Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: He Dreams Magic

AUTHOR: Emme C. Taylor

PUBLISHER: Ninestar Press

LENGTH: 337 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 28, 2019

BLURB:

Ren has always wanted to leave, to escape his quiet village life. He wakes up from gold-tinged dreams with his heart pounding and a yearning for something he can’t name, can’t hold. He longs to experience something magical just once in his life.

Nico’s monsters don’t lurk under the bed. They walk in daylight. They haunt him every day of his life. He’s possibly the strongest magician of his time, yet he’s trapped. All he wants is an out.

At a magical carnival in the middle of a forest, Ren and Nico collide. They’ve been on this collision course their entire lives, always hurtling toward each other. For both men, escape is now. They have no choice but to flee together. Monsters and betrayal hunt them across strange lands. They find themselves on a journey to save each other—and possibly the world. All they have is one another, Nico’s magic, and a lifetime of half-remembered dreams. But finding each other, finally having someone to rely on, might be the strongest magic of all.

Warning: Mention of off-page rape and depictions of graphic violence.

REVIEW:

I’ve sat and thought on what to say on this review, and I’m having a hard time. First off, I have to say, pay attention to the warning in the blurb. It’s no joke. It is very graphic, very gory, almost sadistic. Well, I would say more than almost. It’s a dark story. It’s not a pretty picture. But there’s also an underlying theme of hope. Of maybe a new beginning. Of things being different. I liked the story for the most part. There are some slow moments. And there are times where, it just felt off to me. But then again, that’s just my opinion. Read for yourself and see what you think.

Nico’s life has been a living hell since he was fourteen. He was banished from his home for what he thinks is because he accidentally killed someone because of his magic. Even though, those same people had tried to kill him. Now he’s forced to see people murdered on a daily basis to try to break him by magical beings, monsters, that he was given to. Little does he know what is really going on behind the scenes. He’s been trying to escape for years, but they keep coming for him. And it usually ends bad. But somehow, even though he keeps trying to push Ren away, Ren has gotten under his skin and given him a kind of hope. Even though they are being chased still and trying to get away. It isn’t til he gets back to his old home that he finds out the true story of what has been going on all these years and how there’s more to Ren, then even Ren knows. But they may not make it out alive this time. This time may just be the ending they’ve been kind of waiting for.

It was hard to read the hell Nico has had to live through. It’s been unbelievable. Especially when he finds out the whole story. That was a slap in the face. A betrayal he doesn’t know if he can come back from. And while Ren is a breath of fresh air for him, he’s still terrified, because he can’t face one more person’s death. But Ren refuses to let him be alone and face all this crap alone. And that for Nico, is more than he’s ever had before. Which is even more scary. Both are waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s a hard thing for him to trust that Ren is  sincere. Even when he hears Ren’s thoughts. But Ren truly does want to help and get Nico out of the mess he’s in. But it’s going to take a lot to get through this. I truly feel for both of these guys. Nico has lived through absolute hell. Ren’s past was no picnic either. And now they are living in hell on the run. It doesn’t seem to end.

It’s one of those books that is like a thriller/horror movie, ya know? You don’t quite know what’s going to happen, even though a part of you kind of knows. You know it’s going to be bad, but when it creeps up on you it’s more than you expected. So, it’s good, but it’s dark. I don’t mind the dark. I like that kind of stuff. But for those that have a harder time with it, be careful. Form your own opinion. See what you think. 

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: 

ninestarpress

amazon