Awakening: Book One of The Geis by Christy Dorrity

Awakening: Book One of The Geis
by Christy Dorrity

Genre: Y/A, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural

I am officially a fan of Christy Dorrity! My all-time favorite series is Karen Marie Moning's Fever series. Awakenings has many of the qualities seen in Moning's work. An average girl gets thrown into an anything but average world. Her characters are intriguing and Dorrity's writing style makes it easy to relate to these individuals.

I love that Christy was able to take something she is passionate about and integrate it into her writing. It surprised me to discover this gem was Dorrity's debut novel. I found it extremely well written, well thought out, and well rounded. The only criticism I could give Awakening is that it was lighter on the magic than I would have expected.

I can easily see Awakening growing into a great series, and longer than a trilogy. It's got the intrigue needed to sustain it's momentum and I'm excited to see where it goes from here.

The characters are believable and plausible. I find myself agreeing with the majority...Aunt Avril was a standout character for me; I enjoyed her quirkiness. The setting was appropriate, and I can't wait to see if Dorrity introduces the other world in future books. While it hints at romance, she does a wonderful job not overwhelming readers with long, drawn out descriptives.

If you enjoy the genre, you will certainly enjoy Awakenings.

The Bookie Monster's Rating:

A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a clairvoyant for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has an amazing best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital, and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.

When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled, janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities.

After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened. When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy.

A thrilling first novel, Awakening is a gripping contemporary fantasy, based in Celtic mythology, that is rife with magic, romance, and mystery.

Christy Dorrity lives in the mountains with her husband, five children, and a cocker spaniel. She grew up on a trout ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming and is the author of The Geis series for young adults and The Book Blogger's Cookbooks. Christy is a champion Irish dancer and when she's not reading or writing, she's probably trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.

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Website: http://www.christydorrity.com 
Length: 300 Pages
Published by: Mythic Studios
Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Where to Buy:
Amazon
Goodreads
Barnes &  Noble
About the Reviewer:

 Shay Festa A.K.A. The Bookie Monster reviews horror and paranormal books, with an emphasis (but not limited to) zombie fiction. With a background in Psych Nursing, Shay brings her unique perspective to the online reading community. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook. And keep an eye out for the future release of her debut novel, Time of Death.