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/

A Chorus Rises - Bethany C. Morrow

This is the sequel to A Song Below Water and it was so good!! We follow Naema’s POV as she learns more about what being Eloko means. I really liked learning more about Naema and seeing a different side of her character. She spends a lot of the book with her extended family and I really enjoyed that! I don’t want to say too much so I don’t spoil the first book, but I think these are great books to pick up if you’re looking for a contemporary fantasy / magical realism book!

DNF at 16%.

World-building and character POV switch from Book 1 was confusing and prevented me from following the plot.

Thanks to Macmillan Tor-Forge + NetGalley for the e-ARC of A CHORUS RISES by Bethany C Morrow. Expected pub date 6/1/2021.

Perspective and point of view in stories is an important aspect in order to truly get a full picture of what happens. I really enjoyed reading Naema's story after first meeting her in A SONG BELOW WATER. These books definitely need to be read together. A coming of age story that explores racism, privilege, and media.

A chorus Rises is a story about growth, recognising your privilege, and finding your place in society after you’ve totally messed up.

After the events of A Song Below Water, we follow Naema who’s struggling to understand why her society and network of Eloko’s have turned on her. She feels like the victim in all of this, after all she was one of the stoned and now has a completely different connection to her Elokoness than ever before.

. . . .

What I really loved about this book is that we didn’t follow a typical YA hero/Chosen One. We followed Naema, a flawed and privileged teen. Who had just experienced a public shaming of sorts. I loved seeing this different perspective on the story.

I also loved the look at privilege, which is hard to realise but so important to come to terms with.

Naema’s growth was also fantastic, it was nonlinear which at times frustrating, was very authentic.

While I think this is an important read, it lacked the charm of the first book. I think that was because Naema was at times an unlikable character and while I understand why and the importance it had for the story, it still made this book harder to enjoy.

For that reason, I’m giving this book 3.5 stars.

As always thank you NetGalley and Tor Teen for this ARC.

I'm giving this 1 star.

The MC is awful. I loathed her. She is a 2D, self centered, and entitled mean girl. No attempt at a redemption arc until over 75% of the way through, and then it was underdeveloped, rushed and simply too little too late....
There was no growth or development. It was more like I knew I was supposed to feel for her by the end but there were no reasons why I should. It was boring and frustrating to read her prattle on and justify her despicable behaviour. I really had to push myself to finish this book. I'm struggling to think of something nice to say about it....

The first book, A Song Below Water, was better and worth the read. But this installment was a massive disappointment. I can't say I'm inclined to pick up anything that comes after this.

Reading Naema's POV was an examination of how quickly the world can turn on us. On apologies that go unheard and 'villains' that are created. A Chorus Rises explores the images and identity of Naema. Her role in the magical community, and as a black girl, casts shadows on her life. The ways that misrepresentation and a lack of voice can change our story. We all want to be the hero of our own story, to see our version of reality, and so having our voice ignored, especially after having a voice, changes Naema's world.

A Chorus Rises made me question internet fame and support. How quickly fear can be mobilized. How the perspectives of who is right and who is heard shifts with the wind. All these elements, and pieces of Naema's identity play off each other as she struggles to get a handle on the story and world around her. While I loved watching Naema's story, I felt that the ending was wrapped up a bit too hastily, especially considering the lead up. At around 20% there were all these new layers added that I was looking forward to wrapping up, but I just wished there had been a little more space.

Unusual but extremely addictive. Great storyline that kept me intrigued from the start. Would love to read more like it

I got an ARC of this book.

I am really just not having a good time when it comes to YA books lately. This was one I was dying to have. I have talked about the first book so much. Then I saw the cover and I LOVED it. I was ready. I was counting down until I could start to read it, but then I started to read it.

The book was boring. It was a lot of woe is me, everyone hates me because I am a terrible person. Other reviewers mention there is a redemption arc much later in the book, but I didn't make it. I couldn't last that long. I wanted to care. I felt bad that the stoning had the power it did, but it was also really, really hard to care that someone who was just so not pleasant had bad things happen to her based on what she had done. At one point she even mentions cancel culture, which should have been the time for me to nope out.

So, surprisingly enough, this book was a lot easier to get through even though for about 75% of the book, I hated (okay, hate is a strong word; STRONGLY disliked) Naema (maybe it was easier because I had the audiobook to listen to). Either way, while Naema and her thoughts were unbearable at times, the actual storyline of this book was a lot more fun for me compared to its predecessor. Courtney was a fun character, as well as Lil’ Bit, so they made it a lot more enjoyable as well. The end redeemed Naema and her personality for me, but if I were just reading this book without the audiobook to push me along, it would have been really hard to get through. She had great character growth though, and she did have a lot of valid thoughts and points, she just didn’t take responsibility for a few things which made her hard to like at first. LOVE the cover of this book, the pink was what caught my eye originally.

This is one of the best sequels I ever read. The first book left me a little confused and with a lot of questions and I think this was a great follow up to get the answers I needed. This book takes place after the events in A Song Below Water and follows Naema who was the “mean girl” from book one. She was written as super unlikable in the first book (which is fine black girls don’t all have to be likable) and this book provided us with insight to why she made all the decisions she did. This book is really a reflection on what it’s like to feel like you’re not Black enough both by the standards of other Black people while also feeling too Black for everyone else. Being Black especially a black young woman in this country is complicated and I think Naema embodies that so well. I also appreciate that she’s confidant and stands by her decisions and does what’s best for her. Some would call that selfish and maybe it is but just as equally Naema knows how to take care of the ones she loves. I also really loved the family dynamics in this story. Naema being the uppity cousin who comes to visit the rest of the family and feels like an outsider but also comes to see how much they love her? Been there done that! Her and her cousin Courtney were cousin goals. Finally, I really like this books message of our power coming from our ancestors and them giving us the initiative to take charge in the present. Black people in this country have been denied the opportunity time and time again to know our past but that doesn’t mean that those ancestors aren’t watching over us. At least, that’s what I believe. So please read this book after you read A Song Below Water. You will come to love Naema just as much as I did.

This book was such a great follow up to A Song Below Water. I absolutely loved being back in this story and getting a different perspective this time around.
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This second book was a great story about finding yourself and learning what makes you who you are.
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Bethany C. Morrow does an excellent job examining racism and privilege. Throw in the media and you have a well written, timely story.
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Be sure to pick this one up on June 1st and if you haven’t read A Song Below Water, you have time to fit it in before this one releases!

The sequel to A Song Below Water (2020) unfolds another level of Black girl sorcery and solidarity, this time focusing on Naema Bradshaw, Eloko, influencer, and Tavia's designated mean girl. After exposing Tavia's siren powers to the world, Naema has faced a backlash from her school, her friends, and seemingly the entire city of Portland. She grabs at affirmation where she can find it, from skeevy fan sites to her previously ignored extended family. Naema learns the secret of Eloko power while connecting with her non-Eloko cousins, until danger to other Black girls brings her back to Portland. I loved the way Naema, the antagonist in A Sing Below Water, comes alive here, in all of the bling-loving, bossy glory. Too many YA stories set girls against each other, while A Chorus Rises shows the strength in all girls without discounting their flaws and feuds.

📖Review: A Chorus Rises📖
By: Bethany C Morrow
Genre: YA Magical Realism
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ / 5

[TW: racism, hate crimes, stalking, cyber bullying/harassment]

🟢 What I liked:
• Neama’s perspective: in the first book (A Song Below Water), Neama was the bully, so I was unsure whether I would enjoy this as much, but it was actually super helpful for showing her backstory and the development that her character has to undertake after the events from ASBW, while simultaneously not justifying her previous actions
• Magical realism: after reading ASBW I now understand the magical system and different magical beings, so I found it much easier to follow along and I definitely enjoyed this more than ASBW in that sense
• Integration of media: in between most chapters, there was ‘clippings’ from newspaper or the comment sections on social media, which was extremely useful for providing a background to the book and displaying what the public believed about the events of ASBW and Naema’s actions

🔴 What I didn’t like:
• ‘Standalone novel’: on Goodreads and NetGalley, everybody is saying this a standalone/companion to A Song Below Water – it is not. Please read the ASBW first, or don’t be surprised that nothing makes sense
• Pacing: there were times when I felt that the pacing was slightly off, for example some parts went on for too long when I believe there should have been more focus

🟡 I recommend for:
• Everybody (but only if you’ve read ASBW first 😳): there were so many important messages in the book, plus the cover is gorgeous so it is totally worth owning to show off that pretty art

A slow build at times, but I really loved where this took me. Morrow's teen characters are vividly real and their dramas felt genuine, even with the fantastical circumstances.

**Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Teen for letting me read this in advance in exchange for an honest review**

After finishing "A Song Below Water" earlier this year I was thrilled to see that there was going to be a sequel. Tbh I was a bit apprehensive about reading this as this is from the point of view of Naema and if you read the first book you know what happened at the end.

It turns out this book was really good and the way Bethany C. Morrow managed to convince me to change my opinion about Naema (even tho she is still slightly stuck in her ways) and to also write about race issues so effectively is amazing!!

I cannot wait to read future works by this author and is she decided to publish more "A Song Below Water" books, I won't complain :)

Bethany C. Morrow is such a gem. I loved A Song Below Water, and A Chorus Rises does not disappoint as a follow-up. I love how Morrow ties in real-world "influencer culture" into a story with more magical elements. Also, can we talk about the beautiful cover? Even if I hadn't been familiar with ASBW, I would have been drawn to this one. I would highly recommend for teen readers as a really fun summer read.

I loved this one!!! I loved this BIPOC book that touched on racial tensions and issues of our time, as well as making it extremely relevant with fame, social media, and had a hint of fantasy!

I loved this book!
I got an ARC on this book from NetGallery, and ended up actually loving it. I didn't read the first book (because I didn't realize it was a sequel, lol), but the book alone was great! The characters were so well developed, and the author was amazing at descriptions and writing the plot. The cover was also beautiful ;)

I'm not going to lie, I was very nervous going into this because Naema was my least favorite character in A Song Below Water and I didn't know how I would like a story with her as the main character, but that's the power of a POV switch. I grew to really appreciate Naema as a character. I really loved the conversations around her Blackness vs her Eloko-ness, codeswitching, being an acceptable minority and using other forms of your identity as protection, and her frustration at her personal experiences only having value if she shares her trauma publicly. They were all really great and impactful.

I also really liked the different media style chapters between Naema's prose chapters, it helped build some insight for how, mainly Portland, was feeling after the Stoning event at the end of A Song Below Water. But I do think that the side characters (even ones introduced in A Chorus Rises) were under developed and just kinda there. And the ending was a little rushed for me too, so the personal growth wasn't fully there. Overall, while I still don't really like Naema as a character, I appreciate her journey and the conversations this book continues after A Song Below Water.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review