In “The Rising Order,” author Claire Isenthal crafts a tense dystopian thriller that plunges readers into a world of moral ambiguity and heart-wrenching choices. Flynn Zarytsky, caught in the crosshairs of a homegrown terrorist organization, faces an impossible decision—save her loved ones or prevent catastrophic devastation. As she grapples with loyalty, the narrative unfolds with gripping intensity, reminiscent of Homeland and the Divergent series. A thought-provoking exploration of sacrifice and survival, “The Rising Order” offers a riveting adult perspective on the harrowing lead-up to a dystopian society.

Curating Edits Review of The Rising Order
Trigger warnings do come in the book, so the reader is aware beforehand of what to expect. The word “gripping” came up a lot while I was reading “The Rising Order”. The subject matter was intense, in the unfortunate scenario we are all currently living in when acts of terrorism can take place at any moment. I did put the book down a few times, to regroup and process my feelings towards the difficult situation Flynn Zarytsky faces throughout this book.

Flynn comes face to face with someone she met in her past, this person is now committing a heinous terrorist attack on the city of Chicago, and the odds of it all will have you glued to reading what happens next in The Rising Order.

Not only is this thriller a page-turner it is also compelling. As the reader you will ask yourself many times how you would handle the situation Flynn finds herself in. As initially stated in the beginning, there is a moral dilemma of saving her loved ones or stopping RED. Wolf also faces a dilemma, the lone soldier has now met his match. He finally realizes he’s not empty inside, but again, that moral dilemma is tricky. Wolf is living a spectrum of good and evil, it is a lot to process but time is ticking literally.

"The Rising Order" by Claire Isenthal emerges as a compelling and meticulously crafted narrative, weaving together themes of rebellion, unity, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Isenthal masterfully constructs a world teetering on the brink of revolution, where the oppressed whisper of change and the air thrums with the promise of a new dawn.

Set against the backdrop of a society stratified by rigid hierarchies and unyielding power structures, "The Rising Order" follows a diverse group of characters bound by their common desire for freedom. Isenthal excels in character development, presenting a cast that is richly nuanced and profoundly relatable. Each character's journey is intricately portrayed, capturing the essence of their struggles, hopes, and fears. It is through their eyes that readers are invited to explore the complexities of resistance and the sacrifices demanded by the quest for a better world.

The plot of "The Rising Order" is both gripping and thought-provoking, characterized by its brisk pacing and a series of unexpected twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Isenthal's storytelling is both sophisticated and accessible, balancing action-packed sequences with deep, introspective moments that lend the narrative a palpable emotional depth. The rising order itself, a clandestine group striving to dismantle the status quo, serves as a beacon of hope and a symbol of the collective strength found in unity.

Isenthal's prose is evocative and vivid, painting scenes that burst to life in the mind's eye. The setting is rendered with such detail and care that it becomes a character in its own right, shaping the events of the narrative and reflecting the broader themes of the book. The author's ability to create such a richly imagined world contributes significantly to the immersive reading experience "The Rising Order" offers.

Themes of power, resistance, and transformation are explored with nuance and sensitivity, resonating with contemporary societal issues and inviting readers to reflect on their own world. "The Rising Order" is not just a story of rebellion; it is an examination of the human condition, the nature of authority, and the indomitable spirit of those who dare to dream of change.

In conclusion, "The Rising Order" by Claire Isenthal stands as a testament to the power of hope and the unyielding resilience of the human spirit. It is a masterful blend of action, character, and theme that speaks to the heart of the revolutionary spirit. Fans of speculative fiction and readers drawn to stories of courage, camaraderie, and change will find "The Rising Order" to be an unforgettable and inspiring read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

When I read the premise of this book, it sounded extremely exciting. A mass shooting now that sounds suspenseful, considering that so many of them have been going on through the United States. Some of the dialogue just didn’t work for me. This touches on terrorism, religion, and people’s rights.

Thank you NetGalley, Greenleaf Book Group, and Claire Isenthal for my ARC. All options are my own.
2.5 ⭐️

4.5!!

So when I started this book I struggled to get into it because it begins with a major event. Not much exposition and then bang! (literally) you're right in the action.

But I always try to give books until the 20% mark and I'm glad I did because this one sucked me in.

Flynn lives a normal life doing normal, 20-something things when her life is turned upside down. She gets entangled with a mysterious terrorist organization that threatens to kill her friends and family if she doesn't cooperate.

She's stuck between saving her loved ones or betraying the one person keeping her safe: a strange man named Wolf.

As she learns more about Wolf, she begins to struggle with her own beliefs about good and evil, right and wrong. And Wolf, who has only known one family -- the extremist group called REDS -- questions everything he's believed for the last 10 years.

I can't wait for book 2 😭

A really topical context makes for a nail biting plot. Made me think about how things can change in a second just because you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. The main character is an interesting one and it was fascinating to watch her navigate the situation. I didn’t like the romance/sexual tension - it didn’t really add anything and seemed almost like a distraction from the main action.

Wanting to have a fun night out, Flynn reluctantly agrees to go to a team building work function, a concert, when a coworker insists that she goes. Shortly after the concert begins, gunfire erupts. The concert is abandoned as everyone panics and tries to escape to safety. Chicago’s own homegrown terrorist organization claims responsibility for the attack. Unfortunately for Flynn, she has found herself in the crosshairs of a terrorist.

THE RISING ORDER opens with a mass shooting event, which has been a hot topic for the last two decades here in the U.S. This is the first book I have read with this type of premise. I thought for a first book that it was captivating and a very good read. There were a few spots where the sentence structure was off. I also didn’t really connect to the story or have any deep feelings about the plot or characters in spite of such a heavy topic until the last 2 chapters. I am surprised I made it through 50 chapters without the book getting under my skin. I found the use of animal characteristics for the terrorist an interesting touch to the story. Some information was added for fluff, such as her creepy boss sexually harassing her, but then that storyline just abruptly ends. Overall, I found this to be a great solid first book. I am very interested in seeing where Claire goes next as a writer!
I also think that this book should be listed in the horror genre instead of just mystery/thriller.

(2.5 stars)
"Now, the world will finally have to see me, he thought. And this time, they won't forget."
I can't help but feel I must have read a different book to all the five star reviewers on here, as I found The Rising Order a bit naff. First-time author, Claire Isenthal, has clearly set out to write a fictional book that explains the motivations of domestic American terrorists. While she credits an original source for these motivations, they read very thinly: "How had they known he had nothing to live for? That he hated his existence?"

Isenthal borrows heavily from the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing during the Ariana Grande concert to set the scene for the ensuing alternating chapters between attack perpetrator Wolf, and someone experiencing the attack. The Rising Order's heroine, Flynn, a victim and survivor of the attack, is set up as the one woman who can reach the socially excluded Wolf. This is because of her own experiences of exclusion stemming from being the only Jewish girl in her school in Indiana, something that is laboured in the book unnecessarily. The reader is not stupid, we don't need to hear the same thing over and over again.

This story-line makes the book read like a weird extremist action novel meets Mills & Boon where Flynn half hates and half wants to have sexy times with the hot and hard (another laboured description) radical extremist, Wolf: "Although he could be infuriating even she had to admire the way his shirt clung to him in all the right places." And as for the writing, the descriptions praised by other readers lacked nuance and sophistication for me: "He was completely bald, with thick eyebrows that canopied his glowering eyes." Is this a comic? Isenthal's use of contemporary terms like 'adulting' speak to the intended audience I suspect. It ain't readers who love nuanced and complex books unpacking nuanced and complex people: "Since then, they'd battled through the stages of early adulting together, surviving." The Rising Order is no We Need to Talk About Kevin.

Claire Isenthal does a great job in writing a great suspenseful thriller. I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on and thought it worked together beautifully. The characters had a great quality to them and left me wanting more.