Damianos Eaton and Rickter Han couldn’t be more different. One survived a harrowing near-death experience that left him with questions too big for this world. The other, a cynical supermodel, battles the nightly curse of relentless sleep paralysis. Yet fate—or something darker—draws them both to Vale Academy, a secluded arcane institution that promises to reveal earth-shattering discoveries about the nature of human consciousness.

At Vale, the lines between science and the metaphysical blur. Here, students experiment with astral projection, scrying, and the boundaries of reality itself. Though around each of Vale’s winding corridors, disturbing secrets emerge from the shadows: a student who disappeared without a trace, assignments that border on the inhumane. And as Damianos and Rickter delve deeper into their studies, they uncover a chilling truth: some doors are better left unopened—because the academy’s secrets are as dangerous as they are illuminating.

Risen Apes by Vana Elaire is a philosophical and gothic tale that blends the Metaphysical with science and academia. From the beginning, the secrecy surrounding the Vale adds the mystique and allure of the story along with the compelling natures of Damianos and Rickter. Each is intelligent but come together from different directions. The bond between them and the relationship weaves an intriguing narrative.

What the story does well is blend together secrets and how the pair delve into the power of the mind in the search for the truth. And yet, what they find leads to a truth that could be more dangerous than they expect. I also love how each character encounters and delves into the nature of reality. And when they do discover that illumination, I like how it twists and warps the connection between them, leading to an ending that will make you want more from these characters and this world. 

If you like philosophical and gothic stories, this one is fascinating. It is all about both connections and bonds but also secrets and truth, about the metaphysical and the nature of reality. And at the end, you might question what you would do with the dangerous truth the pair discover, would you take the dark approach or would you want to create a beautiful world?  I love how the story ends without a true resolution to that question, leading the reader to determine which is the better answer. This is a powerful and intriguing novel with intense ideas.

Rating: 5 out of 5 out of body experiences. 

Goodreads

Amazon