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Witch Dreams
Sixteen-year-old Nyssa can enter into people's dreams. Although the authorities of the medieval town of Lindenwolde would put her to death if they realized she was a witch, she feels compelled to practice her unique brand of witchcraft to answer the biggest question of her life: who broke into her father's woodworking shop and killed her parents?
Hardcover, 120 pages
Published
October 1st 2005
by Marshall Cavendish Children's Books
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Read the full review at Pica Reads.
When I finished Witch Dreams, my first thought was "that's it"? The story was both interesting and well-written, but I felt like the entire 120 pages of Witch Dreams was the introduction to a much longer book. Vande Velde could have expanded so much more - I felt like I got a tiny peek into a huge and rich world that I would have loved to spend more time in. And since the book was so short, I felt like I was missing about 200-300 pages of story.
Other than that...more
When I finished Witch Dreams, my first thought was "that's it"? The story was both interesting and well-written, but I felt like the entire 120 pages of Witch Dreams was the introduction to a much longer book. Vande Velde could have expanded so much more - I felt like I got a tiny peek into a huge and rich world that I would have loved to spend more time in. And since the book was so short, I felt like I was missing about 200-300 pages of story.
Other than that...more
Oct 07, 2010
Miss Kate Reads
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
could-not-put-it-down,
stays-with-you
I'm not sure what it is about Vande Velde's writing, but when I pick up her books I get lost in whatever world she has created. Her writing style is usually simple but effective and the voice of her narrator (usually the main character, like in this case) is convincing and compelling. Like with most of the books I've read by her, I read this one cover to cover without pause. It's a quick read, in part because its short but also because the mystery is curious and the plot is engaging. In some way...more
Nessa is a sixteen year old witch, orphaned by a murderer she is bent on bringing to justice. When the man she is sure has killed her parents returns to town, she uses her ability to join him in his dreams but these kind of dreams don't lie and what she sees through his eyes will change who she is forever.
I have to admit I was sure I had the 'mystery' figured out from the beginning and was both feeling lenient to Velde as this is a YA and berating her a little for too much foreshadowing but I wa...more
I have to admit I was sure I had the 'mystery' figured out from the beginning and was both feeling lenient to Velde as this is a YA and berating her a little for too much foreshadowing but I wa...more
I (re)read A Hidden Magic by Vande Velde not too long ago, and I admit, it made me worry that I wouldn't like this book by her. I've read books I liked (Dragon Bait and Companions of the Night), but A Hidden Magic was fresh in my mind. I'm happy to say Witch Dreams was a better read, though like A Hidden Magic, it's surprisingly short. At the heart, it's a murder mystery with a young girl playing detective in a medieval town. The mystery of who killed her parents has plagued Nyssa for six years...more
Nyssa is a witch, which is not unheard of, but is punishable by death in this middle ages (sort of) world. She does not cast spells or anything like that, but she has the power to see other people's dreams. She can not control what dreams she sees, but she attempts to discover the truth of her parent's murder through the dreams of several witnesses. She also learns quite a few things about the man she accused and herself in this journey.
This is definitely not my favorite book I have read. There...more
This is definitely not my favorite book I have read. There...more
Short, interesting fantasy set in a vaguely medieval world. Nyssa, 16, can dream what other people dream, enter their memory-dreams as an observer, if she puts something of theirs under her pillow before she goes to sleep. She keeps this ability secret, for she fears if townsfolk learned she is a "witch" that she would be persecuted. She is haunted by her desire for revenge on the rich young man Elsdon, whom she is convinced murdered her parents and injured her older brother, rendering him unabl...more
Maybe 2.5. It felt more like a short story and I was a little disappointed. I didn't find any of the characters very interesting or compelling and found the whole book missing on action or any climax. I have enjoyed some of Vande Velde's other work a lot more.
At the end I was like "WTF?" I read the end like freaking ten times. I didn't see it coming. Nyssa has a real imagination and a heartbreaking way of coping. It ended well.
You really think there'd be more going on in a story about a girl trying to have a vision in her sleep of how her parents were killed, but nothing held my interest.
hi i like the way we search for books but cane we buy or download books and kep them in PC file and then transfer them to kindle or jetbook devicess
The main character can see others dreams by putting an object of theirs under her pillow. A couple of really good twists. Short, fast read.
The plot was nice but it was just barely a skeleton of what was there. She could have fattened it up a bit more. But I really like the idea.
I thought it was a really good book and the funny thing is that I had already checked it out of the library before and I didn't want to read it because I was still majorly into the Twilight Saga, so I just took it back to the library and I picked it up again and really enjoyed it.
Good book, but a lot like another one by this same author. the ending's pretty much the same, the both have to do with witches, etc.
Interesting, fast read. VVV's books cover a very short time (a couple of days max) and have several unexpected twists.
Normally I really enjoy Vivian Vande Velde, but this book was disappointing in its predictability.
It kind of felt like the author was trying to speed through the plot in an attempt to keep the book short.
I must confess this is my least favorite of VVV's books. I was completely thrown off by her brother's....ah...situation as discovered at the end. I also thought that while the ending completely worked, it was a bit rushed. The whole story has hints of Nyssa being a bit mad - something you brush off as people not understanding her abilities. And yet...somehow you close the book wondering if she is truly a bit off. Or more than a bit. This made it harder to like Nyssa, and I like to enjoy my heroi...more
A good, creative, quick read. Fast-paced, interesting, and with an ending I myself never saw coming.
is she a witch or is she not? a story about a witch who can see into other's dreams
I felt that the ending was a bit abrupt, but overall, it is a solid and enjoyable scary book for young readers. It would work well for middle school students who want mystery and mild horror.
I loved it! Great twist at the end of the end!
Mystery. Well written. Twisty. Enjoyable.
Nice story but I felt the end was rushed.
Did not see the end coming! Amazing read!
3.5 stars
reread
reread
This was not the best book I've ever read.
This was taken place about the time during the Witch Trail. When people who have been accused of messing with witchcraft were killed.
Nyssa went into people's dreams without them knowing.
One day her parents were murdered and she assumed it was the Prince, and that his parents were covering for him.
But there's more.
I would not recomend this book to people who have short attention spand.
This was taken place about the time during the Witch Trail. When people who have been accused of messing with witchcraft were killed.
Nyssa went into people's dreams without them knowing.
One day her parents were murdered and she assumed it was the Prince, and that his parents were covering for him.
But there's more.
I would not recomend this book to people who have short attention spand.
This book is about a girl who can see people's dreams. In her time, witchcraft was a dangerous thing and a person accused could be killed. The heroine is left an orphan when her parents are killed. As she grows older, she is determined to find out who did it. She has a main suspect, and through dreams she finally finds out who did it. I think the ending of this book may surprise you.
Initial thoughts after reading (found in a notebook): I really like her books, especially how you know that the two main characters will fall in love some day, but it wasn't love at first sight where they spent the next 12 pages kissing. I really liked that aspect. I also liked the plot twist at the end - it completely shocked me - very cool.
Not one of my favorite books but still pretty good. I would have given this book two stars if there hadn't been one particular part that I really loved!
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Vivian Vande Velde (born 1951, currently residing in Rochester, New York) is an American author who writes books primarily aimed at young adults.
Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She says that she really likes to write for...more
More about Vivian Vande Velde...
Her novels and short story collections usually have some element of horror or fantasy, but are primarily humorous. Her book Never Trust a Dead Man (1999) received the 2000 Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She says that she really likes to write for...more
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