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Hasea Chronicles #1
The Awakening
THE AWAKENING:
Alexander Eden is one unhappy teenager. A geeky, social pariah, he's the victim of constant bullying at school. His home life isn't much better with a stepfather who resents him and a half brother who is better than him at everything.
But that all changes the day the mysterious and beautiful Gabriella De Luca walks into his life. Everyone wants to know her, to be with her. But she is interested in Alex.
Because Alex is different.
Soon afterwards he is thrown into a world he never thought possible. A world where he and others like him are the last line of defence. A world where an ancient unspeakable evil lurks.
Evil which seeks to consume him.
DILECTI SURGEMUS - SOCII POLLEMUS
(Chosen we rise - Allied we prevail)
Alexander Eden is one unhappy teenager. A geeky, social pariah, he's the victim of constant bullying at school. His home life isn't much better with a stepfather who resents him and a half brother who is better than him at everything.
But that all changes the day the mysterious and beautiful Gabriella De Luca walks into his life. Everyone wants to know her, to be with her. But she is interested in Alex.
Because Alex is different.
Soon afterwards he is thrown into a world he never thought possible. A world where he and others like him are the last line of defence. A world where an ancient unspeakable evil lurks.
Evil which seeks to consume him.
DILECTI SURGEMUS - SOCII POLLEMUS
(Chosen we rise - Allied we prevail)
541 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2012
264 people are currently reading
1294 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Meczes
17 books100 followersStuart was born in the smoky outskirts of london. After years spent running the rat race, in 2008 he knew it was time to start working on the novel he’d been threatening to write since he was 16. several scrapped storylines, and one English and Creative Writing degree from the University of Birmingham later, The Awakening landed.
Stuart was more shocked than anyone when the novel became a sleeper hit and set him on an entirely different and far more exciting path through life than he ever expected.
Cut to 2018. six novels, a novella and several short stories down, Stuart spends most of his time in his home in Worcester, continuing to pen the bestselling Hasea Chronicles series, as well as new science fiction/fantasy stories, all whilst avoiding the addictive siren call of daytime television.
In addition to the ongoing hasea chronicles, Stuart has written the golden Wing - the first book in the children’s fantasy series, Tommy and the Simbots, and is also hard at work on London Burning, the first novel in the dystopian series, The Grit Saga.
Stuart was more shocked than anyone when the novel became a sleeper hit and set him on an entirely different and far more exciting path through life than he ever expected.
Cut to 2018. six novels, a novella and several short stories down, Stuart spends most of his time in his home in Worcester, continuing to pen the bestselling Hasea Chronicles series, as well as new science fiction/fantasy stories, all whilst avoiding the addictive siren call of daytime television.
In addition to the ongoing hasea chronicles, Stuart has written the golden Wing - the first book in the children’s fantasy series, Tommy and the Simbots, and is also hard at work on London Burning, the first novel in the dystopian series, The Grit Saga.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
December 21, 2019
Spoiler-FREE review of ‘The Awakening’
“No one is evil by default. Everyone has choices. The choices you make are what define you. You can be whoever you want to be, whoever you are.”
3.5/5.0 ‘The Awakening’ by Stuart Meczes is the first novel in an on-going paranormal/ urban fantasy series set-in modern-day London. It centers around Alexander Eden, a teenager that finds out he has paranormal powers, and him adjusting to his new life. Despite its lack of originality and depth in certain areas I actually found the novel quite charming and enjoyed my read. The story follows the same formulaic plot that I have read at least a half dozen times, it is as follows:
1)Main character is a Social pariah that has few/little friends.
2)Main character meets new girl at school that is outlandishly beautiful and has mysterious past
3)Said girl is involved in a magical mystical society and is there to help our main character with his new power
4)Main character learns his power is better/greater/different than everyone else in said society.
5)He is now needed to defeat an evil that would destroy the world
Like I said, nothing really that refreshes or changes up the dynamic. But for one reason or another I was endeared by the story and found myself enjoying my way through it. I did enjoy learning about the characters, but I thought some of the backstory was awkwardly told and could have been conveyed better. I did enjoy the chemistry between the Orion team and looked forward to some of their interactions. This book did pull emotion from me at the right parts and I was actually surprised to find myself so deep in the story.
Overall, this indie book was well worth the time invested into it. It is currently on Kindle Unlimited and I’m happy I found it and decided to give it a try. If the genre is your thing and don’t mind the lack of originality or overabundance of tropes, I feel like you could do MUCH worse than giving this novel a try.
“That’s it, craziness levels just hit unacceptable. I want to go home. Let me out please.”
“No one is evil by default. Everyone has choices. The choices you make are what define you. You can be whoever you want to be, whoever you are.”
3.5/5.0 ‘The Awakening’ by Stuart Meczes is the first novel in an on-going paranormal/ urban fantasy series set-in modern-day London. It centers around Alexander Eden, a teenager that finds out he has paranormal powers, and him adjusting to his new life. Despite its lack of originality and depth in certain areas I actually found the novel quite charming and enjoyed my read. The story follows the same formulaic plot that I have read at least a half dozen times, it is as follows:
1)Main character is a Social pariah that has few/little friends.
2)Main character meets new girl at school that is outlandishly beautiful and has mysterious past
3)Said girl is involved in a magical mystical society and is there to help our main character with his new power
4)Main character learns his power is better/greater/different than everyone else in said society.
5)He is now needed to defeat an evil that would destroy the world
Like I said, nothing really that refreshes or changes up the dynamic. But for one reason or another I was endeared by the story and found myself enjoying my way through it. I did enjoy learning about the characters, but I thought some of the backstory was awkwardly told and could have been conveyed better. I did enjoy the chemistry between the Orion team and looked forward to some of their interactions. This book did pull emotion from me at the right parts and I was actually surprised to find myself so deep in the story.
Overall, this indie book was well worth the time invested into it. It is currently on Kindle Unlimited and I’m happy I found it and decided to give it a try. If the genre is your thing and don’t mind the lack of originality or overabundance of tropes, I feel like you could do MUCH worse than giving this novel a try.
“That’s it, craziness levels just hit unacceptable. I want to go home. Let me out please.”
May 24, 2012
Wow! For a first novel this was utterly fantastic!
I was engaged from the first chapter. The characters are awesome. The storyline is action-packed & the romance is totally believable.
Alex Eden is a teen boy who gets bullied all the time & basically his life is a living hell.....that is until Gabriella starts at his school & they both hit it off straight away. Alex can't believe that she has taken an interest in him but soon discovers why as strange things start to happen. Alex discovers things that are quite literally out of this world & that's when the fast-paced action begins...
I will most definitely be reading the next in this series as the cliffhanger is killing me!!!!!
I would recommend The Awakening to any YA lover. It is a story that will whisk you into a fascinating world that you won't want to leave!
I would like to thank the author Stuart Meczes for sending me this signed copy of The Awakening which I won in a Goodreads giveaway.
I was engaged from the first chapter. The characters are awesome. The storyline is action-packed & the romance is totally believable.
Alex Eden is a teen boy who gets bullied all the time & basically his life is a living hell.....that is until Gabriella starts at his school & they both hit it off straight away. Alex can't believe that she has taken an interest in him but soon discovers why as strange things start to happen. Alex discovers things that are quite literally out of this world & that's when the fast-paced action begins...
I will most definitely be reading the next in this series as the cliffhanger is killing me!!!!!
I would recommend The Awakening to any YA lover. It is a story that will whisk you into a fascinating world that you won't want to leave!
I would like to thank the author Stuart Meczes for sending me this signed copy of The Awakening which I won in a Goodreads giveaway.
September 13, 2020
This was kind of a tough book to read. I enjoyed it for the most part, but there were some things that I couldn't get over that made it so I kind of had to force myself to finish it.
For me, the big issue was how easily the main character went from being the looser outcast, to the strong popular guy. While it makes sense for the story, it also makes the character become a little bland. New super hot new girl instantly falling in love with him didn't help at all either.
Overall, while the story and plot are interesting and make the story fun to read, there are some story elements that just make it hard to take seriously.
For me, the big issue was how easily the main character went from being the looser outcast, to the strong popular guy. While it makes sense for the story, it also makes the character become a little bland. New super hot new girl instantly falling in love with him didn't help at all either.
Overall, while the story and plot are interesting and make the story fun to read, there are some story elements that just make it hard to take seriously.
November 16, 2012
Was a bit unsure about this book when I started it as it's not the normal sort of book I would read but as the plot unfolded I really loved it and didnt want to put it down.
I would describe it as Xmen Versus Blade with relationships.
By the end of this first in a series I was captivated and felt that I knew that characters. I'm really looking forward to finding out what comes next...
I would describe it as Xmen Versus Blade with relationships.
By the end of this first in a series I was captivated and felt that I knew that characters. I'm really looking forward to finding out what comes next...
September 9, 2013
waooo it was a super great book, I mean it had everything fun, romance, suspense. It was a great read and I couldnt really put it away, every sentence leave me craving for more and more. I hope to soon be able to read the second book because I want to continue this journey that have trapped me in its vortex.
July 14, 2020
First off, I really enjoyed it. It had flaws, but I had a lot of fun and enjoyment reading it.
It started off from seeing https://imgur.com/gallery/Px96DUq on imgur, I just loved the positive message from Neil Gaiman, and as a Urban Fantasy fan, especially YA writing, I just had to check it out.
Sure, the main two characters are super stereotype (Loner nerd, super hot kick ass women), and I'm glad I got past that, because while it was sorta explained away, the rest of it was really well done.
Overall the book flowed really well, I feel like it was a bit longer than most YA books I read, but I never felt like it was a slug to get to the next part.
My two real complaints
* A bunch of minor characters were introduced, I generally have trouble remembering who is who, and things like "Thomas did foo" made me really have to think "Thomas was who again".
* The very end was the weakest part, it very much felt like a buildup for new books, instead of ending this one
I'm absolutely going to be checking out the new ones
It started off from seeing https://imgur.com/gallery/Px96DUq on imgur, I just loved the positive message from Neil Gaiman, and as a Urban Fantasy fan, especially YA writing, I just had to check it out.
Sure, the main two characters are super stereotype (Loner nerd, super hot kick ass women), and I'm glad I got past that, because while it was sorta explained away, the rest of it was really well done.
Overall the book flowed really well, I feel like it was a bit longer than most YA books I read, but I never felt like it was a slug to get to the next part.
My two real complaints
* A bunch of minor characters were introduced, I generally have trouble remembering who is who, and things like "Thomas did foo" made me really have to think "Thomas was who again".
* The very end was the weakest part, it very much felt like a buildup for new books, instead of ending this one
I'm absolutely going to be checking out the new ones
May 24, 2012
Borrowed it from my sister Alice who won it on here, absolutely bloody amazing book, can't wait for the next, and I know books, having been reading them since I was five. To be honest, I tried the Twilight series but it was so crap, I honestly can't see people's obsession with it, but this I can really get into.
July 17, 2012
I wanted to try a "super hero" story and had read several positive reviews for this book. I enjoyed the story a lot and felt the author did an excellent job of describing the environment and flow of the story. My main complaint was that it seemed more geared towards adolescents than an adult audience. I think if I had read this book in my teens I would have enjoyed it more.
November 7, 2012
Just started reading this book like an hour ago, and I'm a quarter thru already.... And I would give it 12 out of 10. It's great read. It's so refreshing to read a book based in London with English slang it gets a bit tedious always reading American books.
August 14, 2023
Stuart Meczes crafts an enthralling paranormal urban fantasy in "The Awakening," the first installment of the Hasea Chronicles. With an artful blend of mystery, supernatural elements, and relatable teenage struggles, Meczes introduces readers to a captivating world where the ordinary collides with the extraordinary. Brimming with tension, intrigue, and the allure of the unknown, this novel is a compelling entry into a series that promises to ignite the imagination.
In "The Awakening," we meet Alexander Eden, a tormented teenager who navigates the challenges of being a social outcast and enduring relentless bullying. His life takes a remarkable turn when he encounters Gabriella De Luca, an enigmatic and captivating figure who sees something special in Alex. Meczes expertly navigates the complexities of teenage emotions, portraying Alex's sense of alienation and yearning for acceptance with poignant authenticity.
The narrative takes a dramatic twist as Alex is thrust into an astonishing world he never imagined existed. As he discovers his own unique abilities, he realizes that he and others like him are humanity's last hope against an ancient and malevolent force. Meczes skillfully builds suspense, gradually revealing the layers of a hidden reality and the challenges that Alex must face.
The strength of "The Awakening" lies not only in its supernatural elements but also in the depth of its characters. Alex's personal growth and transformation are at the heart of the story, and readers will find themselves rooting for him as he confronts his insecurities and steps into his newfound role. The chemistry between Alex and Gabriella adds an intriguing layer of romance and intrigue to the narrative, further drawing readers into their world.
Meczes's writing is both evocative and immersive, creating a vivid portrayal of the paranormal world that Alex becomes a part of. The pacing keeps readers engaged, striking a balance between character development and plot progression. As the story unfolds, secrets are unveiled, alliances are formed, and a sense of impending danger looms large.
"The Awakening" serves as an exceptional introduction to the Hasea Chronicles, promising readers an epic journey through a realm of dark forces, inner conflicts, and unexpected heroism. Stuart Meczes has masterfully laid the foundation for a series that will undoubtedly captivate fans of paranormal urban fantasy and leave them eagerly anticipating the next installment.
In "The Awakening," we meet Alexander Eden, a tormented teenager who navigates the challenges of being a social outcast and enduring relentless bullying. His life takes a remarkable turn when he encounters Gabriella De Luca, an enigmatic and captivating figure who sees something special in Alex. Meczes expertly navigates the complexities of teenage emotions, portraying Alex's sense of alienation and yearning for acceptance with poignant authenticity.
The narrative takes a dramatic twist as Alex is thrust into an astonishing world he never imagined existed. As he discovers his own unique abilities, he realizes that he and others like him are humanity's last hope against an ancient and malevolent force. Meczes skillfully builds suspense, gradually revealing the layers of a hidden reality and the challenges that Alex must face.
The strength of "The Awakening" lies not only in its supernatural elements but also in the depth of its characters. Alex's personal growth and transformation are at the heart of the story, and readers will find themselves rooting for him as he confronts his insecurities and steps into his newfound role. The chemistry between Alex and Gabriella adds an intriguing layer of romance and intrigue to the narrative, further drawing readers into their world.
Meczes's writing is both evocative and immersive, creating a vivid portrayal of the paranormal world that Alex becomes a part of. The pacing keeps readers engaged, striking a balance between character development and plot progression. As the story unfolds, secrets are unveiled, alliances are formed, and a sense of impending danger looms large.
"The Awakening" serves as an exceptional introduction to the Hasea Chronicles, promising readers an epic journey through a realm of dark forces, inner conflicts, and unexpected heroism. Stuart Meczes has masterfully laid the foundation for a series that will undoubtedly captivate fans of paranormal urban fantasy and leave them eagerly anticipating the next installment.
July 18, 2021
An excellent fist novel about the supernatural and many different kinds of awakening that occur to a teen age hero, Alex. The story starts with our hero, Alex, as the social reject of his high school. He's ridiculed and humiliated unmercifully every day. And then there's the physical bullying and beatings he endures, too, at the hands of one of the school administrators hoodlum son and his gang. It's heartbreaking and easy to root for young Alex - wishing he will get some kind of break from his relentlessly horrible life. Add to this that he longs for his real father, long since passed, and is treated horribly by his step father and seemingly clueless mother. It's a hard scene to bear.
From there, young Alex has a number of different kinds of awakening. He's awakened to friendship, even to love, to paranormal events normally hidden from humans, and eventually to his own personal awakening as a soul gifted with supernatural abilities as natures way to try to balance the growing power of evil. Along the way, Alex meets and falls deeply in love with his soul mate in a very well done, subtle and complex budding relationship.
The rest of the story is fairly complex, involving a parallel world called Pandemonium where the terrible "endless war" has been going on for centuries until it has spilled all to far into our unsuspecting world. Alex joins a group dedicated to trying to protect this world from the creatures coming over from the other side.
But Alex is one of the first awakenings in many years - and everything indicates he's special in some way unknown to him. This is especially obvious because the evil lord from the other side makes Alex the single target of his considerable armies.
Read the story to get all the rest. The climax is so gripping there was no way I could put it down once the final scenes began to unfold!
From there, young Alex has a number of different kinds of awakening. He's awakened to friendship, even to love, to paranormal events normally hidden from humans, and eventually to his own personal awakening as a soul gifted with supernatural abilities as natures way to try to balance the growing power of evil. Along the way, Alex meets and falls deeply in love with his soul mate in a very well done, subtle and complex budding relationship.
The rest of the story is fairly complex, involving a parallel world called Pandemonium where the terrible "endless war" has been going on for centuries until it has spilled all to far into our unsuspecting world. Alex joins a group dedicated to trying to protect this world from the creatures coming over from the other side.
But Alex is one of the first awakenings in many years - and everything indicates he's special in some way unknown to him. This is especially obvious because the evil lord from the other side makes Alex the single target of his considerable armies.
Read the story to get all the rest. The climax is so gripping there was no way I could put it down once the final scenes began to unfold!
September 18, 2023
The Awakening is the first book in the Hasea Chronicles series and it is the perfect setup for this fast-paced, action-packed fantasy series. There is so much of this book that I enjoyed like the diverse mix of characters, the intense fighting, surprising twists and the adorable romance that just fills the void in my heart. I was entirely surprised by how many emotions I went through reading this. I ended up getting so attached to the characters and love the bond all of the Orion have.
We start off by following Alexander, just a normal teenager through his tough time at school. He is faced with horrible bullies on a daily basis and doesn’t have many friends to turn to. So let’s just say he isn’t having a very nice time. This all changes when the gorgeous new girl, Gabriella takes a keen interest in him and he soon starts to realise his life is going to be anything but normal from now on. It was a bit slow to start with for me but it really does pick up the pace as you get to find out more about this dangerous, dark new world.
I really love how we got a couple of different background stories of some of the characters we meet along the way. This really stood out to me as it added a whole new level to the characters and the story.
The world building in this book is fantastic and completely immersive. I love being able to picture things from the overall world down to the little details like the clothes and characters actions. The author paints such a vivid paranormal world and I couldn’t get enough of it. It is also jam packed full of action which is extremely exciting and great to visualise with all the different powers the characters have as well as the mix of paranormal beings as well.
Overall, The Awakening is such an adrenaline-fueled, urban fantasy full of excellent characters, a gripping plot that sucks you into the story! I went through a whole series of emotions reading this book and I am so excited to delve into the next book to see what happens because I am reeling after the ending! I can’t recommend this enough to anyone who loves YA fantasy.
A big thank you to Stuart Meczes for sending me an e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
We start off by following Alexander, just a normal teenager through his tough time at school. He is faced with horrible bullies on a daily basis and doesn’t have many friends to turn to. So let’s just say he isn’t having a very nice time. This all changes when the gorgeous new girl, Gabriella takes a keen interest in him and he soon starts to realise his life is going to be anything but normal from now on. It was a bit slow to start with for me but it really does pick up the pace as you get to find out more about this dangerous, dark new world.
I really love how we got a couple of different background stories of some of the characters we meet along the way. This really stood out to me as it added a whole new level to the characters and the story.
The world building in this book is fantastic and completely immersive. I love being able to picture things from the overall world down to the little details like the clothes and characters actions. The author paints such a vivid paranormal world and I couldn’t get enough of it. It is also jam packed full of action which is extremely exciting and great to visualise with all the different powers the characters have as well as the mix of paranormal beings as well.
Overall, The Awakening is such an adrenaline-fueled, urban fantasy full of excellent characters, a gripping plot that sucks you into the story! I went through a whole series of emotions reading this book and I am so excited to delve into the next book to see what happens because I am reeling after the ending! I can’t recommend this enough to anyone who loves YA fantasy.
A big thank you to Stuart Meczes for sending me an e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
December 13, 2020
A bit predicable. Very easy to guess what's going to happen, so not too much tension. The main character is a bit of a Mary Sue. He immediately becomes perfect and then everything is smooth sailing for him. Suddenly he is good at everything. Sometimes I was not sure whether I was reading Spiderman, Shadow hunters or Harry Potter with dash of X men.
The leather costume with katanas was a bit too on the nose for me. Some people can have wierd obsession with fighting style thats takes a lot time to perfect and he is just able to do it flawlessly. Katanas in any Western ya fantasy are a bit meh for me, as I feel they are only put there because of the cool factor, not usefulness factor. I mean two of them on his back? Katana is a two handed weapon...
At some point I found his brother much more interesting than Alex. That's point of view I am interested to see. Mickey is the future. So bonus for Mickey. Cool dude.
Also not fan of a exposition monologue back stories. Seems like everyone just feels the need to tell him his back story. Midnight and Ella back story felt a bit standard YA fantasy trope.
But for a first book not bad. So 2,5. The writing style was engaging and the words flow off the page nicely. It's not bad for an easy read but definitely better for younger audience or teenagers who are starting with YA genre.
The leather costume with katanas was a bit too on the nose for me. Some people can have wierd obsession with fighting style thats takes a lot time to perfect and he is just able to do it flawlessly. Katanas in any Western ya fantasy are a bit meh for me, as I feel they are only put there because of the cool factor, not usefulness factor. I mean two of them on his back? Katana is a two handed weapon...
At some point I found his brother much more interesting than Alex. That's point of view I am interested to see. Mickey is the future. So bonus for Mickey. Cool dude.
Also not fan of a exposition monologue back stories. Seems like everyone just feels the need to tell him his back story. Midnight and Ella back story felt a bit standard YA fantasy trope.
But for a first book not bad. So 2,5. The writing style was engaging and the words flow off the page nicely. It's not bad for an easy read but definitely better for younger audience or teenagers who are starting with YA genre.
dnf
July 20, 2025Nerdy guy gets bullied at school and is a social pariah. Hot girl from Italy moves to London and likes him but dislikes everyone else. Nerdy guy (Alexander) gets super powers, is suddenly good looking, has an Audi just handed to him along with new fashionable clothes, and has the admiration of his peers. They all like him now and he lets it slide how not a single one of them (except Tim) spoke to him at all in a kind way. Then he predictably beats up the bully who was absent for days for no reason.
The thing that bothered me most is that Alexander’s mother whispered something into his ear after he got his powers. We don’t hear what it is. It’s then referenced a couple of times a different points. We still don’t know what she said. Why is this a secret? I can’t help but wondering if the author meant to tell us and then forgot.
This honestly reads like the hopes and dreams of a kid who’s been bullied his whole life. I get that. This is just too outrageous to be a solid story. I’m sure answers are somewhere but I’m not interested in slogging through the 79% that remains to find out.
The thing that bothered me most is that Alexander’s mother whispered something into his ear after he got his powers. We don’t hear what it is. It’s then referenced a couple of times a different points. We still don’t know what she said. Why is this a secret? I can’t help but wondering if the author meant to tell us and then forgot.
This honestly reads like the hopes and dreams of a kid who’s been bullied his whole life. I get that. This is just too outrageous to be a solid story. I’m sure answers are somewhere but I’m not interested in slogging through the 79% that remains to find out.
January 20, 2022
Let me preface this by saying that the writing itself was enjoyable. Despite many characters, I didn't have trouble remembering who was who. That's about it for the positives.
The plot itself is a trite wish-fulfillment story. Boy gets bullied at work, suddenly gets powers, is suddenly strong and popular and good-looking. He gets a car, new clothes and no one bats an eye, he gets solid sums deposited at his bank account, enough to buy diamond necklaces, even. I want to see the look on tax collectors' faces when they see that.
Despite the attempt, there is little conflict, no
The plot itself is a trite wish-fulfillment story. Boy gets bullied at work, suddenly gets powers, is suddenly strong and popular and good-looking. He gets a car, new clothes and no one bats an eye, he gets solid sums deposited at his bank account, enough to buy diamond necklaces, even. I want to see the look on tax collectors' faces when they see that.
Despite the attempt, there is little conflict, no
June 23, 2022
It's honestly not bad. It's just that Alexander is a bit much of a Mary Sue. That shouldn't be a surprise. It's the author's first book and it's a YA Hero story, so being a touch cliche-heavy should probably be expected. But, the pacing is quite a bit off with a third of the book pummeling Alexander into a pulpy sad sack and then non-stop fights for the remaining two-thirds. It could almost use an extra thirty pages just to move some of the character development into the latter half and not bore the reader into submission in the beginning.
October 8, 2019
This is your: highschool scrawny Jewish kid with glasses grow balls and chest hair story for people with reading disabilities. The characters are petty and pretentious, and the main conflict is childish and unreasonable. BUT, if you like to reinforce your self-esteem by bringing justice to forces of evil and fantasize about the things you lack in life, this is the book for you.
October 16, 2017
Not enough depth and somewhat childish (i.e. in terms of predictability). The storyline is easy to follow and the book reads quickly. So not bad to kill some time in terms of escapism, however, it only gets 3 stars.
February 5, 2018
this felt like i was reading twilight. UHHGGGG
December 18, 2018
This was a great start to this series if being chosen is what it takes to be the star of this book then you must be chosen to read this its amazing get this series asap
October 28, 2020
Reads easily, but painfully packed with cliches and the wish fulfilment of a teenage boy.
May 27, 2021
Good book
Good characters. Good description of characters. Good storyline. Great battle scenes. Read it all the way to the end. A good read
Good characters. Good description of characters. Good storyline. Great battle scenes. Read it all the way to the end. A good read
September 28, 2023
fantastic
This is such an interesting concept for a fantasy story and excellently executed!! I can’t wait to read the rest.
This is such an interesting concept for a fantasy story and excellently executed!! I can’t wait to read the rest.
December 2, 2025
It's just too much of a predictable YA superhero story, that didn't reach my adult heart.
October 22, 2023
I really liked the premise of the book and the entire series. This of course led to me picking up the first book and giving it a try! I was immediately intrigued. At first, I was a little confused with the events that were unfolding, but as I read on, I fell in love with each of the characters and the whole world that the author created.
The story follows protagonist Alex as he struggles to navigate through high school while his step-brother, who is younger, is the perfect one who is popular, into sports and generally well-liked all around. The dynamics of the two brothers evolves as the story progresses and I love how they learn to trust one another and rely on each other.
Gabriella is interesting and mysterious, entering the story suddenly but taking stage by storm. I really enjoyed getting to know her and how her relationship with Alex evolves. There is a lot more than meets the eye and Alex is about to be thrown into a world that he did not expect as well as learn secrets and uncover truths that were very well hidden.
As the story builds, the first book focuses entirely on Alex and how he finds himself and his place in the world, makes friends and eventually ends up being someone everyone relies on. I have to admit, that this is just one side of the whole plot and am looking forward to Book 2 which hopefully helps to explain some of the mysteries and story lines kept open in Book 1.
The story follows protagonist Alex as he struggles to navigate through high school while his step-brother, who is younger, is the perfect one who is popular, into sports and generally well-liked all around. The dynamics of the two brothers evolves as the story progresses and I love how they learn to trust one another and rely on each other.
Gabriella is interesting and mysterious, entering the story suddenly but taking stage by storm. I really enjoyed getting to know her and how her relationship with Alex evolves. There is a lot more than meets the eye and Alex is about to be thrown into a world that he did not expect as well as learn secrets and uncover truths that were very well hidden.
As the story builds, the first book focuses entirely on Alex and how he finds himself and his place in the world, makes friends and eventually ends up being someone everyone relies on. I have to admit, that this is just one side of the whole plot and am looking forward to Book 2 which hopefully helps to explain some of the mysteries and story lines kept open in Book 1.
March 7, 2016
When you begin this book, it takes a bit to get use to the idea that the writer is trying to express. It is almost like a jumble of ideas floating around but you have yet to figure out who they are all connected.
This is not your typical paranormal type of book. In this world, or worlds, you will find a new idea of where the different paranormal types come from. But to get to that point you have to go though the jumble of ideas in the beginning.
I almost stopped reading the book altogether. I did stop, and read a few others in between finishing the book. Mainly because it was starting to frustrate me. But after I got past the jumble of ideas, I discovered it to be a great read. You just have to find the patience to keep reading, because you will then discover the mystery behind what is going on in the book.
A boy, Alexander Eden, who is bullied by kids at school & even his own stepfather (which you find out why later in the book) discovers that he is not exactly like the others he goes to school with. He shares part of this with this (half-)brother, Mikey, because he needs to be able to discuss it with someone he can truly trust.
Then enters the Gabriella De Luca, who has all the answers he needs but is there to watch him. To ensure that he makes it though the transition he is going though. But there is more to Ella than what appears in the beginning, and she must decide if she can trust Alex enough to tell him.
You will read about a large variety of types of individuals (Sage Faru, Midnight, Delagio, Sylvia, Scarlett, Dakin, Tyler, Rachel, Sophia, Selene, Lafelei, Mikey, Sage Etorre, Sage Asmund …). Each of them has a tale that improves upon the story. Each of them is just as valuable to the story as Alex & Ella, because without them … the story would crash and be nothing.
In the end, you find the jumble of ideas in the beginning to make more sense. The mystery becomes crystal clear, and you are glad you took the time to read the story.
I am looking forward to reading book two in this series. Mr. Meczes has an interesting way of putting a jumble of ideas together creating a world & story that pull you in. It is rare to find a writer that can frustrate you but keep you reading, slowly pulling you into a story.
This is not your typical paranormal type of book. In this world, or worlds, you will find a new idea of where the different paranormal types come from. But to get to that point you have to go though the jumble of ideas in the beginning.
I almost stopped reading the book altogether. I did stop, and read a few others in between finishing the book. Mainly because it was starting to frustrate me. But after I got past the jumble of ideas, I discovered it to be a great read. You just have to find the patience to keep reading, because you will then discover the mystery behind what is going on in the book.
A boy, Alexander Eden, who is bullied by kids at school & even his own stepfather (which you find out why later in the book) discovers that he is not exactly like the others he goes to school with. He shares part of this with this (half-)brother, Mikey, because he needs to be able to discuss it with someone he can truly trust.
Then enters the Gabriella De Luca, who has all the answers he needs but is there to watch him. To ensure that he makes it though the transition he is going though. But there is more to Ella than what appears in the beginning, and she must decide if she can trust Alex enough to tell him.
You will read about a large variety of types of individuals (Sage Faru, Midnight, Delagio, Sylvia, Scarlett, Dakin, Tyler, Rachel, Sophia, Selene, Lafelei, Mikey, Sage Etorre, Sage Asmund …). Each of them has a tale that improves upon the story. Each of them is just as valuable to the story as Alex & Ella, because without them … the story would crash and be nothing.
In the end, you find the jumble of ideas in the beginning to make more sense. The mystery becomes crystal clear, and you are glad you took the time to read the story.
I am looking forward to reading book two in this series. Mr. Meczes has an interesting way of putting a jumble of ideas together creating a world & story that pull you in. It is rare to find a writer that can frustrate you but keep you reading, slowly pulling you into a story.
August 13, 2012
My Thoughts:
Don't you just love the tense moment in the book title is used? Gosh, so do I ;)
This book is packed with literally everything you could possibly ask for in any book. I love this book to pieces and is my first urban fantasy. The mix of the supernatural creature all in one book was an enjoyment and refreshing as many of the books that I have come across only focus on the one. Everything was so perfectly written, with detailed descriptions that fascinated me, and Alexander's narration throughout the book is goes through the stages of funny, sad and serious. I loved the small details during the school scenes that made it more realistic, believable, and relatable. All the characters where all so intriguing and I loved reading about there in-depth history, also how when you learn about a character they get their own character chapter in their point of view.
The twists don't stop, which made this book such a page turner!
To compared this book to another I can only say that if you are a fan of I Am Number Four, which I am, there are some similarities here, the new powers and also the hunting of the boy. But where I Am Number Four focuses more on one person, The Awakening includes the whole world, including us! I also think that Alex is much more of a certain character whereas Number Four is more search-for-everything-and-things-may-happen, which makes Alex much more likable as a character.
One downer to this book is the punctuation mistakes. You will come across the occasional "oh, they missed speech marks here" but other than that everything else in awesome :)
If you enjoyed reading books like:
Gone - Michael Grant
The Maze Runner - James Dashner
I Am Number Four - Pittacus Lore (aka James Frey)
Your will enjoy this book, most definitely!
Recommend or Not? Yes, yes, yes! I really hope this will be the next big thing! Stuart Meczes has done a brilliant job and I have to bow down to the creativeness in this book
Don't you just love the tense moment in the book title is used? Gosh, so do I ;)
This book is packed with literally everything you could possibly ask for in any book. I love this book to pieces and is my first urban fantasy. The mix of the supernatural creature all in one book was an enjoyment and refreshing as many of the books that I have come across only focus on the one. Everything was so perfectly written, with detailed descriptions that fascinated me, and Alexander's narration throughout the book is goes through the stages of funny, sad and serious. I loved the small details during the school scenes that made it more realistic, believable, and relatable. All the characters where all so intriguing and I loved reading about there in-depth history, also how when you learn about a character they get their own character chapter in their point of view.
The twists don't stop, which made this book such a page turner!
To compared this book to another I can only say that if you are a fan of I Am Number Four, which I am, there are some similarities here, the new powers and also the hunting of the boy. But where I Am Number Four focuses more on one person, The Awakening includes the whole world, including us! I also think that Alex is much more of a certain character whereas Number Four is more search-for-everything-and-things-may-happen, which makes Alex much more likable as a character.
One downer to this book is the punctuation mistakes. You will come across the occasional "oh, they missed speech marks here" but other than that everything else in awesome :)
If you enjoyed reading books like:
Gone - Michael Grant
The Maze Runner - James Dashner
I Am Number Four - Pittacus Lore (aka James Frey)
Your will enjoy this book, most definitely!
Recommend or Not? Yes, yes, yes! I really hope this will be the next big thing! Stuart Meczes has done a brilliant job and I have to bow down to the creativeness in this book
June 11, 2012
Stuart Meczes has created a wild ride with 'The Awakening'!
This book is much like a mash-up of the X-Men, Lost Girl, The Chronicle of Narnia, and Underworld. It has heroes with super-powers. It has monsters of myth and legend, it has epic battles between good and evil, and it has lots of guns and swords!
I enjoyed reading this story for so many reasons. The main character, Alexander (Alex) Eden, was well developed and the reader quickly gains an empathy with his situations in life. He is an awkward teenager who is the victim of constant bullying and oppression from class mates AND his over-bearing stepfather. I found myself wanting to cheer him on from very early in the story.
The fantastic twists begin with the introduction of Gabriella De Luca, the student transfer from Italy. It seems that she may be more than she seems, she may just have powers...
I don't want to spoil anything beyond what the author's blurb has already given away. I will say that the book has elements of bullied teen, mystery, superhero, urban fantasy, secret societies, and even a bit of romance...how can anyone not want to read it?
This is some of the most interesting myth and world building I have read in a couple of years, awesome and intense. Each chapter builds on the foundation to add a brilliant depth.
I would love to give this book 5 stars, and it came close. Unfortunately, it needs a good run through by an editor. There are many sentences that are missing a word; usually 'and', 'the' or 'of'. this happens 1 or 2 times in nearly every chapter. Get an editor to clean it up and it will be almost flawless!
I recommend this for high school and up readers who like paranormal or urban fantasy, and also those who love action and superheroes. There are some adult situations with underage drinking and sexuality, so I don't recommend for readers under 16.
This book is much like a mash-up of the X-Men, Lost Girl, The Chronicle of Narnia, and Underworld. It has heroes with super-powers. It has monsters of myth and legend, it has epic battles between good and evil, and it has lots of guns and swords!
I enjoyed reading this story for so many reasons. The main character, Alexander (Alex) Eden, was well developed and the reader quickly gains an empathy with his situations in life. He is an awkward teenager who is the victim of constant bullying and oppression from class mates AND his over-bearing stepfather. I found myself wanting to cheer him on from very early in the story.
The fantastic twists begin with the introduction of Gabriella De Luca, the student transfer from Italy. It seems that she may be more than she seems, she may just have powers...
I don't want to spoil anything beyond what the author's blurb has already given away. I will say that the book has elements of bullied teen, mystery, superhero, urban fantasy, secret societies, and even a bit of romance...how can anyone not want to read it?
This is some of the most interesting myth and world building I have read in a couple of years, awesome and intense. Each chapter builds on the foundation to add a brilliant depth.
I would love to give this book 5 stars, and it came close. Unfortunately, it needs a good run through by an editor. There are many sentences that are missing a word; usually 'and', 'the' or 'of'. this happens 1 or 2 times in nearly every chapter. Get an editor to clean it up and it will be almost flawless!
I recommend this for high school and up readers who like paranormal or urban fantasy, and also those who love action and superheroes. There are some adult situations with underage drinking and sexuality, so I don't recommend for readers under 16.
July 5, 2015
I haven't read a YA novel in a while and so when I saw this ebook of The Awakening by Stuart Meczes, I couldn't wait to give it a go. I find YA books quick and easy to read with really great stories. This ebook is the first part of an urban fantasy series called The Hasea Chronicles. The second and third instalments are The Veil Corruption and Without A Heartbeat.
I have never read a fantasy series that has taken my breath away like The Awakening did with me. I have been totally hooked on this series, and as I write this I am halfway through the second instalment - The Veil Corruption. But I had to stop to write this review on The Awakening!
Stuart Meczes has created a brilliant concept of another world called Pandemonium which has endured an 'endless war' for centuries combining it with our world where a group called The Chosen protect our world from the evil that is trying to get across.
The main character Alex Eden starts the story off by being a normal teenager that gets cruelly picked on at school and is subsequently a geeky loner. His life is the same everyday, trying to avoid getting picked on by the school bully. One day his life changes when a new student called Gabriella De Luca shows up in his class. From here on she helps him discover the real Alex and helps him through his 'Awakening'.
It is very rare for me to love absolutely everything about a book, but this is definitely one of them. It gives you the story of a journey for a young man, through love, loss and survival.
I have given The Awakening by Stuart Meczes 5 out of 5 stars.
I have never read a fantasy series that has taken my breath away like The Awakening did with me. I have been totally hooked on this series, and as I write this I am halfway through the second instalment - The Veil Corruption. But I had to stop to write this review on The Awakening!
Stuart Meczes has created a brilliant concept of another world called Pandemonium which has endured an 'endless war' for centuries combining it with our world where a group called The Chosen protect our world from the evil that is trying to get across.
The main character Alex Eden starts the story off by being a normal teenager that gets cruelly picked on at school and is subsequently a geeky loner. His life is the same everyday, trying to avoid getting picked on by the school bully. One day his life changes when a new student called Gabriella De Luca shows up in his class. From here on she helps him discover the real Alex and helps him through his 'Awakening'.
It is very rare for me to love absolutely everything about a book, but this is definitely one of them. It gives you the story of a journey for a young man, through love, loss and survival.
I have given The Awakening by Stuart Meczes 5 out of 5 stars.
March 19, 2012
It's a really great read, which you feel and root for the two main characters and the others that are their friends.
I'm not going to give away too much of the story, but it is a really good story of how a no-body becomes a somebody. A hero to some, a saviour to others. It's a great story of good vs. evil.
There is plenty of action, well detailed and written.
It's dark in nature. You feel for Alex, the way he is at school. The way he gets treated because he is zero, nothing in the eyes of everyone at school. That changes overnight, and the way the book reads and explains the changes in people's attitudes against Alex is really well done.
I would of given 5 stars, but I felt the story went over to many times the way Alex felt and how he was treated at school after his amazing transformation. He lingered on it too much. The way he was hard done by.
I was nearly screaming at the character to 'wake the hell up!' after reading for the hundredth time that such and such treated him like a snail.
The bully aspect is really good, and anyone who has been in that position will relate to it.
All in all it's an excellent story. Well worth every penny. Hard hitting, sad, heroic and keeps you reading.
If this is a sign of things to come, then the sequel should be great!
I'm not going to give away too much of the story, but it is a really good story of how a no-body becomes a somebody. A hero to some, a saviour to others. It's a great story of good vs. evil.
There is plenty of action, well detailed and written.
It's dark in nature. You feel for Alex, the way he is at school. The way he gets treated because he is zero, nothing in the eyes of everyone at school. That changes overnight, and the way the book reads and explains the changes in people's attitudes against Alex is really well done.
I would of given 5 stars, but I felt the story went over to many times the way Alex felt and how he was treated at school after his amazing transformation. He lingered on it too much. The way he was hard done by.
I was nearly screaming at the character to 'wake the hell up!' after reading for the hundredth time that such and such treated him like a snail.
The bully aspect is really good, and anyone who has been in that position will relate to it.
All in all it's an excellent story. Well worth every penny. Hard hitting, sad, heroic and keeps you reading.
If this is a sign of things to come, then the sequel should be great!
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