REVIEW: Awakened (The Guardian Legacy #1) by Ednah Walters

 

Author: Ednah Walters

Series: The Guardian Legacy

Pages: 272

Genre: YA - Paranormal

Publisher: Pill Hill Press

AMAZON: Awakened (Book One of the Guardian Legacy)

Synopsis (Goodreads)

Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, but Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons. Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware that she's a Guardian-a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. When she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers. But Bran has a secret that can ruin their growing relationship, and the truth she discovers may destroy everything she believes in unless she finds the right balance between love and sacrifice.

REVIEW: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Awakened is the first installment in The Guardian Legacy series by Ednah Walters.

16 year-old Lil Falcon was orphaned as a child and raised by her eccentric grandfather, Ares Falcon living the life of a gypsy she has spent most of her life moving around and wanting stability and to belong.

When gorgeous, mysterious and powerful Bran telepathically calls to her, she responds – initially thinking he was a ghost, he has a message for her to deliver to her grandfather and as a result of their meeting his psi energy has unlocked her latent abilities as a guardian and opens her eyes to what she actually is, a Xenithian, a race with super powers and tasked with protecting humanity from the demons who threaten it. I loved her reaction to Bran and to the revelations.

19 year-old Bran is a half-demon Hermonite, the bad nephilim who collect human souls and are led by the evil Coronis. Bran wants to redeem himself and save his family so seeks the help of the cardinals and sets out to prove his intentions.

I thoroughly enjoyed the mythology, the guardian history and variety of beings that we were introduced to as well as the solid and at times unpredictable plot developments.

Lil grew from strength to strength as she learnt to wield her powers and grow in her role as a guardian, she made mistakes but she became stronger because of them.

I absolutely loved Lil and Bran as characters and as a couple, their relationship progressed at a realistic pace, they had attraction and chemistry and a connection which links their psi energy. She is a kick—butt heroine with a feisty temper and stubborn streak which I enjoyed, all she had ever wanted was a normal, stable life but what she learns and is becoming is certainly not what she ever expected.

There are a number of secondary characters introduced which I at times found confusing but I was thankful for the glossary of who was who. I enjoyed the other guardian trainees, Sykes, Remy, Kim and Izzy; each were developed well and we see the powers of the elements they each possess and hints of roles they will play in future installments.

The relationship Lil also shared with her grandfather was really sweet; I loved their close bond and his guidance.

Awakened is action packed, filled with mystery, romance and suspense, it is wonderfully written with a unique and original twist on the supernatural. I was riveted from the very first page.

I enjoyed the detailed, intriguing and complex world Ms Walters has created, there are still a number of unanswered questions I have which I am hoping will be covered in the sequel, Betrayed.