The Unbelievers is the second book in The Awakening series by Lisa M. Lilly. The action in this novel picks up where the first book left off, after protagonist Tara Spencer has given birth to a baby, despite never having conceived it in the usual biological way. She thinks she has escaped from the Brotherhood, a fanatical religious organisation who once heralded her baby girl as the anti-Christ, but now a whole new series of twists and turns engulf her as violence and kidnapping enter her world. It’s much harder to protect her daughter now that she’s been born, and Tara must investigate a whole new set of clues to try to decipher why she is at the centre of this society-changing situation.

The Unbelievers promises action, thrills and intrigue, and this stunning novel delivers it in spades. A paradoxical plot worthy of the likes of Dan Brown is wrapped in a fascinating social story that harks back to the ancient miraculous beliefs on which most of Western society is based. More than that, though, I was impressed by Lisa M. Lilly’s confident storytelling style, which often breaks the conventions of traditional grammar to deliver punchy sentences that immerse you in sudden bursts of action. Tara is a strong and sometimes edgy protagonist, but one that readers can easily come to feel a great deal of compassion for as the story unfolds. Overall, I’d say that readers who appreciate a fully formed world with realistic characters will devour this novel, but they must also be prepared to gear their brains up for a satisfyingly complex plot.

The Unbelievers (The Awakening Series Book 2) by Lisa M. Lilly brings us to Tara Spencer, a new mother to a beautiful baby girl, but her baby girl should not exist. Despite her worry and the concerns that the Brotherhood will see her and her daughter, she is hidden away in a small community called Willow Springs. Unfortunately, the hideaway can't last forever. Her daughter disappears and her best friend is attacked. Tara must find out the secret behind her pregnancy, a pregnancy that happened even though she was a virgin, so she can find her baby and get some answers.

I will start this this review by saying I have not yet read the first book and that while I do think it would be good to read, this book can stand on its own. It is that well written. Lisa M. Lilly has a writing style that is entertaining and easy to read. This book is not what I would call the normal paranormal read for me and I loved every page of it. The world and mystery behind Tara's pregnancy is rich and well layered. The ebb and flow for me was spot on with no points where I felt that it was too slow or too fast. This is important in paranormal because often there is so much information being tossed at you at one time that you can feel overwhelmed by the information and lose enjoyment of the story. If you are ready to dive into a well written paranormal book that is sure to be one heck of a series (I am going back to read the first), I highly recommend The Unbelievers.

The Unbelievers is the second book in The Awakening by Lisa M. Lilly. After giving birth to her daughter Fimi, Tara's life continues to be more complicated as she fights to keep her little girl, but the more she looks for answers the more questions she gets. Because of the pain and betrayals in the past, Tara has no way of knowing who is a friend and who is an enemy. If she has learnt anything from the painful events of the past year, it is that she cannot trust just anyone, so this time she is a lot more cautious. Still, she cannot accomplish her mission alone so, trust or no trust, she has to work with some people. If she is to protect her baby, Tara needs to have some answers about Fimi's existence and her only hope lies in piecing together a document written hundreds of years ago. So, with the aid of her trusted mentor and working with vague clues, she starts on a journey to find the answers she so desperately needs. However, there are many equally determined to stop her at whatever cost. Will the answers that she seeks bring her some peace at last or is she better off not knowing?

In The Unbelievers (The Awakening Book 2), Lisa M. Lilly continues to dazzle us with her incredible writing skill in this thrilling tale of religion, traditions and myths. If you thought Book 1 was great, which I definitely did, then Book 2 will blow your mind as you continue to follow Tara's story. The plot is so unique and yet it feels very real; it is so enchanting it will make you forget that this is fiction and will make you question some of your core beliefs. The way Lisa M. Lilly portrays her characters makes them feel really human, making them easy to connect with and helping bring the story to life. The Unbelievers by Lisa M. Lilly is a truly profound tale that is unique and flawlessly written to show what a desperate mother would do to protect her baby and the lengths people will go to to protect what they believe to be right. I loved every page of this thrilling page-turner and I cannot wait for Book 3.

The Unbelievers by Lisa M. Lilly is the second book in The Awakening Series following the story of protagonist Tara, mother of an immaculately conceived girl child. The Brotherhood of Andrew wants to find the mother of the new messiah and will stop at nothing to debunk women’s claims of miracles. Tara is paranoid and hated by everyone in the commune who thinks she is lying, so she hides Fimi in Willow Springs. The quick-paced story begins around holiday time with Tara letting her guard down momentarily to attend a party, and the baby is abducted. Cyril, her enemy, comes to help and her sister is in a coma. Thrust into immediate chaos, Tara leaves home to travel around the world searching for answers. Though she does not want attention, her DNA comes into play with testing, cloning and a perverse alternate reality game.

Written in third person, The Unbelievers packs thrills and chills into thirty-four chapters. It is a rocky road to learn the truth about Tara’s pain and suffering in a spine-tingling second installment. It is not necessary to read the first book, although it will help with story continuity. Anyone who enjoys mystery laced with religious hierarchy will appreciate Lilly’s talents. I could not help but feel sympathetic to Tara, who had this strange situation thrust upon her. In addition, the colorful characters who balanced the world kept the plot moving with artistic flair. I cannot wait to read the next sequel of Tara’s story.