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THE REAL DREAMWALKER presents: El Niño: A Supernatural Horror Anthology
"What if your worst dream wasn't yours--and it was hunting the whole neighborhood?"
A quiet neighborhood where nothing ever happens.
A terrifying communal nightmare that strikes fear into the hearts of the residents.
A supernatural entity that preys on the dreams and fears of the weak.
It's an El Niño summer in the unassuming neighborhood of SOMEWHERE, Tucson, and the burgeoning heat is driving everybody crazy, bringing with it a single mirage of terror.
Everyone in the neighborhood begin having the same nightmare...and it knows exactly what they want.
When all the males experience the same disturbing nightmare featuring a supernatural entity that grows from the body of a deceased animal, they start to wonder who, or what, this mysterious creature is.
The Real Dreamwalker seeks a prize beyond human imagination, but to claim it, you must be drawn into a trap where nightmares reign and reality is a blur. Are you ready to play a game where there can only be one winner?
Told through a series of interconnected horror vignettes...Bloody, subversive, and filled with horrifying tales that will deprive you of your sleep, THE REAL DREAMWALKER EL NIÑO will keep you turning the page until the very end. Creeping dread, supernatural stakes, and inexplicable
"This book messed with my sleep...in a good way."
"This book gave me major chills, like seriously messing with my head."
"Horror with a bizarre edge."
"A lost urban legend that felt real and liminal."
"Psychological horror that creeps under the skin."
"Fun to read!"
"Definitely the most interesting book I have read all year."
"This book literally had me looking over my shoulder and questioning my life choices."
"Exactly the kind of folk horror that horror fans crave, unsettling, imaginative and brilliantly written."
"A captivating blend of magical realism and psychological insight. It takes you on a surreal journey through a mysterious landscape where reality and dreams blur. With subtle storytelling and enigmatic encounters, it leaves you questioning what's real. A must-read for anyone fascinated by the subconscious."
"I honestly wasn’t prepared for how captivating this novel is. I’ve rarely read a book cover to cover (and with no snacks!), but I just couldn’t put it down. It’s well written, so it’s an easy read, and it’s Oh So Suspenseful. I can’t wait until they make it a miniseries on Netflix - not that I’ve heard it’s in the works, I just can’t imagine it Isn’t. It’s that good. If you’ve been wondering which book to read next, I Highly recommend this one."
-I'm not an author.-
A quiet neighborhood where nothing ever happens.
A terrifying communal nightmare that strikes fear into the hearts of the residents.
A supernatural entity that preys on the dreams and fears of the weak.
It's an El Niño summer in the unassuming neighborhood of SOMEWHERE, Tucson, and the burgeoning heat is driving everybody crazy, bringing with it a single mirage of terror.
Everyone in the neighborhood begin having the same nightmare...and it knows exactly what they want.
When all the males experience the same disturbing nightmare featuring a supernatural entity that grows from the body of a deceased animal, they start to wonder who, or what, this mysterious creature is.
The Real Dreamwalker seeks a prize beyond human imagination, but to claim it, you must be drawn into a trap where nightmares reign and reality is a blur. Are you ready to play a game where there can only be one winner?
Told through a series of interconnected horror vignettes...Bloody, subversive, and filled with horrifying tales that will deprive you of your sleep, THE REAL DREAMWALKER EL NIÑO will keep you turning the page until the very end. Creeping dread, supernatural stakes, and inexplicable
"This book messed with my sleep...in a good way."
"This book gave me major chills, like seriously messing with my head."
"Horror with a bizarre edge."
"A lost urban legend that felt real and liminal."
"Psychological horror that creeps under the skin."
"Fun to read!"
"Definitely the most interesting book I have read all year."
"This book literally had me looking over my shoulder and questioning my life choices."
"Exactly the kind of folk horror that horror fans crave, unsettling, imaginative and brilliantly written."
"A captivating blend of magical realism and psychological insight. It takes you on a surreal journey through a mysterious landscape where reality and dreams blur. With subtle storytelling and enigmatic encounters, it leaves you questioning what's real. A must-read for anyone fascinated by the subconscious."
"I honestly wasn’t prepared for how captivating this novel is. I’ve rarely read a book cover to cover (and with no snacks!), but I just couldn’t put it down. It’s well written, so it’s an easy read, and it’s Oh So Suspenseful. I can’t wait until they make it a miniseries on Netflix - not that I’ve heard it’s in the works, I just can’t imagine it Isn’t. It’s that good. If you’ve been wondering which book to read next, I Highly recommend this one."
-I'm not an author.-
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2025
5 people are currently reading
893 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 11, 2025
While reading The Real Dreamwalker Presents: El Niño by Ashlyn Jacobs, I often found myself looking over my shoulder for the man known as the Dreamwalker. Characterized by his association with wolf spiders, his blanket, and his scent, the Dreamwalker haunts a small town in Tucson, Arizona (called Somewhere), using his powers to capture and kill unsuspecting kids and teenagers. Each chapter acts as a vignette in which these children and teens perish as they attempt to obtain prizes promised by the devilish Dreamwalker.
Driven by a need to fulfill the dreams of his victims, the Dreamwalker gives people what they ask for but often in nightmarish ways. For example, a group of young boys is playing basketball together. They get on the topic of going pro when they get older, claiming they would one day become rich and famous for playing D1 basketball. The Dreamwalker, hearing their dreams, speaks through their nearby speaker to tell them they can have all the money they need if they cross the field to him. Then, the field transforms into a bog of cranberries. They have to wade through the berries to the other side, where a trove of treasure awaits them; however, too much noise would trigger the arrival of a giant wolf spider, hungry for its next meal. None of the boys made it out with the promised treasure.
Each chapter covers a different group of kids, or a singular child, who encounter the Dreamwalker. All the people described feel unique and whole, which makes the reading experience engaging and interesting. At some points, the kids talk a little too much like adults (using vocabulary kids don’t normally use), but it didn’t distract from their characterization for the most part. The tension built nicely, and I did feel genuinely spooked by the Dreamwalker.
The imagery connected with him throughout was haunting and added to the overall atmosphere.
It’s also clear that the author took time with the presentation of the book. Included in my physical copy was a key taped to the back, presumably representing some of the imagery in the book. The edges also appeared hand-stamped to give it a sprayed appearance, which makes the whole thing very pretty to look at. Adding to the sensory immersion, the pages are scented. While it’s a unique creative device, I would warn readers who are sensitive to smells that you might consider getting a digital copy.
Overall, The Real Dreamwalker Presents: El Niño by Ashlyn Jacobs was a great read before Halloween. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, the general vibe of the Dreamwalker, and the fact that the stories were presented as vignettes. This is a great story for those who like folk horror set in a more modern age.
Driven by a need to fulfill the dreams of his victims, the Dreamwalker gives people what they ask for but often in nightmarish ways. For example, a group of young boys is playing basketball together. They get on the topic of going pro when they get older, claiming they would one day become rich and famous for playing D1 basketball. The Dreamwalker, hearing their dreams, speaks through their nearby speaker to tell them they can have all the money they need if they cross the field to him. Then, the field transforms into a bog of cranberries. They have to wade through the berries to the other side, where a trove of treasure awaits them; however, too much noise would trigger the arrival of a giant wolf spider, hungry for its next meal. None of the boys made it out with the promised treasure.
Each chapter covers a different group of kids, or a singular child, who encounter the Dreamwalker. All the people described feel unique and whole, which makes the reading experience engaging and interesting. At some points, the kids talk a little too much like adults (using vocabulary kids don’t normally use), but it didn’t distract from their characterization for the most part. The tension built nicely, and I did feel genuinely spooked by the Dreamwalker.
The imagery connected with him throughout was haunting and added to the overall atmosphere.
It’s also clear that the author took time with the presentation of the book. Included in my physical copy was a key taped to the back, presumably representing some of the imagery in the book. The edges also appeared hand-stamped to give it a sprayed appearance, which makes the whole thing very pretty to look at. Adding to the sensory immersion, the pages are scented. While it’s a unique creative device, I would warn readers who are sensitive to smells that you might consider getting a digital copy.
Overall, The Real Dreamwalker Presents: El Niño by Ashlyn Jacobs was a great read before Halloween. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, the general vibe of the Dreamwalker, and the fact that the stories were presented as vignettes. This is a great story for those who like folk horror set in a more modern age.
September 14, 2025
Many people share common anxieties and fears about the future. However, when you start sharing actual nightmares, with all the exact same details, it may mean the Dreamwalker is near. THE REAL DREAMWALKER PRESENTS: El Niño is an anthology series displaying vignettes of horror in Tucson, Arizona. Author Ashlyn Jacobs pulls us in and under before the book even truly gets going as concrete hands take Deke and Corey down in the prologue while the Dreamwalker watches on.
While these tales of terror start by presenting us with stories that are seemingly only connected by a common location and villain, as we delve deeper into the book, we find more connecting threads that begin to suggest a larger, more complex picture. The intentions of the Dreamwalker become harder to determine, and the mysteries begin to match the fear scrawled across every page.
With few characters that appear in more than a single chapter, there isn’t much time for character development in THE REAL DREAMWALKER PRESENTS: El Niño. However, this doesn’t stop the characters who do appear in the book from being compelling in their short time on the page. We are still pulled into their world and left wanting to know more about what happens with them next. At least, that is, for those who survive.
If you love looking for new fuel for your nightmares, reading a chapter from THE REAL DREAMWALKER PRESENTS: El Niño before bed will do the trick. Each story in the book is able to stand up on its own, providing the creepy factor that fans of horror are looking for in an anthology like this one. At the same time, the pieces you get as part of the larger story will easily keep any mystery fans intrigued to keep flipping through the pages and learning more.
Ashlyn Jacobs does a wonderful job of building suspense and leaving the reader with that feeling of a tingling on the back of the neck as they put down the book and lie down in bed for the night. You can’t help but feel that you are being watched. That a figure with a black baseball cap, headphones, and wrapped in a gray blanket is outside your window, floating off the ground, watching you, reading your thoughts, and learning all about your deepest fears.
While these tales of terror start by presenting us with stories that are seemingly only connected by a common location and villain, as we delve deeper into the book, we find more connecting threads that begin to suggest a larger, more complex picture. The intentions of the Dreamwalker become harder to determine, and the mysteries begin to match the fear scrawled across every page.
With few characters that appear in more than a single chapter, there isn’t much time for character development in THE REAL DREAMWALKER PRESENTS: El Niño. However, this doesn’t stop the characters who do appear in the book from being compelling in their short time on the page. We are still pulled into their world and left wanting to know more about what happens with them next. At least, that is, for those who survive.
If you love looking for new fuel for your nightmares, reading a chapter from THE REAL DREAMWALKER PRESENTS: El Niño before bed will do the trick. Each story in the book is able to stand up on its own, providing the creepy factor that fans of horror are looking for in an anthology like this one. At the same time, the pieces you get as part of the larger story will easily keep any mystery fans intrigued to keep flipping through the pages and learning more.
Ashlyn Jacobs does a wonderful job of building suspense and leaving the reader with that feeling of a tingling on the back of the neck as they put down the book and lie down in bed for the night. You can’t help but feel that you are being watched. That a figure with a black baseball cap, headphones, and wrapped in a gray blanket is outside your window, floating off the ground, watching you, reading your thoughts, and learning all about your deepest fears.
December 6, 2025
From the first page, El Niño pulls you into a world that blurs the line between dreaming and living, and it does it with striking emotional depth. Ashlyn Jacobs delivers something that feels atmospheric, haunting, and unexpectedly human. The prose is fluid and hypnotic — the kind that keeps you turning pages because the world feels just unfamiliar enough to be exhilarating and just relatable enough to strike a nerve.
The dream sequences were cinematic, almost alive, yet grounded in character-driven stakes that tug at your chest. The author balances surreal storytelling with raw emotion in a way that feels fresh — like stepping into someone else’s subconscious and finding your own fears and hopes staring back.
It’s imaginative, eerie, heartfelt, and bold — and the further you go, the harder it is to step away. If you love books that blend reality with the impossible, give you goosebumps at 1AM, and linger long after that final line — El Niño is absolutely that book.
A standout, immersive read that feels like a dream you don’t want to wake up from. ✨
The dream sequences were cinematic, almost alive, yet grounded in character-driven stakes that tug at your chest. The author balances surreal storytelling with raw emotion in a way that feels fresh — like stepping into someone else’s subconscious and finding your own fears and hopes staring back.
It’s imaginative, eerie, heartfelt, and bold — and the further you go, the harder it is to step away. If you love books that blend reality with the impossible, give you goosebumps at 1AM, and linger long after that final line — El Niño is absolutely that book.
A standout, immersive read that feels like a dream you don’t want to wake up from. ✨
December 13, 2025
THE REAL DREAMWALKER presents: El Niño
"El Niño" has an incredible hypothesis of a Tucson neighborhood trapped in blistering heat, haunted dreams, and a supernatural entity stalking its male residents. The atmosphere is easily the book’s strongest element: the relentless El Niño summer, the creeping hysteria, and the blurring line between dreams and reality create some genuinely unsettling moments.
The gender-specific nightmares are intriguing and raise big questions about fear, identity, and power but the story never fully explores or answers them. The “only one can survive” setup also hints at strategic, psychological horror.
So, overall this book is a A creative, atmospheric idea held back by uneven execution. Readers who enjoy experimental, dreamlike horror may still find something to enjoy, but others may wish it had gone a bit deeper and sharper.
"El Niño" has an incredible hypothesis of a Tucson neighborhood trapped in blistering heat, haunted dreams, and a supernatural entity stalking its male residents. The atmosphere is easily the book’s strongest element: the relentless El Niño summer, the creeping hysteria, and the blurring line between dreams and reality create some genuinely unsettling moments.
The gender-specific nightmares are intriguing and raise big questions about fear, identity, and power but the story never fully explores or answers them. The “only one can survive” setup also hints at strategic, psychological horror.
So, overall this book is a A creative, atmospheric idea held back by uneven execution. Readers who enjoy experimental, dreamlike horror may still find something to enjoy, but others may wish it had gone a bit deeper and sharper.
January 30, 2026
The Real Dreamwalker by Ashlyn Jacobs is a vivid and imaginative dive into a world where dreams blur dangerously into reality. With cinematic dreamscapes, an emotionally grounded heroine, and a plot that balances mystery, magic, and self-discovery, Jacobs delivers a captivating read that feels both ethereal and raw. Though the pacing dips at moments, the story’s atmosphere and heart make it a standout for fans of YA fantasy with a surreal twist.
May 7, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ Kind of reminded me of IT by Stephen King except Pennywise in this book is a guy with a hat, headphones, and a blanket that always smells like really good cologne while he’s tormenting all these people with their own fears. 🤭 A fun quick thriller/horror read!
April 30, 2026
I won this in a giveaway
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews