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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
didn’t pay too much attention, accurate gang information, good futuristic story
**I received a copy of this book through NetGalley which does not influence my review**
Lilliam Rivera’s Dealing in Dreams exhibits impressive world-building, but left me wanting more in terms of characters. In Mega City, violence rules the streets. Nalah, known as Chief Rocka, and her crew, Las Mal Criadas, patrol the streets, keeping the people in check and enjoy the occasional spoils at the local clubs known as boydegas. For Nalah, the ultimate goal is to find a place next to Mega City’s leader Déesse, to live in the Mega Towers, where the privileged live in luxury. When an outsider threatens everything Mega City stands for, Las Mal Criadas venture to Cemi Territory, to infiltrate a crew that supposedly disbanded years ago. But on the outside, Chief Rocka faces unexpected challenges and discovers her beloved city may not be the perfect utopia she’s been led to believe.
Lilliam Rivera’s world held a surprise at every turn. The ruler of Mega City, Déesse, is from a line of women who helped rebuild the city after a devastating earthquake. But it wasn’t only buildings that were reconstructed, society itself was reimagined. Mega City became a matriarchy; women rule over men and men are expected to defer to women. This was such an interesting concept to explore. Men’s bodies were exploited in a way that we see women’s and women no longer had to worry about their bodies seen as sexual objects. Young girls are recruited and taught how to fight. If they survive training, they have a chance to join a five-member gang and prove their worth to Déesse. Toilers are the lowest class, producing goods, but never able to climb the social ladder. Money no longer has value, instead people trade for goods and sueño tabs, a drug meant to help ease people into sleep every night, but one that is incredibly addictive. This is the one part of the world-building that I wanted to see more of. Nalah has a rule where none of her girls are allowed to take sueño tabs, so we rarely get a peek at what this pills truly does...
Read my full review on my blog here.
Lilliam Rivera’s Dealing in Dreams exhibits impressive world-building, but left me wanting more in terms of characters. In Mega City, violence rules the streets. Nalah, known as Chief Rocka, and her crew, Las Mal Criadas, patrol the streets, keeping the people in check and enjoy the occasional spoils at the local clubs known as boydegas. For Nalah, the ultimate goal is to find a place next to Mega City’s leader Déesse, to live in the Mega Towers, where the privileged live in luxury. When an outsider threatens everything Mega City stands for, Las Mal Criadas venture to Cemi Territory, to infiltrate a crew that supposedly disbanded years ago. But on the outside, Chief Rocka faces unexpected challenges and discovers her beloved city may not be the perfect utopia she’s been led to believe.
Lilliam Rivera’s world held a surprise at every turn. The ruler of Mega City, Déesse, is from a line of women who helped rebuild the city after a devastating earthquake. But it wasn’t only buildings that were reconstructed, society itself was reimagined. Mega City became a matriarchy; women rule over men and men are expected to defer to women. This was such an interesting concept to explore. Men’s bodies were exploited in a way that we see women’s and women no longer had to worry about their bodies seen as sexual objects. Young girls are recruited and taught how to fight. If they survive training, they have a chance to join a five-member gang and prove their worth to Déesse. Toilers are the lowest class, producing goods, but never able to climb the social ladder. Money no longer has value, instead people trade for goods and sueño tabs, a drug meant to help ease people into sleep every night, but one that is incredibly addictive. This is the one part of the world-building that I wanted to see more of. Nalah has a rule where none of her girls are allowed to take sueño tabs, so we rarely get a peek at what this pills truly does...
Read my full review on my blog here.
Title: Dealing in Dreams
Author: Lilliam Rivera
Pages: 336
Release Date: March 5, 2019
Genre: Fiction, YA, Dystopian
Series/Stand Alone?: First in a series
People of Color?: Yes
LGBTQ?: Yes
Bechdel Test: Yes
Trigger Warning: The book has a lot of violence. Gangs war with each other for prestige and things get brutal. People die. However, I did not find it overly graphic in its description of violence.
I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Visit https://fiercefemalereads.wixsite.com/fiercefemalereads for more.
I loved the dystopian future that Rivera creates! Chief Rocka is the leader of one of the most feared gangs in Mega City. Each night her gang, Las Mal Criadas, is one of all girl gangs that has earned a spot patrolling what is left of a once-thriving metropolis. After a devastating earthquake that turned the city upside down, Deese rises to power and implements harsh living conditions so that everyone will survive. The resident "toilers" have a strict curfew and anyone in her territory at night is quickly put back in place. The city slumbers peacefully thanks to manufactured substances that make living in this harsh environment a little easier. All Chief Rocka and her girls want is a space in the Towers - the only skyscrapers left in the city. If one gets in there, they don't have to worry about fighting and clawing out their territory. This all changes when Las Mal Criadas are sent on a mission outside the zone. They encounter people who live life differently than in Mega City and many of the "terrorists" don't seem so dangerous. Or rather, their danger lies in showing people that you can live in other ways and be anyone you choose to be. This dangerous idea works its way into the gang as they choose which roads to take.
I would recommend this book for fans of Veronica Roth or Bella Forest. I am excited to read the next book in the series. It's both a great story and valuable commentary on gender and government.
Author: Lilliam Rivera
Pages: 336
Release Date: March 5, 2019
Genre: Fiction, YA, Dystopian
Series/Stand Alone?: First in a series
People of Color?: Yes
LGBTQ?: Yes
Bechdel Test: Yes
Trigger Warning: The book has a lot of violence. Gangs war with each other for prestige and things get brutal. People die. However, I did not find it overly graphic in its description of violence.
I received a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Visit https://fiercefemalereads.wixsite.com/fiercefemalereads for more.
I loved the dystopian future that Rivera creates! Chief Rocka is the leader of one of the most feared gangs in Mega City. Each night her gang, Las Mal Criadas, is one of all girl gangs that has earned a spot patrolling what is left of a once-thriving metropolis. After a devastating earthquake that turned the city upside down, Deese rises to power and implements harsh living conditions so that everyone will survive. The resident "toilers" have a strict curfew and anyone in her territory at night is quickly put back in place. The city slumbers peacefully thanks to manufactured substances that make living in this harsh environment a little easier. All Chief Rocka and her girls want is a space in the Towers - the only skyscrapers left in the city. If one gets in there, they don't have to worry about fighting and clawing out their territory. This all changes when Las Mal Criadas are sent on a mission outside the zone. They encounter people who live life differently than in Mega City and many of the "terrorists" don't seem so dangerous. Or rather, their danger lies in showing people that you can live in other ways and be anyone you choose to be. This dangerous idea works its way into the gang as they choose which roads to take.
I would recommend this book for fans of Veronica Roth or Bella Forest. I am excited to read the next book in the series. It's both a great story and valuable commentary on gender and government.
The cover is bomb, but I can't get into the writing quite early on likely because it doesn't jive with me. Might have to come back to this later.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Lilliam Rivera’s second book “Dealing in Dreams” contains great world building in a coming of age story that feels realistic even against the dystopian backdrop. I read this book in one sitting and really appreciated how Rivera developed complex themes of identity, family, and loyalty evenly throughout the novel. While the ending may have been quieter than I would have liked, I think that “Dealing in Dreams” would be a great recommendation for readers who are looking for a contemporary read-a-like to Scott Westerfeld’s “Uglies” series.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes