Review: Arcadia Awakens by Kai Meyer

Arcadia Awakens by Kai Meyer
ARC paperback, 464 pages
Expected Publication: February 14, 2012
By Balzar + Bray

To Rosa Alcantara, the exotic world of Sicily, with its network of Mafia families and its reputation for murder and intrigue, is just that—exotic and wholly unknown. But when her life in Brooklyn begins to fall apart, she must travel there, to her family’s ancestral home, where centuries of family secrets await her.

Once there, Rosa falls head over heels for Alessandro Carnevare, the son of a Sicilian Mafia family, whose handsome looks and savage grace both fascinate and unsettle her. But their families are sworn enemies, and her aunt and sister believe Alessandro is only using Rosa to infiltrate the Alcantara clan. And when Rosa encounters a tiger one night—a tiger with very familiar eyes—she can no longer deny that neither the Carnevares nor the Alcantaras are what they seem.

Hidden caves, dangerous beasts roaming the hills, and a history of familial bloodlust mean that Rosa can’t trust anyone. Torn between loyalty to her family and love for their mortal enemy, Rosa must make the hardest decision of her life: stay in Sicily with her new love…or run as far and as fast as she can.

That cover is a sure-fire to pull you in and hold you until the very last word. The world that Kai Meyer creates in Sicily for Rosa and everyone she's involved with is a magical and suspenseful one.
When Rosa first meets Alessandro on the plane, it's obvious that they'll be crossing paths again, and you can't wait for every second they were together.

They live a dangerous life filled with--I can only describe as--a cross between the mafia and Romeo & Juliet with a hint of Twilight. Rosa seemed like a cold, distant girl with a knack for stealing. Though the things she seemed to steal were insignificant, replaceable objects, she seemed to do it when she was under the most stress.

Rosa goes to Sicily to live with her aunt Florinda and sister Zoe after she suffers a devastating lost. And ironically enough she spends very very little time with them. I honestly didn't know much about them as people, other than their relationship to Rosa. Her time was most spent with Alessandro, despite the fact that their families are mortal enemies. Which made their relationship fun and enticing.

Though I felt that somethings were lost in the translation of the book because certain things happened and I didn't know how or when it did. I hope that in the final book that is fixed. But even with that, I still enjoyed the ride. It was a fast paced, action book full of mystery, romance, and intrigue, that keeps you guessing until the end.

I hope a lot is answered in the second book, and I can't wait to read it. (Kind of wish I could read German so I could read it now!)

4 out of 5 Stars!