Going into this book, I had so so so so so much excitement for it. Considering that the author's last series, Tiger's Curse, is very likely my one favorite series, I had unreasonably high expectations for this book. Luckily for me, the author met them. Of course, I still prefer Tiger's Curse more due to several reasons, but Reawakened was a very enjoyable read with a great plot. There were some things that I would have preferred happen that didn't, but it didn't deter my interest in the novel in the least. It's just now that I have to wait for the next book to come out, and you all know that me and patience don't get along very well.
What I was mostly looking forward to in Houck's new series was the love interest. Ren and Kelsey from Tiger's Curse is my OTP, and I couldn't wait to see who the two lovebirds in this book would be. As soon as I started reading this, I was hooked. Lily is a great main character and had me interested before we even meet the ex-mummy, Egyptian prince aka Amon. And once I met Amon, well, let's just say I was done for. He had many of the same qualities Ren did - kindness, chivalry, etc. - and duh, he was hot hot hot! He's also a demigod of sorts, which had me feeling all The Kane Chronicles feels. He had me swooning while bald and wearing a white skirt, so just imagine how I felt when he donned some lean jeans and a t-shirt that stuck to his abs, plus a full head of hair. I didn't realize until that moment how completely I could fall inlust love with a book character.
Even better than the man's attractiveness, however, was his personality. He was fiercely protective of Lily and made it clear several times over that he would sacrifice the world for her if he had to, but at the same time he blew kind of hot and cold. He was worried about keeping her safe, of course, but it definitely made for an interesting relationship between the two - there was a lot of angst. There is, however, no love triangle, at least not in the first novel. While yes, there are three brothers, and one is an incorrigible flirt, Lily doesn't have eyes for anyone except Amon. Even so, I kind of predict a triangle in the next installment. While both of Amon's brothers like her as one would like a friend, I get the feeling that one likes her a bit more...
The plot of this book was really fun while at the same time being intense, and I liked how much the romance played into that plot. For once, the love and storyline aren't two separate entities fighting to be on top; they seamlessly combined to form a story that makes sense and has one heck of an ending. Again, Houck shows exactly how much research went into this book with all the details on Egyptian mythology and history, which ultimately makes for a rich reading experience. I have't read a book on Egyptian mythology since the Rick Riordan series, but it was nice revisiting Set and Anubis in a different background.
I did see quite a few similarities between this and Tiger's Curse - not that you'll get any complaining from me there - but Reawakened is still distinctly it's own thing. Several of the characters seem like they have counterparts or were based on those in Tiger's Curse, but the plot remains very different from the older series. The main discrepancy between the two books that bothers me is that I wish this one had more romantic moments. Don't get me wrong, the entire book is filled with Lily and Amon moments and cute banter, but there isn't enough breathtakingly romantic moments, in my opinion. I need more :P I'm hoping the next book will make up for that.
Overall, this book is an amazing read and thrilling adventure, and the boys are just as swoon-worthy as the author usually writes them. Oh and did I mention there's a killer cliffhanger? I really didn't take kindly to that part: I may have sobbed over the book a little. And wait for it, there's an epilogue too. That part had me smiling through my tears, but now I'm like GIMME BOOK TWO. All I can really say is, Colleen Houck lovers, you won't be disappointed.
What I was mostly looking forward to in Houck's new series was the love interest. Ren and Kelsey from Tiger's Curse is my OTP, and I couldn't wait to see who the two lovebirds in this book would be. As soon as I started reading this, I was hooked. Lily is a great main character and had me interested before we even meet the ex-mummy, Egyptian prince aka Amon. And once I met Amon, well, let's just say I was done for. He had many of the same qualities Ren did - kindness, chivalry, etc. - and duh, he was hot hot hot! He's also a demigod of sorts, which had me feeling all The Kane Chronicles feels. He had me swooning while bald and wearing a white skirt, so just imagine how I felt when he donned some lean jeans and a t-shirt that stuck to his abs, plus a full head of hair. I didn't realize until that moment how completely I could fall in
Even better than the man's attractiveness, however, was his personality. He was fiercely protective of Lily and made it clear several times over that he would sacrifice the world for her if he had to, but at the same time he blew kind of hot and cold. He was worried about keeping her safe, of course, but it definitely made for an interesting relationship between the two - there was a lot of angst. There is, however, no love triangle, at least not in the first novel. While yes, there are three brothers, and one is an incorrigible flirt, Lily doesn't have eyes for anyone except Amon. Even so, I kind of predict a triangle in the next installment. While both of Amon's brothers like her as one would like a friend, I get the feeling that one likes her a bit more...
The plot of this book was really fun while at the same time being intense, and I liked how much the romance played into that plot. For once, the love and storyline aren't two separate entities fighting to be on top; they seamlessly combined to form a story that makes sense and has one heck of an ending. Again, Houck shows exactly how much research went into this book with all the details on Egyptian mythology and history, which ultimately makes for a rich reading experience. I have't read a book on Egyptian mythology since the Rick Riordan series, but it was nice revisiting Set and Anubis in a different background.
I did see quite a few similarities between this and Tiger's Curse - not that you'll get any complaining from me there - but Reawakened is still distinctly it's own thing. Several of the characters seem like they have counterparts or were based on those in Tiger's Curse, but the plot remains very different from the older series. The main discrepancy between the two books that bothers me is that I wish this one had more romantic moments. Don't get me wrong, the entire book is filled with Lily and Amon moments and cute banter, but there isn't enough breathtakingly romantic moments, in my opinion. I need more :P I'm hoping the next book will make up for that.
Overall, this book is an amazing read and thrilling adventure, and the boys are just as swoon-worthy as the author usually writes them. Oh and did I mention there's a killer cliffhanger? I really didn't take kindly to that part: I may have sobbed over the book a little. And wait for it, there's an epilogue too. That part had me smiling through my tears, but now I'm like GIMME BOOK TWO. All I can really say is, Colleen Houck lovers, you won't be disappointed.
Book Synopsis: The first book in a new multi-book series from New York Times bestselling author, Colleen Houck, about a teenage girl entangled in an epic Egyptian quest full of romance, adventure, and mythology!
When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.
And she really can’t imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe.
But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.
From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.
Source: A copy was purchased for my collection.
Title: Reawakened
Author: Colleen Houck
Publication Date: April 11, 2015
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: Mythology, Romance, YA
Pages: 400 pages
