Description
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 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?
Bree Morgan –
•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
JoelCleve –
This is the perfect romantasy read to start the summer with!! It is a beautiful love story filled with high stakes and adventure in every chapter. The setting immediately takes you somewhere topical with a uniquely freak take on mermaids! The relationship between the two main characters is sweet and real, having you staying up late to find out what happens next!
Booklovebykristi –
“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.
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.
Bethany –
Everything White writes is amazing, but I was interested to see if she could pull it off in a different genre. Boy howdy, did she. Awakened may be her debut fantasy, but it was riveting from first to last. There were some things I predicted and a lot I didn’t. I loved the world and the main characters and the magic system: basically, if it was in here, I loved it.
Megan Schaulis –
Stunning story world from a favorite author
Roseanna M. White has been an auto-read author for me ever since I discovered her Shadows Over England series. I love how she weaves faith and history and romance into compelling, powerful stories. Naturally, I was curious to see how her style and heart adapted to the world of fantasy. In short, this woman can write any genre!
This is a Romantasy with a capital R. Romance and the fantastical are central to the story. I loved that the characters were admirable, though imperfect, people I wanted to root for. Seidon is a good and admirable king, and I so wanted him to find the support and love he’d lacked.
White often tackles the lies we believe about ourselves, and Awakened is no exception. Arden wrestles repeatedly with her preconceived notions about her worth, notions others have reinforced. The third POV of her sister (a signature of White’s books) expands the story world and lends a more layered perspective on the plot and Arden’s false beliefs.
No surprise from this meticulous author, the political systems and cultural dynamics ring true to life despite the fantasy setting. The blend of high tech and high fantasy makes this a fresh spin on typical mer stories.
Content notes: This book is not for everyone. The magic system involves a sort of blood-typing process (the titular Awakening) that borders on blood magic. The system is described as giftings from the Creator, but some will be uncomfortable with the powers/magic character’s wield. Modern faith elements, including sacraments and references to angels, carry over into the future-set story. Romantically, the semi-forbidden attraction between Arden and Seidon is more forward than in White’s historical fiction. Also, there’s a closed-door scene between a husband and wife.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
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.
Tina Chen –
I’m so excited that Roseanna White is venturing into the world of speculative fiction! Her characters are always so rich and nuanced, and that is a perfect fit for romantasy! As expected, I absolutely loved the characters she created in this book! They quickly become so real that you forget you are reading fantasy. Mrs. White’s world-building is also stellar. I’ve always enjoyed the settings she creates in her historical fiction, but it was so fun to see her get to expand her creativity without as many limitations in this book! It was so easy to lose myself into this world, and I loved it!
There were two things I struggled with in this book that knocked a star off for me.
**********Slight spoilers and a bit of theological pickiness ahead, so feel free to skip**********
The first thing I struggled with is the differences in age and life experience of the two main characters. While I understand how and why it works in this story world, as a mom of teen and young adult daughters, I just couldn’t help but cringe if I let myself think about it much. I usually rave incessantly about Mrs. White’s books and get my girls to read them as soon as possible, but I won’t be pushing them to read this one. If they want to, they can, but I won’t bring it up and really couldn’t recommend it for young adult readers for that reason.
I also really struggled with some religious aspects of this book. Even though I thought it was so cool how Mrs. White imagined the future, I really wish this had been set in a completely fantastical world rather than in our world in the future because then, the author could have set the rules for how the deity of that world interacted with people (as in Narnia and Sharon Hinck’s Christian fantasy). Because Mrs. White chose to set this in our world, the reader is forced to read it less allegorically and more critically and make sure it is in complete agreement with Scripture, and I had issues with a couple parts of it because of that – namely, that participating in magic and ceremonies involving blood are forbidden for believers and that something akin to the intermarrying of the sons of God with the daughters of men condemned as evil in Genesis is presented as a good, God-approved thing in this story. I don’t believe that God’s laws are subject to change, so these things bothered me about this story. I was able to set them aside in my mind for the most part and just enjoy the story, which is why it was still a 4-star book for me, but I would be very hesitant to recommend it to others without giving these caveats.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and was encouraged to give my honest opinion and thoughts in my review, and I have done so.
Jessica Turbiville –
Awakened is a thrilling romantasy with magic and adventures, but it’s not paradise. A long forgotten group has taken Arden’s sister, and King Seidon has to worry about a potential war. When they come together to solve both problems, they won’t be able to kill two birds with one stone. This fantasy has compelling world building that isn’t your typical mermaid and human trope.
I loved this fun and exciting book and highly recommend it!
Melessa –
Awakened is the first fantasy book by Roseanna M. White. This book is one of my favorite books I have ever read. Roseanna takes you on an adventure on both land and sea. Arden is desperate to find her sister and will do whatever it takes. King Sideon is back for his birthday celebration. When Arden’s Father tells her to go to the king to seek his help she and her cousin go quickly. You will be swept away by the beauty,excitement and joy of this book. You will not want to put it down until the end. This is not my genre of books but it is amazing. I was given this book by the publisher. All thoughts are my own. I cannot wait for the series to continue and see what happens next.
Ashley S. –
I think this is my new favorite Roseanna White book! I loved it so much! It was easy to fall into this book and get lost in its pages. It’s been a while since a book has so completely immersed me in it.
The worldbuilding was great! So detailed but never overwhelming. So imaginative and unique, yet slightly familiar.
The characters were wonderful! So likeable and easy to root for. They were relatable and three-dimensional.
I loved that there was tech in this fantasy world. You don’t see that too often, but it worked so well! More, please!
I loved this book and highly, highly recommend it to fans of clean romantasy. I also think it’d be a good intro into the fantasy genre for people who’ve never read it before. I can’t wait for more books set in this world!
I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
Katie –
This was such a cool, beautiful book!! 😍 I’ve been a fan of Roseanna M White for many years, so when I saw she was publishing a book in my favorite genre, fantasy, I knew I had to read it! I really enjoyed the engaging plot, unique world building, intriguing characters, and sweet and clean romance. Arden and Seidon were such strong characters who had their fair share of insecurities and trauma. I loved their relationship and how they completed each other!
I liked that we got Jade’s POV along with the two MCs, and appreciated her character and what she brought to the story.
I’ve never seen a book with world building quite like this one and liked the creativity of it! The faith elements were naturally woven in and really added to the book.
I felt like the writing was structured a little weird at times, but nothing too bad.
So excited for the next books in this series!! 😆
/I received an ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own./
charitys.book.escapes –
THIS. THIS is what a strong FMC character should be: gentle, humble, kind, selfless, knows her mind, intelligent. She doesn’t put other people down for the sake of being “strong.” In fact, she consistently puts them above herself. She leads by being a servant.
And the king? The main thing that stands out about him to me is his humility. He knows from where his strength comes, and he readily admits to it.
I loved the relationships, the repartee, the unexpected. The quoting of Scripture in this future language. This book drew me in from the very first page and has still not let go of me.
I just want to bask in this book. Dwell in it. I mean, not literally-I am NOT a fan of water. But this book? I’m a big fan of this book. It is everything, and I need the rest of the series.
mackenzieharting –
I loved this story!! I love the character interactions, the descriptions and world building were amazing and easy to follow. Sometime I can get lost in other fantasy style builds, but not this one. I loved the characters throughout the story and kept wanting to read more. Roseanna pieced together a wonderful story. This was a favorite quote:
“Nothing surprises the Triada. Never can you drift so far that you are out of the reach of his mighty hand.”Excerpt From, Awakened by Roseanna M. White.
I can’t wait to read the adjoining books she plans to write!
I received a free e-copy for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Sarah V. –
Oh, my word! This book was fabulous! Quite possibly my favorite book of the year! (How many exclamation points are too many for a review??)
When one of my very favorite authors announced that she was writing and then publishing a Fantasy novel, I thought “I’ll give it a try! I love her other books, so what’s the worst that could happen? She finally writes something that I’m not a huge fan of?” Ha. Any hesitation that I might have had was gone within the first chapter. I adored this book! I loved Arden, Seidon, Jade, Storm, Jericho, Sapphire, and Ora. I even really liked a couple of the mer-people. I loved the combination of water “magic” and sky “magic.” I loved how the world felt so familiar, but also so fun and unique with magic and technology so different from ours.
I made a terrible mistake when I started this book, though. I started it right before bed, which means that when I was immediately pulled into the story, I stayed up WAY too late and missed more sleep than was wise. But do I regret my choices? Maybe a tiny bit. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Will I do it again when the next book releases? Almost without a doubt.
I tried to narrow down my favorite thing about this book, but there are far too many things and too many spoilers if I listed them all. So I will say that I adored the romance. It made me smile so big when the characters got to their first kiss and ah . . . I can’t say anything else! But I have reread those parts several times because their relationship just makes me happy. I confess, I also loved that I was partially right! Haha! Because if I had been wrong, I was going to be super confused about what was going to happen next. And the ending! I loved that there wasn’t a huge cliffhanger, as is so common to the other Fantasy novels I’ve read.
The lack of cliffhanger definitely hasn’t dimmed my anticipation for the next story! I can’t wait to meet some new characters to love and learn more about this fun world Ms. White has created!
Overall, if you enjoy fantasy with delightful characters and a beautiful romance then I would highly recommend darting off to find/buy a copy of this book!
*My thanks to the author for my copy of this book! I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Talita –
Roseanna M White does it again and earns each and every one of the 5 stars.
‘Awakened’ just shows what an absolutely brilliant writer Roseanna M White is. Her talent for storytelling shines through in this romantic fantasy novel, and even though this is her first novel in this new genre, she absolutely nailed it.
Awakened is the story of Arden and Seidon who are working together to save her sister Jade, who has been kidnapped by the mer. It’s a fascinating tale of kingdoms under the sea and on land, and where some are blessed by ‘magic’ to make the world a better place, while others have to rely on the ordinary gifts they have also been blessed with.
There is incredible spiritual depth in this novel, and the twists and turns are incredible. I am not a big fantasy reader, but I will definitely be reading the rest of this series as it comes out.
One thing that could improve, and I am sure will improve as Roseanna explores this genre further, is the world-building. Fantasy needs some intense and very descriptive world-building to transport you to this new world, but once again, the characters and the story are so well written that it didn’t really bother me that the physical descriptions of places were not as detailed.
This book will take you on an incredible journey and will touch your heart.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but the views and opinions are my own.
Nicole Curry –
Awakened is author Roseanna M. White’s first fantasy debut, and after reading this novel I am very excited for what’s to come next as the she dives deeper into the realm of fantasy writing.This story follows two sisters living in a world of mer and humans trying to share the same space and all the trial and error that comes from the two worlds colliding. One sister is thought to be more beautiful and valuable, but things are not always as they seem and as this story unfolds you will find out why! I loved how it was written in multiple povs, so you got to get into each main characters head and really envision what they were going through and how they felt in the moment. The world building was great, and I could imagine the scenes as they happened. This fantasy debut of Roseanna’s is really going to entertain readers and keep you on the edge of your seat! There is romance, yearning for a new life, heartbreak, adventure, action, family dynamics, sister bonding, and magical elements. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book today!
Heather Byrd –
This story is truly magical! I really didn’t know to expect, since this is a new genre for Rosanna White, and I’ve read many amazing clean fantasy stories, but very few from Christian authors. I am blown away by the storytelling. I love that there is mystery, romance, adventure, faith, and fantasy, all in one great book. Arden is so easy to relate to, someone who is worthy but has little confidence. Seidon is a handsome and blessed king, but lonely. Their love story is just perfect. I recommend this book for ages 18 and up, because there are some closed door married scenes, but they are tasteful and only add to the experience. I don’t want to add spoilers, but oh my gosh, the powers coming as they did was so well done, so many twists and turns to keep you invested. I also enjoyed Jade’s story, and would love to read one about Electra too. This who world is truly incredible, and I’m so excited to read more from it! This was a complimentary copy given to me by the publisher. All opinions are my own.