megansgc's review
3.0
A rags to riches hidden fairy princesses story about twins who are uncovering their true life stories. It’s not great but it had enough of a mystery to keep the pages turning and it has things I like (magic, fairies, zodiac etc). I now need to read more of the series as none of my questions were answered which is annoying, but it keeps me reading!
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I picked this up because everyone seems to be raving about this series, and I was curious.
"The Awakening" follows twin sisters: Tory and Darcy. Tory and Darcy have been in the foster care system since they were orphaned as babies. Now, 18, and kicked out of the system, they are just trying to make enough money to cover rent. But all of those worries seem inconsequential when they find out they are actually the daughters of the Savage King, and they are the rightful descendants of the fae crown. Now they must go through Zodiac Academy to learn about their true home and fight for their birthright.
This book was very fine. There is a lot of violence, nonconsensual acts, and ALOT of bullying, which I had a pretty good idea about before I started reading this. I found the hazing that the other students put Tory and Darcy through to be really off-putting, and the fact that none of the teachers did anything to remotely stop it was disheartening.
This book is definitely HEAVILY influenced by other popular stories, which is fine, but it made the book feel unoriginal.
I do not know if I will continue in this series, but I can now appreciate why everyone seems so enamored with this series.
"The Awakening" follows twin sisters: Tory and Darcy. Tory and Darcy have been in the foster care system since they were orphaned as babies. Now, 18, and kicked out of the system, they are just trying to make enough money to cover rent. But all of those worries seem inconsequential when they find out they are actually the daughters of the Savage King, and they are the rightful descendants of the fae crown. Now they must go through Zodiac Academy to learn about their true home and fight for their birthright.
This book was very fine. There is a lot of violence, nonconsensual acts, and ALOT of bullying, which I had a pretty good idea about before I started reading this. I found the hazing that the other students put Tory and Darcy through to be really off-putting, and the fact that none of the teachers did anything to remotely stop it was disheartening.
This book is definitely HEAVILY influenced by other popular stories, which is fine, but it made the book feel unoriginal.
I do not know if I will continue in this series, but I can now appreciate why everyone seems so enamored with this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Death of parent, Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Death, Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content
smut_church's review
3.0
Did I have fun reading this? No.
Am I going to read the next book? Yeah....
People tagging this as "smut" when there is one scene lol
Am I going to read the next book? Yeah....
People tagging this as "smut" when there is one
Spoiler
finger banginghnicole01's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
mdzreynolds's review
4.0
This book is like watching your guilty pleasure reality show. Is the writing good? Nope. Is some of it utterly cringy? Yup. But oh my gosh I could not stop reading. This was my middle school fantasy come to life. It is everything 14 year old me ever wanted.
If you’re looking for an impeccably crafted story, or an invoking writing style, you’ll want to look elsewhere. If you have triggers when it comes to consent, violence, and bullying, this is not the book for you. You need to take this story at face value and respect the world the authors have created, and the rules there within. The Fae are violent, entitled and take what they want. It goes beyond bullying and steps it right up to physical, emotional and mental assault. It is the story the authors have crafted.
And yet you learn to be intrigued by the world they have created and eager for the story to continue. You really connect with the main heroines and respect their individual ways of dealing with trauma.
It was like a train crash, I just couldn’t look away. This will definitely be a guilty pleasure series for me.
If you’re looking for an impeccably crafted story, or an invoking writing style, you’ll want to look elsewhere. If you have triggers when it comes to consent, violence, and bullying, this is not the book for you. You need to take this story at face value and respect the world the authors have created, and the rules there within. The Fae are violent, entitled and take what they want. It goes beyond bullying and steps it right up to physical, emotional and mental assault. It is the story the authors have crafted.
And yet you learn to be intrigued by the world they have created and eager for the story to continue. You really connect with the main heroines and respect their individual ways of dealing with trauma.
It was like a train crash, I just couldn’t look away. This will definitely be a guilty pleasure series for me.
megwitt's review
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
obiterocelot's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Read if you love: enemies to lovers, bullies, cheesy fantasy-romances, will they won’t theys, slow burns, dark and dangerous men, vampires, warewolves, Fae, good dialogues, high school setting but it’s actually more like a university and legal, the forbidden professor student interest.
Avoid if you don’t love: trauma bonding, unlikeable characters, anything to do with zodiac signs, frustrating tension, death, occasional C grade writing, Harry Potter but make it hotter.
———
And despite my usual taste being more Tory/Darius I just can’t bring myself to caring about Tory. But Darcy, the sweet summer child she is, must be protected at all costs
Avoid if you don’t love: trauma bonding, unlikeable characters, anything to do with zodiac signs, frustrating tension, death, occasional C grade writing, Harry Potter but make it hotter.
———
Spoiler
Seth Capella can burn in every circle of hell imaginable but if it’ll lead to more Orion/Darcy scenes please don’t stop Dog BoyAnd despite my usual taste being more Tory/Darius I just can’t bring myself to caring about Tory. But Darcy, the sweet summer child she is, must be protected at all costs
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Bullying, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse