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Dream Magic: Awakenings
Eric, a young boy, has enough of nightmares ruining his dreams. Determined to grow stronger, he tackles magical disciplines one at a time - be it flying, blade magic, or telepathy - and stares down his fears. But, will he survive the battles and the trial of nightmare mastery? And at what cost?
"Dream Magic: Awakenings" reaches for deep metaphysical concepts and uses introspective experiences to offer an immersive feeling of MAGIC.
"Dream Magic: Awakenings" reaches for deep metaphysical concepts and uses introspective experiences to offer an immersive feeling of MAGIC.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Dawn Harshaw
23 books9 followersDream Magic: Awakenings - a free fantasy novel
A young boy battles demons and learns magic in a shared lucid dream.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 6, 2012
This review was posted on Melissa's Midnight Musings on October 17, 2012
The concept of this book is really excellent. The thought of kids going into a dream land and learning how to work through their dreams is a great idea. Unfortunately, the execution of the concept didn't quite work out for me. The reason that I was drawn toward reading this book and accepted the review request was because the author described it as "Harry Potter-esque" so of course I was intrigued.
And believe me, there is a lot of magic in this book. And it's explained in a great amount of detail. This was another awesome point of the book for me, because I love lots of detail and as much information as possible. But, this is also one of the book's drawbacks in that it feels bogged down in all of this magical information and it makes the story seem stiff. It feels like Eric and the other characters are simply going through the motions and slowly working their way through all of the kinds of magic. While it tries to be fun, with anecdotes etc, it just feels forced. The story didn't flow in a natural way.
The metaphysical components are deeply embedded in all aspects of this book. Each chapter explores different metaphysical concepts in great detail. These concepts are so intertwined within the book that they stifle some of the creativity, which is why I think there was a problem with the flow. As a reader I got bogged down in the metaphysical concepts and so it felt to me like the adventure with the kids was just sort of thrown in as an afterthought to help buffer the heaviness of the philosophical parts. It's due to this heaviness that I don't really feel that this fits categorically as a YA book. Yes, the main characters are of ages that classify them as adults, but the concepts that are explored in this book, in the depth that they are explained do not fit within YA literature.
Plus, as a reader you don't really get too much of a chance to connect with the characters on a more personal level. You start out in the dream world and don't learn anything about their outside lives, or what causes them to be having and fighting their nightmares in the first place. So, right off the bat you go into the story feeling somewhat detached from them. I felt that I couldn't ever really form a bond with any of them. Their personalities seem stiff at times too, so it seems as if they are even somewhat detached from their own story, or at least too prim and proper to be taken seriously as real kids. There are a few curse words thrown in to try and lighten this up. It works a little bit, but not quite enough.
As a warning for those who are particularly sensitive, the last 20 pages or so are a bit gruesome.
In terms of the climax, it felt like there wasn't one. The main characters have now gone through all the types of magic. Then they go through a test and fight off their own personal demons. I did like this part because it ties in well with the concept of working through your subconscious issues within your dreams. But then they go off to fight the monsters. And then it just ends. It feels like this story isn't properly wrapped up.
Even though this book didn't quite appeal to me, it may work for you. Especially if you're looking for something highly philosophical.
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
The concept of this book is really excellent. The thought of kids going into a dream land and learning how to work through their dreams is a great idea. Unfortunately, the execution of the concept didn't quite work out for me. The reason that I was drawn toward reading this book and accepted the review request was because the author described it as "Harry Potter-esque" so of course I was intrigued.
And believe me, there is a lot of magic in this book. And it's explained in a great amount of detail. This was another awesome point of the book for me, because I love lots of detail and as much information as possible. But, this is also one of the book's drawbacks in that it feels bogged down in all of this magical information and it makes the story seem stiff. It feels like Eric and the other characters are simply going through the motions and slowly working their way through all of the kinds of magic. While it tries to be fun, with anecdotes etc, it just feels forced. The story didn't flow in a natural way.
The metaphysical components are deeply embedded in all aspects of this book. Each chapter explores different metaphysical concepts in great detail. These concepts are so intertwined within the book that they stifle some of the creativity, which is why I think there was a problem with the flow. As a reader I got bogged down in the metaphysical concepts and so it felt to me like the adventure with the kids was just sort of thrown in as an afterthought to help buffer the heaviness of the philosophical parts. It's due to this heaviness that I don't really feel that this fits categorically as a YA book. Yes, the main characters are of ages that classify them as adults, but the concepts that are explored in this book, in the depth that they are explained do not fit within YA literature.
Plus, as a reader you don't really get too much of a chance to connect with the characters on a more personal level. You start out in the dream world and don't learn anything about their outside lives, or what causes them to be having and fighting their nightmares in the first place. So, right off the bat you go into the story feeling somewhat detached from them. I felt that I couldn't ever really form a bond with any of them. Their personalities seem stiff at times too, so it seems as if they are even somewhat detached from their own story, or at least too prim and proper to be taken seriously as real kids. There are a few curse words thrown in to try and lighten this up. It works a little bit, but not quite enough.
As a warning for those who are particularly sensitive, the last 20 pages or so are a bit gruesome.
In terms of the climax, it felt like there wasn't one. The main characters have now gone through all the types of magic. Then they go through a test and fight off their own personal demons. I did like this part because it ties in well with the concept of working through your subconscious issues within your dreams. But then they go off to fight the monsters. And then it just ends. It feels like this story isn't properly wrapped up.
Even though this book didn't quite appeal to me, it may work for you. Especially if you're looking for something highly philosophical.
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
February 24, 2013
I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is another one I've had for a while, so apologies to the author for keeping you waiting. I had a spare hour and a bit tonight and as this book is only 155 pages long I decided I could read it in one.
Eric suffers from nightmares and is fed up of them, he then finds himself in 'dream camp' a place where you can go to learn how to fight your demons and learn dream skills. I think the concept behind this is excellent, it would be really fun.
Once there he makes friends with two girls Rose and Lucy and together they spend their time learning skills from flying, teleportation, conjuring fire, water, air etc. Basically magic! They have different 'teachers' to guide them in their skills.
I liked the basic innocence of the characters and their willingness to learn, the skills themself sounded cool too. I liked their lesson in flying, not sure I would have the courage to jump!
The only downside to this is that there is a lot of explaining with each new skill, a bit of backstory of how that skill works and has been learnt, I found myself skimming over parts of this just wanting to find out how they do and what use it has to them. I wanted there to be more relevance to them learning the skills, as it got a bit repetitive with each chapter just having them learn something else but never really use it. Towards the end there is a battle with Goblin like creatures where they then use their new found skills so it becomes worth it, but it's a heck of a lot of build up to get there. I don't know maybe I was missing the point a bit.
I'm not saying I didn't like the book, because I actually did, it was a fun little read and a great idea, it just took me longer to read than I thought it would and was a little slow in places. But the characters charm and chemistry pulled me through - I wanted to know what happened to them in the end which is what kept me going. That's always a good thing if you can get invested in the characters.
If you're looking for a quick magic read with a sense of charm and a look into a whole new dream world then this book will be perfect for you.
In the end I'm glad I read it. :D
This is another one I've had for a while, so apologies to the author for keeping you waiting. I had a spare hour and a bit tonight and as this book is only 155 pages long I decided I could read it in one.
Eric suffers from nightmares and is fed up of them, he then finds himself in 'dream camp' a place where you can go to learn how to fight your demons and learn dream skills. I think the concept behind this is excellent, it would be really fun.
Once there he makes friends with two girls Rose and Lucy and together they spend their time learning skills from flying, teleportation, conjuring fire, water, air etc. Basically magic! They have different 'teachers' to guide them in their skills.
I liked the basic innocence of the characters and their willingness to learn, the skills themself sounded cool too. I liked their lesson in flying, not sure I would have the courage to jump!
The only downside to this is that there is a lot of explaining with each new skill, a bit of backstory of how that skill works and has been learnt, I found myself skimming over parts of this just wanting to find out how they do and what use it has to them. I wanted there to be more relevance to them learning the skills, as it got a bit repetitive with each chapter just having them learn something else but never really use it. Towards the end there is a battle with Goblin like creatures where they then use their new found skills so it becomes worth it, but it's a heck of a lot of build up to get there. I don't know maybe I was missing the point a bit.
I'm not saying I didn't like the book, because I actually did, it was a fun little read and a great idea, it just took me longer to read than I thought it would and was a little slow in places. But the characters charm and chemistry pulled me through - I wanted to know what happened to them in the end which is what kept me going. That's always a good thing if you can get invested in the characters.
If you're looking for a quick magic read with a sense of charm and a look into a whole new dream world then this book will be perfect for you.
In the end I'm glad I read it. :D
February 4, 2013
Review On Blog: Tumbling In Books
The story follows a teenage boy, Eric who has had enough nightmares ruining his dreams. After a terrifying nightmare about goblins chasing him, all of a sudden Eric finds himself in a strange greenery place called Dream Camp. There many people in the dream camp, raging from toddlers and up. Eric quickly makes friends with two teenagers, Lucy and Rose who very recently found their way there. The three of them take classes and learn how to master magic in their dreams, the only way to master their nightmares.
The story was not that bad. This is not my kind of book and it certainly is different from what I had ever read before. Reminds me a lot of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children because of obviously the children, Harry Potter because of the magic mastery classes, and the movie Inception for the well describe concept of dreams.
I quite liked the idea of Eric and the others meeting up at the camp every night to learn how to overcome their nightmares. Each chapter is a new lesson in magic. For example flying, telepathy and teleportation!! I also like the handbook type of writing and I grew fond of the characters in the story, though I like the boys Kyle and Lyle (little naughty but absolutely adorable twins!) more than the main characters Eric, Lucy and Rose.
The only thing that really bothers me was that the author made magic sounds logic. I know it rhymes but for me magic is suppose to be illogical. That's what makes it magical. The concept about dreams was a bit complex and complicated, definitely reminds me of Inception. On the bright side, I really love the movie Inception so this book is an exception. I'm rhyming again!! >.<
Overall, I enjoy reading this book and would recommend this to anyone who finds dreams interesting, to those who likes the movie Inception and those who loves Harry Potter.
The story follows a teenage boy, Eric who has had enough nightmares ruining his dreams. After a terrifying nightmare about goblins chasing him, all of a sudden Eric finds himself in a strange greenery place called Dream Camp. There many people in the dream camp, raging from toddlers and up. Eric quickly makes friends with two teenagers, Lucy and Rose who very recently found their way there. The three of them take classes and learn how to master magic in their dreams, the only way to master their nightmares.
The story was not that bad. This is not my kind of book and it certainly is different from what I had ever read before. Reminds me a lot of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children because of obviously the children, Harry Potter because of the magic mastery classes, and the movie Inception for the well describe concept of dreams.
I quite liked the idea of Eric and the others meeting up at the camp every night to learn how to overcome their nightmares. Each chapter is a new lesson in magic. For example flying, telepathy and teleportation!! I also like the handbook type of writing and I grew fond of the characters in the story, though I like the boys Kyle and Lyle (little naughty but absolutely adorable twins!) more than the main characters Eric, Lucy and Rose.
The only thing that really bothers me was that the author made magic sounds logic. I know it rhymes but for me magic is suppose to be illogical. That's what makes it magical. The concept about dreams was a bit complex and complicated, definitely reminds me of Inception. On the bright side, I really love the movie Inception so this book is an exception. I'm rhyming again!! >.<
Overall, I enjoy reading this book and would recommend this to anyone who finds dreams interesting, to those who likes the movie Inception and those who loves Harry Potter.
March 23, 2020
I read something like 10-15% of it. It was at best ok, but not bad enough that I stopped reading sooner. Not good enough to keep reading either.
August 13, 2012
So, Dawn messaged me on Goodreads about two weeks ago about this book asking me to read it and offer feedback. Naturally I wasn't turning down a free book! I started reading it and very quickly fell into the story...
The characters are all quite likable! I never wanted to reach through and strangle any of them - and that's unusual for me! Eric is the main character and our introduction to him is in his nightmare. He ends up in Dream Camp and the Playground in a dream reality almost immediately, but he's as confused as we are about his new location.
Hmmm... I'm going to interrupt myself with a quick bit of background: You don't dream alone. When you dream, you have the potential to log on (in a manner of speaking) to a community dream where magic, flying, friendship, and the ability to help others battle nightmares is possible.
He's met by Annie who acts a bit like a tour guide before handing him off to some younger and very energetic twins - Kyle and Lyle. She also gives him a book called the "Dreamers Handbook." The start of every chapter is marked with an excerpt from this book. (Dawn, please write this book! This would be an awesome additional read!) Kyle and Lyle introduce Eric to his two new best friends, Lucy and Rose.
Now, in this new reality, lots of things are possible as I mentioned above and to learn these possibilities, there are classes. Classes without tests, grades, or attendance requirements. Except for the nightmare battling classes, of course. You have to pass a final exam for those before you're allowed to visit the Outpost and help fight off other people's nightmares.
The story is enjoyable, by the way; you get sucked in easily and want to read more, but for a while there doesn't seem to be much of a plot. It reads more like a diary or journal than anything else. This (luckily) doesn't detract from the story! There are a few spots where you think "oh, plot point!" when something happens - ie: overhearing a conversation about a mysterious villain - but it doesn't seem to go far in this book. The only main goals that we see would be mastering a few individual courses (like flying and sword magic) and passing the final exam to be allowed to battle nightmares.
Passage of time is very difficult to mark because the characters are never shown awake with one small exception of Eric waking up and remembering something from Dream Camp. It's not a major issue, because the story flows regardless, but it would definitely add some extra depth to the story. (I would love a little drabble with Eric forgetting he can't fly in the real world. That would be hilarious. Or even a short story with the trio managing a real world meet-up to hang out.) And maybe I missed it, but I don't think ages are ever given. Based on behavior and thoughts, I would guess between 14 and 16.
I gave this book a strong 4 out of 5 - if goodreads allowed half stars, it would be 4.5, but it still needs a bit of tweaking before I can give 5 stars.
With all the above being said, I have to say that I will definitely be looking forward to more stories from Dawn and I'm hoping that this story is meant to be the first in a series! Keep us informed!
The characters are all quite likable! I never wanted to reach through and strangle any of them - and that's unusual for me! Eric is the main character and our introduction to him is in his nightmare. He ends up in Dream Camp and the Playground in a dream reality almost immediately, but he's as confused as we are about his new location.
Hmmm... I'm going to interrupt myself with a quick bit of background: You don't dream alone. When you dream, you have the potential to log on (in a manner of speaking) to a community dream where magic, flying, friendship, and the ability to help others battle nightmares is possible.
He's met by Annie who acts a bit like a tour guide before handing him off to some younger and very energetic twins - Kyle and Lyle. She also gives him a book called the "Dreamers Handbook." The start of every chapter is marked with an excerpt from this book. (Dawn, please write this book! This would be an awesome additional read!) Kyle and Lyle introduce Eric to his two new best friends, Lucy and Rose.
Now, in this new reality, lots of things are possible as I mentioned above and to learn these possibilities, there are classes. Classes without tests, grades, or attendance requirements. Except for the nightmare battling classes, of course. You have to pass a final exam for those before you're allowed to visit the Outpost and help fight off other people's nightmares.
The story is enjoyable, by the way; you get sucked in easily and want to read more, but for a while there doesn't seem to be much of a plot. It reads more like a diary or journal than anything else. This (luckily) doesn't detract from the story! There are a few spots where you think "oh, plot point!" when something happens - ie: overhearing a conversation about a mysterious villain - but it doesn't seem to go far in this book. The only main goals that we see would be mastering a few individual courses (like flying and sword magic) and passing the final exam to be allowed to battle nightmares.
Passage of time is very difficult to mark because the characters are never shown awake with one small exception of Eric waking up and remembering something from Dream Camp. It's not a major issue, because the story flows regardless, but it would definitely add some extra depth to the story. (I would love a little drabble with Eric forgetting he can't fly in the real world. That would be hilarious. Or even a short story with the trio managing a real world meet-up to hang out.) And maybe I missed it, but I don't think ages are ever given. Based on behavior and thoughts, I would guess between 14 and 16.
I gave this book a strong 4 out of 5 - if goodreads allowed half stars, it would be 4.5, but it still needs a bit of tweaking before I can give 5 stars.
With all the above being said, I have to say that I will definitely be looking forward to more stories from Dawn and I'm hoping that this story is meant to be the first in a series! Keep us informed!
September 1, 2012
This book was really good from the beginning to the end of the whole book. The characters are all quite likable! I never wanted to reach through and strangle any of them - and that's unusual for me! Eric is the main character and our introduction to him is in his nightmare. He ends up in Dream Camp and the Playground in a dream reality almost immediately, but he's as confused as we are about his new location.The story is enjoyable, by the way; you get sucked in easily and want to read more, but for a while there doesn't seem to be much of a plot. It reads more like a diary or journal than anything else. This (luckily) doesn't detract from the story! There are a few spots where you think "oh, plot point!" when something happens - ie: overhearing a conversation about a mysterious villain - but it doesn't seem to go far in this book. The only main goals that we see would be mastering a few individual courses (like flying and sword magic) and passing the final exam to be allowed to battle nightmares. Passage of time is very difficult to mark because the characters are never shown awake with one small exception of Eric waking up and remembering something from Dream Camp. It's not a major issue, because the story flows regardless, but it would definitely add some extra depth to the story. (I would love a little drabble with Eric forgetting he can't fly in the real world. That would be hilarious. Or even a short story with the trio managing a real world meet-up to hang out.) And maybe I missed it, but I don't think ages are ever given. Based on behavior and thoughts, I would guess between 14 and 16. I gave this book a strong 4 out of 5 - if goodreads allowed half stars, it would be 4.5, but it still needs a bit of tweaking before I can give 5 stars.
If you're looking for a fast read you will love this book. I got into this book really fast because I am a big Harry Potter fan and love books about magic and spells. Its kinda neat to go back to books like Harry Potter because after Twilight came out all people cared about was werewolves and vampires. They ended up forgetting about the magical world of Harry Potter. So its pretty neat to get a book about magic and spells again. It takes you to a different world besides werewolves and vampires. Don't get me wrong I love reading Young Adult books about Vampires and Werewolves but it feels nice to move on to something different. So if you get the time to read a book choose this one. You will not be disappointed at all.
If you're looking for a fast read you will love this book. I got into this book really fast because I am a big Harry Potter fan and love books about magic and spells. Its kinda neat to go back to books like Harry Potter because after Twilight came out all people cared about was werewolves and vampires. They ended up forgetting about the magical world of Harry Potter. So its pretty neat to get a book about magic and spells again. It takes you to a different world besides werewolves and vampires. Don't get me wrong I love reading Young Adult books about Vampires and Werewolves but it feels nice to move on to something different. So if you get the time to read a book choose this one. You will not be disappointed at all.
October 11, 2012
Dream Magic: Awakenings is the story of Eric, a teenage boy who has had way too many nightmares. After a terrifying nightmare featuring goblins, Eric finds himself in a strange dream camp. There are a lot of other people in the camp, ranging from toddlers and up, and Eric quickly makes friends with Lucy and Rose, two other teenagers who have recently found their way there. While at camp, the three of them take classes and learn how to master magic in their dreams, the only way to ultimately master their nightmares.
The Characters:
Eric, the main character, was friendly and likable, the same as Rose and Lucy. While we spend a lot of time with them, I didn't get drawn into them as much as I would have liked. Since the book takes place while they are dreaming, I felt like we didn't get a chance to really know about their day to day lives and it was harder to connect with them. I didn't think this was as important with the smaller side characters, like Lyle and Kyle the crazy brothers who love to stir up trouble. I found them refreshing and funny and knew something fun was around the corner when they came around.
The Setting:
Since this story takes place at Dream Camp, somewhere imaginary, it was extremely important that the author paint a vivid picture for us. Thankfully, she does just that. Harshaw does a wonderful job of walking us through the camp and surrounding areas, describing each location in fantastic detail, never failing to give us as complete a picture as an actual photograph. I had no trouble walking around the camp in my head along with the characters.
The Storyline:
I have crazy dreams on a regular basis, almost every night. I liked the idea of Eric and the others meeting up at the camp every night to learn how to overcome their nightmares. Each chapter is a new lesson in magic, whether it be teleportation, flying (my personal favorite) or even demonology. Each lesson brings new struggles to the trio. As I said before, I would have liked to have learned more about their day to day lives, when they weren't sleeping, but it wasn't necessarily important to the story.
The Writing:
Excellent! The story progresses at a steady rate and each chapter has a fun new obstacle for Eric and the girls to complete.
Overall, this book was very interesting and much different from anything that I've read lately. If you are a magic fan or find dreams fascinating, then this is definitely the book for you.
The Characters:
Eric, the main character, was friendly and likable, the same as Rose and Lucy. While we spend a lot of time with them, I didn't get drawn into them as much as I would have liked. Since the book takes place while they are dreaming, I felt like we didn't get a chance to really know about their day to day lives and it was harder to connect with them. I didn't think this was as important with the smaller side characters, like Lyle and Kyle the crazy brothers who love to stir up trouble. I found them refreshing and funny and knew something fun was around the corner when they came around.
The Setting:
Since this story takes place at Dream Camp, somewhere imaginary, it was extremely important that the author paint a vivid picture for us. Thankfully, she does just that. Harshaw does a wonderful job of walking us through the camp and surrounding areas, describing each location in fantastic detail, never failing to give us as complete a picture as an actual photograph. I had no trouble walking around the camp in my head along with the characters.
The Storyline:
I have crazy dreams on a regular basis, almost every night. I liked the idea of Eric and the others meeting up at the camp every night to learn how to overcome their nightmares. Each chapter is a new lesson in magic, whether it be teleportation, flying (my personal favorite) or even demonology. Each lesson brings new struggles to the trio. As I said before, I would have liked to have learned more about their day to day lives, when they weren't sleeping, but it wasn't necessarily important to the story.
The Writing:
Excellent! The story progresses at a steady rate and each chapter has a fun new obstacle for Eric and the girls to complete.
Overall, this book was very interesting and much different from anything that I've read lately. If you are a magic fan or find dreams fascinating, then this is definitely the book for you.
August 28, 2012
Review:
Wow – the imagination, creativity and ideas that were all poured into this story. I must applaud the author in masterfully creating a dream world of magic which is detailed and dreamlike yet still all logical and comes across based on reality. It is obvious that much time and thought has been spent to perfect the basis of the universe – its laws, limitations and possibilities.
In general, the idea and realization of the world introduced in the story is great and more than intriguing. Even though, it becoming too technical at times like I was reading a science or instruction manual I really found the theories, explanations, etc, more than awesome. This story was also surprisingly easy to read despite a full emphasis on what made this dream world tick and all its various sides.
While the background was more than satisfactory, the aspect this book lacks is more focus on the characters. There was so much potential in Eric, Rose, Lucy and the various teachers that were introduced, unfortunately, it wasn’t realized or developed to the extent that I would have hoped. And some color to the main players would have helped to make the constant lessons less repetitive – snippets of what everyone was like outside of the dream world, recess or even just chatting about things not wholly intertwined with the dream would have been very much appreciated. While I loved reading about the process of gaining knowledge and learning new skills, because it was just so engaging yet simplistic, the human aspect of the magic makers was neglected.
In the end of the story I realized that to me this book came together to form a solid prologue to the actual plot and book one of this world. I’m curious if this was what the author intended because that would be quite interesting to follow, if there would be a book one to the story.
Overall:
While I had issues with the characters and no clear goal in the story, I was more than delighted by the universe everything took place in and how it was depicted and explained. And if this really was more like an introduction or prologue to the ACTUAL book one, I’d love to check that out.
Wow – the imagination, creativity and ideas that were all poured into this story. I must applaud the author in masterfully creating a dream world of magic which is detailed and dreamlike yet still all logical and comes across based on reality. It is obvious that much time and thought has been spent to perfect the basis of the universe – its laws, limitations and possibilities.
In general, the idea and realization of the world introduced in the story is great and more than intriguing. Even though, it becoming too technical at times like I was reading a science or instruction manual I really found the theories, explanations, etc, more than awesome. This story was also surprisingly easy to read despite a full emphasis on what made this dream world tick and all its various sides.
While the background was more than satisfactory, the aspect this book lacks is more focus on the characters. There was so much potential in Eric, Rose, Lucy and the various teachers that were introduced, unfortunately, it wasn’t realized or developed to the extent that I would have hoped. And some color to the main players would have helped to make the constant lessons less repetitive – snippets of what everyone was like outside of the dream world, recess or even just chatting about things not wholly intertwined with the dream would have been very much appreciated. While I loved reading about the process of gaining knowledge and learning new skills, because it was just so engaging yet simplistic, the human aspect of the magic makers was neglected.
In the end of the story I realized that to me this book came together to form a solid prologue to the actual plot and book one of this world. I’m curious if this was what the author intended because that would be quite interesting to follow, if there would be a book one to the story.
Overall:
While I had issues with the characters and no clear goal in the story, I was more than delighted by the universe everything took place in and how it was depicted and explained. And if this really was more like an introduction or prologue to the ACTUAL book one, I’d love to check that out.
November 2, 2012
This book was really good from the beginning to the end of the whole book. If your looking for a fast read you will love this book.
I got into this book really fast because I am a big Harry Potter fan and love books about magic and spells. Its kinda neat to go back to books like Harry Potter because after Twilight came out all people cared about was werewolves and vampires. They ended up forgetting about the magical world of Harry Potter. So its pretty neat to get a book about magic and spells again. It takes you to a different world besides werewolves and vampires. Don't get me wrong I love reading Young Adult books about Vampires and Werewolves but it feels nice to move on to something different. So if you get the time to read a book choose this one. You will not be disappointed at all.
Dream Magic is about a boy named Eric who ends up having a really bad dream about a goblin chasing him in the beginning and then all of a sudden he wakes from the dream and ends up being in the dream camp and he meets a teacher named Annie. She tells him she has never left the Dream Camp because this is where she feels safe. So to show him around she has two little boys named Kyle and Lyle and their dog named Duke. Along the way he meets a couple of young students that just came to Dream Camp also named Lucy and Rose. They end up becoming friends and through the whole journey they end up learning so many spells and magic. They end up learning about flying, portal magic, healing, and Teleportation. The more things that Eric ends up learning through the story makes him a stronger person. Each page keeps you on your toes and your end up learning so much about magic and spells. When you read each page you feel like your another character in the story and you wish you could learn how to do all those things. I was so mad when the story was over with because I wanted to read more. Hopefully this author will come out with another part to this series.
I got into this book really fast because I am a big Harry Potter fan and love books about magic and spells. Its kinda neat to go back to books like Harry Potter because after Twilight came out all people cared about was werewolves and vampires. They ended up forgetting about the magical world of Harry Potter. So its pretty neat to get a book about magic and spells again. It takes you to a different world besides werewolves and vampires. Don't get me wrong I love reading Young Adult books about Vampires and Werewolves but it feels nice to move on to something different. So if you get the time to read a book choose this one. You will not be disappointed at all.
Dream Magic is about a boy named Eric who ends up having a really bad dream about a goblin chasing him in the beginning and then all of a sudden he wakes from the dream and ends up being in the dream camp and he meets a teacher named Annie. She tells him she has never left the Dream Camp because this is where she feels safe. So to show him around she has two little boys named Kyle and Lyle and their dog named Duke. Along the way he meets a couple of young students that just came to Dream Camp also named Lucy and Rose. They end up becoming friends and through the whole journey they end up learning so many spells and magic. They end up learning about flying, portal magic, healing, and Teleportation. The more things that Eric ends up learning through the story makes him a stronger person. Each page keeps you on your toes and your end up learning so much about magic and spells. When you read each page you feel like your another character in the story and you wish you could learn how to do all those things. I was so mad when the story was over with because I wanted to read more. Hopefully this author will come out with another part to this series.
August 15, 2012
This book is said to seem some what like Harry Potter in different ways. That's what motivated me to read this book.
Dream Magic: Awakenings. The book title speaks for itself. It's a book about Magic in your dreams, and Eric; the boy the book revolves around, is a young boy who fights nightmares and learns magic in his dreams. Well, that's how I see and understand it.
This story line was original. But it did seem like some of the books that I've read in the past.
The way the book was written was great, the flow was there. Even though it sometimes just cuts from one scene to another. But you can tell that the flow is there.
One of the only things that was missing was some scenes from Erics real life, not his dream life. Because as I was reading it, I tend to forget that Eric is actually dreaming. I think some more insight on Erics real life would be another good edition to the book.
I was quite surprised at the ending. It was very brutal in a way, and there was a lot of torture and pulling out of body parts. That is what I absolutely did not expect. That chapter in the book just blew me off my bed. It certainly was a nightmare.
The book cover, seems very cute in my opinion. Since it's a YA book it's appropriate. I'm guessing the heart in the middle symbolizes what Eric experienced in the end of the book. I always love book covers that are related to the books content.
Over all, Dream Magic: Awakening was a great book. I think Dawn Harshaw did a great job in writing it, even though there maybe some little loose screws here and there. The book was fabulous.
I absolutely recommend it to those readers who love reading YA adventures, who loved the Harry Potter books and who love to dream.
Dream Magic: Awakenings. The book title speaks for itself. It's a book about Magic in your dreams, and Eric; the boy the book revolves around, is a young boy who fights nightmares and learns magic in his dreams. Well, that's how I see and understand it.
This story line was original. But it did seem like some of the books that I've read in the past.
The way the book was written was great, the flow was there. Even though it sometimes just cuts from one scene to another. But you can tell that the flow is there.
One of the only things that was missing was some scenes from Erics real life, not his dream life. Because as I was reading it, I tend to forget that Eric is actually dreaming. I think some more insight on Erics real life would be another good edition to the book.
I was quite surprised at the ending. It was very brutal in a way, and there was a lot of torture and pulling out of body parts. That is what I absolutely did not expect. That chapter in the book just blew me off my bed. It certainly was a nightmare.
The book cover, seems very cute in my opinion. Since it's a YA book it's appropriate. I'm guessing the heart in the middle symbolizes what Eric experienced in the end of the book. I always love book covers that are related to the books content.
Over all, Dream Magic: Awakening was a great book. I think Dawn Harshaw did a great job in writing it, even though there maybe some little loose screws here and there. The book was fabulous.
I absolutely recommend it to those readers who love reading YA adventures, who loved the Harry Potter books and who love to dream.
August 16, 2012
When I read the premise of Dream Magic: Awakenings, I jumped at the chance to read it. It's being compared to Harry Potter, because it's about kids learning magic, but these kids are learning magic in their dreams. Basically, they have a shared lucid dream, where they learn different types of magic, which they use to fight their nightmares.
You know how Star Wars is sort of fantasy in a sci-fi setting? Well, this is like sci-fi in a fantasy setting. What I mean by that is that rather than the focus on character development and story that you usually get in a fantasy novel, this book is more like sci-fi, which tends to focus more on ideas, and how things work. This book is very focused on how the different types of magic work.
I was actually looking forward to that, going into the book, because learning how magic works seemed like a pretty cool idea. The only problem is, magic is really confusing! I get the feeling that Dawn put a lot of work into her theories of magic, which is awesome, but to be honest they mostly went right over my head. The characters often said that they didn't understand the explanations, either, but that they got some kind of intuitive understanding of it somehow. Unfortunately, I was not in dream land, so I got no such intuition.
So, while the premise of this story is awesome, I would have appreciated more in the way of character development, and a bit less in the way of really confusing descriptions of magical concepts.
3 stars.
Full disclosure: Free ebook copy received from the author.
This review is copied from my blog, The Towering Pile. It was originally published here.
You know how Star Wars is sort of fantasy in a sci-fi setting? Well, this is like sci-fi in a fantasy setting. What I mean by that is that rather than the focus on character development and story that you usually get in a fantasy novel, this book is more like sci-fi, which tends to focus more on ideas, and how things work. This book is very focused on how the different types of magic work.
I was actually looking forward to that, going into the book, because learning how magic works seemed like a pretty cool idea. The only problem is, magic is really confusing! I get the feeling that Dawn put a lot of work into her theories of magic, which is awesome, but to be honest they mostly went right over my head. The characters often said that they didn't understand the explanations, either, but that they got some kind of intuitive understanding of it somehow. Unfortunately, I was not in dream land, so I got no such intuition.
So, while the premise of this story is awesome, I would have appreciated more in the way of character development, and a bit less in the way of really confusing descriptions of magical concepts.
3 stars.
Full disclosure: Free ebook copy received from the author.
This review is copied from my blog, The Towering Pile. It was originally published here.
August 30, 2012
I was approached by the author to review this book and as the blurb sounds interesting, I gladly accepted. The beginning was intriguing and attention grabbing, Eric was running away from his nightmare – it was really quite exciting.
What I like most is that at the beginning of the chapters, there is an excerpt or two from the Dreamer’s Handbook which usually explain the “meat” of the chapters. These excerpts are actually the highlights for me.
Each chapters feel like they could be short stories – whilst the main characters are the same, there is little to link these chapters together. The chapters (except for the first & last chapters) all concentrated on magic lessons. Therefore, I find this book to be very light in overall plot / storyline. It’s only right at the end that you’d realise the interconnecting bits and what they all mean. It feels like a really long prequel to something... (I don't actually know if it is)
Whilst the book is written from the point of view of a teenage boy, I’m actually confused about the target audience. The chapters / stories themselves at surface level are not too bad although I don’t find them to be engaging enough for teens these days. The overall theme of this novel, though, is really quite mature.
The novel is currently available for free download from the author’s website
What I like most is that at the beginning of the chapters, there is an excerpt or two from the Dreamer’s Handbook which usually explain the “meat” of the chapters. These excerpts are actually the highlights for me.
Each chapters feel like they could be short stories – whilst the main characters are the same, there is little to link these chapters together. The chapters (except for the first & last chapters) all concentrated on magic lessons. Therefore, I find this book to be very light in overall plot / storyline. It’s only right at the end that you’d realise the interconnecting bits and what they all mean. It feels like a really long prequel to something... (I don't actually know if it is)
Whilst the book is written from the point of view of a teenage boy, I’m actually confused about the target audience. The chapters / stories themselves at surface level are not too bad although I don’t find them to be engaging enough for teens these days. The overall theme of this novel, though, is really quite mature.
The novel is currently available for free download from the author’s website
November 21, 2012
PDF free via author for honest review
This book had a "Harry Potter" feel to it for me, which, seeing I loved the Harry Potter books was a good thing for me. Instead of going to a far away place filled with magic, Eric, the main character in this book goes to Dream Land filled with magic and new friends. The detail of this book was fantastic! I felt at times as though I was in class with Eric and his new friends trying to learn the spells being taught to them. The characters were also a great asset to this book. They were fun, fun to relate to, adventurous, and well developed throughout the book.
If you are a lover of magical things and books, then this is the book for you to read. It is a young adult book so is a bit of an easier read than some others I have read, but not in a bad way, just a good flowing book. I felt like I didn't have to concentrate so hard on remembering what was all going on either as the book just seemed to flow and stick with me.
I would recommend checking this book out to any magic lover or lover of Harry Potter. :-)
4/5 Stars!
This book had a "Harry Potter" feel to it for me, which, seeing I loved the Harry Potter books was a good thing for me. Instead of going to a far away place filled with magic, Eric, the main character in this book goes to Dream Land filled with magic and new friends. The detail of this book was fantastic! I felt at times as though I was in class with Eric and his new friends trying to learn the spells being taught to them. The characters were also a great asset to this book. They were fun, fun to relate to, adventurous, and well developed throughout the book.
If you are a lover of magical things and books, then this is the book for you to read. It is a young adult book so is a bit of an easier read than some others I have read, but not in a bad way, just a good flowing book. I felt like I didn't have to concentrate so hard on remembering what was all going on either as the book just seemed to flow and stick with me.
I would recommend checking this book out to any magic lover or lover of Harry Potter. :-)
4/5 Stars!
August 23, 2012
When I read a fantasy novel, my usual concern is that the supernatural element will be vague and unconvincing. This is definitely not a concern when it comes to this book. It is no doubt that a lot of thought and work went into creating the magic of this world. Every little thing was explained in detail. Instead of simply stating that they could teleport, the author mentioned how. It was almost as if I studied the Dreamer's Handbook along with Eric (much beyond getting to know the name or the words of a spell.) I loved the detail in the book and the focus on each of the different aspects of magic is spectacular. Along with that, the book provides a great perspective on life and childhood, dreams and fears. If you are as awed by dreams as I am and like to unravel the mysteries of magic, this is the book for you.
Read full review here: http://peskypiksipesternomi.blogspot....
Read full review here: http://peskypiksipesternomi.blogspot....
November 11, 2012
Most of this tale is G-rated and the bulk of it is world building and learning the magic systems. Nearly everyone in this story is a good guy and there is very little conflict. Part of me found that interesting, and part of me felt it made the story a little slow. Still, I enjoyed the whole concept that our necessary downtime, stuck in sleep and dreams, doesn’t have to be a waste of time. Dawn Harshaw built a very interesting beginning to a series.
By the end of the tale, Eric and two of his dream friends are ready to move on to the next stage and help fight nightmares. They shared several humorous missteps together, several triumphs, and several jokes by the brothers Lyle and Kyle. The book sometimes strayed into lots of lucid dream psychology or metaphysical jargon which was a bit over my head, but added to the world building. In short, I found this fantasy to be an interesting read and I look forward to seeing what the author does with the kids in the next installment.
By the end of the tale, Eric and two of his dream friends are ready to move on to the next stage and help fight nightmares. They shared several humorous missteps together, several triumphs, and several jokes by the brothers Lyle and Kyle. The book sometimes strayed into lots of lucid dream psychology or metaphysical jargon which was a bit over my head, but added to the world building. In short, I found this fantasy to be an interesting read and I look forward to seeing what the author does with the kids in the next installment.
February 21, 2013
This book is definitely not without flaw (punctuation, tense confusion, etc), and a little tedious at times. It does resemble a dreamlike state, though it seems not much is happening a lot of the time. It kind of reads like a handbook, though it has excerpts from handbooks at the beginning of each chapter. Also, though this story reads like it's for kids, it's definitely not, as it has some pretty graphic scenes (beheading, torturing, etc) and profane language. I would recommend to people who are interested in dreams and who like fiction fantasy stories.
August 12, 2012
A nice story about a kid who learns magic in his dreams. The writing is just fantastic and captivating.
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