AWOKEN by Timothy Miller

Publication date: August 13th, 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Number of Pages: 240
Date read: August 8th, 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy
Source: ARC from Spencer Hill Press
Format: Paperback




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(Description source: Goodreads)

Fourteen-year-old Michael Stevens has never been ordinary; no orphan who hears music coming from rocks considers himself a typical teenager. But life gets a lot more complicated when two-foot-tall, albino, doll-like men sneak into his room one night, transforming the harmless music into a frightening ability he cannot control.

Soon, strangers in black suits begin to ask unsettling questions while unnatural animals with mismatched eyes haunt the streets. They are hunting, and not just Michael: anyone he cares about is in danger.

With the help of a mysterious drifter, an annoying girl he's accidentally mutated, and one of those creepy doll men, Michael finds himself in the middle of a war that could forever change the world he knows - reconstructing the very definition of humanity.

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Awoken really surprised me, I really was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did!

Firstly it began in a really interesting way, which I certainly was not expecting.

It drew me in from the beginning and even though Michael isn't the type of character I can usually relate to, I found that I grew to really connect with him.


Awoken opened dramatically, enticing me with curiosity to gather more information about what is in store for Michael and what the doll men are up to, as well as, why Michael is so important to them.

I found it increasingly easy to dive into the world, especially the more that I read it.

I enjoyed the way that the character relationships were formed and maintained, the way that they interacted with each other and grew as friends as well as people in themselves.

The detail given to setting and both plot and character development was lovely, events flowed into each other without leaving any dull gaps in the excitement.

I found that towards the end, just after the journey to the final confrontation, that the pace suddenly picked up and that a lot of information and action was packed into a few small chapters. This made it very challenging for me personally to create connections to the new characters introduced, the ending felt a bit rushed and as though the author tried to hurriedly tie up loose ends.

Overall I really enjoyed the world that was created and wish that there were more books set in this world, the doll men were hilarious at times and I adored their antics as well as Michael's responses to them!

I rate Awoken four out of Five!