Emerge (The Awakening #1)

Summary:

Allie Carmichael has always believed life is simple. 

You’re born. 

You live. 

You die.

She has no cause to believe that equation works differently for her, but there has to be a reason the world treats her like a pariah.

When an unexpected move to Kelleys Island brings Aidan McBrien crashing into her life, Allie is thrown by his reaction. He doesn’t shrink from her touch. He doesn’t stutter or make a quick exit. He smiles and welcomes her into his circle of friends, who aren’t exactly comfortable with Allie, but they seem to get her in a way most people don’t.

Finally, Allie has a real shot at normal and rides that high right up to her sixteenth birthday when she wakes in agony—an experience Aidan insists they have all faced. She struggles in ignorance, uncertain of what is real and what isn’t. When she emerges, Allie is different. She has always been different, but even among her extraordinary friends, she and Aidan are special. 

As Allie struggles to maintain her tenuous grasp on the power that threatens to overwhelm her, she worries she will lose herself in this strange new world. A dangerous world where she will have to fight tooth and nail to defend the power and freedom that is her birthright. …only Allie hates to fight.  (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of Xpresso Book Tours.

Review:

I really enjoyed this book, but I’ll throw it out there now that there’s a cliffhanger ending!  In the beginning I was extremely intrigued why Allie was so different, it was interesting to have the pariah angle and how her power manifests itself.  I haven’t read any other books with a similar power hierarchy, which was refreshing.  Craven does a really good job giving all of the characters depth; I loved how the historical events came into play.  It was a fun secondary story that I hope continues to be explored in the next books.

The ending did feel a little fast to me, but Craven did managed to pack a lot into a single book.  I am eager to read the next in the series and was disappointed to see that it wasn’t out already!

Warning: Contains violence

Rating: 5 stars!

Who should read it? Paranormal and historical fans looking for an action packed story.

Want to read the whole series?

• Emerge: The Edge (The Awakening #0.5)

Enter the giveaway for a chance at Signed copies of Emerge books 1 + 2, bookmarks, mug, keychain and a $10 Amazon gift card!