The Dream Factory

by Pete Kramer

Genres: Thriller

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 29, 2026

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

When this family decides to go on a “funcation “to Bixby Park they have no clue what was in store for them. Jaxson and Becky find themselves in a bit of a sticky situation. Will their parents get to them in time? I liked this fast-paced, well-written book. This book is full of suspense. I think amusement parks make a great setting for horror stories.

Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.

[Carol Holden · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dream Factory started off so strong and I was hooked by the premise and flew through the first half. The atmosphere and mystery really pulled me in. I was having a hard time putting it down.

But somewhere around the halfway point, it just lost momentum for me. The pacing slowed down and the story didn’t feel as engaging or focused as it did at the start. The story got to be a little too “out there” for me.

Still a decent read overall, but I wish it had maintained that early energy all the way through.

Thank you to Book Sirens and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Audrey Puleio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disney meets willywonka but a grotesque thriller. Following several contestants of "winners of tickets" except nothing is as it seems. There are multiple POVs adding more to the storyline. The one main character is a 9 Year old boy whose POV adds some humor to the book. It was a fun read and I couldn't wait to see how they made it out.

This book was given to me by book sirens. All opinions are my own and im leaving this review voluntarily.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, as I felt the cutesy cover was giving me misleading vibes & ohhhhh was I right! but in that delicious 'shivers down the spin' way.

You have several main characters who for different reasons are visiting Bixby Park whilst they have a 'once in a lifetime' promotion going on where people can win the chance to visit the secretive Bixby Island in the middle of the amusement park, all they have to do is find one of the scratch-cards in the park that give two lucky people this amazing opportunity.

The story has great character development as you follow the multiple back stories of the different groups of people as they come together to start their magical tour. The multi-POV's really lean well to a fast paced storyline, & gives a great reading experience with all the twists, turns & weirdness that comes to light as the plot line develops. The world building is vibrant & very immersive, giving the complete escapism experience to the reader.

Overall, Mr Bixby gave me flavours of the weirdness of Willy Wonka, but more unhinged mixed with an overall vibe of Disneyland if it was darker! So, if you like books that build tension & suspense all the way through & leaves you with goosebumps, or makes you talk to the pages telling characters 'don't go there!' then I would recommend you grab a copy of this book when it is released.

** Thank you to Booksirens for providing an advance e-copy of this book, I am leaving this review voluntarily **

[Shahdan Hanafi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3★ | Mood: “Danger Is Rising“
Pete Kramer’s The Dream Factory is a slick, high-octane fantasy thriller that merges the corporate espionage of Inception with the grim undercurrents of a dark fantasy dystopia. Set in a world where human dreams are mined, packaged, and sold to the highest bidder, the story follows a cynical dream-architect who uncovers a conspiracy to engineer collective nightmares for mass population control.

While the overarching corporate conflict occasionally hits predictable beats, the sheer ingenuity of the world-building and the breakneck speed of the plot make it an incredibly engaging ride. Kramer excels at weaponizing the surreal nature of the human subconscious, transforming abstract fears into concrete, terrifying obstacles for his protagonists.

What Works Perfectly

Innovative Magic System: The concept of dream weaving, harvesting, and subconscious hacking is meticulously detailed and beautifully visual.

Relentless Momentum: The book masterfully utilizes thriller pacing, ensuring the mystery unravels through action rather than dense exposition dumps.

Psychological Body Horror: The abstract dread of losing autonomy over one's own mind and memories is executed with genuine, unsettling precision.

The Bottom Line: The Dream Factory is a sharp, cinematic page-turner that masterfully explores the commodification of the human subconscious, making it a stellar crossover hit for fans of both urban fantasy and psychological thrillers.

Thank you to Book Sirens for this eARC.

[Veronica]

ARC REVIEW




What starts as a magical family getaway quickly turns into something far darker…

After the death of Jaxon’s grandfather, his family visits the legendary Bixby Park - a theme park inspired by Max Bixby’s beloved animated films. With colourful characters, whimsical rides, and the promise of healing, it feels like the perfect escape.

But behind the cheerful music and smiling princesses, something sinister is hiding.

Deep within the park lies Bixby’s Dream Factory - an attraction so secret even employees aren’t allowed inside. Rumored to house Max Bixby’s most ambitious creation, it’s a place where fantasies can become reality… but where the price of a happily ever after may be more than anyone is willing to pay.

It taps into the unsettling idea that the places designed to bring us joy can also hide the darkest secrets. The story explores the danger of perfect illusions, the fragility of memory, and what happens when imagination slips beyond human control.

If you enjoy creepy theme-park settings, unsettling mysteries, and stories that blur the line between fantasy and nightmare, this one is definitely worth the ride.

🎢 Perfect for fans of:
• Dark fantasy
• Psychological horror
• Twisted theme-park settings
• Nostalgic stories with a sinister edge

✨ A haunting reminder that sometimes the most magical places hide the darkest dreams.

Thanks @booksirens and @kramerpete for the opportunity to be an advanced reader.

[Jennifer Buenvenida · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Received this as an ARC from BookSirens for an honest review and I am leaving this review voluntarily*

What if the magic behind the smoke and mirrors of your favorite amusement park entertainment empire was really just the ghost of a madman, promising to make all of your wishes come true….but for a price you don’t know you’ll have to pay until it may be too late?

A dream comes to life with the promise of a life-changing sum of money and all you have to do is tour a secret factory no one has ever really been inside for some lucky park-goers who are convinced they are randomly selected. Part Willy Wonka, part nightmare, part Invasion of the Body Snatchers, this book was a fun page turner told from multiple points of view. The ending left just enough ambiguity to keep me wondering if everyone was who they said they were.

The writing style was fun and engaging. The setting was so well-described it felt like a movie. The icing on the cake was all the Houston-area references, leaving me thinking a bit about AstroWorld. My only real complaint is that I wanted to know more about the how behind the factory operations.

Overall a very enjoyable read and I would for sure pick up another book by this author.

[Summer R Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and the publisher or publishers for all your hard work! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and happily! Take a look!

So this was definitely interesting more of a build up for sure. This wasent full on horror with gore and blood everywhere. So if thats what you want this isent the book for you. I actually really enjoyed this. It was a nice ride all the way through until we rrach our destination The Dream Factory. There is where everything takes a turn for the worse. Things are not at all what they seem.

The characters are definitely unique and different from one another. I absolutely fell in love with the children. This book definitely made me think of what it be like if I was going on a trip to Disney World with my family. I just love how even though there's not a lot of horror there is still a hint here and there. The build up is very nice.

Reading this I definitely think I should poke my toes a bit more into fantasy horror. Its definitely fun and interesting.

[Tarina Kofoed · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review.

First and foremost, the cover really pulled me in to read this book. Loved the colors and the overall picture screamed “what is going to happen in this book?”

The Dream Factory had multiple points of views. It mainly followed a boy named Jaxon and his family. They “won” a ticket to The Dream Factory at Bixby Cove, a theme park, where no one has ever been or seen. It follows theirs and several others through their journey through the dream factory and the many twists and turns it has.

It was a very fast-paced read with a unique take on a theme park suspense. I had no idea how it was going to end, which I loved.

It was a little confusing during some parts, due to the multiple point of views and the wrap around your head thinking but was overall a great read!

I would recommend this book!! 4/5 stars!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Krystle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free in exchange for an honest review.

This honestly felt like a feverish blend of Disneyland, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Five Nights at Freddy’s, and I loved it. It was deeply unnerving, and that feeling never really went away.

I had no idea where the story was heading, but I had a strong sense that things were not going to end well for the main characters. That quiet tension ran through the entire book.

If you are into theme park horror, slashers and childhood characters coming to life, this just might be up your alley.

A horror novel wrapped in cotton candy.

The story is told through multiple POVs. I am not always a fan of that, but it really worked here. I am definitely keen to read more from this author.

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Rose]

I was really excited about the premise of this book. I thought it had a lot of potential to be scary in a Bendy and the Ink Machine sort of way. I think I built it up a little bit too much in my head, because I was disappointed in how to climax of the story turned out. The explanation of a few different things weren’t satisfactory to me, and some of the characters did things that seemed really out of character for no good reason.

That being said, I still enjoyed the book and I would recommend it to people as a quick, fun read. I think the author did a really good job describing the scenes and the characters. I always had vivid images in my head of what was going on. I really enjoyed reading the writing, even if I didn’t love everything about the plot.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fast paced book with creepy details. It’s giving a spooky Willy Wonka vibe but if the Chocolate Factory was an extension of Disney.
The build up was really good and while the story was interesting, I think it somehow felt slower in the second half.
I liked the frequent change of POV but I really think clearly labeled first person POV chapters for each character could’ve gone a long way with this story. The scares and creepiness would have hit harder if I was in a characters head while these things were happening.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens and the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Dream Factory by Pete Kramer was a very fun read, but still held its own in the thriller category. The blurb from the author, “Willy Wonka meets Jurassic Park” set the expectation that this would be a Willy Wonka fever dream, and it met that expectation! I was not prepared for the story to be told partially from the perspective of adults, and partially the expectation of a child, but Kramer switched narration styles seamlessly. The book was not overtly scary, and one I would certainly classify more as thriller than horror. But it maintained a subtle sense of dread and eeriness that I love in a thriller! 3.5 stars rounded up

[Lommie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book blends horror with an unsettling atmosphere, while the dark humor makes it even more disturbing and impactful. The premise is strong, and the million-dollar bait adds another layer of intrigue. The story uses multiple POVs, which I personally found a little challenging to follow at times. Somewhere in the middle, I felt myself losing momentum. Still, the weirdness and suspense kept me guessing until the very end, especially since it was difficult to tell what was real and what was illusion.

Overall, this is a well-written, mind-bending read for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy unsettling and twisty stories. Thank you to Booksirens for providing this ARC.

[Amber Cassady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great premise, kinda messy execution. The idea of a secret island attraction hiding a decades old body snatching machine run by a captive AI is SO good, and honestly the slow reveal kept me hooked for a while. But it tries to juggle way too many POVs, the horror never fully punches you in the throat the way it should, and the writing itself is pretty plain.The ending especially felt weirdly quiet when it should’ve absolutely spiraled.Still, if you like slow burn, concept-heavy dark fiction with creepy sci-fi vibes, you might have a better time with it than I did. It just never fully clicked for me.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the description of this book i was so intrigued to read this one ... Disney meets willy Wonka meets thriller.... sign me up right ?!?
It started off strong and had my interest peaked ... it started to rev up and I kinda got lost then it slllloooowwwwed down and I got a little bored .... but I wanted to keep going to see how it ended ... interesting concept....ok read for me ... but if you are a fan of this kind of storyline .. read it !! Come back and tell me your thoughts !!! Ty to booksirens for allowing me the opportunity to read this one

[Jordan Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this book as an ARC from booksirens.

This was such a twisty turny book in all the best ways. I was constantly trying to guess why things were happening and was wrong every time!

Think a theme park is one of the best places for a psychological thriller and I felt the creepiness of it all through the writing.

Definitely going to read Pete Kramers other books now!!

[Zimbellina · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW A handful of people win a tour of a secret factory in the middle of a theme park. It’s not what it seems.

I enjoyed this amusement park horror. It was an interesting twist on the theme. The characters were engaging and I liked their character arcs. The ending was satisfying enough as well. Good book!

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book with a 'blink or you'll miss it' ending.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was definitely an interesting read. It definitely has a Willy Wonka vibe going on but much more twisted and creepy. Overall, I wasn't disappointed.

[lajoiearchives · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

If you’re looking for a creepy Charlie and the Chocolate Factory vibe, look no further. Pete Kramer delivers a high-stakes, secret tour where a million-dollar prize is the bait, but the real cost is much higher.

What really sets The Dream Factory apart is the multi-POV structure.In a horror novel, this is brilliant because it forces you to play detective; as the perspective shifts, you’re constantly trying to separate truth from delusion. I was perpetually on my toes, re-imagining the ending with every chapter.

Speaking of the ending—it’s a total mind-bender. That final conversation about the moon completely reframed the entire narrative for me. I’m still sitting here questioning what was actually real. Highly recommended for fans of psychological horror.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks for the ARC BookSirens!