I received a copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

As far as vampire books go, Risen was good. They compared it to Twilight and this is nothing like that. It had a good plot and the pacing was fast with action that never stopped. The world building was okay and I enjoyed the characters. It was a fun, fast read.

But most of the questions you have in the beginning never get answered by the end. It moves so fast that you don't get emotionally invested in the characters. There isn't really anything that makes it stand out above the hundreds of other vampire books out there, besides the cover.

There were a few twists that I didn't see coming and it did have a cool plot. Although the characters didn't annoy me, they kind of fell flat personality wise. I didn't really feel invested in the romance on this one. It just feels as if it fell short. Especially with that ending. Questions are left unanswered and the story feels unresolved. It's good, but not a book that stands out.

A very good paranormal book with interesting characters and a very entertaining plot.
I like vampire fiction and this one a really good one.
The book is well written and the characters well developed.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing.

I’ll admit it’s been a while since I’ve been interested in a book about vampires. So often we get the same regurgitated story with a tiny change here or there in an attempt to make it stand out. I grew bored with my search for the next great vampire tale and moved on to other things. Something about this book called to me, though, and when I was asked to read and review it I jumped at the chance. I’m happy to report that it was a good decision.

The plot is well thought-out and properly developed at just the right pace, which keeps the story engaging at all times. There is also more to Risen than just vampires.. and even the vampires in this tale vary. It’s not just about a bunch of glamorous vampires that make teenage girls fall asleep at night wishing they were real. There are several different species, which really adds depth to the overall story. But I really love when an author isn’t afraid to add more than one type of paranormal creature into the mix. When you throw vampires in with fairies and other mythical beings, I’m standing in line for that brew.

The world building is on point, the characters are a perfect blend of lovable/relatable and love to hate, the romance is pretty good (although that’s not my favorite aspect), and the action kept me turning pages well beyond my normal bedtime. If you’re searching for the next great paranormal read–Risen is my recommendation to you!

When I saw that this was a vampire story, I couldn't say yes fast enough. Add that it's a different take from the usually folklore and I was doubly intrigued.



I loved the way it started out. Very atmospheric, with a nice creepy-make-the-hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck-stand-on-end scene. And the action was non-stop from there.



The pace was super-fast, which is always a plus for me, and I kept turning pages. But something was missing for me. I liked Charlie well-enough. I liked Sebastian. But the story itself fell a little flat. The dialog was a little too on-the-nose. The characters connections felt sort of rushed.


There were some really great moments that totally sucked me in, and I read this in a single day, so it definitely wasn't boring. I guess I wanted Charlie to have more agency in her own story. There were a few elements that made the story feel too predictable for me, but overall a good, fast read.


If you love vampires and action and romance with a sprinkling of blood, then

this one might be for you. It does end with a bit of a cliffhanger. But I'd definitely give the next book in the series a try.


Rating: *** (3 1/2 stars)

The nitty-gritty: Surprisingly dark and violent, Risen is a deliciously moody take on vampires, softened by a touch of romance and unexpected friendships.

I’m always on the look-out for a unique take on the vampire tale, and I’m happy to say I’ve found one in Risen. Risen is the start to a series, and by the end of the story I was left with more questions than answers, but I’m definitely intrigued by this first installment and I’m already looking forward to seeing what comes next.

Charlie lives with her Aunt Rachel and her German Shepherd Jax in a remote cottage in the woods, ever since her parents died in a car accident when she was a baby. Aunt Rachel keeps them away from any outside interference and even refuses to let Charlie have a cell phone. Clearly she’s scared of something, but all she’ll tell her niece is that she’s trying to keep them safe from the “monsters.” Charlie doesn’t believe in monsters, but she knows one thing for sure: all she wants is to leave home and start her life.

But one night, two strangers come to the door, and before Charlie realizes what’s happened, Aunt Rachel has been taken away and Charlie is left in the care of the younger man, who turns out to be a vampire named Sebastian. Sebastian, after discovering that Charlie has a strange ability to make him remember flashes of his mysterious past, decides to take her to a “safe” house, which turns out to be the compound of another vampire clan. Despite the strangeness of discovering that vampires are real and her life is in danger, Charlie is determined to rescue her aunt, who is being held by a rival vampire clan as a political pawn in a potential vampire war. Together with Sebastian and a vampire hunter named Opal, Charlie embarks on a dangerous mission that could end in disaster.

You may be oohing and ahhing over the beautiful, moody cover, but don’t let the heart-shaped tree fool you: Risen does have a budding romance between a human and a vampire, but it also has a fair amount of graphic violence that took me by surprise. And hey, I’m not complaining! There’s nothing I love more than discovering a story about vampires who are just plain evil. In Gibsen’s world, there are three different vampire clans, each with different abilities and proclivities towards drinking blood. Sebastian is a Mentis, a clan who survive entirely on human blood, and they are known for their “farms,” where humans are basically treated as livestock and used as vampire snacks. The Anima are your kinder, gentler variety of vampire who only drink from willing humans (think hippies in a commune). And finally, my favorite of the three, the Corpus are pretty much what their name suggests: decrepit, rotting creatures who are strong and deadly, killing everything in their path without a second thought.

I enjoyed the characters for the most part. Charlie has a sarcastic sense of humor which I appreciated, and in my opinion her personality is way bigger and shines brighter than Sebastian’s, but I was OK with that. Their inevitable romance is a slow burn and doesn’t overtake the rest of the story. The focus is firmly on the growing unrest among the three clans and the ways that Charlie and Rachel figure into that unrest (which I will not talk about in this review, so you’ll just have to read the book for yourself!) When Opal is introduced, I thought she was going to turn out to be your typical “girl gone bad” character, because she’s very scary and intense at first. But I loved how Opal, Charlie and Sebastian are forced together by necessity, becoming an unlikely trio, and I ended up loving their scenes together.

If anything, Risen felt a bit short to me, mostly because Gibsen packs a lot into her story. And yes, there are a couple of typical YA tropes, for example, Charlie discovers she has a special power that affects the vampires, but I was so invested in the unique world-building, that the tropes really didn’t bother me. Although the book resolves some things at the end, Gibsen also raises new questions which will hopefully be resolved in the next installment. (For example, what’s up with Charlie’s dog Jax??)

If you’re looking for a different take on vampires, then Risen might be just what you're looking for.

Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.

A few years back when it seemed every novel you picked up had a vampire in it, I read the sub-genre voraciously.  But like most fads in which people jump on the bandwagon in the middle or the end, the quality dipped and so did my enthusiasm. Unless it's written by an author I already know and like, a vampire story has to sound very, very intriguing for me to pick it up. There was something about the blurb to Risen that intrigued me enough to give it a go, and I'm glad I did.

Firstly, Risen is well written. It has one of those opening scenes that's percolating with mystery and tension. The same tension is pretty relentless throughout the novel, which I do enjoy especially in an action/mystery novel.

Cole Gibsen's world of vampires is a different take, which I liked. Some are gruesome and terrifying; others are beautiful and blend in, but can still be terrifying. Because--Vampires!

Most of the characters are multi-dimensional and compelling. And the reader feels for Charlie who is suddenly catapulted into a world she didn't know existed and into politics that are confounding. And there are secrets about herself that Charlie has not been privy to, until now.

The only complaint I have is one that arises fairly often. Risen ends on a big old cliffhanger. I literally swished the last page expecting more because I didn't have that sense of prose winding down, which you normally feel when a book is leaning towards a cliffhanger. Nope, I expected more, and there was nothing.

Ah, well. Waiting on book two.

If you're a fan of young adult paranormal, you might give this one a try. The vampires don't sparkle. At least not yet.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My review for this will be posted on the 6th of April!

The first word that comes to my mind when I think about this book is rollercoaster! What a freakin ride this book is. At first, when I was asked to read and review Risen by Cole Gibsen, I was super excited because I haven't read and enjoyed a vampire book in years, but at the same time I was freaking out because of the same exact reason.


And I know what you're thinking, yet another vampire YA book, what's going to be so different about this one. Honestly, I almost said no to reading this one mainly because I've read so many vampire YA books and I figured, like I'm guessing you're thinking as well, this one would be just like all the others...Man was I wrong! After finishing this book, I am so happy that I didn't talk myself out of reading it because I loved this book.


Author Cole Gibsen is a spectacular writer, who had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. One who wrote a book that I've been dying to read and didn't even know it. The best part of this book is there is no lag. It's packed full of great action and you never know what's going to happen next. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series! Hint hint...I need it now, please!

To start, I must admit I got hooked in by yet another beautiful cover! I wish I wasn’t such a sucker for pretty artwork, but sometimes it works to my advantage like with this book. The idea that I could have possibly never read this gem or found this author...what a shame that would have been!

At the start of Risen, Charlie Keegan is living with her Aunt Rachel and her German shepherd Jax in the secluded woods in the middle of nowhere. All Charlie wants to do is break free, to be rid of the cabin - she feels nothing short of trapped. Just when she thought that there was no escaping...there is an ominous knock at their front door. Jax is on guard, snarling and growling. The door suddenly is busted off the hinges and shattered into pieces. Into the cabin walks three of the most beautiful men Charlie has ever seen. They are so beautiful that they look unnatural, then she notices their fangs. From this moment on, Charlie’s life spirals out of control.

Charlie discovers that her aunt is being kidnapped to be used as a pawn in an ongoing war between monsters, a world that she had no idea existed. As she learns this new realm, Charlie meets new allies and enemies alike. She experiences new feelings, emotions, and challenges that force her to grow and test her personal strength as never before. As this fast-paced and thrilling adventure unfolds, Charlie learns she is more than a simple human. But, what exactly is she? That’s a subject for debate…

There is so much interesting detail to this story! My personal favorite is the different types of vampires and how they are all related to the story. However, I refuse to ruin any of this story for any reader behind me! Just know that if you choose to read this, and you should, put on your seatbelt...you are in for a wild ride! I just hope Cole Gibsen is working hard on the next installment because I can’t wait to see what happens next and I have a thousand unanswered questions. I’m sure in her own devilish way she intended to leave the reader feeling this way!

In conclusion, I’m sure Cole Gibsen doesn’t want to be compared to all the other young adult vampire series and most importantly Twilight, the horror! But I must admit that I loved this first installment of what I hope is a very long series! I’m super thrilled to say without hesitation…”Move over Twilight! Here storms in Risen!”

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Melissa Montovani with Entangled Teen Publishing, and of course Cole Gibsen herself for allowing me access to this book before publication in exchange for my unbiased opinion. It rocks!!!

**Review at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **

"You see, more than anything I wanted to get away from the cabin. I thought my only escape was college— who knew it only took a vampire kidnapping to do the trick. Could have saved me some agonizing over application essays.”
​
Charlie wants nothing more but to leave her simple life with her aunt behind, experience the world and have her own choices, be a regular teenager. Bun instead she lives in a one room cabin with her aunt, is home schooled and spends her time helping her aunt make soaps and be bored. But when strangers show up at the house and kidnap her aunt and demand Charlie's death- Charlie is completely confused. Aunt Rachel has not been honest with Charlie about her past or what she is capable of- and that monsters are real.

​I have read Cole's adult romance books and really enjoyed the feels that she was able to bring out so when I stumbled on Risen I was interested to experience her version of a YA vampire story. And it doesn't hurt that the cover is so gorgeous I just want to hug it and I am always on the search for new vampire books of any kind.

​Holy action Batman! The story took off with a bang right from the get go and never stopped, from one terrifying moment to shocking discovery after another- the pacing was amazing and I did not want to put the book down in case I missed something in the fast paced ride. I was on this stressful, enlightening adventure right along with Charlie, picking up bread crumbs about the truth as we went.

Charlie was awesome, such a ball of energy, determination with her willfulness and inability to back down to the monsters threatening her life. Also her sarcasm was very relatable (as was her aversion to patchouli - she pretty much could have been my soul-sister!)

​Sebastian vampire was a great multilayered character that I was instantly into. He was menace, confusion, full of information and then threatening, completely out of place and then a random burst of humor and compassion. Yep, I heart that boy (Man? Creature?) The banter between Charlie and Sebastian made me giggle at times:

..."Love is an illusion, a chemical released in the brain that gives a sense of euphoria. And when the euphoria fades, all that is left of love is obligation, which eventually leads to resentment.”
I finish chewing before answering. “You might not remember your past, but I’m willing to bet you were a philosophy major.”

His brow furrows. “What does that mean?”
“It means , I’m sure you were super fun to have at parties.”
​
Overall I really enjoyed this story and I can't wait for whatever else Cole wants to write, be it an exciting supernatural adventure or a swoony romance!

I grabbed Risen up on a whim and grabbed a spot on the tour and I am so glad I did. Sometimes I just want  a good YA vampire read. Throw in a little cheesiness and a whole lot of teen angst and stupid decision-making and I truly just enjoy these reads. Cole took a novel that could have been just another read, and delivered a twist on a tale we swear we have read before.



Risen took me a chapter or two to get really into, but once I got invested I really enjoyed it. I loved the characters and the instant attraction that happens. With the high adrenaline read it was a fun ride. I wasn't sure if I was going to really be into it, but by the end of the novel I was ready for the second and sad to see this one end.

This novel throws in some fun vampire twists that I haven't read before. I love when you don't see a twist coming and it takes you by surprise. This novel does that a few times.

Then there was the ending. Oh My, Batman. I am SO excited to see where the author takes that plot twist, It is going to make for a bit of chaos that I can't wait to see unfold.

The characters were great and I loved that even though some fo the vampires were hundreds of years old, they still acted like the age that they seem to have been turned. I kind of hate the all-knowing vampire books. I get it, they are old, but a 7 yearly kid is still going to act like he is 17 at some point. This book kept it true to the reactions and speech I that I was expecting. If that makes sense. If not, ignore this.

All in all, Risen was a fantastic way to end my morning.

I have always loved a good Vampire story and this one definitely fits the bill. It grabbed me from the start and did not let go. The storyline is great and I love Charlie! I can't wait to see where Cole Gibsen goes with the next book in the series.

A great beginning to a new series!Risen is a story full of action keeping your interest all the time!I find the story
line unique and original! The vampires are broken down into different clans and each clan is different, different powers, different beliefs, different ways of living. How vampires were created is really different in this story too. I really enjoyed this most of all. The characters were also lovable!This is a fast paced YA paranormal story!

for a while, vampires were all the rage in paranormal stories, but then they weren't. they might be making a comeback, and that's a-ok by me because i always enjoy a good vampire story. the vampires in risen aren't your normal vamps. their origin story involves three clans of vampires, with very different abilities, and different ways of treating humans.

when charlie's aunt is taken by monsters, and she's left behind with one of them, she's not sure that she'll survive. but when they touch sebastian realizes there's more to charlie than meets the eye, and he's not going to dispose of her until he figures out why she seems to be the key to unlocking the memories of his past.

on a road trip of sorts, charlie learns that there is so much more happening in the shadows than she ever realized, and she learns to fight and who not to trust. as she and sebastian get closer to unlocking the secrets that connect them, the attraction that (literally) sparks between them might prove to be something that destroys them both.

the first book in the series, i'm excited to see where their story goes.

**risen will publish on march 27, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (entangled teen) in exchange for my honest review.

When her Aunt is kidnapped, Charlie is forced to trust the very being that want to cause her harm in hopes of getting her aunt back.  But Charlie and Sebastian soon discover there is more to what they know of the world and together they fight to get to the bottom of it while rescuing her aunt.

Normally, this is the kind of story I would devour.  A naive heroine and a broody hero who must rely on one another in order to get to the bottom of their issue.  But the relationship between Charlie and Sebastian felt like there was something missing.  Add on the underlying arc of what Charlie is and the story fell a little flat to me.

Risen is fast paced, and hard to put down!  Charlie lives in the woods with her hippie Aunt, making soaps and going on long walks in the woods with her dog, Jax.  She is very limited in being able to go out in public, outside of the woods and her normal path, but she wants more and hides some things from her aunt, thinking that her aunt is just being overcautious.

Suddenly, their tiny cabin is taken over by vampires and her aunt is kidnapped.  Sebastian, the vampire tasked with her disposal, is different. The two have an attraction and begin a journey to help each other.

Teenage readers will enjoy the fast pace, supernatural content and mild romance.

I was not thrilled with the abrupt ending, even though I knew this was the first in a series. Overall, I really enjoyed the book and read it in only 2 days, which is saying a lot for this slow reader.

Thank you, NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an Advanced Reader Copy for a fair and honest review!

This book was so captivating and a real cliff hanger. I was engrossed in this book from the first chapter. I love an author and good book that can keep you interested from the beginning of the book. This keep me entertained and wants me to keep reading. The cover for the book really caught my attention, but the mystery and thrill of the book kept me intrigued the entire time and kept making me want to keep reading. The book had so many twists and turns I honestly could not guess what would come next. I went on an emotional rollercoaster and did not want to get off. I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the second book and possibly more that comes.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/F Paranormal

So, this was an interesting read. There are a lot of gaps and strange conclusions drawn that made this much more difficult to relate to. I think that this author has read a lot of vampire books or seen a lot of vampire movies because the dialogue is very cheesy.

Charlize (Charlie) is very naïve in this book. Her aunt Rachel has kept her so sheltered that Charlie is screaming to get out. She wants to attend college away from her aunt. However, when people come to the house and kidnap her aunt, Charlie will have to figure out how to save Rachel.

This is where the story gets very strange. Sebastian is a vampire who is tasked with figuring out if someone is dead or alive for his queen. However, there is a weird connection between him and Charlie.

I think the author was trying to create a mystical relationship with romance, but it just wasn't very successful. While I liked figuring out who is going to belong to whom, the ultimate goal of this book should have been who will win the war.

While this wasn't the best of starts, I am wondering how this will end, so I think I would read a follow up.

Let me just say that it has been such a long time since I've read a YA paranormal and I've regained my love for the YA genre with Risen. One of the main reasons that I picked up this book is because I have quite the obsession with vampire romances. I'm always fascinated to read about the differences between every book that I've read. I know in the synopsis, if you're a twilight and vampire diary fan, you'd love this one. I'm not ultra fans of either, but do appreciate them. And I'd say Risen definitely makes a name for itself within the vampire world.

I absolutely loved this book and with most YA paranormal, they tend to be series, which made me extremely impatient for the next one to come out. This story had me completely involved with Sebastian and Charlie's journey. One of the main reasons why I've stayed away from the YA genre is because I just haven't been able to handle the teenage angst and thank goodness there wasn't very much in this one at all.

I loved the world that Cole Gibsen has created surrounding vampires. Instead of the typical good and bad vampires, we have vampire clans. It was so fascinating to read about the different traits that each clan carry.

Although Sebastian is part of the Mentis clan, he's far from the soulless bloodthirsty monster. He comes around more as he spends more time with Charlie. I'd say she helps get him in touch with his "human" side. But there's a lot of mystery about his past since he has no memory of it. However the closer he gets to Charlie there's something about her that helps him remember more. You'll question what his true motives are with Charlie.

Charlie is no damsel in distress, a bit feisty and quite sarcastic. I LOVE HER! I'd say she acted a bit older for her age. She lived a pretty sheltered life, never allowed to wander too far from her home in the woods. It made me curious as to why she never questioned the whys surrounding her pretty mysterious life. She adapts to changes so well and we've yet to even cover the surface where it comes to her and what she might be.

The story gets going right from the very beginning, I was hooked the entire time reading page after page. I was a bit surprised by some of the ratings … or maybe the fact that this is indeed a series, so you won't get the whole story in the first book. Just saying! I can't wait to see where the next book takes us, I have so many questions that I hope to get answered. Cole Gibsen, you've gained a new fan!

2018 has definitely been THE year so far for epic reads and Risen will be my first YA to be added to my #RSFaves list!

Risen is one of those books that kicks off one the first page and keeps you sucked in till the last page.
If you like or love vampire stories and looking for a new one that is different from the rest I suggest this one. the characters will have you cheering for one then taking it back and cheering for another, while begging for more and more about the characters. I found it easy to fall in love with this book and did not want to put it down when I had to. my mind always craving to see what happened next. I can not wait to read the next one!