Fantasy Muse: The Awakening (HASEA CHRONICLES)

I realise that I haven't posted anything these last few weeks as I've been pretty busy, but I want to write a short review about a book that I stumbled upon a while ago that I've been meaning to write about but keep forgeting. The first book is called 'The Awakening,' and just recently the second book in the series was released called The Veil: Corruption. The books are written by an indie author called Stuart Meczes.

The synopsis for the first book is as follows:

Alexander Eden is one unhappy teenager. A geeky, social pariah, he's the victim of constant bullying at school. His home life isn't much better with a stepfather who resents him and a half brother who is better than him at everything.

But that all changes the day the mysterious and beautiful Gabriella De Luca walks into his life. Everyone wants to know her, to be with her. But she is interested in Alex.

Because Alex is different.

Soon afterwards he is thrown into a world he never thought possible. A world where he and others like him are the last line of defence. A world where an ancient unspeakable evil lurks.

Evil which seeks to consume him.

DILECTI SURGEMUS - SOCII POLLEMUS

(Chosen we rise - Allied we prevail)

My Opinion

This is a urban fantasy book based in the 'real' world. The main character is Alex, a recluse who is seventeen and lives in London. As the story progresses, Alex looses that timidity and becomes someone special. To be more specific, he becomes a Guardian. Think of them as the Men in Black, an organisation that protects humans from dangerous supernatural beings. There is a love interest called Gabrielle, who is also a Guardian and helps guide him to this new life.

The book does start of slow and if you can get past the initial gloominess of Alex's life - as well as the frustration of seeing a character so pitiful - and wait until he awakens into a Guardian, then you're in for a good read.

The book is told in first person from Alex's POV and the author has done a brilliant job in building his characters into defined people. I could easily close my eyes and picture each and every character.

The story was also hugely enjoyable and the pace of the book was more akin to a Ferrari than a tractor. I was flying through the pages in eager anticipation to find out what happened next. By the time I knew it, I had already reached the ending.

Stuart Meczes is a british author and it was nice to read an urban fantasy novel set somewhere else other than American. Not that I don't like America, but it was nice reading a change now and again.

I also have to give huge appreciation towards the author in presenting an indie book that was so professionally done up. From the cover to formatting to editing, the whole book was as crisp and refined as any published book out there.