Writing	★★★★
Character	★★★1/2
World Building	★★★★
Plot	★★1/2

In association with HearOurVoices Book Tours. See also Interview with Author Harper Glenn.

Monarch Rising is a promising debut novel that introduces us to a world not too far removed from our own. A world where socioeconomic standings suffered from a dramatic switch, leading to the rich now being poor and the poor now being rich. A world in which the idea of the American dream has become more or less the luck of the draw, reduced to a contest of beauty and wits. The world Glenn creates is eerily close to our reality, and it feels almost real while reading. Its sci-fi details lie primarily in technological advancements that are not too distant from reality.

Glenn gives us much more than a speculative examination of socioeconomic disparities; they give us an intimate look at mental health and delve deep into the concept of love. Not just romantic love but platonic and situational love. Additionally, the further you delve into Monarch Rising, the more subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) parallels between– and calls to– classics such as Little Women and Pride and Prejudice you find. Lending to that sort of classical melancholy depiction of romance, we have lost in many YA pieces.

Monarch Rising has its challenges. Sometimes, it struggles to define itself as a dystopian science fiction novel or a romance novel. It goes without saying that a novel can exist between both realms, but in the case of Monarch Rising, the two genres often are at odds with each other. This may be due to some struggles with pacing and confusing character motivations, but regardless of these struggles, the book maintains intrigue through its speculative nature.