The Book line turns the page. After Book 1 wrapped in 2025, Devin Booker’s second signature arrives on January 2 as the opening statement for the new year. “Rising” reads like a prologue: clean, confident and built to set the tone for what Chapter Two is going to be.

Design

“Rising” is a study in contrast. A stealthy black upper sets the stage for a molten Swoosh that fades from ember orange to sundial gold, popping off the shoe like heat off desert asphalt. Around the perimeter, a crackled foxing in bright Safety Orange wraps the midsole—think sun-baked lava rock—before it disappears under a translucent, speckled outsole.

Look closer and the Book DNA is all here: the sleek, minimal toe; laddered webbing at the eyestay that gives a sharp, architectural look; and that low-cut silhouette designed for a smooth first step. Small details keep the narrative tight—pull tabs and heel ribbons stamped CHAPTER TWO, subtle micro-branding on the tongue, and a tidy, uninterrupted profile that feels very “Book”: refined, not loud, but unmistakably confident.

On-court feel

While Nike hasn’t turned this colorway into a tech brochure, the underfoot formula follows Booker’s preferences: a low-profile ride with responsive foam, court-hugging traction carved into tight concentric patterns, and enough pop to keep pull-ups crisp and closeouts controlled. Translation: light, quick, and built for the footwork that makes Book’s game look effortless.

Story & history

Book 1 built a lane—pared-back design, premium touches, storytelling around “chapters.” Its final drops closed out 2025 and teed up the sequel. Book 2 picks up right there, keeping the minimalist aesthetic while adding sharper geometry and bolder color blocking. “Rising” isn’t just the name; it’s the theme. From the heat-glow Swoosh to the sun-cracked midsole, the shoe nods to Phoenix and to a star who keeps turning pressure into points.

Will “Rising” be a hit?

Book 1 wasn’t a flop, but it didn’t catch fire like some rival signature lines—Ja’s third model, for example, built fast momentum through bolder storytelling, visible tech, and tons of on-court sightings. With Book 2, early sentiment is split yet leaning positive. The sharper shape, the cracked-lava midsole, and this molten Swoosh give the line a clearer identity, and that matters.

The real swing factor will be what happens after this debut. If Nike follows “Rising” with a tight run of colorways (a Suns-leaning home/away duo, a clean neutral, maybe a premium materials play) and keeps pairs attainable without flooding, the Book 2 can build steady heat. Performance will do the rest: if guards and wings start trusting it late in games—and we see it on playoff floors—perception flips quickly. Expect day-one sell-through at retail with little to no resale tax; the verdict on long-term hype lands on what Chapter Two does next, not just this opener.

📲  Want the earliest retailer lists, drop alerts, and on-foot shots the moment they surface? Get everything in one feed with the Sneaktorious app — raffle trackers, notifications, and updates as the story develops.