AWAKENING blog tour - Review - Favorite Quotes - Excerpt - Giveaway!



Awakening (The Dark Rituals #1)
By: Catrina Burgess
Publisher: Full Fathom Five Digital
Release Date: October 7th 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Horror, Fiction, Fantasy
My Rating: ★★★★☆

Synopsis:

In Awakening, the first installment in the Dark Rituals series, a former healer turns to the Death Arts to seek revenge.

Seventeen-year-old Colina was born a healer. But after a horrific event forces her to leave her clan, she becomes desperate to learn the dark magic of the death dealers, mages who draw their power from the spirits of the dead. Colina was taught to fear and hate death dealers, but becoming one of them is the only way for her to get the revenge she seeks—and the only way for her to survive.

Colina asks a young death dealer named Luke to help her, but he’s reluctant to train her in the Death Arts. Little does she know convincing him to teach her will be the easiest part of her journey. To become a death dealer, Colina will need to undergo three dark rituals, each more terrifying than the last. At the same time, she’ll have to deal with her growing feelings for her mentor. Too bad the first ritual involves him strangling her to death.

As Colina undergoes the trials, she discovers an untapped darkness within herself. If she survives the horrific rituals and gains dark power, what will she become?

Catrina Burgess’ Dark Rituals series originally appeared on Wattpad with over three million reads. Awakening is the first book of four and was named Wattpad’s Best Suspense Story of 2014.


(I received this book free through FFBC Book tours, in exchange for my honest review)



This book was different, and threw me for a loop. Why? well, the ending for one, I can't say why I'm so, miffed, because it will spoil this one of a kind read. Let's just say, this book shattered the box and has done... the unthinkable. Sort of... ;p

To be bluntly honest, I was annoyed with this book at the start. Don't get me wrong, I loved the opening; but, I found it fell into the YA cliché trap of damsel in distress meets the hot dangerous boy. Now this wasn't a full on one, but I felt that between chapters 2-4, was boring, and not really needed. It was painful filler all for the end of chapter three when, Colina finally tells her story. I will admit I was getting pissed with her inner ramblings and the puzzle of what the hell happened. I don't like it when things, important things, are done in a roundabout way. She would've had less trouble if she was honest upfront, it's a two way street. 

I also didn't like how long it took for her to go through the rituals, I get that it had to be done, but, I don't think it should have taken up most of the book. But; this isn't a bad thing, Colina grows and overcomes her fears, it was powerful to read, but I felt that it was just a tab bit to long. 

Other then those two things, this book is probably on of the most original I've read this year. It was dark, gritty, and it had me in a trance, because I had this book read in one sitting. The writing is captivation and the tone keeps you on edge, like there is something luring just out of sight, you can feel it, but are unable to see it. 

The world building was intriguing,and the concept believable. 

The ending, I was not excepting it to end like that, it wasn't even bitter-sweet - it was simply, heartbreaking and sad. This book does not follow the normal flow of YA, and for that I am hook on this dark gem. For she is not the hero, nor is she the villain, she not good, nor evil. She is what we all are, bound in life by our selfish emotions. Colina is one o the most real YA protagonist I have ever read about, and that, is what makes this book so special. 

I highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed, it is a rare find amongst all this YA clutter.  

Happy Reading

-E.A. Walsh



"My mama always said, You can always ask. The worst they can do is say no. But I don’t think Mama was thinking about revenge and murder when she dealt out that piece of homespun advice."


“Don’t worry about paying me. Stay alive,  child. You must save yourself. And, whatever you do, don’t forget who you are.”

“You killed me.” My voice was unsteady.
He held me close again. “I brought you back.”
“Please tell me we only have to do that once.”
He whispered against my ear, “I swear I won’t kill you again. Cross my heart and 
hope to die.” It was a bad joke.

"I felt absolutely nothing, and that frightened me even more than the
darkness of oblivion."

"I wrapped my arms around my body, pushing away my doubts and indecision for
just a moment, and looked out toward the cemetery.
“Whatever it takes,” I vowed.
And as I said the words, I felt a chill run across my neck and a ghostly touch slide 
down my cheek."











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I write because it helps keeps the darkness away and reminds me that there is magic in the world. I live with one husband, two dogs, and a cat named Shitty Kitty in a small mining town in Arizona. At night this place is definitely spooky. I swear I’ve heard the wind giggle, and sometimes there’s a very odd breeze. Luckily, I love all things that go bump in the night. I adore old movies. I’m a huge Joss Whedon fan.

I’ve been known to eat pizza and cold Chinese food for breakfast, and I’m the queen of the board game Stratego. I’ve never been beaten. NEVER!


















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