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The Dragon Heart Legacy #1
The Awakening
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts begins a new trilogy of adventure, romance, and magick in The Awakening.
In the realm of Talamh, a teenage warrior named Keegan emerges from a lake holding a sword—representing both power and the terrifying responsibility to protect the Fey. In another realm known as Philadelphia, a young woman has just discovered she possesses a treasure of her own…
When Breen Kelly was a girl, her father would tell her stories of magical places. Now she’s an anxious twentysomething mired in student debt and working a job she hates. But one day she stumbles upon a shocking secret: her mother has been hiding an investment account in her name. It has been funded by her long-lost father—and it’s worth nearly four million dollars.
This newfound fortune would be life-changing for anyone. But little does Breen know that when she uses some of the money to journey to Ireland, it will unlock mysteries she couldn’t have imagined. Here, she will begin to understand why she kept seeing that silver-haired, elusive man, why she imagined his voice in her head saying "Come home, Breen Siobhan. It’s time you came home." Why she dreamed of dragons. And where her true destiny lies—through a portal in Galway that takes her to a land of faeries and mermaids, to a man named Keegan, and to the courage in her own heart that will guide her through a powerful, dangerous destiny…
In the realm of Talamh, a teenage warrior named Keegan emerges from a lake holding a sword—representing both power and the terrifying responsibility to protect the Fey. In another realm known as Philadelphia, a young woman has just discovered she possesses a treasure of her own…
When Breen Kelly was a girl, her father would tell her stories of magical places. Now she’s an anxious twentysomething mired in student debt and working a job she hates. But one day she stumbles upon a shocking secret: her mother has been hiding an investment account in her name. It has been funded by her long-lost father—and it’s worth nearly four million dollars.
This newfound fortune would be life-changing for anyone. But little does Breen know that when she uses some of the money to journey to Ireland, it will unlock mysteries she couldn’t have imagined. Here, she will begin to understand why she kept seeing that silver-haired, elusive man, why she imagined his voice in her head saying "Come home, Breen Siobhan. It’s time you came home." Why she dreamed of dragons. And where her true destiny lies—through a portal in Galway that takes her to a land of faeries and mermaids, to a man named Keegan, and to the courage in her own heart that will guide her through a powerful, dangerous destiny…
438 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 24, 2020
11323 people are currently reading
68833 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,209 books59.6k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,543 reviews
November 20, 2024
Oh. My. Gosh. This book is a freaking fascinating, creative masterpiece! It serves as a marvelous, extended prologue to a new series, impeccably introducing us to the lovable, complex characters and weaving their past and present stories together. It feels like the calm before the storm, perfectly setting the stage for their next exciting adventures.
I have to admit, after finishing this book, I found myself praying for open borders because it left me with an addictive craving to book an urgent trip to Ireland. The rich, folkloric landscapes, ancient history, and magical places are utterly enchanting. The lush forests, supernatural creatures, and mystical elements summon your soul, making you yearn to be part of these breathtaking, life-changing adventures. (Oh, and let’s not forget how tempting it is to hear those sexy, ear-tickling Irish accents!)
The story begins with a quick introduction to Breen Kelly, a 26-year-old, insecure, introverted, and reluctant teacher who loathes her job. Struggling to make ends meet, drowning in debt, and shopping in thrift stores, Breen has internalized her mother’s toxic belief that she’s destined for mediocrity. However, while doing chores at her mother’s house (because her spa-loving, controlling mother couldn’t bother), Breen stumbles upon something shocking: financial statements for an account she never knew existed. Thanks to a cat’s sudden movement, she discovers that her estranged father—who left when she was a child—has been sending her money every year. The account now holds a life-changing amount, giving her the chance to chase her dreams.
Breen confides in her sweet, supportive best friend, Marco, and proposes a journey to Ireland to find her father and uncover her ancestral roots. Being the amazing bestie he is, Marco agrees. From her bus trip to her mother’s house to her flight to Ireland, Breen notices a mysterious bearded man following her. However, he always seems to disappear into thin air as soon as she spots him, leaving her questioning her sanity. But as soon as her plane lands in magical Ireland—hello, leprechauns! 🍀—her focus shifts.
Ireland’s enchanting atmosphere awakens something dormant in Breen. After Marco returns to the U.S., she begins working on her blog and two novel concepts. But things take a dramatic turn when a storm strikes, and a voice calls out to her. Following it, she discovers a portal to another world—one where her father was born and raised. There, she meets her grandmother, who welcomes her with open arms. This magical universe is teeming with werewolves, elves, magicks, powerful talismans, dragons, and the incredibly charismatic warrior-leader Keegan.
As Breen uncovers her latent supernatural abilities, she learns these powers had frightened her mother, who built a protective cocoon around her in Philadelphia. Now, Breen realizes her pivotal role in protecting both worlds from her bloodthirsty grandfather. But the question looms: will she fight for this magical realm, or escape back to the life she once knew?
This book brilliantly sets up the series, offering just enough insight into the characters, their motives, and their backstories. We even get the beginning of a romance between Breen and Keegan (and a hint of the drama a potential love rival might cause in future installments). Meanwhile, the brewing battle between good and evil looms ever closer, culminating in a tantalizing cliffhanger. Am I eager to find out what happens next? Abso-freaking-lutely! I’m hooked, enchanted, and all in!
I can’t wait to read more about Breen, Keegan, and Marco’s journeys.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I have to admit, after finishing this book, I found myself praying for open borders because it left me with an addictive craving to book an urgent trip to Ireland. The rich, folkloric landscapes, ancient history, and magical places are utterly enchanting. The lush forests, supernatural creatures, and mystical elements summon your soul, making you yearn to be part of these breathtaking, life-changing adventures. (Oh, and let’s not forget how tempting it is to hear those sexy, ear-tickling Irish accents!)
The story begins with a quick introduction to Breen Kelly, a 26-year-old, insecure, introverted, and reluctant teacher who loathes her job. Struggling to make ends meet, drowning in debt, and shopping in thrift stores, Breen has internalized her mother’s toxic belief that she’s destined for mediocrity. However, while doing chores at her mother’s house (because her spa-loving, controlling mother couldn’t bother), Breen stumbles upon something shocking: financial statements for an account she never knew existed. Thanks to a cat’s sudden movement, she discovers that her estranged father—who left when she was a child—has been sending her money every year. The account now holds a life-changing amount, giving her the chance to chase her dreams.
Breen confides in her sweet, supportive best friend, Marco, and proposes a journey to Ireland to find her father and uncover her ancestral roots. Being the amazing bestie he is, Marco agrees. From her bus trip to her mother’s house to her flight to Ireland, Breen notices a mysterious bearded man following her. However, he always seems to disappear into thin air as soon as she spots him, leaving her questioning her sanity. But as soon as her plane lands in magical Ireland—hello, leprechauns! 🍀—her focus shifts.
Ireland’s enchanting atmosphere awakens something dormant in Breen. After Marco returns to the U.S., she begins working on her blog and two novel concepts. But things take a dramatic turn when a storm strikes, and a voice calls out to her. Following it, she discovers a portal to another world—one where her father was born and raised. There, she meets her grandmother, who welcomes her with open arms. This magical universe is teeming with werewolves, elves, magicks, powerful talismans, dragons, and the incredibly charismatic warrior-leader Keegan.
As Breen uncovers her latent supernatural abilities, she learns these powers had frightened her mother, who built a protective cocoon around her in Philadelphia. Now, Breen realizes her pivotal role in protecting both worlds from her bloodthirsty grandfather. But the question looms: will she fight for this magical realm, or escape back to the life she once knew?
This book brilliantly sets up the series, offering just enough insight into the characters, their motives, and their backstories. We even get the beginning of a romance between Breen and Keegan (and a hint of the drama a potential love rival might cause in future installments). Meanwhile, the brewing battle between good and evil looms ever closer, culminating in a tantalizing cliffhanger. Am I eager to find out what happens next? Abso-freaking-lutely! I’m hooked, enchanted, and all in!
I can’t wait to read more about Breen, Keegan, and Marco’s journeys.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review!
January 2, 2024
Well I've reached that point where I'm trolling Goodreads looking for negative reviews to support my opinions, so it's time to give up. I made it 30%. I've never read Nora Roberts before and can confidently say I won't again. Not be blunt, but this was just...bad writing. Like weird turns of phrase and grammatically unpleasant sentences. Not to mention the incredibly slow pacing and weak character writing. The LGBTQ characters were so stereotypical that I felt embarrassed reading them. Breen didn't feel like a real person, and neither did anyone else for that matter, except perhaps the insanely kind Irish people. I really did love the Irish setting and travel part of the book but actually lost interest in the fantasy aspect. Another reviewer described it as "goofy," which I think is apt. It reminded me of something I would have written as a teen, which is not a compliment. The fact that it was not even actually Ireland, which is already a magical place teeming with incredible stories and folklore, but a weird parallel universe where my 12 year old self's collection of porcelain unicorns and fairies would have fit right in was just baffling to me. Rant over; I'm out.
February 21, 2022
Reread
This book made me so happy...and that’s all you need to know...
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
This book made me so happy...and that’s all you need to know...
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
December 20, 2022
First one in a new series - and it's set in IRELAND - woohoo!!!!
Nora Roberts descriptions of Ireland will give you the biggest craving to visit immediately!! In The Awakening the scenery is so vibrant and authentic that I felt I was on the island myself. It’s proof how well the author has researched this place, visited herself and how much she loves Ireland. And it was palpable how much she put herself into this book.
If you haven’t been to Ireland yet, after reading this book you’ll put the island on the very top of your bucket list. The novel gives you the best kind of Wanderlust.
The Awakening is an introduction to what is to come. Similar to her last trilogy, Chronicles of The One, the author splits the trilogy into three parts. In the first book The Awakening, we are introduced to the characters, their connections, possible love interests, and the first glimpse of what is to come. The book has a slow build up, almost a bit too slow at times, but with a cast like this, and the world building the author put in place, there is a lot to cover.
As always the author loves to pitch Good agains Evil. And that’s exactly what she does with this new trilogy. I can only imagine what’s to come next! A big showdown, battles, wonderful relationships and friendships, and fantastic writing.
The Awakening was a massive start to a new fantastical trilogy, that will leave you wanting to book a flight to Ireland stat.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
Nora Roberts descriptions of Ireland will give you the biggest craving to visit immediately!! In The Awakening the scenery is so vibrant and authentic that I felt I was on the island myself. It’s proof how well the author has researched this place, visited herself and how much she loves Ireland. And it was palpable how much she put herself into this book.
If you haven’t been to Ireland yet, after reading this book you’ll put the island on the very top of your bucket list. The novel gives you the best kind of Wanderlust.
The Awakening is an introduction to what is to come. Similar to her last trilogy, Chronicles of The One, the author splits the trilogy into three parts. In the first book The Awakening, we are introduced to the characters, their connections, possible love interests, and the first glimpse of what is to come. The book has a slow build up, almost a bit too slow at times, but with a cast like this, and the world building the author put in place, there is a lot to cover.
As always the author loves to pitch Good agains Evil. And that’s exactly what she does with this new trilogy. I can only imagine what’s to come next! A big showdown, battles, wonderful relationships and friendships, and fantastic writing.
The Awakening was a massive start to a new fantastical trilogy, that will leave you wanting to book a flight to Ireland stat.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
January 9, 2021
I adore Nora Roberts, in a comforting and reliable kind of way. Having read everything she's written (as Nora Roberts), admittedly I tend to go into each new story with certain...expectations. THE AWAKENING being The Dragon Heart Legacy: Book 1, I'm sort of certain as to how it will end.
But, no. Ms. Roberts pulled a fast one and sucked me straight in, anxiously awaiting Book 2.
But, no. Ms. Roberts pulled a fast one and sucked me straight in, anxiously awaiting Book 2.
December 20, 2020
This was disappointing on several levels.
1) I don't get the feeling Roberts has read many modern fantasy books. She's thrown everything at the page in terms of worldbuilding a Fae world, but there's almost zero plot in the last 2/3rds of this book. The fantasy characters talk in a very stilted, stereotypical fantasy way. Most of the book is the main character, Breen, following a very strict daily routine (with fitness videos and two long walks a day, of course! Gotta stay thin and not lazy!) We read many, many descriptions of Breen's days, and this daily routine forms the backbone of novel. Unfortunately, we don't deviate much beyond this routine, and it gets old, fast.
Breen also happens to be perfect in every single way, her one flaw seems to be that she just doesn't believe in herself enough. I don't mind a bit of wish-fulfilment, but then there needs to be an exciting plot to make up for a bland character.
2) The diversity that Roberts' has tried to include unfortunately comes off feeling shallow and forced. She's added a Black, gay best friend, and local drag queen bar where Breen hangs out a lot, but we don't learn enough about any of these characters to really make them come alive. Even Marco, who we do actually spend some time with, seems to mostly exist to be Breen's cheerleader. While I think it's great to see more of the bigger names trying to diversify their casts, the actual execution here could have gone a lot better. The diversity also comes to an abrupt halt once we enter fantasy land.
3) Mild fatphobia. This isn't new for a Nora Roberts book -- she always makes sure to cast two thin, fitness obsessed main characters. In every book she makes sure to extensively list her characters eating and exercise habits, just to reinforce how hard they work at being hot, so underlying opinions of "worthy" bodies have always been there in Roberts' books, but it was easy enough to ignore in the past. However, in this latest book, Roberts tells us that magical children aren't allowed to do their chores with magic because it will make them "fat and lazy", and I can't help but feel that this, combined with her obsession of telling us how much her characters work out, tells us a lot about she feels about fat bodies. Because of course, one cannot be fat without also being lazy *eyeroll*
Overall, this feels very much like a first draft, and needed much heavier editing, and as well as a pass by sensitivity readers.
1) I don't get the feeling Roberts has read many modern fantasy books. She's thrown everything at the page in terms of worldbuilding a Fae world, but there's almost zero plot in the last 2/3rds of this book. The fantasy characters talk in a very stilted, stereotypical fantasy way. Most of the book is the main character, Breen, following a very strict daily routine (with fitness videos and two long walks a day, of course! Gotta stay thin and not lazy!) We read many, many descriptions of Breen's days, and this daily routine forms the backbone of novel. Unfortunately, we don't deviate much beyond this routine, and it gets old, fast.
Breen also happens to be perfect in every single way, her one flaw seems to be that she just doesn't believe in herself enough. I don't mind a bit of wish-fulfilment, but then there needs to be an exciting plot to make up for a bland character.
2) The diversity that Roberts' has tried to include unfortunately comes off feeling shallow and forced. She's added a Black, gay best friend, and local drag queen bar where Breen hangs out a lot, but we don't learn enough about any of these characters to really make them come alive. Even Marco, who we do actually spend some time with, seems to mostly exist to be Breen's cheerleader. While I think it's great to see more of the bigger names trying to diversify their casts, the actual execution here could have gone a lot better. The diversity also comes to an abrupt halt once we enter fantasy land.
3) Mild fatphobia. This isn't new for a Nora Roberts book -- she always makes sure to cast two thin, fitness obsessed main characters. In every book she makes sure to extensively list her characters eating and exercise habits, just to reinforce how hard they work at being hot, so underlying opinions of "worthy" bodies have always been there in Roberts' books, but it was easy enough to ignore in the past. However, in this latest book, Roberts tells us that magical children aren't allowed to do their chores with magic because it will make them "fat and lazy", and I can't help but feel that this, combined with her obsession of telling us how much her characters work out, tells us a lot about she feels about fat bodies. Because of course, one cannot be fat without also being lazy *eyeroll*
Overall, this feels very much like a first draft, and needed much heavier editing, and as well as a pass by sensitivity readers.
October 20, 2023
I am not going to write a big review on this lovely book by the talented Nora Robert’s, to be honest I had a hard time getting into the storyline & struggled for a bit but half way through it got me in, I loved the characters of BREEN & her BBF Marco their friendship will outlast the test of time.
Then there’s the fantasy world that BREEN & Marco explore in Ireland 🇮🇪 mystical creatures it will be the journey of a lifetime enjoyed in the end.
Then there’s the fantasy world that BREEN & Marco explore in Ireland 🇮🇪 mystical creatures it will be the journey of a lifetime enjoyed in the end.
October 5, 2020
An author new to me, check. A fantasy read, which I rarely venture into, check. A book won via Shelf Awareness that is coming out in November, check. After all that, why not jump in and read it. So I did and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Breen is living with her best friend Marco. She's kinda frumpy, let's people push her around, doesn't think much of herself, and her mother just adds to that putting her down, telling her she will not amount to anything. Keep your job, which you hate Breen, as a school teacher. Her mother, while travelling, has her daughter check her apartment, pick up her mail, etc. While there, a wind blows some papers all around and Breen discovers that in her name is an account for 4 million dollars, which her mother has been hiding from her. She's also been hiding the fate of her father from her. So everything changes for Breen, and she flees to Ireland, the birth place of her father, to look for him, dragging along Marco. But odd things begin to happen to Breen. She begins to see a strange man, she has the most bizarre dreams, that seem real. And one day while out walking, she falls.....through a portal to another world. Her world, Talamh, the world of the Fey. And here, Breen has superpowers, where she must fight to protect herself and her world. There are spells, magic, dragons, evil...but dragons!
Sometimes it's great to step outside of a comfort zone and read something totally different. And this was one of those times. I really enjoyed this one and kept picking it up, not wanting to put it down. I wanted to know what happened. So yeah, it's quite long (something the dialog could have been trimmed down, just too much), it's a bit cheesy in places, a bit predictable (in the romance area) and it's part of a series of books to come. Hence, I had to knock it in my rating. I'm not big on series, I tend to loose interest and never finish them. But this one ended on SUCH a cliff hanger, I can't imagine NOT picking up the next in the series, when ever that may come. Overall, a good book for fans of fantasy, for fans of Nora Roberts, or for those who want to step outside of their comfort zone a bit. Also, thanks to Shelf Awareness and St. Martins Press for an early release copy of this book, it in no way influenced my review.
Breen is living with her best friend Marco. She's kinda frumpy, let's people push her around, doesn't think much of herself, and her mother just adds to that putting her down, telling her she will not amount to anything. Keep your job, which you hate Breen, as a school teacher. Her mother, while travelling, has her daughter check her apartment, pick up her mail, etc. While there, a wind blows some papers all around and Breen discovers that in her name is an account for 4 million dollars, which her mother has been hiding from her. She's also been hiding the fate of her father from her. So everything changes for Breen, and she flees to Ireland, the birth place of her father, to look for him, dragging along Marco. But odd things begin to happen to Breen. She begins to see a strange man, she has the most bizarre dreams, that seem real. And one day while out walking, she falls.....through a portal to another world. Her world, Talamh, the world of the Fey. And here, Breen has superpowers, where she must fight to protect herself and her world. There are spells, magic, dragons, evil...but dragons!
Sometimes it's great to step outside of a comfort zone and read something totally different. And this was one of those times. I really enjoyed this one and kept picking it up, not wanting to put it down. I wanted to know what happened. So yeah, it's quite long (something the dialog could have been trimmed down, just too much), it's a bit cheesy in places, a bit predictable (in the romance area) and it's part of a series of books to come. Hence, I had to knock it in my rating. I'm not big on series, I tend to loose interest and never finish them. But this one ended on SUCH a cliff hanger, I can't imagine NOT picking up the next in the series, when ever that may come. Overall, a good book for fans of fantasy, for fans of Nora Roberts, or for those who want to step outside of their comfort zone a bit. Also, thanks to Shelf Awareness and St. Martins Press for an early release copy of this book, it in no way influenced my review.
October 11, 2020
2.5 stars -- I am a huge fan of La Nora, but I had a very mixed experience with this first entry in a new paranormal series from her. The things I liked were the actual magic system and world the fantasy elements are based on. They are all coorelated to the Fey and set in an alternate fey realm in Ireland, which was really fun. But this book feels so messy in terms of structure. It is nearly 500 pages, and honestly, I think it would have been a far stronger book had it been cut down to half that. Better still, cut to 250 pages of this book & then have the next entry start at that point for the last 250 pages. That said, I am intrigued about where this story may go, so if you go into this knowing there's a lot of lag, you may find a new series to invest in.
December 11, 2020
Quick thoughts: A shiny new series set in Ireland, this book is stunning and so unlike anything else I’ve read. I’m ready for book two and hope it won’t be a long wait! More thoughts to come.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
September 30, 2021
VOY A ENTRAR A MATAR...
❤️Dragones, hadas, brujas y un malo malísimo; de esos que odias con sólo con oír su nombre. Y todo esto aderezado con un toque de atracción sexual.
❤️Vamos, no sé tú, pero si encima la autora es la Nora Roberts, yo me lanzo de cabeza.
Sólo que...
Bueno...
A ver cómo te lo explico.
❤️Queda claro que fue ver el libro e ir a por él, pero si tengo que ser sincera debo decir que los personajes me han parecido algo planos y que la historia se habría podido explicar con la mitad de las páginas actuales, porque, de pasar, no pasa nada especial hasta el final.
❤️Dragones, hadas, brujas y un malo malísimo; de esos que odias con sólo con oír su nombre. Y todo esto aderezado con un toque de atracción sexual.
❤️Vamos, no sé tú, pero si encima la autora es la Nora Roberts, yo me lanzo de cabeza.
Sólo que...
Bueno...
A ver cómo te lo explico.
❤️Queda claro que fue ver el libro e ir a por él, pero si tengo que ser sincera debo decir que los personajes me han parecido algo planos y que la historia se habría podido explicar con la mitad de las páginas actuales, porque, de pasar, no pasa nada especial hasta el final.
March 24, 2023
I’m just going to be honest. This was the worst fantasy book I’ve read in a long time. As a first time Nora Roberts reader I was underwhelmed and utterly disappointed. This book suffers from a very thin plot line that is avoided at every turn for the sake of squeezing in a second book. The majority of the story forces the main characters mundane activities and tasks on you such as farming, cooking, horseback riding, book writing, sword training, walking, and even blog posting.
The main character Breen Kelly is a young Irish woman with abandonment and self-confidence issues. She was raised by her mother who is vilified in this book as being controlling and deceitful. While her father is praised for his otherworldly fae heritage and leadership skills. Dad disappeared out of Breen’s life early under mysterious circumstances and Breen has never understood why. After learning about a secret fortune hidden from her for years, she takes a trip to Ireland under the assumption that she can reconnect with her father. Discovering she is related to Gods she is taken to another world (where she basically vacations at) while trying to avoid her evil grandfather who wants to take her power for himself.
Breen makes for a boring and spineless main character. She constantly needs reassurance from strangers and best friends in order to do anything. There’s a whole side story of her writing a children’s book (while living in a fantasy world) for goodness grief! Everyone in this book thinks she is super special and as a result she can do no wrong. The evidence for her greatness is rooted in a story of Breen’s kidnapping at age three where she showed great magical potential in the struggle.
The story has very little romance in it as the current leader of the realm of Talamh, Keegan, is supposed to be the love interest. Yet he only comes across as a bully. He harasses and berates Breen into starting a physically demanding training regimen as soon as she arrives in town in order to trick her into showing some sort of her natural magical aptitude. In many ways he reminded me of her mother. He though he knew what was best for Breen without thinking that if she started training with a sword how would her magic powers increase? He’s basically there to mold her into this fierce warrior woman but he comes across as a jerk that wants her to submit to him. By the time they get together it’s nothing more than him pushing himself on her for sex.
This book needed to be shorter. It’s such a long book filled with all the wrong things and the main story is just barely touched on throughout the book. So much of the book is a waste of time until the end. I wish I could get both my time and money back.
The main character Breen Kelly is a young Irish woman with abandonment and self-confidence issues. She was raised by her mother who is vilified in this book as being controlling and deceitful. While her father is praised for his otherworldly fae heritage and leadership skills. Dad disappeared out of Breen’s life early under mysterious circumstances and Breen has never understood why. After learning about a secret fortune hidden from her for years, she takes a trip to Ireland under the assumption that she can reconnect with her father. Discovering she is related to Gods she is taken to another world (where she basically vacations at) while trying to avoid her evil grandfather who wants to take her power for himself.
Breen makes for a boring and spineless main character. She constantly needs reassurance from strangers and best friends in order to do anything. There’s a whole side story of her writing a children’s book (while living in a fantasy world) for goodness grief! Everyone in this book thinks she is super special and as a result she can do no wrong. The evidence for her greatness is rooted in a story of Breen’s kidnapping at age three where she showed great magical potential in the struggle.
The story has very little romance in it as the current leader of the realm of Talamh, Keegan, is supposed to be the love interest. Yet he only comes across as a bully. He harasses and berates Breen into starting a physically demanding training regimen as soon as she arrives in town in order to trick her into showing some sort of her natural magical aptitude. In many ways he reminded me of her mother. He though he knew what was best for Breen without thinking that if she started training with a sword how would her magic powers increase? He’s basically there to mold her into this fierce warrior woman but he comes across as a jerk that wants her to submit to him. By the time they get together it’s nothing more than him pushing himself on her for sex.
This book needed to be shorter. It’s such a long book filled with all the wrong things and the main story is just barely touched on throughout the book. So much of the book is a waste of time until the end. I wish I could get both my time and money back.
January 20, 2021
Breen Kelly is a middle school language arts teacher in Philadelphia not really living her best life. She’s insecure about herself, reinforced by her mother who constantly confirms she’s just average, and struggles to make ends meet. Despite her lack of confidence, Breen has managed to make some terrific friends, one who is her roommate. During one fortuitous afternoon where she was tending to her mother’s plants while she was away, Breen discovers documents that reveal not only had her father not abandoned her when she was eleven years old but had regularly sent money on her behalf. Hurt and furious at her mother’s duplicity, she decides to visit Ireland, her father’s home, and discovers family and the magical Otherworld of the Fey. She also meets the warrior Keegan O’Broin, the fearless and fierce leader of Talamh in that realm who changes her life.
The world created in this story is fantastical...mermaids, elves, demons, faeries, witches and more. It was a lot for me to absorb and it overwhelmed Breen. Her resistance was believable as she had to slowly evolve in understanding her own true identity as well as accept the weight of her ancestry. It wouldn’t have rung true to the character if she’d suddenly transformed and embraced this new world and all that it means.
While the world building was slow moving, the excitement certainly wasn’t. There are threats everywhere and Breen’s inexperience places her at even greater risk. Her relationship with Keegan brings even more tension as he doesn’t fully trust her but devotes himself to her training...to a fault. I loved everything about this story as it lays the foundation for what’s to come while creating an imaginative world with lots of interesting and intriguing characters. The narrator was absolutely wonderful, managing a host of roles, genders and accents effortlessly and believably. I hope she continues the series as I plan to listen to all of the books. The ending left my own imagination running amok. I can’t wait for the next installment.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
The world created in this story is fantastical...mermaids, elves, demons, faeries, witches and more. It was a lot for me to absorb and it overwhelmed Breen. Her resistance was believable as she had to slowly evolve in understanding her own true identity as well as accept the weight of her ancestry. It wouldn’t have rung true to the character if she’d suddenly transformed and embraced this new world and all that it means.
While the world building was slow moving, the excitement certainly wasn’t. There are threats everywhere and Breen’s inexperience places her at even greater risk. Her relationship with Keegan brings even more tension as he doesn’t fully trust her but devotes himself to her training...to a fault. I loved everything about this story as it lays the foundation for what’s to come while creating an imaginative world with lots of interesting and intriguing characters. The narrator was absolutely wonderful, managing a host of roles, genders and accents effortlessly and believably. I hope she continues the series as I plan to listen to all of the books. The ending left my own imagination running amok. I can’t wait for the next installment.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
December 26, 2022
After school teacher Breen Kelly discovered her mother had been keeping things from her since she was twelve years old, demeaning and belittling her along the way, Breen and her best friend Marco flew to Ireland. Breen's father had been born there - she hoped she would be able to find him again, discover why he left, show him love again. Marco was only able to stay for two weeks, but Breen had rented the cottage for the full summer. She wanted to find herself, and now, as an adult, was determined she would.
After Marco returned to Philadelphia, Breen set out to explore her surroundings. The stray dog who found her seemed to be leading her, so she followed, to return him to his home. But falling through a portal into another world had certainly not been on her agenda. Fearful and concerned, it took Breen sometime to realise the truth. And for her powers of magick to arise, showing her what she really was. But could she embrace it? She'd lived a long time in Philadelphia as a human - was it possible to live in both worlds?
The Awakening is the 1st in the Dragon Heart Legacy trilogy by Nora Roberts and I loved it. The characters are exceptional and I feel I know them well now. It blows me away how talented this author is, with the many different genres she writes. I loved the Chronicles of the One trilogy and this one is proving to be just as well-crafted. I'm looking forward to getting into #2, The Becoming very soon. Highly recommended.
After Marco returned to Philadelphia, Breen set out to explore her surroundings. The stray dog who found her seemed to be leading her, so she followed, to return him to his home. But falling through a portal into another world had certainly not been on her agenda. Fearful and concerned, it took Breen sometime to realise the truth. And for her powers of magick to arise, showing her what she really was. But could she embrace it? She'd lived a long time in Philadelphia as a human - was it possible to live in both worlds?
The Awakening is the 1st in the Dragon Heart Legacy trilogy by Nora Roberts and I loved it. The characters are exceptional and I feel I know them well now. It blows me away how talented this author is, with the many different genres she writes. I loved the Chronicles of the One trilogy and this one is proving to be just as well-crafted. I'm looking forward to getting into #2, The Becoming very soon. Highly recommended.
May 5, 2023
2.5 ⭐️
I happen to be a sucker of this type of general storyline - the normal girl who finds out she’s actually fae (or half, wtvr) and that there’s this whole other world that’s filled with magic ext… so I was able to make it through the book because that, but it wasn’t actually a very good version of one of those type of plots and I only liked it for the whimsicalness of it all.
I thought the story felt very middle school/YA, yet we were following an adult and therefore some moments felt really weird to me (like when she would be having sex) and super unrealistic (like her getting a crazy book deal two weeks after trying out writing for the first time in her life, or her best friend from before the age of three holding a grudge for leaving her 20+ years ago… there was just so many random things that would realistically never actually happen the way it did in this story…) —— also the romance side plot definitely was not built up that great and was heavily based on physical attraction… but that wasn’t the main point of the story… so wtvrr.
Thankfully I listened to this via audio and it had fun narrators that brought the story to life, and that’s probably why I made it through the whole thing - but I definitely won’t be continuing with the series since I couldn’t care less about what will happen next.
I happen to be a sucker of this type of general storyline - the normal girl who finds out she’s actually fae (or half, wtvr) and that there’s this whole other world that’s filled with magic ext… so I was able to make it through the book because that, but it wasn’t actually a very good version of one of those type of plots and I only liked it for the whimsicalness of it all.
I thought the story felt very middle school/YA, yet we were following an adult and therefore some moments felt really weird to me (like when she would be having sex) and super unrealistic (like her getting a crazy book deal two weeks after trying out writing for the first time in her life, or her best friend from before the age of three holding a grudge for leaving her 20+ years ago… there was just so many random things that would realistically never actually happen the way it did in this story…) —— also the romance side plot definitely was not built up that great and was heavily based on physical attraction… but that wasn’t the main point of the story… so wtvrr.
Thankfully I listened to this via audio and it had fun narrators that brought the story to life, and that’s probably why I made it through the whole thing - but I definitely won’t be continuing with the series since I couldn’t care less about what will happen next.
November 30, 2020
A rather disappointing read coming from such a seasoned author. I agree with other reviewers that it's far longer than it needed to be given what's there.
Its biggest failing is that it's a mish-mash of tropes and cliches - You have your chosen one trope. You have the sassy gay best friend trope with matching "gayborhood." (One can only assume it was a misguided attempt to signal inclusiveness, though it instead comes off as pandering and shallow.) And then you have your overpowered-yet-bumbling heroine who's a little TSTL, and your emotionally unavailable hero who thinks brutishness is a love language. And just when you thought you had the whole salad, this book even manages to throw in the perfect setup for a beautiful scorned ex-lover who will no doubt morph into a vindictive beast in following books.
It's 2020. Haven't we already read this book a million times?
Its biggest failing is that it's a mish-mash of tropes and cliches - You have your chosen one trope. You have the sassy gay best friend trope with matching "gayborhood." (One can only assume it was a misguided attempt to signal inclusiveness, though it instead comes off as pandering and shallow.) And then you have your overpowered-yet-bumbling heroine who's a little TSTL, and your emotionally unavailable hero who thinks brutishness is a love language. And just when you thought you had the whole salad, this book even manages to throw in the perfect setup for a beautiful scorned ex-lover who will no doubt morph into a vindictive beast in following books.
It's 2020. Haven't we already read this book a million times?
November 29, 2020
TITLE: THE AWAKENING
AUTHOR: Nora Roberts
SERIES: The Dragon Heart Legacy #1
RELEASE DATE: November 24, 2020
GENRE: UF/PNR
THEMES & TROPES: Celtic Myths, Ireland
RATING: 3.5 Stars
CLIFFHANGER: Yes!
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
I'm gonna come out with it right away...thiswasmyfirstnorarobertsbook. Yeah I deserve those judgy eyes. One thing's for sure thought, it won't be my last book by her.
That she is an accomplished writer is crystal clear from the get-go. The world building, the landscape descriptions, the character development, it was all very well done. If you've never been to Ireland you'll want to go after reading THE AWAKENING. I saw every little detail in my mind, every beautiful place Breen visited. I loved to spend time in this world.
The inclusion of LGBT and non-binary characters in romance becomes more and more normal, as it should, and I couldn't be happier about it. Marco wasn't just Breen's best friend by name, he was amazing, a constant in her life. And Sally was a delight!
Two worlds, both somehow hers. How would she ever balance them?
Breen's journey from an insecure, meek teacher who hated her profession into a self confident, strong-willed witch was slow but rewarding. Her mom did a number on her and Breen always thought of herself as never being enough. Until she has to step up in a big way. Helping her along the way are well-meaning people - one of them Keegan, who becomes her teacher in all things warfare. Here is where I'll admit that I thought he wasn't very likable. We know the brooding type but they usually have a sweet and funny side about them too. I think the author failed for a majority of the book to let me see another side of him except the rude hardass and judgmental, impatient jerk he was.
“She’s beautiful. I’ve tried not to notice, but I’ve eyes in my head, after all. When that spirit flashes, she’s more beautiful than any I’ve known."
So when all of a sudden he admitted to himself being attracted to her I had a rough time believing it. From this point forward though I got to see a softer side of him. His connection with Breen though was a bit of a stretch. I hope that this will become more natural in the next book.
He’d wondered and wondered how she would feel under his hands, how her body would move under his, and now he knew and wanted hours of her, days of her, nights of her.
I also have to say that this book could have been a good 25% shorter. In parts it dragged and made it slower than it should have been. But niggles aside, I had fun with this first installment of this new series and enjoyed this world and its people. The cliffhanger will have you craving the next book. If you're a fan of Ireland and the magic this country is famous for, pixies, fairies, dragons, were, witches, any fantasy creature you can imagine, then this is definitely a recommendation for you.
November 29, 2020
This was an interesting first book in a series that very much felt like a very extended introduction. The bulk of the middle of this book was the training sequence in any chosen one narrative. It wasn't entirely unenjoyable, it just went on for so long. The beginning bit was a really descriptive vacation story that also went on for too long.
And that my primary gripe here is that I wish an editor had reigned Roberts in a bit and helped her tightened this story up so that it felt like more than a 450 page introduction.
That said, I rather enjoyed the pieces of magic, folklore and world building. I love a good chosen one story and this hits all the tropes well, from she never knew she was special to one of a kind powers. In an attempt to balance her super specialness, it does go a little ham on the training sequences (as stated above) but I appreciated the effort to ground our chosen one's weaknesses and strengths.
I feel like I would've appreciated Breen's character more in a tighter version of this story. As it was, her characterization came through a bunch of repetition that made me kind of annoyed with some of her woe-is-me-ing. When I look past that, though, there were some positives: she was hardworking and loyal and rational in a magical story. On the flip side, I would've appreciated Keegan more had he been a bit more fleshed out. We spend so little time with him, in the grand scheme of things, and a lot of that time is him being all hard and broody.
The ending was probably my favorite part, for the way it brought the whole ramble together and finally felt like it was taking off. I think that, more than anything, is why I intend to read on in the series. I've invested so much in this intro already and I can see a second book being better.
December 14, 2025
4.5 stars
This was my first fantasy from Nora and it was SO GOOD. This was definitely a set up book, so we really just get the heroine uncovering the truth about her past and this fantasy world, and training with our hero on how to use her magic. I loved how the found a family she never knew she had and the side characters really were the best. The ending is where we see things really go down and it opens up for a super intriguing and hopefully fast paced book two! I can't wait to continue on!
This was my first fantasy from Nora and it was SO GOOD. This was definitely a set up book, so we really just get the heroine uncovering the truth about her past and this fantasy world, and training with our hero on how to use her magic. I loved how the found a family she never knew she had and the side characters really were the best. The ending is where we see things really go down and it opens up for a super intriguing and hopefully fast paced book two! I can't wait to continue on!
February 8, 2021
Did Not Finish-10 percent
I don't even know what to say. I haven't read a Nora Roberts "magicks" book in about 10 years. The last one was the whole Sign of Seven trilogy, see Blood Brothers. It was really bad. Have I reviewed that series on Goodreads before? Cause believe me when I posted my reviews back in the day on the 'Zon I remember people were all screaming at me until we got to the third book and they went, okay you were right. I think the biggest reasons why I had to just DNF this book was that the names alone and the backstory just killed me. I made myself read to 10 percent at least to see if things got better, and no they did not. I get that romances are formulaic in some respects, but Roberts latest standalone, 'In Death' and now this book have focused on Ireland. So I am assuming she's going to be doing more and more on the "Green Isle" in her next couple of forays and I don't know if I have the energy for it.
Another reviewer said besides the 'In Death' books they really haven't enjoyed a Nora Roberts book in years. I have to say though in my case, the stand alones for the most part have been better. The latest one, Hideaway was painful, but I freaking loved Under Currents. I wonder if it's the backstories that are killing these books for me or what though. I think Under Currents worked better since you got to see the backstory of the male heroine and his family and then the story jumped forward. Hideaway didn't work for me since we were stuck in the female heroines backstory way too freaking long. So I am wondering if it's just a flow issue. Because I am seeing the same issue with "The Awakening" things moved way too slow. I just didn't care and I started feeling annoyed. This book was boring which to me is the biggest sin of a book I am reading. I just didn't care about Breen or Keegan. And the whole Talamh realm thing made me think of the Key of Light trilogy (also not my favorite) as well as The Circle trilogy. I just didn't have the energy to push on through on this one.
I don't even know what to say. I haven't read a Nora Roberts "magicks" book in about 10 years. The last one was the whole Sign of Seven trilogy, see Blood Brothers. It was really bad. Have I reviewed that series on Goodreads before? Cause believe me when I posted my reviews back in the day on the 'Zon I remember people were all screaming at me until we got to the third book and they went, okay you were right. I think the biggest reasons why I had to just DNF this book was that the names alone and the backstory just killed me. I made myself read to 10 percent at least to see if things got better, and no they did not. I get that romances are formulaic in some respects, but Roberts latest standalone, 'In Death' and now this book have focused on Ireland. So I am assuming she's going to be doing more and more on the "Green Isle" in her next couple of forays and I don't know if I have the energy for it.
Another reviewer said besides the 'In Death' books they really haven't enjoyed a Nora Roberts book in years. I have to say though in my case, the stand alones for the most part have been better. The latest one, Hideaway was painful, but I freaking loved Under Currents. I wonder if it's the backstories that are killing these books for me or what though. I think Under Currents worked better since you got to see the backstory of the male heroine and his family and then the story jumped forward. Hideaway didn't work for me since we were stuck in the female heroines backstory way too freaking long. So I am wondering if it's just a flow issue. Because I am seeing the same issue with "The Awakening" things moved way too slow. I just didn't care and I started feeling annoyed. This book was boring which to me is the biggest sin of a book I am reading. I just didn't care about Breen or Keegan. And the whole Talamh realm thing made me think of the Key of Light trilogy (also not my favorite) as well as The Circle trilogy. I just didn't have the energy to push on through on this one.
June 8, 2021
DNF 66%
First things first, this is not a romance. So if that’s what you’re expecting (and why wouldn’t you be? It’s NR!) I suggest you check out her backlog of other, better works. If you liked the One (I did not and did not complete the trilogy), you may like this one.
I’ve read NR for close to 2 decades now, so she’s sort of a nostalgic read for me. But no one writes romantic suspense better and I’ve usually enjoyed her forays into the mildly fantastic as well. But in this book she clearly decided she was done writing romance and wanted to move on to fantasy - which fine, that’s her right but market it appropriately. And also, she’s not great at it. I love fantasy, it’s my favorite genre, and Nora doesn’t have the world building finesse. My biggest complaint and what made me eventually just give up on it entirely, was how overlong it was. I guess at this point in her career she doesn’t have an editor? Because this book could have done with some HEAVY editing. It’s so freaking drawn out. Like days of knowing every single thing the protagonist does, no matter how inconsequential. She doesn’t even meet the “hero” until like 50% of the way through. (And then he sleeps with someone else, which again, if you’re expecting a romance, this is typically Not. Done.)
Other, minor complaints: protagonist starts a blog. It immediately gets like 100 views and 25 comments. Laughable. It’s 2020. Blogs are barely a thing anymore.
Heroine’s gay best friend really perpetuates, well, the gay best friend stereotype. Oh, and drag queens. Same thing. I appreciate the attempt for some representation but this ain’t it.
The names! Dear god, the names! I think NR is trying not to reuse names but after like 200+ books, that’s a tough one. Like go ahead and just name her Brenna. I promise we won’t be confused.
This is officially my longest review ever. But as a longtime NR reader, I wanted to give others a heads up.
First things first, this is not a romance. So if that’s what you’re expecting (and why wouldn’t you be? It’s NR!) I suggest you check out her backlog of other, better works. If you liked the One (I did not and did not complete the trilogy), you may like this one.
I’ve read NR for close to 2 decades now, so she’s sort of a nostalgic read for me. But no one writes romantic suspense better and I’ve usually enjoyed her forays into the mildly fantastic as well. But in this book she clearly decided she was done writing romance and wanted to move on to fantasy - which fine, that’s her right but market it appropriately. And also, she’s not great at it. I love fantasy, it’s my favorite genre, and Nora doesn’t have the world building finesse. My biggest complaint and what made me eventually just give up on it entirely, was how overlong it was. I guess at this point in her career she doesn’t have an editor? Because this book could have done with some HEAVY editing. It’s so freaking drawn out. Like days of knowing every single thing the protagonist does, no matter how inconsequential. She doesn’t even meet the “hero” until like 50% of the way through. (And then he sleeps with someone else, which again, if you’re expecting a romance, this is typically Not. Done.)
Other, minor complaints: protagonist starts a blog. It immediately gets like 100 views and 25 comments. Laughable. It’s 2020. Blogs are barely a thing anymore.
Heroine’s gay best friend really perpetuates, well, the gay best friend stereotype. Oh, and drag queens. Same thing. I appreciate the attempt for some representation but this ain’t it.
The names! Dear god, the names! I think NR is trying not to reuse names but after like 200+ books, that’s a tough one. Like go ahead and just name her Brenna. I promise we won’t be confused.
This is officially my longest review ever. But as a longtime NR reader, I wanted to give others a heads up.
March 19, 2024
Ah! Where do I even start with this review? I’ve been frustrated for days. So frustrated! This was supposed to be my fun and awesome St. Patty’s month read….but it failed.
So this was my first Nora Roberts read and if I somehow miraculously make it through the series, it will be my last. Never again. I thought she was supposedly a best seller and a top notch author!?
Anyway, my husband gifted me this book, so I felt obliged to hang in there and finish it out. But here is the issue… the BIG question….do I somehow continue on to finish books 2 and 3?? I made the dire mistake of breaking my cardinal rule (and learned my lesson this time) which is not to buy subsequent books in the series until I’m sure I love the first one. Forehead slap.
To save someone else from losing a piece of their soul to this book (and not in a good way) and falling asleep every few pages, answer the following questions and only IF you answer YES to any of them should you proceed to read this book and/or avoid utter disappointment and bad emotions:
1) Do you like slow-paced, light, UN-epic (if that’s even a word) fantasy novels that have a really long introduction book to the series where not much happens?
2) Do you like little to no conflict and easily resolved conflicts in a story?
3) Are you satisfied with an underwhelming ending?
MAIN CHARACTER
Breen is just your average nobody that hates her job, feels confined in her life, and has a rough relationship with her mother when she discovers she is actually someone special and part of something much grander in life. She seemed too perfect to be justified, and things just seemed to fall into place way too easily for her. It wasn’t a character I was jumping up and down rooting for. There was hardly any struggle or fight for anything. She did have some mild character development, but it did not seem relatable or cheer worthy at all because it was all because she had a ton of money just fall into her hands. *eye roll* Of course anyone in such a prosperous situation could have the time and freedom to find themselves and build confidence.
PACE
Was very slow. When Breen finally enters the fantasy world Talamh, all we get is an unconvincing romance and endless days of her learning about her heritage and how to train for a battle that just doesn’t seem very well thought out in the first place.
ANTAGONIST
Is very weak and simple. Poorly done if you ask me. _______ needs to get her because of _______ to do what and why?? I am just not convinced it even seems to really matter in the context of the whole book. I am convinced otherwise though that Odran (the villain) is an interesting character that could be further explored in a dark romance. Haha I know I’m tainted.
THE ROMANCE
Though not the main storyline, it was inevitable that it happened. But it was definitely based solely on physical attraction and very immature. The male love interest, Keegan is made out to be this strong and sexy warrior with a great accent, but he is not very kind at all (again not even in a good way). He’s really quite annoying.
MORE ANNOYING COMPLAINTS
▪︎ Dragons have very little page time. This is very disappointing.
▪︎ The Game of Thrones references. How dare such an epic series be mentioned in this low quality book??? Ahhhhhh!! This was especially infuriating for me as I just finished binge watching Game of Thrones!
▪︎ How Breen was treated when she made her decision about the two worlds…it was extremely immature and made me roll my eyes way too many times.
▪︎ The writing style – for a best selling author, I was shocked to see such jumbled sentences. It most definitely pulled me out of the story on numerous occasions having to go back and reread sentences to make sense of it.
▪︎ The length – 435 pages was entirely too long for this quality of a story. About 150 pages could have easily been shaved off and made it more tolerable to get through. Did anyone actually edit this book at all?
▪︎ I appreciated the attempt of diversity inclusion. Breen's best friend Marco is a gay man and her positive motherly influence is another gay man named Sally. But it just felt so forced, false, and stereotypical.
▪︎ Where it actually seems to matter, the book was rushed. Not even 2 pages in to being introduced to the main character and a strange incident pops up and feels so out of place and rushed. I was like WHAT??
MY CONCLUSION/FINAL RATING
2.5 ☆
I suppose after experiencing my first epic fantasy series, The Witcher, this is like dirt compared. Understandably. So, I won’t say it was entirely bad.
~Beautiful Ireland was in some parts, and oh how my soul longs to go there someday.
~I did have an “oh wow” moment learning that there are no snakes in Ireland. How I’ve lived this many years not knowing this I have no idea….don’t even get me started.
~I also enjoyed the message: courage misneach that was carried throughout the story.
~And I loved Sally when he said to Breen, “Girl, take it from an old queen: be who you are and the hell with the rest.”
~Special shout out to Bollocks the dog! One of the best characters in the book.
Therefore, I will attempt to continue the series and see what happens. I’ve decided to accompany my read with the audiobook and see if that helps me through the next one.
So this was my first Nora Roberts read and if I somehow miraculously make it through the series, it will be my last. Never again. I thought she was supposedly a best seller and a top notch author!?
Anyway, my husband gifted me this book, so I felt obliged to hang in there and finish it out. But here is the issue… the BIG question….do I somehow continue on to finish books 2 and 3?? I made the dire mistake of breaking my cardinal rule (and learned my lesson this time) which is not to buy subsequent books in the series until I’m sure I love the first one. Forehead slap.
To save someone else from losing a piece of their soul to this book (and not in a good way) and falling asleep every few pages, answer the following questions and only IF you answer YES to any of them should you proceed to read this book and/or avoid utter disappointment and bad emotions:
1) Do you like slow-paced, light, UN-epic (if that’s even a word) fantasy novels that have a really long introduction book to the series where not much happens?
2) Do you like little to no conflict and easily resolved conflicts in a story?
3) Are you satisfied with an underwhelming ending?
MAIN CHARACTER
Breen is just your average nobody that hates her job, feels confined in her life, and has a rough relationship with her mother when she discovers she is actually someone special and part of something much grander in life. She seemed too perfect to be justified, and things just seemed to fall into place way too easily for her. It wasn’t a character I was jumping up and down rooting for. There was hardly any struggle or fight for anything. She did have some mild character development, but it did not seem relatable or cheer worthy at all because it was all because she had a ton of money just fall into her hands. *eye roll* Of course anyone in such a prosperous situation could have the time and freedom to find themselves and build confidence.
PACE
Was very slow. When Breen finally enters the fantasy world Talamh, all we get is an unconvincing romance and endless days of her learning about her heritage and how to train for a battle that just doesn’t seem very well thought out in the first place.
ANTAGONIST
Is very weak and simple. Poorly done if you ask me. _______ needs to get her because of _______ to do what and why?? I am just not convinced it even seems to really matter in the context of the whole book. I am convinced otherwise though that Odran (the villain) is an interesting character that could be further explored in a dark romance. Haha I know I’m tainted.
THE ROMANCE
Though not the main storyline, it was inevitable that it happened. But it was definitely based solely on physical attraction and very immature. The male love interest, Keegan is made out to be this strong and sexy warrior with a great accent, but he is not very kind at all (again not even in a good way). He’s really quite annoying.
MORE ANNOYING COMPLAINTS
▪︎ Dragons have very little page time. This is very disappointing.
▪︎ The Game of Thrones references. How dare such an epic series be mentioned in this low quality book??? Ahhhhhh!! This was especially infuriating for me as I just finished binge watching Game of Thrones!
▪︎ How Breen was treated when she made her decision about the two worlds…it was extremely immature and made me roll my eyes way too many times.
▪︎ The writing style – for a best selling author, I was shocked to see such jumbled sentences. It most definitely pulled me out of the story on numerous occasions having to go back and reread sentences to make sense of it.
▪︎ The length – 435 pages was entirely too long for this quality of a story. About 150 pages could have easily been shaved off and made it more tolerable to get through. Did anyone actually edit this book at all?
▪︎ I appreciated the attempt of diversity inclusion. Breen's best friend Marco is a gay man and her positive motherly influence is another gay man named Sally. But it just felt so forced, false, and stereotypical.
▪︎ Where it actually seems to matter, the book was rushed. Not even 2 pages in to being introduced to the main character and a strange incident pops up and feels so out of place and rushed. I was like WHAT??
MY CONCLUSION/FINAL RATING
2.5 ☆
I suppose after experiencing my first epic fantasy series, The Witcher, this is like dirt compared. Understandably. So, I won’t say it was entirely bad.
~Beautiful Ireland was in some parts, and oh how my soul longs to go there someday.
~I did have an “oh wow” moment learning that there are no snakes in Ireland. How I’ve lived this many years not knowing this I have no idea….don’t even get me started.
~I also enjoyed the message: courage misneach that was carried throughout the story.
~And I loved Sally when he said to Breen, “Girl, take it from an old queen: be who you are and the hell with the rest.”
~Special shout out to Bollocks the dog! One of the best characters in the book.
Therefore, I will attempt to continue the series and see what happens. I’ve decided to accompany my read with the audiobook and see if that helps me through the next one.
November 28, 2021
Actual rating: 4.5 stars, rounded up.
I know of no medicine better than a Nora Roberts book. Whenever I’m feeling down or overwhelmed or just in need of something comforting, her books are always a welcoming escape. The Awakening, the first installment in her newest series, is no exception. If the rest of the Dragon Heart Legacy is as great as The Awakening, it promises to be one of her best.
In recent years, Nora has been taking more and more risks with her work. She’s been writing about weightier topics, departing from the formula she’d adhered to for so many novels, and diving further into the fantasy genre. All of these changes absolutely delight me. While there’s a part of me that misses the predictability, as it was part of the the draw and comfort of her work, I have so much respect for the risks she’s taking and the ways in which she is stretching herself.
In this novel, Nora really highlights her strengths: characterization and strong sense of place. Breen, our main character, grows tremendously over the course of the book. And her supporting cast is simply delightful. There are a lot of musicians in this novel, and the way Nora portrays music was, as it always is, moving and true. I loved getting to know this cast, and I can’t wait to see how they develop over the next two books.
My very favorite element of the story is the setting. We actually have three main settings here: Philadelphia, Ireland, and the fictional Talamh. All three settings are vibrant and well fleshed out, but there’s something about Ireland that just shines. I’m not sure how many novels Nora has written that are set at least in part in Ireland, but I’d say there are at least a couple dozen or so. You can tell that Ireland holds an incredible appeal for her, and her love for it comes through brilliantly in each of those aforementioned books. Reading one of her stories set on the Emerald Isle is my favorite way to travel when traveling is impossible. Because of Nora, Ireland is the top bucket list destination for every woman in my family. The way she paints the setting with her words is nothing short of stunning. I can always close my eyes and see just exactly what she’s described, and it’s always lovely.
The fantasy elements in this story are so much fun. For the most part, they are elements she has utilized in past novels, but the parallel worlds motif is a new one for her, and it adds some resonance to the rest. There’s magic, and fairies, and dragons, and more. I feel like these elements will be further explored in the next installment, and I’m beyond excited.
One way in which this book differs greatly from most of Nora’s novels is that it ends on a cliffhanger. I’m never a fan of such endings, but it definitely packed a punch. Thankfully, I know I won’t have to wait forever for the next book. Nora’s work ethic is insane, and I can’t remember once in my adult life when a book wasn’t published on the date she promised. Because she’s so dependable, I feel pretty secure in the belief that I won’t have to wait more than a year to see what happens next.
I had a wonderful time reading The Awakening, and discussing it with my mom and grandmother as we all read it together. Even if it’s not my new favorite book, there’s nothing quite as soothing and captivating as diving into the writing of Nora Roberts when the real world is so far from perfect. This novel met all of my expectations, and I have a feeling it’s just going to get better when I revisit it next year.
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
I know of no medicine better than a Nora Roberts book. Whenever I’m feeling down or overwhelmed or just in need of something comforting, her books are always a welcoming escape. The Awakening, the first installment in her newest series, is no exception. If the rest of the Dragon Heart Legacy is as great as The Awakening, it promises to be one of her best.
“You have to look to find. You have to ask to have the answers. You have to awaken to become.”
In recent years, Nora has been taking more and more risks with her work. She’s been writing about weightier topics, departing from the formula she’d adhered to for so many novels, and diving further into the fantasy genre. All of these changes absolutely delight me. While there’s a part of me that misses the predictability, as it was part of the the draw and comfort of her work, I have so much respect for the risks she’s taking and the ways in which she is stretching herself.
“You have to work to have peace, and there are times you have to fight for it.”
In this novel, Nora really highlights her strengths: characterization and strong sense of place. Breen, our main character, grows tremendously over the course of the book. And her supporting cast is simply delightful. There are a lot of musicians in this novel, and the way Nora portrays music was, as it always is, moving and true. I loved getting to know this cast, and I can’t wait to see how they develop over the next two books.
“An instrument was a garden, needed love, needed tending.”
My very favorite element of the story is the setting. We actually have three main settings here: Philadelphia, Ireland, and the fictional Talamh. All three settings are vibrant and well fleshed out, but there’s something about Ireland that just shines. I’m not sure how many novels Nora has written that are set at least in part in Ireland, but I’d say there are at least a couple dozen or so. You can tell that Ireland holds an incredible appeal for her, and her love for it comes through brilliantly in each of those aforementioned books. Reading one of her stories set on the Emerald Isle is my favorite way to travel when traveling is impossible. Because of Nora, Ireland is the top bucket list destination for every woman in my family. The way she paints the setting with her words is nothing short of stunning. I can always close my eyes and see just exactly what she’s described, and it’s always lovely.
“If you fail, well, greatness rises from first failures.”
The fantasy elements in this story are so much fun. For the most part, they are elements she has utilized in past novels, but the parallel worlds motif is a new one for her, and it adds some resonance to the rest. There’s magic, and fairies, and dragons, and more. I feel like these elements will be further explored in the next installment, and I’m beyond excited.
“If you rock no boat, you never end up in the water to see where the waves might take you.”
One way in which this book differs greatly from most of Nora’s novels is that it ends on a cliffhanger. I’m never a fan of such endings, but it definitely packed a punch. Thankfully, I know I won’t have to wait forever for the next book. Nora’s work ethic is insane, and I can’t remember once in my adult life when a book wasn’t published on the date she promised. Because she’s so dependable, I feel pretty secure in the belief that I won’t have to wait more than a year to see what happens next.
“I’ve learned that life, a good one, is about love, about standing up for yourself and others, about generosity, about giving back.”
I had a wonderful time reading The Awakening, and discussing it with my mom and grandmother as we all read it together. Even if it’s not my new favorite book, there’s nothing quite as soothing and captivating as diving into the writing of Nora Roberts when the real world is so far from perfect. This novel met all of my expectations, and I have a feeling it’s just going to get better when I revisit it next year.
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
December 24, 2020
I would give this book 4&1/2 stars if I could. A slow start kept it from getting 5 stars. Once I got into the story and met all the characters the book moved quickly. It is the first book in NR's new trilogy. I'm looking forward to the second book as Nora left her readers with a big cliffhanger! Recommended for NR fans and fantasy fans.
April 13, 2023
ugh. I'm really not finding anything spectacular on my TBR lately... le sigh. This was just alright.
October 9, 2021
#RetoRita5 #RitaNorita
4 Estrellitas para éste comienzo de trilogía que promete muy mucho. La anterior serie de Nora Roberts ya me dejó encantada con su faceta para la fantasía y ésta nueva serie ha terminado de convencerme.
Elegí "El Despertar" para el Reto Rita de éste mes de Octubre, porque tenía ganas de empezar su nueva serie, y ha sido todo un acierto. También es verdad que si lo que buscáis es a la Nora Roberts clásica de novela romántica, aquí no vais a encontrarla, así que abteneos. Ésta serie es puramente fantástica.
La novela empieza con la aburrida vida de Breen Kelly, una profesora de primaria de Filadelfia que piensa que está desperdiciando su vida. Breen está convencida de que no vale mucho y es mediocre gracias a su madre, que ha minado su autoestima para que no destaque en la vida. Pero Breen está deseosa de cambiar, y cuando descubre que su madre le ha estado ocultando una suma generosa de dinero, está dispuesta a descubrir lo que realmente quiere en la vida.
Los padres de Breen se divorciaron cuando tenía doce años, y ella nunca volvió a saber nada de él hasta que descubre que su padre le ha estado mandando dinero durante catorce años. La relación de Breen con su madre nunca fue buena, pero tiene todo el cariño y amor que necesita gracias a su mejor amigo y compañero de piso gay, Marco, y al personal gay y trans de la discoteca Sally's.
Pero Breen quiere cambiar y descubrirse así misma y gracias al dinero que le mandó su padre puede hacerlo. Cambia de look, deja su trabajo, y reserva billetes de avión para viajar a Irlanda, el país de donde era su padre y descubrir qué fue de él. Breen se da un período de tres meses en Irlanda para descubrirlo, pero Marco viajará con ella las dos primeras semanas para tener unas vacaciones inolvidables.
Durante el libro, Breen empezará a recibir algunas señales, pero hasta que Marco no se vaya, y Breen se quede sola en la casita que ha alquilado en el campo, no descubrirá la verdad. Un portal hacia un nuevo mundo y una familia que no sabía que tenía.
Breen descubrirá el mundo de Talamh, del que ella forma parte, un mundo fantástico poblado por faes, elfos, dragones, etc. Pero también es un mundo de leyenda azotado por el peligro de la Oscuridad y de un ser que quiere causarle daño a Breen y conquistar Talamh.
El mundo creado por Nora Roberts está basado en la mitología celta de Irlanda, pero no le falta detalle en cuanto a lo que debería ser un mundo de fantasía. Allí Breen descubrirá la magia, de la que forma parte, a amigos y familiares a los que no conocía, pero también a Keegan, taoiseach de Talamh, el señor protector de ése mundo, exasperante y sexy, que será quien entrene a Breen para lo que está por llegar.
El libro es un buen aperitivo para comenzar la trilogía, que realmente promete mucho. Quizás lo que he echado en falta es un final más épico, pero si ha dejado con las suficientes ganas de saber qué pasará en los siguientes libros.
Los personajes me han gustado mucho, sobre todo Marco, Marg y Morena. Sí, es verdad que se ha echado en falta algo más de romance, pero es que no estamos ante una novela romántica. Lo mismo pasó con las Crónicas de la Elegida, no era una serie romántica, si no distópica, fantasía. Aún así, estoy segura de que Nora Roberts obrará su magia en cuanto al romance entre Breen y Keegan en los siguientes libros.
Sí, me ha dejado con ganas de más y ha sido una estupenda lectura para pasar la semana. Espero que Nora Roberts no tarde mucho en escribir los siguientes.
4 Estrellitas para éste comienzo de trilogía que promete muy mucho. La anterior serie de Nora Roberts ya me dejó encantada con su faceta para la fantasía y ésta nueva serie ha terminado de convencerme.
Elegí "El Despertar" para el Reto Rita de éste mes de Octubre, porque tenía ganas de empezar su nueva serie, y ha sido todo un acierto. También es verdad que si lo que buscáis es a la Nora Roberts clásica de novela romántica, aquí no vais a encontrarla, así que abteneos. Ésta serie es puramente fantástica.
La novela empieza con la aburrida vida de Breen Kelly, una profesora de primaria de Filadelfia que piensa que está desperdiciando su vida. Breen está convencida de que no vale mucho y es mediocre gracias a su madre, que ha minado su autoestima para que no destaque en la vida. Pero Breen está deseosa de cambiar, y cuando descubre que su madre le ha estado ocultando una suma generosa de dinero, está dispuesta a descubrir lo que realmente quiere en la vida.
Los padres de Breen se divorciaron cuando tenía doce años, y ella nunca volvió a saber nada de él hasta que descubre que su padre le ha estado mandando dinero durante catorce años. La relación de Breen con su madre nunca fue buena, pero tiene todo el cariño y amor que necesita gracias a su mejor amigo y compañero de piso gay, Marco, y al personal gay y trans de la discoteca Sally's.
Pero Breen quiere cambiar y descubrirse así misma y gracias al dinero que le mandó su padre puede hacerlo. Cambia de look, deja su trabajo, y reserva billetes de avión para viajar a Irlanda, el país de donde era su padre y descubrir qué fue de él. Breen se da un período de tres meses en Irlanda para descubrirlo, pero Marco viajará con ella las dos primeras semanas para tener unas vacaciones inolvidables.
Durante el libro, Breen empezará a recibir algunas señales, pero hasta que Marco no se vaya, y Breen se quede sola en la casita que ha alquilado en el campo, no descubrirá la verdad. Un portal hacia un nuevo mundo y una familia que no sabía que tenía.
Breen descubrirá el mundo de Talamh, del que ella forma parte, un mundo fantástico poblado por faes, elfos, dragones, etc. Pero también es un mundo de leyenda azotado por el peligro de la Oscuridad y de un ser que quiere causarle daño a Breen y conquistar Talamh.
El mundo creado por Nora Roberts está basado en la mitología celta de Irlanda, pero no le falta detalle en cuanto a lo que debería ser un mundo de fantasía. Allí Breen descubrirá la magia, de la que forma parte, a amigos y familiares a los que no conocía, pero también a Keegan, taoiseach de Talamh, el señor protector de ése mundo, exasperante y sexy, que será quien entrene a Breen para lo que está por llegar.
El libro es un buen aperitivo para comenzar la trilogía, que realmente promete mucho. Quizás lo que he echado en falta es un final más épico, pero si ha dejado con las suficientes ganas de saber qué pasará en los siguientes libros.
Los personajes me han gustado mucho, sobre todo Marco, Marg y Morena. Sí, es verdad que se ha echado en falta algo más de romance, pero es que no estamos ante una novela romántica. Lo mismo pasó con las Crónicas de la Elegida, no era una serie romántica, si no distópica, fantasía. Aún así, estoy segura de que Nora Roberts obrará su magia en cuanto al romance entre Breen y Keegan en los siguientes libros.
Sí, me ha dejado con ganas de más y ha sido una estupenda lectura para pasar la semana. Espero que Nora Roberts no tarde mucho en escribir los siguientes.
February 29, 2024
я б назвала це комфортним фентезі. ну майже. бо тут тепла дружба, така неймовірна ірландія, і половину книги відчуття літа у бабусі на дачі, коли вона вчить готувати смаколики, а її кіт-охоронець ходить туди-сюди і періодично пече лимонні кексики. але є і більш жорстока сторона, де темний бог будує плани і жадає загарбати собі всі світи, де вбивають безневинних і забирають батьків у дітей.
але все починається з доволі нікчемної дівчини, яка ненавидить роботу, себе, кредити, обожнює свого ліпшого друга (я його теж обожнюю...), їх клуб і одного дня має шанс змінити все. і на щастя цим шансом користується, кидає все, б'є тату (іконік момент), бере друга у валізу і летить в ірландію. починається одна з улюблених частин книги: природа ірландії, неймовірні краєвиди, паби, усміхнені люди і пошуки власного минулого. нудна реальність і таємничий магічний світ, а посередині головна героїня, яка має обрати щось одне. за завісою реальності купа цікавого, дуже гарного, дуже моторошного моментами.
в розповідь було доволі складно втягнутись, адже вона доволі некваплива, персонажка потроху досліджує себе нову, відкриває улюблену справу - письменництво - вчиться магії і приймає спадок батька. тут дуже різноманітні персонажі, і вони тільки починають розкриватися ближче до кінця. мені дуже сподобалось різноманіття рас, і конфлікт який зароджується, неймовірна дружба, такі гарні і поетичні описи буквально всього навколо. а ще дракони. о таак, тут вони є, поки що їх не багато, але один з головних героїв - вершник, і думаю в наступних частинах їх буде більше.
словом: комфорт. в кінці я була в шоці від вчинку одного з персонажів. моя улюблена булочка марко вкотре довів, що він найкращий чоловік усієї книги. раджу.
але все починається з доволі нікчемної дівчини, яка ненавидить роботу, себе, кредити, обожнює свого ліпшого друга (я його теж обожнюю...), їх клуб і одного дня має шанс змінити все. і на щастя цим шансом користується, кидає все, б'є тату (іконік момент), бере друга у валізу і летить в ірландію. починається одна з улюблених частин книги: природа ірландії, неймовірні краєвиди, паби, усміхнені люди і пошуки власного минулого. нудна реальність і таємничий магічний світ, а посередині головна героїня, яка має обрати щось одне. за завісою реальності купа цікавого, дуже гарного, дуже моторошного моментами.
в розповідь було доволі складно втягнутись, адже вона доволі некваплива, персонажка потроху досліджує себе нову, відкриває улюблену справу - письменництво - вчиться магії і приймає спадок батька. тут дуже різноманітні персонажі, і вони тільки починають розкриватися ближче до кінця. мені дуже сподобалось різноманіття рас, і конфлікт який зароджується, неймовірна дружба, такі гарні і поетичні описи буквально всього навколо. а ще дракони. о таак, тут вони є, поки що їх не багато, але один з головних героїв - вершник, і думаю в наступних частинах їх буде більше.
словом: комфорт. в кінці я була в шоці від вчинку одного з персонажів. моя улюблена булочка марко вкотре довів, що він найкращий чоловік усієї книги. раджу.
December 16, 2020
This was awful. Like SO bad. It's been a hot minute since I've read anything by Nora Roberts. But I don't remember her books being so terrible. The female protagonist was insufferable and whiney, and I couldn't stand her. The overall story and relationships were so cringe-y and I just couldn't.
I am actually surprised I finished this.
I am actually surprised I finished this.
February 9, 2024
This one is hard to review; I spent a lot of time with it. There is a LOT to love but also a lot to be annoyed by.
I liked Breen, but sometimes I really just wanted to slap her and cut her from the story. She was pretty inconsistent, but man, is her mom a biotch! On the second interaction between them, I really hated her mom even more. Breen's refusal to accept things like they haven't been a part of so much entertainment and literature got to such an annoying point that it actually made me like her less.
I love Marg, Keegan, Maurina, and all of the Fae world. I love Marco, Sally, and Derek.
I love both Bollocks and Merlin a LOT! Merlin would be amazing!
That cottage is a dream home goal for me... How do I get to this in my own life? I want more of this cottage.
My biggest issue with this book is the entire book deal. SO MANY THINGS WRONG HERE that I was actually yelling at the book, yelling at Nora Roberts, and just all around in frustrated belief. I honestly would have given this book a 5 star if it wasn't so incredibly frustrating to read and then when it encompassed the book so much. Nora Roberts has been a successful author for so long that she has become so far out of touch with reality. Also, no damn kids book in America right now is EVER going to have the name of Bollocks. Was this a children's book or a young adult? Because the book itself seemed unsure.... I want to pull 3 stars for this whole subplot alone—definitely a FANTASY novel.
The book's final scene raised the rating back up to a 4 star because GIRL! I am here for what that will entail in the next book! I'm so excited; please run the hell out of this idea, Nora Roberts!
Overall... This did not possess me the same way as Year One, but I still love Ireland and the fae and this world. I will read on in this series.
4 Star.
I liked Breen, but sometimes I really just wanted to slap her and cut her from the story. She was pretty inconsistent, but man, is her mom a biotch! On the second interaction between them, I really hated her mom even more. Breen's refusal to accept things like they haven't been a part of so much entertainment and literature got to such an annoying point that it actually made me like her less.
I love Marg, Keegan, Maurina, and all of the Fae world. I love Marco, Sally, and Derek.
I love both Bollocks and Merlin a LOT! Merlin would be amazing!
That cottage is a dream home goal for me... How do I get to this in my own life? I want more of this cottage.
My biggest issue with this book is the entire book deal. SO MANY THINGS WRONG HERE that I was actually yelling at the book, yelling at Nora Roberts, and just all around in frustrated belief. I honestly would have given this book a 5 star if it wasn't so incredibly frustrating to read and then when it encompassed the book so much. Nora Roberts has been a successful author for so long that she has become so far out of touch with reality. Also, no damn kids book in America right now is EVER going to have the name of Bollocks. Was this a children's book or a young adult? Because the book itself seemed unsure.... I want to pull 3 stars for this whole subplot alone—definitely a FANTASY novel.
The book's final scene raised the rating back up to a 4 star because GIRL! I am here for what that will entail in the next book! I'm so excited; please run the hell out of this idea, Nora Roberts!
Overall... This did not possess me the same way as Year One, but I still love Ireland and the fae and this world. I will read on in this series.
4 Star.
December 17, 2020
I should know better than to pick up a book set in Ireland written by an American. I really should have known better. The minute that plane landed in Ireland, the cringe set in. An Ireland where every cliche is trotted out and the Irish characters sound like what an American thinks they should sound like, all old-timey, as opposed to reality. Could not finish.
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