To learn more about the FORGED series, visit the Table of Contents.
First a Note
Olivia McCarthy and I crossed paths on another platform about a year ago. We bonded over our parallel journeys to publishing our first novels. Her novel is set in an imagined future US that is technologically advanced and looking to the stars, whereas my story focuses on a society similarly advanced but drawing inward in focus. Her target is upper middle grade and younger YA readers, and my target reader is the 16+ YA and older readers who enjoy reminiscing about the coming-of-age years. More notably, she not only beat me to the punch on her first book, but now her 2nd book in the For The Stars series is coming out when my first novel is still in the infant days of its release.
Cheers to Olivia for all she has accomplished! Back in November, I was honored to review the first book, Reach. Read the review here:
When I saw she was accepting ARC applications for the next book in the series, of course, I wanted to get an advanced copy! The following is my review, as shared on Goodreads for Rising, which will be available on May 16, 2025.
This post is public, so feel free to share it. Someone in your community might be interested in finding out about this novel, too!
Rising
by
Rising, the second installment of Olivia McCarthyβs For The Stars series, follows Reach and Llama to Mars as they search Reachβs father and hope to convince the colonists to return to Earth to fight the corrupt government of Nation. They are quickly caught up in Martian political drama, sidetracking them from their mission.
McCarthy blends space travel and dystopian government with royal succession and espionage, offering a fresh take on the sci-fi/fantasy hybrid. Lacking the complexity of other popular stories in this genre, Rising is well suited for the younger YA age range (12-14) or Upper Middle Grade readers, especially those who enjoy high drama and clear conflicts. Young readers can learn valuable lessons about accepting others from the storyβs modeling of how people with disabilities can thrive when given appropriate expectations and acceptance rather than forced conformity. The depiction of unfair societal structures (like class divides and expectations tied to lineage) can help young readers recognize systemic injustice and understand their feelings of being overlooked or devalued.
Older readers, however, might crave more substance. Reach, as a protagonist, often lacks agency and emotional complexity. The story leans heavily on surface-level plot events to propel the narrative forward, keeping the story fast-paced if simplistic. His romantic relationships are driven almost entirely by physical attraction, with little development of emotional intimacy or intellectual connection, making it difficult to root for him.
While these shortcomings may limit the story's appeal for older readers, McCarthy does offer occasional moments of thought-provoking insightβsuch as reflections on grief and how power dynamics can affect those in leadership roles. The story occasionally pauses for deeper reflections, such as the idea that βprogressβ is a construct designed to keep people striving and, often, dissatisfied. The manipulation of hope and fear in Nation and the social stratification in Jezero mirror real-world class systems and encourage readers to think critically about inequality and human value. A few poetic lines, like βThe words are almost like birds. They seem to land at my feet, but then fly away before I can catch them,β provide welcome moments of introspection.
Rising is a great book choice for young readers or those looking for a quick escape into a richly imagined space fantasy story.
Where to find the book & author
About Olivia McCarthy
Olivia is the author of Reach, a YA and middle-grade dystopian novel with a closed-door, no-spice romance. She is a mama of five, a runner of marathons, and a reader of books. (And she makes some funny reels you can find on Instagram.)
Deep space. Mars.
Choices with ripple effects that will impact entire planets.
Reach and Llama have escaped the nefarious government, but at a cost. Now Reach can only hope the information he's learned is enough to keep both him and Llama alive and make allies on a foreign planet. With Llama as the only familiar person by his side, and wounded from the sting of her betrayal, Reach must navigate an entire new world.
When they land on Mars, Reach and Llama soon realize that all is not as it seems. Nefarious secrets, royal surprises, and political intrigue are just as rife on Martian soil as they are on Earth.
Can Reach survive yet another hostile planet, and a broken heart by using his aptitude for game theory?
About CB Mason
Iβm a fan of dystopian tales with strong female leads, and I believe that the written word has a powerful impactβwe see ourselves in the stories, learn from the characters' mistakes, and gain the tools necessary to use in our own lives.
I love engaging with readers and writers, so drop a comment!
And be sure to check out Shattered, book one of the Forged series, now available in paperback and eBook! Here are the locations where you can buy yourself a copy.
Before you go
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