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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Really cool concept of living two lives in parallel. Definitely some cliches especially with the ending but I enjoyed the read.
Without wanting to give too much away of what is a compelling an highly emotional storyline, I want to highlight the many strengths this book possesses.
Dreamlander is a great example of what a fantasy story should be – it is an escape from everyday life, exploration, danger, friendship and humour. Every character has their own strengths and weaknesses, some key to the story while others provide a richness that makes the world so much more tangible.
The combination of these elements, along with many others, make Dreamlander the best book I have read so far this year.
Within the pages of Dreamlander, we watch as the lead character Chris Redston is presented with an opportunity to rid himself of the dreams that have plagued his life. Thinking this is truly what he wants, he follows through, realising too late that he has indeed made a terrible mistake. This thrusts him into a series of trials of the heart and will to survive as he is hunted in the real world whilst trying to repair the damage he has inflicted upon Lael.
I had thought when reading this that the changes in location between the real world and Lael would become confusing and disjointed, but the transition flowed seamlessly. The detailing written into Dreamlander makes the book so realistic I struggled to put it down, often reading late into the night. (Truly, the mark of a great book.)
Emotions are running high throughout Dreamlander, and while the conclusion is not what I had expected while reading, it was perfectly fitting and I cannot imagine a better way to end such an enjoyable journey.
If you enjoy fantasy, at all, or are entirely new to the genre, I cannot recommend Dreamlander highly enough. Within those pages there is something for everyone; whether that be the beautiful scenery, the history of Lael, the humour and interaction of the characters, the warfare or the heart-wrenching roller coaster of emotion you will not be disappointed.
Dreamlander is a great example of what a fantasy story should be – it is an escape from everyday life, exploration, danger, friendship and humour. Every character has their own strengths and weaknesses, some key to the story while others provide a richness that makes the world so much more tangible.
The combination of these elements, along with many others, make Dreamlander the best book I have read so far this year.
Within the pages of Dreamlander, we watch as the lead character Chris Redston is presented with an opportunity to rid himself of the dreams that have plagued his life. Thinking this is truly what he wants, he follows through, realising too late that he has indeed made a terrible mistake. This thrusts him into a series of trials of the heart and will to survive as he is hunted in the real world whilst trying to repair the damage he has inflicted upon Lael.
I had thought when reading this that the changes in location between the real world and Lael would become confusing and disjointed, but the transition flowed seamlessly. The detailing written into Dreamlander makes the book so realistic I struggled to put it down, often reading late into the night. (Truly, the mark of a great book.)
Emotions are running high throughout Dreamlander, and while the conclusion is not what I had expected while reading, it was perfectly fitting and I cannot imagine a better way to end such an enjoyable journey.
If you enjoy fantasy, at all, or are entirely new to the genre, I cannot recommend Dreamlander highly enough. Within those pages there is something for everyone; whether that be the beautiful scenery, the history of Lael, the humour and interaction of the characters, the warfare or the heart-wrenching roller coaster of emotion you will not be disappointed.
NOOO. What kind of ending was that? Why? I don't know what to do now. My world's a mess. I need that second book now.
UPDATE
Just realized that there is no second book. My heart is in pieces. How could the book possibly end like that? Ugh. Still worth the read anyways
UPDATE
Just realized that there is no second book. My heart is in pieces. How could the book possibly end like that? Ugh. Still worth the read anyways
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Don't expect a wishy-washy fairytale. This fantasy novel pulls no punches--when characters hit their low spots they are indeed dark enough to motivate action. I'd gasp and cringe, then read on for more.
Dreamlander is a joy to read, the author expertly crafts the tale. K.M. Weiland is very masterful at weaving a story and very proficient with her language use. When deconstructing her writing style you can not help but be impressed, but while reading for story, her structure and style melt away and you get lost in the world. The use of showing rather than telling makes her descriptions flow effortlessly while painting vivid images.
I love the way we are eased into this fantasy world. The story opens with an intriguing confrontation, then quickly grounds us in our own present-time world. But we now suspect there is another world lurking beyond ours, one that holds mystery and danger for Chris, our protagonist.
There is a cast of colourful supporting characters, each fully developed and believable. The humorous Raz and Pitch may be small, but they're big on personality.
If you enjoyed 'Lord of the Rings' or 'The Golden Compass' for world-building, or you love the creatures of 'Harry Potter' or 'Eragon', you must read Dreamlander. Not since 'Graceling' have I enjoyed a fantasy novel as much.
I read he Kindle version and it is expertly formatted.
Dreamlander is a joy to read, the author expertly crafts the tale. K.M. Weiland is very masterful at weaving a story and very proficient with her language use. When deconstructing her writing style you can not help but be impressed, but while reading for story, her structure and style melt away and you get lost in the world. The use of showing rather than telling makes her descriptions flow effortlessly while painting vivid images.
I love the way we are eased into this fantasy world. The story opens with an intriguing confrontation, then quickly grounds us in our own present-time world. But we now suspect there is another world lurking beyond ours, one that holds mystery and danger for Chris, our protagonist.
There is a cast of colourful supporting characters, each fully developed and believable. The humorous Raz and Pitch may be small, but they're big on personality.
If you enjoyed 'Lord of the Rings' or 'The Golden Compass' for world-building, or you love the creatures of 'Harry Potter' or 'Eragon', you must read Dreamlander. Not since 'Graceling' have I enjoyed a fantasy novel as much.
I read he Kindle version and it is expertly formatted.
This book premise was really unique, which is why I borrowed it from the Kindle Lending Library. The main character in this book passes between worlds when he sleeps. Falling asleep in our world he awakens in Lael, as a Gifted. One Gifted is born every generation, however because the previous gifted made some bad choices he was put to death. Most of the Kingdom of Lael isn't very happy to have see a second gifted in their lifetime, esp the princess whose job it is to guide the Gifted in her world. Switching back and forth between worlds, and trying to find a balance in two worlds while life is falling apart for Chris this book is a great ride. I enjoyed the process of Chris learning to use his talent, and the increasing stakes for both worlds.
First off, and most importantly, I really enjoyed this book! Classified as portal-fantasy, Dreamlander by K.M. Weiland follows main characters Chris Redston, a journalist in Chicago, and Allara, princess of Lael -- which is the dreamworld to Chris. Conflict erupts when he discovers Lael and all of its inhabitants. Everything gets worse. And worse. My favorite bit has to be the last few chapters! The unexpected turn and its resulting grief are satisfying since it ties the story up so well. Altogether, it was a good read (pun sort of intended) and I don't regret it.
Characters: 3.5/5
Plot and Structure: 4/5
Setting: 4.5/5
Style: 3.5/5
Theme: 3/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Plot and Structure: 4/5
Setting: 4.5/5
Style: 3.5/5
Theme: 3/5
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have been a fan of K.M. Weiland ever since I discovered her informative podcasts called, "Helping Writers Become Authors." K.M. Weiland has a bubbly, fun personality which makes these podcasts fun to listen to. Not to mention they are short (10 - 20 minutes) and very helpful with writing tips. After a year of listening to these podcasts, I decided to read her book, "Dreamlander."
Dreamlander takes the reader on a journey crossing between Earth and the dream world of Lael through Chris Redston's dreams. When Chris is called into Lael and chosen to be a Gifted to protect the dream world, he accidentally brings back a prince who is out for the power of the Gifted and for taking over Lael. Chris works together with a princess, a Cherazii warrior, and also with his friends in the real world, to put a stop to the prince's destruction.
I could not put this story down. The idea of waking up in another world in your dream is brilliant. It definitely gets the creative mind flowing for all of those dreamers out there. The world K.M Weiland created was absolutely stunning; she paints such a beautiful picture in her writing. I particularly enjoyed the tension between Chris and the princess and how they grew together through out the story. Their relationship reminded me a lot of Eragon's and Arya's relationship in the Inheritance Cycle series.
I can definitely picture this story as a television series.
I thought some of the characters could have been developed more in the beginning of the story to give them more meaning at the end. But I am excited K.M. Weiland has announced that she is currently working on the next novel in the Dreamlander trilogy. So she has a lot of room for character development with these lovable characters which I am definitely looking forward to learning more about. I will certainly be adding the next book in the series, Dreambreaker, to my reading list.
Overall, Dreamlander is a must read for anyone who is interested in epic fantasy. This beautiful world is only going to become more beautiful.
Dreamlander takes the reader on a journey crossing between Earth and the dream world of Lael through Chris Redston's dreams. When Chris is called into Lael and chosen to be a Gifted to protect the dream world, he accidentally brings back a prince who is out for the power of the Gifted and for taking over Lael. Chris works together with a princess, a Cherazii warrior, and also with his friends in the real world, to put a stop to the prince's destruction.
I could not put this story down. The idea of waking up in another world in your dream is brilliant. It definitely gets the creative mind flowing for all of those dreamers out there. The world K.M Weiland created was absolutely stunning; she paints such a beautiful picture in her writing. I particularly enjoyed the tension between Chris and the princess and how they grew together through out the story. Their relationship reminded me a lot of Eragon's and Arya's relationship in the Inheritance Cycle series.
I can definitely picture this story as a television series.
I thought some of the characters could have been developed more in the beginning of the story to give them more meaning at the end. But I am excited K.M. Weiland has announced that she is currently working on the next novel in the Dreamlander trilogy. So she has a lot of room for character development with these lovable characters which I am definitely looking forward to learning more about. I will certainly be adding the next book in the series, Dreambreaker, to my reading list.
Overall, Dreamlander is a must read for anyone who is interested in epic fantasy. This beautiful world is only going to become more beautiful.
I really enjoyed this book. The premise is fascinating and the world is really well-developed and intriguing, and though it took me a little bit, I did get attached to the characters and by the end of the book I actually found myself tearing up at what was happening! It is mostly action/adventure but also has a touch of romance. I recommend this book if you're into fantasy!