The Awakening
Author: Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti
Trope: Slow Burn, Academy, Fated Mates, Enemies to Lovers, Bully Romance, Forbidden Love, Mentor/Mentoree
Point of view: Dual, First person
Relationship: Predominantly MF with LGBTQIA+ characters and relationships
Type of series: Series
In a nutshell: I’m a Gemini. Impulsive. Curious. Headstrong. A twin. Heir to a throne I know nothing about. And it turns out, I’m Fae. But of course there’s a catch - all I have to do to claim my birth right is prove that I’m the most powerful supernatural in the whole of Solaria. And sure, technically that’s true as I’m the daughter of the Savage King. But the bit they didn’t put in the brochure was that every single Fae in this Kingdom would claim my throne if they could.
The school they’ve sent me to is both dangerous as sh*t and one helluva party. Vampires bite weaker students in the corridors, the Werewolf pack has orgies in the Wailing Wood at every full moon and don’t even get me started on the dark and twisted ways the Sirens use their powers on people’s emotions, or how my sinfully tempting Cardinal Magic teacher hosts detentions that leave people needing therapy.
Classes are totally interesting if you manage to live through them. And that Gemini star sign I mentioned? It now determines my elemental magic and affects my destiny, so learning astrology is essential if I’m going to beat down my classmates - which is actively encouraged by the way. My biggest problem is the drool worthy Dragon shifter who has his eyes on my throne. He and his three psycho friends are determined to make my time here hell. All I’ve got to do is survive. But fate might have other ideas. Dammit, why couldn’t I have gotten a letter to Hogwarts?
What I thought: This series will tear your heart out. You think I might be exaggerating but I’m not. I’m really not. There is a Facebook group dedicated to a certain book in this series and how it destroys you. That being said it’s also downright hilarious with a strong cast of characters taking place in a magical academy with all types of mystical species. There is a teaser of romance, but those storylines evolve further along in the series - be warned there is a Professor/Student love interest, so go into this book aware.
This book is a step away from what I normally read, it’s a bully romance so again be aware going into this book not expecting anything sweet and lovely! The main characters do redeem themselves eventually but it takes time and with two more books to come in this nine part series I’m sure we’re all in for some more adventure, heartache and romance!
Stand out character: Geraldine. Forever.
