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A review by holsarmstrong
Awakened by Ciara Duggan
2.0
1.5 stars.
I don't really know where to begin with this one. You know when someone says, don't judge a book by its cover...well I did. This time I judged it by expecting this book to be really good and it just wasn't.
I have so many small issues with this book and I really wanted to go into this book liking it and I just didn't.
Here's my rant.
First off, the premise sounded great which is why I was excited when I received an ARC for this. This, alongside the pretty cover, is only what has made my rating go from 1 star to 1.5 stars. However, where on earth was the world-building in this book? I understand the author was trying to set the story in modern-day as we know it, but in our main character's eyes, this sudden world of witches just appears and Hannah just accepts it? Sorry? If someone turned around to me and suddenly told me we were living alongside the supernatural, I certainly wouldn't take it as well as our MC did. We also get thrust into the main plot point in chapter one with no build-up whatsoever. Pacing who? Because this book doesn't know her.
Equally, the characters were as bland and dull as watching paint dry. They honestly had no personality to speak of and were as memorable as my time in the womb.
Hannah - let's talk about every cliche thrown into one character here. Apparently having dead parents is now a personality trait and this girl's "grief" was honestly unbelievable. I felt like I could see what the author was trying to convey...but it just didn't happen.
Callan - okay, I get the guy is old but his speech was honestly the main issue I had with this book. I understand that he has just risen from a long sleep into the modern world, but this guy honestly spoke like an idiot. I am pretty sure people back in whenever the hell it was didn't speak in the same weird way as he did. I forgot to highlight examples but there would be times words used today would have been used back then too such as toilet or again, but it's as if this author has Googled the oldest synonym of said word and it really broke the story apart. I found myself re-reading some pages of dialogue because I found it harder to digest what was being said. I think Shakespeare has some easier dialogue than this character did. Poor guy.
Also, the conflict in this book was boring. Mara was about as evil as my big toe and I couldn't see what all the fuss was about. The plot supposedly revolved around this grimoire and defeating her but literally nothing happened.
I just didn't get on with this book and if it wasn't for the pretty cover, I would have never picked it up.
This is not something I recommend, sadly.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't really know where to begin with this one. You know when someone says, don't judge a book by its cover...well I did. This time I judged it by expecting this book to be really good and it just wasn't.
I have so many small issues with this book and I really wanted to go into this book liking it and I just didn't.
Here's my rant.
First off, the premise sounded great which is why I was excited when I received an ARC for this. This, alongside the pretty cover, is only what has made my rating go from 1 star to 1.5 stars. However, where on earth was the world-building in this book? I understand the author was trying to set the story in modern-day as we know it, but in our main character's eyes, this sudden world of witches just appears and Hannah just accepts it? Sorry? If someone turned around to me and suddenly told me we were living alongside the supernatural, I certainly wouldn't take it as well as our MC did. We also get thrust into the main plot point in chapter one with no build-up whatsoever. Pacing who? Because this book doesn't know her.
Equally, the characters were as bland and dull as watching paint dry. They honestly had no personality to speak of and were as memorable as my time in the womb.
Hannah - let's talk about every cliche thrown into one character here. Apparently having dead parents is now a personality trait and this girl's "grief" was honestly unbelievable. I felt like I could see what the author was trying to convey...but it just didn't happen.
Callan - okay, I get the guy is old but his speech was honestly the main issue I had with this book. I understand that he has just risen from a long sleep into the modern world, but this guy honestly spoke like an idiot. I am pretty sure people back in whenever the hell it was didn't speak in the same weird way as he did. I forgot to highlight examples but there would be times words used today would have been used back then too such as toilet or again, but it's as if this author has Googled the oldest synonym of said word and it really broke the story apart. I found myself re-reading some pages of dialogue because I found it harder to digest what was being said. I think Shakespeare has some easier dialogue than this character did. Poor guy.
Also, the conflict in this book was boring. Mara was about as evil as my big toe and I couldn't see what all the fuss was about. The plot supposedly revolved around this grimoire and defeating her but literally nothing happened.
I just didn't get on with this book and if it wasn't for the pretty cover, I would have never picked it up.
This is not something I recommend, sadly.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.