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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Lorralei Hoerner

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow this is a very good read! I love the Celtic vibe wrapped in this fantasy book with romance and magic. Saoirse has so much going on, playing music in a pub, gets fired as a barista, finds out her father passes away and finds out she is adopted! Saoirse’s grandmother offers for her to come live in Cork with her. Smithy, whom is a blacksmith, also loves to play music. When Smithy and Saoirse meet they make music and sparks happen! What does happen when the Gods want Smithy and Saoirse to know their fate is when summoned? Read and find out.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Krista Vaughan

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Krista Vaughan

This is a romantic, musical journey through Celtic folklore. Saoirse and Smithy meet after the death of her father when she goes to stay with a stranger that says she’s her grandmother. Their attraction is instant. Their music flows between them as if they had known each other forever. The gods are rising and the battle is eminent. Will they be together? Can they be successful in the battle? There is SO much Celtic content in this book. It’s super interesting to learn. Definitely recommended!

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Rayne East

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Irish Urban Fantasy
What a fantastic tale based in Irish folklore and legend. There was a lot of world building and character development in the beginning but halfway through the story starts to take off. The world is beautifully presented and the legend interwoven throughout. A magical journey filled with music and love.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Dahnielle Hibbert

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson

Kristin Gleeson is a talented author. She slowly weaves a magical tale that leaves you wanting more. The story of Saoirse, Anu and Smithy brings you so close to the magic awakening you can almost touch it. Kristin describes things in such amazing detail and really gives the reader a very clear picture of the setting. When it ended I wanted more story and had one of those moments readers know well… asking when is the next one going to be available. If you are looking for a book to take you on a magical journey then this book is for you!!!

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Stephanie Nicole

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON was an amazing first time read for me. While I normally read more action packed, or drama filled stories, this beautifully written fantasy was a great change of pace. Ms. Gleason really gives us beautiful details all the way from the details in the characters looks, their surroundings, the sounds they heard, and every little day to day activity. With how much thought she put in to all the details of this short book it was easy to picture exactly what Ms. Gleeson wants us to. I personally look forward to reading more by Ms. Gleeson and I hope to read more about these characters.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Erin Wolf

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I give Awakening the Gods: A Celtic Urban Fantasy (Rise of the Celtic Gods Book 1) by Kristin Gleeson, 5 stars.

This is an incredible tale of Irish urban fantasy. The traditional music Ireland is known for, along with Irish mythology, is really the core of a story woven so intricately, I felt myself pulled in immediately. It was written by an Irish author, so it took a minute for my non-Irish brain to get used to the terminologies and style. But once I did, I was fascinated. It is just so, so good. Being Irish at heart, I knew some of the gods mentioned in this story, but I love how this book focuses on ones I don’t often read about.

The author does a fantastic job of weaving the two worlds in, building things up slowly. Their love of the traditional Irish music is very apparent too. This adds even more fun and depth to the story. I cannot forget the characters either, which really completes this tale. Saoirse and Smithy are the focus here, and the romance between them adds yet another level. But there are so many secondary characters in here, and it still isn’t too many. I really hope we see more of them in future books.

If you like modern fantasy set in Ireland, this book is for you.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Angela Renee Diaz

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the musicians. It was hard for me to understand since some words were Irish. The storyline is fantastic once you get used to the wording. I love the tales.

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Awakening the Gods: A Celtic Urban Fantasy (Rise of the Celtic Gods Book 1) by Kristin Gleeson – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Saoirse is a young woman with flaming hair, green eyes and fair skin who wears her hair in the style of a braided coronet has just been fired from her job as a barista, she enjoyed it, but it didn’t fulfil her, but being late one too many times meant that she was not the model employee they were hoping for. Smithy is a man who lives in the rural countryside outside of Cork, he has been a blacksmith for as long as he can remember and he loves what he does, but the magic he used to feel while doing it has gone, it has left him with a hole in his heart and a lack of enthusiasm. He likes to spend what time he can playing in the local village pub with some session musicians and spending time with them, as well as having a bit of banter and good craic with them too.

Saoirse’s lack of a job does not help her pay the rent on the flat she lives in, or the fact that the lease on it will finish in a couple of months, so she will have to find somewhere cheap to live as well as a new job, so to help ease the depression of her situation, she does what she enjoys most and goes to a local bar and joins in with the other session musicians gathering there. Saoirse is just getting ready for bed when she hears a knock on the door, it turns out that it is a couple of Garda who have come to deliver some sad news, they have come to tell her that her father has died in a car accident and that she has their sympathies, she asks some questions, however, when the answers aren’t the ones she is looking for, she agrees to speak to his solicitor, however, when she goes to see him, he drops a bombshell on her about her heritage and how it is complicating the probate proceedings, but that he will be in contact at to let her know how things are progressing.

The next day she receives a phone call from a woman claiming to be her grandmother, she is apprehensive and doesn’t quite know what to make of it, but she agrees to meet her for a coffee and talk to her, this conversation leads to an invite to go and stay with her, Saoirse isn’t sure what to do, but agrees to go anyway and see where she comes from. When she arrives, she has a tour of the farm her grandmother lives on and makes an acquaintance with the woman who lives next door and when she finds out that she is a musician too, it is another thing they have in common. One day, Saoirse goes for a walk in the local area and is caught in a downpour when she comes across a man working in a forge who invites her in for tea and to dry off a bit, they find conversation easy and talk about music and the local area, but agree to meet soon at one of the sessions in the local pubs.

As the two keep running into each other and realise that as they make music together, it isn’t just music that draws them together, there is a deeper connection that neither of them can explain, however, they are both about to be pulled into a world which Smithy would rather forget and avoid and Saoirse doesn’t want to believe exists, but will they be able to fight the summons of Eire and come to her aid, or will they try to avoid a fated path and the danger which it holds? This is an Irish urban fantasy which keeps you entranced with tales of myth and legend, as they are woven into a modern day setting, which will keep you hooked throughout.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Jasmin Marie

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1) is my first read by author Kristen Gleeson. This story of Soarse and Smithy was beautiful and interesting. Gleeson beautifully captured the main characters’ surroundings as well as the music they played together. I truly felt like I was witnessing the scenes myself. In addition to the characters and their stories, I enjoyed learning the history of the Celtic Gods. I’m looking forward to reading book 2!

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Kayla Bullock

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Awakening the Gods was a fantastic start to this series. The story has a wonderful setting, somewhere between this one and the past. The characters are well developed, and Saoirse is very likeable. This is a hard book to review without giving anything away! The unexpected elements are fantastic and it was interesting to read about the Celtic gods–characters that I don’t know much about. The romance is sweet, the thrills are great, and I’m hoping the series continues to build upon this fabulous first novel!

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Heather Lovelace

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This fantasy was not what I expected at all. And I mean that in a really great way. It was such an interesting fantasy weaving classic themes with modern elements. The first few pages pulled me in immediately and I couldn’t wait to read more about Saoirse and find out more about her. Just a really great fantasy that opened up a new world, one I would like to visit again.

Reviewed by @heatherlovelace
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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Shadel Ayerbe

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON is a great romance fantasy. Fans of Charles de Lint will like this music-filled romantic urban fantasy with a Celtic touch.

A solitary blacksmith and a failing barista. Will they be able to evade the Irish Gods’ call? Saoirse understands that once a week at a small Dublin pub performing traditional music won’t earn her a job, but it’s all she’s got now that she’s been sacked from her barista job. When her father dies, though, her world is turned upside down, especially when an unknown grandma calls.

Smithy’s only source of delight that retains some of the charms he lost long ago is music. Making items in his forge in rural Cork serves as a constant reminder of what he’s lost and why he must reject the Tuatha De Danann’s demands. They urge him to join their fight against their greatest foe, a mighty deity who threatens the destruction of Eire, their homeland. However, fate and the gods conspire to lead Saoirse and Smithy down the road that they were intended to take. The gods must awaken and respond to the cry to save the land. However, answering that call might put your life in jeopardy.

I loved this story and the concept of it as well. I loved every page of it. Every chapter was exciting.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Kerry Carr

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this fantasy adventure. It is the first book in the Rise of The Celtic God’s and I can’t wait to read more. I love the way the author has mixed modern surroundings with mystical story’s and folk tales.
As well as the adventure there is also a romance between Smithy and Saoirse.

It starts off with Saoirse losing her job and finding out her father has died in an accident. But things start twisting and turning when Saoirse biological granny finds her and explains that she was adopted. So now Saoirse had questions about who her parents are.

While staying with her granny she meets Smithy. They are drawn together through their love of music but is there something more powerful bringing them together. Are they together to go up against a greater power which they can only defeat together?

It’s a beautiful story full of adventure, mythical folklore and a mixture of Irish music. There is something for everyone.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Kaitlynn Taylor

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1) by Kristin Gleeson

4-stars

This was a fantastic first read by this author for me. This fantasy read is beautifully detailed, from the characters, their surroundings, to the sounds around them and to their daily activities. I really enjoyed all of the detail, it made it very easy to picture everything playing out in my mind.

I normally prefer more action-packed reads but this was a nice change. I felt as if I really followed the characters throughout their story, which was highly enjoyable. I look forward to reading more of these characters in the future!

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Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleason – Review by Erica Shoebridge

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very enjoyable fantasy/paranormal tale with a very Irish theme. I really liked the characters, I thought they were drawn very well with interesting backstories and details to make them all memorable. The story is good and I look forward to the next one in the series. I would have liked to see a few more details come out about Saoirse after her revelation, linking back to previous events (no spoiler). The pace seemed a bit tilted to me, heavy on the before and not as much detail on the after. Even more reason to read In Search of the Hero God, hopefully coming out this year. Definitely recommend, I enjoyed it.

Reviewed by @ericalorraine
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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Sherry Sharpnack

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This novel is going to be hard to review w/o spoilers, b/c a major plot twist happens very early in the story…
Saoirse has a university degree, but has been fired from her job as a barista. The only thing that truly makes her happy is playing her flute in musical sessions at a local pub. She has no family to turn to for help w/ rent or a new job, as she has no relationship w/ her father; he only paid for her succession of boarding schools.
Then a few things happen for Saoirse: she flirts w/ Luke, one of the musicians at the sessions, for the first time; she meets Smithy, a fiddler, at this same session, and their music weaves together, lifting them both up. Saoirse’s father also dies unexpectedly — and she finds out she has a grandmother! Her grandmother invites her to visit, and since Saoirse is jobless and soon to be homeless, she takes the woman, Anna, up on her offer.
Saoirse moves in w/ Anna, who lives on a tidy farm in a village filled w/ quirky characters. And – lo and behold! – Smithy lives in the same village! As his name suggests, he is a blacksmith, making blades of nearly magical capability. Or… are they actually magical? What’s up w/ Maura the neighbor? And what does Anna know about Saoirse’s past and her real parents? It seems that Maura and Anna have been around forever… have they?  There are a number of plot-twist revelations, and Saoirse has to accept who she really is, and that she might be Smithy’s only hope.  Then the ending sets us up for Book #2 in the series, which I will have to read when it comes out!
This book came along at a propitious time, as much of my non-fiction reading of late has been the stories about ancient Irish deities. I would suggest that one read the pronunciation guide for the Irish language and author’s notes BEFORE reading the novel; they are at the end of the novel, at least in the Kindle edition, so look for those first. I might even suggesting looking up some of the deity stories on-line before reading the novel, so that one can really appreciate what Saoirse is up against. 4 stars.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Kerry Baker

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Awakening the Gods: A Celtic Urban Fantasy by Kristen Gleeson is the first book in the Rise of the Celtic Gods series. This is a well written and detailed story that ties together so many different elements. This is a new author to me and I enjoyed the way she mixed romance and fantasy with a focus on music. I had never quite seen it done this way before and I found it refreshing to read. The story itself is fast paced and I soon found myself flying through the pages. I wanted to read more to get deeper into the story.
I thought the characters had a great connection. It was and believable right from the word go. This is a great book and I am looking forward to book two.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Vanessa Watts

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you are a fan of fantasy meets mythology, then this will be right up your alley. This is the first novel I have read written by Kristin Gleeson but I guarantee it won’t be the last. The characters are super relatable while the author details the trials and tribulations that they must overcome. We start out meeting Saoirse, a barista who gets fired from her job, is an aspiring flute player as it comes very naturally to her. Saoirse ends up losing her father in an accident and just as it seems like her life is tail spinning out of control, she gets the news from the solicitor that she might not inherit her father’s assets. She knows she is adopted but has never heard anything about her parents until her grandmother shows up and offers her a chance to visit her homeland and get acquainted.
In comes Smithy who at first meeting is bewitched with Saoirse and feels stirrings he thought long ago lost. As they unravel the truth about Saoirse and who her grandmother is this sends Smithy down a dark path that he never thought he’d have to wander again. And just when he thought things were looking up. With everything out in the open can they move forward towards the path that destiny is leading them? You’ll have to read to find out just what happens, will love be able to overcome all and will they both make it out unscathed. I guarantee this is one novel you’re not going to want to put down. I’d recommend this to everyone young or old!

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Rachel Moss

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Awakening The Gods was a really good read! I thought this was a very interesting and entertaining book. This is the first book by Kristin Gleeson I have read and I wasn’t disappointed. This has all the excitement and plot of a great story. I loved the characters and I loved following Saiorse (the main character) on her journey. This book was hard to put down. I can’t wait to read the next installment of this series!

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Brittany Angel

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed my read of Awakening the Gods.  The pacing was well done while taking time to build the world and characters for you. As someone who has American Gods by Neil Gaiman in their top 5 favorite books, I loved the way Kristin Gleeson introduced the Celtic gods in this book and can’t wait to see her series play out.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Jenni Bishop

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Awakening the Gods: A Celtic Urban Fantasy (Rise of the Celtic Gods Book 1) by Kristin Gleeson is an urban fantasy romance original story. It is a richly spun tale full of magic and myth, of Celtic folklore and legends, of gods and goddesses set in the beautiful county of Ireland. Having visited Ireland it just made the story pop so much more. And let’s not forget the musicality of the story which just adds another dimension overall.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Ashley Dover

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Saoirse is a typical twenty-something with a college degree and no career to show for it. Actually, she’s worse off as she just got fired from her job as a barista and learned that her father had passed away. Upon talking with her father’s solicitor, Saoirse also discovers that she was adopted.

With no job and her lease expiring, Saoirse is feeling left out in the cold, when her, unknown to her, grandmother contacts her. Her grandmother offers for her to come to Cork to visit and spend time getting to know her. Saoirse agrees as this seems like the next logical step.

Smithy is a blacksmith. He spends his days making weapons that he feels are of no use, and his nights reveling in his love for playing music at the local pub. His skills as a blacksmith have dwindled. He’s disappointed with this development.

Shortly into her time with her grandmother, Smithy and Saoirse meet. A spark ignites. Their love of making music is shared as magic weaves through the air while they play. Is this a chance meeting? Perhaps this has always been part of the plan. A new threat looms on the horizon as an old foe returns to Ireland. The gods are being summoned for the battle. What are Smithy’s and Saoirse’s roles in this new battle?

I truly loved this book. It is completely enchanting.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Brittany Porter

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What can I say about Awakening the Gods? Not at all what I expected, but so very good! I’ve never read a novel with so much music ingrained into the story. For most of the book I felt as if I was sitting at the pub with these charming characters having a jolly time. Definitely a unique writing style, which I haven’t encountered before. I feel like this book, Book 1, was truly just an introduction and only scratched the surface of this expanding new mythical world. Get your Celtic dictionary ready to get sucked into this amazing story and Awaken the Gods!

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Kimberly Shirah

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fantasy, myths, and Ireland is a combination that I just couldn’t turn down. I was a little afraid that it might not be as good as I was wanting it to be in my head, but boy was I wrong! It was better. Gleeson captivated me from the very first chapter.

She moved in-between worlds so beautifully that I never wanted to put this book down. The magic that she brings through Soarise as she’s discovering her past life just leaps off the page.

The way she wove music into this was amazingly done. Not to mention the story moved at a fast pace without many lulls at all.

I am anxiously awaiting the sequel so I can dive more into this world that Gleeson has given us. Upon looking her up I have found that she also write historical fiction, I will defiantly be looking into more of Gleeson’s work.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Desiree Ottinger

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was my first time reading this author, and I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed this book! The characters and the folklore drew me in immediately.

Saoirse struggles to find her place in the world. The only thing that makes sense to her is music, as it sing to her soul. Then she finds out, she’s not really who she thinks she is.
Smithy has been missing a piece of his soul for a very long time. Could Saoirse be the one who completes him? Is he her other half and purpose in the world?

Ireland has fascinated me since I visited with my best friend and this book gave me all the feels. It brought back fond memories of the countryside, the cities, and the folklore.
I cannot wait to read the next book in this series!

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Jennifer Reimer

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I honestly have to say I don’t know were to start with this book, and I really don’t think that what I write is going to capture the amazing story. A tale of Celtic fantasy of gods that were finally finding each other in a tale of two lovers torn apart for century’s, finding their love and who they are was such a chilling, loving experience to read. The words and story just fell tighter so amazing that it made you feel like you were there. The twist about what these Celtic Irish gods had gone thou is an amazing twist to everything that is to be said about them. This amazing action Irish music-filled, myth, urban fantasy, of magic with a Celtic twist was so amazingly put together, that I just couldn’t put it down.

Reviewed by @jennifer3343
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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Jennifer Gordon

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy novel filled with magic, myth, romance and Irish music with a Celtic twist. It’s an original story which held me gripped from start to finish. Failed barista Saoirse and reclusive blacksmith Smithy hear the call of the Irish Gods but can they avoid their fate. Saoirse is happy playing traditional music once a week in a local Dublin pub until her father dies and an unknown grandmother appears upending her life. Music is also Smithy’s love and the one joy that he has left that he feels has a residue of his lost magic to it. Smithy lives in rural Cork working in his forge trying to resist the requests of the Tuatha De Danann who want him to join them in their battle. The battle is against a powerful God who is threatening to destroy the land of Eire. As the Gods conspire and fate intervenes Saoirse and Smithy are bought together as the Gods awaken to answer the call to defend the land even if it means risking death. This “music-filled romantic urban fantasy with a Celtic twist” is a great mix of Irish myth and folklore, music, romance and suspense and I was happily turning the pages well into the night. The author really brings the setting to life making me feel immersed in the storyline and I loved the characters especially Saoirse and Smithy. I found the notes at the end of the book on where the Irish myths and legends had come from fascinating and how to pronounce certain Irish words very helpful. I look forward to reading future books in this series.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Christine Taysom 07/18/2021

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow this novel is by far one of the best books I have ever read, and I feel like I have a consistent history of finding, picking and reading novels that turn out to be just fantastic reads. I sat down and finished this book in one session and let me tell you I could not put this book down! I have had a long standing interest in the myths and legends of Celtic, Gaelic and Irish origin. My maiden name is McCarty and my ancestors immigrated from Galway, Ireland leaving the surname McCarthy in Galway and switching to McCarty upon arrival to the United States. I got such a kick out of reading this book that was inspired by legends and myths of gods and goddesses that have always interested me, set in the parts of Ireland my family originated from. Then to top it all off Kristin wove this beautiful tale that just kept me intrigued and in love with the characters she created. Saorise is an amazing protagonist and I loved learning about this urban world seeped in myths and legends through her eyes and mind. I am eagerly looking forward to November to read the next book in this series because I can’t wait to see how this story and the characters continue to develop and unfold. In the meantime you will definitely catch me rereading this book! Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1) isn’t a book you can only read once for satisfaction, it necessitates the re-reading of it in order to surround oneself with the magic for a little while longer.

Reviewed by @prettybird-marie

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AWAKENING THE GODS by Kristin Gleeson – Review by Michelle Collier

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I recently did my DNA and found that I have a large amount of Scottish and Irish so at least that explains my love of this culture. This book by Kristin Gleeson has totally fed into this passion. Saoirse and Smithy both have a deep connection to music around them. That shared link takes them on an unexpected journey. The words just pulled me into the story and the adventure. I can not wait to dive into this world again in the next book.

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AWAKENING THE GODS (RISE OF THE CELTIC GODS) by KRISTIN GLEESON – Review by Lorrene Huisman

Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1)Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was a wonderful read, and not just only for the story line. For the music, the scenery, the characters, and so much more. I enjoyed being apart of this book and I was truly captured instantly into the depth of the plot.

I loved reading a story as such as this. I am a Harp player, so this made me think back to happy times of playing the Harp with my grandfather. We always placed Celtic or Folk music.

To me all of the aspects that add to the plot were amazing, but truly the history lessons I received of the Gods truly fascinated me. I felt I knew a lot, but the more the story continued the more I learned and the more I intrigued. I know the next books in the series will more than likely educate me more and that’s more something I truly look forward to!

Saoirse is the main character whom has a special gift to play music. She receives some bad news that truly changes her life forever. Little did she know, fate had an upper hand in the dice it rolled, and her destiny was being set for her on the path she was always meant to walk.

Her adventure truly begins when she goes to visit a family member. I instantly was lot with happy feelings in the town of which her grandmother is residing. I loved the music they spoke of and there was many tales of the music and the joy and happiness the people of the town felt. I swear my heart was dancing with the folk of this beautiful happy town. I was under its spell truly at this point and I went down the path even more as the adventure was set out before me, and when she meets Smithy the story plot truly begins to unfold in ways I did not expect or anticipate and that made me fall in love even more!

Saoirse was a wonderful character to get to know and live in her shoes. She was quite relatable and a breath of fresh air. She had a gift within her. And she could weave music like a beautiful tidal wave. As well as that, for when fighting for what was in her heart, she was a fire that could not be tamed or put out. She was someone strong at heart and would not give up to the end no matter what costs. Even if it meant not being apart of this world anymore..it was a risk she was more willing to take as she knew what was on the line.

Saoirse and Smithy were meant to meet. And not just that their paths were planned basically from the rules of destiny to intertwine. The connection between them was not sheer luck, it was something that was always meant to be. When you know something as strong as that, you just know You don’t need to define those feelings. Some things don’t need a definition and this was one of those things.

As their time together went further down the tunnel…I was more and more captivated. The danger they were to embrace together. Knowing a lot was on the line. Knowing the consequences for the land their very feet walked on…they knew this was home and it was worth everything to them at all costs.

I will be happily awaiting for the second novel in this series. I was in love with every aspect of this book. It was a delightful treat that my common words can not express in simple writing.

I loved the book that this author, Kristin Gleeson, has written for her readers. She captivated me as if I was hearing a new song for the first time and my feet just went with the music.

Truly was happy I read this book and got to meet some new characters, I m going to be looking forward to know even more as the series progresses.

Amazing book, and its very easy to get lost into the story and lose track of the time in your every day life. No regrets here. Just sheer enjoyment!

Pick up this book and read it, I’m pretty sure you will love it as much as I did 🙂

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