Alkarra Awakening

The Network #2

by Katie Cross

Never underestimate the power of a volatile witch.

Still reeling in the wake of her mother’s death, sixteen-year-old Bianca Monroe is forced to move to Chatham Castle. Not even the sudden appearance of ancient dragons in haunted Letum Wood nor her two best friends can distract her from the strength of her deep, dark rage.

Her grief puts her magical powers into chaos, endangering any witch around her. She has six months left to destroy the curse that will kill her and fulfill her contract with the most cunning enemy of all: her former teacher Miss Mabel.

Bianca must make a choice: learn to control her restless powers, or let the powers control her.

Alkarra Awakening is the second book in the thrilling new fantasy collection The Network Series. It’s a haunting tale about tragedy, loss, and the power of moving on.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Magic, Witches, Ebooks, Adventure

300 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2014

About the author

My world revolves around my husband (who is a major hottie), my precious kids, my Vizsla’s who act like children, and the mountains.

I wear hiking boots instead of heels when I need to feel powerful, and on a bad day, I love a weightlifting workout. Actually, I love it on a good day.

I don’t eat bread because my thyroid doesn’t like it, although there are days I miss it. Especially ciabatta. Sweet potatoes are kind of my thing. Cookies too.

I write because I never stopped.

Author of The Network Series, The Dragonmaster Trilogy, and The Coffee Shop Series.

Email me at kcrosswriting@gmail.com

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave book one in this series, Miss Mabel's School for Girls, three stars. I use that rating sometimes when I feel a book is “just OK" - you know, good enough, but not really worthy of a strong opinion, positive or negative. That wasn't the case with that one, though; I found it surprisingly enjoyable in some respects. The problem was, in others it fell short. Between those shortcomings and the cliffhanger ending (cliffhangers royally piss me off – they come across as calculated to entice us to buy a sequel for a series that ought to be good enough to stand on its own merits), I wasn't sure whether to bother with this one.

I did end up buying and reading it, obviously, but I'm sad to say this one isn't getting a better score. Funnily enough, some of the stuff that bugged me about the first book – the caricature of the Bad Guy, the cliffhanger, the lack of world building in such a fascinating world – wasn't as much of a problem here, and that's great. This sequel had a proper ending. It didn't ramp up the world building much, but my experience with Miss Mabel's had me feeling more tuned in from the start. Miss Mabel was still a caricature, but she played a much lesser part in this volume. (There were others to take her place, though. Maybe I just resigned myself to it?)

And I might have given this one four stars, except for one thing: Bianca. The main character. The one who impressed me so much in Miss Mabel's for her pluck and determination to do what she had to do in order to overcome impossible odds.

She...regressed or something. Now, don't get me wrong. If someone goes through a tragedy like Bianca's, I have some measure of understanding regarding regrettable behavior. But...how to do this without spoilers? Hmm: instead of taking a situation seemingly ready-made for crystallizing all that determination into a hardened, mature, unstoppable protagonist and force of good, she turned into a brat. Whining. Bad decision after bad decision. Sheer idiocy in some cases. I can see not wanting to make her into her own opposing caricature, a model of perfection, yes. But just like in the first book, where I complained about a lack of balance, a good author can give a character flaws, can leave room for further growth, without leaving the MC completely unlikeable. It's hard to write a glowing review when you're not fond of the MC, you know?

That's my strongest complaint, but not the only one. There were other aspects of the story that bugged me as well. Plot elements that never really amount to much... Potential for character development that could have given the story layers upon layers but went unfulfilled... The story wasn't bad. But it wasn't great, either.

Anyway, Bianca grew out of her snit...eventually...mostly. And I'm left with a book that, even though it ended on a supremely predictable note (yeah, saw that ending coming by about chapter two), even though I still don't think it lives up to the hype, nevertheless entices me to read on. If book three doesn't take too long to come out, I'll probably read it.

[J.S. Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Mabel scares me.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our protagonist sixteen year old Bianca Monroe is a cursed, powerful and inexperienced witch. She is mourning the loss of her mother and trying to come to terms with the twisted predicament she finds herself in.  Bianca and her father, along with her closest classmates are tucked within the safety of Chatham Castle, nestled on the edge of Letum Wood. Bianca’s grief has her magic building, and when frightened or angered she is unable to contain it. With only six months left before the curse will engage she has no time to think of romance or balls.

In Antebellum Awakening, we see Bianca grow as a character. First she must learn to control and hone her powers if she has any hope of confronting and destroying her enemy. She is a strong character, and these tasks are not easy, but she is smart, determined, and inquisitive. One of the things I admire most about her is her unselfish attitude, most sixteen year olds would be caught up in the curse, but Bianca’s first thought are protecting those around her. Bianca is far from perfect, and there are moments when she truly is just a sixteen-year-old girl who misses her mother. I liked how realistic she is portrayed.

The High Priestess has a young Guardian train her in sword fighting in an effort to burn off her excess magic and prepare her for battle. I enjoyed the time these too spent together, and while Bianca took notice of how handsome he was, she was far too concerned with her quest. It is nice to have a young adult series free of insta-love, triangles and angst but I am secretly hoping that their relationship continues to flourish in book three. Her friends are well developed. I can close my eyes and see them spring to life. Camille is more concerned with a certain young guardian and loathes her schoolwork. Leda is always in the library studying and you just know there is much more to this young woman. Our villain Miss Mabel is deliciously evil. She is the type you love to hate.

The tale unfolds slowly in Antebellum Awakening, and picks up speed in the final quarter of the novel as the danger escalates and Bianca approaches her seventeenth birthday. Time travel, spells, clues, and allies kept me engrossed. I loved the dragon aspect and other side threads. If I had, my way those threads would have been furthered developed. The ending was satisfying and left me eager for the next installment.

Copy provided by author.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[E.D.E. Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katie Cross makes magic again with the second installment in The Network Series, Antebellum Awakening. A page-turner from start to finish until its breathtaking finale, Katie charms with lovable characters, challenging dilemmas, and the triumph of spirit. Age-appropriate for any young adult, this book is also a charming read for adults. Antebellum Awakening is a delightful story with suspense, drama, and an abundance of heart.

[Julia Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. I don't know what it is about this series (it's kinda cliché but also it uses the clichés well and in an interesting way--at least, it's interesting to me). I loved that the first one was about the girl's boarding school--but it hinted that guys would come into play later. I really enjoyed seeing the guys and their whole guardian thing. I enjoyed seeing each hint of the love interests. This in particular felt so natural. I loved that the love interests weren't huge in the plot, but they weren't nearly nonexistent, either. It felt very natural, and I appreciate that it barely even feels like a love interest. This book was more set-up, and I love that the author is taking her time with the romance to the point where it feels so well-paced and subtle. Honestly, I feel like she does it better than most romantasy novels do. I also loved seeing the main character dealing with grief, and how it affected everything. I do feel like she is often yanked about like a puppet by all the adults in this series, which I have mixed feelings about. Since she is a teenager, it makes sense but at the same time it's still frustrating. Really enjoyed the climax. Really enjoyed this, will still continue the series.

[Muzmuz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put the book down

The more you read the more you'ld want to know, never expected the ending but i know i would be rushing to start the 3rd book

[Ginny Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Gin's Book Notes



Katie Cross has written another winner with book 2 in her fantastic YA fantasy adventure-  THE NETWORK SERIES!

I love this series! It's very well written and full of amazing characters, action, and magic.

Antebellum Awakening continues where book 1, Miss Mabel's School for Girls left off.

Bianca is not coping with her recent loss and the pain is tearing her apart.  A large portion of book 2 is a journey through her pain and acceptance. She has to learn that everyone processes loss differently and she must face the memories haunt her before they destroy her.

"I didn't doubt that he mourned as deeply as me, be he did it in such a different way that I sometimes felt as if I were drowning in a sea of despair while he stood on the shore." - Bianca

"While it wounded my heart to hear her name, it healed another ache I didn't know I had. So many little bruises. How will they all ever heal?" - Bianca

In addition to Bianca's personal loss and coping issues. The Network is under attack and Miss Mabel is as nasty as ever. Bianca must learn to fight with both magic and swords if she hopes to survive Mabel's next attack- yay for sword fighting scenes!

Politics, sacrifice, and new responsibilities all play huge parts in making Antebellum Awakening as good if not better than book 1.

"The High Priestess let out a heavy sigh. "I love the Central Network. I always have. I've given my life to her. I see all her beauties, and all her flaws. We've created a powerful Network, but we've also created a monster. All of our traditions keep us rooted in the past. The witches of our Network hold to them for comfort, not realizing that those traditions are the very thing that will bring about our downfall."

This is a series that must be read in order. Book 2 is a continuation of Book 1 and I am looking forward to the next part of this amazing story. The endings aren't cliffhangers but are to be continued stories. Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon!

You can read my review for book 1, Miss Mabel's School for Girls here.

Book 1 is currently on sale for 99¢!!! If you are a Kindle Unlimited Subscriber both books are available for FREE download.

[Kelsey Keating · Rating 4 out of 5]

And the story continues...

Okay, I promise not to give spoilers, but you have to know. READ THIS BOOK! DO IT!
Wait. Stop. Did you read the first one? No? I was wrong, read THAT ONE first and THEN COME READ THIS ONE!
Do you HAVE to read that one? Probably not, you might be confused on a few details though and missing out on some of the awesome happening in here.

Why do I love this book? Oh let me count the ways.

Bianca.
I wuv me some Bianca. Girl is tough, but real. I feel like I totally get it, what's she's going through. I just connect with her. Except the running thing. I hate to run.

Leda.
Leda is so freaking awesome! I got a bit of a shady vibe and got all scared that Leda might turn out to not be one of my favorites but then BAM! She Leda'd it up and of course, was awesome. I want more Leda.

Merrick.
One moment please while I bat my eyelashes at the guy with the dry sense of humor and lovely green eyes. Even if Bianca isn't going after Merrick, that doesn't mean I can't love him, right?

Everybody else.
So many fantastic characters. Like Mildred? Mildred will always be a fave of mine...and Derrek.
Go read. You'll understand.

I did want to throw this book across the room, but that was because of the feels. SO MANY FEELS!
I ate it up, and I'm asking for more now please. Ready, Ms. Cross? I need more.

So, there it is. Probably my longest review ever. So that should say something.

[G.S. Jennsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Stunning Tale of Sacrifice, Joy and Finding True Inner (and Outer) Strength

As someone who does not make a habit of reading YA fiction, to me one of the most interesting (and enjoyable) things about Antebellum Awakening is that though it is a young adult novel, it never shies away from serious, difficult topics. The struggle of how to deal with loss, move forward and grow stronger, the reality of facing evil in the world, the heavy weight of responsibility and the nature of sacrifice—all these themes run like intertwining rivers through the book. The author handles them all with a respectful, understated touch, which has the inverse effect of magnifying their emotional impact.

This is not to say that Antebellum Awakening is a depressing book. There are dark moments, yes, but there are also moments of levity, humor, beauty and, most importantly, extreme badassery :). The struggles Bianca and those close to her face lead up to a heart-stopping, thrilling climax that is among the best I’ve read. The final 25% of the novel ratchets up the intensity to a fever pitch and keeps it there to the final page.

Sword fights, old magic gone wild, dragons—and at the center of it all stands one young woman who, when it matters most, discovers just how strong she can be, in truly spectacular fashion.

[Holly Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relentless and gripping, I couldn't put it down.

Cross really found her stride in Antebellum Awakening. I loved Miss Mabel's School for Girls, and it was with anticipation that I waited for the release of the second installment of The Network Series. But, this book blew away all of my expectations.

There was never one dull moment or lackadaisical pause where I felt bored with the story, and it moves at such a rate that as a reader, I couldn't help but continue to read at a furious pace, at times, neglecting other duties.

The events at the end were a smidge predictable, but I think that that won't hold true for every reader. It's simply the curse of any author reading a book.

As a storyteller, Cross is superb. There was character growth, plot development, and I definitely left with a thirst for the third book. Cross abandons the typical mold of a book centered around a teenage protagonist. There's limited romance (if you can even call it that) and no bitchiness or complaining. A breath of fresh air on the Young Adult scene, I am expecting Cross to become a household name before too long. Her writing is just that solid.

[Ashley Mcroberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit that I begged my husband to watch my toddler while I finished this book. The last few chapters were so fantastic I couldn't put them down. I may have yelled "cheese it!" At a few events ;) I loved the imagery and emotion that Katie captured. Some of the events were a little predicable, but enjoyable none the less. I think this will be one of my go to, always a fantastic read book. I'll be urging her to finish the next book. I can't wait.

[Natalie J. Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book of the Network Series, Miss Mabel's School for Girls, so I couldn't wait to read Antebellum Awakening. It didn't disappoint! I ended up binge-reading it yesterday. I couldn't put it down.

YA isn't my usual genre of choice, but Katie Cross has so fully captured this world that I was completely wrapped up in it. There is a wonderful progression in the characters and her attention to detail is impeccable. I can't wait until the next book!

[Linda (Miss Greedybooks)]

I really must get this series!!!

[Robbi Leah Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book I can feel good if my kids read. Also adults will like especially witch fans.
Bianca continues her struggle with the death of her grandmother and mother. She now lives with her dad at the castle. Mabel is missing and Bianca still has death looming at age 17 and a binding.
Great book for adults and kids 11+.
No bad words.
Mild violence.
Growing up
Strength in friendship
Very little romance/ no sex

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragic things happened and Miss Mabel won last round, leaving Bianca a mess for more than half of this book, acting stubborn and reckless instead of allowing herself to feel and talking to someone about the things she's going through. It got tiresome, to be honest, but when she finally embraced her emotions and her magic the entire feel of the book changed for the better. The pacing of time dragged on and then leapt ahead sporadically. However, the last third of the book was totally worth the tiresome first parts. Lots of connections made and a gruesome yet satisfying battle at the end. The setting is in Chatham Castle and City this time around, but Bianca has her school friends close by for occasional backup and shenanigans. There is a wider cast of characters, making it a little tricky to keep track of important details and conversations, but we get to know Papa more and have a slightly better understanding of the state of the world and some history of it. It's hard to guess where the new war will take us next and how else Bianca will grow in the books to come, but I look forward to more of all these characters.

Common sense: deep emotional grief, moderate violence and bloodshed (especially near the end), civil unrest and hatred toward certain people, a little romance though only very innocent blushing, strolling, flirting, dancing, etc. I'd still say upper teens+ due to the violence and heavy emotional and political topics.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great sequel to Miss Mabel's school for girls. There was depth to the main character as she learned to face her grief. The author created a believable, magical world.

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

She does it again!
This is such a good sequel to Miss Mabel's School for Girls. Our main character Bianca is just as sassy and daring as before, without the desire or capacity to hold back from doing what she feels is right. I love the way the story is developing!!

[Megan Blanchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. I enjoyed the first book, and this one picked up right where it left off. It reminds me of the world of Harry Potter.

[Gina (My Precious Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

SETTING PACE AND STYLE


Antebellum Awakening, no longer takes place at a boarding school. Instead, the story moves to a castle setting. Pacing is slow to moderate, moving at the perfect story telling pace, where the reader can take the time to absorb everything going on. The writing is easy to read, with a touch of ever present tension building (a ticking time bomb) as the novel moves forward in time. Its told in a first person narrative from the perspective of the female lead, Bianca.

MAIN CHARACTERS


A few new characters are introduced in this book. One of the more notable characters is Merrick. He's the young man assigned to train Bianca to physically fight. If Bianca can defend herself physically and with magic it will strengthen her chances of defeating the villainous Miss Mabel.

Bianca, sadly, is still faced with her inheritance curse, yet she's granted a one year reprieve by the evil villainess Miss Mabel. Bianca's main struggle in this book is dealing with the loss of her mother. Along with this overflowing grief, she's also challenged with keeping her ever growing powers in check. I felt pretty badly for Bianca and her situation. She blamed herself for her mother's death and her sorrow was palatable. I admired her aspiration and drive to both avenger her mother's death and kill Miss Mabel. In the end I'm totally happy with the decisions she makes. I think I wouldn't have liked the story as much if she had chosen differently.

Bianca's besties from book one, Michelle, Leta and Camille still play large rolls in the story. They are allowed to continue "home" schooling at Bianca's father's castle so they can help boost Bianca's spirits. The girls end up gallivanting about the castle, raising a ruckus here and there to help lighten the generally dark mood. Its fun to see these friendships grow in this installment. The three girls also made plenty of progress as characters as each refined their strengths and gained better control of their weaknesses.

Believe it or not Miss Mabel becomes even more callous in this book. She's very cold and calculating and will stop at nothing, letting nothing stand in her way of the goals she has set forth to achieve - to RULE the networks!

PERSONAL NOTE


The first book in this series, Miss Mabel's School for Girls is an action packed story about a young witch, Bianca, who is attending an all girls boarding school. What's unusual about this young gal, other than the witch piece, is she is plagued with an inheritance curse. One which will kill her on her 16th birthday unless she is able to break it beforehand. In this second book, the feel of the story is completely different. Antebellum Awakening is more about a broken girl, trying to heal. Its about learning to let go of the grief, without forgetting the person you lost. Anyone who has lost someone close, will definitely understand what poor Bianca is going through.

My favorite aspect of this particular novel is how Bianca progressed through the grieving process, learning how heal her broken heart all on her own. Dealing with grief is very much individualized and I like how the author let Bianca solve the problem, herself. Throughout the book, she constantly battled with her roiling powers and the way she was able to finally get them under control in the end was empowering. The character and plot development, in this story, became deeper and more complex. The politics and world building were advanced significantly, too. In the end, the book settled at a decent resting place. It doesn't have quite the cliffhanger as book one did. However, its pretty obvious this story is far from over. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I can't wait to see what will happen next.

RECOMMENDATION


I recommend this book to fans of Miss Mabel's. This is a great book for advancing the story. It doesn't rehash, instead, it only gives subtle hints about what happened before to jar the reader's memory.

RATING



4 out of 5 Rings

[Clare Stracke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my full review on www.stacksandshelves.wordpress.com ♥

My Review

YAAS! I love this series so much. I found the first, Miss Mabel's School for Girls, on NetGalley and I am so glad I did. After posting my praise on this blog and all my other social media platforms, the author offered me a copy of the second novel as well as a novella (see my previous review of The Isadora Interviews) for review. In this second book of the Network series, Bianca moves to the Castle of the High Priestess to learn to control her new power, brought on by the murder of her mother, as well as how to use it to defeat the evil Miss Mabel. Antebellum Awakening reminded me of the Wizard of Oz. There are good and bad witches, they live in cardinal directions, and Miss Mabel is plotting in the west. She is legit the Wicked Witch of the West.

This installment of the Network series also introduced the readers to new creatures and players in the world of Antebellum. Forest dragons make an appearance and there is a new witch in the forest who is related to another previous character. I love that, while the dragons are generally kept in check by this dragon master witch, they are still their own magnificent creatures and do not take kindly to witches. Antebellum Awakening expands on the family backgrounds of many of the players in the upcoming conflict and I was excited to learn more. Especially since some of those familial revelations are going to have dire consequences for the characters!

There were hints of romance but not an overwhelming amount like in many YA books. Camille was thrilled to stay at the castle with Bianca because of the handsome guardians. She spends a good portion of the novel acting as a comic relief mooning over them. There were hints of romance for Bianca, too, but very much less so which I liked. The focus was mainly on family and power and the women of the story. Bianca has to learn to protect herself from Miss Mabel and her own growing power. She has to face her fears and face the loss she has suffered. I am so glad this YA novel is out there to demonstrate the power of women, their friendships, and the struggles they must face.

In Summary

The Good
•Another solid entry in the Network Series, even stronger than the first
•Focus on women and their struggles
•No love triangles
•More magic! More fantasy! Amazing storytelling!

The Not So Good
•Her sword Viveet reminds me of Velveeta so I kept thinking of cheese :P

Recommendation

Absolutely, yes! The ending makes me even more excited for the release of The High Priests Daughter releasing in September. It is going to go down! Thank goodness the prequel, Mildred's Resistance is going to come out in July! Something to tide me over ♥

[Kirstin Pulioff · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the heartbreaking and yet empowering end to Miss Mabel's, you know something big is about to happen in the sequel and in Bianca's world. After the tragic death of her mother, battle with Miss Mabel, and uncovering of a planned network takeover, Bianca's life is in turmoil. Moved to Chantham Castle for her safety, Bianca struggles to come to terms with her grief, out of control magic, and the new direction of her life. Even with the political turmoil, grieving, and preparing for war, Bianca still has one thing to worry about... her life. Can she break the curse that threatens her life, or will unforeseen circumstances stand in her way?

I won't lie... when I finished reading Miss Mabel's School for Girls, I became one of Katie Cross's biggest fans. In fact, I think the first things I did after reading the first book was contact her and ask when the second book in the series was coming out. Thankfully, she didn't disappoint and I only had to wait a few months... A few agonizing months, but it was worth it.

Again, when I started reading, I found myself hooked from the first scene. Teased with the High Priestess vowing to break Bianca's inheritance curse, the complex relationships between characters and plot gripped me. This is a fast paced, action filled tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Once I opened the book, there was no going back (or putting the book down.) The sequel delivers on all the promises made from the first book and gives us more.

Just a quick note as a total fan girl for Bianca. One of the exciting points from the first book is that she is independent and self-sufficient. Romance was not necessary for her at that point in her life. While I wholeheartedly understood that, I'll admit, I was excited about the potential romance story when the guardians were introduced. Who wouldn't drool over the strong men that protected the castle... Ok, maybe they were cuter in my imagination than intended, but the plot line caught my attention... and I still appreciated that even with the addition of some romance, Bianca stayed true and strong to who she is.

She's a girl to route for. Does she need a sidekick, sure, who doesn't need friends of all sorts in this type of dangerous journey... But she doesn't need a man... And I love that.

Bottom line, Katie Cross has done a magical job. After reading and reviewing the first book, I said forget Hogwarts, go to Miss Mabel's... This book I make no comparisons. Antebellum Awakening stands on it's own as a remarkable book with an original tone, and cast of memorable characters.

5 stars!

[Evan Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

With even more world-building, breathtaking imagery, and colorful characters, the sequel to Miss Mabel's School for Girls, Antebellum Awakening, is an absolute delight to read.

Full Review:

Let it be known that I absolutely loved Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, the first book in Katie Cross’ Network Series. It had wonderful characters, beautiful imagery, and much more. It whisked you to a place of mysterious magic that you can’t quite get over even after you finish the book. It enraptured me and made me an instant fan. The sequel to the novel, Antebellum Awakening, has the same qualities, but even better. Whatever issues one might have had with its predecessor are dealt with in this one. Didn’t like that there were no male characters (say for a few appearances towards the end of the novel)? Well, there is plenty of gender diversity in this one. Didn’t like the limited scope of Miss Mabel’s? In Antebellum Awakening, Katie Cross expands and develops the world of Antebellum, making it even more of a wondrous place. There are dragons, vampires-that-are-definitely-not-vampires, castles, and much more.

Katie Cross did something in Antebellum Awakening that I have not seen very many authors do in fantasy. Throughout the book, characters deal with multiple issues all the way from handling grief to letting go of tradition, also giving the reader their own revelations. This is all done, however, without pushing it in the reader’s face as many authors are wont to do in their stories. Katie Cross doesn’t do this. She intertwines the messages throughout the story and goes so far as to making them actual plot points.

Antebellum Awakening is full of twists and turns and breathtaking action. If you think you know where the story was going after reading Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, you are in for a big surprise. There are plenty of gasp-worthy events in this book, and when you get to the end, you won’t want it to stop.

The prequel novel to the Network Series, Mildred’s Resistance, will be released early summer, and the sequel to Antebellum Awakening, tentatively titled The High Priest's Daughter, will be out later on this year. If you want to know how I feel about waiting for those, here is a perfect example of the feelings coursing through me:

[Evelyne Holingue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antebellum Awakening is the direct sequel of Miss Mabel's School for Girls.
In Book I the author Katie Cross had planted the roots for an original fantasy trilogy called The Network Series.
Good and evil witches inhabit the Network, a world divided geographically and strategically. Miss Mabel fights restlessly and evilly for exclusive power. To fulfill her goal she must get rid of a few people.
Among them Bianca Monroe.
Due to Miss Mabel’s diabolic curse Bianca has already lost her beloved mother in Book I and has been ordered to kill her father who stands in Mabel’s way.
In Antebellum Awakening, Bianca is almost seventeen years old. On her birthday she will also die if the infamous ancient Book of Spells is not found to stop the curse.
The range of emotions that affect Bianca’s choices and decisions work beyond the fantasy world of the Network.
Since I’m not a huge fan of fantasy this is already what I liked in Book I and liked even better in Book II.
The character of Bianca is now fully fleshed. Her relationships with her friends from Book I are more developed and play a more important role, especially in the last crucial scenes. The feelings that all these girls experience are typical of teenage girls coming out of age and we can only feel and fall for them.
Compelling boys are also introduced in Book II and they add a perfect layer of light romance and believable tension between the characters.
In addition to the plot that moves along well despite a few lengthy passages, Cross’s competent and writing, which was a good surprise in Book I is even more confident in Book II. I particularly appreciated the choice of strong verbs, similes, metaphors, and the vivid descriptions of nature and food. It is obvious that Cross loves both the outdoors and good food and she succeeds at passing this affection through her writing.
Although Bianca experiences with significant loss in several different ways, she learns how to cope with the pain and grief, as we all have to do in real life. Her fight against despair feels real and renders this girl very likeable.
The ending of Book II is satisfying. There is no real cliffhanger but the promise to meet Bianca, stronger than ever and determined to fight for her Network now at war.
This is a book for teens who love fantasy, swords fights, dragons, and also for anyone who is still seventeen at heart.

[Shaz X · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my full review at Sharon's Book Nook!
*copy of this book was gifted to me by the author in return for an honest review*
Antebellum Awakening is the continuing story, taking up where Miss Mabel's School For Girls left off. Here is my take on it, and why I think you should definitely give this story a try:-

What I liked:

- The great imagination of Katie Cross to create this fascinating place - Antebellum.
- The villain, Miss Mabel. I love to loathe the evilness that she is.
- Fantastic writing, and it's very obvious that a lot of care has been taken when putting this story together.
- Strong characters who fight for what is right.
- Wonderful descriptions of mythical creatures and you feel like you are there looking at them along with the characters.
- Bianca and her friends are still typical teenagers even though their world is anything but typical. They're gushing over boys, whining about school work, staying up all night and bingeing on sweets. I liked this piece of normalcy as it was easy to relate to.
- The story is told via the first person from Bianca's point of view. Her emotions were well received this way and the weight on her shoulders felt like it was on mine as well.
- The ending was left open for the next installment to take off from but the book feels finished and complete for now.

What I disliked:

- The story is a little slow at first, but it doesn't leave you waiting for too long before it picks up the pace and carries that momentum though to the end.

Overall, a fantastic follow-up to MMSFG and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a magical story.

A magical 4 stars!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it possible to love a sequel more than the original? Before now I probably would have said no. Usually the second book in a series is slower, drags, and seems to just fill space. I was so happy to find I was wrong. This book was amazing! I LOVED Miss Mabel's School for Girls - the setting, the characters, the friendships, everything. Antebellum Awakening just deepened my love for this series. I will be the first to admit that I don't read books with any kind of sadness if I can help it, but the sadness was so beautifully woven with the joy, strength, and love of friends and family that in this instance it merely pulled me deeper into the book. It was like being surrounded by old friends, being back with Bianca, Camille, and Leda. It was amazing to watch these girls continue to grow-up, find their strengths, face their weaknesses, and mature. It wasn't just the three friends either, all of the characters, from before and new, were detailed and real. It was so nice to have the second book in the series continue with the first in not involving instant love, love triangles, or any of that other typical main story line. I love a good love story - but now after reading the first two books I have more anticipation than ever for when or if Bianca finally realizes she has met her match (can I hope we have already met him?). The only thing left is my question after reading the first book - how long do I have to wait for more? I don't know, but until then, these will both probably be re-read multiple times!

[Joana Vieira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review can also be found at Joana In The Sky With Books

And here I was, thinking that this series couldn't get any better after Miss Mabel's School For Girls. Well, I was utterly wrong!

I felt that this book dealt with some heavier topics. We have grieve, considering that it starts right after Bianca's mother's death, we have a war coming up and we have Bianca being afraid that her curse won't be lifted and that she will die in a short amount of months. So, perhaps because of this, I think that the first part of the book moves a bit slower giving time to Bianca (and the reader) to assimilate everything that is going on.

Nonetheless, the pacing is right for the story and eventually it does become faster and more action-packed - even more so than Miss Mabel's - with magic and what I believed to be amazingly described sword fights!

On top of that, as Bianca starts accepting her fate, the story gets ever more gripping and enticing, stopping you from putting the book down until you've read it from cover to cover!

I thought that all the characters were wonderfully written and even the secondary ones had an important role in the story. Miss Mabel was as evil as ever. She is just the kind of villain that you love to hate. At the same time - and like I've said on my last review - I like the different kinds of strong women that Katie is able to portray.

This book is a great sequel to Miss Mabel's School For Girls and it leaves you wanting more!

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was tough. Everything sort of imploded and it was very stressful for me, but I did get some answers. This book was as compelling as the first installment of the series. And what's not to love? The characters are likable, lovable, interesting and multifaceted. In this book, poor Bianca has a lot to deal with. She is struggling with the loss of her mother and grandmother, as well as her childhood home. She has to adjust to living with her Papa in the castle, taming her magic and she still has that inheritance curse to worry about. Any one of these things would cause a normal teenager to crack, but Bianca, being of strong mind and will, constantly pushes through, knowing she is a small part of a bigger picture. We continue to see her friendships with Leda, Camille, Michelle and the High Priestess grow AND we get some new friendships. We are introduced to Merrick (possible love interest?) In fact, we get a little bit of romance for some of the other characters in this book. No, it did not become a romance, but I'm sorry, I can not pass on a little swooning. As always, Cross' writing is excellent, the story is compelling and she did not lose me at any point. I am awaiting the 3rd book with bated breath.

[Kristy Gillespie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely hooked on the first book in the Network Series (Miss Mabel's School for Girls) and book two is just as captivating! Once again I identified with Bianca Monroe, a young witch coming into her powers; and I detested the evil witch Miss Mabel.
Miss Mabel to Bianca: "You're always trying to control the things you have no control over, aren't you, foolish girl?" (52)
Fortunately, Bianca has a strong support system. Stella, one of the council members, reminds Bianca: "We are all mourning something, Bianca. All of us. Keep that in mind, for you are never alone in your grief." (94)
Besides the plot and characters, (especially Bianca and Merrick) I really enjoyed Katie Cross's unique descriptive writing. For example: "Despite the questionable puddles, stench of burned coffee, and occasional piles of refuse, Chatham City had an endearing personality." (117)
This is am amazing series and I highly recommend that you check it out.

[Sabrina Ramoth · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the cliffhanger at the end of Miss Mabel's School for Girls, I could not wait to get my hands on this sequel. And it did not disappoint!

When this book starts we find a very different Bianca, she is struggling to find a way to cope with the loss of her mother and the uncertainty of her fate. But as always she is determined and will not go down without a fight. Then there is Miss Mabel, I found her to be even more cunning in this book. I don't want to give any spoilers but I am certain we have not seen the last of her.

In addition to the characters and the story-line, I loved the world Cross has created. I find the politics and the history of the Networks to be extremely fascinating and well developed. I can't wait to see what's in store for the Central Network in the books to come.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antebellum’s Awakening far exceeded its predecessor in its ability to immerse the reader into the essence of Antebellum. I feel like I have a clear picture and understanding of Antebellum now, from a historical, geographical and even scientific (read: understanding of magic) standpoint, not to mention more of an emotional investment in the characters. Cross expanded and developed the world only previously glimpsed through the windows of Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, and I loved seeing it come alive and immersing myself in it. I will continue to recommend this series to young girls; the content is interesting and the decisions made have real consequences. I look forward to reading book three! (Isn't that annoying? The author finish a book that's been highly anticipated and you charge through it and demand more?!)