What do you think?
Rate this book
Leopard People #0.5
The Awakening
Under the blazing heat of the Borneo sun, a beautiful naturalist’s dream comes true—to live among the feral jungle creatures. But an untamed, irresistible beast of another sort forces Maggie to explore her own wild side...
121 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2002
755 people are currently reading
3337 people want to read
About the author
Christine Feehan
156 books52.9k followersChristine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author multiple times over with her portfolio including over 100 published novels, including five series; Dark Series, GhostWalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, the Sisters of the Heart Series, Shadow Riders, Torpedo Ink and her Romantic Suspense novels. All of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestselling list as well. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature (PEARL) in 1999. Since then she has been published by various publishing houses including Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards since Dark Prince.
Her series include:
The Dark Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/darkb...
The GhostWalker series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/ghost...
The Leopard Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/leopa...
The Shadow Series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/shado...
Torpedo Ink series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/torpe...
IN HER WORDS:
I've been a writer all of my life -- it is who I am. I write for myself and always have. The ability to create pictures and emotions with words is such a miracle to me. I read everything; I mean everything! All kinds of books, even encyclopedias. I am fascinated by the written word and I love storytellers. It is a great privilege to be counted one myself. (www.christinefeehan.com)
Her series include:
The Dark Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/darkb...
The GhostWalker series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/ghost...
The Leopard Series - https://www.christinefeehan.com/leopa...
The Shadow Series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/shado...
Torpedo Ink series- https://www.christinefeehan.com/torpe...
IN HER WORDS:
I've been a writer all of my life -- it is who I am. I write for myself and always have. The ability to create pictures and emotions with words is such a miracle to me. I read everything; I mean everything! All kinds of books, even encyclopedias. I am fascinated by the written word and I love storytellers. It is a great privilege to be counted one myself. (www.christinefeehan.com)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
November 19, 2024
I was excited to read this short story after finding it more or less accidentally on the internet. It is available for free, and the story's summary was able to catch my interest. People turning into leopards? Sounds cool! So did I think before I read it. However, I didn't read a well-developed fantasy story with some elements of romance, as I initially thought. No, it was what felt like a porn story. Fortunately, the story was not too long and I have reached the last line after something like two hours.
First off, to say something positive about it, the atmosphere was wonderfully developed, and I felt like I was part of the rain forest, hearing the monkeys, feeling the leopard's presence, being surrounded by insects. Christine Feehan used a lot of words to describe the setting, which did not bother me at all.
However, I don't even know how to express my feelings about those two main protagonists. Maybe I should return to the story and count how many times the female protagonist's breasts were mentioned (fifty-one times) or how many times the male protagonist experienced an erection (ten times) - on not even fifty pages. Feehan included a lot of steamroller tactics in order to make the reader realize how much Maggie and Brandt are meant for each other.
As if that matter of fact would not have been obvious enough without this sentence.
Wait ... what?
Girl, you don't even know him for twenty-four hours. *headdesk* As if this was not enough, she already felt sexual tension before even getting to know Brandt, just by the feeling of his presence, and during their first confrontation, as she feared he might want something bad for her, she did not try to run away or get help, no - she actually ached for relief and wanted to have sex with him. Seriously? Knowing him for something like five minutes and fearing he might be a danger to her, she wanted to have sex with him? I get that they seem to be connected by some paranormal phenomena, but it does not change the way I feel about the protagonist - that she is dumb, boring and one-dimensional. The story actually seemed to define its characters by their sexuality. It was fantasy, of course, telling a story about shapeshifters and a paranormal romance, but very, very weak fantasy used to write a more or less innovative story about erotism.
First off, to say something positive about it, the atmosphere was wonderfully developed, and I felt like I was part of the rain forest, hearing the monkeys, feeling the leopard's presence, being surrounded by insects. Christine Feehan used a lot of words to describe the setting, which did not bother me at all.
However, I don't even know how to express my feelings about those two main protagonists. Maybe I should return to the story and count how many times the female protagonist's breasts were mentioned (fifty-one times) or how many times the male protagonist experienced an erection (ten times) - on not even fifty pages. Feehan included a lot of steamroller tactics in order to make the reader realize how much Maggie and Brandt are meant for each other.
He smiled at her, and a thousand butterfly wings brushed at the pit of her stomach.
As if that matter of fact would not have been obvious enough without this sentence.
Fascinated, she propped herself up on her elbows to watch his throat work as he swallowed the ice-cold liquid. He was so sexy, the simple act took her breath away. Just drinking water. And how had he managed to get her to trust him the way she did? She trusted everything he said with an instinct, a knowledge, that he was telling her the truth.
Wait ... what?
Girl, you don't even know him for twenty-four hours. *headdesk* As if this was not enough, she already felt sexual tension before even getting to know Brandt, just by the feeling of his presence, and during their first confrontation, as she feared he might want something bad for her, she did not try to run away or get help, no - she actually ached for relief and wanted to have sex with him. Seriously? Knowing him for something like five minutes and fearing he might be a danger to her, she wanted to have sex with him? I get that they seem to be connected by some paranormal phenomena, but it does not change the way I feel about the protagonist - that she is dumb, boring and one-dimensional. The story actually seemed to define its characters by their sexuality. It was fantasy, of course, telling a story about shapeshifters and a paranormal romance, but very, very weak fantasy used to write a more or less innovative story about erotism.
December 18, 2015
This was a romantic and sexy paranormal romance story, about people who can could shape-shift into leopards! I particularly liked that there was a storyline to this story, and it wasn’t just about the sex. The rest of the series should be interesting!
8 out of 10
8 out of 10
July 4, 2015
The Awakening is the first book in Christine Feehan’s Leopard Series , the world of sexy leopard shifters
The settings are vividly written and you are immersed into the life and fauna of the rainforest, which I really loved.
What a great start to a brand new series written by one of my favorite PNR authors.
We are introduced to the mystery of the rainforests and to Brandt Talbot, uber leopard shifter
He has been waiting all his life for finding his true mate and has manipulated ways in bringing her into his life and world, in the name of Maggie Odessa. She has returned to her place of birth and she will discover the secrets of her family and birthright.
Danger, action, mystery…..wow, what an adventure Maggie goes on as she travels deeper into the steamy jungle…..
then meeting a mysterious man that pulls at all her levels. Sensual, lust, sexual heat!!!!!
The settings are vividly written and you are immersed into the life and fauna of the rainforest, which I really loved.
What a great start to a brand new series written by one of my favorite PNR authors.
August 17, 2015
A nice introduction to the Leopard series. I'm late reading this, but I finally got an opportunity. I splurged and downloaded Fever (a duology of "The Awakening" and Wild Rain, which I've already read. This took me a while because I was listening to it on Kindle Text-To-Speech at bedtime, and I kept falling asleep and having to rewind.
We learn about the Leopard shifters and how their society and physiology works. We're along for the ride as Maggie Odessa goes to the Borneo rain forest to find out about her birth parents. She's been lured there by Brandt Talbot, the man who happens to be her destined mate. He's known for some time that she was his mate (in their race they spend lifetimes looking for their mates). Maggie has no idea that she's a Leopard shifter. She's getting some feelings and physiological changes that don't make sense and are actually quite embarrassing, including some amorous feelings when that wasn't a problem before now.
At first, Brandt seems a bit stalkerish. I don't mind that if it's done well. It was a little weird in this book. He was stalking along beside Maggie in panther form when she arrives with some of the Leopard Men to their village. I was like, could you just say hi already? I was glad he finally introduced himself, and I think that he did come a little too strong at first. However, I liked that he realized that his love for Maggie meant that he had to make sure she was happy with being with him. I like that it wasn't going to be a foregone conclusion that she would accept him. He gave her the choice. Interestingly enough, I found Brandt quite a desirable contrast to the hero in Cat's Lair, who assumed and was willing to force his mate to accept him. I think that Maggie and Brandt are a really excellent match, although I didn't feel that way at all about the couple in "Cat's Lair."
I really liked that Maggie gained control of her change on her own, and I loved the scene when she changes for the first time. That was very well done. I felt like I was seeing and feeling everything along with her. The rainforest and its flora and fauna was beautifully rendered in Feehan's descriptive pose. I wouldn't love the humidity or the insects, but I would love seeing so much vibrant life firsthand.
This was pretty darn steamy. Less of the off color words that are in the newer books, but no less steamy. Great chemistry between Maggie and Brandt. Not hard to believe they loved each other, even in this short format.
The suspense aspect was a little weak, to be honest. Feehan was a bit preachy about the environmental message. Don't get me wrong. I'm 100% on board with conservation and environmental awareness, but I don't like when it comes off as a Public Service Announcement in a fiction novel. But overall, this was a satisfactory short story. I'll give it the full four stars.
We learn about the Leopard shifters and how their society and physiology works. We're along for the ride as Maggie Odessa goes to the Borneo rain forest to find out about her birth parents. She's been lured there by Brandt Talbot, the man who happens to be her destined mate. He's known for some time that she was his mate (in their race they spend lifetimes looking for their mates). Maggie has no idea that she's a Leopard shifter. She's getting some feelings and physiological changes that don't make sense and are actually quite embarrassing, including some amorous feelings when that wasn't a problem before now.
At first, Brandt seems a bit stalkerish. I don't mind that if it's done well. It was a little weird in this book. He was stalking along beside Maggie in panther form when she arrives with some of the Leopard Men to their village. I was like, could you just say hi already? I was glad he finally introduced himself, and I think that he did come a little too strong at first. However, I liked that he realized that his love for Maggie meant that he had to make sure she was happy with being with him. I like that it wasn't going to be a foregone conclusion that she would accept him. He gave her the choice. Interestingly enough, I found Brandt quite a desirable contrast to the hero in Cat's Lair, who assumed and was willing to force his mate to accept him. I think that Maggie and Brandt are a really excellent match, although I didn't feel that way at all about the couple in "Cat's Lair."
I really liked that Maggie gained control of her change on her own, and I loved the scene when she changes for the first time. That was very well done. I felt like I was seeing and feeling everything along with her. The rainforest and its flora and fauna was beautifully rendered in Feehan's descriptive pose. I wouldn't love the humidity or the insects, but I would love seeing so much vibrant life firsthand.
This was pretty darn steamy. Less of the off color words that are in the newer books, but no less steamy. Great chemistry between Maggie and Brandt. Not hard to believe they loved each other, even in this short format.
The suspense aspect was a little weak, to be honest. Feehan was a bit preachy about the environmental message. Don't get me wrong. I'm 100% on board with conservation and environmental awareness, but I don't like when it comes off as a Public Service Announcement in a fiction novel. But overall, this was a satisfactory short story. I'll give it the full four stars.
December 26, 2011
The Awakening is the first book in Christine Feehan's leopard series. As short novels go, this one does not disappoint.
Explorations. Adventures. Lust. Attraction. Uncertainty. Shame. Shape-shifting.
Adopted at a very young age, Maggie is recently contacted by an attorney that informs her of property owned by her birth parents. Curious as to her inheritance, Maggie leaves the city behind and trucks her way through the rainforest with guides that seem as nervous as she.
She knew something or someone was stalking her. She could feel its presence. Unsure of her odd surroundings and the way her body seemed to adapt to the rainforest, Maggie struggles with the unknown external fears as well as whatever is going on inside her body.
Strange that the heat and primitive jungle should suddenly make her conscious of her body. The way she moved, her hips gently swaying, almost an invitation, as if she knew someone was watching, someone she wanted to entice. In her entire life, she had never been a flirt or a tease, yet now the temptation was overwhelming. It was as if she had come to life, here in this dark, overgrown place with vines and leaves and every kind of plant imaginable.
Brandt, a famous photographer has been searching for Maggie since the day her parents were killed. Finally, he found her and put his plan into motion to bring her to the forest. He knew she was ready. Knew it was time. Knew she was his. The nuclear forceful attraction between them terrifies her and he tries his best to ease her into his world; but his feral instincts urge him to take her as his mate.
"Those of this species are able to change shape at will. Not at first; when they're young, they are regular children. The change comes later. It is known as the Han Vol Dan. The way of the change. They are not half anything but all their own species. They live and work as humans but shift when necessary. They are the guardians of the jungles, of the rain forests. A people as rare as the treasures in their keeping."
There you have it. That's the bottom line. As first books go, especially short stories that begin a series, The Awakening is actually pretty intense.
With most of Christine Feehan's books, there is that lightning attraction. One of the characters refuses to submit to the sexual pull and the other is unable to give even a hint of consideration. In this book, Brandt actually takes all of her fears into account.
Filled with action and sexual frustration, The Awakening is a fun release of boisterous adventure. I love shape-shifter books, and the leopard series is totally rockin awesome. I will always give Christine Feehan props for rocking my world! In this short novel, I was pleasantly surprised by the intriguing pull it had on me. I am usually bored and have to force myself to read the first novel of a series just so that I can move on to the second book of what will surely become a great string of stories.
The Awakening is a fabulous first start. It opens your eyes to an exhilarating world of shape-shifting and sexually charged leopards.
One of the reasons I love this series so much, is that the female leopards go into heat. *laughs* It's quite entertaining. He smells here and it drives him bonkers. She sticks her ass into the air and finds herself ashamed of the puddling heat as her body takes on a life of its own. It's fun. It's inevitable.
I recommend this book to mature adults only. C'mon people. Immature adults and children should not read about women going into heat. Use your brains people. I'm sick and tired of reading reviews from teenagers!
Extreme sexual and yummy content. Moderate violence with ripped out throats and bloody spurts of vengeance.
This series is fantastic and I am looking forward to rereading the rest of the books :)
~Happy reading!
Explorations. Adventures. Lust. Attraction. Uncertainty. Shame. Shape-shifting.
Adopted at a very young age, Maggie is recently contacted by an attorney that informs her of property owned by her birth parents. Curious as to her inheritance, Maggie leaves the city behind and trucks her way through the rainforest with guides that seem as nervous as she.
She knew something or someone was stalking her. She could feel its presence. Unsure of her odd surroundings and the way her body seemed to adapt to the rainforest, Maggie struggles with the unknown external fears as well as whatever is going on inside her body.
Strange that the heat and primitive jungle should suddenly make her conscious of her body. The way she moved, her hips gently swaying, almost an invitation, as if she knew someone was watching, someone she wanted to entice. In her entire life, she had never been a flirt or a tease, yet now the temptation was overwhelming. It was as if she had come to life, here in this dark, overgrown place with vines and leaves and every kind of plant imaginable.
Brandt, a famous photographer has been searching for Maggie since the day her parents were killed. Finally, he found her and put his plan into motion to bring her to the forest. He knew she was ready. Knew it was time. Knew she was his. The nuclear forceful attraction between them terrifies her and he tries his best to ease her into his world; but his feral instincts urge him to take her as his mate.
"Those of this species are able to change shape at will. Not at first; when they're young, they are regular children. The change comes later. It is known as the Han Vol Dan. The way of the change. They are not half anything but all their own species. They live and work as humans but shift when necessary. They are the guardians of the jungles, of the rain forests. A people as rare as the treasures in their keeping."
There you have it. That's the bottom line. As first books go, especially short stories that begin a series, The Awakening is actually pretty intense.
With most of Christine Feehan's books, there is that lightning attraction. One of the characters refuses to submit to the sexual pull and the other is unable to give even a hint of consideration. In this book, Brandt actually takes all of her fears into account.
Filled with action and sexual frustration, The Awakening is a fun release of boisterous adventure. I love shape-shifter books, and the leopard series is totally rockin awesome. I will always give Christine Feehan props for rocking my world! In this short novel, I was pleasantly surprised by the intriguing pull it had on me. I am usually bored and have to force myself to read the first novel of a series just so that I can move on to the second book of what will surely become a great string of stories.
The Awakening is a fabulous first start. It opens your eyes to an exhilarating world of shape-shifting and sexually charged leopards.
One of the reasons I love this series so much, is that the female leopards go into heat. *laughs* It's quite entertaining. He smells here and it drives him bonkers. She sticks her ass into the air and finds herself ashamed of the puddling heat as her body takes on a life of its own. It's fun. It's inevitable.
I recommend this book to mature adults only. C'mon people. Immature adults and children should not read about women going into heat. Use your brains people. I'm sick and tired of reading reviews from teenagers!
Extreme sexual and yummy content. Moderate violence with ripped out throats and bloody spurts of vengeance.
This series is fantastic and I am looking forward to rereading the rest of the books :)
~Happy reading!
May 5, 2011
I’ve read one or two of Feehan’s books but haven’t been overwhelmed by them. My admittedly vague memory is one of an overly dramatic and wordy book. Since this is an audio and a novella and it was free for download on my local library website (bonus!) I figured I’d give her another try. The only thing I had to lose was a little time.
Actually it turned out to be a decent enough read. Maggie, a veterinarian of exotic cats, has always dreamed of working in the wild but settled for a zoo job. When she discovers she’s been left a home hidden deep within the rain-forest she drops everything to check it out. The bulk of the book follows her as she’s being escorted through the rain-forest by several hunky guys. The forest is described in vivid detail and somewhere along the line Maggie becomes aroused, entranced and transformed by the living, breathing forest surrounding her. Previously somewhat a-sexual (guess that’s why she wasn’t afraid to travel alone with strange men?) she’s now coming alive and senses . . . well something out there that’s she’s irresistibly drawn to.
Unbeknownst to Maggie, who was adopted and is ignorant of her heritage, she has been brought to her current situation by Brandt, leader of a pack of shape-shifting leopards. Apparently she is destined to be his mate thus the inexplicable feelings she has towards him as soon as she spots him.
I’ll probably never get to explore the rain-forest but in this slim novella I was able to get a small taste of what it might be like to visit. The story is beautifully descriptive and highly sexual with a little bit of danger and an eco message that felt just right in the context of the story. I can’t seriously sit here and say it was the bestest, most breathtaking and convincing romance I’ve ever read, but it was interesting enough to make me want to track down another book in this Leopard-people series.
Actually it turned out to be a decent enough read. Maggie, a veterinarian of exotic cats, has always dreamed of working in the wild but settled for a zoo job. When she discovers she’s been left a home hidden deep within the rain-forest she drops everything to check it out. The bulk of the book follows her as she’s being escorted through the rain-forest by several hunky guys. The forest is described in vivid detail and somewhere along the line Maggie becomes aroused, entranced and transformed by the living, breathing forest surrounding her. Previously somewhat a-sexual (guess that’s why she wasn’t afraid to travel alone with strange men?) she’s now coming alive and senses . . . well something out there that’s she’s irresistibly drawn to.
Unbeknownst to Maggie, who was adopted and is ignorant of her heritage, she has been brought to her current situation by Brandt, leader of a pack of shape-shifting leopards. Apparently she is destined to be his mate thus the inexplicable feelings she has towards him as soon as she spots him.
I’ll probably never get to explore the rain-forest but in this slim novella I was able to get a small taste of what it might be like to visit. The story is beautifully descriptive and highly sexual with a little bit of danger and an eco message that felt just right in the context of the story. I can’t seriously sit here and say it was the bestest, most breathtaking and convincing romance I’ve ever read, but it was interesting enough to make me want to track down another book in this Leopard-people series.
June 19, 2017
Brandt Talbot and Maggie Odessa
Settings: Borneo
Maggie will be tricked by Brandt and she will go back to her birth place in the rainforest of Borneo in order to see her inheritance.
There she will discover that there are family secrets, that Brandt has trapped her in order to bring her close to him and that she is about to go through a really painful and life-changing experience.
Everything was different the moment Maggie Odessa set foot into the jungle. She was different. She felt it.
There will be insta-love, but the good thing is that Maggie will be present with a choise in the end. Nothing will be forced – although Brandt initially manipulated things.
"Say you'll stay with me, live with me, Maggie, learn to love me, here in the rain forest where you were born."
The books from this series are like paradise for readers that love shifters’ stories. There is the steamy jungle, the leopard shifters, the phace a young woman needs to go though in order to achieve her first metamorphosis which is strongly related with sexual awareness.
Settings: Borneo
Maggie will be tricked by Brandt and she will go back to her birth place in the rainforest of Borneo in order to see her inheritance.
There she will discover that there are family secrets, that Brandt has trapped her in order to bring her close to him and that she is about to go through a really painful and life-changing experience.
Everything was different the moment Maggie Odessa set foot into the jungle. She was different. She felt it.
There will be insta-love, but the good thing is that Maggie will be present with a choise in the end. Nothing will be forced – although Brandt initially manipulated things.
"Say you'll stay with me, live with me, Maggie, learn to love me, here in the rain forest where you were born."
The books from this series are like paradise for readers that love shifters’ stories. There is the steamy jungle, the leopard shifters, the phace a young woman needs to go though in order to achieve her first metamorphosis which is strongly related with sexual awareness.
April 15, 2009
This is a short prequel to one of Feehan's series about shapeshifters. I rather liked this story! The descriptions of the jungle of Borneo - with all its verdant lushness and noisy bird racket and tropical flowers and hot humid rain - really got to me. I recycled today at work and thought of this story. No, serious, the book is not about environmentalism, although the characters in the stories are protectors of the jungle and its creatures. I'm also rather glad that I haven't read any of the later books in this series so that I could experience it from the beginning.
June 18, 2015
This is the 1st book of the Leopard people series. It's a short story/ introduction to the team of shape shifting alpha men sworn to protect the rain forest. These men are hot, muscular, leopard shape shifters.
This was a great introduction to the characters that continue through out the series.
My Leopard People Reviews:
The Awakening
Burning Wild
Wild Fire
Leopard's Prey
This was a great introduction to the characters that continue through out the series.
My Leopard People Reviews:
The Awakening
Burning Wild
Wild Fire
Leopard's Prey
December 25, 2020
**2.5 stars**
This was so convoluted and rushed! A woman finds that she inherits the house in the middle of the jungle where she finds she's really a shapeshifter about to go into her first shift. Oh and that she's also the mate of a shifter, who's been searching for her all over. Lots of weird shit happened in this book...how she thought she was asexual but "woke" up in the jungle (I guess that's the reason for the title) and pretty much jumped in bed with the dude right away.
I'm rounding up because the love scenes were sexy but not sure I want to continue reading the series. I really have no luck with this author.
This was so convoluted and rushed! A woman finds that she inherits the house in the middle of the jungle where she finds she's really a shapeshifter about to go into her first shift. Oh and that she's also the mate of a shifter, who's been searching for her all over. Lots of weird shit happened in this book...how she thought she was asexual but "woke" up in the jungle (I guess that's the reason for the title) and pretty much jumped in bed with the dude right away.
I'm rounding up because the love scenes were sexy but not sure I want to continue reading the series. I really have no luck with this author.
March 19, 2015
The Awakening is book 1 in Christine Feehan’s Leopard Series. Rain forests, mangos, and tarsiers pulled me in right away. Having seen and held a tarsier in the Philippines, I can easily relate to the glorious descriptions in this story. The tarsier is one of the smallest primates with the biggest eyes.
Brandt had searched the world for years seeking Maggie since her parents were killed in the rain forest. Brandt lured Maggie to Borneo via a legal office alerting her of an inheritance of property there.
Upon arriving in the high humidity she became aware of physiologic changes making her more aware of her body and femininity. She felt like she had come to life in this canvas of perfumed flowers. She knew she belonged here.
Upon meeting with Brandt she was uncertain. She shied away from his forwardness and became suspicious. Brandt cautiously related her family’s history, their life work and the mission of his community of shape shifters. Being super alpha, he was inept at conveying his caring for her. Eventually, after considerable dialog she calmed and found herself physically attracted to him. (Feehan’s hyper speed attraction/lust). Super hot sex!
While Brandt was out, Maggie considered running away and suffered through Han Vol Dan, shifting to a cat, alone. Lots of action, danger and fighting ensued.
While this book is only a short but intense introduction to a series, it was great. The world building is so believable, I felt like I could smell the flowers, hear the birds and animals. Feehan fans should love this book and series. I’m off to get Wild Rain.
Brandt had searched the world for years seeking Maggie since her parents were killed in the rain forest. Brandt lured Maggie to Borneo via a legal office alerting her of an inheritance of property there.
Upon arriving in the high humidity she became aware of physiologic changes making her more aware of her body and femininity. She felt like she had come to life in this canvas of perfumed flowers. She knew she belonged here.
Upon meeting with Brandt she was uncertain. She shied away from his forwardness and became suspicious. Brandt cautiously related her family’s history, their life work and the mission of his community of shape shifters. Being super alpha, he was inept at conveying his caring for her. Eventually, after considerable dialog she calmed and found herself physically attracted to him. (Feehan’s hyper speed attraction/lust). Super hot sex!
While Brandt was out, Maggie considered running away and suffered through Han Vol Dan, shifting to a cat, alone. Lots of action, danger and fighting ensued.
While this book is only a short but intense introduction to a series, it was great. The world building is so believable, I felt like I could smell the flowers, hear the birds and animals. Feehan fans should love this book and series. I’m off to get Wild Rain.
September 5, 2015
First read 10-23-13: 3.5 stars
Second read 09-05-15: 3 stars, extremely light on plot; a sensuous read that is all about the sexual tension.
Second read 09-05-15: 3 stars, extremely light on plot; a sensuous read that is all about the sexual tension.
June 13, 2016
Amazing
I found a new series to fall in love with. An amazing pnr read full of emotion and some serious sexual steam. I can't wait to start on the next in the series.
I found a new series to fall in love with. An amazing pnr read full of emotion and some serious sexual steam. I can't wait to start on the next in the series.
November 8, 2024
This is a novella and it is the introduction to the leopard people series. I have this and book 1 in the series. It was a good introduction to her shape shifter romances. I just read a heavy book and wanted something light and this fit the bill. Of course everything happens quickly, including the romance because it is a short story.
February 16, 2015
Beklediğimden daha sıkıcı ve yavaştı. Bu aralar neden bilmem şekil değiştirici okumak istiyorum. Nalini yazsa da okusak.
Devam eder miyim bilemiyorum. Pek heyecanlı gelmedi ve alan ve düşman kısıtlı. Sanırım ikinci kitabın konusu belirleyecek.
Devam eder miyim bilemiyorum. Pek heyecanlı gelmedi ve alan ve düşman kısıtlı. Sanırım ikinci kitabın konusu belirleyecek.
March 6, 2017
Oh, such a great story! Can't wait to read the rest of the series!
September 29, 2020
4.5 stars. If this is the introduction, then this series is going to be fabulous! Beautifully written, steamy and you really feel like you're in the Borneo jungle with the Leopards.
March 19, 2021
This was fine for what it is. But it should be kept in mind that what it is is a bit of erotic fluff written over a decade ago. The Paranormal Romance genre has come a long way since then, but Feehan’s The Awakening is an example of what it used to be. Heroes were meant to be predatory and virginal heroines swooned and became ‘aware of their femininity’ (code for sexuality) in their presence. It tiptoes awful close to the men-writing-women meme sometimes, even though it’s obviously something else entirely. But the descriptions of all but anthropomorphized breasts can comes close.
There’s not much to this honestly. The plot is just a backdrop to paint the angst and eventual sex on. The relationship is based on sexual attraction and the mythical shifter mate bond. It didn’t light me on fire in any manner. But, again, it is what it is and should be judged accordingly.
There’s not much to this honestly. The plot is just a backdrop to paint the angst and eventual sex on. The relationship is based on sexual attraction and the mythical shifter mate bond. It didn’t light me on fire in any manner. But, again, it is what it is and should be judged accordingly.
June 26, 2022
Thank god this is short! It's all a bit naff, really - virtually no plot at all, and for the first half all we really get is how horny the lead female is. I've read lots of Feehan's other stuff ( Carpathians and the sreies about the witch sisters), so I know she can do better than this tripe - just hope the rest of the Leopard series improves with full-length novels. Avoid this novella.
January 27, 2020
3 🌟🌟🌟 - A fairly pedestrian shifter novella, not quite up to the level of characterisation and plot development I expect from Christine Feehan. Not a bad read/listen, but one I’ll likely forget in a little while.
November 24, 2025
Love her books
I love her books and this ine did not disappoint either! I own almost every carpathin novel, but just starting my journey into the leopards! Black panthers are also my fav big cat!
I love her books and this ine did not disappoint either! I own almost every carpathin novel, but just starting my journey into the leopards! Black panthers are also my fav big cat!
July 5, 2019
3/5 stars
So so good! But ended so abruptly and in the middle of things that I felt dissatisfied.
So so good! But ended so abruptly and in the middle of things that I felt dissatisfied.
March 5, 2024
¿Qué fue ese final?
April 25, 2024
Finally had access to this prequel novella to the series and raced through it quickly.
For me the Leopard series has always been fascinating because of its premise and this story was no different.
For me the Leopard series has always been fascinating because of its premise and this story was no different.
November 15, 2023
Enjoyed this very short novella
October 24, 2018
Great book
I received a email from a book club with one Christine books listed not realizing that it was part of a series. I purchased this one and I couldn't put it down, I read it in one day it was so good. The chemistry between Brandt and Maggie was amazing, i love that this book is set in the rainforest, it is a great love story, can't wait to read book 2. This is a great series and Christine knows how to write to keep a reader interested and intrigued in her books. Even though this book is about the shape shifters it is a lot different then some of the other books on the same subject.
I received a email from a book club with one Christine books listed not realizing that it was part of a series. I purchased this one and I couldn't put it down, I read it in one day it was so good. The chemistry between Brandt and Maggie was amazing, i love that this book is set in the rainforest, it is a great love story, can't wait to read book 2. This is a great series and Christine knows how to write to keep a reader interested and intrigued in her books. Even though this book is about the shape shifters it is a lot different then some of the other books on the same subject.
June 22, 2009
I usually find that the first book in most series can be a little slow as the author develops the setting, not this one. It hit the ground running and that's the way it stayed. This book is not erotica yet it is incredibly erotic, scenes involving mangoes and ice where extremely sensual. I don't think anyone can write chemistry the way Christine Feehan does. There is just something about the way she writes that makes your emotions run high. I highly recommend this quick and easy read, I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Wild Rain.
December 4, 2016
My Thoughts - 3 out of 5 Unicorns - I liked it!!!
***I choose what I read and review based on what intrigues me!!
I own the anthology Fantasy in paperback, and The Awakening is part of it. So you can pick up the anthology or the ebook version of the novella. This is for adults only due to the steamy content.
This is the first story in the series, and it is the only one that is a novella. It introduces the Leopard people, and some of the troubles they have. This is Maggie and Brandt’s story of her awakening.
***I choose what I read and review based on what intrigues me!!
I own the anthology Fantasy in paperback, and The Awakening is part of it. So you can pick up the anthology or the ebook version of the novella. This is for adults only due to the steamy content.
This is the first story in the series, and it is the only one that is a novella. It introduces the Leopard people, and some of the troubles they have. This is Maggie and Brandt’s story of her awakening.
November 21, 2020
if I were to look at this story as just a form of erotica, I would be disappointed. It wouldn’t even deserve a 3. However, if I look at it as a story of “becoming”, I see it as a first step towards our protagonists fulfilling their destinies. It’s a story of acceptance of the self, and what our destiny brings. It’s also a basic acceptance that our actions have consequences. Sometimes when someone is lucky enough to stumble onto their destiny, they should grB o whether it makes sense or not. That’s why I gave it a 4.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews