I think Christopher Rice has a new fan... The book was the perfect blend of page-turner, plot and characterization.

I disagree with some reviewers. I didn't find the essence of Post-Katrina N'awleans within his prose, nor do I think it Chris' intent. There was just the right amount of feel for the jewel of Mardi Gras and that's fine by me. If asked, I'd say a touch more wouldn't hurt. But who asked?

Buy/download The Heavens Rise today! Disappointment will not be had! ( )

It's been 10 years since the Delongpre family disappeared. The family home of Elysium has stood abandoned ever since, but something is still there. Something that defies the imagination and no one can explain. It caused 17 year old Niquette (Nikki), to run and keep on running abandoning her life and her two best friends, Ben and Anthem and trying to keep a secret that will shatter every life it touches.

This book was everything the cover promised. A mystery, a supernatural element and an amazing horror story with more twists and turns than you can count. Just when you think you have the answer you will find that the author isn't finished playing with your imagination by any means. ( )

In The Heavens Rise by Christopher Rice three teenagers have their lives completely changed by a violent action involving a fourth which sets into motion a supernatural chain of events. Nikki (Niquette Delongpre), her best friend, Ben Broyard, and her boyfriend, Anthem Landry, were all getting along fine until Nikki and Anthem briefly broke up and the schemer who set that into motion, Marshall Ferriot, stepped in to take Anthem's place in Nikki's life. But Marshall is evil. He was evil even before he and Nikki went swimming in the pool filled with... something that gave them powers beyond belief. Nikki and her family apparently die in a horrible car accident (set into motion by Marshall) but Marshall ends up a vegetable in a long term care facility. The trouble is the nurses there think he is controlling their minds - and they may be right.
I thought the characters were believable. I feared for Ben's life and felt like he was the most believable character. Marshall was totally menacing and dreadful. Anthem and Nikki felt more like symbolic caricatures rather than real flesh and blood people. Rice tells the story through the major characters of Ben, Anthem, Marissa ( a black columnist) and Marshall. Nikki's story is told through her journal entries. In the end the best part of The Heavens Rise is the character of Ben and his perspective of what happened and what is happening, followed closely by Marissa.

This well written atmospheric horror novel combined with a coming-of-age story packs some very creepy vibes throughout most of the narrative. The story had me totally engrossed in it until the final quarter to a third of the novel when it took a turn for the worst. At that point it became more paranormal and, not wanting to give anything away, I just wish the ending was different and that Rice had chosen to take it a different direction because he had me breathlessly reading right up until the ending. I do think that many readers aren't going to have any problems with the ending because the rest of the novel is that good. - especially the atmospheric setting. (I was surprised to read that Christopher Rice is the son of Anne Rice.)

Highly Recommended

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Gallery Books via Netgalley for review purposes. ( )

God, Christopher Rice is just so good. It's amazing how quickly he can draw you into a story and into a place. This book is creepy from the get go: he does such an amazing job of blending the disturbing aspects with realistic characters. Even though his novels often come full circle and leave you feeling satisfied, he also doesn't offer up a bland moral to tie everything up. People are mysterious, life is murky, and places have just as much character as people. Love, love, love.

Since the thrill of the book is the highly unpredictable events, I will refrain from saying anything that will spoil your experience. Let’s just say that the story includes unknown creatures, mind-control, infatuation, murder, and revenge; all wrapped up in a wonderful conclusion that will leave you wondering why you didn’t see it coming.
Going in I expected a much different read than what I got, but it was a nice surprise. The only complaint that I have is the ending that is dragged out too long after that wonderful “ah-ha” moment. ( )