Dawn of Wonder (The Wakening Book 1)

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a horse and rider hurtled around the bend, apparently unaware of the recent quieting of their surrounds.

You aren’t supposed to love Aeden right away, in fact this whole book is guided by the characters as much (or more than) the plot; it looks at dealing with his insecurities, his trauma from being an abused child, and his relationships (of all kind: mentor, friend, mother, father, rival, authority figure, respected authority figure, respected non-authority figure…). I agree that a lot of the things you wrote are potentially problematic, though I’m not convinced that they were careless choices. But as is, I would expect Aedan to be irritating to anyone who isn’t in the narrow band of people who can identify with him – much like Bella from Twilight. Aedan manages to escape from the ruffians with bruises, scratches, and an anvil hit him on the head. Dawn of Wonder is many things that regular readers of the fantasy genre will both recognise and enjoy.Instead of giving his scenes a big enough hook, Renshaw inflates weak hooks until they’re ready to pop. Some folks in that family has really got some ‘splaining to do, not taking care of their elderly grandparents when they’re more than capable of doing so… How dare they.

Aedan feels super guilty for what he did, but Peashot just keeps running away whenever Aedan tries to apologize to him. Again, maybe it’s just me, but neither of these people have been in the story enough for me to care who has which job. Yeah, some of the best talks Aedan has had with people in this book has been with Fergal, but I guess I just don’t understand in a narrative sense why this whole ruse subplot was included. Aedan realizes the Drumley soldiers that joined them that they met outside the city are actually Fenn soldiers in disguise.Aedan’s reflexes from all those grueling chapters of schooling take over and he knocks the guy down. Maybe he didn’t because this is just a short ride – through the forest, away from signs of human habitation.

And for this to be something useful is a review of the book I feel like it would have to have more than the negative point of view. Look, I don’t want to gloss over Aedan’s angst – it is the most compelling part of the book (I’m a sucker for inner monologues) – but the school just isn’t a super interesting place to me.And although there are many books since I read that one then have had a deeper impact on me, I am still looking forward to the next one. They come to a bunch of cavernous rooms with giant stuffed animals all displayed as if they were part of a museum. She’s setting realistic goals for him and doing a lot to help him achieve those goals that will give him a comfortable – if not remarkable – life.

We can see how that decision affects him now, in the present, do we need to see the whole backstory? And then, once training is completed, or interrupted, there comes the quest into danger with a motley assortment of comrades.

He knows he’d just get beat up too if he tries to interfere, but he hates himself that he just watched and did nothing. Near the end of the chapter Aedan is running away from home to join the military and the whole time he’s wondering how he will “pay fees” so he can join. And friends, even old friends, were never quite on the level of companions until they shared his adventures.