Author: Robert L. Anderson
Series: Stand Alone w/Possible Sequel
Published By: HarperTeen (September 22, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
My Rating: 3 Stars
Book Description:
Odea Donahue has been able to travel through people’s dreams since she was six years old. Her mother taught her the three rules of walking: Never interfere. Never be seen. Never walk the same person’s dream more than once. Dea has never questioned her mother, not about the rules, not about the clocks or the mirrors, not about moving from place to place to be one step ahead of the unseen monsters that Dea’s mother is certain are right behind them.
Then a mysterious new boy, Connor, comes to town and Dea finally starts to feel normal. As Connor breaks down the walls that she’s had up for so long, he gets closer to learning her secret. For the first time she wonders if that’s so bad. But when Dea breaks the rules, the boundary between worlds begins to deteriorate. How can she know what’s real and what’s not?
Anderson's debut novel Dreamland is an imaginative read that after only a few short chapters piqued my interest and quickly made me want to know more about Dea and what she could do as well as the dream world itself.
This turned out to be more than just a fantasy read. In fact it is woven with mystery after mystery and even became a bit creepy as Dea became more and more immersed in the dream world and all that entailed with the monsters, men, and other beings that inhabited it.
The heart of the story was in the dream world itself. In Dea's abilities and what they all meant. And while some things were explained, not everything was. I do wish the author would have spent a bit more time fleshing out the fascinating world and what it all meant, especially with the twist towards the end, but overall, this was a fun and interesting story that was perfect to read over a weekend or in a few hours in between books for something fresh and different.
The ending was a bit abrupt but I am guessing that is because this will be part of a series, considering all that was left undone and unsaid, at least, I certainly hope so.
*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*
This sounds very interesting! Dreams are very intriguing to me. I'm going to have to add this one to my to read list.
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it!
DeleteWhenever I get around to it haha!! :P
DeleteDream walking! I wouldn't want that kind of power. It seems to intimate. Thanks for the review! It sounds really interesting :)
ReplyDeleteI really don't think I would either. ;)
DeleteI'm not looking forward to the abrupt ending on this one Ali, those always frustrate me, but everything else sounds fascinating. I'm really curious about this world and the twist you mentioned:)
ReplyDeleteIt was a different kind of read. Does make me wonder if there will be a book two.
DeleteSounds like a decent read, despite the missing info you wanted to be fleshed out. Awesome Review!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tori!
DeleteI always admired books that spread across genres, i.e. fantasy-mystery, because it usually points to an especially talented writer. That said, I detect some disappointment concerning the ending? I don't like them abrupt either. Have a great weekend, Ali :)
ReplyDeleteIt was a bit disappointing. ;)
DeleteI don't think I've heard of this one, Ali. I really like the concept of the book, but I'm not a big fan of abrupt endings. I'll see if my library has this one. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you and you too!
DeleteI like that this has a lot of mystery, that's the most appealing to me for sure.
ReplyDeleteI do love a good mystery. ;)
DeleteThe ending sounds like (hopefully) a book two, but I like the sound of the dream landscape in this. I was hoping for a touch of romance to go with the creepy, lol. Is there any?
ReplyDeleteLovely review as always! Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Ali:)
There is a bit but not a huge role in the book. ;)
DeleteWow Ali what a macabre sounding read. I think I'll wait for book two so I can read both together. Great review!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend!
Happy Weekend Debbie! :D
DeleteHm... this sounds like something I would wait for the second book before I try it. I'd love to see if she fixed the worldbuilding and that ending. Brilly review. Happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteNot a bad idea at all Melissa. ;)
DeleteI'm just began reading this, i'm actually on chapter 11 right now and so far my attention has wandered a lot. I did like the concept of the beginning but sometimes thinks just dragged. Hoping things get better as i go forward in the story.
ReplyDeleteAparajita @Le' Grande Codex
I hope it does get better for you!
DeleteNot too shabby for a first book! At least it gave you something to look forward to the next book
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great premise - might be the type of book where it's best to wait for the next book though. Glad you enjoyed it overall, though.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Thanks Nicole!
DeleteThe dream aspect is kind of awesome, I don't know if it's screaming to me right now...but it sounds interesting. Great review though Ali. Have a fabulous weekend Ali
ReplyDeleteI did like the dream aspect for sure. ;)
DeleteWell it sounds interesting even if it wasn't perfect. Hopefully they'll really get into the grove of it as things progress in the series :D
ReplyDeleteHopefully!
DeleteIt sounds interesting but it's a bit complicated for me to have ends like that..
ReplyDeleteI agree, it really is. :)
DeleteThat cover though! Super, super creepy although I'm loving it! But that ending is the only qualm I would have about it considering that it ended so fast Ali. :( so I hope the means it's an opening for another book? Or possibly a series? Epic review chica! Xoxo
ReplyDeleteIt really does have a great cover!
DeleteWith the abrupt ending I hope it continues..I love the premise and you have me curious about the darker elements
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping they will continue it as well.
DeleteI seen this book reviewed on another blog and the person was not pleased. I think this one will be a pass for me. At least you got some enjoyment out of this one :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jazmen. :D
DeleteSounds pretty decent. Though I don't like abrupt endings.
ReplyDeleteYeah they are hard to deal with, almost as bad as cliffies!
DeleteThe blurb is certainly interesting...to bad it's not as fleshed out as you would hope it would be but I guess it being the first book in the series, it can be forgiven. I do love the premise of walking through dreams though!
ReplyDeleteAnd this is Amir :)
DeleteIt did have a really interesting premises, I just wish there would have been a bit more. We will see if there is a book two. :)
DeleteUgh, this makes me a bit disappointed... when you have a book about the dreamworld, anyone would expect it to be more... I don't know, immersive? As in the world-building is well explained and thought-out? The fact that it wasn't as fleshed-out makes me kind of sad :( I was so looking forward to this!
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato
I'm sorry Faye! You might like it more than I did, you never know!
DeleteI have this on my reading pile but I haven't had a chance to read it as yet. It sounds very interesting, such a shame about the abrupt ending.
ReplyDeleteA lovely review! Sharon - Obsession with Books
You never know, maybe you will enjoy it a lot more than I did.
DeleteThis is a really fresh concept for me. I have such vivid dreams so this sounds really great for me. Thanks Ali!
ReplyDeleteI do too! Which is why I was so interested in this to begin with. ;)
Deletesound so interesting that its a bit disappointing about the short comings.
ReplyDeleteIt still was a really interesting read. ;)
DeleteI am not a fan of dream worlds-never really have been. So I don't think this would be a good read for me, but thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and checking it out!
DeleteI've not heard of this one before. Hopefully it will be part of a series. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Ellen!
Delete