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Lucid
Lori Blaine is not your average seventeen-year-old high school student. Cool and iconoclastic in her dread-locks and natty thrift shop garb, with an IQ that’s off the charts, she is the ersatz leader of a pack of Goth kids that circle around her in the halls of Valesburg Central like a school of pilot fish. Lori speaks softly, but when she does speak, people have a tendency to listen.
But Lori Blaine has one problem: The door.
Lori’s dreams are haunted by this strange, recurring symbol. The door is always there on the periphery… beckoning to her, daring her to see what might be waiting for her on the other side. Finally, at the urging of an overzealous school psychologist, Lori Blaine decides to face her fears. The next night, she goes through the dream door… and immediately plunges into a shattered looking glass world in which nothing is as it seems and evil awaits around every corner.
But when Lori fights back, all hell breaks loose.
Created by the New York Times bestselling author of THE WALKING DEAD: DESCENT…. LUCID is a mind-bender of a contemporary supernatural thriller for Young Adults.
But Lori Blaine has one problem: The door.
Lori’s dreams are haunted by this strange, recurring symbol. The door is always there on the periphery… beckoning to her, daring her to see what might be waiting for her on the other side. Finally, at the urging of an overzealous school psychologist, Lori Blaine decides to face her fears. The next night, she goes through the dream door… and immediately plunges into a shattered looking glass world in which nothing is as it seems and evil awaits around every corner.
But when Lori fights back, all hell breaks loose.
Created by the New York Times bestselling author of THE WALKING DEAD: DESCENT…. LUCID is a mind-bender of a contemporary supernatural thriller for Young Adults.
246 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2015
95 people want to read
About the author
Jay Bonansinga
110 books387 followersThe national best-selling author of ten acclaimed books – both fiction and non-fiction -- Jay Bonansinga has been called “one of the most imaginative writers of thrillers” by the Chicago Tribune.
Jay is the holder of a master's degree in film from Columbia College Chicago, and currently resides in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife and two sons. He is also a visiting professor at Northwestern University in their Creative Writing for the Media program.
Jay is the holder of a master's degree in film from Columbia College Chicago, and currently resides in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife and two sons. He is also a visiting professor at Northwestern University in their Creative Writing for the Media program.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 13, 2018
I received this book for free from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Lucid is really weird – it's not exactly a book with contents that I usually come across. The last time I actually read a book that dealt with dreams was The Vault of Dreamers . Lucid kind of... throws in dreams and nightmares together when Lori Blaine's psychologist encourages her to finally go through a door reoccurring in her dreams for years. When Lori does, she is plunged into another world entirely where danger lurks around every corner.
Bonansinga writes in a different style than what you might be used to. As I read Lucid, I felt like I was watching an episode of a TV series, or just merely an actress reading a script. While Lori is our main character most of the time, the author shifts outside of the character's thoughts every so often and focuses on the dialogue and actions of the people around her. There's are a few moments where it's almost as though there's a narrator observing everything going on but accidentally slips up and quickly tries to fix everything by repositioning the camera. Meanwhile, the characters, or "actors," pretend not to notice.
I've also never seen so many caps in a book before. I don't mean the first letter in every sentence, I mean the I'M YELLING AT YOU THOUGH INTERMASPACE kind. (Or my brain is raging at a book. It's not necessarily one I didn't finish.)
Lucid is very action-packed and vivid, but I don't really feel like this is a stand alone. There's a pretty solid ending, but there may be a subtle loose end or two (I'll have to mull it over in my brain). The dream world, however...
I'm still very confused. I know there are five stages of sleep: brain activity slows down in the first, brain activity is everywhere in the second as the body transitions into the third stage, where brain activity is low. The fourth stage is similar to the third stage as the body prepares for the fifth stage, which is known as REM, or rapid eye movement, and dreams come alive.
I totally summarized that part. I probably came across this on a boring day and didn't remember anything but rapid eye movement is where dreams occur. REM is also a unit of measurement measuring the amount of radiation absorbed by human tissue. *drum rolls* I promise I'm not showing off.
Anyhoo, back to this whole dream world thing Bonansinga built Lucid on. According to the book, there are three dimensions. There's WAKEworld, which I assume is when all of us are awake and slouching in office/desk chairs (or curled up with a good book); REMspace, which I assume is the dream world and where you dream; and then there's LIMBOspace/LIMBOworld, which, knowing the word limbo, it's the middle world between dreams and wakefulness.
I get the gist. But I don't understand how this whole LIMBOspace/LIMBOworld works. I mean, is it connected to that in-between where you're not living or dead, because it's connected to comatose states? What happens if Lori actually "ran out of time?" She'll be a vegetable, most likely, but if she runs out of time... is she a vegetable forever until her body is just a pile of bones and dust somewhere? But then what happens when you are a pile of bones and dust somewhere? Do you continue existing in this LIMBOspace, or do you just disappear?
I could be over thinking this and taking it a curious step further than what is actually necessary (I would still wonder about that connection to comatose states though). Lucid has mind-boggling and creepy moments throughout the book, but it's really just similar to someone trying to stop demons entering the real world. Bonansinga just takes it from a dream level rather than an inferno one. Points given for a unique take on an overused plot.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
Lucid is really weird – it's not exactly a book with contents that I usually come across. The last time I actually read a book that dealt with dreams was The Vault of Dreamers . Lucid kind of... throws in dreams and nightmares together when Lori Blaine's psychologist encourages her to finally go through a door reoccurring in her dreams for years. When Lori does, she is plunged into another world entirely where danger lurks around every corner.
Bonansinga writes in a different style than what you might be used to. As I read Lucid, I felt like I was watching an episode of a TV series, or just merely an actress reading a script. While Lori is our main character most of the time, the author shifts outside of the character's thoughts every so often and focuses on the dialogue and actions of the people around her. There's are a few moments where it's almost as though there's a narrator observing everything going on but accidentally slips up and quickly tries to fix everything by repositioning the camera. Meanwhile, the characters, or "actors," pretend not to notice.
They swerved around the body, which lay in a heap near the shoulder—giving it a wide berth—and then roared off into the night.
They never saw the body behind them casually sit up, rise to its feet, and walk away.
“I promise I’ll tell you everything,” Lori was saying, searching through the glove box, as the damaged Geo chugged down a hill.
I've also never seen so many caps in a book before. I don't mean the first letter in every sentence, I mean the I'M YELLING AT YOU THOUGH INTERMASPACE kind. (Or my brain is raging at a book. It's not necessarily one I didn't finish.)
Lucid is very action-packed and vivid, but I don't really feel like this is a stand alone. There's a pretty solid ending, but there may be a subtle loose end or two (I'll have to mull it over in my brain). The dream world, however...
I'm still very confused. I know there are five stages of sleep: brain activity slows down in the first, brain activity is everywhere in the second as the body transitions into the third stage, where brain activity is low. The fourth stage is similar to the third stage as the body prepares for the fifth stage, which is known as REM, or rapid eye movement, and dreams come alive.
I totally summarized that part. I probably came across this on a boring day and didn't remember anything but rapid eye movement is where dreams occur. REM is also a unit of measurement measuring the amount of radiation absorbed by human tissue. *drum rolls* I promise I'm not showing off.
Anyhoo, back to this whole dream world thing Bonansinga built Lucid on. According to the book, there are three dimensions. There's WAKEworld, which I assume is when all of us are awake and slouching in office/desk chairs (or curled up with a good book); REMspace, which I assume is the dream world and where you dream; and then there's LIMBOspace/LIMBOworld, which, knowing the word limbo, it's the middle world between dreams and wakefulness.
I get the gist. But I don't understand how this whole LIMBOspace/LIMBOworld works. I mean, is it connected to that in-between where you're not living or dead, because it's connected to comatose states? What happens if Lori actually "ran out of time?" She'll be a vegetable, most likely, but if she runs out of time... is she a vegetable forever until her body is just a pile of bones and dust somewhere? But then what happens when you are a pile of bones and dust somewhere? Do you continue existing in this LIMBOspace, or do you just disappear?
I could be over thinking this and taking it a curious step further than what is actually necessary (I would still wonder about that connection to comatose states though). Lucid has mind-boggling and creepy moments throughout the book, but it's really just similar to someone trying to stop demons entering the real world. Bonansinga just takes it from a dream level rather than an inferno one. Points given for a unique take on an overused plot.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
October 7, 2015
This book ended up being a little bit like that uber cool and trendy new pair of black leather studded boots you bought that languish in the back of your closet, because you prefer the beat-up comfy Converse that you've had for five years, that remind you of climbing fences and kissing in the rain. In other words...does it deliver on the cool factor? Hell yes. On the feels? Not so much.
This was definitely an outside the box read for me. I was intrigued by the synopsis and the awesome cover…I’ve been having a problem in one of my stories addressing a shared dream world so I wanted to get a glimpse at how some other author’s have tackled that subject, and the character of Lori really just sounded cool and different and fun to hang out with.
I failed to look too closely at the genre classification that put this into horror. I usually run from horror. It keeps me awake. It gives me nightmares. It gets under my skin and makes me uncomfortable, and not in a good way. I’m not one of those people that enjoys being scared. But really until some of the more graphic scenes at the end (which I haven’t been to sleep yet, I’m praying don’t give me nightmares) this one wasn’t as much of a horror vibe as it was just creepy and mostly in a pretty cool way.
The beginning of the book had more of a very dark and twisted Alice and Wonderland vibe to me. I loved the concept of the lucid dreaming world as the inciting incident to opening these other worlds to Lori. It’s a concept I’ve always been a little bit fascinated with, and one that I’ve never really seen explored in fiction. But, I was a little disappointed to see that the author went with the whole demon and angel mythology. I just felt that particular trope has been so overdone and when you are talking dream worlds and fantasy powers there were so many other ways he could have gone that it was a little bit of a let down. He did however at least try to add some newish ideas to the trope, but honestly I was still much more intrigued by the whole dream world and how they inhabited it, how the time worked there, how they came and went, how they could change things there etc, than I was about the demon fighting and the possession and the bogie monsters, you could have lifted all of that stuff out of the story and replaced it with literally any other fantasy trope and I probably would have liked the story a little more.
I’m still I think a little torn on how I feel about this book overall. The writing was there, but tripped me up in a few places, slowing down for telling and info-dumps and pulling us out of the story with some minor details that switched up. And the author seemed to have some favorite big words and phrases he liked to throw around repeatedly that annoyed me a bit.
I really enjoyed Lori as a character, and her growth arc was fantastic. But none of the other characters in the story are all that well developed. Nick, the love interest has a good back-story and is a super likable guy but they don’t actually spend much more than a total of a few hours together so their romance by definition falls into the dreaded insta-love category and we are left with no real resolution on if he will ever even escape that realm. Her best friend Hugo is written as typical anything-for-you best friend and Mom as typical broken-home, can’t-deal mother. Dad, who left when Lori was eleven and shows up for the last two pages of the epilogue may be the most interesting side character, but he's not realistically even in the book. It's very nebulous as to whether this is a set-up for a sequel.
I almost stopped reading before I got to 50 pages, thinking this just wasn’t the book for me, but then the story did manage to grab me and pull me in somewhere around that point and I wanted to see it through and I’m glad I did, I think there were some really cool scenes, some imaginative elements that I haven’t read or seen anywhere else. Basically Lori is a super-smart, kick-ass heroine, with a really unique adventure to go on but in the end I wanted to feel something, anything about these characters and I just felt like Lori was cool, but she could take care of herself, the author had done his job and tied most everything up the way he was supposed to, he wrote some very memorable, big-screen worthy scenes, he even taught me a thing or two, but he forgot to make me feel anything along the way, and that’s just a shame because when I read, I read to fall in love with some aspect of what I’m reading - a character, a world, the language, a concept, something, and although this was enjoyable enough of a read, there was just nothing here to really love.
Perhaps that’s the real reason I don’t read more horror.
This review originally appeared at Aurelia {lit}{geek}{chic} please see our site for more reviews!
*Review copy provided by Xpresso Tours in exchange for an honest and fair review
November 1, 2023
Mini blurb: A half-Jamaican, half-Irish, all-goth 17 y.o. girl who's been having nightmares about a creepy door for most of her life discovers a demon-infested dreamworld and her own power to influence it.
***
Rated 3.5 really.
This could have been AWESOME - and to an extent, it was. Unique premise that blends lucid dreaming with demonic possession, stunning visuals, shocking reveals (though I figured out one of the twists in advance*...yet I couldn't be SURE, you know?), and an interesting, spunky lead. Except there were a few things that bugged me (not even including the open ending that desperately calls for a sequel). Apart from certain points my fellow reviewers have already touched upon (like the foreshadowing and small inconsistencies), I thought that the book needed to be longer in order to expand on the worldbuilding, and to give Lori more time to grow into her dream-affecting powers. The fact that people who probably never met in real life would share dreams where they saw each other's true aspect was never explained. The (too fast) romance didn't make sense and was in poor taste - for reasons I can't elaborate upon in order to avoid spoilers. Another thing that didn't make sense was for a possessed characters to get killed, only to not stay dead once the entity that animated their hollow body left it behind. Lastly, adjectives like "beefy", "obese" and "fat" are a tad too on the nose, even for a 2015 book...Anyhow, highly entertaining and worth a read.
*The fact that Lori never saw/asked to see her mother during a certain ordeal was a telltale sign, though I'm almost convinced that the author simply forgot to incorporate that detail...
(On a side note, the cover is awesome, except Lori isn't white, you know 😤).
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
***
Rated 3.5 really.
This could have been AWESOME - and to an extent, it was. Unique premise that blends lucid dreaming with demonic possession, stunning visuals, shocking reveals (though I figured out one of the twists in advance*...yet I couldn't be SURE, you know?), and an interesting, spunky lead. Except there were a few things that bugged me (not even including the open ending that desperately calls for a sequel). Apart from certain points my fellow reviewers have already touched upon (like the foreshadowing and small inconsistencies), I thought that the book needed to be longer in order to expand on the worldbuilding, and to give Lori more time to grow into her dream-affecting powers. The fact that people who probably never met in real life would share dreams where they saw each other's true aspect was never explained. The (too fast) romance didn't make sense and was in poor taste - for reasons I can't elaborate upon in order to avoid spoilers. Another thing that didn't make sense was for a possessed characters to get killed, only to not stay dead once the entity that animated their hollow body left it behind. Lastly, adjectives like "beefy", "obese" and "fat" are a tad too on the nose, even for a 2015 book...Anyhow, highly entertaining and worth a read.
*The fact that Lori never saw/asked to see her mother during a certain ordeal was a telltale sign, though I'm almost convinced that the author simply forgot to incorporate that detail...
(On a side note, the cover is awesome, except Lori isn't white, you know 😤).
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
September 11, 2015
It was difficult to put this book down. I found the idea of lucid dreaming so fascinating, and the way Bonansinga incorporated it into this plot was very well done.
Lori is a well developed character, and I felt I truly knew her. As a teenager with an IQ off the charts, I thought her dialogue and thought processes were genuine and believable. However, her best friend, Hugo, is another story. Though he was not center stage, as Lori's best friend, he should have been more developed, but I couldn't get a feel for him, other than his stereotypical teenage dialogue.
Though there is a budding boy/girl relationship, the romance does not take center stage. I like that the focus stays on Lori's lucid dreams, and the worlds that the dream door leads to.
I need to mention the cover art, since that was one of the reasons I was originally drawn to this book. Designed by Conzpiracy Digital Arts, it perfectly captures not only Lori but her wonderfully bizarre and fascinating dreamscapes.
Overall, it was an interesting book with just enough "weird" for me to enjoy. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys supernatural and horror.
I received a copy of this book via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
Lori is a well developed character, and I felt I truly knew her. As a teenager with an IQ off the charts, I thought her dialogue and thought processes were genuine and believable. However, her best friend, Hugo, is another story. Though he was not center stage, as Lori's best friend, he should have been more developed, but I couldn't get a feel for him, other than his stereotypical teenage dialogue.
Though there is a budding boy/girl relationship, the romance does not take center stage. I like that the focus stays on Lori's lucid dreams, and the worlds that the dream door leads to.
I need to mention the cover art, since that was one of the reasons I was originally drawn to this book. Designed by Conzpiracy Digital Arts, it perfectly captures not only Lori but her wonderfully bizarre and fascinating dreamscapes.
Overall, it was an interesting book with just enough "weird" for me to enjoy. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys supernatural and horror.
I received a copy of this book via Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2021
This books was just okay for me. While I thought the story of it was really good I wish the author spent more time on the lucid dreaming aspects and the dream worlds. The writing was good as well. Over all I would recommend this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2015
Originally posted on Daydreaming Books.
**I received a digital copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**
This book was SO FREAKING AWSOOOOME!! I LOVED, loved every bit of it. First of all, the cover is sooo creepy that I'm afraid to look at it! The plot was incredible, the concept was definitely awsome. How did I not know something so awsome like lucid dreaming! The concept fascinated me to such an extend that I want to try it myself. I did some of my own research and Wiki bro says that it could be achieved with sheer practice. Though I doubt it'll possible but there's no harm in giving it a try! Yesh, I know what you guys are thinking but I was born crazy! Now moving on...
Summary-
Lori is a girl who can lucid dream. Basically it means that you realise in your dream that you are dreaming and from that point onwards you are in complete control of your dreams. But in Lori's dreams there is always a door which she tries to stay away from. But finally when she confronts her school psychologist, he tells her to cross through the door and see what happens. She decides to take upon the advice and what she confronts behind the door is beyond her imagination. There is a whole different out there in which she is not alone. She meets a bunch of people who claim that they are protecting this limbo space from the dangerous creatures known as bogies who possess people through their nightmares. Now, Lori is caught between a war between the two sides and she has only one option if she ever wants to get rid of her nightmares, she has to fight back. And when she does, all hell breaks lose.
Plot-
The plot was fresh and absolutely incredible. It had the perfect amount of creepiness and thrill which kept me on my toes from the very first page. The mystery aspect was well maintained and I was dying to know what happened next. The plot was so gripping, it was very hard to stop reading the book for a second. The concept of lucid dreaming was the thing which fascinated me the most. Just imagine, how incredible it is to lucid dream and take full control of your dreams! The author took this concept and twisted it into so much more. The twists and turns were so awsome and surprising! I never guessed them and they poured on me. I had quite a few "WHAAAAAAT" moments. The plot waa also full of action which I definitely enjoyed, there was something or the other constantly happening and it kept me intrigued throughout the novel. I simply loved the way things were executed.
Characters-
The characters were diverse and unique in their own way. I liked Lori a lot, she was a Goth and a total misfit in her school but she had a few loyal friends. She was afraid like any other person when she had to face her nightmare but when she had no other option she fought back to save herself and save her loved ones. She acted quite maturely given the situation. I also liked Nick, he was sweet and caring. He was the one forever locked in the dream dimension because he crossed his time there but he took up his responsibility quite maturely and did everything to save Lori and help her go back.
Hugo was another character I liked, he was a loyal best friend to Lori and believed her when she told the truth. The archangel Michael was quite mysterious but he was a nice guy, I quite liked him. The bogies were oh so gross creatures. At first I imagined them like the grievers in The Maze Runner, well they were quite similar but with wings. Thinking about them makes me shudder.
Writing style-
The writing was simple and addicting It was really so hard to stop reading it. The writing was very easy to get into and I fell into the rhythm from the first page and finished it in one sitting. I loved the descriptive details, it made easier to understand everything. The pace was pretty fast throughout the book and I enjoyed the thrill ride very much. I'm definitely looking forward to read other books by this author.
Overall-
Lucid was an incredible book that I immensely enjoyed. The plot was great, the concept was absolutely awsome and the characters were diverse and unique. The writing style was smooth and pretty addicting, it was hard to stop reading it for a second, there was never a single dull moment in the novel. The pace was pretty fast and this book had the perfect amount of creepiness mixed with thrill which made the book very intriguing.
Recommend it?
ABSOLUTELY! YES! You guys have to give this book a try, it was sooo incredible and awsome! Just go and read this!
**I received a digital copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**
This book was SO FREAKING AWSOOOOME!! I LOVED, loved every bit of it. First of all, the cover is sooo creepy that I'm afraid to look at it! The plot was incredible, the concept was definitely awsome. How did I not know something so awsome like lucid dreaming! The concept fascinated me to such an extend that I want to try it myself. I did some of my own research and Wiki bro says that it could be achieved with sheer practice. Though I doubt it'll possible but there's no harm in giving it a try! Yesh, I know what you guys are thinking but I was born crazy! Now moving on...
Summary-
Lori is a girl who can lucid dream. Basically it means that you realise in your dream that you are dreaming and from that point onwards you are in complete control of your dreams. But in Lori's dreams there is always a door which she tries to stay away from. But finally when she confronts her school psychologist, he tells her to cross through the door and see what happens. She decides to take upon the advice and what she confronts behind the door is beyond her imagination. There is a whole different out there in which she is not alone. She meets a bunch of people who claim that they are protecting this limbo space from the dangerous creatures known as bogies who possess people through their nightmares. Now, Lori is caught between a war between the two sides and she has only one option if she ever wants to get rid of her nightmares, she has to fight back. And when she does, all hell breaks lose.
Plot-
The plot was fresh and absolutely incredible. It had the perfect amount of creepiness and thrill which kept me on my toes from the very first page. The mystery aspect was well maintained and I was dying to know what happened next. The plot was so gripping, it was very hard to stop reading the book for a second. The concept of lucid dreaming was the thing which fascinated me the most. Just imagine, how incredible it is to lucid dream and take full control of your dreams! The author took this concept and twisted it into so much more. The twists and turns were so awsome and surprising! I never guessed them and they poured on me. I had quite a few "WHAAAAAAT" moments. The plot waa also full of action which I definitely enjoyed, there was something or the other constantly happening and it kept me intrigued throughout the novel. I simply loved the way things were executed.
Characters-
The characters were diverse and unique in their own way. I liked Lori a lot, she was a Goth and a total misfit in her school but she had a few loyal friends. She was afraid like any other person when she had to face her nightmare but when she had no other option she fought back to save herself and save her loved ones. She acted quite maturely given the situation. I also liked Nick, he was sweet and caring. He was the one forever locked in the dream dimension because he crossed his time there but he took up his responsibility quite maturely and did everything to save Lori and help her go back.
Hugo was another character I liked, he was a loyal best friend to Lori and believed her when she told the truth. The archangel Michael was quite mysterious but he was a nice guy, I quite liked him. The bogies were oh so gross creatures. At first I imagined them like the grievers in The Maze Runner, well they were quite similar but with wings. Thinking about them makes me shudder.
Writing style-
The writing was simple and addicting It was really so hard to stop reading it. The writing was very easy to get into and I fell into the rhythm from the first page and finished it in one sitting. I loved the descriptive details, it made easier to understand everything. The pace was pretty fast throughout the book and I enjoyed the thrill ride very much. I'm definitely looking forward to read other books by this author.
Overall-
Lucid was an incredible book that I immensely enjoyed. The plot was great, the concept was absolutely awsome and the characters were diverse and unique. The writing style was smooth and pretty addicting, it was hard to stop reading it for a second, there was never a single dull moment in the novel. The pace was pretty fast and this book had the perfect amount of creepiness mixed with thrill which made the book very intriguing.
Recommend it?
ABSOLUTELY! YES! You guys have to give this book a try, it was sooo incredible and awsome! Just go and read this!
November 30, 2015
*I received a free digital version from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5 stars
Lucid is a very interesting book about a teenaged girl who is a lucid dreamer, which isn't exactly overly common. She fully immerses herself into the REM world when she finally opens a door that she's seen since she was young, however, and in doing so kick starts a whole lot of chaos and action.
The real world was well done if not a little unbelievable (because how would the cops not know about the dead dogs and the demon-possessed kid going crazy), but it was decidedly better than the Dream world. The dream world was exciting (it was different and well described) and confusing (because it doesn't feel fully developed in a way that we don't quite know how it works it about the people in it) and I feel like whenever Lori was in the dream world, she mainly focused on Nick. It would have been preferable if we could have had more glimpses of the world and the inner workings of it, such as where the Bogies come from, how Nick and the others stay there and do their job, how the angel got involved, how it all stared, and why they were surprised that Lori made it through (do lucid dreamers not make it through the door often?). The only time we really got to see more of it was when they were going through other dreams, and even then there wasn't much to go by such as how that works, exactly, and how dreams are all connected in some way.
The writing, especially the action, was well done. In fact, there were many scenes where I was gripped and full in, such as the highway chase scene with the demon-possessed kid (poor kid, a lot of damage was done to his body). And the Bogies were creepy and well described. But while this book was enjoyable and different from my usual reads, as I've never really read anything with lucid dreamers in it despite being interested in the topic, and it seems well executed, it felt a little dull (as in the dream world could be more developed, as I mentioned). However, there were passages of information that sometimes made the story drag, especially when information was repeated. The author had a way of telling and not showing, which worked fairly well overall, but made parts of the story slightly boring.
While the details and the overall flow and the writing were good, there were little things that overwhelmed that. The information dumps are one, but the lack of developed characters (no one really seemed to develop other than Lori) and the lack of connection to them are another. The characters are mainly typical ones you'd find, such as a heart broken single mom (dad left) taking care of a kid (the mom is sad and not quite whole anymore), the best friend who would do anything for Lori and rarely ask questions, the father who is completely written out of their lives (except for in the epilogue, which begs the question of whether or not there's a sequel), and the kid with the broken family who acts out. Though in this sense, Lori develops, but it mostly focuses on how she deals with the dream world and not fixing her family. The fact that we don't really create a connection with the characters leaves us unfeeling, and so when she wakes from her coma and learns of all that happened, it seems like cold hard facts, and not something to be worried about. In fact, it was fairly dramatic and I felt it could have been better executed with a little more confusion and disbelief on Lori's part (she seemed way too accepting of the fact, and no one really seemed all that excited that she woke up either except her mom).
One last thing: insta-love. There is no real development between Lori and Nick, and so the feelings they have for each other? Unfortunately classes under the dreaded insta-love category. They work well together and Nick is a great character, but I wish there was more development to their relationship.
Overall this is a good book, but I can't overlook the problems, he X why there's only 3.5 stars. However, I do recommend this book since it is interesting and well written despite the issues I had.
3.5/5 stars
Lucid is a very interesting book about a teenaged girl who is a lucid dreamer, which isn't exactly overly common. She fully immerses herself into the REM world when she finally opens a door that she's seen since she was young, however, and in doing so kick starts a whole lot of chaos and action.
The real world was well done if not a little unbelievable (because how would the cops not know about the dead dogs and the demon-possessed kid going crazy), but it was decidedly better than the Dream world. The dream world was exciting (it was different and well described) and confusing (because it doesn't feel fully developed in a way that we don't quite know how it works it about the people in it) and I feel like whenever Lori was in the dream world, she mainly focused on Nick. It would have been preferable if we could have had more glimpses of the world and the inner workings of it, such as where the Bogies come from, how Nick and the others stay there and do their job, how the angel got involved, how it all stared, and why they were surprised that Lori made it through (do lucid dreamers not make it through the door often?). The only time we really got to see more of it was when they were going through other dreams, and even then there wasn't much to go by such as how that works, exactly, and how dreams are all connected in some way.
The writing, especially the action, was well done. In fact, there were many scenes where I was gripped and full in, such as the highway chase scene with the demon-possessed kid (poor kid, a lot of damage was done to his body). And the Bogies were creepy and well described. But while this book was enjoyable and different from my usual reads, as I've never really read anything with lucid dreamers in it despite being interested in the topic, and it seems well executed, it felt a little dull (as in the dream world could be more developed, as I mentioned). However, there were passages of information that sometimes made the story drag, especially when information was repeated. The author had a way of telling and not showing, which worked fairly well overall, but made parts of the story slightly boring.
While the details and the overall flow and the writing were good, there were little things that overwhelmed that. The information dumps are one, but the lack of developed characters (no one really seemed to develop other than Lori) and the lack of connection to them are another. The characters are mainly typical ones you'd find, such as a heart broken single mom (dad left) taking care of a kid (the mom is sad and not quite whole anymore), the best friend who would do anything for Lori and rarely ask questions, the father who is completely written out of their lives (except for in the epilogue, which begs the question of whether or not there's a sequel), and the kid with the broken family who acts out. Though in this sense, Lori develops, but it mostly focuses on how she deals with the dream world and not fixing her family. The fact that we don't really create a connection with the characters leaves us unfeeling, and so when she wakes from her coma and learns of all that happened, it seems like cold hard facts, and not something to be worried about. In fact, it was fairly dramatic and I felt it could have been better executed with a little more confusion and disbelief on Lori's part (she seemed way too accepting of the fact, and no one really seemed all that excited that she woke up either except her mom).
One last thing: insta-love. There is no real development between Lori and Nick, and so the feelings they have for each other? Unfortunately classes under the dreaded insta-love category. They work well together and Nick is a great character, but I wish there was more development to their relationship.
Overall this is a good book, but I can't overlook the problems, he X why there's only 3.5 stars. However, I do recommend this book since it is interesting and well written despite the issues I had.
September 20, 2015
I am going to try and keep this review short and as sweet and positive as possible. But I have to go ahead and put it out there that, though I enjoyed the idea behind this story, I feel like it missed the mark in a lot of ways. I was looking forward to diving into Lori's dreams, and maybe getting spooked a time or two, but I ended up being bogged down in the mire and never quite being pulled out of it.
The story starts with an extremely tired Lori in the office of the school psychologist who is very persistent with her. He wants to know about her dreams, and finally just to get him to stop talking, she tells him about the Door. The Door has been in her dreams for years, but it scares her and she ignores it as much as possible. The psychologist suggests to Lori that she stop ignoring it, face her fears, and go through the Door, and hopefully she will beat the fear and get some sleep.
So Lori ends up going through the Door, and into a world of darkness, branching tunnels, and Bogy's, where she meets several other people who seem to be sharing her dream. It is here she learns the true meaning of being a Lucid dreamer, and figures out what her purpose of being a "Lucie" is. She learns what powers a Lucid holds over dreams, and she is given a puzzle to figure out about herself. Once she figures this puzzle out, she has the chance to make a huge difference in the fight against the dark side.
My issue with Lucid lies with the writing more than the story. There seemed, to me, to be so much story that should have been edited out, could have been edited out, and the pared down story could have been worlds better. There was so much extra information, or unnecessary paragraphs, and it very much weighed the story down for me. I was looking forward to story of dreamworlds, and while we do get a bit of one, it is always the same one. And the focus was taken off of being a Lucid dreamer and thrown into a story about the fight between Lucies and demons pretty quickly. It was a little disappointing, but even this storyline could have been made much better with some serious editing.
As far as characters went, Lori was a decent character. There was a lot of focus on her being Goth with dreadlocked hair and a genius IQ, but we weren't really shown that through her characterization. It was definitely a big time case of telling vs. showing, and it made it less believable. In Lori's credit though, she was a tough chick which I appreciated. The rest of the characters in the story, including the insta-love interest Nick, fell very flat. Nick was the least flat, but he was basically there to be Lori's love interest, and that was his role. The other characters, like Lori's best friend Hugo, were all very bland characters. I never felt a pull towards any of them, which made the emotional connection I look for pretty much null.
I really, really dislike writing negative reviews. It makes me feel terrible, and sick to my stomach. But sometimes, we all have to do it, and I would rather be honest about it than mislead someone. I genuinely hope that, if this book interests you, you will give it a fair shot. On a positive note, that cover is AWESOME!
The story starts with an extremely tired Lori in the office of the school psychologist who is very persistent with her. He wants to know about her dreams, and finally just to get him to stop talking, she tells him about the Door. The Door has been in her dreams for years, but it scares her and she ignores it as much as possible. The psychologist suggests to Lori that she stop ignoring it, face her fears, and go through the Door, and hopefully she will beat the fear and get some sleep.
So Lori ends up going through the Door, and into a world of darkness, branching tunnels, and Bogy's, where she meets several other people who seem to be sharing her dream. It is here she learns the true meaning of being a Lucid dreamer, and figures out what her purpose of being a "Lucie" is. She learns what powers a Lucid holds over dreams, and she is given a puzzle to figure out about herself. Once she figures this puzzle out, she has the chance to make a huge difference in the fight against the dark side.
My issue with Lucid lies with the writing more than the story. There seemed, to me, to be so much story that should have been edited out, could have been edited out, and the pared down story could have been worlds better. There was so much extra information, or unnecessary paragraphs, and it very much weighed the story down for me. I was looking forward to story of dreamworlds, and while we do get a bit of one, it is always the same one. And the focus was taken off of being a Lucid dreamer and thrown into a story about the fight between Lucies and demons pretty quickly. It was a little disappointing, but even this storyline could have been made much better with some serious editing.
As far as characters went, Lori was a decent character. There was a lot of focus on her being Goth with dreadlocked hair and a genius IQ, but we weren't really shown that through her characterization. It was definitely a big time case of telling vs. showing, and it made it less believable. In Lori's credit though, she was a tough chick which I appreciated. The rest of the characters in the story, including the insta-love interest Nick, fell very flat. Nick was the least flat, but he was basically there to be Lori's love interest, and that was his role. The other characters, like Lori's best friend Hugo, were all very bland characters. I never felt a pull towards any of them, which made the emotional connection I look for pretty much null.
I really, really dislike writing negative reviews. It makes me feel terrible, and sick to my stomach. But sometimes, we all have to do it, and I would rather be honest about it than mislead someone. I genuinely hope that, if this book interests you, you will give it a fair shot. On a positive note, that cover is AWESOME!
September 17, 2015
The first thing that caught my interest was the cover, but in the end, I read it purely because of the author. I’ve been a huge fan on the Walking Dead novels, telling the Governor’s backstory. Those are written with Robert Kirkman, and I was never sure how much of the story was his, and how much was Bonansinga’s. This was my chance to get a peek at Jay’s writing skills all on his own.
Was I impressed? Yes and no. Bonansinga definitely took on a gigantic challenge with this book. Lucid really is thinking outside the box. Literally. Anything is possible in our dreams, and I think he captured that perfectly. The main character, Lori, is a lucid dreamer, meaning that she’s aware within a dream and can therefore manipulate it. The story really did stretch the limits of reality to a breaking point, and had my imagination working overtime. Obviously, this made the story unpredictable… BUT it also made the book hard to follow at times. Not only that, but because most of the book took place inside Lori’s head, there wasn’t a lot of time for secondary character development. Her friends were mentioned a few times, and her mother had a handful of scenes. Even the romantic interest smacked of instalove because there wasn’t enough interaction between them, not enough dialogue. It’s a good thing that I really enjoyed Lori as a character. Her IQ is off the charts, but she takes care to fly under the radar, even going so far as intentionally getting lower grades. She’s fiercely loyal to her mother, and is also fearless. Overall, I felt empowered living inside her head for the length of this book.
I found there were some odd contradictions throughout the story. Most of them were small, like describing daffodils as the wrong color, clothing spontaneously changing mid-scene, or my personal favorite, when she woke up in the hospital and had to pee… but had a catheter in. The largest, however, was the absence of religion. Bonansinga introduces an archangel, but not once questions the existence of God. I felt like this left a gap in the story, leaving me desperate to know more.
In the end, I did enjoy the story. It was liberating to leave reality entirely behind and to delve into a personal darkness.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Was I impressed? Yes and no. Bonansinga definitely took on a gigantic challenge with this book. Lucid really is thinking outside the box. Literally. Anything is possible in our dreams, and I think he captured that perfectly. The main character, Lori, is a lucid dreamer, meaning that she’s aware within a dream and can therefore manipulate it. The story really did stretch the limits of reality to a breaking point, and had my imagination working overtime. Obviously, this made the story unpredictable… BUT it also made the book hard to follow at times. Not only that, but because most of the book took place inside Lori’s head, there wasn’t a lot of time for secondary character development. Her friends were mentioned a few times, and her mother had a handful of scenes. Even the romantic interest smacked of instalove because there wasn’t enough interaction between them, not enough dialogue. It’s a good thing that I really enjoyed Lori as a character. Her IQ is off the charts, but she takes care to fly under the radar, even going so far as intentionally getting lower grades. She’s fiercely loyal to her mother, and is also fearless. Overall, I felt empowered living inside her head for the length of this book.
I found there were some odd contradictions throughout the story. Most of them were small, like describing daffodils as the wrong color, clothing spontaneously changing mid-scene, or my personal favorite, when she woke up in the hospital and had to pee… but had a catheter in. The largest, however, was the absence of religion. Bonansinga introduces an archangel, but not once questions the existence of God. I felt like this left a gap in the story, leaving me desperate to know more.
In the end, I did enjoy the story. It was liberating to leave reality entirely behind and to delve into a personal darkness.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 14, 2015
Holy Fluffy Marshmallows!
I'm kinda at a loss for words so that was all I could come up with.
This was definitely one heck of a book and I'm seriously hoping that its part of a series cause I would love to learn a bit more about Lori. Lately I've been hoping to find something different when reading, a different kind of character and I think I got that from this book. Lori is a heroine in every aspect of the word but she seems to have an anti-heroine feel to her. She's way different from your typical lead and the romance is even more unconventional.
I enjoyed that while Nick was very important to Lori, he wasn't the most important person and didn't deter her from what she had to do. If anything, he was her biggest supporter. And while I would have enjoyed reading a bit more of their interactions I'm ok with what I got because the rest of the story was just that good.
Lucid dreaming in a book isn't a new concept to me BUT this was done in a completely different way that incorporated demons.... this book gives a whole new meaning to the term inner demons and actually had me stopping to consider my own dreams lol.
I was really intrigued with the concept of this story and I feel like the execution was on point. It was quick with the action and didn't leave you struggling through chapters upon chapters of character info before it got to the good stuff. My only peeve was the way it was written with a sense of precognition and shifting to a form of telling a past event. I enjoy finding out about characters and the story as it unfolds. There where a couple of scenes in particular where I felt annoyed with the continued reference to an event that had yet to occur.
I really hope this is the start of a series because while there is a definite end to this book there is a sense of open ended-ness that begs the question.... what is her destiny. There was a resolution to the main problem but no answers given to the others. As I said above, I really would like to learn more about Lori and I relish the chance to delve back into this world of lucid dreaming and demons.
“I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”
I'm kinda at a loss for words so that was all I could come up with.
This was definitely one heck of a book and I'm seriously hoping that its part of a series cause I would love to learn a bit more about Lori. Lately I've been hoping to find something different when reading, a different kind of character and I think I got that from this book. Lori is a heroine in every aspect of the word but she seems to have an anti-heroine feel to her. She's way different from your typical lead and the romance is even more unconventional.
I enjoyed that while Nick was very important to Lori, he wasn't the most important person and didn't deter her from what she had to do. If anything, he was her biggest supporter. And while I would have enjoyed reading a bit more of their interactions I'm ok with what I got because the rest of the story was just that good.
Lucid dreaming in a book isn't a new concept to me BUT this was done in a completely different way that incorporated demons.... this book gives a whole new meaning to the term inner demons and actually had me stopping to consider my own dreams lol.
I was really intrigued with the concept of this story and I feel like the execution was on point. It was quick with the action and didn't leave you struggling through chapters upon chapters of character info before it got to the good stuff. My only peeve was the way it was written with a sense of precognition and shifting to a form of telling a past event. I enjoy finding out about characters and the story as it unfolds. There where a couple of scenes in particular where I felt annoyed with the continued reference to an event that had yet to occur.
I really hope this is the start of a series because while there is a definite end to this book there is a sense of open ended-ness that begs the question.... what is her destiny. There was a resolution to the main problem but no answers given to the others. As I said above, I really would like to learn more about Lori and I relish the chance to delve back into this world of lucid dreaming and demons.
“I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”
September 19, 2015
***Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for a review.***
Another example of Good Idea, Bad Execution.
The idea of lucid dreaming- being aware that you're dreaming, or at its extreme point even dreaming while awake- is a concept that's rife with potential and intriguing to explore. Storywise, think of Lucid Dreaming as a Matrix-style environment, with Lori setting out on the path to become Neo.
Lucid hits all the typical YA notes- Chosen One, Social Misfit, etc- which is fine as far as it goes, but the problems here lie with the delivery.
From the outset you're treated to an endless stream of infodumps about everything- the characters, their backgrounds (which largely don't even matter) and of course the science and theory behind Lucid Dreaming. You'll know exactly when something's about to happen because right before it does you'll get a few paragraphs dropping the pertinent information in your lap so you'll know what's going on. The author really needs to find a better way to weave this info into the mix; after the third time I started skimming because it was all just getting in the way of the story.
There's also the classic problem of Show, Don't Tell. Author Jay Bonansinga is very good when he needs to TELL you what's going on- he always does it. He just doesn't SHOW it very well. Again, large portions of the book are relegated to infodumps and minutiae which jar you right out of the flow because now you have to stop and absorb a block of jargon and set-up material in order for the next scene to make sense.
Speaking of the infodumps, he also needs to learn when and why to bring information. A supporting character is going to play a very important role in the story, but from the moment they come on the scene it's revealed to the reader why they're so important. You're flat out told who/what they are long before you'd even need to know about it- destroying any possible tension and drama this could create in the story arc, plus Lori herself doesn't find out until two-thirds of the way in.
Not good.
There's a lot of potential within the story. A lot. It just needs a lot of work to bring out.
Another example of Good Idea, Bad Execution.
The idea of lucid dreaming- being aware that you're dreaming, or at its extreme point even dreaming while awake- is a concept that's rife with potential and intriguing to explore. Storywise, think of Lucid Dreaming as a Matrix-style environment, with Lori setting out on the path to become Neo.
Lucid hits all the typical YA notes- Chosen One, Social Misfit, etc- which is fine as far as it goes, but the problems here lie with the delivery.
From the outset you're treated to an endless stream of infodumps about everything- the characters, their backgrounds (which largely don't even matter) and of course the science and theory behind Lucid Dreaming. You'll know exactly when something's about to happen because right before it does you'll get a few paragraphs dropping the pertinent information in your lap so you'll know what's going on. The author really needs to find a better way to weave this info into the mix; after the third time I started skimming because it was all just getting in the way of the story.
There's also the classic problem of Show, Don't Tell. Author Jay Bonansinga is very good when he needs to TELL you what's going on- he always does it. He just doesn't SHOW it very well. Again, large portions of the book are relegated to infodumps and minutiae which jar you right out of the flow because now you have to stop and absorb a block of jargon and set-up material in order for the next scene to make sense.
Speaking of the infodumps, he also needs to learn when and why to bring information. A supporting character is going to play a very important role in the story, but from the moment they come on the scene it's revealed to the reader why they're so important. You're flat out told who/what they are long before you'd even need to know about it- destroying any possible tension and drama this could create in the story arc, plus Lori herself doesn't find out until two-thirds of the way in.
Not good.
There's a lot of potential within the story. A lot. It just needs a lot of work to bring out.
August 25, 2015
This book had just enough of a creepy factor for me to love it without enough to give me nightmares. Well, maybe just a tiny nightmare when I stayed up too late reading and I had just gotten to…one scene. IN ANY EVENT, I absolutely love Lori. She’s spunky, different and actually interesting since she brakes the mold of the stereotypical heroine. I also enjoyed her tendency to avoid following the rules more often than not.
The world behind the door is fascinating. I loved how vivid each setting was and it had me intrigued to see what other worlds were out there. If I have any complaint it’d be the instant-attraction factor, but it was never overdone throughout the story. Now I just want to know…is there going to be a sequel?
Warning: Contains violence, note there is a horror aspect to the book.
Who should read it? Fans of books that paranormal in a contemporary setting.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of Xpresso Book Tours.
See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDistraction.com or @Read2Distract
The world behind the door is fascinating. I loved how vivid each setting was and it had me intrigued to see what other worlds were out there. If I have any complaint it’d be the instant-attraction factor, but it was never overdone throughout the story. Now I just want to know…is there going to be a sequel?
Warning: Contains violence, note there is a horror aspect to the book.
Who should read it? Fans of books that paranormal in a contemporary setting.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of Xpresso Book Tours.
See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDistraction.com or @Read2Distract
August 23, 2015
First of all the main character was refreshing from all that perfect little "i am too fat" is my only problem thin girl heroins. Also the subject lucid dreaming was pretty interesting to read about but sadly there were some things missing.
I believe these are things that can be fixed as the writer gains experience. Throughout the whole book her best friend Hugo was always adressed with his last name. Why? Super weird and unneeded. At some point in the book it says "Lori backed away stupidly." This is a third person told story and it must be objective. It cannot include writers outer thoughts therefore it was mildly disturbing these little mistakes.
There were lots of questions left unanswered so this book gets three stars.
This was mostly suitable for younger readers though an average read.
I believe these are things that can be fixed as the writer gains experience. Throughout the whole book her best friend Hugo was always adressed with his last name. Why? Super weird and unneeded. At some point in the book it says "Lori backed away stupidly." This is a third person told story and it must be objective. It cannot include writers outer thoughts therefore it was mildly disturbing these little mistakes.
There were lots of questions left unanswered so this book gets three stars.
This was mostly suitable for younger readers though an average read.
September 12, 2015
This tale is the sort that will mess with you. Just as you think you've worked out what is going on, it twists and shifts on you, and shakes things back up.
Gripping from the outset, I found this to be a really compelling, intriguing story, with a lead character who was easy to relate to, despite the circumstances which unfold. Her friend Hugo was perhaps a little weak as a character when set beside Lori, but this didn't impair my overall enjoyment of the story.
The suspense and action built steadily thoughout the narrative culminating in a satisfying conclusion. A thrilling read.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Gripping from the outset, I found this to be a really compelling, intriguing story, with a lead character who was easy to relate to, despite the circumstances which unfold. Her friend Hugo was perhaps a little weak as a character when set beside Lori, but this didn't impair my overall enjoyment of the story.
The suspense and action built steadily thoughout the narrative culminating in a satisfying conclusion. A thrilling read.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read
September 20, 2015I was looking forward to reading this story, but it failed to deliver. I just couldn't get past the long passages of information; do I really need to read about all the different stages of sleep and dreaming to be able to understand the concept of Lucid Dreaming? The "Tell don't Show" style in which everything was presented also dragged the pacing of the story to a halt. 5 times I tried and 5 times I feel asleep. Ironically, this book was certainly great for my REM cycles. I gave up 30% of the way into the novel.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately it's a DNF for me.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately it's a DNF for me.
September 17, 2015
I found the plot original; especially in market saturated with YA paranormal books. It's centered around dreaming and the realms; unbeknownst to the real world, that are tangents of it. The author created a solid plotline, good dialogue and great characters. The dialogue is real and character appropriate. Nor does the author ramble. Everything has to do with the story. The characters are real and vibrant and most important, likeable. The book also has a good balance of dialogue and action; which the story is riddled with. Overall, a real page turner you can't put down.
May 9, 2016
Interesting take on Lucid Dreaming, easy to read and kept my attention. Only gripe is the author continually tells you things the character hasn't yet figured out by saying, "she later realized" or "didn't know at the time". That tended to pull me out of the story.
August 18, 2016
Great book! I didn't want it to end. The author weaves a wonderful story that has you wondering what's coming up next. Loved it!
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