The Beginning of Everything (The Rising #1)

This is a spinoff of KA’s Fantasyland series, but that series managed to have a continuing storyline and still give a HEA to each couple at the end of each segment. This series is more like a serial with no resolution to anything at the end of this first installment. I would recommend waiting until all four segments have been released before starting this. Hate it when authors publish only one part of a book at a time, and I’m VERY disappointed that KA has joined their ranks.

I got a little excited about the review request for this title. I’ve always heard such amazing things about Kristen Ashley romances. I’m not going to judge her based solely on this book. I give another book or two a try before I decide she just isn’t for me. I’m giving The Beginning of Everything as a story 2 stars. I’m going to bump it up to 3 stars for the phenomenal narration. If I had to judge this book based upon narration alone it would be a solid 5 stars. Even though at the beginning of each chapter listeners are informed of exactly whose point of view you are getting the change of narrator is quite clear.

The synopsis clearly informs you that there will be four couples. As a romance series junkie I immediately assumed that each couple would get their own book. That’s how romance series work. That is where this series took a wrong turn for me. The Rising series already has one couple unhappily married when we meet them. There is another pair that are in love with each other but the casting of the runes will pair them with another. My biggest problem is that each of the love stories unfolds simultaneously in one book. None of them have reached a happily ever after by the end of this book. I expect a happily ever after with my romance novel.

The story itself is interesting. Ashley paints a colorful picture of this fantasy world that her characters must save from a dormant beast that power hungry evil doers are trying to bring forth. There is much gratuitous sex. This goes on between some of the secondary characters. At times it seems pointless. If male male, or male male female is something that you just cannot tolerate in your books this may not be a book for you.

I will not continue listening to this series.

It’s truly hard to judge and rate this story because it’s…The Beginning of Everything. Unlike other stories by Kristen Ashley, she has decided to run simultaneous love stories. With so many couples meeting and connecting, it means that we don’t get even close to a *Happy Ever After*. It is The Beginning of Everything…

While I hated certain parts, was at times confused, and struggled following who was who and what was what, I was completely SUCKED IN!! My emotions were high from the very start and I welcomed the loathing that overwhelmed me at the very beginning. After all, I had been here before. I recognised my feeling of outrage and disgust. I was giddy because it reminded me of my journies through Fantasyland.

I will not be judging The Rising from my introduction to The Beginning of Everything but I will give it 5 stars because of the journey the emotions I felt. This story made me extremely angry at times, had me smiling like a loon at others, and I was constantly wearing a frown in concentration. I had to remind myself that this is not my love story and it IS unreal. These stories are about other people and their lives, so I can hardly judge them on their decisions and sexual proclivities.

Even when I was overwhelmed and upset towards the end, it duplicated the emotional devastation I felt when I read The Golden Dynasty for the first time. I reminded myself that we are nowhere near the end, and if my Dax Lahn can come good, there’s hope for The Rising. I admit that the ending left me a little wild-eyed. So much is going on and I’m a little discombobulated. I NEED to know what’s going to happen next and I can’t wait for more.

For fans of the Fantasyland series, this will seem a little like returning to visit with old friends (and enemies). There are a few scenes that will push some readers too far and while some left me uncomfortable, I was able to get past them. The narrators do an AMAZING job and by the end, I found it easier to follow along because of the different narrators.

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