This is a riveting start to The Awakening series. I loved how relatable the main character was. She made mistakes! That never seems to happen in YA anymore. The storyline was well-developed, with depth to provide dimension and authenticity to the plot. The setting was a favorite point too. A fantasy world layered over the world we live in. And New Zealand was mentioned like three times (woohoo!) In my opinion this always makes for an exciting read. It draws the reader that one step closer to believing we could be in the novel as well!