Black Swan Rising

Sarah Price works on a San Diego congressional campaign while recovering from a mass shooting that left her with PTSD. Her candidate faces increasingly hostile opposition in a contentious race focused on gun control and women's rights. As Sarah manages social media for the campaign, she uncovers coordinated online harassment and threats that may connect to broader conspiracies. Her investigation pulls her into a web of dark money, extremist groups, and political manipulation. The narrative follows Sarah's parallel struggles to process her trauma and expose potential election interference, set against the backdrop of America's culture wars. Her search for truth puts her at odds with powerful forces as the campaign reaches its climax. The novel examines modern American political divisions, online radicalization, and the intersection of personal and collective trauma in an era of rising extremism and gun violence.

Readers describe Black Swan Rising as a timely political thriller that reflects real-world tensions around gun violence, online harassment, and political extremism. Readers appreciated: - The authentic portrayal of toxic internet culture and trolling - Strong character development of Sarah and Casey - Detailed San Diego setting - Integration of current social issues without feeling preachy Common criticisms: - Pacing drags in the middle sections - Some found the political elements too heavy-handed - Multiple storylines can be hard to follow - Ending feels rushed to some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (223 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (38 ratings) From reader reviews: "Captures the underbelly of social media and online harassment with chilling accuracy" - Goodreads reviewer "The plot meanders too much before getting to the point" - Amazon reviewer "Characters feel real and flawed in a way that keeps you invested" - LibraryThing review

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🔹 Author Lisa Brackmann drew inspiration from Gamergate and other online harassment campaigns when crafting the novel's portrayal of toxic internet culture and targeted intimidation. 🔹 The book explores the intersection of gun politics and social media, reflecting real-world debates about Second Amendment rights and gun control in America. 🔹 "Black Swan" in the title references both the theory of unpredictable, high-impact events and the metaphor of a seemingly impossible occurrence that changes everything. 🔹 Brackmann worked as a motion picture executive before becoming an author, and her experience with the entertainment industry influences her cinematic writing style. 🔹 The novel was released in 2016, during a particularly contentious U.S. election year, mirroring many of the political themes and social media conflicts depicted in the story.