Are you a fan of the Sandman mythology?
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I love the different ways authors take on this particular myth as long as it doesn't drift into toddler fields 😅 Neil Gaiman is a prime example with his legendary Sandman series.
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Having just finished Dream Keeper by @amberrduell, I have found another wonderful spin on the story of the Sandman, packed with creative dreamworld building, interesting uses of dream-powers and themes of mental illness.
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I like this Sandman very much and his relationship with Nora was built upon duty and love. The Weaver is a great villain, and the special connection he has with the Sandman creates an interesting dynamic that is worth it's own tale.
Amber R. Duell's writing style makes it easy to fall right into the story and I love especially the way she wrote Nora, her constant struggle with what's real and a mother who treats her like someone who might break any minute.
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Dream Keeper might at first seem like a magical realism YA romance, but it also deals with mental illness issues, family, and nightmares.
I'd recommend this book for fans of dream/Sandman mythology, Neil Gaiman and also fans of the Guardians of Childhood series. Sandy and Pitch might be familiar 🖤
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Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this ARC.

I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

First off I have to say this book has one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever seen!
I loved that the book was duel POV and I found the sandman’s chapters were my absolute favourites!
I love the plot it kept going with no slow spots and the writing was flawless in my opinion.
The whole concept and the world building was breathtaking I look forward to reading more from this author.
5 stars.

I will start by saying that there aren’t many novels that take on the myth that is the Sandman. I found this take interesting and fresh. The plot was great, the relationship between the Sandman and the Weaver was intriguing, and lastly the relationship between Nora and the Sandman was nicely written. I 100% recommend this book.

“When we were both new to this existence–him, born in the Day World’s shadow, the embodiment of mortal fears. And I, the manifestation of their optimism, their wishes and goodness. Different yet unified, we had laughed together, grown together, and combined our power for the common good more than once.”

I received a free e-copy through NetGalley from the publishers at The Parliament House. Trigger warnings: death, parent death, suicide, torture, body horror, eye horror, self-harm, severe illness, heart attack, violence, blood, threats, mental illness, hospitals.

Every night, seventeen-year-old Nora visits the Sandman in her dreams. He’s her closest friend and best-guarded secret, since talk of the Sandman’s world when she was younger led to a series of doctors and psychiatric exams. But the Sandman has a secret too, and when Nora’s friends begin dying horrible, violent deaths in their sleep, she turns to him for answers. When Nora was younger, the Sandman hid something inside her mind, a dream that has the power to save the dreamworld or unleash its greatest enemy, the Weaver, who is intent on bringing his nightmares into the human world.

If a grown-up Rise of the Guardians met A Nightmare on Elm Street with a dose of teenage romance, you would have Dream Keeper. It’s been a while since I was so captivated by a fantasy world. While Duell’s real world is just like ours, her dream world is a well-constructed mix of whimsical dreams and gruesome nightmares. I wanted to spend more time in it, and I hope the next two novels will do more to explore its dark corners and expand on the rules of its magic. It probably goes without saying at this point that I’m on board for the rest of the series.

I was surprised by how violent the story is right from the beginning. The Weaver isn’t often on-page, but the effects of his nightmares are sudden and almost cinematic in their gore, and the body count rises quickly along with the stakes. I like Nora and the Sandman, but I don’t quite feel like their development comes as far as it could. Nora is a lot like most teenage heroines, and the Sandman like a lot of heroes; she’s brave but doubts herself, his primary character trait is wanting to protect her, and lack of communication is one of their biggest problems as a couple. However, I like that he never pushes decisions on her and lets her make her own choices, even if they pose a risk to her safety.

While the nightmare world itself is fascinating, the Weaver is slightly underdeveloped. (I definitely heard Pitch’s voice when he spoke, but that might be more because I love RotG than because he actually sounds like that.) We don’t really know his motivation for wanting to unleash nightmares on the human world (boredom, maybe?), and the balance between him and the Sandman is hinted at but never fully explained. The end is exciting and leaves off on a gripping plot twist, and I’m looking forward to seeing its consequences play out in the next books. It’s a dark, imaginative, and unusual read, recommended for YA fantasy readers who enjoy those things.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

I have to say Dream Keeper by Amber R. Duell was definitely a pleasant surprised. This story was just so different from anything I have ever read before and I have to say I just loved it. I can't wait to read another book by Amber and recommend this book to everyone who wants to read something refreshing and different.

Dream Keeper is an interesting view of the sandman. The beginning of the book has the reader wanting to read more. It captivates and hold the reader’s interest. I believe this book would be suitable for upper level elementary and anyone else that enjoys the dream realm.