This book is great. I love all of the parasitic details, and poor Elei gets hit with all the troubles. I need to get my hands on the rest of the books.

(from my amazon review) ( )

This was a very enjoyable sci-fi/fantasy. There were a lot of times I wasn't sure what was going on, but I saw the thing with Maera coming from way off! Sometimes when that happens, I can't help but wonder why no one else saw it. Maybe the author hoped to keep us in suspense a while longer before the big reveal, but it wasn't happening for me. Once I have suspicions I have to wonder why other people in the story wouldn't have the same suspicions. Then I loose the believably factor. :-( I have to wonder if this happens to other readers or if it is just me. I am kinda strange that way.

Anyway ... The book did have a somewhat final conclusion, but enough things were left open for the continuation of the story. ( )

Originally posted on These Pretty Words

I'm not a science fiction kind of girl. I admit a deep love for the paranormal but most things in the sci-fi realm leave me either confused or rolling my eyes. So when a request came in to read a book about parasites forming new races, I was a bit hesitant. But, in the true spirit of 'I read everything', I agreed to give Rex Rising a read (with another sci-fi loving reviewer in the wings just in case I couldn't finish it).

I shouldn't have worried.

The world Chrystalla builds is vivid and exciting. From the descriptions of the algae and fungi to the sense of neglect and squalor of the human cities. I loved reading about these seven islands and the culture of the inhabitants there. And the characters... so strong and solid. Elei tugged my heartstrings from his first appearance and really never let me go. The fragile balance within him and the way his strength and weakness battled at the same time was brilliant and well-written. The side characters were also wonderfully written, with personality quirks that stayed true and a clarity that kept them individualized. Really well done!

I loved reading about the land of the seven islands and the culture of the inhabitants there. So much of the story depends on the reader understanding the plight of that society, and Chrystalla really knows how to use her pretty words to paint a picture. And the characters… so strong and solid. Elei tugged my heartstrings from his first appearance and really never let me go. The fragile balance within him, and the way his strength and weakness battled at the same time was brilliant and well-written. The side characters were also wonderfully developed, with personality quirks that stayed true and a clarity that kept them individualized. Really well done!

This book is absolutely a “run, buy it, read it” recommendation. Trust me, Rex Rising is worth the time. Give Elei and his cohorts a little time (and very little money – at posting, RR will only set you back $.99!) and you’ll soon find yourself happily racing down the path of Rex Rising with a desperate need to figure out what’s going on. With the promise of an upcoming sequel, I will definitely be keeping an eye on Chrystalla. ( )

In all honesty this book was really hard for me to get through. The story was interesting and different, but the writing seemed very stiff and anticlimactic. The idea of everyone combating viruses on the norm was a very interesting idea and I enjoyed the thought behind it. The story follows a boy named Elei and his band of misfits he accumulates along the way. He is being chased by the “government” because he holds a “secret” that his dying friend gives him at the beginning of the story. The story was very predictable, with a few surprises along the way. All in all I would probably never read this again but I might recommend it to a few people. ( )

Not a huge fan of science fiction or fantasy, but the Elei's Chronicles are a good testimate to how a good scifi/fantasy book can change your mind. Rex Rising is set in a dystopia, always good, and goes on about how the world can change if you get the chance. Some spots are a bit hard to make the jump, (but it's scifi), but in the end, a pretty good read. give it a try, even for non-scifi kids like me. ( )