Customer Reviews

The Awakening

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This book was well researched and written. It held the readers attention and has to be one of the best I have read...this makes 2 for 2 from the author and now I am purchasing all of her other books (under Shannon Drake and Heather Graham). When I seen the negative reviews I was shocked....this book should be made into a movie, it was original and kept you guessing...I am sure however that reading it during a visit to Salem (in October!) only made it more enjoyable for me because the book gave you quite a history of Salem and it's legends. I encourage anyone looking for a good, organized storyline to purchase this book!!!

I'm new to the Shannon Drake Vampire series. The first 4 books - 1. Beneath a Blood Red Moon, 2. When Darkness Falls, 3. Deep Midnight and 4. Realm of Shadows are excellent books! They are well written and interesting, expecially when the author recesses into the past explain how certain main characters became who and "what" they are. Having said that; I must say that The Awakening is awful! Yes, I said AWFUL! I haven't yet finished the book, at this point I am almost 3/4 of the way through it and I keep skipping pages to get through it faster! I have found the two main characters "Finn and Megan" to be redundant and just plain annoying! I want to say "GET OVER IT ALREADY"! I will read the next book - which is the last in the series (Dead By Dusk) only because I have already purchased the book, but if the series continues on this downward spiral, I will not purchase any more.

Shannon Drake's first 3 Vampire books were awesome, but this book is so boring it takes a lot of effort to keep reading it. The Awakening isn't a very good title for this particular book, it should be called The Sleeping. That's just what you want to do while reading it. She brings back her characters from her first 4 books which is a good thing. The book does tend to get OK toward the end, but mostly your just glad that you finally finished it and can now put it away someplace where you won't have to look at it and be reminded of the time you wasted reading it.

Okay, first I have to say that I simply adore Shannon Drake's first three books of her vampire series, so when this one came out I was very excited. Well, it turned out to be a huge disappointment. The book did get better towards the very end, but it took a lot of effort to get there. The main characters in this book did not really interest me.

I loved this book. It's the first Shannon Drake novel I've ever read, but I immediately loved both Finn and Megan. I liked the depth between them and the way the author kept us guessing who was really the satanists.

The first part did drag a bit, but once you get towards the end you realize there was a reason she had to tell the backstory, and a reason for the tension between the two main characters.

I hope to see more of Finn and Megan and definitely advise anyone looking for a good mystery with some romance to pick this up and read it.

The previous reviewers have said it all really.
I awaited this book quite anxiously. I couldnt get involved with the characters at all and in fact the only question I have is when did Ragnor get married?? Have I forgotten?? The "stars" of this book had no impact on me at all. I can only hope along with everyone else that the next one is as good as the previous books that had us all up all night reading!

Two married musicians with a history of problems go to Salem for a Halloween gig and meet witches and demons. I loved the other books of the series but this one was a real effort to get through. I stuck it out til the end which improved once the Alliance characters arrived, but as a person who can read two to three books a day, this one killed my whole weekend. I will continue to read the series as I hope this was a fluke.

Megan and Finn Douglas perform their musical act in Salem, Massachusetts hotel during Halloween week. Instead of a warm return home for Megan, who once lived here, nightmares plague her. She dreams that Finn is evil and wants to harm her. Sex after they fall asleep turns very rough and frightens Megan. At the same time, Megan hears tales about the history of Salem besides the highly publicized historical witch-hunt. She learns that at one time Satanists attempted several times to bring forth the demon Bac-Dal. Several people including her cousin warns her that Finn is evil.

Finn worries about his wife and the strange occurrences including a weird fog that engulfs them. He calls an acquaintance from New Orleans, Lucian, who arrives faster than a human could, comes to help. Lucien and his friends struggle to keep Megan and Finn safe, but against what and who are unknown.

Though ALL HOLLOW'S EVE takes time to set the cast and location, once the troubles begin, this becomes an engaging paranormal romance. The exciting tale keeps readers wondering until the final confrontation who the identity of the bad guys are. Finn and Megan are delightful protagonists and the secondary players bring life to Salem or are a well -developed part of Lucien's pack. Shannon Drake continues to display that she is one of the best authors at providing an exhilarating paranormal romantic thriller.

harriet Klausner

Heather grahams work shines through once again. She can't hide behind another name as she continues to write her stories. Shannon drake is a great name. But the stories that unfold, like this book, as well as many others are beyond. I can never put down a book i read by shannon drake(heather graham) And thats hard because i have 3 kids!

I agree with several other reviewers about this disappointing book. It took forever to get the plot established, and then just plodded along.

First, I don't like stories where the hero and heroine are already or quickly married. I like the conflict between the two main characters as well as the struggle they both have in determining they love each other.

If you are considering reading/buying this book, know up front it is NOT a romance book. It's more horror/mystery. The horror part is mild, admittedly, but it's still one for those who prefer to be tantalized with a "Who Done It" rather than for those who enjoy Vampire Romances.

I'd anticipated this book for quite some time and was bitterly disappointed in the whole plot. Finn and Megan are married, yet for some unexplained reason they argue, she leaves him and goes home to her family. He follows and a series of bizzare happenings are set in motion. They reconcile, but you still know there is basic mistrust and jealousy coloring their interaction. It is stated over and over that Finn loves Megan, Megan loves Finn et al, but you don't ever see any real evidence of this love. This is part of the tedious area that frustrated me.

I also did not like the political correctness the author used when mentioning Wicca. I believe in each person's right to chose their own type of worship, but the constant emphasis on Wiccans not being evil or satanists really grated on my nerves.

To me there was not enough emphasis on true religion to counteract the satanists. It was almost as if the author was mocking organized religion and the many faithful followers that make worship a part of their daily lives. I really hate it when characters dismiss God and church, then wind up later praying for solutions to the problem they find themselves in.

Bringing in other characters from the series also confuses the plot. This is the 5th in her Vampire series, and even though I've read all the previous ones, I still was confused about who was who until almost the last part of the book.

The big finale, was basically a bust to me. It was built up to all through the book, then fizzled at the end, thanks to all the supernatural/paranormal help Finn and Megan got from the other series characters. The only redeeming portion was when Megan was calling to Finn and her "love" called him back from the dark powers.

For those of you who have only read this one book by Shannon Drake, please at least try the others in the series. I'd recommend borrowing them from a library. Believe me, the previous 4 books are really well written. I guess even the best authors turn out a dud once in a while.