Cover of The Awakening.
Photo by April
Well, I never thought that I’d actually enjoy a book by Nora Robers, after all I do not typically like romance novels, but this book proved me wrong. In The Awakening Nora Roberts introduces a strong female lead into a traditional high fantasy with a modern twist.
The Woman, The Key
We first meet Breen Kelly as an unhappy middle school teacher, something she hates and only does because it was what her mother wanted. Breen has been kept down and told she was less than average by her single mother. This is only compounded by how terrible she is at teaching. Teaching does not suit her and only causes her to doubt herself more.
The only bright spots in her life are her friends Marco, Sally, and Derrick. Marco works at Sally’s bar and Sally has become a type of mother to Breen over the years. The three have been constant companions for her over the tough years and difficult times dealing with her mother.
The Surprise discovery
One day while Breen is cleaning and taking care of her mother’s home, she notices some papers with her name on them. Upon closer inspection she realizes that they are banking documents worth thousands, if not millions. In an out of character move she contacts the agent only to discover that her father, whom she thought had long forsaken her, had been sending her thousands of dollars annually. She now had enough money to do whatever she wanted, at least enough to quit her job!
The split-second decisions
Upon this discovery Breen tells her best friend, Marco, who encourages her to do something crazy or that she always dreamed of. With this encouragement she chooses to take a trip to Ireland so see if she can find her father and/or his family. She also quits her job as a teacher after the end of the year to leave for an extended vacation in Ireland.
The Man, The Taoiseach
Keegan O’Broin is a young man when the former taoiseach was killed in battle and a time to select a new leader comes. Keegan while well-trained is not certain he would want to take up the sword and scepter. The day finally comes and he along with many others join in and dive to find the sword hidden in the lake. On that day fate chooses Keegan to make a choice, will he accept the sword and honor the man who helped train him?
The Trip-Ireland and Talamh!
Breen and Marco head off on their first-class adventure to Ireland and discover just how charming everything is.
Strange encounters
While on the way to their summer cottage, Breen encounters two unexpected old ‘friends’. The first is an old man with silver hair whom she has seen over the past few weeks around Philidelphia, her home town and she spots at a castle they are visiting. The second is even more unexpected, a falconer named Morena and her falcon Amish. These two encounters leave Breen confused but also strangely at home.
Discoveries
While Maro is there they stay at a castle and then find the small cottage they rented. Their time is spent exploring the sights and taking time in the nearby villages. In one village they meet a pub owner who knew her father and even gives her a picture and shares stories.
The Puppy
While out for a walk one day, after Marco returned home, Breen finds a puppy, who she assumes is lost. While tiring to find it’s home she follows him into the woods to a fascinating tree. Upon reaching it she notices something strange but carries on because the dog knows where he is going. Just as she passes it, she faints or falls on the road outside a family farm. Upon waking she is introduced to the owners of the home and the land of Talamh! She also discovers that they know her grandmother, someone important to the area.
The Family
Upon regaining her strength, she is escorted to meet her grandmother! Everything happens so quickly and she is excited. That is until she learns that her father passed away. But that is just the beginning of her adventures in this new world with much mystery!
The Expectations
One day Breen convinces her grandmother to take her to where her father is buried. While on the way there they discuss what happened to her father. Upon reaching the grave they plant flowers and this allows for Breen to use one of her unexpected talents, magic. Breen not only is Irish but is a Fae of Talamh! Along with this her father was the previous Taoiseach and was looked up to, even after leaving to join Breen and her mother in their world. He died protecting all the worlds from a fallen god. Breen is expected to take up the fight and save the worlds.
The Key and the Taoiseach
However, magic and the story were not the only shock in store that day for Breen, her grandmother and puppy. While quietly preparing to leave a dark Fae sweeps down and captures Breen taking her to the sky! Things appear hopeless until a dragon, yes that’s a dragon, appears with a ridder to free her. As he rescues her the rider lands and scolds her grandmother. This rider is none other than Keegan, the taoiseach of Talamh! Breen is introduced and they arrange for him to train her to ride and fight.
The Training
Magics-protection and healing
Breen proves to be a natural witch and learns quickly advancing far beyond expectations easily. She easily masters circles, casting, and even healing. Some struggles do come but mostly because she does not understand her own power or is caught in a vision unexpectedly.
Riding and Swords
While riding comes more easily, Breen struggles with fighting. Keegan is also not the easiest teacher, most of this is due to him being scared of honoring the vow he made to her father to protect her and train her. Breen does learn and improves, especially as she gains confidence over the summer.
The Parting
At the end of the summer Breen choses to leave Ireland and return home. At least to say goodbye to old friends and finish what she started, wrapping up obligations; she has already given her heart to Talamh, and perhaps a few of its inhabitance. Her leaving though upsetting to her friends and grandmother is understood. Keegan, who has become a lover as well as teacher, is upset and angry with her not understanding why she needs to go. He not only is upset as her lover but as the leader and protector of the world. She is needed but can't stay, and he must stay. The worlds she lives in are vastly different, what will be her ultimate choice? Will she choose to continue learning and protect Talamh or depart and carry on in Philadelphia?
Review
I would not have normally picked up a book by Nora Roberts (and only did because of the dragon on the cover) but I’m excited to read book 2 in The Dragon Heart Legacy! The story is fast paced and exciting, weaving modernity and fantasy seamlessly. The world of Talamh is built on the high fantasy of such worlds as Avalon and Camelot. Though I see hints of other worlds as well. The dragon riders remind me of Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle. The world that is created beyond the portal is magical and fascinating full of unique peoples, who are familiar archetypes to fantasy fans.
The story itself is well done and hits home for the writer of this review. Breen is having a “quarter-life” crisis and wants to know if she can ever have more. The familiar song of those who long to see what they can be but are kept down by what is expected. Roberts (2020) details the despair found when one is unhappy with life and has been told forever that they are not good at anything. The desire to escape to a fantasy world, even one so torn by troubles, is delightfully detailed in the telling. As one who grew up reading Narnia, I feel this story captures that desire and makes it real and grown up!
The novel has a bit for everyone. There is adventure and excitement with peril from other worldly foes. The story also includes some romance, hinted at first and yes fully detailed but only on a few pages. The romance element is easy and natural to the story not thrown in the readers face; it develops over the course of months not suddenly. Breen goes on a journey of self-discovery and comes out the better for it, she is neither a helpless damsel of fantasy or a heroine who can’t see help or romance. The characters are balanced and real. Breen is shown struggling and succeeding. She knows when to accept help and when she needs to work harder to succeed. Keegen is also shown as not only a hard trainer but a caring companion to Breen not wanting to take advantage but being kind and allowing her to make decisions. This applies even when he desires her to return with him to Talamh to save everyone, finally realizing that she must make the decision on her own.
The story is easy reading and well developed. I can’t wait to read the next chapter of the lives of Breen, Keegan, Marco and Talamh!
Reference
Roberts, N. (2020). The Awakening: The dragon heart legacy book 1. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
