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Dreamwalker #1
Dreamwalker
The first book in the action-filled urban fantasy Dreamwalker trilogy follows Jessica Drake as she navigates the dangerous landscape of distant worlds and dimensions
All her life Jessica Drake has dreamed of other worlds, some of them similar to her own, others disturbingly alien. She never shares the details with anyone, save her younger brother Tommy, a compulsive gamer who incorporates some aspects of Jessica’s dreams into his games. But now someone is asking about those dreams...and about her. A strange woman has been watching her house. A visitor to her school attempts to take possession of her dream-inspired artwork.
Why?
As she begins to search for answers, it becomes clear that whoever is watching her does not want her to learn the truth. One night her house catches on fire, and when the smoke clears she discovers that her brother has been kidnapped. She must figure out what is going on, and quickly, if she and her family are to be safe.
Following clues left behind on Tommy's computer, determined to find her brother and bring him home safely, Jessica and two of her friends are about to embark on a journey that will test their spirits and their courage to the breaking point, as they must leave their own world behind and confront the source of Earth's darkest legends – as well as the terrifying truth of their own secret heritage.
All her life Jessica Drake has dreamed of other worlds, some of them similar to her own, others disturbingly alien. She never shares the details with anyone, save her younger brother Tommy, a compulsive gamer who incorporates some aspects of Jessica’s dreams into his games. But now someone is asking about those dreams...and about her. A strange woman has been watching her house. A visitor to her school attempts to take possession of her dream-inspired artwork.
Why?
As she begins to search for answers, it becomes clear that whoever is watching her does not want her to learn the truth. One night her house catches on fire, and when the smoke clears she discovers that her brother has been kidnapped. She must figure out what is going on, and quickly, if she and her family are to be safe.
Following clues left behind on Tommy's computer, determined to find her brother and bring him home safely, Jessica and two of her friends are about to embark on a journey that will test their spirits and their courage to the breaking point, as they must leave their own world behind and confront the source of Earth's darkest legends – as well as the terrifying truth of their own secret heritage.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2014
About the author
C.S. Friedman
44 books1,236 followersCelia S. Friedman is a science fiction and fantasy author. She has also been credited Celia S. Friedman and Celia Friedman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
December 31, 2015
I do admit that I am a bit of a cover snob. I know that we should not judge a book by its cover (well, figuratively at least), but when it comes to novels, I do believe that first impressions are important to grab a reader’s attention. When I first saw Dreamwalkers’ cover, I was a bit wary at first because it seemed like it was about a girl who obtained some sort of X-Men-like superpower who then used it to save the world, which isn’t a bad of a premise but god knows how much I’m sick of it by now, and since I have never read the author’s previous works, I wasn’t sure I’d like it.
But then I realized it was about alternate realities, and when it comes to speculative fiction, there’s not much out there that can make my head turn and make me go, “OoooOOoooOOoohh, what do we have here? SHINY!!!!”
Here’s one thing for sure upon finishing this book, though: some aspects were amazing, and some were a little on the lackluster side.
First of all, let’s get to the positives: I do LOVE the writing. I have never read a C.S. Friedman book before, but after reading Dreamwalker, I will MAKE SURE to read her Coldfire Trilogy everyone is raving about. The writing here just felt so intimate and personal with Jesse’s personality oozing out from the very pages. It never felt so telling, it never felt so monotonous, and most of all, it never felt so pretentious. I’ve read a fair amount of books across many genres where yes, it is lyrical and oh-so-poetic, but it never felt genuine and real. This one never came across to me that way – even if it’s based on an impossible premise (in real life anyway), Jesse sounded like a teenager and a very effective one at that.
Plus, she has a very cool sense of humor. I remember chuckling every now and then!
If you’re the type of person who loves stories – science fiction or otherwise – that are driven by sibling love, then you might want to give this book a second look, because I feel like this is also an aspect that Dreamwalker did well. Jesse and Tommy are close siblings, but early in the book, they discover that Jesse’s DNA genes are neither compatible with their mother nor their father. But even if that is the case, it doesn’t stop them from rescuing one another, and it was admirable to see Jesse, from start to finish, so involved in rescuing her brother from a world not their own. You never see her stray from her goal, and you never see her gawking at guys, forgetting what she came there for, and it’s such an amazing thing to see.
So, you like good sibling relationship? One with such a great and strong bond between them? Yup, this is for you.
However, if you value world-building and a concrete, logical world more than anything else, you might want to hesitate for a second there, because this one… well, let’s just say it was very lacking in that particular department. I mean, it’s about alternate realities, but the structure of it all felt too simplistic and a bit too chaotic at once. There seemed to be so much going on behind the scenes – her being not her parent’s daughter gene-wise, her being a changeling, her having dreams, but it felt like these things were only talked about in passing. Then, there’s the matter of another world having Gifts and such and how her ability to have complex dreams is a “bad thing” and yet… we don’t really know what’s SO BAD about them, only that THEY NEED TO BE ERADICATED. And did I mention about this world having so many guilds and yet none of them were really fleshed out?
The thing is, this book tries to tackle a lot, but doesn’t really explain any in depth, resulting to a world-building that looks simpler than it should be.
There’s also the issue of the secondary characters – mainly Devon and Rita who accompany Jesse on her rescue mission – being very flat characters. In passing, we get the notion that they carry more on their shoulders than they let on, but I never felt that emotional attachment to them as Jesse never really interacts with them in a deeper manner, which is such a shame because I find them so interesting. Hopefully, hopefully, the next book will give them a chance to shine more.
That and the world-building.
All in all, this book is a high 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the very personal narration as a whole, but because world-building is so important to me, because I don’t like plot holes and loose ends, I can’t find it within me to give this 4 stars or more. But be rest assured that I do recommend this any way because the narration makes it so worth it!
But then I realized it was about alternate realities, and when it comes to speculative fiction, there’s not much out there that can make my head turn and make me go, “OoooOOoooOOoohh, what do we have here? SHINY!!!!”
Here’s one thing for sure upon finishing this book, though: some aspects were amazing, and some were a little on the lackluster side.
First of all, let’s get to the positives: I do LOVE the writing. I have never read a C.S. Friedman book before, but after reading Dreamwalker, I will MAKE SURE to read her Coldfire Trilogy everyone is raving about. The writing here just felt so intimate and personal with Jesse’s personality oozing out from the very pages. It never felt so telling, it never felt so monotonous, and most of all, it never felt so pretentious. I’ve read a fair amount of books across many genres where yes, it is lyrical and oh-so-poetic, but it never felt genuine and real. This one never came across to me that way – even if it’s based on an impossible premise (in real life anyway), Jesse sounded like a teenager and a very effective one at that.
Plus, she has a very cool sense of humor. I remember chuckling every now and then!
If you’re the type of person who loves stories – science fiction or otherwise – that are driven by sibling love, then you might want to give this book a second look, because I feel like this is also an aspect that Dreamwalker did well. Jesse and Tommy are close siblings, but early in the book, they discover that Jesse’s DNA genes are neither compatible with their mother nor their father. But even if that is the case, it doesn’t stop them from rescuing one another, and it was admirable to see Jesse, from start to finish, so involved in rescuing her brother from a world not their own. You never see her stray from her goal, and you never see her gawking at guys, forgetting what she came there for, and it’s such an amazing thing to see.
So, you like good sibling relationship? One with such a great and strong bond between them? Yup, this is for you.
However, if you value world-building and a concrete, logical world more than anything else, you might want to hesitate for a second there, because this one… well, let’s just say it was very lacking in that particular department. I mean, it’s about alternate realities, but the structure of it all felt too simplistic and a bit too chaotic at once. There seemed to be so much going on behind the scenes – her being not her parent’s daughter gene-wise, her being a changeling, her having dreams, but it felt like these things were only talked about in passing. Then, there’s the matter of another world having Gifts and such and how her ability to have complex dreams is a “bad thing” and yet… we don’t really know what’s SO BAD about them, only that THEY NEED TO BE ERADICATED. And did I mention about this world having so many guilds and yet none of them were really fleshed out?
The thing is, this book tries to tackle a lot, but doesn’t really explain any in depth, resulting to a world-building that looks simpler than it should be.
There’s also the issue of the secondary characters – mainly Devon and Rita who accompany Jesse on her rescue mission – being very flat characters. In passing, we get the notion that they carry more on their shoulders than they let on, but I never felt that emotional attachment to them as Jesse never really interacts with them in a deeper manner, which is such a shame because I find them so interesting. Hopefully, hopefully, the next book will give them a chance to shine more.
That and the world-building.
All in all, this book is a high 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the very personal narration as a whole, but because world-building is so important to me, because I don’t like plot holes and loose ends, I can’t find it within me to give this 4 stars or more. But be rest assured that I do recommend this any way because the narration makes it so worth it!
February 4, 2014
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...
To my surprise, Dreamwalker turned out to be a pretty big departure from C.S. Friedman's previous works. Still, I was no less charmed by the remarkable story and characters than I had been before I realized this was a book more geared towards the young adult audience. After all, YA fantasy has so much to offer these days, and as someone who enjoys reading this category quite a bit, I found Dreamwalker to be a promising start to what has the potential to become a great new series.
I was hooked right away with the introduction to the Drake siblings, Jessica ("Jesse" to her friends) and her little brother Tommy. The book starts off by throwing them into some pretty heavy situations, and I don't doubt for a second that this had something to do with why I was so taken with these characters. Jesse and Tommy's father, who doesn't actually appear in this novel, still casts a dark shadow on the family even years after he walked away from them, by claiming that Jesse is another man's child. To prove to him that this is not true, Jesse's mom takes her to get a paternity test.
Yikes, what an awful situation for anyone let alone a teenager to find themselves in, but Jesse's composure and steadfast support for her mother made me appreciate her more as a protagonist and narrator. But of course, these problems are just the beginning. When the DNA test results come back, that's when Jesse's true mettle will be tested. What would you do if you discovered that you weren't the person you thought you were? What would you do if you found out you might not even be part of this world? A new term has gained significance with Jesse: Changeling. Desperate to make sense of her life, Jesse goes on the search for answers and instead finds many others who are in similar situations like hers.
The family's problems have touched Jesse's brother Tommy's life as well, though they have affected him in different ways. I have to say his obsession with gaming in the wake of his father's departure broke my heart a little; having spent years playing online games myself and in doing so meeting people who have used this hobby as an avenue of escape, I understand all too well how someone could turn to virtual worlds and internet friends in order to drown out painful feelings. It could happen to anyone, young or old. For me, it is another point to Jesse's character that she doesn't judge her brother, and instead tries to share in his interests by letting him use her weird and disturbing dreams as inspiration for his roleplaying campaigns.
When a stranger comes poking around the Drakes' lives and Tommy is kidnapped however, Jesse begins to have the dreaded suspicion that it is all because of her and her dreams. Her mission to get her brother back is what leads her and her new friends on a journey to another world, one that the author has done a phenomenal job of creating. I really enjoyed the premise of this novel, which explores parallel universes and alternate realities. In doing so, Friedman also addresses important social issues like race, poverty and human rights. Overall this is a fun and adventurous novel, but there are definitely some weighty topics of discussion in here.
Perhaps my only issue with the book is how jumbled it feels at certain times, perhaps due to the frequent switching of first-person to third-person between some chapters. This doesn't usually bother me in other books, but for some reason it is quite noticeable here. My guess is it has something to do with chapter length and how short some of these third-person intervals are. Some parts of the plot are also resolved too neatly, or too conveniently. For example, at one point in the novel Jesse and her friends meet a character who essentially hands them everything they need to succeed in their quest, though how that character managed to obtain the tools and information in the first place is not really addressed.
There are also lots of ideas in play, and how they all relate to each other does make itself apparent until much later in the book, so the first half of the story may feel a bit disjointed. Personally I don't mind stories like this, which are like mysteries that I know will unravel in time. As such, this was a fast read for me because I found I couldn't stop myself from turning the pages. Every person you encounter is a question, because you don't know whose side they're on. I just couldn't wait to see how all the puzzle pieces would fall into place, and the ending was sadly over much too soon. I was actually a little surprised at how quickly it wrapped up.
Even so, the ending leaves things wide open for more of Jesse's story (though it is not a cliffhanger, thank you!), and I know I will want to be there to see what happens next. I think as long as you go into this with the knowledge it is going to be different from the author's other books, Dreamwalker may yet surprise you. This is C.S. Friedman tackling the young adult fantasy genre, and I feel she did an impressive job.
To my surprise, Dreamwalker turned out to be a pretty big departure from C.S. Friedman's previous works. Still, I was no less charmed by the remarkable story and characters than I had been before I realized this was a book more geared towards the young adult audience. After all, YA fantasy has so much to offer these days, and as someone who enjoys reading this category quite a bit, I found Dreamwalker to be a promising start to what has the potential to become a great new series.
I was hooked right away with the introduction to the Drake siblings, Jessica ("Jesse" to her friends) and her little brother Tommy. The book starts off by throwing them into some pretty heavy situations, and I don't doubt for a second that this had something to do with why I was so taken with these characters. Jesse and Tommy's father, who doesn't actually appear in this novel, still casts a dark shadow on the family even years after he walked away from them, by claiming that Jesse is another man's child. To prove to him that this is not true, Jesse's mom takes her to get a paternity test.
Yikes, what an awful situation for anyone let alone a teenager to find themselves in, but Jesse's composure and steadfast support for her mother made me appreciate her more as a protagonist and narrator. But of course, these problems are just the beginning. When the DNA test results come back, that's when Jesse's true mettle will be tested. What would you do if you discovered that you weren't the person you thought you were? What would you do if you found out you might not even be part of this world? A new term has gained significance with Jesse: Changeling. Desperate to make sense of her life, Jesse goes on the search for answers and instead finds many others who are in similar situations like hers.
The family's problems have touched Jesse's brother Tommy's life as well, though they have affected him in different ways. I have to say his obsession with gaming in the wake of his father's departure broke my heart a little; having spent years playing online games myself and in doing so meeting people who have used this hobby as an avenue of escape, I understand all too well how someone could turn to virtual worlds and internet friends in order to drown out painful feelings. It could happen to anyone, young or old. For me, it is another point to Jesse's character that she doesn't judge her brother, and instead tries to share in his interests by letting him use her weird and disturbing dreams as inspiration for his roleplaying campaigns.
When a stranger comes poking around the Drakes' lives and Tommy is kidnapped however, Jesse begins to have the dreaded suspicion that it is all because of her and her dreams. Her mission to get her brother back is what leads her and her new friends on a journey to another world, one that the author has done a phenomenal job of creating. I really enjoyed the premise of this novel, which explores parallel universes and alternate realities. In doing so, Friedman also addresses important social issues like race, poverty and human rights. Overall this is a fun and adventurous novel, but there are definitely some weighty topics of discussion in here.
Perhaps my only issue with the book is how jumbled it feels at certain times, perhaps due to the frequent switching of first-person to third-person between some chapters. This doesn't usually bother me in other books, but for some reason it is quite noticeable here. My guess is it has something to do with chapter length and how short some of these third-person intervals are. Some parts of the plot are also resolved too neatly, or too conveniently. For example, at one point in the novel Jesse and her friends meet a character who essentially hands them everything they need to succeed in their quest, though how that character managed to obtain the tools and information in the first place is not really addressed.
There are also lots of ideas in play, and how they all relate to each other does make itself apparent until much later in the book, so the first half of the story may feel a bit disjointed. Personally I don't mind stories like this, which are like mysteries that I know will unravel in time. As such, this was a fast read for me because I found I couldn't stop myself from turning the pages. Every person you encounter is a question, because you don't know whose side they're on. I just couldn't wait to see how all the puzzle pieces would fall into place, and the ending was sadly over much too soon. I was actually a little surprised at how quickly it wrapped up.
Even so, the ending leaves things wide open for more of Jesse's story (though it is not a cliffhanger, thank you!), and I know I will want to be there to see what happens next. I think as long as you go into this with the knowledge it is going to be different from the author's other books, Dreamwalker may yet surprise you. This is C.S. Friedman tackling the young adult fantasy genre, and I feel she did an impressive job.
November 18, 2013
Things you should know about my review:
1. I received this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads program.
2. I am an 32 years old and male...so probably not the target audience for this book.
3. I read this book because I loved the Coldfire trilogy by the same author. I came into the book without knowing what it was going to be about. I was trying to be fairly open-minded.
My review:
This book bothered me from the beginning. There were too many mysteries and far too many coincidences. I think the thing that bothered me the most was that the story was told mostly in first person with awkward jaunts into third person when the story switched away from the main character. I'm not against first person, but it didn't work in this story. The main character was far too prescient for a teen girl. It seemed like she knew everything about everything and had access to the authors knowledge and not her own. The existential crises the character faced seemed far too mature for the girl. The book progressed on coincidences. All fiction relies on a certain level of coincidence but this stretched by suspension of disbelief. Exposition was sloppy and poorly handled. I would not recommend this book, but of course...I'm not who it was written for. The target audience might enjoy it a lot more.
1. I received this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads program.
2. I am an 32 years old and male...so probably not the target audience for this book.
3. I read this book because I loved the Coldfire trilogy by the same author. I came into the book without knowing what it was going to be about. I was trying to be fairly open-minded.
My review:
This book bothered me from the beginning. There were too many mysteries and far too many coincidences. I think the thing that bothered me the most was that the story was told mostly in first person with awkward jaunts into third person when the story switched away from the main character. I'm not against first person, but it didn't work in this story. The main character was far too prescient for a teen girl. It seemed like she knew everything about everything and had access to the authors knowledge and not her own. The existential crises the character faced seemed far too mature for the girl. The book progressed on coincidences. All fiction relies on a certain level of coincidence but this stretched by suspension of disbelief. Exposition was sloppy and poorly handled. I would not recommend this book, but of course...I'm not who it was written for. The target audience might enjoy it a lot more.
July 23, 2016
The Coldfire Trilogy is one of my favourite series and it cemented Friedman as one of the best epic fantasy writers of her generation.
Dreamwalker left me dumbfounded. It was not what I was expecting at all. Throw in every YA trope with a healthy helping of geometry and... uhhh...
I was left wanting.
I think I'll go back and re-read the Coldfire trilogy now to remind myself what Friedman can truly create.
Dreamwalker left me dumbfounded. It was not what I was expecting at all. Throw in every YA trope with a healthy helping of geometry and... uhhh...
I was left wanting.
I think I'll go back and re-read the Coldfire trilogy now to remind myself what Friedman can truly create.
November 26, 2013
I devoured this book. It is wildly different from Friedman’s other work, but that’s not a bad thing. In fact, I truly get a thrill out of authors who take a left turn and try something completely new and different. As far as I know, the Dreamwalker series is open ended (meaning, I have no idea how many books are going to be in it), but there are books being planned. This is more mature, more serious, and a bit darker than I’m used to young adult books being, but that’s also a huge reason why I loved it. No matter how different this is from the Coldfire Trilogy (and it is hugely different), it is still Friedman. She writes some incredible characters, and some very complex, nuanced plots with fantastic world building. It is all here. While this does feel a lot like the foundation book of a series, where Friedman is developing a lot and setting the stage for future books, that’s not all bad. She’s peaked my interest and I cannot wait to get my hands on more. This might be the first young adult book I’ve ever read that absolutely captivated me.
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2013/11/...
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2013/11/...
February 4, 2014
There are two unusual things about Jessica (“Jesse”) Drake, the teenage protagonist of Dreamwalker, C.S. Friedman’s first foray into Young Adult fiction and the start of what’s billed as a new, “open-ended” series.
First of all, Jesse has bizarre dreams about other worlds, some similar to her own, some completely alien. Many of those dreams feature doors or gates of some sort.
And secondly, after a DNA test meant to confirm that her paranoid absentee dad is actually her biological father, it turns out that she doesn’t share any DNA with either of her parents. Since she wasn’t adopted, and the hospital provides incontrovertible proof that she wasn’t swapped at birth, this is somewhat of a mystery.
I’m sure it won’t come as a surprise that these facts turn out to be related.
Read the entire review on my site Far Beyond Reality!
First of all, Jesse has bizarre dreams about other worlds, some similar to her own, some completely alien. Many of those dreams feature doors or gates of some sort.
And secondly, after a DNA test meant to confirm that her paranoid absentee dad is actually her biological father, it turns out that she doesn’t share any DNA with either of her parents. Since she wasn’t adopted, and the hospital provides incontrovertible proof that she wasn’t swapped at birth, this is somewhat of a mystery.
I’m sure it won’t come as a surprise that these facts turn out to be related.
Read the entire review on my site Far Beyond Reality!
February 21, 2014
I nearly passed this one buy in the store until I realized that it was written by C. S. Friedman. I absolutely loved the Coldfire Trilogy and the premise of this sounded like ti was right up my alley.
And I hate to say this, but I probably should've just kept walking.
I honestly didn't care for it. I finished it mostly because I hate not finishing books - especially when they're on my Kindle - but I was never all-fired eager to find out what happens to Jessie, Tommy, Rita and Devon or develop that much investment in the world that Friedman created.
Not that it was a bad book by any stretch of the imagination. It was well written, although aimed far more at a YA audience, which made the prose seem a little... restrained, for lack of a better word. It was just not for me, personally.
And I hate to say this, but I probably should've just kept walking.
I honestly didn't care for it. I finished it mostly because I hate not finishing books - especially when they're on my Kindle - but I was never all-fired eager to find out what happens to Jessie, Tommy, Rita and Devon or develop that much investment in the world that Friedman created.
Not that it was a bad book by any stretch of the imagination. It was well written, although aimed far more at a YA audience, which made the prose seem a little... restrained, for lack of a better word. It was just not for me, personally.
August 3, 2016
The marketing for this book confuses me. The cover and form factor are pure adult urban fantasy, but the contents are distinctly YA, and toward the young end of YA at that--I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to a twelve-year-old.
As an adult reader, it was enjoyable but not very fulfilling. I got a great deal of delight out of so much of the story being set in evil alternate-universe Shenandoah Valley (I've spent a lot of time in Luray, okay?), and the broader world building also had interesting bits, but the characters beyond the protagonist were paper-thin and the Obligatory YA Love Triangle baffling to me. I'm curious how some of the foreshadowing pays off, but not enough to seek out the sequels.
As an adult reader, it was enjoyable but not very fulfilling. I got a great deal of delight out of so much of the story being set in evil alternate-universe Shenandoah Valley (I've spent a lot of time in Luray, okay?), and the broader world building also had interesting bits, but the characters beyond the protagonist were paper-thin and the Obligatory YA Love Triangle baffling to me. I'm curious how some of the foreshadowing pays off, but not enough to seek out the sequels.
January 24, 2016
I liked the concept of DREAMWALKER but the execution of it left me wanting.
Right from the beginning Jessica’s voice irked the hell out of me. She was student with an emphasis on art but when the three of them got into a situation she always had an incredibly scientific answer for things, as if she were a walking text book. On top of that everything going on in her situation here she related back to something happening in a TV show or movie. Seriously. Every damn time. Except for the one pivotal moment at the end and she expressly said THIS ISN’T THE MOVIES CAN’T TREAT IT LIKE THE MOVIES and I wanted to scream BUT THAT’S HOW YOU’VE BEEN TREATING THIS ENTIRE DAMN PLOT. It was infuriating. Not to mention every time the sensible solution of going to the authorities came up she would have this long, drawn out, elaborate excuse as to why it was a bad idea and why they wouldn’t believe her and how it would be a waste of time let’s just do it ourselves. This happened at least four different times before she even got to this new world. So by the halfway point of the book. Plot device. Over and over again.
Back to the Rain Man source of random knowledge on things, like types of rocks, for instance (like obscure science words that probably only geologists would know), I can usually pass that along because at the height of high school if you’re even half paying attention you have a collection of random shit in your head and you end up being able to wing out random knowledge. But Jessie’s voice was inconsistent at best. Where she shot out random knowledge she could barely string a sentence together. One such instance was where they had the risk of something being broken but she referred to it was go and get broke. It was so incredibly jarring I audibly WTFed. Whether that’s editing or not, I don’t know.
Jessie just doesn’t seem like a real character to me, one that isn’t all that fleshed out. Her brother was fine, the two friends were okay, but it’s her story and I got stuck in her head most of the time and it was a pedantic, immature, nonsensical place to be.
As for the world . . . eh. I wish there was more of it. I liked the idea of a parallel earth existing along ours and this more superior race taking advantage of resources and whatnot. But seeing everything through Jessie’s head just sucked the fun out of life. I was so put off by her voice that I couldn’t get into anything else. And anything that did happen outside of her POV, like Tommy’s little spurts or some of the alternate world people getting a say in there, those were all far more interesting to me than anything Jessie had to say. Not to mention the dreamwalker bit, while it fueled everything that was going on, didn’t really show up in the story. We saw a little bit with Jessie and her dreams but nothing was really explained beyond dreamwalkers destroy worlds and drive people crazy BE AFRAID. It wasn’t enough for me to get hooked into the premise in that regard.
This is one of those situations where I’m probably being harder on the character than what’s actually rendered but down to my gut I did not like Jessie as a character. At all. And it soured the whole reading experience for me. I didn’t like her approach to life, how she compared everything to the TV she watched, how she only had answers for things when it was convenient to have answers, and how the author kept coming through the character when the situation called for more information than what the character would rightly know (that leads back into the Rain Man random information moments). The book as a whole just rubs me the wrong way. It’s probably wholly irrational but that’s what’s going on.
I didn’t like it. I have the sequel and I’m not going to read it. I can’t get far enough away from Jessie. She’s just an incompatible character for me.
2
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Right from the beginning Jessica’s voice irked the hell out of me. She was student with an emphasis on art but when the three of them got into a situation she always had an incredibly scientific answer for things, as if she were a walking text book. On top of that everything going on in her situation here she related back to something happening in a TV show or movie. Seriously. Every damn time. Except for the one pivotal moment at the end and she expressly said THIS ISN’T THE MOVIES CAN’T TREAT IT LIKE THE MOVIES and I wanted to scream BUT THAT’S HOW YOU’VE BEEN TREATING THIS ENTIRE DAMN PLOT. It was infuriating. Not to mention every time the sensible solution of going to the authorities came up she would have this long, drawn out, elaborate excuse as to why it was a bad idea and why they wouldn’t believe her and how it would be a waste of time let’s just do it ourselves. This happened at least four different times before she even got to this new world. So by the halfway point of the book. Plot device. Over and over again.
Back to the Rain Man source of random knowledge on things, like types of rocks, for instance (like obscure science words that probably only geologists would know), I can usually pass that along because at the height of high school if you’re even half paying attention you have a collection of random shit in your head and you end up being able to wing out random knowledge. But Jessie’s voice was inconsistent at best. Where she shot out random knowledge she could barely string a sentence together. One such instance was where they had the risk of something being broken but she referred to it was go and get broke. It was so incredibly jarring I audibly WTFed. Whether that’s editing or not, I don’t know.
Jessie just doesn’t seem like a real character to me, one that isn’t all that fleshed out. Her brother was fine, the two friends were okay, but it’s her story and I got stuck in her head most of the time and it was a pedantic, immature, nonsensical place to be.
As for the world . . . eh. I wish there was more of it. I liked the idea of a parallel earth existing along ours and this more superior race taking advantage of resources and whatnot. But seeing everything through Jessie’s head just sucked the fun out of life. I was so put off by her voice that I couldn’t get into anything else. And anything that did happen outside of her POV, like Tommy’s little spurts or some of the alternate world people getting a say in there, those were all far more interesting to me than anything Jessie had to say. Not to mention the dreamwalker bit, while it fueled everything that was going on, didn’t really show up in the story. We saw a little bit with Jessie and her dreams but nothing was really explained beyond dreamwalkers destroy worlds and drive people crazy BE AFRAID. It wasn’t enough for me to get hooked into the premise in that regard.
This is one of those situations where I’m probably being harder on the character than what’s actually rendered but down to my gut I did not like Jessie as a character. At all. And it soured the whole reading experience for me. I didn’t like her approach to life, how she compared everything to the TV she watched, how she only had answers for things when it was convenient to have answers, and how the author kept coming through the character when the situation called for more information than what the character would rightly know (that leads back into the Rain Man random information moments). The book as a whole just rubs me the wrong way. It’s probably wholly irrational but that’s what’s going on.
I didn’t like it. I have the sequel and I’m not going to read it. I can’t get far enough away from Jessie. She’s just an incompatible character for me.
2
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2015
In Dream Walker, C.S. Friedman shares the story of a teenager named Jessica Drake; an artist, an older sister, and a daughter of single working mom. Her adventure begins when she discovers a dark and deep secret about her family and finds out she isn't who she thinks she is. It all started when a strange woman stalks their house and watches them. Then next thing she knows, she's going on a trip to an alien world and attempting to rescue her brother and finding out who she really is in the process.
As story goes deeper and deeper, interesting things show up that pulls the readers in. The author does a decent job in adding in drama and suspense. For instance, the moment when Jessica discovers that she isn't the daughter of her mom or her dad due to the blood tests. Another example is when she learns that her biological mother is on the alien planet and that she gave Jessica up to a guild. Another notable thing about the book is Jessica's character. She is bold yet reserved when she needs to be. Also her deep love of her little brother and willingness to do anything to ensure his safety is also very admirable. One can tell how much she loves her little brother. Although there are many redeeming qualities about the book, there are also some faults throughout the book. There were a few grammar errors that were noticeable. Also, most of the chapters were very long which could bore the readers. The author could have made the chapters a little shorter. Also, the author was excessive with describing every single detail. It made it difficult to see the broader picture or idea. I believe that the author wrote this book as a way of telling society that family doesn't have limits. Family is anyone who you love and care for and would do anything for them. I believe this is the idea or theme that the author was trying to express.
I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads. I really liked the main character and her interaction and her love for her brother. Due to this i really connected with the character as i too have loving yet annoying brother. I feel like this book would most likely be enjoyed by young readers who are interested in sci-fi and action. Although this was an amazing book, there are many cases in the book where there is language and references to alcohol. This book is a well written book and i highly recommend it.
As story goes deeper and deeper, interesting things show up that pulls the readers in. The author does a decent job in adding in drama and suspense. For instance, the moment when Jessica discovers that she isn't the daughter of her mom or her dad due to the blood tests. Another example is when she learns that her biological mother is on the alien planet and that she gave Jessica up to a guild. Another notable thing about the book is Jessica's character. She is bold yet reserved when she needs to be. Also her deep love of her little brother and willingness to do anything to ensure his safety is also very admirable. One can tell how much she loves her little brother. Although there are many redeeming qualities about the book, there are also some faults throughout the book. There were a few grammar errors that were noticeable. Also, most of the chapters were very long which could bore the readers. The author could have made the chapters a little shorter. Also, the author was excessive with describing every single detail. It made it difficult to see the broader picture or idea. I believe that the author wrote this book as a way of telling society that family doesn't have limits. Family is anyone who you love and care for and would do anything for them. I believe this is the idea or theme that the author was trying to express.
I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads. I really liked the main character and her interaction and her love for her brother. Due to this i really connected with the character as i too have loving yet annoying brother. I feel like this book would most likely be enjoyed by young readers who are interested in sci-fi and action. Although this was an amazing book, there are many cases in the book where there is language and references to alcohol. This book is a well written book and i highly recommend it.
May 1, 2015
I found this to be a rather conventional parallel worlds novel told from the point of view of an American teenager.
Jessica Drake finds that she is not genetically the child of either of her parents; her dreams are of interest to others; she, and others like her, are targeted for murder; her brother is kidnapped and taken to another Earth; Jesse and friends to the rescue. Formulaic.
This story seems to serve as an introduction to a trilogy or, possibly, longer series. However, neither the storyline nor character development are up to Friedman's earlier efforts (Coldfire/Magister trilogies). It all seems rather simplistic; I found that I didn't really care about any of the characters nor about what was happening to them, and this after about four hundred pages. There is, however, some hope as Jesse is going to try to find her real mother and learn about this dreamwalking thing of hers. Perhaps Friedman will get enough feedback from the readers of Dreamwalker that she will treat the remaining books in the series as serious adult sci-fi/fantasy and not something to palm off on the YA market.
I'll probably end up getting the next book in this series but I will not pre-order it sight unseen.
Jessica Drake finds that she is not genetically the child of either of her parents; her dreams are of interest to others; she, and others like her, are targeted for murder; her brother is kidnapped and taken to another Earth; Jesse and friends to the rescue. Formulaic.
This story seems to serve as an introduction to a trilogy or, possibly, longer series. However, neither the storyline nor character development are up to Friedman's earlier efforts (Coldfire/Magister trilogies). It all seems rather simplistic; I found that I didn't really care about any of the characters nor about what was happening to them, and this after about four hundred pages. There is, however, some hope as Jesse is going to try to find her real mother and learn about this dreamwalking thing of hers. Perhaps Friedman will get enough feedback from the readers of Dreamwalker that she will treat the remaining books in the series as serious adult sci-fi/fantasy and not something to palm off on the YA market.
I'll probably end up getting the next book in this series but I will not pre-order it sight unseen.
November 18, 2013
Not bad start to a new series. It is very much oriented towards the young adult crowd. Reasons for this are the teenage character, plenty of pop culture references and the angst. However the fantasy tidbits make it a good start. The world is constructed into a multiverse, the main character has magic referred to as a "Gift" that apparently makes most things in power want to kill her. She doesn't really know what it does herself. We are only given hints. The big bads the "shadows" are portrayed as extremely creepy, possible undead, manipulators that have designs on everything. Other mysteries that will be answered later are probably, whats the whole story behind the "changlings", who's Jessica's mother, what happened to Rita, and how much Isaac will change.
So for a foray into the YA realm the author is making a good step. I don't know how well this sill do in the market as I am not up to date with whats popular in that age group but its a good story and stands on its own legs. 4/5 stars
So for a foray into the YA realm the author is making a good step. I don't know how well this sill do in the market as I am not up to date with whats popular in that age group but its a good story and stands on its own legs. 4/5 stars
April 30, 2015
When C. S. Friedman's invited me to get an early read of the forthcoming Dreamwalker last summer, I was happy to oblige! All that the author and her editor asked for was for me to refrain from revealing anything about it and to wait till around the book's pub date before posting a review. It was a small price to pay to be one of the few people who'd read this novel before everyone else!
Dreamwalker is the first volume in a brand new series, and in style and tone it is a world away from the dark science fiction and fantasy series/novels Friedman has become renowned for. Writing the Magister trilogy took a lot out of the author and she needed a break from that sort of tale. That series was by far her most densely written, aggressively dark, and adult-themed work, and it took six years of her life to write. As a result, Friedman wanted to write something shorter, something more linear, with a plot that wasn't as convoluted, with a much faster pace. Something that her younger fans could relate to a bit more. And yet, she also wanted to write something her adult fans would enjoy as well.
When asked to describe Dreamwalker, Friedman explained that it's a crossover novel. It includes elements targetted to a teen audience, but also hopefully enough content and complexity to please an adult audience. Thus far the critical response has been very good, and has confirmed that she apparently succeeded in her goal, that of writing something that both adults and teens would enjoy. She explained that Dreamwalker is shorter than her previous works. This reflects the author's attempt to publish books more often than she's been doing in the past, with hopefully a new installment out every year or so. Friedman is convinced that overall the series will have the same level of complexity and darkness of worldbuilding that fans have become accustomed to, but it will gradually build over the course of the entire series.
So did C. S. Friedman truly succeed in her endeavor to write something that would satisfy both her teen and adult audiences? I guess she did. As I told the author once I was done reading Dreamwalker, though I enjoyed the book, I did miss the darkness and the more complex plotlines of her past works. I did miss the dark and more edgy characters we have come to both love and hate over the years. Having said that, once I sat down and started to read it, I went through Dreamwalker in no time. The plot may be more linear and the novel shorter, yet the pace of the book and the quality of the narrative nevertheless sucked me into this tale and I went through the manuscript in just a few sittings. So I guess it's mission accomplished for Friedman!
Here's the blurb:
All her life Jessica Drake has dreamed of other worlds, some of them similar to her own, others disturbingly alien. She never shares the details with anyone, save her younger brother Tommy, a compulsive gamer who incorporates some aspects of Jessica’s dreams into his games. But now someone is asking about those dreams...and about her. A strange woman has been watching her house. A visitor to her school attempts to take possession of her dream-inspired artwork.
Why?
As she begins to search for answers it becomes clear that whoever is watching her does not want her to learn the truth. One night her house catches on fire, and when the smoke clears she discovers that her brother has been kidnapped. She must figure out what is going on, and quickly, if she and her family are to be safe.
Following clues left behind on Tommy's computer, determined to find her brother and bring him home safely, Jessica and two of her friends are about to embark on a journey that will test their spirits and their courage to the breaking point, as they must leave their own world behind and confront the source of Earth's darkest legends – as well as the terrifying truth of their own secret heritage.
The worldbuilding has always been an aspect in which Friedman usually shines. By specifically trying to write something less dark and complex, I felt that in this facet of her writing there is something missing. That lack might be made up by other aspects of this novel, but I figure that it's in this area that Dreamwalker truly differs from the author's other works. The alternate realities/parralel universes are a classic speculative fiction trope that many, including myself, feel has been overused over the years. No stranger to both the science fiction and the fantasy genres, I was pleased to discover that Friedman approached this cliché from a different and more original angle. One that will, I believe, be one of the underlying themes in the rest of this series. One must not forget that Dreamwalker is sort of a brief introduction to what will be a vaster, more intricate tale. Hence, the potential is there for more complexity, more darkness. The child exploitation theme certainly leaves the door open for much of that. Only time will tell if, as it is the author's objective, said complexity and darkness will build over the course of the series. Several concepts and ideas are introduced, but there is little or no elaboration on most of them. I for one would have loved to discover more about magic, the guilds, the seers, the other realities, etc. . .
Although there are a number of POV characters, the bulk of Dreamwalker is made up of Jessica Drake's point of view. She's sixteen years of age, with the teenage angst and emotions that come with adolescence. Jessica is an endearing character, one you can't help but root for. But I have a feeling that she is a bit too mature for her age, even if her backstory explains why she's more than your typical teenage girl. I enjoyed the occasional Tommy POVs, for they offer another perspective and create a different atmosphere. Devon and Rita formed a nice trio with Jessica and it will be interesting to see how their relationships will evolve in future sequels. Though a bit predictable, Isaac was a character that brought a lot to the tale. The Green Man offered some fascinating insight into the alternate realities, which bodes well for things to come.
By crafting a less convoluted plot, Friedman was able to write a fast-paced narrative which really takes you on a wild ride. While it's true that the story can be a bit predictable at times, the rhythm of the prose and Jessica's plight quickly take over and suck you into Dreamwalker. Relatively short chapters, engaging protagonists, and surprising revelations keep you turning those pages. Dreamwalker may lack the darkness and complexity found in the Coldfire trilogy or the Magister trilogy, yet the storylines are nonetheless intriguing. You get the feeling that this first volume is a set-up book. C. S. Friedman, though perhaps she doesn't unveil as much information as she wanted, is undoubtedly paving the way for a lot of things to come in future installments. One thing's for sure, though. Based on Dreamwalker, it is evident that this is a series brimming with potential and I'm looking forward to finding out what Friedman has in store for those characters!
For more reviews: www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
Dreamwalker is the first volume in a brand new series, and in style and tone it is a world away from the dark science fiction and fantasy series/novels Friedman has become renowned for. Writing the Magister trilogy took a lot out of the author and she needed a break from that sort of tale. That series was by far her most densely written, aggressively dark, and adult-themed work, and it took six years of her life to write. As a result, Friedman wanted to write something shorter, something more linear, with a plot that wasn't as convoluted, with a much faster pace. Something that her younger fans could relate to a bit more. And yet, she also wanted to write something her adult fans would enjoy as well.
When asked to describe Dreamwalker, Friedman explained that it's a crossover novel. It includes elements targetted to a teen audience, but also hopefully enough content and complexity to please an adult audience. Thus far the critical response has been very good, and has confirmed that she apparently succeeded in her goal, that of writing something that both adults and teens would enjoy. She explained that Dreamwalker is shorter than her previous works. This reflects the author's attempt to publish books more often than she's been doing in the past, with hopefully a new installment out every year or so. Friedman is convinced that overall the series will have the same level of complexity and darkness of worldbuilding that fans have become accustomed to, but it will gradually build over the course of the entire series.
So did C. S. Friedman truly succeed in her endeavor to write something that would satisfy both her teen and adult audiences? I guess she did. As I told the author once I was done reading Dreamwalker, though I enjoyed the book, I did miss the darkness and the more complex plotlines of her past works. I did miss the dark and more edgy characters we have come to both love and hate over the years. Having said that, once I sat down and started to read it, I went through Dreamwalker in no time. The plot may be more linear and the novel shorter, yet the pace of the book and the quality of the narrative nevertheless sucked me into this tale and I went through the manuscript in just a few sittings. So I guess it's mission accomplished for Friedman!
Here's the blurb:
All her life Jessica Drake has dreamed of other worlds, some of them similar to her own, others disturbingly alien. She never shares the details with anyone, save her younger brother Tommy, a compulsive gamer who incorporates some aspects of Jessica’s dreams into his games. But now someone is asking about those dreams...and about her. A strange woman has been watching her house. A visitor to her school attempts to take possession of her dream-inspired artwork.
Why?
As she begins to search for answers it becomes clear that whoever is watching her does not want her to learn the truth. One night her house catches on fire, and when the smoke clears she discovers that her brother has been kidnapped. She must figure out what is going on, and quickly, if she and her family are to be safe.
Following clues left behind on Tommy's computer, determined to find her brother and bring him home safely, Jessica and two of her friends are about to embark on a journey that will test their spirits and their courage to the breaking point, as they must leave their own world behind and confront the source of Earth's darkest legends – as well as the terrifying truth of their own secret heritage.
The worldbuilding has always been an aspect in which Friedman usually shines. By specifically trying to write something less dark and complex, I felt that in this facet of her writing there is something missing. That lack might be made up by other aspects of this novel, but I figure that it's in this area that Dreamwalker truly differs from the author's other works. The alternate realities/parralel universes are a classic speculative fiction trope that many, including myself, feel has been overused over the years. No stranger to both the science fiction and the fantasy genres, I was pleased to discover that Friedman approached this cliché from a different and more original angle. One that will, I believe, be one of the underlying themes in the rest of this series. One must not forget that Dreamwalker is sort of a brief introduction to what will be a vaster, more intricate tale. Hence, the potential is there for more complexity, more darkness. The child exploitation theme certainly leaves the door open for much of that. Only time will tell if, as it is the author's objective, said complexity and darkness will build over the course of the series. Several concepts and ideas are introduced, but there is little or no elaboration on most of them. I for one would have loved to discover more about magic, the guilds, the seers, the other realities, etc. . .
Although there are a number of POV characters, the bulk of Dreamwalker is made up of Jessica Drake's point of view. She's sixteen years of age, with the teenage angst and emotions that come with adolescence. Jessica is an endearing character, one you can't help but root for. But I have a feeling that she is a bit too mature for her age, even if her backstory explains why she's more than your typical teenage girl. I enjoyed the occasional Tommy POVs, for they offer another perspective and create a different atmosphere. Devon and Rita formed a nice trio with Jessica and it will be interesting to see how their relationships will evolve in future sequels. Though a bit predictable, Isaac was a character that brought a lot to the tale. The Green Man offered some fascinating insight into the alternate realities, which bodes well for things to come.
By crafting a less convoluted plot, Friedman was able to write a fast-paced narrative which really takes you on a wild ride. While it's true that the story can be a bit predictable at times, the rhythm of the prose and Jessica's plight quickly take over and suck you into Dreamwalker. Relatively short chapters, engaging protagonists, and surprising revelations keep you turning those pages. Dreamwalker may lack the darkness and complexity found in the Coldfire trilogy or the Magister trilogy, yet the storylines are nonetheless intriguing. You get the feeling that this first volume is a set-up book. C. S. Friedman, though perhaps she doesn't unveil as much information as she wanted, is undoubtedly paving the way for a lot of things to come in future installments. One thing's for sure, though. Based on Dreamwalker, it is evident that this is a series brimming with potential and I'm looking forward to finding out what Friedman has in store for those characters!
For more reviews: www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
November 20, 2018
Heart-racing, bewildering, mysterious-these are all words that would describes C.S Friedman’s book Dreamwalker. Every single chapter left me on a cliff-hanger and it was impossible for me to put it down. With every chapter, I found myself drawn to the action, the plot-twists and learning about this dream world. When you are reading her book, you will constantly find yourself surprised. She wrote it in a way where you would expect something to turn out one way, but really it turns out in the least expected way. This book really keeps you on your toes. While the plot wasn’t very realistic, it was fun and interesting to read. Given the fact that the main character and her friends weren’t from this world and had magical powers, I doubt something like that would happen in real life. The characters felt real, naturally drawing me to their backstory and lives. It really felt like the author knows how teenager’s minds truly process information and what they would say/do in certain situations. She didn’t give them the stereotypical personalities of “The Smart One,” or the “Sporty One,” they had unique personalities and qualities such as “knowing how to code.”
I would recommend this story to people who take an interest in sci-fi and action-packed stories. This would be the kind of story you would end up reading in one night because of its page turner qualities.
I would not recommend this book to people who like short reads, and don’t like action stories. If you don’t like fantasy worlds and would rather read a more realistic story, I wouldn’t choose this book either.
I would recommend this story to people who take an interest in sci-fi and action-packed stories. This would be the kind of story you would end up reading in one night because of its page turner qualities.
I would not recommend this book to people who like short reads, and don’t like action stories. If you don’t like fantasy worlds and would rather read a more realistic story, I wouldn’t choose this book either.
July 19, 2017
DNF at about 45%.
I'll be honest, I picked this up, not really bothering to read the dustjacket because I've read other things by Friedman and liked them all. But this one is different from her normal dark blend of fantasy and sci fi. It's like YA urban fantasy meets a conspiracy theory... It's weird in a not great way.
Beyond that, the narrator was completely unconvincing as a teenaged girl. It's like Friedman has never met a teenager, she's just seen 25 year olds playing teenagers on TV. And all of the writing was just so overwrought. Nothing about the characters rings true, they're all extremely one dimensional. And the setting just seems off somehow in a way I can't quite pinpoint.
Skip this one. You're not missing anything.
I'll be honest, I picked this up, not really bothering to read the dustjacket because I've read other things by Friedman and liked them all. But this one is different from her normal dark blend of fantasy and sci fi. It's like YA urban fantasy meets a conspiracy theory... It's weird in a not great way.
Beyond that, the narrator was completely unconvincing as a teenaged girl. It's like Friedman has never met a teenager, she's just seen 25 year olds playing teenagers on TV. And all of the writing was just so overwrought. Nothing about the characters rings true, they're all extremely one dimensional. And the setting just seems off somehow in a way I can't quite pinpoint.
Skip this one. You're not missing anything.
July 30, 2020
I was desperate for a new book during 2020 quarantine. A friend lent this to me. It kept my interest but was written with a very "teen" genre, similar to a Twilight feel - not to overwhelming or in-depth like "A Wheel of TIme." I don't think I'll continue with the series, but it was a good change from the typical novels I've been reading.
I do like sci-fi, having read several series over the years. Curious if it will become a movie...
I do like sci-fi, having read several series over the years. Curious if it will become a movie...
October 16, 2018
Fairly straightforward portal fantasy. A teenage artist whose brother works images from her dreams into his computer role playing is forced to visit another world when her brother is kidnapped. With the help of two other fellow changelings, those who had been born in an alternate world but brought into our world she saves him.
November 14, 2022
I’ve enjoyed Friedman’s writing for some years now and this book does not disappoint. It does read much differently than their other books and in some cases I didn’t find that as enjoyable as their other novels. However, it has an interesting premise, likeable, strong characters and a good plot. I look forward to reading the sequels.
February 7, 2023
Meh. This story was boring, the climax was dull and overall this has none of the storytelling or panache that the author’s other works (Coldfire Trilogy or In Conquest Born). In fact if the author’s name wasn’t on the cover, I wouldn’t have thought they were the same writers. I won’t be reading the sequels
August 16, 2017
There's like a weird random forced romance thing *sigh*
August 21, 2017
An entertaining story.
This book is good for a light read. This author comes up with some really good storylines. This book is one I would recommend for a younger reader anytime.
This book is good for a light read. This author comes up with some really good storylines. This book is one I would recommend for a younger reader anytime.
December 9, 2017
Incredible
I love CS Friedman’s writing because her creativity shines out everywhere. Not just plots, but scenes, characters, tiny details - everything. Thank you!
I love CS Friedman’s writing because her creativity shines out everywhere. Not just plots, but scenes, characters, tiny details - everything. Thank you!
June 20, 2018
CS Friedman wrote one of my favorite series:Coldfire.
This ain't for me.
This ain't for me.
July 2, 2020
It took me a minute to get into this book, but once it gets going it's really good!!!
June 1, 2021
A good start. I want to know more of the dream walking talent.
July 29, 2014
My friend Brendan won this book was a Goodreads giveaway and didn't particularly like it, mainly because he's not the target audience (e.g., a teenage girl). Since I fulfill half of those requirements (the girl part), he asked that I read it and tell him what I think. Read his review here.
After reading it, I decided that it wasn't really that great of a book, as it had many plot holes you could drive a Mack truck through (as my mother used to say). Here are the problems I had (and yes, there are SPOILERS ahead):
1. Friedman's worlds didn't really make sense, at least not to me. I thought the concept was interesting of having a network of worlds that look geographically like Earth, in the terms of having the same mountains, rivers, cave systems, etc. However, where it fell apart for me was that in some worlds, major events didn't happen like it did here on Earth. On world didn't have an asteroid hit; another the Revolutionary War wasn't won by the Americans. Ok, still interesting until you think about this: Certain events were brought upon by certain people. For example, the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. So these other worlds that didn't have the Declaration of Independence, their history should be completely different that our history. Friedman was very wishy-washy on the whole thing. At times it sounded like all the worlds were a copies of each other with the same people who influenced history, but at other times it sounded like they were completely different. It wasn't consistent, and I just ended up confused. Also, I have a hard time believing that these worlds were complete copies of each other in terms of geography, as things like erosion and natural elements take a toll on the landscape. Did each world start out as having a Pangaea and the tectonic plates separating the lands in the exact same way? There is really no way that could have happened, so Friedman looses points for believability for that.
2. Also, to go with the rant from #1, when our intrepid heroes go to another world, everyone miraculously speaks English. There are places in our own world that people start speaking one language, but because of isolation or outside influences, the language changes (I think there was island near England - the Isle of Man? - where this is particularly true, but of course I can't think of what it is). Let's look at language in our own nation: accents and terminology are different throughout different regions, to the point where sometimes you need subtitles for English speakers (I'm thinking of you, Honey Boo-Boo). My point is, these worlds can't be exact copies of each other, so what are the odds that everyone speaks the same form of English? Highly unlikely.
3. Friedman's terms for magic wasn't consistent. Jesse discovers that she's probably not originally from Earth, as she's a changeling. However, she was told by the Green Man that each world can recognize the people who come from there. So, when she is going through that Gate, it would stand to reason that Earth wouldn't claim her, as she wasn't born there. Just another inconsistent thing.
4. And another inconsistent thing: when Jesse's house is burning down, she's not freaked out by the fact that Rita was able to get into the house, although Jesse's family locked it up tight. It also took Jesse awhile to figure out that someone broke into her house and kidnapped her brother. So how did Rita get in? If she climbed in through the broken window, wouldn't she have said, "Oh, hey, Jesse, by the way, the window was broken when I got here?" Nope. Rita doesn't give a clue as to how she got in. Personally, I feel like she was a plant from the other world, and was sent there to watch Jesse. The fact that she disappears during the end reinforces my suspicion. However, I really don't care enough to wait for more books in the series to find out if I'm right.
5. Young adult books have been driving me nuts lately because of the typical young adult novel crap they put in it. Jesse's worried about her brother and how they are going to rescue him, yet she still can't help thinking about Devon and Isaac and if one is jealous because of the other. Seriously, can young adult characters not turn off their hormones for like five minutes?
Like I said, a lot of plot holes and annoying stuff. I couldn't suspend my disbelief for this book. So there you go, Brendan. I didn't like it, but not as much as you didn't like it.
After reading it, I decided that it wasn't really that great of a book, as it had many plot holes you could drive a Mack truck through (as my mother used to say). Here are the problems I had (and yes, there are SPOILERS ahead):
1. Friedman's worlds didn't really make sense, at least not to me. I thought the concept was interesting of having a network of worlds that look geographically like Earth, in the terms of having the same mountains, rivers, cave systems, etc. However, where it fell apart for me was that in some worlds, major events didn't happen like it did here on Earth. On world didn't have an asteroid hit; another the Revolutionary War wasn't won by the Americans. Ok, still interesting until you think about this: Certain events were brought upon by certain people. For example, the Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. So these other worlds that didn't have the Declaration of Independence, their history should be completely different that our history. Friedman was very wishy-washy on the whole thing. At times it sounded like all the worlds were a copies of each other with the same people who influenced history, but at other times it sounded like they were completely different. It wasn't consistent, and I just ended up confused. Also, I have a hard time believing that these worlds were complete copies of each other in terms of geography, as things like erosion and natural elements take a toll on the landscape. Did each world start out as having a Pangaea and the tectonic plates separating the lands in the exact same way? There is really no way that could have happened, so Friedman looses points for believability for that.
2. Also, to go with the rant from #1, when our intrepid heroes go to another world, everyone miraculously speaks English. There are places in our own world that people start speaking one language, but because of isolation or outside influences, the language changes (I think there was island near England - the Isle of Man? - where this is particularly true, but of course I can't think of what it is). Let's look at language in our own nation: accents and terminology are different throughout different regions, to the point where sometimes you need subtitles for English speakers (I'm thinking of you, Honey Boo-Boo). My point is, these worlds can't be exact copies of each other, so what are the odds that everyone speaks the same form of English? Highly unlikely.
3. Friedman's terms for magic wasn't consistent. Jesse discovers that she's probably not originally from Earth, as she's a changeling. However, she was told by the Green Man that each world can recognize the people who come from there. So, when she is going through that Gate, it would stand to reason that Earth wouldn't claim her, as she wasn't born there. Just another inconsistent thing.
4. And another inconsistent thing: when Jesse's house is burning down, she's not freaked out by the fact that Rita was able to get into the house, although Jesse's family locked it up tight. It also took Jesse awhile to figure out that someone broke into her house and kidnapped her brother. So how did Rita get in? If she climbed in through the broken window, wouldn't she have said, "Oh, hey, Jesse, by the way, the window was broken when I got here?" Nope. Rita doesn't give a clue as to how she got in. Personally, I feel like she was a plant from the other world, and was sent there to watch Jesse. The fact that she disappears during the end reinforces my suspicion. However, I really don't care enough to wait for more books in the series to find out if I'm right.
5. Young adult books have been driving me nuts lately because of the typical young adult novel crap they put in it. Jesse's worried about her brother and how they are going to rescue him, yet she still can't help thinking about Devon and Isaac and if one is jealous because of the other. Seriously, can young adult characters not turn off their hormones for like five minutes?
Like I said, a lot of plot holes and annoying stuff. I couldn't suspend my disbelief for this book. So there you go, Brendan. I didn't like it, but not as much as you didn't like it.
February 6, 2014
Dreamwalker by C. S. Friedman is an intriguing mix of parallel worlds and fantasy elements and the start to a new series with a lot of potential. I haven’t read any of Friedman’s adult work so I went into Dreamwalker not knowing at all what to expect! I’m excited about the new universe that Dreamwalker has revealed, even though I didn’t completely connect with Dreamwalker itself.
Note: I received Dreamwalker for review from the publisher.
Dreamwalker by C. S. Friedman (Dreamwalker #1)
Published by DAW on Feb 4, 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Sci-fi, YA
Length: 312 pages
How I got my copy: Publisher
All her life Jessica Drake has dreamed of other worlds, some of them similar to her own, others disturbingly alien. She never shares the details with anyone, save her younger brother Tommy, a compulsive gamer who incorporates some aspects of Jessica’s dreams into his games. But now someone is asking about those dreams...and about her. A strange woman has been watching her house. A visitor to her school attempts to take possession of her dream-inspired artwork.
Why?
As she begins to search for answers it becomes clear that whoever is watching her does not want her to learn the truth. One night her house catches on fire, and when the smoke clears she discovers that her brother has been kidnapped. She must figure out what is going on, and quickly, if she and her family are to be safe.
Following clues left behind on Tommy's computer, determined to find her brother and bring him home safely, Jessica and two of her friends are about to embark on a journey that will test their spirits and their courage to the breaking point, as they must leave their own world behind and confront the source of Earth's darkest legends as well as the terrifying truth of their own secret heritage.
Strengths:
I’m a fan of parallel worlds generally and Dreamwalker has a cool premise that integrates parallel worlds with fun sci-fi and fantasy elements.
Dreamwalker takes place mostly in a parallel world and the world-building (universe-building?) of what could happen if magic and the ability to cross between parallel worlds was concentrated all in one world was pretty awesome. There are some cool alternate history pieces thrown in mostly revolving around how the colonization of America could have been different with interference from parallel worlds. Plus it’s always fun when secret magic stuff is actually the explanation for all our various myths!
I’m a huge fan of strong sibling relationships and Dreamwalker’s plot is completely driven by sibling love, woot!
Dreamwalker has a nice and straightforward adventure plot. There is just something comfortable about knowing from the first couple of chapters what the goal is and running around on an adventure to meet that goal ;-).
Weaknesses:
Dreamwalker had a surprising amount of typos, especially for a traditionally-published finished copy.
There is the typical group of three teens setting out on adventure in Dreamwalker and the two secondary characters ended up feeling very flat to me. We barely get to know who they really are as people and they just kind of follow Jesse along on her quest.
Dreamwalker had a couple of plot holes that I actually felt the need to go back and make sure I didn’t miss something. One of them is kind of explained, but it really feels like a stretch. For those of you who have read this one, perhaps you can help me out: Why is Rita at the house on THE NIGHT and how do they get a car to drive to the mines since it seemed like it was implied that Rita left the original one to be found?
Despite the title of the book being Dreamwalker, we really don’t get all that many details about how that whole thing works, even from Jesse’s perspective. I realize this is likely to be filled in in later books, but I really felt unsatisfied with not getting more details given the title.
Summary:
Dreamwalker is a promising start to a series combing sci-fi and fantasy, even though there are some rough spots. I’m excited to see where the second book goes given that ending. If you’re on the fence, I’d recommend waiting until the second book is out and seeing how that one goes ;-).
Note: I received Dreamwalker for review from the publisher.
Dreamwalker by C. S. Friedman (Dreamwalker #1)
Published by DAW on Feb 4, 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Sci-fi, YA
Length: 312 pages
How I got my copy: Publisher
All her life Jessica Drake has dreamed of other worlds, some of them similar to her own, others disturbingly alien. She never shares the details with anyone, save her younger brother Tommy, a compulsive gamer who incorporates some aspects of Jessica’s dreams into his games. But now someone is asking about those dreams...and about her. A strange woman has been watching her house. A visitor to her school attempts to take possession of her dream-inspired artwork.
Why?
As she begins to search for answers it becomes clear that whoever is watching her does not want her to learn the truth. One night her house catches on fire, and when the smoke clears she discovers that her brother has been kidnapped. She must figure out what is going on, and quickly, if she and her family are to be safe.
Following clues left behind on Tommy's computer, determined to find her brother and bring him home safely, Jessica and two of her friends are about to embark on a journey that will test their spirits and their courage to the breaking point, as they must leave their own world behind and confront the source of Earth's darkest legends as well as the terrifying truth of their own secret heritage.
Strengths:
I’m a fan of parallel worlds generally and Dreamwalker has a cool premise that integrates parallel worlds with fun sci-fi and fantasy elements.
Dreamwalker takes place mostly in a parallel world and the world-building (universe-building?) of what could happen if magic and the ability to cross between parallel worlds was concentrated all in one world was pretty awesome. There are some cool alternate history pieces thrown in mostly revolving around how the colonization of America could have been different with interference from parallel worlds. Plus it’s always fun when secret magic stuff is actually the explanation for all our various myths!
I’m a huge fan of strong sibling relationships and Dreamwalker’s plot is completely driven by sibling love, woot!
Dreamwalker has a nice and straightforward adventure plot. There is just something comfortable about knowing from the first couple of chapters what the goal is and running around on an adventure to meet that goal ;-).
Weaknesses:
Dreamwalker had a surprising amount of typos, especially for a traditionally-published finished copy.
There is the typical group of three teens setting out on adventure in Dreamwalker and the two secondary characters ended up feeling very flat to me. We barely get to know who they really are as people and they just kind of follow Jesse along on her quest.
Dreamwalker had a couple of plot holes that I actually felt the need to go back and make sure I didn’t miss something. One of them is kind of explained, but it really feels like a stretch. For those of you who have read this one, perhaps you can help me out: Why is Rita at the house on THE NIGHT and how do they get a car to drive to the mines since it seemed like it was implied that Rita left the original one to be found?
Despite the title of the book being Dreamwalker, we really don’t get all that many details about how that whole thing works, even from Jesse’s perspective. I realize this is likely to be filled in in later books, but I really felt unsatisfied with not getting more details given the title.
Summary:
Dreamwalker is a promising start to a series combing sci-fi and fantasy, even though there are some rough spots. I’m excited to see where the second book goes given that ending. If you’re on the fence, I’d recommend waiting until the second book is out and seeing how that one goes ;-).
June 26, 2014
"Chicken soup. A thousand worlds have yet to come up with anything better."The cover of C.S. Friedman's Dreamwalker doesn't make it at all obvious, but this book is just the first installment in a projected series, something called The Dreamwalker Chronicles. I found that disappointing. I prefer standalone novels to open-ended series anyway, and this particular one leaves more unanswered at the end than seems either necessary or desirable. To borrow a term from Wikipedia, this particular entry is a "stub," incomplete even on its own terms.
—The "Green Man," p.224
In this, I think it suffers in comparison to Robert Charles Wilson's superbly memorable early novel Gypsies, which has similar elements (a pair of young siblings with special abilities as protagonists, exploring parallel universes before they're quite ready to do so), but which also stands on its own.
That said, though, and although it's slow to get started as well, Dreamwalker eventually did grow on me, even turning into something of a page-turner by its all-too-sudden end.
A lot of that's due to Jessica Drake—Jesse—a lively and believable first-person narrator who provides a strong central thread to Friedman's story. To begin with, Jesse thinks that her frequent dreams of complex geometrical designs and endless plains full of doors are just that—dreams. Her younger brother Tommy often uses her unique imagery for his online games, and she uses them herself to inform her paintings, but that appears to be the extent of their utility. When Jesse finds out that there are actually dozens of other teenagers who are similarly unique, though... and when evidence begins mounting that someone (or something) out of humanity's collective nightmares may be killing them off... well, as I said, things do eventually get moving.
The Green Man who's quoted above is a traveler between worlds as well. He came from so-called "Terra Colonna," which appears to be our Earth, early in the 18th Century, but remains implausibly aware of current events. Perhaps he's lying about how often he's been back. He also speaks in modern English, without a trace of the archaic accent or vocabulary I'd expect. In fact, all of the characters in Dreamwalker seem to speak modern, idiomatic English, no matter when or where they're from, despite the fact that languages diverge widely even within relatively small geographic regions on our own planet. Maybe there's some magic that keeps the timelines mutually intelligible, but there is no explanation offered for this within the text, as far as I could tell—that's the kind of hole that's simply left unfilled, at least for now.
Still, though, Jessica Drake is a keeper, and the environment she's thrown into is just the kind of thing I like, so I'm willing to forgive a few lacunae here and otherwhere. Despite the lukewarm nature of this review, I'll probably pick up the next book in Friedman's series—if and when it comes out...
January 15, 2014
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...
I was so blown away by C.S. Friedman’s Magister Trilogy that when I heard she was trying her hand at a young adult series, I couldn’t help but get excited. I love her writing so much, and I like the way that she considers the realistic consequences of her characters’ actions.
Dreamwalker is the story of Jessica, a teenage girl dealing with some difficult issues in her personal life. Her father walked out on the family when she was little, and he claimed that she wasn’t really his child and that Jessica’s mom was having an affair. Even though her mother reassures her this isn’t true, she can’t help but wonder. When the paternity test finally comes back, it shatters Jessica’s world forever. Not only does her DNA not match her father, but it doesn’t match her mother either. Her genetics seem to indicate that she is a freak of nature.
Jessica’s brother Tommy is a gamer and spends most of his time playing World of Warcraft. I empathize with him quite a bit, as I went through my own WoW phase for several years until Blizzard decided to ruin my epic fantasy with pandas (/endrant), and he’s easily my favorite character in the story. Jessica really doesn’t understand Tommy, but she makes the effort to be a part of his life, and he uses stories from her dreams as inspiration in some of his online games. One night, Tommy is kidnapped by strange creatures from a parallel world. It is up to Jessica to rescue him, and in the process, find out what she really is.
One of the strengths of young adult writing is its ability to address the issues that teenagers are dealing with in their own lives. Friedman does a fantastic job of portraying a messed up family that still has an anchor of love and support, even though Jessica’s father’s actions have left lasting emotional scars on everyone in the family. Her family isn’t perfect, but they’re trying, and Jessica will stop at nothing to save Tommy’s life.
I enjoyed the fact that Friedman decided to use a diverse cast of characters. Jessica is accompanied on her rescue mission by two friends that she met online, both of whom have similar DNA anomalies. Devon is black, and Rita grew up on the streets. Their differing racial and socioeconomic backgrounds play important roles in the story, and each character has to rely on their own unique life experiences to survive in another world.
Oh, and then there’s the romance! Friedman does a perfect job here. Jessica is too busy rescuing her brother to have long romantic entanglements, and there’s no insta-love in this book. Instead, there are crushes on two different characters, but both of those crushes would come with real-life consequences that would get in the way of Jessica’s mission, and so she doesn’t really act on them so much as daydream and wonder about what might be. This is a far more realistic approach than most young adult novels, and I love it.
I get the feeling that a lot of long time fans of C. S. Friedman’s writing aren’t going to like this book, not because it isn’t good, but because it’s such a departure from her usual style. Readers, don’t expect epic and twisted sagas in the style of the Magister or Coldfire trilogies. That’s not what this book is supposed to be. It’s a young adult contemporary fantasy story, and Friedman does an excellent job exploring a new genre. I look forward to reading the next installations in the series.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...
I was so blown away by C.S. Friedman’s Magister Trilogy that when I heard she was trying her hand at a young adult series, I couldn’t help but get excited. I love her writing so much, and I like the way that she considers the realistic consequences of her characters’ actions.
Dreamwalker is the story of Jessica, a teenage girl dealing with some difficult issues in her personal life. Her father walked out on the family when she was little, and he claimed that she wasn’t really his child and that Jessica’s mom was having an affair. Even though her mother reassures her this isn’t true, she can’t help but wonder. When the paternity test finally comes back, it shatters Jessica’s world forever. Not only does her DNA not match her father, but it doesn’t match her mother either. Her genetics seem to indicate that she is a freak of nature.
Jessica’s brother Tommy is a gamer and spends most of his time playing World of Warcraft. I empathize with him quite a bit, as I went through my own WoW phase for several years until Blizzard decided to ruin my epic fantasy with pandas (/endrant), and he’s easily my favorite character in the story. Jessica really doesn’t understand Tommy, but she makes the effort to be a part of his life, and he uses stories from her dreams as inspiration in some of his online games. One night, Tommy is kidnapped by strange creatures from a parallel world. It is up to Jessica to rescue him, and in the process, find out what she really is.
One of the strengths of young adult writing is its ability to address the issues that teenagers are dealing with in their own lives. Friedman does a fantastic job of portraying a messed up family that still has an anchor of love and support, even though Jessica’s father’s actions have left lasting emotional scars on everyone in the family. Her family isn’t perfect, but they’re trying, and Jessica will stop at nothing to save Tommy’s life.
I enjoyed the fact that Friedman decided to use a diverse cast of characters. Jessica is accompanied on her rescue mission by two friends that she met online, both of whom have similar DNA anomalies. Devon is black, and Rita grew up on the streets. Their differing racial and socioeconomic backgrounds play important roles in the story, and each character has to rely on their own unique life experiences to survive in another world.
Oh, and then there’s the romance! Friedman does a perfect job here. Jessica is too busy rescuing her brother to have long romantic entanglements, and there’s no insta-love in this book. Instead, there are crushes on two different characters, but both of those crushes would come with real-life consequences that would get in the way of Jessica’s mission, and so she doesn’t really act on them so much as daydream and wonder about what might be. This is a far more realistic approach than most young adult novels, and I love it.
I get the feeling that a lot of long time fans of C. S. Friedman’s writing aren’t going to like this book, not because it isn’t good, but because it’s such a departure from her usual style. Readers, don’t expect epic and twisted sagas in the style of the Magister or Coldfire trilogies. That’s not what this book is supposed to be. It’s a young adult contemporary fantasy story, and Friedman does an excellent job exploring a new genre. I look forward to reading the next installations in the series.
Read
November 10, 2020Funny story here. I have read nearly every novel C(elia).S. Friedman has written, and they have always proved engrossing. When I began this blog, I had the second novel in the Magister trilogy sitting on my TBR shelf, and it was supposed to be about the fourth review I published, as soon as I read it. Still haven't read it. Mostly because I meant to go back and read the first book over again; it had been far too long between publishing dates, and I was pretty fuzzy about what had gone before. The third novel in the trilogy is out, and I never did buy it.
When I saw that Friedman had written either a stand alone novel or the beginning of a new series, then, I was overjoyed and I immediately took steps to acquire a copy of Dreamwalker.
I'm afraid that Friedman has finally sold out to the forces of evil. While, like everything else she has ever written, it is eminently readable, it's such a rehash of modern female protagonist based fiction that my jaded brain says, "Bleah."
Jessica Drake, or Jesse, is a girl living with her single mom and younger brother who has strange dreams, which she turns into paintings. When a mysterious stranger evinces interest in those paintings, and in Jesse's family, and Jesse discovers that she's not genetically related to anyone in her family, despite hospital records, the story gets rolling. Adolescent with heretofore undiscovered mystical powers - Check!
She goes online to find out if there may be other changelings like her, and encounters a pair of teenagers, Devon and Rita, who come from different backgrounds, he's the rich son of a doctor while Rita is a foster child, but have the same genetic mystery. Add a pair of friends she must learn to trust to succeed - Check!
When Jesse's brother, Tommy, is kidnapped by forces of evil from an alternate Earth (also Check!) and her family home is burned down, she and her friends find a way to sneak through the Gate between the worlds (yeah, like no one's ever tried that before, and the keepers of the gates are a bunch of dolts, this allegedly has been going on for centuries) to rescue him. In the early going, Rita appears to be jealous of the attention Devon pays to Jesse. Budding love triangle - Check!
When they ally with a band of rejected misfits living in the sewer system at their destination, they find out that the Gifts of the rulers of this alternate reality are the source of all of our legends of supernatural beings. A logical explanation for faeries, vampires and werewolves at last - Check!
Still trying to figure out the deal with the black Neanderthals who are enslaved by the master race. Probably Jesse and her friends will lead a slave revolt at some point in the saga. Wouldn't want to leave out any tropes. Shades of Spartacus!
A very quick read. We'll see if Friedman manages to bring the series up to her usual standards, or whether she falls into crass populism in the end, as the sequels arrive.
When I saw that Friedman had written either a stand alone novel or the beginning of a new series, then, I was overjoyed and I immediately took steps to acquire a copy of Dreamwalker.
I'm afraid that Friedman has finally sold out to the forces of evil. While, like everything else she has ever written, it is eminently readable, it's such a rehash of modern female protagonist based fiction that my jaded brain says, "Bleah."
Jessica Drake, or Jesse, is a girl living with her single mom and younger brother who has strange dreams, which she turns into paintings. When a mysterious stranger evinces interest in those paintings, and in Jesse's family, and Jesse discovers that she's not genetically related to anyone in her family, despite hospital records, the story gets rolling. Adolescent with heretofore undiscovered mystical powers - Check!
She goes online to find out if there may be other changelings like her, and encounters a pair of teenagers, Devon and Rita, who come from different backgrounds, he's the rich son of a doctor while Rita is a foster child, but have the same genetic mystery. Add a pair of friends she must learn to trust to succeed - Check!
When Jesse's brother, Tommy, is kidnapped by forces of evil from an alternate Earth (also Check!) and her family home is burned down, she and her friends find a way to sneak through the Gate between the worlds (yeah, like no one's ever tried that before, and the keepers of the gates are a bunch of dolts, this allegedly has been going on for centuries) to rescue him. In the early going, Rita appears to be jealous of the attention Devon pays to Jesse. Budding love triangle - Check!
When they ally with a band of rejected misfits living in the sewer system at their destination, they find out that the Gifts of the rulers of this alternate reality are the source of all of our legends of supernatural beings. A logical explanation for faeries, vampires and werewolves at last - Check!
Still trying to figure out the deal with the black Neanderthals who are enslaved by the master race. Probably Jesse and her friends will lead a slave revolt at some point in the saga. Wouldn't want to leave out any tropes. Shades of Spartacus!
A very quick read. We'll see if Friedman manages to bring the series up to her usual standards, or whether she falls into crass populism in the end, as the sequels arrive.
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