A fierce, genre-defying blend of memoir, magical realism, and biting social commentary.
Rising’s compelling novel lays bare the harrowing realities of medical gaslighting, patriarchal oppression, and societal neglect. Lilith contracts pinworms—an experience exacerbated by dismissive doctors, unsupportive loved ones, and the pervasive disbelief of those around her. Left untreated, her condition spirals into delusions, hallucinations, seizures, and near-fatal health crises. Even as she fights for survival, Lilith is gaslit and abandoned, forced to navigate a labyrinth of denial and neglect before ultimately diagnosing herself and beginning her recovery.
Lilith’s struggles with medical neglect and familial dysfunction are rendered in stark, unflinching prose. The narrative alternates between visceral accounts of her experiences—seizures, hallucinations, and isolation—and surreal, allegorical episodes where planets and tarot cards come alive. Rising’s juxtaposition of the mundane and the fantastical underscores the absurdity of her reality and her relentless quest for empowerment. The book’s humor and sharp critique shine through its inventive metaphors and vivid characterizations. Pluto, imagined as a disgruntled cosmic entity wreaking astrological havoc, injects moments of levity into the story’s weightier themes. Meanwhile, anthropomorphized worms and “hotdog-haired” antagonists become unforgettable symbols of systemic ignorance and complicity, providing a rich visual lexicon for the societal issues at the heart of the book. Lilith’s journey is one of reclamation and transformation. Through tarot, astrology, and a deep connection to her psyche, she begins to heal, finding strength in the very systems of belief she once doubted. Rising’s exploration of rage and resilience is cathartic, shining a light on the power of self-advocacy and the importance of holding others accountable.
Original, creative, and unapologetically bold, the book is a revolutionary experience that calls readers to stand for justice and resilience.
-The Prairies Book Review
Rising’s compelling novel lays bare the harrowing realities of medical gaslighting, patriarchal oppression, and societal neglect. Lilith contracts pinworms—an experience exacerbated by dismissive doctors, unsupportive loved ones, and the pervasive disbelief of those around her. Left untreated, her condition spirals into delusions, hallucinations, seizures, and near-fatal health crises. Even as she fights for survival, Lilith is gaslit and abandoned, forced to navigate a labyrinth of denial and neglect before ultimately diagnosing herself and beginning her recovery.
Lilith’s struggles with medical neglect and familial dysfunction are rendered in stark, unflinching prose. The narrative alternates between visceral accounts of her experiences—seizures, hallucinations, and isolation—and surreal, allegorical episodes where planets and tarot cards come alive. Rising’s juxtaposition of the mundane and the fantastical underscores the absurdity of her reality and her relentless quest for empowerment. The book’s humor and sharp critique shine through its inventive metaphors and vivid characterizations. Pluto, imagined as a disgruntled cosmic entity wreaking astrological havoc, injects moments of levity into the story’s weightier themes. Meanwhile, anthropomorphized worms and “hotdog-haired” antagonists become unforgettable symbols of systemic ignorance and complicity, providing a rich visual lexicon for the societal issues at the heart of the book. Lilith’s journey is one of reclamation and transformation. Through tarot, astrology, and a deep connection to her psyche, she begins to heal, finding strength in the very systems of belief she once doubted. Rising’s exploration of rage and resilience is cathartic, shining a light on the power of self-advocacy and the importance of holding others accountable.
Original, creative, and unapologetically bold, the book is a revolutionary experience that calls readers to stand for justice and resilience.
-The Prairies Book Review