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Awoken
She defeated the tyrant who shaped her destiny.
Now she must face a king who may reshape her future.
After defeating her mentor and helping rebuild the kingdoms, Adanya stands as the Sage Elemental—the most powerful sorcerer alive. But peace has revealed a new threat: no new sorcerers have emerged, and the Council fears magic itself may be fading.
When rumors point to the Source of magic beyond the Great Sea, Adanya journeys to the land of her ancestors—only to find a world where sorcerers rule and the powerless are enslaved under a king who rivals her own strength.
To save her people, Adanya must navigate a dangerous court and outmaneuver the king before his ambitions—and his interest in her—turn deadly.
If she fails, magic will disappear.
If she succeeds, the cost may be far greater than power.
Now she must face a king who may reshape her future.
After defeating her mentor and helping rebuild the kingdoms, Adanya stands as the Sage Elemental—the most powerful sorcerer alive. But peace has revealed a new threat: no new sorcerers have emerged, and the Council fears magic itself may be fading.
When rumors point to the Source of magic beyond the Great Sea, Adanya journeys to the land of her ancestors—only to find a world where sorcerers rule and the powerless are enslaved under a king who rivals her own strength.
To save her people, Adanya must navigate a dangerous court and outmaneuver the king before his ambitions—and his interest in her—turn deadly.
If she fails, magic will disappear.
If she succeeds, the cost may be far greater than power.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2026
About the author
J. Ross
2 books18 followersJ. Ross has been chasing her dream of writing since she was 11 when her Dad first taught her to use a word processor. 23 years later, she published Awakening. When she’s not writing, she is an avid reader and loves to do puzzles and complete annual rewatches of The Lord of the Rings.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Awoken by J. Ross is the second book in the high fantasy series, the Adanya Saga. And after Book 1 ending on a bit of a cliffhanger, I'd been waiting a while to know what happens next. So, when this book was announced, I applied for an ARC copy.
Adanya is now the Sage Elemental, the most powerful sorcerer alive, after defeating her evil mentor. But after helping rebuild the kingdoms, she noticed that no new sorcerers are emerging anywhere. So she crosses the Great Sea to Adawe, the land of her ancestors, chasing rumours about the Source of magic.
Adawe was gorgeous... I kept picturing it in contrast to Rydell, Adanya's own kingdom, which felt dark and desolate by comparison in my head. The magic system as well as the ruling system were laid out in detail. It was quite a world-building.
But the story felt a bit slow because of all that. A lot of settling into this new country, a lot of politics and diplomacy at court before it lets you have any action.
Also, since Adanya was a powerful sorcerer... there wasn’t a lot of tension. Still, she kept doubting her own abilities and needed someone to hype her back up, which got me a little tired. It's something that I noticed in the previous book, too, but she was kind of a rookie at all this back then, so it made sense.
Her missing obvious “red flags” in the new country was also frustrating. It’s something that would have been more forgivable if she was still a teenager and not, you know, a Sage Elemental who's already saved a kingdom once.
At least, the last 20% or so, saved the book. Even though I wasn’t emotionally invested in the story, I still wanted to find out what happens during this adventure. And those last 50-60 pages were really engaging. Her friends, especially Adio, stood out for his loyalty and protective nature.
I was expecting another cliffhanger, but glad that things worked out well enough by the end. And probably all that action in the “climax” made the book satisfying.
Would recommend this to anyone who's into epic fantasy. But you must read the first book in the series before that.
Adanya is now the Sage Elemental, the most powerful sorcerer alive, after defeating her evil mentor. But after helping rebuild the kingdoms, she noticed that no new sorcerers are emerging anywhere. So she crosses the Great Sea to Adawe, the land of her ancestors, chasing rumours about the Source of magic.
Adawe was gorgeous... I kept picturing it in contrast to Rydell, Adanya's own kingdom, which felt dark and desolate by comparison in my head. The magic system as well as the ruling system were laid out in detail. It was quite a world-building.
But the story felt a bit slow because of all that. A lot of settling into this new country, a lot of politics and diplomacy at court before it lets you have any action.
Also, since Adanya was a powerful sorcerer... there wasn’t a lot of tension. Still, she kept doubting her own abilities and needed someone to hype her back up, which got me a little tired. It's something that I noticed in the previous book, too, but she was kind of a rookie at all this back then, so it made sense.
Her missing obvious “red flags” in the new country was also frustrating. It’s something that would have been more forgivable if she was still a teenager and not, you know, a Sage Elemental who's already saved a kingdom once.
At least, the last 20% or so, saved the book. Even though I wasn’t emotionally invested in the story, I still wanted to find out what happens during this adventure. And those last 50-60 pages were really engaging. Her friends, especially Adio, stood out for his loyalty and protective nature.
I was expecting another cliffhanger, but glad that things worked out well enough by the end. And probably all that action in the “climax” made the book satisfying.
Would recommend this to anyone who's into epic fantasy. But you must read the first book in the series before that.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.75⭐
I enjoyed reading through this sequel. It feels cozy in some ways, but still with high stakes. The author has made great improvements since the first book.
This picks up a few years after the end of the first one, and everyone is finding their place in the new world. However, there is still a distinct lack of sorcerers. This concern brings the characters on a trip across the ocean in hopes of finding a solution. The world gets that much larger in this book, with all the trouble you'd expect from mixing into a foreign culture.
I enjoyed reading through the FMCs development arc. I appreciate that she is still learning to come into herself and her power. However, sometimes I just wish she'd listen to her friends. To be human is to make mistakes, though. Growing from them is the true test.
The story was interesting enough to keep me reading, but it did feel a bit too similar to the first book for me to totally get into it. I am still invested enough to continue the series if there is another book.
Overall, a fun continuation of the story. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a cozier fantasy that still covers heavy topics.
I enjoyed reading through this sequel. It feels cozy in some ways, but still with high stakes. The author has made great improvements since the first book.
This picks up a few years after the end of the first one, and everyone is finding their place in the new world. However, there is still a distinct lack of sorcerers. This concern brings the characters on a trip across the ocean in hopes of finding a solution. The world gets that much larger in this book, with all the trouble you'd expect from mixing into a foreign culture.
I enjoyed reading through the FMCs development arc. I appreciate that she is still learning to come into herself and her power. However, sometimes I just wish she'd listen to her friends. To be human is to make mistakes, though. Growing from them is the true test.
The story was interesting enough to keep me reading, but it did feel a bit too similar to the first book for me to totally get into it. I am still invested enough to continue the series if there is another book.
Overall, a fun continuation of the story. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a cozier fantasy that still covers heavy topics.
August 16, 2026
Arc Review: Awoken by JRoss
Step into a world of power, magic, betrayal, friendships,and challenges. Adanya definitely had the odds stacked against her, but your girl preserved! In the first book Awakening, Adanya’s world was flipped upside down by her “mentor”; which she was able to overtake eventually . Now she’s back to fight another enemy , and she only has a limited amount of time. One thing I loved that J Ross did , was the smooth transitions between the past and the present. Her flashbacks were easy to maneuver and didn’t cause any confusion.
The weight of saving her people was heavy, but thankfully Adanya had a new crew that were willing to stand with her on this mission. But I must warn you, Adanya naivety definitely got in her way sometimes. Overall, I love how easily this book flows. There were slow moments, but nothing that you couldn’t handle! If you want to dive into the fantasy world I highly recommend this book. I encourage you to start with Awakening first, then come on over to Awoken. I felt like a movie was being played before me with everything that was going on. This was truly refreshing to read!
Step into a world of power, magic, betrayal, friendships,and challenges. Adanya definitely had the odds stacked against her, but your girl preserved! In the first book Awakening, Adanya’s world was flipped upside down by her “mentor”; which she was able to overtake eventually . Now she’s back to fight another enemy , and she only has a limited amount of time. One thing I loved that J Ross did , was the smooth transitions between the past and the present. Her flashbacks were easy to maneuver and didn’t cause any confusion.
The weight of saving her people was heavy, but thankfully Adanya had a new crew that were willing to stand with her on this mission. But I must warn you, Adanya naivety definitely got in her way sometimes. Overall, I love how easily this book flows. There were slow moments, but nothing that you couldn’t handle! If you want to dive into the fantasy world I highly recommend this book. I encourage you to start with Awakening first, then come on over to Awoken. I felt like a movie was being played before me with everything that was going on. This was truly refreshing to read!
August 28, 2026
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, J. Ross did it again! After Awakening, I had super high hopes for Awoken, and it really delivered.
This time around, Adanya is finally away from her toxic former mentor, but she’s immediately thrown into the deep end trying to stop a power-hungry king. The stakes feel way higher, and the world expands in the best way possible.
Usually, time-jumps slow a book down, but J Ross weaves past and present together so seamlessly.
Watching Adanya’s growth feels so authentic because it is progressive and builds over the course of both books. Seeing her shoulder so much weight to stay in the fight makes her such a relatable, resilient main character. Also, I am a such a sucker for found family! The dynamic with her new crew is everything, and Adio completely stole the show for me.
If you like court intrigue, unique magic systems, and characters you genuinely want to root for, you need to read this series. Definitely pick up Awakening first if you haven't yet, and then dive right into this one!
Wow, J. Ross did it again! After Awakening, I had super high hopes for Awoken, and it really delivered.
This time around, Adanya is finally away from her toxic former mentor, but she’s immediately thrown into the deep end trying to stop a power-hungry king. The stakes feel way higher, and the world expands in the best way possible.
Usually, time-jumps slow a book down, but J Ross weaves past and present together so seamlessly.
Watching Adanya’s growth feels so authentic because it is progressive and builds over the course of both books. Seeing her shoulder so much weight to stay in the fight makes her such a relatable, resilient main character. Also, I am a such a sucker for found family! The dynamic with her new crew is everything, and Adio completely stole the show for me.
If you like court intrigue, unique magic systems, and characters you genuinely want to root for, you need to read this series. Definitely pick up Awakening first if you haven't yet, and then dive right into this one!
August 3, 2026
Whew…this was a journey. Awoken is the second installment of the Adanya Saga and a continuation of Book 1, Awakening. It starts with the aftermath of Book 1. The council is working towards repair for their country and are stretched fairly thin. Due to Nehanda’s actions, there is so much to rectify regarding magic in the region. Adanya and the band travel to find ways to replenish the magic within their land and find the country of Adawe, a place with magic overflowing and a very different way of living.
This was a lot. I will say I enjoyed it and I liked the conclusion. In my opinion, the story only felt slower in the middle because it was about her getting her bearings and getting caught up in the illusions. She definitely succeeded in frustrating me. Red flags didn’t exist to her lol. Overall, it ended good and tied up the plot well.
I did receive an ARC of this book. All my opinions and thoughts are my own.
This was a lot. I will say I enjoyed it and I liked the conclusion. In my opinion, the story only felt slower in the middle because it was about her getting her bearings and getting caught up in the illusions. She definitely succeeded in frustrating me. Red flags didn’t exist to her lol. Overall, it ended good and tied up the plot well.
I did receive an ARC of this book. All my opinions and thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 Stars!
I love Ross’s writing, and Awoken did not disappoint. The author portrays Adanya’s vulnerability beautifully, capturing how exhausting it is to always stay strong while trying to rebuild after your entire world changes. As a reader, I personally love seeing strong characters have to find that level of resilience.
The found family elements were another highlight for me, and Adio was easily my favorite character throughout the journey. I also loved getting to dive much deeper into the mechanics of the magic systems this time around. While the pacing felt a bit slow at times, things absolutely pick up at the 3/4 mark (no spoilers!).
Awoken is perfect for readers who love court intrigue, deep magic systems, and found family.
Note: While you don’t need to have read book 1, Awakening, to understand the plot, this second installment builds upon those previous events.
I love Ross’s writing, and Awoken did not disappoint. The author portrays Adanya’s vulnerability beautifully, capturing how exhausting it is to always stay strong while trying to rebuild after your entire world changes. As a reader, I personally love seeing strong characters have to find that level of resilience.
The found family elements were another highlight for me, and Adio was easily my favorite character throughout the journey. I also loved getting to dive much deeper into the mechanics of the magic systems this time around. While the pacing felt a bit slow at times, things absolutely pick up at the 3/4 mark (no spoilers!).
Awoken is perfect for readers who love court intrigue, deep magic systems, and found family.
Note: While you don’t need to have read book 1, Awakening, to understand the plot, this second installment builds upon those previous events.
August 5, 2026
This book is an ‘after the life changing event’ adventure story.
Adanya is dealing with the aftermath of defeating her mentor, fighting immense grief, anxiety and survivor's guilt.
I liked the side characters more because they all seem more interesting this time around even though we don't get to see them much.
The bad guy was just an ass and a Tyrant. Annoying AF. Adanya just kept making choices that frustrated me.
They both needed THERAPY for the way they both dealt with their grief.
At around 30% in the story, I knew how this story was going to play out and I wasn't wrong.
Adanya is dealing with the aftermath of defeating her mentor, fighting immense grief, anxiety and survivor's guilt.
I liked the side characters more because they all seem more interesting this time around even though we don't get to see them much.
The bad guy was just an ass and a Tyrant. Annoying AF. Adanya just kept making choices that frustrated me.
They both needed THERAPY for the way they both dealt with their grief.
At around 30% in the story, I knew how this story was going to play out and I wasn't wrong.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC copy of Awoken and I am so thankful for the opportunity!
I have so enjoyed the world J Ross is letting me live in.
Adanya is an amazing sorcerer in an almost lost land of Atlantis, but also world of Avatar the Airbender.
Adanya finds herself while learning more about her past.
I can't say enough great things about these two books. I've loved the chance to peek into this world! 💜
I have so enjoyed the world J Ross is letting me live in.
Adanya is an amazing sorcerer in an almost lost land of Atlantis, but also world of Avatar the Airbender.
Adanya finds herself while learning more about her past.
I can't say enough great things about these two books. I've loved the chance to peek into this world! 💜
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was given the opportunity to be a beta reader for Awoken and it did NOT disappoint!
This book follows the aftermath and rebuilding of the world after Awakening. J Ross did a phenomenal job with Adanya’s growth and their journey to save their world. The protagonist was written perfectly punchable. I am so excited for this book to be out in the world for others to enjoy and for me to have people to talk to about it!
I cannot wait for book 3 😉
This book follows the aftermath and rebuilding of the world after Awakening. J Ross did a phenomenal job with Adanya’s growth and their journey to save their world. The protagonist was written perfectly punchable. I am so excited for this book to be out in the world for others to enjoy and for me to have people to talk to about it!
I cannot wait for book 3 😉
August 7, 2026
*ARC review* I received this book as an ARC along with Book 1. Book 1 was good, but I really enjoyed Book 2.
In book 2 you have an adventure into a new land, new friends and tested friendships, more magic, more power and more possibility. It was a good read.
In book 2 you have an adventure into a new land, new friends and tested friendships, more magic, more power and more possibility. It was a good read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a journey! I really enjoyed following Adanya as she fought to save her people, and I was glad she had a trusted council by her side throughout it all. She was still learning and adjusting after being asleep for so long, so I tried to give her some grace… but whew, my girl couldn’t spot a red flag even if it hit her in the face and that had me stressed.
Aido was probably my favorite character. His protectiveness and loyalty was everything. You get a good mix of action, betrayal, and friendship. They were willing to do whatever it takes to protect their people and help their kingdom thrive. It was an enjoyable read.
Aido was probably my favorite character. His protectiveness and loyalty was everything. You get a good mix of action, betrayal, and friendship. They were willing to do whatever it takes to protect their people and help their kingdom thrive. It was an enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews