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The Soterians #1
Rising Shadow
Ashlyn Woods can't wait to put her past behind her and start her life over as a normal college student. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she discovers that she is a Soterian: a person who develops amazing powers when the balance of good and evil shifts too far in evil's favor. Soon she and the other Soterians are learning to use their powers to prevent California from being plunged into chaos. But they quickly discover that they're up against a much more dangerous enemy than they anticipated. And when Ashlyn meets Kai, a devastatingly gorgeous guitar player, she realizes she must sacrifice more than she ever imagined.
- GenresYoung AdultFantasy
332 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2009
4 people are currently reading
433 people want to read
About the author
Jacquelyn Wheeler
4 books48 followersJacquelyn has worked as a professional writer since 1991. She has received numerous awards for her technical writing, but creative writing has always been her passion. After writing poetry, children's stories, and screenplays, Jacquelyn embarked on The Soterians, a series of fantasy novels for young adults. You can read the first novel, Rising Shadow, for free on her web site (www.soterians.com), or purchase the paperback or Kindle versions of Rising Shadow and Merger on Amazon. As an advocate for volunteerism and service, Jacquelyn donates 20% of her royalties to the charities listed on her site.
In her spare time, Jacquelyn enjoys martial arts, triathlons, skiing, playing music, and volunteering. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In her spare time, Jacquelyn enjoys martial arts, triathlons, skiing, playing music, and volunteering. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 29, 2010
Rating 2.5 stars
This is the story of Ashlyn who transfers to a new college to start her life over. But soon after arriving she discovers that she is a Sotertian, a person who has supernatural powers and has to fight the war against evil. She also meets Kai and finds herself trying to balance love and her amazing powers.
Okay this is one of those books that started off great for me and then all the sudden I was asking myself what the hell happened! Everything seemed too rushed and too perfect. For example Ashlyn and Kai announce their undying love for each other on their first real date/ third time they have ever spoke to each other. Sometimes love at first sight works and unfortunately this wasn't one of them for me. They also needed more sexual tension. Also all the secondary characters paired up perfectly, everybody was instant best friends and everybody accepted things like supernatural powers to easily for me.
What I did like about this book - it had an action packed and interesting plot, that reminded me of a good superheroes movie. Also Jacquelyn Wheeler has an easy to read style of writing that made the pages just fly by.
Overall I'm left feeling a little bit disappointed and unsure if I want to read the next one.
This is the story of Ashlyn who transfers to a new college to start her life over. But soon after arriving she discovers that she is a Sotertian, a person who has supernatural powers and has to fight the war against evil. She also meets Kai and finds herself trying to balance love and her amazing powers.
Okay this is one of those books that started off great for me and then all the sudden I was asking myself what the hell happened! Everything seemed too rushed and too perfect. For example Ashlyn and Kai announce their undying love for each other on their first real date/ third time they have ever spoke to each other. Sometimes love at first sight works and unfortunately this wasn't one of them for me. They also needed more sexual tension. Also all the secondary characters paired up perfectly, everybody was instant best friends and everybody accepted things like supernatural powers to easily for me.
What I did like about this book - it had an action packed and interesting plot, that reminded me of a good superheroes movie. Also Jacquelyn Wheeler has an easy to read style of writing that made the pages just fly by.
Overall I'm left feeling a little bit disappointed and unsure if I want to read the next one.
Read
March 27, 2010Recently, I was lucky enough to be part of a book tour for Rising Shadow, by Jacquelyn Wheeler (courtesy of International Book Tours). The blurb on the jacket of the book peaked my curiosity and I was interested in the philosophy behind “Soterians” described as people who develop powers when the balance of good and evil shifts too far in evil’s favour. I liked the idea that neither side could triumph, just like yin and yang there must always be a balance.
The main protagonist is Ashlyn Woods, a young college student who just transferred to a campus on the west coast. I have to say, it was nice to read about an older person (a lot of YA books are featuring 13-16 year olds so it made a change to read about a 20 year old going to college. Ashlyn quickly realises that she is different and after a strange incident, she discovers that she has special powers. She then hooks up with three other students who develop different abilities and together they form a unit. Later on in the book, we are introduced to another unit and this definitely made it more interesting as the two units worked together to maintain the balance between good and evil. I liked the suggestion that these units exist everywhere and so it might have made it even more interesting if we could have seen units in other countries or included some kind of power shift that was international instead of just happening in California.
This book was definitely a plot driven novel rather than a character driven novel. It centred around politicians who wanted to see their evil plans put in motion once elected. I did like the twist at the end though when the main culprit was revealed. One thing that did frustrate me however, was the introduction of the mythical creature “Deimos” towards the end of the book. I’m guessing this was a reference to the devil and how he should be feared but although his name was mentioned and alluded to several times towards the end of the book, nothing ever came of it. At first I was thinking “what was the point of adding him in the first place?!” On reflection, perhaps it was a ploy by the author to introduce him now, as he would feature heavily in the sequel.
Although this book was somewhat refreshing (no vampires/zombies/ wolves/ ghosts/angels in sight) it did feel a little lengthy to me. I’m not sure if this was because I was having a rough time at work and had to meet a deadline to send it on to the next reader or not, but it was a thick book. And sadly not what I call a “Just another chapter” kind of book. You know the kind, when you race home from work to read it, when you can’t stop reading and suddenly it’s the early hours of the morning. Don’t get me wrong, it was entertaining but I’m not sure if I really want to read the sequel when there are so many great books on my TBR pile at the moment. Personally, I think this story would work better visually as its very action based and I’d love to see it as a TV series. Just like the Vampire Diaries books didn’t work for me, I love the TV series with a passion.
This is a very mixed review and so I would always encourage people to read the book for themselves and make up their own minds.If you visit the Soterians website, you can actually download a PDF version of the book for free. The sequel “merger” is out now and I believe there is a goodreads contest to win a copy.
The main protagonist is Ashlyn Woods, a young college student who just transferred to a campus on the west coast. I have to say, it was nice to read about an older person (a lot of YA books are featuring 13-16 year olds so it made a change to read about a 20 year old going to college. Ashlyn quickly realises that she is different and after a strange incident, she discovers that she has special powers. She then hooks up with three other students who develop different abilities and together they form a unit. Later on in the book, we are introduced to another unit and this definitely made it more interesting as the two units worked together to maintain the balance between good and evil. I liked the suggestion that these units exist everywhere and so it might have made it even more interesting if we could have seen units in other countries or included some kind of power shift that was international instead of just happening in California.
This book was definitely a plot driven novel rather than a character driven novel. It centred around politicians who wanted to see their evil plans put in motion once elected. I did like the twist at the end though when the main culprit was revealed. One thing that did frustrate me however, was the introduction of the mythical creature “Deimos” towards the end of the book. I’m guessing this was a reference to the devil and how he should be feared but although his name was mentioned and alluded to several times towards the end of the book, nothing ever came of it. At first I was thinking “what was the point of adding him in the first place?!” On reflection, perhaps it was a ploy by the author to introduce him now, as he would feature heavily in the sequel.
Although this book was somewhat refreshing (no vampires/zombies/ wolves/ ghosts/angels in sight) it did feel a little lengthy to me. I’m not sure if this was because I was having a rough time at work and had to meet a deadline to send it on to the next reader or not, but it was a thick book. And sadly not what I call a “Just another chapter” kind of book. You know the kind, when you race home from work to read it, when you can’t stop reading and suddenly it’s the early hours of the morning. Don’t get me wrong, it was entertaining but I’m not sure if I really want to read the sequel when there are so many great books on my TBR pile at the moment. Personally, I think this story would work better visually as its very action based and I’d love to see it as a TV series. Just like the Vampire Diaries books didn’t work for me, I love the TV series with a passion.
This is a very mixed review and so I would always encourage people to read the book for themselves and make up their own minds.If you visit the Soterians website, you can actually download a PDF version of the book for free. The sequel “merger” is out now and I believe there is a goodreads contest to win a copy.
January 1, 2010
RISING SHADOW incorporates a fun and unique twist to its paranormal theme. Ashlyn and the characters she meet are all college-aged and have much more in common then just attended the same school or living in the same area. They are all part of a team called the Soterians. Ashlyn must find a way to make friends, pass all her classes, not be homesick, and save the world with newly discovered powers before the balance between good and evil tips too much in evil's favor.
I like the fact that in Ashlyn's world no one can ever truly defeat evil...however the balance can be returned to it's rightful place. The Soterians must discover who is behind the source and an interesting fact is that the villians are not paranormal "bad-guys" that need an obscene amount of magic skill or what-not to overcome.While the villians in this story are absolutely tough to beat they are surprisingly realisitc - i.e. politicians and terrorists. It was a nice and refreshing change to evil vampires or rogue hunters, etc.
I was also quite fascinated with the Soterian powers that Jacquelyn came up with. How the Soterian team works and what powers belong to which character. I freely admit it was one of the best and most fun parts about the book. One thing I wasn't quite feeling in the book was Ashlyn and Kai's relationship and how fast it seemed to develop. I'm all for falling in love quickly, I mean I of all people understand that you can't control your feelings or how fast they can develop. However, I would have liked to see their relationship actually develop and blossom. I think I would have appreciated their feelings a little bit more.
Overall I had a lot of fun reading RISING SHADOW, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the next installment into the Soterian world.
I like the fact that in Ashlyn's world no one can ever truly defeat evil...however the balance can be returned to it's rightful place. The Soterians must discover who is behind the source and an interesting fact is that the villians are not paranormal "bad-guys" that need an obscene amount of magic skill or what-not to overcome.While the villians in this story are absolutely tough to beat they are surprisingly realisitc - i.e. politicians and terrorists. It was a nice and refreshing change to evil vampires or rogue hunters, etc.
I was also quite fascinated with the Soterian powers that Jacquelyn came up with. How the Soterian team works and what powers belong to which character. I freely admit it was one of the best and most fun parts about the book. One thing I wasn't quite feeling in the book was Ashlyn and Kai's relationship and how fast it seemed to develop. I'm all for falling in love quickly, I mean I of all people understand that you can't control your feelings or how fast they can develop. However, I would have liked to see their relationship actually develop and blossom. I think I would have appreciated their feelings a little bit more.
Overall I had a lot of fun reading RISING SHADOW, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the next installment into the Soterian world.
January 27, 2010
You can read my full review here - Rising Shadow Review
Bottom line – if you have yet to be introduced to Ashlyn and Kai I recommend you pick up the book, you will not be disappointed...with it's fast pace, butt kicking action, down to earth characters and meaningful messages – Rising Shadow's has risen up to to become one of my favorite reads so far this year, I cant WAIT for Merger!
Bottom line – if you have yet to be introduced to Ashlyn and Kai I recommend you pick up the book, you will not be disappointed...with it's fast pace, butt kicking action, down to earth characters and meaningful messages – Rising Shadow's has risen up to to become one of my favorite reads so far this year, I cant WAIT for Merger!
Want to read
October 20, 2009I like the sound of this
December 27, 2010
This was an interestingly unique story. We follow Ashlyn Woods, our main character, on her way o her new school at the University of California at Santa Barbra from her home town of Berkley. This is a fresh start for her leaving behind the mess that was her life, with all the partying, drinking and destructive boyfriend Toby. Ashlyn was shocked that she was able to get into the school in the first place but quickly jumped at the opportunity. A new scenery and a new school Ashlyn is determined to get her life together. Things are going great until strange things begin happening to Ashlyn and she soon figures out that she is not and ordinary human but a Soterian. Her and four other kids are gifted with powers when the balance of good and evil is tipped more towards evil. Suddenly Ashlyn is thrown in this battle to fight the evil that is creating chaos in California, deal with finding her soul mate all the while making sure she doesn’t flunk out of college.
There was a nice pace to the story that made it an easy enjoyable read. The story was unique with the plot line and the history of the Soterians, making the story filled with suspense and danger. I enjoyed Ashlyn character and could understand her past and her motivations to want to change. It takes a strong person to really look at their lives, see what the needed to change, and actually do it. The romance between Ashlyn and Kai felt intense and real. It was great that Kai had some involvement with the Soterians but was more in the side lines and comfortable with it. He was Ashlyn’s solid supportive rock always there when she needed him and didn’t try to out shine or overpower her. What added to the story was that Ashlyn wasn’t alone, there were others going through what she was going through. Other students who were called to power, some she knew and other total strangers forced to come together as a team to stop this unknown evil. Though they didn’t fight the evil head on, there was some action with the evil influences within weak minded people set to carry out its plans. What would have made the story better for me would have been more danger and action. The story was more focused on discovery and understanding what was happening with Ashlyn and the others powers then on the actual confrontation of the evil. Though there was a moment or two that had me surprised but I wanted more. There was a lot of building up with the suspense, intensity and actions that I hope will come out in the future stories since Rising Shadow is the first book in the series. All in all I feel that this was a good story which will hopefully branch off into and even better series.
There was a nice pace to the story that made it an easy enjoyable read. The story was unique with the plot line and the history of the Soterians, making the story filled with suspense and danger. I enjoyed Ashlyn character and could understand her past and her motivations to want to change. It takes a strong person to really look at their lives, see what the needed to change, and actually do it. The romance between Ashlyn and Kai felt intense and real. It was great that Kai had some involvement with the Soterians but was more in the side lines and comfortable with it. He was Ashlyn’s solid supportive rock always there when she needed him and didn’t try to out shine or overpower her. What added to the story was that Ashlyn wasn’t alone, there were others going through what she was going through. Other students who were called to power, some she knew and other total strangers forced to come together as a team to stop this unknown evil. Though they didn’t fight the evil head on, there was some action with the evil influences within weak minded people set to carry out its plans. What would have made the story better for me would have been more danger and action. The story was more focused on discovery and understanding what was happening with Ashlyn and the others powers then on the actual confrontation of the evil. Though there was a moment or two that had me surprised but I wanted more. There was a lot of building up with the suspense, intensity and actions that I hope will come out in the future stories since Rising Shadow is the first book in the series. All in all I feel that this was a good story which will hopefully branch off into and even better series.
May 14, 2010
This was a fantastic start to a new series by Jacquelyn Wheeler. Ashlyn is a normal teenager, she has obviously had difficult relationships in her past but is determined to put that behind her & make a new start at college. She has the same insecurities that I'm sure most of us have experienced at some time in our lives and that makes her very easy to relate to. Life at college starts off as you'd expect and Ashlyn soon starts to make friends and settle in. I particularly like her roommate Rebecca who quickly became one of my favorite characters.
It isn't long before Ashlyn & Rebecca both notice that strange things are happening to them but this is soon explained when they find out they are Soterians. Having been called as Soterians they are developing strange powers that they are going to need in order to restore the balance between good and evil. I was expecting this to be a typical good versus evil story - one where the good guys always win - but I really loved the twist that Jacquelyn has put on the series. Evil can never be completely overcome, it can only be balanced out by good. Jacquelyn describes this using the yin and yang symbol - good can be on top but there will always be evil in the world. The Soterians are called on when the balance has been tipped the wrong way and evil is on top. Their task is to restore the balance but as soon as they have done this they will lose their powers.
I found this a really interesting concept - what must it be like to suddenly develop these amazing super powers and then lose them when the threat of evil is under control? It must also be difficult to be called upon to battle evil when you know that you'll never be able to win.
When Ashlyn meets Kai they have an instant connection and fall in love almost immediately. This is something I would usually question but I thought it was very well written & believable. Their connection is obviously about more than lust and the two of them spend hours talking and getting to know each other. Although they have strong feelings they don't rush into things which makes a refreshing change. The book has a great cast of characters & although you get to know most of the Soterians quite well I'm looking forward to finding out more in future books.
Overall I thought this was an excellent first book - there was plenty of action and a few great twists that I didn't see coming. I'm really looking forward to reading future books in the series.
It isn't long before Ashlyn & Rebecca both notice that strange things are happening to them but this is soon explained when they find out they are Soterians. Having been called as Soterians they are developing strange powers that they are going to need in order to restore the balance between good and evil. I was expecting this to be a typical good versus evil story - one where the good guys always win - but I really loved the twist that Jacquelyn has put on the series. Evil can never be completely overcome, it can only be balanced out by good. Jacquelyn describes this using the yin and yang symbol - good can be on top but there will always be evil in the world. The Soterians are called on when the balance has been tipped the wrong way and evil is on top. Their task is to restore the balance but as soon as they have done this they will lose their powers.
I found this a really interesting concept - what must it be like to suddenly develop these amazing super powers and then lose them when the threat of evil is under control? It must also be difficult to be called upon to battle evil when you know that you'll never be able to win.
When Ashlyn meets Kai they have an instant connection and fall in love almost immediately. This is something I would usually question but I thought it was very well written & believable. Their connection is obviously about more than lust and the two of them spend hours talking and getting to know each other. Although they have strong feelings they don't rush into things which makes a refreshing change. The book has a great cast of characters & although you get to know most of the Soterians quite well I'm looking forward to finding out more in future books.
Overall I thought this was an excellent first book - there was plenty of action and a few great twists that I didn't see coming. I'm really looking forward to reading future books in the series.
January 15, 2010
When I first started Rising Shadow, I was extremely hesitant because I was unable to find really any reviews on the novel. So, I just jumped right on in with nothing to go off of.
The novel starts out with a bit of college life, and I found myself connecting with the characters. Rebecca proceeded to become my favorite of the group. I disliked how some characters were introduced, just to be barely mentioned later on (the non-Soterians), but perhaps they will play more roles in the future.
Everything became more interesting when Ashlyn and the other Soterians discover their abilities, and begin to train.
The villains of this story don't have any special powers or anything. A lot of the evil things that are happening all revolve around politics, robberies, and crime sprees. It's all interconnected, and the Soterians struggle to learn more about their powers, and who is behind all of this chaos. All of the things that were happening kept me intrigued, especially since I had no clue who was behind it all until the end (which was quite an interesting twist).
The action and the mystery of this story really made it an easy to continue page after page. The missions were intriguing, realistic, and I found myself invested in the story.
Highlights: I loved all of the Soterian's powers. Wheeler's descriptions of everything kept me engaged. I also loved the little twists in the plot, because they kept my interest going.
Lowlights: In the beginning of the story, Ashlyn meets your stereotypical mean girl, and proceeds to do a pretty childish action. I found myself put off by this action, because really, this isn't middle school, and I would expect our heroine to at least act her age.
I really disliked how quickly "Love" came into action with Kai and Ashlyn. They really are complete strangers, and then they're in love? Sorry, but that doesn't work for me. They both even admit how weird it is, but I still think the whole love thing should have waited until the next book.
As a whole, I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the intrigue of the Soterians and their abilities. Definitely a fun book to read that has a different take on superpowers. Check out Jacquelyn's website to see if you'd be interested!
The novel starts out with a bit of college life, and I found myself connecting with the characters. Rebecca proceeded to become my favorite of the group. I disliked how some characters were introduced, just to be barely mentioned later on (the non-Soterians), but perhaps they will play more roles in the future.
Everything became more interesting when Ashlyn and the other Soterians discover their abilities, and begin to train.
The villains of this story don't have any special powers or anything. A lot of the evil things that are happening all revolve around politics, robberies, and crime sprees. It's all interconnected, and the Soterians struggle to learn more about their powers, and who is behind all of this chaos. All of the things that were happening kept me intrigued, especially since I had no clue who was behind it all until the end (which was quite an interesting twist).
The action and the mystery of this story really made it an easy to continue page after page. The missions were intriguing, realistic, and I found myself invested in the story.
Highlights: I loved all of the Soterian's powers. Wheeler's descriptions of everything kept me engaged. I also loved the little twists in the plot, because they kept my interest going.
Lowlights: In the beginning of the story, Ashlyn meets your stereotypical mean girl, and proceeds to do a pretty childish action. I found myself put off by this action, because really, this isn't middle school, and I would expect our heroine to at least act her age.
I really disliked how quickly "Love" came into action with Kai and Ashlyn. They really are complete strangers, and then they're in love? Sorry, but that doesn't work for me. They both even admit how weird it is, but I still think the whole love thing should have waited until the next book.
As a whole, I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the intrigue of the Soterians and their abilities. Definitely a fun book to read that has a different take on superpowers. Check out Jacquelyn's website to see if you'd be interested!
December 22, 2009
Rising Shadow
By Jacquelyn Wheeler
Publisher:September 10th 2009 by Jacquelyn Wheeler
# of Pages:378 pages
Age Rating: +13
My Rating:5 Stars
Synopsis:
Ashlyn Woods just transferred to one of the most beautiful campuses on the west coast, where she can't wait to start her life over as a normal college student. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she discovers that she is a Soterian: a person who develops amazing powers when the balance of good and evil shifts too far in evil's favor. Soon she and the other Soterians are studying martial arts and learning to use their powers to prevent California from being plunged into chaos. But they quickly discover that they're up against a much more dangerous enemy than they anticipated. And when Ashlyn meets Kai, a devastatingly gorgeous guitar player, she realizes she must sacrifice more than she ever imagined.
Review:
After reading alot of "Vampire" books, this book wasa nice break. The "Rising Shadow" is my cup of coffee, I love reading books like this with boys/girls have superpower.( like Maximun Ride or Spiderman.)
And the author wrote it so that it wasn'y the same old I-got-superpower-and-stop-the-badguys- from-taking-over-the -world, but it was different.
I thought it was interesting how the "bad guy" is show as evil and that it can never go way, just slow down or stopped for some time.
Ashiyn seem like a real person, she reacted like how anyone would and she was tough,able to hold her ground and she wasn't the whining type of girl. And as for Kely, I thought that he was going to be like all of the other "bad boy" but no, he wasn't. He was kind and very helpful to Ashiyn.(and it's nice to know that there are still some "Good boy")
Thus book is SO NEAT!! I can't wait for the next book! You should read it! If you are the kind of person who like to read about superpower or that kind of stuff, then you will love this book!
I give it 5 stars!
Enjoy!:D:D
January 27, 2010
This book is a great example that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover! When I read the synopsis of this book I was highly intrigued to check it out. Then I won the book from Jacquelyn and began to adventure through its pages. I was hooked, I could not stop reading even if I tried! I ended up waking up late for work one day because I was up until 4am reading this book! So to say that it surpassed my expectations would be an insult, It went above and beyond (kinda like Ashlyn lol) anything I expected!
The story is about Ashlyn who has been waiting to transfer to a new college on the west coast, and when she finally does her whole life changes! Ashlyn's and her roommate Rebecca instantly click and become good friends. Everything is normal and great and then Ashlyn discovers she can fly, and Rebbecca can read thoughts!?! They discover that they are Solterians and that there are others, and that they will need to reform their powers and fight evil. Sounds lie a lot to take on at the start to a new school year right? You have no idea! This plot is so unique and different, and definitly left me hanging on the edge of my seat! It says this is book one of the series and I am dieing to get the second one!!!
Each character was so well thought out and unique that they meshed well together without overshadowing one another. I grew very fond of Rebbecca, she is a good friend to Ashlyn and I found I could relate with her because we are around the same age. I was also found of Michael and his bad boy attitude I hope in the second book (I hope there is one lol) that his character starts to unravel more. Overall I think this was a very successful, well written book! I hope that there is a series because I will definitely keep reading. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, and powers, and sitting on the edge of their seat =)
The story is about Ashlyn who has been waiting to transfer to a new college on the west coast, and when she finally does her whole life changes! Ashlyn's and her roommate Rebecca instantly click and become good friends. Everything is normal and great and then Ashlyn discovers she can fly, and Rebbecca can read thoughts!?! They discover that they are Solterians and that there are others, and that they will need to reform their powers and fight evil. Sounds lie a lot to take on at the start to a new school year right? You have no idea! This plot is so unique and different, and definitly left me hanging on the edge of my seat! It says this is book one of the series and I am dieing to get the second one!!!
Each character was so well thought out and unique that they meshed well together without overshadowing one another. I grew very fond of Rebbecca, she is a good friend to Ashlyn and I found I could relate with her because we are around the same age. I was also found of Michael and his bad boy attitude I hope in the second book (I hope there is one lol) that his character starts to unravel more. Overall I think this was a very successful, well written book! I hope that there is a series because I will definitely keep reading. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, and powers, and sitting on the edge of their seat =)
March 12, 2010
Lots of action makes Rising Shadow a fun read. Ashlyn is just trying to get her bearings at her new college in Santa Barbara, CA. when she develops the ability to fly. Crazy but true since she is a Soterian, a person who’s abilities develop when the balance of good and evil goes in evil’s favor.
The story centers around a California political race and when the winner is announced under suspicious voting conditions, Ashlyn’s powers come to life. She isn’t alone. Several other college kids have super powers too and with the help of a professor from the college, they start training.
That’s when the story starts to shine. The beginning covers a lot of Ashlyn moving from Northern California to Southern California and getting situated at school. I could have done without that and been happier starting closer to when she develops her powers and gets together with the other super heroes.
There is also a lot of detail that bogged the story down for me but overall Wheeler does very well with a creative premise.
The group has to uncover the evil plot and determine how to overcome the bad guy. I did enjoy the interesting twist at the end. Wheeler gets you going one way and then surprises you.
Ashlyn and her group are interesting folk and their relationships come through as real especially with her friends and comrades. She does meet a hot guy in the beginning and they click quickly but he moves away.
They manage to fuel their long-distance romance and he comes back. He’s a sweet guy – no bad boy here but it’s easy to see why Ashlyn likes him and his acceptance of Ashlyn’s weirdness shows a surprising level of maturity.
Rising Shadow has great action, super heroes, political intrigue and suspense. It’s a good choice for those who like an entertaining thriller.You can check out the Soterians website for more info.
The story centers around a California political race and when the winner is announced under suspicious voting conditions, Ashlyn’s powers come to life. She isn’t alone. Several other college kids have super powers too and with the help of a professor from the college, they start training.
That’s when the story starts to shine. The beginning covers a lot of Ashlyn moving from Northern California to Southern California and getting situated at school. I could have done without that and been happier starting closer to when she develops her powers and gets together with the other super heroes.
There is also a lot of detail that bogged the story down for me but overall Wheeler does very well with a creative premise.
The group has to uncover the evil plot and determine how to overcome the bad guy. I did enjoy the interesting twist at the end. Wheeler gets you going one way and then surprises you.
Ashlyn and her group are interesting folk and their relationships come through as real especially with her friends and comrades. She does meet a hot guy in the beginning and they click quickly but he moves away.
They manage to fuel their long-distance romance and he comes back. He’s a sweet guy – no bad boy here but it’s easy to see why Ashlyn likes him and his acceptance of Ashlyn’s weirdness shows a surprising level of maturity.
Rising Shadow has great action, super heroes, political intrigue and suspense. It’s a good choice for those who like an entertaining thriller.You can check out the Soterians website for more info.
June 5, 2010
Copy from Around the World Tours
REVIEW:
I'm not sure where to begin with this review. It wasn't what I was expecting, so I think I'm a little let down.
The character's themselves were great, and very believable. I loved that they were older, collage aged kids and not some crazy magical crime fighting high schoolers.
The romance between Kai and Ashlyn was a little intense/very possessive and they didn't really have time to build the relationship up to where it was more believable. It was just a love at first sight/we're soul-mates kinda thing. I wish there was more time with them falling in love.
Now, on to the Soletarians...there's a healer who can also create illusions, a warrior who's crazy good at fighting, a sentry that keeps the evil from touching the rest of the unit, and then Ashlyn, the scout who can fly and turn invisible. Let's not forget that their mentor/teacher leaves out lots of information about their mythology until it's too late to fix things. It was alot to take in.
It was just weird to me.
They were trying to save the world from some twisted political figure and restore the balance between good and evil. but then lets throw in Deimos (pure evil), who we never even see/figure out who he is, and then just leave the ending open for the next book where we'll introduce him. That really just confused me.
I just didn't really like it. It got great reviews from other sites, and I can understand why people loved. It just wasn't for me, I guess my expectations where too high, and I was hoping for a different story-line. The writing was great, the plot flowed very well and it had a lot of action and magic. It just wasn't for me. It was more science fiction, and reminded me alot of Scott Westerfelds' The Midnighters Series, if you like that, I'm sure you'll like Rising Shadow.
REVIEW:
I'm not sure where to begin with this review. It wasn't what I was expecting, so I think I'm a little let down.
The character's themselves were great, and very believable. I loved that they were older, collage aged kids and not some crazy magical crime fighting high schoolers.
The romance between Kai and Ashlyn was a little intense/very possessive and they didn't really have time to build the relationship up to where it was more believable. It was just a love at first sight/we're soul-mates kinda thing. I wish there was more time with them falling in love.
Now, on to the Soletarians...there's a healer who can also create illusions, a warrior who's crazy good at fighting, a sentry that keeps the evil from touching the rest of the unit, and then Ashlyn, the scout who can fly and turn invisible. Let's not forget that their mentor/teacher leaves out lots of information about their mythology until it's too late to fix things. It was alot to take in.
It was just weird to me.
They were trying to save the world from some twisted political figure and restore the balance between good and evil. but then lets throw in Deimos (pure evil), who we never even see/figure out who he is, and then just leave the ending open for the next book where we'll introduce him. That really just confused me.
I just didn't really like it. It got great reviews from other sites, and I can understand why people loved. It just wasn't for me, I guess my expectations where too high, and I was hoping for a different story-line. The writing was great, the plot flowed very well and it had a lot of action and magic. It just wasn't for me. It was more science fiction, and reminded me alot of Scott Westerfelds' The Midnighters Series, if you like that, I'm sure you'll like Rising Shadow.
November 25, 2009
I was certainly quite excited to get stuck into this book when I received in it in the mail all the way from the U.S. after winning it from Goodreads giveways. After recently finishing a couple of really slow epic fantasy novels, I found Rising Shadow quite fast-paced and refreshing to read. The little snippet of action in the first few pages got me hooked instantly.
The idea of Soterians – a group of chosen people called forth to restore the balance of good and evil whenever evil tips the scales – is rather intriguing. The Soterian powers are similar to some of those in the TV show “Heroes”, but what makes this novel different and interesting to read, is how those with acquired powers train and work together as a unit, developing trust, friendships and love along the way.
I think the author achieved a perfect balance of detail for the readers to visualise the story’s setting and characters. I also really enjoyed the humour in the dialogue between some of the characters. Jesse always managed to make me smile whenever he did or said anything (i.e. “your Hotness” or the scene with his black boots).
Readers would find it hard to put down the novel in the last few chapters of the book, as I did. I would have liked it better if the ending was a bit longer, but that might just be a combination of me not wanting the book to end and not fully recovered from the previous books I’ve read that take like fifteen chapters to wrap up!
I recommend Rising Shadow to anyone who is after a quick and easy read, filled with a good combination of suspenseful action, superhuman powers, romance, college life and politics. I definitely can’t wait for the rest of the series to be released.
The idea of Soterians – a group of chosen people called forth to restore the balance of good and evil whenever evil tips the scales – is rather intriguing. The Soterian powers are similar to some of those in the TV show “Heroes”, but what makes this novel different and interesting to read, is how those with acquired powers train and work together as a unit, developing trust, friendships and love along the way.
I think the author achieved a perfect balance of detail for the readers to visualise the story’s setting and characters. I also really enjoyed the humour in the dialogue between some of the characters. Jesse always managed to make me smile whenever he did or said anything (i.e. “your Hotness” or the scene with his black boots).
Readers would find it hard to put down the novel in the last few chapters of the book, as I did. I would have liked it better if the ending was a bit longer, but that might just be a combination of me not wanting the book to end and not fully recovered from the previous books I’ve read that take like fifteen chapters to wrap up!
I recommend Rising Shadow to anyone who is after a quick and easy read, filled with a good combination of suspenseful action, superhuman powers, romance, college life and politics. I definitely can’t wait for the rest of the series to be released.
Read
March 5, 2010Ashlyn has it tough her junior year of college. And I thought my junior year was bad with slaving over atmospheric physics...pssh, she made my year look easy. Discovering new powers, fighting evil, falling in love with a boy living thousands of miles away, trying not to get killed and still go to college, well, if there's a girl that can handle all that then it's Ashlyn. I love how kick-butt this book is. I also find it highly imaginative. A whole world is built surroundings the Soterians and this adds wonderfully to the lush story of good versus evil.
Although, I admit that at times I felt there was a little too much information at once and it slowed the story a bit. There was so much information being thrown at the reader that occasionally I got confused. But I do realize this book is the first in a sequel so I can understand the load of information. The end did really pick up and there was a lot of great action. And the twist at the end was a great bonus. I was wonderfully surprised and am now rather curious what the sequel will consist of.
I do have to add that my favorite line in the book has to be this: "It was nice to talk to someone who understood how life-changing Zachary's Pizza is (p. 211)." Just reading that line made me yearn from some of their spinach and mushroom pizza. I really loved that part of the setting for this book included Berkeley. In fact, I rather enjoyed the whole California setting. Overall, I enjoyed it and felt connected to Ashlyn even though she had kick-butt powers and I don't.
Although, I admit that at times I felt there was a little too much information at once and it slowed the story a bit. There was so much information being thrown at the reader that occasionally I got confused. But I do realize this book is the first in a sequel so I can understand the load of information. The end did really pick up and there was a lot of great action. And the twist at the end was a great bonus. I was wonderfully surprised and am now rather curious what the sequel will consist of.
I do have to add that my favorite line in the book has to be this: "It was nice to talk to someone who understood how life-changing Zachary's Pizza is (p. 211)." Just reading that line made me yearn from some of their spinach and mushroom pizza. I really loved that part of the setting for this book included Berkeley. In fact, I rather enjoyed the whole California setting. Overall, I enjoyed it and felt connected to Ashlyn even though she had kick-butt powers and I don't.
May 28, 2010
Rising Shadow was written in a very easy to read style. There are some books I've read where I find my mind wandering, or I have to read the same paragraph a couple times, but with this one I was hooked right from the beginning. The author definitely knows how to write in such a way that keeps the reader engaged.
I really liked the story in this one, as it was interesting and different, and I'm always a sucker for characters with superpowers. I felt like at times the author was a bit too blatant with her political leanings shining right through. I think it's okay to let what you believe or what you know come through in your stories, but to have every character have exactly the same political leanings and beliefs is a bit of a stretch.
But I got past my mild annoyance with that and was able to enjoy the story, thankfully. Until the romance started overshadowing the plot, or rather, it was the plot for a little bit, which always turns me off. If I wanted that, I'd be reading romance novels. I like the romance in my books to be very understated.
Now that I've aired all my grievances, there was a lot to like about this one. The characters were interesting, the plot was very fast paced, and I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series. I think it would be fun if each upcoming book in the series focused on a different character, but I guess I don't get to decide that. :) I'll just have to enjoy them however they are. I would definitely recommend this one!
I really liked the story in this one, as it was interesting and different, and I'm always a sucker for characters with superpowers. I felt like at times the author was a bit too blatant with her political leanings shining right through. I think it's okay to let what you believe or what you know come through in your stories, but to have every character have exactly the same political leanings and beliefs is a bit of a stretch.
But I got past my mild annoyance with that and was able to enjoy the story, thankfully. Until the romance started overshadowing the plot, or rather, it was the plot for a little bit, which always turns me off. If I wanted that, I'd be reading romance novels. I like the romance in my books to be very understated.
Now that I've aired all my grievances, there was a lot to like about this one. The characters were interesting, the plot was very fast paced, and I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series. I think it would be fun if each upcoming book in the series focused on a different character, but I guess I don't get to decide that. :) I'll just have to enjoy them however they are. I would definitely recommend this one!
December 15, 2009
Prior to receiving this book, I hadn’t read any reviews, opinions or buzz on it, which is extremely unusual considering it’s usually what strikes my interest for books in the first place. Since the buzz was low and I had no preconceived notions to go by, I was a bit worried that I might end up hating it, but fortunately, my worries were for nothing.
Rising Shadow, though not one of the most spectacular books I’ve ever read, pleasantly surprised me by how much it pulled me in. I was expecting the story to include paranormal villains and some kind of mystical “self-discovery” mission, but this story had neither. In fact, the main villains of the story are very real and very believable. I enjoyed the idea that instead of dark powers and mythical creatures, the Soterians fought against bona fide evils- politicians, robbers, etc.
Only one thing bothered me enough to mention- the fast relationship between Ashlyn and Kai. While I appreciated that even the main characters acknowledged that their feelings escalated entirely too quickly, I didn’t like how fast the word ‘love’ had been introduced into their relationship. I would’ve much preferred to see them progress more, but on the other hand, it’s easy to see why Jacquelyn wrote them like that.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. Complete with a cast of butt-kicking characters, awesome powers and realistic missions that balanced out the real evils of the world- Rising Shadow is definitely worth checking out!
Rising Shadow, though not one of the most spectacular books I’ve ever read, pleasantly surprised me by how much it pulled me in. I was expecting the story to include paranormal villains and some kind of mystical “self-discovery” mission, but this story had neither. In fact, the main villains of the story are very real and very believable. I enjoyed the idea that instead of dark powers and mythical creatures, the Soterians fought against bona fide evils- politicians, robbers, etc.
Only one thing bothered me enough to mention- the fast relationship between Ashlyn and Kai. While I appreciated that even the main characters acknowledged that their feelings escalated entirely too quickly, I didn’t like how fast the word ‘love’ had been introduced into their relationship. I would’ve much preferred to see them progress more, but on the other hand, it’s easy to see why Jacquelyn wrote them like that.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. Complete with a cast of butt-kicking characters, awesome powers and realistic missions that balanced out the real evils of the world- Rising Shadow is definitely worth checking out!
January 14, 2010
Rising Shadow was an action packed, fun and creative novel. I would consider it to be in the Young Adult genre, but the writing also has a mature adult like feel to it. From the beginning, Jacquelyn does a great job introducing her characters. I quickly got to know each one of them and actually started caring about them. The first individual I got to know is Ashlyn, she came across as an athletic and strong willed person. I admired her determination and envied her fearless personality. I also enjoyed the other characters, especially Kai. He was such a stud muffin, not only hot but sweet as well. You know a man like that doesn't come around too often so I was immediately intrigued. Once Ashlyn and the other Soterians were discovered, the book got very interesting. I really loved the modern day twist on all the "superheroes" and their powers. The detailed writing was nice but sometimes a little too wordy for my taste. I would sometimes put the novel down and come back to it when I was in the mood. Also, they're a lot of things that are left out which I'm guessing Jacquelyn is saving for her next four books in the series. I've noticed on Jacquelyn's site that she gives her readers the chance to download the first book, which is so awesome of her! Here is a link if you'd be interested: http://www.soterians.com But, I do recommend you go and buy it since the cover looks cool and all ;)
August 2, 2010
This was an extremely unique story, and I really enjoyed it. This isn't your normal paranormal tale. Our heroes are super heroes that only get their powers when the balance of good and evil tip in evils favor. Once the balance has been set back (because evil can never truly be defeated, only pushed back) the Soterians will once again lose their powers and be regular college students.
This book was filled with great characters, Ashlyn was a strong independent woman who is working hard at finding herself and becoming a better person. When she suddenly develops powers it's quite a shock, but she deals quickly and soon becomes quite a super hero. Our male lead has no powers of his own, but is truly a great guy and is the perfect counterpart to Ashlyn. There love happens quickly, but is built on trust and is beautiful and honest. The other Soterians are a great mix of personalities, I really enjoyed each and every one of them.
Full of action, this book had me turning the pages at lightning speed to find out just what will happen next. Another thing I really enjoyed about this book is that the author didn't feel the need to fill it with bad actions and decisions on the characters part. The martial arts teacher that leads the Soterians is always teaching them that self doubt will cripple you and to be better people all around.
I definitely recommend this book to adult and YA alike. I can't wait to start book 2 and see where the author takes these characters next
This book was filled with great characters, Ashlyn was a strong independent woman who is working hard at finding herself and becoming a better person. When she suddenly develops powers it's quite a shock, but she deals quickly and soon becomes quite a super hero. Our male lead has no powers of his own, but is truly a great guy and is the perfect counterpart to Ashlyn. There love happens quickly, but is built on trust and is beautiful and honest. The other Soterians are a great mix of personalities, I really enjoyed each and every one of them.
Full of action, this book had me turning the pages at lightning speed to find out just what will happen next. Another thing I really enjoyed about this book is that the author didn't feel the need to fill it with bad actions and decisions on the characters part. The martial arts teacher that leads the Soterians is always teaching them that self doubt will cripple you and to be better people all around.
I definitely recommend this book to adult and YA alike. I can't wait to start book 2 and see where the author takes these characters next
November 25, 2009
This year I was so turned off by the "Vampire" era with new series popping up all over that had vampires acting like normal people.
Rising Shadow is a breath of fresh air and contains good and evil in a format that is easy to read, easy to follow and takes the reader through desires that they remember from childhood, dreaming one could fly, for instance.
The flow of the book is amazing and realistic if you grew up in California or even if you didn't, it captures the energy of the state through the characters portrayal of a bike ride or a run along the beach. It was obvious to me that the author has had some great experiences in triathlon and music because she writes about them like she was there.
I am recommending this book to all the teens and preteen readers that I know since it is such a compelling book with characters that can be related to by at least every type of teen personality. The types of powers portrayed in the book seem to work like R. Zelazny used shadow, order and chaos in the magic of Amber while combining the power of love and hate for a magical read.
As you can see, I loved this first book, I couldn't put it down. I would make for an incredible movie script and utilize the FX in Hollywood while staying away from Vampires and Werewolves.
It has amazing powers to be a best seller at the top of the list. Can't wait for Book #2.
MJames
Rising Shadow is a breath of fresh air and contains good and evil in a format that is easy to read, easy to follow and takes the reader through desires that they remember from childhood, dreaming one could fly, for instance.
The flow of the book is amazing and realistic if you grew up in California or even if you didn't, it captures the energy of the state through the characters portrayal of a bike ride or a run along the beach. It was obvious to me that the author has had some great experiences in triathlon and music because she writes about them like she was there.
I am recommending this book to all the teens and preteen readers that I know since it is such a compelling book with characters that can be related to by at least every type of teen personality. The types of powers portrayed in the book seem to work like R. Zelazny used shadow, order and chaos in the magic of Amber while combining the power of love and hate for a magical read.
As you can see, I loved this first book, I couldn't put it down. I would make for an incredible movie script and utilize the FX in Hollywood while staying away from Vampires and Werewolves.
It has amazing powers to be a best seller at the top of the list. Can't wait for Book #2.
MJames
June 2, 2010
I had previously heard about this book and when an ARC tour of it was announced I didn't hesitate to join. The idea of the Soterians is very unique and was a joy to learn about. It started out decent but felt like the author was trying too hard to push into our heads the idea that something was up with Ashlyn, the main character. But at about 60 pages in, that feeling fades away and it really starts picking up. New characters are introduced throughout the book and just when I thought I had everything figured out there was a twist in place.
As far as the action and romance went, Wheeler couldn't go wrong. The characters of Ashyln and Kai were meant to be together.
This novel involves a lot of politics. If you aren't a politcal person and think that just because this books talks a lot about politics that it won't be for you, then you are wrong. The Soterians can be helpful in any situation(I am sure of it!!), it just so happens in this book, its a politcal backdrop(I hear the next one is financial).
It's exciting to see YA go into a different direction. I've never read anything quite like this, and I think that's one of the reasons why I enjoyed it so much. It's new and refreshing.
As far as the action and romance went, Wheeler couldn't go wrong. The characters of Ashyln and Kai were meant to be together.
This novel involves a lot of politics. If you aren't a politcal person and think that just because this books talks a lot about politics that it won't be for you, then you are wrong. The Soterians can be helpful in any situation(I am sure of it!!), it just so happens in this book, its a politcal backdrop(I hear the next one is financial).
It's exciting to see YA go into a different direction. I've never read anything quite like this, and I think that's one of the reasons why I enjoyed it so much. It's new and refreshing.
June 23, 2010
Since this book is a first one in the series it was explaining everything you pretty much need to know about all the characters and the role as Soterians. I loved the characters and the relationships they each formed. I really enjoyed the plot of the story. It was easy to read and follow. I was shocked at some part and not surprised by some of the things that happen. I can tell the other books in the series are going to get better if they are just as good as the first one.
I felt like the author could have ended the book a little bit better with more of an ending then a cliff hanger. After I read the final page, I turned it hoping there would be more. I don't mind cliff hangers but they always bother me because I always want more. I want to know what happens during Ashlyn and Kai's road trip. What happens to the other Soterians while they are away. If they will ever get Good and Evil back to normal. (I'm sure they will in the final book) but that is besides the point.
I felt like the author could have ended the book a little bit better with more of an ending then a cliff hanger. After I read the final page, I turned it hoping there would be more. I don't mind cliff hangers but they always bother me because I always want more. I want to know what happens during Ashlyn and Kai's road trip. What happens to the other Soterians while they are away. If they will ever get Good and Evil back to normal. (I'm sure they will in the final book) but that is besides the point.
April 4, 2010
Rising Shadow is a fantastic read that has fun characters and a great plot.
Despite a slow start, once it really got in to it I couldn't put it down. The story got intense when Ashlyn learned about being a Soterians, and what that entailed. As a Soterian her powers are linked to her emotions. For exapmle: she just needs to think happy thoughts and presto! she can fly.(very Peter Pan)The characters were diverse as well. I especially liked Jesse. He was fun and had style. I just wish that there was more of him in the story. The unexpectedness of the ending was awesome. I won't give anything away, but I just did not see that one coming!
I was kind of surprised when I saw how little number of people have actually read this on GoodReads. I can easily see this book giving quality reading time to plenty of people. I loved the book and I can't wait to see what happens in the next one.
Despite a slow start, once it really got in to it I couldn't put it down. The story got intense when Ashlyn learned about being a Soterians, and what that entailed. As a Soterian her powers are linked to her emotions. For exapmle: she just needs to think happy thoughts and presto! she can fly.(very Peter Pan)The characters were diverse as well. I especially liked Jesse. He was fun and had style. I just wish that there was more of him in the story. The unexpectedness of the ending was awesome. I won't give anything away, but I just did not see that one coming!
I was kind of surprised when I saw how little number of people have actually read this on GoodReads. I can easily see this book giving quality reading time to plenty of people. I loved the book and I can't wait to see what happens in the next one.
November 22, 2009
I won this book as part of the Goodreads giveaway program, and was excited to read it. I was not let down. The story was fast paced and I found myself sucked into the story pretty early on. I was a little skeptical of the author's choice to make the "villian" of the story an imbalance of good and evil caused by changes in the local political scene, but somehow it worked. I also enjoyed the emphasis on friendship, trust, teamwork, and communication between the characters. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the rest of the books as they come out!
March 7, 2010
I won this through First Reads and I'm glad I did. I like the idea of the Soterians and I liked the characters in this book. I like Kai and Ashlyn's relationship but felt it was a little cheesy in parts. My only problem with this book was that I felt the action took up too small a part in the book, the last few chapters felt too rushed. I also felt that the other Soterians could have been part of the book more, but I'm hoping we find out more about them in the next book.
April 15, 2010
I loved this work of young adult fiction, set at my alma mater of dreamy UC Santa Barbara and authored by my dear old college pal and fellow Jacquelyn, Jacquelyn Wheeler. The main character is a successful coed who becomes an everyday hero fighting evil on Del Playa! So much fun!
July 21, 2010
Great fun book--paints a clear picture of UC Santa Barbara.
October 9, 2010
This is the second edition of Rising Shadow, released Oct. 2, 2010. New cover, tighter story, and a modified beginning. Hope you enjoy it!
August 17, 2013
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.
Quick & Dirty: Great idea but I felt a big disconnect with the story and I had a hard time getting through it.
Opening Sentence: Suddenly, the road ahead of us was a mosaic of red brake lights, and traffic slowed to a stop.
The Review:
Ashlyn Woods has just gotten into her dream college. In high school she partied a little too much and didn’t get the grades she needed to get into a good college. So she went to community college for two years and worked a crappy job to save up to go to UCSB. She will start her junior year there and can’t wait to leave her old life behind. She had a crappy boyfriend she broke up with and friends that weren’t very supportive. Upon arriving to her new life Ashlyn makes some new friends and even meets a great new guy. Then things start to get weird.
The balance between good and evil has shifted and someone needs to help restore it. Turns out Ashlyn is a Soterian: a person that develops supernatural powers to help restore balance. Ashlyn has always dreamed about flying and now she actually can, and that’s not her only power. With a team of other Soterian’s by her side she fights to stop an evil villain that could destroy the world as we know it. But once everything goes back to normal so will Ashlyn. She doesn’t know if she will be able to deal with living her dreams and then have them taken away. Is it worth loving and losing then to have never loved at all?
Honestly, I had a really hard time with the characters in this book. Ashlyn is the protagonist and I felt that she was a really weak character. She was really wishy-washy when it came to making decisions which really bugged me. One moment she would be this strong confident women and the next moment she would be totally insecure. She has worked so hard to get where she’s at and then all the sudden she makes a whole bunch of life changing decisions at the drop of a hat. It was like she was bi-polar and that really didn’t work for me.
Kai is the love interest in the story and I don’t really get why Ashlyn was so smitten with him. I get that he is good looking and wants to be a rockstar, but once again Ashlyn is suppose to be this put together girl and dating someone like him didn’t really fit. He dropped out of college to pursue a music career and now he has decided to move across the country because he feels like it. Sure, he was sweet and trusting but really he had nothing else going for him. Their love was total instalove and there was no development at all. They meet one time and the next time they see each other they are professing their undying love for each other. So suffice to say, I wasn’t a huge fan of them being together.
This book was a pretty bad read for me. I have my little list of pet peeves that I can’t stand in books and this hit pretty much all of them. It seemed that everything conveniently worked out, and it was very predictable. Also, I felt that the writing was too descriptive. There was really nothing left for the reader to imagine on their own. I obviously didn’t connect with the characters very well. I felt that for their age all of the characters should have been more mature and put together and they just weren’t. So that all being said, I know that there are people who would not agree with me. This book actually has decent reviews on Goodreads so if you are intrigued by the synopsis, by all means give it a try and hopefully you have a better experience than I did.
Notable Scene:
I was falling in love with Kai, the most amazing person I’d ever met, and he was falling for me, too.
Pull, pull, pull, breathe.
I had inexplicably levitated, and Rebecca was reading people’s feelings, meaning that we were either crazy or freaks of nature.
Pull, pull, pull, breathe.
Speaking of freaks, I had professor Gordon’s class again tomorrow. I had to decide whether I was going to drop the class or just tough it out.
Pull, pull, pull, breathe.
Gordon kept pressing me to come to his office hours…
And then suddenly, I knew what I had to do. The connection was so simple, so clear now. I jumped out of the pool and ran to the locker rooms, where I showered and dressed as quickly as I could. I practically sprinted to the religious studies building. I wasn’t sure whether he would be there that early, but it was worth a shot.
I found his office and knocked on the door. As soon as my knuckles touched the wood, the door opened, and Professor Gordon was standing there with a slight smile on his face.
“Come in, Ashlyn. We’ve been expecting you.”
FTC Advisory: Jacquelyn Wheeler provided me with a copy of Rising Shadow. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Great idea but I felt a big disconnect with the story and I had a hard time getting through it.
Opening Sentence: Suddenly, the road ahead of us was a mosaic of red brake lights, and traffic slowed to a stop.
The Review:
Ashlyn Woods has just gotten into her dream college. In high school she partied a little too much and didn’t get the grades she needed to get into a good college. So she went to community college for two years and worked a crappy job to save up to go to UCSB. She will start her junior year there and can’t wait to leave her old life behind. She had a crappy boyfriend she broke up with and friends that weren’t very supportive. Upon arriving to her new life Ashlyn makes some new friends and even meets a great new guy. Then things start to get weird.
The balance between good and evil has shifted and someone needs to help restore it. Turns out Ashlyn is a Soterian: a person that develops supernatural powers to help restore balance. Ashlyn has always dreamed about flying and now she actually can, and that’s not her only power. With a team of other Soterian’s by her side she fights to stop an evil villain that could destroy the world as we know it. But once everything goes back to normal so will Ashlyn. She doesn’t know if she will be able to deal with living her dreams and then have them taken away. Is it worth loving and losing then to have never loved at all?
Honestly, I had a really hard time with the characters in this book. Ashlyn is the protagonist and I felt that she was a really weak character. She was really wishy-washy when it came to making decisions which really bugged me. One moment she would be this strong confident women and the next moment she would be totally insecure. She has worked so hard to get where she’s at and then all the sudden she makes a whole bunch of life changing decisions at the drop of a hat. It was like she was bi-polar and that really didn’t work for me.
Kai is the love interest in the story and I don’t really get why Ashlyn was so smitten with him. I get that he is good looking and wants to be a rockstar, but once again Ashlyn is suppose to be this put together girl and dating someone like him didn’t really fit. He dropped out of college to pursue a music career and now he has decided to move across the country because he feels like it. Sure, he was sweet and trusting but really he had nothing else going for him. Their love was total instalove and there was no development at all. They meet one time and the next time they see each other they are professing their undying love for each other. So suffice to say, I wasn’t a huge fan of them being together.
This book was a pretty bad read for me. I have my little list of pet peeves that I can’t stand in books and this hit pretty much all of them. It seemed that everything conveniently worked out, and it was very predictable. Also, I felt that the writing was too descriptive. There was really nothing left for the reader to imagine on their own. I obviously didn’t connect with the characters very well. I felt that for their age all of the characters should have been more mature and put together and they just weren’t. So that all being said, I know that there are people who would not agree with me. This book actually has decent reviews on Goodreads so if you are intrigued by the synopsis, by all means give it a try and hopefully you have a better experience than I did.
Notable Scene:
I was falling in love with Kai, the most amazing person I’d ever met, and he was falling for me, too.
Pull, pull, pull, breathe.
I had inexplicably levitated, and Rebecca was reading people’s feelings, meaning that we were either crazy or freaks of nature.
Pull, pull, pull, breathe.
Speaking of freaks, I had professor Gordon’s class again tomorrow. I had to decide whether I was going to drop the class or just tough it out.
Pull, pull, pull, breathe.
Gordon kept pressing me to come to his office hours…
And then suddenly, I knew what I had to do. The connection was so simple, so clear now. I jumped out of the pool and ran to the locker rooms, where I showered and dressed as quickly as I could. I practically sprinted to the religious studies building. I wasn’t sure whether he would be there that early, but it was worth a shot.
I found his office and knocked on the door. As soon as my knuckles touched the wood, the door opened, and Professor Gordon was standing there with a slight smile on his face.
“Come in, Ashlyn. We’ve been expecting you.”
FTC Advisory: Jacquelyn Wheeler provided me with a copy of Rising Shadow. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
July 22, 2011
I have had this book finished for a while now but I needed to take some time before I wrote the review on it. It is just so good, every single aspect of it, that I didn’t even know where to start! The writing was great; action flowed with ease right into romance. Characters were written with strong personalities and lovable little quirks! Not to mention, the overall uniqueness of the story had me constantly guessing on what was coming next!
This book follows a young woman, Ashlyn, as she transfers to a new college. First off can I just say that I love her age? I love books about teens coming to age but every now and then it is refreshing to find a YA book dealing with characters a bit on the older side. Secondly, Ashlyn is a character anyone could easily fall in love with. She is a great person with a kind heart but she is also not afraid to let her flaws show. Ashlyn’s plans are to start over and leave her rebellious past behind her. I love that she is well aware of the mistakes she made but is trying really hard to change the future. Ashlyn wants to lead a good life so she works extremely hard to try and achieve it. Her inner strength was strong to begin with but once she starts getting her powers, she really starts to blossom!
Speaking of powers, I suppose I should explain what I even mean by that! Ashlyn and her roommate, Rebecca, start experiencing really strange things. Rebecca seems to be in tune with everyone’s feelings past the point of creepy. For Ashlyn it is more physical. Training for her triathlons has suddenly become extremely easy for her. Not to mention the little part about being able to fly! A series of events leads Ashlyn and Rebecca along with a group of fellow college students to realize that they are Soterians, people who gain special powers when the balance between good and evil shifts too far in evil’s favor. This idea alone was what made me instantly love the book. Jacquelyn essentially came up with her own forms of superheroes in a totally non-dorky way! I enjoyed learning of everyone’s powers so very much. All of the other “heroes” that were introduced to us were extremely well-developed for side characters. I felt like I could easily get along with all of them!
If battling evil wasn’t hard enough for Ashlyn to cope with there is also a new, budding romance that she must learn to balance with school and her Soterian duties. I will be honest; my own personal love life is non-existent so when I get to read about other college students who can pull off relationships, I feel a little better, almost hopeful. The romance between Kai and Ashlyn is ahhh-mazing! You get to see the very start of their relationship. There is an instant chemistry between them but the “new Ashlyn” is trying very hard to make the right choice when it comes to boys so she keeps Kai in the friend zone for a while. The pace that their relationship progressed was perfect for this length of a book. Not only did we get to see all of the things that these two have in common but we get to see them go from understanding friends to stable partners in a relationship.
The conflicts that these characters faced seemed a little far-fetched for me at first. I found myself thinking “this is really the problem they have to deal with? It is kind of lame.” BUT as the story moved on and we were able to see exactly what the characters were up against, I was a lot more understanding. The “evil” that the Soterians must combat came as a total surprise for me! I loved how much unexpected action took place in the story especially during the ending. If the Soterians weren’t practicing their combating skills, they were off fighting some evil source somewhere!
It is safe to say that this was an extremely pleasant surprise of a read! This action-packed, story will please fans of paranormal, sci-fi, and romance books! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!
This book follows a young woman, Ashlyn, as she transfers to a new college. First off can I just say that I love her age? I love books about teens coming to age but every now and then it is refreshing to find a YA book dealing with characters a bit on the older side. Secondly, Ashlyn is a character anyone could easily fall in love with. She is a great person with a kind heart but she is also not afraid to let her flaws show. Ashlyn’s plans are to start over and leave her rebellious past behind her. I love that she is well aware of the mistakes she made but is trying really hard to change the future. Ashlyn wants to lead a good life so she works extremely hard to try and achieve it. Her inner strength was strong to begin with but once she starts getting her powers, she really starts to blossom!
Speaking of powers, I suppose I should explain what I even mean by that! Ashlyn and her roommate, Rebecca, start experiencing really strange things. Rebecca seems to be in tune with everyone’s feelings past the point of creepy. For Ashlyn it is more physical. Training for her triathlons has suddenly become extremely easy for her. Not to mention the little part about being able to fly! A series of events leads Ashlyn and Rebecca along with a group of fellow college students to realize that they are Soterians, people who gain special powers when the balance between good and evil shifts too far in evil’s favor. This idea alone was what made me instantly love the book. Jacquelyn essentially came up with her own forms of superheroes in a totally non-dorky way! I enjoyed learning of everyone’s powers so very much. All of the other “heroes” that were introduced to us were extremely well-developed for side characters. I felt like I could easily get along with all of them!
If battling evil wasn’t hard enough for Ashlyn to cope with there is also a new, budding romance that she must learn to balance with school and her Soterian duties. I will be honest; my own personal love life is non-existent so when I get to read about other college students who can pull off relationships, I feel a little better, almost hopeful. The romance between Kai and Ashlyn is ahhh-mazing! You get to see the very start of their relationship. There is an instant chemistry between them but the “new Ashlyn” is trying very hard to make the right choice when it comes to boys so she keeps Kai in the friend zone for a while. The pace that their relationship progressed was perfect for this length of a book. Not only did we get to see all of the things that these two have in common but we get to see them go from understanding friends to stable partners in a relationship.
The conflicts that these characters faced seemed a little far-fetched for me at first. I found myself thinking “this is really the problem they have to deal with? It is kind of lame.” BUT as the story moved on and we were able to see exactly what the characters were up against, I was a lot more understanding. The “evil” that the Soterians must combat came as a total surprise for me! I loved how much unexpected action took place in the story especially during the ending. If the Soterians weren’t practicing their combating skills, they were off fighting some evil source somewhere!
It is safe to say that this was an extremely pleasant surprise of a read! This action-packed, story will please fans of paranormal, sci-fi, and romance books! I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!
September 9, 2010
I got Rising Shadow as part of a tour, and was really excited to read it. It had an interesting premise—people gaining powers when the balance of good and evil shifted too much in evil's favor, and losing them when things were balanced out again—but the plot wasn't quite up to par with it, and the characters seemed a bit unrealistic at times. There was also a heavy-handed lesson—don't drink (which, seriously, is a sad lesson to have to teach when the demographic you're aiming at is under 21)—that I think could have been left out/more subtle.
I had a really hard time getting into this book. The pace was, for me, incredibly slow. It started out with the end of the book, then skipped to four months earlier. So, in a way, it started out at a run, tripped, took its time getting up, moseyed along until nearly the end, at which point it started jogging, then slowed down to a walk.
I had a hard time liking Ashlyn. She had serious self esteem issues that got old and annoying early on in the book. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's someone that says they're not good enough for their boyfriend/girlfriend. Not only that, but when Ashlyn and Kai were together, they were nauseating, and they were just as bad apart, but in a different way. I can't recall ever rolling my eyes at a book before, but many an eye was rolled while I read this, for a number of reasons.
Other than making me slightly ill (I'm talking multiple occasions of them saying "I love you more than life itself" or something to that effect), I felt like their relationship was a little rushed.
SPOILER ALERT
I was kind of annoyed when another group of Soterians was brought in out of nowhere, about halfway through the book. Even more so when, in the beginning of the last quarter of the book, Ashlyn got the powers of all the Soterians. There was only a teensy bit of lead up and hinting about this. I think the Alchemist thing could have been mentioned earlier on, it came across as an afterthought.
SPOILER OVER
The twist at the end might have come a little late to be resolved like it was. I feel like, even though the book seemed too long to me, it could have used another chapter between discovering the big twist and the big twist being wrapped up.
The writing was good, very descriptive. I'm a big fan of descriptive writing, and this book had plenty of it. Wheeler did an excellent job of painting a vivid picture, making each scene clearly visible to the reader.
So, all in all, it just wasn't my kind of book. Had I read it at another time, without the pressure of a deadline, I might have enjoyed it more. The premise was interesting, the writing excellent, but the plot and characters fell a little flat. As for whether you should read it, I'll leave that up to you.
I had a really hard time getting into this book. The pace was, for me, incredibly slow. It started out with the end of the book, then skipped to four months earlier. So, in a way, it started out at a run, tripped, took its time getting up, moseyed along until nearly the end, at which point it started jogging, then slowed down to a walk.
I had a hard time liking Ashlyn. She had serious self esteem issues that got old and annoying early on in the book. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's someone that says they're not good enough for their boyfriend/girlfriend. Not only that, but when Ashlyn and Kai were together, they were nauseating, and they were just as bad apart, but in a different way. I can't recall ever rolling my eyes at a book before, but many an eye was rolled while I read this, for a number of reasons.
Other than making me slightly ill (I'm talking multiple occasions of them saying "I love you more than life itself" or something to that effect), I felt like their relationship was a little rushed.
SPOILER ALERT
I was kind of annoyed when another group of Soterians was brought in out of nowhere, about halfway through the book. Even more so when, in the beginning of the last quarter of the book, Ashlyn got the powers of all the Soterians. There was only a teensy bit of lead up and hinting about this. I think the Alchemist thing could have been mentioned earlier on, it came across as an afterthought.
SPOILER OVER
The twist at the end might have come a little late to be resolved like it was. I feel like, even though the book seemed too long to me, it could have used another chapter between discovering the big twist and the big twist being wrapped up.
The writing was good, very descriptive. I'm a big fan of descriptive writing, and this book had plenty of it. Wheeler did an excellent job of painting a vivid picture, making each scene clearly visible to the reader.
So, all in all, it just wasn't my kind of book. Had I read it at another time, without the pressure of a deadline, I might have enjoyed it more. The premise was interesting, the writing excellent, but the plot and characters fell a little flat. As for whether you should read it, I'll leave that up to you.
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