I Shall Awaken

Selected for the CBC Fall 2022 Showcase: Stranger Than Fiction.

"Dora’s village is turned upside down when three missing people return in this novel translated from the Czech. Seventeen-year-old Dora Lautner has been labelled “crazy” ever since four of her friends—Sonya, Tom, Astrid, and Astrid’s little brother, Max—disappeared from day care 12 years ago while she was left behind, unable to say what happened. As the community begins the winter solstice festival of Korochun, during which the dead may walk among the living, Astrid and Tom reappear, unable to remember what transpired, along with a comatose Sonya. Max, however, is nowhere to be found. While people assume that Gustaw Linhart, their suspected kidnapper, set them free upon his recent release from an asylum, Astrid, Dora, and Tom aren’t so sure. When the traditional bonfire refuses to light and dead animals begin to turn up around the village, talk begins of a curse. During the 12 days of the festival, Dora, Tom, and Astrid must solve the mystery of the abduction and the returnees’ arrival in order to wake up Sonya and find Max before it is too late. The novel is eerie and atmospheric, with a plot drawn from the worst childhood fears of monsters under the bed. The final revelation of the truth behind the mystery does nothing to diminish the horror; if anything, it makes it even scarier. The measured pace is interrupted by bursts of terrifying action, keeping readers in suspense. An intense, absorbing novel that will have readers jumping at shadows. (Horror. 13-18)" ―Kirkus Reviews

"The story has an air of the supernatural, but the author keeps any specifics vague for the first half of the book. Children wear tattoos to guard against evil spirits and spells are cast at bedtime to ward off demons. Astrid suffers nightmares to the point that she’s afraid she’ll be attacked by shadowy creatures if she falls asleep. The ceremonial bonfire lit during a holiday celebration goes out and villagers are unable to get it relit. A dead cat is found among its ashes and other animals start dying around town and in the woods. Something evil has clearly targeted the town, but what? The truth behind Max’s disappearance is a huge, expected twist as the plot nears its climax." ―YA Books Central

"Reading this novel by a Czech author, translated into English, featuring folklore and legends of a different culture is a great way for readers to expand their reading horizons, and this is a good book to start with." ―Youth Services Book Review

"There are so few YA horror novels out there and I am so happy that I stumbled upon this one. The author used such a unique storyline and included Slavic gods which I was completely new to, didn’t have any previous knowledge of, but absolutely loved it. I definitely will be adding this to my physical bookshelf on release day." ―Taylor S., NetGalley-Reviewer

"I loved that this brought in the Slavic gods - I haven't found a lot of stories that do. It also was YA horror, which was a huge bonus! The disappearances of children, and reappearance hinted to something more sinister lurking out there. I can't wait to be able to share this book with my students that love horror, and the old tales! I don't have enough in my classroom library that crossover. But first, my priority is adding this book to my personal library. A fantastic book with equally gorgeous art." ―Jennifer J., NetGalley-Educator

"From “the Czech Stephen King”, Kateřina Šardická’s YA horror novel I Shall Awaken is firmly rooted in folklore, and fear of the old gods. I love the world Šardická has created; it just drips with dread from the first page. The story takes a while to build; Šardická builds a sense of foreboding that really pays off when things speed into the break-neck final chapters. The horror is incredibly disturbing, and I experienced the rare phenomenon of a “jump scare” in a book. I love that this is a YA book, and if young readers embrace this level of terror, I think there is an incredible amount of hope for the future." ―Tracey T., NetGalley-Reviewer