AIR AWAKENS is a spellbinding fantasy bound to keep you up all night.
*mild spoilers*
Seventeen-year-old Vhalla Yarl is a library apprentice. As such, she has access to all of the books in the Imperial Library, and her love of literature can be satisfied while at work.
Vhalla, along with the rest of the apprentices, has always been taught to fear sorcerers. One night, however, Vhalla is taken to the home of these sorcerers, and informed that she is one of them. Disbelieving, Vhalla walks away from the opportunity and returns to the library, fearful of the magic that she’s told is within her.
But Vhalla slowly grows curious to the idea of possessing magic and begins to research sorcerers and their history, thanks to the prompting of a mysterious friend; she gains an unsuspected ally- the crown prince, Aldrik, who is darker and whispered to be cruel in contrast to his light-hearted brother, Prince Baldair. It certainly doesn’t help that he sometimes lashes out at Vhalla in impatience and goes to extremes in her initial training. However, their tentative bond turns into something deeper, and Vhalla realizes that there may be more to the crown prince than she had previously seen.
My favorite character was Aldrik because of the different ways he is viewed throughout the book. He is seen by mostly everyone as dark and twisted, especially compared to his younger brother, a hero to the townspeople. But when Vhalla gets to know him, she finds that he is actually very different from the impression he gives in public. This extreme change of character is amazing is what makes this character fascinating, and it’s easy to grow attached to him.
Another character I couldn’t help but connect with was Vhalla. Her feelings and emotions were just really genuine. Her love for books formed an instant connection, and the confusion and denial she felt over learning of her powers would have matched mine perfectly had I been in her place. .
I could not put this book down. I breezed through chapter after chapter without realizing I was doing so. I kept promising myself I would stop reading after the chapter ended, but I would always get so engrossed in the story that I would forget and just read for hours. I literally had no choice but to keep reading.
To me, that is what separates a good book from an amazing book, and this one was definitely the latter. It proves that the author has created a world you can lose yourself in, and forget about all other commitments or responsibilities you may have in real life. I’m not entirely sure of the reasons this separation happens, but I think that part of it was how action-packed the book was. It was so intense and never filled with dull moments, making it mandatory to read the next page, and the next….and then the next three hundred and seventy-five.
And I can’t review this book without mentioning the beautiful cover, because it just has to be shared. It is seriously stunning and would catch my eye even if surrounded by dozens of other books of its genre. The cover matches the story perfectly, and I would totally recommend judging this book by its cover.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Overview:
A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond…
The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.
Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.