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The Girl Who Dreamed of a Different World
Japanese schoolgirl Kana Shimizu is more than a little shocked to find herself transported to a different world on her fifteenth birthday. She has been summoned to be the hero who will defeat a demon lord, just like in the manga. Except that she’s the wrong hero for the job and they can’t send her home. Kana is stuck in a fantasy world where she doesn’t even speak the language and she’s no use to anyone. Her only consolation is that nothing like this ever happens in reality. She has to be dreaming. Now, if only she could figure out how to wake up…
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 22, 2019
About the author
Niall Teasdale
75 books294 followersI was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 28, 2019
One of Teasdale's better works!
Japanese schoolgirl Kana Shimizu gets herself snagged in an Isekai story. She has been transported to another world with elves, dwarfs, and magic. Summoned to be a hero and save the world from a great evil Kana has a bit of the problem.... She's no hero and they summoned the wrong person. Now she is stuck in another world and no-one knows quite what to do with her... and neither does Kana!
Tough initially a bit underwhelmed by the blurb... It turns out that the story is much more interesting. Holding the middle between a light-novel (in the Japanese style) and a fantasy slice-of-life/ adventure novel this was a welcome surprise. Being both an exemplar version as wel as poking fun of the Isekai genre this is quite a good book. I liked Kana and her reactions to the world around her, as well as the friends she slowly acquires.
In the end this was a very entertaining novel and especially so for readers interested in a western poke at the very japanese Isekai genre.
Re-read: 5-3-2020
Japanese schoolgirl Kana Shimizu gets herself snagged in an Isekai story. She has been transported to another world with elves, dwarfs, and magic. Summoned to be a hero and save the world from a great evil Kana has a bit of the problem.... She's no hero and they summoned the wrong person. Now she is stuck in another world and no-one knows quite what to do with her... and neither does Kana!
Tough initially a bit underwhelmed by the blurb... It turns out that the story is much more interesting. Holding the middle between a light-novel (in the Japanese style) and a fantasy slice-of-life/ adventure novel this was a welcome surprise. Being both an exemplar version as wel as poking fun of the Isekai genre this is quite a good book. I liked Kana and her reactions to the world around her, as well as the friends she slowly acquires.
In the end this was a very entertaining novel and especially so for readers interested in a western poke at the very japanese Isekai genre.
Re-read: 5-3-2020
December 1, 2019
Weak LitRPG
Takes forever to establish a narrative force, then meanders along. 2-3 years pass in book time from the first scene to the MC actually moving forward. The tongue-in-cheek references to ‘the narrative’ are awkward since it isn’t really a theme.
A weak bit of ‘Japanese school girl in a mage lord’s court’. MC is over powered very quickly, makes friends easily, and almost constantly upbeat.
I had to stop when they met a party of ‘adventurers’ that referenced ‘dungeons’ near their hometown and quests.
The worldbuilding is decent, but too reminiscent of a D&D campaign.
DNF, won’t continue the series.
Takes forever to establish a narrative force, then meanders along. 2-3 years pass in book time from the first scene to the MC actually moving forward. The tongue-in-cheek references to ‘the narrative’ are awkward since it isn’t really a theme.
A weak bit of ‘Japanese school girl in a mage lord’s court’. MC is over powered very quickly, makes friends easily, and almost constantly upbeat.
I had to stop when they met a party of ‘adventurers’ that referenced ‘dungeons’ near their hometown and quests.
The worldbuilding is decent, but too reminiscent of a D&D campaign.
DNF, won’t continue the series.
December 12, 2019
A different kind of light novel
There was the usual trope of being summoned in another world, but I liked it. Kana is likeable, and Aneshti and Rain are my favorite characters in the story. I can't wait for the next book.
This story got it's inspiration from Konosuba and that anime with the demon king Diablo. I liked the references in this book.
There was the usual trope of being summoned in another world, but I liked it. Kana is likeable, and Aneshti and Rain are my favorite characters in the story. I can't wait for the next book.
This story got it's inspiration from Konosuba and that anime with the demon king Diablo. I liked the references in this book.
November 28, 2019
Too much description
I got tired of waiting for the story to start. The author seems to feel the need to describe everything in excruciating detail.
I got tired of waiting for the story to start. The author seems to feel the need to describe everything in excruciating detail.
Did Not Finish
December 13, 2019Lost interest with the switch in POV in chapter 4.
December 2, 2019
1st off unlike Niall's other books there is no lesbian romance involving the protagonist. Although there are some indicators of leanings. So if you're looking to read based on Niall's previous pattern don't.
Writing is good, world building is good, the pacing however is debatable. The 1st quarter or so of the book is slow and there isn't much direction throughout because Kana is basically a door mat. I'm not sure if that's because she is supposed to be a caricature of a JPN school girl or because she doesn't believe what is happening to her is real. Either way it leaves the reader frustrated as she refuses to be proactive most of the book. That said towards the end of the book it really picks up as she essentially assumes the mantle of the Yuusha and resolves the major conflict of the book. As per most of Niall's books the male characters are flat, unlikable, villainous or a combination thereof. I'd like to see some improvement in that area. Maybe flesh out Orin if there is a sequel? It's a little late to turn anything around with Vadoven at this point.
There are still some unresolved plot lines so I assume a sequel is imminent. Although my review may seem negative I did like this book. It's one of Niall's better written fictions and it's a vast improvement from his earlier releases. I thoroughly enjoyed the premise and I would read the next book.
Writing is good, world building is good, the pacing however is debatable. The 1st quarter or so of the book is slow and there isn't much direction throughout because Kana is basically a door mat. I'm not sure if that's because she is supposed to be a caricature of a JPN school girl or because she doesn't believe what is happening to her is real. Either way it leaves the reader frustrated as she refuses to be proactive most of the book. That said towards the end of the book it really picks up as she essentially assumes the mantle of the Yuusha and resolves the major conflict of the book. As per most of Niall's books the male characters are flat, unlikable, villainous or a combination thereof. I'd like to see some improvement in that area. Maybe flesh out Orin if there is a sequel? It's a little late to turn anything around with Vadoven at this point.
There are still some unresolved plot lines so I assume a sequel is imminent. Although my review may seem negative I did like this book. It's one of Niall's better written fictions and it's a vast improvement from his earlier releases. I thoroughly enjoyed the premise and I would read the next book.
November 26, 2019
I haven't yet read any manga books, and can't stand the voices and behavior of typical anime characters. So I'm perhaps not the intended target of this book.
That said: I did enjoy the story some. The world-building was rushed, and the characters were - compared to Niall's other books - flat. But the game with "Is this a dream? Is this a scripted story I'm thrown into? In the latter case, the following should happen now ..." was well done.
PS: I certainly never read a book that covered the problems of introducing bras into a medieval setting in that breadth.
That said: I did enjoy the story some. The world-building was rushed, and the characters were - compared to Niall's other books - flat. But the game with "Is this a dream? Is this a scripted story I'm thrown into? In the latter case, the following should happen now ..." was well done.
PS: I certainly never read a book that covered the problems of introducing bras into a medieval setting in that breadth.
March 28, 2020
Being transported to a 'Fantasy' land isn’t a new idea, but this story started OK and Kana seemed to have potential. However it was taking a while to get going, then Cadorian appeared and it went downhill quite quickly, the story then turned into a very ordinary 'LitRPG'. Unfortunately I'm not that fond of 'LitRPG' books.
This wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't that great either. At times it was quite clunky and it didn't seem like the same author as the one that wrote the Thaumatology and Aneka Jansen books.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
This wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't that great either. At times it was quite clunky and it didn't seem like the same author as the one that wrote the Thaumatology and Aneka Jansen books.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
January 5, 2020
A different kind of anime
Filled with genre tropes and a lot of inside jokes—at least for those from Earth. The story is a fun fantasy tale that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Definitely worth the time spent.
Filled with genre tropes and a lot of inside jokes—at least for those from Earth. The story is a fun fantasy tale that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Definitely worth the time spent.
April 20, 2025
Excellent
If you have not read the Author at all you are in for a treat.
If you have, you are in for another good story.
And she doesn't usually do this much meta teasing either. But she did this time.
Enjoy.
If you have not read the Author at all you are in for a treat.
If you have, you are in for another good story.
And she doesn't usually do this much meta teasing either. But she did this time.
Enjoy.
November 25, 2019
nice change of pace for an isekai story to actually reach a satisfying conclusion.
November 27, 2019
Just no...
I’ve enjoyed most of Niall Teasdale’s books. They’ve been built into interesting worlds and dynamics. This fragmented, poorly built one is NOT worth it.
I’ve enjoyed most of Niall Teasdale’s books. They’ve been built into interesting worlds and dynamics. This fragmented, poorly built one is NOT worth it.
December 3, 2019
Great
Another very good new book by Niall Teasdale, incredible new world, great characters, good story. I’ll be waiting for the next one!
Another very good new book by Niall Teasdale, incredible new world, great characters, good story. I’ll be waiting for the next one!
December 26, 2019
This was a lot of fun. I finished the book and seriously felt like reading it again immediately. Great start to what I can only hope will be a series.
January 10, 2020
Of course
Being a fantasy by Niall Teasdale, it was a prretty fantastic and enjoyable magic tale, with a pretty incredible ending. Just no sequeal, dammit😜
Being a fantasy by Niall Teasdale, it was a prretty fantastic and enjoyable magic tale, with a pretty incredible ending. Just no sequeal, dammit😜
September 21, 2022
lifeless Isekai
The story is pretty boring. It almost feels like an essay on Isekai novels. Characters are lifeless and nothing exciting happens.
The story is pretty boring. It almost feels like an essay on Isekai novels. Characters are lifeless and nothing exciting happens.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews