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Anthony Halligan

Goodreads Author

Born

in Portland, OR, The United States

Website

https://www.anthonyhalligan.com

Genre

Fantasy, Romance, Suspense

Member Since

May 2024

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Anthony Halligan – Author of The Drakaina Blood Saga

This isn’t just a story—it’s a key, a mirror, a map.

If you’ve ever felt like something was off in the world—if you’ve sensed deeper patterns beneath the noise—The Drakaina Blood Saga was written for you. It’s no accident you’re holding this book now. I believe in the magnetic pull of resonance, and I placed this story here because the right words always find the right people at the right time.

What you’re about to read is not escapism, it’s an awakening.

My name is Anthony Halligan. I write stories that challenge perception and spark transformation. With degrees in psychology and sociology, my writing is shaped by an understanding of how survival mechanisms—especially those wired into the am ...more

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What inspired you to write The Drakaina Blood Saga?

Anthony Halligan When I wrote "The Best of Us Is the Last of Us," Rise: The Awakening, I did so not simply to tell a story, but to lay down a blueprint — a path for tr…moreWhen I wrote "The Best of Us Is the Last of Us," Rise: The Awakening, I did so not simply to tell a story, but to lay down a blueprint — a path for transmuting pain, darkness, and suffering into light, love, and self-realization.

This novel was born from my lived experience, crafted during one of the most difficult times of my life while caring for my father as he battled terminal brain cancer. It carries not just my imagination, but my grief, my healing, and my deepest hope: that even the darkest parts of us can become the soil from which our true essence blooms.

Because of this, Rise does not shy away from the uncomfortable. It does not polish over the realities of trauma, pain, and survival. It was never meant to. Instead, it asks a simple, profound question: "Can you sit with the parts of yourself you have been programmed to fear, the parts rooted in shame, pain, and sorrow, and allow them to transform you?"

I understand that some parts of the book may be challenging, even triggering. The book carries clear content warnings, is categorized appropriately, and is fully transparent about its nature. Still, no amount of labeling can prevent discomfort for those unready to face certain shadows, and that is not a failure of the story, but a reflection of where we each are on our own journey.

If you found yourself uncomfortable, I invite you to reflect: Was it the story itself? Or was it the mirror it held up to something within you, something long buried and unresolved?

Healing requires courage, vulnerability, and truth beyond distortion. Art is one of the sacred spaces where we can safely encounter our wounds without judgment. This book is not an attempt to glorify darkness, and it's certainly not gratuitous. It's an invitation to walk through darkness, trauma, and suffering with open eyes, an open heart, and the empathy needed to transmute it, to remember who you truly are beneath the weight of your wounds.

I hold nothing but compassion for every reader, wherever you are on your journey of awakening. And to those who are willing to see the full arc of the story — from shadow to light — I extend my deepest gratitude. You are the reason this work exists.

Thank you for meeting the story, and yourself, with courage.

With love,
Anthony Halligan
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Anthony Halligan’s books

Average rating: 2.58 · 38 ratings · 26 reviews · 3 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Best of Us Is the Last of Us (Rise: The Awakening, #1) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 26 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Where The River Knows Our Names it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 8 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tenuous Alliances: Rise: The Initiation - Book II (The Drakaina Blood Saga 2) did not like it 1.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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30 posts
Anthony Halligan's Blog

We Rise Where No One Is Looking: A Poem for the Unseen Ones

So many of us are doing the internal work in silence—grieving, growing, shedding, and reclaiming ourselves. This poem is for those sacred, quiet evolutions that no one applauds…until the day they become impossible to ignore.

We Rise Where No One Is Looking
By Anthony Halligan

They do not see me now.
Still, they search for the man I buried
beneath years of silence
and the soft obedience of wanting to bel Read more of this blog post »

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Published on December 07, 2025 16:10 • Tags: healingjourney, indieauthor, innertransformation, lightinthedark, lyricalprose, personalawakening, poetryofbecoming, publishedauthor, reclaimyourstory, riseunseen, shadowwork, soulgrowth, survivorstrength, traumatotriumph, unapologeticallyyou, werisetogether

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Anthony is Currently Reading

Anthony Halligan is currently reading

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4)

by Sarah J. Maas (Goodreads Author)

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Jan 01, 2025 03:58PM

Anthony Halligan is currently reading

All About Love: New Visions

by bell hooks

bookshelves: currently-reading, love, relationships

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Dec 31, 2024 09:49PM

Anthony Halligan is currently reading

Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything

by James R. Doty

bookshelves: currently-reading, growth

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Dec 31, 2024 09:47PM

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Anthony’s Recent Updates

Anthony Halligan wrote a new blog post We Rise Where No One Is Looking: A Poem for the Unseen Ones So many of us are doing the internal work in silence—grieving, growing, shedding, and reclaiming ourselves. This poem is for those sacred, quiet evolu Read more of this blog post »
Dec 07, 2025 04:10PM · like
Anthony Halligan made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Please remove a book incorrectly attributed to me topic " The book "Jazzy March. [Concert band.] Conductor [and parts]" was attributed to me as author and added to my author profile, but I am not the author o ...more "
Aug 31, 2025 02:52PM
Anthony Halligan joined the group Goodreads Librarians Group
Aug 31, 2025 02:49PM · like
Anthony Halligan made a comment on Dina’s review of The Best of Us Is the Last of Us (Rise: The Awakening, #1) " I responded in a blog post, since Goodreads removed my response, even though I was directly asked to explain myself. "
Jul 19, 2025 12:35PM · see review
Anthony Halligan answered Anthony Halligan's question: What inspired you to write The Drakaina Blood Saga? When I wrote "The Best of Us Is the Last of Us," Rise: The Awakening, I did so not simply to tell a story, but to lay down a blueprint — a path for transmuting pain, darkness, and suffering into light, love, and self-realization. This novel was born f See Full Answer
Apr 25, 2025 05:41PM · like
Anthony Halligan and 1 other person liked Brittney A's status update Brittney A is 15% done with The One
Feb 27, 2025 03:27AM
Anthony Halligan liked that Catherine Anne is now a friend of Jamie
Feb 27, 2025 03:27AM
Anthony Halligan made a comment on Kassyreadsalot’s review of The Best of Us Is the Last of Us: Rise: The Awakening - Book I (The Drakaina Blood Saga) " Wow—thank you so much for this incredible review! Knowing that The Drakaina Blood Saga has become a new favorite for you means the world to me. I pour ...more "
Feb 21, 2025 11:05AM · see review
Anthony Halligan made a comment on Brittney A’s review of The Best of Us Is the Last of Us (Rise: The Awakening, #1) " Ashley wrote: "I just won this book in a giveaway which I am excited about but I noticed there are content warnings of rape and graphic violence. I di ...more "
Feb 20, 2025 11:40PM · see review
Anthony Halligan and 4 other people liked Brittney A's review of The Best of Us Is the Last of Us (Rise: The Awakening, #1): "Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5) The Best of Us Is the Last of Us by Anthony Halligan is a captivating, richly imagined fantasy novel that pulls you into a world of dragons, ancient mysteries, and an epic journey of self-discovery. From the very first chapter, Hal" Read more of this review »
Jan 25, 2025 02:22PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Best of Us Is the Last of Us by Anthony Halligan. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Best of Us Is the Last of Us by Anthony Halligan <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">