My review of Arcadia Awakens

Arcadia Awakens (Arkadien #1) by Kai Meyer
Release Date: March 1, 2012
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To New Yorker Rosa Alcantara, the exotic world of Sicily, with its network of Mafia families and its reputation for murder and intrigue, is just that--exotic, and wholly unknown. But when tragedy strikes, she must travel there, to her family's ancestral home, where her sister and aunt have built their lives and where centuries of family secrets await her. Once there, Rosa wastes no time falling head over heels for Alessandro Carnevare, the son of a Sicilian Mafia family, whose handsome looks and savage grace both intrigue and unsettle her. But their families are sworn enemies, and her aunt and sister believe Alessandro is only using Rosa to infiltrate the Alcantara clan. And when Rosa encounters a tiger one night--a tiger with very familiar eyes--she can no longer deny that neither the Carnevares nor the Alcantaras are what they seem.

Ancient myths brought to life in the Sicilian countryside, dangerous beasts roaming the hills, and a long history of familial bloodlust prove to Rosa that she can't trust anyone--not even her own family. Torn between loyalty to her aunt and love for her family's mortal enemy, Rosa must make the hardest decision of her life: stay in Sicily with her new love . . . or run as far and as fast as she can.

Arcadia Awakens is the first enticing book in the Arkadien trilogy. It's an imaginative and thoughtful novel set in a gorgeous town in Italy. We follow Rosa as she discovers more about her heritage and family secrets, but also falling for the forbidden Alessandro. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book! 

Rosa moves to Italy after a devastating occurs in her life in New York. She goes to live with her sister when she finds out more about her heritage and the big secret that she has been sheltered from. And then Rosa witnesses a snake and a tiger in battle, but the tiger has very familiar eyes.  Not only that, but she meets Alessandro, a boy from the Carnevares family, sworn enemies of the Alcantaras, Rosa's family. Together they uncover secrets that were not meant to be disturbed.

What I loved most about Arcadia Awakens has to be the overall idea of the book. I liked the idea of two families hating each other for an unspoken reason, it built up a lot of tension. And the whole love story? It was cute, but I didn't fall for it as much as I thought I would. I felt like the main character Rosa was a little cold and hard to relate to. Most of the time she just annoyed me because her actions were unjustified.

Though for a lot of the time I was just confused. I wasn't quite sure of what was going on and I wasn't quite sure why, either. Nevertheless, I'm prepared to give the sequel a go because I am interested in seeing how Rosa and Alessandro end up... yeah, the love story is just too cute to miss.

If you like paranormal thrillers with a topping of romance then this should be right up your street. Look out for the sequel, Arcadia Burns.

Rating

- A review copy was provided by Templar Publishing