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'

Heat

'I love Nora Roberts'

Stephen King

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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I received a copy of The Awakening in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Nora Roberts is at it again with a brilliant fantasy series, this one with a fantasy and romance bend. That was really all I needed to hear to know that I wanted to give this one a read! The Awakening is the first in her new The Dragon Heart Legacy.

The realm of Talamh is in danger – has been in grave danger for years, truth be told. Keegan, and those that came before him, did their best to hold the evil at bay, but all of their hopes now rest on one woman.

Enter Breen Kelly. She was raised having a normal life, if by normal one means she got used to being constantly told how average and normal she was. That is, until she finally learned the truth about herself. Now she has to make a decision. Her old life, or her new one. Unless a balance can be struck.

“If the fates deem who rises, why can't we see? Why can't you,' Keegan insisted, 'who sees the before and the yet to come?”

The Awakening is a fascinating read, one that formed a blooming world that is impossible to look away from. It's rich in detail, and portrays a variety of characters and motivations. In short, while it is very much a magical series, it still feels so human at the same time.

Needless to say, it captivated me. Though I really do mean it when I say that this is a detailed novel – it's four hundred and forty-eight pages of descriptions, character development, and world-building.

That did result in the occasional dip in pacing, if I'm being brutally honest. Though I did enjoy learning as much as possible about Breen and the dozens of characters that came into her life. It was wonderful, especially when her two worlds were put in direct comparison.

I was shocked by the BFF vibes that came with this book, it was a nice addition. I feel like it was important to show such a healthy relationship, especially considering that there were a few very unhealthy ones in the mix as well. Gotta adore the balance!

Honestly, it's almost impossible not to feel a little envious of Breen. Yes, her life isn't perfect. But she did suddenly come across a world of magic and people who loved her – not to mention a budding career in writing, and so much more.

Long story short: the world and magical systems have left me hoping for more, in a good way, that is. It's enough to guarantee that I'll be coming back for the next novel!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 18 November, 2020: Finished reading
  • 18 November, 2020: Reviewed