Review: Awakening by J. Ross

I’ll start this review by saying that Awakening has turned out to be one of my all-time favorite fantasy books. This story is unique – not because of twists and turns, but because of the way it is told.

Awakening is hard to define in terms of genre expectations. It has all the elements of an epic fantasy book – high magic, an epic scale conflict, monsters and magic. But the story itself focuses on small moments, human relationships, the beauty and the flaws of people. It could be considered romantasy, as there’s a love story at the heart of this tale. Yet, Awakening has a double timeline narrative, and while the romance plot influences the present, it unfolds in the past.

Talking about the double timeline, this is an amazing aspect of the story. It begins with the sorceress Adanya awakening from a spell-induced coma… far later than planned. She discovers that the world has changed, and not for the better. The story switches back and forth between the past and the present, and with every piece we learn of Adanya’s history, everything falls into place. Awakening unfolds like a blossoming flower into a beautiful story of human connection. It shows the impact of abusive relationships, mistrust and betrayal as much as love, support, understanding and friendship. Seeing Adanya grow, heal and find her strength is a journey worth reading about. It is also amazing to see how she always stays kind and gentle, even when she is forced into war.

The author J. Ross has created a unique and vivid world, an immersive story and lovable characters that will have a place in my heart forever. Awakening is like a rare gemstone, and I’m very happy I found this beautiful treasure.

If you’re looking for an emotional and gentle fantasy novel that’s still full of tension and conflict, I highly recommend Awakening by J. Ross. I’m giving it a wholehearted 5/5 stars.