Losses mount and deadly new threats converge in the next action-packed tale of the Arcana Chronicles by #1 New York Times best-selling author Kresley Cole. When the battle is done . . . The Emperor unleashes hell and annihilates an army, jeopardizing the future of mankind–but Circe strikes back. The epic clash between them devastates the Arcana world and nearly kills Evie, separating her from … her allies. And all hope is lost . . . With Aric missing and no sign that Jack and Selena escaped Richter’s reach, Evie turns more and more to the darkness lurking inside her. Two Arcana emerge as game changers: one who could be her salvation, the other her worst nightmare. Vengeance becomes everything. To take on Richter, Evie must reunite with Death and mend their broken bond. But as she learns more about her role in the future–and her chilling past–will she become a monster like the Emperor? Or can Evie and her allies rise up from Richter’s ashes, stronger than ever before?
more
Finished this book! Not many books, especially in the YA genre, catch my eye. This series definitely did! The author has got me pre-ordering a year in advance and finishing her novels in a day. Although not my favorite series, and not my favorite novel of the series, my mind was twisting and turning in anticipation for the next page!
Another wonderful addition to the Arcana Series. Jam packed from the first page to the last. How will the cards date or fall??
Arcana Rising is the fourth book in the Arcana Chronicles and it picks up from that crazy cliffhanger in Dead of Winter. Forewarning though there’s even a crazier cliffhanger at the end of Arcana Rising. Darn you, Kresley!!!
No spoilers here, but I will say this poor Evie. That cliffhanger in the third book was rough and the minute I started listing to Arcana Rising, I knew Evie was going to have a hard time in the fourth book.
Readers who are Team Aric will enjoy Arcana Rising. I know I did. I lost interest with Jack during the second book thanks to Aric. Aric proves even more why I adore him over Jack in this book. Although, I was sad to know what happened at the end of the third book with Jack. Readers will be surprised what happens though in the fourth book. Don’t worry, some things will come to light in this book, but Kresley still keeps us readers in suspense.
I enjoyed getting to know some other major Arcana in the fourth book. Two of them are absolutely scary though and one I cannot really figure out. Is he a villain or is he good?! There was quite a bit of action in this book and not much of that love triangle that drove me bonkers in Dead of Winter.
Evie finally realizes that not only are the major Arcana to worry about, but there are minor ones too. She learns a lot more about the game thanks to Aric retrieving her grandmother. I don’t think I liked her character that much though, but she played a major role into Evie getting to know her powers.
There’s also the case of what the Emperor is up to, especially what he did at the end of the third book. He’s one scary character also. I learned quite a bit about him in ‘Day Zero’, which is a companion guide that I recommend everyone read before reading Arcana Rising.
Overall, I give this book 5 stars because it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. It doesn’t help with that cliffhanger though.
Emma Galvin is one narrator I could listen to daily tell stories because she brings the story and characters to life. I do not think after listening to Emma narrate the Arcana Chronicles that I could actually read the books now. I rather Emma tell the story with all of her accents for the characters. I just realized too that I have to wait for the next book since the fifth book in the series is not in audio version yet. Ahhhhh!! I’ll wait though because it’s worth it in the end to listen to the story. It also makes work go back faster, when you are listening to a great narrator tell an amazing story, such as Kresley’s Arcana Chronicles. I will always love Kresley’s books!!!!
“What do you get when you mix two Baggers, a bloodthirsty toga-wearing card, and a half-mad Empress? Road trip A.F. style.”
Oh these cliffhangers in this series are going to kill me!!! How much longer must I wait!!!!???
#TeamDeath
Finished this thinking this was the last book and BOOM there’s another one not yet out! Really great story, original and different, and a characters that are so “normal” and easy to imagine. I put normal in quotes because honestly they are anything but normal with their arcana gifts but their dialogue, personalities, and motivations are very much relatable which normally I don’t like in my fantasy. (I’m a little old school with my faeries, knights, swords, ladies and lords) but of course given the setting and plot of this book is totally appropriate. If you haven’t read this series definitely pick up Poison Princess, they are quick easy reads, light enough to make a good pool side book, but with enough action and intrigue to keep you turning pages long after the sun has gone down.
Quick recap Evie Green and her fellow major arcana are teenagers who have been gifted with the powers of the 22 Major Arcana from Tarot forced to compete in the aftermath of an apocalyptic disaster. Slavers, plague, zombie like bagmen, dangerous alliances, and the day to day business of survival combine with normal issues of love, friendship, trust, loyalty and betrayal, but there can only be one survivor, one who will remain immortal until the next reincarnation of the game. Who will it be this time?