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Arcane Awakenings #1-2
Arcane Awakenings Books One and Two
A hidden past. An uncertain future. In Angel Fire, all Andie wants is acceptance, a task made difficult thanks to the nightmare that's plagued her for the past fifteen years. Then she learns it's a terrifying memory of the night she lost her identical twin. When Angel's spirit calls to her, begging to be saved, Andie is determined to discover what really happened the night her sister died. The story continues in Wild Lightning, when Celeste wakes in a mental institution with no memory of who she is or why she can shoot lightning from her fingertips. Spurred on by a vision of Angel, Celeste escapes and searches for answers as her captors close in. Andie and Celeste must battle ruthless adversaries as they seek to uncover the truth, but will this lead to a future more dangerous than what they've left behind? Arcane Awakenings – a fast-paced paranormal fantasy novella series.
- GenresYoung Adult
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 21, 2018
10 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Russell Nolan
30 books62 followersShelley Russell Nolan is an avid reader who began writing her own stories at sixteen. Her first completed manuscript featured brain eating aliens and a butt kicking teenage heroine. Since then she has spent her time creating fantasy worlds where death is only the beginning and even freaks can fall in love.
The first two books in her debut adult urban fantasy series, Lost Reaper and Winged Reaper, were published by Atlas Productions in 2016, with Silver Reaper published in 2017 to complete the series. 2018 saw the release of her Arcane Awakenings Novella Series, and Odyssey Books will be publishing the first book in a new post-apocalyptic series in 2019.
Born in New Zealand, moving to Australia with her family when she was seven, Shelley currently lives in Central Queensland, Australia, with her husband and two young children. They share their home with two wrecking ball kitties, a deformed budgerigar and one pipsqueak of a dog that is fairly normal as dogs go.
Shelley loves to hear from her readers so feel free to contact her on Facebook or leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads or on her website - shelleyrussellnolan.com
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 12, 2018
Twists and turns....
Two short stories in one book....these two books are the start of an original paranormal series with a fascinating group of characters and plenty of twists and turns...
Secrets and lies abound and not everything, or everyone, is who they appear or claim to be.... Andie is a gifted individual and in the first book Angel Fire her true ability has been suppressed and there is a shocking reality she is about to uncover, which allows her to begin to distinguish between friend, family and foe.... in the midst of the drama there is a blossoming romance, in fact two as the series progresses into the second novella Wild Lightning...
Fast paced and suspenseful this was a well written and gripping read,my only complaint would be that there was so much more that could have been included in the plot if this had been a full length book and in that regard it felt a little bit rushed and lacked depth...that being said I am now caught up in the story and look forward to reading more .... Quirky Blind Date with A Book provided me with a copy of this book from the author.
Two short stories in one book....these two books are the start of an original paranormal series with a fascinating group of characters and plenty of twists and turns...
Secrets and lies abound and not everything, or everyone, is who they appear or claim to be.... Andie is a gifted individual and in the first book Angel Fire her true ability has been suppressed and there is a shocking reality she is about to uncover, which allows her to begin to distinguish between friend, family and foe.... in the midst of the drama there is a blossoming romance, in fact two as the series progresses into the second novella Wild Lightning...
Fast paced and suspenseful this was a well written and gripping read,my only complaint would be that there was so much more that could have been included in the plot if this had been a full length book and in that regard it felt a little bit rushed and lacked depth...that being said I am now caught up in the story and look forward to reading more .... Quirky Blind Date with A Book provided me with a copy of this book from the author.
November 13, 2018
Arcane Awakenings consists of two novellas in one. Arcane Fire and Wild Lightning.
When three year old Andrea tragically loses her parents, she is adopted by her Uncle Bill and his wife Joyce along with her brother Daniel. Plagued by recurring nightmares as a child, Andrea has been on medication ever since. Now eighteen, estranged from her Aunt and living with her brother Daniel, Andrea decides to take control of her life and begins to wean herself off her meds.
As she regains control of her senses Andie is shocked one night when she dreams of the twin sister she never knew she had, who begs her to save her. Realising that their Aunt has lied to them all these years, Andie, Daniel and his friend Nick, set out to find answers concerning what really happened the night their parents died as well as the mysterious whereabouts of their sister, Angel. What they uncover will lead them to a web of lies and betrayal and the truth about Andie’s own suppressed abilities.
In Wild Lightning, Andie and Angel’s rescue from the Woods Estate Institute, inadvertently awakens Celeste from her catatonic state. Horrified by her ability to shoot lightning from her fingertips but with no memory of who she is, Celeste’s instincts compel her to find Angel in the hope of answers.
Following her escape from the institution, Andie and the gang are shocked when an exhausted Celeste turns up on their doorstep. The gang rally to help her and eventually come to realise that the only way to stop the torturous experiments going on at the Woods Estate is if they return there and find evidence to expose it’s founder. Their search ends with a shocking revelation that leads to an explosive confrontation. Will the gang succeed in bringing down the institute?
Arcane Awakenings was my first introduction to the author and she didn’t disappoint. Both novella’s were fast paced, engaging with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engrossed. In fact I read the first novella in one sitting. The writer has a wonderful knack for characterisation. The characters are quickly introduced, developed and understood. As a result the reader becomes invested from the get go.
There are some genuinely nasty antagonists in the book and one can’t help rooting for the protagonists throughout. Andie was definitely my favourite character and I liked the chemistry between her and Nick despite the slightly questionable time frame.
I’m intrigued to see what the author has in store for the gang in the next instalment.
When three year old Andrea tragically loses her parents, she is adopted by her Uncle Bill and his wife Joyce along with her brother Daniel. Plagued by recurring nightmares as a child, Andrea has been on medication ever since. Now eighteen, estranged from her Aunt and living with her brother Daniel, Andrea decides to take control of her life and begins to wean herself off her meds.
As she regains control of her senses Andie is shocked one night when she dreams of the twin sister she never knew she had, who begs her to save her. Realising that their Aunt has lied to them all these years, Andie, Daniel and his friend Nick, set out to find answers concerning what really happened the night their parents died as well as the mysterious whereabouts of their sister, Angel. What they uncover will lead them to a web of lies and betrayal and the truth about Andie’s own suppressed abilities.
In Wild Lightning, Andie and Angel’s rescue from the Woods Estate Institute, inadvertently awakens Celeste from her catatonic state. Horrified by her ability to shoot lightning from her fingertips but with no memory of who she is, Celeste’s instincts compel her to find Angel in the hope of answers.
Following her escape from the institution, Andie and the gang are shocked when an exhausted Celeste turns up on their doorstep. The gang rally to help her and eventually come to realise that the only way to stop the torturous experiments going on at the Woods Estate is if they return there and find evidence to expose it’s founder. Their search ends with a shocking revelation that leads to an explosive confrontation. Will the gang succeed in bringing down the institute?
Arcane Awakenings was my first introduction to the author and she didn’t disappoint. Both novella’s were fast paced, engaging with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engrossed. In fact I read the first novella in one sitting. The writer has a wonderful knack for characterisation. The characters are quickly introduced, developed and understood. As a result the reader becomes invested from the get go.
There are some genuinely nasty antagonists in the book and one can’t help rooting for the protagonists throughout. Andie was definitely my favourite character and I liked the chemistry between her and Nick despite the slightly questionable time frame.
I’m intrigued to see what the author has in store for the gang in the next instalment.
August 24, 2018
Angel Fire
A little tablet could solve all her problems. One swallow and the voices and the nightmares will all go away. The stranger who looks exactly like Andie, who screams and begs for her help, won’t be able to bother her anymore. But taking that tablet means she’s weak and disturbed just like her adoptive parents claim. Not even her brother believes in her. But Andie’s world changes when she takes a chance on Nick, her brother’s best friend. He believes what she’s seeing is real, but when the truth is revealed, more than lies wait discovery.
This story, to me, had a timeless vibe. It could have happened in the 80’s just as much as a contemporary setting. It made me feel the way I did as a teen reading my first Stephen King and Dean R Koontz books – a little on edge, wondering whether I should read on, and then being compelled to read regardless. Ms Nolan knows how to make the reader despise a character just as she makes them want to cheer on the heroes. She also leaves you wanting more, which is why I was happy to learn a sequel, or possibly more is in the works. I hope she’s ready for more nagging, I mean, gentle encouragement. :)
Wild Lightning -
A wild ripple of energy brings a cationic patient back from the dark recesses of her mind. ‘Angel’ is real. But how to escape her physical prison when her identity, her life, and her mind are still locked within. Instinct show her the way and Celeste, if that is indeed her name, manages to flee, stopping anyone standing in her way by shocking them. Where this power came from, she hasn’t a clue. All she knows is once she finds Angel, everything will be all right. But when she finds Angel, Celeste realises the danger is only just beginning because the one person she thought she could trust, may be her greatest threat.
Another wonderful story by Ms Nolan, which continues the horrifying legacy of the Woods Estate and its terrifying experimentation on gifted teens. Some shocking twists (pun intended) bring about a startling climax to a story that leaves the reader alternating between loathing and cheers. I can’t wait for the next in the series.
A little tablet could solve all her problems. One swallow and the voices and the nightmares will all go away. The stranger who looks exactly like Andie, who screams and begs for her help, won’t be able to bother her anymore. But taking that tablet means she’s weak and disturbed just like her adoptive parents claim. Not even her brother believes in her. But Andie’s world changes when she takes a chance on Nick, her brother’s best friend. He believes what she’s seeing is real, but when the truth is revealed, more than lies wait discovery.
This story, to me, had a timeless vibe. It could have happened in the 80’s just as much as a contemporary setting. It made me feel the way I did as a teen reading my first Stephen King and Dean R Koontz books – a little on edge, wondering whether I should read on, and then being compelled to read regardless. Ms Nolan knows how to make the reader despise a character just as she makes them want to cheer on the heroes. She also leaves you wanting more, which is why I was happy to learn a sequel, or possibly more is in the works. I hope she’s ready for more nagging, I mean, gentle encouragement. :)
Wild Lightning -
A wild ripple of energy brings a cationic patient back from the dark recesses of her mind. ‘Angel’ is real. But how to escape her physical prison when her identity, her life, and her mind are still locked within. Instinct show her the way and Celeste, if that is indeed her name, manages to flee, stopping anyone standing in her way by shocking them. Where this power came from, she hasn’t a clue. All she knows is once she finds Angel, everything will be all right. But when she finds Angel, Celeste realises the danger is only just beginning because the one person she thought she could trust, may be her greatest threat.
Another wonderful story by Ms Nolan, which continues the horrifying legacy of the Woods Estate and its terrifying experimentation on gifted teens. Some shocking twists (pun intended) bring about a startling climax to a story that leaves the reader alternating between loathing and cheers. I can’t wait for the next in the series.
December 21, 2018
Two short YA urban fantasy novellas in one volume. Angel Fire (book one) and Wild Lightning (book two) are stories of mystery and manipulation. Both are set at a cantering pace, brimming with action and tension. I’ve become a little addicted to fantasy novellas of late, something to dip into and savour in an afternoon, around appointments and those serious ouch days when my brain says ‘No’. As this volume is composed of not one, but two short stories, it had my requirements met twice over - extra value for money as far as I’m concerned.
If you find the concept of mental health acts being abused to incarcerate you against your will (rightly so!) terrifying, you may want to give this a pass as this is a predominant theme throughout the book.
Angel Fire will ensure you never complain about a busy weekend again! It’s an attention-grabbing thriller with plot twists and family drama, plus a dash of magic and a bit of reflective questioning.
Wild Lightning returns with the main cast from before, allowing for a pinch more character development between some great chase scenes, as well as new character Celeste.
The two short stories are linked, reading like two parts of one novel, but also work great consumed separately (I read another book between the two). Nolan also kindly treats the reader with a satisfying ending (as opposed to the usual cruel hair-ripping cliffhangers of so many novella series!) but also promises a lot more to come.
All in, great series start with increasing amounts of paranormal as we get a better feel for the world of Arcane Awakenings (Wild Lightning was my favourite of the two for this very reason). I’m excited to see where the next instalment will take us from the seeds that have been planted here and what other abilities will crop up as the series progresses.
If you find the concept of mental health acts being abused to incarcerate you against your will (rightly so!) terrifying, you may want to give this a pass as this is a predominant theme throughout the book.
Angel Fire will ensure you never complain about a busy weekend again! It’s an attention-grabbing thriller with plot twists and family drama, plus a dash of magic and a bit of reflective questioning.
Wild Lightning returns with the main cast from before, allowing for a pinch more character development between some great chase scenes, as well as new character Celeste.
The two short stories are linked, reading like two parts of one novel, but also work great consumed separately (I read another book between the two). Nolan also kindly treats the reader with a satisfying ending (as opposed to the usual cruel hair-ripping cliffhangers of so many novella series!) but also promises a lot more to come.
All in, great series start with increasing amounts of paranormal as we get a better feel for the world of Arcane Awakenings (Wild Lightning was my favourite of the two for this very reason). I’m excited to see where the next instalment will take us from the seeds that have been planted here and what other abilities will crop up as the series progresses.
November 4, 2018
A truly great paranormal read
After the trauma of her parent's death in a car accident, Andie had terrible nightmares, and all her aunt and uncle who now become her adoptive parents did was send her to psychiatrists and fill her full of Pills.
She was now 18 and it was time to leave them behind, she moved in with her brother Daniel. As she becomes less dependant on the pills her nightmares became more vivid and she began to feel that they held some truth and that they were trying to tell her something. All that anyone around her thought was that she was losing her mind. This was until her brother's friend Nick came to her rescue. He helped her to understand her nightmares better. This is when Angel comes to her in her dream and lets her see what happened in her past and how she lost her parents and Angel as well. Not only did she lose Angel but now she knew that Angel was her identical twin sister.
In book two we meet Celeste, she is also contacted by Angel and this brings on her escape, she doesn't know who she is or why she must find Andie, all she knows is that this must happen.
All three of these girls have their own strengths, they are all strong but together they are stronger. Can they overcome the enemy, all of the people that want to bring them down and go on to greater things?
After the trauma of her parent's death in a car accident, Andie had terrible nightmares, and all her aunt and uncle who now become her adoptive parents did was send her to psychiatrists and fill her full of Pills.
She was now 18 and it was time to leave them behind, she moved in with her brother Daniel. As she becomes less dependant on the pills her nightmares became more vivid and she began to feel that they held some truth and that they were trying to tell her something. All that anyone around her thought was that she was losing her mind. This was until her brother's friend Nick came to her rescue. He helped her to understand her nightmares better. This is when Angel comes to her in her dream and lets her see what happened in her past and how she lost her parents and Angel as well. Not only did she lose Angel but now she knew that Angel was her identical twin sister.
In book two we meet Celeste, she is also contacted by Angel and this brings on her escape, she doesn't know who she is or why she must find Andie, all she knows is that this must happen.
All three of these girls have their own strengths, they are all strong but together they are stronger. Can they overcome the enemy, all of the people that want to bring them down and go on to greater things?
October 29, 2018
I had never read this author before and I read the book(s) as part of Quirky Blind Date With a Book so I went in completely blind.
Arcane Awakenings contains two novellas. The first is about Andie who is trying to figure out what her dreams mean and the second book is about Celeste trying to figure out who she is. I do not believe book 2 can be read independently of book 1.
What I loved about these stories are that the characters are quickly introduced, developed and understood. It was a visually appealing book and I was able to read it like a move playing out in my head. It was never boring and I didn't skip anything because it moved at such a quick pace I wanted to absorb it all.
I would absolutely recommend this book to my younger cousins and my elderly mother's book club alike. It's clean and appropriate for all ages.
Arcane Awakenings contains two novellas. The first is about Andie who is trying to figure out what her dreams mean and the second book is about Celeste trying to figure out who she is. I do not believe book 2 can be read independently of book 1.
What I loved about these stories are that the characters are quickly introduced, developed and understood. It was a visually appealing book and I was able to read it like a move playing out in my head. It was never boring and I didn't skip anything because it moved at such a quick pace I wanted to absorb it all.
I would absolutely recommend this book to my younger cousins and my elderly mother's book club alike. It's clean and appropriate for all ages.
November 13, 2018
Arcane awakening
Part one
I was so excited when I received an arc of this book and couldn’t wait to get started. Although on the shorter end, the plot was gripping and I was shocked to find it over so soon! I would have liked a little more character development, and a few things seemed to happen really fast or not be entirely logical, but some of those issues may be dealt with in the next instalment which I am eager to read.
Part 2
This book takes up immediately where the first ended, but adds a new character with her own mysterious past and powers. Together, she and the twins race to escape the crazy doctor. Fast paced and interesting, my only complaint is simply that I would have enjoyed more character development. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next!
Part one
I was so excited when I received an arc of this book and couldn’t wait to get started. Although on the shorter end, the plot was gripping and I was shocked to find it over so soon! I would have liked a little more character development, and a few things seemed to happen really fast or not be entirely logical, but some of those issues may be dealt with in the next instalment which I am eager to read.
Part 2
This book takes up immediately where the first ended, but adds a new character with her own mysterious past and powers. Together, she and the twins race to escape the crazy doctor. Fast paced and interesting, my only complaint is simply that I would have enjoyed more character development. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next!
October 30, 2018
I read this book as my Quirky Blind Date book. Not my normal read but it was really good. I read it in one sitting. Interesting story concept. A villain you totally hate and you cheer for the three girls. Really good story!
November 13, 2018
This was an interesting paranormal read. An orphaned girl who does not quite fit in who gets a reality check that changes her life as she knew it. Her quest to solve the mystery of her life and the aftermath of that "quest" makes this a very pleasurable story to follow.
October 4, 2018
This book was awesome! Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!!
November 4, 2018
interesting premise good story felt a little predictable at times. I liked the characters
September 27, 2018
all I can say about Arcane Awakenings is wow. the story the plot the characters are all great. I just loved Andie and was happy she found Angel. Nick was great as well I really liked the ending to book one . I was also happy that this came with book 2 Wild Lightning so I didn't have to wait to see what would happen next. and boy was it a great sequel. Celeste was great and so was Daniel. im really loving this series and cant wait to be able to get book 3 to read
April 30, 2019
What can I say? I loved it !!
July 21, 2018
Arcane Awakening is two stories filled with mistrust, family bonds (good and downright awful), love interests and powerful psychic abilities. The book is divided into two novellas, Angel Fire and Wild Lightning. Both are fairly short and very fast paced.
Angel Fire starts off with a girl named Andie who has some trust issues with her adoptive parents, her biological Aunt and Uncle, Joyce and Bill, and for good reason. For the last fifteen years that have had her heavily medicated for claims of her being ill. Andie knew she wasn’t mentally ill, but what she didn’t expect is that she had been lied to her entire life…and her brother, Daniel, the one person she thought was truly on her side had his secrets too. But even he wasn’t aware of how deep the lies really were.
It’s here in the middle of everything crashing down around Andie that Nick comes into the picture. Nick is a work friend of Daniel’s. He seems like a very understanding and accepting person even after everything that goes down he never questions it or is shocked by it.
Once the truth comes out, the trio set out to make things right and they wind up at the Wood Estate. Where dark secrets lie behind the electrified fence. Dr. Wood the founder of the estate is hell bent on getting her good name back and torturing test subjects to prove or disprove her theory of psychic abilities. And her and her orderlies are standing in the way what Andie and Daniel want. Their long lost sister.
By the end of book one, they are neck deep in a dangerous battle. Also, by the end of the book Andie and Nick have quickly progressed into a relationship. The time frame of the novel is very short, a few days if even. The relationship moved faster than I liked, but given the length of the entire novella itself I can see why it progressed the way it did.
Book Two, Wild Lightning brings the ‘four’ of them into an even deeper problem. Now it’s not just keeping the ‘two girls’ safe, but a third. A third that escaped the same night that Andie did. Celeste, another patient at the Wood Estate that had been tortured to the point of being catatonic and plagued with amnesia.
What gets even wilder is that she may not know who she is, but she can produce lightning out of her fingers. With the police on their tails, all roads lead back to the Wood Estate to not only find answers, but proof to put the crazy doctor behind bars.
Once again another relationship is quickly developed between Celeste and Daniel. The characters in both books are well defined and each have their own personalities. The plot was entertaining and kept my interest throughout. There were plenty of twists and turns and holy crap moments with a semi cliffhanger ending.
Angel Fire starts off with a girl named Andie who has some trust issues with her adoptive parents, her biological Aunt and Uncle, Joyce and Bill, and for good reason. For the last fifteen years that have had her heavily medicated for claims of her being ill. Andie knew she wasn’t mentally ill, but what she didn’t expect is that she had been lied to her entire life…and her brother, Daniel, the one person she thought was truly on her side had his secrets too. But even he wasn’t aware of how deep the lies really were.
It’s here in the middle of everything crashing down around Andie that Nick comes into the picture. Nick is a work friend of Daniel’s. He seems like a very understanding and accepting person even after everything that goes down he never questions it or is shocked by it.
Once the truth comes out, the trio set out to make things right and they wind up at the Wood Estate. Where dark secrets lie behind the electrified fence. Dr. Wood the founder of the estate is hell bent on getting her good name back and torturing test subjects to prove or disprove her theory of psychic abilities. And her and her orderlies are standing in the way what Andie and Daniel want. Their long lost sister.
By the end of book one, they are neck deep in a dangerous battle. Also, by the end of the book Andie and Nick have quickly progressed into a relationship. The time frame of the novel is very short, a few days if even. The relationship moved faster than I liked, but given the length of the entire novella itself I can see why it progressed the way it did.
Book Two, Wild Lightning brings the ‘four’ of them into an even deeper problem. Now it’s not just keeping the ‘two girls’ safe, but a third. A third that escaped the same night that Andie did. Celeste, another patient at the Wood Estate that had been tortured to the point of being catatonic and plagued with amnesia.
What gets even wilder is that she may not know who she is, but she can produce lightning out of her fingers. With the police on their tails, all roads lead back to the Wood Estate to not only find answers, but proof to put the crazy doctor behind bars.
Once again another relationship is quickly developed between Celeste and Daniel. The characters in both books are well defined and each have their own personalities. The plot was entertaining and kept my interest throughout. There were plenty of twists and turns and holy crap moments with a semi cliffhanger ending.
January 23, 2019
Interesting story
Andie had been forced to take drugs most of her life. She has recurring nightmares about a girl calling to her. She didn't know who the person was, didn't know why she continued to have the dream. When she turned 18 and finally left hone, if you can call it that, she stopped taking the drugs. ,
The people who raised her were not her patents, but her aunt and uncle, who had no love for her at all. They did love her brother Daniel and when she heard a voice in her head that said find me, she knew something was wrong. Turns out, she had another sibling, one She didn't know about because the drugs kept her memory blocked.
It's an interesting story. Lot of action, but a lot of sorrow.
Read on my
Andie had been forced to take drugs most of her life. She has recurring nightmares about a girl calling to her. She didn't know who the person was, didn't know why she continued to have the dream. When she turned 18 and finally left hone, if you can call it that, she stopped taking the drugs. ,
The people who raised her were not her patents, but her aunt and uncle, who had no love for her at all. They did love her brother Daniel and when she heard a voice in her head that said find me, she knew something was wrong. Turns out, she had another sibling, one She didn't know about because the drugs kept her memory blocked.
It's an interesting story. Lot of action, but a lot of sorrow.
Read on my
October 5, 2018
Great action, terrible romance.
October 6, 2018
This book was interesting. While not a normal read for me, I did like the story of Andie and how it played out.
October 28, 2021
I did not find this as good as other books, but it was ok to read. Too little action and I could not get a feel for the characters
November 29, 2021
These books were great. I enjoyed them both from the first page.
May 18, 2023
It was most excellent
November 25, 2018
This book was quite the surprise.
I expected something very different when starting out, but the books is actually an amazing good storyline.
This is not the type of book I would have looked at normally but it was selected by my book club.
I expected something very different when starting out, but the books is actually an amazing good storyline.
This is not the type of book I would have looked at normally but it was selected by my book club.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews