#BookReview :: Awaking (The Naturals #1) by Madeline Freeman

Morgan Abbey's life is about to change. Just weeks before the beginning of her senior year, a mysterious stranger approaches Morgan with information that turns her world on end: First, the psychic ability she believes she has just been pretending to have since middle school might actually be real. Second, her mother, who disappeared abruptly and completely almost a decade ago, might still be alive. Morgan finds herself drawn into a centuries-old struggle involving a shadowy group with incredible powers. The Veneret have quietly coexisted alongside the common people of the world for centuries. Now they believe it is time for them to reclaim their former positions of power-and that Morgan is the key to their victory. Every victory comes at a price-but is it one that Morgan will be willing to pay?  




Morgan Abbey has no control over her life or it would seem so. Her life is suddenly all about changes and these changes are not always for the better and sometimes downright weird. She had been okay raising herself, almost, ever since her mother disappeared over a decade back, but finding out that she had ‘powers’ was something even she hadn’t bargained for. And to find out that he mother may be alive and that she is crucial in a war that has been going on for centuries is over-the-top for a teenager like her. We, the readers, get a front row ticket to the drama that Morgan’s life is and get to see her take on things that are far bigger than her.

First the good things about the book - the language and the narration style are informal and easy to get into. The plot and the concept behind the plot are intriguing. There are a number of interesting characters that you will love to like and love to hate. The storyline has a pace that is relaxed and hence every time I turned a page, I did not have the urge to go back and read it again with the fear that I may have missed something. As for the disadvantages of this book, one of its biggest advantages turns into a disadvantage before long. The informal language and narration style that initially invited me in initially, soon became something monotonous and not much attractive. It is difficult to be special while using common and everyday young adult language to tell a story and I think this was one of the instances where it didn’t just click. Also, there is minimum character growth and story development with a sudden ending to the book that left me feeling unsatisfied.

I may pick up the sequel to see where the plot goes and if there is any character development, but I doubt I would pick this one up for a second read. This is a one time read and forget sort of a book that failed to make a lasting impression irrespective of the fact that I hardly noticed time flying by while I was reading it.