This young adult mystery horror takes us to a remote borderline village in an intentionally unspecified place and time where people still live by their own rules and still believe in old gods. Twelve years ago, four children suddenly disappeared without trace. Now during the winter solstice, three of them returned out of nowhere as teenagers with no memory of what happened to them. Astrid, Tom and Sonja have to unite to face the prejudice of the villagers and to find out, what happened to them and where the fourth missing child is-Astrid's brother Max. Twelve nights after the winter solstice is the most dangerous time of the year as the border between human world and underworld is thin. And the kids-now adults-will discover that the ghosts from their nightmares are real and waiting for them.
Title: I Shall Awaken
Author: Sardicka, Katerina
ISBN: 9788000063478
Binding:
Publisher: Albatros nakladatelstvi as
Publication Date: 2022-06-30
Number of Pages: 352
Weight: 0.5702 kg
Dora's village is turned upside down when three missing people return in this novel translated from the Czech. Seventeen-year-old Dora Lautner has been labelled crazy ever since four of her friends-Sonya, Tom, Astrid, and Astrid's little brother, Max-disappeared from day care 12 years ago while she was left behind, unable to say what happened. As the community begins the winter solstice festival of Korochun, during which the dead may walk among the living, Astrid and Tom reappear, unable to remember what transpired, along with a comatose Sonya. Max, however, is nowhere to be found. While people assume that Gustaw Linhart, their suspected kidnapper, set them free upon his recent release from an asylum, Astrid, Dora, and Tom aren't so sure. When the traditional bonfire refuses to light and dead animals begin to turn up around the village, talk begins of a curse. During the 12 days of the festival, Dora, Tom, and Astrid must solve the mystery of the abduction and the returnees' arrival in order to wake up Sonya and find Max before it is too late. The novel is eerie and atmospheric, with a plot drawn from the worst childhood fears of monsters under the bed. The final revelation of the truth behind the mystery does nothing to diminish the horror; if anything, it makes it even scarier. The measured pace is interrupted by bursts of terrifying action, keeping readers in suspense.
An intense, absorbing novel that will have readers jumping at shadows. (Horror. 13-18)
- Kirkus
There are so few YA horror novels out there and I am so happy that I stumbled upon this one. The author used such a unique storyline and included Slavic gods which I was completely new to, didn't have any previous knowledge of, but absolutely loved it. I definitely will be adding this to my physical bookshelf on release day. - Taylor S, Reviewer
I stumbled across this book while looking for a new book to read that tied in tales of the gods. I loved that this brought in the Slavic gods - I haven't found a lot of stories that do.
It also was YA horror, which was a huge bonus! The disappearances of children, and reappearance hinted to something more sinister lurking out there.
I can't wait to be able to share this book with my students that love horror, and the old tales! I don't have enough in my classroom library that crossover.
But first, my priority is adding this book to my personal library.
A fantastic book with equally gorgeous art. 5/5.
- Jennifer J, Educator
Dora's four friends went missing 12 years ago during nap time at kindergarten. No one has believed what she saw, blaming the disappearances on the local loony man. A few days after he is released from his sentence, three of the four return; aged normally and unaware of how they got there or where they had been. Why did only three return and where have they been this whole time? And are they to blame for the sudden stroke of bad luck the village now faces? I Shall Awaken was a great quick read. While told from many points of view it didn't jar the reader and helped propel the story forward. Mythical/wise women of the village help our main characters navigate lost memories and myths that should have never been forgotten. While the ending left a little to be lacking, it was nice to be able to allow the reader their own take on what happens after the epilogue. I really enjoyed this story but the reread value is what brings it down to 4 stars. Recommended for readers 10+ who love a good mystery along with a bit of magic. - Kristin S, Reviewer
From the Czech Stephen King , Katerina Sardicka's YA horror novel I Shall Awaken is firmly rooted in folklore, and fear of the old gods. Following their mysterious disappearance as children, Astrid, Tom, and Sonya return 12 years later, with no memory of the incident. However, Astrid's brother Max did not return with them, and Astrid desperately tries to figure out his rescue, while dealing with the abusive family to whom she has returned. The unnamed village in which the novel is set is full of secrets, from weird witch-like characters, to forbidden forests, and a myriad of ghosts. I love the world Sardicka has created; it just drips with dread from the first page. The central female characters in this book are particularly strong. Astrid's defiance in the face of authority, and the literal unknown, is incredible. This girl faces potential death in order to rescue her brother. The story takes a while to build; Sardicka builds a sense of foreboding that really pays off when things speed into the break-neck final chapters. The horror is incredibly disturbing, and I experienced the rare phenomenon of a jump scare in a book. I love that this is a YA book, and if young readers embrace this level of terror, I think there is an incredible amount of hope for the future. - Tracey T, Reviewer
In a small unnamed village demons are feared and superstitions rule the villagers' lives. The village has very good reasons to be afraid. Twelve years ago, four six-year old children disappeared from their locked kindergarten classroom during naptime. Sonia, Tom and Astrid along with her little brother, Max were taken away; only Dora knows what happened but no one believed her. Suddenly during the first night of the winter solstice, the most dangerous time for the villagers when the veil between the real world and the otherworld is thinnest, three of the missing children, now young adults, return naked, covered in mud and with no memory of what has happened to them over the last 12 years. Then things get frightening, nightmares seem to come to life and the animals in the forest around them are dying. Astrid wants to go back for Max, but where does she go and how will she get there? The story is mostly told through Dora and Astrid and their home lives are almost as horrible as their nightmares making the reader sympathize with them. Reading this novel by a Czech author, translated into English, featuring folklore and legends of a different culture is a great way for readers to expand their reading horizons, and this is a good book to start with. - Youth Services Book Review
