TITLE: Chrysalis - The Awakening
AUTHOR/EDITOR: M.L. Lacy
INFO: Paperback, Fiction, 589 pages
PUBLISHED: AuthorHouse, 2009
ISBN#: 978-1-4389-5985-6
HOW'D I GET IT: Received from Author for review
FROM GOODREADS: All families have secrets. But at 32 years old, Bree Campbell is discovering that her entire life has been a secret. Like most people, it never occurred to her to question her mortality; that is until she learns that she is a mortal born into a family of Magicals and begins to question everything and everyone in her life.
As the doors to Bree’s new world fly open and she finally hears the prophecy told at her birth she must face the revelation that she is a Chosen One; the last and greatest of a long line of Chosen Ones. And if this were not overwhelming enough, she has been charged with saving the earth by repairing the cosmic tear that binds the mortal world she has always known and the Magical world she is just now discovering.
Bree’s journey will not be an easy one. She must face the realities of her new life and her new family; a clan of vampires who have been charged with protecting her for all of her mortal life. They have chosen her as a leader in their clan, a position that has really complicated things for her. For no sooner than Bree is finally reunited with her long lost love, Steven, Bree must learn how to navigate the jealousies and emotions within her new family.
Bree’s arch nemesis is Esmeralda, a powerful sorceress in her own right who will stop at nothing until this Chosen One is dead. If Esmeralda can claim Bree’s blood, heart and soul and restore her Demon to his body, she will be so strong that none will be able to oppose her and she will be free to rid the world of all mortals and she will be free to rid the world of all mortals and rule as she chooses.
But with the help of the Guardians and her dreams, Bree begins to awaken the powers hidden within her and begins to embrace the responsibility she has been born to. And even while these changes make her body weak, Bree begins to find an inner strength she never knew she had within herself. Will it be enough to save the world?
MY TAKE: I loved this book. The main character, Bree is a 32 yr old woman who has been sheltered from the truth and her real identity her entire life. In the midst of protecting her, her parents and friends kept her from her true love and paved the way for evil to insinuate itself into her life - in the form of her abusive and deadly husband. She was beat down both mentally and physically. Now that she is getting a divorce, the path is clear for her reunion with her soul mate, Steven. She just isn't immediately aware that he is a vampire who has been waiting for her since her birth.
One of the things that I really appreciated in the book was the author's method of delivering vital information. Instead of long, dry narratives full of important details or back story, she used dialogue between several characters or groups to fill the reader in. It was a very refreshing technique from a lot of books I've read in the past. I usually tend to skim over long sections of details and background history when I'm reading - I never did that while engrossed in this book. The characters were interacting while giving me the info I needed to move forward in the story.
The characters were very richly written in this story. There is a lot of humor and warmth as well as adventure and drama. Family was another aspect that I really liked seeing with the author making the reader feel a part of the group. Bree's family or extended family are a large, very warm and gregarious group. Millie, Bree's Gran is one of my favorites. She's a tough old bird that garners respect and admiration from everyone that knows her - good or bad. She also just happens to be an extremely powerful witch.
This book was full of twists and turns - some you had an inkling were coming, while others were a big surprise. I think the story flowed very nicely and I have to admit that I read it in one day. I told everyone I was busy and immersed myself in Bree's world.
I am really, really looking forward to this next book in the series:
MY RATING: 5/5
WHERE TO BUY IT: Chrysalis - The Awakening: Book 1
A 5, now that sounds really good :D
ReplyDeleteI know I'm pretty tight with my 4s and 5s, but I just spazzed over this book. One of those "reading into the wee hours" kinda books.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming to see me :)