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Awakening Anne
At first glance, Margaret Ward appears like any other heiress living a charmed life on the upper east side of Manhattan. Behind the door of her peculiar parlor, Maggie delves into the secrets of the unknown, exploring her talents as a spiritualist medium. When she holds a séance for a grieving widower, she discovers the dark mystery behind his wife’s death. The farther she goes to discover the truth, the more she uncovers about the nature of the world beyond life itself, and the more dangerous her pursuit becomes… This story is the first installment in a journey of rebellion, self discovery, and staying true to one's passions. Maggie is a spirited and independent woman, alongside a cast of colorful characters including her fastidious older brother, a mysterious widower, her bold best friend with a passion for women's suffrage, and an eager academic who has dedicated his life to the study of the paranormal.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2023
15 people are currently reading
1213 people want to read
About the author
Kalynn Applewhite
5 books83 followersKalynn is a work-at-home mom and lead creator/writer for Applewhite Games. She is a lifelong writer with a passion for exploring Feminist themes through fantasy. Kalynn lives in Ohio with her husband, two sons, and beloved cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
June 7, 2024
I pledged for the hardcover book in her Kickstarter campaign. And I’m glad I did! This was a fun read and I’m looking forward to continuing the series. And I have to note that the book looks gorgeous!
October 15, 2023
This book was fantastic. Perfectly scratched the itch I had for something mildly paranormal this Halloween season without being too scary. Although, I did have moments where I was getting spooked when reading at night.
Written like an episode of Supernatural, it also feels like a cross between Insidious and Haunting of Hill House if any of those shows/films peak interest.
Set in the year 1916, the story follows Maggie, a medium who encounters a widower who comes to her as a client. Upon holding a seance for him, she discovers a mystery surrounding the death of Anne, his wife. It’s truly a trip.
A quick read published only months ago, that I’m pleased to hear is getting a sequel!
Written like an episode of Supernatural, it also feels like a cross between Insidious and Haunting of Hill House if any of those shows/films peak interest.
Set in the year 1916, the story follows Maggie, a medium who encounters a widower who comes to her as a client. Upon holding a seance for him, she discovers a mystery surrounding the death of Anne, his wife. It’s truly a trip.
A quick read published only months ago, that I’m pleased to hear is getting a sequel!
August 6, 2023
This was such a charming, cozy read. It is the definition of a warm cup of tea on a brisk Autumn morning. The descriptive, unique narrative in this story painted a picture of what it was like for a Medium to live in the year 1916.
Margaret (known as Maggie to her dear friends and family) Ward lives with her skeptical brother in a flat on the upper east side of Manhattan. The upstairs apartment is her office where she meets with clients who are hoping to make connections with their passed loved ones. One day, a grieving widower comes to her office to connect with his wife. However, this appointment ends up changing Maggie’s life.
This book could easily be a stand-alone novel, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that Applewhite set up the end of the story to lead to another book in 2024. Equally as impressive was that the story did not end on a cliffhanger, but rather the ending organically leads to a second book in the series. Looking forward to book 2!
Margaret (known as Maggie to her dear friends and family) Ward lives with her skeptical brother in a flat on the upper east side of Manhattan. The upstairs apartment is her office where she meets with clients who are hoping to make connections with their passed loved ones. One day, a grieving widower comes to her office to connect with his wife. However, this appointment ends up changing Maggie’s life.
This book could easily be a stand-alone novel, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that Applewhite set up the end of the story to lead to another book in 2024. Equally as impressive was that the story did not end on a cliffhanger, but rather the ending organically leads to a second book in the series. Looking forward to book 2!
July 21, 2023
I received a physical paperback copy of this book as a reward for backing the Kickstarter campaign to get it in print, and I have to say I've enjoyed reading it. It has the feel of a cozy mystery, and it's a quick little book that I found very entertaining. I personally feel like it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, and I'm going to probably sell my copy in hopes someone else will be able to enjoy it as much as I did or more. (I can always look into getting myself another copy in the future if I decide I can't live without it.)
January 12, 2024
TL:DR Overall, it feels like a fun start to a new series. It kind of gives me Sherlock Holmes meets Supernatural meets Jane Austin set in 1916 New York vibes.
Maggie is a woman trying to forge her own path in a time when a woman doing so was scandelous. Not only that, but she is a Medium, adding to the scandal. In this first installment of the series, Maggie teams up with a scientist from the American Society for Physical Research to help a grieving widower sort out a haunting after his wife's passing, despite her skeptical brother's overprotective meddling. This was an entertaining read and I would recommend it.
Some additional thoughts:
- Not a genre I normally read, so getting something historical fiction and paranormal was refreshing and fun. It had its spooky moments, but nothing I couldn't handle. (I'm a big scardie cat when it comes to paranormal topics, so this is a good thing for me.)
- This is a quick read, I finished it in <24 hours.
- I did enjoy how the author tried to stylize her writing so it sounded more 'in period'.
- To me, this reads like a YA novel in that there isn't a lot of time spent on descriptions, or deeper concepts, there is a decent amount of telling vs showing. Everything feels fairly surface level, which isn't a bad thing, it's just something to know.
Maggie is a woman trying to forge her own path in a time when a woman doing so was scandelous. Not only that, but she is a Medium, adding to the scandal. In this first installment of the series, Maggie teams up with a scientist from the American Society for Physical Research to help a grieving widower sort out a haunting after his wife's passing, despite her skeptical brother's overprotective meddling. This was an entertaining read and I would recommend it.
Some additional thoughts:
- Not a genre I normally read, so getting something historical fiction and paranormal was refreshing and fun. It had its spooky moments, but nothing I couldn't handle. (I'm a big scardie cat when it comes to paranormal topics, so this is a good thing for me.)
- This is a quick read, I finished it in <24 hours.
- I did enjoy how the author tried to stylize her writing so it sounded more 'in period'.
- To me, this reads like a YA novel in that there isn't a lot of time spent on descriptions, or deeper concepts, there is a decent amount of telling vs showing. Everything feels fairly surface level, which isn't a bad thing, it's just something to know.
July 26, 2023
I'll be honest, I didn't realise this was going to be a series until the end but I'm not mad about it because this was The Haunting of Hill House meets supernatural that I didn't know my heart desired. It has everything. A medium as a main character, a dead wife, a killer on the loose, love, self-discovery, eerie vibes, ghosts, spooky shit etc.
DO I NEED TO SAY MORE? THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!
This is definitely one to pick up if you're in the market for a brilliantly written, fast paced paranormal read.
DO I NEED TO SAY MORE? THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!
This is definitely one to pick up if you're in the market for a brilliantly written, fast paced paranormal read.
July 25, 2023
This novel was the ultimate comfort book for me with its lush prose, enticing characters, and romantic fluff. I love being in this world so much. If I had one criticism it would be that it is rather short for a novel. I would reccommend this book to every person that loves cozy mysteries and spooky books because this was too good not to have more people know about it. I hope that the sequels will be way longer because I can't get enough of this world.
July 26, 2023
I must confess, I devoured this book with an insatiable appetite. Once I began, it proved impossible to tear myself away, and even after finishing, its grip on my thoughts has yet to let me go. The atmospheric prose, expertly crafted mystery, and clever plot twists compelled me to keep turning the pages, driven by an insatiable curiosity. However, what truly struck me were the intricately woven family relationships, particularly among Maggie and her father, which left me emotionally invested and utterly amazed.
This book was a 10/10!
This book was a 10/10!
August 21, 2023
A perfect blend of spooky, historical and romantic. I can't wait for the next in the series :)
January 26, 2024
This book definitely keeps you drawn in. Very excited to read the next in the series.
October 29, 2023
A paranormal murder mystery that wraps you in a cozy atmosphere of intrigue as we follow Maggie in her fantastic job as spiritual medium. A cast of charming characters rounds the story, with an engaging plot that leads to a satisfactory conclusion. I read this book in October and was the perfect one for getting in the mood for Halloween. Awesome debut novel for the author.
September 17, 2025
Awakening Anne by Kalynn Anne is a historical paranormal horror set in 1916 and the first in The White Crow series. Margaret Ward is a medium that offers her services out of her brother's unused office in Manhattan's upper east side. She generally uses her gifts to help clients in getting closure in losing a loved one but occasionally assists in locating lost family treasures. She holds a seance for a client whose wife had recently passed in the presence of Walter, a member of a society that uses new sciences to measure the validity of spiritualists and the nether world, and quickly falls into a mystery full of more danger than she bargained for. Maggie shows the duality of the spiritualist and normal person excellently; she courageously uses her talents to help others but isn't untouchable. When things get bad it affects her and we see a vulnerability that really shows the humanity in the character. Walter brings a refreshing take into the story as a man of science, he first and foremost lives to understand the truth and collect facts but remains a pillar to the investigations team offering emotional aid and understanding. He provides a Van Helsing and Sherlock Holmes archetype to the story making everything feel more grounded. An excellent balance of our world and the truth of the afterlife.
The investigation is gripping and at times has a darkness that keeps you on edge. Throughout we get a glimpse of Maggie's "regular" life as she balances her work and home life, often centered around her brother and his longing for "proper" life in high society. It provides a light to combat the dark and lets us connect to Maggie on a more personal level. In addition to this the dialogue is written flawlessly for the time. The speech of a New Yorker in 1916 has a special charm to it that you can't help but love to read. It never felt forced and had a flow that felt natural and easy to read.
For a shorter read it packs a punch offering a full story and setting up for the next in the series while providing closure in the current case. The author sketches add real character to the read and gives a visual aid to things that stand out. I'm eager to get back to Maggie and Walter in the next book to see what kind of trouble they get into next.
The investigation is gripping and at times has a darkness that keeps you on edge. Throughout we get a glimpse of Maggie's "regular" life as she balances her work and home life, often centered around her brother and his longing for "proper" life in high society. It provides a light to combat the dark and lets us connect to Maggie on a more personal level. In addition to this the dialogue is written flawlessly for the time. The speech of a New Yorker in 1916 has a special charm to it that you can't help but love to read. It never felt forced and had a flow that felt natural and easy to read.
For a shorter read it packs a punch offering a full story and setting up for the next in the series while providing closure in the current case. The author sketches add real character to the read and gives a visual aid to things that stand out. I'm eager to get back to Maggie and Walter in the next book to see what kind of trouble they get into next.
August 24, 2025
I've seen Kalynn at a few shows and have been meaning to pick up her books, and im so glad I had! I love the little drawings sprinkled into the pages, her writing is very catchy. Even though I dont primarily read this genre, a bit of mystery never hurts the soul. Only reason I didn't finish this book in 1 day is because life wouldn't stop and I had to go to work and adult. Otherwise a perfect book to curl up with.
June 5, 2025
I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I did not see the final twist coming and I loved that. The ending did seem to wrap up very quickly, but I still enjoyed it. It definitely could be read as a standalone, but I also can't wait to see what happens next.
September 7, 2023
Awakening Anne by Kalynn Applewhite is about a spiritualist medium named Maggie in Edwardian New York, who finds herself tackling a haunting that may be more than she can handle.
I had high hopes for this book, as it had promised a lot of my favorite themes: ghosts and hauntings (you all know this is my favorite); spiritualism in the early 20th century; and prominent female protagonists and friendships. However, everything in this book, from the writing to the presentation of the themes, fell flat.
(Some spoilers ahead)
The writing and the plot:
The writing style itself felt very forced, like the author was trying to envision the Edwardian period without doing much research. The writing of scenes and plot devices felt very choppy - not a lot of seamless segues. For example, one chapter the biggest issue is a haunting, and the next chapter the biggest issue is that the protagonist's brother is annoying. There is not a steady rising towards a climactic moment, and the climactic moment appears very suddenly and all too briefly.
The author included illustrations, which is a nice idea -- and I normally love me some fun illustrations -- but these did pretty much nothing to enhance the experience of reading the book. In fact, most of the illustrations seemed random, as if some random item from the book was picked and drawn.
Lastly about the writing - - there were some typos and some issues with language that tells me that this book was not edited as thoroughly as it should have been, making the reading of this book difficult at times. This book, I believe, was self-published and, unfortunately, as happens all too often, the editing is not quite up to the standards one would expect.
The spiritualism:
I did enjoy the delve into spiritualism. However, the author did not go as in-depth with the lore of the protagonist's spiritualist talents as I would have liked. We know very little about Maggie's background as a medium, except for the fact that her brother doesn't believe in it, her housekeeper believes she is in league with the devil, and that she seems to have a steady stream of clients. There is also a brief glimpse at the studies made by the Paranormal Society of that time. But where is the in-depth scientific inquiry? Where are the methods used at the time? And actually, there is a lot of curiosity missing from this book. This book takes place in an age where science is booming, discovery is at an all time high -- and yet, there are no curious minds. Even Maggie, when faced with a terrifying part of her gift, doesn't seek to understand it.
Characters:
Overall, the characters are pretty one-dimensional, and seem more like stereotypes thrust into a story to create artificial depth. I can't say anything more without giving too much away, but there is no character development, and the emotional scenes feel very forced, very stiff. The feminism in the characters feels a bit forced as well. There are suffragettes and a hint at strong female friendships, but those seem like they are only there to hint that the author is being diverse. I applaud the effort for this, but it doesn't really add to the story.
This was a good try for a first shot at a novel, but the author has lots of work to do in order to truly hone her craft. Even though I am disappointed, I am glad I finished this book. This might actually be a good intro for younger audiences who are trying to get into thrillers or ghost stories.
I had high hopes for this book, as it had promised a lot of my favorite themes: ghosts and hauntings (you all know this is my favorite); spiritualism in the early 20th century; and prominent female protagonists and friendships. However, everything in this book, from the writing to the presentation of the themes, fell flat.
(Some spoilers ahead)
The writing and the plot:
The writing style itself felt very forced, like the author was trying to envision the Edwardian period without doing much research. The writing of scenes and plot devices felt very choppy - not a lot of seamless segues. For example, one chapter the biggest issue is a haunting, and the next chapter the biggest issue is that the protagonist's brother is annoying. There is not a steady rising towards a climactic moment, and the climactic moment appears very suddenly and all too briefly.
The author included illustrations, which is a nice idea -- and I normally love me some fun illustrations -- but these did pretty much nothing to enhance the experience of reading the book. In fact, most of the illustrations seemed random, as if some random item from the book was picked and drawn.
Lastly about the writing - - there were some typos and some issues with language that tells me that this book was not edited as thoroughly as it should have been, making the reading of this book difficult at times. This book, I believe, was self-published and, unfortunately, as happens all too often, the editing is not quite up to the standards one would expect.
The spiritualism:
I did enjoy the delve into spiritualism. However, the author did not go as in-depth with the lore of the protagonist's spiritualist talents as I would have liked. We know very little about Maggie's background as a medium, except for the fact that her brother doesn't believe in it, her housekeeper believes she is in league with the devil, and that she seems to have a steady stream of clients. There is also a brief glimpse at the studies made by the Paranormal Society of that time. But where is the in-depth scientific inquiry? Where are the methods used at the time? And actually, there is a lot of curiosity missing from this book. This book takes place in an age where science is booming, discovery is at an all time high -- and yet, there are no curious minds. Even Maggie, when faced with a terrifying part of her gift, doesn't seek to understand it.
Characters:
Overall, the characters are pretty one-dimensional, and seem more like stereotypes thrust into a story to create artificial depth. I can't say anything more without giving too much away, but there is no character development, and the emotional scenes feel very forced, very stiff. The feminism in the characters feels a bit forced as well. There are suffragettes and a hint at strong female friendships, but those seem like they are only there to hint that the author is being diverse. I applaud the effort for this, but it doesn't really add to the story.
This was a good try for a first shot at a novel, but the author has lots of work to do in order to truly hone her craft. Even though I am disappointed, I am glad I finished this book. This might actually be a good intro for younger audiences who are trying to get into thrillers or ghost stories.
September 11, 2023
While this is not my preferred genre, I did like the story contained within Awakening Anne. It's a straightforward murder, mystery, thriller that gets the main things right. I very much liked the protagonist, and the settings aesthetic is as cool as it gets .
With that being said, the story's execution and prose leave a lot to be desired. I think some of the shortcomings can be excused because this is an author's debut, and no one writes a good first book (except Harper Lee), but it is also poorly edited. Typos and stylistic inconsistencies abound (using the UK -ise ending to words, but not using other UK spelling conventions is just an example), there are large passages that are in desperate need of edits for clarity, and the timeline of events seemed scattered. As this is the first of a self-published trilogy, my advice to the author would be to use all proceeds from this book and hire the best possible copy editors available for the next additions.
Lastly, while I'm picking at nits, every passage involving women's suffrage in this book is useless (not the historical movement, but the impact it has on any of the characters is non-existent, despite a whole chapter being set at a women's rights rally). Maybe this will come into play in later books, but I thought this novel failed to explore any capital F Feminist themes in fantasy (a line from the author's bio). Everything the protagonist accomplishes is dependent upon the actions of men (from her medium business to the exorcism at the book's finale), she's primarily motivated by the love of another man, servant women are canned cliches at best, and the only character described as being a fiery suffragette is never shown to actually be one (this character falls for the only male character possesing stereotypical toxic masculine traits??).
In sum, I'm excited to read the stories this author will write in the future, but there is a lot to be learned and improved upon from the debut.
With that being said, the story's execution and prose leave a lot to be desired. I think some of the shortcomings can be excused because this is an author's debut, and no one writes a good first book (except Harper Lee), but it is also poorly edited. Typos and stylistic inconsistencies abound (using the UK -ise ending to words, but not using other UK spelling conventions is just an example), there are large passages that are in desperate need of edits for clarity, and the timeline of events seemed scattered. As this is the first of a self-published trilogy, my advice to the author would be to use all proceeds from this book and hire the best possible copy editors available for the next additions.
Lastly, while I'm picking at nits, every passage involving women's suffrage in this book is useless (not the historical movement, but the impact it has on any of the characters is non-existent, despite a whole chapter being set at a women's rights rally). Maybe this will come into play in later books, but I thought this novel failed to explore any capital F Feminist themes in fantasy (a line from the author's bio). Everything the protagonist accomplishes is dependent upon the actions of men (from her medium business to the exorcism at the book's finale), she's primarily motivated by the love of another man, servant women are canned cliches at best, and the only character described as being a fiery suffragette is never shown to actually be one (this character falls for the only male character possesing stereotypical toxic masculine traits??).
In sum, I'm excited to read the stories this author will write in the future, but there is a lot to be learned and improved upon from the debut.
July 19, 2023
Note: I received an early reviewer copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book has an interesting plot - Maggie, a self-taught (?) medium, teams up with a researcher in her efforts to help a grieving widower communicate with his deceased wife. Things don’t go well, and there’s more to the “deceased wife” story than meets the eye. The theme and this particular story are ones that I generally would enjoy; however, I found the writing cumbersome and a bit amateurish, and it would benefit greatly from some judicious editing. The pacing was also rushed in many instances; further development of the characters might help the reader be more invested in them, and more background development would provide greater context and make events more believable.
I also found Jonathan to be insufferable - the “protective big brother” act was ludicrous, especially when his only real recourse was some version of, “I’m going to tell Mom and Dad!” Maggie clearly has opinions of her own, and tolerates her brother’s interference far beyond what seems reasonable or believable, even for the time. Her behavior is far from consistent, though, as she waffles between rolling her eyes at Jonathan’s bluster and letting him bully her into activities in which she has no interest.
The story has promise, but it needs a bit more work and the hand of a good editor.
This book has an interesting plot - Maggie, a self-taught (?) medium, teams up with a researcher in her efforts to help a grieving widower communicate with his deceased wife. Things don’t go well, and there’s more to the “deceased wife” story than meets the eye. The theme and this particular story are ones that I generally would enjoy; however, I found the writing cumbersome and a bit amateurish, and it would benefit greatly from some judicious editing. The pacing was also rushed in many instances; further development of the characters might help the reader be more invested in them, and more background development would provide greater context and make events more believable.
I also found Jonathan to be insufferable - the “protective big brother” act was ludicrous, especially when his only real recourse was some version of, “I’m going to tell Mom and Dad!” Maggie clearly has opinions of her own, and tolerates her brother’s interference far beyond what seems reasonable or believable, even for the time. Her behavior is far from consistent, though, as she waffles between rolling her eyes at Jonathan’s bluster and letting him bully her into activities in which she has no interest.
The story has promise, but it needs a bit more work and the hand of a good editor.
August 8, 2023
So wonderful!
February 11, 2024
https://thecaffeinatedreader.com/2023...
A medium who lives in NY and is a lady of the upper classes, and ghosts. It’s a great mix. There’s a hint of romance, there’s intrigue, drama, spooks, and more!
A medium who lives in NY and is a lady of the upper classes, and ghosts. It’s a great mix. There’s a hint of romance, there’s intrigue, drama, spooks, and more!
April 17, 2023
This is my most anticipated read of the year. I can’t physically wait to be able to read this amazing story! Please keep supporting the author’s Kickstarter if you can 🖤
July 4, 2025
I’ve never read a book quite like this! I love the time period and the characters. Book two of the series was started right away which is telling!! It means I loved book one!!!
May 13, 2024
A fun quick read with lively characters. Yes, the ending is a little predictable but sometimes that's what you want.
Maggie is delightful and I can't wait to read about her other adventures.
Jonathan, her brother, I'm still unsure of.
So happy I got this through Kickstarter with the next book to immediately continue with these characters.
It's also rekindled my love of reading, I just have to find the right books.
Maggie is delightful and I can't wait to read about her other adventures.
Jonathan, her brother, I'm still unsure of.
So happy I got this through Kickstarter with the next book to immediately continue with these characters.
It's also rekindled my love of reading, I just have to find the right books.
July 12, 2023
This was a well done period piece. I liked the elements added in about the women's suffrage movement. It was certainly cute, although predictable. I had honestly guessed the killer fairly early on, but of course kept reading because it seemed too obvious. Still, I enjoyed it anyway.
October 1, 2023
I got my copy at a local bookstore. It is hard to put this one in a single genre. There are elements of mystery, suspense, fantasy and possibly even horror. While some of the syntax, word choices and sentence structure slowed me down, the story/plot line were so well done that mostly I ignored the areas that didn't read smoothly. I especially liked the ending. It's one of those books that the ending really takes it up a notch. Looking forward to book 2.
January 29, 2024
I read this book as a buddy read. It was difficult to stop at the stopping points. I just wanted to continue to find out the ending. It keeps you captivated with the paranormal with a background romance. I can’t wait to read book 2.
May 29, 2024
Captivating Exciting Entertaining
I really enjoyed the flow of this storyline. The characters were relatable and I fell in love with them. Especially Maggie's abilities. I can't wait to read the next story!
I really enjoyed the flow of this storyline. The characters were relatable and I fell in love with them. Especially Maggie's abilities. I can't wait to read the next story!
March 6, 2025
3.5
I really did enjoy this book, but I did not love the pacing. I felt as if the story was rushed, especially the last 50% of it. That being said, it was a good time and I like the characters. I would be interested in reading the 2nd book!
I really did enjoy this book, but I did not love the pacing. I felt as if the story was rushed, especially the last 50% of it. That being said, it was a good time and I like the characters. I would be interested in reading the 2nd book!
August 22, 2023
This book was a delight. Can't wait to read what's next!
June 29, 2024
Really enjoyed this. Some strong characters and very atmospheric world building. A perfect length, too. Nice and easy to pic up and take chapter by chapter. Looking forward to reading the next one
November 11, 2024
This book was such a delight! The perfect amount of slight spookiness for the Halloween season, without being too much for my (very low) tolerance. Loved the atmosphere of old-timey New York and the way Maggie’s supernatural ability worked. I didn’t exactly vibe with all of the conversations between the characters and sometimes found myself finding them a little unbelievable or stilted but all in all I really did adore this book and the premise was so so fun and a delight to read. Looking forward to watching the author grow as I read the rest of the series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews