Customer Reviews

Chrysalis - The Awakening: Book 1

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

Let me start out by saying I LOVED this book. In fact I read Chrysalis: The Awakening three times because I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything the second and third time around.



Chrysalis: The Awakening is book one in this epic installment by debut author, M.L. Lacy which is a coming to age story where the main character Bree has lived under the assumption that she is just your average thirty two year old woman. Yep, Bree has gone through a horrendous marriage and divorce, survived some pretty unexplainable accidents and have the most over protective parents that any girl could ask for. But things are about to get a little strange.


Little does she know that she has been fated as one of the CHOSEN ONES. The truth is, she hasn't a clue that she is remotely important to the survival of magical beings. In fact, she doesn't believe in vampires, werewolves, witches and things that go bump in the night. Her "family" has done everything to keep that part of herself hidden from her. Afraid that her arch nemesis Esmeralda would find and kill her taking Bree powers in hopes of becoming an all powerful being. Esmeralda is on a major ego trip wanting not only to rule the magical world but also the mortal realm. So Esmeralda has been tracking Bree for the last thirty odd years and interjecting her minions in hopes that they would destroy her.


But things have gone a rye due to the protective Guardians that have been destined for Bree since her birth. This is her Clan--a band of brothers-- of vampires, werewolves, wizards and warlocks, oh my! Betrothed, mated since birth to a vampire named Stephen-- living side by side Bree but not allowed to unblock her memory. Her parents not only demanded that Stephan let Bree live a normal life before she begins her transition into the magical world, but that she have no memory of him and his fellow guardians.


Now Bree is thirty-two years old with a dangerous divorce behind her, she still hasn't a clue what she is-- a CHOSEN ONES. Her guardians have never left her side hiding in secret where ever life led Bree. When she went off to college they were right there in disguise, protecting her and making sure Esmeralda's henchmen never got to her.


But now Bree takes an uneventful flight to Vegas with her eccentric grandmother where a family reunion is in full swing. People are sure acting all kinds of crazy around her. Sniffing her hair, starring at her and giving off the impression that she has met them before. Bree just can't place her finger on it. She is sure she has never met any of these "people" before but something keeps calling her to this band of brethrens and their life mates. Except memories are starting to awaken as she notice the strapping man in a plaid shirt and form fitting jeans starring at her. She can't help but be drawn to him and his friends.


Bree's whole world is about to change. Things she believed in aren't true and things she never comprehended are coming to light.


I read in Webster's New World Dictionary the definition for chrysalis-- is a stage of development when something or someone is still protected. I have to take my writers and reader's hat of to Ms. Lacy in her superb job of wrapping her premise in a protective cocoon of intense erotic and suspenseful prose. The characters are some of the most engaging and enticing ones that I have read in a long time.


The main character, Bree comes off strong willed even though people all around her want to keep her close to the hip wrapped in bubble wrap. Even though Bree's world is changing faster than she can catch a breath,and old memories are flooding back and the witch, Esmeralda is out to kill her, you really have to give it to the girl for taking it all in stride.


Not once does her character ask why her? Why Was I picked to be a CHOSEN ONE? Bree just accepted it as truth and went on to see how she could better build her new found CLAN and begin the process of accepting their rules and way of life. I found myself admiring Bree's tenacity and gumption throughout her journey.


But at first, I didn't know what to expect from Chrysalis: The Awakening. Was it a paranormal? Was it a Romance? Was it an erotic romance? Or was it more of an urban fantasy? I have to say it's all of them combined, which for this reader was completely enlightening.


I wasn't so sold on the fact that Bree actual sleeps with everyone in her clan. Don't get me wrong I'm not a prude. I have read my fair share of erotic stories and erotica and know the lay of the land. But what I will admit to is my preconceived notion of Stephan being the hero and her life mate--which he is. Stephan has her heart, but she is one of the leaders of her clan and for such she need to be bonded with the other CLAN'S leader. So I got passed my own precariousness' and got into the story. The story wasn't what I would call a hard read. Things weren't laid out so easily that you saw everything. Neither were they so far out there that you kept smacking your head having a V8 moment.


Chrysalis: The Awakening is an emotional roller coaster ride that kept me flipping to the next page that in the end the tips of my fingers had page burns and paper cuts. It was well worth the pain. I highly recommend this story to all paranormal contemporary romance aficionados.

I couldn't put it down. Waiting (not so patiently) for book 2. There were times in the book that my heart was pounding because I was "in the room" with Bree. This book definitely put a new twist on vampire families. All I can say is just read it, you won't be disappointed!

best vampire book ever keeps you wondering whats going to happen and keeps you on the edge of your seat, buy the book suspense, mystery you cant put it down and you want more looking forward to the rest of the series

What can I say other than this book is Awesome!! It has left me hunger for more!!! From start to finish I could not wait to see what happened next. The character took on a life of thier own. Can't wait for more from this amazing author who is becoming on of my favorite writers.

I loved this book. The main character, Bree is a 32 yr old woman who has been sheltered from the truth and her real identity her entire life. In the midst of protecting her, her parents and friends kept her from her true love and paved the way for evil to insinuate itself into her life - in the form of her abusive and deadly husband. She was beat down both mentally and physically. Now that she is getting a divorce, the path is clear for her reunion with her soul mate, Steven. She just isn't immediately aware that he is a vampire who has been waiting for her since her birth.

One of the things that I really appreciated in the book was the author's method of delivering vital information. Instead of long, dry narratives full of important details or back story, she used dialogue between several characters or groups to fill the reader in. It was a very refreshing technique from a lot of books I've read in the past. I usually tend to skim over long sections of details and background history when I'm reading -I never did that while engrossed in this book. The characters were interacting while giving me the info I needed to move forward in the story.

The characters were very richly written in this story. There is a lot of humor and warmth as well as adventure and drama. Family was another aspect that I really liked seeing with the author making the reader feel a part of the group. Bree's family or extended family are a large, very warm and gregarious group. Millie, Bree's Gran is one of my favorites. She's a tough old bird that garners respect and admiration from everyone that knows her - good or bad. She also just happens to be an extremely powerful witch.

This book was full of twists and turns - some you had an inkling were coming, while others were a big surprise. I think the story flowed very nicely and I have to admit that I read it in one day. I told everyone I was busy and immersed myself in Bree's world.

I am really, really looking forward to this next book in the series:Chrysalis - Tribulations: Book 2

A few years back, my husband and I ordered a butterfly garden for our small son and it was interesting to see how the caterpillars developed their chrysalis, the stage where the transformation to a butterfly begins. The title of this story is amazingly appropriate as Bree is in the beginning stages of this `cocoon of transformation' as she learns of her true identity. When she was a small child, her parents hid magic from her and dismissed any unexplainable instances she would witness. During her teenage years when she finds her true love, her parents intervene and sent her love away. She moves on with her life and is tricked into marrying a man that is by all standards, evil as he is abusive, drugs her to get his way and more.

Later, her family persuades her to go with her grandmother to Las Vegas. With the plan to just lay low; her world is turned upside down with the people she meets for her grandmother's reunion. Within the week's time of her stay, she learns she is a `chosen one' and in being so, has the weight of the magical world riding on her shoulders. And, she may or may not survive the transformation from mortal to magical. She also becomes aware that a few people have always been a part of her life since birth and their relation to her, and she is finally reunited with her lost soul-mate, Steven. Those around her begin to realize that Bree is not only the last of the line of being a `chosen one', but that she is stronger than even they suspected before her `change'. They do not give her enough trust to allow her the freedom to embrace her new path and challenges, including her face-off with Esmeralda, the powerful sorceress that plans for her demise.

`Chrysalis: Awakening' has fast become a standing favorite in my paranormal preferences. I have read many that fall into the paranormal/ paranormal romance genre, yet M.L. Lacy has combined the best of this and fantasy unlike any other I have read. I found that I could not put this book down as it was engaging from the start with suspense, mystery, romance and so much more! It is not too often that I feel `swept up' in a story; but in this one, I felt as if I was right there with Bree and her experiences.

Book 1 of a new series by M. L. Lacy, Chrysalis: The Awakening, is an intriguing addition to the fantasy genre. With nearly 600 pages, that read very easily and quickly, I highly recommend you start this series right now, as Bree awakens!

No, Aubrey Marie Campbell has not been "asleep;" rather, she has been a mortal since birth and now is her time to "transition" into the magical realm. You see she is A Chosen One--in fact, she is the "last" of the Chosen Ones and if she fails in her mission, both the mortal and magical worlds will ultimately be destroyed. I plan on following this series! It is well written and Book 1 has established a firm understanding of the storyline, the primary characters, and what will be happening; and entertains and pulls readers in so that they want more. I personally hope we don't have to wait too long for the follow up!

As the last Chosen One, Bree's life has been in danger since she was born. Her parents were constantly threatened so that Bree's childhood was constantly more and more confining and restrictive. She was separated from her "intended" and, instead, married to a sadistic mortal that constantly abused and tormented her, even to the point of "sharing" her with his male friends. Finally, when she became pregnant, was beaten, lost the baby and was then unable to have further children, Bree gathered her strength and filed for divorce.

While Bree was made to suffer during her childhood, she was not left totally on her own. There were many that stood guard over her, even at night while she slept--although they could not be seen!

Now her grandmother has invited her to a "reunion" of old friends and although she was not interested in going, fearing that her friends would all be the same age as her grandmother, she finally gives in and, once there, finds that there are many of her own age. One in particular greatly attracts her. Oops, shall I highlight here that memory of her old friends, especially Steven, her intended mate, had been magically erased, so that when she now meets them, she does not remember their earlier relationship. Actually, it was the interaction between the characters at this point that I especially enjoyed since Bree had felt for many years that there was perhaps something wrong with her--she heard voices, she healed quickly, even from the continuous abuse from her husband, and she had been restricted from so much activity by her parents, she had assumed that she was mentally ill! This part is funny and sad--sad to realize what parents, even parents with magical abilities, can do to a child.

For Bree's rival, Esmeralda, did indeed threaten--and everybody knew that she would follow through on her threats! But now Bree was finding her own strength and much of her early life had been explained. Bree's first confrontation with Esmeralda is excitingly funny--because by now of course, readers are all supporting Bree's new reign and looking forward to her final transition, when she gains her full powers!

Hey, everybody needs a little magic in their lives--you know, clans of vampires, a few werewolves, a giant or two, witches, elves, and wizards--Oh My! Seriously, readers, if you love fantasy, then you will indeed enjoy Chrysalis: The Awakening by M. L. Lacy!


G. A. Bixler

From the synopsis above I was intrigued to read this debut novel from new author, M.L. Lacy. When I recieved the book, I was extremely excited, and couldn't wait to start reading it. Unfortunetly, I made it just past 100 pages before I grew bored enough to say that I can not finish this novel. I'm going to have to update my Review Policy to include a 100 page Rule for moments like this.

I tried very had to get into this novel, but I just couldn't. While the concept of this book sounds intriguing, Lacy, tends to describe her characters surroundings far too much. There was a moment in the book where she started describing everyones attire, from shoes to jewelry, and I soon forgot what was even going on in the story beforehand.

One other thing that had me losing interest was the fact that most of this novel is written in short sentences. It just didn't flow nicely, and I found it difficult to enjoy the story due to this. It also switched from 1st to 3rd person point of view a lot and that just started to confuse me. I think for a first novel, Lacy had the right idea, she just didn't seem to put it into words so that I could enjoy it. I do not wish for this review to prevent you from experiencing this novel, as there were some other reviewers that seemed to enjoy it. It was actually given 5 stars by 4 different reviewers on Amazon, although I will have to give it a 1 due to my experience.

I was interested in this book because the main character is 32. It's nice to read about a character that is closer to my age. Unfortunately, this book moves at a soap opera pace. It's mostly people talking with some smut thrown in. A waste of valuable reading time.