Madonna Lacy also known as M.L. Lacy is a self-published author who I met through my very good friend RITBS creator Terry Kate. I interviewed Madonna here on the blog as well as had her guest blog last month which was pretty fun to learn more about her and her books. Now today I'm reviewing her debut novel, Chrysalis: The Awakening, and the first book in her Chrysalis series. It's a paranormal romance filled with vampires, magicians and other various types of mythical creatures we have only read about in fairytales. All families have secrets, right? But not like 32-years-old, Bree Campbell, who is discovering that her entire life has been a secret that only she didn't know anything about unlike the rest of her family who is keeping the secret from her. Like most people, it never occurred to Bree to question her mortality and that is until she learns that she is a mortal born into a family of Magicals and begins to question everything and everyone in her life. This is a new world filled with so many unbeliveable creatures that go bump in the night and as these doors to Bree’s new world fly open she finally hears the prophecy told at her birth. Now she must face the revelation that she is a Chosen One and to top that the last and greatest of a long line of Chosen Ones. And if this weren't overwhelming enough, she has been charged with saving every living thing on earth by repairing the cosmic tear that binds the mortal world she has always known and the Magical world she is just now discovering. Now that is a burden that no one should be saddled with at birth and not know about it until your older.

But the real question lies in whether Bree will survive the long transformation into the powerful Druid Sorceress that is her destiny or die in the process as many before her have gone. That is something that she is being prepared for by the ancient ones that have come to her in her mind as she slowly became aware of her destiny as the most powerful of the Chosen Ones. Now Bree’s journey will not be an easy one and she must face the realities of her new life and her new family which include a clan of vampires who have been charged with protecting her for all of her mortal life. They have chosen her as a leader in their clan, a position that has really complicated things for her because for no sooner that Bree is finally reunited with her long lost love, Steven, Bree must learn how to navigate the jealousies and emotions within her new family. Meeting Steven again after such a long time being apart because most of her memories were hidden in her mind in order for her to forget him and move on to being a normal human though that had a tragic ending. While Bree tries to free herself from her past, including her cruel and lethal soon-to-be ex-husband, she must determine who she can truly trust. And while her clan loves her immensely, they will continually try to stand in her way while all in the name of protecting her from those set upon her death.

Bree’s arch nemesis is Esmeralda, a powerful sorceress in her own right who will stop at nothing until this Chosen One is dead. Now if Esmeralda can claim Bree’s blood, heart and soul and restore her Demon to his body, she will be so strong that none will be able to oppose her and she will be free to rid the world of all mortals and rule as she chooses. But with the help of the Guardians and her dreams, Bree begins to awaken the powers hidden within her and begins to embrace the responsibility she has been born to. And even while these changes make her body weak, Bree begins to find an inner strength she never knew she had within herself. Will it be enough to save the world? Well that question is yet to be answered since this book is part of a series that it yet finished so we are going to have to hold our breaths and wait to find out if Bree will have enough in her to save the world. I have to say that it took me a bit of time to get into this very complex novel since there was so much going on with the various characters in this novel. There was a small part of the story that was written in the third person and when it switched to the first person through Bree's point of view I was a bit confused but I got into the story after a couple of chapters to get use to the change. In the end of this long and character driven story I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next between Bree and her love Steven as well as the rest of her family and clan. Madonna Lacy delivers a wonderfully written debut novel that will have to captivated from start to finish in this world filled with vampires, magicians and other various types of mythical creatures we have only read about in fairytales. I am very much looking forward to getting my hands on the second book in the Chrysalis series because I seriously want to read what happens next to end my curiousity at least for this next part. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from the back cover and picture: CHRYSALIS: THE AWAKENING by M.L. Lacy $ 14.99 (Book 1)(589 Pages) All families have secrets. But at 32 years old, Bree Campbell is discovering that her entire life has been a secret. Like most people, it never occurred to her to question her mortality; that is until she learns that she is a mortal born into a family of Magicals and begins to question everything and everyone in her life. As the doors to Bree’s new world fly open and she finally hears the prophecy told at her birth she must face the revelation that she is a Chosen One; the last and greatest of a long line of Chosen Ones. And if this were not overwhelming enough, she has been charged with saving the earth by repairing the cosmic tear that binds the mortal world she has always known and the Magical world she is just now discovering. But the real question lies in whether Bree will survive the long transformation into the powerful Druid Sorceress that is her destiny or die in the process as many before her have gone. Bree’s journey will not be an easy one. She must face the realities of her new life and her new family; a clan of vampires who have been charged with protecting her for all of her mortal life. They have chosen her as a leader in their clan, a position that has really complicated things for her. For no sooner than Bree is finally reunited with her long lost love, Steven, Bree must learn how to navigate the jealousies and emotions within her new family. While Bree tries to free herself from her past, including her cruel and lethal husband, she must determine who she can truly trust. And while her clan loves her immensely, they will continually try to stand in her way; all in the name of protecting her from those set upon her death. Bree’s arch nemesis is Esmeralda, a powerful sorceress in her own right who will stop at nothing until this Chosen One is dead. If Esmeralda can claim Bree’s blood, heart and soul and restore her Demon to his body, she will be so strong that none will be able to oppose her and she will be free to rid the world of all mortals and rule as she chooses. But with the help of the Guardians and her dreams, Bree begins to awaken the powers hidden within her and begins to embrace the responsibility she has been born to. And even while these changes make her body weak, Bree begins to find an inner strength she never knew she had within herself. Will it be enough to save the world?