A Chorus Rises by Bethany C. Morrow | Finding Yourself in the Spotlight

A Chorus Rises: A Song Below Water Novel by Bethany C. Morrow
Series: A Song Below Water #2
Publication Date: June 1, 2021
Pages: 272
Add on: Goodreads
Buy the Book: Amazon
Rating: ★★★★
Source: From the Publisher
Genre: Fiction / Young Adult / Fantasy / Contemporary
Publisher: Tor Teen / Macmillan

Meet Naema Bradshaw: a beautiful Eloko, once Portland-famous, now infamous, as she navigates a personal and public reckoning where confronting the limits of her privilege will show Naema what her magic really is, and who it makes her.
Teen influencer Naema Bradshaw has it all: she’s famous, stylish, gorgeous — and she’s an Eloko, a charismatic person gifted with a melody that people adore. Everyone loves her. Until she's cast as the villain who exposed a Siren to the whole world.

Dragged by the media, and canceled by her fans, no one understands her side: not her boyfriend, not her friends, not even her fellow Eloko. Villified by those closest to her, Naema heads to the Southwest where she is determined to stage a comeback... to her family, her real self, and the truth about her magic. What she finds is a new community in a flourishing group of online fans who support her. But when her online advocates start targeting other Black girls, Naema will realize that - for Black girls like her - even the privilege of fame has its limits. And only Naema can discover the true purpose of her power, and how to use it.

A Chorus Rises is a timely confrontation of the evolving nature of popularity in a society that chooses "exceptions" and rewards "model minorities."

REVIEW

Bethany C. Morrow’s A Chorus Rises throws you into a world where magic and modern fame collide, all through the eyes of Naema Bradshaw, a teen influencer, proud Eloko, and an unapologetic “mean girl.” Unlike its predecessor, A Song Below Water, this novel doesn’t play it safe. Instead, it hands the mic to Naema, a character who’s as flawed as she is fascinating, and lets her pick through the mess left behind when adoration turns to outrage.

After being cast as the villain in Portland’s magical scene, Naema faces public scorn, online hate, and a sudden, brutal sense of isolation. Fleeing to the Southwest for a family reunion, she’s forced to reckon with what it really means to be a so-called “model minority”, and what happens when you fall from grace. The book tracks her struggle with jealousy, loneliness, and the pressure to be “exceptional” in a world eager to lift or tear down Black women, often at the whim of public opinion.

Morrow’s writing is razor-sharp and deeply personal, drawing readers into Naema’s internal battles. The fantasy isn’t just window dressing; magical elements serve as stand-ins for the real anxieties and injustices Black women face every day. The supporting cast, especially Naema’s extended family, keeps her honest and pushes her to reevaluate what actually matters.

A Chorus Rises isn’t afraid to get uncomfortable. It digs into the cost of social media fame, the double standards of respectability, and the loneliness of being both idolized and scapegoated. The focus is squarely on Naema’s journey, which makes for a raw, sometimes claustrophobic read, but it’s that same honesty that gives the novel its punch.

If you’re after a fast plot or action-heavy fantasy, this book might feel slower in spots. But if you want a smart, relevant character study, one that actually has something to say about race, privilege, and the price of visibility, Morrow delivers. A Chorus Rises stands out for its candour, heart, and willingness to confront tough truths, cementing Morrow as one of YA fantasy’s boldest voices.

Rating: 4 out of 5