About the Book:
Where sea and land meet, two worlds clash in a fury of wind and waves.Arden Bleu has always known that her stepsister, Jade, was destined for great things. In a world where beauty follows magic, she has no doubt that their upcoming Awakening ceremony will reveal that gorgeous, kind, compelling Jade is far more than a mere mortal. But when Jade is kidnapped by a mysterious sect of mer on the eve of the newly-returned king’s ball, Arden will do anything to save her sister. Even face down the man she’s always dreaded meeting because of the power he holds over her family, the man to whom her father swore loyalty long before she was born. The Sea King.
Seidon, the Sea King of Daryatla, has grown only more powerful as the centuries have gone by, but lifetime after lifetime have failed to give him what he most yearns for: a family. He knows that it will take a woman of extraordinary power to match him enough to create a child, and no such woman seems to exist…until he feels her magic calling to his one day in the water. And when Arden Bleu, daughter of his most trusted official, arrives to tell him about her missing stepsister, he knows this Jade, with a new magic so coveted that the mer would risk war with his kingdom to steal her away, may be the one he’s waited centuries for. But how can he and the determined Arden ever hope to find one young woman trapped beneath the waves? Perhaps the Great Golden Sea Hawk who has guarded the sisters all their lives holds the key.
In a world on the brink of war between the mer and the land-dwellers, friendship, faith, and love demand the ultimate sacrifice as both kingdoms seek to unlock the prophesied magic waiting to spring forth: the magic of wind and sky. To the mer, it would mean the freedom to return to the land. To Seidon’s court, it would mean safety from every storm. But how can any human hand wield the wind?
My Thoughts:
Awakened stands as Roseanna M. White’s debut into the romantasy genre. She did it so well! This novel felt intentionally written, crafted by dedication and exploration rather than formula. The characters captured my attention from the start, and I enjoyed every minute of the book. I particularly liked that the romance between Arden and Seidon went beyond the wedding into their future as they had more things to learn and adversity to overcome.
The spiritual elements in
Awakened were deeper and more prominent than I had expected. More than one character learned dependence on Triada (God/Trinity) as their faith carried them through challenges and unexpected circumstances. I especially liked the themes of renewal: new mercy, new faith, and new magic.
I thoroughly enjoyed Awakened by Roseanna M. White and I look forward to the next story in this series!
