I am writing this review over a year after I listened to this one and I just realized who the author is! I'm reading We Don't Swim Here now! Tirado sure knows how to hold this reader's interest. I loved how the setting was so important to the story and the horror.... <chef's kiss>

This book was heavily unique. It brings to mind both the series the Last of Us, and the book Ring Shout. There are three different things happening within this book. First is the history project assigned to Raquel. She starts looking at the history of the Bronx fire, a 10-year period between 1970 and 1980 where multiple dwellings within the Bronx burned due to neglect and slums. Then you have the story of Raquel’s mother, who is in the hospital with some sort of mold or fungal disease that keeps her in quarantine. The third storyline is that of the game. This viral event is called the Eco game where one must get on a train at three in the morning, say a specific chant, and then stay on the train for an hour without running off. If you make it all the way through, you survive but are changed. However, if you exit the game early, the game claims you as one of their own.

This all sounds crazy because it is, but it comes together to make an intriguing tale of life, death and how history affects modern society. Being an older reader, I remember slums and slumlord, but had never learned anything about this community that was destroyed. This is an area where segregation suppressed history. This book, while making one think “am I reading about zombies” also imbues a small bit of history that is not taught to modern children, that will have them racing to google to learn more. The writing is decent, but not superb, and the audiobook at times annoying. The publisher makes a big deal about this being a sapphic, horror tale, and while that is true, the sapphic part is an afterthought. This book is more about the role of severed because we’ve not lived it.

Overall, this book was an interesting read and keeps one thinking. Was it a phenomenal read that will still be on library shelves in 20 years? Probably not, but for those looking for something different, for something to make you think, for something that takes a historical event, gives it a modern twist, and still gives fantasy horror, this is a great read.

3.5 stars
Wow, this was one creepy, fast paced horror novel!
Great for kids 14+ - but be sure that they like the spooky stuff, because there is A LOT of that going on.
Great insights into gentrification and the bronx.

I tried reading this in like 3 different formats. I've come to the conclusion that this story just wasn't for me. I ended up skimming the end so I could tell a patron about it, but I couldn't get past 45%. It was unfortunate because I love horror, but this one just wasn't it for me.

Something is happening in the Bronx. People are going missing and the police are starting to take notice now that four white Fordham students are gone too. Cisco, a Fordham student and Charlize’s cousin, is now missing too, and before that he was acting very strange. Ranting about a game and breaking the rules. Charlize is worried and the police are starting to ask questions too. Raquel and Charlize were close when they were younger. Now Raquel is reeling after her Mami was infected with a strange illness and is in a coma, and the two are reunited in their trauma. Determined to find out what happened, they have to take a dangerous journey through the echoes of Bronx’s past. It is a history full of trauma and horrors caused by systemic racism and greedy slumlords who literally burned the Bronx in the 70’s for insurance money, and it is seeping into life today. Raquel needs to learn what she can to hopefully save her Mami, Cisco, and the Bronx from the horrors that have been unleashed.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a great horror, with well developed characters, and I learned about the history of the Bronx.

Unexplained disappearances have become the new normal in the Bronx. With rumours spreading around school and police investigations going nowhere, sixteen-year-old Raquel tries her best to keep out of it. But when her mom becomes infected with a strange disease the doctors have never seen before, Raquel can't help but notice the unsettling connection to the disappearances. On top of everything, the latest person to go missing is her childhood best-friend-turned-crush's cousin. Together with her friends, Raquel delves into the terrifying urban legend that's rumoured to be the cause of the dark things that have been going on. When things quickly take a turn for the worse, Raquel is forced to face the sinister underworld beneath the city in a desperate hope to save the people she loves.

Review:

I was hooked straight away with this book. The mystery element of where the people were disappearing to was interesting, and I found I was morbidly curious about the creepy things that kept happening. I was simultaneously captivated by the story and also slightly scared of shadows in the dark while reading! The relationships that Raquel had with her family and friends felt messy and real and I liked the depth they added to the story. The cast was incredibly diverse and there was a big focus on racism and injustice both in the past and present. Although the descriptions were well-written and easy to visualize, there are definitely a few things that came up that could be triggering for readers. I would recommend looking these up before reading if you're squeamish. Overall, I had a fun time reading this book! If you like watching Stranger Things, I highly recommend picking up Burn Down, Rise Up.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire publishers for an advanced e-book and advanced audiobook in exchange for honest reviews.

This novel is a solid work of YA Horror/Thriller with Sapphic rep. My personal rating doesn't have to do with any particular instance in the novel, but I believe the overall book didn't reach its full potential. I especially loved the history of the Bronx noted in the novel and the commentary of the communities. I wished the novel captured my attention just a bit more. It's a three star as I didn't hate this novel by any means, and I did in fact enjoy the author's writing style but something about this novel kept having me put it down and revisit it. To the extent that I started it months ago and just now finished it and writing the review.

I'm interested in more of this author's future works.

Quick note for the audiobook, the narrator did a fantastic job and I listened to it at 2x speed without issue.

a very intriguing thriller with great representation, very stranger things esque. i flew through this book due to the fact that I couldn't put it down! the concept was very interesting and something i've never seen before.

Wow, this was a fun, fast paced horror novel! This follows our MC, who lives in the Bronx. When her friends cousin goes missing in the Subway tunnels and her mother falls into a coma soon after, she starts to investigate. She stumbles into a terrifying game, a haunted tunnel, and the darker side to gentrification.

For a YA boy, this was quite dark. I learned a ton about the Bronx itself. For those with 14-18 year old readers, I think this is a great choice! The representation, strong female character, great friendships, and overall “Stranger Things” vibe made this book worth picking up.

3.5 stars
In Vincent Tirado's debut novel, they show the latest internet game sensation that leads missing teenagers:

Every city has it's own urban legend and they are often associated with people going missing. But people going missing is just a fact of life growing up in the Bronx and Raquel does her best to ignore it. But when her old friend and crush Charlize's cousin goes missing and Raquel mother, who is a nurse, come down with a mysterious illness, Raquel can ignore it no longer. She discovers a terrifying urban legend game called the Echo. The game is rumoured to trap the people in the echo if they go against the rules of the game. Raquel and her friends will risk it all by playing the game, to help the ones that they love. But this game is a deadly one and the Echo knows if you break the rules.

This is Tirado's debut novel and I will say that there are points within this book that it reads like a debut novel and some of the the plot points are not fully fleshed out at time. That said I found the story extremely interesting as it drew from popular culture with the internet challenges as well as a stranger things vibe with the Echo. Personally I would classify this book as a YA horror romance book as it has elements of both of these. While the horror aspects are not extreme in this book, I could see people being disturbed by some of the events that occur especially in regards to the Echo.

The echo is such an interesting concept and I do not want to give that much away about it as part of the best part of the book revolves around the echo, but it is basically a place in time that the City, as an entity remembers. So for the Bronx it is in the 1970, when the Bronx basically burned down. I will admit, I did not know that the Bronx burned down in the 1970s, so this was a history lesson for me. I liked that Tirado explained why it was burning and what lead to it, so the background information was appreciated. I also like that they included a link to another Echo in England which showed why an Echo would occur at a certain point in time from a city.

I really enjoyed Raquel as a character. She is loyal to a fault, admits when she is wrong and will fight to the very end. She is someone you want to have your back as she will do anything possible to help you. The one aspect of the story around Raquel's character that I did not get was the Slum Lord. Raquel is extremely smart, book worm smart and you’re trying to tell me she doesn’t know what a Slum lord is? Nope don’t believe it, especially given what is wrong with her dad’s home.

Please save me from teenage romance, lol. I understand that this book is in the YA genre, so the aspects of the romance that Raquel are feeling in the book would probably be what any teenager would feel when talking to their crush and trying to tell if they like her back or not. That said, I found that the plot often got side tracked at times as Raquel was trying to figure out her feelings. I wasn't looking for a coming of age novel with this book, I was looking for the horror aspect. I think the romance could have been downplayed a bit without hindering the flow of the story, as the romance is an integral part of it and shapes some of Raquel actions, it just seemed that the romance sidetrack Raquel more that I would have liked. She seemed to forget about her mom, dad, friends and what was at stake so.

This book is probably one of the most creative novels I have read in a long time and really did enjoy the book, especially the aspect surrounding the Echo. I look forward to seeing what Tirado comes up with next.
Enjoy!!!

TWs: Body Horror, Cannibalism, Gore, Fire Injury/Death, Violence



BURN DOWN RISE UP is an incredibly creepy book! It's perfect for fans of YA thrillers and the TV show Stranger Things.

Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I definitely appreciate the author's work, and do genuinely think they wrote a good story. It just didn't hold my attention. I definitely think my dislike is a me problem, not a book problem.

Horror is not my genre in the slightest. The overall plot was interesting, but I wasn't a fan of the aspect of the mold and creatures the teens encounter in the Echo.

I enjoyed the Sapphic representation in Burn Down Rise Up. It was not at the forefront of the plot, more so just a simple addition. I felt that it was great in that it helps to normalize same sex couplings.

The main character is bad ass. Raquel is funny and relatable, and her strength and perseverance is to be admired. She displays extreme bravery by going into the Echo not once, but twice.

The narrator did a fantastic job! I will definitely look for books narrated by Julienne Irons in the future. Though I will say her "evil voice" she does was a bit awkward. But other than those few times, she did great.

DNF at 62%. The narrator read the book almost too dramatically. It was anxiety inducing for every single event to be read as if the world was about to end. There wasn't any nuance. Maybe that's just realistic for teenagers, but it made it difficult for me to get through. I will attempt to continue in print format on my own.

What a creepy and chilling adventure! I loved the concept of this book. It definitely gave off stranger things vibes.

The idea of the echo games was simple but yet so twisted.

I would have loved slightly more to the book. I feel like there is little holes and questions floating in my mind.

All in all a great read!

Enjoyment: 4
Total rating: 4.29

"Mysterious disappearances. An urban legend rumoured to be responsible. And one group of friends determined to save their city at any cost. Stranger Things meets Jordan Peele in this utterly original debut from an incredible new voice."

I find that very rarely does a book tagline describe the book perfectly. But Tantor's marketing team nailed it.

Vincent Tirado's debut novel is pretty solid. I enjoy it when authors weave social commentary in a way that is both clear and coherent with the plot. Tirado did just that, I wasn't expecting the sprinkle of historical fiction we got, and I wasn't mad. I felt that this part of the book was well done. I enjoyed the character work and appreciated that the romance wasn't a big part of the plot. I just wish the urban legend and the game was developed more. Tirado shows excellent promise.

The audiobook was well produced, Julienne Irons' narration was compelling, and it flowed well with the storyline.

Burn Down, Rise Up felt like a love letter to the Bronx by someone proud to call it home. It is an own voice book, light on the horror, big on the impact, and I wish it gets the support it deserves.

Disclaimer: In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to the publishers and NetGalley for providing a copy of Burn Down, Rise Up.

In the Bronx, people keep going missing and it looks like a weird disease is slowly taking over...

Raquel has quite a lot on her plate, and then, her mom, who works as a nurse gets infected with a mysterious, contagious disease and goes into a coma. Meanwhile, Francisco, her childhood friend's cousin goes missing and appears to be infected as well. Said friend (and crush), Charlize is feeling absolutely awful about her cousin and the two reconnect over their shared pain. The police being useless, the two girls also take it upon themselves to figure out what happened and do everything they can to fix it.

This was an atmospheric, creepy read, and I enjoyed it immensely. It was not perfect and some parts kind of took me out of the story but it's for sure a very good debut with captivating characters and an interesting plot.
I actually enjoyed the horror part of this, it felt well thought through and I felt like i was there, in the New-York subway and it freaked me out a little even.
I enjoyed the relationship between the characters even if it sometimes went a bit fast for my liking. The dynamics were interesting and I enjoyed reading about the friendships but also, the parents' relationships with their kid.
Anyway, if you're looking for Queer and/or Horror YA, this is the book for you.

With a book marketed as Stranger Things meeting Get Out it was hard for me not to be intrigued. This really didn't disappoint with that. Burn Down, Rise Up does not disappoint as it has mystery and thrills with the right amount horror that really kept me entertained.

For some time now, the Bronx has been plagued by disappearances. No one has been able to figure out what is happening, but as it is mainly people of color missing, why would the police look into it? When Raquel's mother comes down with an illness that seems to be linked to the disappearances, she starts to pay attention. She teams with with her crush, Charlize, who's cousin is missing, and tries to investigate.

Burn Down, Rise Up starts off fast and does not slow down. I was quickly drawn into the story. I was utterly confused out of my mind as I was trying to figure it all out and piece it all together, but I was there for the ride. I was having fun and eager to see where the story was going and how it would all unfold.

This had some good friendships that formed. They got along well and worked hard to really better one another and support one another through the times they were going through. It was nice to see how supportive they were and just their interactions overall.

Advertised as a sapphic book, that is what this is. It's sapphic, but not in the way I was expecting. In fact, I'm a little disappointed on that front. So, while it's nice, with how the story was set up it was very hard to develop it and give me the chance to really form an opinion on it.

I thought the game was such an interesting concept, but I do wish that it had been developed a little more? It felt a little under-developed there, but this could also be because it was so fast paced that I do feel like I struggled to really keep up with everything no matter how slow I read, so I full understand that this could be a me problem.

This story is such a clear love letter to the Bronx. It was beautiful to read and I could really feel the love there for it to the point where I really appreciate a place I have never been.

I did listen to the audio version of this story and thought it was well down. The emotions and feel of the story were all there. Hats off to the narrator for doing such a good job.

Overall, this was an enjoyable story. It was incredibly fast paced and fit that mystery/thriller/horror genre well.

3.5/5 Stars

After several disappearances in the Bronx, 16-year old Racquel can no longer ignore what is happening when her crush's cousin goes missing. Her mother suddenly falls ill, and the mysterious disease seems to have a link to the disappearances. Charlize and Racquel must work together to beat the disturbing urban legend called the Echo Game.

This was a pretty interesting concept that I was intrigued to know more about when I read the synopsis. I lisened to this on audio and think the narrator did a great job with the overall vibe of the story. The world building and pacing were a bit lack luster at times, but as the story progressed I became more invested in the story and the characters. I wasn't the biggest fan of Racquel, she just rubbed me the wrong way and I think she was pretty selfish, especially when it came to how she treated her best friend. I did enjoy the friendship aspect of this book more than the romance, and was glad the romance took more of a backseat. I also like how this had some historical fiction and supernatural elements thrown in as well, as I was expecting only a horror story, but got so much more.

The Bronx, Supernatural, Urban Legend, History, Friendship, LGBTQIA, YA.

This was a great eerie supernatural read. The book captures you from the first page quickly building the suspense and intrigue. The mix of history, community, darkness and a twist of the unnatural makes this a fast past, electric read. I don’t want to get into the plot too much as I think the less you know the better but basically, people are going missing and getting sick in the Bronx and it could all be linked to a worldwide urban legend.

I really loved how strong Raquel was even though her world was falling apart and she was coming to terms with her sexuality, yet she was still so resultant and uncompromising of her morals. She still shows a lot of growth both internally and with everyone important in her life. I was also, thrilled that she didn’t have a big coming-out moment. Not to say that those moments are not important to some characters and some stories but it’s also nice to see that it is not necessary for some people and the way it happens here felt authentic to Raquel.

In the end, there was a little interesting twist that’s not really explained or explored and I’m hoping there will be a second book. Also, shout out to Julienne Irons who did a fantastic job at narrating this with great voices and tone to really build the suspense or horror.

Special thank you to #NetGalley, #VincentTirado and #TantorAudo for sharing this digital copy, these are my honest thoughts on #BurnDownRiseUp. Also, a thank you to narrator #JulienneIrons.

I choose not to read synopses before starting books. I had noooo idea what I was getting into with this one! When I saw that people were categorizing it has horror, my interest was totally piqued. It was a wild ride! It got a little confusing in the last quarter but it might just be because I was listening to the audiobook and when things get complicated and I get distracted, I lose some of the story. But overall I really enjoyed this! Looking forward to reading Tirado's next book!

The narrator took a little to get used to, she was a bit too soft-spoken for me but I just cranked up the volume. lol

Sadly I don't think I was the audience for this book. It seemed like I had seen it before and due to that it was a DNF for me. The audiobook narrators were amazing I just couldn't commit the time to this story. Due to that I will not be posting about this audiobook elsewhere.