Dreaming Awake
Falling Under #2
Falling Under #2
Author: Gwen Hayes
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: NAL Trade
When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.
Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.
And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…
Genre: Fantasy
Synopsis:
She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love…When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.
Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.
And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start…
My Thoughts: I read this series in two days - I just couldn't put it down. From the very first chapters in Falling Under this series had me enthralled and completely captivated. When I reached the ending of Dreaming Awake I could hardly believe it was over and was instantly craving more.
The Falling Under series is about a girl named Theia, who was born in America but raised in England hence the British accent. Theia was just a regular misfit girl in high school with an overbearing father before Haden Black came into her life and turned up into down and down into up. Then, someone from Haden's past comes and threatens everything they hold dear and Theia must make a pact with the devil to save Haden. But Haden isn't giving up on Theia so easily.
The evolution of Theia from the first book (Falling Under) to Dreaming Awake, and even during dreaming awake, is something miraculous. At the beginning of Fallen Under we find Theia as a socially awkward girl repressed by her father so that she is the picture of perfection of British Aristocracy. He tries to tame anything wild that she could have possibly got from her American mother and sets harsh limits to which she has always abided. Then, slowly at first but surely, she starts to change as she must adapt to the situations that her love for Haden Black puts her in. By the end of Dreaming Awake, Theia has her own mind and does not need or look for anyone's permission to be herself or do what she wishes. She really gets a back bone and lets herself free and I loved watching her transformation.
Haden Black is someone I could totally sink my teeth into. He is sweet, charming, jealous and with just enough bad to make me (and Theia) swoon. He had a couple of weird/creepy moments that made me reminiscent of a sparkly vampire (not naming any names) but they were very minimal and easy to look over when he is just so damn hot and weird and perfect all rolled up into one giant Haden roll.
I enjoyed this series so much that I am a little sad it is over. I liked that it was different, even though the way it was written did give me a throw-back to the first two arcs of the Vampire Diaries books. However, the plot was something I enjoyed immensely and the characters were pretty awesome as well. All in all, if you are looking for a good read I would definitely recommend picking up this series.
