REVIEW: Sleepwalking by Daniel Barnett
Well, I guess that’s it then… with Sleepwalking, Daniel Barnett has officially become a new favourite author and established The Nightmareland Chronicles as one of my all time favourites; this series is truly my horror dream (or should I say nightmare?) come true.
If the previous instalment, Lullaby, was Mariah’s book, then Sleepwalking is Marcos’ book. Never before have I enjoyed a child character as much as I do Marcos, and it’s truly insane how deeply emotionally invested I have become in him in the short time since we first met him. He is somehow both extremely emotionally mature for his young age while also maintaining an endearing level of childhood innocence, which is exactly what makes him such a surprisingly complex and compelling kid.
Not to mention, the deaf and (child of) illegal immigrants experience are both extremely beautifully and authentically explored through his eyes, making me empathise with him on a level that should not even be possible considering our completely different lived experiences. I found it especially touching and inspiring to see how Marcos’ deafness almost becomes his biggest strength in this post-apocalyptic nightmare world, helping him escape the dire threat of the soft yet malicious lullaby that is lulling humanity to sleep.
Moreover, the dynamic between Marcos and Mariah just tugged on my heartstrings in all the most unexpected ways, and I love the unconventional yet powerful exploration of motherhood and (found) family in Sleepwalking. As nightmares of the dead start to manifest and they get hunted and haunted by monsters both human and supernatural, their uniquely strong connection becomes their shared guiding light that drags them through the darkness.
And oh damn, do things get dark and violent in Sleepwalking. This instalment combines the King-esque southern small town horror of Nightfall and the more inexplicable supernatural horror of Lullaby, and the horrific visual imagery unsettled me in new ways I was not ready for. Barnett’s evocative wordsmithery just continues to creep deeper and deeper under my skin, and Adam Gold’s exceptionally enthralling narration of the audiobook once again kept me in a chokehold from beginning to end.
Somehow, I don’t even mind that I am once again left with more new mind-boggling questions than satisfying answers, because the level of mystery, intrigue and looming dread is exactly what makes this series so dangerously addictive to me. And after that shocking and diabolical ending, I am beyond excited to see what Barnett has in store for this odd yet loveable found family of broken souls. I seriously cannot say enough good things about The Nightmareland Chronicles, so just trust my word for it and embark upon this epic horror journey for yourself already; you can thank me later.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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