Review by Ana Victoria2002 -- Awakening by Tayma Tameem

[Laura Britos]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Awakening" by Tayma Tameem.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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In a land punished by cruelty, a young woman wakes up from slumber. Surrounded by nothing but her thoughts and with no memories of her past. Little does she know that she is destined for greatness. She is bound to stop Lady Snow, the cruel ruler of this Kingdom, and someone deeply connected to her past. Awakening by Tayma Tameem is the story of Katja and Amara, two ironlike women. A narration full of mystery and adventure that awaits readers with a knack for magical tales.

An aspect that added spice to the story was how the author combines different periods. The narration goes back and forth between different timestamps to give the readers a solid backstory that develops simultaneously with the plot. It feels like you are reading two stories instead of one. In addition, these stories are intertwined and full of mystery.

It was exquisite to see how the writer builds up the tension between the two sisters and creates a very subtle drama that later turns into a big predicament. It was an engrossing dynamic since they have such an emotional history filled with angst. I sometimes felt that the two main characters were part of a single person. As if the author described the light and dark in humans. Tameem depicted the emotions of the characters remarkably. Allowing the reader to understand the ambiance in each chapter.

My favorite part of the book is how we get to see Amara changing and becoming evil over time. I thought it was absorbing to see her being swallowed by her own power and rage. At no time did I ever feel that Amara was the villain of the story even though she uses her powers for the wrong reasons. The author develops her at a slow-pace, allowing the reader to digest the changes in her personality.

With all of these details in mind, I must say this book is one of my favorites. It builds up tension very nicely. And even though it is a bit slow-paced in terms of action, it is never dull. I can tell that there is love surrounding the story. It was written in a beautiful way that has a continuous flow and rhythm. Never had I thought that a fantastic tale would entertain me so much. I could picture every scene in my head, kudos to the author´s narration skills. I give this story 4 stars out of 4 stars.

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Awakening
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