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Awakened
For fans of L.J.Smith's The Vampire Diaries, Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Tracy Wolff's Crave, and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush Hush.
After losing her parents in an accident only she survived, Hannah is desperate for answers. Haunted by the events of that tragic night, she struggles to move on, yearning for some deeper truth about her loss.
But when it comes time to turn a new page and move cross country for college, she vows to leave the past behind. After all, Bellcliff University is a thousand miles away from the ghosts nipping at her heels.
Yet when Hannah accidentally awakens a handsome witch from a hidden cave near campus, she realizes he isn’t the only thing stirring out of slumber. Hannah has roused all magic…including the devil herself.
As if spells, curses, and college jitters weren’t enough, this witch claims to know Hannah from four centuries prior—and their connection is more than casual.
Thrust into a world of sorcery and monsters, Hannah must fight to keep the magic she’d unleashed from claiming a price far too steep for her to pay.
After losing her parents in an accident only she survived, Hannah is desperate for answers. Haunted by the events of that tragic night, she struggles to move on, yearning for some deeper truth about her loss.
But when it comes time to turn a new page and move cross country for college, she vows to leave the past behind. After all, Bellcliff University is a thousand miles away from the ghosts nipping at her heels.
Yet when Hannah accidentally awakens a handsome witch from a hidden cave near campus, she realizes he isn’t the only thing stirring out of slumber. Hannah has roused all magic…including the devil herself.
As if spells, curses, and college jitters weren’t enough, this witch claims to know Hannah from four centuries prior—and their connection is more than casual.
Thrust into a world of sorcery and monsters, Hannah must fight to keep the magic she’d unleashed from claiming a price far too steep for her to pay.
Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
September 18, 2021
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Awakened was one of those book that seemed too good to be true. Or maybe it's just because the synopsis completely sucked me in and then the book was just a complete disappointment.
Not that I'm saying I hated the book because I didn't. There are some things that were pretty interesting but never escalated the correct way. Again, it could just be me though.
In it, you will meet Hannah and Callan. She is thrown into a world where there's light and dark magic. Callan is sort of there to help her along the way but it definitely seems like there's a hidden agenda too. I'm honestly not sure how I feel about their romance. It never felt forced to me but I also didn't like it to begin with either.
Also, I'm not going to lie - I had a ton of questions when it came to the magic throughout this book. Which is kind of a depressing in a lot of ways due to never getting the full answer on anything really.
Even after the ending, I'm just kind of left wondering what the exact point of this entire book was. It just kind of seemed like a jumbled up idea that just fizzled out.
In the end, this book definitely had potential to be a lot better than it was. Especially when it came to so many unanswered questions about the magic. I am, however, glad that I got the chance to dive into this book. I wouldn't mind diving into another book written by this author either. She has potential to write a great book and I can't wait to read it one day.
Awakened was one of those book that seemed too good to be true. Or maybe it's just because the synopsis completely sucked me in and then the book was just a complete disappointment.
Not that I'm saying I hated the book because I didn't. There are some things that were pretty interesting but never escalated the correct way. Again, it could just be me though.
In it, you will meet Hannah and Callan. She is thrown into a world where there's light and dark magic. Callan is sort of there to help her along the way but it definitely seems like there's a hidden agenda too. I'm honestly not sure how I feel about their romance. It never felt forced to me but I also didn't like it to begin with either.
Also, I'm not going to lie - I had a ton of questions when it came to the magic throughout this book. Which is kind of a depressing in a lot of ways due to never getting the full answer on anything really.
Even after the ending, I'm just kind of left wondering what the exact point of this entire book was. It just kind of seemed like a jumbled up idea that just fizzled out.
In the end, this book definitely had potential to be a lot better than it was. Especially when it came to so many unanswered questions about the magic. I am, however, glad that I got the chance to dive into this book. I wouldn't mind diving into another book written by this author either. She has potential to write a great book and I can't wait to read it one day.
August 27, 2021
I must admit I judged this book by it's cover, because it's very pretty, but the plot is not so much. Let me just say this book wasn't bad, but it wasn't very good either. It was kinda meh. Our YA protagonist (with of course dead parents) tries to move on with her life and goes to college. She of course ends up summoning a witch (hear me roll my eyes). The romance was meh. It was like all the predictable schemes all over. It's like a book you read and think is okey, but you'll never think about it again, because it gets lost in the crowd of other YA books like this. 2,5/5⭐
August 29, 2021
Thank you Netgalley for this Arc, Awakened by Ciara Duggan!
This story revolves around 17 yo Hannah. She is a smart and kind girl just starting her first year at college, Bellcliff University, and really just trying to move on with a normal life after her parents death.
Hannah begins research for her Anthropology class and quickly finds herself in a mysterious part of the old school library that focuses on magic and mysticism. This is where she finds a very old book and somehow casts a spell. This is really the start to the book. She learns that magic is real and, at the same time, meets a very handsome young man, Callan. Now she becomes fully absorbed into her own history and a life that not only revolves around magic, but the very serious battle between good and evil.
I really enjoyed this story. It's a quick, fast-paced read that was easy to get into. My only issues were really that the writing style and the dialog between characters sometimes seemed awkward and because of that I felt slightly pushed away from the story. It made me feel less of a connection.
I do recommend this as a quick and fun read that focuses on the fight between good and evil magic, along with different supernatural beings.
Look for this out on Sept 7th!
This story revolves around 17 yo Hannah. She is a smart and kind girl just starting her first year at college, Bellcliff University, and really just trying to move on with a normal life after her parents death.
Hannah begins research for her Anthropology class and quickly finds herself in a mysterious part of the old school library that focuses on magic and mysticism. This is where she finds a very old book and somehow casts a spell. This is really the start to the book. She learns that magic is real and, at the same time, meets a very handsome young man, Callan. Now she becomes fully absorbed into her own history and a life that not only revolves around magic, but the very serious battle between good and evil.
I really enjoyed this story. It's a quick, fast-paced read that was easy to get into. My only issues were really that the writing style and the dialog between characters sometimes seemed awkward and because of that I felt slightly pushed away from the story. It made me feel less of a connection.
I do recommend this as a quick and fun read that focuses on the fight between good and evil magic, along with different supernatural beings.
Look for this out on Sept 7th!
September 16, 2021
2 out of 5 stars
I don't give out two's often or if at all to be honest but this one just didn't do anything for me. There wasn't anything unique about it and I felt like there was a lot of story telling and very little action. It didn't keep me interested. If I hadn't been buddy reading it with some friends I don't know if I'd have finished it.
The story is lack luster, the magic too easy, and the "spells" were a mix of bad one liners. There's also some serious insta-love that happens pretty quick but the romance didn't really keep up. I didn't feel the chemistry between the two of them. I'd have been good with some other kind of relationship outside of the romance that didn't even feel like a romance.
Unfortunately I didn't connect with the characters or the story and the ending wrapped up quick and easy. The best part of this book is the cover.
Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.
I don't give out two's often or if at all to be honest but this one just didn't do anything for me. There wasn't anything unique about it and I felt like there was a lot of story telling and very little action. It didn't keep me interested. If I hadn't been buddy reading it with some friends I don't know if I'd have finished it.
The story is lack luster, the magic too easy, and the "spells" were a mix of bad one liners. There's also some serious insta-love that happens pretty quick but the romance didn't really keep up. I didn't feel the chemistry between the two of them. I'd have been good with some other kind of relationship outside of the romance that didn't even feel like a romance.
Unfortunately I didn't connect with the characters or the story and the ending wrapped up quick and easy. The best part of this book is the cover.
Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2021
This has such a beautiful cover and an interesting premise, but didn't live up to my hopes. I felt like the author had an idea but didn't know how to execute a full novel. The plot seemed to go in circles and very little actually happened. There was also no world building, just that there is magic in some people and it can be good or evil. No rhyme or reason to it, everyone just accepts that it is what it is.
The romance was okay but it's mostly built on the fact that Hannah and Callum have a past together so don't need to go through the stages of falling for someone. They're already in love so we'll leave it at that. I would have liked to see Hannah learning about Callum and slowly falling for him instead of jumping right in.
The story takes place over three days or so and feels very rushed. If the author went back and expanded this, took time explaining things and ramping up to a big fight, it could be so much better. I think this is Duggan's first book, so hopefully her next one will take it's time to explore and establish everything.
The romance was okay but it's mostly built on the fact that Hannah and Callum have a past together so don't need to go through the stages of falling for someone. They're already in love so we'll leave it at that. I would have liked to see Hannah learning about Callum and slowly falling for him instead of jumping right in.
The story takes place over three days or so and feels very rushed. If the author went back and expanded this, took time explaining things and ramping up to a big fight, it could be so much better. I think this is Duggan's first book, so hopefully her next one will take it's time to explore and establish everything.
December 27, 2021
3.5 stars
This magically Paranormal, debut YA Fantasy was an entertainingly fast paced and enjoyable read,perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater and L.J Smith.
After losing her parents in a tragic car accident only she survived, Hannah is still searching for answers. After struggling for so long, trying to find a deeper meaning for her loss,Hannah is finally ready to start the new chapter in her life—by setting off cross country to her new College, Bellcliff University.
But when Hannah accidentally awakens a handsome witch from a hidden cave near campus , she soon realizes he’s not the only thing stirring. Hannah has awakened all magic…that just might include the devil herself.
I really enjoyed this, the magic system was good and the characters were very relatable, Hannah’s grief in losing her parents was handled exceptionally well, her pain and thought processes surrounding her loss felt genuine and really added depth.
The relationship between Hannah and Callan was a little quick (and a little bit insta-lovey) but I did enjoy it.
Overall, it was a fun,quick and pretty enjoyable read. If you like your YA fantasy magic based and witchy then you should definitely check this out.
Also a huge thank you to Parliament House for the digital arc.
This magically Paranormal, debut YA Fantasy was an entertainingly fast paced and enjoyable read,perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater and L.J Smith.
After losing her parents in a tragic car accident only she survived, Hannah is still searching for answers. After struggling for so long, trying to find a deeper meaning for her loss,Hannah is finally ready to start the new chapter in her life—by setting off cross country to her new College, Bellcliff University.
But when Hannah accidentally awakens a handsome witch from a hidden cave near campus , she soon realizes he’s not the only thing stirring. Hannah has awakened all magic…that just might include the devil herself.
I really enjoyed this, the magic system was good and the characters were very relatable, Hannah’s grief in losing her parents was handled exceptionally well, her pain and thought processes surrounding her loss felt genuine and really added depth.
The relationship between Hannah and Callan was a little quick (and a little bit insta-lovey) but I did enjoy it.
Overall, it was a fun,quick and pretty enjoyable read. If you like your YA fantasy magic based and witchy then you should definitely check this out.
Also a huge thank you to Parliament House for the digital arc.
August 31, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review!
After reading this book I give it a 3/5. I liked the the plot and the characters especially Hannah were very relatable. This book has anxiety rep and I honestly felt seen. The romance was cute and the story overall was fun and fast paced. It includes magic, witches, vampires, and so much more. It was entertaining and I definitely recommend to those looking for a quick read. Again thank you to Netgalley for giving me an arc of this book! :)
After reading this book I give it a 3/5. I liked the the plot and the characters especially Hannah were very relatable. This book has anxiety rep and I honestly felt seen. The romance was cute and the story overall was fun and fast paced. It includes magic, witches, vampires, and so much more. It was entertaining and I definitely recommend to those looking for a quick read. Again thank you to Netgalley for giving me an arc of this book! :)
October 31, 2021
This book is short, easy to read, and has a gorgeous cover.
While I read this book quickly the pacing was a bit lagging as some parts were slow and other parts it was like the author only had so many words and so many ideas she wanted to get done.
I’m not seeing how this is compared to Hush, Hush because I loved that book and that book had even more plot than Awakened did.
Maybe if the timeline was extended or if the side characters got more of a chance in the spotlight? However, that did not happen. The story was within the span of a week and the side characters felt like they were there for the sake of being there.
What I wanted more of:
Callan- I wanted to be in his head a bit more because I feel like he could have been an interesting character to delve a little deeper into.
Magic- how does it work? Where does it come from? Why do they need to be hit with a lightning bolt to awaken their magic? How is it that the magic can turn witches into other creatures? How is it decided what creature will be what?
Supernatural- why is it Nathaniel could not compel anyone? Vampires are known for their compulsion as well as Sirens yet somehow the Sirens were the only ones who could compel people to do things? How did nobody notice that poor Bruce was a vampire? What are a few features that separate them from each other?
Things I wanted less in the book:
Anxiety- this felt insulting being told she had anxiety constantly. As someone who has anxiety it’s not fun. Sometimes it feels like you can’t breathe and sometimes you can’t even tell anymore if you are having a panic attack or anxiety.
PTSD- again another mental health thing that was kind of there only to either be talked about or explained away as memories or magic. So, it’s all okay now it’s all fine. I’m sure people with PTSD would like to be able to do that as well.
Honestly, I know the author was trying to bring in representation, but I kind of wished the author had left mental health out of it because I was wondering if the author has ever had to deal with these issues before. I could have easily given this book a five star if some details and the timeline was extended, characters got fleshed out a tad more, and if the author had respected the mental health issues she chose without making it feel insubstantial.
Alas, it was not to be so I’m giving this book 3.5/5 ⭐️
While I read this book quickly the pacing was a bit lagging as some parts were slow and other parts it was like the author only had so many words and so many ideas she wanted to get done.
I’m not seeing how this is compared to Hush, Hush because I loved that book and that book had even more plot than Awakened did.
Maybe if the timeline was extended or if the side characters got more of a chance in the spotlight? However, that did not happen. The story was within the span of a week and the side characters felt like they were there for the sake of being there.
What I wanted more of:
Callan- I wanted to be in his head a bit more because I feel like he could have been an interesting character to delve a little deeper into.
Magic- how does it work? Where does it come from? Why do they need to be hit with a lightning bolt to awaken their magic? How is it that the magic can turn witches into other creatures? How is it decided what creature will be what?
Supernatural- why is it Nathaniel could not compel anyone? Vampires are known for their compulsion as well as Sirens yet somehow the Sirens were the only ones who could compel people to do things? How did nobody notice that poor Bruce was a vampire? What are a few features that separate them from each other?
Things I wanted less in the book:
Anxiety- this felt insulting being told she had anxiety constantly. As someone who has anxiety it’s not fun. Sometimes it feels like you can’t breathe and sometimes you can’t even tell anymore if you are having a panic attack or anxiety.
PTSD- again another mental health thing that was kind of there only to either be talked about or explained away as memories or magic. So, it’s all okay now it’s all fine. I’m sure people with PTSD would like to be able to do that as well.
Honestly, I know the author was trying to bring in representation, but I kind of wished the author had left mental health out of it because I was wondering if the author has ever had to deal with these issues before. I could have easily given this book a five star if some details and the timeline was extended, characters got fleshed out a tad more, and if the author had respected the mental health issues she chose without making it feel insubstantial.
Alas, it was not to be so I’m giving this book 3.5/5 ⭐️
August 24, 2021
Title: Awakened
Things To Know:
-Magic
-Witches
-Romance
-Quick Read
Synopsis:
After losing her parents in an accident only she survived, Hannah is desperate for answers. Haunted by the events of that tragic night, she struggles to move on, yearning for some deeper truth about her loss. But when it comes time to turn a new page and move cross country for college, she vows to leave the past behind. Afterall, Bellcliff University is a thousand miles away from the ghosts nipping at her heels. Yet when Hannah accidentally awakens a handsome witch from a hidden cave near campus, she realizes he isn't the only thing stirring out of slumber. Hannah has roused all magic...including the devil herself. As if spells, curses, and college jitters weren't enough, this witch claims to know her from four centuries prior-and their connection is more than casual. Thrust into a world of sorcery and monsters, Hannah must fight to keep the magic she'd unleashed from claiming a price far too steep for her to pay.
Review:
I would rate Awakened 3.5/5 stars.
I really like the premise of Awakened. Hannah has been through a traumatic event and is trying to heal from said accident by attempting to be a normal college kid but little does she know that it is impossible for her to be ‘normal.’
I felt like the story wasn’t extremely original. It has been done in some way or another, but that being said I never tire of witchy stories! I love the battle of good vs. evil, light vs. dark. I did love the element of past, present, and future romance. I think it added to the story.
The antagonist was *chefs kiss* I am a sucker for a good bad guy. I usually root for the good guy, but if the bad guy is this awesome they’re usually my favorite character. (Think like the Joker in The Dark Knight, how do you not love him?!)
I would recommend this book to others who really enjoy magic and witches! It was a page turner and I finished it within a day!
Thank you NetGalley for early access to this book!
Things To Know:
-Magic
-Witches
-Romance
-Quick Read
Synopsis:
After losing her parents in an accident only she survived, Hannah is desperate for answers. Haunted by the events of that tragic night, she struggles to move on, yearning for some deeper truth about her loss. But when it comes time to turn a new page and move cross country for college, she vows to leave the past behind. Afterall, Bellcliff University is a thousand miles away from the ghosts nipping at her heels. Yet when Hannah accidentally awakens a handsome witch from a hidden cave near campus, she realizes he isn't the only thing stirring out of slumber. Hannah has roused all magic...including the devil herself. As if spells, curses, and college jitters weren't enough, this witch claims to know her from four centuries prior-and their connection is more than casual. Thrust into a world of sorcery and monsters, Hannah must fight to keep the magic she'd unleashed from claiming a price far too steep for her to pay.
Review:
I would rate Awakened 3.5/5 stars.
I really like the premise of Awakened. Hannah has been through a traumatic event and is trying to heal from said accident by attempting to be a normal college kid but little does she know that it is impossible for her to be ‘normal.’
I felt like the story wasn’t extremely original. It has been done in some way or another, but that being said I never tire of witchy stories! I love the battle of good vs. evil, light vs. dark. I did love the element of past, present, and future romance. I think it added to the story.
The antagonist was *chefs kiss* I am a sucker for a good bad guy. I usually root for the good guy, but if the bad guy is this awesome they’re usually my favorite character. (Think like the Joker in The Dark Knight, how do you not love him?!)
I would recommend this book to others who really enjoy magic and witches! It was a page turner and I finished it within a day!
Thank you NetGalley for early access to this book!
September 4, 2021
Awakened was a mixed bag for me. I liked the premise, and I enjoyed the way the author wove various paranormal creatures into the idea of turning to dark magic. That was a fresh and interesting idea. Hannah also had the potential to be an interesting protagonist, with her traumatic past as a springboard into the story. However, this book fell down on two main (and connected) points for me. The first was the pacing, which seemed too fast. I would have liked to have spent a little more time seeing Hannah discover magic and get to know Callan, giving us, as readers, more world building for the magical elements too. In addition, her relationship with Callan developed unbelievably fast. Yes, there is a plot point that tries to account for this, but that was not a compelling-enough reason for me to accept they would move from strangers to deep love and commitment so swiftly. Secondary characters, too, were a little underdeveloped since we spent hardly any time with them. Had the piece been longer, the pacing a little slower, there would have been more opportunities to develop the characters, relationships, plot and world building. This book references The Vampire Diaries in the blurb, and in some ways I think that is apt. I adored The Vampire Diaries when I was about twelve, but when I reread the series as an adult I was shocked at how bad I found the books in contrast to my great memories of them. Similarly, I believe younger teens will love Awakened with its magic, paranormal creatures and romance. It is just not one of those YA reads that is going to work as well for adults who are looking for something with more depth. That said, it was a quick and easy read that was entertaining enough in terms of premise, so if you are a huge YA fantasy fan, you might want to check it out. It gets 3 stars from me.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2022
See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/awakened/
AWAKENED is a fast-paced YA fantasy that follows Hannah, a 17-year-old who has PTSD from the way she lost her parents nearly two years ago. She is away at college and excited to get a head start on her coursework, heading to the library to do some research. Once there, she comes across a book that seems to be calling to her about magic. As things develop, she finds herself releasing a guy from the 1600s who was in love with her - or someone he thinks is her.
As Hannah begins to learn more about herself and her past, she discovers the world of magic, which has been embroiled in a battle between good and dark with herself at the center.
What I loved: This was a really quick read that had an overall entertaining plot. The simplicity of the characters and pace of the plot will work well for younger YA audiences. The history of magic was intriguing, as was the way that witches have magic and this carries over time.
What left me wanting more: Hannah seemed a bit hollow, and it was tough to really get a feel for her. I was interested in the mental health rep that seemed like it could be really powerful, but it becomes distorted when she begins attributing it all to magic and seems to rapidly get over it. Similarly, she seems to be virtuous and quickly in the middle of everything without missing much of a beat. The romance was also pretty fast and relied on past connection that we do not really get to see, so it was tough to connect with them as a couple. The villain also seemed simple, and it would have been great to have more complexity in the story with more depth for the villain and for the main characters.
Final verdict: AWAKENED is a fast-paced YA fantasy that will work well for younger YA readers who will appreciate the simplicity of the characters and quick plot.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
AWAKENED is a fast-paced YA fantasy that follows Hannah, a 17-year-old who has PTSD from the way she lost her parents nearly two years ago. She is away at college and excited to get a head start on her coursework, heading to the library to do some research. Once there, she comes across a book that seems to be calling to her about magic. As things develop, she finds herself releasing a guy from the 1600s who was in love with her - or someone he thinks is her.
As Hannah begins to learn more about herself and her past, she discovers the world of magic, which has been embroiled in a battle between good and dark with herself at the center.
What I loved: This was a really quick read that had an overall entertaining plot. The simplicity of the characters and pace of the plot will work well for younger YA audiences. The history of magic was intriguing, as was the way that witches have magic and this carries over time.
What left me wanting more: Hannah seemed a bit hollow, and it was tough to really get a feel for her. I was interested in the mental health rep that seemed like it could be really powerful, but it becomes distorted when she begins attributing it all to magic and seems to rapidly get over it. Similarly, she seems to be virtuous and quickly in the middle of everything without missing much of a beat. The romance was also pretty fast and relied on past connection that we do not really get to see, so it was tough to connect with them as a couple. The villain also seemed simple, and it would have been great to have more complexity in the story with more depth for the villain and for the main characters.
Final verdict: AWAKENED is a fast-paced YA fantasy that will work well for younger YA readers who will appreciate the simplicity of the characters and quick plot.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
August 27, 2021
Thank you to The Parliament House and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Awakened by Ciara Duggan is an amazing YA fantasy romance with a splash of black magic. I would describe it as The Vampires Diaries meets Netflix's Fear Street reboot. The story revolves around Hannah, a 17 year-old who is a freshman at the mysterious Bellcliff University. Her parents died recently, and she's struggling with the aftermath when she accidentally sets Callan, a male witch from the 17th century, from a cave near campus. Suddenly, she's meeting vampires, werewolves, and sirens, and some of them want to do her harm. Will she discover the powers lying dormant deep within herself? Will she stop the monster that is evil incarnate from hurting her and those she loves? And what hidden past does she have with Callan?
Here is a chilling excerpt from Chapter 1, which introduces us to Hannah:
"H-a-n-n-a-h...
As Hannah Fenwick walked by the historic Bellcliff University Library, she heard a voice whisper her name. It was beautiful and soft, like the warm, amber sunset over campus, yet unsettling. Even a little eerie. Her skin chilled. She stopped, searching for its origin, but there were only excited students ready to start a new semester...
H-a-n-n-a-h...
Goosebumps crept on the back of her neck...."
Overall, Awakened is a stunning debut in the YA fantasy genre. It was unputdownable. I had to keep reading to find out more about Hannah's past with Callan, and how they deal with the growing threats and monsters coming after them. I ended up finishing this book in a day. One highlight of this book is the setting and atmosphere. First of all, I love books that are set in creepy locations, and a university by the cliffs definitely fits the bill. I also love that Hannah is attending university and not high school. It's a worn trope that every YA book has to be set in high school, with all of those stereotypes, and I am so happy that the author made her character more mature and a freshman in college instead. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy books in general, I highly recommend checking out this book when it comes out in September!
Awakened by Ciara Duggan is an amazing YA fantasy romance with a splash of black magic. I would describe it as The Vampires Diaries meets Netflix's Fear Street reboot. The story revolves around Hannah, a 17 year-old who is a freshman at the mysterious Bellcliff University. Her parents died recently, and she's struggling with the aftermath when she accidentally sets Callan, a male witch from the 17th century, from a cave near campus. Suddenly, she's meeting vampires, werewolves, and sirens, and some of them want to do her harm. Will she discover the powers lying dormant deep within herself? Will she stop the monster that is evil incarnate from hurting her and those she loves? And what hidden past does she have with Callan?
Here is a chilling excerpt from Chapter 1, which introduces us to Hannah:
"H-a-n-n-a-h...
As Hannah Fenwick walked by the historic Bellcliff University Library, she heard a voice whisper her name. It was beautiful and soft, like the warm, amber sunset over campus, yet unsettling. Even a little eerie. Her skin chilled. She stopped, searching for its origin, but there were only excited students ready to start a new semester...
H-a-n-n-a-h...
Goosebumps crept on the back of her neck...."
Overall, Awakened is a stunning debut in the YA fantasy genre. It was unputdownable. I had to keep reading to find out more about Hannah's past with Callan, and how they deal with the growing threats and monsters coming after them. I ended up finishing this book in a day. One highlight of this book is the setting and atmosphere. First of all, I love books that are set in creepy locations, and a university by the cliffs definitely fits the bill. I also love that Hannah is attending university and not high school. It's a worn trope that every YA book has to be set in high school, with all of those stereotypes, and I am so happy that the author made her character more mature and a freshman in college instead. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy books in general, I highly recommend checking out this book when it comes out in September!
September 7, 2021
I received this book as an eARC from Netgalley. All opinions are my own!
Hannah is just trying to find a new start after the death of her parents. But when she accidentally wakes up a centuries-old witch and even the devil herself, that new start looks less and less appealing by the hour.
This book is a classic tale of good versus evil, but I loved that it had its own twist on everything! Hannah and Callan aren't entirely good, and I really enjoyed watching them struggle with who they are versus who they actually wanted to be. I did wish at times that they were a little less self-sacrificing, as it just seemed like that was their solution to everything, but I really did enjoy watching their development and their intertwined stories!
I also really enjoyed that this wasn't a "classic" love at first sight kind of romance. I liked that there was a reason behind Hannah's initial attraction to Callan and that they were able to get to know each other and for that romance to actually build instead of just throwing them together and into love.
If you're looking for a good versus evil story that will make you feel good and then a little bad and then good all over again, this is the book for you!
Hannah is just trying to find a new start after the death of her parents. But when she accidentally wakes up a centuries-old witch and even the devil herself, that new start looks less and less appealing by the hour.
This book is a classic tale of good versus evil, but I loved that it had its own twist on everything! Hannah and Callan aren't entirely good, and I really enjoyed watching them struggle with who they are versus who they actually wanted to be. I did wish at times that they were a little less self-sacrificing, as it just seemed like that was their solution to everything, but I really did enjoy watching their development and their intertwined stories!
I also really enjoyed that this wasn't a "classic" love at first sight kind of romance. I liked that there was a reason behind Hannah's initial attraction to Callan and that they were able to get to know each other and for that romance to actually build instead of just throwing them together and into love.
If you're looking for a good versus evil story that will make you feel good and then a little bad and then good all over again, this is the book for you!
September 2, 2021
Thank you, Independent Publishers Group, The Parliament House & NetGalley, for allowing me to read this title; I appreciate it. All my opinions and thoughts on this title are my own -as you can tell.
I will give Awakened this; it had a fascinating magic system and the dark magic transformation worked really well to include other creatures of magic. Plus, it did deal with trauma and PTSD that teen normals forget -they certainly did years ago.
As you can tell be the opening of this review, I didn't love this book. It reminds me of early 2010 teen books, and I am past that. I have seen many of the same things in many stories, so this story strongly felt like Deja Vu.
The story pacing was fast and lacking; the love story was too instant (I know about the history, but it wasn't enough). Even the plot twist wasn't enough to save this book, in my opinion.
Younger me would have eaten this up, but I have grown, and I want more substance.
I will give Awakened this; it had a fascinating magic system and the dark magic transformation worked really well to include other creatures of magic. Plus, it did deal with trauma and PTSD that teen normals forget -they certainly did years ago.
As you can tell be the opening of this review, I didn't love this book. It reminds me of early 2010 teen books, and I am past that. I have seen many of the same things in many stories, so this story strongly felt like Deja Vu.
The story pacing was fast and lacking; the love story was too instant (I know about the history, but it wasn't enough). Even the plot twist wasn't enough to save this book, in my opinion.
Younger me would have eaten this up, but I have grown, and I want more substance.
September 14, 2021
I made it about 20% into this book before I sadly had to DNF. The main character was just kind of going with the flow even though weird stuff was happening without questioning anything. Hear a weird voice telling you to recite an incantation? Definitely read it without thinking about it. Things were just happening to her and she wasn't being proactive. She was always just guided by what other people told her today or the feeling she had to do something by persuasion of this book she found, because, plot.
I also didn't enjoy the presumable love interest (Landen). How he spoke was supposed to be enduring and have funny banter with Hannah but it just came across as cocky and kind of annoying.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I also didn't enjoy the presumable love interest (Landen). How he spoke was supposed to be enduring and have funny banter with Hannah but it just came across as cocky and kind of annoying.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Awakened in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not normally a straight paranormal romance fan but Awakened's cover was so stunning and it's description sounded unique enough that I decided to give it a shot. And it was... a straight paranormal romance.
My biggest compliment is probably the narration. It was really strong and competent although I did feel like the protagonist talked as if she was younger than her age. I also found the way the love interest talked extremely hokey and overdone (if I have to read him start one more sentence with prithee I'll explode) and never rooted for much of anything plot or relationship wise.
I'm not normally a straight paranormal romance fan but Awakened's cover was so stunning and it's description sounded unique enough that I decided to give it a shot. And it was... a straight paranormal romance.
My biggest compliment is probably the narration. It was really strong and competent although I did feel like the protagonist talked as if she was younger than her age. I also found the way the love interest talked extremely hokey and overdone (if I have to read him start one more sentence with prithee I'll explode) and never rooted for much of anything plot or relationship wise.
September 4, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
As soon as I started reading this book, I had major
Crave vibes-the pace, the plot line, etc…however that feeling dropped off as quickly as it started. I really enjoyed the pace of this book, although I would say at some points, it felt rushed and it was hard to keep up with what was going on as you essentially are constantly thrown through flashbacks between Raven and Hannah. The writing style was a bit amateur for my preferred reading style, however it makes the book easy to get through! Overall, the plot line could’ve been a little stronger(although it wasn’t terrible) and the writing just a smidge better and this book could have easily been a 4 star book instead.
As soon as I started reading this book, I had major
Crave vibes-the pace, the plot line, etc…however that feeling dropped off as quickly as it started. I really enjoyed the pace of this book, although I would say at some points, it felt rushed and it was hard to keep up with what was going on as you essentially are constantly thrown through flashbacks between Raven and Hannah. The writing style was a bit amateur for my preferred reading style, however it makes the book easy to get through! Overall, the plot line could’ve been a little stronger(although it wasn’t terrible) and the writing just a smidge better and this book could have easily been a 4 star book instead.
September 8, 2021
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read an advanced copy of Awakened by Ciara Duggan. I picked this book partly because of the description and partly because of the gorgeous cover. While it started great, it soon became predicable and I found it an ok book. It was like other teen paranormal books I have read. Nothing new. However for fans of L.J.Smith's The Vampire Diaries, Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Tracy Wolff's Crave, and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush Hush you may find it is right up your alley. 21/2 stars rounded up to 3
September 8, 2021
3.5 Stars
An interesting YA story that involves witches.
Hannah opens one big can of worms when she goes away to college. In doing so, she discovers a side of herself she completely didn’t expect along with someone who had questionable morals.
The story isn’t new and it dragged a bit but I enjoyed this unique coming of age book. Hannah is just trying to cope and find her place in the world after a devastating loss. And Callan is someone who’ll make you question a few things.
* I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.
An interesting YA story that involves witches.
Hannah opens one big can of worms when she goes away to college. In doing so, she discovers a side of herself she completely didn’t expect along with someone who had questionable morals.
The story isn’t new and it dragged a bit but I enjoyed this unique coming of age book. Hannah is just trying to cope and find her place in the world after a devastating loss. And Callan is someone who’ll make you question a few things.
* I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.
August 27, 2021
ARC provided by Edelweiss:
I liked the story and the characters. The idea of finding each other in different lifetimes is so sweet. But this whole story took place in like 2 days and it all tended to work out so conveniently. Not the best writing in my opinion but it is a debut.
I liked the story and the characters. The idea of finding each other in different lifetimes is so sweet. But this whole story took place in like 2 days and it all tended to work out so conveniently. Not the best writing in my opinion but it is a debut.
September 23, 2021
First things first
If we're talking broad brush strokes, the book was ok. The overall story structure was fine, the plot was interesting enough, I didn't hate the characters and I found no SPaG issues. I think tweens would find this book very much to their liking.
However, I've long since grown out of my tween years, and I don't think this book is particularly suited for an older, more discerning and experienced reader. First, the writing felt VERY clunky. There was a certain amateurish feel to how the sentences were structured. In particular, one thing that kept tripping me up was the recurrent switch of third person narrator types. The fluctuation between omniscient and limited was disconcerting and distracting.
Second, because the book had such a strong juvenile vibe, the few gruesome, violent scenes that made their way into this tale clashed really harshly with the overall mood. Picture a character being killed in a very explicit, somewhat bloody fashion in an animated Disney film. It'd be weird, right? It'd feel out of place.
Third, the characters were a bit flat for my liking. Hannah was a very negative, glass-half-empty kind of girl. Her constant dreary, dejected attitude was quite tiring. The antagonist was your stereotypical bad
I think all the main characters would have benefited from a bit more development.
And that brings me to my last point: I think the author tried to cram too much in too few pages. I think the majority of events even took place within a couple of days. It was all VERY rushed.
Maybe this story would have worked better as a duet, to give the plot more room to breathe. Space for characters and events to be more solidly established and properly fleshed out. To dive deeper into the lore of this world and the ins and outs of magic and the people capable of wielding it. The rhyming spells were very fun and I enjoyed them, but because the addition of magic got reduced to a few rhymes and supernatural creatures, the book ended up feeling unfinished.
I believe Ciara Duggan has the potential to be a great author, but this book in particular just had a subpar execution. However, I still think a specific demographic may find it enjoyable. I think it's well suited to young, casual readers. So I'd encourage people to try it out and see what they think.
**I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher**
August 15, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and The Parliament House for allowing me to read and review this book!
AWAKENED is about seventeen year old Hannah who travelled across country to go to college, away from from the accident that killed her parents and where she unexplainably survived. Feeling a "pull/force" towards a cave on the beach, Hannah reawakens a handsome witch and a terrible curse that was placed 300 years ago. She and her witch friend Callan now need to stop the terrible curse from coming true and need to defeat an old foe, coming after Hannah and her newfound magic.
Hannah was a good protagonist and had a realistic voice in an unbelievable time in her life. She lost her parents a year ago and has, what she thinks, PTSD moments. But those moments are actually memories and visions of a different girl in a different time period, who knew Callan and Mara (the dark witch) and put a curse on herself to help Callan survive while under Mara's Siren song. Hannah realizes the reason she lived during the accident is due to her Convergence of magic. The magic inside her protected her from dying and after the accident she stayed with an uncle.
I seriously wish there was more to the magic system and Hannah using her powers and learning from Callan on how to use them. Hannah is a reincarnation of Raven, the girl from her visions/memories and Raven's magic has been sitting dormant until Hannah realized it's her magic. Callan was put in stone due to the curse from Raven's time period, she had sacrificed herself so Callan could be saved from Mara's clutches and every eighteenth birthday, she is to die and be reborn in another eighteen years. It's a weird sacrifice to make but Hannah's eighteenth birthday arrives in one week and both Hannah and Callan have to break the curse and defeat Mara before Hannah dies and Mara takes over more witches' minds.
I liked most of the characters but they were not developed very well. Callan was a bit of a cardboard cut out of most love interests in YA Fantasy books, Hannah had a "chosen one"/light powers stereotype, and Mara is hell-bent on power. The magic system could have been amazing but it was never explored more than the basics. I wish Callan had taught Hannah more about how to use her magic instead of just getting them and then her memories just telling her how to use them, like a reflex. Mara wasn't a bad villain but she was also a cardboard cut out of a "hell-bent on power" character. I actually think it would have been cool to have more Mara moments since the story was told in the third person. Hannah's friends that she makes in college were only there as placements and nothing really comes from any of them in the end. I think it would have been interesting if Hannah had lost Callan in the end and left an open ending and maybe moved on with Landon and told him later of her powers. Callan wasn't a bad character but the development of each person was lacking and needed more depth.
This was a pretty basic YA story with not a lot of challenge or struggle for Hannah. I did read this book in a short period of time and overall it wasn't bad but I feel it could have been so much better with: more magic, character growth, and development in the story.
3 stars
AWAKENED is about seventeen year old Hannah who travelled across country to go to college, away from from the accident that killed her parents and where she unexplainably survived. Feeling a "pull/force" towards a cave on the beach, Hannah reawakens a handsome witch and a terrible curse that was placed 300 years ago. She and her witch friend Callan now need to stop the terrible curse from coming true and need to defeat an old foe, coming after Hannah and her newfound magic.
Hannah was a good protagonist and had a realistic voice in an unbelievable time in her life. She lost her parents a year ago and has, what she thinks, PTSD moments. But those moments are actually memories and visions of a different girl in a different time period, who knew Callan and Mara (the dark witch) and put a curse on herself to help Callan survive while under Mara's Siren song. Hannah realizes the reason she lived during the accident is due to her Convergence of magic. The magic inside her protected her from dying and after the accident she stayed with an uncle.
I seriously wish there was more to the magic system and Hannah using her powers and learning from Callan on how to use them. Hannah is a reincarnation of Raven, the girl from her visions/memories and Raven's magic has been sitting dormant until Hannah realized it's her magic. Callan was put in stone due to the curse from Raven's time period, she had sacrificed herself so Callan could be saved from Mara's clutches and every eighteenth birthday, she is to die and be reborn in another eighteen years. It's a weird sacrifice to make but Hannah's eighteenth birthday arrives in one week and both Hannah and Callan have to break the curse and defeat Mara before Hannah dies and Mara takes over more witches' minds.
I liked most of the characters but they were not developed very well. Callan was a bit of a cardboard cut out of most love interests in YA Fantasy books, Hannah had a "chosen one"/light powers stereotype, and Mara is hell-bent on power. The magic system could have been amazing but it was never explored more than the basics. I wish Callan had taught Hannah more about how to use her magic instead of just getting them and then her memories just telling her how to use them, like a reflex. Mara wasn't a bad villain but she was also a cardboard cut out of a "hell-bent on power" character. I actually think it would have been cool to have more Mara moments since the story was told in the third person. Hannah's friends that she makes in college were only there as placements and nothing really comes from any of them in the end. I think it would have been interesting if Hannah had lost Callan in the end and left an open ending and maybe moved on with Landon and told him later of her powers. Callan wasn't a bad character but the development of each person was lacking and needed more depth.
This was a pretty basic YA story with not a lot of challenge or struggle for Hannah. I did read this book in a short period of time and overall it wasn't bad but I feel it could have been so much better with: more magic, character growth, and development in the story.
3 stars
August 18, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
If you are looking for a fast read, this book is short enough and compelling enough to finish in one night. The preface that if you are fans of Hush Hush and Crave is an apt description.
I did not feel like there was anything remarkable about this book. I feel like the most common trope with witches/vampire novels is how the protagonist is compelled to the witch quickly. They feel a pull or are drawn to the character early on and the romance begins quickly. Based on descriptions of vampire qualities, one of their abilities is to compel others, but I find it frustrating that it is a common theme amongst all these books and I was hoping for something a little different.
The main character Hannah, accidentally awakens a 300 year old witch who cast a spell to trap all magic in an attempt to prevent a devil witch from using dark magic to take over the world. When he awakens, he believes that Hannah is Raven, the with he loved in a previous time. This reminds me a little of The Glass Queen (Gena Showalter) in that it involves reincarnation. The witch Raven, cast a spell that would allow her to reincarnate until her eighteenth birthday. While Hannah is her own person, she casts a spell so that she is able to remember her past life and gain insight into what happened that led to current events. It turns out that Hannah is a prodigy witch with light magic that rivals the dark magic of the devil, Mara. It is up to her and the 300 year old witch (who she is drawn to and falls in love with quickly) to stop Mara from turning every creature and witch dark.
My issue with the book is that it happens within a week timespan, and while Raven and Callan were in love 300 years ago, it feels to quick for Hannah to also love Callan that quickly after really only knowing him as herself for one week. She even admits to him that she thinks they should hold off on the kissing until Callan knows his feelings for her are real. The relationship feels like every other vampire/witch relationship where there is really no depth, growth of the relationship, or true love.
My other issue, which I think is why the book is so short and such a quick read, is that the plot is linear and the events that happen, happen so quickly. Oddly, it actually feels like stopping Mara was not really that hard. There weren't enough setbacks, or temporary wins that backfired. There weren't a whole lot of characters besides Callan and Hannah who were up against Mara and Nathanial. I wish more had happened and that it didn't seem so predictable.
I did enjoy the ending. I liked how the past came full circle to the present. I just wasn't expecting the "how".
It's a fun, simple read. However, if you are looking for more depth or something different, I might look elsewhere.
If you are looking for a fast read, this book is short enough and compelling enough to finish in one night. The preface that if you are fans of Hush Hush and Crave is an apt description.
I did not feel like there was anything remarkable about this book. I feel like the most common trope with witches/vampire novels is how the protagonist is compelled to the witch quickly. They feel a pull or are drawn to the character early on and the romance begins quickly. Based on descriptions of vampire qualities, one of their abilities is to compel others, but I find it frustrating that it is a common theme amongst all these books and I was hoping for something a little different.
The main character Hannah, accidentally awakens a 300 year old witch who cast a spell to trap all magic in an attempt to prevent a devil witch from using dark magic to take over the world. When he awakens, he believes that Hannah is Raven, the with he loved in a previous time. This reminds me a little of The Glass Queen (Gena Showalter) in that it involves reincarnation. The witch Raven, cast a spell that would allow her to reincarnate until her eighteenth birthday. While Hannah is her own person, she casts a spell so that she is able to remember her past life and gain insight into what happened that led to current events. It turns out that Hannah is a prodigy witch with light magic that rivals the dark magic of the devil, Mara. It is up to her and the 300 year old witch (who she is drawn to and falls in love with quickly) to stop Mara from turning every creature and witch dark.
My issue with the book is that it happens within a week timespan, and while Raven and Callan were in love 300 years ago, it feels to quick for Hannah to also love Callan that quickly after really only knowing him as herself for one week. She even admits to him that she thinks they should hold off on the kissing until Callan knows his feelings for her are real. The relationship feels like every other vampire/witch relationship where there is really no depth, growth of the relationship, or true love.
My other issue, which I think is why the book is so short and such a quick read, is that the plot is linear and the events that happen, happen so quickly. Oddly, it actually feels like stopping Mara was not really that hard. There weren't enough setbacks, or temporary wins that backfired. There weren't a whole lot of characters besides Callan and Hannah who were up against Mara and Nathanial. I wish more had happened and that it didn't seem so predictable.
I did enjoy the ending. I liked how the past came full circle to the present. I just wasn't expecting the "how".
It's a fun, simple read. However, if you are looking for more depth or something different, I might look elsewhere.
August 29, 2021
1.5 stars.
I don't really know where to begin with this one. You know when someone says, don't judge a book by its cover...well I did. This time I judged it by expecting this book to be really good and it just wasn't.
I have so many small issues with this book and I really wanted to go into this book liking it and I just didn't.
Here's my rant.
First off, the premise sounded great which is why I was excited when I received an ARC for this. This, alongside the pretty cover, is only what has made my rating go from 1 star to 1.5 stars. However, where on earth was the world-building in this book? I understand the author was trying to set the story in modern-day as we know it, but in our main character's eyes, this sudden world of witches just appears and Hannah just accepts it? Sorry? If someone turned around to me and suddenly told me we were living alongside the supernatural, I certainly wouldn't take it as well as our MC did. We also get thrust into the main plot point in chapter one with no build-up whatsoever. Pacing who? Because this book doesn't know her.
Equally, the characters were as bland and dull as watching paint dry. They honestly had no personality to speak of and were as memorable as my time in the womb.
Hannah - let's talk about every cliche thrown into one character here. Apparently having dead parents is now a personality trait and this girl's "grief" was honestly unbelievable. I felt like I could see what the author was trying to convey...but it just didn't happen.
Callan - okay, I get the guy is old but his speech was honestly the main issue I had with this book. I understand that he has just risen from a long sleep into the modern world, but this guy honestly spoke like an idiot. I am pretty sure people back in whenever the hell it was didn't speak in the same weird way as he did. I forgot to highlight examples but there would be times words used today would have been used back then too such as toilet or again, but it's as if this author has Googled the oldest synonym of said word and it really broke the story apart. I found myself re-reading some pages of dialogue because I found it harder to digest what was being said. I think Shakespeare has some easier dialogue than this character did. Poor guy.
Also, the conflict in this book was boring. Mara was about as evil as my big toe and I couldn't see what all the fuss was about. The plot supposedly revolved around this grimoire and defeating her but literally nothing happened.
I just didn't get on with this book and if it wasn't for the pretty cover, I would have never picked it up.
This is not something I recommend, sadly.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't really know where to begin with this one. You know when someone says, don't judge a book by its cover...well I did. This time I judged it by expecting this book to be really good and it just wasn't.
I have so many small issues with this book and I really wanted to go into this book liking it and I just didn't.
Here's my rant.
First off, the premise sounded great which is why I was excited when I received an ARC for this. This, alongside the pretty cover, is only what has made my rating go from 1 star to 1.5 stars. However, where on earth was the world-building in this book? I understand the author was trying to set the story in modern-day as we know it, but in our main character's eyes, this sudden world of witches just appears and Hannah just accepts it? Sorry? If someone turned around to me and suddenly told me we were living alongside the supernatural, I certainly wouldn't take it as well as our MC did. We also get thrust into the main plot point in chapter one with no build-up whatsoever. Pacing who? Because this book doesn't know her.
Equally, the characters were as bland and dull as watching paint dry. They honestly had no personality to speak of and were as memorable as my time in the womb.
Hannah - let's talk about every cliche thrown into one character here. Apparently having dead parents is now a personality trait and this girl's "grief" was honestly unbelievable. I felt like I could see what the author was trying to convey...but it just didn't happen.
Callan - okay, I get the guy is old but his speech was honestly the main issue I had with this book. I understand that he has just risen from a long sleep into the modern world, but this guy honestly spoke like an idiot. I am pretty sure people back in whenever the hell it was didn't speak in the same weird way as he did. I forgot to highlight examples but there would be times words used today would have been used back then too such as toilet or again, but it's as if this author has Googled the oldest synonym of said word and it really broke the story apart. I found myself re-reading some pages of dialogue because I found it harder to digest what was being said. I think Shakespeare has some easier dialogue than this character did. Poor guy.
Also, the conflict in this book was boring. Mara was about as evil as my big toe and I couldn't see what all the fuss was about. The plot supposedly revolved around this grimoire and defeating her but literally nothing happened.
I just didn't get on with this book and if it wasn't for the pretty cover, I would have never picked it up.
This is not something I recommend, sadly.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2021
Conceptually, Awakened was a good story. There is no denying that the storyline was melodramatic enough that it would have made a superb play; the entire story was tell-not-show, which I am sure would translate fantastically to a visual medium. However, it—obviously—was not a play, and I found myself questioning it's telling the entire way through.
The protagonist, Hannah, reads like the woefully inexperienced teenager that she is; granted, sometimes she reads markedly younger than a 17-almost-18 year old with a traumatic backstory, but in YA fiction, that is certainly favourable than the other way around.
This was where elements began to fall short.
Perhaps most grating, the treatment of PTSD and anxiety following a traumatic incident was tone-deaf at best, and outright offensive at worst. Though the recurrent sentiment of "that was just my PTSD" was not the most shining depiction, I was willing to go along with it for the sake of much-needed explicit representation in YA fantasy. However, the 180° turn to the sentiment of "it wasn't PTSD, it was never PTSD, it was always magic" felt incredibly erasing to those who do suffer from PTSD following a traumatic incident, and don't simply get to call their diagnosis a super-power and move on with their lives, unchanged.
Given the breadth of history backstory behind each of the characters, they all seemed to feel remarkably flat and two dimensional. Again, had this been presented in a visual medium, their depiction probably would have been sufficient; reading this felt like watching cardboard cutouts be moved around a puppet stage.
This was heightened by the seeming lack of depth to the story. Awakened followed the general plotline of any YA fantasy book, and though predictability is not inherently a negative thing, I struggled to find any elements to set it apart. The protagonist was the most powerful, and the most good and pure of heart. The villain was evil for the sake of being evil because she was just born bad and (have I mentioned this?) loved being evil. None of them seemed representative of anything greater, and though sometimes it is nice to read a story that is just for fun and nothing more, I would have enjoyed this far more had there been something—anything—to separate it from the age-old tale of good vs evil.
ARC Provided by the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own
The protagonist, Hannah, reads like the woefully inexperienced teenager that she is; granted, sometimes she reads markedly younger than a 17-almost-18 year old with a traumatic backstory, but in YA fiction, that is certainly favourable than the other way around.
This was where elements began to fall short.
Perhaps most grating, the treatment of PTSD and anxiety following a traumatic incident was tone-deaf at best, and outright offensive at worst. Though the recurrent sentiment of "that was just my PTSD" was not the most shining depiction, I was willing to go along with it for the sake of much-needed explicit representation in YA fantasy. However, the 180° turn to the sentiment of "it wasn't PTSD, it was never PTSD, it was always magic" felt incredibly erasing to those who do suffer from PTSD following a traumatic incident, and don't simply get to call their diagnosis a super-power and move on with their lives, unchanged.
Given the breadth of history backstory behind each of the characters, they all seemed to feel remarkably flat and two dimensional. Again, had this been presented in a visual medium, their depiction probably would have been sufficient; reading this felt like watching cardboard cutouts be moved around a puppet stage.
This was heightened by the seeming lack of depth to the story. Awakened followed the general plotline of any YA fantasy book, and though predictability is not inherently a negative thing, I struggled to find any elements to set it apart. The protagonist was the most powerful, and the most good and pure of heart. The villain was evil for the sake of being evil because she was just born bad and (have I mentioned this?) loved being evil. None of them seemed representative of anything greater, and though sometimes it is nice to read a story that is just for fun and nothing more, I would have enjoyed this far more had there been something—anything—to separate it from the age-old tale of good vs evil.
ARC Provided by the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own
September 28, 2021
I received an ARC copy from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review
I'm torn regarding this novel. First off, the cover is beautiful and was the reason I initially clicked the title. Second, the premise of the novel is awesome and sealed the deal for me to pick up and read. And third, the comparison novels set the bar HIGH. That being said, I'm not totally sold on the execution. Hannah, our main character, is revealed as a troubled young woman embarking on a new adventure in college. She lost her parents when she was young during an accident, and carries survivors' guilt with her wherever she goes. Perfect starting point with a tragic character with SO much room for growth.
The first few chapters had me flipping pages quickly into the dark of night as we nestle ourselves into the world the author, Ciara Duggan has created for us. The suspense was being built beautifully. We were meeting characters slowly, learning who they were, seeing Hannah start to possibly come out of this shell the narrator tells us she has been hiding in for most of her life. We connect with Hannah; we see the difficulty she has making connections with those around her; but her want/need to make those connections is equally as powerful in getting us connected to her.
We meet a love interest, we feel weirdness around a particular stretch of beach, and then find ourselves starting to tease the edges of occult through Hannah's courses at college, her research, her own weirdness. Perfect.
But then, the story seems to accelerate too quickly. 60% of the book goes by in about two days, with the remain 30% occurring in one; and by the end Hannah is in love with someone she just met. The suspense gets lost in the rushing, and I did have to force myself to continue reading through the middle. I loved the beginning so much though, and I didn't want to give up on the story.
But the main story line was jumpy and erratic—and in a few instances, the story didn’t make sense or was way too easy. The development of the magical world was a little lackluster, I wanted to know more of the history, the battle between light and dark – not just the answers to Hannah's quest. There were some plot holes that I think need refining, maybe even a developmental edit, because the holes break down the story's integrity; and the author did such a fantastic job at developing the first few chapters it's unfair to lose readers in the middle.
I'm torn regarding this novel. First off, the cover is beautiful and was the reason I initially clicked the title. Second, the premise of the novel is awesome and sealed the deal for me to pick up and read. And third, the comparison novels set the bar HIGH. That being said, I'm not totally sold on the execution. Hannah, our main character, is revealed as a troubled young woman embarking on a new adventure in college. She lost her parents when she was young during an accident, and carries survivors' guilt with her wherever she goes. Perfect starting point with a tragic character with SO much room for growth.
The first few chapters had me flipping pages quickly into the dark of night as we nestle ourselves into the world the author, Ciara Duggan has created for us. The suspense was being built beautifully. We were meeting characters slowly, learning who they were, seeing Hannah start to possibly come out of this shell the narrator tells us she has been hiding in for most of her life. We connect with Hannah; we see the difficulty she has making connections with those around her; but her want/need to make those connections is equally as powerful in getting us connected to her.
We meet a love interest, we feel weirdness around a particular stretch of beach, and then find ourselves starting to tease the edges of occult through Hannah's courses at college, her research, her own weirdness. Perfect.
But then, the story seems to accelerate too quickly. 60% of the book goes by in about two days, with the remain 30% occurring in one; and by the end Hannah is in love with someone she just met. The suspense gets lost in the rushing, and I did have to force myself to continue reading through the middle. I loved the beginning so much though, and I didn't want to give up on the story.
But the main story line was jumpy and erratic—and in a few instances, the story didn’t make sense or was way too easy. The development of the magical world was a little lackluster, I wanted to know more of the history, the battle between light and dark – not just the answers to Hannah's quest. There were some plot holes that I think need refining, maybe even a developmental edit, because the holes break down the story's integrity; and the author did such a fantastic job at developing the first few chapters it's unfair to lose readers in the middle.
September 4, 2021
Thank you so much to @parliamentbooks and @cdugganbooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
"When Hannah accidentally awakens a handsome witch from a hidden cave near campus, she realises he isn’t the only thing stirring out of slumber. Hannah has roused all magic…including the devil herself.”
—
One of the highlights about this book was just how beautifully written it was. There was great world building that transported me straight away. It follows a young girl named Hannah who has just moved to a new college, ready for a fresh start. What she doesn’t realise is that she’s actually a regeneration of a powerful witch named Raven. It is a book that sounded amazing, one that I couldn’t wait to get stuck into, however, it fell a little flat for me in comparison to this potential.
Hannah is a great MC, she’s relatable on many levels and the way her anxiety is written was something that I related strongly to. However, the storyline that surrounds Hannah is lacking. I felt there could’ve been more drama, something that kept the reader hooked up until the very end rather than this single storyline to the main goal. That being said, I really did enjoy the last 20% of this book, the villain - Mara - lifted this book.
I would’ve loved to have seen more in relation to their background - it was briefly mentioned although it was brushed off fairly quickly. Delving deeper into this would’ve elevated the book even more. One of the things which I was a little unsure about was the romance. It was very instant. There’s a part where Hannah mentions that he isn’t acting how he normally would - and yet, with no memories, surely she wouldn’t know what his normal was? It started out as an enemies to lovers that I was excited to see develop and yet, there wasn’t any. They seemed to instantly fall in love. If you don’t mind that type of love story, then this won’t affect you as much, but for me, I was looking for a little more development in that area.
Overall, this is a quick, easy read for anyone who wants to read a magical fantasy in one sitting! Plus, the cover is stunning so you know it’s going to look good on your bookshelf.
"When Hannah accidentally awakens a handsome witch from a hidden cave near campus, she realises he isn’t the only thing stirring out of slumber. Hannah has roused all magic…including the devil herself.”
—
One of the highlights about this book was just how beautifully written it was. There was great world building that transported me straight away. It follows a young girl named Hannah who has just moved to a new college, ready for a fresh start. What she doesn’t realise is that she’s actually a regeneration of a powerful witch named Raven. It is a book that sounded amazing, one that I couldn’t wait to get stuck into, however, it fell a little flat for me in comparison to this potential.
Hannah is a great MC, she’s relatable on many levels and the way her anxiety is written was something that I related strongly to. However, the storyline that surrounds Hannah is lacking. I felt there could’ve been more drama, something that kept the reader hooked up until the very end rather than this single storyline to the main goal. That being said, I really did enjoy the last 20% of this book, the villain - Mara - lifted this book.
I would’ve loved to have seen more in relation to their background - it was briefly mentioned although it was brushed off fairly quickly. Delving deeper into this would’ve elevated the book even more. One of the things which I was a little unsure about was the romance. It was very instant. There’s a part where Hannah mentions that he isn’t acting how he normally would - and yet, with no memories, surely she wouldn’t know what his normal was? It started out as an enemies to lovers that I was excited to see develop and yet, there wasn’t any. They seemed to instantly fall in love. If you don’t mind that type of love story, then this won’t affect you as much, but for me, I was looking for a little more development in that area.
Overall, this is a quick, easy read for anyone who wants to read a magical fantasy in one sitting! Plus, the cover is stunning so you know it’s going to look good on your bookshelf.
August 17, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Independent Publishers Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.5/5
Expected Publication: September 7, 2021
First of all, the only thing I could think of while I was reading this was Vampire Diaries.
Ever since her parents death, Hannah has been noticing strange things occurring. She’s been trying to uncover answers as to why she was the only survivor in the accident. However, Hannah decides to let go of the past when she moves away to college. Even though she tries to let everything go, she can’t help but notice more unusual things on her campus. After following the strange whispers, she ends up letting a handsome witch, Callan, out along with magic that awakens deadly magic and creatures. Hannah joins Callan on the quest to put the magic back and defeat a very powerful witch. But along the way, problems arise when Hannah starts to discover who she really is and the questions she’s been asking herself are finally answered.
When I first started reading this book, it felt like any other YA Fantasy book. Nothing really surprised me, and I found myself rolling my eyes at some parts.
It was a really good story and I ended up liking the main character, Hannah, a lot! I found her to be relatable and I didn’t get frustrated with her. That’s what made me enjoy this book! I was on Hannah’s side 100% of the time, and it was refreshing to actually like a main character where she wasn’t frustrating!
The writing was something I really enjoyed even though I did roll my eyes a lot of the time. I haven’t been able to read a fantasy book in a couple months, but this one put me back into the fantasy world! It caught my attention, and every time I put my Kindle down, I was wanting to pick it back up and continue on with the story. Overall, I’m really impressed with it and didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. I recommend this book if you’re looking for an easy and fast paced YA Fantasy read!
Rating: 3.5/5
Expected Publication: September 7, 2021
First of all, the only thing I could think of while I was reading this was Vampire Diaries.
Ever since her parents death, Hannah has been noticing strange things occurring. She’s been trying to uncover answers as to why she was the only survivor in the accident. However, Hannah decides to let go of the past when she moves away to college. Even though she tries to let everything go, she can’t help but notice more unusual things on her campus. After following the strange whispers, she ends up letting a handsome witch, Callan, out along with magic that awakens deadly magic and creatures. Hannah joins Callan on the quest to put the magic back and defeat a very powerful witch. But along the way, problems arise when Hannah starts to discover who she really is and the questions she’s been asking herself are finally answered.
When I first started reading this book, it felt like any other YA Fantasy book. Nothing really surprised me, and I found myself rolling my eyes at some parts.
It was a really good story and I ended up liking the main character, Hannah, a lot! I found her to be relatable and I didn’t get frustrated with her. That’s what made me enjoy this book! I was on Hannah’s side 100% of the time, and it was refreshing to actually like a main character where she wasn’t frustrating!
The writing was something I really enjoyed even though I did roll my eyes a lot of the time. I haven’t been able to read a fantasy book in a couple months, but this one put me back into the fantasy world! It caught my attention, and every time I put my Kindle down, I was wanting to pick it back up and continue on with the story. Overall, I’m really impressed with it and didn’t expect to like it as much as I did. I recommend this book if you’re looking for an easy and fast paced YA Fantasy read!
August 19, 2021
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: YA Fantasy
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: The Parliament House
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: September 7, 2021
Seventeen year-old Hannah is finally starting to rebuild her life by going to college far from home after her parents died. Still mourning for them, Hannah tries hard to live a normal college life not until she accidentally awakens Callan, a witch who has been slumbering for over three hundred years, alongside magic, evil and the truth about her as a reincarnation of a good witch named Raven.
I find no strong character development with Hannah and Callan. Their characters are both flat. Same goes with the storyline, it's linear. And although this might be a quick read with only around 250 pages, the pacing is slow.
Hannah and Callan were alternately sacrificing themselves for one another whereas it could have been more than it; they could fight together to defeat Mara, the witch whose power was on the dark side. Moreover, Hannah wielding Raven's power within her could have been emphasized yet there is no striking moment that put me to awe, or maybe I just had high expectation because of the blurb.
Another thing, when Mara first encountered Hannah after 300 years, there could have been a fight scene yet Mara just let her go after finding out why Raven was reincarnated even with Mara's sorcery. A lot could have happened right then that could make me gasp but I felt like I was left hanging waiting for a battle that never happened.
Still, I thank the publishing for sending me an eARC of this. It may not have piqued my interest but it may click with other readers who are fine with soft worldbuilding with witches and magic and a little bit of vampires.
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: The Parliament House
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: September 7, 2021
Seventeen year-old Hannah is finally starting to rebuild her life by going to college far from home after her parents died. Still mourning for them, Hannah tries hard to live a normal college life not until she accidentally awakens Callan, a witch who has been slumbering for over three hundred years, alongside magic, evil and the truth about her as a reincarnation of a good witch named Raven.
I find no strong character development with Hannah and Callan. Their characters are both flat. Same goes with the storyline, it's linear. And although this might be a quick read with only around 250 pages, the pacing is slow.
Hannah and Callan were alternately sacrificing themselves for one another whereas it could have been more than it; they could fight together to defeat Mara, the witch whose power was on the dark side. Moreover, Hannah wielding Raven's power within her could have been emphasized yet there is no striking moment that put me to awe, or maybe I just had high expectation because of the blurb.
Another thing, when Mara first encountered Hannah after 300 years, there could have been a fight scene yet Mara just let her go after finding out why Raven was reincarnated even with Mara's sorcery. A lot could have happened right then that could make me gasp but I felt like I was left hanging waiting for a battle that never happened.
Still, I thank the publishing for sending me an eARC of this. It may not have piqued my interest but it may click with other readers who are fine with soft worldbuilding with witches and magic and a little bit of vampires.
August 30, 2021
Hannah loses her parents in an accident 2 years ago, an accident which still has her haunted and finding answers to what happened on that terrible day because she has tried all possible logics but nothing makes sense. To move away from all that is hurting her she comes to Bellcliff University. As she passes the halls she feels a pull in the library as if someone is calling out to her.
H-a-n-n-a-h
H-a-n-n-a-h
Only to find no one, this continues for another day and becomes impossible to resist. Her this mistake leads to awakening a Callan, a witch. Someone who used to exist centuries ago, someone entirely handsome and seems familiar but isn't. She has awakened not only Callan but also the devil, the darkness who wants nothing more than to destroy her. This all opens her eyes to magic and she understands that it is very much real and she is more related to it than she knows off.
Hannah is smart, strong with a curious nature that is maybe because of things she didn't believe in or her grief. She is willing to fight a battle she knows nothing of.
The start had an eerie feeling to it. This debut was pretty good, fast paced and easy to read. It is enjoyable. The world building and magic system could have been more developed. The battle of good and evil seemed nice but a bit more to it would have made this book great. Overall it was a good read. Looking forward to more books by the author.
Thank you Netgalley and The Parliament House for ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
H-a-n-n-a-h
H-a-n-n-a-h
Only to find no one, this continues for another day and becomes impossible to resist. Her this mistake leads to awakening a Callan, a witch. Someone who used to exist centuries ago, someone entirely handsome and seems familiar but isn't. She has awakened not only Callan but also the devil, the darkness who wants nothing more than to destroy her. This all opens her eyes to magic and she understands that it is very much real and she is more related to it than she knows off.
Hannah is smart, strong with a curious nature that is maybe because of things she didn't believe in or her grief. She is willing to fight a battle she knows nothing of.
The start had an eerie feeling to it. This debut was pretty good, fast paced and easy to read. It is enjoyable. The world building and magic system could have been more developed. The battle of good and evil seemed nice but a bit more to it would have made this book great. Overall it was a good read. Looking forward to more books by the author.
Thank you Netgalley and The Parliament House for ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
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