Amasai Rising

A Coming of Age Fantasy (The Amasai Rising Trilogy, Book 1)

De: Stevie Rae Causey

Narrado por: Brenda Scott Wlazlo

Finding out you’re a princess destined to stop a war sounds great, until it actually happens.

Amasai Rising is an enchanting young-adult coming-of-age fantasy novel set in the Kingdom of Aythia. Azlana is a half-human, half-elf princess on the run, forced from the only home she has ever known and shouldered with the responsibility of uniting men and mystics. But an ancient darkness has taken hold of Azlana’s mind, flooding her thoughts that horrify her.

Can Azlana defeat the darkness? Or will its hold on her prove fatal for magic and mankind alike?

Previously published as Anhedonia.

©2018 Stevie Rae Causey (P)2021 Stevie Rae Causey

Fantastic worldbuilding

This author and book were both new to me, and I am glad that I listened to Amasai Rising by Stevie Ray Causey. I enjoyed the book a great deal. It did take a little getting used to the POV being a little whiny, like a young child, but I think that was a purposeful choice and soon became a non-issue. The storyline has a lot of background and history woven in, sometimes done with different character’s POV, but it is skillfully woven in with the action to make a compelling story. The character development, which can make or break a story for me, was well written. 
It’s interesting that the narrator is able to do such a good job of sounding like a whining child. I look forward to reading more.
This is clearly written as Book one in a series as there is a lot of building in this story. We quickly start to develop an understanding of the main character but the mother is a slower build. Stevie Ray Causey does a great job of giving a us a quick amount of background to locate us in a setting, but then steadily world builds with more history and greater understanding of society. 
I absolutely recommend this as YA fantasy and would feel comfortable offering it in my middle school classroom or any public library.

Great for young readers new to fantasy.

Being an outcast among even your own people, being raised by somebody who isn’t your birth father, and being mixed race. These are not only aspects of this book, but aspects of my own life. I found a certain level of kinship with the character Amasai.

The story is mostly just world-building and foundation. It had me hooked until the end. It ends abruptly on a cliffhanger ending, which I truly despise.

I think this story would be suitable for younger readers, teenagers, and the like who have a budding interest in fantasy. The story is short and as I said previously, would allow them to dip their toe into the genre to see if it’s something they’d like. Many fantasy series can be overly long and seen as too much of a commitment for half-interested readers.

I can’t deny that I’m interested and I will likely be following this trilogy. Both for my love of fantasy and how relatable I find the protagonist. Additionally, there’s a prequel companion story which I’ll be acquiring and reviewing, sooner or later.

The narrator does an excellent job. I wish I had more to say, but I don't have any complaints or additional thoughts on the performance.

NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.

Interesting first book in the series!

This is the first book in the Amasai Rising Trilogy, a young-adult coming-of-age fantasy novel This is a great introduction to the series. The characters are well developed. Azlana is a half-human, half-elf princess. She is an interesting character. The world building set in the Kingdom of Aythia is original, and engaging. The storyline is fast-paced, filled with secrets and mystery. I liked to have both POV's, from Azlana and her mother. Brenda Scott Wlazlo did an excellent job with the narration. Looking forward to listening to the next book in the series, to know what happens next. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

keep listening

It took me to chapter 4 to become invested in the story, but it was worth it in the end. The story has a lot of character thinking vs action. Toward the end, it picked up.

I received a free code from Story Origin, but this is my own opinion and review.

So good!

This was my first exposure to this book series and it was well done. Very entertaining, the Pov of the female protagonist was well done. Can't wait do read or listen to the rest of the series! No spoilers from me, you're gonna have to listen/read. lol!

What a great start to this series!

I was beside myself when I saw that this book was in audiobook and I could listen while I drove to my clinicals and back home. I fell in love with the characters in the prequel and I couldn't wait to see where their evolving story went.

There is sadness lingers from the prequel, but also a small bit of life goes on and you feel for the young main character. I hope I have the opportunity to listen to book 2 soon!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

AMASAI RISING FROM THE ASHES

THE SERIES IS A DARK FANTASY. CLEAN AND THE NARRATOR DID A GREAT JOB.

Amasai Rising

I really enjoyed Amasai Rising and watching the journey she has begun. I started to listen to the story and the four hours just flew by. I am really looking forward to picking up the second book and watching her journey to understand and lead her people. I enjoyed the narrator and felt she did a good job with the characters.

Great start to a series!

Azlana is half-elf and half-human, though she has been raised entirely among humans, with her heritage hidden from her until such time as it must be revealed. Though she has already passed the age of Awakening for young elves, the age when they gain all the knowledge of their ancestors, the elves are still placing immense pressure upon her to lead them into battle against the dark ones, because she is to be their queen. However, unbeknownst to any of them, Azlana has a stowaway in her mind, a spirit who whispers dark things to her and preys upon her insecurities - Anhedonia: The Bringer of Sorrow. Will she be able to rise up and meet her destiny or will she succumb to the whispers and fall to Darkness?

This was a really good book. The beginning of a trilogy, this book introduces us to all the main characters and establishes who's who, while also engaging in some wonderful world-building. Because this is the first book of the series and there are many things to establish, it does take a few chapters to really get into the story, but before long it has grabbed ahold of you and you don't want to put it down. The author weaves together the story through chapters that alternate between Azlana and her mother, Kala - each chapter is told from the first-person perspective but it is easy to keep them separate.

The narrator, Brenda Scott Wazlo, does a masterful job with the narration. Her voice is soothing and easy to listen to. This is the second book of hers that I have listened to and the only real issue is that she reads more slowly than I would. However, that is so subjective that it's hard to please everyone. For me, having the playback on 1.25 was perfect for me.

I look forward to reading/listening to the next book in the series, especially with the cliffhanger that this book ended on. (It's a trilogy, there're going to be cliffhangers. If you don't like cliffhangers at the end of a book, read a standalone novel.)

Two worlds... a complex web of secrets

Received as an audio review copy from Story Origin, this is an honest review. Narrated by Brenda Scott Wlazlo whose impeccable calm voice transport you into the author's lush and mysterious world.


Born being both human and of elven kind, Azana struggling to find a place for herself within the complex web of family ties. Slowly the secrets of her elven past are being revealed, forcing Azlana and her mother into the elven realm to confront those whom desire Azlana to become the destined heir the Alliance needs. But it's far more than family secrets Azlana is discovering, dark voices are ebbing at her sanity and individuals with their own ideas of what her destiny is, Azlana finds herself a pawn with no one she confide in. Immensely engaging and highly recommended.