A Chorus Rises

A Song Below Water Novel

By: Bethany C. Morrow

Narrated by: Cherise Boothe, Eboni Flowers

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

"Narrator Eboni Flowers creates the perfect voice for the charismatic Naema in this thoughtful story meshing magic and media." (AudioFile Magazine)

The Latest Novel from YA Sensation Bethany C. Morrow

Meet Naema Bradshaw: a beautiful Eloko, once Portland-famous, now infamous, as she navigates a personal and public reckoning where confronting the limits of her privilege will show Naema what her magic really is, and who it makes her.

Teen influencer Naema Bradshaw has it all: she’s famous, stylish, gorgeous - and she’s an Eloko, a charismatic person gifted with a melody that people adore. Everyone loves her - until she's cast as the villain who exposed a Siren to the whole world.

Dragged by the media, and canceled by her fans, no one understands her side: not her boyfriend, not her friends, not even her fellow Eloko. Villified by those closest to her, Naema heads to the Southwest where she is determined to stage a comeback...to her family, her real self, and the truth about her magic. What she finds is a new community in a flourishing group of online fans who support her.

At first, it feels like it used to - the fandom, the adoration, the community that takes her side - but when her online advocates start targeting other Black girls, Naema will realize that - for Black girls like her - even the privilege of fame has its limits. And only Naema can discover the true purpose of her power, and how to use it.

“A watery and melodic crossroads of the real and the mythic, A Chorus Rises lures readers with its seductive and beautifully Black siren song. An enthralling tale of Black girl magic and searing social commentary ready to rattle the bones.” (Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times best-selling author of The Belles series)

A Chorus Rises is a timely confrontation of the evolving nature of popularity in a society that chooses "exceptions" and rewards "model minorities".

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Teen

©2021 Bethany C. Morrow (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Important character growth

I had a hard time listening to the narration of the main character at the beginning of the book. If you also struggle to listen to a skilled voice perfectly capturing dramatic teen girl whining, keep with it. The narration tone grows with the character.

Way to make me love (like) the villain. 😂

I HATED Nyeema in the first book. And she deserved it. And while I can’t say I adore her now, this character development was beautiful. Five Stars.

Until the very end

I disliked the main character until the very end. Great story that kept you enthralled. With social commentary embedded.

This is the tea

It’s the character development for me!!!! As a black woman who grew up being called the exception I deeply resonated with this story of self discovery and growth. I loved this more than expected and am grateful it exists!

Great narration

I enjoyed the sequel to the story, it was a little slow to start, but developed more into who Naema (sp?) is. I think the best part is the narration, the differentiation in character voices is impeccable, her transitions are smooth, and the individualized inflections used for each gives the characters personality.

Great sequel

I wasn't sure if it would hold up based on the first few chapters. But once I let myself experience it for what it is and not what I thought it would be, I fell in love and couldn't stop listening. I loved the different view point of the aftermath of the first book. I adore where everyone in the group ends. I wonder who we'll hear from in the next one!

Smart and funny

To be honest, I wasn’t sold on the concept of telling the next part of the story with the previous book’s antagonist as the protagonist. Naema feels very stereotypical popular, mean girl during A Song Below Water and definitely picks up in that same vibe at the beginning of A Chorus Rises. THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IN THIS BOOK!!!! 💯 It was hard for me to like or feel sorry for her during the first few chapters and I genuinely grew to appreciate and even like Naema by the end. The storytelling and magical folklore building are just wonderful. I love this series and am excited to see what Author Morrow has in store for us next!

Love!!!!

This series is amazing, definitely recommend it! The writer emerges you into the story, I was always like, "oh snap, what's going to happen next?!"

WOW

I loved getting to hear the other side of the story, even if it was from someone I had already made my mind up about. To, by the end, finish this audio book actually wondering if I like Naema more than Effie (No one will ever top my love for Tavia).. I never thought that would happen. But oh wow, it did.

So many hours of sleep were lost for this book and I regret nothing. The scenes were so beautifully described and thought out. I was listening to this book as if it were a movie playing in my head. I truly loved every second of it, even the seconds(minutes and hours) that I spent yelling for Naema to get over her self. The growth. The internal glow up. The strength and love and ancestral bond and familial support. Just, ALL OF IT…. Amazing.

What I think I loved most though, is that not everyone will just get it. I found myself finishing sentences before the characters because, like the author displayed so eloquently in this story, we know how the world operates for people like us. Not everyone will feel what I am feeling right now because of this audiobook. But it will give them a clue, a hint, a peep into a side of life they never had to consider and it was so beautifully executed.

I love this series and I can’t wait for the next installment, no matter who’s perspective it is told from.

Enjoyable after 3/4ths of the way through

Rating: 4.25/5 Stars bomb
Add 1 star for character development.
Add 1 star for plot/story.
Add 1 star for world building.
Add 0.25 stars for enjoyment.
Add 1 star for over and above criteria (racial awareness).

This had some great character development for the main character no matter how frustrating that character is. She grew up and learned about herself and what it means to be in a family, a community. I'm proud of her, but it was a frustrating as hell ride! The plot centered around what it really means to be a magical black girl in the modern age and how different abilities shaped people's how point. This story kind of teased you for the first half of the book before really diving into controversial issues and how that shapes the view on the black community.

The main problem I have is that it took me until 3/4ths of the way through the book before I started to enjoy it. The main character is the most annoying, entitled child; it made reading from her point of view extremely painful! I saw her as a bully from the previous book, so that didn't help much with my view of her while reading this one.

I'm glad she changed for the better because the ride was infuriating as hell.