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Mortiswood Tales #1

Kaelia Awakening

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“They’ve been waiting lifetimes for you, Kaelia. They want you and will stop at nothing to have you.”

The warning’s rung in Kaelia’s ears since she discovered she’s far from the ordinary girl who grew up in the coastal town of Margate. She has power. The first time she shows it, death strikes, the second, she loses someone special, and on the third, her mother disappears.

Destiny is coming for Kaelia and there’s nowhere she can hide. THEY have stepped out of the shadows to find her. For generations, there have been whispers of The Chosen One. They speak of a name - Marrock - whose destiny entwines with that of The Chosen One.

Kaelia must avenge the wrongs, uncover who Marrock is, find her mother, and ...

FIGHT

Facing forces of depraved evil, magic, and myth, Kaelia’s search leads her through magical forests and unearthly realms.

Who, or what, can Kaelia trust? Is she strong enough to survive the horror? All she knows is her life will never be the same again...

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2013

11 people are currently reading
6434 people want to read

About the author

Gina Dickerson

35 books184 followers
Gina Dickerson lives by the Thanet coast on the north-eastern tip of Kent within the UK, with her family and bouncy Siberian husky.

Gina is an author and designer. Her books include the dark urban fantasy Mortiswood Tales series, Lies Love Tells - part of the thrilling romantic suspense Eastcove Lies series, dark fairy tales The Pennington Christmas Curse and Always Golden, as well as a collection of her dark short stories, Underleaf.

Gina has also written newspaper articles, and was a fashion and shopping columnist for her local newspaper, as well as having had short stories and poetry published in anthologies. She designs book covers and other promotional material under the name RoseWolf Design.

http://www.ginadickersonwriter.co.uk/

Gina's Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ginadickerso...

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Jacqueline Pye.
Author 4 books1 follower
December 22, 2013
This book is a natural for fantasy/romance types and for the YA readers. Nothing like it had previously graced my shelves, but the cover is gorgeous and the book itself sounded fun; it was time to move out of my comfort zone. The story had me in its grasp right from the start. Although I wouldn't personally identify with the heroine Kaelia as she's much younger (Bran was OK at several hundred years old!), I rooted for her and was keen to know how she would accomplish the tasks which she had to set for herself. The two main fantasy areas were the powers at the disposal of Kaelia and the other non-humans, and the amazing environments which the author has constructed for her characters to negotiate. This is an amazing imagination at work, and the surprises keep on coming; disbelief is suspended p.d.q. and I was happy to accept all the twists and turns of the plot as being real in that world. The ending was a surprise, too, and leaves the reader needing the next instalment. Nice one, Ms Dickerson!
Profile Image for Emma Star Crossed Reviews .
1,022 reviews295 followers
May 8, 2018
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free for a Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Firstly thank you to Jenny at Neverland Blog Tours for letting me take part in this tour. I absolutely LOVED this book. This is the first book of Gina's that I have read and it definitely will not be the last.

I'm finding this review a little difficult to write without giving too much away. Lets start with the cover. It's beautiful. I love the colours and the way the wolf is standing so protective over her. It's perfect for this story.

There are quite a few settings for this book but the descriptions are very vivid and you can easily imagine yourself standing there next to the characters.

Kaelia has known from a young age that she isn't ordinary. She has powers but her father warns her that she shouldn't use them. They are after her. She is The Chosen One and they have been waiting, for her, for a long time.

This story has some Norse God mythology in it which I really enjoyed. I'm not extremely clued up on Norse Mythology....my knowledge is as extensive as the Thor films (mmmm Chris Hemsworth...haha) but it's not necessary to know the ins and out the author provides all the details that you need.I thought the glossary and the maps were very useful.

There are a lot of twists and turns and you never know who to trust. Who is really working with who.

It is a wonderful story and with such a cliffhanger ending, I honestly can't wait for the second book. I would recommend this to all fantasy lovers out there
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
18 reviews1 follower
October 9, 2014
4.5 stars actually...

I was in a phase when I was fed up with the same type of YA plot, same type of characters etc. etc. Then I came across "Kaelia Awakening", the first of the Mortiswood tales and I was hooked.

The first thing that drew me was the cover and the excellent description. Though the starting was somewhat common with a girl who is part of a prophesy and part of a hidden world, it quickly changed tracks and drew me in till I was reading all through the night.

So, the gist of the plot: Kaelia is a baby who has been hidden from some beings because she is part of a prophesy. When she comes into her powers, disasters strike - two people closest to her dies and she has to somehow find a way to save her mother from an eternity in hell and bring her back. Thus starts her adventure which contains many, many twists and surprises. There is a magic school, myths and gods/ goddesses...

If you are a fan of fantasy YA with different types of species (not the same ones that I am fed up of like vampires, werewolves and faries and such), then this is the story for you. There are so many plot twists that it kept me at the edge of my seat.

The romance is great too - No insta love (like most of the YA novels). There is a powerful bad-boy, Bran. Then there is the best friend (but not like the normal best friend character. Ms. Dickerson made this aspect different too. You have to read it to know how :-) )

Then, my favorite character of the story - and who I am rooting for - the wolf. Yes, you heard me right! I am rooting for the wolf!! Go figure :-)

So my recommendation? If you enjoy a different type of YA novel, go for it!!!
Thank you Ms. Dickerson for this wonderful tale... Will definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.

Profile Image for BestChickLit.com.
458 reviews240 followers
September 11, 2014
This book grabbed me in the prologue and hung on for dear life. It is the type of book that you might want to put down (to make a cup of tea or visit the loo) but simply can’t, so you find yourself walking up the stairs with your face still buried in the book. Opening with a collection of maps and a glossary of creatures and beings, fantasy lovers will know they are in for a good read. But Dickerson also writes with non-fantasy readers in mind. Kaelia is an endearing young woman and as feisty and fiery as her red hair suggests. For anyone who is new to fantasy, or not a big fan generally, she is the perfect character to take your hand and guide you through a fantasy world that you will never want to leave.

One thing is for sure, Kaelia’s traumatic experiences from a young age will make you so relieved to have had a normal childhood. From the word go Mortiswood is gruesome and traumatic and yet you feel for Kaelia very early on in the book. I was actually tearing up within the first few pages. It is difficult creating that kind of empathy for characters so quickly in a novel, but Dickerson certainly does it. So overall, whether you like fantasy, New Adult or simply a feisty female protagonist, you should certainly pick up this book
Profile Image for Sarah England.
Author 20 books266 followers
October 22, 2013
WOW! What an imagination this author has. Kaelia Awakening is fantasy fiction set on the Thanet coast in South England; and it most certainly does what it sets out to do - entertaining the reader with vividly painted scenes, gripping with suspense, capturing emotions, and swooping you off on a wonderfully colourful journey. If you are a fan of the Twilight books then I'd say you are going to enjoy this. Oh, and I am totally in love with the wolf! How can you be in love with a wolf? Well that's the power of the writer....enjoy!
152 reviews
October 12, 2013
i realllly love the storyline of this book and it would be a pleasurento win this giveaway...anyways, win it or not i am gonna read this... :D
Profile Image for Sue Wallace .
7,441 reviews142 followers
February 8, 2017
Mortiswood karelia awakening By Gina Dickerson is a paranormal read.
“They’ve been waiting lifetimes for you, Kaelia. They want you and will stop at nothing to have
An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved the story. Kaelia was my favourite character. What an exciting and wondrous read. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from tbc on fb.
142 reviews6 followers
February 12, 2017
4.5 stars from me. This is the first book I have read by Gina Dickerson, and I found it a really enjoyable YA fantasy but with some rather dark elements to it as well. The writing style really drew me into Kaelia’s world and I couldn’t help but find myself rooting for her throughout this fast-paced story. There were some really strong characters and the ending left me definitely wanting to read the next in the series to see where the author takes Kaelia next.

Many thanks to TBConFB for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sarah.
93 reviews27 followers
March 5, 2015
I was very kindly gifted a copy of Kaelia Awakening to read and review.

5 ‘Scardey-cat-ness’ stars.

This book had me utterly addicted from the very first chapter. It certainly starts with a very hefty punch and I honestly don’t think it let up from the break neck pace and excitement for as much as a page throughout the whole story.

The story begins with an attack on a priest in the dark of night by a monster of pure evil because he is protecting a baby girl and her family from the dark forces that want to claim her for their own purpose, This poor child is in fact Kaelia and she has been potentially marked as the Chosen One because of her blood line. Skipping forward into the future we see as the all the forces surrounding her twist and manipulate her life and those she loves to try and force her onto the path that they want her on. The main vain of the book follows Kaelia and her companions as she battles to save the people closest to her, coping with seeing them taken away one by one and trying to learn more about the person she is and the destiny she is expected to fulfil. All whilst never being certain who she can and can’t trust. Your heart really does ache for her sometimes and you’d love to just give her a huge hug and somewhere to run away from it all.

Kaelia is an extremely strong and resilient character, never does she really break down and absolutely never does she back down, she is an amazing role model. One certain scene made me fall in love with her after her determination to never let innocent people suffer if she has the strength and ability to save even one person is shown. This girl is a pure fighter if she has so much as one lung full of air left in her body to keeping going on then you can be certain that she will kick something’s arse. The further the book progresses the more you see her become a young woman and no longer a child.

This book has a bit of everything you could hope for. From the romance to the fantasy, the heartache to the laughs (namely the ‘Arsehole’ scene between Bran and Calix) and the darkness so black it’s as though someone switched the sun off but it successfully pulls it all off with ease. I realised that Gina Dickerson has an amazing skill for scene setting when at times I noticed that I had actually been holding my breath in anticipation and fear for a situation and character. You know it’s an amazing book and a very gifted author when you can literally smell the sea and feel the blades of grass between your toes that the particular character you’re journeying along with is experiencing on the page. At times this book has points of view other than those from Kaelia and although some people don’t enjoy that I felt that it added something extra to the story as it broke up our main story and gave you a chance to take a breather and to see things from other peoples eyes and subsequently get to experience their own journeys.

This was a very promising start to this new series and I can’t wait to get to read the continuation as this one does leave you on a cliffhanger. And I’m hoping to find out if my suspicions about certain characters come to fruition! Thank you so much to Gina for letting me have a copy of this to read! Now I’m off to Margate pier to see what’s really at the end of it……
Profile Image for Heather.
570 reviews146 followers
August 31, 2014
So first of all let's address the awesome cover, as a redhead I'm instantly drawn to any cover that show my red headed sisters as awesome heroines.

Mortiswood is one of these reviews that is going to be difficult as I don't want to spoil the fantastic story for you so what I will try and do is give you a taster of whats involved and then you are gonna leave this page and go an read it for yourself!!

It starts of darkly 19 years previous as a priest is accosted by a menacing creature wanting information on a child that has just be born, to find out if this child is The One, the setting of this confrontation gave me goosebumps but the priest is saved by a young man and the story jumps forward 8 years.

This is where we first meet our leading lady Kaelia as a young girl playing in the park with her best friend Bay, she discovers that she has magic following an accident in which Bay is hurt. Her father explains to her that she is special but she must not use her power again as They will find her, he will tell her more when she gets older but he never gets a chance to do this as a car strikes him down, a car with no driver, young Kaelia begins to realise something strange is going on.

We then jump forward to a much older Kaelia enjoying a day out with Bay, as her best friend they are extremely close but they are both head of heels with each other but disaster strikes when Kaelia loses another loved one as Bay is thrown over a cliff by an unnatural wind, the police suspect suicide but a distraught Kaelia knows better, she knows other forces are at work.

Her mother comes to get her from the day out, knowing full well the They that her husband mentioned are close to finding her daughter but she goes missing much to Kaelia's horror.

Finding herself alone in the world she knows she has to go to her parents safe where a letter from her parents waits for her along with an old book, the letter tells her that They are the Salloki and they will do everything in their power to get to her, she is urged in the letter to take the book and make her way to Mortiswood and to find Marrock, now just after reading this bit the book gave me a heart attack as there is certain scene involving a dark creature, a wolf and Kaelia's getaway from danger.

Kaelia makes her way to Mortiswood where she encounters the wolf again and she also learns of what the book contains, it helps her make her way to the Isle of Stone where she seeks sanctuary with her grandmother and begins to learn more about what she is running from.

The one thing I loved about this book is that it constantly grabs you, it thrills and scares you, the settings in the south of England was actually just perfect. As the start of a series I look forward to seeing what happens next with Kaelia and I'm intrigued by her dreams of Bay.

Fans of supernatural young adult novels should love this!

Mortiswood is awarded 5 out of 5
Profile Image for Suze.
1,884 reviews1,298 followers
December 20, 2016
Kaelia is special. She has power and ever since she was a child her parents told her to hide it. Someone is after her and they didn't want their daughter to be found. Kaelia isn't completely anonymous though and because of who she is several people she loved were killed and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Kaelia is heartbroken and misses them very much. She's willing to do anything to prevent it from happening again.

When her mother disappears Kaelia desperately needs to find answers. She has to start in Mortiswood, a forest where magic has a place. Kaelia has been told she needs to find someone who will be her destiny. Who is it, has she already met him? While she's fighting to stay alive and to keep her friends as safe as possible Kaelia also has to discover which higher plan she's supposed to carry out. She isn't alone, which helps a little. She has a good friend, a loyal wolf that accompanies her and help from unexpected sources. Will Kaelia manage to remain unharmed or are her enemies too strong for her to handle?

Mortiswood Kaelia Awakening is a great magical story. I immediately loved Kaelia. She's fierce, she can stand her ground, she is fearless, she has a good heart and she is extremely loyal. She has a wonderful companion in the form of a wolf. I liked that idea a lot and it was my favorite part of the story. At first it seems like Kaelia is alone. When her mother goes missing there is nobody left. Fortunately Kaelia meets people who are on her side, she can certainly use some allies. There are plenty of battles to fight that she can't win on her own. The interaction between Kaelia and the other characters was often surprising, which is something I really appreciated.

Gina Dickerson's writing is easy to read and she knows how to build tension. Mortiswood Kaelia Awakening is a fast-paced story. I loved the adrenaline and the fighting scenes are fabulous. I truly enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read the next book in the series. Gina Dickerson has given it a good start and I'm curious to find out more.
Profile Image for Virginie (chouettblog).
232 reviews114 followers
April 15, 2015
I would like to thank the author for providing with me a copy of her work so I could read and review it and here are my thoughts.

I do like a good Fantasy/YA tale so when this title came my way I was really excited at the prospect of reading it. I will admit that the fact that it was set in the UK was a plus and I was also very intrigued by its underlying mythical world based on Norse mythology that I know very little about.
From that perspective, it was very different from other Fantasy tales I had read in the past albeit with the main ingredients fitting into the YA genre.



Meet Kaelia, young girl who is coming into magical powers she never really knew she had while at the same time the only world she knows crashes down around her. And this is pretty much how the book starts which is an absolutely brilliant beginning as it should set the tone of the book.

Unfortunately, the tale loses momentum right after this explosive starting scene.

The stops that Kaelia makes on her journey to self-discovery I felt were a little long-winded and offered very little information. For example, she will make a stunt in magical school for a few months but the reader will not have any more idea as to what she has learned there, but just that she has.



Those heavier parts of the tale however are lifted by the introduction of interesting characters along the way, accompanying Kaelia on her journey. The Vallesm, a wolf who seemed to have pledged his allegiance to her; Bran who is one of those bad ass magical characters that nice girls should not be mingling with, inherently evil but definitely complex. And Calix the normal guy with a heart of a superhero.

In this tale, rather than the plot, the characters are the story and I am looking forward to finding a little more about them in the next instalment.

Profile Image for Fiona.
698 reviews34 followers
February 15, 2017
An enjoyable supernatural fantasy for the YA market. Slightly gory at times and I would have liked the time at the academy to have been developed a bit more as Kaelia doesn't really have any more control over her powers after she leaves than she did before, so I didn't see the point other than to introduce new characters. I also found it a bit misguided for her parents to leave her so unprepared and lacking in knowledge when they knew she might be left on her own.
However, the plot moves along at a fast pace, Kaelia and Calix are likeable characters and I look forward to seeing what happens to them in the sequel.
My thanks to TBConFB for this copy.
Profile Image for Jo Hughes.
253 reviews268 followers
September 6, 2014
When we first meet young Kaelia, it is when tragedy strikes, she is told by her father to help her best friend Bay, once he is well her father warns her never to use her powers again and he would explain later why, Kaelia’s father never got to explain to her as he was tragically killed in front of Kaelia’s eyes

Unfortunately over the next few years Kaelia is faced with far more tragedy which leaves her alone, she remembers that her parents told her if this was to happen she should retrieve a letter from the safe and this would explain…..

As I love fantasy/romance books this book was a wonderful read, with the added YA element, Kaelia I liked as a main character and I was pulled along with her search.

The story weaves a magical way around the Thanet coast of South England, the author also manages to tie in a real understanding of legends and mythology, that kept me gripped and entertained throughout the book, I never knew which way the author would take the story.

Add the magical creatures to the above and you can’t beat this brilliant 1st book in a series. I loved the twisted evil magic that was evident through the book.

Is Kaelia the chosen one? Read the book and find out more!
Profile Image for Shani Struthers.
Author 48 books508 followers
June 2, 2016
Wow! I don't know where to start! I think first up with Gina Dickerson's imagination - she's built a whole new world in Mortiswood, one that sits just behind the veil of the world as we know it and it works beautifully. Gradually, she draws you into it via the character of Kaelia, who, after a series of incredible happenings, learns she is not who she thinks she is - that she belongs to this world and in it are good forces as well as dark. Kaelia, however, is very down-to-earth and it's this that makes her such a likeable heroine - despite being the chosen one! There's a great cast of characters, including her wolf-like protector but it's Bran, 'the same as Kaelia, but opposite' who, for me, was the real triumph. The electricity between him and Kaelia jumps off the page and in some places is dark, in others very funny. An exciting book that romps along, leaving us with a very surprising but very strong ending. Onto Book Two soon, I have just got to find out what happened!!!
46 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2017
I loved this book! It has elements of magic and the supernatural, which I love. We meet Kaelia who is just finding out about the powers she possesses due to losing both her parents to supernatural forces. She discovers unknown family and is helped in her quest to find out what happened to her mum. The story follows the first part of her journey and along the way we meet characters good and bad and some your not so sure of.
Thoroughly enjoyable read which I couldn't put down.
Profile Image for Natasha du Plessis.
1,064 reviews8 followers
February 3, 2017
This was the first book by Gina Dickerson that I have read. I am a big fan of YA as well as fantasy and I liked the idea of the story as well as the story line. At times it felt that the story lost some of its momentum and that the personal feelings of the main character did not come across as good as it should be. I loved most of the characters in the book and the story in general. I did not struggle to finish the book but it did not grip me as I wanted to. That is my personal feeling maybe I was just not in the mood for a good YA fantasy. If you are into YA and fantasy I would recommend you give this book a try.
Thank you to TBConFB for the copy.
Profile Image for Joannes Rhino.
Author 18 books49 followers
November 21, 2014
Kaelia Awakening gives a new touch in fantasy/romance genre. It's simple and quite easy to read because the setting is based on every day life, but in a way the story is also complex. The author has done a splendid job in creating characters with so many emotions involve. The plot full of twists and turns, which the kinda story I really like. The ending, shocking.... I honestly didn't see it coming. And one more thing, the wolf. I don't how to explain this, but I feel like the author is trying to make readers to fall in love with this character. Overall, two thumbs up I give to Gina for creating such wonderful story. I can even picture this book into a big screen some day!
Profile Image for D. Messing.
381 reviews5 followers
February 5, 2017
Missing family, draughars, and Bran, oh my! This is a true study in what can go wrong, will go wrong! Since birth Kaelia has been hunted for something she may or may not be........her family and friends either are outright murdered or disappear, and she is left to largely figure things out on her own. She has an additional burden of who to trust, and trying to figure out who has alterior motives, and with a hefty dose of horror and mystery thrown in. It was an enjoyable thrill ride, and with one heck of a cliffhanger! I would give it 4.5 stars if I could!
Profile Image for Melanie Robertson-King.
Author 22 books77 followers
October 4, 2014
Fantasy fiction at its best. This is a brilliantly told tale. I'm not a huge reader of fantasy novels but I loved Kaelia Awakening and can't wait for the second book in the series to come out. Well done, Gina!
Profile Image for Heather Bridson.
430 reviews8 followers
January 15, 2018
This was a great book. It took me a white to finish it because I was sick and just did not feel like reading much in one sitting. Anyway, I loved the world, and the writing and imagery took me to it easily. I could easily see the movie in my mind and enjoyed the book. I would love to read the next one. I love the Vallesm, and some of the magic and history given in the book was just wonderful. I love books that are fun to read. Anyway, this is a great book for those who love magic and the supernatural. I got it in a Goodreads giveaway, and I hope to get the next book soon!
Profile Image for Lizzy Baldwin.
225 reviews7 followers
May 10, 2021
Punchy and packed with bite this book is a fantasy novel with a difference. First things first, I loved the cover, incredibly bright and inviting for someone that isn’t the most dedicated fantasy reader I was pleasantly surprised. So we start with a flashback into the past; a truly frightening character is pushing a priest for information on a child that has just been born. We learn that this child ‘is the one,’ and that there is something about her that is desperately wanted. This scene was incredibly well written and quite frightening; this is a great way to pull the reader in from the first scene.

We jump forward eight years and find ourselves meeting the main lady herself, Lady Kaelia. Only a young girl we see she is playing in the park with Bay, her best friend. However things get a little out of hand and we learn that Kaelia has magical powers hurting Bay in the process. With a warning from her father not to use her powers again, she finds out that ‘they’ will find her if she does. Promised to be told more in the future Kaelia never does as her father is struck down by a car in a suspicious accident. Spring forward once again, we see Kaelia, who is now much older, enjoying a lovely day with Bay, however, disaster appears again as her friend is killed in a freak accident. At this point, it’s starting to become obvious that things just aren’t right and after her mother goes missing we realise there are people that will do anything to get their hands on her. From here on Kaelia starts to learn about the world around her, learning information about the Salloki who will do anything to get her, the letter that her parents have left her, the old book and Kaelia’s adventure to Mortiswood, and then onto the Isle of Stone to see her Grandmother and find out why this all happening to her. Kaelia sees she has to realise her destiny and fight to save the world around her. That’s all I’m going to give you, the rest you will have to find out for yourselves!

I really enjoyed this book; based on a structure build on magic it is brought forward to the present day although it has many mythological themes running throughout. Bringing ancient but terrifying magic into the present leads to an interesting mix of reality and the imaginary world. I must admit that this author definitely has an understanding of how to construct inviting and whimsical locations; creating exciting locations is pivotal for fantasy books in my opinion. Without a strong location, the storyline can become unrealistic; however here it is managed incredibly well. The plot moves with pace and has enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested throughout.

A few small issues for me; at times the books jumps too much between chapters and I found myself looking back to double check I hadn’t missed some pages. Adding to this I did find myself getting confused when the chapter broke in the middle and introduced a different point of view of a different character; it left me with a bit of a headache. For me I would much rather have a chapter per character or at least segmented very well instead of seemingly randomly. Additionally I thought the author missed a trick in not investigating more thoroughly the development of her powers in Mortiswood. It would have helped to draw the reader in more strongly. The characters are well developed and lead to an interesting mix of relationships and power struggles; Kaelia took me a little while to warm too but by the end I found myself rooting for her.

Overall this book has many strengths; strong character profiles, brilliant landscapes built into the narrative and a real understanding of the fantasy genre. For me I would have liked more of an insight into the characters and Kaelia’s power but you can’t have everything can you! Definitely worth a read for fantasy readers!

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for ClaireMS.
56 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2017
Mortiswood: Kaelia Awakening by Gina Dickerson

I was very pleased to be given a copy of this book by The Book Club on Facebook in return for a fair and honest review. All views are my own.

“For everyone who sees a little magic in the ordinary”

Nineteen years ago on the Isle of Stone a tall menacing figure demands that Father Peter hands over a child that has just been born, and when a younger man scares it off, the figure turns into a hideous black cat with flanks of rotting flesh. This is our introduction to the strange world that is about to reveal itself to us.
Kaelia is introduced to us with her friend Bay at the age of eleven, playing in a local playground that will play a significant role in her life. She is a happy, seemingly normal young girl with her life ahead of her, when out of the blue strange things start to happen or rather she makes strange things happen. Fast forward to present day, Kaelia and Bay are now nineteen years old and on a trip out with their college, when an unthinkable accident happens – or is it? Kaelia begins to think that strange forces are at work, the “them” that her parents have warned her about. So begins Kaelia’s journey to discover her destiny, by way of a magic book, a huge wolf in a cave, and a journey to the Isle of Stone where a long lost grandmother lives. Maybe she will hold the answers to Kaelia’s questions and shed some light on the mysterious Salloki whom her parents had warned her about.
A confession. I really haven’t read much fantasy fiction, probably only Harry Potter and the Twilight series in recent years, with my kids. So I wasn’t sure what to expect from this young adult series opener or whether I would like it. But one of the things that I love about being a part of a book club, and specifically The Book Club on Facebook, is being given the opportunity and encouragement to try different genres and new authors.
This book came along at a time when I have been having what us “spoonies” (chronically ill) describe as a flare and as such I have been tied to the sofa for more hours than I would prefer, and equally have had periods of brain fog which doesn’t lend itself to Tolstoy. Ms Dickerson’s Kaelia was perfect for me! I found the book easy to read and quickly became totally absorbed in the trials and tribulations of this young flame haired lady as she learnt to harness her powers. The mix between the real world and the magic world sitting right under the nose of us mere mortals was just right. I enjoyed the suspense as Kaelia discovered her birth line and those pledged to help her in her task to fulfil her destiny. There are some lovely characters – particular favourites of mine were the students at the magic academy, Cadence and Jade, the Sifars – and even the wolf, a Vallesm, takes on a character of his own. The darker characters are described so well: Thom who emanates a stench of decay and changes into a horse with putrid, rotting flesh in order to re-enter the underworld; Bran, the Necromancer who can bring back the dead, is dressed in black and described as the other side to the coin of Kaelia – is his interest and friendship for Kaelia genuine or purely a means to an end?
I don’t want to reveal any spoilers and it is hard to talk too much without doing so! But what I will tell you is that this a good, fun fantasy, in my opinion ideal for young adults….and us adults who are young at heart! My teenage daughter is going to give it a go – as a Harry Potter fanatic I expect her critique to be pretty hard. So going back to my original confession…..I have another to add to it. I enjoyed this enough that I have also read the next in the series, and enjoyed book 2 even more! Roll on book 3, Gina Dickerson……
Author 4 books2 followers
February 19, 2017
Book Review of Mortiswood - Kaelia Awakening by Gina Dickerson

I was excited to read this book - induced by the stunning cover and having a love of all things mysterious and particularly - wolves. This is a fantasy, fiction, teenage - coming awakening book that delves into the wish I think we all have - that of being able to heal/bring people back from dying. I really liked how Gina Dickerson brought the heroine to life with her fiery red hair and her determination to do the right thing. I was gripped by her loss and felt for her at every twist and turn. The only negative comment I have, and this is personal to me, is that I would have loved to have more of Vallesm the wolf. I think this is a fast read and would suit the Young Adult market although adults will equally love the tangled lives of the heroine and her accomplices. Overall I would rate this 3 because I occasionally got lost in the names and details.
Profile Image for Rachel (Rae).
703 reviews60 followers
September 17, 2016
My thoughts:

From the first chapter I was drawn into Kaelia's world, everything is described brilliantly with just the right amount of detail. Kaelia is such an interesting character she is strong, determined and loyal to her friends. One of my favourite characters was Calix, I loved the friendship that he shares with Kaelia. Each character has depth, is well written and by the end of the book I was definitely invested in the characters. A special mention has to go to one character and that is the Vallesm/wolf I loved every scene that the wolf was in. I thought the connection between both Kaelia and the wolf was great.

The story kept me guessing as to which direction it would take next and my attention was kept throughout. The book was a perfect length to keep me interested and it kept a good pace with no slow parts. I particularly liked that the book started when Kaelia was born and then jumped to a different couple of different periods in her life. Then when she was 19 years old thats when Kaelia's journey begins. By the time I had got a third of the way through I didn't want to put the book down. I couldn't wait to see how this book would end and if Kaelia would find any answers. Please note: there is a cliffhanger ending.

Overall:

I don't regularly read this genre but I loved the description of the book and I am so glad I gave Kaelia Awakening a try as it definitely exceeded my expectations. I will be on the lookout to read the next in the series (description for Kaelia Falling is a bit further down) when I get the chance as i'm pretty hooked!

If you are a fan of fantasy then Mortiswood: Kaelia Awakening is ideal for you!

Five stars from me!

Thank you to Neverland Blog Tours & Gina Dickerson for my copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Jade Simcox.
843 reviews72 followers
December 12, 2016
I really wanted to like this book. I love a good YA/fantasy book and this one interested me with the cover and the blurb.

Kaelia has always known she was special, she just never realised how much. Being The Chosen One was never going to be easy and Kaelia soon finds that out. Her destiny has been set out before her for centuries and there is nothing Kaelia can do to stop it. She must find out where her mother has been taken to, find out who Marrock is, and avenge the wrongs that have happened to her. But THEY have stepped out of the shadows now and they are on the hunt for Kaelia.

I found the start of this book was fantastic, it was fast paced and through you right into the action. But that soon changed and the whole book lost the momentum and it never gained it again.
I found the journey Kaelia went on to "find" her mother a bit pointless, as she ended up going to this magical school to learn to control her power. But we don't go into a lot of detail about Kaelia being there or the things she has to go through to learn control of her powers.

I liked the characters and the ones introduced as Kaelia goes on her journey. It was nice that there are a whole bunch of different mythical characters thrown into this book. Some of the scenes were very detailed and you could imagine what was actually happening or the scene around you.
I think the book got kind of boring after about the 20% mark and it didn't really improve after. Some of the chapters I felt were long winded and not needed at all. They kind of just dragged the book out more then was necessary.

I'm not sure if I will be jumping into the next book, even though it would be nice to see what happens with Kaelia.
Profile Image for Jennifer Thompson.
Author 2 books43 followers
July 10, 2016
Gina Dickerson is one of my all-time favorite indie authors. Kaelia Falling was no exception. The pages kept turning as I was sucked in to the second book of the Mortiswood Tales book series. Thrilling action and colorful words keep a readers imagination into the book, consumed with the feelings of Kaelia’a power. Telling everyone what a small world we live in, and that other realms carry dark entities that are hunting for a new world to overthrow.
Kaelia is looking for her one true love, which will release her true power, to fight the evil trying to take over. Taking her on a wild adventure that never ceases to twist and turn. Which is part of the reason I couldn’t stop reading! Evil creatures, shapeshifting into anything, called Draugr’s, are looking to suffocate our world as we know it. Known for bring the stench of rot with them everywhere they go. Vallesm, large wolf like creatures, exist to protect our main gal. Then revealed they are people too, only taking on this shape when needed.
Keeping strong and learning who she can, and cannot trust, is a hard lesson to learn when trying to take in the fact that you’re being hunted. Keeping her friends are by her side the whole time. All willing to protect her life with theirs, knowing how important she is to the earth. However no one does it quite like Kaelia. She has become a hero to me and this will definitely be a book I’ll be talking to all my friends about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ann Borthwick.
23 reviews5 followers
February 5, 2017
This was my first book by the author.
This was a fantastic read that I enjoyed very much.

I will be recommending this book to others as well.
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