Burn Down, Rise Up is a young adult urban fantasy/horror novel from debut author Vincent Tirado. The story is a combination of some classical young adult tropes - an urban legend/creepypasta type of game, a protagonist who doesn't realize what her feelings towards a friend mean and, upon realizing it, finds herself afraid to voice those feelings or to believe they're reciprocated, etc. But what makes it different is that the story uses as its background the real history of the Bronx, from its burning in the 70s to issues with gentrification and slumlords and more.

And the result is a very solid if a bit predictable YA novel, which hits most of the expected plot beats in the romance and the horror in the ways you'd expect, and in the ways that are relevant in its themes the book tires to go for. There's little really special here, and you may be yelling at the protagonist for missing the romantic signs so blatantly for way too long, but it's a very solidly crafted novel that you couldn't go wrong in reading, whose Bronx setting and themes of prevailing by coming together do give it just a little bit of originality.

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For a year, the Bronx has been the location for mysterious disappearances that no one can explain - even of white kids who the press and police are usually determined to find. For 16 year old Raquel, this isn't her problem, other than it being something that makes her be especially careful - after all, it's not like the police or authority would look for her if she goes missing. But when the latest disappearance turns out to be Cisco, an acquaintance who happens to be the cousin of Charlize, one of Raquel's childhood friends (who Raquel has some strange feelings about she can't quite understand)....the matter begins to come to the forefront of Raquel's mind. And this becomes even more so when Raquel's mother becomes sick with a mysterious but connected illness, and Raquel begins to see things in her dreams that seem to affect her physically.

Raquel, Charlize, and Raquel's best friend Aaron will soon find themselves teaming up to try to investigate, only to discover the answer may lie both in an urban legend challenge known as the Echo Game along with the history of the Bronx - a history filled with fire, misery, and false promises. For Raquel to save her mom and help her friend - and to realize perhaps how much closer she wants Charlize in particular to be - she will have to take on the challenge herself....if she can survive the horrors that lie behind it all....
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Burn Down, Rise Up is a novel following Raquel a high school teenager from a divorced family, who lives with her paramedic mom and only occasionally sees her bit backwards and more spiritual EMT father. She's Afro-Latina and bilingual (and thus knows she has to avoid too much attention from the cops), although she mainly speaks English in this novel, and well isn't quite sure about her sexuality or what her feelings towards her childhood friend Charlize - a girl she hasn't been quite an active friend to in a while but feels like she wants to again - actually mean, and well spends a good amount of the first half of the book pining without realizing she's doing it. And she cares deeply for her mother - and even her father who takes over when her mom gets sick, even if she's not quite as sure what to do with his strange beliefs - as well as her friends - like her best friend Aaron, whose crush on Charlize makes things even harder for her to put things into words. All in all, all of this is pretty standard YA fantasy/horror protagonist stuff here.

What makes Burn Down Rise Up stand out just a little is how it incorporates the history of the Bronx into its horrors story. While the Echo Game copypasta horror that forms the basis for the horrors coming out is global, how it manifests here is by making the horrors and evils of what happened to the Bronx/South Bronx come back and manifest, to torture those who go into it.....and to spread through those who go into it and go out. And so Raquel has to deal with the burning of the Bronx in the 70s, the gentrification by outsiders despite the wishes of the local people, and how slumlords preyed upon those living there by making them live in horrid conditions all for the sake of their own greed. The book does an excellent job bringing these historical and current issues to the forefront, and centers it as Raquel faces a pretty standard YA horror-romance plot.

And well that horror-romance plot holds up well, with the book's characters working pretty well - not just Raquel, but the unsure of her own feelings as well Charlize, Raquel's best friend Aaron, and Aaron's brother and slightly creepy (but turns out not to be a bad guy once told "no") Mario. Events are sort of predictable at times, but not at others, and the book is short enough that it never really loses your interest or attention once you start it. Again there's nothing really truly here special, either, and to be honest I'm having a hard time finding more things to say.

But well, it's a solid YA Fantasy/Horror novel, featuring a pretty solid look at a real life setting in the Bronx, and that's certainly worth your time if you're interested.

I’m very grateful for the eARC of Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado. When I read the blurb I knew this sounded like something I’d enjoy and I really did enjoy it at a time when I’ve found it so difficult to relax to read at all.
This story is based in the Bronx and delves into Urban Legends and the supernatural. It was a real page turner, the story really grabbed me and the characters were flawed just enough to be real.
If you enjoy a dose of the supernatural, with monsters, bad guys and Urban myths - I’d highly recommend you pick up a copy of this book. It’s out very soon on May 3rd 2022!

Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado is a creepy and mysterious thriller set in the Bronx. Teenagers are disappearing, multiple at one time and no one knows where they are. Raquel is determined to figure out what is happening to all of these teenagers after her friend Charlize's cousin is one of the teenagers who has gone missing. Soon, they figure out that the disappearances are linked to the Echo Game - an urban myth like game that happens in the middle of the night at the subway station. Certain rules apply if you want to make it out alive not be trapped forever in the dark past of the city. Raquel and Charlize jump headfirst into the game to save their friends and save their city before more teenagers disappear. Burn Down, Rise Up keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing as to what is going to happen next. LGBTQ+ friendly, I enjoyed the subtle romance that was weaved into the fantasy horror novel. The novel did miss the mark a little bit for me in some remarks - some parts just felt rough around the edges and not fully fleshed out.

I LOVED this book. It was marketed as Stranger Things meets Get Out but I felt like it had more Candyman (2021) vibes than Get Out, though I think it's a mix of all three plus a bit of Orpheus and Eurydice for the modern age. I loved how much reading this felt like being in the Bronx and how realistic the setting was (not surprising from a Bronx native). I love that this mixed paranormal suspense with real life events and the intersection of that with racism/environmental racism. The storyline was clear and easy to follow while keeping you invested in the mystery and suspense, and all of my questions were answered by the end. It all tied in neatly and was really well done!

My overall feelings about this book are confusing. Like- it took me 3 months to finish this book, but the last 200ish pages I finished in maybe 2 days. and I enjoyed the book but also didn't really have the desire to pick it back up whenever I had set it down (though that also could be because I was in a reading slump).

This book is for you, If you like:
-Sci-fi/Paranormal books with Horror/Thriller aspects
-Descriptions so vivid YOU get scared
-Thriller books that involve games
-Urban legends
-Books with missing teens
-Romance Sub-plots
-Dark pasts

Content Warnings:
-Body Horror
-Gore
-Fire injuries
-Cannibalism
-Violence
-Death
-Blood

What I liked:
-The descriptions genuinely made me scared especially since I was reading this alone at night
-The author did a good job of puling you in and making you forget you were even reading a book
-The cute romance subplot was cute and helped move the story along, but also gave us the occasional break from all the gore and horror
-I was never bored since the environment was realistic and brutal, and the writing was snappy and full of action. There were times when I couldn't put the book down, gripped to the page and eager to see what occurred next, and these were countered by times when the writing cast a gentler light on the characters and the setting.
-LGBTQIA+ Rep!
-Tirado's choice of pairing present day New York with one set in a dark chapter of history

I can't say I really disliked anything besides maybe some issues with logic regarding rules set up for the game or lack of explanation for certain things. Overall a great read, I'd recommend to anyone looking for a good paranormal thriller.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review.
I went into Burn Down, Rise Up with few expectations, except that it was a queer horror/monster story. Upon starting it, I found myself more or less sucked in, with the story taking on brisk pace, covering a short span of time and never losing that sense of momentum.
The Bronx setting also feels very much like its own character. While we’ve definitely seen a good share of Jordan Peele-esque stories which use the vehicle of horror to explore racism and other social issues in the last several years, Vincent Tirado holds their own and contributes something special with their iteration, with the Bronx coming alive (literally and figuratively) to capture all the nuances of these issues. And then there’s also the addition of a disease which gives people creepy visions, and it’s all well-rendered.
Raquel is an interesting protagonist, and while she doesn’t always make the wisest decisions, given what she’s going through and how the present situation impacts her, I can understand where she’s coming from. I also really like the relationships between the different characters. While I’m not sure the sapphic relationship between Raquel and Charlize was the strongest, there was a lot of potential, and I wish there had been time to flesh it out more. But otherwise, I really loved the strong family and friendship bonds.
This is a solid debut, with a lot of potential for growth. If you’re also a fan of the aforementioned properties, or are interested in a Black sapphic horror novel, I’d recommend looking out for this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for early access to this book in exchange for a honest review!

This debut truly was a roller coaster of a read. The characters and eerie atmosphere kept me hooked, wondering what was going to happen next and how everyone would be by the end of the story. The characters were greatly written in my opinion, and I can’t wait to see what the author will write in the future!

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!

i really enjoyed this book! it was really fast-paced and filled with action; it rarely slowed down, and when it did, it was still really interesting (though some of the dialogue slowed the novel down a bit). i loved the setting of the bronx, and seeing how the characters interacted both with each other and with the city.

overall, ‘burn down, rise up’ was very fascinating, and I thought it was a really well-written ya horror novel; I haven’t read a horror story for a while, so I really enjoyed getting back into the genre!

This was a collar coaster ride.
My god, I wish read this in like high school or middle school.
The book is so visual, I loved it.
You can tell the author's love for their neighborhood and the fact that these kids had each other's back was awesome to watch. Raquel is a brave, smart girl who is finding her way to protect her community, you can't help but root for her. And can I just mention how cute her crush is.......it took me back to high school. The only thing I wish was better was the first 3rd of the book, it felt a bit info-dumpy but once you get past that and enter the action part, that's when the book shines.
I also wished to see Raquel be more concerned about her mother, at times it felt a bit weird that she was acting all cute about her crush while she was supposed to be grieving. Overall this is a great debut, cant wait to see more work from this author.

Whatever I said about not being a horror book fan doesn't apply to this book. The diversity in it is reassuring, with sapphic, afrolatina protagonists and an all-Black cast (all written by a nonbinary afrolatine author!). This book is a love letter to the author's community in the Bronx, and something very palpable during the entire narrative is how intrinsically diverse the story is: if these characters weren't Black, latinos, or queer, this story would be completely different.

Another thing I liked in this book is how present the Yoruba religion is in it. The main character's father is a practicioner, and his belief affects the way Raquel (the main character) fights the Slumlord, a personification of the pain, the racism and the oppression present in the Bronx. Besides the sexual, racial and religious diversity, something that deeply touched me was how historical the story felt. While it's a contemporary work, a lot of the narrative speaks of ghosts of the past, how it affects people even decades after an event.

"Burn Down, Rise Up" achieves great things and it's something worth to be read, sparking an interest to know more about so many topics that aren't talked about often enough, like the burnings in the Bronx during the 70s, the Yoruba religion, as well as more about the joy of oppressed communities, not only the pain suffered.

Burn Down, Rise Up is a supernatural, YA thriller with a focus on family, friendship, young love, and local history. The story revolves around a parallel world that traps horribly violent parts of a places history in an endless loop. This world can be entered through a mysterious “challenge” with vague rules and an extremely low survival rate. When people close to Raquel and Charlize are affected by this dark alternate reality, they jump into action to save the day with a bat and no real plan.

I found this story propulsive, especially the sections with literal countdowns at the start of each chapter. And although there were intense portraits of violence, they were used with purpose to show the horrors people of the past went through and to provide a deeper understanding on the history of the Bronx. I also appreciated the positive relationships portrayed in this story. Raquel has loving parents who try their best in their own way and she has a best friend who respects and trusts her. Positive relationships offer a nice juxtaposition to the horror elements of the story, and help to further the themes of community that permeate the narrative.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!

I really enjoyed this thrilling read! The book begins with a bang and doesn't slow down. I also loved the sense of community and heart in the Bronx. Especially how this story pointed out some very real world issues.

Great romance but unfortunately, some of the dialogues fell a little flat and left me feeling outside of the moment. But, overall, I really liked the story!

Out May 3rd!

This was a fun romp through the Bronx, with some Stranger Things elements in the mix. Monsters? Check. A Game? Check. Urban Legend? Check. Rules. Check. The fight for past injustices. Check. Break the rules, you don't come back from the Echo. Definitely a love letter to the Bronx. I look forward to interviewing Vincent at TLA and to ask where they got the inspiration for the story!

I don’t know what I expected from this title, but it exceeded my expectations.

There is so much packed into this title. There’s the exploration of friendship, relationships, parent/child relationships, finding yourself. The story itself ties right in with urban legends like Slenderman while introducing the racist past of Baltimore like city building, and freeway construction and the history of slumlords. But the story isn’t sacrificed for those things.

Excellent read!!!

I think this was a unique read and it was a lot of fun. It gave me Zombieland meets hunger games vibes but with a good twist. I didn’t mind the romantic subplot. I’ve seen the comparisons to Stranger Things but I haven’t seen the show so I’m not sure. The main character is great and I was interested from start to finish

Let me start by saying that anything horror is WAY out of my comfort zone. Burn Down, Rise Up was in the realm I enjoy. I saw it advertised as having elements of Stranger Things (which I haven’t watched), so I will describe it as like Resident Evil and Zombieland.

I really liked that this book explored urban myths, social media challenges and Bronx history all in one. And Raquel, the lead, is a strong young lady and it’s good to see her grow and start to come into her own.

Overall, this book left me wanting more. I read it in less than 24 hours and I wanted more because I enjoyed it and because I wanted more story, more character depth. I will be reading more from this author in the future!

Thank you @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. As always, this review expresses my own personal opinions.

Burn Down, Rise Up is a debut thriller that you aren’t going to want to put down! Raquel is a teenager living in the Bronx navigating school, crushes, and the sad reality of a growing list of missing teens in her neighborhood and stories of police violence. When an old friend goes missing after playing a game rumored on Reddit and Raquel’s mom is quarantined mysteriously, Raquel thinks twice about the disappearances. Will Raquel play the game and come out alive? Or will she break the rules too and end up like the others?

I didn’t anticipate reading this book in one sitting, but the storyline and action carried me through. I was especially captivated by the hidden history of the Bronx burnings and how Tirado’s characters refuse to go out without a fight. While parts were predictable and it took me a few chapters to get into it was overall a fun read that surprised me!

Wow! I didn’t know what to expect going in but the comp titles intrigued me enough. And I was so invested in this story! The pacing was perfect - never much of a drop or lag in the story. Once the plot started to unfold, I was constantly wondering how things would play out, what would be the pay off, and how possibly the novel could end. It was fast paced and an overall super unique plot!

My biggest gripe with the book is I would categorize this as insta-love. Despite there being a pre-existing relationship with the characters, I didn’t feel that enough background was provided to believe that the two characters would suddenly express undying love to each other. I think the romance detracted from the book. I almost wish the book ended with them at the start of their relationship and reconnection rather than forcing the romance earlier on.

Despite the romance plot line being subpar, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the book and will recommend!

An urban legend rumored to be responsible. And one group of teens determined to save their city at any cost.

Thank you so so much NetGalley for an arc !!!!!!

I’ve never finished a book this fast in a school night, Vincent had me screaming at my pillow so hard I’m surprised I didn’t wake anyone up.

OH MYYYY

The suspense of the short chapters had me turning the pages so fast I had to get back to confirm I read all it, and I had !!! All the information glued to my brain pretty easily, and that’s not common for me, so of course I enjoyed that SO much. A lot of books tend to just give you a bunch of information in a span of three pages and it ends up being overwhelming and annoying and then you have to go back to reread EVERYTHING. Vincent’s work here did the complete opposite, it had me invested in the story and through the whole book, interested, I wanted to know what was going to happen and how would they overcome this and that.

AND THE RELATIONSHIPS, the highs and lows of high school friendships, both friends falling in love with the same girl, I appreciated you have no idea how much that there was actual communication here. Aaron and Raquel are amazing both, and Mario’s care for his former friend. AND CHARLIZE OMG.

I would’ve actually wanted more from Charlize and Raquel, but after I organized my thought so I could write the review I realized that it was perfect really.

Horror isn’t a genre I normally read mostly because I get scared pretty easily, but with this book I just didn’t care, almost cried halfway but still didn’t care, and I loved it, I absolutely LOVED “Burn down, Rise up” from the cover, which is BEAUTIFUL, to how the title is connected to the story, to the characters, to the freaking rat mentioned in the story. EVERYTHING.

I will 100% be waiting to read more from Vincent Tirado.

4/5 Stars - YA Thriller about Raquel, a young, Afro-Latina, high school girl who becomes caught up in a Bronx urban legend game called Echo when her friend, potentially more than friends, Charlize, asks her to help find her cousin, Cisco. Raquel and her friends become determined to save the city, discover the history of the Bronx, find their friends, and hopefully make it out alive.

This book superseded a lot of my expectations! This was such a weird, feel good, stranger things-esque novel that really made me question my own thoughts. The history of the Bronx, the racist history of redlining, all mixed with a creepy, spine tingling urban legend makes this such a fun and fantastic read!! I am so impressed with Vincent Tirado’s writing style, they truly did such an incredible job with making it funny, mysterious, and highlighting the inner thoughts of these young characters.

The setting, the LGBTQ+ rep, the disability rep, the atmospheric writing, all of it was stunning and I can’t wait to see what more they come out with. This OwnVoices debut is such a brain stealer and heart pounder, you won’t be able to put it down!

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks Fire for sending me this ARC.