I highly recommend this book to all who love tales of magic, heroes, and overcoming life's trials. A must read for all teens and adults alike." - Goodreads
Nightmares really do come true, and for fifteen-year-old Kyler Birkwood, they are just beginning. Raised on a farm by his Aunt Martha, Kyler has no clue about the magical heritage swimming through his blood. When he discovers evidence of a mythical creature, a terrifying beast thought only to exist in fairy tales, his safe world shatters.
Left at a school of magic to hunt for clues, he is overwhelmed and disbelieved. As loved ones begin disappearing and Orcs roam the land, Kyler must undergo a journey that takes him from the High Courts of the King to the unknown forests of the East. His magic just awakening, Kyler is the lone hope for a world that will not listen.
I took a chance buying this book and it really paid off. It is well written with a few grammatical errors, but such a powerful story. Kyler is an ordinary teenage boy or at least it seem that way at first. When circumstances change he rises to the occasion and helps his loved ones, his friends and the people of his country. The magic involved doesn't hurt either in making it a great adventure. - Goodreads
“Dorine White delivers twists and turns to the plot that will keep you turning the pages.” - Melanie Mason, author of the YA historical, The Line That Divides
“The Awakening is a clever blend of folklore and fantasy, perfect for fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. A furiously fun read!” - Laurisa Reyes, author of the YA thriller, Contact
EXCERPT
Walter
The road sloped down toward the fishing port at an awkward angle. Walter loped over patches of dirt and rubble, while looking at the view before him. The dwellings he approached could scarcely be called homes. They were hovels pasted together with sticks and mud. Many leaned against trees for support, while others stood on their own with piecemeal stone chimneys to support their weight.
Children ran around with dirty faces and bare feet. Some of the women stopped working as Walter passed through. The hunger in their eyes betrayed greedy thoughts, but no one had enough courage to chase after a wolf.
Glad to leave the smelly hovels and hungry eyes behind, Walter raced over cobbled paths. The closer he drew to the port, the more the smell of salt water filled his nose. He drank in the damp air with a pleased snort. The port was still at least a mile ahead, but from his vantage point he could see the water’s edge. Large vessels of all kinds lined the banks. His keen hearing picked up the hollers of men as they off-loaded barrels and crates.
As far as his eyes could see, homes were crammed together like puzzle pieces. They rose between twisted streets and alleys, making the city into a maze. Walter wasn’t sure the salty air could cover the stench of a human population so tightly packed into a city. Closer to the docks, large warehouses sprang up like gophers from holes. He stopped on the path, waiting for Martha to catch up with him. A wolf alone was a sure way to get captured by traders. He needed her presence as his master to use as a disguise.
“I see you finally decided to stop.” Martha’s voice floated up from the path behind him. “I was afraid you’d run all the way down to the port.”
While turning his head, he cocked an eyebrow in her direction. “What? And miss a grand entrance with you?”
Reaching his side Martha scratched his thick head. “I think someone’s a little full of himself!”
“You know the plan won’t work without you holding me by a leash.”
The plan was to listen to the gossip of the village. Martha figured that with all the comings and goings of a fishing port there were bound to be rumors and real information floating around. Their job was to separate the junk from the treasure. Key phrases like “large flying monster” or “missing villagers” would be tip-offs. With Martha holding his collar, he would appear to be no more than a tame pet. They’d be able to eavesdrop on all sorts of conversations.
The road sloped down toward the fishing port at an awkward angle. Walter loped over patches of dirt and rubble, while looking at the view before him. The dwellings he approached could scarcely be called homes. They were hovels pasted together with sticks and mud. Many leaned against trees for support, while others stood on their own with piecemeal stone chimneys to support their weight.
Children ran around with dirty faces and bare feet. Some of the women stopped working as Walter passed through. The hunger in their eyes betrayed greedy thoughts, but no one had enough courage to chase after a wolf.
Glad to leave the smelly hovels and hungry eyes behind, Walter raced over cobbled paths. The closer he drew to the port, the more the smell of salt water filled his nose. He drank in the damp air with a pleased snort. The port was still at least a mile ahead, but from his vantage point he could see the water’s edge. Large vessels of all kinds lined the banks. His keen hearing picked up the hollers of men as they off-loaded barrels and crates.
As far as his eyes could see, homes were crammed together like puzzle pieces. They rose between twisted streets and alleys, making the city into a maze. Walter wasn’t sure the salty air could cover the stench of a human population so tightly packed into a city. Closer to the docks, large warehouses sprang up like gophers from holes. He stopped on the path, waiting for Martha to catch up with him. A wolf alone was a sure way to get captured by traders. He needed her presence as his master to use as a disguise.
“I see you finally decided to stop.” Martha’s voice floated up from the path behind him. “I was afraid you’d run all the way down to the port.”
While turning his head, he cocked an eyebrow in her direction. “What? And miss a grand entrance with you?”
Reaching his side Martha scratched his thick head. “I think someone’s a little full of himself!”
“You know the plan won’t work without you holding me by a leash.”
The plan was to listen to the gossip of the village. Martha figured that with all the comings and goings of a fishing port there were bound to be rumors and real information floating around. Their job was to separate the junk from the treasure. Key phrases like “large flying monster” or “missing villagers” would be tip-offs. With Martha holding his collar, he would appear to be no more than a tame pet. They’d be able to eavesdrop on all sorts of conversations.
About the author:
My name is Dorine White. I am a children’s fantasy author and a book reviewer. I grew up back East in Maryland and attended BYU in Utah. I have a BA in Humanities with an interest in Art History and French. Currently I live in the beautiful, yet rainy Northwest with my husband and 6 children. My first novel was published in 2012 and is the beginning of the Cleopatra’s Legacy series. The first two books are out, The Emerald Ring and The Ruby Pendant. Look for the third book, The Diamond Looking Glass in the summer of 2015.
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