What if lucid dreams were more than just dreams? What if some part of ourselves actually went out into the world and experienced our dreams not as if they were reality but, in reality? That is the world Roya Stark has found herself to be inhabiting. Not only does Roya have to deal with learning the ins and outs of her abilities and this new subculture they bring with them, but, she also has the hardship of feeling out of place in her own family. As an added bonus, she's navigating the murky waters of the 'teen years', a stage when even the best circumstances can be trying and confusing. We get to see Roya at the genesis of her transformations from misunderstood youth to one who wields remarkable power. There are many parts that could be a day in the life of any ordinary teenager. This does a lot to make Roya both believable and relatable. While a relatable character adds to a story, predictable characters can dull a well developed character. Sarah Noffke gets a bit too close to the predictable at times. Roya stays true to her character with her actions enough to make it forgivable. There are other characters in the book but, none are as well developed as our main character. With the rare exception, most of the others behave almost like set pieces in that, they don't do much beyond their function in the plot. I don't want to give too much away but, I will say that some of these functionaries become more like real people. The timing does get the reader ready for the next book in the series.
Some may see many parallels to other more popular books series. I admit, I had some concern in the beginning but, Awoken diverges from the more commonly used story lines. The pacing of the story itself is not too bad. There are some areas where it took me a minute to discern between flashback and the present. Much of the back story is handled either through flash back or description. I really like the way the author does tend to show more than tell so, journeys into the past don't bog down the story. I only wish there was a bit more texture to some of the scenes. If the author can make me feel the scene or situation by describing the scene or actions, it helps me get lost in that world. I chalk that up to personal preference.
It's all in all an entertaining book with a unique take on a seldom used trope. I like the way Sarah Noffke handled the complex interactions among the characters. Though some of the story may ring familiar, it is a story of its own. This book is a moderate PG13. I would not hesitate recommend this to a mature teen.
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