Liberty Awakened

Isle of Fangs #1

by Alicia Dean

Liberty Delacort doesn't believe in Vampires. Then she meets the father she never knew, just before his death, and learns she's the last of the Van Helsing bloodline.

Eli, a 300 year old Vampire, doesn't believe Liberty has what it takes to stand between the humans and the Evil Ones on Sang Croc Island, and orders her back to the mainland.

Ryan, a friend of Liberty's late-father, disagrees and insists that Eli provide the promised training.

Now the Full Moon has come and Liberty must stand in the gap. But unbeknownst to her--she's fallen for the wrong vampire.

Genres: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Young Adult, Ebooks

146 pages, Paperback

First published January 20, 2013

About the author

I am a suspense and paranormal romance author living in Edmond, Oklahoma. I have three grown children. My passions are reading, writing, wearing pajamas, and watching (or rewatching) my favorite television shows such as The Vampire Diaries, True Blood, Justified, and Dexter. I am a huge MLB and Elvis Presley fan. I usually mention one or both in every novel and short story I write. :-)

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

All her life it’s been Liberty and her mother. When Graduation Day came, Liberty’s world takes a sharp dive into another world, where dark fantasy becomes both reality and very deadly. A mysterious package comes from Sang Croc Island stating that the father she believed dead was alive, but dying and she needed to come quickly. Is this a sick joke? Why would her mother have lied to her for all these years?

As if the shock of finding her father were not enough, Liberty discovers who she truly is and what her destiny was meant to be. Liberty’s dying father is THE Van Helsing, Vampire slayer and his blood runs in her veins. It is her turn to carry the torch of the Van Helsing name. Does Liberty have what it takes to fill her father’s shoes? Few seem to think so, including her, but when the chips are down, Liberty learns she will do anything it takes to keep humanity safe.

Liberty Awakened by Alicia Dean is a great Young Adult read full of surprises, sadness and the coming of age of one angst-ridden teen who is determined to make her way in the world in a very bold way. All she has to do is learn how to stop passing out at the sight of blood.

I received this copy from Alicia Dean in exchange for my honest review.

Series: The Isle of Fangs - Book 1
Publisher: ePublishing Works! (July 10, 2014)
Publication Date: July 10, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Print Length: 146 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice and easy read. I enjoy vampire stories so this was nice. The main character Liberty finds out she is the ancestor of the Van Helsing family. However, things become complicated when she finds herself having feelings for a vampire. The one thing I didn't like about this was the love triangle. I'm hoping that will get solved sooner rather than later.

[Tenaya Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great! Just when I thought I couldn't take another vampire novel...along comes Liberty! I'm recommending this to everyone who likes vamps! Just be ready to grab the second book when you finish this one. I read both back to back and now I'm jonesing for the third.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Watch out people, Buffy 2.0 is on the loose! Vampires never get old… Or do they?

Full review in April 2013 issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, this book has all the clichè in YA literature: insta love; insta love with a vampire; a MC that is a special snowflake with only one parent; vampire good/vampire bad.
But somehow, this book has taken my attention, specially Eli the vampire. He's a clichè too: I'm a bad vampire you won't touch me but oh my you are so cute I want to protect you, I want to love you but we can't. He's attractive, and I love to hear stories about Van Helsing, so I just buy the second book in the series. Hope that the second book can gave me more information about the family and about the vampires.
And maybe more moments between Liberty and Eli.

Insomma, diciamo che ci sono tutti i clichè tipici YA: l'insta love con un vampiro, la protagonista orfana di un genitore che improvvisamente scopre di essere speciale/avere poteri speciali, i vampiri buoni e i vampiri cattivi. Tuttavia è riuscito a catturare la mia attenzione soprattutto con Eli il vampiro, che incarna anche lui gli stereotipi del tipo: sono un vampiro ma amo un'umana, non possiamo stare insieme così la proteggo, sembro cattivo ma sono buono ecc...
Ma mi piace leggere storie sulla famiglia Van Helsing, quindi ho preso anche il secondo libro della serie, sperando ci siano più informazioni sui vampiri che in questo scarseggiano.

[Cristine Hand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly loved this book. Liberty graduates high school and goes to Tahiti and becomes a Vampire Hunter part of the Van Helsing legacy. She falls in love with Ryan. I can't believe everything that Liberty goes through can't wait to read the next book. I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved this novel.

Liberty finds her boyfriend in bed with her best friend on the night of their high school graduation, so when she gets a mysterious package with tickets to visit her (presumed dead) father on a tropical island, she jumps at the chance. She immediately meets Ryan, who is charming and friendly, who drives her to the Van Helsing Manor.

Surprise! Liberty is actually the last of the Van Helsing bloodline. Yes that Van Helsing. Her father sent her away when she was three in order to protect her from her heritage. However, when her father became deathly ill, his faithful servant sent for her in order to reconnect them and have her start her destiny as a vampire hunter. A couple of complications though. The first being Liberty passes out/throws up at the sight of blood. The second being Eli, a cocky and attractive vampire charged with training Liberty for her first hunt on the full moon.

I loved that although Liberty was thrown more than a few curveballs, her character was tough and independent. I like that she, unlike other females in vampire novels, did not immediately swoon for Eli and forgive all of the evil stuff he has done. At times however, I forgot that she was only 18. The interactions seemed to be a bit more mature.

The fact that the author also threw in character limitations helped me relate to the story. Liberty is just learning to fight vampires and she doesn't just excel at it, she goes through the cramps and screw ups normal people would. I also like that even though there is a love story angle, it is not the central storyline.

I honestly cannot wait to read the next novel in the series and see where things go with Liberty's training and her relationships.

[Rachel V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the tales about Van Helsing. I have even read one book about his son but never about a daughter descended from Van Helsing. This story is about a daughter of Van Helsing’s last living relative.

The setting is unusual for vampires but I like it. The book is set in a tropical island and makes this book completely unique. The author really did a great job of creating an atmosphere of secrecy, mystery and danger wrapped in a tropical vacation island.

The characters were perfect. I really enjoy Ryan and I like him but I love Eli. I can’t wait to read more about these two. Thank heavens that Liberty’s ex-boyfriend is no longer in the picture from the states. Although I have to say it might be nice in a future book if he tries to get her back and travels to the island on say a full moon? Sorry but there is nothing like a little revenge and he was a jerk. Liberty herself showed a good range of emotions in this story and even though the circumstances that make her come to the Island did seem a little fishy I can’t help but think I probably would have gone to the Island also.

The story moved along at a great pace and even though it was a bit shorter that what I like it felt like I had read a full length novel. It really gave you a great place to start off in the series and filled in the background and introduced you to the world perfectly.

All in all a great book and series and I really can’t wait to read the next in the series.

*I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

[Diane Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great suspense. I don't usually read vampire stories. I really liked this one. Alicia Dean keeps the reader on the edge of her/his seat.

[Kathy L Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun modern take on the old school vampire legend. A fun quick read, fast paced and emotional.

[Shelley White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased my book at a signing. I enjoyed reading a vampire novel that wasn't all dark and goth. The island setting was and inspired twist on the vampire genre, at least one I'd never seen before. Van Helsing has always been a favorite and I like 'son of'/'daughter of' legends tropes. After a rocky reunion, Liberty agrees to train to take her father, Victor Van Helsing's, place as she's the last of his vamp hunter line. She's a flawed character and has much to overcome to be ready to take on the role. There's a love triangle I'm hoping to see resolved in book 2. I'm probably in the minority in that I'm rooting for the human. We're left at the end with a number of unresolved story lines, but like I mentioned...book 2.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

For as long as Liberty can remember, it's been her and her mum. But soon after graduating high school, she meets her dad and finds out her ancestor is none other than Van Helsing. You know the one, he slayed Dracula and other vampires. All of a sudden, she's training to kill vampires when she starts to fall for one. What's a girl to do?

A delightful paranormal romance! Loved it and can't wait for more!

My Rating: 5 stars

[Amber Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

any thing by Mrs, Dean is great and this book is no different. I suggest to read all books she writes. her characters come alive. they are like friends that you don't want to say goodbye to at the end. and the places she invents make you feel like you are right there with the characters..

[Kirby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through the "Never Too Old For YA & NA Books" group. I would like to thank both the moderators of the group and the author, Alicia Dean, for the opportunity.

This novella is the first installment in a YA PNR series. I'm not sure how long the series is intended to be, but book 2 was recently published. It's about Liberty, an 18 year old girl from Oklahoma who receives a mysterious letter informing her that her purportedly long-dead father is in fact alive, but currently dying. She quickly travels to the Pacific island of Sang Croc to meet her father and find answers. She discovers that she is the last in the Van Helsing line and is destined to become a vampire hunter. Despite having no knowledge, experience, or special skills- and against her father's wishes- she accepts the responsibility. At her side to help her with this are her father's manservant, Antoine, her new-found friend/romantic interest, Ryan, and the "good" vampire responsible for her actual training, Eli (who also happens to be very good looking).

There were some humorous moments in the book, though I actually found the prologue to be the funniest part. I really liked the setting of the exotic island, and I felt that the atmosphere was captured well. I also thought that most of the dialogue was done very well- I could actually see the characters speaking as they did (fair warning, though- that means there is some vulgarity...not a lot, just enough to make it seem realistic, but I know some people don't like any). It was also refreshing that Liberty wasn't some natural bad-ass, great at everything she tried- she actually had to work hard to gain her skills. Speaking of her training, I did like Eli pretty well. He seemed to be the most developed character, and although he sort of seems to fall into the "vulnerable good guy with a sarcastic rude exterior" cliche, there is still some originality to him and I think he could become a character to love. I don't want to give it away, but there was also a nice original twist to the traditional take on vampires, a little something new brought to the table.

There were some things that I didn't care for as much. In the first chapter, Liberty is betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend, and I saw it coming a mile away. The obviousness of that was a little annoying, and it did make Liberty seem a bit naive or oblivious, but OTOH it did work well as an impetus for Liberty to decide to go to the island. I also felt like the characters weren't developed enough- there just weren't any nuances to distinguish one from another- especially Liberty and Ryan- and the background characters were very background. However, as this was just a novella setting up the series, I'll assume that further installments will better flesh out the characters, who definitely have some room to grow. The thing that bothered me the most, though, was probably Liberty's frustrating lack of curiosity or critical thinking. She seemed to just float along with everything without really analyzing anything, and I'd like to see her doing more to find out about this new world and her new life. Hopefully she will do more inquiring in future books.

This was a light, short, fun read. At only 78 pages (including a brief preview of book 2) in PDF format, I was able to read it on the computer, so you wouldn't even need an ereader to easily check it out and it's only $0.99 (from what I saw on Amazon). I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA books, as it really seems to hit all of the main YA "staples," and to those who enjoy reading about vampires. As I said, the author seemed to stick pretty closely to the "traditional" form, but with some unique ideas. Oh, and I also really loved the book cover.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars Typical YA paranormal. Ordinary girl discovers she is special with a destiny. Requisite love triangle with nice guy and broody hot n cold vampire. It wasn't bad I think I have just read too many of these so I need them to have particularly likable characters and snappy dialogue and this one just didn't deliver that for me.

[Reads & Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

www.readsandreviews.com

Liberty Awakened is the first in a new series by best-selling author Alicia Dean. This is a fun adventure through French Polynesia where vampires rule the island with only a famed Van Helsing hunter to keep them in check. Along comes the innocent and lovely Liberty, who learns of her heritage and her destiny to hunt and kill vampires.

We meet Oklahoma native Liberty Delacort shortly after her high school graduation. She appears to be a typical eighteen-year old with a long-term boyfriend and best friend she’s known since grade school. That changes in an instant following a betrayal that cuts Liberty deeply, driving her to follow a path she didn’t even know existed, but one that holds her destiny in its hands.

After receiving a package with information on a father she thought long dead, Liberty finds herself traveling to the island of Sang Croc in French Polynesia. There she meets her father and the destiny promised in the mysterious package, tumbling head first into danger, romance, and vampires.

This was definitely an entertaining read, with vampires living on a tropical island, lush island locales, a father famous in vampire circles, and the discovery that-surprise!-Liberty has vampire hunter blood running through her veins. Liberty is a delightful, if not naïve, heroine who finds herself caught up in the danger the island offers and, naturally, a love triangle complete with sexy Australian and brooding vampire. While I liked Liberty, she begins the book as a bit of a cliché character, but by the end she really comes into her own, emerging as a strong heroine with insecurities that any of us can relate to.

Dean is a prolific writer of romantic suspense and paranormal romance, but this is the first of her books I’ve read outside of the Kindle Worlds program where she’s published, among others, two Vampire Diaries novellas. Her writing style is quick and to the point and just a bit predictable, but her characters whether vampire or human are lively, quick-witted, typically good to look at and always up for a good adventure. I look forward to reading more of Liberty’s adventures in Liberty Divided, book 2 of The Isle of Fangs series.

[Bookish Satty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.

Firstly I would like to thank Alicia Dean, author of Liberty Awakened, for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this fabulous book.

I really enjoyed it a lot and as the protagonist, Liberty is the last of Van Helsing’s bloodline so I loved her as well. We are drawn into her life as she is cheated by her boyfriend and BFF (well, you know that she caught them in a compromising position on the day of their graduation) and so when she got the offer of meeting her father (whom she thought had died a long ago) she set her foot in that direction and reached the mysterious island where she found her dad to be very sick but he wants her to go back. She meets Ryan and Eli and then she slowly uncovers the secret of the island and the grave dangers that are going to turn her life upside down and break all hell loose. Should she escape or stay and fight back?

I liked this story quite a lot though I felt the characters to be a little under developed and we didn't get quite a lot of history of the individual characters which made them seem like a stranger to me and I couldn't connect to them easily. The action part is good and liberty’s confusion regarding her feelings towards both the guys made her look just her age, a mere teenager with guy issues and who is imperfect like all other girls of her age. I liked Ryan more than Eli and he seemed to be a gentleman to me though he is outright sexy and hot. Overall a good and enjoyable read that has good quality mystery and eerie suspense and the emotional scenes are heart touching. All the vital scenes are executed well through the use of skilled worlds which I felt to be comfortable and I would recommend it to ya all as well. Give it a shot, guys!

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good story with a nice twist about Liberty's heritage that sets it apart from the flood of other vampire stories out there. This first section of the story ended at a great spot, not so much a cliffhanger as just a good break in the story. There's enough information given that you don't feel like the author is holding out on you on purpose simply to draw out tension but there's also enough mystery to keep you interested in reading the next book in the series.
My only real complaint is that sometimes it felt like the characters had no voices. A lot of times in conversation they all sounded the same. Hopefully in the next book as we get to know the characters more they will stand out as individuals but so far in this story they were all pretty interchangeable.
It's also a pet peeve of mine when characters fall in love within a matter of days as happened here and I'm not seeing what's so special about Liberty that the two men in the book are so deeply fond of her already. She's not exceptionally funny, kind or intelligent so I guess they just think she's hot? I didn't get the attraction in Twilight (Bella was annoying to me) and I don't see it yet here either.
All in all, it's a cool story and worth the read. I'm just hoping the characters find ways to stand out and show us who they are in the next book.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Mariela Germann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author Alicia Dean and Never Too Old for Y.A and N.A Books for allowing to review this book.

In this story we meet Liberty, who is a 18 years old girl that just graduated from high school. An opportunitty knocks at her door to meet the father she thought and believed was dead; after the betrayal of the people most close to her, she travels to Sang Croc Island. Once arriving to this new place, she meets her father and he doesn't want anything with her, even encourage her to leave the island. Liberty meets two guys, Ryan, a very sexy cab driver, and the enigmatic and misterious Eli. Liberty then learns that she is related to Van Helsing, the Vampire Hunter. Will Liberty choose a life full of danger and sacrifice or will she return back to Oklahoma and face the betrayal that cause her to leave home?

I really enjoyed this book, it kept me thrilled and wanting to read more. I love Eli, the bad boy, he was funny and very charismatic. Ryan to me was like a great guy that I would like as a friend. I did not like the fact the I was introduced to too many characters and I did not read much about them, I just did not connect with many of them, maybe in the later books I will read more about them. It did not explain much about the caves and the fountain, it is still a mystery to me. Liberty was very insecure and I think she chose wrong at the end.

[Purpinkrose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Liberty Delacort discovered after 4 years of being with her boyfriend he's slept with her best friend. When she receives a letter from her dead father-who isn't dead, but is dying on an island which holds folklore that people go missing. Liberty goes to meet him. But discovers something else.

This is a nice story. The pace and flow is good, but it never gripped me the way I thought it would. The characters were ok but we never knew that much about them apart from liberty. This is a bit typical of vampires a typical stereotype.

For such a short book there isn't enough information in it to be gripped or have a favourite from the characters. The setting of the island was the best bit for me. And im a bit sorry we didn't hear more from Liberty's dad before he died.

I would like to thank the author for the opportunity of reading this.

[Leah James · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I have to confess that I don't normally read vampire stories. But I'm such a fan of Alicia Dean's writing that I decided to pick up this book, and I'm glad I did. With LIBERTY AWAKENED, she tells the story of brand-new 18-year-old Liberty Delacort who accepts a mysterious invitation to visit the island of Sang Croc where she discovers family secrets, along with the island's not-so-human inhabitants. Once again Dean has created intriguing characters and puts them through their paces in a way that kept me turning the pages. My only criticism is that the story ended too quickly! I want to see what happens next in Liberty's journey! Great, quick read with a sweet romance just perfect for the character's age.

[Kerry Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of the series in exchange for an honest review.
What would you do differently? You just found out that your boy friend cheated on you with your best friend and that your father, who you thought died long ago, was actually still alive and you had tickets to visit him - on a tropical holiday island no less. Once there Liberty finds out about vampires and her heritage as a Van Helsing and what that means.
As the first book in the series it sets stage for an interesting series. There will be people who will compare it to Buffy, that is probably unavoidable, but if the following books deliver who knows - maybe the younger readers of this series will, on seeing Buffy one day be saying "Oh she's like Liberty"

[Terry Hammoutene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for an honest review
Liberty just graduated high school and is getting ready to go to college with her best friend when she catches her boyfriend with her best friend. Devastated she is trying to figure out how to handle things when she gets a package. Her whole life she never knew her father now based on the package she is going to meet him.
She travels to a beautiful island only to realize that things aren't what they seem. She needs to find the strength to be what she was born to be in order to have her fathers legacy go on.
I enjoyed the book the choices she has to make are real ones and the things she finds out are unreal to her

[Kryste Herring · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book as it has quite a bit of potential. But, quite a few of the characters and places introduced were never fleshed out enough to bring any meaning into the story. Liberty was an angsty young girl, who made hasty decisions based on her emotions. It just seemed extremely unrealistic (even though this is fantasy). I was given this book by Ebook Discovery in exchange for an honest review.

[Jacquelyn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This an interesting tale about a young girl, who recieves a letter to visit a tropical Island where she discovers some dark secrets about her family past.

Liberty's life changes after she comes here and not all good.
This story has alot of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Nice read!!

[Jennifer Shirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really addicting read! The author did a great job setting up this series of an island of vampires and the young teen (Liberty) who is thrust into this world and discovers she is the last of the line of vampire hunters. Loved the love triangle that was sprinkled in too. Looking forward to the next book in the series now!

[Stephen Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great novella which was so enjoyable I had to give it five stars. It was interesting and all action from page one and even though it is s cliff hanger it didn't detract from the enjoyment. It was nice to find a "none " kick ass heroine in effect a bit of a wuss, but likeable. Romance in the air but which way ?? A threesome . Highly recommended for a good days read .

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting take on Vampires and Vampire Hunters

"I received this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for an honest review."

An interesting tale about Liberty as she comes to terms with who she is and what she must do

[Goldie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is something people should check into if they want a great read!

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a relatively short read, I got hooked in a big way. Can't wait for the next installment(s)!