Dawn of Wonder

The Wakening, Book 1

By: Jonathan Renshaw

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

Length: 29 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

When a high-ranking officer gallops into the quiet Mistyvales, he brings a warning that shakes the countryfolk to their roots. But for Aedan, a scruffy young adventurer with veins full of fire and a head full of ideas, this officer is not what he seems. The events that follow propel Aedan on a journey that only the foolhardy or desperate would risk, leading him to the gates of the nation's royal academy - a whole world of secrets in itself.

But this is only the beginning of his discoveries. Something is stirring in the land, something more ominous than the rising threat of hostile nations. Fearful travelers whisper of an ancient power breathing over Thirna, changing it, waking it. In the very heart of these stirrings, Aedan encounters that which defies belief, leaving him speechless with terror - and wonder.

©2015 Jonathan Renshaw (P)2016 Podium Publishing

Best book I've listened to this year.

Excellent tempo, excellent book, excellent narrator. i rarely listen to a book twice but will do with this one.

overly long, but engaging, interesting first book

Combine Helen of Troy with the Chamber of Secrets and the Mines of Moriah, and then a little something different, and you have this book so far. We don't know exactly what direction the mystery will go but we assume it will stay fantasy and not go sci-fi on us. By the end of the story, we want to learn the secret of the creatures and artifacts discovered, and the reason for the prince's seeming two-facedness.

Callory, (Calorie in my mind) is stolen as a slave when she and Aedan are both young. He is so full of anger and guilt that he wants to go off and rescue her, but learns she has been sacrificed to the barbarians' gods. His family must flee their home town because of lies spread about him. Then there is an accident and injury to Aedan, and then this couple they live with and the lady bosses everyone to death--just a whole weird series of events that adds hours to the listening and nearly a year to the story. It doesn't seem to have any purpose other than to cause Aedan to run off to the military sooner rather than later. This could have been accomplished by the father since we discover that the father-son relationship is not what we thought it was at first. Aedan has to grow up and learn many things. But the whole plot moves very slowly waiting for Aedan to heal from his injury, learn to fight, learn to control his temper, learn to be a soldier.

After this, the main bulk of the book is two forays into dangerous territory. The necessity of the first foray is questionable in terms of progressing the plot, but the second finally is the point of the book. Finally we get to literature--confronting inner fears, standing up for right, for justice. Finally we get a few characters to care about and root for. And finally we get to the fantasy part of the story. Up to now it has all been a rambling, accidental, diary of a young boy.

These flaws make the story overly long. Don't get me wrong--a good story told with detail is every reader's dream, but when there seems to be no point to the events, it just gets long. But by now we are interested and want to know the answers to the questions left us at the end, so thank goodness there is a sequel!

Great story, great narration

I spend a lot of time listening to audio books and it is dream to find one like this that kept me listening hour after hour. Definitely worth the listen.

Great book!!

One of the best books I've listened to this year. I really can't wait for the second book to come out. Well worth the credit.

AMAZING!!!

This book is well written and the narrator brought to life the era of the story

Breath Taking!!

Brilliant. I Highly anticipate book 2 & More! Johnathan Renshaw is talent Unleashed. Thank You! I'm about to read it Again!

enjoyable!!!

this book started slow but by the end I was ready for book 2 can't wait to see how much the characters grow

pure greatness!

loved it!! a really great story and can't wait for the next one! it truly is amazing!

Good, but not great, but still so good!

It was a well done and entertaining story that had everything I enjoy in a fantasy story, and nothing I don't. Good, clean, honest fun.

Amazing performance and story.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I certainly would recommend this book. It takes a young boy from childhood to early adulthood, and inspite of his circumstances and horrible upbringing, it makesw one know it's possible to be greater than one's past and future expectations. Although it is a fantasy, it is human in all the quirks and "unexpected" of life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dawn of Wonder?

I felt the most memorable moment of this book was when the main character leaps from an impossible height to help someone else, certainly knowing he won't make it but willing to try, nonetheless.

Which character – as performed by Tim Gerard Reynolds – was your favorite?

All of them, Tim is one of my favorites of all time. His rendition of lots of the books in my library speak to my love of his ability to render both male and female characters with realism and a lack of foolishness that often happens when either men pplay women or women try to voice men. Tim can do it all.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was particularly moved when the main character learns that he can fly.

Any additional comments?

Although this book comes off in the beginning as a book about children for children, do not let it fool you, it is certainly not; but a book about real heroism and, being human, making mistakes and it's a terrific listen.