Indigo Awakening (The Hunted, #1)

Jan 26, 2013 Giselle added it

Shelves: arc, ebook, did-not-finish, paranormal

Gah. I can't do it.

This is about where I knew this book and I weren't meant to be (about page 10 or so):
"Good one. LMAO," she said with her serious face.

She. Said. LMAO. *stares*

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Feb 13, 2013 Sarah (saz101) added it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult, 2013-releases, dnf

I'm sorry. So sorry.
I wanted to love this book, because I LOVE Jordan.
And I'm not prepared to say it's the book's fault, because hey. I'm a mood reader. I'm self aware enough to know it.

But... this book and I... we have problems. A few of them, and each of them narrators. All... oh... nine of them, if I count correctly.

Rayne seems a fairly typical 'loner girl' type: angry and cagey, alone against the world. She's resilient and determined, possessing all the traits necessary to make a fine heroin...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Danny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read Review at Bewitched Bookworms

Colorful Cast of unique Characters with special Gifts!
The most striking point about Indigo Awakening is the incredible cast of characters! Written in 3rd POV, the story shifts between the major kexyplayers which let’s us get glimpses into different aspects of this story! Also, Jordan Dane truly has a wonderful way introducing all characters and making us care for them pretty fast. Moreover, the whole plot and world building was amazingly played out. Not reveali...more Read Review at Bewitched Bookworms

Colorful Cast of unique Characters with special Gifts!
The most striking point about Indigo Awakening is the incredible cast of characters! Written in 3rd POV, the story shifts between the major kexyplayers which let’s us get glimpses into different aspects of this story! Also, Jordan Dane truly has a wonderful way introducing all characters and making us care for them pretty fast. Moreover, the whole plot and world building was amazingly played out. Not revealing too much and keeping an aura of mystery and secrets that will keep us glued to the pages.

Gabriel – Lucas – Raine and more
I absolutely adored all the characters and I do not want to go into much detail about all them and just want to point out my favorite and most striking ones. Gabriel captured my heart the easiest and the most! He’s one of the kids with “gifts” and he’s living as an outcast when Rayne finds hime. Gabriel is broken, tortured but has the strong to potential to kick ass! Definitely my favorite kind of contradiction! Filled with guild, he doesn’t want to let anyone close— but the he meets Rayne.

And, she#s the other amazing character I feel for in this book! I loved her! despite being only 17, she’s strong independent, loyal and a wonderful caring and empathic girl. she’s one of the few ones without a gift, but that doesn’t bother her as her heart is strong! All she cares about is keeping her brother Lucas save and later taking care of Gabriel!

Powerful Story – Twisting Plot
The whole story was fast paced and full of amazing twists and turn. It was never a boring page to be found! The plot moves on mercilessly and does not gives you much time to breath! It was a great and amazing ride! The Gifts of the kids were a great idea, and a paranormal element I absolutely loved. Even though some basics were explained, I would have wished for a little more explanation about the gifts and how they work. But I guess this will be dealed with in the next book

Bottom Line
Indigo Awakening by Jordan Dane is a phenomenal start in a unique new paranormal series that is highly unique and fast paced. Especially the characters were developed with uttermost care and love and will easily find a place in your heart! I cannot wait for the next book in this great series!

(less)

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Feb 12, 2013 Juhina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: harlequinteen, blog-tour, review-books, netgalley

Indigo Awakening started off with many question marks. The story revolves around a brother and a sister as well as an organization under a church that hunts kids called Indigos. Lucas Darby hears voices in his head and was locked up in a mental institution under the church. He was able to escape and reunite with people that are like him, even though he doesn't even know what the hell he is. At the same time, his sister, Rayne, is looking everywhere for him. She never wanted Lucas to end up at th...more Indigo Awakening started off with many question marks. The story revolves around a brother and a sister as well as an organization under a church that hunts kids called Indigos. Lucas Darby hears voices in his head and was locked up in a mental institution under the church. He was able to escape and reunite with people that are like him, even though he doesn't even know what the hell he is. At the same time, his sister, Rayne, is looking everywhere for him. She never wanted Lucas to end up at the institution, but her older sister, who works at the church, has full custody and put him there.

Things get interesting when Rayne finds one of those Indigos, Gabriel, who is messed up in his own way because of the powers he has and also in hiding. The readers know about the existence of many indigos and their powers, however the characters themselves are clueless, which allows me to not get frustrated trying to find out what the big secret is, but at the same time the mystery is still there for the characters. Indigo Awakening centers on the children harnessing their power and fighting back against this oppressive organization to live the normal life they deserve.

Plot wise, Indigo Awakening was very different from the usual books I read. It is told from many POVs, including many from the church's side, as well as being told from a 3rd person POV. Those two styles of writing usually break it for me when it comes to books but strangely, it worked for Indigo Awakening. What is also in the plot is romance; I don't want to dwell on it because the romance isn't that significant compared to the plot and I am sure Jordan Dane will expand on it in the second book, something I am excited for. Also, Dane ended the book with a bang; I literally (yes, really) gasped and had my mouth gaping trying to find the word to explain how unexpected and awesome that plot twist and cliffhanger was. I would recommend this novel to fans of superpowers and supernatural YA novels with a bit of mystery and conspiracy! (less)

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Dec 10, 2012 Blythe marked it as did-not-finish

Nope.

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Jan 06, 2013 Kay rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-and-children, supernatural

2,5/5

I‘ve always had a thing for psychic kids and superpowers. I love the X-Men and love books with a similar theme, which is why I was very intrigued by Indigo Awakening‘s premise.

The book definitely has all the elements to create a suspenseful story filled with action and intrigue. Rayne and Lucas are likable, and their sister-brother bond only strengthens this feeling. It is easy to care for them and what happens to them as the story moves on. I also found the romance not to be too heavy. Sur...more 2,5/5

I‘ve always had a thing for psychic kids and superpowers. I love the X-Men and love books with a similar theme, which is why I was very intrigued by Indigo Awakening‘s premise.

The book definitely has all the elements to create a suspenseful story filled with action and intrigue. Rayne and Lucas are likable, and their sister-brother bond only strengthens this feeling. It is easy to care for them and what happens to them as the story moves on. I also found the romance not to be too heavy. Sure, Rayne and Gabriel’s connection is quickly established, but they take some time getting to know each other – especially considering Gabriel’s big secrets.

I’ll admit there were a few too many point of views for my taste. I would have preferred for the author to stick with the two main characters, with maybe an extra one or two. But whenever the narration skipped to the bad guys’ side, I wasn’t much interested. I couldn’t care for them, and only wanted to get back to following Rayne and Lucas (or maybe, exceptionally, Mia).

It didn’t help that I found the villains to be a tad too villainy, and the good peeps to be a bit too good. In other words, I found the characterization was a bit too black and white for my taste. That’s just me though; I know many readers like the darkness versus light stories, and sometimes I do too; it just happened not to work too well for me this time around.

I enjoyed the story and its many twists though. And while I mentioned not liking the numerous point of views, I can say that it definitely helped to build up the tension. It kept me on my toes, wanting to know what happened to other characters, or how they would react when their stories converge.

All in all, Indigo Awakening was an okay read. I liked that the author got her inspiration from an existing theory (that of Indigo Children), but made it her own. There are so many possibilities in this story, so many ways it could go! It’s a rich premise that could develop into a very interesting series. Indigo Awakening had its faults, but I am sure many readers will enjoy the adventure.(less)

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Jan 11, 2013 Lily (Lily Pond Reads) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: challenge-2013, netgalley, paranormal, reviewed

Courtesy of HarlequinTEEN through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

It always pains me to give a book two stars, and I don't do it often. I even slept on it, chewed it over in my head and still decided to be honest about it. Indigo Awakening just wasn't a book for me no matter how I swing it. Some of this MIGHT have some spoilers, but nothing major so read on at your own risk.

The book starts out with Lucas who escapes a mental ward that his older sister had stuck him in, because she work...more Courtesy of HarlequinTEEN through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

It always pains me to give a book two stars, and I don't do it often. I even slept on it, chewed it over in my head and still decided to be honest about it. Indigo Awakening just wasn't a book for me no matter how I swing it. Some of this MIGHT have some spoilers, but nothing major so read on at your own risk.

The book starts out with Lucas who escapes a mental ward that his older sister had stuck him in, because she works for this church who convinced her that she would be helping her brother – because his different, unstable. Lucas runs away and warns his other sister, Rayne not to look for him, but Rayne doesn't listen and goes looking for him regardless. While searching for her younger brother Lucas, Rayne runs into trouble and is saved by Gabriel, a boy with great power that knows nothing about it and enlists in his help finding Lucas. Gabriel and Lucas are both special, and are both a high form of Indigo. The church that owns this 'mental' ward hunts thess psychic Indigo kids who are looked and feared as the next evolution of mankind and only 'Believers' know why.

There were several things that I did not enjoy about this book.. For one, it was a fanatic church that hunted these kids and did things to them even killed them, which put me off completely. I could have done without the POV of the people who hunted them, I felt it was unnecessary to get to know the bad guys this much. There was insta-love between Gabe and Rayne even thought he scares her, but she still ends up with stars in her eyes. Which I think... would have drove a wedge between them, but instead drew her to him from the moment she sees him. Mia, the older sister was irrational and irritating, I was glad her appearance was short in the book. Oh and the only thing that made me keep reading this book, got taken away in the end, so that was that. It took me several tries to pick up the book and get into it, it started a bit slow in the beginning for my taste and just became harder.

Also for being teenagers, they acted more like adults at times – which I guess in a way makes sense since they are pretty much forced in a way to take care of themselves and grow up quickly. BUT the only adults that were in the book, were basically the evil so that was another thing that put me off.

There are many who would enjoy all of this, so do not get discouraged. I know everyone has their own taste and should test it themselves. There are plenty that liked it, and many will, so ultimately it is you as a reader who decides.(less)

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Dec 11, 2012 Book Twirps rated it 5 of 5 stars

When Rayne’s younger brother, Lucas, escapes from an institution, the last thing she can do is let it go, even though Lucas left her a message warning her against looking for him. According to Lucas, their older sister, Mia, had him committed to the church-run institution and the people running the place have a questionable reputation. Rayne doesn’t trust her sister either, but she can’t let Lucas wander the dangerous streets of L.A. alone.

Rayne sets out to find Lucas, only to get mixed up in so...more When Rayne’s younger brother, Lucas, escapes from an institution, the last thing she can do is let it go, even though Lucas left her a message warning her against looking for him. According to Lucas, their older sister, Mia, had him committed to the church-run institution and the people running the place have a questionable reputation. Rayne doesn’t trust her sister either, but she can’t let Lucas wander the dangerous streets of L.A. alone.

Rayne sets out to find Lucas, only to get mixed up in some trouble of her own. Lucky for her, she happens upon a mysterious boy named Gabriel. Unknown to Gabriel, he is tied to Lucas. One night Rayne witnesses Gabriel slipping into a trance-like state, drawing furiously in a sketch pad. The picture he sketches is of Lucas. Despite Gabriel’s insistence that he is dangerous, Rayne refuses to let him go. She needs him to find her brother.

What they soon learn is that Lucas and a group of other kids are being hunted by a religious organization, out to destroy what are known as Indigo Children. The church sees them as a threat to the future of humanity and wants them destroyed. It’s up to Rayne and Gabriel to find the group of kids before the church’s henchmen do, but what Rayne doesn’t realize is that the boy who’s helping her may be even more dangerous than the men they are running from.

I have to say that I MIGHT be a little partial to this book because I am a character in it — well kind of. The character has the same name as me, and Jordan hooked him up with a bunker, an endless supply of Chinese takeout and a fear of snakes — all things I love (or fear). I loved seeing what an evil incarnation of me would be like, and I have to say I’m quite the nasty weirdo. I loved it.

With that said, I also very much enjoyed the rest of the book. It’s no secret that I am a fan of Jordan’s. In the Arms of Stone Angels was one of the first books I reviewed on the blog and was one of my top picks of 2011. When I found out about this book, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. These Indigo Kids sounded a little bit like super heroes in the making and if there’s anything I love, it’s people with super powers.

What I liked about this is that the story never faltered, nor did it feel like it fell into the typical super-hero origin formula of doom. Even though it’s the first book in a series, I felt like it started at the perfect place and all of the details were filled in nicely. While Lucas is the main focus (who is he? what are his powers? why does the church want him?), the real leader of the story is Rayne. I found her very strong and likable. She’s a survivor and she loves her brother. I also really liked Gabriel, and his backstory. I can’t wait to read more.

This is a fast-paced read, and I never felt as if I was fed a lot of unnecessary back story. Jordan does a great job of diving in, telling the story, and then getting out. I didn’t feel there was any fluff mixed in to give the book extra padding. The pace is perfect, the characters are great, and while I did want to know more about the powers of all of the kids, I’m sure we’ll get to that in future installments.

I will patiently await the next book – or at least pretend to be patient.(less)

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Jan 30, 2013 Debbie (at) I Heart YA Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tours-books, netgalley-reviews

Indigo Awakening is a mind blowing Urban Fantasy/Sci-fi/Paranormal. Jordan Dane became one of my favorite authors after I read In the Arms of a Stone Angels and On a Dark Wing. Dane's dark, eerie style of writing won me as a reader and definitely gives me a few chills. Going into Indigo Awakening, I was expecting it to be similar to her other stories, where the main focus is on two characters and their relationship. But this story involved many characters. Five teenagers, two pre-teens, and a ch...more Indigo Awakening is a mind blowing Urban Fantasy/Sci-fi/Paranormal. Jordan Dane became one of my favorite authors after I read In the Arms of a Stone Angels and On a Dark Wing. Dane's dark, eerie style of writing won me as a reader and definitely gives me a few chills. Going into Indigo Awakening, I was expecting it to be similar to her other stories, where the main focus is on two characters and their relationship. But this story involved many characters. Five teenagers, two pre-teens, and a child. They’re known as the Indigo kids because of their psychic gifts which sent a few chills up my spine. Gabriel (Gabe) and Rafe are 18, Rayne (she’s not a Indigo) and Kendra are 17, Lucas (Luke) is 15, the twins known as the Effin brothers (love that name) are 12, and then Benny (whose nick name is little man) is 10. I love all these kids, and loved this story being told through multiple POV’s I enjoyed Dane giving me insight into so many of the characters. Though majority of the story is told from Gabe, Rayne, Rafe, Kendra, and Lucas’s POV. There are also evil villains who are called the Believers who are after the Indigo kids. And believe me; I do not like these people. Dane creates very believable evil bad guys. I'm so glad this is a series because I want more.

Lucas escapes the Believer-operated mental hospital after he discovers he’s going to be put into ward 8. No one ever comes back from ward 8. After leaves the hospital, he keeps hearing a girl’s voice in his head telling him he will be safe with her. So Lucas decides to try and find this mysterious girl.

Kendra is the leader of the Indigo kids who live underground in abandoned railroad tunnels. Rafe and Kendra take care of the younger kids while trying to hide from the Believers. I fell in love with Rafe. The way he cares for these kids and Kendra, especially Kendra. Rafe has feelings for her, and I can’t wait to get more of Rafe and Kendre relationship in the next book to see how this goes. I also love Rafe's relationship with Benny, but what happens at the end of this book broke my heart for them.

Rayne is Lucas's sister, and she’s trying to find Lucas after he escaped. Rayne meets Gabe, who has been hiding from the Believers, too. Gabe offers to help Rayne find her brother. I fell in love with Gabe and Rayne’s romance.

Indigo Awakening is an amazing dark sci-fi thriller filled with sick evil villains, teens with awesome powers, and heart-throbbing romance. I recommend Indigo Awakening as another must read from the awesome author Jordan Dane who always sends those creepy chills up my spine.

My Favorite Quotes:

"My name's Gabe Stewart."
"Gabe as in Gabriel...like the angel?"
"Not even close." He grinned, giving her something else to like.

She closed her eyes to savor everything - the taste of his lips, the weight of his body pressed against her and the way he made her feel.

"What happened? You can tell me." He held the kid and covered his own misery with Benny's sobbing gasps.
"I pissed my new pants," the kid choked out.

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Jan 28, 2013 Ellen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-tours, e-arc, netgalley

Indigo Awakening is an intense paranormal read. The story is fictional, but it is based on a real concept, that being Indigo children. Indigo children, according to a pseudoscientific New Age theory, are children who are believed to possess special, unusual and sometimes supernatural traits or abilities (Wikipedia). In Indigo Awakening these children possess supernatural powers or abilities, varying from child to child, the most powerful type being Crystal Children. Not only are these children o...more Indigo Awakening is an intense paranormal read. The story is fictional, but it is based on a real concept, that being Indigo children. Indigo children, according to a pseudoscientific New Age theory, are children who are believed to possess special, unusual and sometimes supernatural traits or abilities (Wikipedia). In Indigo Awakening these children possess supernatural powers or abilities, varying from child to child, the most powerful type being Crystal Children. Not only are these children often misunderstood in real life, but in this novel, they are extremely misunderstood, feared, and even hunted. They live their lives in hiding, feeling like something is wrong with them, and in the worst case scenario, which is what happened to Lucas Darby, confined to a mental institution, drugged, and experimented on.

Lucas Darby has always been different. After the death of his parents, Lucas and his sister Rayne were left under the guardianship of their older sister Mia. Mia works for "The Church of Spiritual Freedom," also referred to as "The Believers." Mia had her brother Lucas committed to a mental institution, which is run by the church, and she also limited Ryane's visitations and access to him. Fed up with her sister, Rayne becomes an emancipated minor at the age of 17, something many teens would dream of, only Rayne would give anything to have her family back. When Lucas escapes from the institution, a sequence of events are set in place that change everything. Determined to find her brother and save him, Rayne soon meets Gabe, a mysterious boy who saves her, yet has many deep dark secrets of his own. Lucas finds himself drawn to the girl whose voice he keeps hearing in his head, which eventually leads him to Kendra. Kendra is also a teen like Lucas, and has a "family" of Indigo children. The Church is powerful, with money, connections in government and with the police, and has a hired army of mercenaries at their bidding. They are very evil, and are doing things to the Indigo children that are very cruel, believing them to be an abomination. Rayne persuades Gabe to help her find Lucas, and in a race against time, they try to find out where Lucas and the others are. and get to them before the mercenaries hired by the "Believers" do.

It took me a few chapters to figure out what was going on in this book, but once I did, I enjoyed it. There are quite a few characters, all playing a significant role in the story, and Dane does a good job of enabling you to relate to them all. I really liked Gabe and Rayne, and the way their relationship developed. They got off to a rocky start, having many trust issues to work through, and ended up really caring for each other. I enjoyed Kendra's character also. She was quite a heroine in my opinion, rescuing and bringing together those like her, creating a place for them to live, trying to hold them together like a family. Then there was Raphael, who was also an Indigo, who I liked sometimes, and didn't like others. His sidekick Benny, was adorable. I also liked the Effin twins, they seemed really cool. Once I got a handle on what was going on, the further I got into the book, the more my interest was piqued. Filled with danger, mystery, and conspiracy, Indigo awakening had the feel of a paranormal thriller with some romance mixed it. I liked where the love interests went in this book, and I am interested to see how that develops in the next book of the series. For those who enjoy conspiracy theories, romance, and the paranormal, Indigo Awakening is something you might like to check out. (less)

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Dec 15, 2012 Miss Amby rated it 2 of 5 stars

I had high hopes for Indigo Awakening, and I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed. Sure the characters are all realistic, and Dane addresses some important issues, such as learning disabilities, but I just couldn't get into this novel. I can't really put my finger on what I didn't like about it. It just didn't draw me in. This book took me forever to finish, and I put it down several times in order to read other things. I just wasn't blown away by this one.

The characters are likable enoug...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Claire rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adorabs, favorites, fuzzy-feel-good, me-gusta-much, evil-for-science, romance-just-right, volume-1, review-on-blog

That cover. That cover is just beautiful. *fangirl scream*

I absolutely loved this book! I've never heard of Indigo children, but apparently they're some urban legend. Human 2.0 and all, they have special powers and are said to be the "next generation". They are frequently misunderstood, and are called "indigo" because that's what their...aura...is. Nevertheless, this isolation and secrecy provides the perfect setup for a YA novel.
After the plane crash, Mia Darby has taken on the burden of looki...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Nicki Markus rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is one I kept changing my mind about as I was reading. One moment I enjoyed it, the next I wasn't so sure. But overall, I have decided to give it four stars (three and half).

The storyline is interesting and while not 100% original, is still something that hasn't been done for a while and then more in TV shows than books. I liked the characters on the whole, but the one issue I had was that they sometimes felt too 'adult': doing and saying things that seemed wrong for their age.

The boo...more

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Feb 01, 2013 Tabitha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reads, blog-tour

3.5/5

Let me start of this review by saying - how awesome is that cover? Because seriously - it's awesome! I love the typography and how the letters form into an animal! But anyways! This book was really good - much better than I expected. And I don't say that in a negative way, it's just I tend not to enjoy the paranormal type of book. These past few weeks I've been fortunate enough to read some really great books - and Indigo Awakening was just one more book to add to that list.

Alright. When it...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, review-on-blog

Indigo Awakening is a book about teens with special abilities. I've heard the term "indigo child" before but I never really knew too much about it. Indigo awakening is all about these indigo children- they are kids with special powers. I read a previous book of Jordan Dane's and I liked it but didn't love it, but Indigo Awakening sounded so awesome that I had to read it. And I am glad that I did because I enjoyed it more. I really want to see where this series is going, especially after that end...more Indigo Awakening is a book about teens with special abilities. I've heard the term "indigo child" before but I never really knew too much about it. Indigo awakening is all about these indigo children- they are kids with special powers. I read a previous book of Jordan Dane's and I liked it but didn't love it, but Indigo Awakening sounded so awesome that I had to read it. And I am glad that I did because I enjoyed it more. I really want to see where this series is going, especially after that ending!

The story follows multiple characters and it is told from many point of views. Most of the time, too many point of views all over the place confuses me and is off putting, but here it worked. I think I enjoyed it because Rayne had more sections than the other people. (even though she wasn't even an indigo child) so it would be one or two sections from other characters and then it would be back to Rayne. This helped me. It also was nice because the other point of views actually advanced the story. Rayne is out looking for her brother, and so are these super creepy bad guys, so it was like a triangle. Rayne and Gabe looking for her brother, the creeps looking for the indigo children, and of course the indigo children looking to just stay hidden.

I'm not going to get into each of the characters because there were so many, but I really liked that the author took the time to let you get to know each of them. This story could have easily just been about Lucas, but it wasn't. Everyone was included.

I thought that the writing was very strong in this book. I loved how each of the points of view was written a little different. For example, Lucas' sections were more confusing and cryptic at the start because he was confused and lost. I liked Rayne's the best, but I think that is because I made a quicker connection with her than with the others.

There is a ton of action, secrets and mystery in Indigo Awakening. It is fast paced and intense. Boy oh boy is it intense. These are real bad guys and real fight scenes and all of it kept me on the edge of my seat. I'm not 100% sure how I feel about the ending, but I did like that it wasn't a cliffhanger. I am very interested in seeing what the next book will bring us. Indigo Awakening is my favorite Jordan Dane book thus far!(less)

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Jan 14, 2013 Kerrie rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars
Indigo Awakening is a rather intense read. Its dark, full of mystery and has a touch of romance- some of my favourite elements in novels. Saying that I still can't quite figure out how I feel about this book.

I'm usually not a fan if multiple POVs in novels. I find that as soon as I start getting into the story, the POV changes and I'm forced to try and get into someone else's head all over again. It loses that connection you feel towards the main character because your not with them fo...more 3.5 stars
Indigo Awakening is a rather intense read. Its dark, full of mystery and has a touch of romance- some of my favourite elements in novels. Saying that I still can't quite figure out how I feel about this book.

I'm usually not a fan if multiple POVs in novels. I find that as soon as I start getting into the story, the POV changes and I'm forced to try and get into someone else's head all over again. It loses that connection you feel towards the main character because your not with them for long enough. But the way this book is written, with so many different players, the multiple POVs are necessary in order to get all the information. And there's A LOT going on.
It begins with Lucas Darby weaving his way through the streets of LA following the orders of a voice in his head said thats telling him if he stops the 'Believers' will find him. This voice gives pretty accurate instructions to be a figment of Lucas's imagination. You later find out that these 'Believers' are the people from the mental hospital in which Lucas has escaped. They are also known as the "church".

The "church" is in fact an organization whose goal is to "save the masses from a future they aren't capable of understanding". This means seeking, capturing, studying and eventually killing the Indigo kids-- pretty intense stuff.
What are Indigo Kids? Well apparently they are intelligent, gifted teen psychics who are frequently misdiagnosed with behavioural disorders. Going by this novel, some Indigo Kids claim to see ghosts, others can manipulate minds and some still can mentally "talk" with one another.

Later on, we also get the POV of the head of the "church" as well as the missionaries the organization has hired to capture Lucas.

Rayne is one of Lucas's older sisters and is the only one Lucas truly trust. She is determined to find him and keep him safe from their older sister (a church employee). On her quest to find her brother she meets a guy called Gabriel, whom she has an instant connection. Gabriel is someone who is also hiding a dark secret and is essentially running from his past, but in order to help Lucas, he is forced to stop running and takes control of his life.

We also get to read the POV of other Indigo Kids in hiding. As I said before there's A LOT of changes in perspectives in this novel.

I liked that this book was based on something that could very well be real in this world. It makes you question whether that person you know who you thought was a little.... eccentric.. could in fact be an 'Indigo Kid'.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book. The ending of book indicates some interesting things are in store for book 2.(less)

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Dec 29, 2012 Cynthia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Bouncing between 2.5 and 3 stars;

An intriguing storyline but it didn't really click with me. The Darby family is a fractured family, with Mia, the oldest working for the fanatical church, Rayne, the middle rebel sister and Lucas, the younger brother with unbelievable gift. When Lucas escapes from the mental institution, both Mia and Rayne want to find him, but for different reasons but they are not the only ones who want to find him either.

The major problem I had with this book was the insane am...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Sarah (Head Stuck In A Book) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, review-copy, paranormal, fantasy, e-book, arc, owned-and-read

Just like her previous book 'On A Dark Wing' Jordan has kept me riveted to each and every page in this book
This book has been on my wishlist ever since I first heard about it and so when I was asked to review it, by the fabulous author Jordan Dane herself, well to say I was excited was an understatement!
I loved the whole concept and world-building, it was an original story to add to the paranormal genre.
Most of the characters were so likeable in this book, I say most but really the ones I don't...more Just like her previous book 'On A Dark Wing' Jordan has kept me riveted to each and every page in this book
This book has been on my wishlist ever since I first heard about it and so when I was asked to review it, by the fabulous author Jordan Dane herself, well to say I was excited was an understatement!
I loved the whole concept and world-building, it was an original story to add to the paranormal genre.
Most of the characters were so likeable in this book, I say most but really the ones I don't like are the 'baddies' because let's face it, that's why they're not particularly likeable anyway.
The main thing I loved about this story was the different feelings I felt throughout while reading it and the biggest one was this big sense of dread, I had throughout the book, I just had a feeling it wasn't going to end well at all for someone and I was right, and I cried it was just so heartbreakingly sad, and I can see why it happened but it was upsetting anyway.
Rayne gets a phone call from her sister one night to say that their brother Lucas has escaped from the 'mental hospital' he's been kept at, on the run he manages to leave a message from Rayne to tell her not to look for him, but being the sister that she is she does anyway and while on her travels to find him she meets a boy Gabriel 'Gabe' whom has some kind of special powers as does Lucas unbeknown to Rayne, Lucas manages to find shelter with a bunch of kids as special as he is, they are called Indigo's, all gifted with different powers and the saviors if you will of mankind, the hospital Lucas was admitted to was a cover for a church organization called the Believers that want to rid the world of these children but not before experimenting on them first.
So the aim for these Indigo kids is to stay off the radar and away from the believers, and with Lucas and Gabe being recognised as Crystal kids (a higher form of Indigo's) they need to group together if they have any chance of escaping with their lives.
And of course what's a book in a series without a killer ending, I sort of had an inkling towards the end of the book, but I was still shocked to have it confirmed either way, and it's cruel because now it's the sitting and waiting for the next book that's going to try my patience.
I loved this book and I highly recommend it.(less)

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Dec 30, 2012 Brittany Rehage rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was pretty intrigued by the premise of Indigo Awakening. A group hunting down a secret group of children because they're different. It could have been really interesting. Instead, the novel felt a little off until the very end. It was a little disappointing to say the least.

Lucas Darby is different. He's been locked away because of his differences, but he's escaped and is on his own. His sister Rayne ignores his pleas to not look for him and in the process meets Gabe. Lucas and Gabe are differ...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was an interesting take on children born with various psychic powers. There is actually a theory about indigo children that this book takes and then builds a nail bitting story around. In this book Rayne is a girl with a troubled past. Her brother who means everything to her has run away from the mental institution their older sister has put him in due to his "peculiarities". She does what she can to find him and runs into another like him and becomes involved in Luke, her brother's new fou...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love the way Ms. Jordan capture the reader with great characters!

What I loved most about this book are the characters. I love a great story where the characters are left out of the loop along with the reader. The author created such great dimension within the characters growth and their future. I love that all of the characters voices were unique yet strong. They all played a role significantly, to the entire plot, bringing the picture together right before the readers eyes. Another great ad...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Farrah rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

A wonderful start to a new series! Indigo Awakening is an excellent book that will leave you breathless.

I love the idea for this book.It's very unique and well done. It was nice to read a YA book that features an idea that hasn't been done before. And I think it went very well for Indigo Awakening.

Rayne was a tough girl. After her parents died, her older sister took guardianship of her and her younger brother, Lucas....more This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

A wonderful start to a new series! Indigo Awakening is an excellent book that will leave you breathless.

I love the idea for this book.It's very unique and well done. It was nice to read a YA book that features an idea that hasn't been done before. And I think it went very well for Indigo Awakening.

Rayne was a tough girl. After her parents died, her older sister took guardianship of her and her younger brother, Lucas. But, her sister proved to be untrustworthy and Rayne decided to go out on her own. And, since then, she's taken care of herself. I really admired her. Not only is she strong to be able to stand alone, but her determination to find her brother was commendable. I really liked her character and I think that anybody would.

Gabe was amazing. He's an incredibly powerful Indigo that is reluctant to accept his power. His past is very sad and hearing about it automatically made him a sympathetic character. And his actions only made him more lovable. He was sweet, strong, caring, clever-basically the perfect love interest. And, mark my words, he will steal your heart.

Rayne and Gabe were SO sweet together. Seriously, they are one of my favorite YA couples. They are perfect for each other, both helping the other stay strong though the fear of being caught. I really hope everything works out well for them.

Though, technically, these two are the main characters, the other characters play prominent roles as well. The perspective switches in this book, from Rayne to Gabe to Lucas to other secondary character, so each one played a very important role.

Lucas was very easy to like. The poor boy was put in a mental institution because of his power and just managed to escape before he was taken by the Believers. Seeing his mental anguish made him easy to immediately support. He was remarkably lovable.

The other characters were all as brilliant as Rayne, Gabe, and Lucas. The character development in this book is so well done that I felt that each was truly real.

The plot of this book was fast paced. My one issue with the book was that I wished that transitions-in POV or time-were smoother. They were too abrupt, sometimes. But, the story line was thrilling and kept me on the edge of my seat. And the ending has me itching for book two.

Indigo Awakening is an brilliant YA. Except for one issue, it was absolute perfection, a wonderful read. To any YA lover, you should definitely read this book!

*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin TEEN for a copy!(less)

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Jan 11, 2013 Ceri Heinz ( A Book Between) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Indigo Awakening throws you straight into the action following Lucas as he runs to escape from the Believers and his sister Rayne as she desperately tries to find him.
I really enjoyed the intriguing story line but found that the constant changing between many different points of view made it feel disjointed and hard to follow at times. Although it was interesting to see the story from the 'bad guys' side and it help build suspense.
Even though there was a large number of main characters I found...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Gina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blog-tours, read-arcs

This review can originally be found on my blog, with an interview with Jordan as part of the blog tour. Thanks to Harlequin Teen Australia for a copy of this novel for review.

I did have expectations for this novel, but then at the same time I didn't want to as well, incase I gave too much to expect. My second novel by Dane, and it has been my favourite. I can tell that this is going to be a series that questions what is to come in the future, as well as what is to become of us as well.

I love h...more This review can originally be found on my blog, with an interview with Jordan as part of the blog tour. Thanks to Harlequin Teen Australia for a copy of this novel for review.

I did have expectations for this novel, but then at the same time I didn't want to as well, incase I gave too much to expect. My second novel by Dane, and it has been my favourite. I can tell that this is going to be a series that questions what is to come in the future, as well as what is to become of us as well.

I love how this book is full of imagery. Every step of the way, we can picture exactly what is happening, every detail made out in each scene, mixed with our own interpretations. The vivid colours and buildings, shown both from Gabriel's depictions from his drawings, as well as from just the story-telling really bring this all to life, as well as the very realistic fact that we can relate easily to the characters.

The constant change in perspective, may seem to make us lost. It doesn't. All the characters are blended perfectly into each other that only sometimes, we get a little lost because of a completely new character that is introduced. Some of the characters are just plain sick. Like seriously people? HOW THE HELL CAN YOU DO SUCH A THING! (read and find out exactly what), thinking about it now, it seems like a bit much to include, but then when you read, it really does fit. Rayne's sister is a serious nut-case. There is a fine line between family and groups (in my mind...cults). The whole Church cover-up was a bit of a stretch though, and franctly, it does limit the reader group. Many religious people would be offended in a way by this, even though it is a cover-up and their whole reaction over the book could be based on this point alone.

The love connections are very easily spotted..... Basically from as soon as you meet both characters and they start interacting in some way, you can tell. What I really liked, however, was finding out about Gabriel more. Yes, we want to find out about the other Indigo Children as well, but because Gabe is one that is known as the more mysterious, we can't help but be intrigued about his past more than the others.

The shock-horror ending, isn't much of a shock (well to me) because of why? predictions! (does that mean that I have a little Indigo Child in me? haha). I could guess from when Gabriel was talking about his parents what was going to happen, sorry, who should happen. It is a moment that makes us want to find out exactly what happens next, as well as how it will all end as well.(less)

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Jan 19, 2013 Sheree rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy-sci-fi, own, 2013-100-plus-challenge, reviews, read-in-2013

Indigo children, institution, fanatical religious group, experiments ... got your attention? Indigo children are not a new phenomenon, google it and you'll see a wealth of information and theories. This was my first read featuring these 'ultra-psychic' kids and believer or not, Indigo Awakening kept me intrigued for the duration.

As a group of Indigo teens find each other, evade The Believers and develop their special abilities, the secrecy, danger and sense of dread kept me anxiously turning th...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Kayla (Ramblings of a Book Junkie) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-tour, arc, from-author-or-publisher

The cover is gorgeous isn't it? That may have to do with why I signed up for the tour :). Also, the summary is captivating and just makes you want to read the book. The cover and synopsis lived up to it's name and Indigo Awakening left me amazed and wanting more.

The book is a dystopia of sorts which is one of my favorite genres. Dane does a great job of capturing the dystopia feel. The Indigo's were interesting to read about. Learning about the world they lived in and the powers they had intrigu...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Katherine Adams rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, supernatural

I was really excited to read this book once I heard about it. The concept of the Indigo children, or kids who have evolved mentally to a higher level than most people, was always discussed at home because my grandfather thought it was an interesting concept and it is part of my generation. This was the first fiction novel I have seen on the topic, since most books about it are new age. The book is about Rayne, an emancipated minor who goes on a search for her missing younger brother. Her brother...more I was really excited to read this book once I heard about it. The concept of the Indigo children, or kids who have evolved mentally to a higher level than most people, was always discussed at home because my grandfather thought it was an interesting concept and it is part of my generation. This was the first fiction novel I have seen on the topic, since most books about it are new age. The book is about Rayne, an emancipated minor who goes on a search for her missing younger brother. Her brother, Lucas, has always been different or odd, but when their parents died, their older sister Mia had Lucas put into a mental institute run by her overpowering church. One night, even while drugged up, Lucas was able to escape. This action set off a chain of events, from Lucas being on the streets hearing voices as the drugs left his system, to Rayne searching all locations from their past for him, to Mia following Rayne who she believes is hiding Lucas. Meanwhile, the church has ulterior motives for wanting Lucas, which is to experiment of this rare type of evolved being, so they dispatch mercenaries to find and retrieve Lucas no matter what. While on her search, Rayne faces trouble from gang members and is saved by the mysterious Gabe who lives at the zoo and draws people when he dreams. Gabe reluctantly teams up with Rayne after she sees a drawing he did of Lucas, but Gabe has lot of secrets and good reasons for staying off the grid. I really liked the concept of the book, which is why I gave it 4 stars, but there were some issues I had with things. For example, Rayne is an emancipated minor, yet her older sisters controls pretty much all aspects of her life with no input from Rayne. It made me really confused, like the author did not really think the independence aspect through. Also, the book was told from so many points of view: Rayne (who I thought was the main character but not really, just a character), Gabe, Lucas, Rafe and Kendrick (other runaways), the leader of the church, Mia the sister, O'Dell( the leader of the Mercenaries), as well as the therapist who wanted to study Lucas. There was so much going on that it was hard to get very invested in a specific character, someone to root for. I found myself starting to skim the parts in the perspective of the characters I just did not care about. I would have loved this book if it had been told from just Rayne's view, or maybe Rayne and Gabe, but all the others just lost my interest. There was a case of insta-love (or in this case maybe more like insta-connection/love) between Rayne and Gabe, which I am ok with, but it was not developed since we only got flashes of them together or their emotions. Half the time it seemed like Rayne was using Gabe to find Lucas, and then the rest of the time she was fatalistic about what she thought would happen between them. Yet Gabe's brief views were sweet and sentimental, purely selfless in his actions. Sigh. I liked Gabe, he was an interesting character. Hopefully in the next book there can be more of them and less of everyone else. I will most likely read the next book in the series to see where they story line goes, but if it stays the same as this book with character development then my attention my dwindle off. Oh and the ending was predictable to me with the church connection, I just assumed it would be stretched out for at least another book. We shall see. I would say pick up the book for a fast paced urban adventure set in L.A about a unique topic, especially if you like multiple points of view. I received this book from the publishers in exchange for my honest review. (less)

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Jan 14, 2013 Katelin Deushane rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book had a good plot that was easy to follow and that you wanted to follow. It was sort of like X-men meets Maximum Ride. With the bad guys chasing after our heroes and them just wanting a better world for themselves.
Unfortunately, the characters kind of drew away from the awesome plot. They just weren't that believable.
Take the villains for example O'Dell and Bolenes only had one layer--cruel for the money. All they cared about was the money and in the end when suddenly it seems like one...more This book had a good plot that was easy to follow and that you wanted to follow. It was sort of like X-men meets Maximum Ride. With the bad guys chasing after our heroes and them just wanting a better world for themselves.
Unfortunately, the characters kind of drew away from the awesome plot. They just weren't that believable.
Take the villains for example O'Dell and Bolenes only had one layer--cruel for the money. All they cared about was the money and in the end when suddenly it seems like one of them has a conscience it throws you completely off. Why wasn't this mentioned before? Why couldn't we have noticed that depth earlier in the book? Then there's the other villain Fiona who is supposed to have a mad case of hubris that thinks its her personal mission to protect man kind from the indigo freaks, yet she only seems like some girl who is trying to get her boss to notice her. Now if this was her reason I could understand it because that's what villains are all about--a mad, unhealthy obsession--but I really wanted to see the 'I'm saving the human race' side of her because then there would have been that interesting inner moral battle between what she thinks is right and what is actually right. That never showed up though because all we see from her is a blind obsession with Alexander Reese that leads her to do awful things.
Now, to Alexander Reese. He is the most believable villain in the book and I've got to say I like him because he has depth and a brain. In the end of the book you can kind of understand why he's doing what he is and the reasons behind all of his maneuvers whether it's kidnapping O'Dell to having Fiona around in the first place. He's the type of villain people love because he's calculating and there's always a reason for his madness.
The heroes themselves also have a bit of a problem with being believable. They're so obsessed with one thing and one thing only that it's hard for the reader to relate, and for a reader you can't really get excited about a book unless you relate from the characters and understand where their coming from. Another reason that it's hard to relate to the heroes is because they didn't really react how you'd expect them to. Take Lucas for example, you'd think right out of the hospital that he'd be a little concerned about his sister, Rayne, and initially he was. Other than that first phone call however she never crossed his mind again and you'd think she would considering their bond, he's a kind of psychic, and she is busting her ass looking for him.
This book also tells the reader too much. Usually with stories like this the author forgets that while they understand how everything works, the reader needs it explained to them, but seriously once is enough. We don't need to be told again and again that Rayne loves her brother or that Rafe feels like Benny is his own brother. That was already obtained through the text with Rayne looking for Lucas and feeling guilty or how Rafe broke down after Benny died(my favorite emotional scene because it's believable and heart wrenching). Somethings need to be left for the reader to discover.
Ultimately, this leads me to Gabriel, who is by far my favorite character in the book. He is believable in his anger at his father, his love of his mother, and his shame for what he can do. Everything about him you can understand and nothing was over explained. This is a great example of leaving things for the reader to determine. I wasn't told constantly why he did this or this, but instead I inferred through the clues in the text and this only made me root for Gabe all the more.
Finally, there's some cool aspects of this book that I would like to mention. One being the witty commentary by some of the characters(mostly Rayne). It made you laugh and the sarcasm made her a little more real. Second, is that Gabe could control animals. I thought how this was described was very well done and as an animal lover it only made me like Gabe all the more. Then lastly is that the indigo kids linked up through the hive. This seemed like something all Dane's own and it was interesting and funny at times especially when given the perspective of what it was like for normal people while this is happening. The hive also helped explain some of the motives that before might have seemed less clear.
Basically, I give this book, if it was possible, a 3.5 because it has a great plot, unique things like the mind hive, and some good characters mixed with the bad, underdeveloped ones. (less)

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Dec 03, 2012 Bodea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: the-cover-made-me-do-it, wishlist, arcs, netgalley

Indigo Awakening is a good mix of action, mystery, suspense, and romance. It's sort of like a well balanced movie that you thouroughly enjoy, feel satisified with once it's over, and wouldn't mind a well thought out sequel to.

What I like about Indigo awakening is that it's very character and plot driven. It's not a book that's centered around the romantic entanglements, but rather the the discoveries that the characters have to make about themselves and eachother. I also like that the author us...more Indigo Awakening is a good mix of action, mystery, suspense, and romance. It's sort of like a well balanced movie that you thouroughly enjoy, feel satisified with once it's over, and wouldn't mind a well thought out sequel to.

What I like about Indigo awakening is that it's very character and plot driven. It's not a book that's centered around the romantic entanglements, but rather the the discoveries that the characters have to make about themselves and eachother. I also like that the author uses this fictional story to explore some very real and popular discussions. The plot touches on human evolution, interesting theories on brain use, and the ever present debate over students with learning disabilities. I thought the story was well written and all of these ideas were seamlessly intergrated into the story. I like that the synopsis only touches on the very foundation of Indigo Awakening. I think that works in the books favor. I went in kind of expecting one thing and got a little more than that.

Dane does a good job with character developement. I found every character interesting in their own right. The only draw back may be that we don't get to know a lot about them beyond where they presently are. However, it plays into the mystery factor of the story and I suspect the characters will continue to develop nicely as the series unfolds. I particularly enjoyed the sibling relationship between Mia, Rayne, and Luke. The conflict was a good way to introduce them and get me invested in the story as a reader.

The writing was nice. I felt at times that the switching view points sort of took me out of the story, but not so much that it affected my overall enjoyment. One thing I appreciated about the writing was that the imagery, in terms of the paranormal aspect, was very clear. Those parts were well written and it was all easy to picture. I'm gald because it was a huge part of the story and I've noticed in the past, with other stories, the writing isn't as vivid.

The romance aspect of the story was enjoyable. Though there was an instant attraction between Gabriel and Rayne, the love wasn't instant. There was time for them to get to know eachother and bond a little.I was also glad they it was full of the usual cliches. However, the relationship I liked most was that between Rayne and Lucas. I thought they were really sweet and realistic.

Overall, Indigo Awakening was a nice read. I feel like it gave me something a little different from all of the YA stories out there. I'm looking forward to the sequel!(less)

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Jan 16, 2013 Rhianna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Romance, Danger, and the Supernatural "Indigo kids"...

The blurb for INDIGO AWAKENING is one of those rare occasions where I feel like I don't need to resummarize, it covers the gist of the story nicely.

Dane has a great writing style and once again manages to keep readers on their toes as they meet a compelling cast of characters. Having only heard of the concept of "Indigo Children" in passing it was really cool to see what she could imagine. It's a little bit X-Men meets Neverland which was, f...more Romance, Danger, and the Supernatural "Indigo kids"...

The blurb for INDIGO AWAKENING is one of those rare occasions where I feel like I don't need to resummarize, it covers the gist of the story nicely.

Dane has a great writing style and once again manages to keep readers on their toes as they meet a compelling cast of characters. Having only heard of the concept of "Indigo Children" in passing it was really cool to see what she could imagine. It's a little bit X-Men meets Neverland which was, for me as an adult reader, a little hard to buy. A group of supernaturally gifted kids and teenagers living underground and not being questioned in regards to where they were getting the vegetables they were selling felt a little unlikely.

But putting aside small details like that there's strong characterization, the sprouts of a solid series story arc, and enough action to excite most young adult readers from cover to cover. I admit I'm not sure who's really the true protagonist of the story since Rayne quickly stops being central to the action. The sibling dynamic between she and her brother and sister is pretty fascinating and it will be really interesting to see what happens with Mia, because as the story progresses her status as a bit of a villain reveals that she's really just as much a victim of circumstance as Rayne and Lucas. I love that Dane didn't make her the bad guy without a significant reason for her role.

As much as I wanted to give INDIGO AWAKENING a higher star rating, I just never quite got that into it. I felt like it was something I had read before. Not that it was unoriginal, just not very fresh to the genre. The intended teenage audience might find it more enjoyable but by the end I was just ambivalent about it overall. It has likable parts and parts that I was just 'meh' about. I never could quite decide if it was supposed to be more about the romance or the supernatural plot and that made it a difficult one to categorize.

Notes: ARC received via NetGalley.(less)

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