This book is one of the better YA novels out there. There are so many important themes in this book about racism, privilege, the role that white women play in racism, and more. I appreciate the journey that Naema had to go on, even if it made it a little difficult to read from the perspective of someone who is often mean. Overall, a really good and entertaining read.

I received an e-arc of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars

So first let me say that the covers for both the first book and this one are absolutely stunning and those covers alone make me want to read the book.

Unfortunately I feel like this series isn't completely for me. I like the books and have a decent time while reading them but I have not been sold on any of the characters. Overall the story is good, I like the social commentary, and I like the concept of this series but for some reason I just can't seem to quite connect with the characters.

I did end up liking our main character a bit more by the end of the story but I felt like it took a large portion of the book for me to start liking her more and not thinking that she seemed really shallow.

I'm going to keep this one brief but explain my thoughts:

1. This book has a super cool premise. I wish I would have read the first book to get a full understanding of the series.

2. Beautiful cover. Judge it. It's gorgeous.

3. I really like the whole Influencer take with the magic powers. I've been wondering where this was hiding in books, and clearly I just haven't been looking hard enough. It gave it a really cool edge and made me very intrigued to see where the story was going.

4. I like the coming of age parts of this book too. I like seeing characters grow and learn. It's all the good parts of the high school reading I used to do - growth and experimentation. People learn and mould and grow.

Overall, I'd like to see more from Bethany C. Morrow. Excellence book!

Three out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

I’ll be honest: I wasn’t really feeling Naema in the beginning of this book. Sis and I were not vibing at all, but I grew to appreciate not just Naema but what Bethany C. Morrow was trying to do.

A CHORUS RISES explains the multifaceted nature of Black girlhood and the double-edge sword of “I don’t see you ad Black” comments. I loved Naema’s characterization and growth, but I also appreciated how she’s not a likable character. Even though I found myself wanting to scream at her, she grew on me by the middle of the book, and even if she hadn’t, Morrow does an excellent job demonstrating that you don’t have to or need to find Black girls “likable” or “relatable” to respect, value, and protect our humanity and our right to be supremely flawed.

Naema is definitely smart and not easily outwitted. There’s themes of survival as a Black girl in predominantly white settings and the importance of knowing one’s history. I especially enjoyed Naema and Courtney’s bond, and I’m excited (and hope) to see more in this universe that Bethany C. Morrow has created.

I feel like I need to address the obvious first since I’ve seen this in many, if not most, reviews. Naema is not exactly likeable for a good portion of this book. She’s an unapologetic ‘mean girl’ with a serious chip on her shoulder and a lot of growing up to do. But seriously. While reading, remind yourself that 1. She has EVERY reason to be completely 110% pissed off and bitter about what she has been through, and is still going through. Especially since 2. She’s a teenager! I don’t know if anybody remembers what it’s like to be a teenager but it sucks. And I don’t know if you remember what you were like as a teenager but you probably sucked just a little bit, too.

The lessons about race, identity, and prejudice in these books are SPOT ON and I like that Naema was mad and her sorry-not-sorry attitude becomes a strength as she grows throughout the book. I do think the author dragged out the angry, bitter bits in the beginning. Not because it was unfounded, but because it felt redundant after a while. And then there was not nearly enough time devoted to all the realizations and fighting back at the end. She could have cut back on the angst and spent more time on the justice. Plus, like the first book, very little was wrapped up at the end. The result of that with the first book, for me at least, was that without a conclusion at all, I forgot where the story ended, exactly what had happened, and was lost for a good portion of this book, left wishing there was a “previously on” like in tv shows. You can leave room for a sequel without just leaving things entirely unfinished. I also think the world building could use work- I still don’t fully understand how this world works and it’s confusing at times. In the end, I still enjoyed the first book more, but I’m excited to see where this story goes from here.

Thank you NetGalley, author, and publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

One beautiful girl and a little bit of fame is the premise for this cute book! I really enjoyed the music aspect of it all because it gave the story a different dimension.

A Chorus Rises
A Song Below Water novel
by Bethany C. Morrow
Macmillan-Tor/Forge

 A CHORUS RISES by Bethany C. Morrow Is the follow up to A Song Below Water.
It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first book for the best reading experience.
Once again we are back into Marrow’s urban fantasy world that she has created.

This book takes place about a year after the end of A Song Below Water, and this time readers will follow the not so nice girl Naema. Taking a much needed break from Portland and it’s drama. She goes to a family reunion in the south, and comes to realize that being being an Eloko is so much more.

The author once again delivers some crucial social issues along with social media that is so prominent today. The strong value of friendship and family ties are displayed, along with the realistic view that you just because you have something in common with your social peers doesn’t mean you have to be besties.
Naema, is a strong willed character and she really grows and so does her overall outlook.
The author once again delights her audiences with thought provoking themes that young adults face, along with dynamic mystical realism. Written in away that young people will connect with and enjoy.

I really enjoyed reading this book, thanks to to Bethany C. Morrow, TOR TEEN and JeanBookNerd for my book copy 

#AChorusRises

DNF at 20%
I stopped reading this so long ago and left my poor NetGalley ARC to rot in my Kindle archive. I feel horrible about it, really. I wanted to enjoy this but I think I picked it up at the wrong time. Like the first book, it stylistically does not work for me. It certainly works for many others, though! Morrow has a bright imagination and I love reading about magical Black girls. If there's a third book, perhaps I'll try again...

I was told that this book could be read as a standalone and I was mistaken. I think k I would of had to read the first book a song below water first. However the book does jump into the middle of drama. At times I felt like the book was over my head but I do not want to give a full review without reading the first one.

I was so very excited to get my hands on #AChorusRises right around the time it published. (Huge thanks to #NetGalley for getting me an early copy, which is probably the most excited I've been for an eARC ever). I read A Song Below Water via audiobook earlier this year and I absolutely loved it. The characters where enchanting, the story was engaging, and together they worked to pack a punch with important messaging about societal issues that must not be ignored.

If the first book's theme is about allowing silenced voices speak, the second book seems to be about listening.

Instead of focusing back in on Tavia and Effie like in the previous book, A Chorus Rises centres on Naema, who, admittedly, I wasn't excited about. She isn't the most lovable character from the first book. But since I really loved the first book, I was willing to give Bethany C. Morrow the benefit of the doubt. And I was glad I did. Naema is a frustrating character to read, and remained so for much of the book, but I think she mirrors many of us who centre ourselves in our stories and fail to notice the deeper implications of our actions.

While A Song Below Water set the table with an important conversation about race, A Chorus Rises brings an examination of privilege to the conversation. In order to counteract our privilege, we need to get to a place where we can listen to the experiences of others and see that our stories aren't the only stories that matter, and A Chorus Rises brings up these (and others) poignant and important points in such an accessible way.

I really recommend these books, both for the quality of the storytelling, and for the importance of the messaging.

I liked the Black girl magic/power in this and Naema getting a voice in what happened. I loved the first book (A Song Below Water) and felt it was stronger.

Trigger Warning: Racism, self-worth, PTSD, bullying & racial profiling.

This book wasn't for me. I didn't enjoy this book as much. The first book was better, even though I didn't love that either.

I read the first book so that I could fully get into this arc and world. This book dealt a lot with PTSD recovery, reconnecting with family and ancestors through the magic the main character posses as an Eloko, as she struggles with how wronged she feels because of an attack a year previously from a fellow supernatural and how she has been painted the villain.

Things I liked:
The honest discussion was that Naema felt like she was both fully herself and felt like she could only be one thing for certain people; she had to be just Eloko for white people or be seen as nothing more than entertainment her show keeps her safe. She is torn between being Eloko and Black and how some people make her choose.
-You can see the hate she feels towards sirens or Tavia, who has caused her pain.
-The family reconnection helped her feel better and did help her PTSD (because she did have a form of it)
-The sudden Siren love while also still having anti-siren laws and protocols was a true and sad comparison to BLM from allies. Some love to say things and pretend to love and support but do nothing, as awful injustice still occurs.

Things I disliked:
This story does not have a real solid plot; I thought it was going to be both magical and a journey, but it was just a personal journey, which made me disappointed.
-I could understand Naema's POV, but I also disliked her for a lot of the book
-How the community treated her and made her the villain without really looking into things
-Felt too long and less like a sequel but more like a novella; also, I was left with so many questions about the world and other previous characters, which I wanted to be answered.

This was a great follow up to A Song Below Water. I got the answers I wanted about Eloko and a great story as well. I really enjoyed Naema’s character and growth throughout the story as well as her family. I really appreciate how this book, and the previous book, addressed social issues like racism while having the magical element interwoven in the story.

Looking for a good weekend read? Check out A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow.

I will preface this to say that if you haven't read A Song Below Water then you should definitely pick that one up first as the events in this book follow a year after the events in ASBW.

I read ASBW around this time last year and loved it. It was the epitome of #BlackGirlMagic.

Now enter Naema. The mean girl, the Regina George. And instead of getting hit by a bus, Naema is turned into stone during the events of ASBW.

A Chorus Rises takes up after Naema is stoned and brought back. She's not the queen anymore. She's been ostracized. Cancelled.

She escapes to the Southwest to stay with family and discovers that there's much more to life than likes and subscribers. And she begins to finally connect with the magic she's had all along. When an online hate group begins targeting the person who stoned her for revenge, Naema has to step in. And while she may not like the person it doesn't mean she wants harm to come to her or others like her.

This story was very much a redemption arc. But it was very much a redemption arc on Naema's own terms. I really enjoyed this one and I think it flowed perfectly with what happened in the first book. So if you're looking for a fun, quick, weekend reads pick these two up!

An incredible sequel to A Song Below Water, you are following one of the main antagonist's from book 1 in the fall-out from the end of that story. I loved getting a chance to explore more of why this character was the way that she was and seeing her growth throughout this book. I also really liked being able to learn more eloko lore as this is a mythical creature that I had not come across prior.

Highly highly recommend this book.

As with the first novel in the series, this is a powerful examination of race, gender, and privilege. It is also an emotional and engaging story of one young woman coming into her own and finding her voice. I loved the evolution of Naema, a character I didn't like at all in the first book. Looking forward to reading more from Bethany C. Morrow. because she has a real a gift for creating unique and unforgettable characters.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

After the explosive conclusion to A Song Below Water, teen influencer, Naema Bradshaw finds herself for the first time vilified in the public eye. As an Eloko, a magical being beloved by all, Naema has been treated as a quasi-celebrity in her hometown of Portland, Oregon, for her entire life.

Now pegged as the mean girl who outed classmate, Tavia, as a Siren, Naema is getting dragged in social media channels where she has always been respected and adored. Once a movie releases purporting to tell the true story behind Tavia, her sister, Effie, and the event known as The Awakening, Naema only sees hostility towards her increase.

Growing more and more frustrated with her current situation and the fact that no one seems to understand her side, Naema decides to leave town. Heading South, Naema goes to stay with extended family that she never sees. This trip is actually her first time leaving Portland and the bubble she has created there for herself.

Greeted at the airport by her cousin Courtney, Naema can tell immediately from his reaction to her, that life is going to be very different outside of Portland. Her family couldn't care less about her Eloko status. She'll be treated just like everyone else; loved and cherished, but for herself, not for her Elokoness.

It is once she is separated from all the noise in Portland, that Naema is finally able to channel the connection to her ancestors and discover the true power of her voice. This story was interesting and a tough one to rate. I really had to consider it once I was done.

We only get Naema's perspective in this book, whereas the first book followed both Tavia and Effie. This one does incorporate a lot of mixed media, however, and I always enjoy that. It makes the overall story feel more realistic in my opinion.

The bulk of the story focuses on Naema coming into her own. We really get to deep dive into her world. While there is still an underlining examination of privilege, race, social media and the experience of black women in America, I didn't feel that coming through quite as strongly in this volume as in the first. It's definitely still here, it's just overshadowed a bit by Naema's day-to-day.

As far as Naema goes. I really enjoyed her perspective a lot. She is snarky, strong-willed, stubborn and funny. I loved her interactions with Courtney and the rest of her family. I can see why some people may be put off by her, she can seem a bit of a princess at times, however, I think she feels real. She is a product of her environment, but once removed from Portland, she was able to grow and evolve as a character, which we love to see.

I think Morrow created an important and timely story with both of these books. I would recommend them to anyone who enjoys YA Contemporary stories with Fantastical elements that tackle real life issues. Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Teen and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I will definitely be picking up future work from this author!

I’m so impressed with how Bethany C. Morrow made me care about Naema so deeply after everything that went down in A Song Below Water - it’s a real testament to her skill as an author. This book is definitely more character driven than the first, but I think it makes perfect sense for this to be written in this way since it really serves Naema’s story more, just as the action served Effie and Tavia’s story more. I also liked that Naema was very much the same person, you just got to know different sides to her and really understand what she’s grappling with in the aftermath of ASBW. And as always, I am so grateful for the discussions of race, gender, privilege, and social media the author brings attention to. privilege, gender, race, and social media.

Thanks NetGalley for this eARC, in return, here is my honest review. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoy this book. But at the same time, I wasn’t surprised because I absolutely loved A Song Below Water (reviewed here). A Chorus Rises is set in the same urban fantasy world, but in this one we follow Naema, who wasn’t a super nice person from Tavia’s perspective in A Song Below Water.
Despite actively disliking Naema for the first third of this book, I ended up really loving her. Our first look at Naema is in A Song Below Water which is from Tavia and Effie’s perspectives. These three girls do not get along at all. I think it’s important to mention that this is totally okay! Naema mentions often that just because they’re all black, doesn’t mean they all have to be best friends. They can want better for one another and still actively dislike each other. And I totally agree with that. You don’t have to be friends or even like someone to wish that they’re not being discriminated against because they’re a magical or black.
But the further we get into this story, the more I couldn’t help but like Naema. She’s genuinely funny. She has a confidence in herself that most people would love to have. But she’s also still growing. This book takes place about a year after the end of A Song Below Water. So, Naema has had some time to heal, emotionally, from being stoned. But, Portland doesn’t feel the same to Naema anymore. She takes a break and goes to visit her family for their yearly reunion in the south. It’s here that Naema discovers that there’s more to being an Eloko than just the popularity she has in Portland. I really enjoyed getting to see Naema spend time with family she never sees and getting to know more about her Eloko abilities. I absolutely loved her cousin, Courtney. He’s hilarious and I think he was a great support system for Naema. Their relationship made me think of my cousins that were my best friends while I was growing up.
This story covers some really interesting topics that I didn’t see coming. There’s discussion of how easily online voices can be weaponized to do real harm to real people. I think the spotlight on “keyboard warriors” was an excellent one because what it takes to go from talking about doing something to actually doing it? It isn’t that much and it’s something that I don’t think is discussed enough or taken seriously enough. I liked how the friend group worked together to stop this aspect of the story. We get to see some unlikely allies and some healing. And we also get to see these teenagers be brave and do the right thing.
I would have liked for this book to have been longer. I think there were definitely some things mentioned in the story that didn’t really get explored. I’m thinking specifically of the Professor that was mentioned so many times. But we never actually meet her, even though what she’s researching aligns with what Naema is learning about herself. I would have liked to see more about Naema getting more of a handle on talking with the Ancestors. We do get a scene toward the end where things sort of click for Naema in regards to listening to the Ancestors and they help Naema realize that what she and her friends have done isn’t enough, that there’s still more to be done. But we didn’t get to see anymore after that.
Overall, I really grew to love Naema. She’s fierce and outspoken in the best ways. She’s brave and so smart. She knows that what she says hold weight because of her online following. She knows that even though she’s black, she has privilege that comes with being an Eloko. But she also talks about how being an Eloko doesn’t negate the struggles she faces as a black woman. As a queer, white woman, I could appreciate that aspect of the story. I think Namea’s voice is what made this story so gripping for me. Her internal voice was so thoughtful, even when she was angry or unsure. She’s funny and smart, caring and loyal, snarky and passionate. I really loved her by the end of the book. If you haven’t read A Song Below Water, please go do that. If you have, I think you’ll love A Chorus Rises just as much as the first book.

Don't know what else I expected when the mean girl gets her own book. I brought this on myself, really.

!!Mild A Song Below Water spoilers ahead!!

A Chorus Rises is the companion novel to A Song Below Water. While this is a standalone, I recommend reading the first book to truly understand the events and emotions that play out here. It's been a year since I read ASBW, but I thought this did a great job of refreshing me. A year on, Naima Bradshaw is upset about a lot of things, namely the gaps in the story being told of her, Tavia the siren and Effie the gorgon. She was turned to stone last year on Tavia's order, but all anyone sees is her outing the siren on livestream and more. While Tavia's celebrity has skyrocketed with a movie of her story newly released, Naima's platform and status as an Eloko has taken a hit, and she only knows one way forward. She's out to set the record straight and show the world who Tavia really is.

Straight up, a lot of my thoughts about this book boil down to Naima being the main character. She is ... not a very likeable person. I was not a fan of her in ASBW, and being in her head did not change that. She is very self-centered, vain and rather petty, but she at least knows this. It's who she is. There is a big heart under all that attitude and snark, yes, but it was buried a little too deep for her to endear herself to me. I get that she went through a time in the last year, being one of Effie's stoning victims, but I was not into the pity-party for one. Most of the book, I found her to be constantly griping about Tavia this, Effie that, I am the true victim here. Essentially the queen bee has been dethroned and she can't take it.

Likewise, the character development throughout this book didn't do it for me. At what point was I supposed to like Naima? I so badly wanted to root for her but she made it so hard with her personality. At one point, I thought I was only a quarter of the way through the audiobook because of where she was in her character arc, and was shocked to find I was just past the 65% mark. And nothing truly interesting happens until three quarters through, when we start piecing together the smaller things and there are serious implications to deal with. It was disappointing that it took so long for the story to evolve into something to kick start the main character's change.

As with ASBW, there are tough discussions of race, being Black enough, and weaponizing racism. And as with it's predecessor, these conversations were thought-provoking and well done once they finally came into play with the story as a whole. However, the Black girl magic that shone before was really missing here. There was a lot of heart and love and an incredible layering of themes in the first book with the two sisters discovering who they were. Here, it barely came up. Perhaps that is because Naima already knows she is as an Eloko and has been celebrated for it for years. There is little for her to find out about herself in that respect. That said, I'm still not entirely sure what an Eloko can do. They have a trill that people love to hear, but is that all it is? Am I missing something more?

I really enjoyed A Song Below Water and had high hopes for this companion novel. Unfortunately, the main character did not let me embrace her version of the story.