Awakened

When Darkness Falls

By: M.A. Hollstein

Narrated by: Julie Branc

Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

Awakened after millions of years of imprisonment, a prehistoric alien threat has been freed, and is now wreaking havoc on the Earth. Becoming more powerful by draining electricity all over the planet, the earth is plunged into darkness, making humanity more vulnerable than ever.

Follow several groups of people on the first night of their journey in this apocalyptic adventure. Little do they know that this is just the beginning. Something more sinister is about to emerge, changing life as they know it.

©2022 Raven Tale Publishing (P)2023 M.A. Hollstein, Michelle Hollstein

Fantastic!

It is rare that I find a book that keeps me listening, or thinking about when I can get back to listening when I'm not, but this one did it. Throughout the story, I became embroiled in the lives the author presented to us in the apocalyptic story making me feel so many emotions. There are so many authors that depict this possibility of an emp, zombies, war...but prehistoric aliens? This is a new one for me and I am impressed!
M.A. Hollstein paints a story of horrific creatures on the hunt and the humans are the hunted. Be warned there are some chilling scenes that will stay with you long after you have finish the story!
The characters are each believable and their interactions with each other are, as well. I want to know what is going to happen and how are they going to get away? How are they going to get to their families? Are their families still alive? I have so many questions I need answered!
This is the first I have heard from this narrator and I enjoyed her story telling very much. Julie Branc did a fantastic job of telling the story and not just reading it. By her 'becoming' each character and she helped to make them more believable for me. She did an outstanding job of holding my interest as she brought my heart to my throat by giving me the visual of the bloody scenes the author described, as well as the fear, anger, desperation and despair each character was feeling. I enjoyed her many different voices, and, at times I forgot she is the woman speaking as a man.. She gives just the correct amount of roughness to each man just as she gives the softer or hysterical side to each woman or child.
The ending leaves you hanging, but it's rare for an apocalyptic story not to when it is a series. I just want more!

A harrowing, poignant beginning

Received as an audio review copy provided by the author, this is an honest review. Wonderfully narrated by Julie Branc, Awakened is a beautiful, harrowing story of survival for the unfortunate souls that encounter dangerous and deadly creatures armed with murderous talons and teeth and out for blood... that just happened to show up when the power suddenly disappears. Some of the people we follow were already facing personal crisis: a mother desperate to save her and her children from a abusive husband before a creature upends their dark reality; a woman having an affair with a guy as they share a vacation on Hawaii and being on a plane not the best of places to be when there's no power and now surviving on dark ocean waters. From visceral circumstances, people rise to show the best and worst of humanity when the world is altered in a way no one really understands.

Highly recommended.

It was good

It was a great story. My only issue was the constant back-and-forth between the different characters lives. This made it hard to understand sometimes what was going on.

story of survival

It does go back and forth with characters but that keeps it interesting! But it did end with you wondering who survives and what happens next!

The War for Dominance has Begun

Awakened is a well written book that reminds me of the movie "Riddick" if it was on Earth. Alien creatures have awakened after millions of years with a nlood thirsty vengeance, and we are on the menu. The story is descriptive, suspenseful, frightening, entertaining, and an absolute thrill ride that kept me glued to the end of my seat. The characters are believable, resilient, and well developed. I can't wait to listen to book two because if it's anything like book one, I am in for a wild ride. I highly recommend this book if you love stories that are entertaining and intriguing. I received this book upon my request. I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion here of my own free will.

Great Story!

This is an interesting new take on how humans react in a horrific event.

The characters are believable and the story line is interesting.

The narration is more like a reading than a performance.

I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, narrator, Audible, and/or publisher.

I voluntarily left this review.

Great sart

This got my heart pumping and my blood zinging through my vessels. It was highly suspenseful and totally terrifying the more I listened. Going to binge this series for answers. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest opinion. The narrator did an excellent job bringing the characters and story to life.

AWESOME!!!

WOW really enjoyed listening to Awakened, good good book! Kept my interest (which isn't easy to do lol!) and I listened to it in a few days on my way to/from work. I can't wait to read more by M.A. Hollstein. Definitely recommended!!!
This is an interesting new take on how humans react in a horrific event.
I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook, and I voluntarily published this review.

Entertaining

I like the story overall. Fast paced and action packed. There was a little too much swapping between characters for a shorter story. Wish we maybe only followed along with 3 groups. Ends on an interesting cliffhanger.

I was given this audiobook for free at my request and have voluntarily left a review.

Would a great start to what looks like a great series

This book was way better than I was expecting because they have a lot of end of the world scenario books but this one had my heart palpitating and despite the fact it was an audiobook I had my hands over my eyes The people involved Cheryl who was on the flight from Hawaii with her married lover and she’s semi psychic, we have Jennifer and her two kids TV and Sarah who has an abusive husband Brody and right when she goes to make her scape her car stops running so when he bangs on the top of the vehicle she goes to call the police but her phone doesn’t work that was my first clue this book was going to be awesome then we have Joshua and his brand new bride Cindy who are on a honeymoon and although at first she is questioning her decision to hastily marry him but she will soon be thanking her lucky stars that she did just that. It looks like I have passed up the beginning of the story which is Gianni Who catches her boyfriend Danny cheating on her while he was supposed to be out with his best friend and as she’s running away totally angry that he broke her heart and she wants to cry she tries to make a call and he keeps calling her and she will not answer but then her phone dies and she approaches to military men to ask for their assistance they look like totally respectable nice guys are names Devon and Chad she is with them when disorder starts in the chaos is beginning and because people are being loud and that attracts bees flying 7 foot tall birds with the teeth and the story begins there are points in the plot that I specifically left out because I think it’s going to be more fun to hear it as the story goes along like the very beginning what happens between Jenny and Brody and where these alien birds came from. This is over the first night and just so you know I already have book to download it I love Miss Holstein‘s books and I did not know she came out with these I don’t know how I missed them but I quickly made up for that oversight because I love this book and cannot wait to read the second one something I’m going to do as soon as possible please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.