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The Aylosian Chronicles #1
Dreams and Shadows
What do you do when you are suddenly transported from twenty-first century England into a world of strange magic where everyone seems to be trying to kill you?
That’s the question that faces Michael – an orphan who had been abandoned with a young couple while a baby, and largely ignored after his “adoptive mother” died. When a powerful dream sets off a series of events that inexplicably draws him into the land of Aylosia, Michael finally believes he is arriving in a place where he will feel his mother’s love, but magical and political forces quickly seek his destruction.
Caught between truth and lie, Michael now faces a fight for survival in a beautiful land; and must struggle to learn of his own powers and destiny if he is to save those he has grown to love.
Dreams and Shadows is a story of magical powers and strange creatures; of love, betrayal, despair, and ultimately hope. It is the first book in the new series, the Aylosian Chronicles.
Please note that British English has been used for spelling and grammar.
That’s the question that faces Michael – an orphan who had been abandoned with a young couple while a baby, and largely ignored after his “adoptive mother” died. When a powerful dream sets off a series of events that inexplicably draws him into the land of Aylosia, Michael finally believes he is arriving in a place where he will feel his mother’s love, but magical and political forces quickly seek his destruction.
Caught between truth and lie, Michael now faces a fight for survival in a beautiful land; and must struggle to learn of his own powers and destiny if he is to save those he has grown to love.
Dreams and Shadows is a story of magical powers and strange creatures; of love, betrayal, despair, and ultimately hope. It is the first book in the new series, the Aylosian Chronicles.
Please note that British English has been used for spelling and grammar.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2015
About the author
Jeffrey Collyer
5 books39 followersJeffrey Collyer was born in Perth, Australia. Following stints living in the US and Chile, he finally settled in England, where he now lives with his wife, four children, and two cats that constantly try to trip him down the stairs. Although his reading (and writing) tastes are somewhat eclectic, his first love is Fantasy, as it enables all sorts of subject matter to be explored in subtle ways.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 18, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Jeffrey Collyer.)
This wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t for me. I found it quite heavy going, the pace was quite slow, and I struggled to get through it. I think that other people might like this one, but for me I think it was just a case of wrong book, wrong person.
6 out of 10
This wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t for me. I found it quite heavy going, the pace was quite slow, and I struggled to get through it. I think that other people might like this one, but for me I think it was just a case of wrong book, wrong person.
6 out of 10
October 18, 2015
(I received a copy from the author, In exchange for an honest review.)
Actual rating - 2.5
The characters in this were okay, but I didn't love any of them.
I just couldn't get interested in this one unfortunately. The book felt very heavy and long, so it dragged quite badly, and I struggled to get through it because of it.
Overall, Not a bad read, but not one for me.
Actual rating - 2.5
The characters in this were okay, but I didn't love any of them.
I just couldn't get interested in this one unfortunately. The book felt very heavy and long, so it dragged quite badly, and I struggled to get through it because of it.
Overall, Not a bad read, but not one for me.
on-hold
December 31, 2015I think this book is done being "currently-not-read" poor thing. So I'm going to give my starless review for now and until I complete this, if I did.
I actually stopped at the 48% mark and I'm just going to give my half review of the things I read. When I read the book's synopsis I actually was interested and thought this is going to be a good adventure. The beginning was ,however, there was too much unnecessary details that makes you want to say "I get it, I swear I got it two pages ago". It was frustrating and I skipped some long paragraphs without it affecting the story. If I would sum the story to where I stopped it'd be in two pages max.
This is this book's problem for me. I also wish it was more relatable in terms of the character. They're really hard to know.
These are my thoughts for now, I hope I get to finish this book ASAP.
I actually stopped at the 48% mark and I'm just going to give my half review of the things I read. When I read the book's synopsis I actually was interested and thought this is going to be a good adventure. The beginning was ,however, there was too much unnecessary details that makes you want to say "I get it, I swear I got it two pages ago". It was frustrating and I skipped some long paragraphs without it affecting the story. If I would sum the story to where I stopped it'd be in two pages max.
This is this book's problem for me. I also wish it was more relatable in terms of the character. They're really hard to know.
These are my thoughts for now, I hope I get to finish this book ASAP.
October 22, 2015
I received a copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Actual Rating: 2.75
This was a good read. The characters were okay and I felt like I was not able to connect with them most of the time. Also, I found the story to have dragged on for a bit, which decreases the enjoyment of reading the book. I want to read the second book to find out more about the world and characters. Overall, an okay read.
Actual Rating: 2.75
This was a good read. The characters were okay and I felt like I was not able to connect with them most of the time. Also, I found the story to have dragged on for a bit, which decreases the enjoyment of reading the book. I want to read the second book to find out more about the world and characters. Overall, an okay read.
November 6, 2015
In Dreams and Shadows, Jeffrey Collyer takes his main character, a young man named Michael, on a long, arduous journey, and us right along with him.
For years, Michael has lived with the feeling that he doesn't quite belong. Then, one day, he is transported to the land of Aylosia, a land fraught with dangers that seem to follow him wherever he goes. Caught in the middle of a centuries-old conflict between two tribes, Michael discovers not only that he is suspected of being more than he says he is - more, indeed, than even he knows, but that things in this land are not quite what they seem.
I won't lie to you - it took me a long time to get through this book. To call Michael's journey "epic" is an understatement, and we take every step of that journey with him. Unfortunately, when combined with the many instances of introspection, self-doubt and constant guilt, made the pace of the story very slow. I am happy to report, however, that the ending was very satisfying and entertaining, so I still give it my recommendation.
For years, Michael has lived with the feeling that he doesn't quite belong. Then, one day, he is transported to the land of Aylosia, a land fraught with dangers that seem to follow him wherever he goes. Caught in the middle of a centuries-old conflict between two tribes, Michael discovers not only that he is suspected of being more than he says he is - more, indeed, than even he knows, but that things in this land are not quite what they seem.
I won't lie to you - it took me a long time to get through this book. To call Michael's journey "epic" is an understatement, and we take every step of that journey with him. Unfortunately, when combined with the many instances of introspection, self-doubt and constant guilt, made the pace of the story very slow. I am happy to report, however, that the ending was very satisfying and entertaining, so I still give it my recommendation.
September 13, 2018
Michael, a young man living in London, was a quiet bookish sort of introvert who worked at the library. He was a brooding orphan with no close ties to anyone until one night when a strange dream changed his life forever.
The changes began after he began to investigate into the odd dream; he saves the life of a woman, and then the assassin came for him. A pendant, gift for saving the woman, comes to life in his hands and transports him away from the killer's clutches to another world. And then his adventure really begins.
This book truly hooked me and that doesn't happen often. The story is very well written with good pacing between action and development. Michael came fully to life in my mind so that I lived the adventure and trials alongside him.
The language was clean, and although there is violence, it isn't graphic. I would be comfortable reading this to my granddaughter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which is self-contained, but also look forward to reading the sequel. I will be sorely disappointed if it isn't as well done as this one.
This was by far the best book I've read this year.
The changes began after he began to investigate into the odd dream; he saves the life of a woman, and then the assassin came for him. A pendant, gift for saving the woman, comes to life in his hands and transports him away from the killer's clutches to another world. And then his adventure really begins.
This book truly hooked me and that doesn't happen often. The story is very well written with good pacing between action and development. Michael came fully to life in my mind so that I lived the adventure and trials alongside him.
The language was clean, and although there is violence, it isn't graphic. I would be comfortable reading this to my granddaughter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which is self-contained, but also look forward to reading the sequel. I will be sorely disappointed if it isn't as well done as this one.
This was by far the best book I've read this year.
February 23, 2016
I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and Sarah :)
My very first thought about the book: the pace was so slow it made the book a lot boring. And the unnecessary details here and there didn't help,and got un-ignorable after a while.
The last chapters were the most enjoyable because of the nice pace,and were powerful. The book could've been more enjoyable if it were written like the last five chapters.
I liked the uniqueness of the world - building. The Waylet and Aperocalsa were interesting, and so were their people and culture. It was interesting seeing the connection between Michael's dreams and . Though I was skeptic about some things like: if Aylosia was another world,why were there humans, and why did they apparently speak the same language as Michael? Or at least,they did seem to understand him and he,them. But I guessed we'll find out about it later. And it annoyed me how we found everyone trying to kill Michael and being made to believe he was all important and the reason being a mystery
The dialogue was ok,but Michael seemed too informal at times,unlike the others. And even the words of his thoughts were generally rather formal.
I found the characters acceptable,nothing really special. I liked Kasha
Michael was a quiet and nice guy. He didn't want to get involved in fights with the bigger guys. He was also understanding and sympathetic. I thought he did well at making sense of the people and places around him.
I felt sorry for him at times when he tried to convince himself that he was too old to dwell on the thoughts of his parents. I wanted him to know that it was ok,and that he was not too old to want to have parents who'd love him dearly. It was ok to feel sad about growing up an orphan.
Michael losing his mother just after finding her, was a bit too much. And it annoyed me. We were made to believe his mother was of some importance--more importance than her dying like that so easily--in the story,as she was mentioned in the very beginning and then repeatedly.
I did not understand the romance.
It was overall a good adventure exploring Aylosia,but the slow pace was really distracting.
My very first thought about the book: the pace was so slow it made the book a lot boring. And the unnecessary details here and there didn't help,and got un-ignorable after a while.
The last chapters were the most enjoyable because of the nice pace,and were powerful. The book could've been more enjoyable if it were written like the last five chapters.
I liked the uniqueness of the world - building. The Waylet and Aperocalsa were interesting, and so were their people and culture. It was interesting seeing the connection between Michael's dreams and . Though I was skeptic about some things like: if Aylosia was another world,why were there humans, and why did they apparently speak the same language as Michael? Or at least,they did seem to understand him and he,them. But I guessed we'll find out about it later. And it annoyed me how we found everyone trying to kill Michael and being made to believe he was all important and the reason being a mystery
The dialogue was ok,but Michael seemed too informal at times,unlike the others. And even the words of his thoughts were generally rather formal.
I found the characters acceptable,nothing really special. I liked Kasha
Michael was a quiet and nice guy. He didn't want to get involved in fights with the bigger guys. He was also understanding and sympathetic. I thought he did well at making sense of the people and places around him.
I felt sorry for him at times when he tried to convince himself that he was too old to dwell on the thoughts of his parents. I wanted him to know that it was ok,and that he was not too old to want to have parents who'd love him dearly. It was ok to feel sad about growing up an orphan.
Michael losing his mother just after finding her, was a bit too much. And it annoyed me. We were made to believe his mother was of some importance--more importance than her dying like that so easily--in the story,as she was mentioned in the very beginning and then repeatedly.
I did not understand the romance.
It was overall a good adventure exploring Aylosia,but the slow pace was really distracting.
December 1, 2015
I love a good portal fantasy as much as the next guy, but this one had a few things that made it less than great.
Let's start off with the first bit: the real world setting. Michael is like any other guy his age, but the first few chapters are as bland and boring as I've ever read. There was very little to make me want to keep reading until he made it into the world of Aylosia. Also, it's not explained AT ALL how he gets to the other world. (Or, if it was, I missed it).
When he reaches Aylosia, he transitions to the new way of life and new world a bit too easily. I'd expect a bit more culture shock, all things considered.
The bones of the story were excellent. The world in which they live is intriguing, the magic system is interesting, and the main characters (Michael and Aneh) were fairly well-developed. However, it's a classic "villain for villainy's sake", and the other characters were a bit two-dimensional.
There were A LOT of unnecessary scenes in the book, with a whole side story arc that seemed less important the more I read. There were no highs or lows, and the one HUGE emotional moment seemed a bit milquetoast. There was only one real surprise at the climax of the book, but overall, it was a pretty straightforward fantasy of "good vs evil".
The story may have been good, but the nitty gritty (grammar, structure, syntax, flow, pace, punctuation, etc.) was pretty flawed. The world-building is a bit annoying, with large chunks of information on landmarks and landscapes. Overall, the story could have been trimmed by 25% of sheer word count without losing anything.
That being said, it's a decent story. If you can look past the things mentioned above, it was an enjoyable read and could be the beginning of a great new series.
Let's start off with the first bit: the real world setting. Michael is like any other guy his age, but the first few chapters are as bland and boring as I've ever read. There was very little to make me want to keep reading until he made it into the world of Aylosia. Also, it's not explained AT ALL how he gets to the other world. (Or, if it was, I missed it).
When he reaches Aylosia, he transitions to the new way of life and new world a bit too easily. I'd expect a bit more culture shock, all things considered.
The bones of the story were excellent. The world in which they live is intriguing, the magic system is interesting, and the main characters (Michael and Aneh) were fairly well-developed. However, it's a classic "villain for villainy's sake", and the other characters were a bit two-dimensional.
There were A LOT of unnecessary scenes in the book, with a whole side story arc that seemed less important the more I read. There were no highs or lows, and the one HUGE emotional moment seemed a bit milquetoast. There was only one real surprise at the climax of the book, but overall, it was a pretty straightforward fantasy of "good vs evil".
The story may have been good, but the nitty gritty (grammar, structure, syntax, flow, pace, punctuation, etc.) was pretty flawed. The world-building is a bit annoying, with large chunks of information on landmarks and landscapes. Overall, the story could have been trimmed by 25% of sheer word count without losing anything.
That being said, it's a decent story. If you can look past the things mentioned above, it was an enjoyable read and could be the beginning of a great new series.
September 12, 2015
Jeffrey uses symbolism and imagination to create a stunning work of art in his first book of The Aylosian Chronicles, Dreams and Shadows. Well thought out characters and exciting worlds that pull you between suspense and tenderness, this book is well worth the read.
March 9, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
Michael, a young man who works in a library is more than he seems. He has always felt that he didn’t belong but doesn’t know why he feels that way. He was given to foster parents as an infant and his foster mother passed away early in his life. His foster father paid no attention to him aside from giving him a place to live and food to eat. We find him working in a library and using his situation to look for a strange symbol he spotted on his way to work.
His curiosity brings him to spot he has passed many times, but this time is different. He experiences a dream where he sees a sword with unusual symbols and hears a woman speaking to him. A loud thunder crack brings him back to his present. Then he saves the life of an unknown woman who is about to be shot. Michael experiences another strange event as someone tries to kill him. All of these situations confuse Michael, but nothing shakes him as much as going through a time warp of some sort and winding up in a land he does not know. Now his trials really begin.
Dreams and Shadows is a great story with lots of interesting peoples and situations. Throughout his adventures, Michael seeks the mother who abandoned him and whom he feels is alive somewhere still loving him. His need for his mother drives a lot of his decisions and leads him into danger as those he trust betray him.
Michael, a young man who works in a library is more than he seems. He has always felt that he didn’t belong but doesn’t know why he feels that way. He was given to foster parents as an infant and his foster mother passed away early in his life. His foster father paid no attention to him aside from giving him a place to live and food to eat. We find him working in a library and using his situation to look for a strange symbol he spotted on his way to work.
His curiosity brings him to spot he has passed many times, but this time is different. He experiences a dream where he sees a sword with unusual symbols and hears a woman speaking to him. A loud thunder crack brings him back to his present. Then he saves the life of an unknown woman who is about to be shot. Michael experiences another strange event as someone tries to kill him. All of these situations confuse Michael, but nothing shakes him as much as going through a time warp of some sort and winding up in a land he does not know. Now his trials really begin.
Dreams and Shadows is a great story with lots of interesting peoples and situations. Throughout his adventures, Michael seeks the mother who abandoned him and whom he feels is alive somewhere still loving him. His need for his mother drives a lot of his decisions and leads him into danger as those he trust betray him.
November 25, 2018
Great story
I enjoyed this story because it is not only fantasy (my favorite genre) but it has depth to it like no fantasy I've read before. There's a lot of wisdom passed along in this story. Most authors spend more time on world building. I like Jeffrey Collyer's approach more than most. He explores the character's values and motives and spiritual character more than any I've read. I look forward to reading more by him.
I enjoyed this story because it is not only fantasy (my favorite genre) but it has depth to it like no fantasy I've read before. There's a lot of wisdom passed along in this story. Most authors spend more time on world building. I like Jeffrey Collyer's approach more than most. He explores the character's values and motives and spiritual character more than any I've read. I look forward to reading more by him.
November 16, 2017
Such beauty
Not only did this story give vivid visions of an intriguing land and is people it delved into the souls and showed the deep longing for joy and love as well as the darker desire for power and social standing. I love it.
Not only did this story give vivid visions of an intriguing land and is people it delved into the souls and showed the deep longing for joy and love as well as the darker desire for power and social standing. I love it.
September 21, 2017
Excellent story surrounding Michael, who's transported from 21st England to a different magical place. Just loved it.
April 19, 2018
Very imaginative characters.
Great read. Drew me in quickly. Characters kept building and building. Can't wait to start the next one. Well done.
Great read. Drew me in quickly. Characters kept building and building. Can't wait to start the next one. Well done.
May 22, 2018
A very unusual but enjoyable book.
January 31, 2018
Good in spots, but overall not what I'd call "gripping". The plot meanders a little too much to be fully coherent; and while there is a love story, it's not very convincingly pursued. The finale is certainly graphic and has a surprising twist to it, but the romance is abandoned at an incomplete and rather unsatisfying stage, making one feel that it's merely a cosmetic add-on in the author's scheme of things.
No great desire to read the sequel(s)…
No great desire to read the sequel(s)…
June 30, 2016
This is a wonderful tale of magic, where weaving is the magic--much like elemental magic of Airbender, except in more depth. There is more than fire, water, earth, and wind. There are Soul Weavers, Bow Weavers, Sword Weavers, Fire Weavers, etc. I would say the magic is a mix between Airbender and The Wheel of Time, how they weave spells together.
I will warn you, this book starts slow, very slow. At first as I was reading, I thought I was going to give this book a 3 star or below. Then it hit hard, with the introduction of Michael into this new world, meeting many different weavers, including a woman whom you're rooting for Michael to become more involved with. That's when it gripped me in. It moved up to four stars in my book. As I continued reading, I began furiously tearing through chapters, intrigued with the magic and the story. It is very complex and a wonderful fresh take on fantasy. The story has a wonderful conclusion, very satisfying, and I can't wait to read through book 2 in the series.
So why 3 stars at first?
I'll talk a bit about the cons of this book. The title? Dreams & Shadows didn't really do it for me. It seems a common title for a tale so incredibly epic. Dream Weaver, Shadow Weaver, I think those would have presented the idea behind the story better. The cover? It doesn't capture the image of what this story is. When I see the cover, it makes me think of Percy Jackson, and that isn't quite how this book goes at all. I think a more tradition epic fantasy cover that could capture the magic of weaving would have brought me more into what this book held.
The beginning is rather slow. The introduction chapter is a dream, a very important dream which is mentioned for its importance throughout, but it didn't capture me. After that it went on slow, with a lot of repetitive mentions of how Michael is an orphan and desperately wants to find his mother. It goes on like this for a long while, and it's quite frustrating. I get it. He's an orphan, he wants to know if his mother is out there, he feels she is out there. It's too focused on that to enjoy much of the beginning, until he ends up in a new world with the weavers, that's where it kicks off. The reunion with the person he believes to be his mother I feel is short lived, not quite as frustrating as Beth Revis's Across the Universe Series where you wait until the 3rd book before she introduces the main character's parents, barely has any contact with them, and swiftly murders them off. Not quite that bad for this book, but it still seems short lived. There are several mentions of how he wasn't named after his father, however his father never comes up. Even when he meets the person who claims to be his mother, claiming the oddity of her not naming him after his father. Yet, he never asks where his father is. I found that strange.
However, the story took off in such a way, the characters developed, and I never wanted to put the book down after getting through the beginning. I can't wait to read book 2!
I will warn you, this book starts slow, very slow. At first as I was reading, I thought I was going to give this book a 3 star or below. Then it hit hard, with the introduction of Michael into this new world, meeting many different weavers, including a woman whom you're rooting for Michael to become more involved with. That's when it gripped me in. It moved up to four stars in my book. As I continued reading, I began furiously tearing through chapters, intrigued with the magic and the story. It is very complex and a wonderful fresh take on fantasy. The story has a wonderful conclusion, very satisfying, and I can't wait to read through book 2 in the series.
So why 3 stars at first?
I'll talk a bit about the cons of this book. The title? Dreams & Shadows didn't really do it for me. It seems a common title for a tale so incredibly epic. Dream Weaver, Shadow Weaver, I think those would have presented the idea behind the story better. The cover? It doesn't capture the image of what this story is. When I see the cover, it makes me think of Percy Jackson, and that isn't quite how this book goes at all. I think a more tradition epic fantasy cover that could capture the magic of weaving would have brought me more into what this book held.
The beginning is rather slow. The introduction chapter is a dream, a very important dream which is mentioned for its importance throughout, but it didn't capture me. After that it went on slow, with a lot of repetitive mentions of how Michael is an orphan and desperately wants to find his mother. It goes on like this for a long while, and it's quite frustrating. I get it. He's an orphan, he wants to know if his mother is out there, he feels she is out there. It's too focused on that to enjoy much of the beginning, until he ends up in a new world with the weavers, that's where it kicks off. The reunion with the person he believes to be his mother I feel is short lived, not quite as frustrating as Beth Revis's Across the Universe Series where you wait until the 3rd book before she introduces the main character's parents, barely has any contact with them, and swiftly murders them off. Not quite that bad for this book, but it still seems short lived. There are several mentions of how he wasn't named after his father, however his father never comes up. Even when he meets the person who claims to be his mother, claiming the oddity of her not naming him after his father. Yet, he never asks where his father is. I found that strange.
However, the story took off in such a way, the characters developed, and I never wanted to put the book down after getting through the beginning. I can't wait to read book 2!
February 26, 2017
*This book was given to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – all opinions are my own.*
This book has potential but it was sadly not well channeled. I think Collyer invented an interesting fantasy world that I would like to know more about, however I think the book could have benefited from better writing and editing. Some things needed to be explored more and some others needed to be cut shorter. This book is also a perfect example of telling not showing.
I almost DNFed, but I only kept reading because I wanted to review it for Netgalley. Thankfully I persisted because around page 250-300 (of 400) it got interesting. I know it's important to explain the mythology of a new world, but Tolkien is one of few who managed to pull it off in a verbose and tangential way. I'm kind of intrigued by book 2 of the series (which says a lot about the story), but I really hope it's better writing wise!
This book has potential but it was sadly not well channeled. I think Collyer invented an interesting fantasy world that I would like to know more about, however I think the book could have benefited from better writing and editing. Some things needed to be explored more and some others needed to be cut shorter. This book is also a perfect example of telling not showing.
I almost DNFed, but I only kept reading because I wanted to review it for Netgalley. Thankfully I persisted because around page 250-300 (of 400) it got interesting. I know it's important to explain the mythology of a new world, but Tolkien is one of few who managed to pull it off in a verbose and tangential way. I'm kind of intrigued by book 2 of the series (which says a lot about the story), but I really hope it's better writing wise!
July 22, 2016
Dreams and Shadows begins by plunging you into a mysterious, revealing scene. If you are paying attention, you learn tons about Michael - his deepest fears, his past, his longing for a connection with his mother. As I continued to read, I really liked this guy! What's not to love? He's a book nerd who works in a library! I've already begun to connect with him when the serious things start to go down. At the end of chapter three, I was hooked, frantically turning pages while mentally coaxing myself to slow down and appreciate the beauty of this writing. I rarely use the word refreshing when it comes to a book, but it was! A perfect summer read. (Don't let that stop you from enjoying it during any other season.)
It took me a few pages to get in sync with Collyer's tone and cadence, but when it happened, I was sailing along quite enjoyably. I also struggled with keeping some of the characters separate in my mind. This is an issue I have just in my brain, so it isn't something that surprising to me. If you are like me though, you may find yourself flipping back a couple of times to remind yourself of who did or said what.
The beginning of each chapter features an excerpt from The Wisdom of Ashael - an ancient text created by the writer to facilitate the story. Here's the thing: It's so authentic feeling that I actually looked it up to see if it was real of if he made it up. It's not unusual in epic fantasy to have a text like this, but most of the time you can tell that it is of the author's own creation. Collyer even has quotes on beautiful pictures in his website from The Wisdom of Ashael.
Now, is this a book for kids? Yes and no. It's not dirty. But it also doesn't read like a children's book. I've passed it on to my 11 year old daughter who enjoys magic and fantasy.
I will say young adults with high reading levels and vocabularies would adore this book, although they will need to have some patience getting through some parts. Epic Fantasy YA/NA books with a male lead are hard to find right now, so this series fills a gap in most libraries. New adults and adults will be able to dig in and fully enjoy themselves.
Book two in the series recently came out. I've purchased it and can't wait to see what happens next!
Bonus thoughts:
I would love to hear this book in audio format.
I would also like to see Collyer and C.E. Wilson collaborate on a book or short story together. They would bring out the best in each other and make an exciting duo!
Jeffrey Collyer gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not bias my opinion at all. Just ask my 11 year old!
It took me a few pages to get in sync with Collyer's tone and cadence, but when it happened, I was sailing along quite enjoyably. I also struggled with keeping some of the characters separate in my mind. This is an issue I have just in my brain, so it isn't something that surprising to me. If you are like me though, you may find yourself flipping back a couple of times to remind yourself of who did or said what.
The beginning of each chapter features an excerpt from The Wisdom of Ashael - an ancient text created by the writer to facilitate the story. Here's the thing: It's so authentic feeling that I actually looked it up to see if it was real of if he made it up. It's not unusual in epic fantasy to have a text like this, but most of the time you can tell that it is of the author's own creation. Collyer even has quotes on beautiful pictures in his website from The Wisdom of Ashael.
Now, is this a book for kids? Yes and no. It's not dirty. But it also doesn't read like a children's book. I've passed it on to my 11 year old daughter who enjoys magic and fantasy.
I will say young adults with high reading levels and vocabularies would adore this book, although they will need to have some patience getting through some parts. Epic Fantasy YA/NA books with a male lead are hard to find right now, so this series fills a gap in most libraries. New adults and adults will be able to dig in and fully enjoy themselves.
Book two in the series recently came out. I've purchased it and can't wait to see what happens next!
Bonus thoughts:
I would love to hear this book in audio format.
I would also like to see Collyer and C.E. Wilson collaborate on a book or short story together. They would bring out the best in each other and make an exciting duo!
Jeffrey Collyer gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not bias my opinion at all. Just ask my 11 year old!
August 7, 2015
Book: Dreams and Shadows
Author: Jeffery Collyer
Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank Jeffery Collyer for providing me a free copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. I am so sorry, but this is probably not one of the best reviews that I have written. I am trying to get caught up.
The first thing I noticed right away was a lot of detail in very, very long paragraphs, without any dialogue. The details were so long and some of them really were not all that important. I found myself skipping over paragraphs, because they just were not necessary. The characters' back stories all just seemed to be randomly stuck in places. It really just felt like I was being told what was going on instead of being shown. Maybe break the long paragraphs up with some dialogue or something. I'm not saying that it was bad, but it was just a little bit too much for me. It just seemed a little dry.
Now, the actual storyline itself was not actually all that bad. It kind of reminded me of The Mortal Instruments. I really don't know why, but the just nature just seemed to be so much like the Mortal Instruments. Going to new places, being questioned, it just all reminded me much of The Mortal Instruments.
I really do think that most people will find something to like about this book. For me, I just liked the setting of the book. It was dark and it just had something that drew me in. The characters were also very strong and there was a healthy balance of male and female characters.
What really stood out for me in this book was the fact that it was told from a male point of view. I cannot stress what a big deal this is in young adult. So much of young adult is centred around the girls and it does turn off boys from reading. I never really thought about this until I got interacting with some of male students. They did not want to read stories about girls; they wanted a strong male character to look up and this book does have that. To me, this is far more important than my issues with the long details.
Again, the long detailed paragraphs, for me, took away from the storyline, but what up was the fact that we do have a male lead in young adult. I think that this is a good prompting tool and will draw in the readers, especially the males.
Anyway, not a bad read. It is a very quick read, but I think that it just does need a little cleanup. Maybe try to find someone who isn't a picky as me with writing.
Author: Jeffery Collyer
Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank Jeffery Collyer for providing me a free copy of his book in exchange for an honest review. I am so sorry, but this is probably not one of the best reviews that I have written. I am trying to get caught up.
The first thing I noticed right away was a lot of detail in very, very long paragraphs, without any dialogue. The details were so long and some of them really were not all that important. I found myself skipping over paragraphs, because they just were not necessary. The characters' back stories all just seemed to be randomly stuck in places. It really just felt like I was being told what was going on instead of being shown. Maybe break the long paragraphs up with some dialogue or something. I'm not saying that it was bad, but it was just a little bit too much for me. It just seemed a little dry.
Now, the actual storyline itself was not actually all that bad. It kind of reminded me of The Mortal Instruments. I really don't know why, but the just nature just seemed to be so much like the Mortal Instruments. Going to new places, being questioned, it just all reminded me much of The Mortal Instruments.
I really do think that most people will find something to like about this book. For me, I just liked the setting of the book. It was dark and it just had something that drew me in. The characters were also very strong and there was a healthy balance of male and female characters.
What really stood out for me in this book was the fact that it was told from a male point of view. I cannot stress what a big deal this is in young adult. So much of young adult is centred around the girls and it does turn off boys from reading. I never really thought about this until I got interacting with some of male students. They did not want to read stories about girls; they wanted a strong male character to look up and this book does have that. To me, this is far more important than my issues with the long details.
Again, the long detailed paragraphs, for me, took away from the storyline, but what up was the fact that we do have a male lead in young adult. I think that this is a good prompting tool and will draw in the readers, especially the males.
Anyway, not a bad read. It is a very quick read, but I think that it just does need a little cleanup. Maybe try to find someone who isn't a picky as me with writing.
September 4, 2016
“Dreams and Shadows” by Jeffrey Collyer
by renaissanceadmin • September 4, 2016 • 0 Comments
“Dreams and Shadows” is my kind of book. No, I mean it really is my kind of book. I’m also a novelist, and this is the kind of book I write. Which is not necessarily a good thing, because it is not quite what some readers expect.
On the surface, this is a pretty standard “young person returned to the world of his birth” story. Michael is a disadvantaged misfit in the modern world. Typically, he has a dream. The dream leads him to a magical pendant. He is attacked by an unknown assailant, but escapes…
…and wakes up in a strange land with a girl staring at him. We all know the plot. I’ve reviewed it a handful of times lately. It isn’t the plot that counts. It is the people in it that enthrall us.
Because this is a story about people. People with personalities that interact and compete and influence each other, for good or ill. In the villain’s opinion, the most heinous crime, the greatest triumph, is to manipulate someone into committing suicide. The outcome of the story hinges on Michael’s understanding of himself and how his past has affected him.
The story is not completely satisfying. There are times where it simply takes too long to move the story ahead. There are pivotal characters whose actions are not explained to the reader’s satisfaction, leading us to consider them merely story elements that exist only to move the plot along. But the main characters, and especially Michael himself, we believe. We feel their emotions and understand why they act as they do.
If you are interested in instant-gratification novels where action happens because the reader wants it to happen, then pick up a Space Opera. If you want a quick read with lots of thrills, pick up a Thriller.
There is plenty of action in this story, but not until we know why the characters feel it is necessary. There is suspense, not only based on whether the hero will win the battle, but also on how the outcome will affect him.
Recommended for thoughtful readers who like stories about people and why they act as they do. Not for readers who are picky about grammar and syntax mistakes.
by renaissanceadmin • September 4, 2016 • 0 Comments
“Dreams and Shadows” is my kind of book. No, I mean it really is my kind of book. I’m also a novelist, and this is the kind of book I write. Which is not necessarily a good thing, because it is not quite what some readers expect.
On the surface, this is a pretty standard “young person returned to the world of his birth” story. Michael is a disadvantaged misfit in the modern world. Typically, he has a dream. The dream leads him to a magical pendant. He is attacked by an unknown assailant, but escapes…
…and wakes up in a strange land with a girl staring at him. We all know the plot. I’ve reviewed it a handful of times lately. It isn’t the plot that counts. It is the people in it that enthrall us.
Because this is a story about people. People with personalities that interact and compete and influence each other, for good or ill. In the villain’s opinion, the most heinous crime, the greatest triumph, is to manipulate someone into committing suicide. The outcome of the story hinges on Michael’s understanding of himself and how his past has affected him.
The story is not completely satisfying. There are times where it simply takes too long to move the story ahead. There are pivotal characters whose actions are not explained to the reader’s satisfaction, leading us to consider them merely story elements that exist only to move the plot along. But the main characters, and especially Michael himself, we believe. We feel their emotions and understand why they act as they do.
If you are interested in instant-gratification novels where action happens because the reader wants it to happen, then pick up a Space Opera. If you want a quick read with lots of thrills, pick up a Thriller.
There is plenty of action in this story, but not until we know why the characters feel it is necessary. There is suspense, not only based on whether the hero will win the battle, but also on how the outcome will affect him.
Recommended for thoughtful readers who like stories about people and why they act as they do. Not for readers who are picky about grammar and syntax mistakes.
February 9, 2017
I received a free copy of Dreams and Shadows from Netgalley for an honest review.
The book started with a bit of intrigue with Michael's dream. Afterwards though, after mentioning his missing mother so many times, it got very frustrating to read about it again and again.
Once Michael arrived in Aloysia, he seemed to settle in quickly and without much of a language barrier.
Going through his adventures with him was good, as you'd never know what to expect next. Because he doesn't know the different peoples in Aloysia, he has no expectations of who are evil and good, therefore he trusts those who look like humans, and distrusts those who aren't.
I found that he learnt his weaving a bit too quickly towards the end, especially as he'd only just found out what he could possibly do.
I did enjoy this book, and would like to read the next one, to see if Michael is able to find peace within himself and help the people of Aloysia.
The book started with a bit of intrigue with Michael's dream. Afterwards though, after mentioning his missing mother so many times, it got very frustrating to read about it again and again.
Once Michael arrived in Aloysia, he seemed to settle in quickly and without much of a language barrier.
Going through his adventures with him was good, as you'd never know what to expect next. Because he doesn't know the different peoples in Aloysia, he has no expectations of who are evil and good, therefore he trusts those who look like humans, and distrusts those who aren't.
I found that he learnt his weaving a bit too quickly towards the end, especially as he'd only just found out what he could possibly do.
I did enjoy this book, and would like to read the next one, to see if Michael is able to find peace within himself and help the people of Aloysia.
November 20, 2016
For the full review, go here: https://veereading.wordpress.com/2016...
I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Most of the fantasy novels I read have a female protagonist. It seems to be a common trend these days. Even when I write fantasy pieces, the main character I use is always female. That's why I'm always interested in reading fantasy novels with a male protagonist. It's a unique experience for me, and if it is well done, it can be truly enjoyable. That was one of the things that drew me to this novel.
This novel was extremely hard to get through. It began very slowly, and in an awkward fashion. What does that mean? Well, the language use was not the best. The style would begin formally; everyone would be talking formally, and Michael's inner thoughts were formal, as well. However, every time he spoke, it would suddenly shift to an informal tone. This made it very awkward in terms of flow; I would find myself reading this novel as if it was meant for a more mature audience and then suddenly, I would be reverted to something more akin to a teen novel. This made it very hard to stay focused on the story.
Another aspect that I found quite ... weird.... is...
I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Most of the fantasy novels I read have a female protagonist. It seems to be a common trend these days. Even when I write fantasy pieces, the main character I use is always female. That's why I'm always interested in reading fantasy novels with a male protagonist. It's a unique experience for me, and if it is well done, it can be truly enjoyable. That was one of the things that drew me to this novel.
This novel was extremely hard to get through. It began very slowly, and in an awkward fashion. What does that mean? Well, the language use was not the best. The style would begin formally; everyone would be talking formally, and Michael's inner thoughts were formal, as well. However, every time he spoke, it would suddenly shift to an informal tone. This made it very awkward in terms of flow; I would find myself reading this novel as if it was meant for a more mature audience and then suddenly, I would be reverted to something more akin to a teen novel. This made it very hard to stay focused on the story.
Another aspect that I found quite ... weird.... is...
October 9, 2015
This book was really great and I thoroughly enjoyed the overall message behind it, however I felt that at parts the storyline just dragged. I also felt like at times the author went into too much description detail that, in my opinion, distracted from the overall plot. Despite that I really liked Michael as a character & thoroughly enjoyed his interactions with Aneh & her family. I am definitely intrigued to find out what happens next. I would definitely recommend this book to those who like fantasy books.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
November 20, 2016
Intriguing
A quite different story but one which kept me interested right to the end. I am now looking forward to finding out more about this strangely familiar land and it's peoples in the next two books
A quite different story but one which kept me interested right to the end. I am now looking forward to finding out more about this strangely familiar land and it's peoples in the next two books
February 1, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed this book.
This was a great fantasy book with lots of suspense . The author pulls you in from the first page and takes you on a journey through a wonderful world. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
This was a great fantasy book with lots of suspense . The author pulls you in from the first page and takes you on a journey through a wonderful world. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
November 23, 2016
Amazing read! All fans of fantasy should hands down add this novel to their must read list. Definitely the beginning of an amazing series!
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