A CHORUS RISES
Author: Bethany C Morrow
Year: 2021

Review:
Plot: The main idea is one seen in many movies and books before: popular girls stop getting along in the last year of high school and dealing with the drama. But Bethany C Morrow makes an incredible job of turning this cliche plot into something so much more interesting by adding magic and creating a whole new world of possibilities. Readers get happenings they can relate to, such as love stories, family reunions and women supporting women, and things that will play with their imaginations, for instance the charming Eloko community and the mysterious sirens. Oh, and let's not forget that she did all this while advocating for black girl's rights.
Writing: The chapters were quite long and I liked the small media inspired chapters that came in-between the long ones (think online chats, newspaper articles and essays) that gave us a glimpse of how other people perceived the MC, Naema. The language she Morrow used is quite simple, which is great considering that the book focus on teenage readers.
Characters: The development of Naema was fantastic. The first impression was that she was quite selfish and I was worried the book would focus only on the mutual-enemies relationships between Naema and Tavia, but all was sorted out in the end and I grew very attached to Naema.
Verdict: Even though I don't think I am the target public for the book, I am glad I read it and will have this in mind when recommending books for younger readers (middle grade and young adults).

i was honestly pretty excited for this book, since i kind of liked the book 1 and i also follow Morrow on twitter, so i thought i'd give it ago, since i kind of had high expectations of this book. with that being said, i read book one, and i thought i remembered a good amount of that book before i went into this book. so, i thought i'd be fine to read this books. but, it was just such a mess, like so many things were just unexplained and i feel like what happened in book 1 was completely different from book 2 and it just confused me so much.

and i mean, this book was just kinda boring. like, i feel like a good chunk of this book was just about our MC talking about how everyone thinks that she is a monster and that everyone hated her so much. which, i think was just so shitty because i feel like it could have been so good and i wished everything just fleshed out more. and i feel like she was just so 2D and that she was just also entitled.

but, then we got the whole redemption arc which was at like 80%, which i just think sucked so much and was just so stupid. since, i mean, i feel like it didn't do to much anyway for our character, and i feel like by itself it was just very underdeveloped and rushed and was just there so we didn't hate her as much, but i still really hated it and also just really hated her as a character

***I received an uncorrected proof of this ebook from netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

“I am still Naema Bradshaw. Whatever you think you know about what I can or will do, I promise, you don’t.”†

I loved A Song Below Water, and I was a little apprehensive about this sequel because I could not stand Naema in the first book. Unfortunately… she wasn’t much better for the majority of this one. Naema is very much an angry/ bratty teenage girl. She’s the token, self-professed mean girl who's drowning in Eloko privilege. I had a hard time feeling bad about her being temporarily turned to stone, and then “cancelled” (anonymously) on social media for outing Tavia.

A Chorus Rises was Morrow’s chance to get the reader to understand both sides of victimhood, which are endlessly complex between race/ species/ privilege/ gender- especially in the age of social media. Unfortunately, it took far too long for the author to get me on Naema’s side. Naema spent the first three-quarters of the book in a woe is me state. She feels like she doesn’t at all deserve to be villainized (which... she does after her disgusting behavior at prom). She both does and doesn’t recognize her privileged position, capitalizing on it often ("I am Eloko first."†) while simultaneously refusing to recognize the sheer atrocity of the acts she committed at the end of book 1.

“What we’re not gonna do is start thanking our attackers for our personal growth.”†

Okay, that is an absolutely iconic line… (but, again, Naema calling Tavia her “attacker” is a bit much, imo… ). While I do think Naema deserved some karmic retribution and is being a bit over-dramatic with her self-perceived role as victim… this is also the turning point in the book where Naema recognizes her privilege and uses it for good (for once). Unfortunately, this was a bit too little too late for me. I spent so much of this book being annoyed by Naema, I wasn’t able to fully change my opinion on her with the short bit left.

I also didn’t really like her relationship with her boyfriend. It felt flat and unemotional… almost vague. We got Naema’s thought processes, but her boyfriend is basically a blank spot in my head. He seemed like an a*s in book 1, and he doesn’t seem like much of anything in book 2.

The saving grace of this book is Naema’s cousin Courtney. He is a fantastic addition. I only wish he had called out Naema even more than he did.

†must be checked against final text

This is one of those great sequels where you are both excited and sad at the same time. I loved the characters and the continuation of the story we got in A Song Below Water. This world of sirens and other beings was a beautifully done coming-of-age story with fate and romance and true voices.

A Chorus Rises was a really good book!
If you liked reading a Song Below Water you should definitely read A Chorus Rises.
The characters were so interesting to learn about and the message of the book was beautiful.
I am happy I had the opportunity to read this book!

I received a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily...

By the time I finished reading the first book in this series, A Song Below Water, I did not like Naema. So I was not sure I wanted to read this book knowing it focused on her. But I'm glad I took the chance.
Ms Morrow made me look at Naema differently. In this book we focused on the events after the incident that ended on the first book (no spoilers!). I learned a lot about the Eloko and what made them special. My favorite character would definitely have to be her cousin, Courtney. I loved his personality and how important family was to him. My only problem was Effie's absence throughout the book. I do hope that she makes a reappearance lower down in the series.
In this book, the readers also got to see how dangerous social networks can be in the wrong hands. As in the first book, sirens, who can only be black women, were persecuted and it was horrifying to read. I still love Tavia by the way. As a matter of fact, after this book, I love her even more.
I would love to follow up on the lives of these characters and would especially love to find out what happened next for Effie.
This book can be read by older children, teens and adults.

What a stunning cover! I love it! It's gorgeous just like the cover of the first book.

This is the sequel to A Song Below Water so I won't say anything with spoilers.

I wasn't sure about the main character at first but I get it now. We didn't get to really know Naema on the first book so this is her story and it was really good.

This book was centered in social media and the injustices that happen when people hide behind a phone or computer screen to target black people. And how Naema and her friends fight that.

I loved knowing more about Elokos, they're fascinating! Naema was a great main character, this book was perfect to show how she really is. Priam was so good too! I really loved Naema, all her crew and her family. And the friendships here were beautiful.

I just love Bethany C. Morrow's stories. I'm low-key hoping for more books in this series!

I love the plot and characters, the new addition to the series is very enjoyable. A few things could be relooked upon, but otherwise, I really do enjoy.

What an amazing follow up to A Song Below Water! I enjoyed this story coming from Naema's point of view. We were able to get the perspective of a stoning victim and what that felt like. We were able to get a sense of how she felt about being a magical being everyone loved until she wasn't. I LOVED the many messages that are found in this story; from toxic social media culture, undeserved privilege, to racism. Naema's journey to discover exactly what it meant to be an Eloko is such great representation about identity and the labels used in society. Great addition to any high school classroom.
Thanks NetGalley!

I was so excited to read this one! I loved Bethany's first book and was eagerly awaiting the next. Though this wasn’t as fun of a read for me as the first book, I would still recommend it to anyone who read and enjoyed A Song Below Water

This was a fitting sequel, and I think I liked it even more than the first book in this universe. I always like a story that takes you into the antagonist's head after-the-fact - especially when the antagonist isn't actually a villain.

"Whatever you think you know about what I can or will do, I promise, you don't."

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Teen, and MacMillan Audio for both an advanced e-book and audiobook copy of this book!

A Chorus Rises is the sequel to A Song Below Water. This book follows the aftermath of Naema, somewhat of an antagonist in the first book, dealing with the fallout of her decisions and what was done to her by Tavia and Effie. This story is slightly advertised as a standalone set in the same universe, but I would consider reading the first book as critical to understanding the plot/premise of this book at all. I listened to the first book seven months ago, and was so confused because I barely remembered anything about Naema other than that she is Eloko and was turned to stone at the ending.

This is advertised as fantasy, and while there are two species (Eloko and Siren) heavily mentioned in this book, there is really only one kind of supernatural ability used in this book? Other than one magical power in use, this is almost entirely a contemporary book that mentions mythology/fantasy.

My enjoyment of this book was lower than ASBW because I missed having the magical elements more in play. I also sincerely hope I interpreted at least one of these wrong, but there seemed to be two incest jokes casually thrown into the story that made me uncomfortable (the main one being an aunt told to "keep it in her pants" when she was excited to see her nephew). That kept this from being a three star book for me.

Pros: The cover is stunning, and I will be moving to Arizona soon, so the Arizona setting was fun to read about!

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the first book and is curious to see what happened to Naema Bradshaw.

Thank you so much Net Galley and tor Teen for the e-arc to read and review.

5/5 Stars. I give A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow 5/5 Stars. When I heard that A Song Below Water was getting a sequel I was beyond thrilled. I loved the first book in this series so I was thrilled to step back into the story for book two. This sequel focuses on Naema Bradshaw who took the role of the "popular/mean girl" in the first book. I loved that Naema was given her own story in book two and that Morrow develops her character beyond the stereotypical mean/popular girl. I love when main characters have realistic character flaws and aren't 100% perfect. I loved reading Naema's story and watching her character growth. This is a must read series and I hope that Bethany C. Morrow continues to write in this universe.

Love love love this world!! I honestly fell in love with A Song Below Water (the book before this one), and was NOT disappointed to hear Naeme’s side of the story. She’s still unlikable, but I’m a sucker for a self discovery journey. I loved everything about this story!! Can’t wait to pair it with ASBW as a class read aloud!

Wow, this book so perfectly complements A Song Below Water that it feels like one can't fully exist without the other.

In the first book, Naema was such a carefully crafted villain. You could see she had nuance even at a distance, but her actions spoke loudly and in unflattering ways. Here, we not only see her side of things but also have the pleasure of watching her grow. Her voice is strong and unapologetic throughout; you can practically feel her fictional fingerprints all over each chapter. Her strategic mind, influencer skills, and self-confidence are impressive even when you can't decide where her next decision is going to fall on the spectrum of good and morally questionable. To be clear, I worried a lot less about that as I got to know her and also as she addressed her past actions. I also respected the decision to keep romance as a very minor (but enjoyable) subplot with family bonds at the true center of the story.

The overarching conflict in this book is just as powerful and thoughtful as the first. Naema's story addresses the tensions of intersectionality in individual identities. She struggles with how her fans and viewers have compartmentalized her as a Black girl or a charming Eloko depending on how they want to consume her content. She must navigate racism and her own magical privilege, embracing the wisdom of her ancestors to come out whole. The story also illuminates one of the many dark corners of the internet where people (read:white boys) are emboldened and radicalized through like-minded conversation that can fuel dangerous action. These heavy, relevant sources of conflict are interspersed with interpersonal drama, reconciliation, and meeting one's potential.

This pair of stories is engrossing and fierce, and A Chorus Rises is a worthy second act. I would recommend it to anyone. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Teen for the opportunity to read and review this book. It's out on 6/1!

This book is/includes:
-own voices story
-ya fantasy
-black girl magic

A Chorus Rises is a sequel to A Song Below Water and it follows what happens after The Awakening, but from the villain’s point of view, Naema. Naema is struggling with the actions that she made in the first book and the media is not a big fan of her. This book follows Naema as she tries to understand who she is.

First of all can we appreciate this gorgeous cover. I am such a sucker for a pretty cover. This book includes conversations of race, gender, privilege and the media. I really appreciated the real world issues included in this fantasy book as I haven’t read many that includes this. This book is more of a character driven story rather than having heavy action that you would would expect from a fantasy book.

I highly recommend you read this book after A Song Below Water as it might be quite difficult to understand, as this novel takes place after what happened at the end of the first book.

I tried with this one, but it just wasn't for me at all. I'm a pretty character driven reader, so the fact that there was nothing I liked or cared about with the main character really killed this for me. I'm also starting to think that I don't connect with Morrow's writing. It was boring and didn't do much for me. I didn't love her debut, but I was hoping this one would be better for me. Unfortunately, I was super confused at the beginning since I barely remembered anything from the previous book and the recap felt kind of messy and not very memorable. I was like 10% of the way into the book before I remembered who our main character was from the previous novel. The plotline was boring and didn't hold my attention at all.

4.5/5
I enjoyed this book a billion more times than the first one. In this book, we follow Naema who was not the nicest of people in Book 1. We get to see things from her perspective for most of the chapters. In the other chapters, we get information from social media or the news, which I absolutely LOVE. The pairing of having viewpoints from Naema and then the media is perfect because it enhances the story so much. We start off with a resentful Naema who grows to be something else.
Now in comparison to Book 1, the switching of viewpoints in this book is done better and enhances the story so much. There is no confusion in the switching of viewpoints and the enhancement is wonderful. This story is told from Naema’s viewpoint where you think it is only about her, but it has a greater telling. In the first book, we have a focus on our sisters Effie and Tavia, with some of the worlds in the background. We still have the continuation of the magical world.
I gave this book a 4.5 out of 5 because I think there needs to be a stronger explanation of the magic as a whole. Maybe the author could have had some guidebook in the world that explains the magic system and have portions of that for an explanation, but an explanation was needed. Some types of magic are only present in certain races, where others are random lottery factors if you are blessed with magic or not. I understand that the author is using the idea of magic to help showcase the discrimination that people face because of racism, but I think the author could have strengthened it. I think the writer has a lot of creativity and skill, they just need to give us more of it.
I highly recommend reading Book 2! You definitely need to read Book 1 before reading Book 2. And look at how gorgeous the cover is!!

Many thanks to Tor Teen and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It publishes tomorrow and if you enjoyed the first, you definitely want to pick this one up. I admit I was a bit confused at first because I didn't remember a lot of the first one. I should have planned a re-read but June 1 snuck up on me and I wanted to be on time with an ARC review for once! In this book, we start with the aftermath of the big event in [book:A Song Below Water|39085465], only this time we pick up with Naema. I really liked this book, especially the way Bethany C. Morrow interwove race relations with her fantasy world. I loved the relationships that formed throughout the story and I so enjoyed watching Naema and crew take down the bad guys. Can't wait to see more from this author in the future!

Bethany C. Morrow is back with her new book, A Chorus Rises, a brilliant follow-up to her modern fantasy masterpiece A Song Below Water, that not only expands on its predecessor’s messaging, but once again dazzles us with Bethany’s remarkable skill as a storyteller. With an incredible main character and a blistering commentary, A Chorus Rises strikes that perfect balance between entertaining and socially responsible.

As the summary states, things post ASBW hasn’t been without its challenges for Eloko influencer Naema Bradshaw. Not only is she having post-traumatic stress over being “stoned” courtesy or gorgon Effie, but as things move along, she is confronted with some perverse fans called the #KnightsofNaema, who think the only way to honor her is to harm sirens. Oh, and while not all Black women are sirens, all sirens are Black women, something to keep in mind. She’s in therapy and doesn’t want to take the note that says she’s weak, or that shows she should have died. She’s haunted by memories of a muted nothingness (torture for an Eloko), and waking up from that cold memory is the only control she has in those moments.

And now, with the airing of a Tavia/Effie skewed-version-of-events-made-for-TV-movie called Awaken, and the normally loyal Portland turning on her, Naema’s had enough of the Northwest for the time being. So, she leaves Portland for a little R&R, hoping to get away from all the local drama and maybe get a little perspective.

She heads Southwest to stay with her Aunt Carla Ann (her mom’s sister) and her cousins Carmen and Courtney, none of whom she’s seen for many years. Naema learns quickly that there’s just no escaping certain problems nowadays when we’re connected in ways that just don’t allow it, especially if you’re guilty of checking in every five minutes…which she does, much to Courtney’s annoyance. And using the fighter’s fight mantra, she contacts the director of Awaken, Leona Fowl, offering to tell her side of the story, hoping to refute her character assassination.

This overdue family reunion proves to be challenging but enlightening, as she learns ancestral truths that will not only affect her powers, but the course of her life as well. Not to mention, she gains an ally in Courtney who will become one of her most important friends and supporters, and as an aside, turns in one of the books best performances. Here, Bethany leans into the mythology a bit, not only establishing some Eloko tropes, but underscoring the discrimination Eloko and Sirens face, and how there’s a clear intersection between a feigning consternation over magic, and the obvious racist motivations.

The first bits of this book are about Naema trying to stand, but instead stumbles to the ground, metaphorically speaking. And it’s not until she learns to hear her ancestors voices, is when her sure footedness returns. And at that point, this book goes from great, to fly me to the moon. Naema is at her best when she’s both self-aware and well, herself, a strong, smart, beautiful Black woman that moves with grace, style, dignity, and just the right amount of swagger....

...to read the full review, click the link below.

https://www.cinelinx.com/off-beat/a-chorus-rises-book-review/