Awaken by Skye Malone
Series: Awakened Fate #1
Published by Wildflower Isle
Published on: June 3, 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 249
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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Running away from home was never Chloe Kowalski's plan. Neither was ending up the target of killers, or having her body change in unusual ways. She only wanted a vacation, someplace far from her crazy parents and their irrational fear of water. She only wanted to do something normal for once, and maybe get to know her best friend's hot stepbrother a bit better at the same time.
But the first day she goes out on the ocean, strange things start to happen. Dangerous things that should be impossible. Things to which 'normal' doesn't even begin to apply.
Now madmen are hunting her. A mysterious guy with glowing blue eyes is following her. And her best friend's stepbrother seems to be hiding secrets all his own.
It was supposed to be a vacation. It's turning out to be a whole lot more.
It hasn’t been two or three weeks since I made a statement that I wasn’t a fan of mermaid books, in a review for another site. I am about to take back those words. This book is YA, but as usual I completely enjoyed the whole thing.
Chloe is a teenager from Kansas, with extreme water phobic parents. She is just the opposite and can’t wait to see the ocean for the first time. She gets invited by her best friend, Baylie, to go with her to visit relatives on the coast of California. Her parents aren’t having any of it, so Chloe sneaks away. This one act changes her life forever.
This is part one of a series, and I think we are going to be getting a love triangle before it’s all over with. Chloe is pretty smitten with Baylie’s step-brother, Noah. To complete the triangle, Chloe meets a human looking creature, called a Dehaian, otherwise known as a merman. Zeke, the Dehaian, and Chloe share points of views in this book. Each chapter is either about her or him, and written in the first person. It worked well in this case, at least I thought so.
I thought the world building was pretty well explained by the author. Since it’s a first book, you kind of expect a lot of information, but I didn’t feel like this one was an info dump in any way. We learn just enough that we need to know, and I am sure we will probably learn more as the series continues. We mostly get the action that takes place on land, with a much shorter telling of the ocean action, from Zeke’s point of view. I am looking forward to reading more about the world under the water. Needless to say, there’s quite a bit of magic going on in the water.
This book ended up being a perfectly paced story of a young girl coming into powers she didn’t know she had, and learning about what she is. Along the way, she comes under attack by more of the strange creatures that look like humans, simply for what she is. There’s also a twist involved that I didn’t see coming(well maybe a bit), and another surprise too. I applaud the author for that! The premise could have been one of those same old, same old, mermaid books(or movies),but I thought the author handled it so well, that I was completely drawn into the story almost immediately. It had good main characters, and good side characters as well. It was a one day read for me, always a sign of a well written book for me. The next one comes out in August, and I can handle that better then waiting a year or more for it’s release. I know I will be buying the next one as soon as it comes out, because the cliffhanger was pretty intense. Yes I know, cliffhangers aren’t a favorite but a lot, if not most YA books, seem to feature them and this was no exception. As it was such a page turner, I am choosing to just go with it!
I’m Lorna and I live in Maryland. Since retiring, I spend my time mostly reading and reviewing books. My favorite reads are Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult. I read a lot of indie books in addition to traditionally published books. Favorite paranormal creature? Vampires, but I am really liking werewolves more everyday.
I am normally not a fan either but dang it, now I want to read this one!
Fantastic review, you have me super curious about this now.
Thanks! This is actually the second water creature that I’ve read about recently, where I really liked the book, maybe I have been completely won over-but maybe not 🙂
Lorna, what do you think the age range for readers of this would be? Wondering whether to recommend to my 14yo daughter?
There are no sex scenes, but there is some violence and a small amount of language. I think when I was that age, I would have loved it:)
Thanks, Lorna!
You’re welcome! btw-there are some deaths-but not main characters. Just a heads up!
I don’t like water creature books too. I don’t know why but I can’t connect with them. It’s a great irony though, with the heroine being water phobic. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! Actually the girl wasn’t water phobic, but the parents were sick with water phobia-that was kind of an interesting plot line.:)
I’ve only read a few mermaid books, but it’s good to know this one is original. It sounds like a fun book. I’m not usually a cliffhanger fan, but a short wait is always appreciated.
I know, right? Hate cliffhangers,but a short wait is always appreciated 🙂
I like a good mermaid book and this is one that I am going to have to add to my wishlist and keep and eye out for. Great review!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it-I think it’s on a special sale now 🙂
I think I know a teenager that would love this! Thanks for the heads up!
You’re welcome! I hope they enjoy 🙂
I always WANT to love mermaid books, so now I know one that I have to get! Thanks!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I hope you enjoy it!
I LOVE mermaid books! My hubby thinks I am one. ^_^ I am adding it to my TBR. I g+ it, but for some reason it wouldn’t let me tweet. Thanks for the great review.
I love that your husband thinks you’re a mermaid! I hope you enjoy it! Thanks 🙂
Definitely sounds like there’s a possible triangle a-brewing! Like you, really not a fan of mermaids. I don’t know what it is. I love the water, I love the ocean…maybe Ariel ruined the whole concept for me.
Now there’s a thought..lol I actually liked The Little Mermaid-of course that was like a hundred years ago. 🙂
I haven’t read too many mermaid books, but I do like them because mermaids! So since you enjoyed this one I’ll be adding it to my someday list 🙂
Yes, I did enjoy it and I hope you do as well 🙂
I have yet to find a mermaid book that totally wowed me. I don’t know what it is about mermaids but they just don’t seem to work for me. This sounds like one I should try to see if it changes my mind.
I hope you like it-sometimes I like books that aren’t the norm-but I thought it was a fun read 🙂
Yes cliffies are not a favorite of mine
Me either-unless the next book is already out there!
I’m not a fan of mermaid books but mostly bc all the ones I read except a couple were terrible so I didn’t get a great impression of them. This one sounds like it’s worth a try, though. I like how well paced it sounds especially with how the world building is developed. Boo to a possible triangle though but that hardly surprises me anymore. Great review, Lorna!
Yep, Twilight seems to have spawned lots of triangles for YA books, of course I don’t know for a fact that, that is how it’s going but it makes sense. And Thanks!
I don’t think I’ve read that many mermaid books. Boo for cliffhangers!!! I’ll add this and try to read when book two is near/already out. Great review 🙂
Thanks! I’ll probably forget that it comes out in August 🙂
It’s been a real long time since I read a mermaid book. Sounds pretty good. I’ll have to wait until they’re all out (thanks for the cliffhanger warning!) but adding them to my list 🙂
If I see the word mermaid, I just steer clear-usually. I didn’t this time and really enjoyed the read 🙂
I am so glad to have read your review. I love the idea of mermaid books, but I have not been a fan in the past either. I feel like I just haven’t found the right one. I will give this one a try.
I really hope you enjoy it!
Nice review Lorna, I do look forward to your review of the next book, before I decide if it is for me or not.
Thanks! I am hoping for early August, but I’m probably wrong 🙂
Excellent review, Lorna! I’m glad Ms. Malone could change your mind on mermaids. 🙂 Awaken sounds really good and I’ll be sure to check it out. I like Ms. Malone’s other series (written under a different name) so I’m sure I’ll like this one too. 🙂
Thanks! Between this book and Aqua by M.A. George, that I reviewed for another site recently, I am wondering if I should check more of them out. Both were really good 🙂
I love mermaid books! 😉 I’ll have to pick this one up!
I hope you like it 🙂