Play Book Tag discussion

The Awakening (Dragon Heart Legacy #1) by Nora Roberts
3.5 stars (round up to 4)

I am here for Nora's new trilogy!

While there are things that I am going to ping this book on (see lower in the review), none of those things overshadow the pure compulsive readability of this book. I read the whole thing in only 3 or 4 sittings, and, each time, I would become completely immersed only to look up hours later with no concept of how much time had passed.

We start this journey in the fantasy world of Talamh. The leader of the realm has died defending it and a new leader must be chosen. In King Arthur fashion, Keegan, just a teenager, dives into the sacred lake and pulls out the leader's sword.

We then leave Talamh for modern day Philadelphia where we meet our hero, Breen. Honestly, Breen is kind of pathetic. She is plain and lacks confidence and works as a teacher, which she hates. Her mom is horrible and her father left them over a decade ago. The bright spot in her life is her best friend and roommate Marco and their friends-who-are-family at a drag bar.

But then Breen's life changes and she heads to Ireland with Marco to find her father. And herself. And stumbles upon the magical realm of Talamh where she realizes she has long lost friends and family. And a duty to uphold.

I absolutely loved the blending of modern day Ireland with the fantasy realm of Talamh! It was slightly more than magical realism, but not full on fantasy. It made for interesting internal struggles and allowed Breen to have twice the number of amazing friends! I also was so relieved to find that the writing in this one was smoother than Nora's last trilogy, Chronicles of the One, which I thought was too chopped and staccato.

But, in full honesty, there were things I didn't like either. The main thing is that I kept waiting for the friendships to develop more. Morena and Aisling were waiting in the wings, just screaming for a good girl's night seen. I wanted there to be more of Breen fitting in with Morena and Harken, Aisling and Mahon, and Keegan. I missed those relationship building scenes. I craved them. Because Nora does them so very very well.

I also thought the book was too long. It needed a good edit! It felt rambly in the middle and like little progress was being made and then the end felt...unfinished. It ended on a really anticlimactic note. The ending felt like there should have been more. Like those wasted pages in the middle could have been repurposed at the end.

Even with some shortcomings, a few days reading a Nora Roberts book felt wonderful. She is my go-to author and she can get me through any reading slump or brighten any winter COVID day. Now, to wait a year for the next installment!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Nicole,

I just finished the book and while I loved it, I absolutely agree with you that the end was too abrupt and senseless. I didn't see the urgency in Keegan going through portal and getting Breen to Talamh in the matter of hours. I would expect him after seeing all the "dark signs" to take steps as taoiseach to prepare his land and people for an attack, to give some kind of speech at the ball that they should get ready to defend themselves. Instead he goes from the ball to get Breen who in his assessment is average in magic and training.
The scene where Breen gives Marco a flash drive to read how discovered that she is a witch is a complete absurd in my opinion.
I think Breen should have returned to Talamh by her own will, maybe having had a vision about an attack and asking Marg to create a portal for her. And when she came she could have joined with Keegan and his army to defend Talamh.

We are definitely on the same page of how we thought this ending would go! I like your hypothetical ending!

I am glad though that it seems like Marco will be with Breen in Talamh in the next books. I love him! I wish the entire crew at Sally's could go with Breen!