My Dreams Are Not Normal

by Carlton R. Byrd, Rachel Eve Moulton (Editor), Erin Clyburn (Editor)

Genres: Horror

159 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2026

About the author

Carlton R. Byrd, a Kansas City native raised in Indianapolis, introduced My Dreams Are Not Normal as a screenplay in 2021 before reimagining it as a novel. The story evolved into a psychological experience that blurs the line between reality and perception.

Refined over five years through relentless revision, research, and professional collaboration, his work is rooted in psychological horror, emotional realism, and symbolic depth, speaking to those confronting trauma, identity, and the unseen within.

Reviews

[Valentina Khimich]

This was an interesting story with a plot that caught my attention. While I enjoyed the overall concept, I did feel that some parts of the story were a bit too simple, with a few plot holes and dialogue that could have been developed more naturally.
What truly stood out to me was the emotional weight of the novel. It is a story of broken lives and broken souls, filled with difficult choices, painful sacrifices, and the search for where one truly belongs. There is a deep spiritual layer running beneath the surface, exploring the relationship between God, evil, and the human heart.
This is not an easy book to read emotionally. There were moments that genuinely left knots in my stomach because of how unsettling and intense they felt. Yet, beneath the darkness is a beautiful message about true friendship and the strength of a family that isn’t connected by blood, but by love, loyalty, and shared hardship.
The novel reminds us that good can overcome evil, but sometimes the price of that victory is heartbreakingly high.

[Guillen_reads13]

Well if you were looking to get nightmares tonight, then this is it. A creepy doll, demons, the devil will visit to take his vessel, and only your faith can save you!

[Armando Ramirez]

My Dreams Are Not Normal by Carlton Byrd is the kind of book that completely pulls you out of your comfort zone, in the best way. The concept is bold and genuinely mind-bending, and Byrd executes it with impressive creativity and control. From start to finish, the story keeps you questioning what’s real and what isn’t, which makes for an engaging and thought-provoking read.
At times, the narrative can feel confusing, but that’s part of its strength. It challenges you to stay present and piece things together, rewarding careful attention with deeper meaning. One of the standout elements is the way Byrd weaves together symbolism from multiple belief systems, blending them into a surprisingly cohesive and compelling story.
By the end, I found myself pausing to reflect, unsure whether I had just followed a sequence of real events or experienced something more dreamlike and abstract. That lingering ambiguity adds to the book’s impact and makes it stick with you after you’ve finished.
It’s also a quick read, I got through it in a single afternoon. If you’re looking for something different, thought-provoking, and perfect for a slightly eerie Summerween vibe, this is definitely worth picking up.

[Dalia M]

3.5⭐️

This a psychological horror and boy what an unsettling book. This is a short read but it honestly felt a lot longer than the 120+ pages that it is. Our main characters live in a foster home and as most kids going from home to home, they live with a trauma that isn't understood. Corey has numerous amounts of unsettling nightmares to the point he doesn't know whats real and what is in his imagination or dream like state. It makes US feel like we don't know whats real or imagination. The story is immersive and really leaves you with more questions than answers.
This isn't my typical read but i can see how others would enjoy this book on this weird and wild ride.

[Priscilla]

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that made me question reality quite like this one. Creepy, unsettling, and completely immersive, it had me second guessing every character and every twist. I could not read it at night and had to wait until daylight to finish without being completely spooked. Beneath the psychological horror is a haunting exploration of trauma, identity, and the unseen parts that we often try to bury. The ending left me with more questions than answers in the best possible way, and I already want more.

Thank you to the author and The SPACE network for a review copy of this novel.

[Beth H.]

I was absolutely blown away by this book! It has a very Lovecraftian feel to it.

Corey was a very relatable character. I love how the author was able to portray his emotions. It felt so real.

This book was incredibly unsettling. I would not read this at night, unless you like feeling like the shadows are watching you.

My only note is a lack on cohesion between a few chapters. We would end on a pretty large event and the next chapter would jump a few days. I just wanted more of a resolution on the aftermath of those events.

Thank you Carlton R. Byrd and S.P.A.C.E. Network for this review copy!

[Amy]

My Dreams Are Not Normal" written by Carlton R Byrd, was a great horror book! It had spirits, a little bit of religion, a sprinkle of witchcraft, and the story of a family and their bond. What Lira did for Lucy in the end was probably my favorite part because it shows love and support to a family member when they need it most. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down!

[Violet]

"My Dreams Are Not Normal" by Carlton R. Byrd was impossibly tense. The psychological aspect definitely kept me guessing. There was a point where I wasn't entirely sure what was happening, but knew I needed to keep reading to get answers.

[Hannah]

I got to read Mr Dreams are Not Normal by Carlton R. Byrd with The Space Network and i couldn't have been more lucky to read this gripping story. Right from the start we are introduced to Corey and instantly I want to know what darkness is troubling him. The pacing of this book and story telling are perfect and kept me wanting more even when I had to put the book down. Anyone who loves an unreliable narrator will love this book but be warned, don't read it in the dark as you never what shadows might be lurking ready to pounce.

[Nova Brock]

Okay, this book was weird in the best possible way. My Dreams Are Not Normal completely pulled me out of my current fantasy trend of reading and had me questioning what was actually happening more than once. I went into this expecting a creepy story about dreams, but it ended up being so much more than that, bringing in astral projection, spirituality, horror, and some seriously unsettling moments.

The whole time I was reading, I kept getting this very Lovecraftian based feeling. There is this creeping darkness that slowly takes over the story, and the line between ordinary life and the dream world gets so blurry that I genuinely wasn't sure what was real anymore. There were several twists that had me sitting there thinking, okay... how the hell is this going to work out?

I also really liked Corey as a character. His emotions felt incredibly genuine, and I could actually understand his reactions to everything happening around him. Even though the supernatural aspects are a huge part of the story, there is a very human story underneath it all. You get themes of broken people, difficult choices, sacrifice, friendship, family, and figuring out where you belong.

I especially liked the idea of family being something you can build rather than something that has to come from blood. The relationships between the characters gave the darker parts of the story some emotional grounding, and there is ultimately a really beautiful message about loyalty and friendship underneath all the horror.

The spiritual aspect gives the story another level of creepy and spook factor. The story brings in different belief systems and explores ideas surrounding God, evil, and the human heart. Some of the symbolism took me a minute to process, but I liked having those deeper ideas sitting underneath the actual horror.
That being said, I did have a few issues with the book. There were some places where the plot felt a little too simple, and I noticed a couple of plot holes that pulled me out of the story. The dialogue could also have been developed a little more naturally in some places. My biggest issue, though, was the transitions between some chapters. There would be a pretty major event happen, and then suddenly we'd jump forward several days. I found myself wanting to see the aftermath instead of having to fill in those gaps myself.

Even with those issues, I flew through this book. I finished it in one afternoon because even with the occasional pacing jumps, the story still flowed well. The story has this strange quality where even when you're confused, you're still interested enough to keep going because you need to know what's behind everything.

[Sage]

My Dreams Are Not Normal by Carlton R. Byrd - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to The Space Network and Carlton R. Byrd for the opportunity to read this incredible thriller!
"My Dreams Are Not Normal" by Carlton R. Byrd was impossibly tense. For seven years, Corey has woken up screaming, dragged through his dreams by something that now follows him into the waking world. There is no escape. When Lira discovers a book on astral projection, she believes she's found away to save him before it is too late.
Corey and Lira will soon find out that some answers do not bring peace. They force a choice that cannot be undone.
The moment around page 59 had me completely floored, I did NOT see that coming. Around page 107, I was fully in my feelings— I'm still not okay. It was also emotionally devastating (in the best way). One moment that really stuck with me was this quote: “The truth is, he’s just afraid. Afraid of being judged. Afraid of being the town’s freak. The boy who screams in the night. The boy who causes chaos." If you love tension-filled page-turners, this one is for you. Highly recommend!

[Lauren VerBrugge]

🌙RC REVIEW🌙

My Dreams Are Not Normal is my first RC off of @the_space_network and I was not disappointed. This book is CHILLING! The story follows a man who suffers from insomnia as well as visions of ghostly entities and the dead. The author truly does an amazing job at blurring the lines of what’s real and not and you understand the paranoia and stress of the main character. I feel like it should be challenging to illustrate how one person sees the world vs the reality of others, but this book made it
easy to understand and attention grabbing. All the characters were likable and played their own role. The ending, while different, felt realistic and I appreciated it. There is a glimmer of romance but it never really goes there. Ultimately I would recommend this book as a great choice for spooky season and even if you’re easily scared, this is a good amount of supernatural “horror” that I think most audiences would enjoy. Thanks to @the_space_network for this RC!

[Ginger Kat]

Ok, I really liked the concept of this story. A young man named Corey has terrifying dreams that he believes are trying to hurt him. He's been having them for years, and doesn't know how to stop them. His kindly caretaker Nina and friend Lira try to help him. That's a really solid plot. I like the themes about good overcoming evil, and needing to rely on other people instead of going it alone. Some of the scares were effective, and I liked the characters, particularly Nina. She was such a sweetheart. Corey and his troubles were sympathetic, and I liked how his relationship with Lira matured over the story.
What I didn't like was the ending. They introduced some concepts very close to the ending which felt like they came out of nowhere and didn't really fit in. And the story was over before these ideas could be fully fleshed out. I also thought the ending as a whole was extremely underwhelming. I feel like a lot of books are longer than they need to be. This one was one of the few that actually should have been longer, so some of these ideas could be fully explored. I received a free copy of this story and write this review voluntarily.

[Richard]

I could not put this book down!

This book blends and flips ordinary life and dreams so well that you will question reality. I found myself enveloped in the creeping darkness that pervades this book, unable to stop reading to find out what was going to happen to Corey and the others.

There were several twists that really make your gut clench wondering how it's going to play out and I really want to see this continued in a second book.

For best results read this book at night - if you're brave enough!

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒗𝒊𝒂 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝙿𝙰𝙲𝙴 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔 - 𝑰'𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆.

[HEATHER]

This was a book that could split your live into two parts: before reading & after reading. This was a ARC book and I am so appreciative that the author allowed be to be one of the readers to read. I was almost questioning everything and truly felt like I was in a nightmare. It was a psychological experience that blurred the line between reality and perception. This was an emotional, creepy, & fast pasted psychological horror read. Again, thanks to the author for allowing me to be apart of your story.

[Joy S]

"My Dreams Are Not Normal" by Carlton R. Byrd was emotionally devastating (in the best way). The moment around page 117 had me completely floored I did NOT see that coming. Around page 104, I was fully in my feelings I'm still not okay. It was also impossibly tense every chapter left me desperate for more. One moment that really stuck with me: "DOLLS ARE THE DEVIL. I SAID WHAT I SAID." If you love emotional reads that stay with you, this one is for you. Highly recommend. I cannot wait for my work from Carlton! I honestly hope he continues this story!

[Susan Fuhrman]

Creepy, atmospheric and wonderfully unsettling, My Dreams Are Not Normal kept me questioning where the dreams ended and reality began.

I really enjoyed the unusual concept and the increasingly disturbing atmosphere. Some parts became a little confusing as the story moved between dreams and reality, but that uncertainty also added to its unsettling quality.

A compelling four-star psychological horror read that may have you looking at your own dreams a little differently!

Thank you to the author and The SPACE Network for the opportunity to read this book.

[Zulma]

This book was tiny but mighty
Let me tell you. I had the privilege to get this as an ARC from Space Network so thank you. Leaving a voluntarily review. Boy I was told not to read alone at night but Idid because that's the best time I have to read. The story is about Ms nina group home and the MMC Corey he has severe terrifying nightmares that seem real. Scary things happen prayers are brought in. Just don't read aT night alone

[Cherie Deck]

If you enjoy a good scare this psychological horror story is for you! This story is about Corey, a young man who has nightmares, that might just be becoming part of his days too..
His nightmares seem so real , that you start to think it might just be your reality too . The story is so sinister, unnerving and chilling.
It is completely immersive , I could feel the monsters in the room with me. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. This man is suffering so much trauma, you are happy he has Lira and her friendship.While the end of the story left me with more questions than answers, I pray there is another unsettling and creepy book ahead.

[Trust No Chapter]

Ok. WOW. I finally understand what everyone was talking about with this book.

We follow Corey through his journey of personal nightmares, dreams, and everything in-between.

The way this is written has you questioning what is real the entire time. It had my pulling the covers over my face, needing to pause, yelling out loud, getting teary. I found myself getting really attached to the characters as well and this book pulls at every emotion possible.

Absolutely love this book and I highly recommend it!

[Kellie- SpicedTeaandChapters]

I know there were warnings to not read at night but I just had to and loved it!

I really enjoyed the pacing of this story. It kept me on my toes and constantly wondering what was going to happen next. Corey and Lira’s emotions were written so well throughout the story, which made everything feel even more real and relatable.

If you’re looking for a quick psychological horror, I’d highly recommend this one!

[Mushmookie (Karla P)]

This book was very creepy in a good way! For a quick read, I found the concept of the story to be so interesting and had me drawn in until the very end!

I enjoyed how Byrd entangled the belief systems with the dream like states that had me confused and trying to figure out if what I was reading was something that was happening or was it just in Corey, the mmc’s mind.

This was a thought provoking and unsettling, in a good way, read.

Shoutout to the author for an early copy of this book! I’m so happy to leave my honest review completely on my own accord!

[Inspired: Veteran Made]

The overarching concept is very good. It is well researched, and the author does a great job with the concept itself. There's just something missing. At this time, I'm not very sure what that is, but something is just missing.

[Natalie]

The book is about facing the darkness of your past and being strong and resilient in the process. It is about a man named Corey who has night terrors and nightmares every night. You have to pay attention though, because sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s a dream and what’s reality.

[Nicole Z Marie]

I very much enjoyed this one! I’m not a religious person, but the religious elements woven throughout felt like just the right amount to make the story make sense. I also appreciate the subtle cliffhangers the story left off on…the door is open to continue on, but not too open where it’s absolutely necessary. I recommend checking this out if you’re a fan of demons and nightmares and things that go bump in the night 🤭

[Chelsea]

3.75/5⭐️

This was certainly different than my usual read. Corey is a foster kid, growing up in a home run by Nina, a kind religious woman. At night, Corey is plagued by visceral night terrors he is convinced are more than just his mind playing tricks. He reluctantly enlists the help of his foster sister Lira to find the answers he needs to stop the terrors, before they can destroy his home and found family.

This is a super quick read, but I totally do not recommend reading at night. The horror scenes definitely kept me on edge. I would have love to have seen more expansion on backstories, especially Nina and the foster kids! Great potential, and I love how the door is absolutely left open at the end.

[Kristin]

📚 My Dreams Are Not Normal
By Carlton R. Byrd
Series: Cinematic Psychological Horror, Book 1
⭐⭐⭐✨

First things first... I absolutely loved Carlton R. Byrd's writing style. It has a uniquely poetic quality and is incredibly descriptive, especially throughout the first half of the book. I'd definitely be interested in reading whatever he writes next.

This was unlike anything I've read before. It gave me an almost YA version of "The Cell" with its dreamlike, psychological atmosphere.

One of my favorite aspects was the relationships between the children and their foster mother. They felt genuine, and knowing each child came from such different and difficult backgrounds helped me better understand their personalities, choices, and reactions throughout the story.

There were a few moments where I found myself a little confused about what was happening and the history of Corey's mother. Maybe it was that I occasionally had trouble separating what was literal from what was symbolic.

I also found the dream elements especially interesting because I'm a lucid dreamer myself. I know when I'm dreaming and can usually control what happens, so it was fascinating to experience Corey's perspective as someone who couldn't tell where dreams ended and reality began. That uncertainty made for some genuinely unsettling moments.

🌊 Standout scene: The swim meet. For me, that's when everything shifted.

Overall, this was a solid read that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a psychological horror novel with elements of mind-bending, dreamlike moments.

[Sarah Ann]

Chilling, unsettling, and immersive.

My Dreams Are Not Normal didn’t just make me question every character and have me on the edge of my seat—it hit close to home for me.
As someone who has struggled with night terrors from trauma, I felt a deep, immediate connection to Corey. Years ago, after being diagnosed with insomnia, I saw a therapist who told me that when I was sleeping, I was at my most vulnerable, and that demons were trying to attack me. Though my own night terrors have become few and far between in the last couple years, seeing that kind of vulnerability and psychological struggle portrayed so realistically on the page resonated with me.

The relationship dynamics, particularly between Corey and Lira, felt raw and authentic, and I found myself questioning their loyalties right alongside them, which made the psychological tension feel incredibly personal.

Beyond the horror, this is a hauntingly powerful exploration of trauma and the secrets we keep buried …. even from ourselves.

It’s a book that stays with you long after you turn the final page.

[Susan Stover]

My Dreams Are Not Normal by Carlton R. Byrd was such an interesting and creepy read. It has that unsettling feeling where you know something isn't quite right, but you can't put your finger on exactly what.

I really liked the whole dream aspect of the story. It gives the book a dark, eerie vibe and had me wondering about things just like the characters in the book. There were definitely some moments that made me uncomfortable—in the way a good horror book way.

What surprised me though, was that there was more to this story than just being scary. There are emotional moments mixed in with darker ones, that gave the story a little more depth than expected.

There were a few parts where I wanted a little more explanation, and some moments moved faster than I would've liked. I think having more time to sit with certain parts would have made them hit even harder.

Overall, this was a quick, creepy read that kept my attention and had me wondering what was going to happen next.

And yes, the title is VERY fitting.

[Nikki B.]

My Dreams Are Not Normal is a psychological horror story that gives you that eerie, chilling, tingles up your spine feeling. I enjoyed the paranormal aspect, the spirits, the creatures,
Corey's nightmares become his literal reality when something follows him out of his dreams and into the real world. Lira thinks she's found a solution when she comes across a book about astral projection. Corey and his family have such a strong bond. The journey through this whole experience with him, lending support and prayer as much as they can.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I just wish there was a little more. I would have like to have a better understanding of why it was happening to begin with. Like.. why him. But sometimes, I know with these shorter stories, it's not possible to include all the little details. I do still think it's a great story though and I would love to reread this closer to halloween just because of the vibes alone!