Fractured Dream (The Dreamer Saga) (Volume 1)

I received this book as an Advanced Readers Copy from the author’s manager. Content may have changed between the copy I received and publication.

As is indicative of the genre, Story falls into a world she’s destined to help. I don’t know about other readers but I didn’t like her at first. She struck me as self-absorbed and more teenager than young adult (her mother notes this as well early on in the advent of mood swings). She has vivid imaginary friends and her paintings depict violent scenes born of her dreams. To be fair to the character, when Story falls into this alternate world everything she’s been struggling to make sense of and everything that has perhaps made her a bit odd falls into place.

Good fantasy is imbued show more with darkness, danger and hope. “Fractured Dreams” has those qualities in spades. Hope leaves room for humor even if it’s in the sense that we may as well laugh at ourselves because our next moment may be all we have.

There is a heavy romantic thread in the novel in the relationship between Story and Nicholas. Randall’s threading of the relationship in the story so that it doesn’t distract from the core message is expertly done so that fantasy readers won’t roll their eyes but romance readers have a storyline to which to cling.

“Fractured Dreams” is a story not yet complete. Readers of this first novel will have a sense of having read a complete story but will have a need to read on. Story may have settled the immediate problems of the alternate world but a much bigger bad looms and that bad is just thrilling. show less

DNF.
Positives: Some turns of phrase are absolutely gorgeous; the overarching plotline about the main character is very interesting.
Negatives: The book needs another go-round with an editor. There are many info dumps, the writing can be clunky, and the plot itself needs tightening.
There's a lot of promise here; I hope it's fulfilled.
[I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.]

This story has everything. You will laugh, cry, and fall in love. You would want to find friends just like Story, Elliott and Adam. A friendship that will not change not even in another world. You really need to read this book. I read it in 3 days. And can't wait for the next one.