DreamBound

by Tim Adams (Co Author), Sam Inzerillo (Co Author)

Some dreams fade by morning. Alara’s do not.

Every night, she wakes with bruises, splitting headaches, and a map of symbols she has never learned, carved into her memory. The only clue sits at the foot of her bed: a childhood blanket from her adoption, stitched with the same sharp strokes and half-spirals.
When Alara shares the symbols online, the internet answers back with static, theories, and one private message that hits too close to home. A stranger begs to meet. Another warns her to stop digging. Then a man with influence and secrets offers a terrifying possibility.
What is pulling Alara out of her life is real, and it wants her to follow the tether all the way to the world that keeps calling her name.
But every step closer makes it harder to tell which threats are outside her door, which ones live in her sleep, and whether she will be able to come back after she crosses the line.

DreamBound is Book One of the Colors of Malent series.

396 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 16, 2026

About the author

Tim Adams is a coauthor of The Colors of Malent Series and a lifelong fan of science fiction and fantasy, both on the page and on the screen. Based in Hudson, New Hampshire, Tim works in IT and brings a practical, problem-solving mindset to building immersive stories with momentum and mystery. When he’s not writing, he can usually be found cheering on his twin teenagers at sports games, exploring the local food scene, or diving into the next great series.

Reviews

[Lauren R · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a giveaway in exchange for my honest review.

The unique magic and world building was interesting, but I couldn’t get past the unevenness of the female characters. Alara is supposed to be 14, but is constantly whipsawing from events that would be more appropriate for a 20+ year old, to gossiping about boys in the bathroom. Drinking and all weekend parties did not make sense with the rest of the character’s personality. The mom also seemed completely incapable to handle every situation, just sobbing or being referenced that “we can’t tell Mary Ellen because she can’t handle it.” Really?

So the plot and magic definitely are better when I decided to imagine that the character was not 14. Some of the most interesting characters from the other worlds almost had cameos and I assume will be much bigger players in the future books.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a free copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you so much to the publisher for allowing me the chance to review this book!

DreamBound is a fast paced, entertaining read that’s best suited for younger teens. It blends fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery into an easy to follow adventure that keeps the story moving. While it wasn’t quite my target age group, I think readers who enjoy imaginative worlds, mysterious twists, and action packed adventures will have a great time with it.

I’d like to hear more about Malent in the upcoming books, and hopefully gain more insight into the magical world. Overall, a promising start to an exciting series.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced, engaging read that kept me hooked throughout. The plot and dialogue are definite highlights, and they carry Alara’s story really well, especially for a younger audience.

I’d love to see slightly more depth in the fantasy world-building, but the storytelling foundation is excellent.

Overall, a great novel for young audiences and an easy recommendation.

[Katie Furcho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this on Goodreads giveaway. I love the plot and storyline. I hope there’s a second book where we see her life on Malent. But the dialogue and sentence structure were choppy sometimes which took away from the book. And there were so many characters to keep track of where I wished the index of characters was at the front of the book. I never read a book so fast in a week before though!

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

💯✍🏾💯✍🏾💯✍🏾💯

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a giveaway

[Jodi Gilroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes