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Into the Real
Three Quinns. Three realities. Three Brumes.
The first Brume is a waking nightmare, overrun by literal monsters and cutthroat survivors. For Quinn, who is openly genderqueer, the only silver lining is their friendship with Lia—and the hope that there might still be a safe place somewhere else in the world.
The second Brume is a prison with no bars. Forced to “sort out” their sexuality with other teens at Camp Redemption, Quinn must also figure out why presenting as female has never felt quite right.
The third Brume is a warzone. For Quinn, who presents as male, leading the Resistance against an authoritarian government is hard, since even the Resistance might not accept them if they knew Quinn’s truth.
As Quinn starts to realize that they might be one person alternating among these three worlds and identities, they wonder: Which world is the real one? Or do they all contain some deeper truth?
You can't run from the monster. The monster is you.
The first Brume is a waking nightmare, overrun by literal monsters and cutthroat survivors. For Quinn, who is openly genderqueer, the only silver lining is their friendship with Lia—and the hope that there might still be a safe place somewhere else in the world.
The second Brume is a prison with no bars. Forced to “sort out” their sexuality with other teens at Camp Redemption, Quinn must also figure out why presenting as female has never felt quite right.
The third Brume is a warzone. For Quinn, who presents as male, leading the Resistance against an authoritarian government is hard, since even the Resistance might not accept them if they knew Quinn’s truth.
As Quinn starts to realize that they might be one person alternating among these three worlds and identities, they wonder: Which world is the real one? Or do they all contain some deeper truth?
You can't run from the monster. The monster is you.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2020
19 people are currently reading
2360 people want to read
About the author
Z Brewer
22 books131 followersZ Brewer is the NYT bestselling author of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod series, as well as The Slayer Chronicles series, Soulbound, The Cemetery Boys, The Blood Between Us, Madness, and more short stories than they can recall. Their pronouns are they/them. When not making readers cry because they killed off a character they loved, Z is an anti-bullying and mental health advocate. Plus, they have awesome hair.
Z lives in Southern Illinois with a husband person, one child person, and three furry overlords that some people refer to as “cats”.
Z is represented by Michael Bourret of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Literary Management.
Z lives in Southern Illinois with a husband person, one child person, and three furry overlords that some people refer to as “cats”.
Z is represented by Michael Bourret of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret Literary Management.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 19, 2020
*Spoiler free*
I heard this book had a genderqueer main character and that was enough for me. But, it also had three different realities, three different versions of the main character, and they're all real. It sounded fascinating. The cover also gave the book and eerie and dark feeling to it, so I was very eager to read it. Trigger warnings: homophobia, conversion therapy, parental abuse, death, blood, gore
My feelings for this book are complicated. I liked it and I enjoyed a good lot of it. Though, I can't help but feel that certain parts could have been more or wishing certain things had played out differently.
I kind of think these three stories would've worked really well as their own books. They do work together, split up as they are, but I feel like there's so much to explore in each of them. I would 100% read a full book of each of these stories. There's grief and trauma and war and trust and terror and so much packed into each of them. All of them have their own way of ticking and I would've loved if each of their aspects were dug into deeper.
I think I felt this way because I was expecting them to come together in a different way at the end. I thought they would meld and tie together completely, but they sort of just touched at the end. Sure, they're all moving towards the same point, but I thought there would be more to why there was three separate stories.
Nevertheless, I found the Brume that's overrun by monsters incredibly fascinating. It's terrifying and dark and an absolutely excellent "trapped in a small town ravaged by monsters" story.
I also really enjoyed the writing, for the most part. I kept wanting to come back to this book, kept wanting to read it, kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. It was a bit weird because I wasn't falling 100% in love it. But I still wanted to charge ahead as fast as I could.
Also, I felt like some of the lines and some of the dialogue were kind of cringey. I felt like it was trying to hard to be dramatic and it just fell flat for me.
I liked the exploration of gender. Since gender is basically just a weird mush in my head right now, I'm going to leave it at that. I liked seeing a genderqueer character try to figure things out, try to decide where they fit in.
The characters were also interesting. Most of them had roles in all three worlds, and each role was different. It was interesting to love a character in one role, but hate them in another. While I would have liked for them to reflect each other a bit more, I still thought it was a cool dynamic.
While this book might not have knocked me off my feet, I can't help but keep thinking about it. I keep coming back to it and turning it around in my head. I would have liked more out of some things, like the explanation between the three worlds, other things really caught me interest, like the Brume ravaged by monsters. I recommend giving this one a shot, because there is a good chance you'll like it!
I heard this book had a genderqueer main character and that was enough for me. But, it also had three different realities, three different versions of the main character, and they're all real. It sounded fascinating. The cover also gave the book and eerie and dark feeling to it, so I was very eager to read it. Trigger warnings: homophobia, conversion therapy, parental abuse, death, blood, gore
My feelings for this book are complicated. I liked it and I enjoyed a good lot of it. Though, I can't help but feel that certain parts could have been more or wishing certain things had played out differently.
I kind of think these three stories would've worked really well as their own books. They do work together, split up as they are, but I feel like there's so much to explore in each of them. I would 100% read a full book of each of these stories. There's grief and trauma and war and trust and terror and so much packed into each of them. All of them have their own way of ticking and I would've loved if each of their aspects were dug into deeper.
I think I felt this way because I was expecting them to come together in a different way at the end. I thought they would meld and tie together completely, but they sort of just touched at the end. Sure, they're all moving towards the same point, but I thought there would be more to why there was three separate stories.
Nevertheless, I found the Brume that's overrun by monsters incredibly fascinating. It's terrifying and dark and an absolutely excellent "trapped in a small town ravaged by monsters" story.
I also really enjoyed the writing, for the most part. I kept wanting to come back to this book, kept wanting to read it, kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. It was a bit weird because I wasn't falling 100% in love it. But I still wanted to charge ahead as fast as I could.
Also, I felt like some of the lines and some of the dialogue were kind of cringey. I felt like it was trying to hard to be dramatic and it just fell flat for me.
I liked the exploration of gender. Since gender is basically just a weird mush in my head right now, I'm going to leave it at that. I liked seeing a genderqueer character try to figure things out, try to decide where they fit in.
The characters were also interesting. Most of them had roles in all three worlds, and each role was different. It was interesting to love a character in one role, but hate them in another. While I would have liked for them to reflect each other a bit more, I still thought it was a cool dynamic.
While this book might not have knocked me off my feet, I can't help but keep thinking about it. I keep coming back to it and turning it around in my head. I would have liked more out of some things, like the explanation between the three worlds, other things really caught me interest, like the Brume ravaged by monsters. I recommend giving this one a shot, because there is a good chance you'll like it!
October 15, 2020
DNF because of sentence-level writing and setting.
March 20, 2021
This book took way too long to get to the point and I wouldn't have minded all that much expect I wasn't particularly enjoying the journey I was on for the 3/4th and the rest 1/4 isn't the pay off I deserved T_T. While I didn't hate this book, I also didn't love it. The characters in the different scenarios/realities were not flushed out enough. They were flat like a cardboard. Even the main character. All of them had one characteristic aspect to them and that shaped their entire character.
I must admit though, I like what the author was trying to do with this book and I also like the plot as a whole. Just not a huge fan of the way it was executed.
3 stars because there are tiny aspects of it I enjoyed (and Dani Martineck is the narrator of the audiobook so heck yeah!) but only 3 stars because I was bored for the majority of the book.
I must admit though, I like what the author was trying to do with this book and I also like the plot as a whole. Just not a huge fan of the way it was executed.
3 stars because there are tiny aspects of it I enjoyed (and Dani Martineck is the narrator of the audiobook so heck yeah!) but only 3 stars because I was bored for the majority of the book.
March 22, 2022
The premise of each world was interesting. Other than that, this book was not good. Apologies to the author if they ever read this because I’m mad. This book made absolutely no sense right until the very last page. I’m just…why…
May 7, 2023
This book was solidly okay.
As a dollar tree find, I was pleasantly surprised to find something so outwardly genderqueer. Perhaps for someone younger and earlier in their gender discovery, this would have felt deeply important. Certain elements worked fantastically and the ideas of acceptance having to come from within primarily were beautiful. Each of the separate Brumes had potential. I am at large happy this book was written and published.
It just wasn't that great? While each Brume had potential, all except the conversion camp needed more time to explore and build out. The only reason the conversion camp gets a pass is because the world building isn't as necessary. And even then, it was just alright. The ending doesn't work, largely because it asks the reader to accept a giant leap of faith that isn't backed up by the actual book. I largely try to avoid spoilers in my reviews, so I can't express how disappointing the big reveals were. Just know that they were alright in concept, but failed in execution.
If you are or have a young adult reader who is unsure about their gender (or is sure and is genderqueer like Quinn), and you can find it cheap - give it a read. It is important for young readers to see genderqueer characters. I just hope this opens up to better books at large.
As a dollar tree find, I was pleasantly surprised to find something so outwardly genderqueer. Perhaps for someone younger and earlier in their gender discovery, this would have felt deeply important. Certain elements worked fantastically and the ideas of acceptance having to come from within primarily were beautiful. Each of the separate Brumes had potential. I am at large happy this book was written and published.
It just wasn't that great? While each Brume had potential, all except the conversion camp needed more time to explore and build out. The only reason the conversion camp gets a pass is because the world building isn't as necessary. And even then, it was just alright. The ending doesn't work, largely because it asks the reader to accept a giant leap of faith that isn't backed up by the actual book. I largely try to avoid spoilers in my reviews, so I can't express how disappointing the big reveals were. Just know that they were alright in concept, but failed in execution.
If you are or have a young adult reader who is unsure about their gender (or is sure and is genderqueer like Quinn), and you can find it cheap - give it a read. It is important for young readers to see genderqueer characters. I just hope this opens up to better books at large.
August 7, 2022
the ending sucked. the only story line i liked in it was the monsters one. the war one fell flat because nothing was described in detail. everything felt rushed because of the 3 different story lines.
January 2, 2021
This was too grim for me and the resolution wasn't satisfying.
September 6, 2020
I'm new to books by Z Brewer, which is strange because they seem to have contributed quite a bit to the writing world! Anyway, this is my first and I would definitely look into others!
Into The Real by Z Brewer is quite a unique novel. Quinn is the main character... in three different stories. Z Brewer has created, what is essentially, three novels that merge into one ... "connection" by the end. There will be no spoilers here so don't expect me to reveal what happens in this book.
The first storyline that the reader is introduced to is one in which monsters are very much a reality. Genderqueer Quinn is on the run with a friend, Lia, and interloper Caleb. Their town is now surrounded by a dense fog that turns them around each time they try to leave the town. It's a disturbing thought and this is one scary world. The creatures are of nightmarish quality, screamers, unseen hands... it's all very disturbing.
In another storyline, Quinn has been banished from the family and sent to a conversion camp. The same cast of supporting characters appears in this world but their challenges and allegiances are quite different. This camp is a horrendous place. Quinn is subjected to therapy that is designed to guide her from her girlfriend, Lia, and instill in her very right-wing, religious attitudes about homosexuality and gender. There is physical abuse, mental and emotional abuse. Another world...with different kinds of monsters.
I was extremely uncomfortable with the way in which a trans character was treated at the camp. The character is dead named repeatedly and told that they are an abomination etc. While this is corrected by the other supporting characters it is my understanding that reading about deadnaming can be really triggering for some readers. I do feel there is a way to write about a situation in which deadnaming occurs, without actually using a character's deadname. (See Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass.) I would urge you to read the warnings for this book.
In the third storyline, Quinn is the commander of an underground resistance. They are locked in battle and also... locked into their gender roles. In this storyline, Quinn appears to be male and struggling with the fact that he is gay. He can't reveal his sexual orientation even to his closest companions. Women aren't allowed on the front lines in this storyline and even though Quinn finds he disagrees with that, he doesn't stand up to the ruling. Again, the same cast of supporting characters appears, again in different roles and fighting different monsters.
By the time all three storylines are introduced, it's clear that there's something strange going on for Quinn. There are hints that things are bleeding between the storylines. The same person begins to appear, words linger in Quinn's mind and each Quinn starts to feel oddly unsettled.
The idea behind this novel is intriguing. I was most interested in the first story that was introduced. Brume has become a town imperiled. Quinn is struggling to stay alive, fighting real monsters and protecting their friends. There was something really engaging about the first world. The conversion camp storyline was less engaging... perhaps because it's a common theme recently. The third storyline seemed a bit forced compared to the other two. Soldier Quinn was the character that I connected with the least. In spite of these differences, I feel as though each story could have been a novel in its own right.
This book is well-written and the storylines are significantly difference so it's easy to keep the stories separate in your mind... that is until they begin to merge.
Into The Real by Z Brewer is quite a unique novel. Quinn is the main character... in three different stories. Z Brewer has created, what is essentially, three novels that merge into one ... "connection" by the end. There will be no spoilers here so don't expect me to reveal what happens in this book.
The first storyline that the reader is introduced to is one in which monsters are very much a reality. Genderqueer Quinn is on the run with a friend, Lia, and interloper Caleb. Their town is now surrounded by a dense fog that turns them around each time they try to leave the town. It's a disturbing thought and this is one scary world. The creatures are of nightmarish quality, screamers, unseen hands... it's all very disturbing.
In another storyline, Quinn has been banished from the family and sent to a conversion camp. The same cast of supporting characters appears in this world but their challenges and allegiances are quite different. This camp is a horrendous place. Quinn is subjected to therapy that is designed to guide her from her girlfriend, Lia, and instill in her very right-wing, religious attitudes about homosexuality and gender. There is physical abuse, mental and emotional abuse. Another world...with different kinds of monsters.
I was extremely uncomfortable with the way in which a trans character was treated at the camp. The character is dead named repeatedly and told that they are an abomination etc. While this is corrected by the other supporting characters it is my understanding that reading about deadnaming can be really triggering for some readers. I do feel there is a way to write about a situation in which deadnaming occurs, without actually using a character's deadname. (See Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass.) I would urge you to read the warnings for this book.
In the third storyline, Quinn is the commander of an underground resistance. They are locked in battle and also... locked into their gender roles. In this storyline, Quinn appears to be male and struggling with the fact that he is gay. He can't reveal his sexual orientation even to his closest companions. Women aren't allowed on the front lines in this storyline and even though Quinn finds he disagrees with that, he doesn't stand up to the ruling. Again, the same cast of supporting characters appears, again in different roles and fighting different monsters.
By the time all three storylines are introduced, it's clear that there's something strange going on for Quinn. There are hints that things are bleeding between the storylines. The same person begins to appear, words linger in Quinn's mind and each Quinn starts to feel oddly unsettled.
The idea behind this novel is intriguing. I was most interested in the first story that was introduced. Brume has become a town imperiled. Quinn is struggling to stay alive, fighting real monsters and protecting their friends. There was something really engaging about the first world. The conversion camp storyline was less engaging... perhaps because it's a common theme recently. The third storyline seemed a bit forced compared to the other two. Soldier Quinn was the character that I connected with the least. In spite of these differences, I feel as though each story could have been a novel in its own right.
This book is well-written and the storylines are significantly difference so it's easy to keep the stories separate in your mind... that is until they begin to merge.
October 8, 2020
It's been three years since Pibling Z, leader of the glorious Minion Horde, gifted us with a new book, and now they're back this year with two great new stories. Well, I still haven't read Soulbroken yet, sadly, because my only e-reader is my phone browser when I'm borrowing library ebooks and my library still doesn't have that one yet. I know, I know, I'm a bad Minion...but I digress. Today, I'm here to talk about Brewer's most expansive and ambitious standalone novel yet - a trio of intermeshed horror storylines, each rooted in different universal fears and fears unique to LGBTQIA+ community members. Major trigger warnings abound for blood, gore, deaths of family members and loved ones, open homophobia and transphobia, conversion therapy, and demonic terror all over the place.
Quinn, our protagonist, is experiencing a fractured reality not unlike those depicted in Inception, or the TV series Awake - three different versions of their hometown of Brume, in which their genderqueer identity manifests in different ways, and in which they must confront different horrors that feature the same casts of characters in wildly different roles. Friends in one Brume can be enemies in another, making the reader have to work a little harder to keep track of which reality Quinn is currently detailing on the present page - notably, there's no headers at the beginning of each chapter to indicate which reality is which, and the chapters also count down backwards, adding a Memento vibe to the book's mind-bending nature.
The three realities are all also pretty strongly inspired by different genre stories, each with their own levels of horror genre in their DNA. The first Brume is the most obviously horror, a monstrous mashup of the Upside Down from Stranger Things and the town of Wayward Pines...but also, it's the only one in which Quinn is openly genderqueer. The second Brume has a female-presenting, gender-questioning Quinn sent to a pray-the-gay-away camp, where many of those they knew in the first Brume have also been sent by their parents to endure the nastiness of conservative Christians forcing their sick, twisted worldviews on these poor teenagers by any means they deem necessary. The third Brume is a Hunger Games-style dystopian war story where a male-presenting Quinn is the face of the Resistance against the Christofascist Allegiance that has taken over most of the southern, eastern, and central US, and Brume is one of the few pockets fighting back...but the Resistance has its own major issues, such as its ridiculous insistence on prioritizing men as fighters and relegating women to the backseat. You'd think they'd do better considering they're fighting against racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic Nazis...
One thing that surprised me about this book was actually the way Brewer structured it narratively. Not gonna lie, I went into it thinking Quinn would show us glimpses into the three realities with pretty regular shifting between them, but the narrative actually lingers on each reality for quite some time, often as much as three chapters - which, especially early on, translates to as many as 50-75 pages in one Brume before moving to the next one. That said, though, Brewer's prose is as compulsively readable as ever, to the point where I was able to read the whole book - all 430 pages - in a single sitting. With all the detail they put into this one, I'm so glad I preordered this one - the first time I did for any of Brewer's books! (Of course it's coming with me when, hopefully, I make my long-awaited move to the Pacific Northwest...)
Quinn, our protagonist, is experiencing a fractured reality not unlike those depicted in Inception, or the TV series Awake - three different versions of their hometown of Brume, in which their genderqueer identity manifests in different ways, and in which they must confront different horrors that feature the same casts of characters in wildly different roles. Friends in one Brume can be enemies in another, making the reader have to work a little harder to keep track of which reality Quinn is currently detailing on the present page - notably, there's no headers at the beginning of each chapter to indicate which reality is which, and the chapters also count down backwards, adding a Memento vibe to the book's mind-bending nature.
The three realities are all also pretty strongly inspired by different genre stories, each with their own levels of horror genre in their DNA. The first Brume is the most obviously horror, a monstrous mashup of the Upside Down from Stranger Things and the town of Wayward Pines...but also, it's the only one in which Quinn is openly genderqueer. The second Brume has a female-presenting, gender-questioning Quinn sent to a pray-the-gay-away camp, where many of those they knew in the first Brume have also been sent by their parents to endure the nastiness of conservative Christians forcing their sick, twisted worldviews on these poor teenagers by any means they deem necessary. The third Brume is a Hunger Games-style dystopian war story where a male-presenting Quinn is the face of the Resistance against the Christofascist Allegiance that has taken over most of the southern, eastern, and central US, and Brume is one of the few pockets fighting back...but the Resistance has its own major issues, such as its ridiculous insistence on prioritizing men as fighters and relegating women to the backseat. You'd think they'd do better considering they're fighting against racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic Nazis...
One thing that surprised me about this book was actually the way Brewer structured it narratively. Not gonna lie, I went into it thinking Quinn would show us glimpses into the three realities with pretty regular shifting between them, but the narrative actually lingers on each reality for quite some time, often as much as three chapters - which, especially early on, translates to as many as 50-75 pages in one Brume before moving to the next one. That said, though, Brewer's prose is as compulsively readable as ever, to the point where I was able to read the whole book - all 430 pages - in a single sitting. With all the detail they put into this one, I'm so glad I preordered this one - the first time I did for any of Brewer's books! (Of course it's coming with me when, hopefully, I make my long-awaited move to the Pacific Northwest...)
March 28, 2021
Solid 3.5 stars. SPOILERS!
Solid 3.5 stars. SPOILERS!
I'm still trying to get over this book. Interesting concept and kept me engaged throughout. A few things:
- The characters were pretty well thought out, especially since the author had to make three versions of them. Some of the betrayals seemed to come out of nowhere (which is what they're supposed to feel like, I guess, but some just made no sense - cough, Lia in the camp reality AND the war reality, cough).
- Each of the realities had its own issues, obviously, but the one that scared me the most was the one with the camp. It hit too close to home, as there is still conversion therapy happening today, and this reality was plausible. The way the author executed the transition to Quinn figuring out they were split between worlds was seamless and very effective.
- The book got a bit preachy at times, especially during the camp reality. I’m talking at least a page full of “I’m normal and nobody can tell me otherwise.” This may have been friendship shown in a different way than the other realities, but it felt very sappy.
- Coe: what?? Even at the end of the book, I’m confused. Did Quinn create him? Is he some sort of time god? If so, how did they kill him? His death felt very rushed. Quinn was talking to him and all of a sudden, BAM, he’s dead, end of story. Also, creepy appearance showed up once and seemed kind of brushed aside. Great description of him though.
- Quinn: How were they able to alter their reality? Are they some sort of time god? They seem normal, but normal people can’t create realities when they are overwhelmed with emotions (Wandavision, anyone?). Once I grasped the idea of the split realities without thinking much into it, the ending was nice – Quinn deserves a happy ending.
- I wanted closure for all the realities but only got it for the nightmare one! At least if all the Quinns died and then merged into one reality and one Quinn, that would make more sense. Also, I wanted to see more of Valerie. She was super nice and I wondered what happened to her.
- Mirror in a cave – awesome!!
Solid 3.5 stars. SPOILERS!
I'm still trying to get over this book. Interesting concept and kept me engaged throughout. A few things:
- The characters were pretty well thought out, especially since the author had to make three versions of them. Some of the betrayals seemed to come out of nowhere (which is what they're supposed to feel like, I guess, but some just made no sense - cough, Lia in the camp reality AND the war reality, cough).
- Each of the realities had its own issues, obviously, but the one that scared me the most was the one with the camp. It hit too close to home, as there is still conversion therapy happening today, and this reality was plausible. The way the author executed the transition to Quinn figuring out they were split between worlds was seamless and very effective.
- The book got a bit preachy at times, especially during the camp reality. I’m talking at least a page full of “I’m normal and nobody can tell me otherwise.” This may have been friendship shown in a different way than the other realities, but it felt very sappy.
- Coe: what?? Even at the end of the book, I’m confused. Did Quinn create him? Is he some sort of time god? If so, how did they kill him? His death felt very rushed. Quinn was talking to him and all of a sudden, BAM, he’s dead, end of story. Also, creepy appearance showed up once and seemed kind of brushed aside. Great description of him though.
- Quinn: How were they able to alter their reality? Are they some sort of time god? They seem normal, but normal people can’t create realities when they are overwhelmed with emotions (Wandavision, anyone?). Once I grasped the idea of the split realities without thinking much into it, the ending was nice – Quinn deserves a happy ending.
- I wanted closure for all the realities but only got it for the nightmare one! At least if all the Quinns died and then merged into one reality and one Quinn, that would make more sense. Also, I wanted to see more of Valerie. She was super nice and I wondered what happened to her.
- Mirror in a cave – awesome!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2020
"Into the Real" is one of those books that got me not only with the cover (that is amazing) but with that synopsis as well.
I went into this story with really high expectations and they weren't immediately met. The first plot stroke me as an unoriginal mix of The Mist by Stephen King and two or three tv series about only teens left alive.
The writing seemed amateurish and too "wattpaddy" because of the massive info dump and I couldn't find a single character I liked, least of all Quinn that upon feeling their crush was not reciprocating their feelings broke her confidentiality and proved that you don't have to be a cis man to be an entitled ass.
And then I met the second Quinn and had to stop reading this for three days so I could swallow all the nasty things I had been thinking about this story because...damn!
If there is one thing that is well written in this book is the second universe and it is heartbreaking that from the three worlds, the real one is the scariest. (Tip: have the gayest, happiest, most comforting queer movie ready to be played when reading this book because Professor Marston and the Wonder Women was the only reason I was able to read the chapters in the second universe).
Third Quinn is okay. I liked him mostly because he allowed the reader to confront their own privilege and I was really happy for whatever happiness he was able to find.
I loved seeing the same characters existing in all three worlds and being completely different along with all the LGBTQ diversity and how well the author showed its readers that everyone can be prejudiced, even people that you love or that should love you. But also how people can also surprise you with how accepting they are.
I found the way the chapters were numbered and the points of view were distinguished really original and that ending was also interesting.
I would really enjoy seeing this on a screen.
Thank you to Quill Tree Books and Edelweiss+ for this DRC.
I went into this story with really high expectations and they weren't immediately met. The first plot stroke me as an unoriginal mix of The Mist by Stephen King and two or three tv series about only teens left alive.
The writing seemed amateurish and too "wattpaddy" because of the massive info dump and I couldn't find a single character I liked, least of all Quinn that upon feeling their crush was not reciprocating their feelings broke her confidentiality and proved that you don't have to be a cis man to be an entitled ass.
And then I met the second Quinn and had to stop reading this for three days so I could swallow all the nasty things I had been thinking about this story because...damn!
If there is one thing that is well written in this book is the second universe and it is heartbreaking that from the three worlds, the real one is the scariest. (Tip: have the gayest, happiest, most comforting queer movie ready to be played when reading this book because Professor Marston and the Wonder Women was the only reason I was able to read the chapters in the second universe).
Third Quinn is okay. I liked him mostly because he allowed the reader to confront their own privilege and I was really happy for whatever happiness he was able to find.
I loved seeing the same characters existing in all three worlds and being completely different along with all the LGBTQ diversity and how well the author showed its readers that everyone can be prejudiced, even people that you love or that should love you. But also how people can also surprise you with how accepting they are.
I found the way the chapters were numbered and the points of view were distinguished really original and that ending was also interesting.
I would really enjoy seeing this on a screen.
Thank you to Quill Tree Books and Edelweiss+ for this DRC.
October 24, 2020
Perhaps best described a queer Cloud Atlas, albeit more action-packed and concrete, written for teenage readers.
I enjoyed all of the Quinns in the book, and how the author presented realistic experiences a person might have in each situation. Some were very nuanced - getting dumped by a TERF for embracing trans and non-binary folks. Other were less so - religious conversion therapy, although the author handled that much better (more realistic) than usual.
I also enjoyed that Quinn's orientation did not change, no matter how they viewed themselves. Who we love is just as immutable as who we are. Love.
How the secondary characters were written was extremely well done and challenging to think about. A character dead in one reality might be a friend or foe in another. That was extremely cool. Kai and Caleb were great examples of this.
This is the first of the author's books I've read. Admittedly, it was for the gender identity aspect. I wasn't disappointed by that or by the writing, which was top notch for YA fiction.
It's also a useful book for adults to read. It's a vivid education in what non-binary (or genderqueer) teens experience. Yup, it's a schooling that most parents need.
Mild warning - more non-binary than binary trans affirming. The trans feminine character takes they/them pronouns. That made me a little sad, because trans women are so much more oppressed than people who are non-binary.
Overall, would recommend. If people fear sex...no worries here. Hella violent, tho.
I enjoyed all of the Quinns in the book, and how the author presented realistic experiences a person might have in each situation. Some were very nuanced - getting dumped by a TERF for embracing trans and non-binary folks. Other were less so - religious conversion therapy, although the author handled that much better (more realistic) than usual.
I also enjoyed that Quinn's orientation did not change, no matter how they viewed themselves. Who we love is just as immutable as who we are. Love.
How the secondary characters were written was extremely well done and challenging to think about. A character dead in one reality might be a friend or foe in another. That was extremely cool. Kai and Caleb were great examples of this.
This is the first of the author's books I've read. Admittedly, it was for the gender identity aspect. I wasn't disappointed by that or by the writing, which was top notch for YA fiction.
It's also a useful book for adults to read. It's a vivid education in what non-binary (or genderqueer) teens experience. Yup, it's a schooling that most parents need.
Mild warning - more non-binary than binary trans affirming. The trans feminine character takes they/them pronouns. That made me a little sad, because trans women are so much more oppressed than people who are non-binary.
Overall, would recommend. If people fear sex...no worries here. Hella violent, tho.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2020
First things first i want to thank netgalley for the opportunity to read into the real by z brewer have been a long time fan and i was super excited to be able to review it. Now saying that These will be my thoughts and opinions unbiased.
Now When i found this book was coming i got super excited and it did not disappoint, I love the idea of having multiple versions of the same character if gives you a certain perspective on the them since you can view them in different aspects. I like how is was also incorporated that the main character was genderqueer i feel like it helped understand the characters further.
I like that each character borders the lGTBQ+ Spectrum and gives a little of everything from the first few pages you find yourself hooked and wanting to keep going. from chapter to chapter and from each story to the next your just captivated and every single one gives you a different type of emotion to go with brining it all together in such a unique way.
As for the characters i cant imagine anyone else beside Quinn to be following through out the book, they just fit so well to their placements and parts they play in the over all story.
I do highly recommend anyone to pick up if they want a book that will take them on an adventure and an emotional roller coaster.
Now When i found this book was coming i got super excited and it did not disappoint, I love the idea of having multiple versions of the same character if gives you a certain perspective on the them since you can view them in different aspects. I like how is was also incorporated that the main character was genderqueer i feel like it helped understand the characters further.
I like that each character borders the lGTBQ+ Spectrum and gives a little of everything from the first few pages you find yourself hooked and wanting to keep going. from chapter to chapter and from each story to the next your just captivated and every single one gives you a different type of emotion to go with brining it all together in such a unique way.
As for the characters i cant imagine anyone else beside Quinn to be following through out the book, they just fit so well to their placements and parts they play in the over all story.
I do highly recommend anyone to pick up if they want a book that will take them on an adventure and an emotional roller coaster.
December 8, 2020
Thank you to Haper 360 YA for the proof!
There are three Quinns, three Brumes and three realities each facing a different threat. As splinters of each world begin to intertwine, the three Quinns realise they may be a singular "they", but how do they know which world, and which monsters, are real?
I found this book a really interesting take on multiple realities - each world felt very different and although I had a favourite, I enjoyed reading about all three. Now I know people have differing opinions about chapter lengths - this books chapters are *long* but I felt like, for this book, it worked - rather than short glimpses and switches, Brewer was able to establish both the world and the characters of each reality.
The same characters appear in each world but with very different roles and personalities - there were some that I loved in one story but then hated in another!
This book examines gender and sexuality and acceptance - looking at both internal and external struggles members of the LGBTQ+ community face.
This was a very different read for me and I won't lie some of the darker themes made it a difficult read at points - it won't be for everyone but overall it was an intriguing read and it did make me pause and think.
TW: gore, death of loved ones, transphobia, homophobia
There are three Quinns, three Brumes and three realities each facing a different threat. As splinters of each world begin to intertwine, the three Quinns realise they may be a singular "they", but how do they know which world, and which monsters, are real?
I found this book a really interesting take on multiple realities - each world felt very different and although I had a favourite, I enjoyed reading about all three. Now I know people have differing opinions about chapter lengths - this books chapters are *long* but I felt like, for this book, it worked - rather than short glimpses and switches, Brewer was able to establish both the world and the characters of each reality.
The same characters appear in each world but with very different roles and personalities - there were some that I loved in one story but then hated in another!
This book examines gender and sexuality and acceptance - looking at both internal and external struggles members of the LGBTQ+ community face.
This was a very different read for me and I won't lie some of the darker themes made it a difficult read at points - it won't be for everyone but overall it was an intriguing read and it did make me pause and think.
TW: gore, death of loved ones, transphobia, homophobia
May 18, 2021
These days, I'm in a bit of a reading slump and so I was honestly not expecting anything from this book - but it turned out pretty great if I may say so myself.
I was honestly afraid it would be really confusing to follow the three different stories, but it wasn't at all. It takes little to no time to understand the jump between realities because the plot, characters and narration are extremely well-written. I honestly really loved the idea behind the story - it's impossibly original and really well-executed, which is perhaps the most important part. Reading the book, you get surprised by certain events but it never feels like foolish shock-value that literally comes out of nowhere. More than that, the author scatters tiny clues and details within the story, which allows you to follow the plot and have a good understanding of what's going on - and where it's going. It's freaking satisfying!
So yes, I was surprisingly invested in each story and in the plot in general, and while I wouldn't go as far as to say it's the best book I've ever read, it was still a really pleasant and unexpected read - and it felt refreshing to have an original, sci-fi story with queer characters as the center of the narrative.
I was honestly afraid it would be really confusing to follow the three different stories, but it wasn't at all. It takes little to no time to understand the jump between realities because the plot, characters and narration are extremely well-written. I honestly really loved the idea behind the story - it's impossibly original and really well-executed, which is perhaps the most important part. Reading the book, you get surprised by certain events but it never feels like foolish shock-value that literally comes out of nowhere. More than that, the author scatters tiny clues and details within the story, which allows you to follow the plot and have a good understanding of what's going on - and where it's going. It's freaking satisfying!
So yes, I was surprisingly invested in each story and in the plot in general, and while I wouldn't go as far as to say it's the best book I've ever read, it was still a really pleasant and unexpected read - and it felt refreshing to have an original, sci-fi story with queer characters as the center of the narrative.
October 21, 2024
I rated this book 2 star because the 3 reality premise of the book makes it hard to understand and follow along with. The book shifts between three different realities, this for me made the book way harder to follow along with and made the book way more confusing. this book was not for me but the characters were relevant to this generation with the LGBTQIA+ and the teen friendships, that made the read more relatable.
The Best quote that I took away from the book was, "Sometimes the hardest battle is the one you fight within yourself." I took this quote because emotions and internal battles are most common at this age (teen) and fighting those emotions and concealing them is really hard when you have homework and other after school activity's that you have to do. also the fight of finding out who you are and what you want to be is really hard.
Summary: "Into the Real" by Z Brewer is a book that follows the protagonist, Quinn they/them, who is caught between three distinct realities, each with its own version of their life. In the first reality, they are in an apocalyptic landscape ridden with monsters and gang violence from survivors. In the second, Quinn is a high school student trying to get around bullying and complicated friendships. The third, Quinn as a patient in a psychiatric facility. they struggle to make sense of their shattered identity and the terrible and traumatic experiences that have happened through their life. As these dimensions collide and blur, Quinn must find which world is real and which is a state of mind or if all of them hold a piece of the truth of their life.
The Best quote that I took away from the book was, "Sometimes the hardest battle is the one you fight within yourself." I took this quote because emotions and internal battles are most common at this age (teen) and fighting those emotions and concealing them is really hard when you have homework and other after school activity's that you have to do. also the fight of finding out who you are and what you want to be is really hard.
Summary: "Into the Real" by Z Brewer is a book that follows the protagonist, Quinn they/them, who is caught between three distinct realities, each with its own version of their life. In the first reality, they are in an apocalyptic landscape ridden with monsters and gang violence from survivors. In the second, Quinn is a high school student trying to get around bullying and complicated friendships. The third, Quinn as a patient in a psychiatric facility. they struggle to make sense of their shattered identity and the terrible and traumatic experiences that have happened through their life. As these dimensions collide and blur, Quinn must find which world is real and which is a state of mind or if all of them hold a piece of the truth of their life.
October 13, 2020
💕
Featured on becandbooks.com!
Trigger warnings:
This book was a 5 star read for me - it is everything queer & fantastic despite the fact you won't understand 90% of the book until the end. But in a good way, I promise.
I simply can't explain this book. It is a little contemporary, a little dystopian, a little historical fiction. And then there are the parallel worlds. It has the most gorgeous #ownvoice genderqueer story throughout.
You don't know what is happening but it's not confusing. It's just damn fantastic.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy. This does not impact my opinions, whatsoever.
Trigger warnings:
This book was a 5 star read for me - it is everything queer & fantastic despite the fact you won't understand 90% of the book until the end. But in a good way, I promise.
I simply can't explain this book. It is a little contemporary, a little dystopian, a little historical fiction. And then there are the parallel worlds. It has the most gorgeous #ownvoice genderqueer story throughout.
You don't know what is happening but it's not confusing. It's just damn fantastic.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy. This does not impact my opinions, whatsoever.
September 10, 2020
This is a phenomenal book that kept me hooked all the way till the end! I recommend this book to anyone who likes gender, and love, defying stories with grueling death and monsters staring at you most of the way. There’s also a lot of questions that this book prods with the Christian God, if you like that sort of thing. Overall I think the author did a great job of unraveling the plot however I don’t expect everyone to be hooked on page one. I also think that the info-gram on the back cover could be better since it undersells the storyline in my eyes. I also find it difficult to write this good review without spoiling anything and still getting people to read it.
I, personally of course, rate this book 4 stars.
Thank you for letting me read the advanced copy,
Sincerely,
Angelina Barrett
I, personally of course, rate this book 4 stars.
Thank you for letting me read the advanced copy,
Sincerely,
Angelina Barrett
October 13, 2020
Into the Real is Z Brewer's latest genius, where they are able to weave a complicated tale into a mesmerizing and soul provoking message. I could delve into the intricacies of what made this book extra special to me, but I want you to read it yourself, to explore what it means to be you.
In every novel, movie, or content medium there's a message to be told. But what makes Z stand out as a master storyteller is being able to take any concept, whether it be under the throes of vampirism, the deep twilight in a cemetery, or the divided realities that twist Quinn's perception of themselves, one things is certain, you're going to leave, not having read a book, but having been transformed.
PICK UP A COPY OF THIS BOOK. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. DONATE A KIDNEY (jk) but get your hands on this wonderful journey of self-discovery and reflection imbued with fantastical elements.
In every novel, movie, or content medium there's a message to be told. But what makes Z stand out as a master storyteller is being able to take any concept, whether it be under the throes of vampirism, the deep twilight in a cemetery, or the divided realities that twist Quinn's perception of themselves, one things is certain, you're going to leave, not having read a book, but having been transformed.
PICK UP A COPY OF THIS BOOK. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. DONATE A KIDNEY (jk) but get your hands on this wonderful journey of self-discovery and reflection imbued with fantastical elements.
December 18, 2020
4.5 stars, rounded down.
A very unique, innovative style of book - one that worked very well for me.
I feel like the less you know, the more you enjoy it, though with that in mind...
A very unique, innovative style of book - one that worked very well for me.
I feel like the less you know, the more you enjoy it, though with that in mind...
August 2, 2021
Quinn's story is the story of all of us. We are trying to find who we are. Our place in the world and a family/friends to support you. When Quinn finds themselves bouncing between three realities, where their gender identity plays a different important role in finding that place, Quinn learns a lesson about how reality is what we make it, but it also means that all three of these worlds can be true.
Sometimes this book was a bit slow in the writing style allowing places to be dragged out. The violence is not sugar coated, but nothing most at least aged 12, but more likely 13, and up couldn't handle. I think Brewer put a bit of their own journey into Quinn's making them a character that is realistic, making them both at times a likeable character and an unlikable one. Brewer has written a story about being human, about being monster and about becoming yourself.
Sometimes this book was a bit slow in the writing style allowing places to be dragged out. The violence is not sugar coated, but nothing most at least aged 12, but more likely 13, and up couldn't handle. I think Brewer put a bit of their own journey into Quinn's making them a character that is realistic, making them both at times a likeable character and an unlikable one. Brewer has written a story about being human, about being monster and about becoming yourself.
December 20, 2024
Quinn is a female in one world, male in another, and non-binary in a third. The worlds are parallel but are vastly different; one is post-apocalyptic, one is wartime and the other is her struggling youth time. One character, Coe, is from all the three worlds and only exists in Quinn’s minds as a vague familiarity. It is Coe that is the link Quinn realises, but Coe only speaks in riddles, which she has to resolve. All three of the worlds have the same set of characters, but they exhibit different traits and sympathies. But which one is the real world? Multifaceted and at times dense, the book slowly reveals how all three are linked and how Quinn reaches her ultimate world – their world of reality
January 5, 2025
“Only you can decide if the price of a closet is worth it”
This was a really interesting book that at times felt like three completely separate stories, that could never connect or intertwine, but then weaved together in other parts that felt effortless and crystal clear.
I loved the paradox of Quinn’s gender identity.
I loved the confusion of the worlds jumping back and forth.
I loved the suspenseful intensity of the chapters counting down.
“‘Which life is mine.’ ‘None of them.’ He closed his eyes. ‘All of them.’”
There were parts that were a bit clunky, and there were some plots that could have been a little cleaner but honestly I truly enjoyed the story.
This was a really interesting book that at times felt like three completely separate stories, that could never connect or intertwine, but then weaved together in other parts that felt effortless and crystal clear.
I loved the paradox of Quinn’s gender identity.
I loved the confusion of the worlds jumping back and forth.
I loved the suspenseful intensity of the chapters counting down.
“‘Which life is mine.’ ‘None of them.’ He closed his eyes. ‘All of them.’”
There were parts that were a bit clunky, and there were some plots that could have been a little cleaner but honestly I truly enjoyed the story.
September 27, 2020
Please Note: I received an advance copy of this novel from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
I have been a fan of this author ever since I read their book, The Cemetery Boys. I also have followed them on social media, so I am well aware of the personal struggles they've had. This book is not about the author. But with it's deep exploration of the main character's gender and sexuality, one can't help but feel this must be a very special project. It is also a very entertaining book. With a wildly original premise, this novel had me hooked from the beginning, racing through to find out what will happen at the end.
Please read the full review on my blog www.ponderingtheprose.blogspot.com on October 5th, 2020.
I have been a fan of this author ever since I read their book, The Cemetery Boys. I also have followed them on social media, so I am well aware of the personal struggles they've had. This book is not about the author. But with it's deep exploration of the main character's gender and sexuality, one can't help but feel this must be a very special project. It is also a very entertaining book. With a wildly original premise, this novel had me hooked from the beginning, racing through to find out what will happen at the end.
Please read the full review on my blog www.ponderingtheprose.blogspot.com on October 5th, 2020.
December 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this. It might actually be part of my 10 ten favorite books or top 20. It's hard to keep track of my favorites. And half the time reading this book, I kept thinking about how cool this book would be as a movie. If done right, obviously. I really like the whole multidimensional version of one's self. I may sound crazy but I have experienced something similar to that. Not to this extent but close. Also, when I'm dreaming or like how Marvel puts it, "dreamwalking." I enter different lives of myself and sometimes others. Multidimensional stuff is so fascinating to me. Just like time travel.
May 30, 2025
Really cool concept to have the story told through 3 different realities of the same MC.
Only two things that made it lose a star for me:
First was that half way through the book I just stopped reading it. It didn’t captivate my attention so much that I devoured this book.
Second, was the repetitive reflections of the MC on what her reality was and what she was trying to discover by the end. The is a chapter ending that is basically identical to the start of the following chapter. They just repeat themselves twice over the course of more than a few pages and this happened far too many times. We could have cut out at least 30-50 pages of redundancy.
Only two things that made it lose a star for me:
First was that half way through the book I just stopped reading it. It didn’t captivate my attention so much that I devoured this book.
Second, was the repetitive reflections of the MC on what her reality was and what she was trying to discover by the end. The is a chapter ending that is basically identical to the start of the following chapter. They just repeat themselves twice over the course of more than a few pages and this happened far too many times. We could have cut out at least 30-50 pages of redundancy.
June 10, 2022
It has been quite a while since I read the book, but I still think about it to this day. If that isn’t what everyone wants from a five star book than I don’t know what fits the parameters! The storyline is more than interesting, and very unique as it jumps through 3 alternate realities of Quinn. This LGBTQ+ book is subtle in the respects of it not being a romance while still covering many topics and identities in the LGBTQ+. It does a great job showing that LGBTQ+ characters need not be defined by their identity.
Read
June 28, 2021Me: This book looks existential, let’s read it!
Into the Real: *gives me an existential crisis*
Me: :o
In all seriousness, I have no idea what to rate this one.
Some content warnings: violence, gore, death, queerphobia, transphobia, misgendering, dead-naming, conversion and aversion therapy
Into the Real: *gives me an existential crisis*
Me: :o
In all seriousness, I have no idea what to rate this one.
Some content warnings: violence, gore, death, queerphobia, transphobia, misgendering, dead-naming, conversion and aversion therapy
October 9, 2020
Into the Real is dark, strange, and dealing with gender queer, abuse, conversion, and death. Quinn's story is told in three different points of view. I couldn’t get into it first, but the more I read it started liking the book. Normally, I stay away from dark books, but I enjoyed this one.
October 9, 2020
This is both a dystopian and story following 3 Quinn figuring out who they are. Truly fascinating look at genderquer and sexuality. It's an interesting world, and I wish I could have read more about the world and the monsters but what I got was good as well.
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