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Sanded Soul
A harsh punishment is cast upon Morpheus, the god of dreams, by the Night Council. He caused an imbalance in the world and must now roam the earth endlessly as the Sandman. Placing his sanded palm over the eyes of those who sleep, he brings dreams to all who have lost hope during WWII. Klara, an unexpected visitor from Germany, is somehow able to enter his dreamworld, breaking the lonely chains that bind him. They must find a way to battle the evil that taints the existence of humanity. Drawn into an adventure of fairy tales and nightmares come true, two very different hearts must work together to face unimaginable horrors.
220 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 1, 2026
The author had a great premise for this book, but it wasn't very well executed and the book needs more detail. It also feels like a first draft, rather than a book ready for release. I had a hard time reading this book and found myself falling asleep more often than not.
April 2, 2026
This book started with a good premise. Morpheus being punished for something major? Yes please. But sadly, it wasn't as great as it seemed. The book goes downhill from the prologue with many grammar issues, confusing bits where you aren't sure who is doing what, and dialogue that feels robotic at best. The characters aren't very likeable and none of them actually receive much character development (aside from Alpha but that is still a minimum). Overall this is a short book that should have been an easy read, but it was more of a slog. I'm sure someone out there will enjoy it, but I am not among them.
February 5, 2023
So engaging! I loved this book! It had so many fun surprises and twists that really pulled me in and made me think anything could happen. I especially liked the ending and how everything connects! This is a must read!
July 2, 2023
"Sanded Soul" by Tori Diederich Lundell
Review:
"Sanded Soul" is a beautifully written and emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of the human spirit. Tori Diederich Lundell masterfully crafts a narrative that is both poignant and thought-provoking, capturing the reader's attention from the very first page.
The author's ability to capture the subtleties of human emotion is commendable, as the story seamlessly oscillates between moments of heartache, hope, and eventual triumph.
The pacing of the book is well-balanced, allowing the story to unfold gradually while maintaining a sense of anticipation. Lundell skillfully weaves together various narrative threads, revealing the layers of the protagonist's past and present in a way that keeps the reader engaged. Each chapter unravels a new aspect of her journey, gradually building towards a satisfying and emotionally resonant conclusion.
Morpheus, the deity associated with dreams, faces a severe punishment from the Night Council due to his disruption of the world's equilibrium. As a consequence, he is condemned to wander ceaselessly as the Sandman, imparting dreams to those who have lost hope amidst the backdrop of World War II. Unexpectedly, Klara, a visitor hailing from Germany, possesses the ability to enter Morpheus' dream realm, breaking the solitary chains that confine him. Now, they must join forces in order to confront the malevolent forces that corrupt humanity's existence. Embarking on a journey fraught with enchanting tales and horrifying nightmares brought to life, these two contrasting souls must collaborate to confront unfathomable terrors.
"Sanded Soul" is a captivating and emotionally charged novel that leaves a lasting impact on its readers. Tori Diederich Lundell's poignant storytelling, well-developed characters, and exploration of universal themes make this book a compelling read. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that healing and redemption are possible even in the face of adversity. I highly recommend "Sanded Soul" to anyone seeking a powerful and moving literary experience.
Review:
"Sanded Soul" is a beautifully written and emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of the human spirit. Tori Diederich Lundell masterfully crafts a narrative that is both poignant and thought-provoking, capturing the reader's attention from the very first page.
The author's ability to capture the subtleties of human emotion is commendable, as the story seamlessly oscillates between moments of heartache, hope, and eventual triumph.
The pacing of the book is well-balanced, allowing the story to unfold gradually while maintaining a sense of anticipation. Lundell skillfully weaves together various narrative threads, revealing the layers of the protagonist's past and present in a way that keeps the reader engaged. Each chapter unravels a new aspect of her journey, gradually building towards a satisfying and emotionally resonant conclusion.
Morpheus, the deity associated with dreams, faces a severe punishment from the Night Council due to his disruption of the world's equilibrium. As a consequence, he is condemned to wander ceaselessly as the Sandman, imparting dreams to those who have lost hope amidst the backdrop of World War II. Unexpectedly, Klara, a visitor hailing from Germany, possesses the ability to enter Morpheus' dream realm, breaking the solitary chains that confine him. Now, they must join forces in order to confront the malevolent forces that corrupt humanity's existence. Embarking on a journey fraught with enchanting tales and horrifying nightmares brought to life, these two contrasting souls must collaborate to confront unfathomable terrors.
"Sanded Soul" is a captivating and emotionally charged novel that leaves a lasting impact on its readers. Tori Diederich Lundell's poignant storytelling, well-developed characters, and exploration of universal themes make this book a compelling read. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that healing and redemption are possible even in the face of adversity. I highly recommend "Sanded Soul" to anyone seeking a powerful and moving literary experience.
December 22, 2023
This is such a fun telling of the sandman! So many twists and turns and fun. I love fairytale retelling and this one does not disappoint!
August 25, 2023
Loved it!!!
March 27, 2024
First thing about this book is the synopsis of this book is what made me want to read it. A Sandman who is punished and meets a girl who can enter dreams with other gods all trying to fight against the nightmares that are rising from being set in WWII times? I'm IN! Fantasy with a little bit of romance in historic times. unfortunately for me this story just fell short.
First starting with what I thought was good. The Plot. I genuinely loved the world and the plot. There was a lot of moving parts that I felt did actually come together well. I mean you got dreams, nightmares, god/goddesses, witches, immortals, demons and other magic all coming together. It could have been a lot, but I feel this author was able to bring in all these magical elements together and make it work very well. I loved this world and some of the places that where described were so vivid and made me wish I could go there. The over all story was interesting enough to keep me wanting to read on and find out how it ended and I really enjoyed.
Now on to my critiques. This is one book that I think would have really benefited from being a longer. Some of the scenes moved so fast and it became confusing on what was happening and felt like whiplash moving from a fight to them all laughing and having a good time. The pacing just seemed off through the whole book. Like the final battel seemed so short and a lot of the characters seemed like they were standing there waiting for the other to finish their lines before they would react.
There was a lot of telling not showing and I wish some of the scene lasted a little longer and went in to more detail to help show you information instead of telling you. There were times where a character would say what was happing to them or around them instead of it being shown to us.
The dialogue was another weak point for this book. some of the way the characters talked was almost robotic. (I think this comes back to the telling not showing.) Also the main character Klara talked like she was a young German girl from WWII while other characters who where immortal talked like they were from 2024. it was a weird contrast.
I also feel the ending was a little rushed. we got the final battle, the resolution, then moved on to the ending. All of these parts also ha the characters stand around telling everyone their plans and how they did them and recapped what happened.
Overall I still think this book is worth a read. its only 209 pages so you can get though it pretty quick. I really loved the plot of this book and think it was a great idea. i just wish this was longer to really dive into it more and get more from it. This almost feels like a rough draft. I think if the book was a little longer it would help with the pacing and the author would be able to do more showing and not telling. I know this is the debut book for her and for her first full book it is good. I definitely will want to see what other books she writes because she has wonderful ideas with amazing worlds and I cant wait to see what else she releases.
First starting with what I thought was good. The Plot. I genuinely loved the world and the plot. There was a lot of moving parts that I felt did actually come together well. I mean you got dreams, nightmares, god/goddesses, witches, immortals, demons and other magic all coming together. It could have been a lot, but I feel this author was able to bring in all these magical elements together and make it work very well. I loved this world and some of the places that where described were so vivid and made me wish I could go there. The over all story was interesting enough to keep me wanting to read on and find out how it ended and I really enjoyed.
Now on to my critiques. This is one book that I think would have really benefited from being a longer. Some of the scenes moved so fast and it became confusing on what was happening and felt like whiplash moving from a fight to them all laughing and having a good time. The pacing just seemed off through the whole book. Like the final battel seemed so short and a lot of the characters seemed like they were standing there waiting for the other to finish their lines before they would react.
There was a lot of telling not showing and I wish some of the scene lasted a little longer and went in to more detail to help show you information instead of telling you. There were times where a character would say what was happing to them or around them instead of it being shown to us.
The dialogue was another weak point for this book. some of the way the characters talked was almost robotic. (I think this comes back to the telling not showing.) Also the main character Klara talked like she was a young German girl from WWII while other characters who where immortal talked like they were from 2024. it was a weird contrast.
I also feel the ending was a little rushed. we got the final battle, the resolution, then moved on to the ending. All of these parts also ha the characters stand around telling everyone their plans and how they did them and recapped what happened.
Overall I still think this book is worth a read. its only 209 pages so you can get though it pretty quick. I really loved the plot of this book and think it was a great idea. i just wish this was longer to really dive into it more and get more from it. This almost feels like a rough draft. I think if the book was a little longer it would help with the pacing and the author would be able to do more showing and not telling. I know this is the debut book for her and for her first full book it is good. I definitely will want to see what other books she writes because she has wonderful ideas with amazing worlds and I cant wait to see what else she releases.
December 14, 2024
This book was a lot deeper than I had anticipated. There are so many life lessons packed into it but done in such a way that it just… works. The theme of forgiveness and redemption courses through the pages of this book and they are woven into it in clever ways. Sanded Soul made me reflect on my own life and made me want to see others in a more merciful light. I will say it did take me a while to get into since historical fantasy is not a genre I normally read, but once it leaned into the more fantastical elements, I couldn’t put it down! The character development was good, especially Morpheus’. I liked that the characters and their backstories were super fleshed out. Each side character, apart from Klara’s sisters, had their own motivations that pushed the plot forward and made sense when it all came together. Rolf was my favorite character by far with his snarky attitude and how he keeps you on your toes by constantly switching sides. I loved that he kept me guessing! The lore in this world was super interesting, especially the dream power and the lore with the holy grail! I will say that there were a couple things that did pull me out of the story at times such as how quickly Klara and Morpheus connected and fell for each other, a few times where the story felt rushed because of info dumping as well as a few strangely worded sentences, but overall the story was very engaging and highly satisfying. If you want a feel good read that leaves you feeling warm, fuzzy as well as enlightened at the end, you should definitely read this book- I’m so glad I did!
September 8, 2025
3.5 rounded up
Sanded Soul is a unique debut novel with an original story that takes mythological characters and objects and brings them to a historical WWII setting. It's almost magical realism. The story started with the book blurb's description but became so much more. The characters felt morally Grey, very human in choosing right and wrong, wanting second chances, etc.
I struggled with a sense of place being in the real world, a dream world, real and not real. I also found a surprising number of typos for being more traditionally published.
Sanded Soul is a unique debut novel with an original story that takes mythological characters and objects and brings them to a historical WWII setting. It's almost magical realism. The story started with the book blurb's description but became so much more. The characters felt morally Grey, very human in choosing right and wrong, wanting second chances, etc.
I struggled with a sense of place being in the real world, a dream world, real and not real. I also found a surprising number of typos for being more traditionally published.
June 19, 2026
The author asked me for feedback when I was done reading so I created an account just to hop on here and tell her how much I loved the book. The book was a quick read which is just what I was looking for with my busy schedule. The author's book pitch was what got me hooked and each chapter of the book kept me enthralled in the story. I wish that there were a second book and hope that she continues to write about the God of Dreams so that I can follow along. Great work! I loved every bit of it!
June 19, 2026
It was a thoughtful and inspiring book that explores personal growth, resilience, and self discovery. The author's writing is engaging and reflective, encouraging readers to consider their own life experiences and challenges. It left a lasting impression and offers valuable insights about perseverance and inner strength.
May 26, 2025
I enjoyed this story as a whole. I appreciated the setting and the characters and importantly the plot. The story flows very well and the ending is very satisfying.
My only issue with this story was the grammar.
Overall a great story! One I have and will continue to recommend!
My only issue with this story was the grammar.
Overall a great story! One I have and will continue to recommend!
March 30, 2026
Needs to be edited for spelling, word choice, and consistency errors.
June 5, 2026
3.25 ⭐️’s
The story of Klara and her chance encounter with the infamous God of Dreams himself Morpheus.
Cute, charming, exciting, a blast of a fantasy adventure set in our own historic world during World War II.
I got the pleasure of purchasing this novella in person, met the author (who was a delight to meet,) got a signed copy at a local Story-Con 2026 convention.
Positives: I loved the fast pacing of this book right from the start to finish, the flow, the chapters structure, well done. Hooks in the beginning really set things up and kept me gripped the entire time.
The characters though they aren’t super in-depth in my opinion, were likable, fun, and enjoyable to follow.
And once the plot further found its footing after the building in the beginning, it was breakneck pace for the rest of the story from there, action packed, and a lot explosively happening, the family bonds were tight, even the romantic subplot I found delightful.
A lot of real good lines and moments throughout it.
The brief mentions of the world war and setting in Germany, (though I would have loved to have seen even more of them) was a nice addition to the setting I thought.
Critiques: I feel in my humble opinion. This novella could have definitely benefited with a little more time in the editing phase, perhaps a few extra revisions as well. The overall proses, the way the narrative writing was delivered to us, was too straightforward in a bland wordy, sort-of way.
I also discovered a couple of typos in my copy. The way exposition was packaged in the second half of the story was a little overwhelming at times, and could have been cleaned up and polished ever so slightly, so the authors voice and vision could have shined through more.
But in the end it did not tarnish the overall proof of concept this book nailed.
I had a fabulous time making my way through it and finishing in the conclusion! 😁
The story of Klara and her chance encounter with the infamous God of Dreams himself Morpheus.
Cute, charming, exciting, a blast of a fantasy adventure set in our own historic world during World War II.
I got the pleasure of purchasing this novella in person, met the author (who was a delight to meet,) got a signed copy at a local Story-Con 2026 convention.
Positives: I loved the fast pacing of this book right from the start to finish, the flow, the chapters structure, well done. Hooks in the beginning really set things up and kept me gripped the entire time.
The characters though they aren’t super in-depth in my opinion, were likable, fun, and enjoyable to follow.
And once the plot further found its footing after the building in the beginning, it was breakneck pace for the rest of the story from there, action packed, and a lot explosively happening, the family bonds were tight, even the romantic subplot I found delightful.
A lot of real good lines and moments throughout it.
The brief mentions of the world war and setting in Germany, (though I would have loved to have seen even more of them) was a nice addition to the setting I thought.
Critiques: I feel in my humble opinion. This novella could have definitely benefited with a little more time in the editing phase, perhaps a few extra revisions as well. The overall proses, the way the narrative writing was delivered to us, was too straightforward in a bland wordy, sort-of way.
I also discovered a couple of typos in my copy. The way exposition was packaged in the second half of the story was a little overwhelming at times, and could have been cleaned up and polished ever so slightly, so the authors voice and vision could have shined through more.
But in the end it did not tarnish the overall proof of concept this book nailed.
I had a fabulous time making my way through it and finishing in the conclusion! 😁
September 30, 2025
Sanded Soul is one of those stories that leaves you wanting more. It takes a well known figure of the Sandman and transforms him into a human relatable character that has been cursed and must overcome those hardships.
I love the blend of myth and WWII. It takes a hard time and breathes life into the Sandman, giving him him a purpose that you can grasp and understand. Klara offers Morpheus the hope he had once lost and offers light in the darkest of nightmares.
If you love stories that weave mythology into history and sprinkle it with a slight romance then Sanded Soul is the book for you! It explores what it means to endure, love, and fight for light in the shadows. I love this book!
I love the blend of myth and WWII. It takes a hard time and breathes life into the Sandman, giving him him a purpose that you can grasp and understand. Klara offers Morpheus the hope he had once lost and offers light in the darkest of nightmares.
If you love stories that weave mythology into history and sprinkle it with a slight romance then Sanded Soul is the book for you! It explores what it means to endure, love, and fight for light in the shadows. I love this book!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews