Series: The Legends Of Elyndia, #1
Publication date: April 25th 2013
Source: Ecopy from Author
Genre: YA Fantasy
Can fighting for the right side be the wrong thing to do?
Draven, the tyrant ruler of Elyndia for the last one thousand years, searches for the one who can fulfill his prophecy.
The Paladins, an elite band of warriors sworn to protect their way of life at all cost, search for the one with the ability to bring their world crumbling down.
An innocent girl, tormented by demons only she can see, lives on the brink of insanity and longs for a life of peace.
When seventeen-year-old Jade Rosenberg reads from an antique book, she has no idea she just read an incantation awaking her inherited power. But when opposing—and equally terrifying—groups invade her home, she learns she is descended from an enchanted realm and a member of a powerful race thought to have been hunted to extinction.
Ripped from her world, Jade is forced to seek refuge from those who want her dead. She is given one of two options and the time has come for her to make a choice: assassinate their sworn enemy…
Or sacrifice her soul.
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Awakened drops you right into the middle of the action. The story starts right out with a bang, is what I mean. It was a little confusing at first, but then again that just helped me connect with the main character, Jade, that much better. She was just as confused as I was. She didn’t know what was going on and it must have been so scary for her to be attacked and then transported to a strange new land. After the initial shock, the world that Kriston Johnson created started to be described and the players all started to fall into place. It was then that I got more into the book. I was able to get to know the characters and kind of fall into a a nice reading pace. Awakened is an exciting book and it turned out to be a series that I am interested in checking out further.
Jade is a tough gal. I knew I was going to like her when she was being escorted through Elyndia for the first time with her apprentice (not paladin) guard who she wasn’t sure if she could trust, and she had just met up with her ::coughsurprisecough:: magical friend from back home and she started making demands and calling the shots. Hello bad a**!! She is gutsy and I really enjoyed that about her. I also kind of liked that I felt like the romance was secondary to the action in the plot.
The fantasy world is very rich and detailed. I thought it was a little too much going on too early in the story and that led to some confusing and feeling a little overwhelmed with the story and plot but you soon get the hang of everything and it was a pretty interesting concept. I loved the idea of all of the magical creatures coexisting in this world, and the fact that there are so few elementals left was interesting. Which is why bad guy Draven is after Jade. At first you aren’t really sure why, but you do know that she is important. Very important. I’m hoping some more answers are forthcoming in the next book, but I am intrigued enough to want to continue on. Kriston Johnson’s writing is clear and easy to read and I really enjoyed Jade. Fans of fantasy and magic should check out the Awakened.
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| 3/5 Gavels |
Kriston Johnson lives in Southwest Washington with her husband, teenage son, and miniature Australian Shepherd. Her home rests at the fringe of an old growth forest that she insists is the home of Jason Voorhees. Her husband thinks that’s a ridiculous assumption, because everyone knows it’s really Bigfoot. Every summer Kriston participates in the annual pilgrimage to Faerieworlds, a real life faerie realm here on Earth, and has an unhealthy obsession with Star Wars, The Vampire Diaries, and Iron Man. Awakened is her first novel. You can visit her online at www.kristonjohnson.blogspot.com.
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Giselle
Oh I would for sure love Jade she sounds awesome! Exactly how I like my MCs! Glad you enjoyed this, Michelle! Great review! 🙂
Beautiful Disaster
I like all mythology.
Thanks for the post. This is a new author for me and the book sounds awesome.
Thanks 🙂
lorih824 at yahoo dot com
Mandy Lu
my favourite mythological creature I like to read about? Well I like all mythical creatures, especially the phoenix, but I probably most like reading about dragons. (Or greek gods. would they count? XD)
Sayomay
Hmm I always love reading about Gargolyes! 😀
Mary G Loki
Jennifer Haile
Centaurs would be my favorite!
-Jen Haile
Kriston Johnson
Thank you, Michelle, for being a part of the tour!
June M.
I guess my favorite mythological creature would probably be Gargoyles.
Tadi Hano
Lovely blog! Please follow mine; it’s new: readandlovebooks.blogspot.com
Thanks♥
Peggy Hopkins
As my email address states, Dragons. Dragons are beautiful, intelligent, powerful, and self sufficient.
sarah corbin
I have many mythological creatures that i love reading about. some include phoenix, gorgon, pegasus.. thanks for the giveaway!!
Emily Anne
I love all mythical creatures, but I especially love faeries 🙂
Mary Preston
I do love dragons. I’d like to read about unicorns though.
Joanne
Lets see… a phoenix, griffin, dragon. Thanks for the giveaway.
Alena
love fantasy or mythological, I think my favorites are dragon, I want a dragon in my life xD
Percy Jackson is a good saga with mythological background 🙂
Anita Yancey
I would have to say dragons.
Darlene
Dragons! Thanks for the giveaway!
nurmawati djuhawan
is this INT giveaway ?
Angela Roquet
Mermaids!!! ♥