Awakening

by Shannon Duffy

Desiree Six (because she was born on a Friday) believes in everything the Protectorate stands for. She likes the safety and security of having her entire life planned out—her career, her mate, even the date of her death. She doesn't even think to question when Darian, her childhood friend and neighbor, is convicted of murdering his parents. They had seemed like such a loving family. But if he was convicted, then he must have done it. Then Darian shows up in her room late one night. He has escaped the Terrorscape—a nightmare machine used to punish all Noncompliants—and he needs Desiree's help. What he tells her rocks her world to its core and makes her doubt everything she's ever been told. With this new information, will Desiree and Darian be able to escape the Protectorate before it's too late?

Genres: Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Action, Romance, Thriller

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2015

About the author

Author of MG and YA books full of adventure. I grew up on the east coast of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and now live in Ontario. I love writing, reading, fashion, fitness, and traveling.

Fine me on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/ShannonDuffy...

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - "Destiny waits." Stars!

It is inevitable, that there will be comparisons between Awakening and other popular dystopian series such as the Divergent and Hunger Games books. I would be lying if I didn’t say there are massive similarities between this book and those series. But, and it is a big but, as let’s face it who wants to read a rewrite of books they have already read before, for all the similarities, the author has managed to inject enough originality to the rest of the book as well as write something that is so mentally engaging that you actually forget to keep comparing.



Desiree and Darian have been best friends since they were young children, that is until he is arrested and imprisoned for killing his parents in cold blood, for no apparent reason. The Protectorate, lead by Prime Minister Vega immediately sentences him to life imprisonment in The Terrorscape as punishment for his crime. Essentially, meaning he will spend the rest of his life living his worst nightmares.

The Protectorate pretty much controls everything that happens to the Citizens of the Tower, where you live, when you die, who you marry, where you work, what you dream. If you disagree, disobey or do not follow the rules as set out, you are considered ’Noncompliant’ and that’s when things start to go downhill rapidly.

Desiree accepts that this is her life without much thought, The Protectorates warnings of how bad things were back in the Manic Age where people had the ability to think, feel and act freely are frequently played into the citizens homes and highlight just how bad things were before order was restored.



That is until the powers that be, give her a life match with Asher Knight, her childhood nemesis and the boy who bullied her relentlessly, marrying the man who made her feel that way starts a chain reaction of questions, all of which offer potential answers that could rock the whole foundation of the world she believes she is living in. And then Darian escapes, and offers her answers to some of those questions she doesn’t really want the answers too, and the adventure is on.

This is a YA novel, the romance is sweet and is what I want to read of teenagers getting up to, it’s innocent and offers all the nervousness and tingles that first love is wont to do. I got lost in my absolute enjoyment of this book, I didn’t get confused, and although a lot goes on, a lot is described and there are quite a few character introductions as the story progresses, everything is clear, well described and flows beautifully together.

This is my first book by Shannon Duffy; it definitely won’t be my last. I just hope that as a reader I don’t have to wait an absolute age for the next book in the series to be released, this is a story that will not read well with massive gaps between each books release, Awakening doesn’t end on a massive cliffhanger, in my opinion, more of a ‘happy for now’, but you just know there is an awful lot more to come.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received this book for free from Entangled:Teen in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

*Genre* Young Adult, Dystopian
*Rating* 3.5

*My Thoughts*

Awakening is a young adult dystopian novel set 38 years into the future. Duffy tells her story using first person narrative. Awakening's protagonist and storyteller is 16-year old Desiree Six Haven who by all indications, is a lemming who blindly follows the Protectorate's rules and has no problems with the career she's been chosen to work, or accepting that her best friend is a murderer.

*Full Review Posted @ Talk Supe Blog 04/10/2015*

http://www.talksupeblog.com/2015/04/s...

Expected publication: April 7th 2015 by Entangled: Teen

[Giselle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A finished copy was provided by the publisher for review.

Desiree Six lives in a society where the government dictates everything and anything their citizens do. She doesn't question anything because she doesn't know any better, until her old childhood friend Darian escapes jail and gives her proof that they are the enemy. Which will she choose? Her normal steady life or the one where she realizes the truth?

Awakening combines two of my favourite genres, dystopian and science fiction. And they were both met happily. I pretty much devoured this whole heartedly because I just wanted to know which side Desiree would choose. The progress isn't slow by any means, so I was constantly on the edge. I love when books are revealed slowly, but at the same time the plot is being investigated, questions are being answered, and characters change for the better. We get all of this in Awakening. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the romance because at times I thought it was a bit too cheesy for my taste, but maybe it's just me being an adult reading a teen book. I know I would have loved it when I was younger though. Desiree is naive, compliant and innocent. Darian is cocky, aggressive and very protective. Combined they're a perfect match and even though there are many roadblocks, they worked out so well together. I wasn't a big fan of the mean girl Mallory, and I really liked Desiree's parents but I wanted to know more about them. The ending was pretty open but the story felt like it was still finished and I definitely got some closure.

A must-read for any dystopian fan at heart!

RATING 3/5

QUOTES

"The Proctectorate chooses for us so that we don't have to worry about making mistakes." (11)

"Remember, dream big or go home." (22)

"I was never that girl—never one to cause trouble—and here I am now—my life consisting of nothing but trouble." (194)

"It's always the unknown that's the scariest, but facing a nightmare seems like the only real solution." (195)

[Brenda Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so lucky to read this while Shannon was writing it. The story is gripping and will keep you turning the pages. I can't wait to read Desiree's and Darien's story again!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honored to have read this while Shannon was writing it. Fell hard and fast for Darian, and was completely swept away by the vivid, imaginative world Shannon created. Loved it!!

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

Although on one hand I'm really glad there are a lot of Dystopian novels these days, because I really like to read them, on the other hand this makes it extremely difficult to read an original Dystopian novel. However, the blurb promised 'a unique and thought-provoking world'. How could I not be interested in reading this?


Desiree Six (I'll come back to that) Haven has lived her life so far in the safe hand of the Protectorate, who decide everything for her. We make the choices, so you don't have to. From the job she will have, to the guy she'll marry and the day she'll die to live on in the dreamscape forever. But when her childhood friend turned murderer escapes his prison, she'll learn that not everything might be as good as she thought.


Let's start with the world. Take some kind of disaster (here: the so called Manic Age), an Institute that takes control and 'solves' these problems (here: The Protectorate) and we have a generic Dystopian setting. Extra to this particular party are: wedding planning, a very strong one child policy, and the very weird and illogical number system. Because resources are limited, people are terminated after a pre-set time to make space for new people. Not everyone is terminated at the same age. No, apparently usefulness (as I suppose you would like to keep useful people longer) is decided based on the day of the week you were born. OK. (I know I shouldn't complain, since I was born on a Saturday, I would've been a lucky seven and get to live to the nice old age of 55). But the numbers of their population must have been dwindling very rapidly. One child policy, and only a certain proportion can really have a child. A One, terminated at 25, can't really get a child, since he/she won't be able to raise the child properly and there are no grandparents who could do that either? So, it's that or a lot of orphanages. (I haven't even spoken about the fact they match partners based on being born on the same day (so they will be terminated together, how romantic).


To add to this obvious nonsense, the Protectorate has invented a machine, the Dreamscape. People are treated so they need it to be able to sleep. In the meantime, the Dreamscape isn't all pink fluffy unicorns dancing on rainbows unfortunately. People who disobey the rules are labelled 'non-compliant' and thrown into the Terrorscape, which will bring your nightmares to live. To build on the Terror in Terrorscape, the first five minutes of everyone in Terrorscape are broadcast to the public.


There might just be some alarm bells that this society is not as utopian as it seems, at least for anyone who's ever read a Dystopian novel before, but Desiree Six is completely happy with her life. Even though her parents are about to be terminated, her biggest worries are about the guy she's supposed to like. First things first of course. Now, I would completely understand that Desiree is so compliant just because this is the life she has always lived. I would be fine with that. The problem is that she just changes into questioning everything far too fast after Darian, the childhood friend murderer, talks to her. She has no proof whatsoever at that point and it's just far too fast. Far too easy,


Near the end of the book the story really turns Divergent and The Hunger Games. That would not have been necessary for me. As was the love triangle. Really?! When will there be books again that do not have stupid love triangles or otherwise very complicated romances. *sigh*


It was a fast read, and definitely not unpleasant, but it was not the unique world that I felt was promised. However, I do think I would read the next book in the series, if it's going to be a series.


Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Teresa Mary Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

When I was offered this book for review, I jumped on it. I have been reading so much contemporary lately that I just needed something outside of that and Awakening sounded like just the right book. I needed something that was different from what I had been reading and Awakening delivered just that.

Dystopians can be very hit or miss with me, but I found myself enjoying Awakening. Desiree as a character was likable and she is a good perspective to read from. Darian is sweet and a bit mysterious, so that makes him enjoyable. I liked seeing them together and their interactions were subtly sweet and adorable.

I also enjoyed how Awakening was a good blend of typical dystopian elements as well as some new elements. I feel like if you took Matched, Delirium, and maybe a dab of Divergent it would combine to give you Awakening. We start off with the obedient heroine who loves the government but then slowly begins to realize that everything is not as it seems. Yes, this is basically every dystopian ever BUT Shannon Duffy incorporates an element into Awakening that I have not seen before and I really enjoyed that. See, in this world, the main way the government controls you is through a sleeping device. You can't sleep without this device, so it really makes you dependent on the government. I thought this was a really cool twist. It was interesting to see something that comes to us so naturally twisted and turned into something so controlled. There were a few other elements that really took me by surprise, but I can't discuss them because of spoilers, but I did like the few little twists and turns.

All in all, Awakening is an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend this one to dystopian fans.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of dystopian novels and a lot of them even though they are well written follow the same basic plot, was Awakening any different?

Yes and No, let's start with the No, it is a young adult dystopian and forbidden romance is a major part of the plot, there is a manipulative governing body trying to keep the populace in check and there are rebels trying to stop the government carry out their evil schemes.

However moving on to the Yes, there is a lot that is different, the world has been in a spin, people had been too reliant on technology, their lives chaotic, illness rife and the Protectorate came in a put a stop to that.

They made sure that the population was kept clean and healthy by installing air purifiers, machines in hospitals that detect bugs, making homes clean room clean and also helping the populace fall asleep with the aid of a machine called the Dreamscape.

Desiree Six is 16 and lives in this strange new world but to her it is perfectly normal, her road in life is chosen for her from birth, a chip is installed that syncs her with the Dreamscape and this enables her to have a peaceful nights sleep with nothing but the sweetest dreams, at the age of 5 her career path is chosen and at 16 she is matched with the boy she will spend her short life with.

Now why is her life short?, well Desiree is a 6, she was born on the 6th day and because of this she will live to the ripe old age of 50, hold on a minute 50 that's not old.....

The protectorate has made it that if you have been born on a certain day you will die on a certain day, people born on the 1st day live till they are 25 and then they are terminated and everyone else goes up in 5 year increments, the 2nd days live till they are 30 and so on, it seems cruel to us but to these blissfully happy people it is normal.

Desiree's life is about to turn upside down, her childhood friend Darian has been taken to the Terrorscape for murdering his parents, something she cannot believe but if the Protectorate say it is so then it must be true, at the start of the book he escapes from the Terrorscape and this is when Desiree starts to question all that she knows.

Her first shock is when she is matched with Asher her childhood bully who during their ceremony to bind them together spend his time eyeing up another girl, her second when Darian turns up in her bedroom in the middle of the night and tells her he is innocent and begs her to believe him. Plus her neighbours are taken to the Terrorscape for reasons unknown and their terror is shown Big Brother style on TV.

I'm not going to spoil the story for you but the rest of the book is thrilling, Desiree realises that the Protectorate are manipulating everyone but why? With Darian's help she tries to escape her old life and start a new life with the Awakened,a rebel group. Can they make it? Will they find out more about exactly what the Protectorate is up to?

The one thing I love about this book was the whole Dreamscape, as someone who can be found at midnight fiddling with a Kindle or iPhone and then struggling to get to sleep shortly after the idea of a machine to give me sweet dreams is tempting, the Dreamscape programs the dreams so that the dreamer has sweet innocent dreams about their future match. The Terrorscape is also intriguing what better way to deal with criminals than to put them in to their worst fears.

The idea that you need these machines to sleep is a clever one, these people have come to fear sleeping without the aid of a machine, they think without it they will be doomed.

The other thing I loved was the idea of everyone having an expiration date, not something I would like but it was sad during the book when you discover for example that Desiree's parents are due for termination in a matter of months, I don't think that is something you could prepare for no matter how loyal to the Protectorate you are.

So yes, Awakening is sufficiently fantastically different, I really enjoyed it and I read it in one sitting. I liked the main characters of Desiree and of course Darian was a nice bit of book eye candy, I know I mentioned above all of these books having the romance aspect but would it be the same without it?

Shannon has done a great job here and I really am looking forward to reading more from this series.

Thank you to YA Book tours for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awakening really took me by surprise. It started out like every other YA Dystopian. But then I realized, at this point, it’s almost impossible to come up with an original Dystopian plot line, so I let it go and just tried to enjoy the book. Boy, was I wrong! While some parts were definitely cliche, the overall plot of Awakening was epic. It took awhile for the story and characters to grow on me, but once they did, I was hooked!

There wasn’t really anything special about Desiree, especially in the beginning. Like all Dystopian heroines, she believes the government is good and all-knowing. She believes their methods and rules are all meant to keep them safe and protect them and she has no desire to step out of line. But slowly, her world starts to unravel and she realizes that the Protectorate has been manipulating and brain-washing everyone the whole time. And, like all good Dystopian heroines, she decides she doesn’t want to do as she’s told and she refuses to go down without a fight. She didn’t have a ton of character growth throughout the novel, but she definitely had some. I liked the way she refused to sit on the side-lines whenever she was told to. Instead, she always pulls her weight when she needs to and she doesn’t complain – much – even when things look grim.

I didn’t like nor dislike Darian. Again, he was pretty much a typical Dystopian hero: He didn’t believe for a second that the Protectorate was trying to help the people and the things he told Desiree were the first step to her realizing that not all was as it seemed. I liked how fierce and protective of Desiree he was. I had trouble shipping them in the beginning, but by the end, they were really starting to grow on me.

I was pretty indifferent to Asher in the beginning, as well. It was really hard to like him after the way he treated Desiree when they were kids. And I expected more to come out of him and Mallory, though maybe something still will if there’s a book two. But the way he stepped it up and did the things he did? That was incredibly brave of him and he definitely earned my respect.

Laken on the other hand.. Ugh. I know she was trying to be a good friend, but I really can’t stand her for the things she did, even if they were unintentional. In the end, she really wasn’t a good friend. I actually hope we see more of her in book two (fingers crossed!!) and that she redeems herself in a major way.

I think, if we’d gotten to know them a bit better, I would have really liked Harper and Sage. They seemed like decent, caring people and like they could have been really great friends for Desiree to have around. I also liked Mr. Williams, and Desiree’s parents, though again, I would have liked to get to know them better.

The idea of the Dreamscape and Terrorscape were absolutely fascinating, if not a bit creepy and shudder-inducing. Of all the things that happened in this book, those definitely made it stand out the most in a sea of YA Dystopian books. The Terrorscape, especially, was incredibly intense and creepy, though one aspect of the Terrorscape totally made me think of The Hunger Games, while the beginning part of the book could best be compared to Matched by Ally Condie. Like, 60% of the book reminded me of Matched. And some parts reminded me of Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

The ending was pretty epic and intense. At first, I thought the book was going to end neatly, like a stand-alone. And it basically did. So if there isn’t a book two, it’s not like it ended on a major cliffhanger. But there was enough of a cliffhanger that I’m really hoping we get a second book so I can see what happens next; it wasn’t until well into the second half of the book that I truly started to like and care for the characters, so now I’m really anxious to see what happens next for them.

Overall, if you’re a fan of YA Dystopians and don’t mind that, at this point, the basic story structure is the same for almost all of them, then I definitely recommend you give Awakening a try. Once you get into the story, it’ll be impossible to put the book down and the few things that make Awakening stand out will REALLY make it stand out! It’s a fun, slightly intense read and, by the end, you’ll appreciate the characters and enjoy the plot.



You can also find more from me on my blog: Pandora's Books

[Ayah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC of Awakening in exchange with my honest review during the Awakening Blog Tour hosted by YA Blog tours.


Shannon Duffy mixes several popular aspects from the YA culture, and adds her own touch of individuality when she speculates the concepts of sleep,dreams,and nightmares to come with such an entertaining novel to read.


In a world where the protectorate use Fate to decide everything for you, from how many years you live to who you marry ,the so called Utopian world becomes Dystopian !


I absolutely enjoyed reading Awakening. It was a fast read with many elements such as sci-fi technology and romance in it.


The beginning of the book is dedicated to describe the world and a briefing on why has it evolved to become this way. We also follow Desiree, who believes that the system is right no matter what.


Things become more interesting when Darian is added to the picture . What I really like about the romance that it wasn't rushed or overdone . It was just perfect. My favorite line is " I love it when you owe me" ! Tell me if you agree !


I really enjoyed visualizing the Terrorscape ; it was one of my favorite chapters to read. It displayed the author's creativity in the best way possible.


There are some gaps in the story that may or may not be answered in the next book.I also thought that the character building and the ending was a bit rushed. A bit more elaboration would have served the story more justice, but it does not how this story is a must read.


The world building and the story Awakening has to tell is so thrilling that it might keep you up late to finish it.


Unfortunately, it ends with a cliffhanger. A very good cliffhanger that I hope will elaborate on the points that were not thoroughly discussed in Awakened!


I really enjoyed Awakened ,and I can't wait to read the next book.


I give it 4/5 stars and a B+ according to my own rating scale.

[Vi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awakening was exactly the kind of dystopian book that I can get into. It’s not too heavy on the frivolous details or info dumps, but filled with engaging characters and action scenes to keep the story flowing quickly and smoothly. Sure, I had some questions about the society as a whole and how it came to be, but I fully expect that to be answered as the series progresses. As a first book in a series, I think Duffy did a great job at giving readers a glimpse of this world, the meanies who run it, and the heroes destined to bring them down.

Desiree is your average “sheep” girl. Following all the rules and never questioning the Protectorate, the government of this society. The society and her parents have basically ingrained their beliefs into her, so what else is she supposed to believe? But, when it comes time for her binding ceremony, the process that is supposed to set her up with her future husband, things just don’t sit right with her and she begins to question the Protectorate and if what they’re doing is really for the good of the people. Her world gets shaken when she runs into Darian, a childhood friend but now a supposed criminal, again and he drops a bomb on her regarding her family. Things get pretty crazy after that, and quickly, and I found it hard to turn away from this book.

Some cool things about this society was how they implanted chips in each individual’s wrist that basically serves as their IDs. It’s been done before, yes, but I always get a kick out of that detail for some reason. Also, the really unique aspect of Awakening was that the Protectorate also made it so people need a system they created called the Dreamscape in order to sleep. Without this device, anytime they try to sleep their body basically gets zapped back awake. Duffy explains more about this and it’s workings in the book and I really liked learning about it.

Darian was a pretty decent male lead. He’s been through a lot at the hands of the Protectorate and I really enjoyed his scenes. His character and personality didn’t stand out as all that unique to me and I can’t place any certain quality that I loved, but I did like him overall. He’s protective of Desiree and I appreciated how much he valued their friendship. He definitely has the potential to become swoon-worthy, but for now, he just came off as sweet and sincere.

For someone like me whose attention span is running close to zilch, dystopians hardly hold any appeal. They’re usually just too slow for me. But, like I said, Awakening isn’t like that at all. I suppose true fans of the genre might find it lacking in that aspect, but this kind of book was right up my alley. The ending is kind of a cliffhanger, but it also sets the scene for even bigger drama than the characters even suspected. I’m looking forward to seeing where Duffy goes with this series.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been awhile since I've read and enjoyed a YA dytopica as much as I did this one. Contemporary has taken over my TBR list lately and I've been craving something different. This landed in my inbox from Entangled Teen and I thought, why not. So glad I decided to read it.



This world that Desiree (Rae) lives in is our world. It's been manipulated by people who claim to want to keep us safe. They are protecting us from our nightmares. With the invention of the dreamscape, people are regularly brainwashed to believe what the beloved Protectorate determine is best for the people. The day of the week determines the day you will die. Your job is decided for you. You mate is decided for you. Only one child is allowed. And the sheep are grateful and happy for it. It's a sad commentary on what results from lack of choice.



Rae is a brilliant artist but was told she is a nurse. She's fed dreams of her soon to be mate, but is unhappy to find it's the boy who tormented her as a child. And her childhood friend, the one who protected her from everything, he's accused of killing his parents and has escaped from the Terrorscape. Things just are adding up to Rae. But it can't be the Protectorate, right?



I loved these characters. Rae is strong and daring despite her very planned world. She questions and she has a mouth on her. I was cheering for her. And Darian? Love him. That boy loves to protect Rae, his sunshine. And he wants to fight because he's not like everyone else. And the fact that he's escaped from the Terrorscape and lived to tell the tail is not the only reason.



Mostly, I loved these two together. Darian loves Rae. It's pretty clear. And there are kisses. I so love kisses. And he's kinda of territorial about Rae even if she has a different bondmate. She's his. That much is clear.



Filled with some interesting twists and turns, this story took a direction I wasn't expecting. It feels like the beginning of a great series. I hope there will be more. The ending is perfect. Yeah, it ends with an ending but it has this little surprise that makes you hope for more from this world. I guess it's a cliff hanger but it's not one that you throw the book over.



This is the perfect read if you're looking for something different, something more. Something that involves kisses and a world that could happen. Something you just look forward to reading. Something that intrigues you and surprises you. Something that has some demons lurking but also has a guy that's willing to fight them. That kind of book. A great read.

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 5 out of 5]

INITIAL THOUGHTS
I have actually read another book by this author and loved it so I have high expectations for this book. I do like the level of description and writing style of this author. Then the blurb certainly piques my interest.

MY REVIEW
I received a free ecopy of this book from the publishers Entangled Teen in exchange for my honest review. The cover is quite attention grabbing due to the bright orange colour used on it. There are two figures holding hands, they are silhouetted against a backdrop of a large lake and a city skyline. I think the byline of "Fear your dreams . . . .chase the truth" really fits the books content.
So would the cover make me pick this one up from a bookstore shelf? Yes it would. The cover kind of half sells the book to me and then upon reading the blurb, I really really want to read the book!
The two main characters in the book are Desiree and Darian, they have just "come of age" to begin the bonding process (ie engagement and then marriage). Everything about you as a person and your life, career, and even when you turn yourself in to be terminated (ie die) is all based on the day you were born. Even the day you was born is inserted into your name. Desiree's full name is Desiree Six Haven, Darian's full name is Darian One Sterling. The day you were born actually is the thing that determines everything about your life. I loved the dystopic/futuristic society of the Tower Province with all it's rules, regulations and the binding process. Depending on your view some of the rules appear archaic like the binding ones, whereas the cleaning and germ free aspects of the society are quite futuristic.
So back to the days of birth determining the rest of your life, if you are a "One" like Darian you are given just 25 years to live, (depending on your day of birth you are given a further 5 years to live, so Desiree is a six and will get to live until she is fifty, but both her parents were "fours" born on the fourth day so get to live until they are forty. Couples are born on the same day and die on the same day) until he is expected to turn himself in to be terminated. This is a measure that was introduced to prevent the over population that occurred in the "Manic Age". Couples are only allowed to have one child too. The citizen's are given their "careers" at the age of 15.
All citizen's need to use a dreamscape, that literally lulls them into a relaxed state and gives them the dreams they are meant to have. Desiree's dream along with all the other pre-binding teens dreams are filled with happiness, sunshine and the face of her binding partner. The Protectorate have chosen her partner to be Asher, a boy she remembers from school, he bullied Desiree about the colour of her hair incessantly throughout her school years. So when she realises who her match is she is justifiably unhappy.
The Tower Province is quite controlling and they manage to keep the citizens in line by the threat of the terrorscape. The terrorscape is a punishment, the time spent in the terrorscape depends on the crime you have committed.
Darian has been sent to Olympus Jail and is attached to the terrorscape every night. His sentence is for life, so he will undergo night terrors every single night of his remaining years of life. He is charged with the murder of his own parents. Desiree finds this hard to believe as Darian was her close friend at school, in fact he used to stick up for her when Asher was bullying her. Desiree would much rather see the face of Darian when she sleeps using the dreamscape than Asher's. Desiree actually begins to seriously doubt the rulers of the Tower Province as the boy she knew wouldn't harm anyone, but then the Protectorate is always right, aren't they? They do not make mistakes. The Protectorate does all these things to protect the citizens. If she voiced her doubt or said or did anything that could be construed and not believing or doubting Tower Province and the Protectorate she herself would be immediately labelled as "Non-compliant" and sentenced to time in Olympus Jail herself. However much Desiree tries to continue believing in the Tower Province system, she still has that niggling doubt, and that doubt begins to grow when she see's Darian who has managed to do the impossible and escape the Terrorscape. Darian confirms the doubts that Desiree has and tell's her that she once had a sister, and that there is a life outside of Tower Province. It's a life where people choose their own partners and die of old age rather than handing themselves in to be terminated.
So the above is just a little of what happens, there's lots of hints that the dreamscape and the Tower Province rules and regulations are not the only way to live. The people living this life free from Tower Province are called the "Awakened". The Awakened also help people leave the Tower Province as well as rescuing the "Unwanteds" (you'll learn who they are in the book)
This book is what I'd call fairly fast paced as there is always something happening. It has action, high emotions, mystery, betrayal and love. My favourite characters have to be Desiree and Darian. I think that Darian will certainly making it onto some of the "book boyfriend" lists! I also enjoy the writing style of Shannon Duffy and absolutely have to say this book would make a brilliant movie or TV Show (as long as they kept things true to the book, of course).
The book ends perfectly but with a rather large question mark about something else also being suggested that Tower Province are doing too. It leaves you with an understanding that the revelations Darian and Desiree came upon are only the tip of the iceberg and hints that there is so much more to happen in the next book. So I'm already looking forward to the next book now.
So did I enjoy the book? I truly loved it. The irony of the governing body of the Tower Province being called the Protectorate and their motto being "Here to take care of you" Then there's the beautiful fluffy owl that the protectorate use as their logo. Would I recommend the book? Definitely a must read for dystopian, and sci-fi fantasy genre lovers. Would I want to read more in this series? Yes beyond any doubt I would read the next book straight away if it were available. Would I want to read more titles by author? I have already read and reviewed Spectral, and I do intend to read more titles by this fantastic author.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I also wanted to share the immediate thoughts that were racing through my mind as I finished reading the book at around midnight! I honestly did not want to put this e-book down at all. What a'twist" (I'm not sure if twist is the right word, it's more a shock discovery that Darian and Desiree have revealed to them at the very end of the book. It really sets off such a lot of questions in your head about the next book. This book is a great start, to a series that I can imagine being very addictive. Darian & Desiree thrown together and imprisoned together. The Protectorate try their best to break them. Help comes from an unlikely source. Can Darian & ,Desiree's love for each other give the! the strength to make it?

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net** 

I loved Awakening. It's a young adult dystopian. I don't read too many dystopians anymore, and I am pretty picky when it comes to choosing which ones to read. I heard that Darian was going to be a swoon worthy guy, and I liked the technology aspect of Awakening, so I decided to give it a try. And I am very glad that I did. This was a dystopian that worked really well for me. I loved the romance in it and I thought the world was very well done. The idea of the dreamscape seemed half invasive and scary but a pretty big part of me wanted to try it out, especially since you get to see who your mate was revealed in the dreams. I thought that was a really cool idea, and for the most part people seemed to love it and the relationships seemed genuine and good fits for so much of the society. And then there is the terrorscape, which seemed just as terrifying as the name implies. However, I was left with lots of little questions, while reading the first half of the book. Click to view spoiler for some examples of the questions I had.

All of these thoughts were running through my head when started reading the book. Like why would the days of the week link up with how long you would have to live? And why did they start killing off the ones so young? they only get to live until 25? Doesn't the society need workers for longer than that? And also, why was Darian able to use other people's dreamscape machines while he was on the run? They sound super high tech, and everyone is chipped under the skin, so why couldn't the machines pick up on who the user was? And i'm not talking about the mixer that he used, that scrambles the brainwaves that the machine can read. But why doesn't the machine pick up on the id info from the users chip. That seemed like an oversight on this controlling government's part.

Now don't get me wrong, I thought the world building was great, and I am sure that some of these questions will be answered and explained later on, but when I was initially reading, all of this stuff was running through my head. I have come to the conclusion that right now the dystopians that work the best for me are ones that center around technology. Something about them makes me feel like it could be possible for the world to end up like that, which makes it all the more interesting and terrifying to me. Does that make me weird? haha

I really loved Darian. I think he is such an easy guy to root for, even if he is noncompliant and thinks everyone else in the society are "sheep." He's not wrong, by the way. What surprises me the most is that anyone is capable of thinking that this guy could be a murderer. He is such a decent, stand up guy. And his lifetime crush on Desiree was adorable. Awakening starts off at a brisk pace and honestly only picks up in speed as the story goes on. I loved that, there is honestly not a boring moment in Awakening. I read this book in a single sitting and I didn't even realize how much time had passed when I finally looked up when I was done. That is a feeling I will never get sick of, because it means I was transported to the author's world and I was totally immersed in it. I can't wait to continue this series. Awakening is great for fans of YA dystopian and I would even encourage people who might be burnt out or new dystopians to try Awakening. I think it will be a series tons of people will love! I smell a hit all over this one and I can't wait for more.

 This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

[Zoey Talbon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually loved Entangled Teen titles. They're easy, fast-paced and exciting with plenty of romance with funny characters you can't help but root for. Unfortunately, Awakening and I just weren't meant to be.

Awakening certainly lives up to the "fast-paced" title - and takes it light years ahead. This speed leaves behind a very noncohesive feel to the novel, where events simply don't connect together because the author didn't take the time to explore the mysteries of the world and the actions her characters take. Everything is essentially served to Desiree on a platter - whether through Darian, her neighbor Coral, etc. All the information she needs is handed right to her. All that stuff with her sister? Darian just tells her about it, she gets some information from Coral, then BAM she just appears! Are you kidding me? She had like, maybe, two memory flashes of her. Give me struggle. Give me some missing and desolate feeling that she's had for years while she worries that she's going crazy because she remembers things that can't be possible. Give me a hunt to find her sister once she DOES remember. LITERALLY. SHE GETS EVERYTHING HANDED TO HER ON A PLATTER.

Our narrator, Desiree, was a . . . difficult read for me, to say the least. She made me cringe several times. She rarely seems to think before she acts, and she's certainly not resistant enough to anything Darian is telling her in the beginning. Desiree has grown up in a world where The Protectorate allows her to dream, to be matched with a boy she'll supposedly love - something she's seen work perfectly with her parents - and to work a fulfilling job. Of course, The Protectorate isn't what it seems (when are they ever?) but in the beginning, Desiree fully believes in their work. It takes one scene with Darian, a little bit of internal monologue, and suddenly she's hardcore doubting everything. I don't know about you guys, but it takes a long time for me to give up on everything that's been ingrained in me since birth.

There was essentially no characterization in Awakening. They jut all felt very bland. We're given some brief information about Darian and Desiree's pasts, but it never felt authentic. Their personalities just didn't come through in the writing at all. The romance was shoddy at best, happening entirely too quickly with no chemistry. And at one point, Desiree literally says "I can’t help but think his whole body is like the sculpted god Thor." Cue vomiting.

In addition to the weak characterization, the writing didn't bring forth any emotions from me. This is supposed to be a thrilling novel, where you get thrown into your worst nightmare for being found noncompliant - disobeying the Protectorate. But I never felt that danger. When tragedy strikes, I felt no emotions. (Neither did Desiree, really.)

In terms of originality? The idea of the Dreamscape and Terrorscape were cool but horribly executed. There could have been so much more detail, so much more importance put on it. Oh, and look, televised torture? A select few who are immune to the control of the Protectorate? Where have I seen these before?

Overall: For me, this entire book felt very forced and disconnected. Everything moved far too quickly, with no details interwoven to allow the reader to guess or interpret or to relate or to feel. I'm having an incredibly hard time understanding how people like this considering how often I fought with myself to mark it as a dnf. 2 stars.

[Sierra the Nerdgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an unsolicited ARC of Awakening from Entangled Teen. Going into the book, I knew little about it except it was a dystopian novel and there was a thing called The Terrorscape. Once I started reading the book, I got absorbed by the world Shannon Duffy created.

The concept behind this dystopian is very interesting. Basically in this new world, the leaders believe the root to the old world's problem, known as the Maniac Age, was happiness due to the instability of the future, jobs, love, and dreams. So The Protectorate has devised a system in which everyone is destined to have a specific job, specific mate, specific death date, and their dreams are made for them. They cannot go to sleep without a device known as The Dreamscape and nightmares are obsolete except in this place known as The Terrorscape, where criminals are induced with nightmares that appear to be real and can actually damage them.

The main character, Desiree was an alright character. I liked her, but I couldn't connect with her. In the beginning she seemed rather annoying, getting angry over little things like people saying her hair was red and not auburn. However she began to grow on my because it was evident she isn't like everyone else. Desiree isn't afraid to think about what life would be like if The Protectorate didn't control everything.

Darian on the other hand... hot damn I wish he was real. Darian is hot, snarky, and to top it all of he is a genius. He is a hacker and believes that the world deserves to control its own fate.

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Desiree and Darian. Their blossoming forbidden romance had my stomach making butterflies. Darian treated Desiree like an actual human being with free will, unlike Asher.

Speaking of Asher. I had a strange relationship with Asher. On the one hand Asher is a douche, but I can understand why he is a douche. He is being forced to love someone he doesn't love and although he wants to get to love her it is hard for him.

Now the plot overall was good, however not without flaws. Sometimes I feel like it deviated from the main point, drifting away from trying to be Awakened and bring down the Protectorate to the whole Darian and Desiree romance. While I did enjoy their romance, sometimes I wish there was more emphasis on the actual system in place in this new world and them focusing on taking it down. There were a couple of twists I saw coming, there were some I didn't, which made it all the more enjoyable.

I think the best part of the book was The Terrorscape. This nightmare state was terrying and the events that occurred within it were so well written. You could feel the panic of the characters and it felt like Shannon Duffy was creating a tangible nightmare. I kind of wish we had been exposed to The Terrorscape some more just because the writing within those scenes were so good. I could feel my pulse racing with each nightmare.

FAVORITE QUOTE:
"We need to make mistakes in order to learn from them. And we need to go through bad times to appreciate the good ones."

Overall this book was really enjoyable and I can't wait to see where the story goes.

[T.N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

***I received a free e-copy of this book from the publishers of Entangled Teen in exchange for my honest review. Originally posted at tnicolepayne.blogspot.com***

So you have the hot bad boy and the goody good girl but the girl is matched with another guy and then there's a corrupted government. Sound familiar? Yeah, I thought so too. I must admit that I worried when I read the synopsis because the premise reminded me of another story but I decided to give it a try anyway (what's that saying: "Ain't nothing new under the sun."). Well anyway, I'm glad I tried it because I loved it.

Desiree Six Haven is one of those law-abiding, never breaks the rules because is afraid of punishment kind of girl. A "sheep", as Darian called her. She believes that the government has all the citizens best interest at heart. That the rules are present to "Keep You Safe" (yeah, even I'm beginning to hate those words after finishing this book). So she follows the rules to a T...until she reunites with Darian One Sterling. Then everything she thought she knew gets blown to bits and her life gets thrown to hell and back.


But despite all the gloom and doom that fell on Desiree, she didn't let it keep her down. I really liked the character development Duffy did for her. It's like seeing a catepillar become a butterfly...a car-jacking, taser-zapping butterfly. Over the course of the book, you can see her really coming into herself and having a mind of her own instead of following what everyone else expects.


Then you have Darian. He's ...wait a minute...*sighs Darian*...okay, I'm back. Darian is this hot, law-breaking Noncompliant criminal who just screams bad boy material. And yet he really isn't. Sure he's considered a murderer and sure he kicked his fair share of butts and sure he's a escapee on the run but if you look past all that -like Desiree had to -you find that he's this sweet, caring guy who's always putting Desiree before himself. I love the chemistry between the two. It practically leaps off the pages and I found myself awwing at all their little cutesy moments.


There were some characters in the book I initially disliked *cough Asher and Mallory* but they eventually come around as okay peeps (shocking, I know!!) And then there were a few characters that I liked in the beginning but hated at the end. It has nothing to do with Duffy's writing or anything but the fact that the character itself (their actions and words and personalities). Then there were many moments where I cried from the emotions presented. It felt so real and I found myself rooting for Darian and Desiree and booing the Protectorate as I gave them and those characters I grew to dislike the stink eye. The fact that Duffy could elicit such responses from me shows how well written the book was (I rarely give the stink eye to anyone...seriously! I'm a pacifist *meow*).


With a mixture of romance and some action, this was one of those books that I couldn't put down until I realized I was pouting at the end from the lack of more pages. I give this book five stars, encourage people to read it and commend Shannon Duffy on a job well done and can't wait for the sequel. Like seriously can't wait. Need now, please!

[Sasha Hibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

* ARC sent by publisher in exchange for an honest review *

I snatch up every Entangled Teen book that comes my way, but I knew when the publisher reached out personally and sent this ARC my way, it was going to be good, real good.

This is the first Shannon Duffy novel I've read and what a thrilling read. There was no disappointment here.

The Dystopian world the author created was unique, dark, suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat, staying up late into the night needing to know what happened to this cast of vivid characters woven together so beautifully.

Ms. Duffy instantly introduces the reader to the world, the Protectorate, an evil dictatorship, their means of control (Terrorscape) and the citizens enduring the reign of terror. Sadly, the citizens buy into this system, the Protectorate being all they've ever known.

It's when Desiree Six has a chance encounter with an escaped convict (Noncompliant) that she begins to question everything she's been taught to believe.

The relationship building between Desiree and Darian was so beautiful to read, so tender, so sweet, and full of raw emotion. I hate that Desiree's liberation came at such a heavy cost (no spoilers here, you'll have to experience those heart wrenching scenes all on your own)but how Darian managed to get through to her was pure literary beauty.

The secondary characters are just as important and what a surprise to see Desiree's childhood bully now Protectorate paired mate turn out not to be as bad as implied. It was thrilling to watch him blossom, to put aside everything he's known and risk everything he has to do the right thing.

The Protectorate is a crooked system and you truly don't find out just how malicious they are until the final pages, and wait until you get there....

After finishing Awakening, I remember sitting up in bed, digesting all the beautiful words fed to me, and I remember thinking with a chill, "I believe something like this could happen." It makes you lose sleep, makes you wonder, makes you remember. When a novel such as Awakening can evoke those kinds of profound thoughts, feelings and questions, you know you've stumbled across something special.

Awakening reminded me of two of my favorite novels, not in just the Dystopian genre, but period. Awakening put me in mind of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and Charlotte McConaghy's Fury. Both beautiful with their lyrical prose and profound and terrifying glimpses into a future that certainly could exist. I would now have to say that Awakening is among those favorites, one I will not forget.

Awakening is a terrifyingly beautifully brilliant take on YA Dystopian. I devoured each page and longed for more. This is by far one of the best books I've read all year. I patiently await the rest of this gripping story....

[Nichole Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

“This was Darian One Sterling. A murderer. And my childhood friend.”

So I know I should not make this connection at all because they are two completely different books, but this book started out with a very Matched feeling to me. And I really disliked that book, however, the writing in this book was much better. I really enjoyed the way the world was laid out and the story that was being told. Desiree conflicting feelings were wonderfully explored.

My big issue with this book was the predictability. I get that it is a dystopian book, so there is a level of predictability which what is going to happen. But I feel like it went beyond that layer of needing to break free from the “perfect” society.

What I really loved about this book was the writing. Shannon Duffy has this way of pulling you into the story and the characters’ lives. The writing is what kept me interested and reading as fast as I could to get to the end and see what happened to the characters and world. While some of the plot points were predictable, I still enjoyed the overall story in this book. I appreciated that this book was focused on Desiree finding out the truth for herself. We see her timid, subconscious distrust of The Protectorate morph into this desire to find proof and eventually the need to do something about it.

Like I said, I appreciated the premise of this book. While the whole matching you to your soulmate thing screamed Matched Trilogy at me, I loved the idea of The Protectorate and their “brainwashing” of citizens to keep them in line. The Protectorate is there to take care of everyone’s needs. I also thought it was amusing the the past was called the Manic Age, as if things were utter chaos when you got to choose your own job, significant other, number of children, etc. Finally, the whole Dreamscape aspect and the reliance on this machine to sleep and as a way for the Protectorate to subdue individuals, and remove to nightmares was captivating. It is beyond disturbing to think that punishment for noncompliance was basically to have to live in your nightmares, rather than the wonderful dreams you are always used to.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book even if it was predictable. I think I have gotten to the point where I have read so many YA dystopian books that there is not much that could surprise me when it comes to plot points in a dystopian. I also appreciate that this was published a standalone, rather than the typical trilogy. It definitely left things open for a possible sequel, but for the most part things were tied up nicely.

*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

YABC.

YA Dystopian, Awakening brings a world where everyone is required to use a dreaming machine (called Dreamscape) to sleep. Now, many of us take sleep for granted. Many of us don't have insomnias, parasomnias, hypersomnias, and everything in between. But I find Duffy's approach greatly interesting. I'd seen hunger, water, and shelter being toyed with by Dystopian governments, but this is the first time I'd seen sleep manipulated on a wide scale.

Desiree Six is a perfect citizen of the Protectorate (the government) until she meets Darian once again. Darian, her childhood friend, is wanted for the murder of his own parents. Highly loyal to the Protectorate, Desiree struggles to truly believe in Darian's claimed innocence. She has a special relationship with Darian, but it isn't enough to believe in him and break away from the Protectorate. But she proves to be quite observant and intelligent as the tale unfolds.

Darian, the hunted, is smart and is destined to die at twenty-five years old because of the day he is born on. Desperate to sleep, he breaks into Desiree's house and meets her once again after a long time. The romance between Desiree and Darian isn't swoony, but their connection and friendship is strong even after being apart for so long. Duffy paints a convincing spark.

The Protectorate serves as the villain of Awakening. Chasing down Darian, it will stop at nothing to recapture Darian. They are a rather interesting villain with much potential for a full-fleshed out villain with both sides of good and darkness, though Duffy doesn't spend much time on its ideals and personality. The Protectorate isn't just a simple organism determined to control the minds of its citizens. It is made up of hundreds and thousands of officials who walk in shades of grey.

The ending is one of the most satisfying parts of this book. After the long and dramatic events Darian and Desiree suffers through, the ending brings a sense of hope yet also more potential for a sequel (yes, please!).

The plot colors in Desiree's life before she meets Darian, Fugitive Number One. Starting off rather slowly, the plot shows Desiree's "normal." But once Darian pops right into the picture, everything goes off and chaos comes to bring a quicken plot and entertaining storyline. Desiree's search for some hidden secrets brings doubt into her life, and I myself am surprised by Darian's information. But the information is indeed the right catalyst for Desiree's rebellion.

Overall, Awakening is a dark tale that reminds readers how essential sleep is to life. Desiree is a smart and serious character, who tasks herself with finding out the truth of the Protectorate. Awakening is a thrilling story with terror and danger.

Rating: Four out of Five

[Eileen (BookCatPin) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story in Awakening had both unique and familiar elements to dystopian novels. I found myself really enjoying the world but at the same time feeling conflicted with the story. It was predictable. My mind kept wandering off in directions the story could have taken to make it different and stand out more.

All her life, Desiree has always followed the rules set out by the governing body known as The Protectorate. Their motto has always been in keeping its people safe and worry-free so she's never had any reason to doubt their ways. That is until her childhood friend, Darian who was convicted of murder, escapes from jail and asks her for her help. It isn't until then that Desiree starts to really question The Protectorate's pairing of her with the guy she's loathed since childhood and the occupation they've chosen for her. If those are the best choices for her then why doesn't she feel the same way? Pretty soon, Desiree finds herself tangled up in webs of lies struggling to uncover the truths before they can get buried again.

The idea of the world was eye-opening. Life would be so much easier if it was already all planned out for us. We would not know any better. Ignorance is bliss right? But of course absolute perfection is impossible and the more The Protectorate tried to create that illusion and hide its lies, the more impact the truth held. The implications were clear - The Protectorate isn't good. Darian sets out to expose them and would stop at nothing to get justice. Meanwhile Desiree digs deeper to remember Sophia and what was done to her and her family to make them forget. The two of them could not be stop. I'm content that Desiree gets rewarded in the end to not only see her little sister alive but also getting away from The Protectorate.

I couldn't help but notice a lot of similarities between Awakening and other well-known dystopian books I've read. The love story ran parallel to that of Delirium and Legend while the strict rule-following society felt like Divergent and the true Terroscape came close to The Hunger Games. Even with these similarities though, I feel the differences were obvious enough for me to enjoy the story as new.

I don't think there needs to be a sequel but considering how the story ended, there definitely is room for one. While the ending gives us closure on certain issues, quite a few things were still left unanswered. I really hope if there's a sequel, it would focus on giving us answers to the bigger picture. Overall, if you're a fan of dystopians, give this one a try for sure!

[Gaby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think with so many dystopian books out there, specially when some of them have become really well known, it's hard to find a book that really stands for itself and that doesn't have the reader dwelling in comparing them.

Awakening certainly has an interesting promise as you can read on the blurb, there were things I like but I think my biggest problem was that I couldn't connect with the characters, but since that's on a personal level, I'm sure for other people it will be different and they'd be able to fully appreciate the story.

Our main character here is Desiree Six, who has lived all of her life under the hands of the Protectorate, they're the government of this world, a world where they take all of the decisions so the citizens don't have to; like choosing their career, their partners and even deciding their deaths, all of this is supposedly done so they don't have to worry about anything, because they're gonna decide what's best for them. In this world all of the people also have to use a device called the dreamscape, it's the only way they can go to sleep.

And although for Desire her time has come to meet who would be her life partner, she starts having doubts because the choice the protectorate has for her is definitely not someone she would have chosen; but to disagree with the protectorate is to risk your life, because anyone who is found non compliant can be severely punished; which is why she has to believe that this is the right thing to do; but when a her former friend Darian, whose charged with the murder of his parents shows up, it will start a series of events that will make Desiree realize that their world is far from perfect and that the Protectorate is hiding dark secrets.

Like I said, it's a very interesting premise but I just couldn't connect with Desiree. I found her a bit a bit whinny at first, just accepting and forcing herself to accept everything, is towards the end that she starts changing but since it's all told from her POV it was a bit hard for me to read. She needs some more character building.
I like Darian better, he's kind of a bad boy and despite what the Protectorate wants everyone to think of him, there's more to his story.

There's some interesting twists on the story towards the end, which certainly make me curious about reading the sequel, the book has potential so I trust it can get better.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

Awakening was kindly provided to me by Entangled Teen in exchange for my honest review.

Our MC is Desiree Six – The six being the sixth day of the week and the number that determines the age when someone will die. She has always believed in the Protectorate and the laws that had been made but she begins to question them when her loyal, childhood friend Darian One is charged with the murder – a crime punishable by life in the Terrorscape, he escapes jail and tries to convince her of the faults within their society and what they are being forced to believe.

Desiree was a likeable character but there were instances where she did grate on my nerves – in saying this she also made some wise choices and chose to believe Darian despite the evidence against him; I liked the friendship she shared with him; he was wonderful character and one I really felt for. We also meet Asher who is Desiree’s intended I also liked him; I found him to be quite noble and sincere despite their predicament.

The concept was interesting – the dystopian world we are introduced to has the Protectorate governing where their sole purpose is to eradicate the manic world’s problems by devising a system where marriage, dreams and jobs are determined for each citizen; those who don’t comply are known as noncompliant and are put in a nightmare terrorscape at Olympus Jail which is witnessed by the population. I found this aspect to be quite intriguing and creative but I do still have many unanswered questions about the world overall and how it came to be which I hope will be answered in the sequel.

I also found the bonding process to be interesting; I thought this aspect was a little like Matched where the characters are bound to each other based on certain criteria, as we learn it isn’t a process that is without fault. It is a system with flaws but one the population has no idea about because of their Protectorate daily dreamscapes, it was truly an imperfect society.

Shannon Duffy’s writing is vividly detailed and engaging; I enjoyed the characters overall and I found the plot to be fast-paced and the world-building creative. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.

Thank you to Entangled for the opportunity to read and review Awakening by Shannon Duffy.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book from Entangled after entering a contest.

This is the first book I have read by Shannon Duffy, something I plan to remedy in the future now that I have read Awakening. From the first page the story of Desiree Six, her family and life pulls you in with the news that her childhood friend, Darian One has escaped from the Terrorscape - the prison where the citizens of Tower are taken once they become criminals, or noncompliant. Desiree's world is one of compliance in everything. Home, career, future mate and even death all happen by design to maintain peace and order. Desiree's childhood friend, Darian, is charged with killing his parents and that makes him noncompliant. When Darian appears in Desiree's room one night after escaping the Terrorscape, she finds it harder to not become noncompliant with him, especially after she learns about what really happened to Darian and his family.

Shannon Duffy creates a world in Awakening that at first appears to be perfect, except Desiree's world is not as perfect as it should be. The career that is chosen for her doesn't match her interests, and she's paired with her old childhood bully to be her future mate. Darian's crimes don't match with her own memories of the times she spent with his family. When things don't add up, Desiree begins asking questions that make it more difficult to remain compliant. Desiree wrestles between trusting her childhood friend or maintaining compliance for herself, her friends, and family.

This story is fast-paced and guaranteed to keep you turning pages until the end. A great book, and I look forward to reading more.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is supposedly aimed at teens but, although I left my teens more years ago than I care to remember, I was totally enthralled by this novel - and the ending has me hoping to read the sequel asap! In this dystopian world everyone has an implant which helps ensure they all have a lovely night’s sleep courtesy of the Protectorate and their dreamscape . . . . but is that all it is for? The Protectorate even choose everyone’s life partner, their jobs and control all aspect of people’s lives to fulfil their motto “Here to take care of you” - or so they say! They even choose when you will die according to the day of the week on which you were born!

Desiree starts to question their lives but knows that to do so openly will result in punishment and humiliation. Her childhood protector and friend, Darian has already been imprisoned in Olympus Jail because he killed both his parents. When he escapes and comes to visit Desiree she initially is wary of him but, as she learns more, she puts herself and her family into imminent danger.

With great characters and an enthralling, fast paced story, this is a real page turner, one that I didn’t want to put down until I’d finished it. Whilst it is ended appropriately, It finishes with more revelations about the Protectorate, raising questions about what will happen next - a brilliant incentive to get the next book in the series as soon as it is available! No hesitation in highly recommending this to teens and adults - a superb start to a fantastic new series.

Thanks to the author and publishers, too for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[K.M. Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored Awakening! I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC ebook of Awakening and I finished it in a day. I couldn't put it down and now I'm dying for the sequel. Shannon Duffy's world of Tower is brought to life through the eyes of Desiree, a rule-following daughter and friend who soon learns her world is not what it seems. Her childhood friend, Damian has recently escaped from the prison he was being held in for murdering his parents. When he shows up in her room one night, everything changes. Readers fall instantly in love with Desiree, her family and friends, and Damian. This series is perfect for lovers of the Matched Series, as Desiree finds herself bound to her childhood tormentor and her choice to follow the rules or follow her heart. Lovers of the excitement from the Hunger Games, Divergent, and A Sinner's Series will be thrilled as they discover the secrets of the Terrorscape, the punishment for disobeying the Protectorate.

I was a bit worried when I read the description that it would be a knock off of the Matched Series, but I'm happy to say it was not. The beginning is very familiar for Matched fans and quick blossoms into a unique story all its own. I loved every minute of Desiree and Damian's story and I can't wait to read more in the next book in the series. Thank you Shannon Duffy, I am officially a fan!!

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

What if your life was already completely figured out for you, right down to when you'll actually die? Desiree Six Haven thought her life was perfect. The Protectorate decided what each child would be when they grew up and their education was geared towards that goal, he chose who they would marry, when they would die, and most of all their dreams. They were all unable to sleep unless they used the Dreamscape.

Desiree was fine with all of it, believing the Protectorate, until she began dreaming of her future mate...her childhood bully. She continues believing in the best until her childhood protector Darian climbs through her window.

Darian has grown up into a handsome young man, but he's also a wanted criminal. Not only is he accused of being "noncompliant", but he's allegedly murdered his parents and escaped from prison. That night Darian exposes information to Desiree that there's no turning back from.

This was a great dystopian novel dealing with conformity. It gives off a sort of "Stepford Wives" vibe, but in more detail. You could completely understand the shock at knowing you have more family than you thought you had. At the end of the novel it's left open ended for a possible book two, I will be eagerly awaiting it to see where it takes us.

[F. A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Entangled Teen for sending me a finished copy of Awakening by Shannon Duffy for review. This in no way effects my opinion or changes my review.

Desiree lives in a society of structure and order. No longer do nightmares or crime of any kind plague their world. Once they reach a certain age they are introduced to who their bound partner will be through the dreamscape every night for a year. She has been dreaming of this day until she realizes the boy she has been bound to is the boy who bullied her growing up.

Darian is one of the few non-compliants sent to the terrorscape for punishment of his crimes. His crimes were so severe he is to live out his life their. Or were they even his crimes? Darian escapes and is determined to shine light on what is really going on with the terrorscape and dreamscape. He wants justice.

Desiree and Darian once former friends lives soon become intertwined in this fast paced non-stop action dystopian. If you love Matched and Delirium then you will devour Awakening. Just when you think you have it all figured out you will be on you toes having to finish or you might find yourself in your own nightmares. I am giving Awakening 4 out of 5 stars and I can not wait to read Shannon Duffy's next book.

[Katrina Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: Awakening Review
 I finished this book within 24 hours.  I didn't want to put it down.  Duffy drew me into this world from page 1. 
Desiree is a great character.  She may seem complacent, but she begins questioning everything.  She doesn't know what to believe, and whom she should trust.  Darian is totally swoonworthy, but also a strong character.  He does everything in his power to tell Desiree the truth but also keep her safe.  This is definitely a hard task at times. 
This world is one I wouldn't want to live in.  So much control, betrayal, and blind following.  I don't even know how I would cope in this world. The things these people do are insane.  The description of the Empire made me feel like I was there with Desiree and Darian.  I do know that the Terrorscape is just that.  It's horrifying. 
There is a lot of action, floundering about with finding out what's going on, love, and finding out who's trustworthy.  It's definitely a ride you don't want to miss.

[Kimber Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Awakening was a fast-paced, intriguing story about a supposedly utopian society that really wasn't as wonderful as advertised. I loved the Dreamscape/Terrorscape aspect of the plot. The Terrorscape sounded truly terrifying!

Darien was a great character. After what he endured at the hands of this perfect society, it was amazing he wasn't completely damaged beyond repair. In fact I really liked all of the characters. I was prepared to despise Desiree's Protectorate-chosen mate, yet even he managed to grow on me as the story progressed. Desiree started doubting the Protectorate when she was paired with her childhood bully-- Darien's arrival and revelations merely confirmed her darkest fears.

The story starts out strong, pulling the reader in, and it doesn't let go. There's really never a lull or dull moment in the story. I was so immersed in the characters and their story that I lost all track of time, devouring half the book without stopping. The ending, or lack thereof, just left me wanting the next book sooner not later.

If you like YA dystopian, Awakening is definitely one to add to your TBR list.