BOOK: Autumn Rising by Seth King

In some ways Autumn Rising by Seth King feels like an authors apology for breaking our hearts. In this novella you'll find the exploration of two minor characters from the book The Summer Remains. Autumn and Hank are mourning the loss of a dear friend and they find that doing so together is much better than grieving separately.

While The Summer Remains was told in the thoughtful perspective of Summer Johnson, Autumn Rising is told in the more colorful perspective of Autumn Mahal. Autumn was Summer's best friend and in many ways they were opposites. Summer was pensive, reserved, calm, caring and thoughtful and Autumn is talkative, opinionated, self-obsessed, loud, vibrant and at times laugh out loud funny with a hint of self deprecating humor. Simply put... Autumn Mahal is a hand full! However, they shared one very important truth. They both knew the fear and pain of fighting for their life when their bodies had betrayed them. Summer was born with a rare condition, while Autumn finds herself in remission from an aggressive bout of cancer. They were best friend until Summer lost her fight.

Now, what about Hank?

Hank knew both Summer and Autumn from the anti-support group Summer had formed for people with disabilities, illnesses and those who just didn't fit in. They would gather together and share with one another how unfair the world could be. Hank like Summer, Autumn and the other attendees had scars. As a veteran of war, he had lost his arm overseas but his biggest scars were emotional ones. Summer's anti-support group, primarily Summer herself, brought Hank hope and light during some of his darkest days following his return home.

So enough background, why should you read this book?

You should read this book because Autumn Rising is about two characters so unalike in almost every way possible except one -- they need each other! Autumn is Hank's kaleidoscope, while Hank grounds the sometimes outrages Autumn. More importantly they love each other in that "I can't explain why, but my world would be nothing without you" kind of way. Unlike the whirlwind of Summer and Cooper's love story, Autumn and Hank's relationship is splendidly average. They awkwardly flirt, they date, they move in together, and before they know it they are in the comfort zone. (You know "the comfort zone"... that point in a relationship when she gives up on wearing makeup most of the time, except for special occasions and trips to the grocery store, while he pretends not to know the difference. And, he walks around the house in just his boxers most of the time because she's now so special and important to him that pants are too formal for their everyday interactions. Yeah, that place!)

There is only one thing that could ruin this relationship... fear. Fear is an enemy of love. Fear can convinces you that you deserve less, that you're worthless and unlovable. Fear can make you do irrational, hurtful and manipulative things. It can make you hide when you know you've done wrong and make you settle for less than you deserve. Autumn Mahal is living in fear. Will her cancer return? Will she run from what's good for her? Will the past repeat itself? Will she ever quit her miserable day job to pursue her passion? Will Hank come to his senses, realize he doesn't love her and leave her? Will she ever get over Summer's death? These are just a few of the thoughts running through Autumn's mind as she attempts to hold on to the best thing in her life -- Hank Basara.

Autumn Rising is the story of how love overcame fear!

Some Favorite Quotes:

"She suffered from a condition Autumn liked to call Kanye Face, wherein someone looked so smug and obnoxious all the time, you got the urge to punch them in the face even when they weren't saying anything." 

"And just like that, he unlocked her like a passcode." 

"I'm all dark, and you're a kaleidoscope." 

"You get cancer forever, it's the rest of the world that thinks you're cured. And the fear never really went away -- it picked and prodded at you until sometimes, on your coldest nights, you wondered if there would be anything at all left to take away if it did return." 

"But they had absolutely one thing in common: they were getting lost in each other. He brought her down, and she brought him up. They met in the middle, and that middle became their own little heaven." 

"Because life breaks your heart. That is how this place works. What you must do is find someone who will fall into bed next to you every night and stare at you with burning eyes and put you back together again." 

"When you find someone who understands your pain, who looks into your eyes and sees what you are feeling, you don't have to say anything. They know." 

"People are like fireworks: blink, and they're gone. And you will never be able to hug them again."

Have you read this book or will you? Leave your thoughts on Autumn Rising in the comment section below!

BONUS: Autumn Rising Soundtrack here!