Ruhk's Rising;

Phoenix Elite #2

by Melissa Starr

Elora's days at Marlind Prep are anything but safe or boring. She receives news of her BFF's death not long after she disappears and is certain the Phoenix Elite are responsible. While searching for stability, Elora is stripped of her strength and sanity by the ancient Ruhk, Isaac, who continues to infiltrate her mind. Adding icing to the cake, she finds herself at odds with her mate/advisor, Ezra, leaving her vulnerable to the new guy, who just happens to find her on the verge of a nervous breakdown. What dangers await Elora among her own in RUHK'S RISING?

Genres: Young Adult

199 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2013

About the author

Melissa Starr is author of Phoenix (Phoenix Elite #1) & Ruhk's Rising (Phoenix Elite #2) and final installment in the Phoenix Elite series, Angel I Am Not and newly released, Oh Be Careful Little Mouth What You Speak.
Starr is also working on a hot new project (and shush...if she told you she'd have to kill you) in the young adult/paranormal/romance genre.
Starr is a small town, country gal from deep in southern Oklahoma. Born in Altus and raised in Frederick, it only seemed right to put down roots there with her own family; a husband, two sons and two daughters. She resides and writes from her home where she frequently lets her inner child come out and play (if she behaves that is)long enough to spin colorful words into novels. Claims the # 13 as her unlucky lucky number and has a serious phobia of scorpions, and ironically- she is a Scorpio.

Melissa is also a freelance photographer who enjoys camping and riding ATV’s when the weather permits and snapping a million and one pictures of her family and friends against much protest. *Smiles*

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** Contains a few spoilers if you have not read BOOK ONE: PHOENIX ***

"Ruhk's Rising" picked up right where "Phoenix" left off.

Elora is at school at the new Marlind Prep, a school set up just for Phoenixes. Her roommate, Wynter, is dead. Found murdered outside the school grounds. Her boyfriend, Kane (aka Elora's BF Ezra's bff) is the prime suspect.

That's just the beginning though. Elora is still trying to process the disappearance of her BFF Chloe. Everyone believes that Chloe is dead - except for Elora. She and Ezra get into a fight over this and, being stupid teenagers, they ignore each other instead of talking things out, resulting in misunderstandings and all kinds of drama. Soon enough, Elora has a new boy paying attention to her. And Elora discovers that a new girl has her sights set on Ezra.

Can Elora and Ezra get past their relationship drama?

Just like book one, the best parts of Ruhk's Rising for me were the parts involving Chloe. I love Chloe. She's spunky and I think her storyline is just way more fun. While Elora's dealing with her BF drama, Chloe is fighting for the lives of herself and her new beau.

If you liked the first book, you'll like this one, too.

I have no clue where this is going, but I want to be there for the end. (Well, I take that back, I have a LITTLE clue where it's going, but not really...)

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve just finished reading Ruhk’s Rising. I was expecting a lot more from this promising book considering how much I loved the first one.

I am a fan of Melissa’s writing and she can normally do no wrong but I couldn’t figure out Ruhk's reasons for being. I mean, I get the gist of it, but it didn’t completely work for me.

For instance, Elora mentions a few times that Ezra is acting weird but she lets it go. Why? If he’s supposed to be her rock, her reason for being when everything else is chaos, how is she not worried about this change in him?

Why doesn’t she question her sudden attraction for Logan if Ezra has ALWAYS been the man of her dreams? Why doesn’t she seem more torn about this triangle?

She states MANY times that she doesn’t trust Kane. Then why in the name of the good lord would she suggest he go to Chloe’s gram gram? Her best friend’s grandma? Doesn’t make sense!

And if I had to read one more time how “god-like” everyone was, I think I was going to chuck the book. Seriously. Elite or not, mention it once, then NEVER again, or find another way of describing these perfect creatures.

I really wish this whole book had been about Chloe, Logan and Isaac. Now THEY are interesting characters. They have spunk, personality, depth. Elora and Ezra just didn’t. It was all “me, myself and I.” Ezra lacked so much depth, he could he a cardboard cut out. And Elora was just sooo annoying. It was all about her, her tantrums, getting back at people who pissed her off, brushing off potential friendships... And for what, exactly? Why?

Now, don’t get me wrong. The book wasn’t all bad. I really liked the dream phantom. I liked how Isaac manipulates Elora, I like how protective Logan is and how torn he is about that.
I liked the ending where things were coming into play. I know Melissa *Needs* this book as an in-between, to show that Elora was spiralling out of control, that she is left alone to deal with what’s coming. I just feel like it was badly played out, like words were splayed on the page to add length to the book.

I will definitely read the third because I was such a fan of the first, and the third will finally show us how everything plays out for all these characters.