THE RISING by Terra Harmony takes a very unique look at mermaids and werewolves. The way they use their scales and the way their society works is interesting, and I think for the most part, it works well. However, the world building once the werewolves are thrown in could be better explained. Even after finishing the book, I don't feel that I have a 100% grasp on what happens. Some of the terms feel mixed or just poorly explained, and I got lost a few times reading because of that. I do like the world it's set in, but I could have enjoyed the story more with better explanation.

Serena and her love interest, Kai, are solid characters. They both have good moments where the depth of their character starts to show, and they both, especially Serena, have nice moments of character development. However, they also have times where they fall flat. Sadly, the moments where they fall flat slightly outweigh the others.

Some of the plot points in THE RISING are predictable, but there is one or two that are nice surprises. I didn't see the ending coming. I like that it isn't entirely a cliffhanger, but there are still unanswered questions. Harmony's authorial voice isn't bad at all, and even with the predictability, the pacing is set up well, and the chapters feel quick and mostly smooth.

Overall, THE RISING has a lot of potential, but I didn't see enough of it met to really enjoy it. If you enjoy mermaid stories, I wouldn't suggest turning it down, but it probably wouldn't be on my recommendation list. Because of the elements that it did have that I like in the general setting and my weakness for fantasy stories, I am torn on if I would read a sequel or not. I would consider it, but I can't say fully yes or no.

Book Summary