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May A Divine Awaken
On the lost continent of Pyris, eight lands are controlled by Divines—powerful beings with abilities to manipulate metals, harness the wind, and turn flesh to ash.
Since their inception, Divines have been responsible for protecting eight sacred keys. Keys that if combined will unseal a forbidden relic of omnipotent power known as the Book of Pure. Desperate to claim the book’s power, the King of Aypha devises a sinister plan to eliminate the Divines and obtain the eight keys.
Caught in the middle is Marcus Azure, a young Aypha soldier born with blemished skin marks that leaves him ostracized by his people. When assassins attack his village, Marcus vows to prove himself by destroying those responsible. Seeking revenge, Marcus encounters Sinclair Bonet, a disgraced queen who reveals to him that his skin blemishes are a sign of great potential. She offers to awaken Marcus’s power, but doing so comes at a grave consequence that will force Marcus to decide whether to betray his people or advance his king’s mission.
Unfortunately, the final decision may not rest in his hands…
Since their inception, Divines have been responsible for protecting eight sacred keys. Keys that if combined will unseal a forbidden relic of omnipotent power known as the Book of Pure. Desperate to claim the book’s power, the King of Aypha devises a sinister plan to eliminate the Divines and obtain the eight keys.
Caught in the middle is Marcus Azure, a young Aypha soldier born with blemished skin marks that leaves him ostracized by his people. When assassins attack his village, Marcus vows to prove himself by destroying those responsible. Seeking revenge, Marcus encounters Sinclair Bonet, a disgraced queen who reveals to him that his skin blemishes are a sign of great potential. She offers to awaken Marcus’s power, but doing so comes at a grave consequence that will force Marcus to decide whether to betray his people or advance his king’s mission.
Unfortunately, the final decision may not rest in his hands…
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
331 pages, Paperback
Published August 20, 2024
51 people are currently reading
700 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 2, 2022
Yalll OH My Gooooddddds!!!! When I tell you this book was so good. I do mean amazing. The world the author built is unlike anything read before. The world that was built really drew you in, it really made you want to be one of the characters. The characters were built in a way that you feel like you could be anyone one of them. Our main character Marcus goes through so much he doesn't deserve. Side note, if you haven't heard the song something bad about to happen, I think you should listen to it. It fits so perfectly with the book. You'll understand once you read it. The author Michael did such an amazing job on this book. This you just know the series is going to be off the chain good.
May 26, 2022
This book is amazing! I love the world that the author has built.
Pros:
-Action sequences are top notch.
-Suspense is awesome and kept me turning pages late into the night.
-Mystery surrounding Marcus.
-Characters have real personalities and are relatable.
-Powers are super cool.
-Everything in this universe makes sense and is awesome!
Cons
- It's clearly planned to be a series and I have to wait for the next one.
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Pros:
-Action sequences are top notch.
-Suspense is awesome and kept me turning pages late into the night.
-Mystery surrounding Marcus.
-Characters have real personalities and are relatable.
-Powers are super cool.
-Everything in this universe makes sense and is awesome!
Cons
- It's clearly planned to be a series and I have to wait for the next one.
LOVE LOVE LOVE
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January 6, 2025Wheww this one made me sweat!
Marcus is a young soldier with vitiligo – he’s left on his own after his adventurer parents go missing, his people mock him for his skin blemishes, and he’s just a norm in a world of Divines (superpowered humans). After a brutal attack on his village, Marcus feels survivor’s guilt and is ready for revenge. He soon learns that his skin may indicate huge power, and that the land he has been so loyal to might be planning something pretty terrible.
The world and lore were really unique & interesting, and the world-building felt natural. There’s a large cast of characters, but I never felt overwhelmed.
Marcus is definitely likeable and boy, does he go THROUGH IT! He learns a lot about himself, he’s starting to melt away his internal shame for his skin marks, and he’s slowly starting to form a circle of friends (and maybe romantic partners) that will actually have his back.
The plot is very fast-paced, and there’s a good central mystery with plenty of twists. There are a lot of battle scenes, and they’re messy!
My stumbles were mainly around the writing style and uneven pacing. Everything that happened was interesting to me, but the flow of the story felt stilted and sentences themselves were sometimes a bit unnatural and choppy. The switching of tenses was a little awkward (especially when it would go back and forth within one chapter) and sometimes information was repeated again and again.
As for the pacing, we’d spend pages and pages on small moments with a LOT of detail, and then battle scenes would fly by. Often, crucial things were left unresolved and the tension dissipated for me.
I’m curious to see where the gender segregated storyline will lead. Some of the language used to describe women was a little peculiar, so I’m hoping that all gets unpacked really well during the next book.
CW: death (parent/child), murder, violence, blood, gore, bullying, sexism, abandonment, torture, violence, war, genocide/mass murder
Follow me on social media for book recommendations!
(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
Marcus is a young soldier with vitiligo – he’s left on his own after his adventurer parents go missing, his people mock him for his skin blemishes, and he’s just a norm in a world of Divines (superpowered humans). After a brutal attack on his village, Marcus feels survivor’s guilt and is ready for revenge. He soon learns that his skin may indicate huge power, and that the land he has been so loyal to might be planning something pretty terrible.
The world and lore were really unique & interesting, and the world-building felt natural. There’s a large cast of characters, but I never felt overwhelmed.
Marcus is definitely likeable and boy, does he go THROUGH IT! He learns a lot about himself, he’s starting to melt away his internal shame for his skin marks, and he’s slowly starting to form a circle of friends (and maybe romantic partners) that will actually have his back.
The plot is very fast-paced, and there’s a good central mystery with plenty of twists. There are a lot of battle scenes, and they’re messy!
My stumbles were mainly around the writing style and uneven pacing. Everything that happened was interesting to me, but the flow of the story felt stilted and sentences themselves were sometimes a bit unnatural and choppy. The switching of tenses was a little awkward (especially when it would go back and forth within one chapter) and sometimes information was repeated again and again.
As for the pacing, we’d spend pages and pages on small moments with a LOT of detail, and then battle scenes would fly by. Often, crucial things were left unresolved and the tension dissipated for me.
I’m curious to see where the gender segregated storyline will lead. Some of the language used to describe women was a little peculiar, so I’m hoping that all gets unpacked really well during the next book.
CW: death (parent/child), murder, violence, blood, gore, bullying, sexism, abandonment, torture, violence, war, genocide/mass murder
Follow me on social media for book recommendations!
(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
March 1, 2025
May A Divine Awaken by Michael Tinsley is an ambitious epic that offers an intricate tapestry of world-building, factional conflicts, and character struggles. In the midst of this sprawling conflict, Marcus —a young soldier ostracized for his vitiligo—emerges as a standout character whose journey of growth and self-acceptance is both moving and compelling. Tinsley clearly weaves in personal touches, giving us a glimpse of the author’s own experiences, and I was genuinely glad to see a character like Marcus portrayed with such honesty and depth.
That said, the complexity of the world Tinsley has created can feel overwhelming. With a multitude of factions and a host of characters, I often found myself struggling to keep track of everyone and wishing the narrative had focused more tightly on one or two key figures. The hook into the larger story is enticing, but at times the sheer scale and rapid escalation of events left my brain feeling a bit mushy. Honestly, the US is on fire politically, and I am struggling to keep my attention on all complex books right now. Additionally, the gender-based system presented in the novel wasn’t entirely to my taste, and I’m left wondering how those who don’t conform to traditional gender norms will find their place in this world—a detail I hope the author will explore further in future installments.
Overall, if you love dense, multifaceted world-building and are drawn to complex storylines with high stakes, May A Divine Awaken is for you. It’s a challenging read, but one with a lot of heart, especially in Marcus’s journey. I enjoyed the story overall, even if it left me a bit dazed, and I’m definitely planning to revisit it when I’m in a better headspace to appreciate all its layers.
That said, the complexity of the world Tinsley has created can feel overwhelming. With a multitude of factions and a host of characters, I often found myself struggling to keep track of everyone and wishing the narrative had focused more tightly on one or two key figures. The hook into the larger story is enticing, but at times the sheer scale and rapid escalation of events left my brain feeling a bit mushy. Honestly, the US is on fire politically, and I am struggling to keep my attention on all complex books right now. Additionally, the gender-based system presented in the novel wasn’t entirely to my taste, and I’m left wondering how those who don’t conform to traditional gender norms will find their place in this world—a detail I hope the author will explore further in future installments.
Overall, if you love dense, multifaceted world-building and are drawn to complex storylines with high stakes, May A Divine Awaken is for you. It’s a challenging read, but one with a lot of heart, especially in Marcus’s journey. I enjoyed the story overall, even if it left me a bit dazed, and I’m definitely planning to revisit it when I’m in a better headspace to appreciate all its layers.
March 9, 2023
What an incredible book!! You get so attached to all of the characters, their stories are all connected, and you really start to think about how they all view their world and what they want to see happen within it. Wonderful plot, great story progression, and the ending had me questioning everything I thought before!! I still have a lot of different theories and only some of them could still be viable after reading the ending, but I am SO ready for the next book!
I loved the witty banter between the characters, the world building was very well done, and I actually loved the switch between the first person pov and the third person pov between the different characters! It really brought everything together and connected the plot points very nicely! I haven’t seen that change in pov before, it was very well done and I am hoping to see it in future books in this series!
If you are a fan of magic systems, faction dynamics, and intense battles with twists you wouldn’t expect, this is the book for you!! An incredible read, I highly recommend it!!
I loved the witty banter between the characters, the world building was very well done, and I actually loved the switch between the first person pov and the third person pov between the different characters! It really brought everything together and connected the plot points very nicely! I haven’t seen that change in pov before, it was very well done and I am hoping to see it in future books in this series!
If you are a fan of magic systems, faction dynamics, and intense battles with twists you wouldn’t expect, this is the book for you!! An incredible read, I highly recommend it!!
October 24, 2024
Whew Marcus was putting me through it!!! I enjoyed this book though. I can't wait for the rest of the series. This would also be a great graphic novel too.
March 19, 2024
May a Divine Awaken is about a young soldier who learns that he has a divine power and then finds himself entangled in a ruthless political game, where kings and queens are vying for a forbidden relic of unimaginable power. The shifts in point of view from the main character allow the reader to easily navigate the political system and easily learn the vast cast of characters. The women are all strong warriors. This novel is filled with action, and exposition is shared as necessary. Overall, this is a solid debut novel.
May 10, 2023
Highly recommending to anyone who is a fan of dystopian novels of any sort or anime/manga! Amazing world building, character creation & development as well as action. The world they lived in feels very lived in and well thought out and all of the characters have their own distinct characteristics without getting too complex for a younger audience, a great read!
April 17, 2023
Michael has written a beautiful Fantasy World that draws you in right away with the characters and action, but he has a unique way of including modern day struggles and characteristics that are faced by many today. Buckle up because it’s going to be a series. Really freakin good read!
Genre: Fantasy
Pace: Fast
Summary: One day he is taking out trash on the continent of Pyris, the next day he is preparing to fight for his right to become what no one thinks he can be, an Alpha soldier. His fellow villagers treat him as an outcast and Marcus Azure is treated like an outcast because his strangely marked skin. Determined to change his fate, he fights any way. Everything changes when a group of mysterious assassins attack his village and fellow soldiers. He escapes with some unexpected help but is now determined to seek revenge. It is then that he becomes to uncover his true path and that his blemished skin is actually a sign of great power. He is also learning about becoming a Divine. Ultimately Marcus is forced to decide what to do with his future, but there are so many things at play as well.
What’s I loved??? The beginning had me hooked. It’s when you continue to read you see amazing themes seamlessly weaved into this book. For example; the blemished skin found on Marcus? It’s a sign of great power! The author Michael has vitiligo and I loved the way he drew on this experience and used it to flip the narrative…That what makes us stand out is a super power, not a separator. Loved the magic differed based on bloodline and what land you were from. That a Divine must be awakened that that it can happen out of trauma. Not to mention, the plot is really amazing! Just such a unique book and great characters. I think this will become a very popular series if we can get the word out! Share with your friends! So freakin good! I will be reading this series!
#mayadivineawaken #michaeltinsley #bookreviews #20booksbyblackmen
Genre: Fantasy
Pace: Fast
Summary: One day he is taking out trash on the continent of Pyris, the next day he is preparing to fight for his right to become what no one thinks he can be, an Alpha soldier. His fellow villagers treat him as an outcast and Marcus Azure is treated like an outcast because his strangely marked skin. Determined to change his fate, he fights any way. Everything changes when a group of mysterious assassins attack his village and fellow soldiers. He escapes with some unexpected help but is now determined to seek revenge. It is then that he becomes to uncover his true path and that his blemished skin is actually a sign of great power. He is also learning about becoming a Divine. Ultimately Marcus is forced to decide what to do with his future, but there are so many things at play as well.
What’s I loved??? The beginning had me hooked. It’s when you continue to read you see amazing themes seamlessly weaved into this book. For example; the blemished skin found on Marcus? It’s a sign of great power! The author Michael has vitiligo and I loved the way he drew on this experience and used it to flip the narrative…That what makes us stand out is a super power, not a separator. Loved the magic differed based on bloodline and what land you were from. That a Divine must be awakened that that it can happen out of trauma. Not to mention, the plot is really amazing! Just such a unique book and great characters. I think this will become a very popular series if we can get the word out! Share with your friends! So freakin good! I will be reading this series!
#mayadivineawaken #michaeltinsley #bookreviews #20booksbyblackmen
August 3, 2022
I throughly enjoyed this first book in the series! It jumped you right into the action and let the world building happen naturally throughout the series! There were many twists and turns! It has a great diversity of characters, each with their own ambitions. It leaves the reader wanting more- I can’t wait for book 2!
April 1, 2023
The world building, character development, and plot were great! My biggest struggle was the shift POV. When Marcus is in a scene, it's from First Person. When he isn't, it jumps to Third Person. Personally, this pulls me out of the immersion effect. I loved the concept of Divines and Awakenings. The magic in this story was handled very well and consistently.
April 16, 2024
If no one is rooting for Marcus then I’m deceased.
A strong allegory of our “flaws” are what make us beautiful, unique, and powerful. Though much more fast-paced than I anticipated, Tinsley writes in a way that fully immerses you into the world he’s created. Cannot wait for book 2!
A strong allegory of our “flaws” are what make us beautiful, unique, and powerful. Though much more fast-paced than I anticipated, Tinsley writes in a way that fully immerses you into the world he’s created. Cannot wait for book 2!
May 3, 2024
Above and beyond amazing! I recommend it to all
November 21, 2025
A literal garbage-boy (no, like that’s his job), Marcus, decides to take on the quest of running a gauntlet with one of his two best friends, they’re Norms, but by winning they can change their status in life to become an elite soldier, which is as close to the Divine as you can get, where that third best friend is. After Marcus’ parents have disappeared these two have been his solace, but being socio-economically separated has not set well with Marcus and he’s ready to risk limb and life to try to move up in life.
And that’s just the opening chapter because Y’ALL mad sh1t goes down in this book. The whole world is divided into sibling clans (sorted by gender, and NGL living in a tribe entirely run and operated by women sounds like a dream) and *of course* they’re fighting to be the dominant tribe group and one tribe has a secret plan to go against the laws of their society to claim this superiority. Marcus gets wrapped up in all of it because someone from his past is convinced his vitiligo is a sign of his superior powers.
The world and magic system in this book are really interesting but I found the pacing to be absolutely break neck, there’s just so many fight scenes and a huge cast that we didn’t spend enough time with to feel as characters versus fighting machines. This was a Satisfiction book of the month pick, and I love that she picks indie books to get this kind of beautiful treatment. I am intrigued to know if this book gets a bit of a rewrite as it has been picked up for a traditional publishing deal as a series. There’s a lot left unresolved at the end of this book so it certainly needs more!
And that’s just the opening chapter because Y’ALL mad sh1t goes down in this book. The whole world is divided into sibling clans (sorted by gender, and NGL living in a tribe entirely run and operated by women sounds like a dream) and *of course* they’re fighting to be the dominant tribe group and one tribe has a secret plan to go against the laws of their society to claim this superiority. Marcus gets wrapped up in all of it because someone from his past is convinced his vitiligo is a sign of his superior powers.
The world and magic system in this book are really interesting but I found the pacing to be absolutely break neck, there’s just so many fight scenes and a huge cast that we didn’t spend enough time with to feel as characters versus fighting machines. This was a Satisfiction book of the month pick, and I love that she picks indie books to get this kind of beautiful treatment. I am intrigued to know if this book gets a bit of a rewrite as it has been picked up for a traditional publishing deal as a series. There’s a lot left unresolved at the end of this book so it certainly needs more!
March 20, 2023
I enjoyed a lot of things about this book. The magic system was intriguing, Marcus was an interesting character to follow, and I really enjoyed the third person narratives woven in that gave insight into what was happening with other characters. I was really rooting for Marcus and his squad. The world politics and character interactions kept me invested in the story.
I did not enjoy the graphic violence (I know it comes with the territory of fantasy but it was gratuitous for my personal taste level). Also, the last 59-70 pages really dragged for me. They were action packed, so many battles happened. I guess I’m not really into battle scenes, but if you are then the end of this book will be great for you!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to come back to this world and this magic system in book 2!
I did not enjoy the graphic violence (I know it comes with the territory of fantasy but it was gratuitous for my personal taste level). Also, the last 59-70 pages really dragged for me. They were action packed, so many battles happened. I guess I’m not really into battle scenes, but if you are then the end of this book will be great for you!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to come back to this world and this magic system in book 2!
July 10, 2024
spoilers — great world building ending needs work
I enjoyed the story for the most part, however, I feel the ending had errors and left gaps that couldn’t be resolved in a pt 2. For example, the fight between the sisters, only 1 remained yet both appear in the scene with the General. The General is another example. You never said how he got there so it tracks as plot manipulation. Marcus could have shown more backbone. Overall, I will read the next.
I enjoyed the story for the most part, however, I feel the ending had errors and left gaps that couldn’t be resolved in a pt 2. For example, the fight between the sisters, only 1 remained yet both appear in the scene with the General. The General is another example. You never said how he got there so it tracks as plot manipulation. Marcus could have shown more backbone. Overall, I will read the next.
August 29, 2023
I couldn't believe it when I found out this was Michael Tinsely's debut novel. His writing and character development convinced me he has been writing books for years! The story told of Marcus Azure and his journey is one of the best I've read all of 2023. I cannot wait for the second entry into this series!
June 1, 2025
I really liked what I knew of the characters and I also enjoyed the worldbuilding and the loads of action. I did think it was ultimately too fast paced without time to dwell on characterization or look at how all the action was affecting our characters, and ultimately found the scenes of villainous plotting boring. I liked the plot, though, and plan to continue the series.
April 14, 2023
This was a wonderful story with quite a few twists and great action and adventure. Loved the narrative change sequence to show Marcus’s perspective versus those around him. Looking forward to the next book.
April 13, 2023
The storyline was good but I struggled with the changing from 1st person POV to third person.
May 16, 2023
I loved the storytelling. So many characters and so many people to learn about, definitely a good thing. This felt like a movie, I would definitely watch this
December 31, 2023
Beautifully written universe of characters. I cannot wait until the next book.
June 23, 2025
This was a good start to a series. The magic system is unique, waiting on Book 2.
April 23, 2025
This is one of the best fantasy books I’ve read in the last decade. The worldbuilding is astounding, recommended for people that are not familiar with fantasy because it is complete and full but it builds up as the story progresses so it doesn’t stop the plot. The characters are so well written and have such depth and layers to them.
A young man has to decide if he wants to know the truth about him and his family, possibly betraying everyone and everything he has ever known. Unleash his power or stick to the comfort of mediocrity? Who can he trust?
I can’t wait for the next book and hopefully this is going to be a very long saga!
A young man has to decide if he wants to know the truth about him and his family, possibly betraying everyone and everything he has ever known. Unleash his power or stick to the comfort of mediocrity? Who can he trust?
I can’t wait for the next book and hopefully this is going to be a very long saga!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews