A Review for Wide Awake (Academy of The Fallen #1) by Daniele Lanzarotta

Posted by Donna
Published Date: June 13th, 2011
Finished Date: August 7th, 2011
Source: For Review from Author
Format: Kindle
Pages: 280
<
The Blurb from Goodreads: Kayla is a 16-year-old girl who was adopted when she was little. She lives a normal life, with great friends, loving adoptive parents, and well... a not-so-great boyfriend. But the reason why she was given up for adoption was far from any usual reason. She was meant to be kept away from the Academy and anything else related to the supernatural beings that could hurt her. Unfortunately for Kayla, it was only a matter of time before she encountered the creatures from the Otherworld, and there is just no running away from the beings that she can now see. In trying to protect Kayla by keeping her away from the Academy, she may have just been put in even more danger.
<
The Review: When I finally did stop crying, he slowly pulled me away, and I’m not even sure what led us to this but he got even closer, his lips had barely touched mine. “I shouldn’t,” he said under his breath. I didn’t care. He made no effort to move… our lips still barely touching; I leaned closer and kissed him.

Before I start this review, I just want to say WOW, isn’t that cover lovely? This is what initially attracted me to the book. I love the cover! And as you all know, a great cover doesn’t make a great book but this is the case, Wide Awake……is a GREAT book!

Kayla is a normal 16 year old girl who was adopted at a young age. She goes to school, has a crappy boyfriend and has a group of close friends. When Kayla starts seeing a teenage girl called Carolyn, she doesn’t understand what’s going on at first, well, not until she realises she can see ghosts and can command them at will. When Hunter, a handsome outcast at school reveals he can also see the ghosts, he and Kayla team up to try and help Carolyn but trouble suddenly arises when a dangerous threat gets in there way……revealing that the supernatural world is very much real and leaving Kayla in more danger than ever.

Wow! This book surprised the hell out of me. I’d actually spent three quarters of the book thinking that this was a ghost story. Of course, I’ve seen the title of the book but there was just no real indication of ‘The Fallen’ but then WHAM! And suddenly I was thrown into The Fallen world and now I need to know more. From the first page, I was sucked into the deadly supernatural world that Daniele has created and then next minute, I’d finished the book. Honestly, it was that good. It’s quiet a short book being around 280 pages but within them 280 pages, you’re thrown in a number of situations leaving you feeling every single emotion. I think this is the first book to actually give me the chills while reading it. The dangerous threats that come Kayla’s way are definitely very creepy and will leave you wanting to know more.

The characters were also absolutely brilliant. I loved both Kayla and Hunter. Their relationship felt a lot more real than the last few books I’ve read recently because it wasn’t an instant thing and because of that it was full of suspense, just what I like. You can clearly see and feel the chemistry between the two characters but the story only touches the surface off their romance and it definitely leaves you wanting to know more. And that ending wow, come on, that’s just a horrible way to end it the story but it was so good at the same time. It’s left me dying to read the next book and I’m eager to find out what happens next.

Overall, Daniele has created an exciting, thrilling and captivating book that is fast past and left readers wanting to know more. An excellent job in my opinion and I can’t wait to read ‘Nephilim’ the next book in her series.

Thank you to Daniele for giving me the opportunity to review her work.