The Graveyard Queen series has been a favorite since the very first book. With Stevens mesmerizing writing skills and her stories that are every bit as addicting as they are chilling, it is a series that fans and newcomers alike will instantly adore.

Saying goodbye to a beloved series, is never ever easy. In most cases it is bittersweet and almost always heartbreaking and turning the last page in The Awakening was both of those things.

This is a book that you simultaneously both want to devour and make it last forever. You will speed through the pages only to make yourself slow down as you realize that it is almost over... and this time, forever.

Steven's writing puts you right there with Amelia, until you feel like you are right there along with her. Through all of her struggles and growth and change. We saw her come into her own in every way imaginable and this last book brings everything, every secret, ever lie, every misconception into light. Everything is exposed and no one will be the same because of it.

I absolutely loved this and my only complaint is that there wasn't more. I don't want this series to be over. I don't want it to be the end and I certainly wanted more of a happily ever after, but then again, do we ever want it to be the end when it is something we have come to love?

All I can say is that while I am sad this was the end, I'm also happy with how it all came together even if I do wish there had been just a bit more. Just a bit more romance, just a bit more happily ever after and just a bit more of a conclusion. I would have loved an epilogue but I can see why, if the author ever has any chance of writing a spin off or more books down the road, that she didn't.

That is one of the most intense endings that I have read in a very long time. After meandering through most of the book, the ending was a blur, which I had to read twice to make sure that I had grasped it all.

Amelia Gray, a cemetery restorer, has taken on Woodbine in Charleston, South Carolina. A forgotten cemetery where the well-to-do bury their secrets --namely their mistresses and illegitimate children. A far corner has called out to Amelia, a corner that is sheltering a marker in the shape of an old-fashioned baby crib with an epitaph that reads Shush…Lest She Awaken. There is no name on the memorial that dates back fifty or so years, yet Amelia is drawn to it. Maybe it is the fact that she is a ghost seer, a death walker or just the plan fact that the dead reach out to her and want her to act as their detective. Amelia has a love hate relationship with her talent that she refers to as a curse, yet she cannot turn away when a child is involved.

As she returns to her work, the grave continues to calling out to her. Mercy - is that the child’s name or what she is asking for? Coincidently, as the ghost is calling out to her she is experiencing remembered moments and conversations. How or why are these disjointed memories related to the grave? What is she being told that she yet does not understand?

John Devlin is back. He and Amelia are no longer together. John has taken on the family business. A business with a shady side, but John is not doing this just for himself. He has others to protect and this is the best way to keep those that he loves safe. He is now engaged, or is it a business relationship, to Claire Bellefontaine, and with her comes her creepy older brother Rance Duvall. Dr. Rupert Shaw is still a mentor and friend to Amelia, yet he is hiding secrets. As Amelia discovers the truth, their relationship is at a crossroads. Whom was he really trying to protect?

The Conge, which was revealed in the previous book (as a reminder, the books need to be read in order even though there are small bits of rehashing in each one) is back in full occult force and out to rid the world of unnaturals like Amelia.

Dread is looming over Amelia. She cannot tell if it is something, or someone, coming for her or if something else is ending. Either way, she has to prepare. She has to be ready so her secrets are not revealed or the people that she cares the most for are not held accountable. As I said, you will muddle through the middle of this book, but the ending is not to be missed. There is a great deal going on and Amanda Stevens ties up quite a few of her characters. By the time that you get to the end, you just might find yourself wanting to read it again to see all the breadcrumbs that had been left for you.

This was an awesome ending to this series. I loved every minute of it. Amelia is working on restoring a graveyard close to home. Almost immediately the very angry ghost of a little girl makes itself known to her. In addition, lot's of creepy things start happening and Amelia realizes the door to the afterlife is open and things that are not supposed to be here are slipping through.

This was one of the scarier books in the series imo. Of course I was reading it late at night and I swear I spent the first half of the book huddled under the covers. I joined Amelia and Angus in their wide eyed watch of the door waiting for the "thing" to get in. (& it should be noted that my chimney flue will probably never get opened again) 0_0

Lot's of major things happen in this and everything comes to an action packed and emotional end. I was wondering when I started the book how the author could wrap up all the dynamics and give me a conclusion I would be satisfied with but she did. I LOVED the ending. Loved it!

We got to see all of the characters one last time. Amelia of course, her parents and aunt, Dr. Shaw, John's grandfather and of course John.........*sigh* John, John, John.....*heart eyes so hard*

If you have not read any of this series before this is not the place to start. This really shouldn't be read as a standalone. It will spoil you for the rest of the series. You need to start at book one.

If you're already a fan, you need to grab this immediately when it comes out. You won't regret it.

**ARC received from publisher through Netgalley**

Ever since the disturbing events of the last book, I knew I had to get my hands on The Awakening in order to find out what happens next. Luckily, I read the two back to back and was left with a piece of mind.

The Awakening follows in not to distant feature from book five. Amelia is hired by an anonymous donor to restore the Woodbine Cemetery and all its dark and hidden secrets.

This book at times I find was hard to read, it just slowly keeps getting darker and darker. I still feel like book five was a tad bit darker, but things are really starting to hit the fan.

I really missed Devlin in the last book and even thought he was mentioned often, he finally makes a comeback. I really wanted to know what was going on with him and the strange rift that formed between Devlin and Amelia. Luckily for us, we don’t wait too long to find out, and I loved that we don’t have to wait till book seven for everything to get sorted.

In The Awakening, Amelia has to find the secret behind the murder of a little girl. I find children’s death stories one of the hardest to read. It feels so emotional, so uncomfortable at times. For Amelia especially, as we come to learn that this ghost really hits close to home for her. Not only does Amelia ends up discovering some dark secrets of her own family, she also ends up in a mess with Devlin’s secrets.

More is revealed about the secret societies, more death, more progression in the storyline. I loved reading about all the cemetery research and what the symbols in the children’s cemetery mean. The build up was amazing, the end, rushed.

This seems to now be a consistent trend in Stevens book, and one that I am now finding a bit annoying. We get this amazing build up, this amazing story and then everything happens so fast in the end that you can’t wrap your head around anything. It’s rushed, which makes it more than a little disappointing at times. The ending was mind blowing, but it was just so… quick… Even the confrontation was really quick.

I also feel like Amelia could use a little bit more emotion. She loves Devlin, but her grief felt a little robotic? I guess. It could be the fact that she trained herself not to show emotion, but that’s something that I feel is lacking a bit. It is necessary? I guess not, the book is still amazing, even without it. Just an observation, I guess?

Also, the ending? The ending ended with a mind blowing note. I hope there is a book seven because I need it now. There are still so many unanswered questions, even more after book five.

Shush…lest she awaken…

The Graveyard Queen has been one of my favorite series from the eerie graveyards to the ghostly mysteries. THE AWAKENING by Amanda Stevens wraps up the series (for now) and provided answers as we watch Amelia Gray face down her fears. Atmospheric and suspenseful I simply devoured this tale.

Five Caffeinated reasons to grab The Awakening

1. One of my favorite aspects of this series are the Cemeteries and mysteries concerning the dead. Stevens creates these haunting ghost stories weaving past and present. Amelia, our protagonist, is a graveyard restorer with a unique gift. She can see and communicate with the dead. Some say, there is a bright light within her that draws them. Amelia fears these entities, but her need for answers soon leads her into helping them.

2. In THE AWAKENING, she is restoring the Woodbine Cemetry where she discovers unmarked children’s graves and a ghostly child demanding justice. There are other dangers, and not all live in the realm of the dead.

3.The cemeteries from the headstones to how they are plotted fascinate me. Stevens through Amelia shares tidbits that feed my curiosity.

4.Amanda Stevens creates these atmospheric scenes that are deliciously terrifying. She visually pulls the reader right into the story. I could see and sense our ghostly apparition and the darker entities that pursue Amelia. It was creeptastic.

5..There has been a romantic thread throughout the series, and readers are rewarded with answers and more.
In THE AWAKENING the Delvin family is smack dab in the middle of Amelia’s murder mystery. To complicate things John’s grandfather seeks out Amelia, a friendship she has is called into question, and someone wanted Amelia working at the Woodbine Cemetery. Stevens takes all these threads and weaves a brilliant tale filled with twists and turns. The ending was absolutely brilliant. So clever Ms. Stevens!

I am saddened to see this series end. Each book in the Graveyard Queen has outdone the next. If you love mysteries with a little paranormal woo-woo and depth, this series is a must!

"Shush...lest she awaken..."  Four little words and just like that I have goosebumps, the ominous tone for The Awakening firmly established.  Cover to cover, the lyrical atmospheric magic I've come to expect from Amanda Stevens is prominent . . . haunting, chilling, ominous - whispering on the breeze, taking shape in the cemetery, following Amelia home.  I literally could not put this book down, reading most of it in one setting as my heart raced and my eyes flickered over the shadows lurking around the corners of the room.  Like a fine meal, it's an experience that is served best without prior knowledge of the ingredients - so please, do yourself a favor and don't let anyone tell you what happens before you read this book.  There are no spoilers in my review as I only "set the scene" - you can take it from there.

Welcoming the opportunity to sleep in her own bed at night, Amelia accepts the job of restoring Woodbine Cemetery.  Her first day there, she discovers an area of unmarked graves - a place where the powerful upper crust of Charleston society had buried their "mistakes" - illegitimate children buried without recognition or acknowledgement that their lives ever mattered to anyone...buried in graves with headstones having no names so the elite, rich families involved could remain untarnished.  As Amelia stands over an infant's grave, the ghost of a small girl startles her by lashing out in a powerful, demonstrative display of anger demanding something of Amelia.  Who was she?  How did she die?  Was one of the unmarked graves hers?  What did she want from Amelia?  One thing was crystal clear. . . A door from the dark side had been left opened allowing passage to those with evil intent, and Amelia knew she would have to find the answers to close it or risk being claimed back to the other side.  

And so the story unfolds taking Amelia down a deadly road that would see her crossing paths with her ex-lover John Devlin and his aristocratic family as well as revealing long buried secrets about her own family.  How are the two connected?  Amelia faces the realization that all is not as it seems - and the only way out is to reveal the truth - no matter who it may hurt, no matter the personal cost - which for Amelia may be everything, including her own life.

Once again, Stevens has brilliantly manipulated characters & plot lines to peel back the layers and slice to the heart of this story thus giving readers a phenomenal ending to this epic series!  Age old secrets and connections are revealed as loose threads are woven together in a twisted, shocking tapestry that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  Readers finally get answers . . . Are they ones you're hoping for?  Only one way to find out!  The Awakening is a Page Burning Must Read! I will be anxiously awaiting to see if a spin-off series develops mentioned.  Fingers crossed!

I had thought to read this series from the beginning, but when I got approved for this one on NetGalley did I change my plans. Sure, there is always the risk of not getting into the story when you decide to not start from the beginning. But, I'm glad to say that I had no problems with this book.

First, I want to say that I really love the cover for this book. The ominous single gravestone speaks to me. Well, not in the way that it speaks to Amelia Gray, but then again she's a cemetery restorer who sees the dead. In this book, is it the ghost of a child that haunts her as she works to restore Woodbine Cemetery. Who is the child and who could have killed her? Amelia also has to deal with her ex-boyfriend John Devlin who earlier didn't want anything to with his family expectations, but now seems to have decided to accept his birthright. Could he now be a danger to Amelia and her secret about seeing ghosts?

The Awakening is an interesting book. Now, the case with the dead child ghost is not that mysterious or surprising. But, I enjoyed reading about how Amelia investigates the little girl's death, and the connection it seems to have to her own family. Speaking of her family, I was intrigued by the fact that Amelia's birth mother died while she was still pregnant and that it's a miracle that Amelia was born at all. I'm very curious about her family. Everything concerning her family and the past was really interesting and I seriously need to read the previous books so that I can learn more. I wonder if that's not the thing I liked the most about the book was Amelia, her gift, and her family. The case in itself was not the most interesting things, it's rather everything around it intrigued me. I liked that the ghost child case did reveal things about the past, and that through the dead child did Amelia learn more about certain things that I can't write about without spoiling the book. It's a good book, and I love the ending!

This was the final (supposedly) novel in the Graveyard Queen series. You cannot just pick these books up at random to read. They must be read in order or you will be completely lost. This deliciously creepy book did not disappoint and brought everything full circle. Amanda Stevens is great at making you extremely nervous about shadows and strange noises in the dark. You learn about Amelia's gifts at the same time she does and Amelia does not instantly know about all of her gifts. It's a scary learning curve but I like that she doesn't know everything about the paranormal world. I hope we get to have more stories in the series but I was happy with how it ended if we don't.

This series is always fun to read, there are so many secrets that come out, so many hidden connections and just when you think you've learned them all you learn more. The secrets unearthed in this book were crazy! Funny how the past once again comes back to play havoc in the present. I was a bit surprised at all that came out, I sort of expected things to linger a while more, for Amelia to be miserable for longer. With how the events in this one ended I wonder if the series is done. I find myself actually ok if it is, as Amelia is in a good place, a safe place finally, one where her life won't have to be so isolated any more.

Some secrets refuse to stay buried. When Amelia is hired to restore Woodbine cemetery. She is glad to be able to sleep in her own bed at first, but this job seems to put her own life at risk. When she finds a nameless infants grave she is left wondering why they wouldn't put a name on it. She also sees a child's ghost that is full of anger and wants retribution. She can't figure out how the two fit together, if at all. When she starts finding omens and dangerous people start reaching out to her she knows she is running out of time and her own life is at risk. She just doesn't know how deeply family secrets lie buried and it is up to her to uncover them.

I very much enjoyed this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next and who was the threat. I loved the ending, but for that you'll have to read it for yourself.

I was given an eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.

I really hope this is not the last book in this series because that would break my heart. This is by far one of my favorite series and I would miss it so much....Almost all of the questions get to be resolved in this book but still some chickens don't come home to roost so I really hope there are going to be some more books.

Spero davvero che questo non sia l'ultimo libro di questa serie perché mi si spezzerebbe il cuore. "La regina dei cimiteri" é da sempre una delle mie preferite e mi mancherebbe tantissimo. In questo libro quasi tutti i nodi vengono al pettine, quasi, mi aggrappo quindi a questa flebile speranza per un futuro pieno di altri libri con Amelia e Devlin.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Oh, this book hit the spot. Amelia and Devlin's relationship had been something I needed closure on as this series progressed and I'm beyond thrilled to see everything laid out in stark black and white. All Devlin's reasoning for walking away was laid bare. All Amelia's secrets are finally shared.

And secrets that she had never known about were brought to light.

Secrets. So many secrets. Everybody seemed to have them. Amelia, Devlin, Devlin's family. Amelia's family. Amelia's friends. Everybody.

A woman who sees ghosts is, of course, the perfect person to uncover the truth. She can see things others can't. She might be hesitant to get involved, but once she is she throws herself into figuring things out.

If this is the end of the series, I'm incredibly pleased with how it ended. If there are more books coming, I'm thrilled beyond belief. I've genuinely enjoyed the creepy, atmospheric world Amelia inhabits and would love to see more, one way or another.

I've enjoyed all of the Graveyard Queen series and The Awakening was a wonderful addition. Creepy and Gothic in all the right ways. Big southern houses, old money and secrets.
I envy anyone who is just starting the series because they will have the joy of reading all 6 books one right after the other!

I loved everything about this book except for it seeming to be the last of the series! I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the Graveyard Queen books and look forward eagerly to each installment.

This one has all of the spine tingling and thrilling moments I've come to expect from Steven's books. I was very glad to see some loose ends tied up, and was very happy with the way events played out.

In this one, Amelia Grey is restoring a local cemetery when the ghost of a child begins appearing to her. Amelia realizes that the child was murdered and wants her killer brought to justice. Soon, Amelia's investigation seems to involve John Devlin's family, and she is faced with this former lover who now seems to be her enemy. As events unravel, Amelia has to decide what path to follow to solve the decades old murder while keeping herself safe.

I love Amelia and John and am saddened by the thought that this may be their last appearance. They were both wonderful in this book. The storyline kept me riveted, and as usual, I enjoyed the luscious and atmospheric setting. Thanks to the author for such a wonderful series, and please write more Graveyard Queen books! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.

Post date: March 1, 2017
Link: http://thepagewalker.blogspot.com/2017/03/book-review-awakening-by-amanda-stevens.html


I have been a fan of this series ever since I requested for the 1st book via Netgalley. I highly recommend that you pick a copy now, if you haven’t already. The Restorer completely hooked me and left me in agony for the next book. Amelia Gray, the protagonist, was a huge curiosity for me. I never imagined a cemetery restorer was an actual career until I met her. I’ve watched her develop book after book. Having her powers never excused her from being vulnerable, but her resilience is palpable and very admirable. And I have always rooted for her.

Ms. Amanda created a vivid atmosphere for this series. She captured Charleston for the readers and projected it into something we could actually breathe in and consume. Every book contains an escalating plot that would eventually boil into an eerie, yet satisfying read.

Again, THE AWAKENING is no exception. Amelia knew from the beginning that restoring Woodbine Cemetery would mean uncovering a secret. It may be a secret far darker from anything she had encountered before. And being in proximity with John Devlin and the Conge will not make anything easier for her. Death may even be inevitable this time.

"Shush… lest she awakens…"

Saying good bye to this series is like saying good bye to an old friend. Of course, mine is a mixed feeling of both happiness and sadness. I am still reeling from the ending, but I couldn’t see a more fulfilling way to end it. Years from now, I would look back and be reminded that The Graveyard Queen was the series that kept me from sleeping, made me stare at my window more than I should, check my walls and ceiling, and literally duck under the covers in hunt of that elusive sleep.

Congratulations, Ms. Amanda!

I want more! This is a fantastic series and I sure hope that we will be reading more of Graveyard Queen books.

Please don't stop here, Ms Stevens!

And we are here.

If you haven't read the series, don't start with this one. Go to the beginning and binge read the first five books. I'll wait.



The last book in the six book series The Graveyard Queen ends with a bang, bringing together a lot of loose ends carefully woven throughout the series. Stevens does a remarkable job keeping the strange and creepiness factor turned high, without making it too over the top or unbelievable.

Amelia is back, after surviving some life threatening situations in the past. She's haunted most of all by the love of her life John Devlin, who has since left her and is currently engaged to a perfect, cold and conniving blond woman Claire. Amelia tries to avoid Devlin as much as she can, but the romance takes a front row in this book as she questions everything she knew about Devlin and his dangerous family. And how much in danger she is from his new fiancee.

Not to mention the fact that there are some really awful sounding monsters/ghosts/entities that are coming after Amelia right now. She has to unravel the murder of this little girl's ghost fast. And just how closely does this ghost tie to her own family and her own history?

Brilliantly written, I couldn't put this book down it was so well done. I was happy to see how it ended and it was satisfying and bittersweet. I hope we can catch a glimpse of Devlin and Amelia again later on. (Stevens has hinted that there is a spin off series in the works and Devlin and Amelia might make cameos in this. Cannot wait!)



Overall, The Graveyard Queen series is one of my favorites and I recommend it to anyone who passes me on the street. And this last edition is a perfect send off to this beloved series.

Once again I devoured and loved every creepy minute of Amanda Steven's Graveyard Queen books! I was sucked in from the very first line. Amelia Grey is a great character that is easy to connect with and she is so tough. The idea of being a graveyard restorer never entered my mind as an occupation but as soon as I started this series I have been fascinated by it. I always have to look up the different kinds of stones, the rituals and the sites that she visits. This story did not disappoint. I was scared, nervous and happy all at the same time. I'm so sad that the series is ending but this is one that I loved and will reread again! I recommend this to anyone that loves a good paranormal story that brings goosebumps with every page.

I have been following this series from the first book. I really enjoyed the earlier books but as the series progresses, it is getting darker and darker. Not sure where the story line is going