Review by VernaVi -- Awakening by Tayma Tameem
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Review by VernaVi -- Awakening by Tayma Tameem
[Following is a volunteer review of "Awakening" by Tayma Tameem.]
Awakening by Tayma Tameem is a science fiction fantasy fit for a Queen. An Ice Queen, to be precise. The story begins with Katya listening to her father, the King, telling her a bedtime story. When her sister, Amara, is born minutes later, the family realizes that things are not quite what they seem. Katya's new baby sister seems different, magical almost.
As time progresses, it is revealed that Amara does possess special abilities regarding the elements of ice and snow. When Katya finds herself in the future without a memory, will she be able to regain her memory as well as her closeness to her sister? To find out, you have to read this book!
I loved the close relationship that Katya and Amara have in the storyline of this book. The feeling of friendship, camaraderie, and the love of a sister comes through in this story. The fantasy realm and mystical powers add interest and enhance the book as a whole, but the part that I liked the most is the connection between the sisters and their family devotion.
The character development is excellent as well. Katya and Amara's personalities are distinctly unique to each sister while still playing a supporting role to the other. Their playfulness as children added fun to the overall mood of the book. Katya's encouragement to Amara when she was learning to make snowflakes was endearing and one of the things that made me like Katya's character.
The book shifts from the future time frame to the past throughout the book, but the labels make it clear each time. It never feels like a jarring change, and the style of writing seems to work well with the way the story unfolds for the reader.
Some of the book's features reminded me a little of the characters in the movie Frozen released by Disney Studios. The powers of ice and snow and how Amara had to learn control of her negative emotions were similar. There were, however, many unique qualities in the plot and characters that set them apart from other stories. The time-travel aspects were part of those qualities, adding interest and originality to the book.
There are gruesome and bloody scenes in this book between Amara and soldiers, which may not appeal to younger readers. Her ability to kill in a cold-blooded manner is one thing I disliked most about her character and this book. This work seems professionally edited. I didn't notice errors in the text. It will appeal most to readers who enjoy fast-paced action adventures with a time travel twist. The magical elements in this novel are some of the brightest aspects of it. For these reasons, I am rating this book with 4 out of 4 stars. It may not appeal to readers who don't like descriptive battle scenes.
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Awakening
View: on Bookshelves
Awakening by Tayma Tameem is a science fiction fantasy fit for a Queen. An Ice Queen, to be precise. The story begins with Katya listening to her father, the King, telling her a bedtime story. When her sister, Amara, is born minutes later, the family realizes that things are not quite what they seem. Katya's new baby sister seems different, magical almost.
As time progresses, it is revealed that Amara does possess special abilities regarding the elements of ice and snow. When Katya finds herself in the future without a memory, will she be able to regain her memory as well as her closeness to her sister? To find out, you have to read this book!
I loved the close relationship that Katya and Amara have in the storyline of this book. The feeling of friendship, camaraderie, and the love of a sister comes through in this story. The fantasy realm and mystical powers add interest and enhance the book as a whole, but the part that I liked the most is the connection between the sisters and their family devotion.
The character development is excellent as well. Katya and Amara's personalities are distinctly unique to each sister while still playing a supporting role to the other. Their playfulness as children added fun to the overall mood of the book. Katya's encouragement to Amara when she was learning to make snowflakes was endearing and one of the things that made me like Katya's character.
The book shifts from the future time frame to the past throughout the book, but the labels make it clear each time. It never feels like a jarring change, and the style of writing seems to work well with the way the story unfolds for the reader.
Some of the book's features reminded me a little of the characters in the movie Frozen released by Disney Studios. The powers of ice and snow and how Amara had to learn control of her negative emotions were similar. There were, however, many unique qualities in the plot and characters that set them apart from other stories. The time-travel aspects were part of those qualities, adding interest and originality to the book.
There are gruesome and bloody scenes in this book between Amara and soldiers, which may not appeal to younger readers. Her ability to kill in a cold-blooded manner is one thing I disliked most about her character and this book. This work seems professionally edited. I didn't notice errors in the text. It will appeal most to readers who enjoy fast-paced action adventures with a time travel twist. The magical elements in this novel are some of the brightest aspects of it. For these reasons, I am rating this book with 4 out of 4 stars. It may not appeal to readers who don't like descriptive battle scenes.
******
Awakening
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: The Fate of AI Society by Kenneth Hamer-Hodges
