Review: Awakened

Title:  Awakened, Eternal Guardians #8
Author: Elisabeth Naughton
Published: April 12, 2016
Genre: Paranormal

DAMON – For twenty-five years he’s served as a plaything for the gods. With no memory of his past, he has no way of knowing if this is his ultimate fate, but he senses there has to be more to life. 

Damon’s hope for more comes in the form of the Sirens’ newest recruit. Elysia is unlike any trainee he’s ever met. Not only can she remember where she came from—an ability the Sirens block—but she has an instant connection to Damon, one he’s never felt and doesn’t understand. Soon Damon is willing to do anything to have Elysia. Even risk the wrath of the gods to break her out of Olympus so he can keep her for himself.

But Damon’s past isn’t a mystery to everyone. Evil forces are at work beneath the surface, and before long, Damon realizes that the connection he shares with Elysia isn’t a random coincidence. His fate—and the darkness it brings—was cemented long ago. And when it is finally revealed, no one will be safe.

5 hearts

Wow! This book makes me want to re-read the series again! Talk about bringing together a bunch of story lines into one. Naughton does this seamlessly. I had to think back and place characters I had forgotten about. This book has everything: Gods, demi-Gods, witches, Sirens, Argonauts, political intrigue, monsters, deception, and seduction training-of all things! You will want to have read the previous books in the series to appreciate this one. 

The time frame has jumped ahead 25 years from the last book. We follow Elysia, daughter to Queen Isadora and Argonaut Demetrius as she tries to escape an arranged bonding. Things do not go at all like she wants and she ends up not only on Pandora but then at Olympus as a trainee for the Sirens. She has a helping hand given by one of the trainers--Damon. 

Things are not as they seem. Events don't happen as they typically do for Siren trainees. Damon behaves differently once he meets Elysia. The bad Gods are still so horribly bad. The whole mess will keep you hanging on the end of the page! 

Loved seeing the comaraderie between the Argonauts. Catching up with the soul mates and all the children. Really liked seeing the Fates and their decision to meddle or not in the outcome of events. Grab this series for a wonderful twist on paranormal. Can't wait for the next one! 

*ARC provided by the author for an honest review

Before topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A voracious reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned into a flame, and Naughton now writes full-time. Besides topping bestseller lists, her books have been nominated for some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, such as the RITA® and Golden Heart Awards from Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Golden Leaf Award. When not dreaming up new stories, Naughton can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home. Visit her website atwww.ElisabethNaughton.com to learn more about her books.