The Awoken is the debut novel of Katelyn Monroe Howes and quite impressive! The concept of cryogenics is fascinating to me although I can’t imagine being preserved and then awoken into world that would likely be completely foreign and terrifying to me.
Alabine Rivers is one of those people who chose to undergo cryogenic preservation when she died because of a terminal cancer diagnosis. Her hope was that sometime in the future a cure would be found and they will wake her up and she can carry on with her life. A century later though finds the world in turmoil over these people who have been frozen, dubbed the Awoken. Essentially a war on them is occurring all over and buildings where they are preserved are being destroyed. Alabine ends up being awoken into a world she doesn’t want to be in. A world where the Awoken are illegal beings and should be shot on sight. As Alabine struggles to figure out how to survive in this world she is also battling lucid memories of the man she loved.
I listened to the audiobook which is so well done! This is one of those novels that are so great in audio because the action packed scenes and the high emotions of everyone are brought to life in such vivid detail. The audio is narrated by Sarah Naughton who I have listened to many times and she was a perfect choice. She is very talented with different voices and the emotion she brings to the story and the characters captures the reader and lands them squarely in the story itself.
I very much enjoyed this book and I’m hoping for more from the author. I love the kind of story that speculates on the future of the world. This novel is one of turmoil, strength, perseverance, loyalty and love. The Awoken releases today and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it!
Review copy provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
