Quest of Awakening

The Quest of Awakening Saga #1

by Daniel Dickson

'Eragon' meets 'Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda' in this queer YA fantasy adventure that will leave you breathless until the last page.
With war threatening to shatter Ivearth's 500 years of peace, Prince Xavier embarks on a perilous quest to the mystical isle of Hom to claim a dragon and secure his place as king. But a dragon can only bond with someone true to themselves, forcing Xavier to confront his deepest fears. His truth, if revealed, could destroy the monarchy, the kingdom and the faith he serves.
Accompanied by a newly-heartbroken magical creatures expert, and a fearless steamboat captain, Xavier braves mermaid-infested waters and faces off against fearsome dragons. But the trio soon learns Hom calls on them to confront the obstacles that lie within. For Xavier, dangerous feelings for someone unexpected becomes the trigger to confronting all he has suppressed.
Get swept away with this action-packed coming-of-age adventure filled with love, friendship, and self-discovery. Will Xavier be successful in his mission? Or will his journey lead him down a different path, one that could alter the course of history forever?

Genres: Fantasy, Queer, Romance, Audiobook, LGBT, Young Adult, Dragons

312 pages, Hardcover

Published May 19, 2023

About the author

Daniel Dickson is a Glasgow-based author and cognitive behavioral therapist with a passion for impactful storytelling. With formal education in various aspects of professional writing, psychology, and counseling, he strives to help people find self-love and thrive through his writing and clinical practice. In his free time, he enjoys practicing meditation, taking walks in nature with his rescue dog Willow, reading books across a range of genres especially fantasy and sci-fi, and traveling to explore new cultures. His favorite book is Humans by Matt Haig, and he's a film buff with a particular fondness for the movie Donnie Darko. As a spiritual person with influences from Buddhism, Eastern and Western philosophy, and psychology, Daniel believes his stories can promote acceptance and contribute to creating a more peaceful and unified world.

Reviews

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

So one night I was scrolling through all the queer reads storytel has to offer, you know since I’m in denial about my 100+ physical TBR. And I came upon this beautiful book. Like how can you miss a cover like that? It’s gorgeous. Also it’s gay and has dragons, so I immediately decided that this would be a fantastic book. Common what’s better than dragons? I’ll tell ya, gay dragons. Being gay makes everything better. My hating throne of glass would’ve been fixed if Celaena Sardine had just been a lesbian.

Quest of Awakening follows Xavier, crown prince to a kingdom at the brink of war. With big shoes to fill and an even bigger tradition to follow, Xavier goes on a quest to the island Hom to claim his own dragon. But a bond with a dragon requires the prince to be true to himself and Xavier has been in denial about his secret for years. Accompanied by Leander, a specialist in magical creatures and Cassia, a fierce sea captain who knows her way with a sword, the trio experience difficult situations that force them to come face first with their struggles. But once the threats of danger come near, will Xavier really be able to succeed and bring home a dragon?

I’ll be honest here, this was my first time reading a fantasy book with very apparent homophobia. You’d expect to escape reality when you travel to a fantasy world, but this book didn’t shy away from showing what it’s really like to be queer in our world. Quest of Awakening explores the issues of legalizing homosexuality, religious trauma and the way your relationships with friends and family can change once you come out.

Okay so every fantasy book has a villain and this book's villain is the king of the opposing kingdom, Ruben. There’s not much to say about this character without any spoilers, however there was this one scene that i just had to talk about, because this can’t be a review by Roo without them making a joke. So there’s this scene like 50 pages into the book where Ruben is like walking alone with Xavier, because that’s normal when you live in a castle. And does Ruben do something villain-ie? Well I’ll answer that with another question. Is leaning in for a kiss and then pulling back at the last moment after you’ve decided that the other is in fact interested in the kiss considered villain-ie? Well that’s up to you. What I wanna talk about is this full on “HA I know you’re gay bitch!” moment. Like since when were we engaging in this gay trickery? Also this kiss was so unprovoked, insert my meme here. Like I didn’t get the memo that this was a moment, Xavier didn’t get the memo, no one got the memo. Like unless politics and war is like a huge turn on for Xavier I really don’t see how this was gonna be a moment. Like okay Ruben, werk. And you might be like “Roo isn’t this homophobic blackmail?” I mean sure it could be read that way, but there is no fucking way Ruben is straight. If that dude is straight, then hell I’m straight. Sure the dude is an asshole, but a lot of gay people are assholes, including me. In all seriousness I can see a lot of character development coming for mister Ruben, like he reeks of childhood trauma. And just hear me out, I can seriously see a love triangle with him involved. Like please I need my enemies to lovers moment.

Now let's talk about the actual love interest, Leander. Now Leander is a huge fucking nerd and we love that about him. But bro accidentally breaks the law because of his obsession with magical creatures. Luckily though the only witness to his crime was the very gay prince who just couldn’t stop thinking about whatever makes men attractive. Sorry I really don’t pay attention to monologues about how a man looks. However, describe a woman's fingers to me and I’m all ears. Yes, I do have my priorities straight. Anyway, back to what I wanted to talk about. Leander leads a very important story, that of the heart broken teenager who has not yet found himself and only thinks he’s worth anything if he has someone that loves him. So when his long term boyfriend breaks up with him, he’s devastated. So what’s the healthy thing to do? Suffocate yourself with studies and then whoops go on a deathly quest with a hot royal. Yup, that’s exactly what I’d do too, Leander.

Cassia was definitely a character I enjoyed. She somehow was cold while still feeling all her feelings. And I loved it. A badass female doesn’t have to shut her emotions off, it’s okay if she lets her walls down. And Cassia showed just that. Cassia definitely has a story that has yet to be told, and it most likely will be in the sequel (which I’m way too excited for) and the book ended in a cliffhanger about it and the author was constantly like poking at it, like literally dangling it my face then snatching it away. Also like women with swords, that’s all.

Now this is definitely the story that touched me the most, and that’s Xavier’s story. Because if you’re queer, especially gay you’ll most likely resonate with his storyline. And I’m very aware that I’m a young gay that didn’t have to deal with as much shit as other queer folk have, but bro I dealt with all that shit Xavier (another young gay) dealt with. Like the denial, the religious trauma, the not realizing you actually have a crush on someone for way too long (no I swear I didn’t realize my first crush until I was like three years into the friendship). And probably the biggest one, being terrified of coming out to your parents. Xavier’s internal monologues really brought me back and I definitely got emotional at times, but bro that one chapter, I’m not gonna say I teared up, but I definitely teared up. Why did it feel like the author just ripped my own thoughts out of my head and put it on paper. Also we love the best friend being an ally 💅

So what are my thoughts on this book? Bro, were you not paying attention to my rant? My thoughts are that you should read this book, like right now. Like shooo go. And also like sequel please 🥺I’m going to be reading the prequel to this soon and my gay ass is way too excited. This is definitely making it to my top 10 of 2023, which maybe doesn’t sound that impressive, but mate I’ve read 102. Also, I'm very hard to please. So read Quest of Awakening if you like dragons and the gays. Also read it if you don’t want me to come into your room at night and steal your books.

[jlreadstoperpetuity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quest of Awakening is a queer YA fantasy that combines the epicness of 'Eragon' with the emotional rollercoaster of 'Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda.' Let me tell you, this book has dragons! Dragons, people! And they're not your average, run-of-the-mill dragons either. They're fierce, majestic creatures that play a crucial role in the protagonist's journey.

The story revolves around Prince Xavier, who must venture to the mystical isle of Hom to find a dragon and secure his place as king. But here's the catch: the dragon can only bond with someone who's true to themselves. So, Xavier is forced to confront his deepest fears and reveal his true self, even if it means risking everything he holds dear.

Accompanied by a heartbroken magical creatures expert and a fearless steamboat captain, Xavier faces mermaids and dragons in a high-stakes adventure. But the real challenge lies within themselves. Xavier discovers that dangerous feelings for someone unexpected become the catalyst for confronting his suppressed emotions.

Quest of Awakening will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. It's a must-read for fans of fantasy, dragons, and stories that explore the depths of one's true identity. So grab a copy, buckle up, and prepare to be breathless!

[Toby walrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Quest of Canceling Your Weekend Plans 

I can’t remember the last time I rushed through a book so quickly! I downloaded the audiobook, aware I probably wasn’t the target audience. I struggle to get into fantasy. Instead, I spent three days glued to my headphones.

This book was everything I’ve ever needed. It was the perfect blend of contemporary fiction and young adult fantasy. It tackled social and political issues with a fantastic group of characters with entirely different perspectives. 

I’m so glad that we live in a time where fantasy like this is able to exist and thrive. This was the book I needed at 11 when I dealt with intense intrusive thoughts. I’d recommend this to anyone who thinks they don’t enjoy fantasy, and anyone craving acceptance for internalized homophobia and/or intrusive thinking.

There were certain parts where I was reassured of things I’d never dare say aloud. Fears I’d never admit to having. It was devastating, beautiful, and exactly what I needed.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great look at bigotry, homophobia, & religion. Decent fantasy story. I love that I stumbled across this on Spotify to listen to.

[Sydnie Nova · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a super interesting queer YA fantasy adventure with detailed world building and fantastical characters that leapt off the page. I'm excited to see how this tale continues in the next book! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A generous 3.5/5 stars

Quest for Awakening is a queer YA coming-of-age story disguised as a dragon fantasy. Prince Xavier must travel to the island of Hom to bond a dragon before being crowned king. Along the way, he encounters a magical creature expert Leander and a fearless steamboat captain Cassia. Seeing out-and-proud Leander, Xavier must confront a part of himself he has long denied because a dragon will only bond with someone true to himself.

There’s a lot to like about Quest of Awakening. You can tell that Daniel Dickson is passionate about confronting homophobia, and Xavier’s journey of acceptance really demonstrates that. I do think, however, that the modern vernacular and concepts about gender identity and sexual orientation he used here felt out of place in a fantasy story. Adapting these concepts into a language appropriate to a fantasy setting would have help make it feel more natural to the story. I do get what he was going for and appreciated the effort since I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this [confronting your own sexual orientation to fulfill your destiny] before in fantasy.

I did like the way the book contrasted the privileged Xavier to the “lesser” Leander who is an out, gay, adoptee of a different race. It goes to show how much Xavier still had to work and grow. I appreciated too the addition of Cassia’s perspective to the (as she calls them) “sketchy maniac with the magic powers and the ego-driven, sad sap prince”. She provided a refreshing voice to the boys’ and added some mystery with her unrecalled past.

This is the author’s debut novel, and it shows a bit. The narrative isn’t flowing as smoothly as I’m expecting it to, and it does feel disjointed at times with dropped details, leaps in plot, and inconsistent pacing. As a dragon fantasy, the dragons need to have presence and personalities, but they came across here more as tools than characters with their own agency. I don’t want to come off as being critical, but I do think this needs to be said.

Quest of Awakening is a good first effort but could still use some work.

*I received a free ebook copy as part of a book tour.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW// homophobia, homophobic slurs, suicidal thoughts and intent

For generations peace has prevailed among the Kingdoms, and heir after heir have embarked on the treacherous journey, on their eighteenth birthday, to the magical island of Hom. However, with the threat of war being brokered, Prince Xavier's quest to bond with a dragon and come back to take the throne holds more gravity to it than he could possibly imagine. And with dragons only bonding to those who are true and honest with themselves, harbouring an internal struggle with his own identity and self, Xavier's fears and inner anguish could just lead to the breakdown of the monarchy and the frail bonds throughout the Kingdoms.

This book was breathtakingly and profoundly moving. You can really feel the pain and heaviness Xavier carries, repressing his own feelings and desires to fit the mould expected and ingrained into him, to be dutiful, and marry a woman. The suffocation and inner torment is so tangible and heart-breaking to read. He's brought up in a society who oppresses and refuses to accept any other sexualities and gender identities that deviate from being cis-gendered and heterosexual. The fear and inner apathy towards queer desires or feelings that has been so deeply ingrained into his mind is palpable. I can only imagine just how terrifying it must be to push away who you are deep down, even to those you love and hold dear, and even more so to internalise that hatred and refuse to allow yourself to love who you are, and fully embrace and accept yourself.

I also just want to pop a quick shout out to Xavier's grandmother, that woman is a fierce, powerhouse, and I love how supportive and wholesome she is. Blunt and straightforward, almost to a point of rudeness but in a way that is so endearing and charming you can't help but stan her, she reminds me of my own nan.

Leander comes from a less affluent family of potato farmers, but that doesn't prevent him from dreaming of a revered and noble life. When his long-term partner Jorge is uprooted by his family, who are terrified of Leander's influence on him, he's heart-broken, and inconsolable, steeling his intent and determination to become a member of the sea police, a highly revered and respected career, protecting and serving the crown of Ivearth, to prove his worth to Jorge, and his parents. He's confident and open about being queer, and I absolutely adored his ferocity and bravery in such a violent and oppressive kingdom, who although have decriminalised homosexuality, do not encourage, or support it. On top of the brutality he is likely to face solely for his sexuality, he also takes the brunt of racism, but it doesn't hinder or lower his spirits, or prevent him from speaking out. He's a truly inspirational, incredible and empowering young man, who you are going to absolutely fall in love with.

You can definitely see the stark differences between Xavier and Leander's lives, how familial bonds and relationships, and the class system as a whole has influenced their feelings and abilities to accept themselves. At times Xavier can be insufferable and annoying, but it just shows the spoilt and sheltered background he hails from.

Cassia, the third part of our chaotic and beautiful little trio, forced together, doesn't know how she ended up where she is. She knows little of her life before being taken in by a farmer, but when he betrays her trust, she runs, with her faithful butterfly Cynthia guiding her. When she lands in Harbor Town, she rapidly makes her way up the ranks to Captain of the sea police. Cassia is fighting her own battles, and consistently exasperated by Prince Xavier and his constant need to be saved, not truly knowing who she is or where she's come from, and coming to Hom may just hold the answers to those burning and pressing questions, but may also rock the trajectory of her life, one way or another. She's hard-headed, chaotic, and an absolute force to be reckoned with. She has no filter and will say whatever she feels, she's a fierce warrior and an absolute joy to read, especially as she's a total enigma and you never quite know what'll come out of her mouth next, or what incredibly brave yet reckless thing she'll do, you just know it's gonna be epic!

There's only a few things I maybe struggled with within this story and that included the pace, it felt like the plot moved a little too slow at times, whereas some other areas could've been fleshed out a bit more as I think it could've added further depth and complexity to the plot. The character arcs at times felt a little overlooked as well, I don't know what about it was particularly falling flat for me but there just felt like there could've been more depth, if the story was just a little bit longer (Idk I'm probably making zero sense right now). I also found some of the interactions between the characters was a little bit below YA, at times it was spot on but at others it was maybe a bit more child-like, but that might just be a me problem here. Overall it was an absolute dream.

This story was beautifully and evocatively written, filled with tender and heart-warming relationships. It's a truly profoundly moving and emotional journey with a poignant and important message to embrace who you are and allow yourself to feel these feelings, to let go of the things that are holding you back, and that you are enough and deserved to be loved and accepted fully for who you are. It was just a breathtakingly enchanting coming of age with fantastical and refreshing takes on beloved and feared mythical creatures, and a richly imagined and vividly picturesque world with full of dragons and heart pounding adventure.

[E · Rating 1 out of 5]

(I TRIED BUT…) COULD NOT FINISH (TOO KIDDIE-CARTOONY FOR ME)

I don’t usually pick up YA books because I prefer more mature reading material, and this reminded me why I came up with that rule for myself in the first place. My bad, I guess; it seemed promising enough when I claimed an ARC of this on Booksprout. Though to be fair, I have read and enjoyed other YA books. But as much as I tried my best to get into this (forcing myself to keep reading even if I was bored out of my mind), I just wasn’t finding the characters nor the writing style even the slightest bit engaging. Even the brand of humour is the kind I don’t find funny at all (i.e. slapstick)(which is often the kind of humour used to entertain toddlers in cartoons)—and it didn’t help that I was greeted right at the opening scene with an egregious typo:

I keeled over and wretched.

Was this not professionally edited despite it being on its second edition and supposedly highly acclaimed (going by the staggering amount of testimonials prefacing this both in the blurb and the book introduction)?

It was also hard to move past the ludicrous notion that in this world, dragons lived INSIDE castles WITH the humans and NEEDED humans to “spoon-feed” them their meals as though they were human babies or household pets. Why in heaven’s name would dragons want to live cooped up in stuffy old castles, and why are they incapable of eating by themselves? I know this is YA, but I think even my 12-year-old self’s suspension of disbelief would have rebelled at such an off-the-rails postulation and DNF’d this book.

The pacing did not make this more digestible for me either. Instead of laying the foundations needed to make the main character and his problems more relatable, a lot of parts early on went off on a tangent and hyper focused on details totally irrelevant to the story and served as no more than filler meanderings that only dragged down the already sluggish and seemingly arbitrary narrative—often for the sake of bland attempts at comedy and nothing else. That alone made this even harder to take seriously, compounded by the unmistakably modern (and very American) dialogue that just felt so out of place for this story’s supposed setting that my mind couldn’t wrap itself around the contradictions, most especially the fact that this “very important” quest that was Xavier’s main crucible, was about taming dragons. Which normally would’ve impressed me as a daunting task indeed, but… How hard is it to tame dragons in a universe where “mighty and godlike” dragons are so easily domesticated that they practically live with humans, serve humans, and are dependent on humans for nourishment? The whole concept made for a very fanciful plot and a very weak lead character. (Though, that may be by design and others might find that worth reading about.)

Overall, everything just felt so senseless and disjointed, I can’t imagine how anyone other than tiny tots would be able to get on board with this. Perhaps the younger generation of today whose youth might find the lukewarm main character and story more relatable would find this entertaining enough to glean enjoyment from? Or maybe anyone looking for a light, cartoon-vibe read. At any rate, this wasn’t for me nor my young adult self.

[Juan Vazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent concept with lovely queer representation and fun characters.

What i loved:
This book is teaming with creativity. Concepts such as the water wolves or pulling from older, less known myths and creatures is a breath of fresh air. I loved the timing between introducing these creatures and when we actually interacted with them as well.

The characters and queer representation in the story is very fun as well. I enjoy the fact that we get to experience each of their personal journeys and that finding themselves doesn’t often involve the other characters. It allows us a moment to truly emerge ourselves in this perspective, and challenges our understanding by offering a new perspective of the same concept. The religious adversaries and judgements are not fictional, and in following Leander, perhaps queer readers may find peace in his personal liberation with their goddess. It really hits home if you have any religious trauma.

This plot is filled with fun twists and turns and brimming with humor as well as mystery. Many moments, especially involving Cassia and Cynthia, had me actually laughing out loud— to the confusion and concern of others— but very little stories have provoked such a genuine reaction. I have fallen in love with this characters and want to see more of their journey.

That being said, that does lead me into a big con i had with the overall storyline, particularly the ending. Pacing. This story is full of fun, magical ideas and differing storylines that it can sometimes feel like we’re jumping from one plot point to another, without simmering down from what just occurred. An example would be when our characters embarked on their journey and docked Cassia’s ship to sail to the island. Instead of getting to know the crew and spending time building the relationships between them, we immediately jump to a mermaid attack and the death of the crew and sinking of the ship. Nothing is wrong with these plot points, but more stillness, and time dedicated to character interaction would have made these deaths impactful. There are many more moments that are undercut by this breakneck speed of plot progression, and i think the ending specifically, truly suffers from this. With how much i enjoyed these characters, everything would have benefited from more time with them simply being. Many argue that filler is annoying, but filler allows us to truly get to know and understand the characters better and understand their motivations, thus creating a stronger bond between the reader and these characters.

I can’t wait to reader more!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Booksirens and Daniel Dickson for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Okay, I loved this book. The world building was intriguing and complex, and the characters were deep and very lovable. I was hooked from the first page. I loved that the characters each had their own story and reason to be on Hom, yet the plot was clear all the way through. I loved the dual POV, and reading about Xavier, Leander and Cassie. The dragons having a different colour depending on their ability was so creative, and something I haven't seen before. Besides all this, the pacing was just right, and it never once felt rushed. Another thing I really enjoyed was how easy it was to connect with the characters, even many of the minor ones.

Xavier's struggle with self acceptance was heartbreaking, and I loved seeing it progress throughout the story. It was beautiful to see him become his authentic self at the end, because he sure did deserve that. Leander struggling with getting over his first love and discovering new things about himself and his past was exciting, and the same goes for reading about Cassie's background and progress.

I loved seeing real life issues represented, like homophobia and slight transphobia. Leander talking about protests and wanting to smear blood on the country's flag to represent the death of queer people just hit me right in the feels, as it's so relevant for the current world situation, especially in USA. The same with the religious guilt Xavier was carrying, and the church's view on homosexuality. Real life issues are definitely something I want to see represented more in fantasy books.

My only critique would be Xavier being too main character and awakening the most powerful dragon ever who possesses all the different dragon abilities, though I love the irony of him being gay and getting the rainbow dragon. I did find that quite funny. This series has so much potential, and the book ending the way it did I cannot wait to read the next one!

[I'mogén · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Book Sirens and the author for granting me an e-arc. All opinions remain 100% my own.


This was a fun fantasy adventure story, focusing in queer representation.

I loved the themes of self worth, finding yourself, questioning your identity and the tie in with magic, dragons and impending war brought on from the unrest within the counties a part of the peace treaty.

We follow 3 characters: Prince Xavier, Leander and Cassia, the prior 2 being our two mains, I would say.

I enjoyed seeing how their friendship blossomed over for the duration of the novel and I'm glad we got to have Cassia's perspective from part two, because she came with a whole bag of mysteries that I was intrigued by.

I love how we got a representation of a rainbow near the end. It was very symbolic and I think I would have noticed that earlier in the cover art, had my digital copy been in colour (despite it being glaringly obvious anyway as I was using the colour cover to update on socials any way, haha).

I was frustrated by dumb things the characters would do or say in situations where a sensible course of action should have taken place (but I know, plot has to happen!).
For example, I'm all for inututuon and trusting your gut, but the amount of times this was used in the first few chapters alone about something completely unfamiliar (and excuse me if I paraphrase here) "just feeling safe", felt ridiculous when building a plot is concerned.

I also resented how the dragons were commanded about. These beings were were supposed to be these almighty creatures, a symbol of being in touch with nature, yourself and the spirit and revered by all, yet royalty demanded favors from them and used them like they were a utensle. It felt too slave-trade for comfort. This is probably a main reason why Xavier grated on me as much as he did. I found him to generally be quite whingey and entitled.

I think Leander was probably my favourite out of main trio but we still have so much to learn about them all.

Overall, a solid 3 stars.

Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén

[DB (DB's Guide to the Galaxy)]

Unfortunately the cover and synopsis deceived me. I thought it would be a high fantasy because it had the dragons and quests so my first thought with those are usually high fantasy books. And then when modern words and ideas appeared – trains, the word underwear (which can be used but sort of isn’t) I was fine because “oh it’s just a modern fantasy world”. I then grew more confused because formal words were used for family and then the grandmother… gets a granny? And on and on it went. If you want your fantasy world to be a modern one, that’s all good and well, but make it consistent?

The writing style was very difficult – both from a writer’s perspective and a reader’s. It also made it more confusing to figure out what kind of a fantasy it was because the way it was written would change regularly. The sentences, way the characters looked and spoke about things – went from a modern way to a “normal” fantasy way constantly. That sort of back and forth is difficult for readers to receive.

Ultimately, I think the author should’ve spent more time writing the book and working on improving his writing. I could see Dickson’s passionate about writing and the story he wanted to tell but unfortunately it was hard to see. Also, while I’m very fine with issues – real world ones – being in books but there’s… almost an acceptable amount and then there was what is included in this book? Which can either help or hinder a book – depending on the author and how they manage to write it/write it into the book.

[Precociousp · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the words of Dan Savage, "It gets better," and with "Quest of Awakening" by Daniel Dickerson, it truly does. This captivating fantasy saga opens up a world of dragons and intricate world-building that warmly welcomes LGBT main characters, offering a refreshing narrative for Gen Z and Alpha readers.

Dickerson's debut entry into the "Quest of Awakening" series is nothing short of remarkable. The first book, aptly titled after the series, introduces us to Prince Xavier as he comes of age at eighteen and prepares to ascend to the throne. Alongside him are Leander, the courageous gay son of a farmer, and Cassia, a bold steamboat captain with a mysterious past.

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in Dickerson's adept handling of various themes, including politics, self-acceptance, familial bonds, and the fight for justice and love. Through these elements, the author skillfully mirrors the challenges faced by LGBT young adults in today's society. "Quest of Awakening" is not just a fantasy adventure; it's a heartfelt coming-of-age tale that resonates with emotional depth, offering a beacon of hope and love at its conclusion.

Moreover, Stewart Crank's performance in the audiobook version elevates the narrative to new heights, capturing the essence of the genre with brilliance. Overall, "Quest of Awakening" promises an enchanting journey that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachael]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was quite disappointed with this book. It’s written like a middle grade book, the dialogue is weird and awkward, and the overall flow of the book feels the exact same as a not-good-stereotypical contemporary romance. I did not put a rating, because while I find the book 2/5, it has the kind of representation we need more of in literature. I can see someone who enjoys middle grade books to also enjoy this one, but the kind of diverse content felt forced. Personally, I’m looking for diverse representation in high fantasy without the focus of subplots be facing sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and racism. Why not make a world where homosexuality and equality are normal? They are definitely noticed when such things are shown as equal, and the amount of sexism in the world is like a slap to the face. We face so much hate in the real world, why replicate it into a fantasy one to teach valuable lessons when it can be done without the hate?

I didn’t make a rating simply because I want more queer and diverse content out there, and I don’t want to dissuade those who may enjoy the book from reading it when I simply didn’t like it. I don’t think it made its points super impactful, but that doesn’t make them any less important.

[Akansha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Pride Book Tours and Daniel Dickson for the review copy

Quest of Awakening follows the crown prince of Ivearth on his quest to bond with a dragon on his 18th b’day. While usually fantasy doesn’t has the theme of homophobia and characters questioning their sexuality, Quest of Awakening relies on it, which was also something different from the usual way fantasies go.

There are also a few povs for the other characters; such as Leander and Cassie and they have their subplots which give a holistic view of the entire plot.

Leander was my favorite, he was brave and so mature even though he was of the same age group as the others there were points it felt like he held the group together, he was the one making the most sense at times. Even though he was my favorite, I enjoyed Cassie’s pov so much with her witty remarks like “Delusion is contagious” etc, and she still never leaves the boys alone.

Xavier felt like a little spoilt prince who was ignorant most of the time but he was open to learning and kept improving throughout. Some of his comments irked me but he accepts his privileges and works on it which is the most you can ask from an 18-year-old.

Quest of Awakening deals with sensitive topics but the world-building is amazing and there are dragons which makes it an easy read. I loved it. 10/10 would recommend it.

[Two Odd Socks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: "Quest of Awakening" by Daniel Dickson - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Summary: Prince Xavier is now ready to bond with a dragon and save his kingdom, Ivearth, from war. While on his journey, he comes across a heartbroken Leander, and a captain of the sea police, Cassia. However, to bond with a dragon, Xavier needs to be true with himself and accept who he is.

Thoughts:

Thank you to the author and Booksirens for the ARC. I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

I appreciate the trigger warnings at the start of the book. This book deals with homophobia from family and internal thoughts. As someone who struggled with their sexuality, due to internal doubt, I did understand how Xavier was feeling throughout the book.

I'm interested to see where the story continues and it was nice to see Xavier grow as a character, and come to terms with his own sexuality. The relationship between Leander and Xavier was nice to see. Cassia's backstory, although shrouded in mystery, is something I would like to see in later books.

I thought this was a solid start for a debut novel.

[Sahana Ramnath · Rating 4 out of 5]

💫 Dragons! A questing adventure filled with many magical creatures and ending with one of the MCs choosing a dragon, this was so fun!
💫 This book is mainly narrated by the two characters on the cover, and there are a few chapters by a third character on the quest. I loved all 3 povs, the emotional journeys of these characters from the past and through the present were developed really well
💫 I also loved the romance ahh 😭 it's a royalty x commoner queer romance, with both the MCs facing different problems from their past (homophobia from self and family, past heartbreak), and their relationship development from strangers to friends to lovers was so lovely <3

TWs (taken from the book) - Suicidal ideation, grief, coming out, homophobia, medium level weapons use, fantasy violence, mild cursing and slurs.

-- ty to the author and pridebooktours for an advanced copy!

[Cleo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book. The synopsis makes it clear that the main character is gay and struggling to accept himself and his sexuality while preparing to take the throne of his kingdom - but I wasn’t sure if this was going to be more of an internal journey type of story or what.

It turned out this book was a beautiful mix of politics, self and familial acceptance, fighting for what is right and fighting for those we love. I loved both of the MMCs and the way they taught and pushed each other, but also supported each other through the numerous physical, mental, and emotional challenges they faced.

In a way, this book was a physical journey, a mental and spiritual journey, and a coming out story, tinged with magic, joy, hope and love. It was quite obvious the author set this up to have sequels and I cannot way to see what comes next!

[Irene Sejas · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily).
I really really loved this book so much!!
The characters are so great and lovable and well developed, you get attached to them so quickly hahah. And just because of that their story and struggles feel even more real to you.
And the worldbuilding??? Amazing, I was enthralled by it (I loved just how there were many of the real life struggles we have to deal with in here, in my opinion so well represented). I also loved the queer representation haha.
I am so excited to read the next book and see what else this author comes up with, the plot was also great so I have really big hopes :)
I really recommend this book!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I enjoyed the overall story and the main characters but feel that the book maybe needed one more edit. It was a little too much up and down with the situations happening to the characters. There were parts that I felt were really well written but some parts that just felt disjointed. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t absolutely love it either.

I think the book would be maybe be enjoyed more by someone in their teenage years but there are some minor sexual references that might not be appropriate for too young of an audience. Nothing too graphic but just something to be aware of.

[Apollo Cygrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing read. I believe this shed light on homophobia in an enticing way that many queer people experience. This book gives us many characters to relate to and it is very emotional, but paced a little too quickly. Also, I was a little taken aback from modern language used in the fantasy setting, however I don't think it affected immersion and storyline too much. I believe the additions to come will show much improvement from the author and I am very excited for upcoming releases. Overall, this book was amazing with all the mystical creatures and character development as they went along and grew into their own together. 9/10 !!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is 3.5 stars. If I rated books 3.75 stars, this story would get this rating ;)

I really enjoyed both main characters and this world was interesting. I didn't enjoy how much there were homophobia in this world. It was little bit too much homophobia in FANTASY world which the author creates themselves. The story gets better on this regard in the end but that's happened "little bit too late" for my liking.

I really hope that we will get a sequel or sequels because this book didn't give all the answers and many thing were left open. This book came out 10 month ago and there are still NO news about the sequel, so I'm hesitant to expect the sequel.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really intriguing complex world building and appealing characters. The dragons with different colours and powers were very interesting, as was the island. Sometimes I lost sight of the plot with all the different character POVs and details but after a little while it all made sense and I am very curious what will happen in the future. This works very well as a queer YA novel but is also suitable for adult reading.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Booksprout and am happy to leave a voluntary review.

[Daniela-Filipa]

I'm abstaining from rating bc I DNFed this. It might be someone else's cup of tea and I always celebrate diverse fantasy, but this didn't feel like YA as much as it did like middle school literature. Also, I don't read fantasy to be told that in this supposedly magical world that has dragons, and magic, discrimination works exactly the same as in the real world. It kind of hits you over the head with how pervasive homophobia and transphobia is in this world and that's just not what I look for in LGBTQIA romance and fantasy novels

[Little_Spookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and very engaging read. The characters are incredibly relatable and the story is easy to follow. We follow Xavier on his quest to discover his true self but will he be brave enough and strong enough to accept that truth and become who he is destined to be? The different character POVs are great and really add some depth to the characters. I can't wait for the next book. 

4.5 out of 5

[lynn mcelhinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The truth shall set you free!

A beautifully written adventure of magic, dragons and self discovery.
Living with the high expectations of everyone around him, and all the pressure that comes with being a Prince, the main character struggles with his suppressed feelings and denial of who he really is. Having grown up in a land of prejudice and bigotry, can he really overcome his fear and embrace all that he is?

I love the social issues brought to light in this YA fantasy book in genre that predominantly casts MC as male / female couples. Although the Prince is struggling with his sexuality, I found his self doubt and inner turmoil relatable to all mental health issues and insecurities.
I eagerly await book 2!

[John Fitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite an adventure!

A treasure trove of questions and glimpses of answers.
I felt the kindness, concern of the authors for all of his readers; especially for younger gay readers, who get little support from family and friends. When I was younger, a child hiding from retribution of being gay, I recognized Xavier’s feelings.
Namaste

[Morgane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

I actually really enjoyed this story, I liked the characters and their interactions and most of the world building ... But, there was no subtlety with the themes - it was very in your face to the point it felt a bit out of place in the world it was taking place in.

Overall I did end up enjoying listening to the audiobook, and I would recommend it.

[Caro | Mintcolouredpages · Rating 1 out of 5]

It had some nice interesting parts in the beginning but overall felt chaotic and rushed. There’s dragons and technological advances, blatant racism & homophobia and magic. Just a combination of a whole lot of things that wasn’t executed well in my opinion. Oh and a very rushed romance if I ever saw one

[Chey Mongeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book. I think it’s a great read for people in general, but especially young LGBTQ+ people. The world is wonderfully well made and the characters are a delight.

I hope this is the first of many books in this series, I can’t wait to read more!