Awakener

Darkblade #6

by Andy Peloquin

The Hunter’s foes are myriad…
…but all will come to know the true meaning of fear when the legendary assassin comes for them.


Charged to uncover the secrets of an ancient tower, the Hunter’s journey takes him into the lands known to the outside world as “Ghandia”, a realm harsh yet beautiful, filled with mysteries lost to time and marvels yet to be discovered.
There, he is drawn into bloody conflict between the people who call the vast plains their home and the cruel Vassalage Consortium, masters of the flesh trade.
But more than human enemies lurk in the shadows. In the heart of these wild lands, he will face magic both dark and arcane, battle monstrous beings of immense power, and unearth secrets buried for millennia.

And in the darkness, an ancient power stirs, hungry to be awakened.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Fantasy

1601 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2023

About the author

I am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist--words are my palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. I'm also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the pages of fantasy novels.

Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!

Reviews

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunter, Keira his beloved, and Tarek the Elivasti, were traveling to Ghandia in search of an abiarazi said to be found there. Hunter to do what he had vowed to Kharna and Tarek to protect his people from further enslavement to a new maiyster. However the land of Ghandia was full of dangers and it was only through meeting up with Aisha and Kodyn that Keira's life was saved. From thereon they travelled together towards Aisha's tribe's home and the serenii tower. But on the way they saw slavers who were taking other Ghandians as slaves and if there was anything hunter hated it was slavers. He vowed he would wipe them out but then found out that the Order of Mithridas was working with the Vassalage Consortium and that the slave racket was bigger than they could have ever believed possible. Catching the abiarazi had to be put on hold till Aisha's family and the rest of Ghandia was safe from threat. Massive battles of great brutality took place whereby Hunter's powers were put to full use, as were also Aisha's powers and links to the Kish'aa, the spirits of the dead. This 6th book about my favourite assassin is so very powerful, I love that Hunter is changing and showing more of his humane side thanks to Kiara. I also loved seeing Aisha coming into her own and showing such resilience and maturity in her approach to the many problems she had to face. This is epic fantasy at it's best in the battle of good against evil with heroes unlike any other. The descriptions of Ghandia and it's traditional way of life bring the story to life through their amazing detail. I just cannot get enough of the Darkblade series and highly recommend the reading of this massive and powerful book 6. Andy Peloquin, you never disappoint!

[Viorel Mocanu · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was too long,too much soap opera and woke manifest.sorry man.wake up

[Susan1566 · Rating 5 out of 5]

1600 pages and I loved every single one of them. One of the best books I’ve read. Again lots of action as Hunter and his companions continue on his quest. But more obstacles appear. Unfortunately I have no idea when the next book comes out but I will be waiting impatiently. But the best part of waiting is that I’ll reread all the previous books.

[Beba Andric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming in at 1600 pages, this was a doozy of a book, no, it's not an omnibus, it's ONE book... heck it's longer than a lot of omnibuses, yet once again it didn't feel like I was reading a mammoth of a book, it felt that all too soon I came to the end. That is what Andy's magical ability is, besides the incredible journey he takes one on, the length of his books lose meaning because the length of the book feels just right! But why, oh why does Mr Peloquin put me through so much trauma???? From the first few chapters I was chanting "No! No! You can't die!" I had a knot in my stomach for much of the book, clenched and unclencing, releasing breaths I had gulped in. Exciting? Absofreekinglootly! (Not a word, but it should be!)

The Hunter, one of my all time favourite characters, once again has the unenviable task of uncovering mysteries, nefarious plots, the people or institution behind them and he's as astounded as I am as the pieces are laid out. So many twists capture ones imagination, which wants to veer off in one direction and they author firmly tugs one into another.

The way the author wraps his words so elegantly, so incredibly evocative, blows the imagination completely, drawing one in not to read the book, but rather to experience the book in every possible way. So great to have Aisha and Kodyn play such a pivotal role in this book, absolutely amazing characters, both of them. And Tarek, well he's just stunning! The one who has steadily grown throughout is Kaira, the most beautiful character anyone could come up with, she's the epitome of a genuine, loving person, her love and compassion know no bounds and I love how she keeps the Hunter on his toes!

I'm loving the "new" Hunter, the one who doesn't shy away from his emotions. Over the course of the series, his vulnerable is exposed, layer upon layer as he discovers or perhaps the right word would be, recovers his memory. He's allowed his facade to crumble bit by bit in the face of friends. Yes, really, the Hunter has true friends, he's not all hard, ruthless and uncaring as he led so many to believe. There IS a heart beating in that tough body. The lengths he will go to protect those he cares for. He was a tortured soul and although not quite tortured anymore, so much rests on his shoulders. He's collecting friends, people he cares for and who care for him, a concept that was so foreign before. Well maybe care for him is not completely accurate but respect sure is, and boy has he earned it!

My heart was galloping like a wild horse thundering away from danger, the intense action, the horrifying events, the pounding of my heart in my eardrums, heck, my entire head was pounding in time to this runaway horse's hooves, my eyes as wide as saucers, showing the same fear and horror as the characters. But this is all offset by the incredibly beautiful moments, the tenderness, the joy that these characters undergo, to make this a truly wonderous experience. Extremely highly recommended!

[fish003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I'm only like 25% of the way thru but I just wanted to say that I applaud the author's version of a matriarchal society, it's probably one of the first I've seen in fiction that isn't equally as appalling as a patriarchal one. Too many times in the past have I read books where authors create matriarchal societies that are just mirror images of the usual awful patriarchal one. I get the feeling that those authors are trying to make it seem empowering but it's really disheartening to see a society run by women would be no better than one run by men because it would just be more of the same oppression but just directed at a different group of people. This author did a good job of formulating a society in which the women are held to the same standard as men and are just as respected and strong as them instead of a matriarchal society that actively oppresses and looks down on men and believes that they're superior to them. I don't wanna see a matriarchal society that just demonstrates hypocrisy, women partaking in the same behaviors that have caused them to look down on men is frustrating because it just makes me hate them, I want to like them but those behaviors are literally the reason men are disliked so I can't be expected to like it just cuz it's coming from a woman. It's so much more empowering to see a functioning matriarchal society where equality genuinely does exist. So yea I just felt that commenting on that cuz I thought it was cool.

75% UPDATE
Damn this book is fricking long but I'm nearly done. It started to drag a bit in the middle of the book so it's taking me a little longer than usual to finish this but it's snagged my interest again so I'm powering through. One thing I have to say tho is that I'm getting a little annoyed abt the excessive focus on Aisha. She's a really great character and I like her but this IS the Hunter's book, I'm reading it cuz I'm interested specifically in the Hunter's story so it's a little frustrating how much the story focuses on Aisha and her journey. I get that the setting is her home and has special meaning to her so it makes sense for her character arc to be a focus but she's not the MC so it shouldn't really feel like her story is overshadowing the actual main character's. Also even tho it's kinda childish, I'm mad that it's making Aisha out to be a more powerful character than the Hunter. I like reading fantasy books where the main character is the most powerful character in the book, maybe it's weird but it's more thrilling when the MC is the most dangerous bitch out there. I'm holding out hope that the Hunter has some random power up to satisfy my need but it really looks like Aisha is prob gonna be granted that arc so that's gonna peeve me but whatever.

FINISHED UPDATE
WOW! So I actually loved and deeply hated this book. I loved all the usual things about it but at the same time the more I read, the more frustrated I became with how little it focused on the Hunter's arc, like obviously the plot involved him, but it wasn't necessarily HIS journey. That would be okay I guess if this specific series was abt the Heirs of Destiny (specifically Aisha) and not the Hunter, but it's not so like let's bring the focus back to the actual main character, k? I was getting the feeling the author had some kind of writer's block or something in how to develop the Hunter's arc more, and, this being the sixth book in the series, I get that there might not be much more room for the Hunter to grow but I definitely think it's possible. Like with the Sword of Nasnaz, I don't want to see him struggling to resist to unsheathe the weapon, I want to see him be able to whip it out no hesitation and overpower the will of the sword and use it to it's full capability without being blinded by bloodlust. Maybe that's development the author is saving for the next book but I think it definitely could've fit well into the plot of this one. I feel like there's so many directions the author could take in furthering the Hunter's character and the Hunter could be so much more than he is right now, like he hasn't reach his fullest potential. So it was really odd to me that the author spent little to no time during this book to really further his development beyond making him more open to emotional connections with others and learning to be a bit of a father figure for the younger characters around him. That growth was nice and all but it's not necessarily the type of growth I feel like he needs. Let's just hope we see something different in the next book and the focus shifts back to the Hunter's arc. Aside from the fact that there hadn't been much development in the Hunter's story, I was also kinda disappointed with the climax and final battle in this book. I was hoping to see him play a bigger role in that too but again Aisha's involvement overshadowed his, it just felt like I was being deprived of the good stuff idk, but oh well, what's done is done. This book felt a lot more like filler content than the previous books but I'm gonna give it 3.5 stars because it was still pretty good and interesting enough.

[areti tsangaris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read in this epic story

Darkblade: Awakener is the sixth book in Andy Peloquin's Darkblade series, and it is a worthy addition to the series. The book is full of action, adventure, and suspense, and it will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

One of the things that makes Darkblade: Awakener so enjoyable is the depth of the world that Peloquin has created. The book is set in a vast and complex world, and Peloquin does a masterful job of bringing that world to life. The reader is immersed in the world of Darkblade, and they feel like they are right there with the characters, experiencing everything that they are experiencing.

Another thing that makes the Darkblade series so special is Peloquin's mastery of the English language. Peloquin is a gifted writer, and he uses his skills to create beautiful and evocative prose. The writing in Darkblade: Awakener is lyrical and poetic, and it helps to transport the reader to the world of the story.

Here are two examples from the book that demonstrate Peloquin's mastery:

* "The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the landscape. The mountains were shrouded in purple mist, and the river below flowed like molten silver."

* "The wind whispered through the tries, and the leaves rustled in a gentle breeze. The air was filled with the scent of flowers, and the birds sang in the trees."

These passages are just a small sample of the beautiful writing that can be found in Darkblade: Awakener.

Peloquin is a gifted writer, and his ability to craft the story so well that you are instantly drawn in is one of the things that makes his books so special.

If you are a fan of epic fantasy, then I highly recommend the Darkblade series. It is a well-written, exciting, and suspenseful book that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, wanting more when that ‘last page is turned’.

[Jonathan Oakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to the series… but

I have enjoyed each of the books in this series for numerous different reasons and this one was no different. It was interesting to explore this new place and learn more about the world
Of Enian.

However, this is the first book I’ve truly had anything negative to say about in this series, this book was about 600 pages too long. The battles on the plains were very repetitive and really bogged down the story. Also each book has suffered from one character or another having some major internal crisis and acting out of well.. character. This was Tareks turn and it really made his parts draining to read.

For a storyline that has previously thrived on action and intrigue the majority of this book felt very much like a “filler” episode in a tv series. It threw just enough nuggets in at the begging and at the end after they encounter Nameless to lure you back in though.

Overall a 6.5 out of 10 (based on the scale set by the previous books which were mostly excellent).

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another fantastic, dark, amazing, nail-biter of a tale about the Hunter! It’s long, but it’s so worth it! I love the writing and how well it puts me right in the story beside the Hunter! He has grown so much throughout this series and now he has friends. Yes, people that he cares about that care about him, real friends! And now I’ve done the usual in my review and gotten caught up in the emotional growth of Hunter and just how human he is! Don’t let that distract you from how much action and suspense there is in this story. Seriously, if I was able to sit and just read until I finished this book, I would have because I was desperate to find out what was going to happen. This series is amazing, the world it’s set in is amazing, and the Hunter is amazing! If you’ve enjoyed the rest of the series, you have to read this one!

I received an ARC from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Noxwitchbooklife · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me ten days to read this huge monster of a book and it was a wild ride the whole time!

The Hunter really has grown with his human side being more obvious with his conscience making more of an appearance in his many fighting scenes, thinking about his companions and worried he is accidently going to hurt them.

I absolutely enjoyed the African inspired setting of this book as well with it's own fantasy based creatures added in.

There is a constant use of the Ghandian language phrases in this but I did eventually get into the flow of essentially reading multi-lingual in this in parts.

This was hugely about family and there was a lot of emotional exchanges between the characters which made this about more than just pursuing more demons.

I did not at all expect how it ended but it sets up the idea for the next book for sure so bring it on!

[Shivani McFarland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This epic series is one of the best I have ever read in the sword and sorcery genre. Andy Peloquin is now my favorite author and hit this one out of the park with book 6 'Awakener' in the (Darkblade series). Hunter has traveled to a different part of the world and is now on the plains of Ghandia much like the Serengeti in Africa. Mr. Peloquin's detail and imagination exceeds my expectation in Awakener. The perils of their journey hits hard with this one as Hunter's travel companions Kaira, Aisha, Kodyn, and Tarek chase after the Consortium, slave traders, and demons. The emotional growth of Hunter has been rewarding to watch and I love the way he learns to communicate and offers guidance with Tarek and Aisha. Yes, this book is a hand full of epic writing that took me almost 3 weeks to finish but don't let that put you off every page is worth it. Kudos to my favorite author.

[Kelly Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who has read anything by the prolific Andy Peloquin's knows he writes intense, complex books with fabulous, deep, and realistic characters and plots that have more twists and turns than a plate of spaghetti. This book, at well over 1000 pages is even more complex and twisted. It would be considered four books by any other author. Shhhh... Don't tell Andy Peloquin that he under-prices his books.
Awakener is so exciting that I was constantly reminding myself to breathe. As usual, there are a lot of things that The Hunter does that come back to him later. The author doesn't put things in without reason. That said, there are many things that he does that have me eagerly, yet with dread, awaiting the last book in the series. If you haven't started this series yet, get to it. Now.

[Brenda McCullough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but it got a bit difficult to read

This was a good continuation to Hunter's story. I understand where he traveled to was modeled after the African plains and the people of that land. The problem comes with the repeated use of the (fictional) words of their language. There got to be so many tribal words to keep track of and many of them were long, multi-syllibaled words that were not only difficult to try to pronounce, it got hard to try to use them while reading the story. If Peloquin had eliminated some of them, or more frequently, would have used a word his readers understand, it would have been easier and more enjoyable to read.

[Paul J Nobels Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

revelations

What a rollercoaster ride. The Hunter is a demon Hunter and sworn to keep the elevasti free from there control. Yet this tale is one of personal growth, love and friendships made they will not be broken. Also a tale of loss strength snd betrayal. Only in the last chapters do we learn the nameless one is a demon so powerful even his own kind exiled him to a chamber of sustenance. His escape and the Hunters war on the order set the stage for the next book. Let the journey continue.

[Cleocutie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunter is supposed to uncover the secrets of an ancient tower and doing so will lead him to a land full of mysteries. While there he gets drawn into an ancient conflict between the people who live there and the masters of the flesh trade. Add in magic like he has never seen before and magic beings and you know this book will be full of action and magic. And it doesn't disappoint. I love Kaira and how she makes Hunter even more human while trying to keep him on an even keel and tempering his actions. I can't wait for the next book to see where Hunter ends up going next.

[Elaine Lombardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic Andy tale at it’s finest!!!!

Andy has done it again. What an adventure with more emotion, battles, and relationships with new friends. My one issue was i found that there was a lot of repeated history throughout the book that at times slowed down the story. Can’t wait for the continuation of Hunter’s quest to eliminate the bad guys!!!!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I’ve said this before, but by the long keeper I am going to say it again. This best one yet without a shadow of a doubt, in my mind anyway.I so do not want the Hunters story to end, ever. This one is a rollicking ride of goodish versus a very bad evil. It starts fast and keeps on going right through to an ending I didn’t see coming. Very highly recommended.

[Jim Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I think this is one of the best stories I have read since Lord of the Rings! The author keeps the read hanging on every word. There were times I lost track of time because I could not pull myself away from the story. Keep up the good work Andy! I'm looking forward to the next book of this series.

[Robin Doherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arghhhh

Whilst I love this whole series ( as well as Night Guild) the books are just so hard to put down. Hunter and Kiara really are a force to be reckoned with. Truly a great read. Highly recommended

[Bertha Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andy puts the AWE in awesome!!

I have never read a book this long or been as unable to put it down! To say how great the book is can’t do it justice. It is the best book I’ve recently read !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Waiting for the next book won’t be easy but wait I will.

[Troy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just submerged in the world of einan

Wil the hunter succeed in his fight against his for fathers and the void? Will Kiara love longer due to the blood imbued in her body? What of Hailen and evren? Just a wonderful book , on my to the next book in the series

[John G. Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too woke and too much jibberish in using the supposed Issa language.

Some of the usual Darkblade action was good. But it spent too much time “saying that is the reason that I love her”. Didn’t want a woke romance novel.

[Kgabo Mathekga · Rating 5 out of 5]

100%, untainted, unequivocal BADASSERY!!

Andy Peloquin did it again. I love it. I have no words TBH except I can't wait for the next one.

[Trax Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exciting journey!

The best of the series yet.

Pages that takes you through an incredible journey of courage, sacrifices and dedication to one's true goal.

[Byron Coetzee · Rating 5 out of 5]

great stuff

Red all 6 books so far. A bit gutted that the next one is on pre order. Good story, good imagination. Just the trick.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing story that will keep you reading. The Hunter is searching secrets that leads him to a certain place. Fast paced, outstanding with strong characters.

[Raymond Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story as always

This book continues the tradition of fast paced and intriguing storytelling from the previous books. I look forward to the next one in the series.

[Donéta Moore]

Great story

As good as all the books before it and I look forward to the next to come. You will love them too.

[James Dickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great works

Love this world.
Has several other books and everything fits together well.
Can't wait to read book 7 and explore more of this realm

[Lindsay Vollaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed the series could put the book down , looking forward to book 7

[John Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much repetitive writing

I have read all 6 books. This one I had to flick through numerous pages. Nauseating comes to mind. But I still finished it…….