Review: Awakened by Ednah Walters

Book Description via Goodreads:

Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons, but no one told her she is not supposed to fall in love with one.

Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware she's a Guardian—a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. But when she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers.

But Bran has a secret that can destroy their growing relationship. He's part demon. But in her heart, Lil knows Bran is not evil. So when her grandfather is kidnapped by a powerful nature-bender and Bran is the only one who knows where he's being kept, Lil convinces the other Guardians to trust him, not knowing her grandfather is just the bait. And the truth that she discovers in the demonic enclave may just destroy everything she believes in, unless she makes the right choice—love and sacrifice.

Source: Won from The Guardian Legacy blog (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

Awakened is an imaginative novel with a unique and finely thought-out Nephilim mythology. I never imagined that the mythology could be twisted and molded this way, encompassing other supernatural mythologies in one book. It never failed to surprise me and keep me entertained. The epic story with notable characters was something that I enjoyed from beginning to end.

Lil was a tall red-head gypsy girl who moved with her grandfather to the Valley. Life was already complicated with their constant moving. But what Lil did not know was that life was going to be more complicated, not to mention power-ridden. Throughout Awakened, Lil found the answers and the reasons to her questions and her doubts about herself and her family, little by little. She was a very strong heroine who stood up for who she was and for the people she loved. I admired how she faced problems even though at times she doubted herself.

After unleashing her powers, she then had to train with four other Trainess – Remy, Sykes, Kim and Izzy who were gifted with different powers. They were a team. But just like any team, they had conflicts within their team – a little battle of supremacy between the granddaughters of the Cardinals. She was introduced to the other Cardinal Guardians including her grandfather, the Cardinal Psi Guardian. And lastly, she was connected with Bran Llyr, a nineteen-year-old guy who appeared in the beginning of the novel and developed a soft spot for Lil. The closeness between them was what I would describe as a mystery-enhanced attraction because Lil was drawn to Bran because of this quality. She craved answers. But something in the middle of the story pulled them closer together (I refuse to say what it is.) Unlike Lil, the other Trainees did not trust Bran. When he disappeared for a number of days, followed by the disappearance of Lil’s grandfather and another Cardinal Guardian, Lil knew that something was wrong. She knew that she needed to do something, no matter how dangerous it was.

Walters introduced different faces of the Nephilim race, taking something so typical and molding it into her own version. Her writing was great, peppered with commentaries from Lil, lingering on the details and yet quickly moving the story forward. The lifestyle of the Guardians and of the Trainees was interesting and kickass. Although they were not human, it was a little funny to know that there were power struggles and hierarchy issues in their lives. Some things never change.

Awakened is addictive, action-packed and full of twists and turns. One of the most original Nephilim stories out there. I recommend this to fans of demons and Nephilims, and fans of action-packed paranormal romance stories.

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