”He thought he’d outlived war. Ultimately, war outlived everyone.”

I was sucked into The Wake Up from page one. In a dark, bleak world where political conflict is building by the day and the average person you pass on the street is unable to sense their angel or demon sides, Lexi has been blessed/cursed with the ability of a Seer. Her family has cautioned her to hide her abilities since the time she was a child. When it’s discovered reflective surfaces (mirrors, glass) magnify and help to identify the good and darkness within people, they are banned. Lexi, from a family of glassblowers, sees her family torn apart.

This gorgeous novel has so many facets, from Lexi’s Greek family with whom she’s very close, to her wolf protectors, to a dark love triangle that will leave you questioning what you believe at every turn. I loved the vivid descriptions, from the brutal sawing of a demon horn in a bathroom, to how it felt to train as a glassblower. The worldbuilding was intricate and well-drawn so that I felt like I was standing in every scene. It’s the use of language that makes “The Wake Up” shimmer, tasty prose that make the action scenes feel breathless and the descriptions lovely. I loved the inclusion of quotes at the beginning of each chapter, as well as the way the shifts in perspective and time added to the feeling of unease at being in Lexi’s world. A good dystopian leaves you feeling constantly unsettled, and this was deliciously dark. Such wonderful shades of gray. I can’t wait for book two.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
( )