Awen Rising

The Awen Trilogy #1

by O.J. Barré

Going home is never easy. For Emily Hester, it could be deadly.

Disaster Specialist Emily has witnessed devastation. Tsunamis and rising oceans are gobbling the world’s coastlines. Earthquakes and volcanoes reshape the interior. But when a cyclone rips her fiancé from her arms, Emily loses her nerve and her job. Homeless and penniless, she has nowhere to turn. Plus, Shalane Carpenter, a famous witch-turned-evangelist, is stalking Emily. And if Shalane can’t have her, nobody will.

On the other coast, in Atlanta, Georgia, the Awen Order of Druids is minus one heiress, their leader is in a coma, the priest is untested, and their attorney plots to seize control. Worse, an evil brewing beneath Earth—a race of monstrous lizard men—will strike again. Ancient Keepers do their best to contain them. But the two remaining dragons must oversee the boundaries and track down the Order's missing Awen. Without her, Earth doesn't stand a chance.

And though this Awen may be the answer to Earth’s plight, will Awen’s destiny spell Emily's demise?

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy

353 pages, ebook

First published July 26, 2019

About the author

O.J. Barré resides in beautiful, windswept Cheyenne, WY, US, where the constantly changing 360-degree view of the sky never ceases to amaze. Her writing partner, Rambo the Rambunctious, is a twenty-four-pound black Maine Coon mix. After choosing O.J. at the shelter in 2019, Rambo reminds her daily to write (and play). You can find O.J. and Rambo on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Alignable, at her website, ojbarre dot com, and her blog, That Rebel with a Blog.

O.J. hails from the lushly forested, red-clay hills near Atlanta, Georgia. From birth, O.J. was a force of nature. Barefoot and freckled, headstrong and gifted, she was, and is, sensitive to a fault. Books became her refuge as a young child, allowing O.J. to escape the confines of her turbulent alcoholic home on adventures to untold places and times. Her daddy's mother was a Willoughby, making O.J. a direct descendant of William the Conqueror. Her Awen series is a love letter to that distant past.

Reviews

[Lukasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for SPFBO 8.

Awen Rising is a fast-paced near-future urban fantasy with druids, Dragons, Reptile Man, magic, and mischief.

Emily Hester is bankrupt and broken. But she's also special. Actually, she's our only hope to win the coming war between the humans and reptilians and rescue humanity. To do so, she must accept her Druid lineage and trust a handsome druid trainer. Saving the world can be fun, after all!

Awen is a fun romp. It has short chapters and multiple POVs that allow readers to look at the conflict from a few angles. There's a lot thrown in the mix: sentient animals, sexy times, nasty reptilians, magic, druids, and druid lore. As the story progresses, it gets quicker and quicker and culminates in a cliffhanger (a good one!).

I expect readers looking for an entertaining read with YA/NA feel will enjoy Awen and its sequels. However, I also felt that the story tried to cram too much in, and not all of the plotlines merged as smoothly as I'd have liked. I expect O. J. Barré's writing style to be divisive. Some readers will appreciate the rich, emotionally charged descriptions, while others will feel they get in the way of the story. Sometimes her prose leans towards purplish, and that's not the style I like. Another issue I have concerns with is a rather juvenile characterization.

All told, Awen Rising is an intriguing and fast-paced book that should appeal to fans of straightforward stories.

[Dj]

I thought the book was very entertaining. I enjoyed the fact that it was a longer book. I actually bought both kindle and the paperback. There is something about having the real thing in your hands. I enjoyed getting involved with the characters as they evolved. I can't wait for the the next.... Took me longer than normal as company was in and out for weeks..

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Awen Rising is the first book in a trilogy by O.J. Barré. Released 26th July 2019, it's 353 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a well written and engaging near-future urban fantasy written in parallel timelines and third person pov. The author draws very heavily on druidic lore and archetypes and good vs. evil in the form of protagonist Emily who is heir to the heritage of Awen and an unwitting force in a coming war for the survival of humanity.

The book doesn't read like a debut effort, it's quite a long book full of grand conflict and well drawn characters both human, animal, dragon, etc. The world building is detailed and complex and immersive. That being said there are some issues with dialogue and I found myself yanked out of the story by continuity problems occasionally as well as unnecessary inter-character drama. For readers who are offended by sexual content or language, the book contains both. I didn't find it egregious in either case, but it's something of which to be aware if that's an issue.

This is a diverting read and would be a good choice for lovers of the genre. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Urban Fantasy Adventure

Talk about an amazing adventure! Learning you have family, then finding out you have Druid powers ….it’s beyond anything you ever imagined!
Then throw in a few evil twists happening on the side lines. Can wait for the next book in the trilogy!

[Meenakshi Datta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical world crafted with sensitive prose

Would recommend this book as a masterclass to engage the reader’s interest. The characters are well threshed out, the research and the painstaking care taken to fill the background makes this book stand out in my mind. Absolutely wowed 🤩

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/24/2021)! 🎁

[Anne Szlachcic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awen Rising is the first book in a dystopian trilogy by this author - a near-future urban fantasy written in parallel timelines and third person points of view - which whilst distracting at times did not detract from the story .
It has well drawn characters both human, animal, dragon, etc which adds to the richness of the story .
Combined with a wonderfully rich mythological culture , the druid lore lends itself to the most creative and detailed kind of 'secret society'. I found myself hoping this could be a reality and the druids could help pull us out of the mess we have made of the planet ……..
I really love the UnderEarth, where the reptilian race lives. They have their own society, even technology which puts above Earth's at a disadvantage .
The complex relationships and development of the characters will keep you intrigued and invested in the outcomes of the story .

This is a very good debut novel and I would be interested in reading future books in this genre by the Author .
However might I suggest that multiple points of view can be a disadvantage to a good book - unless done really well .

I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Victoria Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling mix of modern disaster and ancient magic
This book delivers high stakes from start to finish. Emily Hester is a disaster specialist broken by loss and hunted by a dangerous witch, while ancient orders, dragons, and a terrifying underground threat fight to save Earth. The blend of climate catastrophe, mythology, and destiny is gripping, emotional, and fast-paced. A compelling heroine, dark magic, and world-ending stakes make this a highly engaging read.

[Kelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive. Quite an undertaking really. I found myself a bit confused many times, but for a first novel, this is impressive. The content sings to me.

[AnnaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me some time to come up with this review. One of the reasons is the complexity of the story. It has so many layers that I was confused from time to time.

Description
The year is 2042 and Earth is in serious trouble. There are earthquakes, tsunamis all over the world. Darkness is coming. An ancient reptilian race wants to conquer the world. Only one person can stop them: Awen.
Emily moved to California after she’d lost her fiancé and her job. On top of that someone is after her. So she is in serious need of a new identity and a new place to hide. When she gets a phone call from a lawyer out of the blue, she finds out her father is alive and wants to meet her. But she finds out other things too: she is Awen, the grand druid who must save the world. Will she succeed?

Main character
Emily goes through some serious changes as the story goes. At first she is a depressed, scared woman who has nothing left to lose. She just lost her job and her fiancé and to top that she is alone and lonely. But after a phone call, her life changes and she changes with it. As she start to discover her past and her new life, she starts to become strong, confident and powerful. I wasn’t sure I liked her at first but my opinion started to change as well.

Supporting characters
Lugh MacBrayer is a kind and sweet guy, Emily and him has a connection instantly.
Shalene the witch gave me the creeps. She is a horrible, selfish, crazy woman who always gets what her wants.
Nergal is one of the reptilians. He is also a negative character but a truly intriguing one. He looks horrifying, acts like it too.
Hope and Cu are a cat and dog respectively. They are cool and loyal.

World-building
The story is set in the near future but the planet is being devastated by disasters. Big parts of the United States is gone completely or under water. What makes this even more terrible is the fact that this is something that could happen in our lifetime.
What was really great was the UnderEarth, where the reptilian race lives. They have their own society, even technology which is pretty awesome.

Writing style
Apart from some parts and some conversations which were a little confusing, this is a well-written book. When I got the hang of it, the story became easier to follow, easier to understand. There are lots of characters, too many I think. The pacing was a little off and took some getting to but O. J. Barré sure knows how to spin a tale because despite of these issues I enjoyed this book.

Ending
Okay, I know this is the first book in a trilogy but end it like this? I loved it and hated it at the same time.

I received an ARC from BooksGoSocial and O. J. Barré through NetGalley, thank you for my copy. All opinions are my own.

[Mrs. Garen L. Herd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Book one has Druids, wacko lizards, dragons, an insane shaman/witch aka stalker, and a few that want Emily dead. But amid all the chaos, she has found her true family. Some humor, no sex, and some danger. Highly recommend if you like urban fantasy.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have recieved a free electronic copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book, the usage of druid lore and magic was very appealing to me. I found myself wanting more out of the story though. Even though this story was long it included a ton of parallel character point of views. Some of the dialogue was confusing but I felt that it was justified in the story.

[Kristin Scarbrough · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing is smart and often humorous. The story ticks forward without any unneeded pauses or side trips, keeping a flowing narrative that I found to be a real page turner. I had a rough time stopping to take care of other things that needed my attention, and the dishes have proven more than once that they will not do themselves. If only I had some magical powers of my own!
This book provides everything I like in a story: entertaining, relatable characters; steady, consuming plot; enough twists and turns to keep things interesting; and questions that are answered but bring up more questions in a pattern that doesn’t end until the book does.
I WILL be reading part two!

I received a free copy of this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only. This is an edited review. The entire review can be found on my blog at http://www.waywardducks.com.

[Pamela Seaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of Awen Rising through Voracious readers.
Awen Rising was a great read. The characters were interesting and relatable. I loved the story and was disappointed when I reached the end of the book.
A great supernatural read which draws you in. I look forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.

[Rhonda Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book.

[Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awen Rising turned out to be one of those books that took some time for me to get into it. to get invested in the story and its characters. The story is complex, and there are a lot of characters, and the book is written in third person, so it can be a bit much. I kind of feel like the number of characters was a mixed bag for this book. The characters were essential but it's a little frustrating trying to keep everyone straight until you get to know them. Fortunately, the characters are well done, and the author has certainly done a good job of bringing them to life. I particularly like the Druid aspect of the story. I find them fascinating, and I just feel like they add so much to this type of book. In the end, I did enjoy the story once I got into it, and I don't want to say too much about the ending, I will say that O. J. Barré has left us with a tidbit to ponder. Of course, this is a trilogy, so I didn't expect everything to be tied up in a neat little bow already.

[Corinne Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book, Awen Rising by O.J. Barre, through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. This book had a lot going on! Some good, and some not-so-good. First things first, I really loved the way the book started off with the prologue. I'm not usually a fan of prologues, as they seem to be filled with backstory and blocks of information that I'm going to forget reading by the time I finish Chapter 2. However, this one was interesting and didn't provide information as much as establishing an interesting character dynamic. On the other hand, I'm kind of mad about the prologue because that story (the little snippet we saw of Awen) was much more engaging than the story we are actually meant to read moving forward.

Emily Hester, our main character, is plagued by terrible luck it seems. We don't get much information about her, other than she lost her fiance in a terrible storm, she worked in the field of natural disasters (but then seems to link natural disasters to herself, even though her job was to predict/seek them out/study them…), has a creepy shaman stalker, and is the long-lost heiress to a druid clan. There are a lot of hints at supernatural things going on with Emily, and she had a bad relationship with her mother, but otherwise, she doesn't connect with me (as the reader). I had a difficult time getting through her parts, because I didn't see any character development. Everyone loved her, they turned on the sleazy lawyer pretty quick, and she was accepted by everyone. It just seemed to easy on a personal level, and allowed her no room to character flaws and weaknesses, so in turn there was no character growth.

I loved the Dracos though, they were vicious, dark, and creepy. Shalane, the shaman was an interesting character that I would have liked to have more backstory on, too. The Dragons had me confused too -- whether it was because I was slogging through Emily's scenes or because I needed more information, I'm not sure. But I was under the impression that the Dragons were friends of Emily and she just didn't remember them, but at the end, one of the Dragons was mad at her and caused a violent earthquake and slight volcanic eruption because he/she was mad at her. Again, for some unknown reason

The book also ends abruptly, on a cliched cliffhanger. I'm not a fan of those -- especially, I felt like we didn't really get going with anything. I'm also not sure why animals love Awen so much… The Dracos don't make any contact with Emily, Nergal is somewhere passed out behind a dumpster, Mitchell Wainwright is missing, Shalane is now not a problem because they memory wiped her, and Emily can calm the earth with a simple phrase, so quickly and easily saves the day. But there are eyes staring at her from the Reptile House. and that's how we end. It's like a last ditch effort to get us to read Book 2. Honestly, I think this had such AWESOME potential, but it read more like a first draft than a developed novel. Not sure I'll be back for Book

[R Grisham-Whitehouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too juvenile

I got most of the way through the book but I gave up. The author writes well and she started to develop interesting characters but they devolved into a biker gang. The lizard men subplot is just bizarre. The Wainwright character motivations make no sense. I’m not a fan of overt Wiccan recruitment, but this is a hodgepodge. I don’t know what happens but I’m done.

[Louise · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

I got 5% into the story. I reached the sentence "With a desire greater than any he had ever known, William rose over the deuid priestess and pierced the veil of her forbidden kingdom" because OH MY LORD! REALLY? No. Just no.

[Book Lover]

This book was alright, just not my cup of tea. I DNFd about halfway through, but I think there is absolutely an audience out there for this book.

[David Wickham · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is just bad. I managed 2%. Evil lizard men? Just no LOL

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid 3.5. Most of the characters don't have any real depth, maybe they are fleshed out more in the next book? Even so, this was an enjoyable, light read.