Review of Awakening

[Chidimma Eneye]

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

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4 out of 4 stars

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Awakening by Tayma Tameem is a book about the unbreakable bond between two sisters. It starts by introducing us to curious dark-haired four-year-old Katja who is being read a folklore by her father. That night her sister, Amara, is born with red hair and it is discovered that she has the spirit of winter. Twenty-six years later, a dark-haired woman wakes up in a forest alone, wearing expensive clothes and with no memory of who she is, not even her name. She begins a journey of self-discovery and makes new friends who teach her about a side of life she has never experienced. But the questions continue to nag her: Who is she? What is she?

Tayma Tameem's Awakening is a beautiful story. The love between Amara and her sister can be felt through the words on each page of this book. Amara is depicted as a vulnerable little girl with so much power and little control. Katja shows what it really means to be a big sister by protecting Amara even when it threatens her own life.

When I first read the synopsis of Awakening, I thought, "oh! It's just like Frozen!". But when I started reading the book I found out it isn't like frozen at all. While both are about a conjurer of ice and sisterly love, the storylines couldn't be more different. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I think it is mature, suspenseful and entertaining. I like the challenges Amara faced and overcame to finally control her powers. I love how Katja was always there for her sister even when no one else was. Overall I think Tayma is an excellent storyteller. I can't fault this book at all.

I rate this book 4 out of 4. I think it was exceptionally edited as I didn't find any errors. It was written in a way that makes the story easy to follow. It uses modern English and simple sentence structure which you don't find in many fantasy books. Worthy of note is the way flashbacks are woven into the story. The writer doesn't give away spoilers before hand, giving you no choice but to continue reading. It is not one of those books where you know the end from the beginning.

I recommend Awakening by Tayma Tameem to fantasy readers. It is moderately-paced, by my standards, and has a bit of action. Lovers of adventure as well as sword and sorcery might also find it quite interesting.

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Awakening
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