The Awakening (The Graveyard Queen, #6)

by Amanda Stevens

Shush...lest she awaken...

My name is Amelia Gray, and I'm a cemetery restorer who lives with the dead. An anonymous donor has hired me to restore Woodbine Cemetery, a place where the rich and powerful bury their secrets. Forty years ago, a child disappeared without a trace and now her ghost has awakened, demanding that I find out the truth about her death. Only I know that she was murdered. Only I can bring her killer to justice. But the clues that I follow-a haunting melody and an unnamed baby's grave-lead me to a series of disturbing suspects.

For generations, The Devlins have been members of Charleston's elite. John Devlin once turned his back on the traditions and expectations that came with his birthright, but now he has seemingly accepted his rightful place. His family's secrets make him a questionable ally. When my investigation brings me to the gates of his family's palatial home, I have to wonder if he is about to become my mortal enemy.

• ISBN10: 0778317684
• ISBN13: 9780778317685
• Publish Date: 28 March 2017
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Imprint: Mira Books
• Edition: Original ed.
• Format: Paperback (US Tall Rack)
• Pages: 416
• Language: English

Reviews

[jesstheaudiobookworm]

Besides The Restorer, The Awakening may have been my favorite installment in this series. The installments that are set in Charleston are always the best. Stevens’ atmospheric writing lends itself so easily to world building that Charleston feels like home for the series.

A lot of things culminated in The Awakening and a lot of loose ends were finally tied up. By the end of the book 5, I was fully invested in the Amelia+Devlin pairing. Although, I still haven’t warmed to Devlin individually, I’m beginning to ship them as a couple. The disconnect I feel with Devlin stems from his refusal to believe in the supernatural, even though it’s clearly all around him. I thought for sure that he would come around by the series’ end, but I was disappointed. It seems that there is still some character growth needed there, which is one of a few things that makes me believe (and hope!) that a spinoff series is in our future.

But the major thing that leads me to believe we haven’t seen the last of The Graveyard Queen is the glaring cliffhanger ending Stevens left us with. It would have been excellent fodder for an epilogue, otherwise. Let’s just say that my “spinoff Spidey senses” are tingling!

Khristine Hvam has got to be one of my most frequently heard narrators. I’ve heard her narration so much that I’ve just about run out of ways to praise her. Hvam does way more right than she’s ever done wrong in the recording booth. And she did 9 out of 10 things right with this series.

The one thing I just couldn’t “cotton” to was her Southern accent. She gave an admirable effort, though. But even though artificial sweetener may be sweet, it’s just not the real thing! And before you think that I (as a native North Carolinian) judging too harshly, let me say that there are southern accents done by narrators that I have approved. Hvam’s definitely wasn’t the worst, but it wasn’t the best of either. There were some minor pronunciation issues and inconsistencies that briefly bothered me (i.e. Goodwine was pronounced inconsistently throughout the series). Because of these issues, this series wasn’t my favorite of Hvam’s work and I’m not sure that it adequately showcases her talent as other titles do, but she still did it justice.

Accent aside, Hvam added so much to the telling of this tale. She truly is a talented and intuitive narrator. Until hearing this series, I think I had underestimated the impact of a narrator’s tone, pacing, and inflection. These are the things I only ever think of when they take away from the story, but Hvam’s interpretation added to the atmospheric presence of the series, making it a truly immersive experience. She was an excellent match for Stevens’ writing.

[kimbacaffeinate]

Five Caffeinated reasons to grab The Awakening

• One of my favorite aspects of this series are the cemeteries and mysteries concerning the dead. Stevens creates these haunting ghost stories weaving past and present. Amelia, our protagonist, is a graveyard restorer with a unique gift. She can see and communicate with the dead. Some say, there is a bright light within her that draws them. Amelia fears these entities, but her need for answers soon leads her to help them. In THE AWAKENING, she is restoring the Woodbine Cemetry where she discovers unmarked children's graves and a ghostly child demanding justice. There are other dangers, and not all live in the realm of the dead.



• The cemeteries from the headstones to how they are plotted fascinate me. Stevens through Amelia shares tidbits that feed my curiosity.



• Amanda Stevens creates these atmospheric scenes that are deliciously terrifying. She visually pulls the reader right into the story. I could see and sense our ghostly apparition and the darker entities that pursue Amelia. It was creeptastic.



• There has been a romantic thread throughout the series, and readers are rewarded with answers and more.



• In THE AWAKENING the Delvin family is smack dab in the middle of Amelia's murder mystery. To complicate things John's grandfather seeks out Amelia, a friendship she has is called into question, and someone wanted Amelia working at the Woodbine Cemetery. Stevens takes all these threads and weaves a brilliant tale filled with twists and turns. The ending was absolutely brilliant. So clever Ms. Stevens!

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer