Somniloquy

by N.E. Absolom

She wanted a magical life but didn't bank on having to save the universe.

Normal, ordinary, thirty-something Sara dreams of meeting a unicorn.

When her wish is finally granted, thanks to a mysterious cat, she finds that sometimes the fantasy is better than the reality: this unicorn is a bit of a jerk!

Unprepared and ill-equipped, bearing the expectations of a whole new world on her shoulders, Sara finds out she can actually be quite extraordinary if she just believes in herself.

With help from the cantankerous unicorn, the magical cat and a handsome scholar, Sara battles to overcome her own crippling self-doubt to become the Dreamer and save Palantia - the universe, even! - from an unexpected enemy.

Somniloquy (now published as The Dreamer's Wish) is a fantasy adventure where the boundaries between good and evil are blurred, and dreams can have very real consequences.

Kindle Edition

First published January 26, 2020

About the author

Born and raised in Tasmania, Australia, N E Absolom lives with her herd of overly spoiled indoor felines. She loves good stories, snacks, and sleeping in late. When not writing, she moonlights as a very normal office worker, and when she’s not doing that, she’s battling her way through an extensive video game collection.

N E Absolom is truly convinced that unicorns exist, and if she can’t meet one, she can at least write about them.

~ Seek the magic in the mundane, and never stop believing. ~

Reviews

[Alicia Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic story that quickly pulled me in. I loved the idea of 2 worlds intertwined and thought the whole story about a Dreamer was fabulous. The small group of travelers perfectly complimented each other and each had a very important role to play throughout the story. Terentius was incredible, of course (how could a unicorn not be??) but Honeysuckle stole the show!!!! I don't know who I would want to meet more - Terry or Honeysuckle?!?!?! I loved that NE completed the story in this book and did not have a cliffhanger. The ending was so satisfying BUT I would be more than happy to read more adventures in Palantia!!! Highly recommend for a great, clean fantasy with a touch of romance - which made it exactly what I look for but have trouble finding. This would be appropriate for pre-teens and up (a few parts may be scary for younger readers). Thank you!!

I am voluntarily leaving an honest review after reading a free advanced copy of this book.

[BookishWeeb Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many of the other reviews for this book, I absolutely loved this book. The storyline was so vastly different than any other book I've read and that immediately caught my attention. It gave me strong Alice in Wonderland vibes, which I was all here for. The world-building was breath-taking and the characters were all so rich and fascinating, in my opinion. This is definitely going into my pile of stories I would recommend!

[jenmovies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Palantia is the place you want to be right now! Escape the world's woes and go adventuring with a ragtag bunch of heroes including a snarky unicorn and an adorable, magical cat. You will finish this book wanting more from the characters and this fresh, magical world. A great addition to the fantasy catalogue.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping read. I cared about the characters, feeling a connection with them all, and was eager to find out what was in store. I would love to read more about them and their adventures.

[Anne Kavcic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well-told fantasy which is good for all ages (except maybe very young children). The author has a storyteller's voice, with rhythm and cadence, and the story is fascinating. Earth and Palantia are intertwined and actually dependent on each other. An evil force is upsetting the balance – and a diverse group of heroes comes together to find the answer, with lots of adventure on the way. The characters are anything but ordinary – a hummingcat and a unicorn figure prominently. A wonderful story, definitely not childish – highly recommended. – I received a review copy and gladly leave this honest review.

[Laura Trenham · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not often that I come across a fantasy book that is original. This was original. It had an engaging plot, loveable characters and did not lull from start to finish. What is even better, is that the author is local and independently published. I thoroughly enjoyed this and anticipate the sequel near the end of the year.

[Grace Burdick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read for all you fantasy lovers! Filled with wonderful characters and a story that pulls you in from the start. Can’t wait to see what comes next from N E Absolom!

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, great concept and interesting characters although I didn't particularly like any of them..! I look forward to the next book, I'd like to see how the Dreamer affects the world.

[Alan Aspinall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not normally a fanasty reader, but I must say I did enjoy this book a lot, It had fun characters, and enjoyable plot.

[Oana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from StoryOrigin and I want to thank the author for the chance to read this book. The blurb is well made and it got my attention about this book.
This was a good fantasy sprinkled with humour here and there, with great characters and an easy to follow action. I liked how Sara was portrayed, with her troubles and insecurities, but also a great inner power.

[Priscila]

I got a copy of this book back when it was called Somniloquy and now it's The Dreamer's Wish, so that's how long it took me to read it. This is definitely a unique and interesting world and story. The blurb got me with the mention of Sara going to meet a unicorn, but I didn't know how painful the first part of the book would be. It was slow for me since Sara struggles with bullying at work and low self-esteem. I liked how she has a great imagination and how that makes her a perfect fit for the world of Palantia, but this doesn't mean it's all a smooth ride. There's work/ training to do, and Terentius, the unicorn mentor is hard on her. In the meantime, we have the parallel story of Jehn, the scholar, and Senna's adventure along with their group of friends (Thorn, an Aes-Sidhe, and Ander and Belina, a funny and fierce couple). I just picked up this book after a while, and the second part of the story definitely hooked me. The author's descriptions are detailed and even her choice of vocabulary is well thought out (I learned some new words).

As for content, there's a very light romance thread developed towards the last third of the book. There's Fantasy violence (as in attacks from monsters/creatures, and wounds inflicted by them), as well as deaths (of children: one told in the past, and one shown in the present it ends up being imagined, but the decapitation is shown. Of a cat: I think it passes away naturally, but the owner's mourning process is shown). There's some language (mostly use of d**n, I think) as well as talk of the universe and "gods". There's also a secondary character who is shown to be gay towards the end of the book.

Overall, if you like multiple POVs, quests + adventure, unique Fantasy stories and characters (unicorn, humingcat, and even a Sluagh), then this might be the book for you. Based on how long it took me to finish it, it was a miss for me, and due to some of the things in the content, I won't be checking out more from this author.

[Obsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't we all wish to meet a unicorn? :D

This was a beautifully written whimsical story about a normal everyday woman finding herself transported to a magical fantasy world. The world felt rich and the story was interesting and compelling with great characters and some humour and lightness mixed with the dark.

A great read!

I bought the paperback when it was called Somniloquy, but the cover of the second edition is so gorgeous I really need to buy it again!

[Illusode · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars
Solid foundation to this dream powered fantasy world

I was gratified by the solid mechanics to this dream powered secondary world. It reminded me of Neverending Story and Gael Baudino's Dragonsword, two old favorites.

I received a free copy of this book from StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review.

........

[Elanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and was hooked right from the start. It was easy to care about all of the characters and their different perspectives and stories were so well told. I hope to be able to read more about their adventures and the world of Palantia in the future!

[Teri Ruscak · Rating 5 out of 5]

N E Absolom
The Dreamer's Wish (The Parasomnia Chronicles Book 1)
Palantia
I enjoyed reading about Earth, Palantia, and the small band of adventurers!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.