Product Details:
Title: Awakening
Author: Christy Dorrity
Series: The Geis
Genre: YA fantasy
Published Date: Sept 19, 2013
FTC, FYI: I received a review PDF in exchange for an honest review.
About the Book
. . . because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.
A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery’s family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a psychic for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn’t think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has a best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital—and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.
When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities. After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened.
When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened deadly powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy. A thrilling debut novel based in Celtic mythology, Awakening is a gripping young adult fantasy rife with magic, romance, and mystery.
My Review:
First off, I just loved the cover the first time I looked at it. It truly grabs your attention! Christy’s husband designed it and he did a fabulous job.
Awakening has a fantastic lead character in McKayla. She is a very bright and bold character. Her love of dance in this novel is almost contagious. Her feelings were written so clearly that you experienced everything with her. I wanted so much for things to work out for her as she was going through so many hard things.
The most outstanding character would have to be crazy Aunt Avril. I loved her! She was everything that McKayla needed in her life right now. She is one of the most colorful characters I have read in a long time! I also thought the mysterious and sometimes strange janitor, was a wonderful addition to this book.
One thing I loved about this book is how it starts out as just a normal book about a teen girl. Then it becomes a murder mystery, and then the paranormal comes into play. It truly has something for readers in all genres. Awakening has great action scenes and very heart warming scenes too. I love the addition of the Celtic Mythology to the story and the Irish Dancing. I wish I could dance! The author also is an Irish Dancer. This was evident from the great descriptive writing about McKayla’s very emotional dancing scenes.
The most amazing thing that will blow readers away after reading Awakening, is knowing that this is Christy’s debut novel! It does not feel like a first novel. Her writing is smooth, characters are rich,and the storyline and plot are full and engaging.
I’m very excited to see what comes next for all of these characters. You will be hooked and wanting to read more. If you like to read YA paranormal fiction, with a lot of mystery and some romance thrown in, Awakening will keep you in your seat reading until the very end.
“AWAKENING is a wonder and a delight. Christy Dorrity is a talent to watch.”
~David Farland, New York Times bestselling author of Nightingale
“I thoroughly enjoyed AWAKENING, a captivating and unique debut novel that creatively integrates Irish dance.”
~ CHRIS NAISH, Riverdance member and Creative Director of Fusion Fighters Irish dancers.
About the Author:
Christy Dorrity lives in the mountains with her husband, five children, and a cocker spaniel. She grew up on a trout ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming, and is the author of The Geis series for young adults, and The Book Blogger’s Cookbooks. Christy is a champion Irish dancer and when she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.
