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The Commune: Tales From Purgatory Book One
Escaping a junkie mom and abusive stepdad, Magdalene steals a drug lord’s money and holes up with some friends-of-a-friend in the middle of BF Utah.
That’s where things go from bad to weird.
The place is called The Society for Consciousness Research, Exploration and Mapping, though they just call it the Commune. It’s led by a genius mathematician who abandoned his academic career to study lucid dreaming and the afterlife. The people there believe some very interesting things. They also seem to be involved in shady investments and money laundering. But whatever her doubts, Magdalene has nowhere else to go.
Then she meets Omar, another Commune member. When he appears in her dreams—and describes them to her when she’s awake—she’s forced to consider that their beliefs might be real.
Omar teaches Magdalene to manipulate the dreamscape and navigate the surreal pathways of the Dead. But strange henchmen with glowing eyes lurk there, and they’re trying to lure Magdalene in. Then there’s the drug lord, who wants his money back and is searching for her.
Pursued by enemies in two dimensions, Magdalene has to figure out who she can trust and what’s real before she gets in over her head.
That’s where things go from bad to weird.
The place is called The Society for Consciousness Research, Exploration and Mapping, though they just call it the Commune. It’s led by a genius mathematician who abandoned his academic career to study lucid dreaming and the afterlife. The people there believe some very interesting things. They also seem to be involved in shady investments and money laundering. But whatever her doubts, Magdalene has nowhere else to go.
Then she meets Omar, another Commune member. When he appears in her dreams—and describes them to her when she’s awake—she’s forced to consider that their beliefs might be real.
Omar teaches Magdalene to manipulate the dreamscape and navigate the surreal pathways of the Dead. But strange henchmen with glowing eyes lurk there, and they’re trying to lure Magdalene in. Then there’s the drug lord, who wants his money back and is searching for her.
Pursued by enemies in two dimensions, Magdalene has to figure out who she can trust and what’s real before she gets in over her head.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2025
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 2, 2025
After a run-in with the criminal dating her junkie mom, Magdalene escapes with drug money hidden in a coffin. She lies low and hides in a commune, which makes Karma Cleanse supplements. Is it a cult? Who are these mysterious people who are obsessed with lucid dreaming and exploring the dreamscape of Purgatory? What's in the Black Tower?
Magdalene is crushing hard on dream expert Omar. When powers in the dream world affect real life, Magdalene and Omar must fight opponents in two realities.
Just from the content warning alone, I could tell this would be an interesting book. I liked that the author was neurodivergent like me and had experience with some of the darker experiences talked about in the book.
I loved the young love romance in the book. I look forward to seeing how that plays over the series.
The dream imagery was a highlight. It feels like an accurate description of the dream world. I listened to some passages using the text-to-speech feature on the Kindle app in the twilight between waking and dreaming. It's very rare that I remember my dreams, but it had such an effect that I sent a message back to my waking self. Woah! I'd like to hear if anyone else has an experience like that with the book.
This feels like the beginning of something. I will definitely be back for more of this series.
Magdalene is crushing hard on dream expert Omar. When powers in the dream world affect real life, Magdalene and Omar must fight opponents in two realities.
Just from the content warning alone, I could tell this would be an interesting book. I liked that the author was neurodivergent like me and had experience with some of the darker experiences talked about in the book.
I loved the young love romance in the book. I look forward to seeing how that plays over the series.
The dream imagery was a highlight. It feels like an accurate description of the dream world. I listened to some passages using the text-to-speech feature on the Kindle app in the twilight between waking and dreaming. It's very rare that I remember my dreams, but it had such an effect that I sent a message back to my waking self. Woah! I'd like to hear if anyone else has an experience like that with the book.
This feels like the beginning of something. I will definitely be back for more of this series.
March 7, 2025
Compelling spec-fic from an eminently capable author. Rich, lush worldbuilding...with tangibility and zaniness in delightful, enjoyable, *consumable* balance. Readers will surely, as this one did, marvel at how they'll feel as they're right alongside Magdalene and Omar while they come to reckon with pinnacles and perils awaiting them in this world--and in the one yet to come.
A delightful and engaging supporting cast, both friends and enemies, ought to leave readers with soaring highs and crashing lows with each passing scene. Culminating with a heart-pounding climax and concluding with a chilling post-script sure to leave readers hungrily eager for the next book. This reader certainly is!
A delightful and engaging supporting cast, both friends and enemies, ought to leave readers with soaring highs and crashing lows with each passing scene. Culminating with a heart-pounding climax and concluding with a chilling post-script sure to leave readers hungrily eager for the next book. This reader certainly is!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews