andimontgomery's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this story. It was a quick read with likable characters and an interesting plot. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.
NOTE: The Kindle version was a bit sloppy - some paragraphs were fully indented, while others had only the first line indented. The editor also did not do the best job. There were a few typos that jumped out at me, and a few sentences did not end with periods.
NOTE: The Kindle version was a bit sloppy - some paragraphs were fully indented, while others had only the first line indented. The editor also did not do the best job. There were a few typos that jumped out at me, and a few sentences did not end with periods.
cely212's review against another edition
4.0
Love Bran
This is a really good YA romance book. I have read the runes series from this author and I love them. The author makes sure she pulls you in and the characters come to life. The story is a about a 16year old who has to come to turn of what she is. She didn't know she wasn't completely human as she grew up to believe. Once she turned 16 she gained powers and now has a new life in store for her. Bran of course is part of it. I enjoyed it and looking forward to the next one.
This is a really good YA romance book. I have read the runes series from this author and I love them. The author makes sure she pulls you in and the characters come to life. The story is a about a 16year old who has to come to turn of what she is. She didn't know she wasn't completely human as she grew up to believe. Once she turned 16 she gained powers and now has a new life in store for her. Bran of course is part of it. I enjoyed it and looking forward to the next one.
shelleyrae's review against another edition
4.0
Awakened is a strong debut YA Urban Fantasy series that pits Earth's Guardians against soul reaping demons. Lil Falcon is stunned when she discovers she is a guardian-in-training when her powers emerge after her sixteenth birthday. After a gyspy like childhood spent with her grandfather, Lil has never wanted much more than to fit in, but now she is worried her new knowledge and powerful abilities make her a freak. Lil is torn between maintaining the status quo with her human friends and joining her fellow trainees but it's Bran, a half demon who needs the assistance of the Cardinals, that helps her make the choice.
Walters world is strongly imagined with interesting myth, the author combines her own creativity with the traditional idea of Nephilim. The story can be a little crowded in its desire to introduce the characters and world but it does give the reader a solid understanding of her world's rules and boundaries. While the general premise is of good vs evil it is not a black and white world, there are demons who have no plans to destroy humanity and there are guardians that put political maneuvering ahead of their purpose and I appreciate this realistic balance. Most intriguing is the range of magic's, including control of the elements and enchanted weapons, that offer plenty of scope for action and variety in confrontations.
Lil makes an appealing protagonist, she demonstrates strength and courage but is still a vulnerable teen, worried about her friendships and her first kiss. Even though there were moments when I thought her internal monologue got a bit repetitive, I felt that Walters approached Lil with a keen sense for creating a realistic and likeable heroine that would appeal to both teens and a mature audience.
I liked what we learn about Bran though I felt there are some aspects of his character that could be better defined. His background is interesting and his motivations well thought out. The immediate attraction between he and Lil works because there is a defined reason for it, though teenagers rarely need metaphysical connections to fall almost instantly in love.
There are a lot of characters introduced in this first installment yet Walters manages to establish personality for most of them. Lil's fellow guardians-in-training perhaps the best developed with hints of the roles they may play later in the series. Lil's human friends are created with broader strokes, as are the Cardinals she meets. The villian of the story is suitably motivated though perhaps a bit predicatable.
Combining action, romance and fantasy, Awakened is an enjoyable, fast paced read that I think has potential to develop into a popular series with appeal to an audience of paranormal romance and urban fantasy fans. I've added [b:Betrayed|8970151|Betrayed (The Guardian Legacy, #2)|Ednah Walters|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|13847166] to my TBR list.
Walters world is strongly imagined with interesting myth, the author combines her own creativity with the traditional idea of Nephilim. The story can be a little crowded in its desire to introduce the characters and world but it does give the reader a solid understanding of her world's rules and boundaries. While the general premise is of good vs evil it is not a black and white world, there are demons who have no plans to destroy humanity and there are guardians that put political maneuvering ahead of their purpose and I appreciate this realistic balance. Most intriguing is the range of magic's, including control of the elements and enchanted weapons, that offer plenty of scope for action and variety in confrontations.
Lil makes an appealing protagonist, she demonstrates strength and courage but is still a vulnerable teen, worried about her friendships and her first kiss. Even though there were moments when I thought her internal monologue got a bit repetitive, I felt that Walters approached Lil with a keen sense for creating a realistic and likeable heroine that would appeal to both teens and a mature audience.
I liked what we learn about Bran though I felt there are some aspects of his character that could be better defined. His background is interesting and his motivations well thought out. The immediate attraction between he and Lil works because there is a defined reason for it, though teenagers rarely need metaphysical connections to fall almost instantly in love.
There are a lot of characters introduced in this first installment yet Walters manages to establish personality for most of them. Lil's fellow guardians-in-training perhaps the best developed with hints of the roles they may play later in the series. Lil's human friends are created with broader strokes, as are the Cardinals she meets. The villian of the story is suitably motivated though perhaps a bit predicatable.
Combining action, romance and fantasy, Awakened is an enjoyable, fast paced read that I think has potential to develop into a popular series with appeal to an audience of paranormal romance and urban fantasy fans. I've added [b:Betrayed|8970151|Betrayed (The Guardian Legacy, #2)|Ednah Walters|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|13847166] to my TBR list.
yche09's review against another edition
5.0
I totally didn't know that this book would be awesome. I love how the author created the characters in vivid details. I swear, the whole time i was reading it.. it felt as if i'm watching a movie. The descriptions made me imagine what was happening inside the book. I love how the main characters got together. I love how Lil kicks ass and how she turned into the most powerful one of the guardians. Its also a relief that Bran is kinda her soulmate =) couldn't hurt.
cem_214's review against another edition
1.0
1.5/5 stars
Originally posted at Cem's Book Hideout.
I liked this one to start with, but gave up after about 150 pages and skimmed the last 100 of the book. I like the ideas, some of the mythology is really great! But early on I found myself irritated with the characters. The main character, Lil, has just found out what she is and that she's got these powers, and yet every single person keeps assuming (despite knowing she's only just discovered them) that she knows pretty much everything and is surprised when Lil has to remind them she knows nothing. It's something that improved a little, but then later on I found myself tiring of how the characters interacted. People seemed to be one way about something one moment, then the complete opposite the next without any justification. I struggle with flatter characters, and that's what I felt here. The few paragraphs towards the end I read made me glad I'd decided not to bother finishing it. Shame, I wanted to like this one, and I'm sure it'll work for some with the strong mythology, but the missing elements to character development meant it didn't work for me. I will say that the boy, Bran, is pretty hot though...
Originally posted at Cem's Book Hideout.
I liked this one to start with, but gave up after about 150 pages and skimmed the last 100 of the book. I like the ideas, some of the mythology is really great! But early on I found myself irritated with the characters. The main character, Lil, has just found out what she is and that she's got these powers, and yet every single person keeps assuming (despite knowing she's only just discovered them) that she knows pretty much everything and is surprised when Lil has to remind them she knows nothing. It's something that improved a little, but then later on I found myself tiring of how the characters interacted. People seemed to be one way about something one moment, then the complete opposite the next without any justification. I struggle with flatter characters, and that's what I felt here. The few paragraphs towards the end I read made me glad I'd decided not to bother finishing it. Shame, I wanted to like this one, and I'm sure it'll work for some with the strong mythology, but the missing elements to character development meant it didn't work for me. I will say that the boy, Bran, is pretty hot though...
reinadelhelado's review against another edition
5.0
This was a completely unpredictable book that I was lucky enough to win from an R2R. The idea was unheard of, but the background of angels and nephilim was intriguing. I was flipping pages to get to the end. The whole thing was great: the magical elements of psis, the chemistry between Lil and Bran, the life-like connections...I thoroughly enjoyed it.
melaniebopp's review
4.0
This story was fabulous. What more do I need to say?
This is an amazingly fast read, lots of action, a decent amount of character development, an interesting (and fairly realistic, though 'special snowflake') main character, and a believable love interest. All the characters made sense to me, both in a high school way, and a real person way - none of the characters were really caricatures, which was a nice change. And Lil's Grampa? Seriously kick-ass.
As I was reading this, I didn't really think "oh, this is an angel book" like you sometimes do with vampires or werewolves. It was so seamlessly written in that it simply makes sense. And no, I'm not going to share anything about that - it is too spoiler-y.
I am off to read the second book in the series now!
This is an amazingly fast read, lots of action, a decent amount of character development, an interesting (and fairly realistic, though 'special snowflake') main character, and a believable love interest. All the characters made sense to me, both in a high school way, and a real person way - none of the characters were really caricatures, which was a nice change. And Lil's Grampa? Seriously kick-ass.
As I was reading this, I didn't really think "oh, this is an angel book" like you sometimes do with vampires or werewolves. It was so seamlessly written in that it simply makes sense. And no, I'm not going to share anything about that - it is too spoiler-y.
I am off to read the second book in the series now!
novelgoddess's review
4.0
GoodReads Synopsis: Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, but Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons. Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware that she's a Guardian-a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. When she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers. But Bran has a secret that can ruin their growing relationship, and the truth she discovers may destroy everything she believes in unless she finds the right balance between love and sacrifice.
My Thoughts: Interesting take on mythology with some elemental magic and a little angel thrown in to weave a very intricate plot. GoodReads calls this book a prequel…I saw the guy with wings on the front and knew it was for me.
Since this book’s purpose was to tell the reader the backstory…it did what it set out to do. We learned about Lil who didn’t come into her powers until around her 16th birthday. Her Grandfather, and only family member, didn’t tell her the truth about her ancestry because it was possible she may not have any powers. But Lil did and is seemingly more powerful than her peers and possibly her Grandfather. Lil did not take the powers and the responsibilities that accompany them very well at first. But with most main characters, she rethought her initial convictions and accepted her responsibilities.
This was also a story of redemption. Bran, couldn’t help the circumstances of his birth or his parents and is trying to make up for his past mistakes. I appreciated that the older council members were able to put Brans misdeeds aside and allow him to prove himself.
Looking like a good old-fashioned story of good vs. evil. I look forward to reading the rest of this series and will definitely be rooting for the good guys.
My Thoughts: Interesting take on mythology with some elemental magic and a little angel thrown in to weave a very intricate plot. GoodReads calls this book a prequel…I saw the guy with wings on the front and knew it was for me.
Since this book’s purpose was to tell the reader the backstory…it did what it set out to do. We learned about Lil who didn’t come into her powers until around her 16th birthday. Her Grandfather, and only family member, didn’t tell her the truth about her ancestry because it was possible she may not have any powers. But Lil did and is seemingly more powerful than her peers and possibly her Grandfather. Lil did not take the powers and the responsibilities that accompany them very well at first. But with most main characters, she rethought her initial convictions and accepted her responsibilities.
This was also a story of redemption. Bran, couldn’t help the circumstances of his birth or his parents and is trying to make up for his past mistakes. I appreciated that the older council members were able to put Brans misdeeds aside and allow him to prove himself.
Looking like a good old-fashioned story of good vs. evil. I look forward to reading the rest of this series and will definitely be rooting for the good guys.
andmarstan's review
5.0
R2R:
Goodreads Summary:
"Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, but Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons. Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware that she's a Guardian-a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. When she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers. But Bran has a secret that can ruin their growing relationship, and the truth she discovers may destroy everything she believes in unless she finds the right balance between love and sacrifice."
Ever since I read an excerpt from Betrayed (the second book in the series), I put this series on my to-read list.
The plot was fantastic and the characters were flippin' awesome. And I do mean AWESOME *faint*
The pacing was just right, all the character development was amazing, the dialogue made my heart beat frantically, etc....
I just don't even know what to say about this book except that I loved it.
L-O-V-E-D.
A-D-O-R-E-D.
Thank you for this AWESOME book! I want to buy this books series in paperback now :D
Goodreads Summary:
"Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, but Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons. Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware that she's a Guardian-a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. When she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers. But Bran has a secret that can ruin their growing relationship, and the truth she discovers may destroy everything she believes in unless she finds the right balance between love and sacrifice."
Ever since I read an excerpt from Betrayed (the second book in the series), I put this series on my to-read list.
The plot was fantastic and the characters were flippin' awesome. And I do mean AWESOME *faint*
The pacing was just right, all the character development was amazing, the dialogue made my heart beat frantically, etc....
I just don't even know what to say about this book except that I loved it.
L-O-V-E-D.
A-D-O-R-E-D.
Thank you for this AWESOME book! I want to buy this books series in paperback now :D