Friday, July 17, 2020

#Review - Shadow Rise by Audrey Grey #YA #Fantasy

Series: Shadow Fall # 2
Format: Kindle, 312 pages
Release Date: April 17th 2020
Publisher: Starfall Press LLC
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Young Adult / Dark Fantasy

Terrorist. Rebel. Traitor.

One rash decision during the Shadow Trials led to unspeakable horrors that left innocents dead, friends injured and hunted by the Empire, and Maia Graystone imprisoned in the Tower at the Archduchess’s mercy.

Unsure if Riser Thornbrook survived, Maia must find a way to battle the Empire from within its own walls and escape so she can fulfill the promise to her father and stop the asteroid. But when she breaks free and joins Nicolai's Rebel army, she discovers she’s been branded a traitor. With war between the Rebels and the Empire looming, old alliances shifting, and suspicion hanging over her head, she must fight in the Rebel Blood Courts—and win command—to regain their trust.

Only problem is, first she has defeat the reigning champion, someone she knows all too well. Will Maia’s emotions lead to her defeat, or will she rise up and claim her victory?



“May the gods favor chaos over tyranny, Rebels over Royalists, and a quick death for the brave.”

Shadow Rise is the second installment in author Audrey Grey's Shadow Fall trilogy. Maia Graystone is a prisoner of the Emperor and the Archduchess who has figured out who Maia is. Maia is the digger girl who survived the Pit for 7 long years after losing her brother Max and being caught stealing food to survive. She is now called Lady Everly who is called a Fienian scum, a terrorist, a rebel, and a prisoner. She lost the support of Prince Caspian after his sister Ophelia was killed during an uprising against the Emperor that didn't go as planned.


Maia has other things on her mind as well. Her father built a device called Mercurian that can destroy Pandora which is traveling towards Earth and the inevitable destruction of the planet. The problem lies in the fact that Maia has one part of the plans, while her missing brother has the other piece of the puzzle. Maia finds herself among Nicolai's rebels. He refuses to help her find Mercurian so that Maia can save the planet from destruction. He wants more than Maia understands. Maia discovers some curious surprises along the way.


Her brother, Max, is alive and part of Nicolai’s rebellion. Riser, aka Prince Dorian Laevus, is alive but his memories have been altered. He was told that Maia had died at the Emperor’s palace along with Ophelia. Maia’s only chance of proving herself and gaining the much needed supporters she needs in order to go on the offensive against the Emperor and save the planet, is to enter the Blood Court and defeat the King of the Court, Riser. Maia is also dealing with lots of issues. She’s hearing voices in her head likely from sleepers who were downloaded into her head. 


As part of the previous challenge, all sleepers were uploaded into the finalists. The court is preparing to exodus to Hyperion, the space station orbiting the planet where the Emperor and Maia’s mother have taken refuge. There are new characters introduced as well. Lash, Teagan, Rhydian, Rivet, and the reappearance of Prince Caspian who was once Maia’s betrothed. I’m still not a fan of Maia’s mother. The mother who disavowed her daughter and son. The mother who created the Labyrinth that killed one of Maia’s good friends. The mother who is a loyalist and friends with the Emperor himself.


Maia’s growth has a whole lot to do with her experiences. She’s survived the Pit, reconstruction to make her Lady Everly, Shadow Trials, the Archduchess more than once, the Blood Court, a broken heart, a reunion with a brother who has been told that she left him behind, and the Emperor who wants to allow the world to be destroyed so that he and his loyalists can survive on a space station high about the apocalypse. She will also have to take a stand against Nicolai and Riser while creating her own army. If she can do that, there may be hope that she can find a way to save humanity.

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53246070-shadow-rise



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