Awakened
Where sea and land meet, two worlds clash in a fury of waves and wind.
Arden Bleu has always known that her stepsister, Jade, was destined for great things. In a world where beauty follows magic, she has no doubt that their upcoming Awakening ceremony will reveal that gorgeous, kind, compelling Jade is far more than a mere mortal. But when Jade is kidnapped by a mysterious sect of mer on the eve of the newly-returned king’s ball, Arden will do anything to save her sister. Even face down the man she’s always dreaded meeting because of the power he holds over her family, the man to whom her father swore loyalty long before she was born. The Sea King.
Seidon, the Sea King of Daryatla, has grown only more powerful as the centuries have gone by, but lifetime after lifetime have failed to give him what he most yearns for: a family. He knows that it will take a woman of extraordinary power to match him enough to create a child, and no such woman seems to exist…until he feels her magic calling to his one day in the water. And when Arden Bleu, daughter of his most trusted official, arrives to tell him about her missing stepsister, he knows this Jade, with a new magic so coveted that the Mer would risk war with his kingdom to steal her away, may be the one he’s waited centuries for. But how can he and the determined Arden ever hope to find one young woman trapped beneath the waves? Perhaps the Great Golden Sea Hawk who has guarded the sisters all their lives holds the key.
In a world on the brink of war between the mer and the land-dwellers, friendship, faith, and love demand the ultimate sacrifice as both kingdoms seek to unlock the prophesied magic waiting to spring forth: the magic of wind and sky. To the mer, it would mean the freedom to return to the land. To Seidon’s court, it would mean safety from every storm. But how can any human hand wield the wind?
More from the world of Awakened
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Imagine a world thousands of years in the future, where the Lord has tarried in His return…
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Discussion Questions
- When we meet Arden, it’s through the lens of her sisterhood with Jade. What did you think of the sibling dynamics between these two stepsisters? Did you relate more to one or another of them? What did you think of the Bleu family and Barrier Banks culture?
- Seidon is confident and faithful but still keenly aware of his failings. Do you think a life so long would be helpful or a hindrance when it comes to building character? What did you think of Seidon as a hero? Of Daryatla as a kingdom?
- What did you think of the explanation of “magic” used in this story, as part technology and part gift from God?
- While mermaid lore is nothing new, there’s a new spin on it in Awakened. What did you think of the mer being fully human? After the book was finished, I discovered that there are tribes of people who live entirely on the water and can indeed hold their breath for many times longer than most people, thanks to enlarged spleens that they’ve evolved over their centuries at sea. Do you think humans could ever adapt to fully living beneath the waves? Does the idea of the Sunken Cities intrigue you?
- While held prisoner by the mer, Jade has to question who she is, her strengths, and God’s purpose for her. What did you think of her journey and experiences?
- Who was your favorite character? Least favorite? Why?
- Given that Arden is the heroine, it was probably not a huge surprise to discover she was Awakened. Were you surprised by her link to Ora though? What were your thoughts when she and the Giant Golden Sea Hawk first bonded? About her Awakening Ceremony?
- While faith often plays a role in works of fantasy, I made an unusual (and potentially unpopular) choice by having my faith not be allegorical, but rather what Christianity might look like thousands of years in the future. What were your thoughts on how faith was handled? On the different names used for God? (Triada is Latin for “Trinity”; Elyon is a variation of the Hebrew meaning “Most High.”)
- Were you surprised to learn that Electra had been the one feeding information to Seidon? What did you think of her role in the story? How do you think Seidon’s underwater network was set up and operated? She’ll be the focus on a holiday novella soon—what do you think her future has in store for her as the new queen of the mer?
- All our point of view characters learn that they become more who they are and who they’re meant to be when they rely on God…and each other. What did you think of how this theme played out for each of them?
- The rest of the series will explore the other lands mentioned—Fjorlandi, realm of the ice wielders; Ellas, a magic-less land of warriors; and Soltierra, land of the sun, and the Star-Riders. Which of these sounds most intriguing to you? Where do you imagine the series going?