Atlantis Rising introduced me to a colorful cast of characters and it was evident in the very first pages of Atlantis Awakening that I was going to be in for an incredible ride as the story arc continues. My first thought as I closed this novel was that it isn’t often that I encounter a story that just about appeals to every desire I have as a paranormal reader. Let alone have a heroine who almost outshines the hero…almost. Let me take you on my train of thoughts regarding Atlantis Awakening…Ven “The King’s Vengeance” is leashed lethal strength encompassed by honor and a warrior’s temperament. To elevate some of his fierce presence he nurtures a gritty humor that spills from him via quick retorts and I wholeheartedly fell for his character. His quick witted replies already hit dead center on the humor reflexes on page one and I don’t think I have laughed so hard as in those first two pages. A quote below this review tells you why.
Erin Connors is a ninth level witch of the Seattle Cirle of Light coven and a gem singer. She is compassion laced with bold vivacity and determined to have her revenge. With Erin as the leading heroine Alyssa Day struck a personal cord with me. The way this author wrote up scenes where the gems sing to Erin and the emotions that spiraled forth from these scenes echoed with me as the reader. The first time Erin opens her melodious throat to sing made goose bumps skitter across my skin in reaction. Some say music is equal to emotion and this story was steeped with this kind of emotional display. Melodies voice joy, passion, sadness and it adds a deeper layer of profound meaning to certain events. Alyssa Day made Atlantis Awakening soar with her gem singer and I completely fell in love with the concept.
Erin is an unforgettable character whose melody resonated and rocked my world. The risk was that Ven would play second violin while I was so enamored with Erin. Well, no chance of that because Ven holds his ground with a delectable combination of humor and Atlantean power, and uses all of his talents to fight for a greater purpose. His need for Erin, the soul-melding, is something he can’t admit at first but feels nonetheless and showcases his strength and vulnerabilities at the same time. The romantic growth from denial to acceptance with both Ven and Erin was a mix of sensuous passion and opening up to feel all the soul-melding can offer, for better or for worse. The way Ven felt Erin gems sing was utterly beautiful and gripping and taking me along for the ride. They opposite each other in such a complementing way that it ultimately delivers a romance that leaps off the pages with their all consuming passion.
I was somewhat caught off guard by the intensity of the romance but that wasn’t all that thrived in this novel. The plotlines of evil versus good and justice versus retribution was double-edged and took me in a maelstrom of emotions. Caligula was the epitome of evil with a surprising re-appearance of another fiend. Then there is also Drakos who makes me doubt his true intentions, somehow he has a bit of a “split personality” going on and he ups the stakes in a formidable way. You never know where he goes but he makes the ending all the more interesting. I had moments from laughing out loud to blurry eyes, from burning hate to being swept away in love. The plot enhanced the overall impact of the story, it worked with every element to deliver a high-stake ending.
A romance, a plot, vibrant dialogues, nothing matters if the characters aren’t well drawn and do not affect you in some way, may it be love or hate or something in between. There isn’t one member in the cast of characters that isn’t vital to tell the overall story. Conlan and Riley’s relationship is more deepened and fills this story with nerve-wracking news. Justice becomes more interesting with every chapter in his enigmatic behavior. Christophe also drew my attention with particular comments and Aleric always has been a person of interest. Yet it is the situation regarding Quinn that is going from interesting to complex and very intriguing. All these ties that bind her bring incredible possibilities and bittersweet decisions for her to make.
I am amazed by how the various elements worked together. The writing style of Alyssa Day is easy going but still packs an impact and instantly sweeps you away to her world. In that world every single thread creates a dynamic tapestry. Of Erin discovering her gem-singer side, voicing melodies that create strings of healing or blasts of destruction. It leads to battle; it leads to undiluted vicious evil as solutions need to be found. I already noticed this in Atlantis Rising but once again Day can portray pure evil to the core which I can intensely hate as a reader. It makes me root for the opposite side and feel gleefully satisfied at the end. Secondary characters can be supporting or they can add another thread that becomes significant in its own way. Justice, Quinn, Drakos, Jack and Aleric are just a few of these secondary characters who have yet to tell their own tale but are already so important. There are intersections in this story where various things come together and made my emotions swell to greater heights. It made me cry out for certain things not to happen but they did anyway. It made Erin as a gem-singer whirl in resplendent passions and allowed Ven to display his raw strength fueled by his feelings. The ending was heart-pounding good and I am so very thankful I have Atlantis Unleashed on my shelves to continue in this series!
Atlantis Awakening is an addictive combination between the development of characters, both individually and as a group, an alluring build up romance and a plot that worked from the beginning. From back to back I was enthralled and will meet up with Lord Justice soon!
Quote which made me laugh-out-loud:
The vamp leading the gang – flock? Herd? What the hells did you call a group of vamps this big? – of vamps that had cornered them in the alley and hissed, making sure to show a mouthful of fang. “Prepare to die, human. You are vathhhtly outnumbered,” it threatened.
A sentence or three later – Ven:
“We’re three of Poseidon’s finest. Second, you’re the one’s gonna die, so you can kith my athhh,” he mocked.
Quote Ven:
Ven had joked with Justice about women for more than two centuries, but suddenly, with that one sentence, something changed. Someone changed.
Ven changed.
Quote Erin:
The opals sang to her, to him, to them both; sang a sonata of joy and home. But the emeralds pounded their thunderous desire and need over and around her and Ven until she thought the universe would surely explode…
Quote Ven:
She was nothing that he ever wanted – human, gem-singer, and witch.
She was everything he needed.
Quote Erin:
…”maybe Conlan is more of a modern thinker than his brother. Ven is a cross between some marauding Viking lord and…and a pirate! Or a big hairy caveman.”
Atlantis Awakening was a rich quotable book for me and I didn’t want to deny you a single one!
