Dreamworld

by Lorelei Balansa

Have you ever wondered, how does the world inside your dreams look like? Well, for young boy Arien, he is about to find out for himself.After surviving through a horrific night in the cold, Arien is sent into the world of dreams through a deep coma. There, he must embark on a journey with his friend, Outis to wake up once again. However, after seeing so much through his mind, Arien wonders to himself, does he even want to wake up at all?

175 pages, Paperback

Published November 17, 2023

About the author

Lorelei Balansa is an author and character designer who has written the Inventor Tarskin series and stand-alone novels such as Feral Hybrids and Dreamworld. She specializes in writing fictional novels suitable for general audiences.

Balansa comes from a mixed Mexican and Filipino heritage. She has gained her interest in storytelling at the young age of 10 and began studying to become an author at the age of 13. Balansa became interested in storytelling by mainly watching TV shows and movies.

Reviews

[Ricardo Medina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book thanks to my Kindle Unlimited Subscription and read it on my tablet using the Kindle App. If you are reading this review, you may have already read others, so I will not mention the main issues with the writing style that are explained perfectly in other reviews. Instead, I will stick with the really great things this book has and I loved it about it.

The story is amazingly lovely, and it has a great message for the target audience, which is mid-teens children. It does not matter how difficult the next task is, it does not matter how afraid you are. With the help of your friends and believing in oneself, you can do anything and overcome any kind of problem you have. A beautiful message is told through the story of Arien, who is in a coma and has to escape from this coma with the help of his best friend Outis. They survive zombies and any kind of fantasy creatures you can imagine in a lot of different phases, like a videogame, remembering different phases of his life, until he reaches the last portal to wake up, learning a lot about love, friendship, and self-discovery on this journey.

It's a beautiful book with a very beautiful message.

[T.D. Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful Journey Through Dreams

I have always been fascinated by dreams and this book does a great job capturing the wonder of them. Arien falls into a coma after being thrown out into the cold by the archetypal evil stepmom. What follows is an adventure with best friend Outis and special friend Beatrice.

From zombie-infested nightmare to a fairytale land…he has to keep finding portals and advancing deeper with the goal of making it out. There is a lot to like here. The friendships are wonderfully portrayed. Emotions run deep. And there are moments of humor…such as when a piranha bites Arien on the behind. I loved the dream meeting with Beatrice…which was probably my favorite scene. I won’t describe it to avoid spoilers…but it was fun and made me immediately like her character. That just made the very touching conclusion with a nice dash of romance that much better.

There are some mechanical problems here which is why it is a 4 star and not a 5 star. The formatting is okay, but far from perfect. There are a fair share of typos and errors…enough that it can be a little distracting at times. There is also some head hopping and a bit more showing than is prudent. It would benefit tremendously from a couple rounds of editing and this book is good enough that it would still be worth doing that. I give the creativity and story a 5 and the mechanics a 3.

The plot isn’t perfect. All of that said…the author has true talent. She is highly imaginative and builds emotional scenes. Her portrayal of dreams was both fun and realistic. With the shifts and oddness of it…it felt like a real dream and the commentary on dreams in the dialogue is interesting. It also has some great themes such as the power of friendship, the importance of forgiveness, overcoming adversity, and drawing from your past. I also think the author is good at creating endearing characters and has good instincts…such as the decision to set the real world part in Switzerland which aligns well with the story.

All in all, I enjoyed this one…especially the three main characters and the heartwarming conclusion. Thank you for the read.

[Craig Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreamworld by Lorelei Balansa offers a captivating journey into the depths of the dream world, seen through the eyes of a young boy, Arien. Balansa’s unique concept of exploring the dream realm is both fun and cool, making it a standout in the young adult genre. Arien, as a character, is compelling and injects a sense of liveliness into the narrative. His adventures alongside Outis are both fun and amazing, providing readers with a delightful escape.

The plot of Dreamworld is woven with creativity and is brimming with excellent descriptions that paint vivid settings. This aspect of the book is particularly noteworthy, as it allows readers to immerse themselves fully in the dreamscapes Balansa has crafted. The journey of Arien and Outis is not just an adventure but also an exploration of deeper themes, making one ponder about the boundaries between dreams and reality.

However, the book does stumble somewhat in its presentation. There are noticeable formatting issues within the eBook version that can disrupt the reading experience. Additionally, the presence of several errors suggests that further editing could enhance the overall quality of the book. These technical aspects, though not overshadowing the story’s charm, are areas where improvement would benefit the reader's experience.

In conclusion, Dreamworld is a commendable effort by Lorelei Balansa. Its intriguing plot, memorable characters, and vivid descriptions make it a worthwhile read for young adult readers. Despite the need for some editorial polishing, the book remains an engaging and imaginative journey. For those who enjoy diving into fantastical worlds and exploring the depths of imagination, Dreamworld is a journey worth taking.

[sureshot · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is by a talented author and the concept of it is brilliant. But I think the delivery has the problems of an inexperienced author. It don’t usually recommend edits, but I think this is an author who could learn a lot from a good editor. The most prevalent problems include perspective taking. It’s usually best in fiction to take one perspective and stick with it until you break a section or chapter. If the single perspective character can’t experience something, than don’t talk about it at that time. This book starts out with an omnipresent narrator giving a brief history of the main character. This could have been deleted from the book. The author could have easily started from the MCs perspective living with his stepmother. Once the author switched to his perspective, she did a good job garnishing sympathy for the main character. As the plot moved forward the author did a lot of head hopping and sometimes moved to omnipresent editor mode. You have to think of the perspective character’s point of view. For instance, don’t say things like Arien ran with a scowl on his face. Talk about what he’s experiencing while he ran. Don’t talk about what a non-perspective character is feeling; talk about what the perspective character sees that makes him or her think the non-perspective character is feeling that.
Overall, I gave this three stars, because the author obviously has talent. I hope she will take the necessary steps to learn more about the art of writing. Even this book could go from the two or three stars it deserves to a five, merely by going through and applying the perspective stuff.

[Mark Livingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonder and mystery
The concept of exploring the world inside dreams is intriguing, and the author does an excellent job of bringing it to life. The descriptions of the dream world are vivid and enchanting, painting a picture of a realm filled with wonder and mystery. Readers will find themselves captivated by the imaginative landscapes and creatures that Arien encounters on his journey.

Arien's internal struggle adds depth to the story. As he delves deeper into the dream world, he begins to question whether he even wants to wake up at all. This existential dilemma adds an interesting layer of complexity to the narrative, as readers are compelled to consider the nature of reality and the power of dreams.

The friendship between Arien and Outis is a heartwarming aspect of the book. Their bond is tested as they face various challenges in the dream world, and their unwavering support for each other adds emotional depth to the story. The author skillfully explores themes of loyalty and companionship, making the reader invested in the characters' journey.

[Vicky Peplow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs more work but promising

"Dreamworld" by Lorelei Balansa exhibits a promising concept but falls short in execution, warranting a three-star rating. While the core idea of the book is intriguing, the narrative lacks the refinement needed for a truly immersive experience. The plot feels disjointed at times, hindering the natural flow of the story. Balansa's characters, though interesting, could benefit from more depth and consistency in their development. The writing style, while competent, lacks the polish required to elevate the novel to its full potential. Despite these shortcomings, there is an undeniable promise within the pages of "Dreamworld." With substantial revisions and attention to detail, the book has the potential to blossom into a captivating tale. Balansa's creativity and imagination shine through, hinting at a world that could be more vividly realized with additional refinement. In its current state, "Dreamworld" is okay, but it needs a significant amount of work to fully realize its promise.

[Darren Beaming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creative and charming tale

A highly creative story which is both immersive and rich in detail. The central premise of the story is that of a young boy named Arien who while in a coma must explore the dream world (hence the title) in a bid to wake up. He starts to question, whether he even wants to wake up as he continues his journey through the highly imaginative dream world. I really liked the use of portals as a way to break up his journey and have goals for him to complete to return home.

Arien, the main character, is a likeable protagonist who has experienced pain and loss with the death of his mother and being forced to move in with his father and very mean stepmother. Overall, the book is both an enjoyable and charming tale. While not perfect, I enjoyed the story and it kept me engaged until the very end. 

[M.J. Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is filled with creative ideas. A young boy, named Arien, is happily living with his single mother when she tragically gets ill and passes away. His father re-enters his life and takes him to live with the classic "Evil Stepmother." She really is a selfish, angry, unbelievably mean, woman. The father disappears, appearantly for his job, and isn't there to witness or prevent the torture going on. After being locked out of the house on an extremely cold night, he somehow (we aren't told how) falls into a comma. That is where the dreamworld part of the book begins. His childhood best friends try to help him find the portals that will get him back to the conscious world as they go through fantasy adventures, all the while being reminded that it is only a dream.

Unfortunately, this book is badly in need of professional editing and professional formatting. Both of these took away from having a pleasureable reading experience. I see lots of potential here for a book that middle grade pre-teens would enjoy.