Reviewed by Dan
TITLE: The Dream Alchemist (Somnus Book #1)
SERIES: Somnus
AUTHOR: Joanna Chambers
PUBLISHER: Samhain Publishing, LTD
LENGTH: 223 Pages
BLURB:
When the sun goes down, their passion awakens…and so do their nightmares.
Centuries ago, a man with Bryn Llewelyn’s dreamwalking ability would have been a shaman or a priest. In this time, he’s merely exhausted, strung out on too much caffeine and too little sleep.
Sleep means descent into Somnus—an alternate reality constructed of the combined dreaming consciousness of ordinary humans. A place he’d rather avoid. Trouble is, his powers don’t include the ability to go without sleep indefinitely. At some point his eyes close…and his nightmare begins.
As a teen, the treatment that cured Laszlo Grimm’s sleep disorder stole his dreams—and his ability to feel emotion. Petrified of needing more “treatment”, he clings to familiar rituals and habits. But lately his nightly terror has returned, and when he meets Bryn in the real world, the man seems hauntingly familiar. Not only that, Bryn awakens feelings in Laszlo for the first time in years…
Slowly Bryn and Laszlo realize they are both unknowing pawns in a plan of unspeakable evil. And that their powerful attraction could release the destinies locked within them—or be the instrument of their doom.
REVIEW:
In this book the author has reimagined Dreamland. It is an alternate reality created by the dreams of the drones. That would be you, me and everyone either of us probably knows. A special few go to this alternate reality, Somnus, and interact. These special individuals are known as Dreamwalkers.
Bryn Llewelyn has been dreamwalking since he was seven years old. The usual age for individuals to gain their ability to dreamwalk is around fourteen, so he was precocious. When the story begins, Bryn has been awake for several days. He fears returning to Somnus because something has changed. His mentor has recently died, and now when he goes to Somnus he is being dragged to a blank plain and a dark stone tower.
When he finally has to sleep, he is again drawn to a spot. But this time it is different. He is in a wooded glen with large canopied trees. It is very quiet and peaceful but when he doesn’t sense anyone near he walks to the edge of the forest and again is at the plain with the tower. There is a drone nearby. When we non-sleepwalkers dream the dreams are projected in Somnus and we are there as drones. We are oblivious to other drones and sleepwalkers and don’t interact at all. This drone though can see Bryn, and that shouldn’t be possible!
Laszlo Grimm hasn’t dreamed in years. When he was about fourteen, his grandfather sent him to an institution to be “cured” of his sleepwalking and vivid dreams. Through a couple extended stays, he was “cured” and not only hasn’t dreamed, but truly has felt no emotions at all since then.
Laszlo is the drone that Bryn sees that sees him back. How is this possible? Who is Laszlo? What happens when Bryn runs into Laszlo in the real world? Will Laszlo remember him? What is the voice calling them both from the tower?
I really enjoyed this book. It is the first book in a while that I dreamed about, and then had to get back up and finish reading! Maybe my drone was running around in Somnus trying to find the answers! If so, it will get another chance later today when I have to take a nap to make up for being up most of the night reading this book!
I can’t wait for the next book in the series! The naughty author left us with questions in the Epilogue which we won’t solve until next time! I recommend this book to anyone with an imagination. It isn’t a cookie cutter m/m romance. Dare to try something different. You won’t be sorry.
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