Find out more about Awakening, the first book in The Commune’s Curse, by Lucy A. McLaren in this spotlight post for the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award!
This year, the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner. Find out more on their website or on Twitter. BBNYA is brought to you by The Folio Society (the home of gorgeous books!) and the book blogger support group, The Write Reads.
I’m excited to be one of the panelists for BBNYA so I will be highlighting some of the books that either I read in Rounds One and Two, or that sound exciting and I’d like to read in the future.
About Awakening
Length: 380 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Date Published: 1st May 2022
Amazon / Goodreads / StoryGraph
The Kingdom of Septima is ruled in all but name by the Commune, a ruthless cult that seeks control of an ancient power that has taken root in unsuspecting children in Septima. To maintain their hold on the kingdom, the Commune will stop at nothing to capture children who show signs of this power, to be weaponised or eliminated. Eighteen-year-old Evelyn Folksman is in hiding. Taken in by a tavern-owner, she is haunted by the horrific events that drove her from her home years before.
Evelyn is forced to face her past when two wayward children, Raif and Rose Huntsman, arrive at the tavern, pursued by Commune soldiers. The children fall under Evelyn’s reluctant care as the trio narrowly escape a raid. Relentlessly hunted by Commander Jonah Sulemon and Commune agent Lord Eirik Torrant, Evelyn and Raif cannot fathom why they pose such a threat to the Commune, until six-year-old Rose unwittingly reveals a terrible secret: she possesses powers more fearsome than any the Commune has unearthed in decades. There are only two options: to be captured and imprisoned, or to run for the rest of their lives.
About the author, Lucy A. McLaren
Lucy A. McLaren is a fantasy author and professional counsellor, passionate about writing stories that include a realistic representation and exploration of mental health issues. She is a lifelong fan of fantasy stories, and enjoys reading, writing, watching and playing them. McLaren’s debut novel, Awakening: The Commune’s Curse Book 1, released from Santa Fe Writers Project in May 2022. She also has a fantasy short story featured in the Reign of Fire anthology which released from Dragon Soul Press in January 2023.
See all of the books featured on my blog in the Spotlight Tours here
