A Southern witch in a toxic marriage. Awakening magic. A fight for freedom.

Lauren Hartford is a spiritual consultant and soon-to-be single mother ready to reclaim her life after two decades in an emotionally abusive marriage. She expects her Third Degree Elevation in the Dragon Hart Grand Coven to mark her spiritual rebirth—but instead uncovers unsettling truths, hidden manipulation, and the dangerous cost of loyalty to a failing system.

Breaking free isn't just about signing divorce papers—it means unraveling illusions, confronting spiritual abuse, and protecting her daughters from a legacy of control. As her coven fractures and personal battles escalate, Lauren must choose between staying safe in tradition or stepping into her full power. Rite of Awakening is a story steeped in Gothic tension with Southern echoes—building toward the storm-soaked reckoning that defines the trilogy's Southern Gothic roots.