Whoo, what a thrill ride. Burn Down, Rise Up is a super dark and creepy YA horror novel. Loved Raquel and Charlize! Their trips through an alternate version of the Bronx via 'The Echo Game' were viscerally described and absolutely scary. I got an early copy, and rushed through. Well worth the read.

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.

Ok, time to be honest. I picked up this book completely based on the amazing cover. I had skimmed the synopsis but clearly not well enough because I didn’t realise this was a horror book until I started reading. I thought it would be more of a mystery book but it’s definitely horror. Horror also happens to be a genre I tend to avoid, I just don’t like being scared or creeped out. But I still really enjoyed this book! The writing was really easy to get into, the characters well developed, the relationships relatable and the suspense was just right. The only reason this doesn’t get 5 stars from me is that I felt the first part of the book was a bit slow and it took a while before I really got into the book. But I’m really glad I read this, it makes me think I may need to reevaluate my stance on horror books.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that me and YA novels, particularly YA debuts, have struggled in recent times. I’ve started to think this is the end of the road for me and YA, and then something like Burn Down, Rise Up comes along.

This is a fast-paced and action-packed thrill ride of a book. It throws you into things from page one and doesn’t let up, which, given the premise, is what it needed to do. And it does it so well. There’s the perfect balance of time spent making sure the characters are rounded and sympathetic, building the tension as the characters work out what’s going on, and sending you on a rollercoaster ride in the final act.

Let me start with the characters, because this book wouldn’t work with characters who didn’t leap off the page. Luckily, there’s no such issue with Raquel, Charlize and Aaron (and to an extent, Mario and Cisco). It sounds a fairly simplistic point, but I think that a large part of what elevates a book from good to great is in how real the characters feel to you, and these ones feel just that. It also helps then, when you have to deal with their stupidity (looking at you Aaron), if you do like them somewhat.

Just like the characters, the situation and world they’re in is fleshed out and detailed. You can easily imagine the Echo, and its Passengers, and I liked that it was well-grounded in the history of the Bronx. I think the idea that people’s collective traumas leave an echo (ha) on the world is a really cool one, and very well-executed here. I also liked the discussion of how Raquel could even overcome the Echo—as it was a product of people’s memories, and so harder to vanquish when those memories wouldn’t be forgotten.

If I had any complaints about the book it’s that sometimes it felt a bit rushed in certain scenes. Case in point would be Raquel’s first fight with the Slumlord: it was almost too easy how she overcame him (although subsequent events did sort of explain that) and I needed a little more time spent on it at least.

But, like I said, overall this was a great book and one I highly enjoyed. Definitely one I’d recommend picking up in May.

This is not the type of book I normally read. But I really liked it!

It's a creepy horror type book with not too much gore and a little romance. It has a great main character and some nice side characters. The plot is interesting as it has to do with traumatic histories of places.

There were a few things that seemed contrived in the plot, but I still enjoyed it.

“The Bronx was more than this, more than just a string of injustices against a community of people who did nothing but try to survive.”

Packed with action and gay scary vibes; Burn Down, Rise Up is an absolute masterpiece!

I ATE THIS UP. The characters, the writing, THE HISTORY? Urg. Top two and it wasn't even number two, if you know what I mean.

I would have given this book a full 5 stars if it didn't feel a little unbalanced to me. Some scenes had me on the edge of my seat while others fell a bit flat. For example, the scene where Charlize kinda, sorta, tells Raquel how she feels and it completely flies over Raquel's head, drew more emotion from me than when Raquel is hiding from the cops.
I felt like there was more anticipation in scenes like those than there were in scenes where their nerves are supposed to be felt off the page, if that makes sense.
But other than that, like I said, I ate this book up. I'm a geek for books with history lessons and I wasn't surprised when I found myself researching the actual history of The Bronx just to see the accuracy.

Immaculately told, Burn Down, Rise Up is a hauntingly beautiful love letter to The Bronx.

12 outta 10 would suggest.

Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado follows sixteen-year-old Raquel. There have been many unexplainable disappearances in the Bronx for over a year. When Raquel’s crush Charlize’s cousin Cisco goes missing, and Raquel’s mother comes down with a mystery illness that seems to be connected, Raquel starts to get concerned. Raquel and Charlize learn that the disappearances and sickness are tied to an urban legend known as the Echo Game. The game traps people in a dark time in the history of the Bronx. Raquel, Charlize, and their friends must play the game and destroy it if they want to save everyone.

I read this book in one sitting. I was captivated by the interesting and scary premise. I couldn’t wait to read what happened next.

If you're sensitive to even slightly scary things like I am, don't read this before bed.

It's been a long time since I've really enjoyed a monster-hunting/horror novel, but this book has reopened my interested in that genre. I used to love these types of stories; in elementary and middle school I'd read weird and creepy stuff by R. L. Stine, Mary Downing Hahn, and Ransom Riggs. This book is more for a teenage/young adult audience but I really enjoyed this book's weird, campy, sci-fi feel similar to the books I used to love. The description describes this book as a Stranger Things meets Get Out, which I think is highly accurate.

It was really interesting to me how the author incorporated real Bronx history within this fictional (basically Upside Down) world. From the very beginning I was hooked by the terrifying monsters in the Echo, and honestly, I wish we could have spent more time in the Echo. I really liked the characters, especially Raquel and Aaron, and I thought the sapphic romance was pretty nice too (I don't normally love how "love triangles" (if that's what you want to call this) are dealt with because most of the time when two people have a crush on the same person in media, they're pitted against each other. I didn't love that Raquel hid her crush from Aaron, but I was glad that they were still able to be best friends and that Aaron respected that Charlize wanted to be with Raquel rather than him.) As some other reviewers have already mentioned, I think some of the dialogue could be polished, but it wasn't too much of a problem for me.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think the universe gives me the right books at the right time. Right now the universe is giving me weird, creepy, and somewhat depressing, yet hopeful books so I'm just rolling with it. I highly recommend checking this one out when it's released. As always, check content warnings.

Thank you, NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel follows Sixteen-year-old Raquel in the Bronx, as her neighbourhood is plagued by sudden disappearances that no one can explain, she does her best to ignore it, but after the cousin of her crush disappears Raquel finds herself stuck in the Echo trying to find him. This novel is a fantastic mix of Stranger Things meets Get Out, with some Walking Dead type vibes.

“What else does a phoenix do when it’s done burning?”

Burn Down, Rise Up, is split into eight parts, and the chapters are relatively short, and they all pack a punch, and really add to the engrossment this novel provides, I mean I finished the book in one sitting! A complete page turner that you just need to know what is going to happen next! Each chapters title is uniquely chosen and has some relevance to events that happen within the chapter, for example part three is completely focused on Raquel’s first experience in the Echo and each chapter is titled with a different time. I find this attention to detail great; this also really shines through on the vivid world building, I completely envisioned every scene the author set, and the feelings in some of the scenes was really palpable.

I absolutely adore the character development throughout the book, Raquel is a well written relatable character who has very strong friend and family ties, especially to her mother and her best friend Aaron, and her caring nature really does shine throughout the book. It was really fascinating watching her character grow and learn, as well as her presentation at the end of the book – that was a lovely way to end the book! Aaron is also a well written character who comes across as completely respectful (telling Raquel he can’t enter a single ladies room was a show of this!) and supportive of Raquel and their friendship really shines through the book, I just love their best friend goals!

There is also the sapphic relationship development throughout the book, which is quite a slow burn romance, and for me very typical of high school teenagers (being unsure of themselves and scared to admit their feelings) but it does not take away from the main plot of the story, and instead just adds to more character development and provide another reason for Raquel to need to “win the Echo game”

I love the fact that the main heart of this book is showing the authors and Raquel’s love for the Bronx and its history, “The Bronx was more than this, more than just a long string of injustices against a community of people who did nothing but try to survive” it packs no punches in displaying the horrifying past that the Bronx suffered and all the hardships those within the borough faced; such as slum landlords, terrible living conditions, poverty and the “Bronx Burning”, as well as becoming victims to policies and “improvements” that were fundamentally racist and classist. The book felt quite rich in history, and I feel it really pulls from a variety of genres to create such a beautiful book, it felt like a very educational tool to me in places also, as I was unaware of this history and found myself researching a lot during and after the read.

I would recommend this book highly!

TW: Mentions of spiritualism, racism, some profanity and also visualisations that could be upsetting such as burns victims and emaciation

Raquel lives in the Bronx. Some weird stuff has been happening, but things get serious when someone she knows disappears and her mom goes into a coma.

What follows is a story that has all sorts of good elements to it: a creepy dream stalker, an online challenge that might lead to you losing everything, and a quest involving baseball bats, lost loves, friendship, and some commentary on the fires in the Bronx in the 1970s.

The publisher describes Burn Down, Rise Up as Stranger Things meets Jordan Peele, and I think that's a good start. The plot is very filmic and the writing flows from one chapter to the next. Raquel is an interesting character and her relationships with Aaron and Charlize are real and satisfying.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I've been in a bit of a reading slump and this was a nice return to enjoying a well-told story.

Burn Down, Rise Up follows 16-year-old Raquel on her quest to figure out what’s causing mysterious disappearances in her Bronx neighborhood and how it’s connected to her mom’s mysterious illness.

Vincent Tirado wrote an absolute love letter to the Bronx in his book. The book highlights the historical racism that still affects Black communities while also showing the feel of community this has resulted in throughout the Bronx. The characters are well written and the book really highlights how they are all individually affected by the circumstances they were raised with while contrasting this with the privilege of the the white college kids coming into the community for school.

I wasn’t completely in love with the overall plot of the book. Fast paced, definitely a unique idea for a book and the world building made up for some of it, but it just felt like it was missing something throughout.

If you are a fan of Stranger Things or Jordan Peele, this book is for you. Raquel is playing a dangerous game when she enters the Echo to save her friend. The Echo reflects the most horrid times of The Bronx and Raquel finds herself in the middle of a living nightmare. Raquel and her friends risk their lives and encounter this living hell to save the ones they’ve lost. I absolutely loved the perfect line between horror, mystery and romance that Vincent Tirado brought forward. This book was truly a love story to The Bronx. Vincent Tirado really has such a grip on writing horror and I cannot wait to read any of their future work!

(Content warnings: gore, fire injury, body horror, violence, racism, medical content, cannibalism)

This is some great YA horror deeply rooted in the history of the Bronx and with a side of wlw romance. It follows Rachel, a teenage girl whose mom comes down with a mysterious illness on the same night her crush's cousin disappears, another in a long string of unsolved disappearances in the borough. So, the two team up to figure out what's going on; creepiness ensues. The book is slow to start, but I actually enjoyed the tension and gradual build-up of the horror, and I loved the ways it drew inspiration from Bronx history and Reddit creepypastas - it's an odd mix and it doesn't sound like it should work, but it does! The dialogue in the book is a little awkward sometimes, and the romance is kinda underdeveloped, imo, but still very sweet and wholesome, it's a nice offset to the horror.

Also, don't worry if you're not super familiar with the Bronx/New York history - I'm not American, so neither was I, but at no point did I feel lost or confused by the story (I definitely did learn a bit, though, and the book prompted a lot of curious googling).

It feels a little rough around the edges at times, but overall this is a great debut novel and I enjoyed it a lot :)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I truly, truly, wish I enjoyed this book more than I did. Burn Down, Rise Up has a wonderful premise: a queer black teen involved in a terrifying missing person case in the Bronx. Despite that, I felt that there was quite a bit lacking for me in terms of the execution of this concept. The characters in the story did not truly resonate with me, and they felt rather flat, dimensionless and predictable. Much of the dialogue also felt contrived in a way. To be honest, the events of this book weren’t easy to read either. I found myself struggling to deeply care about the events of the story, especially in the first half.
In spite of everything mentioned above, there are things about this book that still made me stick around to see its ending. The author did a great job of telling the story of the history of the Bronx, which helped pull me back into the plot. Also, even though I felt the characters were predictable, they were still likeable, I could easily sympathize with each of their motivations. I could also relate to the subtle social commentaries that were made within the text as well.
Overall, this was a fairly okay book to read, and I could see myself recommending this to someone who is looking for a quick horror to read.

Burn Down Rise Up is a Stranger Things type YA novel about a girl named Raquel that goes into a place called the Echo to find her friend. The Echo is basically the Upside Down from Stranger Things, mold, dark floaty stuff everywhere, pretty much exactly the same. The main difference is that the existence of the Echo is not really brought up while in ST you know how it came about. I never did get the whole "why does it exist" part of the story. Anyway, Raquel plays the game and breaks the rules, and gets stuck but gets out each time. The story kind of dragged on near the end, with the same things happening over and over. The character Raquel is great the others not so much. All in all, it's a good YA story that should be a hit.

This is an ARC that I received from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review

Unfortunately I did not connect myself right with this book, the idea, the Synopsis is fantastic, But in the course of reading It started to get a little boring, and a I didn't sympathize A lot with the characters

I had the opportunity to read an ARC of Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado and boy was this a RIDE! I will admit that the book is a slow burn (pun intended) at the onset of the story. The author gives you a chance to really get to know Raquel and the Bronx as you get to know the characters of this book you find yourself in the middle of a bunch of stranger things... happening and you have no idea what or why these things are occurring. One of the aspects of this book that I loved was the history of the Bronx that I had little knowledge of. I think it was a Get Out reflection in that the horror of all of this is based in the history of the city. Arent the most horrifying things the things that are close to the truth! This haunting adventure was definitely worth the price of admission.
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Stranger Things meets Get Out in this Sapphic Horror debut from nonbinary, Afro-Latine author Vincent Tirado.

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

For over a year, the Bronx has been plagued by sudden disappearances that no one can explain. Sixteen-year-old Raquel does her best to ignore it. After all, the police only look for the white kids. But when her crush Charlize's cousin goes missing, Raquel starts to pay attention—especially when her own mom comes down with a mysterious illness that seems linked to the disappearances.

Raquel and Charlize team up to investigate, but they soon discover that everything is tied to a terrifying urban legend called the Echo Game. The game is rumored to trap people in a sinister world underneath the city, and the rules are based on a particularly dark chapter in New York's past. And if the friends want to save their home and everyone they love, they will have to play the game and destroy the evil at its heart—or die trying.

I loved this book so much. I don't think that there's a single bad thing about it. I loved the characters and the writing and I was never bored while reading.

This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order this year and will recommend it to students.

I could not put this book down. The suspense was incredibly well written and the story was beautifully told. I really appreciated how the history of the Bronx was woven seamlessly into the story, as was the message that community can conquer all. It’s a great book that I will be recommending to anyone who enjoys suspense.