3.5 stars

I'm not going to go into any details since this is the final book, but I really enjoyed the series. I liked all the characters. The magic is interesting. I found the branded/unbranded idea intriguing. I would have liked more about that though.

The pacing is great. But part of me thinks it should've been a trilogy because I don't think everything was fully resolved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot publishing for the ARC copy of this book! I still love Nara and Nixim. Nixim has definitely become one of my favorite MMCs his banter is top tier. A lot is found out in this book about everyone’s past there is some very unexpected betrayal in this one. I did not love it as much as I loved the first one, this one felt a little slower paced but I still did really enjoy getting to finish this duology. Overall I highly recommend this series as a whole!

Jo Riccioni delivers a compelling conclusion to her duology, *The Branded Season*, exploring themes of power, identity, and the complexities of human relationships. The two protagonists are well-developed, each with a distinctive character arc. Nara, with her impulsive nature, is forced to confront her deeply ingrained beliefs and prejudices, making her a complex and realistic character. Osha, on the other hand, undergoes significant growth, transforming from a more submissive figure into a woman fully aware of her power and place in the world. The dynamics between the sisters feel authentic, reflecting the challenges of familial relationships under extraordinary circumstances.

The city of Reis is vividly portrayed, providing a rich and detailed backdrop that enhances the narrative. The divided society between the Pure and the Branded is a powerful metaphor for discussions on classism, discrimination, and social injustice. Riccioni masterfully weaves fantasy elements with contemporary themes, crafting a world that, while imaginary, deeply resonates with the reader.

The moments of tension and introspection are well-executed, though some action scenes feel rushed, while other sections could benefit from a more sustained pace. *The Rising* delves into themes of the fight for equality, the importance of family, and the search for one's identity in a hostile world. The dichotomy between the Pure and the Branded reflects real-world discrimination, offering a subtle yet incisive critique of oppressive power structures.

Jo Riccioni is a literary genius! I loved this book and the first in the series. I had been dying to read it for ages but it was only available in Australia, so I am so excited it’s been released in the US.

Great ending to the series. I appreciated that the author didn’t drag this out unnecessarily, *cough cough Fourth Wing*. There wasn’t a moment where I guessed where the story was going, and I loved the consistency of the characters. This book was worth the wait for USA readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book! I absolutely loved this conclusion to the Branded Season duology and tore through it. I am obsessed with the world Riccioni has crafted and my only complaint is that I wanted to see MORE of it.

Echoing other reviewers, I wish this had been a trilogy rather than a duology. Towards the end of part two and most of part three of this book, there was a lot of telling what happened rather than immersing us in the actual action. I feel there were many places the author could have expanded.

That said, the ending did consist of many emotional twists and turns that I did find compelling and satisfying. Overall this was a fantastic duology that I recommend for dystopian fans and fantasy lovers looking for something a little different.

After leaving us with a cliffhanger, The Rising by Jo Riccioni picks up the story right we we left off. The book had a great pace, but the story itself felt rushed, this duology would have been better served as a trilogy.

Character ARCs for Nara, Osha and Brim are well developed, and the world building was phenomenal. The romance remained as a subplot and did not hijack the story (a bonus for me) and the battle scenes did not drag on (another bonus for me).

I really enjoyed this series and would be excited to read more of this wonderful world created by Jo Riccioni.

Thank you to Angry Robot and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. My opinions are my own.

I simply cannot wait for this one to hit the US this week!

After closing out The Branded with a bang, Riccioni continued the story perfectly here. I’m equal parts in awe and devastated. I’m so happy about how it ended, but the getting there was so full of mistrust and twists, beautifully orchestrated.

I do feel like parts were a little rushed. I would have enjoyed more details and depth in those sections, but I loved the growth of both Nara and Osha as well as the wrangler and Haus. The plot was beautiful, and so were the relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book to read. I devoured every moment, and all opinions are my own.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Rising by Jo Riccioni is the first person-POV epic fantasy sequel to The Branded. When Nara and her sister, Osha, and the rest of their group finally arrive in Nixim’s homeland, Nara’ world gets turned upside down again and again as long buried secrets finally come to light and her and her sister’s futures loom on the horizon. Nara needs to keep her eyes forward if she’s going to survive and walk away with Nixim or she’ll lose everything.

Whereas the previous book felt more like a romantic fantasy, this one feels more epic in scope and the romance isn’t quite as prominent. Nara and Nixim’s relationship goes through a rough patch as Nixim’s arranged engagement becomes impossible for him to ignore and Nara needs to return to the Cooler to free the women trapped there, leading to the two being separated for a decent chunk of the book. The worldbuilding gets more fleshed out and the domino effect of the actions from the first book takes priority as well as what happened before the first book opened.

Of the romance subplots (Nara and Nixim, Nara and Brim, and Osha and Haus), Osha and Haus’ was my favorite. We only see their relationship through Nara’s eyes, but what we see is a relationship built on mutual respect and devotion. Osha is still struggling with what happened in the Cooler and doesn’t want to talk to Haus about how her child might not be his. Haus, however, doesn’t care who the father is as long as Osha continues to choose to be with him. It’s a quiet romance, but it’s a fierce one. There is no denying how seriously the pair take their relationship and how dedicated they are to their vows and I ate it up.

Nara has to do a lot of growing up in this book, completing the arc she began in The Branded. In the first book, she had to unlearn prejudice towards the Branded and Hross as well as the Reis. In this book, she has to learn how to put her stubbornness aside and trust other people as well as apologize for her actions. To my delight, we see this the most in her platonic relationship with Haus, her brother-in-law. There’s an understanding between them without a whole lot of words that allows Nara to start really taking those steps towards further growth as she puts her faith in Haus that he will always return to Osha.

Content warning for depictions of discrimination and child abuse and mentions of sexual slavery and assault

I would recommend this to fans of the previous book who wanted the world to be explored more, readers who love a quiet, passionate romance side plot, and those looking for a fantasy that blends romantic fantasy, epic fantasy, and dystopia

I’d like to share my gratitude to NetGalley, Angry Robot and Jo Riccioni for an Advanced Reader Copy of The Rising. In exchange I will leave my honest review.

The Rising continues immediately after the events of the first book, The Branded. As there is not much of an extended recap of the events in this book, I suggest readers read the first book before starting this one. With that being said, I truly enjoyed how Jo continues the story rather than explaining what happened in the first book. It pushes the story further. As a duology, it is one that must be read together.

Much like the first book, the world building of the second really encapsulates the world and it was interesting to see a different part of this world. We get to experience the ripple effect and aftermath of The Brume and how it encourages change in another part of the world. Jo also goes into such detail with the descriptions of the tribes and cultures and gets the reader thinking. I was in such awe while learning the different cultures and how they perceive life and their way of living. I really want to commend the author for writing in such a way that transports the reader into the world, without leaving us with questions.

The characters are also well multifaceted, which did not leave me bored at all. They are all interesting in their own way and it was nice to see the development between some. I love how Jo fully expresses the emotions of her characters and lets the reader experience empathy. I felt their frustrations and when things didn't turn out the way they expected or wanted.

I am a stickler for the pacing of any written text, and did feel like it was fast paced, which could work if there is a third book coming out but in this instance I was sad to see it end too soon. There is a clear beginning, middle and end and the climax took me aback and the twists and turns were an interesting surprise.

With that being said, I really did enjoy this novel. Agin, I just wish there would be room for a third book to make it a trilogy. I think many people will enjoy The Branded Duology. I will keep an eye out for any other works by Jo Riccioni.

The Rising
by Jo Riccioni
The Branded Season #2
Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Feb 11, 2025
Angry Robot
Ages: 16+

Nara and her sister Osha are now in the Shadow City of Reis, where power plays are common and take advantage of the prophecy that a Pure healer will come with the ability to cure the Branded.

But there are lies and deception within the walls from strangers and those Nara thinks she knows.


The second book of the series begins where the first left off, at least I think it does. While the story was great, I felt lost because there was hardly any recap of the first book within the first five chapters so I only remember this and that, which didn't help and was disappointing. I shouldn't have to wait until the last few chapters of the book before; 'Oh, yeah, that's what is going on.' I was confused so I was not enjoying the story, and I should not have to re-read the previous one. (This is NOT a multi-book series, it's a duology.)

Along those lines, I felt as if it was missing the history of the world, and without a decent recap, it did start to resemble another book I recently read, which I kept having to correct myself.

It was a nice story and moved along at a great pace when I knew what was going on. As you can tell a lack of recap/history can make a big difference in how much a reader enjoys a story.

The ending was ok, but the battle(s) felt too quick and simple.

I did like the story and would recommend this to others IF they read both books back to back.

The lack of recap and history kept it from the next star.

2 Stars

Thank you to Angry Robot, Jo Riccioni, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of The Rising in exchange for my honest review.

The Rising in the conclusion to Riccioni's The Branded Season Duology. The Rising picks up shortly after The Branded ended, with Nara and Osha in Reis, struggling to survive. Nara is still (rightfully) mad at Nixim for the secrets that he kept, and must find a way to forgive him because war is brewing. The world-building in this book was outstanding. As a reader, you really got to see more of this world and how different kingdoms are structured and how the branded are treated in comparison to the Pure in these different communities. While I do think this could have easily been spread out into a trilogy, and that there is so much more story that can be told in this world, I do think the plot was well paced all things considered. In my opinion, nothing felt rushed. Sure, things could have been explained in more detail, but none of the solutions felt "easy" to me. The characters had to work for the ending, and I do wish we got an epilogue or more information about how the world would look like moving forward. Nothing is an easy fix, and I feel like there is potential for a story there in and out of itself.

In terms of the characters, I liked how everyone had their own things to overcome. I really appreciated how Nara and Nixim did not just get back together. That felt appropriately paces out and did not feel rushed. By the time they were together again it felt appropriate and at the right time in the story. I will say, the whole Brim plotline did bother me a bit. At first it made sense, and even the explanation of his actions at the end made sense. While I do not think Riccioni intentionally made it out to seem like it was incest, I do wish the romantic pining that Brim had ended once their relationship was clarified. Overall, I loved this duology. I loved the world and the major themes that were discussed. The sign of a good series is one that ends and you want to know more, not because the author left it unfinished, but rather because I want to learn more about this world. Is the book perfect? No. But that does not take away from my enjoyment of it. This book has the plot and world-building, and the character development, and in my opinion they were all done excellently. If you are a reader who is more critical about the writing of a book where it impacts you enjoyment, this might not be the book for you. However, if you love fantasy and dystopian, and you enjoy books that are a good time, this book is for you.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. The Rising was a great follow up to The Branded. It expanded on the world and characters, and I felt that it was just as engaging as the first book. The twists and turns were unexpected, and I liked the pacing. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads for release.

Jo Riccioni’s The Rising, the concluding novel of The Branded Season duology, plunges readers back into a world divided by a rigid class system between the “branded” and the “pure.” This stark disparity forms the backbone of the story’s tension, painting a vivid picture of cultural divides that ripple across the lands. The novel ultimately reveals a profound message: what may seem like weaknesses can become the greatest sources of strength, and through perseverance and faith, unity is possible.

The story begins immediately after the cliffhanger of the first book, thrusting readers into a whirlwind of revelations and challenges. While the narrative initially feels as though it’s heading in a predictable direction, Riccioni masterfully introduces twists that deepen the lore and history of this fractured world. Secrets emerge, altering the course of the story and enriching its themes of resilience and redemption.

One of the most compelling aspects of The Rising is its exploration of the evolving relationship between Osha and Nara. In the first book, Osha’s protection seemed paramount, with the bond between the sisters framed as one of savior and protector. Yet, the sequel masterfully subverts this dynamic. Both sisters find themselves on distinct paths, and it is through their individual struggles and hardships that they emerge as true heroines. Together, they are a formidable force, but their separate journeys—marked by pain, growth, and triumph—are equally essential to their development.

Nara’s internal struggle is particularly captivating. Her journey to channel her abilities, reconcile her past, and carve out a new place in the world is a testament to her resilience. Riccioni’s portrayal of female strength shines here, not only in Nara but in the supporting characters as well. These women endure suffering, uncertainty, and sacrifice, yet they push forward, embodying the novel’s core message: unity and understanding are more powerful than division.

At its heart, The Rising is a story about rising above societal divides. The branded and the pure are pitted against each other, their differences creating rifts that threaten to consume their world. Yet, the storm that brews throughout the novel is not merely one of conflict but also of transformation. It’s a call to find common ground, to see strength in diversity, and to strive for a future built on acceptance and mutual sacrifice for the greater good.

In conclusion, Jo Riccioni delivers a powerful, thought-provoking finale to The Branded Season. By weaving themes of perseverance, faith, and unity into a richly imagined world, she leaves readers with a story that resonates long after the final page. The Rising is more than just a tale of heroism; it’s a reminder that even in the face of division, humanity’s greatest strength lies in coming together.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the final instalment but I wish the series was a trilogy. There’s a lot of political play and world-development, if this was done slower and over a more realistic timeframe then I think the pacing would have flowed so well and been epic. The story is still good with high stakes and new bonds. One thing I absolutely loved was the romance, there’s banter and plenty yearning (two of my favourite things) plus a bit of complication but not too much. We also do get to enjoy the characters together and their connection is great. I also liked the fact that despite prophecy the main character was not a natural with their magic. Nara really has to try hard and shows real personal growth. If not for her and the wrangler I would have put the book down. So ask I mentioned before if this was expanded out to another book the battles would have been absolutely epic and I would have had more connection to the other side characters. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

This was disappointing. The story pacing was incredibly uneven, with build ups to huge battles that end up resolving quickly with no stakes. There is little character growth and overall this feels like a lot was crammed in without enough space to cover everything well.

I read The Branded through Netgalley a few months ago and was dying to read this. I will say, this was very much like the first one for me. It was a bit slow in parts, but the characters are great, the plot is interesting, and the writing is easy to read. I did not see the betrayal coming, but I should’ve remembered there was one.

My main complaint was secondary characters from the first book are brought in very briefly without much description as to who they are and what they did. If I didn’t read the amount of fantasy books I do, it probably wouldn’t be an issue. I barely remember some of these characters and had to heavily rely on context. This is a pretty trivial complaint though, all things considered.

I also felt that this universe could certainly be expanded. I know this a duology, but DYING for an Osha and Haus spinoff.

Low spice, lots of war, and a heartbreaking betrayal. Really fun read, 3.75⭐️

I absolutely adore the way Riccioni writes her characters. Particularly, how she writes them with their conflicting emotions, not only towards others, but towards themselves. This gives the characters a multifaceted feel which allows you to relate to them, to feel their frustrations, their joy, and their fear. Her characters, simply put, have range which makes you warm to them easily. She creates characters that are critical of who they are and their place in the world and that's what will make you completely fall in love with them from the start.

I throughly enjoyed the character arcs in this one. I felt there was a lot of character developing in such a short amount of pages, so this book did not lack that at all. The growth that did occur, impacted the characters decisions and their views which was beneficial in our understanding towards how certain parts of the plot unfolded. I must admit, I absolutely loved Osha's character development, particularly how she learnt to forgive herself for her different between her and Nara. Also, her unwavering love towards Haus - and their commitment towards each other with all the little quirks, it was lovely. Also, can we talk about The Wranglers sister, Azza? I admired her SO much for her strength of keeping her own secrets, but also what that did to her having to stay hidden.

A lot of people seem to have mixed feelings about Nara, and whilst I understand it to some extent I would say this - Nara is designed to be a complex character, who at best is hot headed, brazen and defends those she loves fiercely to the cause and at worst struggles to communicate very basic feelings towards others without feeling like she's losing parts of herself. You have to remember she's Branded, and the guilt that she carries for putting other people in harms way, and then TRULY finding out who she is? she does not have an easy ride during this story at all. I also can understand the moments of miscommunication between her and the wrangler, and I do believe it was essential in order for him to realise his mistakes in withholding the truth (we all know he did not lie, he just withheld information), and she's had to grapple with people lying to her all her life - so I actually do feel for Nara.

I love her and The Wrangler together, and the slow burn that really solidified their relationship in the end.

Brim is the prime example of having his mind shaped by a purist cult. Every which way, it was hard to believe that he would ever become anyone other than the person he became. His future was written in the prophecy from the very start.

This was a strong sequel in many ways. However, I do believe as others have also mentioned, The Rising would've been great as the second book of a trilogy. The ending, whilst a good conclusion - unfortunately felt a little rushed, and the fighting scenes were a little lacking and could've been drawn out more. There were elements that I think definitely could've been explored in more depth, and we could've stretched the remaining 40% of this into another book. Duologies are always tricky. I think what maybe threw me is The Branded felt MUCH longer than The Rising, given how the ending in The Rising really packed a punch and still left me wanting more.

After originally thrifting book one years ago, Jo Ricconi has me sucked into her world from chapter one. So it comes to no surprise that I devoured The Rising through the opportunity of reading it via Net Galley. To have the opportunity to continue the story on Nara and Osha. Book one was so unique and had me hooked. I’d implore anyone to read this series!!

Nara and Osha learn to harness their individual powers to fight for the people they love the most, and to change a society that only values the Pure and looks down on the Brands as inferior and dispensable. Nara and Osha may have escaped the Citadel in Isfalk, survived the bleak wastelands and the suffering she endured, the harsh brutality of Orlathon but they have yet to face their greatest challenge and it begins in Reiss, the homeland of the Wrangler.
Though on the surface Reiss seems to be a city of freedom and equality between Pures and Brands, under the surface a woman called Phibia is plotting and manipulating the ruler of Reiss, Haxim the father of the Wrangler/Nixim. There is the Reiss prophecy that “one pure woman with magical powers to cure the branded and bring peace and happiness to the world. “The Elita” Phibia is the leader of the High Seer Circle and it will be her that will test the pregnant Osha to see if she is the long-awaited Elita. Naturally Nara is worried for her sister, with her promise to Amma to always take care of Osha she cannot hold back and intervenes at the testing. It is then Phibia realises that Nara is a Tathar like herself, but she dismisses both sisters, in particular Nara as she is a brand saying they are both weak.

Nothing is straight forward for Nara, she has so much weighing on her mind and heart such as the rather cryptic prophecy/warning that Frenka the blood wife gave her "Be careful of the boy. He is a good soul born of bad." Along with the advice to be wary of relying on the visions she sees, telling all may not be as it seems and that things can happen to change these visions. She has to learn to master her sway as it will be an essential weapon in the battles that are on the horizon. Nara worries about her pregnant sister, Osha as she battles the uncertainty of who the father of the child she is carrying is. Is it the love of her life her lyfhort, Haus or is the pregnancy a result of her assaults at the hands of Orlath. Only time will tell. Then there’s the question of whether the baby will be born pure or brand and how healthy it will be. There are also the complications of the love triangle she finds herself in with Brim who sees her as a fec, but then professes his love for her, and Nixim whom she still doesn’t fully trust and that situation is only exacerbated by the fact he has the complication of a betrothed called Hira, the daughter of Phibia. Nixim also seems to have the knack of disappearing when she feels she most needs him!
Nara also has the mystery of who her parents were and why they were left in Fornwood with Amma before being sent to Isfalk. What do the pendants that she and Osha wear mean?

Nara has a lot on her plate even before the fighting starts and wow there are some great battle scenes in this book!
The Rising has amazing multi-layered characters, not just the main ones of Nara, Osha, Haus, Nixim and Brim but some of the others such as the usually drunken Maw who teaches Annek to fight, to defend herself after the trauma she experienced in Orlathon at the hands of Orlath and his men. Azza, the principled, straight-talking sister of Nixim who is also a Tathar but chooses to hide her gift and uses it only when necessary. I admired the way she used her gift only when necessary unlike others who use it for nefarious purposes, such as Phibia and Inness, she also helped Nara with her own Tathar powers too.
There’s lots of laugh out loud banter between the different characters, Maw, Dalla & Annek have a funny camaraderie and of course Nixim and Nara take the banter to another level, all whilst there’s the subtle simmering feelings of love they each hide from each other.
I loved the way Nara saw a different softer side to Nixim when he was around his sisters Azza and Sadiq. He was no longer the “wrangler” he was “Nixim”. In the same way that Nara could be two different people the “scourge” and then the softer side being “Nara”.
I of course adored the character of Nixim, but I also loved Haus, the quiet yet deadly lyfhort of Osha. Even when there is doubt over the parentage of the baby Osha is carrying he stays by her side, when she will allow him and hovers in the shadows when she will not allow him by her side!

I thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic, detailed world building with so much rich history to the different tribes & settlements, their cultures, traditions, languages, ways of living
all wrapped up in an amazing, written plot with such varied emotive scenes from harsh battles, to beautiful heart wrenching betrayals, laugh out loud banter between certain characters and watching at first tentative feelings, that grow into fierce love between the characters that on the surface are so very different, yet are perfect for each other.
At times, it has very emotional and poignant scenes!

My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were Wow! Just wow! Then I felt immediately sad that it had ended!

Summing up, The Rising has it all going on, action, drama, angst, betrayal and some simmering romance too! I loved the characters, the prophecies & visions that were twisted and sometimes turned on their heads. I enjoyed the way Nara sometimes interpreted them incorrectly as she was honing her talents. I felt like I felt Nara's heartbreak when the reality of Frenka's warning of "Be careful of the boy. He is a good soul born of bad"