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Nightmareland Chronicles #3
Sleepwalking
First came the night.
Then came the lullaby.
Now Mariah Nowak must enlist the aid of young Marcos Walker, caretaker to a small town in southwestern Nevada, if John is to survive the fevered ruin of his dreams.
But they aren’t alone in this dark new world.
And the sleeping don’t rest easily.
Sleepwalking is the third volume of the Nightmareland Chronicles, an ongoing serialized adventure horror epic following one man's journey to reach his estranged daughter in a world claimed by eternal night.
Then came the lullaby.
Now Mariah Nowak must enlist the aid of young Marcos Walker, caretaker to a small town in southwestern Nevada, if John is to survive the fevered ruin of his dreams.
But they aren’t alone in this dark new world.
And the sleeping don’t rest easily.
Sleepwalking is the third volume of the Nightmareland Chronicles, an ongoing serialized adventure horror epic following one man's journey to reach his estranged daughter in a world claimed by eternal night.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2020
4 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Barnett
15 books257 followersDaniel Barnett lives in Portland, Oregon and is a lover of stories--especially ones where things go bump in the night. His work has appeared in Crowded Magazine, and his short story The Sadie Hawkins placed in the top 6 for the 2015 Aeon Award. When he isn't writing or reading, he's discussing fiction with others. Whether they want to or not.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 10, 2022
If you just saw that image and went “Oh shit, it's gonna be one of those reviews again…” you guessed right! (Only you and a medical professional can guarantee if this review format is right for you. Please consult with your doctor before reading if you weren't IMMEDIATELY on board).
Buckle up buckaroos.
IT'S HERE BITCHES
This series immediately grabbed my attention after reading the first release (Short story? But not meant derogatorily). Coming off the second and the discovery of a young man to join their intrepid crew, I worried there would be a mid-series slump with the introduction of a teen. Heh. Hehh. Hehehhh. Hehehehehehehehe. Shame. Shame on me for even contemplating Daniel Barnett easing off the gas.
You. You sir…ahahaahahahaha. Are a fucking genius. Zero sarcasm, all the proverbial and metaphorical consensual dick suck.
Yes, you sir, Daniel Barnett, get TWO gifs. Just *Chefs Kiss*
At this point, when you maybe actually thought Barnett had teased more of what would become a creeping dread of horror at the beginning, and now you might want to settle in for the “slog” to get there? Oh! No. Oh! No, no, no, no dear reader did he not. He cranks a concept, already humming along nicely at 10,000 RPM, and completely blows past 11K well into the high 14 thousand.
His characters are so incredibly believable. Their actions are those of actual people in a LITERAL apocalypse. They're not always rational, they're not always dumb, they have strengths and weaknesses and succumb and rise. Just. Like. US.
Won't lie, with the introduction of a teen and the upping of the horror into an amazing climax (All the innuendo), I was worried he may cross some of my own personal boundaries.
I was a bit worried I may have to deuce out of the series if it went some places that I wasn't comfy with.
Barnett, much to my astonishment and amazement, did in fact up the horror to 14 without crossing a single one off my own small list of “Can't handle". If anything, this just furthers my amazement with what this author is able to do with so few words and pages. Again, any reference I make to the brevity of the books thus far is in fact an astounding compliment, not a negative. Daniel does in 140-250 pages what some horror authors can't do in 600-800.
I can't recommend this series enough, in fact, I am writing this review many days after I finished all the published works. That's how caught up in it, I was. I wanted it all, and I wanted it now (“And I don't care how,” I see you Metallica fans). This series takes horror, turns it mental and asks if it can make sweet love to you by the fire. If you give consent? Hoodoo that you do lovelies, the mental joys that await you within these pages.
No caption written, author of review still having aftershocks.
Sit down, strap in, apply the protective makeup and prepare to get made love to by horror.
April 22, 2022
Just fantastic! My favorite of the series so far.
Sleepwalking has fantastic imagery, well loved characters, and a creep factor that makes the hair stand up on your skin.
The Nightmareland Chronicles is a series that takes the reader through a dark apocalyptic world with horrifying deeds by evil men and a world of living nightmares.
The pace of the plot is well done and the characters have heart and staying power as you flip over the last page of the book.
I’m so glad I started this series and looking forward to getting to the next book!
Sleepwalking has fantastic imagery, well loved characters, and a creep factor that makes the hair stand up on your skin.
The Nightmareland Chronicles is a series that takes the reader through a dark apocalyptic world with horrifying deeds by evil men and a world of living nightmares.
The pace of the plot is well done and the characters have heart and staying power as you flip over the last page of the book.
I’m so glad I started this series and looking forward to getting to the next book!
April 13, 2022
Episode three ups the ante with more action, more scares and all the right feels! Powerful is my descriptor. Looking forward to the next episode.
April 10, 2022
This book was perfection, 100% absolute perfection. This series has captured my heart so much and I am deeply enamored with Daniel's writing. This entry into the series had some really dark shit happening, but the way Daniel writes is so gorgeous it's like you're being gently guided through fucking carnage.
I can't explain how connected I feel to the main characters in this series. I already loved John and Mariah, but the addition of Marcos has hooked me into this story even more.
Beyond excited to start Flashlighters, and a little scared. I'm so invested in this series and these characters that if any harm comes to them it will destroy me.
I can't explain how connected I feel to the main characters in this series. I already loved John and Mariah, but the addition of Marcos has hooked me into this story even more.
Beyond excited to start Flashlighters, and a little scared. I'm so invested in this series and these characters that if any harm comes to them it will destroy me.
April 8, 2022
Well, that's that, then. This is the best entry in the series thus far!
Our protagonists have so much on their hands right now, I can't see how they're going to get out of it. This book had a lot of action and a few new characters as well.
This book gave me all the feels, so I'll give it all the stars!
I'm really looking forward to the next one!
Our protagonists have so much on their hands right now, I can't see how they're going to get out of it. This book had a lot of action and a few new characters as well.
This book gave me all the feels, so I'll give it all the stars!
I'm really looking forward to the next one!
August 19, 2020
After reading the second book of the Nightmareland Chronicles, Lullaby, I had extremely high expectations for Sleepwalking. If you are an avid reader, you will understand that can often lead to disappointment due to placing expectations out of reach.
This is not the case with the masterful way that Daniel Barnett crafts his novels. The man is a wordsmith GENIUS. I was captivated with book one. I was completely enthralled by book two. Sleepwalking absolutely blew me away. I'm in awe of how it is that each of these books continues to get better and better. It is the longest book in the series so far and I could not put it down once I started. After reading the first two, I completely expected that and planned accordingly. :)
In this book, the epic tale continues after the sun has disappeared. Humanity is degrading into madness until technology with speakers begins to play a soft lullaby, lulling the majority to sleep. Some lie motionless, soft smiles upon their faces. Others sleepwalk, almost appearing able to function, with a little help.
Are they simply asleep, dreaming happy dreams to cause those smiles? If so, then why do those still awake have such averse reactions when near that make them want to avoid contact? What happens if someone dies while under the influence of this strange lullaby? Do they simply pass from this life to the next? Or something worse?
I highly recommend this series if you are a fan of horror and thriller/suspense novels. By the second book, I knew this was my favorite horror series. After reading this one, this series is in my top 10 favorite series of all time and the author has risen to the instant purchase category.
Daniel Barnett is going to be a household name, mark my words.
This is not the case with the masterful way that Daniel Barnett crafts his novels. The man is a wordsmith GENIUS. I was captivated with book one. I was completely enthralled by book two. Sleepwalking absolutely blew me away. I'm in awe of how it is that each of these books continues to get better and better. It is the longest book in the series so far and I could not put it down once I started. After reading the first two, I completely expected that and planned accordingly. :)
In this book, the epic tale continues after the sun has disappeared. Humanity is degrading into madness until technology with speakers begins to play a soft lullaby, lulling the majority to sleep. Some lie motionless, soft smiles upon their faces. Others sleepwalk, almost appearing able to function, with a little help.
Are they simply asleep, dreaming happy dreams to cause those smiles? If so, then why do those still awake have such averse reactions when near that make them want to avoid contact? What happens if someone dies while under the influence of this strange lullaby? Do they simply pass from this life to the next? Or something worse?
I highly recommend this series if you are a fan of horror and thriller/suspense novels. By the second book, I knew this was my favorite horror series. After reading this one, this series is in my top 10 favorite series of all time and the author has risen to the instant purchase category.
Daniel Barnett is going to be a household name, mark my words.
December 29, 2020
“First comes the night, then comes the lullaby. Then what? When the world is laid to rest, when the sleeping die and those left awake walk alone . . . what then?”
Reading Daniel Barnett’s Nightmareland Chronicles in 2020 has been quite the experience. Seeing how this saga about the end of the world plays out while experiencing, well, *motions to everything* has made the journey a bit more intense.
Sleepwalking is the third entry in this serial novel, and it is the longest. In some ways I prefer Lullaby, if only because that one is short and sweet and pulls no punches. Sleepwalking pulls no punches, either, though I feel the middle section does lag a little. Not sure what I’d cut out, though. Weird.
Aside from not quite connecting to a couple somewhat cartoonish characters (the deputy, for one) I quite enjoyed this ride. We get more character growth; Marcos especially steals the show.
Sleepwalking is a strong and involving piece of this story: one that furthers the plot successfully while taking time to add color to the overall picture. My thanks to Daniel Barnett for the review copy!
Reading Daniel Barnett’s Nightmareland Chronicles in 2020 has been quite the experience. Seeing how this saga about the end of the world plays out while experiencing, well, *motions to everything* has made the journey a bit more intense.
Sleepwalking is the third entry in this serial novel, and it is the longest. In some ways I prefer Lullaby, if only because that one is short and sweet and pulls no punches. Sleepwalking pulls no punches, either, though I feel the middle section does lag a little. Not sure what I’d cut out, though. Weird.
Aside from not quite connecting to a couple somewhat cartoonish characters (the deputy, for one) I quite enjoyed this ride. We get more character growth; Marcos especially steals the show.
Sleepwalking is a strong and involving piece of this story: one that furthers the plot successfully while taking time to add color to the overall picture. My thanks to Daniel Barnett for the review copy!
October 21, 2024
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
Well, I guess that’s it then… with Sleepwalking, Daniel Barnett has officially become a new favourite author and established The Nightmareland Chronicles as one of my all time favourites; this series is truly my horror dream (or should I say nightmare?) come true.
If the previous instalment, Lullaby, was Mariah’s book, then Sleepwalking is Marcos’ book. Never before have I enjoyed a child character as much as I do Marcos, and it’s truly insane how deeply emotionally invested I have become in him in the short time since we first met him. He is somehow both extremely emotionally mature for his young age while also maintaining an endearing level of childhood innocence, which is exactly what makes him such a surprisingly complex and compelling kid.
Not to mention, the deaf and (child of) illegal immigrants experience are both extremely beautifully and authentically explored through his eyes, making me empathise with him on a level that should not even be possible considering our completely different lived experiences. I found it especially touching and inspiring to see how Marcos’ deafness almost becomes his biggest strength in this post-apocalyptic nightmare world, helping him escape the dire threat of the soft yet malicious lullaby that is lulling humanity to sleep.
Moreover, the dynamic between Marcos and Mariah just tugged on my heartstrings in all the most unexpected ways, and I love the unconventional yet powerful exploration of motherhood and (found) family in Sleepwalking. As nightmares of the dead start to manifest and they get hunted and haunted by monsters both human and supernatural, their uniquely strong connection becomes their shared guiding light that drags them through the darkness.
And oh damn, do things get dark and violent in Sleepwalking. This instalment combines the King-esque southern small town horror of Nightfall and the more inexplicable supernatural horror of Lullaby, and the horrific visual imagery unsettled me in new ways I was not ready for. Barnett’s evocative wordsmithery just continues to creep deeper and deeper under my skin, and Adam Gold’s exceptionally enthralling narration of the audiobook once again kept me in a chokehold from beginning to end.
Somehow, I don’t even mind that I am once again left with more new mind-boggling questions than satisfying answers, because the level of mystery, intrigue and looming dread is exactly what makes this series so dangerously addictive to me. And after that shocking and diabolical ending, I am beyond excited to see what Barnett has in store for this odd yet loveable found family of broken souls. I seriously cannot say enough good things about The Nightmareland Chronicles, so just trust my word for it and embark upon this epic horror journey for yourself already; you can thank me later.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Well, I guess that’s it then… with Sleepwalking, Daniel Barnett has officially become a new favourite author and established The Nightmareland Chronicles as one of my all time favourites; this series is truly my horror dream (or should I say nightmare?) come true.
If the previous instalment, Lullaby, was Mariah’s book, then Sleepwalking is Marcos’ book. Never before have I enjoyed a child character as much as I do Marcos, and it’s truly insane how deeply emotionally invested I have become in him in the short time since we first met him. He is somehow both extremely emotionally mature for his young age while also maintaining an endearing level of childhood innocence, which is exactly what makes him such a surprisingly complex and compelling kid.
Not to mention, the deaf and (child of) illegal immigrants experience are both extremely beautifully and authentically explored through his eyes, making me empathise with him on a level that should not even be possible considering our completely different lived experiences. I found it especially touching and inspiring to see how Marcos’ deafness almost becomes his biggest strength in this post-apocalyptic nightmare world, helping him escape the dire threat of the soft yet malicious lullaby that is lulling humanity to sleep.
Moreover, the dynamic between Marcos and Mariah just tugged on my heartstrings in all the most unexpected ways, and I love the unconventional yet powerful exploration of motherhood and (found) family in Sleepwalking. As nightmares of the dead start to manifest and they get hunted and haunted by monsters both human and supernatural, their uniquely strong connection becomes their shared guiding light that drags them through the darkness.
And oh damn, do things get dark and violent in Sleepwalking. This instalment combines the King-esque southern small town horror of Nightfall and the more inexplicable supernatural horror of Lullaby, and the horrific visual imagery unsettled me in new ways I was not ready for. Barnett’s evocative wordsmithery just continues to creep deeper and deeper under my skin, and Adam Gold’s exceptionally enthralling narration of the audiobook once again kept me in a chokehold from beginning to end.
Somehow, I don’t even mind that I am once again left with more new mind-boggling questions than satisfying answers, because the level of mystery, intrigue and looming dread is exactly what makes this series so dangerously addictive to me. And after that shocking and diabolical ending, I am beyond excited to see what Barnett has in store for this odd yet loveable found family of broken souls. I seriously cannot say enough good things about The Nightmareland Chronicles, so just trust my word for it and embark upon this epic horror journey for yourself already; you can thank me later.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 25, 2021
Well, blow me down!
This third book in the series takes us on a dark turn, a diabolical side road that is painted red, where things lurk, things creep and things for our cast of characters get nightmarishly out of hand.
We discover more in this story that adds to the ongoing drama, we meet a new character who’s going to be sticking around, we learn about nightmares and what happens when they’re unleashed, what lurks in the dark and what remains in a town where the lights are all left on - let me tell you now, it’s not the night that is monstrous and fear inducing, it is the monsters of men we should fear!
This one had some Cormac McCarthy brilliance woven into it, bleak as hell, written to perfection! The hotel (that’s all I’ll say) and the things that go on there is dark as hell, but written so brilliantly that Barnett allows the reader to fill in the gaps… and there is nothing more scarier than what a reader can imagine for themselves - Barnett puts trust in his readers and the payoff in these sections is well worth that trust he puts in us, and means that he doesn’t have to spell it all out for us, his prose aids is in finding these dark conclusions by ourselves.
This one was absolutely perfect, the pacing, the dread, the horror, the character development and the sumptuous prose on show cements Barnett, in my mind, as a shining light in indie horror, remember the name, this guy is going places and I’ll be cheering him on all the way!
At the end of the book we’re treated to a little heads up on the next book (something that is in each one) and Flashlighters sounds bloody brilliant, I’m delighted I’ve got it ready to go!
This third book in the series takes us on a dark turn, a diabolical side road that is painted red, where things lurk, things creep and things for our cast of characters get nightmarishly out of hand.
We discover more in this story that adds to the ongoing drama, we meet a new character who’s going to be sticking around, we learn about nightmares and what happens when they’re unleashed, what lurks in the dark and what remains in a town where the lights are all left on - let me tell you now, it’s not the night that is monstrous and fear inducing, it is the monsters of men we should fear!
This one had some Cormac McCarthy brilliance woven into it, bleak as hell, written to perfection! The hotel (that’s all I’ll say) and the things that go on there is dark as hell, but written so brilliantly that Barnett allows the reader to fill in the gaps… and there is nothing more scarier than what a reader can imagine for themselves - Barnett puts trust in his readers and the payoff in these sections is well worth that trust he puts in us, and means that he doesn’t have to spell it all out for us, his prose aids is in finding these dark conclusions by ourselves.
This one was absolutely perfect, the pacing, the dread, the horror, the character development and the sumptuous prose on show cements Barnett, in my mind, as a shining light in indie horror, remember the name, this guy is going places and I’ll be cheering him on all the way!
At the end of the book we’re treated to a little heads up on the next book (something that is in each one) and Flashlighters sounds bloody brilliant, I’m delighted I’ve got it ready to go!
April 18, 2022
“Sometimes you have to get past a thing before you can see it. Sometimes you have to move forward in order to look back. And sometimes—not always, but sometimes—knowing is enough”.
Wow, what a gut punching, amazing continuation to an utterly, fantastic series… The setting is beyond atmospheric, eerie and unnerving.
My favorite character used to be John but now I absolutely love and care for both Mariah and Marcos so much, as well.
I get serious “The Last of Us” vibes with this series and that’s a good thing! Daniel Barnett can craft and weave suspense exceptionally well and you just can’t stop reading because you want to desperately find out what happens next… I can’t wait to dig into ‘The Flashlighters’ and I just want to shout from atop of a rooftop that everyone needs to read this series now!
Oh, and if anyone has any theories of what has caused the sun to go away and mass hypnosis (without spoilers) I’d love to hear some thoughts on it…
Wow, what a gut punching, amazing continuation to an utterly, fantastic series… The setting is beyond atmospheric, eerie and unnerving.
My favorite character used to be John but now I absolutely love and care for both Mariah and Marcos so much, as well.
I get serious “The Last of Us” vibes with this series and that’s a good thing! Daniel Barnett can craft and weave suspense exceptionally well and you just can’t stop reading because you want to desperately find out what happens next… I can’t wait to dig into ‘The Flashlighters’ and I just want to shout from atop of a rooftop that everyone needs to read this series now!
Oh, and if anyone has any theories of what has caused the sun to go away and mass hypnosis (without spoilers) I’d love to hear some thoughts on it…
December 26, 2022
I give a 4-star rating to the Nightmareland Chronicles series as a whole. Keep up the good work young Daniel Barnett 😉
That being said ... Sleepwalking is the best episode in this series so far!
On my way to #4 🙂
That being said ... Sleepwalking is the best episode in this series so far!
On my way to #4 🙂
November 22, 2021
If you’ve read any of my previous reviews of Daniel’s work, you’ll know that his track record has been exemplary in the eyes of this reviewer. His previous two entries to his Nightmareland series both scored straight up 5 stars out of 5, both Nightfall and Lullaby delivered wonderful entries into Daniel’s world. The violence, when it came, was brutal, raw, and devastating. The Character work was solid, the world-building intriguing.
With Sleepwalking, the plotting of Barnett begins to make more overall sense, revealing the larger picture of what is in store for us, and looking back over the three books, Daniel’s intentions become a little clearer. in Nightfall, he introduced us to the main character, John, a hard no-nonsense MC that we fell in love with, dazzled by the premise and the voice Barnett brought to the fore. The book had John stamped all over it, and it’s a great introduction to the series.
Next came Lullaby, and with it a smack to the senses in the early stages of the book, with a traumatic event putting John right out of the picture, and furthermore, injuring him, throwing the spotlight on Mariah and watching her cope with an incapacitated John, and the pressures of an endless desert. The focus here was crucial, we had to like her, and feel for her in her struggle, and Daniel achieved that in spades. Now we have another MC to root for, one that is more empathetic than John. What she lacks in physical body strength she makes up for in commitment, inventiveness, and intelligence. We know that with Mariah behind the wheel, she will find a way. Also - she's not fallible - that's crucial, we all make mistakes. Here, we see that in play. Mariah questions herself but does the best with what she has at that moment in time.
Bringing us to the third installment - Sleepwalking, where the stakes are raised even more, with the main focus playing on the third of our trio, Marcos, a deaf teenager, immune to the lullaby devastating the planet. His fragility, his inherent goodness, and the need to look after others bring worth to the fore. By worth, I mean decency, Marcos almost represents what John and Mariah fight for – the right of a normal, decent human being to live. Whilst we can root for John, need him to be the rock of the story, and we can empathize with Mariah, and be proud of all she has been through and everything that will come, with Marcos we find our underdog, the link we have to protect, and nurture, and be astounded at the man that grows from him. Marcos is living his trauma, ascending and maturing. Without John’s physicality, without Mariah’s intelligence, Marcos plays everything from his heart, wears it on his sleeve, and steals our own. With Marcos, we see a character arc, we see development, we see pain turned into growth and experience. We see ourselves.
The character building is perfect - Marcos' history, the glimpses of his life he shares with us, it’s all gold. The attention to detail Daniel delivers, such as the care Marcos gives to his fingers and hands because they are his voice, is exquisite. I just know that at some time in the future, Marcos’ hands are going to receive trauma – the ground-laying here also brings with itself the echoes of foreshadowing. Mark my words, dear future reader - fingers are going to break.
In Sleepwalking, the villains are all human, the left-over detritus of humanity, yet - here again, Daniel has sown the elements of what will come. With humanity succumbing to the dream state and dying, their nightmares are being released to live on the earth. Everything that can be dreamed, can be encountered. And encounter it we will, of that I am sure.
I’m in for the whole ride. Barnett’s series is extraordinary. Buy them all. They just keep getting better and better, though now all we need is a dog.
5 out of 5 ⭐ ‘s, and flashlighters – the fourth book in the series – is making come-to-me eyes on my kindle. I’m not even going to put up a fight.
With Sleepwalking, the plotting of Barnett begins to make more overall sense, revealing the larger picture of what is in store for us, and looking back over the three books, Daniel’s intentions become a little clearer. in Nightfall, he introduced us to the main character, John, a hard no-nonsense MC that we fell in love with, dazzled by the premise and the voice Barnett brought to the fore. The book had John stamped all over it, and it’s a great introduction to the series.
Next came Lullaby, and with it a smack to the senses in the early stages of the book, with a traumatic event putting John right out of the picture, and furthermore, injuring him, throwing the spotlight on Mariah and watching her cope with an incapacitated John, and the pressures of an endless desert. The focus here was crucial, we had to like her, and feel for her in her struggle, and Daniel achieved that in spades. Now we have another MC to root for, one that is more empathetic than John. What she lacks in physical body strength she makes up for in commitment, inventiveness, and intelligence. We know that with Mariah behind the wheel, she will find a way. Also - she's not fallible - that's crucial, we all make mistakes. Here, we see that in play. Mariah questions herself but does the best with what she has at that moment in time.
Bringing us to the third installment - Sleepwalking, where the stakes are raised even more, with the main focus playing on the third of our trio, Marcos, a deaf teenager, immune to the lullaby devastating the planet. His fragility, his inherent goodness, and the need to look after others bring worth to the fore. By worth, I mean decency, Marcos almost represents what John and Mariah fight for – the right of a normal, decent human being to live. Whilst we can root for John, need him to be the rock of the story, and we can empathize with Mariah, and be proud of all she has been through and everything that will come, with Marcos we find our underdog, the link we have to protect, and nurture, and be astounded at the man that grows from him. Marcos is living his trauma, ascending and maturing. Without John’s physicality, without Mariah’s intelligence, Marcos plays everything from his heart, wears it on his sleeve, and steals our own. With Marcos, we see a character arc, we see development, we see pain turned into growth and experience. We see ourselves.
The character building is perfect - Marcos' history, the glimpses of his life he shares with us, it’s all gold. The attention to detail Daniel delivers, such as the care Marcos gives to his fingers and hands because they are his voice, is exquisite. I just know that at some time in the future, Marcos’ hands are going to receive trauma – the ground-laying here also brings with itself the echoes of foreshadowing. Mark my words, dear future reader - fingers are going to break.
In Sleepwalking, the villains are all human, the left-over detritus of humanity, yet - here again, Daniel has sown the elements of what will come. With humanity succumbing to the dream state and dying, their nightmares are being released to live on the earth. Everything that can be dreamed, can be encountered. And encounter it we will, of that I am sure.
I’m in for the whole ride. Barnett’s series is extraordinary. Buy them all. They just keep getting better and better, though now all we need is a dog.
5 out of 5 ⭐ ‘s, and flashlighters – the fourth book in the series – is making come-to-me eyes on my kindle. I’m not even going to put up a fight.
April 9, 2022
Review to come! It's not an empty promise, this time I mean it.
Update 04/09/2022: I am going to agree with the consensus, this is the best episode in this series so far. I really like Marcos and I feel he is going to be an important key to the mystery (or should I say mysteries, there are so many questions left to be answered in this series.)
Update 04/09/2022: I am going to agree with the consensus, this is the best episode in this series so far. I really like Marcos and I feel he is going to be an important key to the mystery (or should I say mysteries, there are so many questions left to be answered in this series.)
November 20, 2021
Good grief. Daniel Barnett has such an incredible gift with language, dark prose that draws a terrifying picture all too clearly, while not wasting a single syllable. The terrors revealed in this volume of Nightmareland made my skin crawl, unfurling new and deeper darkness. Sometimes with a series, there's concern about a lag in the tale, of a slump in the middle while things get set up. Not so in this series—it's all a long, dark highway building tension and unease. Masterful storytelling, and I already dived into the next volume.
October 6, 2020
I won’t keep you in suspense - this is the best book in the Nightmareland series, so far. Keyword there is “so far”, because even three books in, the feeling that we’re just getting started is still very fresh. Barnett has done a meticulous job at planning out the amount of content that will fit into each portion of the series, as well as where and how each should end. The first two, Nightfall and Lullaby, leave the reader excited for the next installment without relying on a traditional, and potentially obnoxious, cliffhanger. The way this one ends? Psh, good luck waiting for book four.
Writing reviews for this series is weird, because some plot elements could be considered spoilers for earlier books, but then again, why are you reading a review for book three if you didn’t read the first? Let’s assume you have. Nightfall (1) sets up John to be our stalwart hero going forward in this new world, draped in darkness. Lullaby (2) promptly takes this piece off the table, where he primarily remains for this book. Our focus continues to be on Mariah, with the added bonus of getting to know Marcos better, who we met last time.
While Barnett has not shied away from adding human villains to supplement the atmospheric disturbance that makes for the catastrophic event putting events into motion, it’s in Sleepwalking that we get a few ‘humans are the worst monsters’ antagonist types. While characters like Ernest, Theo, and Jeffrey don’t strike as primary antagonist material - though I could be wrong, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time in this series - they make for a perfect picture of the depravity on display now that the world has changed.
Lullaby left me curious about Marcos, intrigued. One book later, and I’m irrevocably sold on every aspect of this character. Barnett gives the character a compelling backstory, incorporating the aspects of his disability, and ties it beautifully into current events happening in the story.
Nightmareland is really starting to feel like transcendent work, thanks in equal parts to two things on the author’s behalf. I’ve talked endlessly about Barnett’s prose, and if you really did read the first two books, you already know and I don’t have to sell you. Second, Barnett’s vision for where this series and these characters are going are truly unique, and subverts many of the typical post-apocalyptic tropes to tell a story that leaves you expecting the unexpected. Another installment of Nightmareland, another high recommend. Don’t sleep on this series.
I received a copy from the author for review consideration.
Writing reviews for this series is weird, because some plot elements could be considered spoilers for earlier books, but then again, why are you reading a review for book three if you didn’t read the first? Let’s assume you have. Nightfall (1) sets up John to be our stalwart hero going forward in this new world, draped in darkness. Lullaby (2) promptly takes this piece off the table, where he primarily remains for this book. Our focus continues to be on Mariah, with the added bonus of getting to know Marcos better, who we met last time.
While Barnett has not shied away from adding human villains to supplement the atmospheric disturbance that makes for the catastrophic event putting events into motion, it’s in Sleepwalking that we get a few ‘humans are the worst monsters’ antagonist types. While characters like Ernest, Theo, and Jeffrey don’t strike as primary antagonist material - though I could be wrong, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time in this series - they make for a perfect picture of the depravity on display now that the world has changed.
Lullaby left me curious about Marcos, intrigued. One book later, and I’m irrevocably sold on every aspect of this character. Barnett gives the character a compelling backstory, incorporating the aspects of his disability, and ties it beautifully into current events happening in the story.
Nightmareland is really starting to feel like transcendent work, thanks in equal parts to two things on the author’s behalf. I’ve talked endlessly about Barnett’s prose, and if you really did read the first two books, you already know and I don’t have to sell you. Second, Barnett’s vision for where this series and these characters are going are truly unique, and subverts many of the typical post-apocalyptic tropes to tell a story that leaves you expecting the unexpected. Another installment of Nightmareland, another high recommend. Don’t sleep on this series.
I received a copy from the author for review consideration.
March 5, 2022
Wow wow wow!
Holy Shit!!
WOW!!!!
Review to come as I have forgotten how words work. I'm gonna need a bit after reading this masterpiece of mind fuckery.
Actually, nah, that's a pretty good review, I'm gonna leave it 😂
Holy Shit!!
WOW!!!!
Review to come as I have forgotten how words work. I'm gonna need a bit after reading this masterpiece of mind fuckery.
Actually, nah, that's a pretty good review, I'm gonna leave it 😂
Read
June 7, 2022Loving this series, though I did miss John in this one. Loved the introduction of Marcos though, so that made up for it. I have book 4 at the ready and wish I could run right through the series, but unfortunately I'll have to pace myself because I have so many others waiting in the wings.
Daniel Barnett has nothing left to prove as far as I'm concerned. The quality is a given.
Daniel Barnett has nothing left to prove as far as I'm concerned. The quality is a given.
April 18, 2022
Mariah and Marcos pov throughout. Marcos is a gem of a character. Missing John until the end, boom. Looking forward to book 4, it should be awesome.
January 3, 2024
Loved this, going to do a review once I'm up to date with the series, I'm annoyed I didn't get to this series sooner, Daniel is an amazing writer, going to read all his work, bit obsessed
May 8, 2022
This was my favorite book in the series so far, and I really liked the others! This was all the story building that the last book was building up to. The characters all really added to the story. The way this book is portraying disability not as a hindrance or baggage, but actually as a strength was so well done and fun to read. The author has a way of really slowly revealing things, but making it so you have to Jeri reading to find out what’s next. This series is only getting better as I go on!
January 14, 2022
This is the best thing I've read in a long time. I'm totally immerse in this story, I can't get enough of it.
March 10, 2024
5 Stars
Man....this book. This series. This whole concept....it is just fantastic.
Try as I might, I can't find a single thing wrong with the third installment of Nightmareland Chronicles. The progression of the plot carried on at a perfect clip, the characters continued growing more nuanced and relatable, the right amount of previous questions were answered, and the right amount of new ones were asked.
I love this series so much--I can't wait to get to the fourth book. HIGHLY recommend.
Man....this book. This series. This whole concept....it is just fantastic.
Try as I might, I can't find a single thing wrong with the third installment of Nightmareland Chronicles. The progression of the plot carried on at a perfect clip, the characters continued growing more nuanced and relatable, the right amount of previous questions were answered, and the right amount of new ones were asked.
I love this series so much--I can't wait to get to the fourth book. HIGHLY recommend.
January 8, 2022
The Nightmare Continues!
Daniel Barnett, in his Nightmareland series, has written some of the most vivid fiction I've ever read, and SLEEPWALKING, the third and longest installment, is possibly the most vivid of the three. And the ending! Sheesh. Talk about leaving a reader hungry for more. Fortunately, I already have the next two books waiting in my Kindle. If you haven't read this series, you don't know what you're missing. Highly recommended!
Daniel Barnett, in his Nightmareland series, has written some of the most vivid fiction I've ever read, and SLEEPWALKING, the third and longest installment, is possibly the most vivid of the three. And the ending! Sheesh. Talk about leaving a reader hungry for more. Fortunately, I already have the next two books waiting in my Kindle. If you haven't read this series, you don't know what you're missing. Highly recommended!
December 10, 2020
4.5 rounded up to 5 for Goodreads.
Sleepwalking is the third volume in the Nightmareland Chronicles series by Daniel Barnett. A post apocalyptic world that has fallen into a perpetual night. Once night fell the lullaby started, pouring forth from anything with a screen or a speaker. Phones, televisions, radios, computers, etc. Those who fall victim to the lullaby descend into a state of sleep from which they cannot be awoken from and the sleeping don’t rest easily.
The first two volumes in this series, Nightfall and Lullaby, firmly grasped my attention, luring me into this dark new world. I am completely onboard and along for wherever this ride goes. I don't really know what new things I can say about this book that I haven't already said about the previous entries.
Intriguing premise, check.
Interesting characters, check.
Beautiful prose, check.
Vivid imagery, check.
Compelling narrative, check.
The story this time around is pretty straightforward on the surface. Mariah and Marcos need to get some medication for John so they head into a nearby town to see if any can be found. Seems simple enough but there is so much more going on here beneath that surface. There is danger, fear, grief, tragedy, evil, love, compassion, and so much more to be encountered. That's all I want to say about the plot, you'll have to read for yourself to get the full experience. The ending though, the ending has me chomping at the bit, has my stomach rumbling with hunger to find out what happens next. Trying not to give too much away the ending gave me heavy The Crazies (2010) and Jack Torrance vibes.
So what can I say about this one. Well, I love how this series keeps subverting my expectations, but in good ways. After reading Nightfall you think John is going to be our main protagonist but then something happens and he takes a backseat to Mariah during Lullaby which allows us to dive into her mind for some great character development. Now here in Sleepwalking I thought Marcos steals the show. A young boy with a disability, he is deaf, who in many other books of this genre would be considered a liability. Him being deaf would be shown as a weakness. That isn’t the case here whatsoever though. Marcos’ deafness is not only a strength and the key to his own survival in this depraved new world but it is also the key to Mariah and possibly John’s survival as well. Taking this “flaw” and turning in on its head and doubling down on how important and crucial it is to this story really made for a surprisingly great and interesting character.
I've said before that I try to not compare one author with another but in this instance I have to make the comparison between Barnett and King. I don't necessarily mean their writing is similar, Barnett definitely has his own unique style and voice. Where these two authors feel similar to me is with their characters, especially their villains. These human villains that have nothing supernatural about them. The way they are written, their flaws and quirks and characteristics bring them to life in ways that make them seem like fully realized living breathing people. I don’t really have the words to describe it. It is just a feeling I get. The human villains that King creates have this certain vibe, this aura or presence to them and with this series so far Barnett has been hitting those same notes for me. There is a subtleness to the villains, a darkness that us the readers can feel simmering just beneath the surface. Barentt does a great job of illuminating just enough of that darkness to make them captivating and scary yet still mysterious and unnerving. The best monsters are the ones that aren’t fully revealed, the ones that still leave something up to the imagination and that’s what Barentt has been able to pull off so far. Here in Sleepwalking, the two brothers who run the Love Shack are the perfect examples of what I am trying to describe.
So I guess after saying all that it's the characters that are really starting to shine in this series. They are strong yet bear weaknesses, scared yet brave. Flawed and imperfect. Characters that you can love, detest, and be wary of. Full of depth that brings an emotional weight to the story. A rich narrative without great characters usually feels hollow, like it's all window dressing. The Nightmareland Chronicles is a feast of the best of both worlds.
Heartfelt and heartless. Hopeful and dismal. Sleepwalking by Daniel Barnett explores a dark world full of nightmares. Inhabited by those whose souls still are a shining beacon of light pushing back against the darkness. While the light of others has been extinguished as they fester and feed, allowing themselves to be consumed by it. Barentt has crafted a world and set this story up where the horrific and nightmarish possibilities are endless. I'm excited to see what the future holds and am eagerly awaiting volume four of the series,The Flashlighters, to release so I can dive in and devour it.
I received an ARC of this book from the author for review consideration.
Video review: https://youtu.be/6YpxzmN4OyA
Sleepwalking is the third volume in the Nightmareland Chronicles series by Daniel Barnett. A post apocalyptic world that has fallen into a perpetual night. Once night fell the lullaby started, pouring forth from anything with a screen or a speaker. Phones, televisions, radios, computers, etc. Those who fall victim to the lullaby descend into a state of sleep from which they cannot be awoken from and the sleeping don’t rest easily.
The first two volumes in this series, Nightfall and Lullaby, firmly grasped my attention, luring me into this dark new world. I am completely onboard and along for wherever this ride goes. I don't really know what new things I can say about this book that I haven't already said about the previous entries.
Intriguing premise, check.
Interesting characters, check.
Beautiful prose, check.
Vivid imagery, check.
Compelling narrative, check.
The story this time around is pretty straightforward on the surface. Mariah and Marcos need to get some medication for John so they head into a nearby town to see if any can be found. Seems simple enough but there is so much more going on here beneath that surface. There is danger, fear, grief, tragedy, evil, love, compassion, and so much more to be encountered. That's all I want to say about the plot, you'll have to read for yourself to get the full experience. The ending though, the ending has me chomping at the bit, has my stomach rumbling with hunger to find out what happens next. Trying not to give too much away the ending gave me heavy The Crazies (2010) and Jack Torrance vibes.
So what can I say about this one. Well, I love how this series keeps subverting my expectations, but in good ways. After reading Nightfall you think John is going to be our main protagonist but then something happens and he takes a backseat to Mariah during Lullaby which allows us to dive into her mind for some great character development. Now here in Sleepwalking I thought Marcos steals the show. A young boy with a disability, he is deaf, who in many other books of this genre would be considered a liability. Him being deaf would be shown as a weakness. That isn’t the case here whatsoever though. Marcos’ deafness is not only a strength and the key to his own survival in this depraved new world but it is also the key to Mariah and possibly John’s survival as well. Taking this “flaw” and turning in on its head and doubling down on how important and crucial it is to this story really made for a surprisingly great and interesting character.
I've said before that I try to not compare one author with another but in this instance I have to make the comparison between Barnett and King. I don't necessarily mean their writing is similar, Barnett definitely has his own unique style and voice. Where these two authors feel similar to me is with their characters, especially their villains. These human villains that have nothing supernatural about them. The way they are written, their flaws and quirks and characteristics bring them to life in ways that make them seem like fully realized living breathing people. I don’t really have the words to describe it. It is just a feeling I get. The human villains that King creates have this certain vibe, this aura or presence to them and with this series so far Barnett has been hitting those same notes for me. There is a subtleness to the villains, a darkness that us the readers can feel simmering just beneath the surface. Barentt does a great job of illuminating just enough of that darkness to make them captivating and scary yet still mysterious and unnerving. The best monsters are the ones that aren’t fully revealed, the ones that still leave something up to the imagination and that’s what Barentt has been able to pull off so far. Here in Sleepwalking, the two brothers who run the Love Shack are the perfect examples of what I am trying to describe.
So I guess after saying all that it's the characters that are really starting to shine in this series. They are strong yet bear weaknesses, scared yet brave. Flawed and imperfect. Characters that you can love, detest, and be wary of. Full of depth that brings an emotional weight to the story. A rich narrative without great characters usually feels hollow, like it's all window dressing. The Nightmareland Chronicles is a feast of the best of both worlds.
Heartfelt and heartless. Hopeful and dismal. Sleepwalking by Daniel Barnett explores a dark world full of nightmares. Inhabited by those whose souls still are a shining beacon of light pushing back against the darkness. While the light of others has been extinguished as they fester and feed, allowing themselves to be consumed by it. Barentt has crafted a world and set this story up where the horrific and nightmarish possibilities are endless. I'm excited to see what the future holds and am eagerly awaiting volume four of the series,The Flashlighters, to release so I can dive in and devour it.
I received an ARC of this book from the author for review consideration.
Video review: https://youtu.be/6YpxzmN4OyA
June 17, 2024
This is the third novel in the series and I think it's not as good as the first one. This one we follow only two characters, Mariah & Marcos (a mute-deaf boy) John throughout this tale is sleeping/dreaming.
First of all, this is not horror. At much it's dark fiction but is more post apocalpytic stuff. To be fair, I bought the series thinking this was something like the ARG Vanished Suns.
Barnett talks about the dark visions, about nightmares come to life BUT unfortunately it was not well development and more on the cat & mouse chase between those two characters and some cops-slavers.
People praising this is dark and such, I mean unless they are speaking quite figurately since it's dark\night but it's quite mild and not that spooky\scary. I will read next movies 60/100
First of all, this is not horror. At much it's dark fiction but is more post apocalpytic stuff. To be fair, I bought the series thinking this was something like the ARG Vanished Suns.
Barnett talks about the dark visions, about nightmares come to life BUT unfortunately it was not well development and more on the cat & mouse chase between those two characters and some cops-slavers.
People praising this is dark and such, I mean unless they are speaking quite figurately since it's dark\night but it's quite mild and not that spooky\scary. I will read next movies 60/100
February 24, 2022
Quietly gets under your skin
Another triumph by Daniel Barnett. He writes such chilly stories. This is another creepy, atmospheric horror book. It’s good to have Marcos in the story again. We do learn more about him.
There is more violence than in the previous stories. One particular scene made me sad. But then I was glad certain things happened to some characters.
The book ends in a gory mess, and sets you up for the next unnerving novel.
Another triumph by Daniel Barnett. He writes such chilly stories. This is another creepy, atmospheric horror book. It’s good to have Marcos in the story again. We do learn more about him.
There is more violence than in the previous stories. One particular scene made me sad. But then I was glad certain things happened to some characters.
The book ends in a gory mess, and sets you up for the next unnerving novel.
November 30, 2021
Wonderful. My favourite in the series thus far
January 4, 2025
4.5 stars . 🕊
“ does death end a person’s nightmares . . .
or simply set them free? ”
━━━━━━⊱ † ⊰━━━━━━
i can't get over this series ﹠ i think i may have to go back and adjust my previous ratings
“ does death end a person’s nightmares . . .
or simply set them free? ”
━━━━━━⊱ † ⊰━━━━━━
i can't get over this series ﹠ i think i may have to go back and adjust my previous ratings
May 12, 2022
This is the most elaborate book in the series so far. Books 1 & 2 were great and I enjoyed both of them, but this was a longer, more involved story for readers of this obscure series.
I am really enjoying the ‘Nightmareland Chronicles’ so far and Daniel Barnett is a unique writer with original ideas that he’s infusing into his story quite nicely.
Marcos and Mariah are two characters that are extremely easy to like and root for, and this book included quite an intense series of events. It was good and it has done its job in leaving me wanting more! Bring on #4!
I am really enjoying the ‘Nightmareland Chronicles’ so far and Daniel Barnett is a unique writer with original ideas that he’s infusing into his story quite nicely.
Marcos and Mariah are two characters that are extremely easy to like and root for, and this book included quite an intense series of events. It was good and it has done its job in leaving me wanting more! Bring on #4!
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