Awaking (The Naturals, #1)

Link to book: Amazon

Book Description: Morgan Abbey’s life is about to change. Just weeks before her senior year is set to begin, a mysterious stranger approaches Morgan with information that has far-reaching ramifications. First, the psychic ability she believes she has just been pretending to have since middle school might actually be real. Second, her mother, who disappeared abruptly and completely almost a decade ago, might still be alive. Morgan finds herself drawn into a centuries-old struggle involving a group of people who quietly coexist alongside the common people of the world. This shadowy group believes it is time for them to reclaim their former positions of power—and they believe Morgan is the key. But when the time show more comes, will Morgan be able to do what it takes to reunite with her mother and fulfill her destiny? And will she even want to?

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review**

Review: 5 stars

General: Enter into a world where magic is all a matter of mind manipulation. Pushing people to do desires, reading futures and moving objects. Magic has never been so dark and remained a positive thing. Or is it positive in this world? I couldn’t put this book down when I started it. From the unique world, to the fantastic plot twist to the characters I was hooked from the absolute start.

Morgan and her friends, well most of them, learn a secret about themselves that opens up a dark world. Morgan resists every step of the way and as she learned more and more about herself I was impressed at how it was going. Everything felt very real and spot on for the age the characters were supposed to be. I never doubted anything so the plot twist knocked me over! I love when a book can shock me and this was original and had a great shock factor. Everything hinges on Morgan’s ability to chose to accept her new world and decide who is their to help or hurt her. It was well written except for my confusion as to some choices in Lia’s character. She felt like she was added for opposition and I can’t see her as important as she was so under focused on.

The book ends on a tense note, not a cliffhanger but something to tweak your interest in getting to the next one. With a whole sense of betrayal serving the second half of the book I was more than ready to get the next.

Characters: Morgan: Morgan was the perfect YA lead. She had the personality every teen should have. Confident in herself, good friends and strong values. She was perfect for her age group, didn’t read to young or too old at any point. Her fight to learn about her past and protect her future were fantastically unfolded and I think she will continue to grow in great ways as her story keeps going.

Corbin: Corbin’s character was easy to love. Rich but never showing it, popular, a rock star and caring to a fault it was pleasing to me when Morgan “awakens him”. He was there for each character every step of the book. His charm oozed off the page and right into my heart. I was rooting for him to find Morgan the whole time and I can’t wait to see where his heart is going to end up.

Lucas: My heart is totally for Lucas. He is quirky, funny and smart. He appears to have a crush on Morgan. I loved the parts with him in them the best because they were very light hearted and filled with care and concern. I wish he’d been involved as much as Corbin but I have a feeling he may get some more page time in the next book as he appears to be the most in control of the group and might be a leader in a sense.

Lia: I sadly hated Lia. I don’t want to spoil anything so I will say she is hated in a good way, you’re supposed to dislike her. She’s overachieving, rude and sneaky. Perfectly done but I hope I don’t have to like her as the series progresses.

Clarissa: The true outsider of this book I did and didn’t enjoy her. She seemed a little too young compared to the rest of them and I think it was done for distinction but I’m not sure yet. She was very giggling and energetic which didn’t seem to fit the vibe of the others.

Kellen: I don’t want to spoil anything but I will say all I wanted was for him to kiss Morgan! show less

Morgan Abbey is not one of the popular girls at school, especially since her mom disappeared ten years ago and her father was suspected for foul play; however she is the resident psychic. She has always had the uncanny ability to see bits and pieces into others lives. When Morgan unexpectedly meets Kellen at a party, she learns that her life is about to change. Morgan's abilities are just an uncanny feeling, she is a Veneret, a race with special abilities. Her powers have seemed to awaken the powers in other Naturals, a Veneret born to human parents. Now, Kellen and other Venerets are telling her that she is the One, the One to bring the Venerets back to power.

Awaking was a quick, easy Young Adult paranormal read. It wasn't bad, but show more it was just sort of middle of the road for me. Morgan's character is a typical teenage girl who finds out she has special powers; I actually did like how Morgan handled herself in most situations, making thoughtful decisions and not just accepting everything outright because a cute boy said it. And of course, there are cute boys everywhere, including a potential love triangle. The story moved a little slow for me in the middle, there are lots of parties, relationship potentials and learning about new powers that Morgan has awakened. It picked up near the ending, where more secrets are revealed and Morgan must make a choice about what it means to be the 'One.' I will probably still pick up the next book because I want to know more about the Veneret and what Morgan decides to do.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. show less

I won a copy through a librarything.com member give away.

The basic plot of the novel was interesting, a regular girl, Morgan, discovers she is the Chosen One of a secret race of people with special abilities called the Veneret. While the idea was a good one....I found the story to be rather flat. Too much telling and not showing, and....it just didn't work for me.

There was a standard cast of high school characters, the funky best friend, the queen bee and her minions, the popular gorgeous jock who was much nicer than you think, a cool teacher, another bitchy girl. A mysterious sexy boy. Nothing particularly different from a load of other YA paranormal. Including a missing/possibly dead parent.

It was interesting enough that I read it show more in a few days, I found the idea of the Veneret and their powers quite new and original, but Morgan just seems to take it all without...doing much about it. Until the last few chapters where everything happens in a rush.

Morgan arrives at party with best friend, attracts attention of mystery guy talking to Queen Bee, Queen Bee pissed and sets her minions on Morgan and friend, words are exchanged. Guy has brief conversation with Morgan dropping hints about he knows something about her mother's disappearance. So she agrees to meet him and it goes on from there.

I wanted to see some more emotions from the main character, other than her distaste at how the Veneret become powerful. She's thrown into this new world, discovers nicer than she thought jock boy is there and another boy she knows is actually one of them, they have powers. It just plods on while they learn very little other than Venerets think they should be ruling the world and Morgan is the One who will lead them to power. While new powers are cool, I would have thought that Morgan should have been way more freaked out and have way more questions than she did.

It picked up a bit towards the end, and I was quite pleased that Morgan tried to stand up for something she thought the Venerets were doing wrong, but the twist thrown in just made me roll my eyes. Then she's rescued from the bad guys. It is concluded, but left open for a sequel. It had a lot of potential, but just...not for me.

Thank you librarything.com for the win, but I will not be continuing with this series. show less

I really liked this book and will read the next 2 for sure.

The characters are great, the story is fast paced and has tons of surprises. I'm glad I read this and won't miss the next 2 in the series.

This book is about a teenage girl discovering that she has psychic abilities. It evolves with each friend she 'reads' awakening themselves, as if she is the spark that awakens them. It also delves into the morality of what the responsibility of the 'special' psychic people have to the 'common' people. Overall it read well, was believable, & I enjoyed it.

I am not entirely sure what I expected when I started reading this book, but it definitely wasn't what I found within its pages, that I can day with certainty.

Parts of the story seemed at once both formal and too informal. why was Morgan's father always referred to by his first name? That bothered me for reasons I all not able to identify.

For some reason, Orrick reminds me of some twisted, powder hungry cross between President Snow from the Hunger Games and Lord Voldemort of Harry Potter game. he is overly confident in his position and power and abilities and so expects no one to oppose him.

I will readily about that I could tell fairly early on that Mr. K was odd, and thwart he was going to play a much larger roll as time went on. I show more was both surprised and not to find or more about him toward the end.

I felt, though, like the book ended abruptly and entirely too soon. I felt like there should have been more, I needed there to have been more. By the time I was done, I was left with more questions than answers. Is it possible to have a book fell both unique and familiar at the same time? Because that is kind of how I feel right now. Surprised, but yet not at the same. I will withhold further judgment until I can read the rest of the series and see how things play out. show less

I really liked this book and will read the next 2 for sure.

The characters are great, the story is fast paced and has tons of surprises. I'm glad I read this and won't miss the next 2 in the series.