In Awakening, the first installment in the Dark Rituals series, a former healer turns to the Death Arts to seek revenge.

Seventeen-year-old Colina was born a healer. But after a horrific event forces her to leave her clan, she becomes desperate to learn the dark magic of the death dealers, mages who draw their power from the spirits of the dead. Colina was taught to fear and hate death dealers, but becoming one of them is the only way for her to get the revenge she seeks—and the only way for her to survive.

Colina asks a young death dealer named Luke to help her, but he’s reluctant to train her in the Death Arts. Little does she know convincing him to teach her will be the easiest part of her journey. To become a death dealer, Colina will need to undergo three dark rituals, each more terrifying than the last. At the same time, she’ll have to deal with her growing feelings for her mentor. Too bad the first ritual involves him strangling her to death.

As Colina undergoes the trials, she discovers an untapped darkness within herself. If she survives the horrific rituals and gains dark power, what will she become?

Catrina Burgess’ Dark Rituals series originally appeared on Wattpad with over three million reads. Awakening is the first book of four and was named Wattpad’s Best Suspense Story of 2014.

BOOK DESCRIPTION COURTESY OF AMAZON

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley for an honest review.

When I first heard about AWAKENING (DARK RITUALS, BOOK#1)  was through my Nephew. He had read the story on Wattpad and told me I had to read it. So, when it became available on Netgalley, I decided it was time to read it. I am glad I did! Catrina Burgess has a hit, and she is an Author to watch out for. The characters and story line are very well-developed. Colina watched her family being killed and now she could be next. Her family is part of the healers, but now Colina wants to learn to be a Death dealer. Death dealers are the most feared in  the caste system, for they can control the spirits of the dead. Now Colina needs to learn how to become a Death dealer so she can get revenge for her families death, but she finds out there is more to the killings that she thought. Her family was part of a dark ritual to release a demon. As Colina completes the three rituals to become a Death dealer she finds out that she can do things that no other Death dealer can do. Is this because she was a Healer, or is something darker going on? This is such a great dark mystery, and I recommend it to everyone. I give AWAKENING (DARK RITUALS, BOOK#1) 5/5 STARS.