for book #2!
If you're looking for:
🔥ٲٴDZ辱
🔥ʴDz-dzپ
🔥Multiple POVs
🔥Elemental Magic
🔥Diverse & Morally Gray characters
🔥Found Family
🔥Slow burn enemies to lovers
then this is for you!
Tysm for letting me be an ARC reader. I am looking forward to your next book!
August 26, 2024
This was such an interesting twist to the apocalyptic world. It's not the world we usually read about. A nuclear war results in radiation alternating the human DNA. Some survive it and gain some sort of elemental magic. Others don't survive and turn into what they call, pansies.
We mainly follow Amaia, a powerful fmc who leads the compound she resides. There's never really any down time, but soon there will be so much chaos all due to betrayal none of us seen coming.
The twist at the end had me shocked, even though I kinda seen it coming at the same time. There was another twist I didn't see coming.
This was a slow paced read for me.
The world building just kept me reading at a slower pace than my usual, but it was intense and thrilling and a bit emotional too.
Tell me why I instantly loved Alexiares. The ending proved my point on why. 😆😍
Overall this was a good read. The cliffhanger though, can't wait to see what book 2 will bring.
We mainly follow Amaia, a powerful fmc who leads the compound she resides. There's never really any down time, but soon there will be so much chaos all due to betrayal none of us seen coming.
The twist at the end had me shocked, even though I kinda seen it coming at the same time. There was another twist I didn't see coming.
This was a slow paced read for me.
The world building just kept me reading at a slower pace than my usual, but it was intense and thrilling and a bit emotional too.
Tell me why I instantly loved Alexiares. The ending proved my point on why. 😆😍
Overall this was a good read. The cliffhanger though, can't wait to see what book 2 will bring.
June 20, 2023
There was so much about this book that I really enjoyed. I loved the concept of a dystopian zombie apocalypse where those who weren't turned into zombies gained a mutation that manifested as magical powers. The world building of what a post apocalypse society could look like was really well developed and fun to explore as well. I loved the diverse cast of charters. Tomoe, Riley, and Alexiares were my favorite, definitely would love to see more from their POVs in book 2.
For me the pacing on this book was a little off. I loved the first 10% of the book where Nikole quickly had me emotionally invested in her characters and wanting to know more. However from that point until about 60% into the book the pace was far too slow for me. There is a huge focus on the emotional side of what a post apocalypse experience would be like. About half of the book focuses on the trauma, grief, survivors guilt and trauma bonds that the characters develop. I respect this approach but for me it would have worked better if it had been woven into the adventure part of the book, which all happens in the last 30%. I also wish that some of the plot points from the last third of the book had been better foreshadowed in the first half of the book, it would have made them hit so much harder.
The world, concept, and characters where so great! I just wish that a few issues had been addressed in the editing phase so that I could give this book all five stars. That being said I look forward to seeing what happens in book 2.
For me the pacing on this book was a little off. I loved the first 10% of the book where Nikole quickly had me emotionally invested in her characters and wanting to know more. However from that point until about 60% into the book the pace was far too slow for me. There is a huge focus on the emotional side of what a post apocalypse experience would be like. About half of the book focuses on the trauma, grief, survivors guilt and trauma bonds that the characters develop. I respect this approach but for me it would have worked better if it had been woven into the adventure part of the book, which all happens in the last 30%. I also wish that some of the plot points from the last third of the book had been better foreshadowed in the first half of the book, it would have made them hit so much harder.
The world, concept, and characters where so great! I just wish that a few issues had been addressed in the editing phase so that I could give this book all five stars. That being said I look forward to seeing what happens in book 2.
May 30, 2023
It's really hard to do a worldbuilding dump in the first chapter, at least it's hard to do it properly without overwhelming your reader. The fact that Nelle Nikole actually managed to do that, in a dystopic novel nonetheless, was a first glimpse of a good book.
That is exactly what I would like to highlight about this book: it’s an easy and fun read.
Wether you’ll like it or not I would say it’s only a matter of which kind of dystopia you like. Recently, there has been a discourse (mostly on tik tok) which states that a dystopic novel cannot achieve its goal without including a heavy social commentary. If you share that opinion I would say you should skip this book.
You won’t like Rising if you are hoping for a Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes-The Handmaid’s Taleish book, however if you want something with more of a Legend-Delirium vibes but a bit more adult THIS. IS. YOUR. JAM.
In my case, I enjoy both of those opposites. If you are like me, dancing in that “in between� territory I say you should give it a try.
For my part, I will be waiting for the sequel.
June 18, 2023
Nelle Nikole writing is wonderful and her world-building even better. She did a good job making her character diverse. This post-apocalyptic dystopia with magic had me on the edge of my seat. The plot twist at the end left me needing to know what happens next. I’m looking forward to the next book.
We hit the ground running from the beginning seeing the main character just trying to survive a world with Pansies (zombies) attacks and magic. This book has multi-POV, suspense, betrayal, and action pack scenes. I am hoping to read more on a specific couple that has enemies to lovers vibe in the next book. We didn’t get much but the slow burn between them leaves you wanting more.
Overall, this was a fun and quick read. Congratulations Nelle Nikole on your debut.
We hit the ground running from the beginning seeing the main character just trying to survive a world with Pansies (zombies) attacks and magic. This book has multi-POV, suspense, betrayal, and action pack scenes. I am hoping to read more on a specific couple that has enemies to lovers vibe in the next book. We didn’t get much but the slow burn between them leaves you wanting more.
Overall, this was a fun and quick read. Congratulations Nelle Nikole on your debut.
June 19, 2023
Who would want anything more than fighting zombies? What about fighting zombies with your new magical abilities?
Rising follows leadership of a survival compound as they navigate their new world. After surviving attacks from Russia, the would has developed mutations to their DNA, either causing new abilities (elemental affinities seem to be the most popular) or causing you to become a mindless, flesh-eating Pansy.
There is heavy worldbuilding throughout the book that could sometimes be a little overwhelming, especially when it takes the reader out of the current scenario. While this is absolutely necessary to the story, I think it could have been executed a little better. There are also a handful of grammatical and spelling issues throughout the book that could have been caught through editing.
The story starts to set up an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, one bed trope romance but this too, I feel falls short. The characters don't have very much chemistry and by the time anything happens between them, they just don't make sense.
With all that being said, I am looking forward to the next book as this story has a lot of potential. I love a good zombie book, but add in some romance and I am THRILLED. The other characters besides our FMC and MMC are well rounded and are interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing their backstory as well as their growth through the rest of the series.
Rising follows leadership of a survival compound as they navigate their new world. After surviving attacks from Russia, the would has developed mutations to their DNA, either causing new abilities (elemental affinities seem to be the most popular) or causing you to become a mindless, flesh-eating Pansy.
There is heavy worldbuilding throughout the book that could sometimes be a little overwhelming, especially when it takes the reader out of the current scenario. While this is absolutely necessary to the story, I think it could have been executed a little better. There are also a handful of grammatical and spelling issues throughout the book that could have been caught through editing.
The story starts to set up an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, one bed trope romance but this too, I feel falls short. The characters don't have very much chemistry and by the time anything happens between them, they just don't make sense.
With all that being said, I am looking forward to the next book as this story has a lot of potential. I love a good zombie book, but add in some romance and I am THRILLED. The other characters besides our FMC and MMC are well rounded and are interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing their backstory as well as their growth through the rest of the series.
June 12, 2023
"At that moment, I saw her for who she used to be, who I thought I'd come to hate, only to find a sorry version of her instead. The woman now in front of me was fierce.
A warrior-like woman on a mission, and God Bless whoever ended up in her path."
This was a fantastic debut novel by Nelle Nikole. I was fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy of this book and once I made it through the first few chapters I was hooked.
In this dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel, you will find a story of a found family battling loss, betrayal, and survival. With a light, slow burn enemies to lovers story - I am eager to see where this takes us in book two.
An enjoyable read!
Congratulations on your debut novel Nelle Nikole!
A warrior-like woman on a mission, and God Bless whoever ended up in her path."
This was a fantastic debut novel by Nelle Nikole. I was fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy of this book and once I made it through the first few chapters I was hooked.
In this dystopian/post-apocalyptic novel, you will find a story of a found family battling loss, betrayal, and survival. With a light, slow burn enemies to lovers story - I am eager to see where this takes us in book two.
An enjoyable read!
Congratulations on your debut novel Nelle Nikole!
March 1, 2024
Prepare for emotional damage
I have no words. I've seen a few people say this is similar to the Walking Dead and yes, I agree. It's better though as I was not a fan of TWD but I loved this.
I loved Amaia and Alexiare and kept rooting for them to angry bang already... I'm disappointed they did not.
Alexiare made me soooo mad with his actions when they reached St.Cloud (trying not to spoil anything lol) but nothing like the anger I feel torward Seth right now. I liked Seth from the beginning and to have him do THAT... I wanna fight him myself.
So yes, if you enjoy an emotion charged book set in a dystopian USA with zombies then this is the book for you.
I have no words. I've seen a few people say this is similar to the Walking Dead and yes, I agree. It's better though as I was not a fan of TWD but I loved this.
I loved Amaia and Alexiare and kept rooting for them to angry bang already... I'm disappointed they did not.
Alexiare made me soooo mad with his actions when they reached St.Cloud (trying not to spoil anything lol) but nothing like the anger I feel torward Seth right now. I liked Seth from the beginning and to have him do THAT... I wanna fight him myself.
So yes, if you enjoy an emotion charged book set in a dystopian USA with zombies then this is the book for you.
May 28, 2023
oh this book was absolutely delicious. i love strong vengeful women who also struggle with mental issues
fav part is that there isn’t any race based trauma in the book but everyone’s severely traumatized
pls read, there’s some spelling issues but keep in mind that this is an indie authors first (amazing) book
fav part is that there isn’t any race based trauma in the book but everyone’s severely traumatized
pls read, there’s some spelling issues but keep in mind that this is an indie authors first (amazing) book
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 9, 2025Unfortunately it was a DNF for me at around 38% mark. I tried several times to get into the plot and the characters but ended up deciding to give it up.
June 19, 2023
The world-building in this one is nothing I have quite seen before. The amount of detail in this before and after of an apocalyptic event was incredible to read.
My favorite part has been watching Amaia grow. Still being hesitant as taking on the General role, but watching her grow into it, was so beautiful to watch. Even when she doubted herself, she still was pretty much a badass before and after.
Watching her open up to another relationship with Alexaires in the picture was also beautiful. A person can only take so much loss, and then to have to just let someone else come in with the risk of losing them as well ... it is tough! The tension between these two is undeniable, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I love Amaia's inner circle. Finding people that you would trust with your life is top notch. And Nelle was able to capture that found family so beautifully.
Definitely recommend this read!
My favorite part has been watching Amaia grow. Still being hesitant as taking on the General role, but watching her grow into it, was so beautiful to watch. Even when she doubted herself, she still was pretty much a badass before and after.
Watching her open up to another relationship with Alexaires in the picture was also beautiful. A person can only take so much loss, and then to have to just let someone else come in with the risk of losing them as well ... it is tough! The tension between these two is undeniable, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I love Amaia's inner circle. Finding people that you would trust with your life is top notch. And Nelle was able to capture that found family so beautifully.
Definitely recommend this read!
January 14, 2025
I was RUNNING for book two by the end. It’s so easy to look at each character and find a bit of yourself in there. Dealing with grief is one of the most relatable writing I’ve ever read. First five are of the year
June 9, 2024
Thank you for providing me with an arc copy of this book.
Overall I gave this book 3 stars as although I don’t think this was the right book for me, I know of a few people who would have really enjoyed this, so I would still encourage others to try it out. This book is very much worth reading for fans of post-apocalyptic/dystopian/survival/zombie reads I just think unfortunately it wasn’t quite right for me.
I enjoyed that this book did more than your typical zombie apocalypse book by combining different types and levels of magic whilst still keeping some of the more traditional elements of ‘zombie lore�. Overall, I enjoyed the story although it was a little slow to pick up and it did seem to have quite an abrupt end (although it does set up for a second book). I would have also liked to have seen some more action, zombie fights or knowledge about the ‘pansies� as I felt this was not developed a lot (although it seems some of the knowledge is a secret for book 2) and most of the focus was on tension between leaders and the ‘right� way to navigate a new world.
Throughout the book we are introduced to a range of characters and are able to see a range of POVs which was effective and fitted in nicely with the story. However, the characters are described to be like family and I thought the chemistry and connection between the characters as a whole could have been developed more since they seemed to split off into pairs a little bit.
Overall I gave this book 3 stars as although I don’t think this was the right book for me, I know of a few people who would have really enjoyed this, so I would still encourage others to try it out. This book is very much worth reading for fans of post-apocalyptic/dystopian/survival/zombie reads I just think unfortunately it wasn’t quite right for me.
I enjoyed that this book did more than your typical zombie apocalypse book by combining different types and levels of magic whilst still keeping some of the more traditional elements of ‘zombie lore�. Overall, I enjoyed the story although it was a little slow to pick up and it did seem to have quite an abrupt end (although it does set up for a second book). I would have also liked to have seen some more action, zombie fights or knowledge about the ‘pansies� as I felt this was not developed a lot (although it seems some of the knowledge is a secret for book 2) and most of the focus was on tension between leaders and the ‘right� way to navigate a new world.
Throughout the book we are introduced to a range of characters and are able to see a range of POVs which was effective and fitted in nicely with the story. However, the characters are described to be like family and I thought the chemistry and connection between the characters as a whole could have been developed more since they seemed to split off into pairs a little bit.
February 17, 2024
From the second I read the description of Rising, I was intrigued. And I’m so glad I really liked this book!!
I very much enjoyed the world building and characters; I was so interested in the story, and loved learning about the different settlements that formed after the world went to sh*t. The characters were quite likable to me; I was a bit iffy on Amaia at first, but she grew on me. I completely understood she was grieving and had to make hard decisions. Riley and Moe are my absolute favorites!
The writing was simple and easy to follow, which I liked. I also really loved reading the multiple POVs; we learned so much about the Compound and the characters� relationships with each other.
I do wish we had seen at least one scene where Jax and Amaia interact before the the explosion happens, and I feel like we were told more than shown things. However, I also understand that there was a lot of ground to cover in this book.
I hope the bond between Alexiares and Amaia can deepen in the second book (Echoes of War); however, I know that the main plot was more about the potential war/conflict, so I’m not too pressed about this, considering it’s a book series and slow burn.
The book also has a variety of characters with different backgrounds and identities, which I loved!
Overall, I’m excited to read Echoes of War, since I’m an ARC reader for it! It comes out February 29th (2024), so keep a lookout for my review of that as well.
(I’ve already started Echoes of War and I’m loving so far!)
NOTE: While there are a few spelling mistakes and typos in the book, it didn’t take me out of the story. I did talk to the Nelle Nikole and she does have plans to have them fixed.
I very much enjoyed the world building and characters; I was so interested in the story, and loved learning about the different settlements that formed after the world went to sh*t. The characters were quite likable to me; I was a bit iffy on Amaia at first, but she grew on me. I completely understood she was grieving and had to make hard decisions. Riley and Moe are my absolute favorites!
The writing was simple and easy to follow, which I liked. I also really loved reading the multiple POVs; we learned so much about the Compound and the characters� relationships with each other.
I do wish we had seen at least one scene where Jax and Amaia interact before the the explosion happens, and I feel like we were told more than shown things. However, I also understand that there was a lot of ground to cover in this book.
I hope the bond between Alexiares and Amaia can deepen in the second book (Echoes of War); however, I know that the main plot was more about the potential war/conflict, so I’m not too pressed about this, considering it’s a book series and slow burn.
The book also has a variety of characters with different backgrounds and identities, which I loved!
Overall, I’m excited to read Echoes of War, since I’m an ARC reader for it! It comes out February 29th (2024), so keep a lookout for my review of that as well.
(I’ve already started Echoes of War and I’m loving so far!)
NOTE: While there are a few spelling mistakes and typos in the book, it didn’t take me out of the story. I did talk to the Nelle Nikole and she does have plans to have them fixed.
March 22, 2024
I’ve received an arc in exchange for my honest review First things first, I need book two immediately. As someone who is new to dystopian, I loved this book so much. I have said it in other reviews and will say it again I LOVE LOVE LOVE multi-pov and that’s exactly what you get with this.
I will say it is different, usually I am used to each chapter being a different POV but they are sprinkled everywhere sporadically and I enjoyed it so much tbh.
This book started off on 10, so this was not one of those dystopian books that took awhile to get into. From chapter 1 it just took off and I had a very hard time putting it down.
Listen, when I tell you Nelle Nikole has an absolute GIFT for world building, trust me. If I was gifted enough to know how to draw what I envision I bet I could draw The Compound even down to the tiniest details. Reading this was more like watching a movie, THAT is how good her descriptive writing is.
The way this book ended killed me. I need book two by tomorrow ms. Nikole.
If you are a fan of dystopian and like a fast paced intense read, this book is for you. I absolutely loved it so much. Thank you Sam and Nelle for the opportunity to read
I will say it is different, usually I am used to each chapter being a different POV but they are sprinkled everywhere sporadically and I enjoyed it so much tbh.
This book started off on 10, so this was not one of those dystopian books that took awhile to get into. From chapter 1 it just took off and I had a very hard time putting it down.
Listen, when I tell you Nelle Nikole has an absolute GIFT for world building, trust me. If I was gifted enough to know how to draw what I envision I bet I could draw The Compound even down to the tiniest details. Reading this was more like watching a movie, THAT is how good her descriptive writing is.
The way this book ended killed me. I need book two by tomorrow ms. Nikole.
If you are a fan of dystopian and like a fast paced intense read, this book is for you. I absolutely loved it so much. Thank you Sam and Nelle for the opportunity to read
December 27, 2024
this book has my heart. followed grief, betrayal, leaders having to make tough decisions, found family and finding yourself again after tragedy. I read this often because i love it.
January 15, 2024
This was a hard book to rate and review for me but let's get into it:
Zombie apocalypse meets elemental magic wielders. I'm already invested here. The story line was great. The way the author manages to seamlessly describe the history and create solid world building in the first few chapters without it becoming mind melting (and not in the good way) was really impressive. You get a sense for the world and the trials and tribulations the characters went through and are going through really quickly.
The book is written in multi-POV which I really love. I did find at times I would forget which characters' POV we were in because occasionally the character voice was too similar to the previous chapter. I didn't really connect with any of the characters until over 50% through the book as well. In fact I found most of them kind of frustrating during the first half of the book. I'm not sure if this is because of the multiple - POVs or some other cause. There are 6 different POVs throughout the story.
With the safety of their home in question the characters set off to discover the cause and hopefully find out how their home has been placed under such strain after years of relative peace. Truly this plot was great. I really enjoyed the story and was interested to see where the author would be taking it next. The suspicion of a new character and their motives, the travelling, the zombie fights and dystopian survival tactics were all well done and I could really picture the scenes that were being described.
𝙉𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙.... 𝙄 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.
In any book I read I expect a few grammar errors, typos, etc. in the case of this book, it was more than a few. There were errors in grammar often enough that it would pull me out of the story and I would have to re-read the sentence and try to adjust the grammer for it to make sense. There were points where it was obvious a line or paragraph had been edited but then it hadn't been proof read again and there were words that didn't even fit properly into the sentence. I felt lost during some scenes as it felt like there were pieces I was missing, I can't say if this was an editing issue or if just was something that was written in purposely but I definitely had to re-read sections to try and sort it out. I got pulled out of the story more than I like when reading due to the above situations. Again, I do understand these things happen, especially with indie writing BUT it felt a bit too much in my opinion.
However, because the story itself and the writing were quite good my rating reflects the story and not the editing errors
Zombie apocalypse meets elemental magic wielders. I'm already invested here. The story line was great. The way the author manages to seamlessly describe the history and create solid world building in the first few chapters without it becoming mind melting (and not in the good way) was really impressive. You get a sense for the world and the trials and tribulations the characters went through and are going through really quickly.
The book is written in multi-POV which I really love. I did find at times I would forget which characters' POV we were in because occasionally the character voice was too similar to the previous chapter. I didn't really connect with any of the characters until over 50% through the book as well. In fact I found most of them kind of frustrating during the first half of the book. I'm not sure if this is because of the multiple - POVs or some other cause. There are 6 different POVs throughout the story.
With the safety of their home in question the characters set off to discover the cause and hopefully find out how their home has been placed under such strain after years of relative peace. Truly this plot was great. I really enjoyed the story and was interested to see where the author would be taking it next. The suspicion of a new character and their motives, the travelling, the zombie fights and dystopian survival tactics were all well done and I could really picture the scenes that were being described.
𝙉𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙.... 𝙄 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.
In any book I read I expect a few grammar errors, typos, etc. in the case of this book, it was more than a few. There were errors in grammar often enough that it would pull me out of the story and I would have to re-read the sentence and try to adjust the grammer for it to make sense. There were points where it was obvious a line or paragraph had been edited but then it hadn't been proof read again and there were words that didn't even fit properly into the sentence. I felt lost during some scenes as it felt like there were pieces I was missing, I can't say if this was an editing issue or if just was something that was written in purposely but I definitely had to re-read sections to try and sort it out. I got pulled out of the story more than I like when reading due to the above situations. Again, I do understand these things happen, especially with indie writing BUT it felt a bit too much in my opinion.
However, because the story itself and the writing were quite good my rating reflects the story and not the editing errors
February 22, 2024
Rising is set in a post-apocalyptic world and is unlike other zombie stories. After the nuclear fallout people either turned into Pansie (aka zombies) or developed elemental powers. The survivors have fought hard to regain some semblance of life, but things are changing, and their new world is being threatened.
The story is told from multiple points of view, but mostly Amaia's. She's a strong woman who puts The Compound and her family first but has been dealt blow after blow and enough is starting to be enough. She's surrounded by her family who work as a unit to strengthen each other. As they navigate their new world without a member of their family, they gain a new unexpected addition. While trying to get to the bottom of the recent uprise in Pansie attacks loyalties are questioned and everyone's a potential suspect. As issues continue to worsen it becomes clear Amaia and her family need to head out to get to the bottom of things. The road traveled is hard and the family is tested both internally and externally. You never know who friend or foe is, and some of the answers will surprise you.
The world building is well done. The back stories of the family continue to come out throughout the story, and you see why these people gravitated to each other. The relationships each have a unique element and together they're a force to be reckoned with. I really enjoyed seeing the interactions of the family, but it always left me thinking something was off, then the end of the book came, and I was like yep, there it is! I did NOT see the ending coming but it made so many details throughout the book make more sense. Watching Amaia's healing journey was raw and real. I cannot wait to see what happens in book two, how these relationships are tested and evolve and watch Amaia and her family kick ass.
The dialogue in the book was hard to follow sometimes, so pay attention. There's a lot of conversations that start then throughout I wasn't sure who was talking to who until later on something clicked. There's a lot of conversations that start then the speaker goes into an internal thought process while in the middle of the conversation. There's also a lot of plot and backstory building that happens in the middle of the conversations. Just stick with it and it will all come together but it can be a bit confusing at times. I recommend reading the book versus an audio version just to make it easier to follow.
There are also some grammatical errors but overall, not too many.
The story is told from multiple points of view, but mostly Amaia's. She's a strong woman who puts The Compound and her family first but has been dealt blow after blow and enough is starting to be enough. She's surrounded by her family who work as a unit to strengthen each other. As they navigate their new world without a member of their family, they gain a new unexpected addition. While trying to get to the bottom of the recent uprise in Pansie attacks loyalties are questioned and everyone's a potential suspect. As issues continue to worsen it becomes clear Amaia and her family need to head out to get to the bottom of things. The road traveled is hard and the family is tested both internally and externally. You never know who friend or foe is, and some of the answers will surprise you.
The world building is well done. The back stories of the family continue to come out throughout the story, and you see why these people gravitated to each other. The relationships each have a unique element and together they're a force to be reckoned with. I really enjoyed seeing the interactions of the family, but it always left me thinking something was off, then the end of the book came, and I was like yep, there it is! I did NOT see the ending coming but it made so many details throughout the book make more sense. Watching Amaia's healing journey was raw and real. I cannot wait to see what happens in book two, how these relationships are tested and evolve and watch Amaia and her family kick ass.
The dialogue in the book was hard to follow sometimes, so pay attention. There's a lot of conversations that start then throughout I wasn't sure who was talking to who until later on something clicked. There's a lot of conversations that start then the speaker goes into an internal thought process while in the middle of the conversation. There's also a lot of plot and backstory building that happens in the middle of the conversations. Just stick with it and it will all come together but it can be a bit confusing at times. I recommend reading the book versus an audio version just to make it easier to follow.
There are also some grammatical errors but overall, not too many.
November 1, 2024
I cannot recommend Rising enough! With the rise of social media, it’s often hard to have the attention span to read a full book. But not with Rising! I’ll go into the good and the bad without spoilers.
The Good:
� The plot has you gripping the seat wondering what happens next. It has great pacing and really allows you the chance to get to know each part of the story before it moves on.
� The characters are very well fleshed out. This book has one of the things I look for in every book: found family. Yet it does not suffer from uniformity. Each character is well explored with unique characteristics and backstories.
� The main character herself, Amaia, while yes is a ‘badass woman who punches things�, subverts a lot of that trope through the flaws she exhibits and the depth to her character.
� The world is very unique; blending an apocalyptic, zombie catastrophe type world with the magic of a fantasy world, combines the idea of dealing with a loss of technology, which is then supplemented by magic.
� There’s great growth in the story by contrasting a utopia vs. brutality. Subverting what you think should be “perfect�.
� There are twists that have breadcrumbs that lead up to it, so you’re not blindsided, yet still shocks you. It’s a delicate balance that I think the author handles well.
� There is a certain conversation that literally made me cry. Even as far as the fact there are some quotes I want to make art out of. It is perfectly timed in why the characters would have that conversation.
The Bad
� The book does indicate it is from a first-time author through a couple different elements. Such as:
� At times, especially at the end, there is an info dump. Which, because the end was next to 2-3 other info dumps, was confusing.
� There is a catalyst for a big event that feels weak and not explained enough why the characters came to such a drastic action.
� Two characters have animosity towards each other from the moment they meet with what feels like a weak explanation or reason. We get more insight into why, but it’s about 200 pages later so you have to accept that fact.
� There are one or two moments of cringe.
Despite those negatives, overall, the book really gripped me, and I could look past those things with the acknowledgement this was a first time author and I could really see room for growth in the next books. Some info dumps and the occasional lose motivation were not enough to deter me from the great characters and gripping plot. I’m hooked!
The Good:
� The plot has you gripping the seat wondering what happens next. It has great pacing and really allows you the chance to get to know each part of the story before it moves on.
� The characters are very well fleshed out. This book has one of the things I look for in every book: found family. Yet it does not suffer from uniformity. Each character is well explored with unique characteristics and backstories.
� The main character herself, Amaia, while yes is a ‘badass woman who punches things�, subverts a lot of that trope through the flaws she exhibits and the depth to her character.
� The world is very unique; blending an apocalyptic, zombie catastrophe type world with the magic of a fantasy world, combines the idea of dealing with a loss of technology, which is then supplemented by magic.
� There’s great growth in the story by contrasting a utopia vs. brutality. Subverting what you think should be “perfect�.
� There are twists that have breadcrumbs that lead up to it, so you’re not blindsided, yet still shocks you. It’s a delicate balance that I think the author handles well.
� There is a certain conversation that literally made me cry. Even as far as the fact there are some quotes I want to make art out of. It is perfectly timed in why the characters would have that conversation.
The Bad
� The book does indicate it is from a first-time author through a couple different elements. Such as:
� At times, especially at the end, there is an info dump. Which, because the end was next to 2-3 other info dumps, was confusing.
� There is a catalyst for a big event that feels weak and not explained enough why the characters came to such a drastic action.
� Two characters have animosity towards each other from the moment they meet with what feels like a weak explanation or reason. We get more insight into why, but it’s about 200 pages later so you have to accept that fact.
� There are one or two moments of cringe.
Despite those negatives, overall, the book really gripped me, and I could look past those things with the acknowledgement this was a first time author and I could really see room for growth in the next books. Some info dumps and the occasional lose motivation were not enough to deter me from the great characters and gripping plot. I’m hooked!
June 24, 2023
A zombie apocalypse setting but with ✨magic� What more could you want from a post-apocalypse story?? I think this was a fresh take on a setting we’ve seen across tv, movies and books throughout the years, and I am here for it!
The characters that the author brings to life felt so real and authentic. When we first meet our main character Amaia, she is a broken woman dealing with crushing grief. It’s heartbreaking and raw at times, but the payoff is that we get to see her piece herself back together over the course of this story, and it’s beautiful. Part of her journey back into herself involves an enemies-to-lovers type trope and it’s handled so, so well. Nothing feels rushed between these two characters, it’s a slowburn through and through and by the end of the book I was dying for more! The pair are both dealing with personal trauma and the way that they slowly break each other down is so well done. When we get those eventual moments of vulnerability between them� 🤌🏻 I loved it. That being said, this is not a romance story! Don’t go into this expecting that to be the main plot- it’s definitely backseat to the other major things happening around the characters.
The plot and setting were interesting (think The Walking Dead type of setting with the political machinations between territories) and the pacing was really good- slow enough that we get deep character interactions while continuing to further the plot and timeline in the book. Months pass by and it feels very authentic. There were some twists and turns in the story I didn’t seem coming, and other ones that have me SO interested into what’s happening (the Pansies 😳)
(Also to note- this is not a comparison to The Walking Dead at all- this story is very unique and stands on its own 100%).
I think that the author has a unique writing style- sometimes using incomplete sentences that felt almost like a stream of consciousness. I did enjoy it, although there were some moments within dialogue that I found a little bit confusing at times, and a few instances where I wasn’t sure who the characters were talking to/about. Overall this did not take away from my enjoyment of the book at all, but I did feel it slightly impacted my reading experience and it’s the only reason this book did not get a 5 star rating for me. I’m definitely going to be on the lookout for the next installment because I can’t wait to find out what happens next to this group of characters!!
The characters that the author brings to life felt so real and authentic. When we first meet our main character Amaia, she is a broken woman dealing with crushing grief. It’s heartbreaking and raw at times, but the payoff is that we get to see her piece herself back together over the course of this story, and it’s beautiful. Part of her journey back into herself involves an enemies-to-lovers type trope and it’s handled so, so well. Nothing feels rushed between these two characters, it’s a slowburn through and through and by the end of the book I was dying for more! The pair are both dealing with personal trauma and the way that they slowly break each other down is so well done. When we get those eventual moments of vulnerability between them� 🤌🏻 I loved it. That being said, this is not a romance story! Don’t go into this expecting that to be the main plot- it’s definitely backseat to the other major things happening around the characters.
The plot and setting were interesting (think The Walking Dead type of setting with the political machinations between territories) and the pacing was really good- slow enough that we get deep character interactions while continuing to further the plot and timeline in the book. Months pass by and it feels very authentic. There were some twists and turns in the story I didn’t seem coming, and other ones that have me SO interested into what’s happening (the Pansies 😳)
(Also to note- this is not a comparison to The Walking Dead at all- this story is very unique and stands on its own 100%).
I think that the author has a unique writing style- sometimes using incomplete sentences that felt almost like a stream of consciousness. I did enjoy it, although there were some moments within dialogue that I found a little bit confusing at times, and a few instances where I wasn’t sure who the characters were talking to/about. Overall this did not take away from my enjoyment of the book at all, but I did feel it slightly impacted my reading experience and it’s the only reason this book did not get a 5 star rating for me. I’m definitely going to be on the lookout for the next installment because I can’t wait to find out what happens next to this group of characters!!
February 3, 2024
“’If we fail, my people die, too. If we fail, we fail together... Is your freedom not worth your death?�
... For all great empires were founded on pillaging, violence, and conquering. It was time for that to change.�
🔥
Holy crap, Nelle Nikole hit this one out of the park! The zombies surprised me (not for any fault of anyone but my own since I wasn’t paying attention to the back-of-the-book blurb) and I’m not a zombie person� but this is NOT a zombie story. It’s got them, sure, just as The Last of Us has infected people, but that’s not where the story’s development lies. Think about everything that makes World War Z, The Last of Us, and Divergent awesome� now throw in the EPIC, heart-pounding feeling you get when watching your favorite action/adventure movie and you’ve got the ingredients for this book! When bombs go off, covering the world in radiation, our DNA mutates: some of us turn in Pansies (the undead) and others develop magical powers.
This story follows a bad-ass FMC (whose strength, compassion, strategy, and raw power make her a FORCE of a lead character) and the found family, a “band of misfits,� as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world. Tackling topics such as loss, grief, guilt, trust, leadership, family vs. friendship dynamics, betrayal, and so much more this book fulfills the promise of being EPIC. There are many twists & turns in this complex world and you’re sure to be surprised and entertained.
The characters are all flawed but lovable individuals, coming from diverse backgrounds to truly represent the diversity of the United States (in the BEST way). Their diversity feels like a breath of fresh air because of the delicate and respectful approach the author takes in showcasing the strengths, flaws, and growth of each main character... and this is only the first book! The author, Nelle Nikole expertly blends history, social commentary, examination of the human condition, realism (I see you with your maps girlie! 👏🏻), and cultural appreciation make this book amazing. Her writing is fantastic!
I LOVED this book and I guarantee you will find your jaw on the floor with some of the twists & turns in this story. This is a heart-pounding adventure and you’re in for a thrill! PLEASE, read this one (before it becomes a movie or TV series� because it has all of the necessary ingredients to become one)!
🔥 “War was coming, whether we were ready or not.� 🔥
... For all great empires were founded on pillaging, violence, and conquering. It was time for that to change.�
🔥
Holy crap, Nelle Nikole hit this one out of the park! The zombies surprised me (not for any fault of anyone but my own since I wasn’t paying attention to the back-of-the-book blurb) and I’m not a zombie person� but this is NOT a zombie story. It’s got them, sure, just as The Last of Us has infected people, but that’s not where the story’s development lies. Think about everything that makes World War Z, The Last of Us, and Divergent awesome� now throw in the EPIC, heart-pounding feeling you get when watching your favorite action/adventure movie and you’ve got the ingredients for this book! When bombs go off, covering the world in radiation, our DNA mutates: some of us turn in Pansies (the undead) and others develop magical powers.
This story follows a bad-ass FMC (whose strength, compassion, strategy, and raw power make her a FORCE of a lead character) and the found family, a “band of misfits,� as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world. Tackling topics such as loss, grief, guilt, trust, leadership, family vs. friendship dynamics, betrayal, and so much more this book fulfills the promise of being EPIC. There are many twists & turns in this complex world and you’re sure to be surprised and entertained.
The characters are all flawed but lovable individuals, coming from diverse backgrounds to truly represent the diversity of the United States (in the BEST way). Their diversity feels like a breath of fresh air because of the delicate and respectful approach the author takes in showcasing the strengths, flaws, and growth of each main character... and this is only the first book! The author, Nelle Nikole expertly blends history, social commentary, examination of the human condition, realism (I see you with your maps girlie! 👏🏻), and cultural appreciation make this book amazing. Her writing is fantastic!
I LOVED this book and I guarantee you will find your jaw on the floor with some of the twists & turns in this story. This is a heart-pounding adventure and you’re in for a thrill! PLEASE, read this one (before it becomes a movie or TV series� because it has all of the necessary ingredients to become one)!
🔥 “War was coming, whether we were ready or not.� 🔥
March 7, 2024
Rising is the first book in Nikole's State Of The Union series. It is a dystopian, futuristic, post-apocalyptic story where a nuclear war occurred and the radiation altered the DNA of many survivors. Some became Pansies (think zombies) and others gained new abilities.
Prescott, Jax and Amaia started The Compound, a community in Monterey, California. Their goal is to keep the residents safe from external threats while allowing them to live in a community. Everyone has a job in The Compound, and it takes them all to keep things running smoothly.
Amaia and Jax are supported by their found family which includes Riley Sullivan, Reina Moore, Tomoe Sato, Seth Moore. Each has unique abilities which they use in The Compound to keep their community safe an continuing to advance. When one of them is killed in an attack, Amaia loses herself to the grief. She knows she needs to pull herself out of it, for her family, for The Compound. She is motivated to find out who is responsible not only for the death, but the suspicious ongoing attacks by Pansies.
When Alexiares sneaks into The Compound, Amaia doesn't trust him. She suspects he knows more than he lets on. Is she right to be wary? Compound first.
From the very first page, this book grabbed me and took me for a ride. It took me a little while to get familiar with all the characters and how they relate to one another, but once that clicked, there was no chance of me putting it down. The story has a lot going on between the relationships, the characters' respective backstories, learning about The Before, the current situation in The After, not to mention the action and intrigue. On top of that, this book is jam packed with diversity and representation, and a very, very, very slow burn romance.
Amaia, our heroine, is a wonderfully flawed character. She is forced to make some difficult decisions, but she always does so with the best of intentions. She's smart and strong and she thinks on her feet. While I definitely enjoy her, Riley is my favourite. There's just something about him. I hope to see more of him in book 2.
I definitely recommend checking this one out, and then jumping over to read Echoes Of War, which is book 2 and has now been released for your enjoyment.
Prescott, Jax and Amaia started The Compound, a community in Monterey, California. Their goal is to keep the residents safe from external threats while allowing them to live in a community. Everyone has a job in The Compound, and it takes them all to keep things running smoothly.
Amaia and Jax are supported by their found family which includes Riley Sullivan, Reina Moore, Tomoe Sato, Seth Moore. Each has unique abilities which they use in The Compound to keep their community safe an continuing to advance. When one of them is killed in an attack, Amaia loses herself to the grief. She knows she needs to pull herself out of it, for her family, for The Compound. She is motivated to find out who is responsible not only for the death, but the suspicious ongoing attacks by Pansies.
When Alexiares sneaks into The Compound, Amaia doesn't trust him. She suspects he knows more than he lets on. Is she right to be wary? Compound first.
From the very first page, this book grabbed me and took me for a ride. It took me a little while to get familiar with all the characters and how they relate to one another, but once that clicked, there was no chance of me putting it down. The story has a lot going on between the relationships, the characters' respective backstories, learning about The Before, the current situation in The After, not to mention the action and intrigue. On top of that, this book is jam packed with diversity and representation, and a very, very, very slow burn romance.
Amaia, our heroine, is a wonderfully flawed character. She is forced to make some difficult decisions, but she always does so with the best of intentions. She's smart and strong and she thinks on her feet. While I definitely enjoy her, Riley is my favourite. There's just something about him. I hope to see more of him in book 2.
I definitely recommend checking this one out, and then jumping over to read Echoes Of War, which is book 2 and has now been released for your enjoyment.
February 23, 2025
FMC: Black, 27
MMC: White, age unknown
This was a conundrum for me. The writing was good for the most part, but the characterization is where it felt short for me. Also, the extreme telling but not showing. Felt like 50% of the book was describing the compound, feelings about the compound, depression because of compound, etc. At the beginning, it was okay. I knew a romance was coming but didn’t know how we’d get there. After meeting a new character, who the FMC could not get along with, I knew this would be enemies to lovers. But the thing is, it wasn’t good. The FMC was horrendous to this new MMC. They initially started with hate from both sides but she became very extreme because she believed his arrival coincided with the death of someone she loved. No proof though and when confronted with this she still acted a mess. Even when he stopped being rude with her she would still lash out every time he was in her presence. It didn’t come off like a cautious but intelligent and calculating general, but like an immature brat pissed that she got called out on her BS. It was annoying. I was even thinking hell if he was here to do harm, then I couldn’t blame him with her treatment. Then by 75% SHE asks why he hates her??? Like girl�.Then they started exchanging stories and clearing the air and feelings erupted. It did not have the proper build up. I didn’t know how they actually felt. Things that make it understandable why they even like each other. Then it was just explained as this is a romance that matches her tainted, darker self. Like what?? So yeah, the romance coming to fruition was odd for me. Not even climactic. As far as the other characters, I liked the MMC. Didn’t care for the others. They felt flat and their chapters were annoying. In the beginning, I said one of the characters should be killed off for being a piece of shit, and lo and behold, they do some fuxk shit. There was a betrayal but the MMC received more malice than what was mustered up for that perpetrator. I think overall what kept me going was seeing the enemies to lovers. It wasn’t good but I do think they go well together (after making up some things in my mind) and I’m interested to see them grow. The last 20% of the book was decent.
MMC: White, age unknown
This was a conundrum for me. The writing was good for the most part, but the characterization is where it felt short for me. Also, the extreme telling but not showing. Felt like 50% of the book was describing the compound, feelings about the compound, depression because of compound, etc. At the beginning, it was okay. I knew a romance was coming but didn’t know how we’d get there. After meeting a new character, who the FMC could not get along with, I knew this would be enemies to lovers. But the thing is, it wasn’t good. The FMC was horrendous to this new MMC. They initially started with hate from both sides but she became very extreme because she believed his arrival coincided with the death of someone she loved. No proof though and when confronted with this she still acted a mess. Even when he stopped being rude with her she would still lash out every time he was in her presence. It didn’t come off like a cautious but intelligent and calculating general, but like an immature brat pissed that she got called out on her BS. It was annoying. I was even thinking hell if he was here to do harm, then I couldn’t blame him with her treatment. Then by 75% SHE asks why he hates her??? Like girl�.Then they started exchanging stories and clearing the air and feelings erupted. It did not have the proper build up. I didn’t know how they actually felt. Things that make it understandable why they even like each other. Then it was just explained as this is a romance that matches her tainted, darker self. Like what?? So yeah, the romance coming to fruition was odd for me. Not even climactic. As far as the other characters, I liked the MMC. Didn’t care for the others. They felt flat and their chapters were annoying. In the beginning, I said one of the characters should be killed off for being a piece of shit, and lo and behold, they do some fuxk shit. There was a betrayal but the MMC received more malice than what was mustered up for that perpetrator. I think overall what kept me going was seeing the enemies to lovers. It wasn’t good but I do think they go well together (after making up some things in my mind) and I’m interested to see them grow. The last 20% of the book was decent.
June 2, 2023
I struggled a bit at the beginning of the book, especially with the world building. It didn’t seem to flow naturally, but rather it felt kind of choppy. We start off with our MC, Amaia, who seems to be an alcoholic enjoying a day off. We then are introduced to a character and immediately jump into action with another character having been harmed. From there we see the MC as this shaken up, but rather cold & detached General that is meant to be running this apocalyptic compound and she discovers that someone has betrayed the compound & her second in command/partner was gravely injured because of this betrayal.
But our MC lets this traitor go, without interrogating them, without any sort of violence. Which almost plays at odds with a lot of our MCs inner dialogue. Especially as a General who cares so much about the safety of her people, it just seemed like a very out of character thing to do.
Then the story vastly slows down as the MC enters a period of grief that lasts for a couple of chapters. I think this heavily hurt my own interest in continuing & the overall progression of the story. It felt like a lot of showing rather than telling of who Amaia is & what Jax meant to her, who he was. Amaia also many times called out her own selfishness for not acknowledging the other people that were harmed by Jax’s passing, which made her character difficult to connect with, it made her seem like a bad leader & friend. By the 12 chapter mark I still had too many questions about the world: what do all the different magic types mean? Do some people have more than one? It seems like they do have more than one? What are Pansies? Why are they called Pansies? What mutations do they have? Why do we have so many POVs? What purpose to these different POVs serve?
For a debut novel, I think that this premise is incredibly interesting & I believe this author has potential. I do look forward to seeing how this author grows with future works!
But our MC lets this traitor go, without interrogating them, without any sort of violence. Which almost plays at odds with a lot of our MCs inner dialogue. Especially as a General who cares so much about the safety of her people, it just seemed like a very out of character thing to do.
Then the story vastly slows down as the MC enters a period of grief that lasts for a couple of chapters. I think this heavily hurt my own interest in continuing & the overall progression of the story. It felt like a lot of showing rather than telling of who Amaia is & what Jax meant to her, who he was. Amaia also many times called out her own selfishness for not acknowledging the other people that were harmed by Jax’s passing, which made her character difficult to connect with, it made her seem like a bad leader & friend. By the 12 chapter mark I still had too many questions about the world: what do all the different magic types mean? Do some people have more than one? It seems like they do have more than one? What are Pansies? Why are they called Pansies? What mutations do they have? Why do we have so many POVs? What purpose to these different POVs serve?
For a debut novel, I think that this premise is incredibly interesting & I believe this author has potential. I do look forward to seeing how this author grows with future works!
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