A very very Happy Release Day to Shannon Duffy!
Her novel, Awakening, has just released today through Entangled Teen. Thanks to the seriously awesome people from ET that sent an ARC my way. I absolutely LOVED that book.
But more on that later.
First…let’s meet the author!
About Shannon Duffy
Shannon is a middle grade and young adult writer with a few books under her belt. She is the author of Spectral, a YA paranormal romance, and Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta, a middle grade fantasy adventure series. Her middle grade series was written for her son, and are incredible special to her. Awakening is her latest novel.
Find Her At:
Website / Twitter / Facebook / GoodReads
About Her Book
GoodReads Synopsis:
A thrilling, futuristic sci-fi novel set in a unique and thought-provoking world, from author Shannon Duffy.
Desiree Six (because she was born on a Friday) believes in everything the Protectorate stands for. She likes the safety and security of having her entire life planned out—her career, her mate, even the date of her death. She doesn’t even think to question when Darian, her childhood friend and neighbor, is convicted of murdering his parents. They had seemed like such a loving family. But if he was convicted, then he must have done it.
Then Darian shows up in her room late one night. He has escaped from the Terrorscape—a nightmare machine used to punish all Noncompliants—and needs Desiree’s help. What he tells her rocks her world to its core and makes her doubt everything she’s ever been told. With this new information, will Desiree and Darian be able to escape the Protectorate before it’s too late?
Find the Book at Your Local Bookstore or:
Barnes and Noble / Amazon / iBooks / Book Depository
My Review
When I first heard about Shannon’s book, I was excited. I have a fierce loyalty to Entangled and their books and it was being promoted by a publicist friend of mine so I was definitely on board with it and was excited to have it in my inbox.
Once I started reading, I was even more excited about it. Shannon’s book is a sort of science fiction meets dystopian meets super awesome romance meets sort of thriller and I love every bit of it. Its different than some of the other things that have been out lately and so it was easy for me to get wrapped up in the story right away. Sleep is one of my favorite things in the world. But it can be kind of scary when you think about it. You’re out of your own control when you’re asleep. You’re obviously not aware of what is going on around you, and you subjected to dreams and nightmares that you have no control over.
And Awakening tackles this. The idea that a society can control your life through controlling when you sleep and what you dream about and that sort of thing is absolutely frightening and that’s one of the biggest things that makes this is a great book. Desiree is bound to this society that has all these ulterior motives but she can’t leave because without them, she literally can’t sleep. Its an incredible problem.
But what really makes this book for me is the characters. Both Desiree and Darian are incredibly well thought out and real characters. From the very first pages, where we learn that Desiree will be forced to marry the guy who tortured her as a child, I’m sold. I’m her best friend. I want and need to know what happens to her! That’s the one really solid thing (among others) that Shannon accomplishes: she makes you care from page one to the last page.
Giveaway!
I’m giving away ONE ebook copy of Awakening, either through Kindle, Nook or iBooks. Head to my instagram and find this picture to find out how to enter! I’m also giving away a signed ARC for another author as well so check it out!
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