4/5⭐ to A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow. Thank you very much to Tor Teen for an egalley to review! I listened to an audiobook copy of this sequel to [book:A Song Below Water|39085465] and it was delightful! Since this is a sequel, I'm going to keep this short & sweet. This story continues to follow shortly after the events of the first book, focusing now on Naema in this amazing magical-realism world this author has built with sirens, elokos, gargoyles, and other magical beings. I really liked having a new MC to experience this story through, and the world continues to be enchanting while seriously echoing and addressing vital issues in our society, particularly racism and the Black Lives Matter movement with the call for police reformation. It also tackles relevant topics for teen readers such as friendship drama and difficult family situations. Full of Black Girl Magic, I would definitely like to see more people include this duology on their YA summer TBRs!

A follow up to A Song Below Water, a chorus rising tells the story of what happens after the events in the first book.

I personally feel this is a great book for teens. It’s a great book about finding ones self, being true to yourself, overcoming changes and knowing that you are enough. These are all challenges that teen face and I know any teen would see themselves in the eyes of Naema.

Though she was the villain in the first book, she redeemed herself in a positive way.

I wish I read the first book but this was an amazing read throughout. Absolutely would recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I adored A song below water so I knew I had to pick this up when it was available, fantastical and magical I cannot get enough of this authors writing. Highly reccomend

I really enjoyed this as the second in the series. I enjoyed the first book more, but I think it was a good wrap up.

The commentary on how society targets black women is so necessary.

This book was a wonderful companion to A Chorus First Must Rise. I thoroughly appreciated getting more insight into the main characters’ story arch. Morrow offers an in-depth entry into the magic and stressors that Black girls experience. This book is a great selection for students, young readers, and adults who are looking for contemporary Black girl stories.

A beautiful part 2 to A Song Below Water.

This contemporary fantasy with incredible representation is easy to follow and and enjoyable journey.

I did prefer the first book in the series.

I liked the first book in this series but the second one didn't have the same spark. Good for those who really really liekd the first, but perhaps doesn't hold up very well. I look forward to seeing what Morrow does next though!

When I requested this ARC I didn’t initially realize it was a sequel. I quickly got up to speed on what happened in A Song Below Water. In A Chorus Rises, we are given Naema’s perspective as she is placed in the role of villain after the events of The Awakening. Naema reacts to her new situation in exactly the manner a teen would - her character was so relatable in that aspect. Naema also wasn’t the most loved character in ASBW, but Morrow stays true to her character and the development and growth is divine! This novel also dives into the major themes of racism, social media, and privilege. I definitely recommend this read!

Naema gets her own novel in this sequel, and while I didn’t like her in A Song Below Water, I think her actions and who she is as a character get explained more. I was surprised at how much depth Morrow created for Naema, that girl has spunk, and her actions all make sense to who she is. At the end of the novel, I still didn’t like Naema, but I came to a better understanding of her and her motives.

The plot in this novel still has a focus on the Black community, and it also draws awareness to social media. Morrow knows how to use “hot topics” or topics that are relevant in her books and how to draw awareness to them in such a way that I’ve never thought of before (as a white female). There wasn’t a lot of action, but the growth that Naema goes through and her story really moved me. I think the message really stood out in this one. A Chorus Rises felt more character-driven than plot-driven, and I was totally okay with that.

I loved this companion novel as I felt so connected to Naema and her voice. I felt connected to her character and her story. Naema felt like she could've been any Black Girl that I know and myself... How she felt so easily pushed to the side/castout, had to prove herself/her innocence and the battle of being herself when others believe you to be someone different. I loved this story so very much!

A Chorus Rises does not quite live up to the success of Song Below Water. Focusing on the bully from Song Below Water is an interesting choice, but it can be difficult to buy into the stakes of the story given the lens through which it is told. Naema is "cancelled" online because of a video she posted of herself bullying and the harassing widely-respected and beloved sirens-rights activist who served as the protagonist in Song Below Water. If the reader has read Song Below Water, it can be difficult to empathize with Naema's problems, which might seem to be what she deserves for trying to out and place a target on a siren in a world where sirens are often lynched for their identity alone.

While A Chorus Rises might aspire to complicate the way we dehumanize those who have done harm, and complicate narratives of punishment, the ways that Naema is punished at the beginning of the book are simply not compelling disproportionate. She still comes from a wealthy, loving family and throughout the beginning of the book is continuously bombarded by her leagues of online adoring fans and defenders. She has en entire online web forum filled with nothing but strangers who love her and sing her praises, and yet she is dissatisfied. It is profoundly difficult to care about her feelings in such a situation. Being "cancelled" has hardly ruined her life.

Without any sort of hook to get the reader invested in the story early on, any twists or changes in Naema's character or perspective on life comes much too late. Readers may put the book down before they ever get there.

This was a wonderful sequel to A Song Below Water! It had a few ups and downs, plotwise but overall I enjoyed it. This book follows Naema as she navigates her life after the consequences of her actions in the previous installment. It was interesting to see her character arc and I'm glad it was done in a realistic way instead of fully reinventing her personality.
Overall, this was a solid sequel and I appreciated the exploration of topics throughout the novel, such as race and privilege.

An excellent sequel in the Song Below Water series and a highly recommended read. A Chorus Rises picks up soon after the first book leaves off, but with a perspective shift; now the girl who was, in many ways, the first book's villain, gives you a peek inside her head as she struggles with the fallout of her actions and others. Bethany Morrow expertly navigates modern manifestations of racism and prejudices while adding in the element of magic/magical abilities as another aspect that can either bring people together or further divide them.

There is some discussion about whether this book can be read alone or before the first in the series, but I'd caution against that. So much of this book is based on the events that came before (including some needed world-building and context), that even if you could muddle your way through, you'd be doing yourself a disservice.

A Chorus Rises is the story of friendship, of the importance of connection and, most importantly, speaking your truth. Bethany Morrow's detailed story of Naema Bradshaw's complicated life highlights the importance of standing ones' ground, even when the world refuses to see both sides.

While Naema is an inherently unlikable character in A Song Below Water, reading from her perspective provided a new sense of who she is as a character. Instead of just seeing her portrayed as the "mean girl" of the story, Naema is full of complexity. She is a bit self-obsessed and calculated, but she cares deeply for those who have impacted her life. While she can be viewed negatively, she experiences a smack of reality throughout A Chorus Rises. By reconnecting with her humble family, Naema gains a renewed sense of who she is and wants to be as she moves forward. Her ambition and drive are key components of her personality that can be seen negatively but are ultimately positive to who she is as a character.

Morrow writes with clarity, providing ease to her readers as they make their way through her books. While the premise of this story was riveting and had me interested, I had a difficult time staying invested in the story due to the lengthy chapters. This said, my difficulty reading was an entirely personal preference of information given throughout the story, and as a whole, I enjoyed reading from Naema's perspective.

Overall, A Chorus Rises was a good read, full of important aspects and emotionally complex characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed A Song Below Water.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this story in exchange for my honest review.

Silly me didn't realise this was a second book in a series so I was a little confused about a fair bit of this novel so I mainly focused on what I could about the book.

I relatively enjoyed the book. I think it covers some great points and has some great representation.

I enjoyed the writing and the characters as well

In the sequel to Bethany Morrow's <i>A Song Below Water</i>, this book follows Naema Bradshaw after she reveals Tavia as a siren and the repercussion that follows her betrayal. Naema was once a popular and successful influencer/Eloko with a group of loving friends. When she betrays Tavia--and Tavia gets signed for a movie deal of the event where Naema is marked as the jealous villain--Naema must find a way to return to her previous status. But first, she leaves Portland to find refuge with some of her extended family. While away, she finds an online community that seems to still Stan for Naema ("knights of Naema"), but their sense of loyalty may be misguided...

The narrative is primarily from Naema's perspective and she was a difficult character to truly like, at first. She is a "pretty bird" (according to her cousin), shallow, self-centered, and absorbed in her own problems. This was definitely used as a tool to demonstrate her character development as she begins to see the magnitude of her betrayal of outing Tavia as a Siren. Her knights twist her narrative as a means to dox and attack potential Sirens. The book was a great perspective on a supposed villain and how she is able to repair her relationships. The ending felt a bit rushed as much of the action was "behind-the-scenes," but this was a fun sequel set in a magical world that touches upon social justice and racial issues that transcend the book.

For the majority of this book, I wouldn’t say that I enjoyed my reading experience. But I don’t want that to deter you from this sequel. Because parts of A Chorus Rises are supposed to feel uncomfortable and make you question how you really feel.

The second book in A Song Below Water follows the antagonist from the first book, Naema. And for a large portion of the book she still very much feels like the “mean girl”. But Morrow creates an incredible arc of growth and learning, both in the main character and the reader themselves.

This is a book that forces you to consider all sides of a situation, particularly when considering types of discrimination. It depicts the anger and hurt of people who experience daily discrimination with striking clarity. And this is what truly brought the book home for me.

The way that Morrow uses a fictional story to elicit such feelings and ongoing thoughts is worth a standing ovation. The way in which the fantasy and continuation of the story itself as well deserve the same.

This book does not have as much actual magic as A Song Above Water, but it is still magical.
Thank you Macmillan- Tor/Forge. Tor Teen and NetGalley for this important digital ARC

I was excited to get a new perspective in this series. I enjoyed how we got to see Naemas point of view in real time and not flashbacks. I thought it was really great to get her side and we her struggles with finding community snd navigating a word where her blackness, and her being an Eloko are both being tested. The parallels with the real world and the fantasy one worked really well together. I can admit I still don’t LOVE Naema, but I don’t think that was the point. Rather to see her growth and development.