The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven
Series: Emerge #1
Published by Indie
Published on: March 31, 2015
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 440
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Allie Carmichael has always believed life is simple.
You’re born. You live. You die.
She has no cause to believe that equation works differently for her, but there has to be a reason the world treats her like a pariah.
When an unexpected move to Kelleys Island brings Aidan McBrien crashing into her life, Allie is thrown by his reaction. He doesn’t shrink from her touch. He doesn’t stutter or make a quick exit. He smiles and welcomes her into his circle of friends, who aren’t exactly comfortable with Allie, but they seem to get her in a way most people don’t.
Finally, Allie has a real shot at normal and rides that high right up to her sixteenth birthday when she wakes in agony—an experience Aidan insists they have all faced. She struggles in ignorance, uncertain of what is real and what isn’t. When she emerges, Allie is different. She has always been different, but even among her extraordinary friends, she and Aidan are special.
As Allie struggles to maintain her tenuous grasp on the power that threatens to overwhelm her, she worries she will lose herself in this strange new world. A dangerous world where she will have to fight tooth and nail to defend the power and freedom that is her birthright.
…only Allie hates to fight.
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Since reading this book a few days ago, I find myself still thinking about it. This usually happens when I read a really good book. I liked the book, but it wasn’t without a few problems. There are way too many books out there, especially in the young adult genre, that feature a girl who is just waiting to come into her powers or become something really special. And I have read more than my share of them. This book falls into that category. Unfortunately it also features a love triangle, another thing that shows up again and again in the YA genre. Add in the cliffhanger and yes, I had problems. But there were things that I did enjoy about it, thankfully!
Allie is just shy of sixteen and is moving again. Her life has been a series of moving without warning and she has no idea why. Her parents sure aren’t telling her anything. When she moves to an island on a lake near Cleveland Ohio, everything is different. Once hated by all her peers for reasons unknown, here she is more than tolerated and she finds friends. Most of her friends live on the island, most notably, Aiden and his sister, Sasha. And most of her friends have been adopted, as she was. She also meets Vince, someone that doesn’t live on the island. She begins dating Vince, much to Aiden’s dismay. And actually, I didn’t understand it much either since she has a much bigger connection with Aiden. It’s not long before she realizes that her new friends seem to be a bit different, along with having secrets as well.
The author introduces a huge cast of characters. All the friends on the island as well as their families. And all of them pretty much has a role to play in Allie’s life. I couldn’t keep them all straight in my mind at times and that was frustrating. We do get back stories on most of them, most of which I did enjoy, but thought at times this took the place of any real action in the “now” part of the story. And all this begins after Allie “changes”.
I found the premise of a group of immortals living among humans, to be fairly well done. They aren’t your usual suspects either, instead they are a new type of supernatural. Allie should have grown up knowing what she was, but instead lived with human parents. So it’s all new to her. Because of enemies of her “kind”, they all train everyday. And this is where the story really bogged down for me. I got tired of all the training, everyday. I wanted more suspense and more other things happening. At 440 pages, there could have been at least fifty less pages and the story would have more tightly written, and hopefully that wouldn’t have slowed the pace.
So girl with powers, love triangle, cliffhanger(although one that you realize early on), all things that have been done so often. This book wasn’t a bad read, it actually was very readable, even if a bit slow. I did like these new immortal supernaturals, the powers that they have, and some of the back stories stretching back thousands of years. It did feel a little like Forrest Gump at times, in that each of the characters knew so many historical figures, and I had a bit of a problem with that. I really just wanted more to happen in the story or more action, and in the end, I really missed that.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.
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Emerge Series
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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.
Not heard of this series but it sounds interesting. 🙂
I thought it was a bit different so that make it interesting to me 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven (@Mollykatie112, @melissaacraven)
Even though this did have its issues I’m glad that days later, it is still on your mind, that is telling. 😉 Wonderful review Lorna!
Yes, it did make me think about it so that is pretty telling. Just wish it hadn’t had the love triangle in particular because it sure didn’t add anything to the story 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven (@Mollykatie112, @melissaacraven)
Mote action, I hear ya
Yes 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven (@Mollykatie112, @melissaacraven)
Oh yep, I had to take a break from YA Urban Fantasy b/c I was getting crabby about the same thing over and over. But now I can pick one up once in a while and do pretty good about enjoying it.
I like the sound of a different type of immortals.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if she had just left out the love triangle thing-just added nothing to the story 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven (@Mollykatie112, @melissaacraven)
Curious to see what you’ll think of the sequel but thanks for the review, I didn’t know about this one.
Yes I may have to read the sequel, the one available now is from the boy’s point of view so I am not interested in that one. I will wait for the one after that.
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven (@Mollykatie112, @melissaacraven)
This sounds interesting, Lorna, with the supes living among humans and those supes not being your ordinary supes. It’s just too bad it was so slow and that the author used all those tired YA tropes. I might give it a go sometime when it’s been awhile between YA reads. 🙂
I really got tired of hearing about the training so much and no real action happening until the latter part of the book. But I was interested in the new supes and some of the back store were pretty fascinating as well 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven (@Mollykatie112, @melissaacraven)
I like the premise, but wish the romance wasn’t a triangle. After reading Estep’s urban fantasy I am not sure about this. I will keep an eye on it though:)
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Blueberry Cobbler Cheesecake Bars and Cookies & Cups Cookbook
Yes I did like the premise and actually the cover if I am honest 🙂 I really wasn’t interested in a triangle either, especially since it was so lackluster in comparison to what she has with the hero of the book 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven (@Mollykatie112, @melissaacraven)
Yes Forest Gump! I used that title and then wondered if I was showing my age and others might not know what I was talking about, so I am glad you seem to! It’s not a bad read and I got it from Net Galley-it might still be there 🙂
Okay not sure what happened, but that wasn’t your answer-the Forest Gump one.
Forest Gump? LOL I might have to try it. It is an interesting premise and it looks like it is entertaining despite the tropes. Interesting… 🙂
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…On My Wishlist: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill
Yes Forest Gump! I used that title and then wondered if I was showing my age and others might not know what I was talking about, so I am glad you seem to! It’s not a bad read and I got it from Net Galley-it might still be there 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven (@Mollykatie112, @melissaacraven)
I haven’t heard of this series before – surprising, considering it’s YA. I love characters with powers, but I’m wary of romances with love triangles. Boo.
Yes if you don’t like love triangles this one probably wouldn’t be ON for you :)it’s indie which might be why you haven’t heard of it?
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven (@Mollykatie112, @melissaacraven)
You know me, I’m very picky about YA and you listed pretty much everything that drives me nuts about the genre. There are too many YA books out there that seem to be following a formula, change their supernatural whatever, location and place, BOOM, you’ve got a new series. Yes, I know there is way more to it than that, but too many reused tropes. Great review, but not for me. 🙂
Melanie recently posted…Review: Twice the Growl by Milly Taiden (@mlsimmons)
Believe me I totally understand!
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven (@Mollykatie112, @melissaacraven)
With as much as we read, it says something when still thinking about a read, even ones with problems
Very true!
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven (@Mollykatie112, @melissaacraven)
I don’t mind a love triangle, as long as it’s done right. A shame you found it a little slow.
Naomi Hop recently posted…Waiting On Wednesday # 191 – Smut / Gun Shy
Just a bit slow with all the training everyday, got a bit tired of that when something else could have been happening 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: The Awakening by Melissa A. Craven (@Mollykatie112, @melissaacraven)