Torn: Book Three of The Awakener Series

“Torn between love and duty. Torn between past and future. Torn apart by destiny.”

Three months ago, Chad Harper had awakened to the memories of a thousand years, and now he was walking back into the darkness to make sure he’d never wake again. The destiny mark on his right pec burned like a brand as he hiked through the snow-covered Sequoia National Forest, each step taking him closer to the Cavern of Souls—closer to the end. He’d been an Elapsed Seer for three months, able to see the patterns of souls and the pain of their choices with a single touch, but he couldn’t see a way out of what he’d done. The betrayal. The deal with the Hound. The gamble that had cost him everything. Snow swirled around the ancient trees like ghosts of all his past lives, and Chad welcomed the cold. He deserved worse. He’d abandoned Leora after her awakening, hadn’t checked on Rachel, hadn’t helped Darron. He’d run. And now, with the Creator’s mark burning into his flesh, he was going home to die where his first life had begun—in the cavern where time stood still and souls waited in darkness.

The man with storm-black eyes wasn’t trying to kill Chad—he was trying to stop him from reaching the cavern, and that changed everything. As Chad’s knife sank into the man’s side for the third time and warm blood stained the snow crimson, the dying man grinned and hissed: “So good to see you, Elapsed Seer, and so close to home. We missed you.” Home. We. The words detonated in Chad’s mind like grenades. A Council member. But Council members were trapped in the cavern by Leora’s power, sealed away from the spiritual plane, unable to guide mortals or interfere with the living world. Unless they’d found a way out. Chad pressed his hand to the dying man’s arm and unleashed his power, diving into memories that were months—maybe years—old. Gray, blurry images of panic and fear, then nothing. No new memories. Just emptiness. And suddenly Chad understood: the Council was possessing the Lost, weak souls wandering without purpose, using their bodies like puppets. They could reach Darron. They could reach Leora. They could reach Rachel. And Chad—the traitor who’d abandoned them all to die with honor in the cavern—was the only one who knew. His phone had five percent battery. The signal was weak. And the destiny mark on his chest burned with the Creator’s judgment, reminding him that he’d gambled everything on a deal with the Hound and lost. He’d come to the forest to die. But if he died now, without warning them, his betrayal would be complete.

Redemption arc
Impossible choice
Past haunting present
Fate vs. free will
Loyalty tested

What Readers Are Saying

★★★★★

“Good book full of adventure, trying times, And love concurring all. Can’t wait to read the next book. It’s amazing ”

Barbietheredneck from Amazon

★★★★★

“I loved this book. I was able to picture everything vividly as if I were right there. This one was also hard for me to put down. I can’t wait for book 4 to come out.”

Cynthia from Amazon

This Book Includes

Strong romantic tension ✓

Supernatural abilities ✓

High stakes ✓

Emotional intensity ✓

Happy endings or hopeful resolutions ✓

World-building that enhances romance ✓

Get Your Copy

Amazon

Apple

Barnes & Noble

Author R.E.S. Tidmore

She writes bold romance featuring feral heroines, broken heroes, and love stories that hurt before they heal.

Note from the Author

Torn has a different vibe altogether. Here, you begin to see the heartache that comes with the reincarnation cycle they all face—a kind of longing and pain that lingers across generations. Rachel and Chad’s story is a jump back in time, anchoring their journey further in the past and offering a glimpse into the origins of many of the struggles faced by others in this world. Their story is unique because they were Learners—created fully formed in their first existence—which makes their experience with the outside world very different, almost alien at times. This allowed me to explore themes of identity, belonging, and adaptation through their eyes, and to challenge them in ways that were both emotional and philosophical. Writing Torn was an emotional experience for me, as I delved into the loneliness and hope that accompanies starting over again and again. Torn is close to my heart because it’s easy to love and empathize with the challenges both characters face, and I found myself rooting for them as they stumbled, learned, and ultimately grew stronger together. Their journey reminds me that even when we feel out of place or misunderstood, we can find connection and meaning through resilience and love.