Air Awakens (Air Awakens Series Book 1)
4.7
30
5
1
336
14.99
In Stock
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781932549935 |
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| Publisher: | Silver Wing Press |
| Publication date: | 08/27/2015 |
| Series: | Air Awakens Series , #1 |
| Pages: | 336 |
| Sales rank: | 63,555 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d) |
| Age Range: | 13 - 17 Years |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Air Awakens (Air Awakens Series Book 1)
4.7 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
30 reviews.
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Spoiler-free Review: In the last few years the YA/Fantasy market has exploded. While this provides limitless opportunity to discover amazing new series and authors, it often means wading through and sometimes drowning in an ocean of not so stellar ones. I was fortunate enough to find this rare gem.
Elise Kova is a new author and self-published, but don’t let that dissuade you. This book is the type that completely draws you into its world. I quickly became engrossed and near obsessive contemplating its characters and their fate. Air Awakens is everything you want in a fantasy/YA book: a solid premise, relatable characters, amazing relationship development, entertaining, and well written.
Vhalla Yarl is a library apprentice accidently discovers she is a sorcerer with an affinity for air. The magic in this book focuses on four elements- earth, water, fire, and air- which correspond to geographic regions (north, south, west, and east). Parallels have been drawn to Avatar: The Last Airbender.
When Vhalla is ‘awoken’ into her powers, she struggles with her preconceived notions of sorcerers. Ironic, as her new abilities now make her one of the most powerful and sought after of her ilk. However, she is given a choice- to accept her new fate and train or eradicate her powers completely. Neither is a decision to be taken lightly. Much of the first half the book focuses on her overcoming her misinformed perception of sorcerers and fear of rejection by her friends and society.
As Vhalla contemplates whether she should accept the new identity that was literally pushed on her, she meets new friends and we are introduced to key characters in the series. From the fiercely loyal Larel to the endearing Fritz, none of them feel contrived and are likeable in their unique own way. The most complex and intriguing of all being the Crown Prince Aldrik. Considered standoffish at best and feared by many, he’s tall, dark, and brooding. Despite this, or maybe because of this, he’s a swoon-worthy lead male. He makes questionable decisions at times, but this only adds depth to his character as you try to decipher his reasoning and true intentions.
This is a quintessential YA book in the sense that the protagonist struggles with identity and her place in the world, all while dealing with growing romantic feelings. What really makes this book stand apart is that there is no insta-love. There is a fully developed, drawn out relationship rift with tension and conflict. There is a journey into friendship and more as both Vhalla and Aldrik slowly learn about the other and build trust. In other words, it’s real. This, in conjunction with it’s multifaceted characters, is what propels this book from a stereotypical storyline into a life-consuming world that keeps you awake reading until 3am.
See more of my reviews at: http://FantasyBookNook.com and like us at Facebook.com/TheFantasyBookNook
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"Fans of AVATAR THE LAST AIR BENDER would love this book!"
Air Awakens tells the story of a seventeen-year-old library apprentice named Vhalla. Since the ancient times the people Solaris Empire are told to fear magic and sorcerers are considered as evil and cursed creatures. Vhalla always tries to get hold of unread books from the library during her free hours from work.
As Solaris Empire is fighting a war and one of the prince gets hurt. Vhalla unintentionally saves the fiercest and powerful sorcerer of her time, Prince Aldrik. Since then, fate aligned their stars with a strong and magical bond. Vhalla soon learns that her whole existence was a lie. She holds a magical power and is a sorcerer. Her elemental magic is rare and powerful. Her whole empire could benefit and rise if she wills.
Gradually, Vhalla finds herself spellbound by the mysterious and fierce Crown Prince Aldrik. So many things were happening simultaneously in Vhalla's life. Her simple life of an apprentice was gone and she could no longer hides her face behind the books even, if she wants to. Her powers were taking control over her and she must decide before its too late to save the ones around her.
The plot was intriguing. Since the beginning the book holds the attention of a reader. Usually it takes time to get into the book and its setup. But Air Awakens took no time, it didn't let me avert my eyes even once. The chemistry and frustration between the the two main characters were creatively adjusted according to their circumstances. It was not like those two characters were forced into an item.
Well, the elemental powers and their relation to specific area reminded me of the concept of "Avatar: The Last Airbender". But, magic along with affinity was something new. I think the book is molded in a way to feed the readers with new perception of magic, elemental powers and their affinities.
Elise Kova artistically weaved every detail of the story to devour the imagination of the readers. The writing style was captivating and intellectual. Author used the moderate level of vocabulary and it allowed the reader to focus more on the story rather than difficult words and their meanings.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC via author for an honest review. Receiving an ARC doesn't changed or altered my opinion regarding the book and its rating.
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Ok let's talk about something: independently published books. I know we as a community tend to avoid them at times because A) they do cost a little more at times and B) we worry there is a reason they're independently published and it is because the books are of a lesser quality. I'm so not judging you because I'll confess, I was the EXACT same way.
Until @the_bookish_ballad convinced me I had to stop pushing Air Awakens by Elise Kova down the TBR and read it. AND OMG AM I GLAD I DID!
True story, I was so tempted to say "screw it" to my TBR and just binge the whole series. I probably will come February but I had resolved to get some ARCs actually read before released so alas, I couldn't. Yet.
Anyway, back to my review. I'll be honest, there is a little bit of a unfinished quality to it. Like it could have used one more round of editing to just make it perfect. But I say that as a wannabe writer. Tbh, I have no idea how many edits Elise had and if I could churn out a book like this after 100 edits I would consider myself the biggest success ever.
Now to the good stuff: I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK. The characters have depth (most of them) and I was enraptured with them. Ok, with Aldrick (yes a new #bookbae ...I told you, the mark of a good novel!). The plot, though a bit predictable, is full of sexual tension, flirty men, Cinderella-like fairytale, powerful women and did I mention the swoony baes? No? I don't think I talk about it enough . I HIGHLY recommend you pick up this series because it is that good!
If you liked...: Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson, The Immortals Quartet by Tamora Pierce, and Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
My rating: 4.5 stars
Favorite Quote: “You can read all the books in this library, be wiser than the master himself someday, and then you will die having never really done anything. You will have only ever lived through everyone else’s experiences.”
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I absolutely loved it! Amazing. Nothing short of amazing. It’s right up there with ACOMAF, which is a pretty high place to be if I do say so myself. I loved everything about it. From the characters to the world building to the romance to the amazing action scenes.
The character development was amazing. Vhalla was already an amazing character at the start of the book, but I really enjoyed watching her grow from innocent, smart library girl to this badass, courageous woman who makes her own choices and go along at her own pace. She had her moments but that just made her character all the more relatable. Vhalla is just the ultimate heroine.
Prince Aldrik is your typical brooding YA hero, but an awesome one. His character development was incredibly and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series so that I can watch him grow into the king he’s meant to be (whoever that is).
The romance between the hero and heroine was EVERYTHING! What their mouths couldn’t say, their eyes and action did. I absolutely can’t wait for more development on the romance aspect of the series.
Of course, the fight scenes and everything in between were epic and heartbreaking. There were some heartbreaking moments that made me connect with the characters even more and some awesomely funny moments that made me laugh out loud.
Air Awakens was everything and more and I can’t wait to read more about the journey of these awesome characters.
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"Air Awakens" is a really engaging YA fantasy that follows Vhalla, a library apprentice who often sneaks time to read between her duties. Vhalla lives in the Solaris Empire which was separated by regions (North, South, East, West) and which through conquering has mostly joined as one, though the battle with the North is still waging. The different regions have different qualities, physical, educational, etc. Vhalla's heritage hails from the East.
The book begins with a bang- the library apprentices are called in to pull all the books they can on poisons, as one of the princes has returned from the war near death. Vhalla's reading has paid off and she gathers many books and begins to make the notes that could help the healers. When she is near collapse, someone identifies and takes her away. She is soon to learn that she has magical powers which are beginning to manifest. Despite that magic does not run in families and individuals cannot choose to have magical abilities, there are many prejudices against sorcerers, and finding out that she has magic is not a pleasant discovery.
However, Vhalla turns to books and an unexpected teacher to learn more about who she is and what her magic could mean. She has only a short amount of time to decide whether she will embrace or reject her magic (by having it eradicated or taken away). With magic, bonds, romance (a number of suitors but very slow/delicious build), and a whole new world to learn about, this is a fast and engaging read.
I really enjoyed this story and the new world, as well as the main characters- it was so hard to put down. The beginning has a bit of a slow start (as we learn about the world), but then it really picks up and becomes such a page-turner! The side characters of the princes and Larel are really fascinating and hopefully will be developed in future books. I can't wait to continue with the next in this story. I highly recommend this book for lovers of YA fantasy!
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This was a series that one of my best friends had recommended to me years ago and it was one that I had special orders from my bookstore but unfortunately after relieving it, I put it to the pile of books I told myself I would read but never get to. However, that changed this summer when I made it a purpose to read books on my shelves. A slow but steady process.
I think it did take me the entire day to read through this but I could have honestly finished this in a few hours. I of course had to eat and take a shower but then it was back to reading. Immersing myself into a story with magic, adventure, a conquest, and a girl with a power that can change the tide of the world forever. It felt like I was reading a Avatar the Last Airbender story but with a kick-ass female heroine as the main character.
Vhalla is a library apprentice that is soon to find herself in a political battle where war might be the only option. Does she know how to fight? No. Does she know how to control her power? No. But that all changes when encountering Prince Aldrick and the shove he gives her. Literally. Now she must learn to conquer her fears and find the control within herself she needs to win this war before all is lost.
This was such a thrilling read. I found it very hard to put it down for even the slightest of breaks. I always found myself wanting to know more. There were moments I wanted to be there for Vhalla to be a friend and guide her. To be there when she felt alone. I felt that even though there were people as her friends, there were always moments she felt secluded because of who she was, well more likely the ability she had.
I do have to say that there were some confusing moments where I did have to go back and re-read scenes because either I didn't fully catch what was going on or I was in disbelief that something like that had to happen. Most of these moments always happened with Prince Aldrick. Do I have a laid out option on him as a character? No. But I feel that there is more to him that we are not getting.
Elise Kova is a brilliant writer. Air Awakens is a brilliant book. Am I glad that I waited so long to read this book after buying it? Yes and No. I came in not knowing what to expect, except the content test messages from my friend telling me how much she loves the book. os for my overall option, this is a story worth reading, a story worth buying, and a story that I will most definitely keep reading.
I give this book 4 souls!
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The characters really grabbed me and pulled me into the story. Kova builds an interesting world, but this series feels like it's more character-driven than plot driven. After finishing this book, I immediately bought the whole series in paperback because I feel like it's something I'll want to come bac to revisit.
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awesome
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Loved it
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Hated and feared by many, the sorcerers live in the confinement of the Tower to study in peace. That is, until a library apprentice grabs the attention of one of the most powerful sorcerers ever and the crown prince. The apprentice, Vhalla, isn't just a normal girl, though. She not only saved, the prince, Aldrik's life, but created a magical bond that lead to the discovery of her very rare and special magic. There is a war raging and no one can be trusted. As Aldrik and Vhalla grow closer more enemies try to tear them apart. What is so special about Vhalla? Will war tear the bonded apart?
This is a GREAT book!! Using Affinities as magical elements is a cool change. For example, Elise Kova chose the name Waterunner for a sorcerer using the element of water. I loved Vhalla's character as a whole. She was very strong(not physically) and her personality made her very easy to follow. I love this book and can't wait to read the next books in the series. I would definitely recommend this book for most ages.
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Air Awakens is a story that quickly escalates into multiple love affairs that truly have no business being anything other than a cloud that shrouds a potentially great story because when it actually tries to reach beyond all the sappy romance, the plot line achieves something genuinely good. That said, Air Awakens was far too preoccupied with silly romantic clichés and left me with a lot to be desired; thus, the book was just okay for me.
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WHAT I LIKED
+ Air Awakens started off strong and with one of my favorite tropes! That being, the interwoven delicacies of a tragic hero who has the potential for heroism but never quite fulfills that promise because they become a victim of tragedy ― and let me just say that the tragedy surrounding our protagonist is no meager fatal flaw, it is heartrending! I was gripped and moved not simply because of all the adversity that befalls poor, Vhalla, but because hers is the type of character arc that reminds us of our human frailty and inability to defeat evil forces despite our good morals ― and this is by far what made the overarching story line so affecting and oh so good.
+ It behooves me to say that only one character managed to truly win me over and it was not our protagonist, Vhalla Yarl ― which is surprising in view of how much I thoroughly enjoyed the tragedy surrounding her character arc, but I’ll get to more of this in a minute. The character I want to place the focus on now is Prince Aldrik who, in truth, is the best character in Air Awakens thus far! Driven by an unknown agenda, his character arc really gave the story a lot of depth and a sort of mysterious intrigue. Too, Prince Aldrik is the quiet strength behind Air Awakens and I found myself wishing that Vhalla matched his depth.
THINGS THAT MADE GO HMMM. . .
- Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the tragic hero trope, sadly, Vhalla was not a character that quite grew on me in fact, I was rather vexed with many of her attributes; her main and foremost hamartia being her apologetic and self-deprecating expressions and demeanor; ugh! Granted, I understand that life has been unfair and reasonably brutal for Vhalla, but to heap the blame for everything in the world for the sake of “modesty” and “humility” ― not to mention, the continual self-abasement ― was a bit too much to swallow and really grated on the nerves. As a result, Vhalla came across as a sort of doormat and not a prominent protagonist.
- Essentially speaking, character development is the very core of Air Awakens as it decides to dedicate more than 90% of its storyline on a romantic plotline between not 2, not 3, but 4 characters! Yes, you read that correctly, a “love square” is what Air Awakens serves its audience. Even less appealing are the unnatural ways the characters interact with each other and how their personalities consisted of a few exaggerated traits. (view spoiler). And yet, what I couldn’t take in, was the way Vhalla stood utterly defeated in every situation allowing these men to easily take advantage of her ― and need I mention how incredibly painful and plodding it is to read a plot where every male in the book falls in love with the protagonist?
Full Review @ http://www.mysoulcalledlife.com/2016/09/16/book-review-air-awakens-by-elise-kova/
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A great fantasy read with heartpounding adventure, steamy romance, and a strong female protagonist. Recommended for fans of YA high fantasy.
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In a story of powerful sorcery and bloody consequences, Elise Kova weaves a tale of a girl that transforms into something she never dreamed she could be, with the help of a dark and dangerous prince. With exciting plot twists and a host of intriguing characters, this book was definitely a fun read. Though it is far from original, the premise of good old traditional sorcery within a typical castle setting felt like returning to your favorite spot in your local comfy cafe. It just felt nice. However, the first 100 pages or so of the book were a very rough start. To put it simply - they were boring, cliché, and cringe-worthy. I was definitely worried about how the rest of the book would be. The overall idea behind the story is basically identical to The Last Airbender - there are four different types of magic based on the four elements, and a girl finds out she is the last of her kind, those that control air. And in the beginning of the novel, before the plot really takes off and before you get to dive into character development, all you have to go on is this basic idea of what the magic system is like and what role the main character is set up to have. So naturally, all I could think about while reading it was how completely unoriginal it was. Also, the explanations of magic and the history of the empire were pretty confusing, which did not help things start off smoothly. Then steps in Prince Aldrik, and my attention was captured immediately. He shakes things up, to say the least. He brings all kinds of questions and curiosities to the table, and I lived for his scenes throughout the book. Although the beginning was rocky, the book continuously got better and better. I found myself integrated with the characters and environment, and was able to fully invest myself in the story. The plot itself was not at break-neck speed; it was slow, sweet, and steady for the most part. While reading this book I think it's very important to keep in mind that this is book one in a five part series - not everything is going to get touched on or explained in detail right at the start. The author is mainly setting up the direction of the story in this book, as well as the fantasy world itself. There were only a couple of them, but the action scenes were definitely gripping. The romance, though a bit rushed, was full of chemistry and heart-pounding tension. I loved the way the author orchestrated Vhalla's chaos of emotions and allowed it to open all kinds of possibilites for who she could be involved with (romantically and platonically). Friendship wise, I did feel like there were some random characters thrown in that had no real purpose other than for one particular scene or plot thread (i.e., Fritz). They came off as cardboard cutouts rather than real people, and detracted from the plot. The ending was definitely satisfying, and compelled me to want to continue on with the series. Despite a poor beginning and some other iffy parts, I really enjoyed this book and the world I was introduced to. Going forward, I have very high hopes for the sequels and can't wait to see what happens to Vhalla as she continues her epic and magical journey.
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I loved that it wasn't the same story being told. The writing in the first half is caught up by the world building, setting up characters and putting pieces in motion, but by the second half it all pulls together and before you know it you've been ensnared by the library apprentice who's found this magic within her, a dark prince, and all that's created between them and by them. Get ready for a series binge read!
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I have been adoring AIR AWAKENS for a while now; I’m trying to get into more fantasy and I liked how this particular book deals with the elements. Many people probably already said this, but AIR AWAKENS reminded me of the TV show, Avatar: The Last Airbender, which for the record, is probably my favorite show in existence!
Let’s start with the main character. The main character, Vhalla Yarl, is a librarian apprentice and a hidden sorceress (wow, dream job, anyone?). Essentially, this book is about a book nerd. Who doesn’t love that?! She is smart, determined, and a quick-learner, yet she has her flaws and is not perfect at all. She goes through this amazing character-development throughout. Starting from a frail, obedient, and even a little naïve, librarian apprentice to a loud, strong sorceress who speaks her mind and deals with what life throws at her.
Then we have the two princes, Baldair and Aldrik. Both are intricate and surprising, having their own weaknesses and strengths. I was surprised by how good both are, again, in their own way. I truly thought that in the beginning, there would be the trope where one brother is good, the other bad. However, I still can’t tell who is bad or good, and even if there will be a contrast. I kind of like that; I’m left on suspicion as well as a hint of confusion.
The plot had some good points and some bad points, which I’ll talk about the latter shortly. Overall, the pacing is well-done. The story itself was epic! I loved learning about the different elements and how they work. Of course, the reader and even Vhalla had to learn about Air as the story progressed since there is no other character with that particular element to provide all the information. I also liked the ending! I did kind of guess what happened but I didn’t guess her fate.
However, one of my favorite parts is the message Kova presents in AIR AWAKENS. Towards the end, (not really a spoiler) Vhalla questions how much she wants to read versus how much she wants to experience what she reads about. I love this message because it shows all of us that, yeah books are great, but we need to experience what’s in them ourselves as well. And Vhalla shows that it’s totally okay to feel that way– I feel that way.
Now to some of the semi- bad stuff…
The plot. Okay, I thought this whole book was about Vhalla figuring out her powers but I felt that there was more romance than actual magic. Sure, magic is what started those romances but I just felt that magic should have been a bigger part.
I also wish there was more information about why the territories were fighting.
Now there is a sort-of love triangle.
Despite some of the few bad stuff I feel there was in the story, I really enjoyed AIR AWAKENS. It’s action-packed, intriguing, and beautifully written. For me, all the good things outweigh the small bad things so I will be giving AIR AWAKENS 4.5/5 roses.
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Originally posted on Hopeful Reads
4.5/5 Stars
Thank you blogger community and Twitter for letting me discover this absolutely wonderful new series by Elise Kova! When I first heard about it, I immediately went to Goodreads and Barnes & Noble to check it out and was instantly sold on Air Awakens. Here's what sucked me in:
Gorgeous Cover
For Fans of Avatar the Last Airbender
Library Apprentice
Broody Male Character
Blogger Love
Once I started reading I knew I would not be disappointed. Vhalla Yarl's discovery of her powers and subsequent struggle to choose between sorcery and her life in the library is intriguing and action packed. The story drops the reader straight into this world leaving it to unfold throughout the pages. The history and backstory is smooth, concise and does not take away from the flow of the story.
I am a big fan of elemental magic in books, movies, television shows, etc. Some of my favorite stories stem from the powers of nature. Air Awakens has a similar magic system to that of Avatar the Last Airbender with the forces of air, water, earth, and fire. People with such powers are known as Windwalkers, Waterrunners, Firebearers, and Groundbreakers. I thought it pretty nifty that it is referred to as an affinity. It really hits home the bond one would have with their magic.
There is a whole cast of characters in this story ranging from the mysterious and tricky to the kind and caring. Vhalla Yarl is a smart girl who loves books but now has to deal with a whole new world thrust upon her. Prince Aldrik is that broody royal who has the weight of the Empire on his shoulders while Prince Baldair is the charismatic brother who seems to get everything he wants. I thought Kova did an excellent job portraying even the smallest of characters an no one felt one dimensional.
Overall I absolutely loved Air Awakens by Elise Kova! It is a great first novel to a series I'm eagerly anticipating getting back to. The characters were compelling, the story was breathtaking, and the magic flowed off the page. I would definitely recommend this to everyone especially my fantasy lovers out there.
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ARC kindly provided by Elise Kova via YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Review
I was really REALLY REALLY EXCITED about launching myself into this new novel and new series. Not only was the cover SO DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, the blurb literally BESPELLED me to pick up the novel. I have always loved the concept of magic and the fact that the main character was a librarian apprentice (surrounded by books) and got to SAVE THE LIFE of a PRINCE! *swoons* It just kept reeling me in. I was completely defenceless.
‘Air Awakens’ started off with a BANG and transported me into the world of Vhalla Yarl. I was IN LOVE with this novel only TWO pages in. How's that?! The novel had beautiful writing that SCREAMED confidence, style, maturity and talented skill. The story and it's characters were also surprisingly seductive and sexy. Its mystery and drama make it even more so.
'Air Awakens' was written in third person present tense – my very favourite writing style. I've favoured this one since FOREVER because it allowed for so many perspectives and in depth looks into stories without the clouding judgement or view of the character who is narrating. It allowed for a sense of presence in the story for the reader whilst he/she is reading. And not only did this novel give us all that but also much MORE, giving me a very deep understanding of Vhalla Yarl. A really intellectual young woman of seventeen she was everything I had hoped for in a female lead. She had a very realistic feel to her; a very tangible essence.
Character development was EXTREMELY good! A prime example was of Prince Aldrick who we see as one person at the beginning – dangerous, uncaring, cruel and selfish – and then gradually open up to become a vulnerable, considerate, humorous and loyal person. One who it was also possible to fall in love with. Aldrick is not in any way a "good" or "handsome" prince as he had killed and used many people and his facial features were too sharp and pronounced – masculine – in some ways. But his other qualities made up for his lack of "goodness" and Vhalla Yarl still foundd him attractive.
Drama, tension and anticipation WAS OFF THE CHARTS! Oh, my gosh, I did NOT know how to stop reading at times – especially in the first 65 percent of the book. It was UNPUTDOWNABLE! Readers, prepare to become ADDICTED! Elise Kova was able to manipulate the emotions of her characters (not to mention me) to really suck me into her world. There was STACKS of romantic tension between our two significant characters! Really, an on-the-edge-of-my-seat-about-to-fall-off-a-cliff novel!
The imagery and emotive language the author utilised was just WOW! It was extremely impressive and very well applied to events and situations. Together these two techniques really took hold of my inner reading movie, as I like to call it, and created a stunning story in my mind's eye. I would get attached to certain events and recall them vividly later on. I could see, touch, taste, hear and smell what the main protagonist – Vhalla Yarl – could. The author really created a stunning visual! I must highly commend her on her writing.
Read more at: https://staceykym.wordpress.com/2016/02/20/review-air-awakens-air-awakens-1-by-elise-kova/
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Wow just wow. This book drew me in from page can't stop reading it-!!!!!! Best series ever
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Elise Kova is extremely well rounded in her story telling. Characters seem to come to life and feel as if they are your friend. The amount of depth on this book in foreshadowing, plot development and twists.
Start reading this series, you won't be disappointed!
From fp..... -rebecca
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I came across Air Awakens and its author Elise Kova maybe four or so months ago. I read Michelle Madow's review and the fact that she said it was "Phantom of the Opera meets Cinderella" had me completely drawn in. Not so much for the Cinderella part but for the Phantom of the Opera part. I love Phantom of the Opera. So I just had to pick this one up and read it.
There are many things that I like about this book. For one, it is high fantasy. Fantasy is one of my favorite genres ever and I've been wanting to read more fantasy. The world definitely has a lot to it. I can tell that there is still much to be revealed about this world. It is obviously very intricate and I liked the grandiose nature of the Solaris Empire. I'm not saying that I necessarily like the Solaris Empire but the fact that it seemed to be a very well thought out world. I'm waiting to learn much more about this empire and the war in the North.
Vhalla was a good enough character. I was interested enough in her story that I kept reading. It is a little bit of an overdone thing that the plain girl finds out she is anything but and that she has enormous power. But the fact that she didn't just jump on it seemed reasonable. To suddenly find out that everything you are right now might not be what you really are is rather overwhelming. Especially given most of the society's opinion of the Tower of Sorcerers. However, I would like more background on why so many people have such a hatred of the sorcerers.
I feel like I would be lying in my review if I didn't bring up the grammatical errors in the text. I understand all too well that some errors slip through the editing process. But the grammatical errors that I'm referring to are misused throughout the whole text. It isn't an overwhelming amount but I did notice it every time that it came up. It wasn't enough to make me stop reading it, though.
There were a couple of other things that I wasn't that keen on. To be honest, the first 100 pages or so moved very slowly for me. That was the chunk of the book that took me the longest to get through. I felt like there wasn't that much happening. Also, I'm pretty sure that Vhalla is described as having tan skin. The girl on the cover is white. Even if I'm wrong about her skin color, Vhalla has dark hair. The girl on the cover is blonde. Am I missing something? Is this not Vhalla on the cover? Don't get me wrong I love the cover. I love that it is an illustrated cover and the illustration is amazing but if it is Vhalla then I don't understand why the girl on the cover has blonde hair.
Moving on, I'm not sure what to think about Prince Baldair. On the surface he seems like a good guy but there's this suspicion in me that just isn't so sure of it. I quite like Master Mohned and I did end up liking Minister Victor. Larel was a very likable character and I'm hoping to see more of her.
Crown Prince Aldrik was definitely an interesting character. In the first bit of the book I wasn't sure how I felt about it. But I did end up liking Aldrik lot. He may very well be my favorite character in the book. I also feel like there is so much more to know about him and I really want to find out.
The next book seems like it is going to have a lot more action in it. And I'm taking a guess that there will be a lot more on Aldrik. Which may be what I'm most excited to see. 3.5 stars. See rest of review here: http://girlwithapenandadream.blogspot.com
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I actually did not want to go past 50% of Air Awakens because I didn't want to experience the pain of waiting for the next book, Fire Falling, which is stupid of me because I forgot I received Fire Falling early.
So, I read Air Awakens from the start again; I was too busy reading, gushing, squealing and flailing that I didn't notice it was way past my bedtime and it was getting creepier every minute-- dogs howling, birds chirping (at this hour?) and footsteps (no one was outside), but I could not put this book down! Every word was important that if I did not finish one chapter after another, I would get crazy thinking about what will happen.
Heck, I am even getting crazy how will I write a review with my incoherent feelings and words.
Do you think I care about that? No, brain.
Then start talking about the precious. Okay...
I suppose I thought it would be easy to talk about a book you loved because if you loved it so much, words would just keep flowing as you already know what you will say and you could talk about it for hours with your eyes glowing from all the happiness you felt and never get bored speaking of your adventures in even the littlest of things.
But I don't know where to start.
But I do know what I felt.
I'm very picky with fantasy books; it's like all or nothing with me. The reason would be is that fantasy has always been my narnia, my home and my escape. That said, I'm always in search for fantasies with high expectations. You know those types of books that deserve a whole box (because I don't have a shelf) just for that author and his/her books? Yeah, those. This book, Air Awakens, deserves it.
I discovered Air Awakens through Michelle Madow and for that I am grateful! I wouldn't have know this masterpiece if not for her.
Vhalla is a great protagonist; proved that herself as the story progresses. I liked it when they told her what she was, she didn't immediately jump on the bandwagon like in most books. She was a young woman who's afraid and confused, but when there are times that she needed to be brave, she'll do it nonetheless. I loved that. That said, Vhalla's interactions, actions and feelings were realistic and believable. I mean, I would have reacted the same way too, you know. And bonus points for being a library apprentice and for reading books!
I was both intrigued and attracted to Aldrik since their exchanges even though I haven't seen him yet, there was this some sort of pull to his writing that really made me like him and frustrated at the same time. And at their first meeting, I admit he was arrogant, mean and bad and hot, but then what came into my mind was that my love for Aldrik would be like the Darkling -- I don't care what he does. I'd still offer myself my heart to him.
To the other characters, they are unique; they all have some traits in them that make you love them. Larel, Fritz and Prince Baldair... *sighs dreamily* It's also awesome to read that you don't have to recite a spell when they use their magic. I was worried for them! What if they recited the spell wrong and it backfires?
All in all, I loved it that I finished reading Air Awakens at 4:03 am. I loved that I woke up high from reading that I didn't mind my brother scolding me for taking up most of the space on his bed that morning. I loved that I loved and enjoy Air Awakens that I don't even care if Elise Kova takes all of my stars. I'll even shower those stars at her. And. I. Meant. Every. Word.
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If you are a fan of Sarah J Mass or Victoria Aveyard there is a good chance that you will like this book.
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