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notesurfer's review
Dream Country has a unique premise that is poorly explained despite extensive exposition. The prose is often awkward or inelegant, and the characters tell a lot but show very little. It sits firmly inside the YA box and there aren't any transcendent qualities to keep any other kind of reader engaged.
dannic227's review
2.0
i feel like this book had so much potential because the world was really really cool but it just completely missed the mark for me. the ending was so strange i didn’t understand at all what happened and it took me ages to understand the world as a whole. but it was still interesting but overall underwhelming
talkingchicle's review
4.0
I recieved this as an ARC from ONWE Press.
I really liked this book. I loved the world building, the magical elements and I thought the character development was really well done. I have not read anything like this before, I loved how unique it felt. This book centres around triplets; two gods and a goddess. I am so glad that my siblings are nothing like the siblings in this book, they are so paranoid that the other two are going to kill them that they take extra measures to make sure that doesn't happen. Their mother was murdered when they were 6, but none of them have any memory or knowledge of the day leading up to that event and so they get separated into their individual realms by the Horn and Ivory gates. Until, when the triplets turn 19, the gates come down and one of the triplets tries to seize the opportunity to take over another realm. Then ending leaves me with questions so I definitely need a second book!
I really liked this book. I loved the world building, the magical elements and I thought the character development was really well done. I have not read anything like this before, I loved how unique it felt. This book centres around triplets; two gods and a goddess. I am so glad that my siblings are nothing like the siblings in this book, they are so paranoid that the other two are going to kill them that they take extra measures to make sure that doesn't happen. Their mother was murdered when they were 6, but none of them have any memory or knowledge of the day leading up to that event and so they get separated into their individual realms by the Horn and Ivory gates. Until, when the triplets turn 19, the gates come down and one of the triplets tries to seize the opportunity to take over another realm. Then ending leaves me with questions so I definitely need a second book!
applejacksbooks's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Kept me interested, but not sure of the details lol.
notbrandonwatkins's review
5.0
Ms. Ashaye Brown will not be making it to Zion if she does not give us a book 2, that's all I can say. Because that cliff hanger was pure evil.
On another note I loved this book and the mythology that was so deeply interwoven into it. All of the characters were interesting and I found both main characters to be enjoyable. During the read I paused many times to go look up the myths and stories she was referencing from various African cultures. And I also loved the ending, evil though it may be. All I can say is that this book is severely underrated and it needs a lot more love than it currently has.
On another note I loved this book and the mythology that was so deeply interwoven into it. All of the characters were interesting and I found both main characters to be enjoyable. During the read I paused many times to go look up the myths and stories she was referencing from various African cultures. And I also loved the ending, evil though it may be. All I can say is that this book is severely underrated and it needs a lot more love than it currently has.
abiluvr's review against another edition
2.0
The only emotion I’m feeling is confusion, confusion at the ending and the confusion because I thought my questions were going to be answered but they weren’t. I think I’m quite annoyed at how everything unfolded? I think I’m annoyed at the fact I’m left with more questions than answers in a way.
ashlislibrary's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Rape, and Sexual assault
lazygal's review
3.0
Oh, how I wanted more about the religious aspects of this world, and better worldbuilding in general. The three sibling gods, Dreams, Sleep and Nightmares, rule over three realms that should be connected but are separated by the Gates of Horn and Ivory There's a whole lot of ritual about choosing one human to live for a week within their realm, only this year things are different because there is a baby who apparently can destroy the gate and change the worlds. Can they find some solution to this before their godheads and the entire structure of the realm are destroyed?
No spoilers, but also no surprises. What really elevated this is the introduction of mythologies that we're not used to reading (but should be!): Kenyan, Brazilian and Caribbean influences make this a different story in a very good way.
No spoilers, but also no surprises. What really elevated this is the introduction of mythologies that we're not used to reading (but should be!): Kenyan, Brazilian and Caribbean influences make this a different story in a very good way.
booksandhalohalo's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
esseastri's review against another edition
4.0
Spoiler
IT ENDS THERE???Built on a fusion of various world mythologies, Dream Country delivers on worldbuilding in a way that means I'm going to be keeping my eye on Ashaye Brown for a long time. Definitely a set up for a longer series, but nonetheless engrossing. And that sibling rivalry? Choice. Buckle up, friends; this debut is one to watch.