Dreamfire

December 8, 2014
At 17, Joshlyn Weaver is already an adept dream walker—part of a secret group of people who enter and resolve nightmares to keep the “Dream” universe and waking “World” in balance—when she apprehensively takes on an apprentice, Will. But as dreamers start falling ill and dying after encountering two men in trench coats, Josh and her friends must make sense of the anomaly to keep the world of night terrors from collapsing into reality. Steeped in magical realism, Alloway’s debut wastes no time exposing clues to help unravel the carefully crafted plot, starting with the opening scene in which Josh encounters a dream figment who claims to know her dead mother. The book’s many dream sequences are palpable, from the richly rendered details to the potent fear gripping the people Josh is trying to help. Although the cast is large, each character plays an important role in untangling the mystery, a suspenseful riddle full of political intrigue, while Josh explores a hesitant but undeniable romance that surfaces while she’s trying to reconcile the dream-related accident that killed her boyfriend. Ages 13–up. Agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency.

December 15, 2014
Joshlyn is expert at entering and resolving others' nightmares, but there's a new and forceful evil plaguing the Dream world that even she can't beat.Dream walkers can die within others' nightmares, but without their intervention, the balance between the Dream and the World will be disrupted with disastrous consequences. Josh comes from a long line of dream walkers, but she carries with her the responsibility of her boyfriend's death. So when she's assigned an apprentice, Will, on her 17th birthday, she balks at the responsibility and intimacy. Will proves to be a worthy partner, however, when a pair of evil, trench-coated men with completely black eyes and carrying gas masks invades the Dream universe, rendering dreamers comatose in both realms. As the plot deepens, Will and Josh barely have time to pay attention to their growing fondness for each other. It becomes increasingly clear that Josh's role in the battle is her ultimate destiny as these black-eyed creatures cross the veil into the waking World. Alloway explores the complexities of dream-walking politics in detail, with the result that worldbuilding feels laborious rather than organic. Between this and a plethora of characters, the plot drags, but the nightmare vignettes are rivetingly chilling. A dark and exciting paranormal adventure that will keep patient genre fans up late. (Paranormal romance. 13-18)

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January 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-In this intriguing fantasy, unlikely heroine Josh Weaver is a child prodigy among the society of dreamwalkers of which she and many in her family and close friends belong. They have special talents and training that allows them to enter dreams to help stop nightmares, which if not checked, may have an emotional toll on the world. As she celebrates her 17th birthday, she is assigned an apprentice to train. Josh accepts the charge unwillingly since she made a mistake in the past that caused her to lose a loved one, and she's unsure if she can keep Will alive. The newcomer knows nothing and she must teach him how to resolve a nightmare, convince the dreamer to awaken, or to terminate the mission, all without being hurt or even killed. In their travels, the two enter into a nightmare where somehow the rules have changed and danger abounds. Will they discover what is happening, and combat the threat that is affecting many in their society or will evil prevail in this fast-paced fantasy? Alloway's writing is rich and vivid, and the dynamics within the close-knit cast of characters make the danger even more delicious as readers watch for the outcome. This title and the sure-to-be written sequels will be welcome additions to the fantasy section.-Jane Hebert, Glenside Public Library District, Glendale Heights, IL

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Teen prodigy Joshlyn Weaver must teach her apprentice, Will Kansas, about dream walking--entering the Dream universe to combat people's nightmares. Josh and Will must determine whom to trust as they protect their society from the dangers of the Dream before it falls apart. Alloway's debut novel presents a compelling world within a world, including warring governmental systems and complex characters.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)