New York, New York, USA. (where the book is set, not where I am now unfortunately but I'll be upset about that later).

During construction for the subway of the brand spanking new Z-Train worker Grady McGowan falls to his death in an abyss formed by his drilling (that's his job, he wasn't just on there 'cause he fancied a try). Three years later we're at the opening of the Z-Train subway, 300 feet below the Hudson River, where we met the Mayor of New York, the President and various other dignitaries and random people as everything is unveiled, lots of oohh-ing and aahh-ing is expected and loud applause.

The much anticipated train pulls into the station but the passengers on board don't get off and we need to find out why, as the doors open we find that all the train cars are empty and drenched in blood, where are all the peoples?? There's screaming and running about as everyone tries to leave and then shit just hits the fan, there's methane leaking in, there's water having a go too and then we find that something that lives below New York has woken up and it is angry as hell and isn't going to take it anymore.

What's going to happen? What's going on? Why is the President a bit of a dick towards the Mayor? Where's my beer? All these and more will be answered when you read the book!! (except the beer one, you'll all be pleased to know that I've found it now)

If there's a sequel to this I will most definitely be picking that bad boy up!

*Huge thanks to James S. Murray, Darren Wearmouth, Harper360, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*

At the opening of a new subway line in New York the first train rolls through, but when it arrives all the passengers are missing and the inside is covered in blood. Then the rest of the guests, including POTUS, are attacked. Is it terrorists or another new threat?

The book is a sci-fi/horror/thriller and I thought it was a very entertaining read. Kind of implausible, but entertaining. I could actually see this being a TV film. There were plenty of characters to become invested in, one or two surprise deaths, and lots of intrigue going on below the surface, in more ways than one. I would be interested in reading a sequel.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Harper360, for the opportunity to review an ARC.

Exciting and tense, Awakened kicks off almost instantly with the bloodbaths and the ever increasing string of threats. Original yet strangely familiar, the plot follows similar paths as others in the genre but with a refreshing twist. And with the promise of yet another book, this series could be the start of something great!

I picked this book up mainly out of curiosity after seeing that the author was an Impractical Joker. I wasn’t expecting much from it, however, I quickly realised that it was a surprisingly good blend of horror and thriller, including a shadowy government conspiracy.

The plot flows quickly and the tension builds well throughout the book, and, whilst I didn’t find the characters to be overly likeable, I did find myself rooting for them near the end.

Despite my initial apprehensions on choosing this book, I found it to be a very enjoyable read.

Awakened was an interesting read, but to be really honest, I just didn’t get on with it at all. It’s an interesting premise, and it grips you quickly, but I lost interest early on as it was a bit repetitive. It is creepy, and full of action, but it just didn’t do anything for me I’m afraid.

3.5/5 stars

This book is the perfect palate cleanser for readers reeling from book hangovers. If you've just read an emotionally taxing story, if you're in need of something that will deliver pure thrilling escapism for a few hours, Awakened is a great choice. A conventional blend of monster horror and shadow government thriller, this book delivers unobjectionable cheesy action punctuated by the occasional jumpscare for those needing a bit of extra excitement.

Something unexpected that, in my opinion, actually broadens Awakened's appeal is that it really isn't that scary. There are well-timed moments of tension, and the premise is certainly bloody enough, but this is a novel that can be read in the dark with no fear of being snatched away by an eldritch abomination. For reference, I find Jumanji the movie scarier than Awakened.

The relative lack of scariness works, because firstly, no matter how well-written, novels will have a harder time capturing cheap jumpscares than the lowest budget B-movie. Books just don't lend themselves well to shock horror--Lovecraftian horror or extended suspense, on the other hand, we'd be talking. But Awakened's premise is too horror movie-like to pull that off effectively. Secondly, the mission-driven thriller element of Awakened is by far its strongest suit: The beginning of the novel, where characters are largely unfocused, in shock and scrambling to figure out what's going on, drags despite gore aplenty. When they've found enough information to form a plan and execute it, though, Murray is right at home. His story shines when the characters prevail in suicide missions against apparently insurmountable odds, aided by believable combinations of ingenuity and luck.

The characters do leave something to be desired. Far from the worst characters in the horror genre, they're just rather bland. Awakened follows four main characters--New York City's ambitious but ultimately good hearted mayor who knows he is partially responsible for the tragedy, a SWAT officer, a reformed gang member turned Z train's head of operations, and a heroic diesel locomotive operator. None of them are particularly compelling, and in fact I can't even remember all their names. The book's two memorable characters are memorable for all the wrong reasons; the first because he's so heartless as to be more detestable than the monsters and the second because he constantly throws French phrases into his speech. It gets annoying fast, and looks more like Murray showing off his French (or his ability to use Google) than something that an EAL speaker would realistically do.

Despite the lack of character development, Awakened provides a refreshing thriller with multiple high points. The concept of a subway under the Hudson makes for a claustrophobic and evocative setting, where characters find creative ways to contend with bloodthirsty monsters, leaking methane and the threat of drowning all at once. Thankfully, the heroes of Murray's novel are brighter than your average Final Destination Joe. They make rational decisions, prove surprisingly resourceful and for the most part don't wander into obvious traps.

It's easy to suspend disbelief and enjoy the book, as long as you don't start questioning the massive Illuminati-style conspiracy that eventually gets exposed as the villains. There are tons of books that do this, almost all of which tie their shadow government to Ancient Greece/Rome, World War II, or both, and it never gets any less ridiculous. I respect Awakened's narrative choice to keep its shadow government relegated to the background.

The plot is quite sound, but could have done with one or two more twists. While not overly predictable, Awakened lacks just a few surprises to give it that je ne sais quoi. Especially at the climax and denouement, which go much as you would expect them to. At that point, the story honestly has enough adrenaline that it doesn't need to rely on a shocking reveal, yet a shocking reveal done well would bring it to the next level.

If you're new to the horror genre, Awakened is a good place to dip your toes in. Short, tightly plotted and as grounded in reality as monster stories can be, it's a cinematic read nicely sandwiched between more serious material.