The awakening by Nora Roberts

Recommended for Nora Roberts’ fans. Roberts return to the familiar setting of Ireland in her latest romantic fantasy. Breen Kelly is a teacher, anxious and in debt when she accidentally discovers that her mother has been hiding an account with four million dollars in it, money that her estranged father had sent for her. She is determined to build a new life with the money, and she embarks on a trip to Ireland to find her father. There she uncovers secrets about her past and enters a fabulous portal into a land of mysteries and magic.

Breen is tentative and lacks confidence in herself before going to Ireland and it is great to see her begin to realise her potential and grow in skills, both in her writing in the real world, and her ability to fight in the fantasy world. 

One of the outstanding themes of this book is the friendship that Breen has with Marco, who supports and encourages her while the friendships she makes in Ireland help her grow as a person. I really liked the relationship she had with her grandmother and the skills that she learnt with her guidance. The slow-burning romance with Keegan is handled with a light touch.

Robert is a master at writing compulsive prose that keeps the reader engrossed to the end. Even though her themes are often recognisable to her readers, it is this familiarity that gives such a feel-good aspect to her books and has readers rereading them in hard times and looking forward to new books as they come out. And the lush green setting of Ireland in The awakening will have fans wanting to travel there.

A thrilling cliff-hanger of an ending will ensure that the next in the series is picked up.

Themes: Fantasy, Identity, Friendship, Romance.

Pat Pledger