Publication
New York : St. Martin's Press, 2020.
Collection
Call number
Fiction R
Physical description
435 p.; 25 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML: #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts begins The Dragon Heart Legacy�??a new trilogy of adventure, romance, and magick in The Awakening. In the realm of Talamh, a teenage warrior named Keegan emerges from a lake holding a sword�??representing both power and the terrifying responsibility to protect the Fey. In another realm known as Philadelphia, a young woman has just discovered she possesses a treasure of her own... When Breen Kelly was a girl, her father would tell her stories of magical places. Now she's an anxious twentysomething mired in student debt and working a job she hates. But one day she stumbles upon a shocking discovery: her mother has been hiding an investment account in her name. It has been funded by her long-lost father�??and it's worth nearly four million dollars. This newfound fortune would be life-changing for anyone. But little does Breen know that when she uses some of the money to journey to Ireland, it will unlock mysteries she couldn't have imagined. Here, she will begin to understand why she kept seeing that silver-haired, elusive man, why she imagined his voice in her head saying Come home, Breen Siobhan. It's time you came home. Why she dreamed of dragons. And where her true destiny lies�??through a portal in Galway that takes her to a land of faeries and mermaids, to a man named Keegan, and to the courage in her own heart that will guide her through a powerful, dangerous destiny... A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Pr… (more)
Genres
User reviews
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Every reader has an author who is his or her go-to author, the one whose books always break reading ennui. The author’s stories provide comfort in an anxious world, and a reader will always buy the author’s latest book without even reading the synopsis. For me, that author is Nora Roberts. It
Ms. Roberts can paint a picture with words. Her worlds, whether fantasy or real, are always gorgeous in their life-like descriptions. Yet, I think her depiction of her fantasy realm of Talamh exceeds anything she has ever written. Her descriptions of Talamh are so vivid that it is almost impossible to believe that it is an imaginary location. You can all but smell the horses in the pasture, feel the breeze off the lake, and hear the wind rustling through the crops. Moreover, even though the realm’s entrance is in Ireland, Talamh feels like home. It makes no difference whether you are city- or country-born, northern or southern, or have ever stepped foot in Ireland, there is something about Talamh which is familiar and comforting.
As if that were not enough, the characters in The Awakening are among her strongest portrayals. There is serious character development occurring, even though it is the first book in a trilogy, and not just among the main characters. Breen shows the most obvious growth, but we also see it in her best friend Marco, in Keegan, in Marg, and in other secondary characters. In particular, Breen’s issues with her mother hit really hard for anyone with difficult family relations.
Plus, The Awakening appears to break away from Ms. Roberts’ usual story structure. The romance, while there, is a slow build. So is the story itself. There is no major clash between the Big Bad and our heroes to signal the end of the first act. Instead, Ms. Roberts takes the time to allow Breen to struggle with her new knowledge and power and to make decisions about her life in Philadelphia as well as in Talamh. This makes for a much richer, more fulfilling novel.
There was no doubt that I would adore The Awakening given my feelings towards all of Ms. Roberts’ novels. What did surprise me was the richness and exquisite detail of the story. While expecting something that entertained me, I did not expect such depth of character and setting nor such a well-plotted story that did not rush. While I am always excited at the thought of a new Nora Roberts novel, I am particularly excited and anxious for the next story in the Dragon Heart Legacy series and can only hope she maintains the magic of The Awakening.
Show More
doesn’t matter if her novel is a romantic thriller or fantasy or pure romance, Ms. Roberts’ stories always make me feel hopeful no matter how crappy my world is. In other words, I really, really love Nora Roberts. So, for me to say that I believe her latest novel, The Awakening, is probably one of her strongest, if not her best, novel to date, I base my assessment on all of her previous novels, of which there are many.Ms. Roberts can paint a picture with words. Her worlds, whether fantasy or real, are always gorgeous in their life-like descriptions. Yet, I think her depiction of her fantasy realm of Talamh exceeds anything she has ever written. Her descriptions of Talamh are so vivid that it is almost impossible to believe that it is an imaginary location. You can all but smell the horses in the pasture, feel the breeze off the lake, and hear the wind rustling through the crops. Moreover, even though the realm’s entrance is in Ireland, Talamh feels like home. It makes no difference whether you are city- or country-born, northern or southern, or have ever stepped foot in Ireland, there is something about Talamh which is familiar and comforting.
As if that were not enough, the characters in The Awakening are among her strongest portrayals. There is serious character development occurring, even though it is the first book in a trilogy, and not just among the main characters. Breen shows the most obvious growth, but we also see it in her best friend Marco, in Keegan, in Marg, and in other secondary characters. In particular, Breen’s issues with her mother hit really hard for anyone with difficult family relations.
Plus, The Awakening appears to break away from Ms. Roberts’ usual story structure. The romance, while there, is a slow build. So is the story itself. There is no major clash between the Big Bad and our heroes to signal the end of the first act. Instead, Ms. Roberts takes the time to allow Breen to struggle with her new knowledge and power and to make decisions about her life in Philadelphia as well as in Talamh. This makes for a much richer, more fulfilling novel.
There was no doubt that I would adore The Awakening given my feelings towards all of Ms. Roberts’ novels. What did surprise me was the richness and exquisite detail of the story. While expecting something that entertained me, I did not expect such depth of character and setting nor such a well-plotted story that did not rush. While I am always excited at the thought of a new Nora Roberts novel, I am particularly excited and anxious for the next story in the Dragon Heart Legacy series and can only hope she maintains the magic of The Awakening.
Show Less
LibraryThing member phyllis2779
I enjoyed this book. Liked the characters. I liked the acceptance of modern society in which love is more important than slight differences from the norm. Roberts' writing is always easy to read yet descriptive. There is always a good balance between learning about the characters, the environment
Show More
and whatever plot drives the story. The only thing I was a little disappointed about is that in her other trilogies, in my recollection, the romance is finalized for at least one couple in each book. In this one, everything is left open for future books. Show Less
LibraryThing member kmartin802
Breen Kelly is working in a job she hates as a middle school Language Arts teacher and being crushed under her student loans when she discovers that her mother has been hiding a $4 million investment account in her name that was given to her by her father - the father who disappeared out of her
Breen decides to finally do what she wants and try to find out who she is and what happened to her father. She and her gay best friend Marco embark on a vacation to Ireland. Marco will stay two weeks and Breen will spend the whole summer. They find that they have rented an idyllic cottage in a wonderfully scenic area of Ireland. The two tour around and explore in their two weeks together.
When Marco heads back home to Philadelphia, Breen settles in to being alone for the first time in her life. Besides her daily blog, Breen begins to write a book. Once she finds a Irish Water Spaniel, she also begins writing a middle grade book about his adventures.
One day, while following her dog into the woods, she discovers an ancient tree that is the passage to another world - an unbelievable world where technology doesn't work but Magick does. She also discovers that she was born there as was her father. She discovers her grandmother and her history. She discovers old friends that had been forgotten. She learns that she is the hope of the world in defeating a god who wants to take it over and then take over the other worlds including Earth.
Breen is torn between her two worlds. She has friends in both and responsibilities in both. And, having discovered her talents as an author, she wants to pursue that dream but it pulled by her responsibilities to the other world.
Of course there is also a man in the picture. Keegan O'Broin became the ruler when her father died. He knew her father well and is determined to protect Breen because she's his daughter. He is also determined to train her to fight with a sword and her body leaving her magickal training to her grandmother. His methods aren't tender since he knows he has little time before she needs to be able to defend herself against the enemy.
The worldbuilding is intriguing. I enjoyed the various magical people in the story from the Wise, to Elves, pixies, and dragons.I teally liked getting to know Breen and sympathized with the hard decisions she had to make for her future. As always in a Nora Roberts' book, there are many strong friendships among the characters. I especially liked Breen's relationship with Marco and the other gay men who made up her made-family. And, even though I disliked Breen's mother for her methods of trying to keep her daughter safe, I could understand the impulse.
About the only thing I didn't like about this story was the cliffhanger ending. I can hardly wait for the next book in this series to find out what happens.
Show More
life when she was ten.Breen decides to finally do what she wants and try to find out who she is and what happened to her father. She and her gay best friend Marco embark on a vacation to Ireland. Marco will stay two weeks and Breen will spend the whole summer. They find that they have rented an idyllic cottage in a wonderfully scenic area of Ireland. The two tour around and explore in their two weeks together.
When Marco heads back home to Philadelphia, Breen settles in to being alone for the first time in her life. Besides her daily blog, Breen begins to write a book. Once she finds a Irish Water Spaniel, she also begins writing a middle grade book about his adventures.
One day, while following her dog into the woods, she discovers an ancient tree that is the passage to another world - an unbelievable world where technology doesn't work but Magick does. She also discovers that she was born there as was her father. She discovers her grandmother and her history. She discovers old friends that had been forgotten. She learns that she is the hope of the world in defeating a god who wants to take it over and then take over the other worlds including Earth.
Breen is torn between her two worlds. She has friends in both and responsibilities in both. And, having discovered her talents as an author, she wants to pursue that dream but it pulled by her responsibilities to the other world.
Of course there is also a man in the picture. Keegan O'Broin became the ruler when her father died. He knew her father well and is determined to protect Breen because she's his daughter. He is also determined to train her to fight with a sword and her body leaving her magickal training to her grandmother. His methods aren't tender since he knows he has little time before she needs to be able to defend herself against the enemy.
The worldbuilding is intriguing. I enjoyed the various magical people in the story from the Wise, to Elves, pixies, and dragons.I teally liked getting to know Breen and sympathized with the hard decisions she had to make for her future. As always in a Nora Roberts' book, there are many strong friendships among the characters. I especially liked Breen's relationship with Marco and the other gay men who made up her made-family. And, even though I disliked Breen's mother for her methods of trying to keep her daughter safe, I could understand the impulse.
About the only thing I didn't like about this story was the cliffhanger ending. I can hardly wait for the next book in this series to find out what happens.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Kris_Anderson
The Awakening by Nora Roberts is a captivating novel. I was immediately drawn into this tale and I did not want to put it down. The Awakening is the first installment in The Dragon Heart Legacy series. I thought it was well-written with developed characters and a complex plot. Breen Kelly learns
Show More
her mother has hidden a vast sum of money from her. Breen is surprised to learn that her father who disappeared many years ago has been sending her money. This money will allow Breen to make changes to her life such as quitting her teaching position. Her roommate and best friend, Marco Olsen suggests she do something that she has always dreamed of doing. Breen has always wanted to visit Ireland. She rents a cottage for the summer in Connemara where she begins to dream of a magical place with red dragons. Breen is in for the adventure of her life. The Awakening is a magical tale. I like that the author took the time to establish the characters, storyline, and setting. Her vivid word imagery brought the scenery alive for me. We get to meet Keegan and Breen’s loving grandmother along with a cast of enchanting folks and creatures. There is good versus evil and a bad woman who is intent on causing conflict. I liked seeing Breen come out of her shell and blossom. Of course, The Awakening ends with a cliffhanger. We must now wait a year for the next tale in The Dragon Heart Legacy series. If you have never wanted to visit Ireland before, you will after reading this book. You can tell that the author did her research. I enjoyed the whimsy and humor in the story. Marco is a delight and I frequently laughed after reading his dialogue. My favorite phrase from The Awakening is, “Girl, take it from an old queen. Be who you are and the heck (I changed this word) with the rest.” The Awakening is a magical tale that will keep you riveted until the very last word. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jthierer
I had to knock a star off for the slightly weird relationship between Breen and Marco. I get that they were very close best friends...but there was a lot of snuggling going on. Maybe that's an indicator that I'm cold and dead inside...but I don't snuggle with my platonic friends on a regular basis
Show More
and it just felt odd to me. That said, aside from a sloooooow start to the action, I really enjoyed this one. I appreciated that the romance was allowed to develop slowly and the love interest wasn't a complete tool. I'll definitely be picking up the sequel when it's published. Show Less
LibraryThing member eas7788
Very competently written -- she has a great feel for scene and sentence. It was a little plodding, as if everything had to be spelled out and described. Maybe because that is what her audience wants or because she knows she will be writing a trilogy so there is no rush? It's the first NR I've ever
Show More
read, and I will probably read the next installments. HOWEVER, her depiction of the Black gay best friend (and the other gay characters) is horribly cliched and his dialogue is insultingly awful. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
The relationship is a bit angst ridden but this is a story of an otherworld that is reached through Ireland and a woman who discovers that she has a foot in this world and what's more, that foot needs to be in that world to save it.
Breen Kelly has always been a good girl and followed the rules and
It follows a well-trodden path by Nora Roberts in her romances and her fantasy works and while the relationship isn't fully resolved by the end you do know that there is potential there and that there will be more in the future books. I really enjoyed the read and the characters.
Breen Kelly has always been a good girl and followed the rules and
Show More
tries to make her mother happy, when she accidentally discovers that her mother has been hiding a legacy from her and that the actually doesn't have to be a mediocre teacher but could, maybe follow her heart, she takes the leap and finds that there are more things underneath this. There's magic and power and maybe even love.It follows a well-trodden path by Nora Roberts in her romances and her fantasy works and while the relationship isn't fully resolved by the end you do know that there is potential there and that there will be more in the future books. I really enjoyed the read and the characters.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lbswiener
The Awakening is a Fantasy/Sci Fi where there are two worlds. There is good vs. evil, magic, spells, witches, elves, pixies, romantic encounters, friendship, family and lots of love. It is a book about a young woman who holds herself in low self-esteem but must find the power and strength within
Show More
herself to become a strong and powerful leader to fulfill her destiny. The story takes place in present day. It is a good story that does not conclude because there is a sequel. Four stars were awarded in this review. Show Less
LibraryThing member phoenixcomet
A ho-hum fantasy novel, but readable. Breen Kelly has been manipulated her whole life to lead a boring, unsatisfying existence until the day comes when she finds out she is a multimillionaire and heads to Ireland with her bestie, Marco, in search of her Dad that left years ago. One thing leads to
Show More
the next and a magic tree later, she is crossing into another land, Talamh and discovers she is the key to that world's survival. Show Less
LibraryThing member belladonna624
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for selecting me.
The Awakening is the first book in Nora Robert’s Dragon Heart Legacy. The story centers in Breen Kelly, a woman unhappy with her life as it is.
The Awakening is the first book in Nora Robert’s Dragon Heart Legacy. The story centers in Breen Kelly, a woman unhappy with her life as it is.
Show More
She decides to take a trip to Ireland to discover her roots and find her father. She finds so much more. As with all of Nora Roberts’ books, you’re swept along in the story with the characters. There were so many things to love about this book. Wonderful characters, a magical world AND DRAGONS!!! This book didn’t give me the same “heart in your throat” anxiety like Year One did but I loved it all the same. I can’t wait for the next installment. Show Less
LibraryThing member Anniik
This was a fun, easy to read book that I enjoyed very much. It’s no great work of literature, and I like her One series better, but this is fun fantasy and I enjoyed her world building.
LibraryThing member deslivres5
Book 1 in The Dragon Heart Legacy series by Nora Roberts, The Awakening is more fantasy than the expected romance from the author.
I have enjoyed the author's author fantasy/paranormal bent novels and this one also is rooted in Ireland and magic from witches, fairies, dragons, etc. There was a wee
obligations, and coming into one's power.
I enjoyed the cliff-hanger at the end! On to Book 2, The Becoming.
I have enjoyed the author's author fantasy/paranormal bent novels and this one also is rooted in Ireland and magic from witches, fairies, dragons, etc. There was a wee
Show More
bit of romance in this one, but it is more about family (both blood and made), friendships, family secrets, legacies, secret worlds,obligations, and coming into one's power.
I enjoyed the cliff-hanger at the end! On to Book 2, The Becoming.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mmoj
I had a hard time getting into this book at first but after the first part of Breen's, "I'm nobody, I can't do anything" moan fest I really started to enjoy the book. At first I really wanted Marco to be the main character.
LibraryThing member cfk
I don't normally read Nora Roberts, but read a review of her Dragon Heart Legacy Series and decided to try it. Breen Siobhan Kelly travels to Ireland and rediscovers herself and her destiny in an alternate world called Talamh. The dog, Bollocks, is very much a character in the series sent by the
Breen has forgotten to 'bring her home.'
It's a lovely series filled with well defined characters and a richly drawn world set before the Industrial Revolution and all that followed. *****
Show More
GrandmotherBreen has forgotten to 'bring her home.'
It's a lovely series filled with well defined characters and a richly drawn world set before the Industrial Revolution and all that followed. *****
Show Less
LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
I usually enjoy Nora Robert's romantic fantasies, and this one is no exception. They're usually set in Ireland, and I love the descriptions of the country and the way she uses Irish myths in the stories. I think they've been all portal fantasies, and there's a combination of modern and a more
While I love the world of Talamh and its story, I was less enthused about the contemporary part of the book. I kept getting thrown out of the story there: how did Breen get all that money, how did she just sell her books so easily, why did she suddenly stand up to her mother because money? and other stuff like that. I felt like there was too much telling in those sections and insufficient showing.
Her life in the fantasy world is much better written and shown. The descriptions of learning spells, healing, fighting, and so on made me feel I was there with her as she learned and drew out those aspects of her being.
The book is all setup and that's okay because I still want to see what happens next. I'm giving this 3 1/2 stars rounded up.
Show More
folkloric world in the books. This one is a bit of a slow burn, the first book setting up Breen and her friends as she discovers her heritage and delves into the world of Talamh.While I love the world of Talamh and its story, I was less enthused about the contemporary part of the book. I kept getting thrown out of the story there: how did Breen get all that money, how did she just sell her books so easily, why did she suddenly stand up to her mother because money? and other stuff like that. I felt like there was too much telling in those sections and insufficient showing.
Her life in the fantasy world is much better written and shown. The descriptions of learning spells, healing, fighting, and so on made me feel I was there with her as she learned and drew out those aspects of her being.
The book is all setup and that's okay because I still want to see what happens next. I'm giving this 3 1/2 stars rounded up.
Show Less
LibraryThing member decaturmamaof2
A fun, quick, enjoyable read - Roberts is good at world building.
LibraryThing member Enid007
I don't think I have really read other books by Nora Roberts but if her other books can keep me immersed like this one did than call me a new Nora Roberts fan. I loved her writing style, she gives you just enough information about the characters and what is going on that I seriously zoned
I loved Breen and her friendships and how she comes to term on who she is. It's a well paced story in my opinion and finally a fantasy telling that is not boggle down with crazy amounts of spice and unnecessary sex scenes, don't get me wrong, I love a good spice in books here and there but it seems a lot of books that are being overly hyped on booktok or whatever all seem to be all about the spice... correction smut but you will not find this here.
The Awakening is a good fantasy telling, that gives you the chance to get to know the characters and fall in love with them all the same. My oldest daughter recommended this to me and now I highly recommend to anyone that likes fantasy, friendship, and someone getting to know she is from a world she had no clue truly existed.
Show More
everything else out around me. I loved Breen and her friendships and how she comes to term on who she is. It's a well paced story in my opinion and finally a fantasy telling that is not boggle down with crazy amounts of spice and unnecessary sex scenes, don't get me wrong, I love a good spice in books here and there but it seems a lot of books that are being overly hyped on booktok or whatever all seem to be all about the spice... correction smut but you will not find this here.
The Awakening is a good fantasy telling, that gives you the chance to get to know the characters and fall in love with them all the same. My oldest daughter recommended this to me and now I highly recommend to anyone that likes fantasy, friendship, and someone getting to know she is from a world she had no clue truly existed.
Show Less
Language
Original publication date
2020-11-24
ISBN
9781250272614