Description
Where sea and land meet, two worlds clash in a fury of wind and waves.
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 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?
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Melissa D. –
Ahh! Roseanna M. White has definitely found a new genre. Her debut romantasy Awakened is absolutely amazing!!! I loved this book. It’s a clever, unique mermaid tale like I’ve never read before that brilliantly combines romance, futuristic science, mermaid lore, & faith.
As the Awakening Ceremony approaches, Arden Bleu knows her sister Jade will excel all expectations & have magic awakened within her. After all, “magic follows beauty.” But, when Jade is kidnapped by sea dwelling mer determined to unlock her magic for themselves, Arden must face the powerful Sea King to ask for help.
Seidon, the Sea King of Daryatla has lived for centuries searching for the woman who can match him in every way & fulfill the prophesy, granting him the family he’s longed for. After many years away, he returns to his kingdom hoping to prevent a war & find the one he’s almost given up waiting for. When he feels magic beckoning him in the water & learns of Jade’s kidnapping, he believes she might be the one. As he & Arden work together to find her sister, he really sees Arden & feels a strong pull to her, but will he risk breaking their hearts when Jade is his destiny? Only the Great Golden Sea Hawk who’s been guarding the sisters their whole lives holds the key.
This story was utterly addictive! I adored Seidon. The delicious banter between him & Arden was so much fun. Though he’s a powerful being, he has such a delightful, playful personality that completely drew me in. I loved how loyal he is to Arden & the heart achingly beautiful way he loves her.
Arden’s been in her sister’s shadow her whole life. I loved seeing her grow more confident in herself & her abilities. I also loved how from the start she was willing to tease the king right back & didn’t let his powerful position intimidate her.
The world building was amazing! I loved exploring the mer world & the author’s creative spin on mermaids. I loved Jade’s perspective & how she navigates her captivity. Also enjoyed the unique way faith was shared. Excited to explore more of this world & others alluded to.
Highly recommend! Can’t wait for more books! I received an advanced copy from the author with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily.
Margaret Nelson –
I am always amazed when an author is able to create a whole new world that makes sense to me in the speculative fiction/fantasy genre. Although the world in Roseanna White’s new romantasy (romantic fantasy) novel is based on our world, it is many, many years in the future, and life is a lot different than it is now.
I quickly fell in love with the characters and the world White has created, complete with mer men and maids, special gifting that allows some of the characters to live several hundred years, magic, giant eagles, and much more.
In the midst of all this, the emotions and challenges of the characters are familiar – those who are driven by pride and a desire for power, others seeking for adventure and excitement, some who feel left out, overlooked and useless, people who want to follow their dreams (which seem impossible), those seeking their Creator, and others denying His existence.
If you enjoy a good story with great characters, spiritual insights that apply to any age, and the fun of imagining swimming with a mermaid or riding an eagle, I think you’ll really enjoy this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Courtney –
As a mom of three littles, we all – myself included – have strict bedtimes each night. Despite my daily exhaustion, I found myself staying up late night after night like a kid hiding under a blanket with a flashlight just to finish a few more pages of Awakened. And of course, those few more pages always turned into a chapter, which turned into two chapters, which turned into me losing out on a whole lot of sleep each night. But, I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!
I’ve read maybe a handful of fantasy novels throughout my lifetime so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but it’s safe to say that Awakened went far beyond my expectations and had me caught – hook, line, and sinker – from beginning to end.
In this unique fantasy world, White creates a mesmerizing blend of magic, mermaids, romance, and royalty, while weaving Biblical truth throughout the story. You’ll be left in wonder and without doubt that Roseanna M White is just as talented in the fantasy genre as she is in the historical world. Don’t miss out on this one!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publishers. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Booklovebykristi (verified owner) –
“What I know is that love is never a gift the Triada gives to break us. It is how he gives us wings. It is how he takes us to new heights, new depths. Love, real love makes us better.”
Y’all!! I don’t have the words. I love Roseanna’s historical fiction but I think I might love her fantasy more!! This story was amazing!! I was completely drawn into the story from the first chapter. The descriptions of the post-cataclysmic kingdoms were fantastic. I felt like I was there experiencing it all, on land, in the sea, and in the air. The characters both primary and secondary are all top-notch. The magical elements and the characters faith in the “Triada” perfectly balanced. As Roseanna describes it “the touch of our Creator has combined with our own technology to create a world of magic”.
Arden was so strong and capable but completely doubted herself and her importance. Her devotion to Jade was sweet as was her relationship with her father. Jade definitely had a difficult time and had her own struggles. I liked how she kept believing Triada had a plan for her even in her trouble. Seidon was amazing! I loved that he was humble yet confident and completely surrendered to Triada’s will. I loved his friendship with Rico. Seidon and Jade’s friendship was the best part, and that’s all you get on that. 😉
A few quotes:
“Are you flirting with me, Your Majesty?” “His Majesty definitely isn’t—that would be a terrible idea. Seidon, on the other hand… he definitely is.” “Why?” “I can name several reasons.”
“Look, I know she’s your sister. You love her. She could well have magic that’s the key to everything—I get all that. But I don’t know her. You, however, have become in the last month one of the best friends I’ve had in my entire life, and I will not lose you to this Triada-forsaken civil war.”
“I’d like the record to reflect that I told you I loved you before I realized whose blood it was I’d felt. That I proposed before all this. And also—I told you so.”
This ARC was provided by the author. I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.
Joelene –
The perfect romantasy to start your summer with! This is a uniquely fresh take on mermaid fantasy, with beautiful romance and adventure filling up every page. A highly recommended read!
Bree Morgan (verified owner) –
•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•
{𝑨𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅}
🌊 Release Date: June 2, 2025 🌊
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This was one of the first Christian fantasy books I’ve ever read, and let me tell you—it was incredible! I love how it was filled with characters of good morals, showcasing love, faith, courage, and resilience. This would definitely be a book I would highly recommend to older teens for good, sound reading entertainment—I just wish this book would have been around when I was younger!
From swimming in the depths of the ocean to soaring through the sky on the wings of a hawk, this book was brought to life with all of the vivid descriptions and rich details that Roseanna M. White included in this epic fantasy! I loved learning about Daryatla, the Tidal Kingdom, and the Sunken Cities, home of the merfolk. Both places were extremely fascinating, and Roseanna did an excellent job creating them—I’m so excited for more books set in this post-cataclysmic world!
This book was packed with all of the best elements to create the perfect YA fantasy: magic, merfolk, and romance! I really appreciated the magical elements in this story; they were absolutely beautiful, with nothing dark or evil about them. Everything about this book was upbuilding and uplifting for readers!
I haven’t read many stories that include merfolk in them, but I don’t have to have much knowledge of them to know that Roseanna did a phenomenal job with the merfolk in her story! They were such fascinating people, and I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing life with them in this book. I look forward to reading more “mer” stories in the future!
The romance in this story was positively delightful—it was very well-written, with lots of swoony moments! The flirting and banter between certain characters was top-notch, and it definitely had me smiling 😁 I loved watching the tentative first feelings of love start to bloom between the love interests and grow into the most beautiful, unwavering kind of devotion ♥️
I absolutely adored the characters in this book so much! Seidon had such a soft and caring heart for those around him, making him the perfect Sea King! I loved the strong sisterly bond between Jade and Arden, and how they didn’t let anything come between them—not even jealousy over Jade’s beauty and popularity. The family moments in this book were immensely heartwarming and will definitely make you appreciate your own family even more!
Read it for:
🔱 Strong faith themes
🔱 Amazing world building
🔱 Age gap
🔱 Powerful Sea King
🔱 Kidnapped sister
🔱 ✨Magical✨ elements
🔱 Merfolk
🔱 An EPIC plot