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Awakened #1
Dawn Rising
A desperate people. An unwilling hero. A destiny beyond time.
Aurianna must rewrite the past in order to save the future. She was supposed to be the answer to an enigmatic prophecy discovered on the night of her birth. But a terrible curse changed her life forever.
That is, until a mysterious stranger arrives to break the spell. He awakens Aurianna to the truth of her past and the powers she never knew she had.
When he sweeps her back in time, she discovers there is more to her life than she ever imagined. The world she encounters is both strange and familiar. But learning to control her newfound elemental powers will be the least of her problems.
She must race against time to uncover the truth about a catastrophe that will leave the world broken, divided, and at war.
Aurianna just wants answers. But the people need a savior.
Aurianna must rewrite the past in order to save the future. She was supposed to be the answer to an enigmatic prophecy discovered on the night of her birth. But a terrible curse changed her life forever.
That is, until a mysterious stranger arrives to break the spell. He awakens Aurianna to the truth of her past and the powers she never knew she had.
When he sweeps her back in time, she discovers there is more to her life than she ever imagined. The world she encounters is both strange and familiar. But learning to control her newfound elemental powers will be the least of her problems.
She must race against time to uncover the truth about a catastrophe that will leave the world broken, divided, and at war.
Aurianna just wants answers. But the people need a savior.
- GenresFantasyTime Travel
358 pages, Nook
Published September 3, 2020
About the author
Lisa M. Green
5 books359 followersLisa M. Green writes stories of myth and magic, weaving fairy tales into fantasy. Lisa began writing at a very young age and even considered a career in screenwriting or journalism. Throughout her childhood, she drove everyone insane with her constant stories and plays. Lisa enjoys reading, writing, cooking, traveling, hiking, and playing video games that girls aren’t supposed to like. Visit lisamgreen.com for more information about the author and her books.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR: linktr.ee/lisamgreen
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 1, 2020
I happen to be really fond of fairy tale retellings. I think it harkens back to a time in my childhood when I thought that being a fairy tale character would be just about the coolest thing ever. Of course, I’ve wizened up a bit and discovered that being a fairy tale writer is even cooler, but my fondness for fairy tales and reimaginings remains very strong. So when I read Dawn Rising by Lisa M. Green, a reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, I knew it was going to be a wild ride. And you know what? It was.
1. Thoughts on the plot
Okay, first things first. You should know that this is not your standard Sleeping Beauty retelling. When I say reimagining, I mean reimagining. The basic premise is that Aurianna is living in a time when things are bleak, surrounded by Darkness, and full of questionable practises. Until one day, someone comes for her from the past and says he has to take her back. Why? Because she has to save the world. Aurianna travels back to discover a world that is fundamentally different than her own. For one, there’s magic. There’s transportation. The number of people is larger. And it is under threat. Aurianna just wants to know the truth, but everyone is looking to her to save them.
This plot is really very imaginative. The theory that Sleeping Beauty’s curse involve time travel is really fascinating. As is the threat that she must face. This takes the traditional, not-so-involved heroine (mostly because she’s asleep) and turns her into the instigator of her own destiny. I really enjoyed it, and I’m curious to see where the next books in the series go.
I will say that the ending did feel a little abrupt (from climactic battle onwards). Part of that, I know, is due to the fact that the series has only just begun and there are things not yet understood, but it was just a bit too quick and not quite in line with the rest of the pacing.
2. Thoughts on the main character
As far as characters go, Aurianna is a great one to follow. For one thing, she isn’t going to blithely go along with what she’s told about her past/future, or her supposed destiny. She questions everything, taking action when she feels its necessary and basically causing trouble. She has spunk and I like her. I do think she’s perhaps a bit grumpy at times, but it is an understandable grumpiness. After all, everything she had was left behind in the future so she could go back.
In fact, Aurianna is so well developed that she makes some of the other characters look a little flat. There isn’t a lot of this, but every now and again, we meet characters (like the Regulus) who don’t have quite the same amount of development. Some of this is because of the lack of time spent inside their heads (Aurianna is the main character) and some of it is just that we don’t yet fully understand their motives, as this is the first in a series.
Still, I like Aurianna. A lot.
3. Favourite part
The descriptions of the world were just exquisite. I think that the author managed to spend just the right amount of time on these descriptions, showing us the world in a way that we could really see the differences between past and future. The images were vivid, but didn’t overwhelm the story. I really found myself absorbed by the descriptions and thoroughly enjoyed it.
4. Critique
As previously stated, the ending of this book felt a little abrupt. As a reader, I knew that some sort of confrontation was inevitable—this was the whole purpose of the story—but it felt like the confrontation came without any real interaction with the “problem” and then ended without an actual understanding of what just happened. Again, I know that this is partly because most of the answers will come in later books in the series, but I just want a little bit more detail in that section.
Overall, I would say that Dawn Rising is a beautiful reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, taking something that is familiar and making it into so very much more. It is unique, the characters are fascinating and the world is absolutely stunning. A very good book.
1. Thoughts on the plot
Okay, first things first. You should know that this is not your standard Sleeping Beauty retelling. When I say reimagining, I mean reimagining. The basic premise is that Aurianna is living in a time when things are bleak, surrounded by Darkness, and full of questionable practises. Until one day, someone comes for her from the past and says he has to take her back. Why? Because she has to save the world. Aurianna travels back to discover a world that is fundamentally different than her own. For one, there’s magic. There’s transportation. The number of people is larger. And it is under threat. Aurianna just wants to know the truth, but everyone is looking to her to save them.
This plot is really very imaginative. The theory that Sleeping Beauty’s curse involve time travel is really fascinating. As is the threat that she must face. This takes the traditional, not-so-involved heroine (mostly because she’s asleep) and turns her into the instigator of her own destiny. I really enjoyed it, and I’m curious to see where the next books in the series go.
I will say that the ending did feel a little abrupt (from climactic battle onwards). Part of that, I know, is due to the fact that the series has only just begun and there are things not yet understood, but it was just a bit too quick and not quite in line with the rest of the pacing.
2. Thoughts on the main character
As far as characters go, Aurianna is a great one to follow. For one thing, she isn’t going to blithely go along with what she’s told about her past/future, or her supposed destiny. She questions everything, taking action when she feels its necessary and basically causing trouble. She has spunk and I like her. I do think she’s perhaps a bit grumpy at times, but it is an understandable grumpiness. After all, everything she had was left behind in the future so she could go back.
In fact, Aurianna is so well developed that she makes some of the other characters look a little flat. There isn’t a lot of this, but every now and again, we meet characters (like the Regulus) who don’t have quite the same amount of development. Some of this is because of the lack of time spent inside their heads (Aurianna is the main character) and some of it is just that we don’t yet fully understand their motives, as this is the first in a series.
Still, I like Aurianna. A lot.
3. Favourite part
The descriptions of the world were just exquisite. I think that the author managed to spend just the right amount of time on these descriptions, showing us the world in a way that we could really see the differences between past and future. The images were vivid, but didn’t overwhelm the story. I really found myself absorbed by the descriptions and thoroughly enjoyed it.
4. Critique
As previously stated, the ending of this book felt a little abrupt. As a reader, I knew that some sort of confrontation was inevitable—this was the whole purpose of the story—but it felt like the confrontation came without any real interaction with the “problem” and then ended without an actual understanding of what just happened. Again, I know that this is partly because most of the answers will come in later books in the series, but I just want a little bit more detail in that section.
Overall, I would say that Dawn Rising is a beautiful reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, taking something that is familiar and making it into so very much more. It is unique, the characters are fascinating and the world is absolutely stunning. A very good book.
August 9, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Dawn Rising by Lisa M. Green is a captivating tale about quite possibly the most stubborn girl ever born and her role as a reluctant hero in an expertly crafted fantasy world. The story has everything a fantasy buff could want - time travel, prophecies, magic, crazy stones, old guys that look at books all day, an obnoxious but lovable not-a-prince, politics and a world inspired by elements of other worlds of fantasy many have already come to know and love. True fantasy lovers will fall in love with the world of Eresseia and the breathtaking vistas that Green describes throughout the story.
I love that the main character, Aurianna, is so stubborn it’s almost a character flaw. I love that I care about her as the main character and yet find myself wanting to scold her like a best friend or a sister would. She’s just such a real character that it hurts to love the characterization that’s crafted here. I’ll be honest - At first I found Aurianna a bit grating, but as the story unfolds Green manages to wrap their main character up in so many layers of dynamism, endearment and relatable character flaws that I found myself reading the last few pages with a lump of concern in my stomach. Concern for a character whom I had realized I had been irrevocably endeared to. Characterization is a huge deal breaker in any novel for me. If the characters are flat, unbearable, or inconsistent I tend to put a book down and never return to it. Considering I devoured Dawn Rising like someone who’s never eaten chocolate cake before, I’d say it gets an A+ in that regard.
The plot was fairly straightforward after a certain point which while entertaining enough to drive the story forward left me feeling a bit disillusioned toward the end. Given the suspense and mystery surrounding the set up and first part of the novel I had prepared myself for another plot twist, maybe some answers to unexplained things or an unexpected event only to be left on a cliffhanger. Given this is meant to be book One of a series I’m willing to let it slide. I’m hoping the set up is for some interesting plot lines further in the series. The only true detriment to this kind of plot set up for me personally is that now I have to wait anxiously for the second book! (Seriously! How much longer? I have a book addition here... and I crave closure.) Regardless, it’s a solid and enjoyable plot that I hope to see more of.
I could write an entire essay about this story, but I’ll spare you the excess because if I gave this book anything less than 5 stars I’d just be lying to myself. The story grabs you by the shirt and pulls you into its pages for an immersive and fantastical story that won’t let you go until you finish. Lisa M. Green knows how to weave together a compelling and engaging fantasy world. I’ll be awaiting the next book in this series with anticipation and excitement.
Dawn Rising by Lisa M. Green is a captivating tale about quite possibly the most stubborn girl ever born and her role as a reluctant hero in an expertly crafted fantasy world. The story has everything a fantasy buff could want - time travel, prophecies, magic, crazy stones, old guys that look at books all day, an obnoxious but lovable not-a-prince, politics and a world inspired by elements of other worlds of fantasy many have already come to know and love. True fantasy lovers will fall in love with the world of Eresseia and the breathtaking vistas that Green describes throughout the story.
I love that the main character, Aurianna, is so stubborn it’s almost a character flaw. I love that I care about her as the main character and yet find myself wanting to scold her like a best friend or a sister would. She’s just such a real character that it hurts to love the characterization that’s crafted here. I’ll be honest - At first I found Aurianna a bit grating, but as the story unfolds Green manages to wrap their main character up in so many layers of dynamism, endearment and relatable character flaws that I found myself reading the last few pages with a lump of concern in my stomach. Concern for a character whom I had realized I had been irrevocably endeared to. Characterization is a huge deal breaker in any novel for me. If the characters are flat, unbearable, or inconsistent I tend to put a book down and never return to it. Considering I devoured Dawn Rising like someone who’s never eaten chocolate cake before, I’d say it gets an A+ in that regard.
The plot was fairly straightforward after a certain point which while entertaining enough to drive the story forward left me feeling a bit disillusioned toward the end. Given the suspense and mystery surrounding the set up and first part of the novel I had prepared myself for another plot twist, maybe some answers to unexplained things or an unexpected event only to be left on a cliffhanger. Given this is meant to be book One of a series I’m willing to let it slide. I’m hoping the set up is for some interesting plot lines further in the series. The only true detriment to this kind of plot set up for me personally is that now I have to wait anxiously for the second book! (Seriously! How much longer? I have a book addition here... and I crave closure.) Regardless, it’s a solid and enjoyable plot that I hope to see more of.
I could write an entire essay about this story, but I’ll spare you the excess because if I gave this book anything less than 5 stars I’d just be lying to myself. The story grabs you by the shirt and pulls you into its pages for an immersive and fantastical story that won’t let you go until you finish. Lisa M. Green knows how to weave together a compelling and engaging fantasy world. I’ll be awaiting the next book in this series with anticipation and excitement.
September 22, 2020
Wonderful plot and world building
I received a complimentary copy of this book through voraciousreaders.com in exchange for my honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The world building was pretty fantastic. I was able to visualize the scenes and landscapes quite well. I also really enjoyed the characters. The MC is someone I can fully support as well. She has spunk and courage but also some flaws. I also like how she’s not all of a sudden a complete kinetic prodigy. She’s having to start from the beginning in learning to control and wield her powers like everyone else.
I do wish that there had been more scenes with examples of the elemental bending which is a key point in the book. I also felt that the one encounter with the antagonist was a little too brief without any answers to plot questions revealed. I’m sure such things will be answered in the following books but it was frustrating to not have anything nicely wrapped up. The ending also didn’t exactly feel like an ending at all. Honestly it felt more like we are taking a brief commercial break before continuing the story. There never is a “climax” or at least not a climactic one. I felt like things were only getting ramped up and then the books goes and ends on me. Lame.
Despite all of the above cons I still really enjoyed the story. The writing was well done and contained a nice flow. I never lost interest and wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next. I hope the next book continues with this positive trajectory and answers more questions.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through voraciousreaders.com in exchange for my honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The world building was pretty fantastic. I was able to visualize the scenes and landscapes quite well. I also really enjoyed the characters. The MC is someone I can fully support as well. She has spunk and courage but also some flaws. I also like how she’s not all of a sudden a complete kinetic prodigy. She’s having to start from the beginning in learning to control and wield her powers like everyone else.
I do wish that there had been more scenes with examples of the elemental bending which is a key point in the book. I also felt that the one encounter with the antagonist was a little too brief without any answers to plot questions revealed. I’m sure such things will be answered in the following books but it was frustrating to not have anything nicely wrapped up. The ending also didn’t exactly feel like an ending at all. Honestly it felt more like we are taking a brief commercial break before continuing the story. There never is a “climax” or at least not a climactic one. I felt like things were only getting ramped up and then the books goes and ends on me. Lame.
Despite all of the above cons I still really enjoyed the story. The writing was well done and contained a nice flow. I never lost interest and wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next. I hope the next book continues with this positive trajectory and answers more questions.
November 29, 2020
What a wonderful journey! This book has everything, magic, time travel and a hint of dragons! A young girl's life is thrown into total disarray when she discovers she had been transported into the future just after her birth, to save her from a death curse 100 years prior. Her world is dark, grey, cold and drab, from what she and her village wear, to her surroundings. A perpetual grayness with no hint of sun. She discovers a Kinetic, someone with magic, by mistake and hears how his kind tries to escape his world for a better future, only to end up in her time being captured and depleted of their magic and then killed. She time travels with a stranger into the past, to find she is supposed to fulfill a prophecy, which she has no idea how! As she sets out to learn, she unwittingly discovers she has enormous power but has no idea how to access it. So much is confusing to her but by blowing up a train, she believes she has fulfilled the prophecy and time travels back to her time, hoping that by fulfilling the prophecy, she has averted the horrors of her time and life will be better for her and her world. Or will it...Aurianna is a fascinating character, torn between what is right and the love of her aunt and friends. A truly interesting read and highly enjoyable. I can't wait to read what comes next!
November 21, 2020
Imagine finding out on your 20th birthday that everything you thought about your life was incorrect. You are living 100 years in the future yet you just turned 20. Mind boggling for anyone to be sure and Aurianna was no different.
She finds this all out at once when Phirus appears from 100 years in the past to get her to come back for some business that will help her current friends existence.
This author has done a superb job of mixing fact and fiction to provide us with a page turner just waiting to see what happens next. Excellent reD.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
She finds this all out at once when Phirus appears from 100 years in the past to get her to come back for some business that will help her current friends existence.
This author has done a superb job of mixing fact and fiction to provide us with a page turner just waiting to see what happens next. Excellent reD.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 8, 2021
This was a great book, it has many layers to it, like an onion as you read more gets revealed. It leaves on a cliffhanger making you want to know what else is to come. I really enjoyed this book, it has lots of explanations in it, and descriptions which is good to help you get a picture of the scenes unfolding.
I can't wait to see what else there is in store in the series to come.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I can't wait to see what else there is in store in the series to come.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 11, 2020
My Rating : 3.5🌟
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Kindle/ BookSirens/ September2020
#mabookyardchallengeSep2020
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Thank you BookSirens for the review copy which lets me give you my unbiased opinion.
.
This book follows our two main characters Aurianna and Pharis as they try to understand and navigate a prophesy that canpotentially save the future by saving the past. It's loosely based on the fairy-tale The sleeping Beauty but with time travel aspect.
.
First, I absolutely love that cover. Can you see how pretty it is? Plus I love the story line setting it gives us. The plot has a lot of Dystopian vibes to it, but as we go back to the past, it feels like a fantasy setting. Aurianna is thrust into the world of magic, time travel and the concept of Kinetics as she sees them fall from the sky (Literally). There are a lot of interesting scenes that captured my attention during the first few chapters.
.
Second, I love the side characters she meets in the past (but the present in the storyline as we read it?). Gigi has an amazing sisterhood developing with Auri, and you can't resist the banter between Leon and Laelia. They give me all the dark romance vibes with hate to love trope and I want a whole book on them to be honest!
.
Now coming to the plot and characters, I really like the concept of a cursed saviour who goes back in time to save the world she unknowing got cursed? There are winged kinetics, magic weilding warriors kinetics and there are a lot of concepts introduced. As a reader we get confused as to what is what and how the heirarchy works. The plot uncovers as Auri learns about the past world, but there are a lot of questions that arises wrt the plot and the world building. I know this is the start of the series, but I have more questions now that the book is done. I really hope we get more world building in the next book and some more Character development for Pharis. I liked the whole brooding prince vibes he gives out, but I don't really know much about him other than that. I want more Character depth for him so that I can ship him completely. And if Javen is going to be a love interest, I'm getting really suspicious here. He might be a good guy, but I just keep wanting him to betray her in the future. The creepy necklace staring got too much for me .. Anyways, coming back to the plot, I would love to have more insight about the world and much more Character development.
.
Overall, I really like where this book is going with the plot, the characters have so much potential for a great character arc and I am rooting for a good romance in the next book!
.
Kindle/ BookSirens/ September2020
#mabookyardchallengeSep2020
.
Thank you BookSirens for the review copy which lets me give you my unbiased opinion.
.
This book follows our two main characters Aurianna and Pharis as they try to understand and navigate a prophesy that canpotentially save the future by saving the past. It's loosely based on the fairy-tale The sleeping Beauty but with time travel aspect.
.
First, I absolutely love that cover. Can you see how pretty it is? Plus I love the story line setting it gives us. The plot has a lot of Dystopian vibes to it, but as we go back to the past, it feels like a fantasy setting. Aurianna is thrust into the world of magic, time travel and the concept of Kinetics as she sees them fall from the sky (Literally). There are a lot of interesting scenes that captured my attention during the first few chapters.
.
Second, I love the side characters she meets in the past (but the present in the storyline as we read it?). Gigi has an amazing sisterhood developing with Auri, and you can't resist the banter between Leon and Laelia. They give me all the dark romance vibes with hate to love trope and I want a whole book on them to be honest!
.
Now coming to the plot and characters, I really like the concept of a cursed saviour who goes back in time to save the world she unknowing got cursed? There are winged kinetics, magic weilding warriors kinetics and there are a lot of concepts introduced. As a reader we get confused as to what is what and how the heirarchy works. The plot uncovers as Auri learns about the past world, but there are a lot of questions that arises wrt the plot and the world building. I know this is the start of the series, but I have more questions now that the book is done. I really hope we get more world building in the next book and some more Character development for Pharis. I liked the whole brooding prince vibes he gives out, but I don't really know much about him other than that. I want more Character depth for him so that I can ship him completely. And if Javen is going to be a love interest, I'm getting really suspicious here. He might be a good guy, but I just keep wanting him to betray her in the future. The creepy necklace staring got too much for me .. Anyways, coming back to the plot, I would love to have more insight about the world and much more Character development.
.
Overall, I really like where this book is going with the plot, the characters have so much potential for a great character arc and I am rooting for a good romance in the next book!
January 23, 2021
I would say this book is a blend of dystopian and fantasy. Aurianna, who lives in a world where the sun has disappeared because of some awful accident, discovers she's actually from the past. In order to set things right and return the sun, she has to travel back and prevent the catastrophic event that lead to the dark future.
The beginning caught my interest. I mean, the first thing we see her doing is throwing dead bodies into lava. I like how the author described the world, the struggles everyone was experiencing, and how out of place Aurianna feels there.
However, I was put off by Pharis' entry and exceptionally negative attitude. At times, he was downright rude and threatening to Aurianna, all because she needed a few minutes to process the truth about when she's from.
Some people have said this is a retelling/reimaging of Sleeping Beauty. While there were references to this throughout the book, I felt the connection was almost an afterthought. Her name (Dawn), a brief mention of three "fairy midwives," and a powerful enchantress who may or may not have a dragon. And Aurianna was technically cursed, but that aspect (which to me is the core element of the original Sleeping Beauty story) was all dealt with before this story even begins.
I think this story would have been stronger and more coherent/had better pacing without the chapters from Pharis' point of view. He fell flat for me. Always angry, always pissed off about something, never content. His chapters felt like interruptions and I don't feel they added anything important to the story. There was a great opportunity for character building when he shares with the audience (not even with another character) about his twin, but then she's not mentioned again.
Sometimes it felt like the storyline followed tangents that were never followed through with. Aurianna was supposed to go back in time to get trained in her elemental powers, yet we barely see her being trained. She's given loads of books to read, yet Javen seems to be the one who's always teaching her new (background info) type things.
The world building showed a lot of promise as it combined many cool elements. I also liked the inclusion of the mysterious Arcanists and the Enchantress, though I would have liked to see a bit more about her.
Overall, this was a solid read. I'm intrigued enough to read the next one, though I hope the characters will be more fleshed out and the plot will be tighter.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The beginning caught my interest. I mean, the first thing we see her doing is throwing dead bodies into lava. I like how the author described the world, the struggles everyone was experiencing, and how out of place Aurianna feels there.
However, I was put off by Pharis' entry and exceptionally negative attitude. At times, he was downright rude and threatening to Aurianna, all because she needed a few minutes to process the truth about when she's from.
Some people have said this is a retelling/reimaging of Sleeping Beauty. While there were references to this throughout the book, I felt the connection was almost an afterthought. Her name (Dawn), a brief mention of three "fairy midwives," and a powerful enchantress who may or may not have a dragon. And Aurianna was technically cursed, but that aspect (which to me is the core element of the original Sleeping Beauty story) was all dealt with before this story even begins.
I think this story would have been stronger and more coherent/had better pacing without the chapters from Pharis' point of view. He fell flat for me. Always angry, always pissed off about something, never content. His chapters felt like interruptions and I don't feel they added anything important to the story. There was a great opportunity for character building when he shares with the audience (not even with another character) about his twin, but then she's not mentioned again.
Sometimes it felt like the storyline followed tangents that were never followed through with. Aurianna was supposed to go back in time to get trained in her elemental powers, yet we barely see her being trained. She's given loads of books to read, yet Javen seems to be the one who's always teaching her new (background info) type things.
The world building showed a lot of promise as it combined many cool elements. I also liked the inclusion of the mysterious Arcanists and the Enchantress, though I would have liked to see a bit more about her.
Overall, this was a solid read. I'm intrigued enough to read the next one, though I hope the characters will be more fleshed out and the plot will be tighter.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 2, 2020
A time travel book. Not my usual genre, but I’m always open to new authors and their ideas. The back cover intrigued me, so let’s go.....
People come out of the darkness, we should be scared, they are dangerous. But if captured they can be drained and then killed. But you need to burn the bodies. But who are the people? Are the citizens aware those people are drained and burned? There are lots of questions that need answering.
Aurianna knows she’s different, she doesn’t act the same as other, she can remember when the sun came out, when there was warmth in the air. But now there is only grey days and darkness.
I did find Aurianna a little annoying at times, acting like a grown up one moment and then childish.
And when a stranger comes to town, she begins to put pieces of a puzzle together. A time traveller, Aurianna is then told she’s the key to a prophecy, she can help the future, but it means she has to go to the past.
Pharis is a traveller, coming to the future is a dangerous thing, no one has come back yet, so it’s all resting on him. Meeting Aurianna didn’t go the way he expected, and trying to convince her to go to the past with him proves interesting.
What happens next is a fast paced race through this book.
Going back to the past to change the future, sounds easy right? Wrong!
And they have to train Aurianna to use her powers, but I also get the feeling they are leaving a few things out!
And what is the darkness? Do Aurianna and Pharis need to be wary of it?
I have to admit i throughly enjoyed the book!
First books in a new series need to be finely balanced, too much information and we get stuck, not enough information and it doesn’t keep the readers interest. This had it. And it kept me turning the pages.
But I felt the characters needed a little more work, they felt a little stiff. I know we are in hard times, but there doesn’t seem any lightheartedness. And the like/hate/love between Pharis and Aurianna needed just a tweak, they almost seemed to gel, then they’d lose it.
And we have a twist I didn’t see coming. And the ending has you wondering it the next book will start there.....
🦋
I received this arc for an honest review and all thoughts are my own.
People come out of the darkness, we should be scared, they are dangerous. But if captured they can be drained and then killed. But you need to burn the bodies. But who are the people? Are the citizens aware those people are drained and burned? There are lots of questions that need answering.
Aurianna knows she’s different, she doesn’t act the same as other, she can remember when the sun came out, when there was warmth in the air. But now there is only grey days and darkness.
I did find Aurianna a little annoying at times, acting like a grown up one moment and then childish.
And when a stranger comes to town, she begins to put pieces of a puzzle together. A time traveller, Aurianna is then told she’s the key to a prophecy, she can help the future, but it means she has to go to the past.
Pharis is a traveller, coming to the future is a dangerous thing, no one has come back yet, so it’s all resting on him. Meeting Aurianna didn’t go the way he expected, and trying to convince her to go to the past with him proves interesting.
What happens next is a fast paced race through this book.
Going back to the past to change the future, sounds easy right? Wrong!
And they have to train Aurianna to use her powers, but I also get the feeling they are leaving a few things out!
And what is the darkness? Do Aurianna and Pharis need to be wary of it?
I have to admit i throughly enjoyed the book!
First books in a new series need to be finely balanced, too much information and we get stuck, not enough information and it doesn’t keep the readers interest. This had it. And it kept me turning the pages.
But I felt the characters needed a little more work, they felt a little stiff. I know we are in hard times, but there doesn’t seem any lightheartedness. And the like/hate/love between Pharis and Aurianna needed just a tweak, they almost seemed to gel, then they’d lose it.
And we have a twist I didn’t see coming. And the ending has you wondering it the next book will start there.....
🦋
I received this arc for an honest review and all thoughts are my own.
December 28, 2020
Dawn Rising is a dystopian urban fantasy. Aurianna comes from the future. In the future, there is no longer day, just a hazy grey sky and the cold. Aurianna, our main female protagonist, has always felt different from everyone. She's always wanted to explore but that is forbidden by the Consil. The one time she tried to leave, her friends broke her trust and she was branded as a 'runaway'.
This is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but I barely recognized the aspects of the original fairy tale and didn't see the references until 70% read. She was cursed, taken forward 80 years to escape this never explained curse, then brought back to save the world from the apocalypse on her 20th birthday.
Aurianna got on my nerves a lot. She was clueless about everything the entire length of the plot. She just wandered around and got no where with her training for 85% of the novel. The pacing of the novel was slow. There were few events and they were spaced rather far apart. We didn't get to know Pharis hardly at all. His is supposedly the main male protagonist but in only in about 10% of the novel and has approximately 3-4 chapters from his PoV. Overall all of the characters could use more developing and the pacing and plot line needs work.
We did hear a lot about trivial things and not enough plot. It was very slow paced and I struggled to keep engaged. We have a big battle scene, but no "real good guy versus bad guy" magic battle and no bad guy interaction (unless you count brief glimpses then disappearing. The 'bad guy" didn't even show up in the novel until the last 5%. There was only a vague description of "bad guy" and no indication of what caused this apocalypse between the time lines. Then after finally getting a short glimpse of the villain, it was over. The world building itself was really pretty good. Very detailed with a good magic (or not magic) system in place that was fairly well explained.
I will read the next one to see what happens. Hopefully, some of the characters will have some growth and the pacing & plot will become more uniform. The story could have potential. But this was very clearly a first books set up for the series
I would like to thank BookSirens for sending me a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but I barely recognized the aspects of the original fairy tale and didn't see the references until 70% read. She was cursed, taken forward 80 years to escape this never explained curse, then brought back to save the world from the apocalypse on her 20th birthday.
Aurianna got on my nerves a lot. She was clueless about everything the entire length of the plot. She just wandered around and got no where with her training for 85% of the novel. The pacing of the novel was slow. There were few events and they were spaced rather far apart. We didn't get to know Pharis hardly at all. His is supposedly the main male protagonist but in only in about 10% of the novel and has approximately 3-4 chapters from his PoV. Overall all of the characters could use more developing and the pacing and plot line needs work.
We did hear a lot about trivial things and not enough plot. It was very slow paced and I struggled to keep engaged. We have a big battle scene, but no "real good guy versus bad guy" magic battle and no bad guy interaction (unless you count brief glimpses then disappearing. The 'bad guy" didn't even show up in the novel until the last 5%. There was only a vague description of "bad guy" and no indication of what caused this apocalypse between the time lines. Then after finally getting a short glimpse of the villain, it was over. The world building itself was really pretty good. Very detailed with a good magic (or not magic) system in place that was fairly well explained.
I will read the next one to see what happens. Hopefully, some of the characters will have some growth and the pacing & plot will become more uniform. The story could have potential. But this was very clearly a first books set up for the series
I would like to thank BookSirens for sending me a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 8, 2020
August 8th ◾ ▫ ◾ my abstractions
'Dawn Rising' is the first book from the 'Awakened' series by Lisa M. Green and it releases in September. This dark dystopian fantasy has elements of time-travel and politics in it, where the past has to be recasted for a future. Aurianna grows up in a world where the sky's grey, devoid of any sunlight and people fell from the sky above, though they didn't die from the fall. The Consils & Praefects who govern them, hunts the people who fall from the sky. And the Carpos tracks these falling people and kills them. The population deems this necessary because the 'fallen people' come from their future, to steal the remaining resources away. Aurianna lives with her aunt in this grey world. She's different from her peers, even when she doesn't show it. She wants to find a way to illuminate the never-ending days with darkness all around. But her world comes tumbling down when she learns that the falling people were 'Kinetics', a race with control over earthly elements and who only exist in the past. This unravels her belief in the Consils, as she seeks answers.
Meanwhile, a lone Kinetic, falls from the sky in search of a girl whose destiny is to fulfill a powerful prophecy and save the Kinetics from being wiped out. Pharis knows that no Kinetic ever comes back from the future, but he has to find the savior and take her back to Eresseia. Back in a time where sunrays shone bright and the Magnus (representative of Bramosia, one of the six regions of Eresseia) ruled the Kingdom of Eresseia.
The story is well paced with twists that'll get you hooked to the story. The characters are whimsy in their own right which adds to the depth of the story, making it a perfect dark dystopia. I'm waiting for the next part 'Darkness Awakening', to know what happens to Aurianna's journey and also the fate of the love-hate relationship between her and Pharis.
P.S. Thank you for this ARC, Booksirens, for my honest thoughts on this one. I enjoyed reading this book so much.
- Anshula
@thebookishlawyer
'Dawn Rising' is the first book from the 'Awakened' series by Lisa M. Green and it releases in September. This dark dystopian fantasy has elements of time-travel and politics in it, where the past has to be recasted for a future. Aurianna grows up in a world where the sky's grey, devoid of any sunlight and people fell from the sky above, though they didn't die from the fall. The Consils & Praefects who govern them, hunts the people who fall from the sky. And the Carpos tracks these falling people and kills them. The population deems this necessary because the 'fallen people' come from their future, to steal the remaining resources away. Aurianna lives with her aunt in this grey world. She's different from her peers, even when she doesn't show it. She wants to find a way to illuminate the never-ending days with darkness all around. But her world comes tumbling down when she learns that the falling people were 'Kinetics', a race with control over earthly elements and who only exist in the past. This unravels her belief in the Consils, as she seeks answers.
Meanwhile, a lone Kinetic, falls from the sky in search of a girl whose destiny is to fulfill a powerful prophecy and save the Kinetics from being wiped out. Pharis knows that no Kinetic ever comes back from the future, but he has to find the savior and take her back to Eresseia. Back in a time where sunrays shone bright and the Magnus (representative of Bramosia, one of the six regions of Eresseia) ruled the Kingdom of Eresseia.
The story is well paced with twists that'll get you hooked to the story. The characters are whimsy in their own right which adds to the depth of the story, making it a perfect dark dystopia. I'm waiting for the next part 'Darkness Awakening', to know what happens to Aurianna's journey and also the fate of the love-hate relationship between her and Pharis.
P.S. Thank you for this ARC, Booksirens, for my honest thoughts on this one. I enjoyed reading this book so much.
- Anshula
@thebookishlawyer
April 26, 2021
4.5 stars. I really can’t decide if I want to give this book 4 or 5 stars. Lots of it is excellent - the world building, Aurianna, the side characters - but every now and then I’d hit a slower portion in the plot, so I decided to give it 4.5 stars. So like I said, the world building is fantastic! I love the descriptions of both the future world and the past world, and I think the author did a really good job of showing the past world with the wonder that Aurianna felt at seeing so many things she could only imagine in the time she came from. This is a really interesting mix of fantasy and dystopian since the future world is very dystopian indeed with the Darkness and almost no technology left. I liked the Sleeping Beauty vibes I got from the story. The time travel aspect throws and interesting twist on the classic tale. Aurianna herself is great, she won’t take any nonsense from anyone and she isn’t blindly going to follow her “destiny” just because some old guys (the Arcanes) tell her she’s part of a prophecy. I also really liked her friends, especially Sigi, although I’m suspicious of Javen - he just seems too nice. Pharis is annoying since he is always so rude to Aurianna, but I have a feeling he may redeem himself in the next couple books, but we’ll see. The end felt like it wrapped up rather quickly, but I know it’s a series so I doubt things are quite as tidy as they seem right now. I’m really curious to learn more about how the Kinetics are able to use different elements together, and I’m also curious about the elusive Fae mentioned. I definitely want to read the next book!
I received an ARC from the author through Voracious Readers Only and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC from the author through Voracious Readers Only and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
December 18, 2020
Dawn Rising is a dystopian fantasy. The future is a dark place. There is no sun anymore, just grey skies and bitter cold. When the first paragraph puts our protagonist is throwing dead bodies into lava, you know it's going to be a dark book. Aurianna has always felt off, different from everyone. She's always wanted to explore but that's not allowed. The one time she tried to leave she was brought back and branded 'runaway'. Turns out she is different and she will be going a lot further than her tiny, dark, sunless existence.
A lot of folks are saying this is a retelling or reimagining of Sleeping Beauty but I sure as heck didn't get that. She was cursed, taken forward in time to escape it (no one says what exactly the curse is), then brought back to save the world from the apocalypse. I guess you could say she had her proverbial eyes opened but the Prince certainly wasn't kissing her awake.
Auriana got on my nerves a lot. We didn't get to know Pharis hardly at all. Overall all of the characters could use more developing.
The pace seemed choppy. We did hear a lot about trivial things and not enough plot. Then we have a big battle scene but no battle and no bad guy (woman) interaction. Then it was over. I literally thought to myself, "seriously, you think that's it?"
The world building itself was really pretty good. Very detailed with a good magic (or not magic) system in place that was well explained.
I will read the next one to see what happens. Hopefully, some of the characters will have some growth.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A lot of folks are saying this is a retelling or reimagining of Sleeping Beauty but I sure as heck didn't get that. She was cursed, taken forward in time to escape it (no one says what exactly the curse is), then brought back to save the world from the apocalypse. I guess you could say she had her proverbial eyes opened but the Prince certainly wasn't kissing her awake.
Auriana got on my nerves a lot. We didn't get to know Pharis hardly at all. Overall all of the characters could use more developing.
The pace seemed choppy. We did hear a lot about trivial things and not enough plot. Then we have a big battle scene but no battle and no bad guy (woman) interaction. Then it was over. I literally thought to myself, "seriously, you think that's it?"
The world building itself was really pretty good. Very detailed with a good magic (or not magic) system in place that was well explained.
I will read the next one to see what happens. Hopefully, some of the characters will have some growth.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 9, 2020
RATINGS :-
Plot : 5/5
Characters : 5/5
Writing : 5/5
OVERALL RATING : 5/5
Publisher: Trident Publishing
Release Date: September 3rd 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Adult, Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure
Date of Release: August, 2020
*I received the book by the publisher in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are unbiased.*
Dawn Rising is set in a distopian world. The story revolves around Aurianna a twenty year old girl. Her world is shaken up when gets to know a shocking truth about her past and her life. However she later embarks on a journey to find more answers and save the people in need.
The plot was really diverse and yet very gripping. I really was not expecting it to be one of those plot which would always keep me on my toes. But, I was proved wrong! The plot was extraordinary! Every twist and turn was unexpected! The pacing was pretty well managed too.
The characters were quite interesting as well. I liked the character developments throughout. It was quite smooth and well paced as well. Since I don’t wish to give away spoilers, I will not go into details about the characters. But trust me, the character are well portrayed and will leave an impact on you.
The writing style was quite brilliant. I was taken aback by how well planned and managed it was. I cannot wait to read more of the author’s writing! It was really impressive.
Plot : 5/5
Characters : 5/5
Writing : 5/5
OVERALL RATING : 5/5
Publisher: Trident Publishing
Release Date: September 3rd 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Adult, Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Adventure
Date of Release: August, 2020
*I received the book by the publisher in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are unbiased.*
Dawn Rising is set in a distopian world. The story revolves around Aurianna a twenty year old girl. Her world is shaken up when gets to know a shocking truth about her past and her life. However she later embarks on a journey to find more answers and save the people in need.
The plot was really diverse and yet very gripping. I really was not expecting it to be one of those plot which would always keep me on my toes. But, I was proved wrong! The plot was extraordinary! Every twist and turn was unexpected! The pacing was pretty well managed too.
The characters were quite interesting as well. I liked the character developments throughout. It was quite smooth and well paced as well. Since I don’t wish to give away spoilers, I will not go into details about the characters. But trust me, the character are well portrayed and will leave an impact on you.
The writing style was quite brilliant. I was taken aback by how well planned and managed it was. I cannot wait to read more of the author’s writing! It was really impressive.
September 8, 2020
Dawn Rising by Lisa M. Green
★•.‿¸.•*´´*•.¸
A darkish fractional sleeping beauty dystopian with great elemental time travel.
The first in what seems to be an excellent new ya series by the author Lisa M Green.
Aurianna, has grown up in a grey world where the is no sunlight and people from the future fall the skies. They are deemed dangerous and seek to steal the last remaining resources. The Carpo and Praefects are the governing ones who hunt the fallen ones.
When a sky fallen is on a search for a girl to fulfill a powerful prophecy.
Aurianna is not like like most, she is unique she seeks to illuminate the light in her grey world, and for those around her.
The storyline is well paced with reveals that come at just the right time, the authors narration and the flows effortlessly and smoothly. Making this book a fast read one that I completely inhaled. The world building was unique and beautifully descriptive
The plot twist will kept me engaged, Green has created an absorbing riveting storyline.
I am excited to read the next book in this series
#awakenedseries #dawnrising #fairytalefantasy #fantasyadventure #MythLit #dystopian #dystopianfantasy #sleepingbeauty #aurora #timetravel
★•.‿¸.•*´´*•.¸
A darkish fractional sleeping beauty dystopian with great elemental time travel.
The first in what seems to be an excellent new ya series by the author Lisa M Green.
Aurianna, has grown up in a grey world where the is no sunlight and people from the future fall the skies. They are deemed dangerous and seek to steal the last remaining resources. The Carpo and Praefects are the governing ones who hunt the fallen ones.
When a sky fallen is on a search for a girl to fulfill a powerful prophecy.
Aurianna is not like like most, she is unique she seeks to illuminate the light in her grey world, and for those around her.
The storyline is well paced with reveals that come at just the right time, the authors narration and the flows effortlessly and smoothly. Making this book a fast read one that I completely inhaled. The world building was unique and beautifully descriptive
The plot twist will kept me engaged, Green has created an absorbing riveting storyline.
I am excited to read the next book in this series
#awakenedseries #dawnrising #fairytalefantasy #fantasyadventure #MythLit #dystopian #dystopianfantasy #sleepingbeauty #aurora #timetravel
December 14, 2020
Thank you BookSirens for offering me this book in return for an honest review.
Unfortunately, 90% of this book just didn’t do it for me. The first few chapters made me so excited about this book but as soon as Aurianna left her home to travel back in time it lost me. I felt the plot was very choppy and the characters lacked depth and development. This book could have been so much fun, but every time it got interesting the plot skimmed the action and skipped into something else that was less entertaining. I read more about Aurianna sleeping, eating and showering than I did about her magic training or the real purpose to the prophesy she was to fulfill. I don’t know, maybe it was just me, but I didn’t care for the characters and the ones I did care about got less than enough focus. The ending did get exciting again but just like that it was over leaving me more than confused.
I would read the next one to see if maybe what I wished for in the first book came to fruition but sadly I don’t have high hopes.
Unfortunately, 90% of this book just didn’t do it for me. The first few chapters made me so excited about this book but as soon as Aurianna left her home to travel back in time it lost me. I felt the plot was very choppy and the characters lacked depth and development. This book could have been so much fun, but every time it got interesting the plot skimmed the action and skipped into something else that was less entertaining. I read more about Aurianna sleeping, eating and showering than I did about her magic training or the real purpose to the prophesy she was to fulfill. I don’t know, maybe it was just me, but I didn’t care for the characters and the ones I did care about got less than enough focus. The ending did get exciting again but just like that it was over leaving me more than confused.
I would read the next one to see if maybe what I wished for in the first book came to fruition but sadly I don’t have high hopes.
November 19, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I read the book without any previous knowledge about the author and age group it was intended for. I only knew it was a dystopian and time travel story.
Very soon I understood that the book must be first in the series and for a younger reader. I do not belong in this group and therefore the story was a bit bland for me. The characters had too little dimension for my tastes, the plot did not enthrall me and raised more questions than gave answers. However, for the right age group it could be a great book and captivating in terms of plot and characters.
For me not so much and then suddenly the book ended. It was abrupt and rushed in my opinion but not so intriguing that I would reach for the sequel. Others might, though.
I read the book without any previous knowledge about the author and age group it was intended for. I only knew it was a dystopian and time travel story.
Very soon I understood that the book must be first in the series and for a younger reader. I do not belong in this group and therefore the story was a bit bland for me. The characters had too little dimension for my tastes, the plot did not enthrall me and raised more questions than gave answers. However, for the right age group it could be a great book and captivating in terms of plot and characters.
For me not so much and then suddenly the book ended. It was abrupt and rushed in my opinion but not so intriguing that I would reach for the sequel. Others might, though.
September 8, 2020
I was pretty impressed by this first novel of the series. I’ve never been a huge fan of time travel plots, but this was very well written. The writing is pretty fast paced and characters are relatable. The female lead agitates at times, but I grew to root for her. World building was descriptive and imaginative. The cliffhanger ending was meh for me, but there’s enough interest that I will continue the series to see what adventures lie ahead. All in all, I would recommend this to my time travel loving friends.
Thanks to Booksirens for an free ARC. My opinions are honest and my own.
Thanks to Booksirens for an free ARC. My opinions are honest and my own.
July 30, 2020
When I began this book, I thought it was a retelling, but it turned into an interesting story of time travel and a quest to change history. Aurianna returns to the past after she finds out that she actually was taken from that time and placed into the future. Parts of Aurianna's character were a little annoying, and this being book one, the characters that we meet aren't fleshed out completely, being that the adventure continues in book two. Fans of fantasy time travel will like this book.
August 31, 2020
Adriana lives in a world that Darkness has overtaken. She knows that she doesn’t quite fit, and struggles with what she sees and feels. She lives with her Aunt having been told her parents are dead. As she approaches her 20th birthday, her world is about to change. She discovers the truth about the Kinetics, of which she is one when she meets Pharis who comes to take her back to her past life and fulfill an ancient Prophecy. This is an interesting story of destiny, friendship and the juxtaposition of elemental energy and industrial growth. There is also the tension of haves and have-nots. The main character tries to juggle what she knew with what she doesn’t and fight to make her own destiny in a place where she just doesn’t trust. I like the world building and would revisit it in the second book of the series, as there are dangling plot lines that need resolution.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2021
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed it a lot I thought it was well written & leaves you wanting more. I think there is more to Pharis than meets the eye. I basically found all the characters easy to bond with. Thank you.
not-for-me
February 4, 2021Please note that the first chapter is quite upsetting for anyone who's experienced grief.
September 11, 2020
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Aurianna is a rebel. She is a very stubborn and inquisitive young woman who learns on her 20th birthday that she is involved in a prophecy that leads her to travel back in time to save the world. I was pleased to notice that it is a Sleeping Beauty retelling. I loved the main characters and their relationships with each other. I would like to see a little more development there, but overall I was pleased. And the world is so interesting. There are elements that seem very modern set next to air ships and steam engines. I love watching Aurianna get to know her world and her role within it and am very much looking forward to the next book.
February 25, 2021
Aurianna is ready to make you feel every possible emotion in a big adventure that feels more like 10 different ones. I love epic fantasy, so this book was a must for me, and I can say that I'm not disapointed. This book has time travel, adventure, drama and romance all in one, and I loved reading it. I can't wait to know more about the characters and the universe the author has created.
If you're looking for a beautiful book with an engaging protagonist that can make you smile, cry and feel nervous at the same time, this is an option for you.
If you're looking for a beautiful book with an engaging protagonist that can make you smile, cry and feel nervous at the same time, this is an option for you.
December 29, 2020
Dawn Rising is an entertaining read for fantasy lovers. It’s a good retelling story of Sleeping Beauty.
This book took me back to my childhood with fairy tales, and gave a really enjoyable fantasy read with magic, time travel, prophecy and nicely built up plot. The characters development is well-written and interesting.
Can’t wait to read the next part.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book took me back to my childhood with fairy tales, and gave a really enjoyable fantasy read with magic, time travel, prophecy and nicely built up plot. The characters development is well-written and interesting.
Can’t wait to read the next part.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 12, 2020
After a slow 1st few chapters, this book really came to life. The story is amazing, the lead character is naive but firey. It's beautifully written, and it's descriptive yet leaves enough not said to entice you to read on. I'm very excited to read the next book, and see where this story takes my imagination.
October 25, 2020
I received this book from voracious readers for an honest review.
This book has twist and turns at every junction. The main characters are written in such detail you feel like you are travelling through time with them, I would certainly recommend this book .
This book has twist and turns at every junction. The main characters are written in such detail you feel like you are travelling through time with them, I would certainly recommend this book .
June 8, 2021
Intriguing premise which captivated right from the beginning. I love a strong female lead and enjoyed the time element as well. I really look forward to continuing this series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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