The Awakening by Nora Roberts

The Awakening (The Dragon Heart Legacy, #1)

by Nora Roberts

The first in a brand new trilogy from Sunday Times bestseller Nora Roberts, The Awakening is a story of adventure, magic and finding your home

Mists, shimmering silver fingers, rose over the pale green water of the lake. They twined and twisted toward a sky quietly gray, while in the east, over the hills, a pink blush waited, like a held breath, to waken.

Breen Kelly had always been a rule follower. So, when her father left when she was twelve years old, promising to return, she waited. Now, more than a decade later, she's working at a job she hates and is tired of the life that playing by the rules has dealt her. It's time to make a change.

Breen makes a leap into the unknown with a summer trip to Ireland - her father's homeland. Little does she know how much of a leap until a walk in the woods leads her through a portal into another world - Talamh - where Breen will find magic, family and a destiny she could never have dreamed of

'If you're after the perfect pick-me-up, take-me-away-from-the-world read, then she's your woman' The Guardian

'Nora Roberts is, quite simply, a one-woman phenomenon'

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'I love Nora Roberts'

Stephen King

Reviewed by Leigha on

4 of 5 stars

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I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Breen Kelly discovers she is more than she seems in this adult fantasy novel.

It seems Nora Roberts’ foray into the fantasy genre is here to stay. Luckily, I liked this book far more than her first outing. It plays to her strengths as a writer – complex female relationships, lyrical descriptions, and a fascinating setting. Her love for Ireland, for Irish lore, and for witchcraft shines through. Breen’s character arc as she explores her identity and her heritage is satisfying. She may not have entranced me as the main character, but she has the potential to grow on me.

I had two big issues. The first is Keegan. Guys, I was not a fan of Breen’s love interest. His overbearing demeanor and lack of compassion left a bad taste in my mouth. I’m assuming his character growth will be the focus of the next book, and, damn, he needs it badly. I also didn’t feel that much of a connection between him and Breen. As this is not a romance, I recognize their relationship is not the driving force of the story. But, considering his role in the setting, I expected to like him more.

My second issue is the plot. The majority of the book focuses on Breen’s character growth and the Fey setting, but the plot is not all that interesting. Not much happens beyond outlining the two warring factions. Even the ending fails to create any momentum for the next in the series. All that said, the good outweighed the bad for me. I’m willing to give the next book a chance, and pray the plot picks up.

tl;dr A decent start to a new fantasy (not romance) series with an interesting setting and a complex female character.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 13 June, 2020: Finished reading
  • 13 June, 2020: Reviewed