How do you come of age under a mind-controlling dictatorship?
“Keaney is sure to gain a big readership with this first title. .... read full description
“Keaney is sure to gain a big readership with this first title. .... read full description
reviews
Jan 07, 2012
Rebekah
rated it: 
Dante, a bottom-tier kitchen boy at a psychiatric prison on the island of Tarnegar, meets Bea, a physician s daughter, and reveals a secret. Despite receiving the drug Ichor, he still dreams. Although the promises of Dr. Sigmundus say that dreams are the sign of an unfit mind, Bea begins to question the teachings as she ponders her place in society. In this dystopian novel, several central themes emerge including dreams, social equity, and simulated realities. Glimpses into Bea and Dante s dai
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Feb 11, 2012
Steph
rated it:
To check out my full review, check out my blog: http://feistylittlewoman.wordpress.com/2...
On the island of Tarnagar, dreaming labels you as a dangerous lunatic. They lock you up in the asylum if you are defiant or let your imagination run wild. The community that lives on the rest of the island praises the mysterious, unseen man named Dr. Sigmundus. They believe he saved them from being like the barbaric, violent people who came before them many years ago. The people here lead peacefu More...
On the island of Tarnagar, dreaming labels you as a dangerous lunatic. They lock you up in the asylum if you are defiant or let your imagination run wild. The community that lives on the rest of the island praises the mysterious, unseen man named Dr. Sigmundus. They believe he saved them from being like the barbaric, violent people who came before them many years ago. The people here lead peacefu More...
Mar 01, 2011
Nicola
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Reason for Reading: I love dystopian fiction and books that are set in asylums; this fitting both descriptions was a must read.
Tarnegar, is an island community that houses the insane from the rest of the population in this country where dreaming is forbidden, adults (14 and over) take a drug to make them stop dreaming and comply quietly to any authoritative figures. Questioning the wisdom of any part of this society could have you banded a lunatic and thrown into the asylum. Dante More...
Tarnegar, is an island community that houses the insane from the rest of the population in this country where dreaming is forbidden, adults (14 and over) take a drug to make them stop dreaming and comply quietly to any authoritative figures. Questioning the wisdom of any part of this society could have you banded a lunatic and thrown into the asylum. Dante More...
Jan 24, 2009
Anna Raffaella
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Aug 27, 2011
Kristina
rated it: 
I really had no intention of finding this book when I went to the library, but, needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.
The title of the book really caught my eye and so did the cover because it looked so dismal, dark, and a bit creepy. The title of the book really does describe the whole book, unlike some books where the title has nothing to do with the book.
I gave this book a 3/5 stars rating for various reasons. Though I enjoyed it f More...
Oct 02, 2011
Alashua
rated it:
i actually liked this book but the cover suggestes a horror which it was not and personnalyi am happy because it would have scared the shit out of me. This book has an interesting concept but it was something that i had done before. The characters were good but before the romance started ( in the last few pages) i thought the characters blended together, they were quiet and focused and dark ect. It would have made the book much more interesting if the characters had had more depht, it would hav
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Jun 04, 2011
Katlyn
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There is very little in the way of horror in this novel, as the cover might suggest, except for a psychological horror of a country where imagination, creativity, drive and initiative have been cunningly manipulated from the populace for decades. This is perhaps best understood when examining the reactions and experience of Beatrice whose process of disillusionment is rife with disbelief and uncertainty as an adolescent brought up in such a fabrication, especially contrasted with Dante's far les
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Dec 28, 2010
Angie
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good concept. at age 14, everyone starts taking weekly shots of a mind/emotion/ambition-numbing drug, Ichor, in a society's pursuit of peace. everyone has a permanent place in this society, and nobody climbs any social/corporate/financial lader of any kind. on the darker side, every one seems to have the mental capacity to be petty, superstitious and extremely nosey. one small incident can be a scandal that negatively impacts the rest of someone's life, both personal and professional.
a c More...
a c More...
Sep 22, 2009
Ann
rated it:
Ages 10+ (a past suicide, shock therapy)
Truthfully, I just read this because I thought it had the potential to be a halfway decent booktalk for smartypants 5-6 graders and after as summer of reading high-school type books brimming with fuckwords, I am abs. desperate in that area.
Is this going to be a book that any kid will pick up? No. The cover gives it a horror feel, and it is decidedly not. What I found is another addition to the collection of adventure/dystopia for More...
Truthfully, I just read this because I thought it had the potential to be a halfway decent booktalk for smartypants 5-6 graders and after as summer of reading high-school type books brimming with fuckwords, I am abs. desperate in that area.
Is this going to be a book that any kid will pick up? No. The cover gives it a horror feel, and it is decidedly not. What I found is another addition to the collection of adventure/dystopia for More...
Dec 11, 2009
Miriam
rated it:
This was not Gothic horror as I rather expected from the cover, but a fairly standard dystopian tale of a country where all adults are given Ichor, a drug which destroys dreams, imagination, and initiative. The setting will probably seem more interesting to younger readers who aren't already familiar with the dystopian classics. However, careful readers of any age will probably notice some logical flaws, especially contradictions in the implicit timeline of Dr. Sigismundus' reign.
Als More...
Als More...
May 05, 2010
Diane
rated it: 
Book three in the trilogy set in a dystopian world with evil characters trying to rule everyone, monsters that lurk waiting to consume everything, strange portals that transport people through mirrors, into hell, and back to life through the “resurrection field”. It’s a short fantasy that will probably appeal to those who have read the first two, but definitely does not stand alone. I found the character names and places too difficult to follow. The world Keaney has created is certainly intri
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Oct 16, 2008
Jessica Camara
rated it:
An interesting story about a dystopian society...book two will be coming out in December and as the reader is left with a complete cliffhanger and many unanswered questions...I will be picking that up!
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Jul 02, 2011
Lindsey
rated it:
I have just finished re-reading this book, and have to say once again I enjoyed it greatly.
The reason I am re-reading this book is because I had put off reading the third book in this series for a long time (years actually) and when I finally went to read it, I couldn't remember several key parts of the plot from the first two books, and I was very bothered by the ending that I had to go back to make sure I wasn't missing anything.
So with that said:
Once again I rea More...
The reason I am re-reading this book is because I had put off reading the third book in this series for a long time (years actually) and when I finally went to read it, I couldn't remember several key parts of the plot from the first two books, and I was very bothered by the ending that I had to go back to make sure I wasn't missing anything.
So with that said:
Once again I rea More...
Nov 03, 2009
Terri
rated it:
Dystopian fiction with a similar premise to Lois Lowry's The Giver -- a controlled population that isn't allowed individual thought. I wanted to like this book, but I didn't find anything terribly fresh and it didn't grab me enough to make me want to continue with the series. Pales in comparison to others of its type. Perhaps the target audience (YA) will not view it with my jaded eye. I did enjoy the cover art and illustrations by Nicoletta Ceccoli though.
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Mar 19, 2011
Sensitivemuse
rated it:
When I first picked up this book I thought it was from the paranormal genre. Then I took a closer look and it was an interesting blend of dystopia with some paranormal characteristics. I really did enjoy the dystopia aspect of the book. Dreams are taboo and you’re sent to the asylum if you have one and talk about it. It was an interesting idea and concept. However the pace was a little slow for me and it took me longer than usual to finish this book (despite its short length).
The the More...
The the More...
Apr 30, 2009
Bonnie
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Dec 22, 2011
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Julie M. Prince for TeensReadToo.com
The first installment in THE PROMISES OF DR. SIGMUNDUS trilogy, THE HOLLOW PEOPLE introduces readers to a kitchen boy and lowly servant. Dante is the least important of all the people on Tarnager, the fortress-like island where he was raised. Since his mom, a dangerously insane criminal, committed suicide when he was a baby, Dante has had no one to care for, and no one who cares for him. That is, until he crosses paths with Beatrice.
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The first installment in THE PROMISES OF DR. SIGMUNDUS trilogy, THE HOLLOW PEOPLE introduces readers to a kitchen boy and lowly servant. Dante is the least important of all the people on Tarnager, the fortress-like island where he was raised. Since his mom, a dangerously insane criminal, committed suicide when he was a baby, Dante has had no one to care for, and no one who cares for him. That is, until he crosses paths with Beatrice.
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Nov 07, 2010
Kelly Z!(:
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Dec 08, 2009
Alex
rated it:
Dante and Bea are pushed together through their minor rebellious acts against the controlling influence of Dr. Sigmundus. By the use of a mind altering substance which is doled out to every person over the age of 14, Sigmundus and his followers are able to remove undesirable characteristics like acts of rage or other violent tendencies, but also individuality, creativity, and drive. Dante and Bea find themselves immune to the substance, and are "set free" when they join with a radica
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Jan 29, 2012
Kim
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I have wanted to read this one for a while, and I was not disapointed. Apart from a very Matrix 2/Pirates 2 ending, this book is very nearly perfect. The world around the two characters is well thought out, the scary big brother-ness is just subtle enough that you could mistake it for misery, and Dante and Bea, the main characters, are lovely and real.
Jun 22, 2011
Reyna (Glamour Glory)
rated it: 
I didn't expect this book to be good, and I actually expected this book to be a bit horror-ish bc of the cover but it came up to be a great book. It is not action packed and since it's the first installment of a 3 part series, the action & the meat of the story does not really start until the last 40 pages. It does leave you on a bit of a cliffhanger, and it did keep me wanting more bc I literally read it in a span of hours, couldn't even put it down for bed. Great read! Glad I found it by mista
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Mar 31, 2011
Allie
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It was pretty good, nice story line, and not predictable. I typically have the book figured out by the 3rd chapter at most, but this one kept me guessing. The only bad thing was that the language wasn't descriptive enough to make the story really come to life.
Sep 23, 2009
Shelly
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Was a little slow a tthe beginning...I thought I was reading another Brave New World. But it didn't end up to be the same in the end and got exciting and unexpected. I will read the second book but not until it comes out in paperback.
Nov 19, 2008
Cynthia
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Dante is a cook working at the asilum on the island of Tranagar. It's where they lock up people who keep dreaming. Because, since the arrival of Dr Sigmundus as leader, very long ago, every adult has to take the Ichor, a drug that render the taker docile and makes them stop dreaming. One day, Dante meets Bea, a doctor's daughter who has many questions. Many of those questions will get answers with the arrival of Ezekiel, a dangerous criminal who seems to know Dante.
Very good book tha More...
Very good book tha More...
Nov 28, 2010
Caitlinleah
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usualy when the book of the week club reccomends books that are series i don't bother to read the rest. this one interests me enough to keep going, though. i'll keep you updated how they turn out.
May 29, 2009
Michelle
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This book is insightful, a good mind read for teens/
Life might be hard but freedom from someone elses idea of what is normal is the only way you can truly live up to your own potential.
Life might be hard but freedom from someone elses idea of what is normal is the only way you can truly live up to your own potential.
Jan 03, 2009
M.ransom
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I enjoyed this dark, and thrilling novel very much, and am looking forward to reading the next installment. Ichor (the method used by "Dr. Sigmundus" to "control" the citizens of the island), is one that easily strikes a nerve within the reader.
It's not so hard to imagine something similar happening in our own society, and in that sense it draws you in, because you feel like you are fighting beside the main characters to break the chains that tie them to the island.
It's not so hard to imagine something similar happening in our own society, and in that sense it draws you in, because you feel like you are fighting beside the main characters to break the chains that tie them to the island.
Jul 13, 2009
Colin
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Solidly entertaining, at least. It's an interesting premise. We'll see if the characters and the story become more complex as the trilogy moves along.
Jul 07, 2008
Ellyddan
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This book treads old ground in some ways but is still a diverting read and a promising *ahem bad pun* start to this series. It begins in a dystopian world where children must begin taking Ichor at the age of puberty. Dreams are forbidden and rare. Real friendships are even rarer. The book begins with Dante and Beatrice (yes, I found the many references to Dante's cycle fitting.)
It is a dark book but I must admit that I loved Dante and Beatrice from the start and am interested to More...
It is a dark book but I must admit that I loved Dante and Beatrice from the start and am interested to More...
Nov 24, 2010
Katie
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Really, really, really amazing. Most appocalyptic fiction is intriguing on some level, but this trilogy is exceptionally good.
