Uprising / Imogen Rose

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: YA/Paranormal

Approximate word count: 80-85,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: NO  Paper: YES

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Author:

Globetrotter Imogen Rose is Swedish by birth, went to college in London (where she received a PhD in immunology), and is now a Jersey girl. After her eight-year-old daughter insisted she write down her stories, Rose wrote the first of her Portal Chronicles series and decided to let it out into the world. The response was so positive that she’s continued and with the addition of this one now has nine books available, plus foreign translations of many. For more, visit Rose’s website.

Description:

“The global infrastructure that allows humans and supernaturals to coexist is under threat. A breakdown of this carefully maintained system erupts into worldwide chaos and could eventually lead to Armageddon.

Code Uprising is activated.

The power of the supernatural world shifts from the city councils to Bonfire Academy and the other elite paranormal preps. Now, the staff and students must follow the code, however deadly the ramifications, to return power to the city sovereigns in order to prevent an apocalypse.”

Appraisal:

Imogen Rose has three distinct series (The Portal Chronicles, The Bonfire Chronicles, and The Bonfire Academy, which is kind of a sub-series of The Bonfire Chronicles). While each had a distinct focus, there was always a bit of overlap in the worlds and the characters. In interviews with Rose it always sounds like the characters inhabiting her mind never stop talking and don’t follow the basic rules like only interacting with others from their series. When the Portal series came to an end I theorized, based on how it wrapped up, that the characters would continue in Rose’s other books. If Uprising is any indication, I think I’m right, as major characters and locations from the Portal Chronicle played minor, but critical roles in this story.

The Bonfire Academy series also appeared to be winding down, at least with the initial crop of characters. Uprising brings characters together from all three series and takes their common stories in directions I wouldn’t have predicted although there were hints in Rose’s last couple books.

What I liked most about Uprising (besides giving me hope that I’ll be seeing more of the characters from the Portal Chronicles) is two-fold.

First is a major expansion of Rose’s fictional world, introducing us to new locations and minor characters in those locations who could develop into significant characters in future installments. The meaning of activating Code Uprising builds on the protocol and structure of the supernatural world Rose has introduced in previous books.

The second thing I liked was the introduction of some light science fiction elements into this series (specifically some high-tech weapons and a futuristic transportation method). Thus far the series had been strictly supernatural or paranormal while the Portal Series combined these with some science fiction technology. Mixing the two is something you don’t see often and one of the unique aspects of that series, and now this one too.

As with Rose’s previous books, I’m left with enough of a hint of where the ongoing story might be headed to pique my interest, but not so much that I don’t expect to be surprised again. So I’m left, happy with this installment and eager for the next.

FYI:

A small amount of adult language.

I’d advise reading the previous books in The Bonfire Academy and The Bonfire Chronicles series prior to Uprising. There are too many characters and related back story to hope to come into this mid-series and hope to have a clue.

Format/Typo Issues:

Review is based on a beta/advanced reader copy, so I’m unable to judge the finished product in this area.

Rating: ***** Five stars

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