While this book wasn’t for me, I will be checking out the sequel out of curiosity to see what happens next. My stomach took a quick, sharp tumble like it always did when I thought of my Hyhborn, because I knew I would see him again.

I wasn’t excited to read to begin with because I think my time with JLA books has expired, but it was even worse than I was expecting. releasing this after a successful project has to be the biggest downgrade and i haven't even read fbaa and its spin-off.I try not to make negative reviews because I believe that just because I don’t like a book doesn’t mean somebody else won’t. Though he had done so rather brutally, so I wasn’t sure that was a good example of a kind and caring Hyhborn. There is a single, limited point of view via Lis, which happens to be my preference because I like surprises. Naomi wasn’t a projector, meaning she didn’t broadcast her thoughts and intentions like so many did, making them far too easy to read. I'm reading this for a good time, a distraction; the book equivalent of a shitty tv show you can't look away from and end up thoroughly obsessed with.

Introduced to the reader as an orphan, the lead female character, Calista (Lis), later ends up as a courtesan to Claude, the Baron of Archwood.

Imo although there are certain elements which can be considered similar but only if you really look for it. GENERAL IMPRESSION: I was thoroughly captivated while reading the first book in this new romantic fantasy series by JLA.

I had never read a book by this author prior to reading this first installment of the Awakening series. Sorry not sorry to disappoint people but these characters had no connection (in my option) past the smut.There were honestly so many things I appreciated about her character, from her daily gardening, to hearing her inner thoughts and her openness when it comes to her body and sexuality (yes please and thank you! And I know the Baron doesn’t like it when someone asks you to do this, but I swear he will never know. I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group/Bramble for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this unputdownable book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

If you are a fan of fantasy books with incredible world-building, romance, drama and characters to fall.

When the Baron takes an interest in the prince, and the prince takes an interest in Calista, she becomes the latter's temporary companion.