In a Victorian Ireland of magic, poetry, and rebellion, Ida Jameson, an amateur occultist, reaches out for power-but captures Laura Armstrong, a mo...
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Jan 18, 2011
Anna
rated it: 
In Victorian Ireland an occultist Ida Jameson is able to reach out to Laura Armstrong in modern day. This act will take them on a journey of magic and passion that they never expected.
When the author asked me if I'd like to review In Dreams Begin, it wasn't a hard decision - she had me at Victorian Ireland. Just knowing that bit of information I knew the story would intrigue me, and it did. There is also a steampunk feel to it that I thought was great.
In Dreams Begin is a dar More...
When the author asked me if I'd like to review In Dreams Begin, it wasn't a hard decision - she had me at Victorian Ireland. Just knowing that bit of information I knew the story would intrigue me, and it did. There is also a steampunk feel to it that I thought was great.
In Dreams Begin is a dar More...
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May 16, 2011
Misty
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In Dreams Begin is such interesting for me, in concept and execution. Though I think there are a lot of people out there that are like "W B who?" and who would hate a storyline that bounces back and forth between past and present (and between different characters bodies), these things really attracted me to it. I'm not going to lie, I like me some poetry, Yeats included. And I also am a fan of stories that strive to recreate or even rewrite the life of a real person, not in a biogra
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May 04, 2011
Cassandra
rated it:
From the minute I heard about this book, I wanted to read it. I love stories that utilize real life personages as characters. If used in a book, usually real life people are placed as secondary characters to add authenticity or give additional insight to a story, so I was very curious when I learned that the hero and heroine of In Dreams Begin were William Butler Yeats and Maud Gonne! Talk about fresh, unique, and delightfully original! As an added plus, the story had paranormal elements besides
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Jan 13, 2011
OpenBookSociety.com
rated it:
Fantasy fiction remains one of the most popular contemporary genres. Our frantic way of life, world’s problems and conflicts all encourage us to seek escapes into other worlds, dreams, intense emotions and thoughts we are unable to experience in our lives. This is why fantasy novels get easily published and are widely read across the globe.
Skyler White is another author who chose to write in a similar vein, following the recent trends of popular vampire and gothic fiction, as More...
Skyler White is another author who chose to write in a similar vein, following the recent trends of popular vampire and gothic fiction, as More...
Nov 09, 2010
VampFanGirl
rated it: 
My Review:
Laura, a newlywed, is under a lot of pressure. Tonight is her wedding night but the honeymoon has been postponed due to an opportunity to make a name for her small graphic design studio. Now, instead of traveling through Italy with her wonderful new husband, Laura has a week to make the biggest marketing pitch of her career to date. It's perhaps no wonder than that on her wedding night, Laura is consumed by restless and absurd dreams.
Believing at first that she' More...
Laura, a newlywed, is under a lot of pressure. Tonight is her wedding night but the honeymoon has been postponed due to an opportunity to make a name for her small graphic design studio. Now, instead of traveling through Italy with her wonderful new husband, Laura has a week to make the biggest marketing pitch of her career to date. It's perhaps no wonder than that on her wedding night, Laura is consumed by restless and absurd dreams.
Believing at first that she' More...
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Nov 02, 2010
Lady
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Oct 18, 2010
Kitt
rated it:
Skyler White is back with her second novel, In Dreams Begin, demanding more from her readers by asking harder questions through a provocative prose.
In present day Portland, we meet Laura on her wedding night. Laura has married a man not for love, but for practicality. As a straight forward, smart, independent woman she knows that crazy in love is still crazy and chooses the more safer option. As she falls asleep, her spirit floats up and back down in to the body of one Maud Gonne, Dubl More...
In present day Portland, we meet Laura on her wedding night. Laura has married a man not for love, but for practicality. As a straight forward, smart, independent woman she knows that crazy in love is still crazy and chooses the more safer option. As she falls asleep, her spirit floats up and back down in to the body of one Maud Gonne, Dubl More...
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Jun 08, 2011
Cameron
rated it:
I loved the concept behind this novel. The idea of when a person falls asleep they are not drawn into the realm of dreams but into the body of another person/life has always been an intriguing concept for me. And so the idea of Laura falling into the body of Maud and living another life through her, made it easy for me to like the story quite a bit. I also loved the selections of poetry by W.B. Yeats at the start of every chapter. Reading them made me want to pull out my English Lit book from co
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Nov 03, 2010
Tori [Book Faery]
rated it: 
See this review in it's entirety at:
http://www.book-faery.blogspot.com
I read this book knowing that I might not enjoy the writing style. From what I've heard about the first book in the series, AND FALLING, FLY, most people had complaints about how disjointed, chaotic, and muddled the writing was. Due to so many people stating similar sentiments (some came from a few I trust when it comes to books and my tastes), I figured I would wait to get a library copy. Then, Skyler More...
http://www.book-faery.blogspot.com
I read this book knowing that I might not enjoy the writing style. From what I've heard about the first book in the series, AND FALLING, FLY, most people had complaints about how disjointed, chaotic, and muddled the writing was. Due to so many people stating similar sentiments (some came from a few I trust when it comes to books and my tastes), I figured I would wait to get a library copy. Then, Skyler More...
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Nov 08, 2010
Melissa
rated it:
This is a story of love and all the aspects of love. Lost love, found love, marital love, true love, spiritual love, physical and mistaken love. Love that grows because of the attention it receives and not of some mystical aspect of a conjurer. It also touches on the concept of damnation but not fully. Perhaps this might be the author's concept of the opposite of love? The poetry of WB Yeats is followed throughout the book to make the path for the story and in fact, makes Yeats an important char
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Oct 24, 2010
Mei
rated it:
In Dreams Begin
Synopsis
On her first night as a married woman, Laura is drawn into the first of a series of romantic dreams. Ida, an occult practitioner has accidentally pulled Laura back to 19th century Ireland while attempting a seance. This event puts puts Ida on a path with a devil and starts Laura on an adventure where past and present and dreams and reality are indistinguishable.
Review
I realized that this book was more of a romance than a paranormal novel when there More...
Nov 17, 2010
Bibliotropic
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Oct 16, 2010
Laurie
rated it: 
I read to page 120 and stopped. My brain just couldn’t grab a hold of this one. To much going back in fourth between times, I just couldn’t keep up. Then I had a problem with the F/F kissing plus touching, just to much for me. There is more I didnt care for, but I dont feel getting into the rest, so I'm stopping here. Maybe someone else can get into this story, not me.
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Nov 04, 2010
Review Of In Dreams Begin By Skyler White
In Dreams Begin By Skyler White
Pub. Date: November 2010
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Paperback , 384pp
Sales Rank: 156,971
ISBN-13: 9780425236956
ISBN: 0425236951
Source: Barnes And Nobel (link to purchase HERE)
Purchase: Amazon.Com (link to purchase HERE)
Blurb:
In a Victorian Ireland of magic, poetry, and rebellion, Ida Jameson, an amateur occultist, reaches out More...
In Dreams Begin By Skyler White
Pub. Date: November 2010
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Paperback , 384pp
Sales Rank: 156,971
ISBN-13: 9780425236956
ISBN: 0425236951
Source: Barnes And Nobel (link to purchase HERE)
Purchase: Amazon.Com (link to purchase HERE)
Blurb:
In a Victorian Ireland of magic, poetry, and rebellion, Ida Jameson, an amateur occultist, reaches out More...
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Jan 26, 2011
Matt
rated it:
I received my book for free through Goodreads First Reads quite some time ago and finally gotten around to reading it. I really liked the concept of the book and enjoyed the characters. However, as others have pointed to I also found myself struggling once in awhile to keep up with what era I was reading in, or, which character I was reading. To remedy that, it was just a matter of skimming back over what I'd just read so that I could get myself back on pace.
Again, I really liked th More...
Again, I really liked th More...
Mar 14, 2011
Kristina
rated it:
At first I was expecting one thing and then was totally surprised by what actually came to be.
This is not your average paranormal, fit into a mold book. It has extreme depth and emotion that will leave you entwined in the story and not wanting to put it down.
Skyler has written a thought provoking piece of work that will leave you asking deep questions about love, life, and how far that love can go.
It's not a book that you can speed read...you have to soak it More...
This is not your average paranormal, fit into a mold book. It has extreme depth and emotion that will leave you entwined in the story and not wanting to put it down.
Skyler has written a thought provoking piece of work that will leave you asking deep questions about love, life, and how far that love can go.
It's not a book that you can speed read...you have to soak it More...
Apr 14, 2011
Jeremy
rated it:
On the one hand, this book has some really hot sex, an interesting concept, and characters I mostly liked and enjoyed spending time with. On the other hand... it was a lot of time. The pacing is the book's downfall, I think - it's just slow as molasses.
I will say that this is a stronger book overall than the author's first novel, and I like the direction she's going. It would only take a little more tightening to give this one a solid four stars, and I'll definitely check out what More...
I will say that this is a stronger book overall than the author's first novel, and I like the direction she's going. It would only take a little more tightening to give this one a solid four stars, and I'll definitely check out what More...
Nov 09, 2010
Kelly
rated it:
For better or for worse, I have a habit of comparing books to other books. It helps me sort out my own thoughts, and it makes recommendations easier, of the “If you liked X, you’ll like Y” variety. A complex book like Skyler White’s In Dreams Begin is hard to pin down. When a comparison finally did come to me, it was this: Reading In Dreams Begin felt like finishing Robert Holdstock’s Lavondyss and A.S. Byatt’s Possession on the same day, then going to bed and having a strange, sensual dream.
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Nov 05, 2010
Melissa
rated it:
We follow Laura through the pilgrimage of her soul by way of dreams to another body, Maud Gonne, in Victorian Ireland. Laura makes her first pilgrimage, believed to be a dream, on her wedding night when she falls asleep. Unknown to Laura, she is called to Maud's body by way of magic done by Ida Jameson. Ida is one who loves her friend Maud, but wants to be accepted in the magical society who rejected her, she will do anything to get there then falls in love and will do anything to get her lov
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Dec 06, 2010
Mishel
rated it:
My rating: 3.25/5 stars
Skyler White's writing has a unique lyrical quality to it. After reading and Falling, Fly (read my review here) last year I noticed how mind-consuming her words could be. When I say that I mean her writing really engages a reader's mind. I've found some people don't like that quality while other's really seem to like it. So basically, you either like her style of writing or you don't. I enjoyed and Falling, Fly. It was entirely different than books I've read be More...
Skyler White's writing has a unique lyrical quality to it. After reading and Falling, Fly (read my review here) last year I noticed how mind-consuming her words could be. When I say that I mean her writing really engages a reader's mind. I've found some people don't like that quality while other's really seem to like it. So basically, you either like her style of writing or you don't. I enjoyed and Falling, Fly. It was entirely different than books I've read be More...
Mar 19, 2011
Don
rated it:
A 21st century woman's spirit is called back in time by a medium, and finds her soulmate in William Butler Yeats. It's a wild ride, very inventive. I loved the use of historical data.
A nit pick: the purple adjectives obscure the story sometimes. "Ida scrawled two notes... but withdrew her reality-stung hand." Can one's hand be stung by reality? This sort of thing happens frequently and pulled me out of the story. But it is worth the effort.
The tone was dark and mysterious. I More...
A nit pick: the purple adjectives obscure the story sometimes. "Ida scrawled two notes... but withdrew her reality-stung hand." Can one's hand be stung by reality? This sort of thing happens frequently and pulled me out of the story. But it is worth the effort.
The tone was dark and mysterious. I More...
Nov 28, 2010
Natalie
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Oct 21, 2010
Teresa (Read All Over Reviews)
rated it:
Gosh, where to start with this book. Victorian London and Ireland? Check. Occult practices? Check. Poetic historical figures? Check. Gorgeously written sensuality? Check. Happiness spread across my face from this amazing book? Double Check.
I’m not the world’s biggest fan of narratives that tell two stories—one from modern day and one from the past—in the same book. In my opinion, it’s not something every writer can pull off. However, Skyler weaves the strands of past and present so def More...
I’m not the world’s biggest fan of narratives that tell two stories—one from modern day and one from the past—in the same book. In my opinion, it’s not something every writer can pull off. However, Skyler weaves the strands of past and present so def More...
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Oct 17, 2010
Tori Benson
rated it:
An interesting premise that showed great promise in the beginning. Past and present mix and collide as two Irish women attempt to save the "men" they love through any means possible. However, the over use of affected prose and verse, surrounded by multiple rapidly changing POV's and under developed characters, buries the premise and gave this reader a headache. I found myself spending so much time trying to dig beneath the "fluff" to get to the storyline that I stayed lost a
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Jan 05, 2011
Darcy
rated it:
Set down with this book today with a little trepidation. This author's first book was hard to get through. This one I didn't make it 20 pages before I had to give it up. I wasn't really sure what was going on, Laura seemed to be dreaming, but maybe not, it was hard to tell. She was in the past and seemed to be possessing someone, then was spoken to like a demon. I don't know it was just too confusing for me, this one and I think this author is just not for me.
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