Genesis Awakens

An Action Adventure Fantasy with Historical Elements (Footnail Book 1)

Christian - Fantasy/Sci-Fi
264 Pages
Reviewed on 06/13/2022
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Genesis Awakens is the first book in the Footnail series by authors Howard Haugom and Akorede Adekoya. The Nail Bears have the responsibility to keep the three special nails of history hidden from the Accursed. The Accursed is a group of people who will do whatever it takes to get hold of the three special nails of history and abuse the great power in them. Coming from a long line of Nail Bearers, Gen is the new guardian. Although she was shocked at first, with the help of surprisingly capable friends and family, Gen is ready to protect the nails. The tussle leads to a chase that will end with one of the groups in possession of the nails. If the Accursed get their hands on the nails, they will unleash their powers and destroy everything. Gen needs to do whatever it takes to get to the nails first and protect them. But can she?

Genesis, a.k.a. Gen, is a relatable character that I formed a connection with instantly. I loved her witty charm and sarcastic dialogues. The story is the kind of young adult fantasy that people of any age or genre bias can read and enjoy. While the current young adult fantasy genre is filled with royalty and tortured female leads, Gen is a breath of fresh air and a break we desperately need. The opening scene with Helena and Calisto is incredible and from there onward, authors Howard Haugom and Akorede Adekoya did a fantastic job to keep the same pace and action alive. The story is fantastic, and the mystery behind the Accursed is handled exceptionally well. The suspense is sustained until the end, the mystery keeps readers guessing what will happen next, and the authors leave enough questions unanswered for readers to anticipate the next novel in the series. Fantastic!

Jennifer Ibiam

In the year 327 AD, Empress Helena found the crucifixion nails of Jesus Christ in his tomb in Jerusalem. There were three nails, but the footnail was the most powerful. If the object fell into the wrong hands, it would spell doom for the world. Unfortunately, the accursed were after the same treasures. It was a battle between the nail bearer, her protector, and the hunters. In the present day, Genesis, a descendant of Empress Helena, is the new nail bearer. She lived undetected for years in the remote town of Dundurn, but everything went south one day. The three accursed were back, more powerful than ever! Can Genesis, a naïve girl in mourning, defend the footnail against these evil immortals? Find out in Footnail: Genesis Awakens by Akorede Adekoya and Howard Haugom.

In 2 Corinthians 10:4, the Bible says that weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Footnail by Akorede Adekoya and Howard Haugom is a powerful novel and a must-read for Christians. It was a gripping tale of enlightenment and depth that held me in its clutches until the end. The plot, development, and writing style were perfect! It is a mix of courage, faith, battles, action, magic, the word of God unleashed, and spiritual sensitivity. There was never a dull moment. I had the urge to pray after reading this novel. Genesis’s character caused me to see myself through God’s eyes. The devil is only an accuser that reminds believers of sins to weaken their faith and dominate. Fortunately, we aren’t beyond redemption because we are heirs of the Father, and our confidence in Him should never shake. Mark and Myrddin get a standing ovation, and the authors, two thumbs up! I can’t wait for book two.

Pikasho Deka

Footnail: Genesis Awakens is the first book in the Footnail series by Howard Haugom and Akorede Adekoya. Two millennia ago, while searching for the Nazarene's cross, Empress Helena stumbles upon three powerful nails used during Jesus Christ's Crucifixion, only to be attacked by the Accursed. In the present, Genesis Isherwood (Gen) returns home to the small town of Dundurn in Saskatchewan, Canada. But her happy homecoming turns sour when she learns that her beloved grandfather is dead. After meeting her grandfather's associate Mark Reynolds, Gen finds a mysterious nail on her grandfather's ranch, touching which gives her visions of biblical times. Gen soon learns that she is the nail bearer, wielding enormous power. She must now prepare for a final confrontation with the Accursed, who is hell-bent on destroying everything she loves and holds dear.

Drawing inspiration from biblical mythology, authors Howard Haugom and Akorede Adekoya spin an action-packed fantasy yarn that hooks you in from the first page and leaves you craving more. Footnail: Genesis Awakens is a stellar start to what promises to be an enthralling fantasy saga. The narrative is crisp and concise, leaving little room for wasted space. The plot moves at a brisk pace, keeping you immersed with its unexpected twists and turns. Gen is a likable protagonist you find easy to root for. I particularly enjoyed her dynamic with Mark, and the scenes involving the two of them together were some of my favorites. I suggest this book if you're looking for an action-packed fantasy saga to delve into.

Sarah Scheele

Gen Isherwood has fallen away from God recently, but an epic spiritual adventure awaits when she returns to her family’s ranch in Footnail: Book 1: Genesis Awakens, a fantasy novel for young adults by Howard Haugom and Akorede Adekoya. Part of the story is set in present-day Canada and follows Gen as she takes on her family’s magical destiny of protecting three nails that have immense spiritual and historical significance. A subplot set in the Roman Empire shows Empress Helena, mother of Constantine and ancestress of Gen, becoming entangled with the same powerful nails. The two plots are linked by Gen’s flashback visions, by a family of bodyguards who protect the women through the ages, and by a wise old man with unimaginable powers who guides both the Roman and contemporary characters.

Footnail: Book 1: Genesis Awakens is well worth reading and Howard Haugom and Akorede Adekoya have successfully created a thrilling and layered story. I was drawn in by the premise of a brave girl fighting dark elements and Gen really delivered on that angle as this book is a coming-of-age story about a very interesting girl in a situation that is quite fascinating! Empress Helena is also a strong character and both she and Gen exhibit vulnerability and unexpected strength on their paths to becoming spiritual warriors in a plot that spans centuries. The villains, undead soldiers who originated in Roman times, appear in a veritable explosion of well-described fantasy battles, and the backstory about how they have always hunted the nails had me amazed and intrigued. An intense feeling of catastrophe overcome by light pervades this exciting take on Christian motifs and themes.

K.C. Finn

Footnail: Genesis Awakens is a work of fiction in the fantasy, action, and adventure subgenres, and is the opening to a new book series. It is aimed at young adult readers and was penned by author team Howard Haugom and Akorede Adekoya. In this thrilling novel of generational duty and ancient legends, we follow young Gen as she takes on the responsibility of keeping the forces of darkness away from the most powerful artifacts from ancient times. These three nails could change the fate of the entire world - and even totally destroy it - in the wrong hands. But Gen has more than one trick up her sleeve to protect the planet.

Footnail has an intriguing concept that I’ve never read about in any other YA fantasy work before, and it soon had me hooked on the ancient origins of the nails of power and how they were woven into the world history that we already know. So when author team Howard Haugom and Akorede Adekoya add in more layers of intrigue, cinematic-style fantasy scene building, engaging dialogue, and a superb plot full of dangerous turns and sudden twists, the novel only got better and better as I went on reading. As a series opener, it certainly sets up a lot of great ideas that I’d love to see continued, as well as a loveable and strong central protagonist in Gen, who I hope to see flourish in future books. Overall, Footnail is a thrilling and highly original fantasy work that I’d recommend to all fans of the genre.