Book Review: Land of the Awoken
How would you handle it when your faithful dog started to speak to you after a nasty blow to the head? You’d probably not want to take the event too seriously…However, when that dog is joined by countless others, from hog people to bird warriors, all who claim you are the reincarnation of their greatest wizard, you might find life a little harder to handle…A boy, Callum, discovers he is one of the Awoken. Mortals who can see the magical world beyond our own and more importantly, can cross over. But he is not just another normal Awoken, is he a wizard who must embark on a quest to travel to the Land of Fading Light to defeat Dark Lord Dalmar, a powerful wizard who threatens the existence of both worlds.He and those who travel with him, fight many terrible enemies and when they face the final great battle, everyone must find the courage they need to save themselves and each other. Will Callum succeed in his quest and fulfil his destiny? Or will Dalmar and the mighty dragons, the scourge of the sky, destroy their world and ours?
I think it’s important to mention straight out that I’m a huge lover of Fantasy novels. There is nothing I love more than being swept away in an epic adventure. Meeting dragons, elves, and anything else that might come my way is my favorite way to spend a book! So I was very excited to settle in and devour Land of the Awoken.
What first struck me was how vivid the world Callum finds himself in was, honestly from the very first page. Ben Fielder’s writing flows beautifully across the page and is perfectly descriptive. I was able to see what Callum saw, and to visualize myself right alongside him. Isn’t that what being swept up in a book is all about?This story is filled with adventure, mystery and quite a few epic battles. Exactly what I wanted.
Admittedly, what I had the hardest time with was the point of view that Callum’s story is told from. One of the beautiful things about a Fantasy novel, at least in my mind, is that it feels like a bed time story. Something that happened in the past, and that you wish you could go back and see. Land of the Awoken is written in third person present, which was tough for me to get into. It felt a bit more like a screenplay than a novel, and I really missed feeling fully immersed in the story. Keep in mind this is purely my own personal opinion. Others might love the “here and now” point of view.
Other than a few minor grammar issues, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I believe that with a little more polish, Land of the Awoken has serious potential! The characters were amazing, the writing was beautiful, it is just about the whole package. I can definitely tell you that I’ll be keeping an eye on Ben Fielder’s writing. I can’t wait to see what he writes next!
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
