I fell under the spell of Awakening by Abby Wynne quite easily. I thought this book was going to be fantasy based, like The Mortal Instruments, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn’t so.

As the story begins, we meet Marissa, a P.A for a software company dealing with the fallout of a relationship breakdown. She impulsively books a trip to Peru and begins her journey of self-discovery. Here, she first encounters spirit guides.

In order to change her career, Marissa has been studying psychology part time. Through her case studies, she comes in contact with various clients all of whom have a different energy. And it’s through these experiences Marissa finds herself on an alternative journey that leads her onto Reiki, Angelic energy and Shamanism. She knows this is at odds with her traditional Jewish upbringing. I feel that Abby Wynne has captured the dynamic of a large extended family and how the personalities and opinions can influence one’s relationships and emotions.

The details of Marissa`s journey of self-discovery mirrors my own at the present. I’ve only touched on spiritual studies on my own mindfulness journey. After reading this book it has piqued my interest to learn more about alternative holistic therapies and healing energy.

The story is so rich in detail and as it progresses, from Peru, Dublin and Connemara, it explores her relationship with her clients as a therapist and her own inner growth, revealing more of the hidden depths of her character, that will no doubt be needed to face what’s coming.

This is the first book of the Inner Compass Trilogy, I am most certainly looking forwards to the next book, Transformation.