RISE: The Abused Child of the Phoenix

What a marvelous book I have read! I was hooked from the first page and it was very difficult to put it down. Livia York is a very talented author who takes us to her journey very vividly. Thank you for writing such a beautiful book!

I read the other critiques & I concur with the majority of their exposes.

I certainly felt ‘right there’ when reading your book. Your book is great in that it depicts so many different changes in age perception (ability to tell your story through the eyes of the age you were at different times), culture, class and your description of travel to different countries.
Plus, one of the main themes which comes from the majority of the critiques is your ability to rise above all the abuse & difficult times, which I think is a magnificent attribute of yours.

The reader is hooked from the opening lines and will want to know why the protagonist can’t use her father’s last name for thirty-four years. York’s writing is beautiful and crisp, her voice powerful and gentle at the same time, and the whole story mirrors an unmitigated sense of honesty that will draw readers irresistibly into the author’s worldview. Rise: The Abused Child of the Phoenix is a memoir that is well thought-out and written with powerful prose. The author does a wonderful job in developing compelling conflict at every level of the story. Livia York is a gifted writer with the ability to draw readers in through powerful descriptions and a rare gift for humor. Although there is a lot to draw tears from the eyes of readers, there is more that will inspire and uplift their hearts.

Abuse is a difficult thing to write about and reading about Livia and Tony's marriage was excruciating. Livia's skill as a writer is so masterful that Tony's actions are portrayed as the actions of an immature individual, instead of a truly evil person. And in these painful chapters, York shone as an author. I have no idea how Livia was able to portray a sense of forgiveness and compassion when writing of past abuse while still being able to fully express the significant pain and trauma she experienced. And at the end, after those few chapters that were very difficult to get through, I felt myself flooded with hope and relief. Livia York is an amazing woman and her story encapsulates how resilient individuals, through the kindness of others, can survive and triumph over the worst that history and humanity have to offer.

Rise by Livia York is a fascinating look into many generations of people and their lives across three continents. The turbulent times during the two World Wars and the effects all over the world, in both the common man's and the aristocrat's life, is well explored. I loved reading about the day to day life and experiences of Livia growing up while her mother worked several jobs. The writing style is direct and engaging and, because of the family history and inter-generational theme of the book, it reads more like a family memoir than a single person's autobiography. I truly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone.