Analiese Rising penned by Brenda Drake, is a Young Adult Romantic Fantasy novel, that is largely centred around mythological aspects. But, rather than having a single strand of mythology as basis, this novel is based around all Gods - pulling characterisations from different areas, and times.

When Analiese - our MC - becomes witness to an accident, she attempts to offer help. But, the victim asks her not to help, and instead take the bag he was attempting to take to his Grandson. Despite the strangeness of the request - because hey, this dude is critical - she obliges, and gathers the things. Opening the bag - as any good snoop would - Analiese finds amongst man other objects, a list. On the list are names, including her own and that of her family (who had died, in 'accidents'). Tracking down the Grandson who was to receive the bag, Analiese decides they both need answers.

Our novel then becomes a Greek-Mythology Fantastical Romance, with a fast-paced action fill ed plot, and twists that keep you turning till the end. Its a full-length novel, with a happy ending, and I am eager for more. Once the story-line progressed past the cliches, and obligatory eye-rolls, it transformed into something promising. With adapting world-building, and interesting character development, I found this novel something which I really enjoyed.


-Note: Review set to publish Feb 21, 2019 1: 51 am on my Wordpress.

I absolutely love mythology and love when authors mix it into the current world settings. Going in, I didn't know that this book would be so entrenched with mythology so that was a very pleasant surprise.

There's something special about Analiese but she's not quite sure what it is. It all starts when she touches a dead frog in science class and it immediately comes back to life. That's not normal and it's enough to freak a girl out. Add that to watching a stranger die - a stranger who knows her name and has a list with her name, along with her deceased parents, on it. Suddenly Analiese's life is thrown upside down and she's on a quest across the sea to figure out just who she is and what she's capable of.

This book is full of Gods and Goddesses and not your typical ones that everyone knows. No, there were obscure ones and ones that I've never heard of. Every time a new one came on the page, I was trying to solve who it was before it was revealed. Side note: I got maybe a handful. But I loved that! I loved that it wasn't Aphrodite and Zeus and Artemis - all the ones everyone knows. I mean, Ares was here, but being the God of War, that made sense.

And for all you romantics out there, yes, there is a love story. And it's cute. Analiese and Marek were thrown together by fate - so to speak. But I liked watching them come together and work towards solving all of the clues. I also liked that the love story didn't overpower the main plot. It still stayed a quest type book and I was here for it.

This wasn't my first book from Brenda Drake and it won't be my last. I find that I enjoy her writing and her stories. But what was up with that ending? Is this really a standalone because I feel like so much was left open that there has to be more.

A fresh YA title that will grab any fans of mythology and romance! Analiese Rising is a blend of fantasy, romance, Greek mythology, and thriller. It's a great full length novel that leaves the possibility of more in it's last pages. Parts are a bit cringey, but Drake finds her footing about halfway through the plotline.

It was hard for me to get fully on board with this book, but once the action started it was easier to roll with the punches and let go of the unrealistic expectations of a teenage girl traveling the country with the hot boy alone.
Brenda Drake did an excellent job at writing the descriptions of scenes. It was easy to close my eyes and find myself in the scenes she had cast just by her descriptions.
I liked that in the acknowledgments the author talks about her struggles with her own panic disorder. It was nice to get that personal touch in the book.

Okay, so the first strong thought that I had about this book was that it’s kind of like the DaVinci Code meets Mortal Instruments. We have a couple of teenagers running around Europe with an obscure set of clues, trying to locate a mysterious and mythical objects with a some demigods, revenants, and magic thrown in the mix. Granted, I like Drake’s writing a lot more than Dan Brown’s, so if you share similar opinions don’t let the DaVinci Code reference scare you away! It’s light on the romance, heavy on the adventure, and has just enough hope and humour to keep the big-bad from feeling overwhelming.

The next thought was ‘what in the hell is Analiese doing, getting on an airplane to Italy with a boy she barely knows? I’d never do that!’ In fact, I was foolish enough to voice this opinion out loud when describing the book to some family, and was promptly reminded ‘no Jessica, you’d just go by yourself’. So, once I was put back in my place and reminded of my own love for adventure in my teen years, Analiese suddenly became a very relatable protagonist. Of course, I didn’t have any magical powers to work my way through when I hit Rome at 18, but I found the geography and atmosphere strikingly nostalgic and incredibly well described. It made me want to go through all my old pictures of the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Roman Forum.

I loved the dynamic between Ana and Marek and genuinely thought that they made a good team. I appreciated Ana’s insecurities and moments of defiance, as well as Marek’s inherent need to protect and insatiable curiosity. Their personalities were well balanced, and actually represented one of the healthier relationships I’ve read in YA recently. Sure, Ana is a bit immature and impulsive, but I have no illusions of people (especially teens) being fully rational in the wake of major traumas. Now add in the fact that Drake has written a relatable character battling with some anxiety issues – which not only brings to light some important discussions surrounding mental health, but also some important lessons in empathy.

It was touching how close Analiese was with her family, especially her cousin Dalton and her maternal grandparents. I didn’t really relate to the dynamic experienced between Ana and her aunt, but it made for a good story and a character that you can love to hate. I was completely shocked by some of the twists and turns in the plot, especially when it came to digging up the family past, and I would have loved to know a little more about Ana’s parents.

And let’s not forget the artful inclusion of multiple mythologies as a basis for the fantastical elements. Heavy on the Greek mythology, I was pleased to see that Drake included mythologies from around the world including some of the Norse, Malaysian, Chinese, and Hindu gods. Throw in the Risers, the Risen, and an a secret society and you’re in for a mighty fun read.

Would I recommend this book? Heck yes! It might not be for everyone, with all the mention of Marek being sooooo hot, but it’s fun, playful, and incredibly well written. If you’re ready to get your flirt on with a touch of myth and magic in the mix, I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed.

Although I don't believe in gods, told about in different culture mythology, I'm definitely intrigued when coming to read about them. I got that's why they call it fantasy, you can enjoy reading about certain things without having to believe in them. I actually find mythical creatures and gods fascinating. However, if I woke up tomorrow and found out my ancestor was the God of Death I'd probably write ancestry.com and ask if they could give me a fake geology test that said otherwise. But Analiese doesn't have that choice and she must find her courage, strength and wisdom to defend herself and the world from evil gods hell bent on raising the Army of the dead*key in my memories of watching The Mummy one too many times because it was my son's favorite movie as a child*(or in this case Army of the Risen).

I feel bad about saying this, but truthfully I had to force myself to finish this book. I had such high hopes but unfortunately none of them were met.
First of all I was under the impression that this story was a YA, but personally I think it would be much better if it was marketed to a younger audience (middle grade maybe?).
I didn't like the characters (surprise surprise, I'm too picky in this aspect I know, but I have read other reviews agreeing that the main character is far too childish). Also I understand that the story needs a love-line but I swear it got shoved into the story in every other line, it's far too annoying (I understand that your main characters are attracted to each other but can they leave that to some time when their lives aren't in danger?!) The writing was decent enough, but had nothing special to it. The storyline is an ok enough start to a series however I will most likely not continue to read it.

Just when Analiese gets her life back on track, she witnesses a brutal car accident. The dying man thrusts his leather bag into her hands and insists he take it to his grandson. Ditching grief camp (who knew that was a thing), she goes on a road trip upstate to return the bag. Marek and her uncover his grandfather’s true identity. Banding together, they go on an epic journey following clues Marek’s grandfather left behind. The more they uncover, the more danger they’re in. All that Analiese thinks she knows about her life is wiped clean and she discovers the horrifying truth. She’s a descendent of the God of Death and has the power to raise the dead. With gods and goddesses on both sides vying for her allegiance, which side will she choose?



Analiese Rising grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go until I read the last word. Not only is it brilliantly written with intense action, a little romance and more gods/goddesses than you can shake a stick at, its unexpected originality made me an instant fan.



Analiese is a sympathetic character and one who’s experienced great loss. Her emotions are stark as is her propensity to get into trouble. Marek is a mystery to the reader but the more I read, the more I like him. The attraction between Analiese and Marek balances the intensity of the plot.



I love reading Brenda Drake stories for their ability to escape my hum-drum life. She weaves fantasy one brushstroke at a time, and I can’t get enough. I couldn’t stop reading Analiese and can’t wait for the next one in the series. Highly recommend!



Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley in the hopes I’d review it.



My Rating: 5 stars

While I was immediately drawn to the premise of this book - demigods are one of my biggest buzzwords, because I love reading any and all mythology stories. I just couldn't fall in love with the writing style, and that seriously impacted my enjoyment of the overrall book..

I found the writing to be stiff and jagged. The short sentances made it harsher than it needed to be and cut off any hope of a flow or rhythm that you could get lsot in. While I thought Analiese was feisty and fun, it was hard for me to care about what was happening when I didn't really love the writing style. I thought Thunderstruck from Brenda Drake was a lot of fun and had more of a cadense, but Analiese Rising was a miss for me.

There was more romance than action in this book which was a bit disappointing. I loved the mythology.

Will Analiese and Marek stop a war of the gods?
Analiese Rising by Brenda Drake is an excellent book about two mortals being in the middle of a bunch of immortals. We follow the main character Analiese Jordan as she goes through having her whole life be turned upside down when a man dies near her. This book is in the first person point of view, and it’s fabulously different than others that I have read.

What I like:
• Analiese Jordan is a fascinating main character.
• The slow love story between Analiese and Marek is so believable.
• Mentions of the LGBTQ community but not having it forced on you.
• The mythology and how it’s not just one but several of them. It makes for an exciting story
• That the main character has panic attacks and the way that the author deals with them is brilliant.

What I didn’t like:
I didn't find anything that I disliked. If I did, I was so engrossed I didn't register it.

Five Star
Analiese Rising is my first book by Brenda Drake and definitely not my last. Ms. Drake has a fabulous writing style, and I loved the way she ended this story. She created a beautiful world combining the different gods and goddesses of multiple religions into one world where we humans live. I can't express how much I adored this book. Let's just say that everyone in our house including our cockatoo has heard my praises. This book is incredible, and I highly recommend it.

Anyways until the next time enjoy this review brought to you by,
Baroness Book Trove.

I received this book for free from YA Bound Book Tour in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

If you would like to read more reviews like this one, please go to baronessbooktrove.com

Analiese is still dealing with the tragedy of her adoptive father's sudden death when she and her cousin see a man get hit by a car. With his dying breath, he asks Analiese to give his bag to his grandson. What Analiese believes will be a sad yet fast trip to return a man's property turns into a life and death race to discover the truth.

SO sorry if this review is a rambling mess of fangirling, but I really enjoyed this adventure! I have read other books by Brenda and really enjoyed them but I can 100% say that I have never read a book like this. Analiese Rising was a nonstop action/adventure full of mysteries, death, heartbreak, anxiety, magic and mythology. I am a sucker for anything dealing with mythology but this was even better because Brenda took ALL mythologies everywhere in the world and created this story with an epic battle brewing.

The characters played a big part in creating the world and my connection with the book. Analiese was the main character and narrator of the book, a sad grieving girl who was thrust into the middle of a mystery she does not understand. She copes with her anxiety and loss the best she can, but adding this extra (huge) helping of stessors, Analiese showed her strengths in the middle of some terrible encounters. Marek was my favorite character, this solid reliable boy who just wants to help and honor his grandfather- And it doesn't hurt that he is cute, charming and protective. There are so many quirky characters from Shona the entitled socialite, to Sid and his flamboyant personality and pink car and loyal, best friend Dalton who Analiese would never have survived without. I loved the dynamic between them all and the mix of all the personalities.

Side note, I really appreciated the author's comments and encouragements after the book where she discussed her own experience with panic attacks and how everyone is different and experiences the attacks in different ways. It is always refreshing to see mental health issues portrayed accurately and respectfully in books, especially in the YA community so I love that Brenda used her own past experiences to make something helpful and show the character's strength regardless of any issues.

I am so glad that I got the opportunity to experience this world and get to meet Analiese and all the random, dangerous cast of characters (I heart Dalton and Marek!) The ending really felt like everything was wrapped up nicely, but I would love to see more adventures from this hodge podge cast of characters!
Come hang out with me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

First off, there was a LOT of stuff going on in this book. So many different gods and goddesses from different mythologies from all over the world. Some I recognized, some I did not. But this was really cool! I love when I hear about things I don't know, and then the story makes me want to go learn more about them. And that is what this story did. There was a lot of adventure, a lot of history, a lot of action, and a little romance thrown in, all together these made for a good teenage story. As I read, I was totally thinking about how I'd love to visit all these places mentioned, the Coliseum, the Louvre, etc. I'm guessing that if there are more books after this, which it sounds like there will be, we will get to go to even more exciting places. For one, I'd love to see some time spent in Egypt, or over in Asia with their mythology as well. Another thing I really liked about the story was how Analiese had been taken in by her uncle, and that she'd grown up with him as her dad. I think it is nice to once in awhile see a healthy step-parent situation, when so often there is not. Although I wasn't sure I liked her step-mother, Jane. By the end of the book I still was unsure about her. Although I haven't read Antigoddess, all of the other books this is compared to in the summary are exactly right. Definitely there is the feel of solving a puzzle like in The Da Vinci Code. You've got all these different gods just wandering around, getting in trouble, or even just being a part of the world, like what little I remember from reading American Gods. And you get the teen angst and fighting monsters that is a bit similar to one of my favorite series books, Half-Blood. Definitely a recommended title for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance, or mythology of all kinds.

I had a difficult time staying in this story. I didn't really connect with the character or care much for the plot line. It was just an alright read. There is just something about the main character analiese that just couldn't keep me connected. I think this would be a decent starter book if someone is trying to get more into this genre.

Analiese Rising is a young adult fantasy romance by Brenda Drake. I love Brenda’s Library Jumper series hardcore, so I was super excited to see a new novel come out from her. Analiese Rising is a standalone novel, but I can easily see a sequel, spin off or companion novel come from this world and these characters, and I really hope we do get to see more into this world. It is no secret that I am a huge fan of mythology, and the awesome thing about Analiese Rising is that this book does not only incorporate one area of mythology, but instead pulls in gods and goddesses from all types and aspects of myth from many different cultures, which was really cool.

I loved that this book set us off on an instant adventure with our main character, Analiese, who finds out that she is a descendant of a god of death. She runs into a stranger that hands her a mysterious list of names. And one of the names is her own. He then tells her that she is in trouble and that she needs to find his grandson and deliver a package to him. I love instant adventure/quest type stories because they immediately draw you in and hook you, which is exactly what happened to me with Analiese Rising. I was gripped from pretty much the first page, which is a big deal. No slow build here. On her journey to figure out why she is sent to deliver a bag to a stranger’s grandson, Analiese uncovers a whole new world of magic and mythology. Along the way she meets Merek (the grandson) and their adventure was filled with so much fun. It had Percy Jackson and Meg Cabot’s Abandon series vibes, but on a more diverse mythological scale.

Analiese learns more about her powers and about who she is throughout the story as well, which was pretty cool. She is a Riser, which means she has the power to raise the dead. I loved learning about her powers, and seeing her uncover some other secrets about Risers and the Gods. Though there were a few cringe worthy moments with the characters, and although the ending felt a bit rushed to me (which is part of why I am hoping for another book in this world!) I really enjoyed the adventure and the romance. Merek is awesome! I think a ton of characters will love him instantly. Analiese Rising is a really fun romantic fantasy. Perfect for fans of mythology.

Analiese Rising is a fun and fast-paced story that takes its reader from the streets of New York City to Rome to Paris.

Analiese, a girl shouldered with grief and anxiety, is shocked when she is approached by a man moments before his death and given a cryptic message. Among his personal belongings she discovers a list with names of the deceased, as well as her own. Analiese soon finds herself thrown into a hunt of monumental proportions, alongside the man's grandson, Marek - the only other person in the world who can help her find answers.

Overall, this story was a little predictable and cliche, but certainly pleasurable with an aire of urgency. Brenda Drake did a wonderful job conveying the haste behind Analiese and Marek's search, as well as adding in fair bits of humor and romance. The almost quest-like nature of this book kept the pacing on point and the puzzles always had my mind working. I thoughly enjoyed the introduction of gods and goddesses, particulary those more obscure and how she blended their traits and talents into the story.

If you enjoy urban fantasy, cryptology, mystery and mythology - this is the perfect read for you!

Rating 5/5

Such an amazing take on a necromancy vibe! I love everything about this book and learning all about the mythology that was perfectly blended into the plot.

Mythological fun!
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review Annaliese Rising by Brenda Drake!
As the story opens, I immediately relate to Annaliese when she doesn’t want to dissect her frog in biology class. I had that same problem when I was in high school, but that’s where our similarities end. Suddenly, she’s bumped from behind by a classmate and falls into the frog and tray. Then the frog comes to life and hops across the classroom, seriously freaking everyone out! The story becomes more mysterious and interesting when Analiese witnesses an elderly man’s death and fulfills his dying wish by meeting his grandson Marek, passing on his leather bag as requested. Marek and Analiese travel to Europe while following clues that Marek’s grandfather left for him to find. Analiese discovers that she’s a Riser, a person that brings people back to life. Marek discovers a huge part of his grandfather’s life that he knew nothing about, while Analiese uncovers her heritage and family history. Analiese Rising is a mysterious fantasy full of riddles, codes, ciphers and clues! I enjoyed all of the fun and mystery and the mythology was an added bonus! Readers that have enjoyed the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan should find this book right up their alley, 5 fun, adventurous stars!

when i picked up analiese rising i did not re-read the blurb, consequently, i was discovering the truth about analiese alongside her. it was as much a journey for me as a reader, as it was for ana the character. i bring this up because i so rarely let myself do this.

i'm the kind of person who loves a good spoiler, it never ruins my enjoyment of a story. and honestly, if it does, the truth of the matter is that i wasn't going to like the story anyway. i mean, it's totally why i haven't finished veronica roth's insurgent series, because the spoilers made me realize that to keep reading would be a waste of my time.

but here the blurb actually explains what's happening in the story, and maybe i would have been a little less confused had i been in the know a bit more, but i also didn't find it irritating. brenda drake crafts a satisfying adventure here. and it's both realistically grounded and blends the paranormal elements splendidly.

getting the refresher in mythological gods and goddesses was also really fun. some i knew, some were new to me, and marek and ana are so perfectly matched. i really just enjoyed the two of them together. this is their journey and i have a feeling it's only the beginning. an immortal war is on its way after all.

**analiese rising will publish on january 8, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (entangled teen) in exchange for my honest review.

First off I would like to thank the author and publisher for this free/advance copy in return for an honest review.

I loved this! Simply, but cleverly, written, Analiese Rising had me gripped from the moment she touched the frog!

I love the story, the characters - especially Analiese and Marek - are very likeable, and relatable, and you will be kept guessing as to whose loyalty lies where as you are introduced to others

In our world, where Gods and other Beings walk among us, I found an intriguing use of lesser known Gods, and I adored Drakes imagining of them.
Having been to Rome, the city was brought vividly to life and I have never wanted to visit Paris more (having just read Grim Lovelies prior to this I feel I know it well and I've never been!)

The conclusion, came swiftly - and left me with just enough questions that I am hoping for more, but could live with this ending as it does!

I can best describe this book as the teenage lovechild of Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Dan Brown's Robert Langdon stories which in my opinion is perfect!

Highly recommended, especially for fans of mythology and puzzles, and I will be adding to my list of "I hope there is a sequel (or 3)" books I want to read!