Eye in the Blue Box: Book One of Eyes of Awakening

ABOUT:

Eye in the Blue Box is an adult, dark fantasy novel that’s filled to the brim with action and adventure. Readers searching for exhilarating battles, eerie and surreal creatures, intricate world-building, and strong character development will enjoy this book. This book is NOT a romantasy.

THEMES:

Friendship, family, compassion, self-growth, and Asian American culture.

CONTENT WARNING:

Violence, gore, and intense scenes.

SUMMARY

James Mun likes his internship, his daily doses of instant ramen, and late mornings when he can roll around in bed. He dislikes the gym, people who take up parking spaces, his sister’s annoying family get-togethers, and anything else that gets in the way of his chosen pace of life. 

When he’s born into “the Flowering,” a surreal dimension that select humans enter each time they fall asleep, needless to say, he is not happy. He’s not exactly thrilled, either, to travel throughout the Flowering with Crew Blue, a group of humans who follow a giant, blue wolf as their guide. Above all, though, he dislikes the crew’s leader. She’s always forcing him to battle the nightmarish monsters that prowl the Flowering’s many planes, which change as swiftly and unpredictably as sweet dreams morphing into nightmares. It’s hard enough simply surviving every night without risking getting eaten!

But as James becomes entangled in the return of an ancient evil spawned within the Flowering, he discovers that what he’d once deemed as nuisances aren’t so troublesome after all. His dark and harrowing adventures open his eyes to see how the bonds forged between friends and family can change the fate of everything. 

If the above is not showing, here is the direct link to the Eye in the Blue Box Pretend Soundtrack.

WHAT CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT EYE IN THE BLUE BOX

"[In] Kim’s delightfully intricate, dreamlike world ... The cast ... forms a strong bond as they engage in exhilarating battles ('Massive coils of hard, segmented flesh followed, dropping like bags of sand and slithering aside'). Individual backstories further complicate both the plot and characters, and the sublime final act will leave readers itching for the sequel. This extraordinary, energetic opening installment is not to be missed."" – Kirkus Reviews

"Kim’s debut fantasy adventure (the first volume of her Eyes of Awakening series) doesn’t merely construct another parallel world; it transforms sleep itself into a battlefield ... EYE IN THE BLUE BOX offers readers an intricate portal fantasy that refuses easy allegiances between good and evil, human and citizen." – IndieReader (IR Approved)

“Kim delivers a world that is beyond intriguing … Between the eerie nightmares of the Flowering, James’s bewilderment, and the monsters he’s forced to fight, Eye in the Blue Box is a thriller that never lets up—but still shows humanity threading the Flowering’s inhabitants together … and Kim constructs plenty of touching connective moments amid the chaos.”—BookLife

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT EYE IN THE BLUE BOX

"As a fellow Asian American, I really connected with the inner struggles that the main character, James feels ... I appreciated seeing his progression and growth of through the book ... For the other supporting characters, I appreciated how Kim took the stereotypical personalities (tough leader, affable friend, out to prove something female, helpful animal) and gave them enough quirks and mystery to make them feel unique, even adding twists to their back stories to make you care and wonder how they came to be in the Flowering as well. The action sequences are extremely well written, drawing you in so that your mind can see each slice, flip, and cut as they happen." – Thomas K. on Goodreads

"Ann Yihang Kim's Eye in the Blue Box truly lives up to its reputation as a dark fantasy novel, immersing readers in a world filled with shadowy intrigue and haunting mysteries ... Kim portrays vivid scenes and storylines that fill your mind and remain in your head long after you finish reading ... Eye in the Blue Box is exceptionally well-crafted and quickly became one of my personal favorites." – Karen F. on Goodreads

"I loved this book. The author paints each scene with such vivid detail that it often feels like stepping into a Dali landscape, surreal, dreamlike, yet full of energy. The imagery alone makes the story stand out, but what impressed me most was how carefully thought out every scene was. Nothing felt rushed or random; each chapter flowed naturally into the next while still leaving me wanting more. The pacing was spot on, action packed without sacrificing depth ... Overall, this book is a masterful blend of surrealism, imagination, and pure storytelling skill. A must read if you love stories that are both visually striking, action packed, and emotionally engaging." – Melody N. on Goodreads

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

-Awarded Kirkus Reviews' “Get It” verdict and ranked as a Critical Recommendation in Fiction and Fantasy.

-Awarded Indie Reader's "Indie Approved" designation.

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