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Tales of the Outlaw Mages #3
Dreamer
Their dream of freedom will turn into a nightmare unless these outlaws can stack the deck in their favor.
Safely back in his chosen home, Breaker mage Blaise should only have to worry about his bakery and his complicated relationship with Jefferson. But the lies that shaped his life continue to haunt him, and he sets out to reconcile with his mother—only to discover that a band of magical desperadoes has taken her. With old friends at his side, Blaise sets off across the frontier, chasing down leads and unaware that his new foes hope to snare the Breaker, too.
Meanwhile, Jefferson balances guiding his fledgling homeland to nationhood while concealing magic he’s not supposed to possess. The demands of his ambassadorship send him to a faraway country where he’s embroiled in a web of intrigue between a shadowy cabal planning to use him and malicious politicians who want to see him—and the new nation—fall.
As Blaise closes in and Jefferson navigates the dangerous political waters, they realize their circumstances are once again linked. Will their combined magic be the ace in the hole that wins it all, or will they fold in the final showdown?
The outlaw mages' ongoing saga is perfect for readers who love offbeat epic fantasy in a western setting, reluctant heroes, magic cowboys, and found family with a dash of pegasus, magic, and LGBTQ+ representation.
Safely back in his chosen home, Breaker mage Blaise should only have to worry about his bakery and his complicated relationship with Jefferson. But the lies that shaped his life continue to haunt him, and he sets out to reconcile with his mother—only to discover that a band of magical desperadoes has taken her. With old friends at his side, Blaise sets off across the frontier, chasing down leads and unaware that his new foes hope to snare the Breaker, too.
Meanwhile, Jefferson balances guiding his fledgling homeland to nationhood while concealing magic he’s not supposed to possess. The demands of his ambassadorship send him to a faraway country where he’s embroiled in a web of intrigue between a shadowy cabal planning to use him and malicious politicians who want to see him—and the new nation—fall.
As Blaise closes in and Jefferson navigates the dangerous political waters, they realize their circumstances are once again linked. Will their combined magic be the ace in the hole that wins it all, or will they fold in the final showdown?
The outlaw mages' ongoing saga is perfect for readers who love offbeat epic fantasy in a western setting, reluctant heroes, magic cowboys, and found family with a dash of pegasus, magic, and LGBTQ+ representation.
486 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2022
20 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Amy Campbell
19 books131 followersAmy Campbell is an independent author and librarian. She grew up in Houston, which she still calls home. Amy writes epic fantasy novels about men and women who are unapologetically true to themselves (and throws in the occasional pegasus or chupacabra to keep it interesting). When not working at the library or writing, Amy is chasing after her two busy young boys.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
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July 10, 2025Blaise from Breaker is asexual!
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August 13, 2022
Dreamer starts off a lot slower than Breaker and Effigest do, something that worked well for the story, but not something I personally enjoy. Only because my brain gets distracted and it takes me longer to read the book.
But once you get to the action in Dreamer, it is more than worth it. 200 pages in 2 days just like that! The characters grow even more, and the story is enticing! It leaves me wanting book 4 already. And despite being three books in already, we're still left with mystery as to what the end goal for this series will be and I can't wait to see the direction it goes in. The series is absolutely, 100% worth picking up.
Thank you Amy Campbell for writing another amazing book! And congrats on the Kickstarter being funded (can't wait to receive the goodies)! I'm looking forward to Persuader!!!
But once you get to the action in Dreamer, it is more than worth it. 200 pages in 2 days just like that! The characters grow even more, and the story is enticing! It leaves me wanting book 4 already. And despite being three books in already, we're still left with mystery as to what the end goal for this series will be and I can't wait to see the direction it goes in. The series is absolutely, 100% worth picking up.
Thank you Amy Campbell for writing another amazing book! And congrats on the Kickstarter being funded (can't wait to receive the goodies)! I'm looking forward to Persuader!!!
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May 27, 2022I received a free ARC of Dreamer. This has not affected my review or rating.
There’s a lot that happens in Dreamer, but really the book feels like a story about people and their lives, even their ordinary lives. Of course, before it’s over plot definitely picks up and they have all sorts of crazy adventures, but something I really enjoyed about Dreamer is how much the characters are shown as people who have their day-to-day lives and their relationships. Blaise owns a bakery, and he has to get up early to run his bakery, and there’s his relationship with Jefferson. We get to see them small-chat, have a conversation about how Present Jefferson doesn’t like Past Jefferson for asking Blaise they get up in the morning, but Future Jefferson will be happy about having delicious cinnamon rolls to eat. There’s nothing in particular going on (well, actually there is, since Jefferson is planning to leave for the delegation to Ganland to argue for recognizing the Gutter as a nation), but we get to see Jefferson and Blaise chatting, the differences between the out-going physically affectionate entrepreneur/politician and the reserved baker, the style war that’s become something of a game between them, as Jefferson is very style conscious and Blaise is anything but, and what might be one of the best signs of healing in Blaise, as he actually flaunts his carelessness of style in a sort of style wars with his lover. It’s really relateable and makes Blaise and Jefferson really relateable, seeing them live life.
I also felt like we got more of the pegasi in this book than any of the previous ones, which I really liked. Emrys is everywhere, as he should be, comforting Blaise, playing with and teasing Blaise, taking part in Blaise and Jefferson’s game, asking oh so sweetly and innocent for more delicious treats. Emrys is really cute and courageous and affectionate, and he has brains. (Sometimes, I think he’s the smart one. I have a feeling he would response to that comment by asking if that means he can have pie of every flavor please? He doesn’t seem to care about vanity or pride; only being Blaise’s loyal, constant friend and his sugar goodies.)
Blaise is, as ever, Blaise: compassionate, caring, seeking to understand, at once scarred and frightened and possessed of new confidence. He is so courageous, and it is so sweet to see him, from his banter with Jefferson, to his friendship with Emrys and the stallion’s loyalty, to his friendship with Emmaline and his comradeship to Jack, whether he’s baking for ghosts in a haunted house or impulsively saving Knossans from grasscats.
Jack has Kittie again, and he shows a bit of the kindness he (usually) tries to keep hidden beneath his ornery exterior. Personally, I don’t think it would hurt if Jack could just be a little kinder in general, but he really tries to be nice to Blaise when Blaise needs it, and he tries to patch things up with his daughter, Emmaline. I think he does start to act a little kinder, which will really help with his relationships, and he shows the caring side he has. Poor Jac
k is so afraid of being seen as soft and taken advantage of, and of having himself and the people he cares about hurt on account of that, he sometimes does a very poor job not hurting the people he cares about himself. And he’s been through a lot, himself.
Jefferson has a lot of challenges ahead of himself, too, in a world that is both familiar and unfamiliar. I love the courage he finds at the end, with Blaise, to choose his own path, unrestrained by the darkness and what others try to impose and manipulate.
This review appeared first and in full on Enthralled By Love (Paths of Fantasy)
There’s a lot that happens in Dreamer, but really the book feels like a story about people and their lives, even their ordinary lives. Of course, before it’s over plot definitely picks up and they have all sorts of crazy adventures, but something I really enjoyed about Dreamer is how much the characters are shown as people who have their day-to-day lives and their relationships. Blaise owns a bakery, and he has to get up early to run his bakery, and there’s his relationship with Jefferson. We get to see them small-chat, have a conversation about how Present Jefferson doesn’t like Past Jefferson for asking Blaise they get up in the morning, but Future Jefferson will be happy about having delicious cinnamon rolls to eat. There’s nothing in particular going on (well, actually there is, since Jefferson is planning to leave for the delegation to Ganland to argue for recognizing the Gutter as a nation), but we get to see Jefferson and Blaise chatting, the differences between the out-going physically affectionate entrepreneur/politician and the reserved baker, the style war that’s become something of a game between them, as Jefferson is very style conscious and Blaise is anything but, and what might be one of the best signs of healing in Blaise, as he actually flaunts his carelessness of style in a sort of style wars with his lover. It’s really relateable and makes Blaise and Jefferson really relateable, seeing them live life.
I also felt like we got more of the pegasi in this book than any of the previous ones, which I really liked. Emrys is everywhere, as he should be, comforting Blaise, playing with and teasing Blaise, taking part in Blaise and Jefferson’s game, asking oh so sweetly and innocent for more delicious treats. Emrys is really cute and courageous and affectionate, and he has brains. (Sometimes, I think he’s the smart one. I have a feeling he would response to that comment by asking if that means he can have pie of every flavor please? He doesn’t seem to care about vanity or pride; only being Blaise’s loyal, constant friend and his sugar goodies.)
Blaise is, as ever, Blaise: compassionate, caring, seeking to understand, at once scarred and frightened and possessed of new confidence. He is so courageous, and it is so sweet to see him, from his banter with Jefferson, to his friendship with Emrys and the stallion’s loyalty, to his friendship with Emmaline and his comradeship to Jack, whether he’s baking for ghosts in a haunted house or impulsively saving Knossans from grasscats.
Jack has Kittie again, and he shows a bit of the kindness he (usually) tries to keep hidden beneath his ornery exterior. Personally, I don’t think it would hurt if Jack could just be a little kinder in general, but he really tries to be nice to Blaise when Blaise needs it, and he tries to patch things up with his daughter, Emmaline. I think he does start to act a little kinder, which will really help with his relationships, and he shows the caring side he has. Poor Jac
k is so afraid of being seen as soft and taken advantage of, and of having himself and the people he cares about hurt on account of that, he sometimes does a very poor job not hurting the people he cares about himself. And he’s been through a lot, himself.
Jefferson has a lot of challenges ahead of himself, too, in a world that is both familiar and unfamiliar. I love the courage he finds at the end, with Blaise, to choose his own path, unrestrained by the darkness and what others try to impose and manipulate.
This review appeared first and in full on Enthralled By Love (Paths of Fantasy)
June 15, 2022
Loved this!
Dreamer is the third book in a series and must be read in order. This series has been a wild adventure and I’ve loved every moment of it. There is a lot to cover in this book and Amy does a fantastic job with the pacing, storytelling, and wrapping everything up. There is a lot riding on the final book of a series and this one won’t let you down! The story continues to be super interesting and gripping and the ending is so satisfying.
I love the way that Amy writes all of the characters, especially the women, but my favorites of the series are hands down Blaise and Jefferson. Their relationship is very sweet and I love how much Jefferson adores and dotes on Blaise, and how much patience they have for each other. Blaise’s trust is hard to come by and Jefferson has worked hard to earn and keep it. In this book we see a lot of character development with Blaise as he finally embraces his abilities and stands up for himself and those he loves. And we get a lot of time with Jefferson, who deals with quite a few things while navigating his new magical abilities. (Speaking of which, they’re cool as heck!) Amy does a great job keeping these guys true to their characters.
And while Blaise and Jefferson are the biggest focus of this book in particular, we continue to get multiple points-of-view, including Jack’s. I’m not always a fan of multiple pov, even in fantasy where it’s common, but I loved getting the different perspectives and all of the characters are awesome.
Speaking of Jack, he’s his usual surly self, but he softens up a little over the course of the story, especially as he interacts with Kitty. I really loved seeing his relationship with Emmaline. They have to work through some bumps, but their love for each other is clear and I really appreciated how their relationship is handled. It’s also funny because they’re both so similar and Emmaline knows just what to do and say to drive Jack crazy.
Each of the books in this series have been fantastic in their own right. No filler or excessive set up. The pacing, character development, storytelling and more is just right. I’ve never read anything like this before and I’m excited to have Amy writing in this fantasy space where more diverse and queer-positive stories are needed.
This series was recommended by a friend and I’m glad I took a chance on it. I’m looking forward to more!
Dreamer is the third book in a series and must be read in order. This series has been a wild adventure and I’ve loved every moment of it. There is a lot to cover in this book and Amy does a fantastic job with the pacing, storytelling, and wrapping everything up. There is a lot riding on the final book of a series and this one won’t let you down! The story continues to be super interesting and gripping and the ending is so satisfying.
I love the way that Amy writes all of the characters, especially the women, but my favorites of the series are hands down Blaise and Jefferson. Their relationship is very sweet and I love how much Jefferson adores and dotes on Blaise, and how much patience they have for each other. Blaise’s trust is hard to come by and Jefferson has worked hard to earn and keep it. In this book we see a lot of character development with Blaise as he finally embraces his abilities and stands up for himself and those he loves. And we get a lot of time with Jefferson, who deals with quite a few things while navigating his new magical abilities. (Speaking of which, they’re cool as heck!) Amy does a great job keeping these guys true to their characters.
And while Blaise and Jefferson are the biggest focus of this book in particular, we continue to get multiple points-of-view, including Jack’s. I’m not always a fan of multiple pov, even in fantasy where it’s common, but I loved getting the different perspectives and all of the characters are awesome.
Speaking of Jack, he’s his usual surly self, but he softens up a little over the course of the story, especially as he interacts with Kitty. I really loved seeing his relationship with Emmaline. They have to work through some bumps, but their love for each other is clear and I really appreciated how their relationship is handled. It’s also funny because they’re both so similar and Emmaline knows just what to do and say to drive Jack crazy.
Each of the books in this series have been fantastic in their own right. No filler or excessive set up. The pacing, character development, storytelling and more is just right. I’ve never read anything like this before and I’m excited to have Amy writing in this fantasy space where more diverse and queer-positive stories are needed.
This series was recommended by a friend and I’m glad I took a chance on it. I’m looking forward to more!
July 15, 2022
Another thrilling and fantastically written chronicle in the Tales of The Outlaw Mages series. There is so much to love about Dreamer, I'm almost not sure where to begin!
Character growth and identity is a major driving force throughout Dreamer, especially with the titular Dreamer mage, Jefferson Cole. His inner struggle between who he should be and who he wants to be is sometimes tormenting to read, but the ultimate revelation of who he truly is makes it all worth it.
Blaise too gets his share of development in this book. I feel like every book brings more of him to the front, strengths to him that had been somewhat obscured before. Even through all his trials and tribulations, Blaise still continues to be his lovely, kind self!
We get more lore and magic-system exploration too, especially with the addition of The Quiet Ones, a secretive, sinister group of elites whose true intentions remain unknown.
As always, The Pegasi are a joy to read, their cheekiness and sass add just that little bit of je nais se quois to the story.
Overall, a fantastic addition to the Tales of The Outlaw Mages series! As always with Amy's books, I really can't recommend this enough, and look forwards to the arrival of Book Four!
Character growth and identity is a major driving force throughout Dreamer, especially with the titular Dreamer mage, Jefferson Cole. His inner struggle between who he should be and who he wants to be is sometimes tormenting to read, but the ultimate revelation of who he truly is makes it all worth it.
Blaise too gets his share of development in this book. I feel like every book brings more of him to the front, strengths to him that had been somewhat obscured before. Even through all his trials and tribulations, Blaise still continues to be his lovely, kind self!
We get more lore and magic-system exploration too, especially with the addition of The Quiet Ones, a secretive, sinister group of elites whose true intentions remain unknown.
As always, The Pegasi are a joy to read, their cheekiness and sass add just that little bit of je nais se quois to the story.
Overall, a fantastic addition to the Tales of The Outlaw Mages series! As always with Amy's books, I really can't recommend this enough, and look forwards to the arrival of Book Four!
June 12, 2022
I haven't read the previous books and that is probably why my rating is average. The story starts and I am wondering is this an adventure book or does the main character come home to his male lover and has to decide what feelings he has for this other person, Jefferson. Then we jump into the situation where Breaker learns of his family's demise with the unwritten supposition that Breaker will travel in the company of a young woman attached to Jefferson in order to reach his destination. Then we learn that there is a secret project going on with Jefferson. That is a lot to take in at the reader before the middle of the book is reached.
The story appears to be well conceived and well written. However, it is my opinion that this book should not be read as a standalone but the books should be read in sequence.
The story appears to be well conceived and well written. However, it is my opinion that this book should not be read as a standalone but the books should be read in sequence.
June 14, 2022
Sometimes you’re left with more questions than answers, but Blaise and Jefferson did a fantastic job discovering the truth in this thrilling continuation of the Tales of the Outlaw Mages series. From the cruelty of the Salt-iron confederation to the heartfelt nature of one’s true identity and each other’s relationships, this book covered so many questions, all while throwing our favorite characters back into more questions yet to be answered. Excellent read!
June 29, 2022
This is the 3rd book in The Tales of the Outlaw Mages series, so be sure you read the other 2 first! If you like characters that you can root for, give these a read. Blaise and Jefferson have developed such a great relationship. And we get to read more about Jack and his family, though this focuses more on time with his daughter. There’s heartbreak, adventure, intrigue, and a wild world of magic in this book.
April 22, 2023
I like the character development in the story arc
January 14, 2025
Fantasy with Western Flair
Lovable, quirky characters. Outlaw mages in a setting reminiscent of the old West. Fast-paced action kept me reading. Loving this series.
Lovable, quirky characters. Outlaw mages in a setting reminiscent of the old West. Fast-paced action kept me reading. Loving this series.
April 24, 2025
This is a continuation of Amy Campbell's very engaging fantasy series. I have loved all of them so far and am looking forward to continuing the series!
July 28, 2025
This is so entertaining and good.
The world-building, the violence, the found family, the ... everything!
Quality.
Pure Quality.
I will for sure continue this series.
The world-building, the violence, the found family, the ... everything!
Quality.
Pure Quality.
I will for sure continue this series.
June 21, 2022
Dreamer, book 3 in Amy Campbell’s Tales of the Outlaw Mages series, was an action-packed story full of personal growth for Blaise, Jefferson, Jack, Emmaline, and Kittie. They all have their personal issues and this book is where we finally see them all start to overcome them. I loved seeing Blaise and Jefferson’s relationship growth. The events of this book put their loyalty to the test and they come through stronger than ever. I just love their relationship - they are so tender and patient with each other. I just love Jefferson and we get a lot of him in this book! Jack and Kittie spend most of this book apart; Jack’s relationship with his daughter is the focus and I love to see them work together towards a common goal. Emmaline is gaining confidence in her abilities and Jack is learning to listen to her and trust her to know what she’s doing. Kittie still has some things to work through but I’m hoping we see her and Jack’s relationship developing more in the next book. I also loved seeing Jack soften towards Blaise and admit that they are actually friends. I’ve really loved this creative fantasy series! The worldbuilding is just fantastic! I can’t wait for the next book!
Merged review:
Dreamer, book 3 in Amy Campbell’s Tales of the Outlaw Mages series, was an action-packed story full of personal growth for Blaise, Jefferson, Jack, Emmaline, and Kittie. They all have their personal issues and this book is where we finally see them all start to overcome them. I loved seeing Blaise and Jefferson’s relationship growth. The events of this book put their loyalty to the test and they come through stronger than ever. I just love their relationship - they are so tender and patient with each other. I just love Jefferson and we get a lot of him in this book! Jack and Kittie spend most of this book apart; Jack’s relationship with his daughter is the focus and I love to see them work together towards a common goal. Emmaline is gaining confidence in her abilities and Jack is learning to listen to her and trust her to know what she’s doing. Kittie still has some things to work through but I’m hoping we see her and Jack’s relationship developing more in the next book. I also loved seeing Jack soften towards Blaise and admit that they are actually friends. I’ve really loved this creative fantasy series! The worldbuilding is just fantastic! I can’t wait for the next book!
Merged review:
Dreamer, book 3 in Amy Campbell’s Tales of the Outlaw Mages series, was an action-packed story full of personal growth for Blaise, Jefferson, Jack, Emmaline, and Kittie. They all have their personal issues and this book is where we finally see them all start to overcome them. I loved seeing Blaise and Jefferson’s relationship growth. The events of this book put their loyalty to the test and they come through stronger than ever. I just love their relationship - they are so tender and patient with each other. I just love Jefferson and we get a lot of him in this book! Jack and Kittie spend most of this book apart; Jack’s relationship with his daughter is the focus and I love to see them work together towards a common goal. Emmaline is gaining confidence in her abilities and Jack is learning to listen to her and trust her to know what she’s doing. Kittie still has some things to work through but I’m hoping we see her and Jack’s relationship developing more in the next book. I also loved seeing Jack soften towards Blaise and admit that they are actually friends. I’ve really loved this creative fantasy series! The worldbuilding is just fantastic! I can’t wait for the next book!
October 21, 2022
Dreamer is an excellent conclusion to the Tales of the Outlaw Mages trilogy. The gang continues to get involved with kidnapping, rescues, escapes, slavery, and shadowy cabals. In this volume the main characters are separated and embark on two different adventures that come together at the end. This may be one of my favorite fantasy worlds - a Wild West setting with a variety of creative magic, magical creatures and races. Mages are hunted and enslaved, but the outlaw mages are trying to change that.
I liked how normalized the gay relationship was. It was never commented on - clearly in this world anyone could choose anyone else as a romantic partner. And I loved the focus on being able to create your own identity- be truly who you are.
This was a great ending, but I really hope there will be more books set in this fascinating world.
I liked how normalized the gay relationship was. It was never commented on - clearly in this world anyone could choose anyone else as a romantic partner. And I loved the focus on being able to create your own identity- be truly who you are.
This was a great ending, but I really hope there will be more books set in this fascinating world.
February 5, 2023
Whilst the title suggests this book would feature Jefferson primarily, the author gives two plotlines that eventually merge in the last quarter. Jefferson, Kittie and two other secondary characters go in one direction to establish trading and sovereignty recognition (for the Badlands) with a neighboring country whilst Blaise, Jack and Emmaline launches into a rescue mission for a kidnapped family-member by magic-backed slave-traders. As with previous books - at last one antagonist gets taken down eventually.
I'm still appreciating the unusual SFF-western world the author provides, especially the breadth/types of magic-wielding and the exotic fantastical creatures/beings that populate the realm alongside humans. It's also nice that SSA pairings are 'no big do' as well - so 3.5 stars overall.
I'm still appreciating the unusual SFF-western world the author provides, especially the breadth/types of magic-wielding and the exotic fantastical creatures/beings that populate the realm alongside humans. It's also nice that SSA pairings are 'no big do' as well - so 3.5 stars overall.
February 27, 2026
These characters go through a lot but that's how things are sometimes. Life throws things at you and sometimes there's down time between and sometimes there isn't. Something I've noticed and appreciate about these characters is that at times one or two can handle a situation and at times it takes as many of the gang as possible. You never know what's going to happen but you do know that they have each other's backs. I also enjoy meeting side characters and learning about the various creatures in this world. On that note I'm very excited to see more of a new addition we meet briefly in this book and see where that goes. Bring on more Outlaw Mages.
April 18, 2023
Couldn't put it down
The wild west, riding pegasi, gun fights, and magic, this book series has it all. Throw in a few twists and turns, and you're hooked.
The wild west, riding pegasi, gun fights, and magic, this book series has it all. Throw in a few twists and turns, and you're hooked.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews