A review by hhpartonfantasy
A Kingdom of Dreams by Sam Northman

adventurous hopeful inspiring medium-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? No

4.25

Markus and Faron live in present day Boston, but they aren't quite normal. Both have mysterious powers that make them think there is something wrong with them. Markus is a fighter and full of anger. His spark is something that fuels the rage and he tries to repress it every day. While kindhearted Faron is a bit of a pushover who is still grieving the loss of his brother. His hallucinations confuse and overwhelm him and blur the lines between dream and reality. When they meet by accident, their "flaws" start go grow beyond their control. And yet, they want each other more than makes sense. They can't seem to stay away. 
 
But someone doesn't want their powers to grow. They are being watched by creatures not from their realm that will stop at nothing to keep them apart. 
 
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fantastic blend of Norse mythology, modern day, and fantasy. I liked that I got perspectives from all the people involved, but not the ones we needed to figure out what was going on completely. It was just the right amount of information to keep me guessing at who a villain was and who might not be. I loved getting to see the memories and experiences of the characters in the other realms rather than keeping it all in Boston. I also loved the healing Markus and Faron underwent. Everyone needs a Markus to keep them safe and protected. Everyone needs a Faron to just listen and be there. They are the sweetest couple and I loved them!
 
This book is also a win for anyone who loves bad a** female villains. Yes, I hated them and wanted them to die horrible deaths, but they were wicked cool, and I can tell that future books will include even more of them. 
 
I will say that things move a bit slowly in the beginning. It was also a little hard to get sucked in because there's a lot of terminology to adjust to. That said, I think it was around the 35-40% mark that things picked up and never stopped. From that point on, I couldn't quit reading. It's also pretty insta-lovey. However, it makes perfect sense within the story, and I loved how the characters acknowledged that they'd only known each other a short time and their connection made no sense. It ended up adding another layer to the whole story that I enjoyed. 
 
Honestly, I can't even count how many times I thought that they were the sweetest couple. They are the perfect balance for each other, and I am obsessed with what their powers turned into by the end. I cannot wait for the next book, and the final revelation was a confirmation of my suspicions that I need to see play out! This book is a wonderful twist on Norse mythology, and I enjoyed how Sam Northman took what I knew and twisted it around to be unexpected. 
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