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Book Review of Dakiti by E.J. Fisch

Posted by Dawn Ross on June 3, 2020
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Dakiti (Ziva Payvan, #1)Dakiti by EJ Fisch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dakiti by E.J. Fisch is an action-packed science-fiction space-opera that will keep you on the edge. It has everything a good novel should have: an intense plot, deep characters, vivid setting, and conflict—OMG lots of conflict. Not just character conflict either. It’s a great mix of both character and action conflict.

The two primary characters are Lieutenant Ziva Payvan and Lieutenant Aroska Tarbic of the special police in Haphez. To say these two don’t like one another is a vast understatement, especially for Tarbic. He hates Payvan enough to want to kill her. When he’s forced to work as a part of her team, he seriously considers leaving his prodigious career. Lucky for us, he doesn’t. It’s just one simple mission, after all, right?

But then the mission goes wrong and the two must work together or fail. As the situation gets more complicated and deadly, they find themselves depending on one another to survive.

I’m an action-junkie, but the characters and characterizations were my favorite part about the whole novel. The first time we see Ziva is through Tarbic’s eyes. And because his perspective is skewed, we believe she is someone we shouldn’t like. However, as the story progresses, her character deepens. There is more to her than meets the eye.

Every time I turn a page, there is deeper conflict. Not just between Ziva and Tarbic, either. There, of course, is the antagonist and the people he has working for him. Bothum is not a nice person. He will use anyone in any way to get what he wants. And what he wants has to do with Dakiti. Just what or who is Dakiti? You will have to read to find out.

There is one thing about this novel that I did not care for. Though the action and conflict moved me forward, some of the character choices were unconvincing. For one, Tarbic is part of a special police force, yet he shares information with his girlfriend. Granted, she works for the same police force as him, yet she is not a part of his team. This seems like a big no-no that he should technically get fired for when this is all over.

The second unconvincing action was made by Tarbic, Ziva, and the rest of the team. After being told by the director not to go in for a rescue, they all risk their lives and their careers to do it anyway. I get that supposedly one of their own has taken, but I still don’t buy their motivation. Special ops do not go against the orders of their superiors. And, if by chance they do, they do not get to keep their careers afterward. They go to jail. Period.

These are just two of the irrational actions taken by the characters in this story. However, I could swallow them enough that I was still entertained and engrossed in the story. And I enjoyed the story well enough to buy the sequel.

E.J. Fisch’s writing style makes getting into the story easy. She is wonderful at spinning a tale and keeping the reader engaged. So, if you enjoy deep characters and tons of action, then Dakiti is the perfect read.

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Book Review of Jabin Kainos by Vince Mancuso

Posted by Dawn Ross on April 13, 2020
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Jabin Kainos and the Manifest ChroniclesJabin Kainos and the Manifest Chronicles by Vince Mancuso
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love a superhero origin story? Jabin Kainos by Vince Mancuso is a unique origin story in that the main character, Jabin Kainos, is made into a super-hero on purpose with Jabin’s consent… and it all happens at a school-slash-medical experimentation facility.

Jabin was raised in an orphanage after a modern-day civil war killed his parents. He’s a loner with no plans for his future until he’s approached by his case worker with an unusual brochure. Next thing you know, he’s packing his bags and off on a new adventure.

The adventure begins slowly, but in a captivating way. I was first impressed with the setting of the school facility. Then I got engaged with the diverse set characters as they discover what the school is all about through training and exploration. About halfway in, Jabin and his friends undergo a procedure that is supposed to help them manifest superpowers. At first, there is a question as to what Jabin’s superpower is. In truth, it seems rather lame. But about three-fourths of the way in, I discover there is so much more to what Jabin can do. This last quarter is where the antagonists arrive and all hell breaks loose. And it’s also when the history of what happened to the previous manifests is revealed.

The story ends with some mysteries left unsolved and antagonists defeated yet still at large. But this is okay since the end hints at more to come. I can’t wait for the author to finish the next novel!

There’s very little tension in the first three-fourths of the book, yet the story was compelling enough to keep me engaged. Jabin’s daily life is anything but normal. Even his game of dodge ball is beyond ordinary.

The characters are well-developed as well as unique. While Jabin is a go-with-the-flow kind of guy who seems to react to most things with a shrug, the others are rich enough in their different characteristics to add some spice. Director Slate is my favorite, followed by Killian the dog boy.

There are scenes I didn’t quite follow, but I’m not sure if this was my fault or the writers’. Actions scenes are hard to write. Too much description and the story will lag. Too little and not even the imagination of the reader can fill in the blanks. The scenes in this novel fell somewhere between and I was able to grasp the gist of the events.

There were a few more typos than what I would have seen in a book that had gone through a publisher. But who am I to judge since my novel is also self-published? Honestly, since this new era of self-publishing offers a wider variety of interesting stories (like this one), a few typos here and there is a price I’m willing to pay.

The setting, characters, and character interactions are what make this story worth reading. There are also the many little mysteries that will keep you turning the pages. Jabin Kainos is truly a super novel.

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Book Review of Star Trek: Picard: The Last Best Hope

Posted by Dawn Ross on March 28, 2020
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The Last Best Hope (Star Trek: Picard)The Last Best Hope by Una McCormack
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The novel Star Trek: Picard: The Last Best Hope, by Una McCormack, is a suitable contribution to the Star Trek universe. If you’ve watched Star Trek: Picard on CBS, this novel provides more details on why Picard resigned from Star Fleet. While some aspects of the narrative are found wanting, the story itself is an interesting and comprehensive exploration.

Overview

The story begins with news that the Romulan star is about to go supernova. Picard insists the Federation pull out all the stops to mount a rescue mission. His passion gets him put in charge of the operation. He has his misgivings about leaving the Enterprise and leading such a daunting venture, but he luckily finds just the right mix of people to help him.

However, not everyone is keen on the idea of saving their enemies. Resistance comes from politicians, scientists, and even from the Romulans themselves. Star Fleet is behind Picard in the beginning, but political pressure led by politician Olivia Quest strains their efforts. Then the unimaginable destruction of Mars occurs.

The end of the novel answers some questions but leaves many more unanswered. Neither the novel nor the first season of Picard explain why the Romulan star unnaturally went supernova or why the synths killed everyone on Mars. Perhaps there is or will be a book that explains it. Though I am a fan of Star Trek, I am not caught up on all the Star Trek novels, nor privy to any insider information.

Critique

Star Trek: Picard: The Last Best Hope explores the difficulty of trying to satisfy morally conflicting interests. The author presents all sides very well. We don’t just see Picard’s high-minded ideals, we see the perspectives of the scientists who must give up their life’s work to focus on building transport ships. We also see the perspective of the Federation leaders and a politician named Olivia Quest.

Olivia Quest is the most antagonistic of all Picard’s complications. I didn’t like this woman, but not just because I wasn’t supposed to. She is written like a stereotypical narrow-minded politician. However, her arguments for not wanting to divert all Federation resources to support the Romulan evacuation are valid. I can’t say whether I agree with them, but I understand her viewpoint.

There is no growth of characters in this novel. Picard never sees Quest’s point of view or the points made by the Federation. Quest gets her way and falls deeper into her own self-importance. In my opinion, though, Raffi’s decline is the worst. If you like stories with happy endings, you won’t get it here. Picard is a tragedy. Despite the subtitle, this story gives us no hope.

On the plus side, the characters we know and love are as real in this novel as they are on TV. Some new characters introduced on the recent CBS series are also true to form. Raffi Musiker is by far the best one and her tragedy the most keenly felt.

Most of the time, the conversations in this novel are smooth and realistic. But a few irked me. One short conversation between Raffi and Picard felt awkward because they keep saying one another’s name. Raffi says JL’s name four times and Picard says Raffi’’s name two times. I don’t know about you, but when I’m talking to someone, I don’t keep saying their name. How did the editors miss this?

There is also a conversation between Picard and Koli that feels contrived. While I understand Koli’s argument with Picard, I feel her reaction is a bit melodramatic, especially considering how well she mitigated prior difficult situations. I get that as a Bajoran, she is traumatized by the similar brutality of the Cardassians. Yet I still can’t swallow it. Perhaps the author didn’t give us the opportunity to get to know Koli the way we got to know Raffi and other characters.

I also think Picard’s resignation is a forced scene. His decision is too rash, a characteristic very unlike him. For a man who is usually good at seeing all sides, he is completely unsympathetic to Star Fleet’s need to pull out. I understand why his feelings are so strong, but surely he could have seen the big picture without necessarily agreeing with it. A more believable approach would have been for him to take a moment and brood before turning in his resignation.

What is the point of Nokim Vritet’s character? His entire perspective can be deleted and the story will still make sense. One could argue, I suppose, that his story shows the reader the depths the Tal Shiar would go to keep the truth from their people. But this could have been conveyed in another way. Or, like other things in the novel, it could have been assumed that Trekkies already knew.

I also found Picard’s friendship with Zani to be artificial. We see a minor scene or two that shows him connecting to her. From there we’re expected to believe Picard has this growing deep respect for her friendship.

Conclusion

Star Trek: Picard is a sad tale. Picard’s downfall is disheartening. Truth be told, the entire message of the novel is depressing. While Star Trek: The Next Generation gave us hope for mankind, Star Trek: Picard makes us cynical. But this novel is still worth reading. Picard is ever the indomitable Picard, the character-driven story is wonderfully complex without being convoluted, and the Star Trek universe is always a universe worth exploring. If you’re watching Picard on CBS, you will want to read Picard the novel.

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Book Review of The Tangled Lands, Written by Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S. Buckell

Posted by Dawn Ross on March 21, 2020
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The Tangled LandsThe Tangled Lands by Paolo Bacigalupi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Tangled Lands by Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S. Buckell is a fantasy novel set in a world on the cusp of being destroyed by human greed and selfishness. A deadly plant called bramble thrives on the use of magic. It invades homes, lands, and engulfs entire countries. And it tangles together four separate stories where four different ordinary people fight to make the best of their dying world.

Synopsis

The journey and struggle of each character in each story is unique. The first story titled “The Alchemist” by Paolo Bacigalupi is about a craftsman turned alchemist who is determined to find a way to permanently destroy bramble so that he can be free to use magic to save his daughter’s life. After much sacrifice, he finally invents a device that has the power to save both his daughter and the entire world. But when he brings his invention to the city’s Jolly Mayor and the infamous Majister Scacz, they turn the invention into something more sinister.

The second story titled “The Executioness” by Tobias S. Buckell is about the daughter of an executioner. When her dying father is called upon to perform an execution for the Jolly Mayor, she has no choice but to take his place. She returns home from this gruesome task to find Paikan raiders have murdered her husband and father and kidnapped her sons. When she boldly fights a few of the raiders she encounters, she earns the nickname of Executioness. Her growing reputation and determination to save her sons takes her through many adventures and into new lands.

The third story titled “The Children of Khaim” by Paolo Bacigalupi is about Mop and his sister Rain. They are refugees from a city overwhelmed by bramble. They must eke out a living by collecting bramble so the seeds won’t take root in the city. In the process of their work, Rain is pierced by the bramble and put in a deep sleep. Nothing is known to bring people from this bramble sleep, but Mop is determined to try. Somehow, he must keep her alive and protect her from soft-eyed men until she wakes—even if it means using illegal magic to do it.

In the fourth story titled “The Blacksmith’s Daughter” by Tobias S. Buckell, Sofija and her family must create a suit of armor masterpiece for the Duke of Malabaz’s son. But the Duke is an amoral despot. Not only does he commission Sofija’s family to craft the armor in a way that masks the illegal use of magic, he refuses to pay them their proper dues. He has Sofija’s parents imprisoned in bramble and she is left to complete the armor herself knowing he will kill her and her parents anyway in the end.

Critique

The tangled bramble world is a complex and unique world. Yet it reminds me of our own world. In The Tangled Lands, people can’t help but to use magic even though they know it causes bramble to encroach on the livelihoods of others. In our world, we can’t help but to exhaust resources and pollute the air in a way that will ultimately destroy us. The people in Tangled Lands justify their use of magic for seemingly honorable reasons in the same way our factories justify their poisonous emissions and decimation of the land by claiming they are making our lives better.

But there is hope in each of the four stories of The Tangled Lands. While avarice and selfishness rule the world, there are still good people who stand up and fight to do what is right.

Pitting desperation against powerful egocentric rulers means the fight is bloody. The tone of this novel is dark. Abuse and murder abound. Some scenes are quite graphic and horrifying. This is not a novel for the young or faint of heart.

Reading each story is like falling into a different person. Every protagonist character is a well-rounded believable human character that you will root for despite their shortcomings. Though they start out as ordinary, their extraordinary circumstances transform them into someone new. But whether they become heroes is up to you to decide.

I like stories where the good guys win and the bad guys lose. Though all four protagonists come through their struggles, not all of them are changed for the better. And not all the bad guys get their dues.

Still, it is a novel full of action and conflict that will keep you turning the pages. It will invoke strong emotions and either leave you with a feeling of hope or hopelessness, depending on whether you are a glass-half-full or half-empty kind of person.

I can’t find a single literary fault with the The Tangled Lands novel. Everything about it was marvelous. The setting was unique and fantastic. The characters were lovable and credible. And the storytelling was perfectly executed. I wholly recommend this novel to any adult reader who wants to get tangled in another world.

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Another Positive Book Review for StarFire Dragons

Posted by Dawn Ross on March 19, 2020
Posted in: Part 1 StarFire Dragons, Reviews, The Dragon Spawn Chronicles. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment
StarFire Dragons by Dawn Ross

StarFire Dragons: Book One of the Dragon Spawn Chronicles, now on Amazon.

Self-publishing a book is a daunting task. It’s not just the convoluted and time-consuming tasks that make it so. It’s the nail-biting anxiousness that tumbles in the gut afterward. Will people like it? Will someone leave a scathing book review? Do I suck as a writer?

Writing StarFire Dragons was a roller coaster of challenges and emotions. But it was well worth the ride. And I’m so happy to find that there are people who enjoyed reading it. My newest positive book review is from Becca Saffier with Reedsy Discovery. She gave StarFire Dragons 3 out of 5 stars and says, “A subtle space opera that explores the ethical conundrums of intergalactic relations with main characters who are worth rooting for.” For the full 6 paragraph book review, visit Reedsy Discovery here.

Three things stand out in this book review that matches what other reviewers are saying (albeit sometimes in a subtler manner):

  1. It resembles Star Trek with a few differences – I can’t ask for a better comparison! Truth be told, it was the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, “Suddenly Human” that inspired this novel. And I had a difficult time keeping the Odyssey crew from being too much like the crew of the Enterprise.
  2. It has notable well-developed characters and great character interactions – It’s so true that this space opera novel is definitely more character-driven than most other sci-fi space operas.
  3. The middle is slow but the beginning and end are great – So, StarFire Dragons is not the exemplary tale I hoped for, but I can live with this imperfect aspect. It just means I will be more conscientious of the middle parts when I write the sequels. Besides, despite Becca Saffier’s critique of the middle, she still says at the end of her full review, “I would totally read the next book to see what happens next.” Well Becca, I promise the sequel will be much better.

Book Review of Strange Matters by Tom Siegfried

Posted by Dawn Ross on February 16, 2020
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Strange Matters: Undiscovered Ideas at the Frontiers of Time and SpaceStrange Matters: Undiscovered Ideas at the Frontiers of Time and Space by Tom Siegfried
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Strange Matters by Tom Siegfried was a great read. I only have a basic understanding of theoretical physics, so some of it was over my head. But Siegfried did a good job of making it as understandable as possible. And his analogies and wit made it fun.

This non-fiction book outlines what is currently known about physics and cosmology, then dives into what is theorized. And what is theorized is truly bizarre. This exploratory journey takes us into the elusive dark matter and dark energy, superstrings, multiple dimensions, the geometry of space, and so much more.

Whether you’re looking to learn more about theoretical physics or are interested in igniting your sci-fi writing creativity (like me), then Strange Matters is an inspiring read.

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Kirkus Reviews & Midwest Book Review Gives Positive Reviews of StarFire Dragons

Posted by Dawn Ross on February 12, 2020
Posted in: Part 1 StarFire Dragons, The Dragon Spawn Chronicles. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment
StarFire Dragons

StarFire Dragons available on Amazon

I am super excited to announce that I received two positive reviews from online book review agencies: Kirkus Reviews and Midwest Book Review. I admit I was a little worried about what people would think of my sci-fi novel, StarFire Dragons. My worry mostly stemmed from the fact that my sci-fi isn’t action-packed like most sci-fi novels I find. It has some action, but it’s mostly drama. Fortunately, both Midwest Book Review and Kirkus Reviews acknowledged this and still liked it! Here are the links and some excerpts of their reviews:

Midwest Book Review
“Starfire Dragons is firmly rooted in psychological depth and moral and ethical confrontations. This keeps readers engaged and engrossed as a series of difficult decisions revolve around a sense of duty and broader questions of survival. Fans of epic sci-fi that look for realistic characters and complex yet believable settings will find Starfire Dragons a powerful introductory story that promises more, yet nicely concludes its immediate dilemmas.” –D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

The full review will be published here in the March 2020 issue: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/mbw/index.htm (Note that it is not yet March. I will publish a direct link as soon as it’s available.)

Kirkus Reviews
“In a novel that comes close to a high order of Star Trek fan fiction, a few USS Enterprise analogs (though no Spock) are present, but the Tredon have values closer to those Imperial Japanese samurai than Klingons. And it takes quite a few repetitious episodes before the narrative really kicks into warp drive. But well-drawn characters, thoroughly explored emotions, and a long-shot mission outcome are ingredients that any admirer of humanist SF can judge shipshape… A thoughtful novel that owes a debt to Star Trek but works on its own terms.” —Kirkus Reviews

The full review is available here: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/dawn-ross/starfire-dragons/

Thank you Midwest Book Review and Kirkus Reviews!

Check out StarFire Dragons now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082S563MM/

Book Review of GMC by Debra Dixon

Posted by Dawn Ross on February 11, 2020
Posted in: Reviews, Writing. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

GMC: Goal, Motivation and ConflictGMC: Goal, Motivation and Conflict by Debra Dixon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

GMC: Goal, Motivation, and Conflict by Debra Dixon was a great help to me in writing my novel. GMC was clear and concise and had great examples. It’s the perfect learning tool and resource for any aspiring writer.

I actually started reading this book a year or so ago. Her first two chapters alone gave me five pages of useful handwritten notes. I got so excited after reading them that I stopped to implement what I learned in the novel I was writing.

I continued to read GMC as I continued to write, and it totally changed my story for the better. I went from a wishy-washy commander of a starship who floundered because of a near-career-ending incident to one that was more driven to overcome his near-failure so that he wouldn’t have to return home to a mundane life and to a critical father who had other career plans for him.

The points that most helped me realize I needed to fix my story all revolve around defining character goals, motivations, and the conflicts they will encounter that try to keep them from their goals. A quote from the book says, “Goals should be important enough for the character to act against his own best interest and to endure hardship if necessary. “Important enough” means that there will be unpleasant consequences if the goal is not achieved.” Paraphrasing, it also says that a sense of urgency must be set right away, and that you must push your characters to the wall and force them to take action.

Knowing about goals, motivations, and conflict (GMC) isn’t always enough. Dixon helps by giving examples of the GMCs in well-known movies. She has also designed a wonderful GMC chart that can be used to organize the GMCs of all your primary characters and for each of your scenes.

My only dislike of this book was there were a couple of chapters I felt were superfluous. One was specifically titled “This and That”. Though this chapter may be helpful to others, it was not related to the overall topic of the book. I’m not sure if Dixon added it because she thought it would be helpful or if she felt she needed to add more content to her book.

If you’re a writer and are wondering what you need in order to give your book some umph, read through GMC and take notes. Then put this book on your shelf for later reference.

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Book Review of Star Fire by M.R. Forbes

Posted by Dawn Ross on February 8, 2020
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Star Fire (Stars End, #1)Star Fire by M.R. Forbes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Star Fire by M.R. Forbes is a non-stop action-packed adventure. From a space battle to planetside combat, one pilot stands against a formidable alien foe. The escapade begins in chapter 2 and continues all the way to the end. You’ll fly through the chapters and crash land into this epic story.

Alliance Navy Commander Grayson Stone thought his assignment at a faraway space station orbiting a boring mining planet was the safest way to serve before he retired. He was wrong.

He and his mesh-partner Joie are skirmisher pilots monitoring the quiet space between the Spindle space station and the planet Warrick when enemy Commune ships attack. Neither Spindle nor the other skirmisher pilots out there have a chance. But Stone has a lot of experience and a history of heroics to back him up.

The Commune ship is nearly defeated when another ship comes in and attacks both sides. And it’s not like any ship Stone has ever seen. It’s gigantic and formidable with an array of weaponry. Stone and Joie’s little ship is shot down and they crash land on the planet. They survive only to find giant aliens have landed and are hunting them down.

Stone meets a Commune survivor on the planet and the two enemies team up against the strange aliens. At first it’s a flight, then it’s a fight when they find the aliens have taken over the human settlement where Stone needs to go in order to call for help.

How will they get out of this? You’ll just have to read and find out. Be prepared for the story not to be done at the end. Though part of the conflict is resolved, it is obvious the story continues.

The writing is well done. Forbes did a good job of building characters and building scenes. I loved all the battle scenes, both in space and on the planet. The story flows smoothly from one adventure to the next and I was on the edge almost the entire time.

One thing I missed amongst all this action was a connection to the characters. For some reason, I didn’t feel empathy for them. I didn’t feel bad that Stone might have lost his wife and daughter when the space station was attacked. And I didn’t feel angst when Joie had to be left behind.

I also didn’t care for the ending, but not because the story continued in another book. I didn’t like it because the ending made me think that the entire adventure was pointless. Sure, Stone might have gotten away by the skin of his teeth. But at what cost?

Still, I kept turning the pages because I anxiously wondered what was going to happen next. Star Fire is well worth the read and worth buying the sequel. It’s a fight for humanity you won’t want to miss.

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Book Review of Dreamlander by K.M. Weiland

Posted by Dawn Ross on January 27, 2020
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DreamlanderDreamlander by K.M. Weiland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What if whenever you went to sleep, you woke up to a whole different life in another world? And not just any world, a very different and almost magical world. But if this really happens, your two lives don’t remember your other self. All that remains are fleeting images. That’s the idea behind Dreamlander by K.M. Weiland.

Chris Redston doesn’t always remember his dreams, but he knows they are dark enough that he wants them to stop. But one day, he wakes in the dream world and remembers his other life. In a desperate attempt to get back to what he believes is his real life, he makes a tragic mistake that threatens to topple the so-called dream world.

Once he realizes the dream world is real too, he works hard to make up for his mistake. It’s not an easy task. Not only does he not know how he’s supposed to make things right, he also doesn’t have anyone who believes in him. He has help, but even his helpers don’t believe in him.

Every time Chris goes to sleep, he wakes up in the other world. He goes back and forth throughout the story. And the bad guy makes trouble for him in both worlds. In the dream world, the bad guy amasses an army and threatens war. In the real world, he has hired hitmen to kill Chris so that he can no longer travel both worlds in the magical way that only he can.

This is an action-packed story that kept me on the edge. The entire plot was well written. Most of the story flowed well. And the climax was out-of-this-world intense. I was never sure if the hero would find a way out of the mess he created. But he did, and it was awesome-with-a-twist.

I loved almost all the characters. The heroes, heroine, and the villains were all well-written and believable. They were three-dimensional people with strengths as well as flaws. I felt what they felt and I sympathized with their plight.

I also loved the setting of the dream world. It had castles, fantastical creatures, nobility, and sword fighting, but it also had a touch of modernism. Imagine a fantasy world with skycars and phaser-type weapons and you have Chris’s dream world.

There are three somewhat minor things I didn’t care for, though. I was confused about the rules for how Chris moved from the real world to the dream world and back. Supposedly if he is touching something in one world while holding a magical stone, that something moves with him to the other world. At one point, it was an entire couch that he was sitting on. Well, if the couch can move with him, why not his bed the next time? Or even the floorboards that he’s standing on? Sometimes his clothes moved with him and sometimes they didn’t. Maybe Weiland explained how the magic worked, but I just wasn’t following.

While most of the characters were well-written, the two hitmen who tried to kill Chris in the real world were not. They had to be the most incompetent hitmen ever. The first blaring mistake they made was in not killing Chris at the very first opportunity. It should have been obvious that Chris had done what the bad buy wanted him to. The hitman should have killed Chris while he slept, but he didn’t. To make the hitman’s incompetence worse, he wasn’t even around when Chris woke back up in the real world, making it super-easy for Chris to escape. The hitmen weren’t even able to kill someone who was practically helpless in the hospital. Just when I thought the role of the hitmen was pointless, they surprised me in the end with an amazing ability to find Chris in a place they shouldn’t have been able to find him.

And finally, I wasn’t entirely thrilled with the ending. And that’s because the hero got a happy ending, but the heroine didn’t. Why should he get a happy ending and not her? I saw hints of a sequel to Dreamlander on Weiland’s blog, but I couldn’t find it.

The things I liked about Dreamlander far outweigh the things I didn’t like. Dreamlander is definitely worth the read. Weiland is a great writer with a spellbinding imagination. When I dream, this is the world I want to go to.

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