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The Midnight Scoop #1
The Hungry Dreaming
The discovery of lost letters between Alexander Hamilton and George Washington, describing historical events that never happened, sends shockwaves through the academic world. Meanwhile, a citywide surveillance program is coming to New York on a groundswell of dirty money and dead bodies. To hard-nosed Brooklyn reporter Nell Bluth, the two mysteries couldn't be more different.
Then she finds the missing link. Seelie Rose, a transgender runaway and the eyewitness to a murder, has a priceless secret in her pocket and a ruthless assassin on her trail. Nell and her partner Tyler are drawn into a centuries-old vendetta, a conspiracy dating back to the Revolutionary War...and witchcraft.
A secret war is raging on the streets of New York. It's a battle to control the narrative of history itself, and the winner rewrites the world. Three unlikely heroes will have to outrun and outwit every obstacle in their path; with time running out, they're the last hope to save the past, the present, and the future. And if they can't, they won't live to see tomorrow.
Then she finds the missing link. Seelie Rose, a transgender runaway and the eyewitness to a murder, has a priceless secret in her pocket and a ruthless assassin on her trail. Nell and her partner Tyler are drawn into a centuries-old vendetta, a conspiracy dating back to the Revolutionary War...and witchcraft.
A secret war is raging on the streets of New York. It's a battle to control the narrative of history itself, and the winner rewrites the world. Three unlikely heroes will have to outrun and outwit every obstacle in their path; with time running out, they're the last hope to save the past, the present, and the future. And if they can't, they won't live to see tomorrow.
696 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2021
98 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
Craig Schaefer
43 books1,332 followersCraig Schaefer's books have taken readers to the seamy edge of a criminal underworld drenched in shadow (the Daniel Faust series), to a world torn by war, poison and witchcraft (the Revanche Cycle), and across a modern America mired in occult mysteries and a conspiracy of lies (the Harmony Black series).
Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.
Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 31, 2023
🙌 Schaefer Cult Buddy Read (SCBR™) with the MacHalos and stuff 🙌
That's my buddy Gertrud the Super Sexy Witch cackling with glee after reading this book, just so you know.
➽ And the moral of this reread is: oneiromancers + pink Smith and Wesson tactical pens +slightly unbalanced, homicidal charming Hessians + Karl Marx taking bullets for the proletariat + Creepy as Fish Stuff (CaFS™) + My Little Pony fanfic (don’t ask) + Nellie Bly + cough syrup and its, um, interesting side effects + batshit crazy walking delightful ghoul princess + walking, living nightmares, yay! + Washington and Hamilton and Mr Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler, oh my + dirty dream tricks + a lovely bunch of ladies the Furies + wands Dumbledore would most certainly not approve of + bloody shrimping hell of the stinking fish, those final chapters!! =
· Book 2: The Wise Men of Gotham ★★★★
[May 2021]
Watch out, Schaeferistic Patreon Serial-Turned Book (SPSTB™) incoming! It's set in the Ghosts of Gotham universe, too! Oh, and it's Slightly Very Good (SVG™), in case you were wondering. BecauseCraig Schaefer wrote it, duh Super Extra Diversely Delicious and Deliciously Diverse (SED⁴™) cast + darkly dark stuff + George Washington & friends + mysterious stuff + witchcraft + evil stuff + mythology + spoiler spoiler spoiler = YUM.
“Witchcraft is not pure. Witchcraft is not nice. It is spit and piss and blood and black iron nails. We cut the throats that need cutting and poison the wells that need poisoning.”
That's my buddy Gertrud the Super Sexy Witch cackling with glee after reading this book, just so you know.
➽ And the moral of this reread is: oneiromancers + pink Smith and Wesson tactical pens +
· Book 2: The Wise Men of Gotham ★★★★
[May 2021]
Watch out, Schaeferistic Patreon Serial-Turned Book (SPSTB™) incoming! It's set in the Ghosts of Gotham universe, too! Oh, and it's Slightly Very Good (SVG™), in case you were wondering. Because
January 2, 2023
The Hungry Dreaming
(The Ghosts of Gotham Saga)
by Craig Schaefer
I found this one difficult to review. There is so much going on. It's like several stories and slowly they start meshing together. Nell is a reporter but she has someone on her because she knows too much. Her partner backs her when it counts There is a trans kid that has a dad that is a millionaire and keeps sending thugs to bring her home. The dad refuses to call her Seelie and still calls her Michael.
There is proof of history that would startle mankind if they knew. There is witchcraft, and Seelie has to cross over to get information from a ghost.
It's very complex and magical. I don't think it's as good as the first book but I enjoyed it.
(The Ghosts of Gotham Saga)
by Craig Schaefer
I found this one difficult to review. There is so much going on. It's like several stories and slowly they start meshing together. Nell is a reporter but she has someone on her because she knows too much. Her partner backs her when it counts There is a trans kid that has a dad that is a millionaire and keeps sending thugs to bring her home. The dad refuses to call her Seelie and still calls her Michael.
There is proof of history that would startle mankind if they knew. There is witchcraft, and Seelie has to cross over to get information from a ghost.
It's very complex and magical. I don't think it's as good as the first book but I enjoyed it.
November 22, 2022
There are some really intense well written streches, but on the whole I found this book less engaging than the other books in the series.
July 18, 2023
Fair warning - I'm going to gush about this one. I know I've got a track record with Craig Schaefer, but this is so damn good I'm not going to be able to stop myself.
"Spells, charms, initiations, and covens, these are all things that come in time, if they ever come at all. A witch is a woman in her full power, blessed with intuition, perseverance, and courage, capable of blazing a path through any hostile wilderness."
Third book set in the Ghosts of Gotham universe, but entirely capable of standing alone, The Hungry Dreaming is one of the author's longest books - and in my opinion one of his best. This is going to be the one that I push at Craig Schaefer newbies, the one that I badger my friends to read, and the one I come back to over and over again because it's as close as I can get to living in it.
Seelie Rose is a runaway who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nell Bluth is a reporter who has never met a story she couldn't ferret out eventually. Tyler Graham has spent the last five years living in a waking nightmare. And when their paths cross, the adventure begins, and the truth starts becoming clear, they are going to need every bit of the help they can offer each other.
They're such brilliant characters. Like any other reader, I've connected with characters before, but rarely do I get something from all the varied protagonists like I did with this lot. The narrative gives them all a fair shake at protagonism (not a word? but you get my meaning), too, there's no one true main character here. I was rooting so hard for all of them, almost immediately, and genuinely invested so quickly.
The story itself - I don't want to get too much into it because I'm a big fan of going in as blind as possible, but in the interests of getting people to go in at all - it's twisty, goes back and forward throughout history, pulls in some historical figures, and tops it off with a healthy dose of legends and myths. While there's the odd moment to breath, there's no lulls.
For the other Craig Schaefer fans out there, there's a couple of cameos that are bound to make you smile - Dergwyn is back! and handing out the best kind of advice on becoming a princess: "Do it how I did. Just declare yourself a princess. Anyone says you aren't, kill them and eat them. Eventually people stop arguing."
Best of all, I cried at the end of this book. 2020/2021 have done their best to drive all the feeling out of me, but for this whole book I was back to a reader who actually loves these characters, who really cares what happened to them, and who was going to lose her damn mind if anything happened to them. All the stars.
Edit: I forgot to add that the "he's pretty spry for a dead man" line is always going to be a missed opportunity for an Offspring reference in my mind. There, now this is a well balanced review because I found a negative!
"Spells, charms, initiations, and covens, these are all things that come in time, if they ever come at all. A witch is a woman in her full power, blessed with intuition, perseverance, and courage, capable of blazing a path through any hostile wilderness."
Third book set in the Ghosts of Gotham universe, but entirely capable of standing alone, The Hungry Dreaming is one of the author's longest books - and in my opinion one of his best. This is going to be the one that I push at Craig Schaefer newbies, the one that I badger my friends to read, and the one I come back to over and over again because it's as close as I can get to living in it.
Seelie Rose is a runaway who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nell Bluth is a reporter who has never met a story she couldn't ferret out eventually. Tyler Graham has spent the last five years living in a waking nightmare. And when their paths cross, the adventure begins, and the truth starts becoming clear, they are going to need every bit of the help they can offer each other.
They're such brilliant characters. Like any other reader, I've connected with characters before, but rarely do I get something from all the varied protagonists like I did with this lot. The narrative gives them all a fair shake at protagonism (not a word? but you get my meaning), too, there's no one true main character here. I was rooting so hard for all of them, almost immediately, and genuinely invested so quickly.
The story itself - I don't want to get too much into it because I'm a big fan of going in as blind as possible, but in the interests of getting people to go in at all - it's twisty, goes back and forward throughout history, pulls in some historical figures, and tops it off with a healthy dose of legends and myths. While there's the odd moment to breath, there's no lulls.
For the other Craig Schaefer fans out there, there's a couple of cameos that are bound to make you smile - Dergwyn is back! and handing out the best kind of advice on becoming a princess: "Do it how I did. Just declare yourself a princess. Anyone says you aren't, kill them and eat them. Eventually people stop arguing."
Best of all, I cried at the end of this book. 2020/2021 have done their best to drive all the feeling out of me, but for this whole book I was back to a reader who actually loves these characters, who really cares what happened to them, and who was going to lose her damn mind if anything happened to them. All the stars.
Edit: I forgot to add that the "he's pretty spry for a dead man" line is always going to be a missed opportunity for an Offspring reference in my mind. There, now this is a well balanced review because I found a negative!
July 1, 2021
Excellent. A novel about witches and choosing between comforting lies and the weight of the truth.
July 22, 2024
If you have enjoyed some of Craig Schaefer's other works that include a blend of modern day, plus magic, plus mythos then the storyline for this should work for you. I enjoyed the Ghosts of Gotham books where Hecate was the patron of a sect of witches. The Hungry Dreaming is set in the same world and so we do get some carryover at least of the concepts of the witches but an entirely new cast.
Nell is a hot shot reporter. She and her partner have broken some of the biggest stories in New York. But this one may just cost Nell her job or worse her life. People are dying suspiciously and Nell is looking for the last person to see one of those murder victims alive.
Seelie is the Trans daughter of a very rich and powerful man, who wants the son Michael that is supposed to take over his empire. Seelie on the other hand wants no part of that and is living as a homeless runaway, trading sex mostly for places to stay and 'gifts'. After witnessing the murder of one of their 'friends', Seelie is trusted with a flask and some information looping into a secret society trying to preserve history.
As Nell and her partner Tyler get embroiled into the mess, they find Seelie and so much more as they unravel a plot going back to the revolutionary war and find a few characters that and moving pieces in place for the vengeance they have wanted since that time.
I really liked the story line with Leda, why she was building her empire and her tie to the Hettian. I enjoyed Seelie's journey to find the coven of witches who tried to thwart Leda in the past and paid for it so dearly. The tie up at the end was also fitting to the overall story and it was a mostly satisfying conclusion, although I really did feel bad for Arachne.
There is no real romance in the story. But there is a hint that maybe, just maybe the timing will eventually be right for Tyler and Nell to extend their partnership outside of the workplace.
I'm going to make this note here because I held off on reading this because one of the main characters is trans and that usually comes with a huge agenda in other stories I've read. (Completely personal opinion, take it as such)
“Witchcraft is not pure. Witchcraft is not nice. It is spit and piss and blood and black iron nails. We cut the throats that need cutting and poison the wells that need poisoning.”
Nell is a hot shot reporter. She and her partner have broken some of the biggest stories in New York. But this one may just cost Nell her job or worse her life. People are dying suspiciously and Nell is looking for the last person to see one of those murder victims alive.
Seelie is the Trans daughter of a very rich and powerful man, who wants the son Michael that is supposed to take over his empire. Seelie on the other hand wants no part of that and is living as a homeless runaway, trading sex mostly for places to stay and 'gifts'. After witnessing the murder of one of their 'friends', Seelie is trusted with a flask and some information looping into a secret society trying to preserve history.
As Nell and her partner Tyler get embroiled into the mess, they find Seelie and so much more as they unravel a plot going back to the revolutionary war and find a few characters that and moving pieces in place for the vengeance they have wanted since that time.
"Vengeance is for the benefit and the pleasure of the person carrying it out," Leda replied. "Punishment is the the education and correction of the person receiving it. They may feel the same on the receiving end, but intent matters to the person holding the rod."
I really liked the story line with Leda, why she was building her empire and her tie to the Hettian. I enjoyed Seelie's journey to find the coven of witches who tried to thwart Leda in the past and paid for it so dearly. The tie up at the end was also fitting to the overall story and it was a mostly satisfying conclusion, although I really did feel bad for Arachne.
There is no real romance in the story. But there is a hint that maybe, just maybe the timing will eventually be right for Tyler and Nell to extend their partnership outside of the workplace.
I'm going to make this note here because I held off on reading this because one of the main characters is trans and that usually comes with a huge agenda in other stories I've read. (Completely personal opinion, take it as such)
June 8, 2021
A solid entry into the Ghosts of Gotham series, and by far, this is the lengthiest book Schaefer has ever written. It felt good to visit the hidden magical world of New York city again. The story was filled with twists and action, and the writing was good. I have to say that Schaefer never disappoints in delivering an entertaining story, and his voice is one of the strongest I've ever read in the urban fantasy genre.
As usual the author blends history and mythology into an explosive package in this novel. We get to see the American war of Independence and the supernatural connected to it. There's quite a bit of factual history thrown in, but it works quite ingeniously in keeping the suspense of the plot. What I loved the most was the deconstructed myth of Arachne and Athena, it was poignant and beautiful. Schaefer also touches upon the issues concerning technology, surveillance and control, corporate corruption and politics, the quest for identity regarding the characters, which strongly enhanced the flavour of the story.
The characters were well done. I liked the transgirl Cecilia who is sort of the primary protagonist, and is trying to survive in a world that sees her as a deviant. Her self-struggles with her body, and the way her father and society looks upon her as an individual is authentically captured in the narrative. I also liked Nell and Tyler. Both of their emotional conflicts and trauma is succintly laid out in the story. I loved the fact that being such flawed but good characters brought a kind of credibility to their roles in the story. Apart from them, the supporting characters were quite amazing in fact, and the antagonist is not someone we assume to be, and it's quite intriguing.
This was a highly enjoyable book, and I can't wait to read more about witches and monsters, gods/goddesess, and mortal journalists caught in the web of magic. I hope Schaefer continues the series and gives us more entertaining stories in the future.
As usual the author blends history and mythology into an explosive package in this novel. We get to see the American war of Independence and the supernatural connected to it. There's quite a bit of factual history thrown in, but it works quite ingeniously in keeping the suspense of the plot. What I loved the most was the deconstructed myth of Arachne and Athena, it was poignant and beautiful. Schaefer also touches upon the issues concerning technology, surveillance and control, corporate corruption and politics, the quest for identity regarding the characters, which strongly enhanced the flavour of the story.
The characters were well done. I liked the transgirl Cecilia who is sort of the primary protagonist, and is trying to survive in a world that sees her as a deviant. Her self-struggles with her body, and the way her father and society looks upon her as an individual is authentically captured in the narrative. I also liked Nell and Tyler. Both of their emotional conflicts and trauma is succintly laid out in the story. I loved the fact that being such flawed but good characters brought a kind of credibility to their roles in the story. Apart from them, the supporting characters were quite amazing in fact, and the antagonist is not someone we assume to be, and it's quite intriguing.
This was a highly enjoyable book, and I can't wait to read more about witches and monsters, gods/goddesess, and mortal journalists caught in the web of magic. I hope Schaefer continues the series and gives us more entertaining stories in the future.
December 14, 2021
Very suspenseful and intense paranormal thriller about saving the past and future of New York City.
June 22, 2021
This is about as woke a novel can be given the current state of the art. The protagonist is a transsexual. All the white men are evil from the chief villain to a father who oppresses his trans daughter/son. All the good, strong characters are female. The only heterosexual romance is interracial. Leave It To Beaver as well as Father Knows Best has been fully vanquished from the cultural milieu.
It is an interesting setup and in tune with current events regarding creating a society such as exists in the UK today with spy cameras everywhere. As time moves onward, the linking of the data nets with the spy cameras will yield up a society more controlled than envisioned in the science fiction work, 1984.
Here we have an impending spy network, with added restrictions as usual, is presented as assuring public safety. Paging Dr. Fauci. The network creation is linked, in this novel anyway, with both Greek mythology and the American Revolution. Weirdly, with the addition of urban horror and witchcraft, it all works. It’s helped by a historical fact. There were several events of the American Revolution that are hard to believe. One is presented here along with the author’s explanation. It’s as good a one as I ever heard.
I’m tired of everywhere woke. I’m ready to read a book to be entertained rather than be counter culturally inoculated. This one missed it for me.
It is an interesting setup and in tune with current events regarding creating a society such as exists in the UK today with spy cameras everywhere. As time moves onward, the linking of the data nets with the spy cameras will yield up a society more controlled than envisioned in the science fiction work, 1984.
Here we have an impending spy network, with added restrictions as usual, is presented as assuring public safety. Paging Dr. Fauci. The network creation is linked, in this novel anyway, with both Greek mythology and the American Revolution. Weirdly, with the addition of urban horror and witchcraft, it all works. It’s helped by a historical fact. There were several events of the American Revolution that are hard to believe. One is presented here along with the author’s explanation. It’s as good a one as I ever heard.
I’m tired of everywhere woke. I’m ready to read a book to be entertained rather than be counter culturally inoculated. This one missed it for me.
May 23, 2022
This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum!
For regular visitors of the Asylum won’t be much of a surprise if I say that I’m a Craig Schaefer fangirl. So when she went and sneak-dropped The Hungry Dreaming on me on June 1st, 2021 I had no choice but to go and buy it. And then rearrange everything I possibly might have planned, because you know, there are just things you can’t resist. I still need to catch up on her Daniel Faust series, but damn the woman, she won’t let me with new books coming out all the time. Which is totally not fair, but on the other hand… please don’t stop giving me your awesome books. And although it’s been almost a year since then, I just got around to writing my review – after rereading it on audiobook. I’m sorry for the long wait, but life just got in the way.
The Hungry Dreaming is set in the same world as Ghosts of Gotham and A Time for Witches, but can be read as a complete standalone. If you are already familiar with Schaefer’s mentioned books, then you’ll find some easter eggs which will add to the experience. In this book, we get to know Nell a journalist, and her partner at work Tyler who both have their own personal hell to go through, Seelie a 17-year-old runaway who knows exactly who she is, even if her family does not accept that, Dieter Rhime a ruthless killer and Leda Swan a mysterious woman with a vengeance that knows no boundaries. This sounds pretty simplistic, but believe me, when it comes to a Schaefer book nothing is ever simple.
Nell and Tyler chase the next big story as Nell’s biggest ambition is to win a Pulitzer Prize and finally be acknowledged by her father who pretty much abandoned her all her life. A tech company is setting up a new technology called the Loom in New York which would help solve crimes and save lives by using only public data. Nell has her doubts about that and the whole agreement with the city going through way too fast, and she is determined to bring down those behind the whole thing. Until her informants start to mysteriously disappear and/or die making it harder to get materials to prove her points. But Nell is not one to back down even when facing danger, public humiliation, and the possibility of losing the job she is practically married to. And then she has Tyler on her side, who has to fight with his own demons and who probably was my favorite character in this book. More than once I just wanted to give him a big hug. Plus I liked what Schaefer did with his arc, the way he dealt with his traumas.
Seelie is living from day to day, trying to stay under the radar and as far away from her father’s watching eyes as she can get. She lives on the kindness of her friends and occasional lovers. One day she becomes a murder witness and from that point on she also has to run for her life. Although curiosity gets the better of her and by circumstances she also starts to investigate why things happened and how it’s all connected to a newly found stack of letters written by Hamilton during the revolution. She is smart, she is resourceful, and she has plenty of fight in her when it comes to protecting herself and those she loves.
Schaefer’s books – the ones I read anyway – all have LGBTQ rep one way or another. In The Hungry Dreaming, there is a transgender character – I’m not going to say who, I’d like you to discover it for yourself – that I felt was very well portrayed and very alive. Mind you, I have no experience regarding this matter, but as it later turned out, Schaefer does. First-hand experience at that. She recently opened up in a blog post about her transition which I felt explained why I felt Seelie was so well handled as a character. Then again, my favorite thing about Schaefer’s books are her characters, so there is that too.
I mentioned in previous reviews of the novels set in this same universe, that I really enjoy how Schaefer plays with Greek mythology and that’s true for The Hungry Dreaming too. This time, we get an interesting interpretation of a character we only know in relation to a major god, and even then it’s not among the most well-known myths maybe. She is just as complex of a character as Nell, Tyler, or Seelie, maybe even more so. It was super interesting to watch her arc, and if nothing else, for that alone this novel is worth reading.
The only criticism I can come up with is that I probably could do without the revolution aspect of the plot. It added an interesting layer for sure, but I’m not 100% convinced the novel wouldn’t work without it.
The Hungry Dreaming is Schaefer’s longest book to date with nearly 700 pages, but don’t let that stop you from giving it a go. Although the start is a bit slow as it takes time to establish the characters and set all the plotlines into motion, once the ball starts rolling, you’ll never notice the length. It just sucks you right in and you’ll find yourself rooting for the characters and hoping they’ll get what they deserve.
Schaefer’s The Hungry Dreaming is a heady mix of mystery, witchery, mythology, amazingly complex characters, and a well-layered plot that will keep you turning the pages. I’ve never been particularly interested in New York, but after reading this, I very much would like to visit it, especially if I can run into some supernatural folks while I’m at it. I probably could go on about this novel, but I already rumbled a lot, so all I have left to say is: read it!
“Spells, charms, initiations, and covens, these are all things that come in time, if they ever come at all. A witch is a woman in her full power, blessed with intuition, perseverance, and courage, capable of blazing a path through any hostile wilderness.”
For regular visitors of the Asylum won’t be much of a surprise if I say that I’m a Craig Schaefer fangirl. So when she went and sneak-dropped The Hungry Dreaming on me on June 1st, 2021 I had no choice but to go and buy it. And then rearrange everything I possibly might have planned, because you know, there are just things you can’t resist. I still need to catch up on her Daniel Faust series, but damn the woman, she won’t let me with new books coming out all the time. Which is totally not fair, but on the other hand… please don’t stop giving me your awesome books. And although it’s been almost a year since then, I just got around to writing my review – after rereading it on audiobook. I’m sorry for the long wait, but life just got in the way.
The Hungry Dreaming is set in the same world as Ghosts of Gotham and A Time for Witches, but can be read as a complete standalone. If you are already familiar with Schaefer’s mentioned books, then you’ll find some easter eggs which will add to the experience. In this book, we get to know Nell a journalist, and her partner at work Tyler who both have their own personal hell to go through, Seelie a 17-year-old runaway who knows exactly who she is, even if her family does not accept that, Dieter Rhime a ruthless killer and Leda Swan a mysterious woman with a vengeance that knows no boundaries. This sounds pretty simplistic, but believe me, when it comes to a Schaefer book nothing is ever simple.
Nell and Tyler chase the next big story as Nell’s biggest ambition is to win a Pulitzer Prize and finally be acknowledged by her father who pretty much abandoned her all her life. A tech company is setting up a new technology called the Loom in New York which would help solve crimes and save lives by using only public data. Nell has her doubts about that and the whole agreement with the city going through way too fast, and she is determined to bring down those behind the whole thing. Until her informants start to mysteriously disappear and/or die making it harder to get materials to prove her points. But Nell is not one to back down even when facing danger, public humiliation, and the possibility of losing the job she is practically married to. And then she has Tyler on her side, who has to fight with his own demons and who probably was my favorite character in this book. More than once I just wanted to give him a big hug. Plus I liked what Schaefer did with his arc, the way he dealt with his traumas.
Seelie is living from day to day, trying to stay under the radar and as far away from her father’s watching eyes as she can get. She lives on the kindness of her friends and occasional lovers. One day she becomes a murder witness and from that point on she also has to run for her life. Although curiosity gets the better of her and by circumstances she also starts to investigate why things happened and how it’s all connected to a newly found stack of letters written by Hamilton during the revolution. She is smart, she is resourceful, and she has plenty of fight in her when it comes to protecting herself and those she loves.
Schaefer’s books – the ones I read anyway – all have LGBTQ rep one way or another. In The Hungry Dreaming, there is a transgender character – I’m not going to say who, I’d like you to discover it for yourself – that I felt was very well portrayed and very alive. Mind you, I have no experience regarding this matter, but as it later turned out, Schaefer does. First-hand experience at that. She recently opened up in a blog post about her transition which I felt explained why I felt Seelie was so well handled as a character. Then again, my favorite thing about Schaefer’s books are her characters, so there is that too.
I mentioned in previous reviews of the novels set in this same universe, that I really enjoy how Schaefer plays with Greek mythology and that’s true for The Hungry Dreaming too. This time, we get an interesting interpretation of a character we only know in relation to a major god, and even then it’s not among the most well-known myths maybe. She is just as complex of a character as Nell, Tyler, or Seelie, maybe even more so. It was super interesting to watch her arc, and if nothing else, for that alone this novel is worth reading.
The only criticism I can come up with is that I probably could do without the revolution aspect of the plot. It added an interesting layer for sure, but I’m not 100% convinced the novel wouldn’t work without it.
The Hungry Dreaming is Schaefer’s longest book to date with nearly 700 pages, but don’t let that stop you from giving it a go. Although the start is a bit slow as it takes time to establish the characters and set all the plotlines into motion, once the ball starts rolling, you’ll never notice the length. It just sucks you right in and you’ll find yourself rooting for the characters and hoping they’ll get what they deserve.
Schaefer’s The Hungry Dreaming is a heady mix of mystery, witchery, mythology, amazingly complex characters, and a well-layered plot that will keep you turning the pages. I’ve never been particularly interested in New York, but after reading this, I very much would like to visit it, especially if I can run into some supernatural folks while I’m at it. I probably could go on about this novel, but I already rumbled a lot, so all I have left to say is: read it!
June 22, 2021
A little slow but a great story
I have read most everything Mr. Schaefer has had to offer as long as it has a supernatural or magical slant then I am in. This didn't disappoint in that regard, but it was a slow build. I would have given it 5 stars, but I like my stories a little more action packed. That said, the story is great and with the exception of one of the villains, the characters feel real and we'll crafted. If you are waiting for the next Daniel Faust book then reading this might help you pass some time.
I have read most everything Mr. Schaefer has had to offer as long as it has a supernatural or magical slant then I am in. This didn't disappoint in that regard, but it was a slow build. I would have given it 5 stars, but I like my stories a little more action packed. That said, the story is great and with the exception of one of the villains, the characters feel real and we'll crafted. If you are waiting for the next Daniel Faust book then reading this might help you pass some time.
December 21, 2024
This book was great... altho it's incorrectly listed as book 3 in Ghosts of Gotham I think... it's more of a spinoff in the same world... probably standalone, with potential for another later...
I love Craig Schaefer, but this hit on so many other of my favorite things, that would be spoilers to talk about... Craig Schaefer can do no wrong (so far)... liked it enough to devour the ebook, instead of waiting for audio...
2024 Re-read: Just as good on audio... and there IS a sequel... looking forward to a book 3 someday...
I love Craig Schaefer, but this hit on so many other of my favorite things, that would be spoilers to talk about... Craig Schaefer can do no wrong (so far)... liked it enough to devour the ebook, instead of waiting for audio...
2024 Re-read: Just as good on audio... and there IS a sequel... looking forward to a book 3 someday...
June 6, 2021
Not his best work. It has all the elements of a really good novel, but it just doesn't gel.
January 17, 2022
Quick read enjoyable
I wouldn't say it's my favorite if his work but Commodore enjoyable and easy read with riveting characters and just enough historical fun
I wouldn't say it's my favorite if his work but Commodore enjoyable and easy read with riveting characters and just enough historical fun
June 1, 2021
(Read this originally as a serial released weekly on Schaefer's patreon, and am very excited to see it officially published with some gorgeous cover art.)
Another entry in the Ghosts of Gotham saga, where history and mythology mix into a modern urban fantasy setting with excellent results. A seemingly mundane pair of mysteries- potentially forged letters between Hamilton and Washington, and a frightening new surveillance oversight program being put into place by a tech giant- manage to evolve and intertwine in unexpected ways. The characters are fantastic, and fit well into the established world of gods and witchcraft that Schaefer has created in ways that make me hope to see future entries in this storyline.
The book stands alone, but there are plenty of references that a fan of Schaefer's other works would enjoy. Definitely worth the read!
Another entry in the Ghosts of Gotham saga, where history and mythology mix into a modern urban fantasy setting with excellent results. A seemingly mundane pair of mysteries- potentially forged letters between Hamilton and Washington, and a frightening new surveillance oversight program being put into place by a tech giant- manage to evolve and intertwine in unexpected ways. The characters are fantastic, and fit well into the established world of gods and witchcraft that Schaefer has created in ways that make me hope to see future entries in this storyline.
The book stands alone, but there are plenty of references that a fan of Schaefer's other works would enjoy. Definitely worth the read!
May 29, 2022
As with all of her books, Heather does not disappoint. How she can write these brilliant and complex stories that feel effortless and natural is entirely beyond me. It's a skill I don't believe a great many people have.
I'm a sucker for history. And fantasy. So when the two are blended so perfectly, you've got me, heart and soul. Seelie was lovely. I enjoyed her very much and the ending of the book felt like the warm hug I needed after all the chaos. It was also an utter delight to see glimpses of familiar characters in a way that didn't feel like cheesy cameos. Again, I'm just going to say: talent. Massive talent.
I will never stop shouting about these books. Everything Heather has ever written is a masterpiece.
I'm a sucker for history. And fantasy. So when the two are blended so perfectly, you've got me, heart and soul. Seelie was lovely. I enjoyed her very much and the ending of the book felt like the warm hug I needed after all the chaos. It was also an utter delight to see glimpses of familiar characters in a way that didn't feel like cheesy cameos. Again, I'm just going to say: talent. Massive talent.
I will never stop shouting about these books. Everything Heather has ever written is a masterpiece.
June 14, 2021
I couldn't wait for this book to come out and I wasn't disappointed!
I was really looking forward to the continuation of this storyline and I enjoyed meeting these new characters. I love the integration of myths and history into the story but also including modern witchcraft. There are many misconceptions when it comes to the practice of witchcraft and modern day witches, not only is this book accurate with facts but also respectful of the practices. Also, I loved that it showcased the main character was not only transgender but a witch too. I can't wait to see what happens next!
I was really looking forward to the continuation of this storyline and I enjoyed meeting these new characters. I love the integration of myths and history into the story but also including modern witchcraft. There are many misconceptions when it comes to the practice of witchcraft and modern day witches, not only is this book accurate with facts but also respectful of the practices. Also, I loved that it showcased the main character was not only transgender but a witch too. I can't wait to see what happens next!
July 28, 2021
Outstanding. Worth the time.
Seelie, Nell, and Tyler are pretty incredible characters, well drawn, who find themselves in a world of trouble woven from the cruelty of the past, the corruption of the present, and a search for the Truth of Oneself.
Normally I only read SFP works by women, but I thought I would give this a shot because I liked the Harmony Black series. Also, I had to see how Seelie was drawn.
I started out more critical, but fell in love with the heady blend of ancient powers come to play, and I loved this so much I am buying a print version just to have.
So very worth it.
Seelie, Nell, and Tyler are pretty incredible characters, well drawn, who find themselves in a world of trouble woven from the cruelty of the past, the corruption of the present, and a search for the Truth of Oneself.
Normally I only read SFP works by women, but I thought I would give this a shot because I liked the Harmony Black series. Also, I had to see how Seelie was drawn.
I started out more critical, but fell in love with the heady blend of ancient powers come to play, and I loved this so much I am buying a print version just to have.
So very worth it.
June 13, 2025
NYC. Revolutionary War spy ring. Greek mythology vs Gothic witches. So much potential. Ruined by woke.
Tran MC. Work spouses are a thing. Every single white male is evil. Corporations, government, and cops are all evil or buffoons. The homeless are always kindhearted and generous. No woman is evil... just misunderstood. Rewriting history (literally). The fourth estate are unbiased, good, seekers of truth.
Honestly, I was gripped on the edge of my seat the entire way through. It is like rubbernecking a wreck. You can't stop watching to see how bad it will possibly get. I went into this book knowing nothing of the author, but I won't be making that mistake again.
Tran MC. Work spouses are a thing. Every single white male is evil. Corporations, government, and cops are all evil or buffoons. The homeless are always kindhearted and generous. No woman is evil... just misunderstood. Rewriting history (literally). The fourth estate are unbiased, good, seekers of truth.
Honestly, I was gripped on the edge of my seat the entire way through. It is like rubbernecking a wreck. You can't stop watching to see how bad it will possibly get. I went into this book knowing nothing of the author, but I won't be making that mistake again.
April 11, 2022
I loved this novel. Best of the series, albeit with different main characters from the first two books alongside a few cameos from the previous "Ghosts of Gotham" novels Graig Schaefer has elevated and enriched the world from which these stories exist. I guess this was originally intended to be one standalone story beginning and ending with "Ghosts of Gotham" but thankfully Schaefer decided to revisit and expand this world two more times...here's hoping for even more.
September 5, 2023
gosh I love CS
I love that I read this after the author came out as trans! I’ve felt for a long time that CS’s books were so queer and non male coded and this whole book felt like a beautiful queer narrative of coming out and the truth of self identity.
And also basically Hamilton meets national treasure meets Percy Jackson. So there’s that.
Wild, lovely, and like goblin market, not actually about fruits and magic.
I love that I read this after the author came out as trans! I’ve felt for a long time that CS’s books were so queer and non male coded and this whole book felt like a beautiful queer narrative of coming out and the truth of self identity.
And also basically Hamilton meets national treasure meets Percy Jackson. So there’s that.
Wild, lovely, and like goblin market, not actually about fruits and magic.
June 9, 2021
Best Nightmare Ever
Loved the story and characters. Really hooked me and couldn't put it down. I don't even like horror stories.
The mix of real history and fantasy was really enjoyable. I read the book while looking up info on the American Revolution and NYC.
Also loved the cameos from previous stories. Thank you, Craig Schaefer!
Loved the story and characters. Really hooked me and couldn't put it down. I don't even like horror stories.
The mix of real history and fantasy was really enjoyable. I read the book while looking up info on the American Revolution and NYC.
Also loved the cameos from previous stories. Thank you, Craig Schaefer!
July 10, 2021
As good as Ghosts of Gotham
Standalone novel but shares the same universe as Ghosts of Gotham. The development of the main character is one s we ourprise after another.As in the first novel, Regina Dunkle and the Ghoul Princess make appearances, as do several Hecate worshippers. Also, the three main characters are introduced to a mysterious and magical world.
Standalone novel but shares the same universe as Ghosts of Gotham. The development of the main character is one s we ourprise after another.As in the first novel, Regina Dunkle and the Ghoul Princess make appearances, as do several Hecate worshippers. Also, the three main characters are introduced to a mysterious and magical world.
December 28, 2021
His best yet
If I were choosing the five best living fantasy authors, Craig Schaefer would head the list, and this is his best and most ambitious work to date. The plot is excellent, the heroes heroic, the villains are villainous, and the pacing is perfect.
Oh, just buy the book. Read and enjoy. You won't regret it.
If I were choosing the five best living fantasy authors, Craig Schaefer would head the list, and this is his best and most ambitious work to date. The plot is excellent, the heroes heroic, the villains are villainous, and the pacing is perfect.
Oh, just buy the book. Read and enjoy. You won't regret it.
June 10, 2021
Wow!
I've been a fan of Craig's since I found his work. His stories continue to entertain me, engross me, and leave me wanting more. This is one of his best yet, building upon his codex, if that is the right word. Fantastic!
I've been a fan of Craig's since I found his work. His stories continue to entertain me, engross me, and leave me wanting more. This is one of his best yet, building upon his codex, if that is the right word. Fantastic!
July 9, 2021
Reality bent
A great new novel of history, witchcraft, New York, and the power of friendship. While nominally this story falls under urban fantasy, it is so much more. Sit back and enjoy as a new world building tapestry is woven.
A great new novel of history, witchcraft, New York, and the power of friendship. While nominally this story falls under urban fantasy, it is so much more. Sit back and enjoy as a new world building tapestry is woven.
April 26, 2022
I don’t usually read occult stuff, but this was great. Urban fantasy but with no faeries, vamps, or wolves; instead there are human witches and a few supernatural beings.
The characters are well drawn and have well explained motivations.
The characters are well drawn and have well explained motivations.
June 5, 2021
This novel is so immersive, so engaging, so diverse, and magical that I had a hard time putting it down. I certainly hope this is not the last we see of Seelie, Tyler, and Nell.
June 6, 2021
Terrific!!!
I am really enjoying your love affair with Witches, I hope it never ends!!! Thanks for another great story!!! You are definitely one of my favorite authors
I am really enjoying your love affair with Witches, I hope it never ends!!! Thanks for another great story!!! You are definitely one of my favorite authors
June 8, 2021
Very enjoyable
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and very much hoping that there will be a follow-up, although this is a story that stands on it's own merits. A breath of fresh air.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and very much hoping that there will be a follow-up, although this is a story that stands on it's own merits. A breath of fresh air.
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