Sorceress Awakening (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 1)

I was intrigued by the snippet of the plot and was not disappointed after reading the book. It has everything you would want in a mystical novel. There is magic, otherworldly creatures, a powerful villain, an interesting magic system and romance to boot. I can't wait to start the other books in the series to see where everything goes.

Loved Lillian and Gregory's story! It was a bit different from the normal paranormal stories. The settings and characters were great. I loved the ending and can't wait to see where their journey goes from here.

This book has a really unique plot. It's clean, fun, and left me laughing like a loon in several places...Like the part where the "gargoyle" suddenly walks into the room buck-a** naked and in human form, in retaliation for the woman being snobby. I could just see that gal sitting there in a daze, eyes wide as dinner plates, trying to figure out who the streaker was! Yeah. This book was totally worth it. Hope you enjoy.

As interesting as the story was, there were way too many details, and descriptions of creatures and what they did or what realm they belonged in, for the story to be well written. The writing lacked fitness and a really good editor. Way too many spelling and grammar errors!

Lillian is a dryad with hidden but powerful magic and wrestles with self discovery. She is engulfed in a struggle against demonic forces. This book also introduces a world with multiple realms and serves as a good start to the series.

I have really mixed feelings on this story. All of the different characters/supernatural creatures, the storyline, good triumphing evil- I liked that. But there just seemed so much that it was just hard for me to follow. I think many will enjoy this book, but it wasn't my "cup of tea". I would say if you could find as a free read or inexpensive, give it a try so you can see if you like the series.

This author has created a really great story line but I think she got caught up in the twining of the tale (pun intended). I would rather she kept up with the story and not got so involved with the "forbidden" love the two main characters have for each other. I got the point the first 30 times! Get on with the action!

At first I obtained the short story version of this book, Avatar Beginnings, and after reading that little clip, I had to finish it. I immediately dumped my book list and went straight for this book.

I was engulfed from the very beginning, unable to put the book down. And when I did have to put it down to make dinner for my family, do homework with my son, or go to sleep at night, all I could think about was what way this story would go.
The closer to the end I got, the more I hoped it would not end. I had to know more.

I usually am not into fantasy stories, but I was so sucked into this one, I wanted it to go on forever. It honestly could have been the only story I ever read in my life, if I could go back to it every day and tune the pages, the book never ending.

I was so obsessed it, that I would talk about it to my husband randomly about it, and he would listen to me, inwardly rolling his eyes at how infatuated with this story I was.

When I finished the book, I was saddened that it was over, but I felt good about the ending, even though it was not how I wanted it to end. There was so much more room to continue. I still want more.

I truly hope that Lisa will find it in her heart to write a part two. Her writing style was so perfect, so clean, that there is no way that talent and imagination like that can go to waste. I would be a fan for life if this story became a series like the stupid Lord of the Rings, that I have never been able to read, because... well, because, ewww.

Anyway, I would totally recommend this book to everyone I know. And why? Well, I am not a fantasy fiction reader, but this book easily swayed my reading curve, and if you don't care for fantasy, you may find yourself changing your mind as well.

I loved reading this book. I enjoyed every page. *Sigh* I'm done. Happy reading!

Gargoyle books are rare. This one is great fun. I almost thought it was going to turn out to be s series. It still has the potential for one. There are some small grammatical errors occasionally but nothing that distracts from the story. I personally would like to read some more if their adventures.

It has potential and the author does show that she has the ability- at times- to write well and captivatingly. However, I found that this level of craftsmanship was not sustained throughout the length of the novel.

The two protagonists have great chemistry and I enjoyed reading about their interactions and the extent of their desire for one another. I do think that Lillian could be developed a bit more and I am often left questioning her decisions and actions. At times she appears to merely accept something with no or little reflection at all. Her thought processes could be guided in a direction that attests to her overall development and acceptance of who or what she is to become.

Often many characters are introduced and then not developed and I wonder why their appearance in the novel was made at all.

The plot arc spikes often and resolutions occur rather quickly. The end, for instance, could have done with a bit more elaboration, but otherwise I found the conclusion interesting and intriguing.

All in all, the ability of the author lies in the romance and tension developed between Gregory and Lillian, otherwise I found myself annoyed with the many errors and wanting to skim through parts of the novel.

Although the story was short and the description of places seemed rushed. It still was a well written story.
It had all the major things that would make a good story. The only thing I could say is I wish it was longer.

I couldn't stop reading and I definitely can't wait until I can get the other two! So much passion and love and action in one novel to last me a lifetime, but I am greedy so I need more so I will definitely read the rest of them!

I am enjoying this series, but the editing is driving me crazy. Two recurring errors are apparently common to self-published writers who can't bring themselves to ask a seventh-grade English teacher to review each manuscript before publication:

1. Consistent mistakes in use of the verb "lie" (no, despite how everyone talked wherever you were raised, one does not lay down on a bed); and
2. Consistent failure to recognize a sentence with the subjunctive mood (no, it is never proper to say "If she was going to leave ...")

In addition, Ms. Blackwood has a bizarre confusion about when to use "to" and when to use "too."

But the story is interesting, if more than a bit overreaching.

The plot is good the characters are cool and the action is entertaining there's a couple of things I didn't like such as the needless secrecy, the main lead knows nothing about the magical wold and nobody gives her a good explanation she is treated like a baby when it is obvious she is the most powrful aorund there and the good guys are getting their butts kicked, also the premise of the avatars relationship is stupid and is probably the reason why they have failed again and agin in their past lives

The world building is great. It jumps right in, which I really like. I was not sure what was going to happen, which I also really like. This is one to give a try. It is much better than many of the other books out there. I will buy book 2.

Not a bad way to kill a few hours. Not the most fresh or thorough world building, but gargoyles are not a big urban fantasy species right now so you may enjoy it. Writing was functional but not immersive and there is much room for editing. I will not read the rest of the series.

I loved this book. It grabs your attention almost from the start and keeps it throughout. I enjoyed the way she made you almost believe that this world could exsist. There are some issues with spelling that were stumpling blocks for me but I don't think that comes even close to a reason not to read her. I hope to read much more from her.

I truly have to say that I have enjoyed reading this book immensely. This is not the first book that I have read by Lisa B., but I know I will definitely be reading this series for a while. Cuz, I plan on reading the next book immediately after I finish this review. And I want you to know that I HATE saying the same ole "I recommend this book highly", but I just can't think of anyway to say it better tho, cuz I DO think that you'll enjoy this series. Thanks goes to Lisa B. for being a wonderful writer with a fantastic way of telling a great story. And now I'm going to get the next book, bye.

I love this book. Can't wait for the next one. Read it in a couple days. Keep up the good work. Gargoyles and Wizardry's, a different concept to me. Very well done. I always thought gargoyles were supposed to be evil and you have put them in a good light. Thank you! The next books in the series can only get better.

So I got this book off of the store and I was just looking for something to read and I found it I couldn't put this book down as soon as I started my boyfriend got mad at me because I was always reading.

This was a fun story! I enjoy Lisa Blackwood's writing style very much. Her mixture of mythical beings, their interactions and the plot she created grabbed my attention. This is an author I will be following.

A really neat twist for a romance novel. If you find yourself wishing for something different and not quite so predictable, definitely read this book. The fact that it was free prompted me to give it 5 stars.

I'm an avid reader of romance - all types of romance. I loved this book, not only for a heartfelt romance/forbidden love but for the action and story telling. Great read! and free too - how can you go wrong? I await the next in the series.

From reading the description I was really eager to see where this story went. I thought it had a lot of promise and the characters and plot seemed interesting. That being said there were several things about the book that really held it back. First, as other's have mentioned, this book is chock full of typos. The very first page of the very first chapter has a preposition error which I found annoying at the time but brushed off. Unfortunately, the entire book is like that. I found the book interesting enough to keep reading despite the mistakes but as a published work I found the quantity of the errors to be on the ridiculous side. A solid proofread would have done wonders here.

The main characters were vividly described, well fleshed out, and enjoyable to read. However, very little was done to develop the other characters in the book and I thought that was a shame because it did seem that the author spent a lot of time creating a variety of interesting beings...only to not USE them. The fight scenes had disappointingly redundant and predictable outcomes. From the first fight to the last, the same thing happens. As a fan of vampire literature I am all for the sharing of blood, however anytime either main character was hurt this was done one to the other and sometimes back again. It made the fights almost pointless and got to be a ridiculous parody for me with each "new" fight scene.

By the end of the book, some plot elements had still not been addressed and that made me feel that I was left hanging. Even if the author intends to write a sequel, there are things that should have been wrapped up in this book before subsequent novels are published.

On the whole, I did enjoy the book, and I read it in one sitting so it did hold my attention, but at the end I was left feeling disappointed and thought that instead of being an ok read it could have been a great one. While I don't regret reading this book, my overall opinion is that the premise was excellent, but the promise wasn't delivered.

I have read the first half of this book and I have not finished it because I just cant seem to care about the characters. I gave it two instead of one though because the prose is no bad as far flow goes. It has potential, I just am not engaged enough to find out what happens. I have enjoyed other books by Lisa Blackwood, but this is just bland.

Promising storyline and for the whole enjoyed it, but it really dragged in some spots, missed the mark completely in others and generally a letdown. I finished it and went "..........huh?"

It kind of felt like a first draft.... Lots of ideas, heaps of plot points but lacking in final decisions. Maybe a good editior could clean it up and focus the author a bit.

I really enjoyed this book...I'm also very glad that it had some depth ...cause i hate when I am enjoying a book and look down and my kindle shows 80% lol....lots of action, mystical creatures and of course romance...and I wish I had a gargoyle of my own like Gregory lol....can't wait for book #2 ...there is so much left in this story!

Blooper - "... massive spiraling horns like an African Waterbuck's"
Actually, a waterbuck has relatively short horns without any spiral - I think the author meant a kudu.
I didn't enjoy this book even before this mistake - too childishly written, and I couldn't get interested in the characters.

This story is solidly okay. The plot is very straight forward. There aren't really too many surprises. The story is tediously slow in developing, and the main characters verge on annoying. The more interesting, in my opinion, characters are never developed at all. In fact, most of the figures in the book suffer from too little depth. I would probably give the story about three stars.

Here's the thing. I realize what a challenge it is to turn out a product that is perfectly written. This book, however, is so imperfectly written, it is an affront. Hardly a page went by without a missing, misspelled, or improperly conjugated word, a glaring typo or some other problem. This was an issue throughout the book. Shoddy writing turned singular characters into plurals, sometimes within the same paragraph. In places, it was very difficult to follow the story simply because it read like a first draft. It was really inexcusable, and the author should be heartily embarrassed.

Some people might say that I'm a stickler about these things, and it's true, I am. My point is that it shows a lot of nerve for an author to expect readers to invest 7 or 8 hours of their time reading a book that the author didn't even care to proofread. If the author thinks so little of her work, why should we waste our time with it?

My Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy of this book by the author’s representative. I am providing an honest review for which I am receiving no compensation of any kind. All opinions are fully my own.
~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review

My Review: ✮✮✮✮
This was a good story. Gregory sounds like a whole lot more fun than the gargoyles in The Hunchback of Notre Dame! He’s a lot bigger for one thing. And he’s sexy!

I felt the characters were well-written. Humorous at times. While Lillian had no memory of their joint history, what Gregory shared was really interesting. In this life, Lillian is a young woman, so the book seems to be more YA than NA. She responds and acts out more childishly than I would prefer in some instances. I think I would have liked her to be a more mature character to handle all that’s thrown at her. It also kept the relationship between the two on a certain level. So, it almost seemed like this was written to prepare for a series where she grows up and their relationship changes. That was a bit frustrating when I could see their relationship already.

Finding out that she is more than just what she appears changes the whole picture and possibilities for Lillian and Gregory. The ideas that went through my head when I found out left me with a bunch of questions, but I can’t mention them without spoilers. So, I can’t go into this like I’d like to. But what it does mean is that I’d like to read at least one more book in this series to see if any of my ideas and questions carry through or get answered. But for now, nothing can happen while Lillian’s trapped in her Hamadryad and purifying the baby demon she’s been carrying.

Sit down and read Sorceress Awakening this summer and see if you decide to add gargoyles to your garden! I’m definitely adding them to mine!

There was a grain of a story here, and I continued reading with the hope the author was going to find it. She didn't.

This story meanders, and it's not like the pleasant meandering of a charming spring-fed brook. No, this is far more like the meandering one might expect from a drunken hobo: wandering in circles, muttering to himself, tripping over his own shoes. In the end, he stumbles across an electrified third rail, falls into the path of an express bus transporting homeless kittens, and is subsequently crushed by falling space debris. ???

Really, this is a great example of where a quality editor makes all the difference; an editor would have tightened this story up and there would have been something here. There isn't.

This book starts off really good. The characters had a good basis for development, the plot was interesting, and the setting was decent. Sadly, about 25% of the way through the book, it starts going downhill. First, no one seems to want to Lillian what is going on. I understand Gregory's concerns about what happened to her, but the least everyone can do is fill her in on the reality of the world she is living in. Instead, she takes showers, eats, and makes goo-goo eyes at Gregory. Which is another issue... The book quickly went from a good fantasy novel to a sickening-sweet romance. (I have no problem with romance novels, but they have to have some kind of plot underlying the romance.) The book would have been a lot better if the author had left out many of the unrequited love scenes and just gotten on with the story.

Lisa, Blackwood, your imagination is utterly brilliant!!! What an awesome book!!!

I have never really read any gargoyle romance books but this is definitely making me want to read more and I am dying to read the second book in this series (plus ALL of the authors other books) after reading this. The world that this is told in has had such thought and so many emotions poured into it when you are reading it, you fall into that world with them so much so that when it ends you want to pick the book back up and read it again to be part of the world, this is the gift tat Lisa Blackwood has given to us.

And the storyline... Filled with magic and adventure, action around every corner and a forbidden love....could it get any better? The answer is yes ... The descriptions of all the different creatures is amazing, you are reading about fictional, mythological creatures but the way they are described, down to the smallest details is like they are real and alive in our world. The creativity in this book flows through this storyline, there are twists an turns around the corner and so many surprises in it so I wont say too much more about the storyline as you wont want me to give anything away, trust me...

Lillian is an extremely complex character that you find out more and more about as the book goes on, she changes a lot from the beginning if the book to the end, she is given so many changes and life altering secrets but she till stays true to who she really is.. the person and the soul deep down inside. Even in her weakest moments she is such a strong woman, her personality is filled with love and care for those around her and when she loves, she loves fully and without any limitations. And Gregory... what an awesome character, I am sure many people have fallen in love with his character, what with his deep love and deep protective instincts, he is extremely honour bound and will always do what he believe is right and always relies on his instincts, he is also a deeply complex character and there is so much to him. I really enjoyed reading all the characters in this book and would love to find out more about them all, especially the pooka for some reason :-)

This is a serious page turner and a must read for all and definitely deserving of more than 5 stars

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it was great! It’s the first book in the series and was so interesting with all the supernatural creatures. Dryad, gargoyle, unicorn, vampires, and it goes on!
Lillian comes into her powers after an attack by vampires and wakes up her gargoyle statue who ends up saving her. She and the gargoyle, who she names Gregory, have a very special connection, but you have to read the book to see what it is.
This story flowed very smoothly and I finished it in a couple of days. I’m looking forward to the next book and wish the series was still on KU.
There are a lot of fight scenes in the story and are a bit graphic so just be prepared. No sex scenes, completely clean.

This book was brilliant I got it from a freebie special for the month in paranormal and had no idea what it was about.
The cover got me hook line and sinker,It's a brilliant story of the paranormal world,it's unique different and a style of its own.
I almost peed my pants when I realized there was a gargoyle in it,Squeeeeeeee gargoyles are the hottest paranormal beings out!
I have loved them since I was a child and it was a real treat to discover this book and author I needed a ripper of a read and this book was it.
Massive thumbs up a highly recommended, I think any book lover would love,especially if your a paranormal fantasy fan.
I'm in lurve with this story and I want to read more from this author!

Assassins Reading Reviewing Group ~

Honestly, I have no idea how I feel about this story. It was decent enough that I read all the way through it, but there were many points of confusion, things that could’ve been explained better (or at all) and many of the secondary characters fell flat. More than once I felt like things were put into the story or set in motion simply to draw readers (namely the numerous sexual exploits that stopped short) and the dryad’s interest in Gregory.

This is a fantastic book. I am getting the second one after I leave this review. A sorceress who just finds out she isn't human and her gargoyle protector two halves of a whole soul. The love they have for each other transcends even human love. Their kind of love has never been experienced in a human sense. They fight a war to keep themselves and the human and magical race safe from the Gods in another realm. They feel each others pain as keenly as they feel their love for one another, but the rules of the Gods forbid them from consummating their love because any child they have would be stronger than even the Gods. They suffer for loving each other and not being able to physically express it. I am hoping in the second book they will get to experience the deep intense physical aspect of their unique love. Great Story!! You won't be disappointed if you read this book!

Awesome! I now want a gargoyle boyfriend. Gregory is fierce, loyal, and surprisingly shy. An interesting mix of emotion. Lillian is also loyal, but she is also smart and torn. She's been infected with evil, evil is cunning and patient for its deeds to be unfurled. Lillian fights a battle within herself with the help of the other half of her soul- who happens to lick cheeks like an overgrown puppy. Which is quite endearing.

The story itself is filled with daring rescues and death defying stunts, cunning, and well formed characters. I thought it was amazing, everything is laid bare before long, despite those trying to hide, the secrets appropriately explosive. The battles tense. The magic breathtaking. Everything you can ask for in one little book.

Sorceress Awakening by Lisa Blackwood

This story feels like a long book. A lot is going on here, with a lot of characters and creatures. There are memories to awake and battles to be won. I did not anticipate the ending, nothing in the book led me to this finality. But that is the beauty of the story, the pages kept turning because there was no way to predict what was on the next one. Although a very solid ending, this book also leaves some questions unanswered for the series.

I've had this book on my kindle for a while, and I don't know why it took me so long to read it.

Classic girl doesn't know she had power or who she is until some big bad shows up to take said power from her.

Then it gets better.
Witches, Fae, direwolves, vampires, Gods and Goddess', Unicorns!!
Even lesser know beings like leshii and dryads. You don't get many books like this.

It's a love story and a battle and awesome!!

Supernatural books often focus on the Fae, vampires, shifters, etc. This is the first time I've encountered a story about dryads as and gargoyles as the main focus. I thought it was awesome. Well written and edited, wonderful romance, creative action and characters, thrilling charisma and chemistry, and defined personalities made it a pleasure to read and hard to put down. Definitely recommended.

Ok, I don't want to give too much away and be a spoiler but I will say that the gargoyle - sorceress/dryad pairing in Sorceress Awakening really does set it off from other urban fantasies. This is a really well written book with a strong plot and characters that develop (in several ways) throughout. I liked how the leading characters interacted with each other and the supporting cast of characters and works-building were excellent. A truly enjoyable read.

This is a fantastic book by Lisa Blackwood! This is the story of Lillian, a sorceress who has had her memories stolen, and Gregory, a gargoyle who begins the story as a statue. The two seem fated to become lovers but at least during this book, this never happens. However, this is a great read that will keep you turning the pages and wanting more. I look forward to reading the next two books in the series. Purchase this book! You won't be disappointed!!

Unlike so many other books flooding the Paranormal Romance market, this one is well written with an original plot and fleshed out characters.
Other readers commented on many typos and poor editing, but I only noticed an occasional mild error (e.g., "passed" instead of "past"). Perhaps this is a newly edited version?
In any case, this is an entertaining read with interesting twists and turns plus a hunky Gargoyle. Lots of fun!

this is my first fantasy book I have read by lisa blackwood and I found it rntertaining as well humorous in many instances. The main character Lillian get a big surprise when family arrives as well as her stone friend gargoyle comes to life. Then it is an endless trial to keep ahead of the dark forces.

This is a true love story, the kind I love to read. A loving, gentle and passionate relationship that probably most women want. I cried, I laughed and I smiled while reading this book. It is well written and carefully thought out. I highly recommend you read this and the series, as I will be. Enjoy!

This was a very enjoyable read that from the moment that I started reading had me hooked. It moves along at the perfect pace, not to fast nor to slow, has characters that you will fall in love with no doubt about it and a story that will keep you interested and entertained all the way through. This book needs to be experienced there is no doubt about it.

Lillian is a Dryad being raised by a witch in the mortal world. After being attacked by monsters, she brings her gargoyle to life, and she learns he has been alive for many years. After a series of events, Lillian learns she is a sorceress and Gregory is her protector, and together they must defeat the Evil in the mortal realm, within herself, and thwart the plans of Lady of Battles.

I felt like I had to trudge through knee deep cement to get through this. I almost gave up just because of the punctuation errors alone. Then add the errors in grammar, the one dimensional characters, the horribly explained plot and all its evils, the past lives that really don't do with anything.... It's all a big mess.

I get it is hard to get a good intense and complex story, but this is not it. The cover does well to describe the book. It's interesting and original, but the details and depth are lacking.

When Lillian felt threatened she seems to know who to look for, her protector. Her other half her mate? Where's that coming from. Her Gargoyle is her best friend. No matter what she's not going to let her evil get him. Looking forward to seeing how this progresses.

Great story,I really enjoyed the blending of so many types of fae creatures. The characters were well developed and the interaction was interesting. I was delighted to discover this author has more books! I am on to #2!!

This is a wonderful story with new perceptions of fantasy. The author does a great job keeping your attention. Unfortunately, the kindle version is riddled with errors. While reading, I came across a syntax error every page or so. This was very distracting because it took time to figure out what word the author originally intended. This is a great read, but I recommend you purchase the book instead of downloading the kindle version.

This is my first book I have read by author Lisa Blackwood. I found this tale intriguing and full of surprises. I loved the storyline and the characters. This was very different from any books I have read so far. I look forward to checking out more books by Lisa

Stone's Kiss is a really funny, cute and sometimes dark novel with unexpected twists that made this book a page turner for me. I often laughed out loud then read on fully enchanted and annoyed by any interruptions or demands of life, like getting a bite to eat. Lisa Blackwood creates quite a unique world around our reality, populated by fascinating characters.