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The Arkwell Academy #2
The Nightmare Dilemma
The second in a thrilling new fantastical mystery series
Dusty Everhart might be able to predict the future through the dreams of her crush, Eli Booker, but that doesn’t make her life even remotely easy. When one of her mermaid friends is viciously assaulted and left for dead, and the school’s jokester, Lance Rathbone, is accused of the crime, Dusty’s as shocked as everybody else. Lance needs Dusty to prove his innocence by finding the real attacker, but that’s easier asked than done. Eli’s dreams are no help, more nightmares than prophecies.
To make matters worse, Dusty’s ex-boyfriend has just been acquitted of conspiracy and is now back at school, reminding Dusty of why she fell for him in the first place. The Magi Senate needs Dusty to get close to him, to discover his real motives. But this order infuriates Eli, who has started his own campaign for Dusty’s heart.
As Dusty takes on both cases, she begins to suspect they’re connected to something bigger. And there’s something very wrong with Eli’s dreams, signs that point to a darker plot than they could have ever imagined.
Dusty Everhart might be able to predict the future through the dreams of her crush, Eli Booker, but that doesn’t make her life even remotely easy. When one of her mermaid friends is viciously assaulted and left for dead, and the school’s jokester, Lance Rathbone, is accused of the crime, Dusty’s as shocked as everybody else. Lance needs Dusty to prove his innocence by finding the real attacker, but that’s easier asked than done. Eli’s dreams are no help, more nightmares than prophecies.
To make matters worse, Dusty’s ex-boyfriend has just been acquitted of conspiracy and is now back at school, reminding Dusty of why she fell for him in the first place. The Magi Senate needs Dusty to get close to him, to discover his real motives. But this order infuriates Eli, who has started his own campaign for Dusty’s heart.
As Dusty takes on both cases, she begins to suspect they’re connected to something bigger. And there’s something very wrong with Eli’s dreams, signs that point to a darker plot than they could have ever imagined.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2014
38 people are currently reading
3235 people want to read
About the author
Mindee Arnett
12 books1,453 followersYA Author of Onyx Ivory, Avalon, and the Arkwell Academy series. Represented by the fabulous Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary. Addicted to jumping horses and telling tales of magic, the macabre, and outer space.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
September 23, 2016
Such a good series! I love how each book can read as a stand-alone with no cliffhangers. Well unless you count the one running story-line that needs to be resolved. Dusty is still such a smart-ass and is always getting in trouble because of it. Makes me laugh because she constantly says what she's thinking all the time. The love story is heating up in the sequel and why wouldn't it when it's "forbidden?" I like how there's always a running mystery then it's resolved by the end. Why don't I have book three on hand??? *dashes off to BookOutlet.ca*
June 1, 2014
***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato
A finished copy of the book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.
This was definitely one of my most awaited sequels for the year and when I got a copy in the mail, you would not believe how loud I screamed. When I finally got around to reading the book, I was so glad to not have been let down. I wouldn’t say it got better or worse, it was just the same level as awesome as The Nightmare Affair.
The events of the previous book resulted in making The Will disappear so now all the kinds have unlimited access to their magic and can do whatever they wish to, this has resulted in a making the differences between the dark kinds and the light kinds more evident and there seems to be a lot more hostility between the two groups.
Dusty remains her awesome self. She is such a likable female lead and her narration is definitely one of the plus points of the books. She has a tendency to make smart ass comments at inappropriate times because it’s her way of making things seem less serious, her coping mechanism. Dusty is so relateable though, she is afraid of things, she isn’t out to save the world but while she knows that she can use her powers to help, she will need time to think about things before jumping on board because wanting to help doesn’t automatically translate into your fear disappearing. One of the other things that makes her a great female lead is her ability to consider other possibilities and give people the benefit of doubt. Her vulnerabilities make her shine though, they show that she, in spite of the fact is a nightmare, is still human(????). She is still hurting over the events of the previous book and they have resulted in her having trust issues. She makes mistakes and is not perfect, in fact, even though her magic is powerful, she doesn’t have great control over it.
One of the major problems I initially had in this book was Selene and Eli’s behavior. Eli was running hot and cold. Which is not helpful. He wasn’t leading her on necessarily but he pulled the ‘we cannot be together’ stuff and that bothered me but you could really see how much he wanted to be with her, he didn’t try to hide that once they actually sat down and discussed their feelings but he remained cryptic about the reasons as to why they couldn’t be together until the end. Selene was keeping secrets for a large part of the book as well but as soon as I found out what they were, it was easy to forgive her because it was something personal to her, and while she and Dusty are best friends, Selene wasn’t ready to tell her what was going on and that is understandable.
With that said though, I love how the author chooses to portray Eli, he is gorgeous and gets a lot of attention from people but at the same time, there are plenty of people who don’t like him. Just because he is gorgeous doesn’t automatically translate to everyone liking him. People still give him a hard time over who he is and well, he isn’t perfect either. It really helps make Eli’s character down to Earth and makes him relateable as well because if you’ve navigated through the crowds of high school, you know what a mean bunch they can be sometimes.
Another notable character was, PAUL. I remember liking him in the first book and I liked him in this one too. I absolutely loved how Mindee tried to redeem him by not showing him as someone who was innocent but at someone who genuinely regretted what he had done. It didn’t change things, everyone was still vary of him but you could tell he regretted losing Dusty’s trust in him and would take it back if he could.
With that said though, there wasn’t a love triangle. It’s quite clear where Dusty’s affections lay. She might have felt something for Paul in the previous book but he killed what they could have had or perhaps they might have never gotten that far seeing that Dusty had always had feelings for Eli. I just hope that we get to see more of Eli and Dusty's relationship in the third (and if everything works out, not the last) book.
The plot is well paced and while the book does seem slow at points but like the previous book, it has a well written showdown that will keep you at the edge of your seat. It was exhilarating to the point where I was rocking back and forth trying to read at breakneck speed just to see how things would work out.
I was actually glad to see I hadn’t been able to guess who had been helping from the inside but hey, at least I knew who hadn’t been.
In the end though, this book was just as fun as its predecessor. I laughed, I flailed and I fangirled at the Star Wars references. With its fun narration, intriguing world and an interesting plot, this book was a winner and I cannot wait to get my hands on the third book in the series.
If you haven’t read the first book, stop, drop and (roll) read it!
A finished copy of the book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.
This was definitely one of my most awaited sequels for the year and when I got a copy in the mail, you would not believe how loud I screamed. When I finally got around to reading the book, I was so glad to not have been let down. I wouldn’t say it got better or worse, it was just the same level as awesome as The Nightmare Affair.
The events of the previous book resulted in making The Will disappear so now all the kinds have unlimited access to their magic and can do whatever they wish to, this has resulted in a making the differences between the dark kinds and the light kinds more evident and there seems to be a lot more hostility between the two groups.
Dusty remains her awesome self. She is such a likable female lead and her narration is definitely one of the plus points of the books. She has a tendency to make smart ass comments at inappropriate times because it’s her way of making things seem less serious, her coping mechanism. Dusty is so relateable though, she is afraid of things, she isn’t out to save the world but while she knows that she can use her powers to help, she will need time to think about things before jumping on board because wanting to help doesn’t automatically translate into your fear disappearing. One of the other things that makes her a great female lead is her ability to consider other possibilities and give people the benefit of doubt. Her vulnerabilities make her shine though, they show that she, in spite of the fact is a nightmare, is still human(????). She is still hurting over the events of the previous book and they have resulted in her having trust issues. She makes mistakes and is not perfect, in fact, even though her magic is powerful, she doesn’t have great control over it.
One of the major problems I initially had in this book was Selene and Eli’s behavior. Eli was running hot and cold. Which is not helpful. He wasn’t leading her on necessarily but he pulled the ‘we cannot be together’ stuff and that bothered me but you could really see how much he wanted to be with her, he didn’t try to hide that once they actually sat down and discussed their feelings but he remained cryptic about the reasons as to why they couldn’t be together until the end. Selene was keeping secrets for a large part of the book as well but as soon as I found out what they were, it was easy to forgive her because it was something personal to her, and while she and Dusty are best friends, Selene wasn’t ready to tell her what was going on and that is understandable.
With that said though, I love how the author chooses to portray Eli, he is gorgeous and gets a lot of attention from people but at the same time, there are plenty of people who don’t like him. Just because he is gorgeous doesn’t automatically translate to everyone liking him. People still give him a hard time over who he is and well, he isn’t perfect either. It really helps make Eli’s character down to Earth and makes him relateable as well because if you’ve navigated through the crowds of high school, you know what a mean bunch they can be sometimes.
Another notable character was, PAUL. I remember liking him in the first book and I liked him in this one too. I absolutely loved how Mindee tried to redeem him by not showing him as someone who was innocent but at someone who genuinely regretted what he had done. It didn’t change things, everyone was still vary of him but you could tell he regretted losing Dusty’s trust in him and would take it back if he could.
With that said though, there wasn’t a love triangle. It’s quite clear where Dusty’s affections lay. She might have felt something for Paul in the previous book but he killed what they could have had or perhaps they might have never gotten that far seeing that Dusty had always had feelings for Eli. I just hope that we get to see more of Eli and Dusty's relationship in the third (and if everything works out, not the last) book.
“Can we save the girl moment for later? Like after we save the world? We’re kind of in a hurry here.”
The plot is well paced and while the book does seem slow at points but like the previous book, it has a well written showdown that will keep you at the edge of your seat. It was exhilarating to the point where I was rocking back and forth trying to read at breakneck speed just to see how things would work out.
I was actually glad to see I hadn’t been able to guess who had been helping from the inside but hey, at least I knew who hadn’t been.
In the end though, this book was just as fun as its predecessor. I laughed, I flailed and I fangirled at the Star Wars references. With its fun narration, intriguing world and an interesting plot, this book was a winner and I cannot wait to get my hands on the third book in the series.
If you haven’t read the first book, stop, drop and (roll) read it!
January 6, 2015
Such a great book! Really enjoyed it a lot, love the stuff with Atlantis, and the effects of the Will being gone, and then Dusty's dreams, and how that helps! Can't wait for the final book!
July 3, 2019
3 star
Another school magical mystery. Who's behind causing the mermaid to go into a deep sleep. Who's behind a curse.
Dusty not sure if she can trust her dreams or not. Secret codes are in her dream.
Someone from her past makes his present again can he be trusted.
Just ok.
Another school magical mystery. Who's behind causing the mermaid to go into a deep sleep. Who's behind a curse.
Dusty not sure if she can trust her dreams or not. Secret codes are in her dream.
Someone from her past makes his present again can he be trusted.
Just ok.
October 10, 2015
Hmmmm, It was more like a 2* book for me but the last few pages made me feel generous!
I'm not quite sure what to say about this book. I thought I'd give it a day for it to settle in my mind so I could be sure it wasn't the enthusiasm of the moment that wrote this review. But right now, all I can remember is how much Dusty annoyed me in this book. She was constantly worrying about her boy problems and wasn't even paying attention to all the serious clues that were right in front of her eyes. And I don't even get why are these boys so into her! There is nothing special about her, and I don't even have a clear picture of her in my mind apart from a cloud of orange hair.
There were times I just wanted to shake her and start yelling "Get over it already!". I know this is how teenagers think, act and feel but I'm telling you it's really irritating. I'm getting too old for this teenage stuff.
Another thing that bothered me, is how we are constantly given clues and facts that don't actually mean anything come the end of the book. There were a few things like these in the previous book too, and I was under the (naive) impression that we would get some answers in the second book. Only we didn't. Maybe I'm expecting too much from authors being more like J.K.Rowling. That woman knew how to mind-blow you by using and explaning little things from previous books right where you didn't expect it! I remember wondering why Dumbledoor had James Potter's invisibility cloak in book 1 and Rowling just explained it to me in book 7! That woman is AMAZING!
I know it might seem unfair comparing this trilogy with the HP phenomenon, but I can't help it. The whole idea reminds me too much of the HP books. It's like the author wanted to write the next HP in a way nobody would actually think to compare it to HP.
Anyway, it was kinda entairtaining if you got over the parts where Dusty prooves she is just not the brightest which of her age (ok, I'm gonna stop with the Harry Potter references now). And the truth is that what happens in the end is keeping me interested. I want to know why! So I'll be reading the next book too.
August 2, 2016
3.5 Stars.
I read the first book, "The Nightmare Affair" for the "Cover 2 Cover Book Club" and rather enjoyed it so I figured I would give the second book a shot.
The beginning was a little rough and felt quite different than the first book, but as I continued to read it, it definitely improved and started to have more of the feel that I enjoyed from the first book. One thing that I thought was very interesting was the idea of prejudice among the different magic kinds. It reminded me of how there are prejudices among different races. The teens were just being completely ridiculous towards one another and it really was quite annoying, but I understood the author's point.
I wasn't really a fan of the drama in this book. It just was very eyeroll worthy. And there were times when things would happen and be blown out of proportions and I had no idea why and what was happening.
The relationships and characters... the angst was just not worth it honestly. I like Eli and all, but damn, he can't be playing with Dusty's emotions like that. And Paul... he's still a shady bastard in my book. As far as Selene, I used to really like her, but she got annoying and her viewpoint on things was very concerning, though I later kinda understand why she thinks the way she does. And for Dusty, she is still a good character in my book. I imagine myself to be like her in her situation, only smarter and wittier.
After reading the first book, I felt like it could have been a standalone, but now I can kinda see why it wasn't. The plot is definitely building up more and I can only hope that it gets better in the next book.
Disclaimer: I know this review kinda sucked ass, but it's been a month since I read this book, and I only vaguely remembered what happened and I waited a hella long time to write the review. Whoops
I read the first book, "The Nightmare Affair" for the "Cover 2 Cover Book Club" and rather enjoyed it so I figured I would give the second book a shot.
The beginning was a little rough and felt quite different than the first book, but as I continued to read it, it definitely improved and started to have more of the feel that I enjoyed from the first book. One thing that I thought was very interesting was the idea of prejudice among the different magic kinds. It reminded me of how there are prejudices among different races. The teens were just being completely ridiculous towards one another and it really was quite annoying, but I understood the author's point.
I wasn't really a fan of the drama in this book. It just was very eyeroll worthy. And there were times when things would happen and be blown out of proportions and I had no idea why and what was happening.
The relationships and characters... the angst was just not worth it honestly. I like Eli and all, but damn, he can't be playing with Dusty's emotions like that. And Paul... he's still a shady bastard in my book. As far as Selene, I used to really like her, but she got annoying and her viewpoint on things was very concerning, though I later kinda understand why she thinks the way she does. And for Dusty, she is still a good character in my book. I imagine myself to be like her in her situation, only smarter and wittier.
After reading the first book, I felt like it could have been a standalone, but now I can kinda see why it wasn't. The plot is definitely building up more and I can only hope that it gets better in the next book.
Disclaimer: I know this review kinda sucked ass, but it's been a month since I read this book, and I only vaguely remembered what happened and I waited a hella long time to write the review. Whoops
March 14, 2014
I really enjoyed The Nightmare Affair and thankfully The Nightmare Dilemma was even better!
Dusty, Eli and the rest of the Dream Team and for that matters the rest of the hiding magical society, are still recovering from the consequences of the battle with the evil sorcerer with the black phoenix pet and the break of the Will.
If I had liked Dusty before, I simply adored her in this one. She's got this quirky and sarcastic sense of humour and she's beginning to try and learn to put a filter between her brain and her mouth, but she's still hilarious. She's grown a bit since TNA and she continues to do so in this book but never losing that teeanage feel to her, with her dashes of rebellious attitude.
I liked Eli a lot more in this book than I did on the previous one. He came into his own, wasn't acting too stereoptypical and he even find a place for himself in the magical midst of Arkwell. It was very sweet the way the attraction and friendship mix was done between Eli and Dusty, and pretty heartwrenching too.
The plot mix of political manouvers, general danger and character interactions and relationships was done very well, and I really liked how despite the main plot was resolved and this book is a chapter in itself, you also get the feeling of the unrealized-as-of-now but constant threat that will come forward in the next book.
The Nightmare Dilemma was a great sequel, didn't suffer from the middle book syndrome at all, and progressed the characters development and relationships with a very engaging plot of its own. And as a bonus, no real cliffhanger. The ending leaves you feeling for the unfairness of it all, but doesn't leave you heartbroken without hope. Well deserved 4 stars!
Dusty, Eli and the rest of the Dream Team and for that matters the rest of the hiding magical society, are still recovering from the consequences of the battle with the evil sorcerer with the black phoenix pet and the break of the Will.
If I had liked Dusty before, I simply adored her in this one. She's got this quirky and sarcastic sense of humour and she's beginning to try and learn to put a filter between her brain and her mouth, but she's still hilarious. She's grown a bit since TNA and she continues to do so in this book but never losing that teeanage feel to her, with her dashes of rebellious attitude.
I liked Eli a lot more in this book than I did on the previous one. He came into his own, wasn't acting too stereoptypical and he even find a place for himself in the magical midst of Arkwell. It was very sweet the way the attraction and friendship mix was done between Eli and Dusty, and pretty heartwrenching too.
The plot mix of political manouvers, general danger and character interactions and relationships was done very well, and I really liked how despite the main plot was resolved and this book is a chapter in itself, you also get the feeling of the unrealized-as-of-now but constant threat that will come forward in the next book.
The Nightmare Dilemma was a great sequel, didn't suffer from the middle book syndrome at all, and progressed the characters development and relationships with a very engaging plot of its own. And as a bonus, no real cliffhanger. The ending leaves you feeling for the unfairness of it all, but doesn't leave you heartbroken without hope. Well deserved 4 stars!
Read
June 29, 2017DNF at page 15 and it took me 3 days to read those 15 pages. What a serious case of Second Book Syndrome. In those 15 pages the conversation has not even remotely progressed.
"Find out who she's dreaming about."
WHO ME?!
"Yes."
BUT WHY!?
"Because bad things."
Repeat that 70 times, sprinkle in the MC being as obtuse as absolutely possible, and you have what I can only assume continues on for the rest of the entire book.
"Find out who she's dreaming about."
WHO ME?!
"Yes."
BUT WHY!?
"Because bad things."
Repeat that 70 times, sprinkle in the MC being as obtuse as absolutely possible, and you have what I can only assume continues on for the rest of the entire book.
November 14, 2019
This took me almost a month to read because I had to set it aside and read things for grad school but I am so glad I'm finally done with it. Excited to finish the series!
April 2, 2024
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
It had been a while since I read the first book in this series, I think almost 10 years, but despite that, I decided to not re-read it before going into this book. I love re-reading books but I have actually read The Nightmare Affair twice, so I thought I would be okay. And I was! I had a vague memory of what went on in the last book, but this book also did a pretty good job of touching on the important things that happened in The Nightmare Affair , so I was very happy about that.
I was so glad to be back in this world! I forgot how fun it was! In the last book, the Will was broken so now magic is running rampant. For example, there’s a chair named Buster who is obsessed with Dusty’s friend Selene. Yes, you read that right. A chair.
I just love the magic in this book. The way inanimate objects basically have a mind of their own... It’s so fun! And I also love that a bunch of different supernatural creatures attend this school. Selene is a siren and Dusty is a literal Nightmare. It’s so cool!
I also really enjoyed the story because it had a mystery element to it. Dusty is not only trying to figure out who attacked one of her mermaid friends, but she’s also spying on her ex-boyfriend who was recently acquitted after the shenanigans he pulled in the last book. I was hooked! There were attacks and curses and spying...
I really enjoyed this book! The story and mystery were intriguing, plus the end of the book was action-packed, and you know I loved that! I also really liked the characters and the romance. The sexual tension between Duty and Eli... it was SO good! It was cute and Eli was charming! And I can’t believe I forgot how sassy Dusty was! I love her! There was this bit of information that was revealed to Dusty at the end of the book that gave me strong The Dark Artifices vibes. If you’ve read both this book and that series, you’ll know what I’m talking about. But anyway, the revelation made me sad because I really like these characters! Things worked out for the characters in TDA, so hopefully there’ll be a good solution in The Nightmare Charade . And I promise it won't take me another 10 years to read that one! 😆 I honestly can’t believe it took me this long to read this because I really enjoyed it! It’s just a fun world with interesting supernatural beings. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this series is going to wrap up!
It had been a while since I read the first book in this series, I think almost 10 years, but despite that, I decided to not re-read it before going into this book. I love re-reading books but I have actually read The Nightmare Affair twice, so I thought I would be okay. And I was! I had a vague memory of what went on in the last book, but this book also did a pretty good job of touching on the important things that happened in The Nightmare Affair , so I was very happy about that.
I was so glad to be back in this world! I forgot how fun it was! In the last book, the Will was broken so now magic is running rampant. For example, there’s a chair named Buster who is obsessed with Dusty’s friend Selene. Yes, you read that right. A chair.
I just love the magic in this book. The way inanimate objects basically have a mind of their own... It’s so fun! And I also love that a bunch of different supernatural creatures attend this school. Selene is a siren and Dusty is a literal Nightmare. It’s so cool!
I also really enjoyed the story because it had a mystery element to it. Dusty is not only trying to figure out who attacked one of her mermaid friends, but she’s also spying on her ex-boyfriend who was recently acquitted after the shenanigans he pulled in the last book. I was hooked! There were attacks and curses and spying...
I really enjoyed this book! The story and mystery were intriguing, plus the end of the book was action-packed, and you know I loved that! I also really liked the characters and the romance. The sexual tension between Duty and Eli... it was SO good! It was cute and Eli was charming! And I can’t believe I forgot how sassy Dusty was! I love her! There was this bit of information that was revealed to Dusty at the end of the book that gave me strong The Dark Artifices vibes. If you’ve read both this book and that series, you’ll know what I’m talking about. But anyway, the revelation made me sad because I really like these characters! Things worked out for the characters in TDA, so hopefully there’ll be a good solution in The Nightmare Charade . And I promise it won't take me another 10 years to read that one! 😆 I honestly can’t believe it took me this long to read this because I really enjoyed it! It’s just a fun world with interesting supernatural beings. I’m really looking forward to seeing how this series is going to wrap up!
February 10, 2014
Unfortunately, I didn't like this novel as much as I'd hoped I would. The romantic aspect of the book completely ruined it for me. And no offense to Twilight lovers, but it was like reading another Edward and Bella; and we all know how that went.
I was expecting a great paranormal mystery, but what I got instead was a book mainly focused on the romance rather than the actual plot.
Eli and Dusty constantly acted like a couple of rabbits in heat- they would have random spouts of lust and then stop all of a sudden. The only thing that Dusty could think about whenever she saw Eli was how it felt when he touched her. I felt that everything was just so sexually awkward in this book. And then Arnett introduces the "forbidden love" concept. Please, just no . Let me stop for a second and compare this to Twilight. Forbidden romance? Check. "Love" that first comes from lust? Check. The horrible love triangle that leaves people cringing? Check. (I have no idea why someone would be attracted to someone who tried to kill them... but everyone has their own tastes I guess.) Should have had more action but instead filled with awkward romance scenes? Check. Need I go on? I would preferred the romance that Deuce and Fade had from Enclave. At least they stayed true to each other all the way, and worked through their problems.
The book did have some decent parts. The action was fairly interesting, and the uncovering of the dreams was a bit intriguing. Sadly, it just didn't bring the "edge of my seat" kind of feeling.
This book could have been so much better, and I was sorely disappointed. I know that a lot of people will probably like the romance, but it's just unfortunately not my cup of tea. My opinions on the romance was more of a matter of personal preference, so I'd recommend this book to paranormal romance lovers who don't want as much action.
*Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for the free copy!*
I was expecting a great paranormal mystery, but what I got instead was a book mainly focused on the romance rather than the actual plot.
Eli and Dusty constantly acted like a couple of rabbits in heat- they would have random spouts of lust and then stop all of a sudden. The only thing that Dusty could think about whenever she saw Eli was how it felt when he touched her. I felt that everything was just so sexually awkward in this book. And then Arnett introduces the "forbidden love" concept. Please, just no . Let me stop for a second and compare this to Twilight. Forbidden romance? Check. "Love" that first comes from lust? Check. The horrible love triangle that leaves people cringing? Check. (I have no idea why someone would be attracted to someone who tried to kill them... but everyone has their own tastes I guess.) Should have had more action but instead filled with awkward romance scenes? Check. Need I go on? I would preferred the romance that Deuce and Fade had from Enclave. At least they stayed true to each other all the way, and worked through their problems.
The book did have some decent parts. The action was fairly interesting, and the uncovering of the dreams was a bit intriguing. Sadly, it just didn't bring the "edge of my seat" kind of feeling.
This book could have been so much better, and I was sorely disappointed. I know that a lot of people will probably like the romance, but it's just unfortunately not my cup of tea. My opinions on the romance was more of a matter of personal preference, so I'd recommend this book to paranormal romance lovers who don't want as much action.
*Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for the free copy!*
December 16, 2015
This is the second book in the Akwell Academy series, and I was so excited when I stumbled upon it in the library. I actually loved Paul in the first book, and knowing that he would be back in this book got me all hyped up. Of course, I wasn’t too happy that he was one of the bad guys, but hey, people could change, right? But anyway, this book was amazing, and honestly, it was better than the first book. I felt that there was so much more action in it, and not just romance.
Dusty is one of my favourite characters ever, because she’s just so sassy and brave. She kinda reminds me of myself, every time she accidentally said the wrong thing without thinking. But I loved how she’s the unlikely heroine in this book. She never thought of herself as the brave one, but she never backed down from any of the fights that she’s been in.
Eli, on the other hand, made me want to slap his head silly. His ever-changing mind reminds me of a typical jerk. One moment, he’s hot and the next, he’s cold. Like, no, make up your mind. But then again, he did explain his reason behind it, and I have to say, I was frustrated. But anyway, you’ll figure out why once you read this book.
But what I really really love about this book was the story plot. The previous one kinda bore me, because I wanted more action, and more spell-casting. And this book did not disappoint. It made me feel super scared and super excited at the same time, because omg omg I did not want anyone to die. And the events happening were described in great detail, that it feels like I was really there, inside the book, seeing it all happening. EEh, I’m getting pumped up just by thinking about it HAHA.
Read this book, guys. Then go on to the next one, and I really hope the next one will make me as on the edge as this book did.
Dusty is one of my favourite characters ever, because she’s just so sassy and brave. She kinda reminds me of myself, every time she accidentally said the wrong thing without thinking. But I loved how she’s the unlikely heroine in this book. She never thought of herself as the brave one, but she never backed down from any of the fights that she’s been in.
Eli, on the other hand, made me want to slap his head silly. His ever-changing mind reminds me of a typical jerk. One moment, he’s hot and the next, he’s cold. Like, no, make up your mind. But then again, he did explain his reason behind it, and I have to say, I was frustrated. But anyway, you’ll figure out why once you read this book.
But what I really really love about this book was the story plot. The previous one kinda bore me, because I wanted more action, and more spell-casting. And this book did not disappoint. It made me feel super scared and super excited at the same time, because omg omg I did not want anyone to die. And the events happening were described in great detail, that it feels like I was really there, inside the book, seeing it all happening. EEh, I’m getting pumped up just by thinking about it HAHA.
Read this book, guys. Then go on to the next one, and I really hope the next one will make me as on the edge as this book did.
October 13, 2014
A good follow up for its predecessor, The Nightmare Dilemma is fun and full of trouble!
Tensions are rising in Arkwell Academy with the magical restrictions gone, a mermaid hospitalized by being assaulted, and Lance being the accused. It's also hard to tell who's friend or foe when magic kind start taking sides against each other creating drama. Things get especially complicated for Eli and Dusty when they find out her ex-boyfriend is being released and returning to school.
As usual, Arnet writes a fast paced book, and it kept me interested! I knew something big was being led up to, but I felt things really began to get interesting, when Eli and Dusty's dreams become ominous and dark! Some strange stuff is going on in their heads, and a new teacher with some fascinating history makes things even more mysterious.
The tension between Eli, Dusty, and her ex felt more awkward than anything else since I really didn't feel Dusty's ex was a threat for Eli. (Which was a little relieving since I don't always like love triangles.)What frustrated me was that I felt that we were building up for Eli and Dusty, and when their relationship finally reached an important peak, all we got was a really bad (and cheesy) cop out which really ruined it for me.
I'm really hoping the third book won't make me angry...you will just have to see for yourselves though. :)
Tensions are rising in Arkwell Academy with the magical restrictions gone, a mermaid hospitalized by being assaulted, and Lance being the accused. It's also hard to tell who's friend or foe when magic kind start taking sides against each other creating drama. Things get especially complicated for Eli and Dusty when they find out her ex-boyfriend is being released and returning to school.
As usual, Arnet writes a fast paced book, and it kept me interested! I knew something big was being led up to, but I felt things really began to get interesting, when Eli and Dusty's dreams become ominous and dark! Some strange stuff is going on in their heads, and a new teacher with some fascinating history makes things even more mysterious.
The tension between Eli, Dusty, and her ex felt more awkward than anything else since I really didn't feel Dusty's ex was a threat for Eli. (Which was a little relieving since I don't always like love triangles.)What frustrated me was that I felt that we were building up for Eli and Dusty, and when their relationship finally reached an important peak, all we got was a really bad (and cheesy) cop out which really ruined it for me.
I'm really hoping the third book won't make me angry...you will just have to see for yourselves though. :)
June 14, 2014
4.5 stars. I didn't read the first book, so I was a somewhat of a disadvantage reading The Nightmare Dilemma. There was enough information for me to follow the story, but I was a bit perplexed at the very opening when Dusty is so rebellious that she isn't trying to help a friend who has been attacked. Not having read Nightmare Affair, I wasn't sure if there was a reason for her reluctance, or if she was just being immature. Throughout the book, her rebellious nature is often reactive, but as she is a younger teen, I felt it was the appropriate maturity level. I did like how her character could own up to her shortcomings and how her friends could call her on it. Eli was also typically male reactive in his responses to Dusty and Paul. It was interesting to see that Paul, despite being the bad guy, seemed more mature than the others. The story itself was engaging with a lot of grey areas and unknowns adding to the mystery, and takes a political turn into something much bigger than just the school. It was great seeing how Dusty and her friends had to work together and create alliances. I think Nightmare Dilemma is a terrific book for the younger teen audience as it depicts some of the harder realities of the world that they will just be discovering in their own lives.
March 29, 2014
The Nightmare Dilemma is a solid, entertaining sequel to The Nightmare Affair, beautifully avoiding some of the pitfalls so common in second books of a series and taking us on a complete journey with Dusty instead of leaving us on the final page but only mid-story overall. The synopsis is a bit misleading in a way that doesn’t do this book justice, giving readers the idea that we’ll have to deal with a love triangle when Dusty’s ex-boyfriend reenters the picture to give Eli a run for his money, but thankfully once we crack the spine we find no triangle in sight. Dusty’s ex does make a return appearance, however, Dusty’s history with him is a complicated one and she’s in no hurry to replace her anger with any type of rekindled romantic feelings, her every action in this story making us want to open our arms wide and simply hug her...
Full review available at: http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...
Full review available at: http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...
July 1, 2015
I was really a little worried starting this, since #2 can be a disappointment for me more often than not.
I wasn't really disappointed in this one. It was much like the first, so if you enjoyed that one...you're probably going to like this one.
(Is there a "but" coming? I feel like there is...)
BUT... It took a long time to really get going, and the cast of characters is much more limited this time. There are some interesting things set up for the finale, so I still have hopes. It just didn't grip me as much as the first one did.
I wasn't really disappointed in this one. It was much like the first, so if you enjoyed that one...you're probably going to like this one.
(Is there a "but" coming? I feel like there is...)
BUT... It took a long time to really get going, and the cast of characters is much more limited this time. There are some interesting things set up for the finale, so I still have hopes. It just didn't grip me as much as the first one did.
July 5, 2016
3.5 stars A good sequel and a cozy read.
December 21, 2019
such a great read although I am quite heartbroken. I love how this series wraps loose ends up without it seeming forced. I can't wait for the next one
July 5, 2014
Actual rating: 3.75
November 14, 2014
Eh bien, c'était fun! Je referme The Nightmare dilemma comme on rentre de voyage, encore émerveillé de ce qu'on a vu et impatient d'en parler.
Ce second tome prend place quelques mois après la fin de The Nightmare Affair, et n'est pas exempt des défauts inhérents aux suites de très bons premiers tomes.
Disons-le tout de suite : il est moins bon que le premier. C'est dit.
Mais il est tout de même génial. So... Let's go!
- Commençons par les rêves : J'aime toujours autant le concept. Et je sais, ce devrait être évident, mais je ne pense pas que cela le soit tant que ça.
Question : Cela ne vous est jamais arrivé de continuer à lire un livre dont vous n'aimez pas particulièrement le monde parce que l'histoire d'amour est adorable ?
Jamais?
Genre. *roll eyes*
Ce n'est pas le cas ici. Je suis heureuse d'annoncer que ce qui me plait le plus dans ce livre, eh bien c'est le monde créé par Mindee Arnett, son Arkwell Academy, la nature de Dream-Seer de Dusty et d'Elie, et leurs pérégrinations dans les rêves à la recherche d'indices. Malgré quelques longueurs parfois, je reste investie dans la résolution du mystère, du début à la fin. L'ambiance est sensiblement plus sombre dans ce second tome, les membres des trois familles de magiciens se recroquevillant sur eux-mêmes, ne faisant confiance qu'à leurs semblables. Cette évolution est crédible au vu de la fin du premier tome, et j'avoue qu'il me tarde de voir si les witchkind, les naturekind et les darkkind parviendront à vivre en harmonie.
"That was the problem with the true version of fairy tales - they managed to be even more gruesome than the original Brothers Grimm, and that was saying something."
- L'histoire maintenant : Il faut avouer que j'ai été moins emportée par le mystère à résoudre dans ce tome-ci, qui n'échappe pas aux défauts des seconds tomes de séries. Cependant, ce livre reste un formidable page-turner et m'a réservé quelques surprises bien agréables : comme toujours, je ne demande pas à un thriller de tout me cacher, mais j'apprécie de ne pas deviner l'intégralité de l'histoire avant la fin, si ce n'est pas trop demander. D'autant plus que tous les mystères ne sont pas résolus à la fin de ce tome.
- Arkwell Academy : Oh la la, il doit y avoir un espace particulier dans mon cœur qui se réveille en sursaut lorsque je lis des passages où les héros sont en cours de magie :
"Hydro-rhe." A jet of blue light shot out from my fingertips."
*giggle*
Tous ces petits détails qui font que le monde de Mindee Arnett est cohérent, qui m'apportent la sensation de rentrer dans un monde fantastique mais familier, rassurant, que j'apprécie et qui parvient à faire renaitre des sensations enfouies dans mon enfance de lectrice. D'autre part, l'auteur parvient à intégrer des mythes très connus sans jamais que cela semble du déjà-vu. Je ne sais pas vous, mais moi je trouve ça assez bien joué.
"Elie said as he brushed the ashen remains of the card off the table onto the floor. All the computers in the room beeped at once, the noise like a high-pitched foghorn going off. (...)
"I'm sorry!" Eli shouted to the room at large. It wasn't the first time one of us had upset the place. "I'll bring a vacuum next time. I promise!"
The computers beeped again in final scolding then fell silent.
"Great headquarters you got here," Lance said."
Maintenant que j'y pense, je crois que mon ordinateur souffre également d'un problème d'animation spontanée parfois. *sigh*
Passons maintenant aux personnages.
- Dusty : Un peu moins sarcastique dans ce second tome, d'aucuns diraient qu'elle mûrit, bon il faut avouer que je la préférais dans le premier tome ... Mais elle reste une héroïne tout à fait appréciable, qu'on prend plaisir à suivre.
Faut dire qu'elle parvient toujours à me faire rire :
"Fighting is against the rules," Gargrave said.
"No kidding, Captain Obvious," I said.
(...)
I had a feeling my sassy response didn't bother him half as much as the unintentional captain pun. I mean, how often is the person you say something like that to an actual captain?"
Et ce que j'apprécie par-dessus tout, c'est que ses réactions sont saines et compréhensibles. Allez, combien d'héroïnes engluées en plein mystère se concentrent réellement sur sa résolution? Si on est honnêtes, la plupart se déconnecte à un moment pour penser au(x) charmant(s) jeune(s) homme(s) qui gravite(nt) autour d'elles.
Dusty ne fait pas exception. Okay.
Mais il y a un moment où elle se dit "Bon, c'est pas la priorité pour l'instant", et même si oui j'aime les romances, eh bien je dois dire juste merci.
Parce que suis-je insensible de penser que si un meurtrier menaçait l'avenir de mes amis je n'aurais pas envie de perdre des heures à m'interroger sur les facéties de mon petit cœur de femme amoureuse?
Je ne crois pas que ce soit insensible. Je pense que c'est une réaction tout à fait naturelle. Parce que je ressens toujours quelques relents d'agacement quand je vois comment sont dépeintes les femmes dans ces livres parfois. Comme si du moment que l'homme que l'on aime est présent, cela nous suffit et on oublie tout le reste. Dusty n'oublie pas qu'il y a des vies en jeu et un mystère à éclaircir. Je l'apprécie énormément pour cela.
Donc Dusty, on est d'accord, fais ce qui doit être fait, on verra plus tard pour qui ton cœur bat le plus fort.Mais si j'ai mon mot à dire ce sera Elie. Tu as tout ton temps, choisis bien. Elie.
- Elie, donc ♥ : Hey! Chacun ses faiblesses hein^^. Faut que j'avoue que son petit côté enquêteur me fait sourire et même s'il a quelques réflexes d'alpha-male parfois, Dusty ne le laisse pas faire donc cela ne me dérange pas. J'ai trouvé son évolution dans ce tome très intéressante, et je dois dire que j'ai hâte de découvrir où tout cela nous mènera.Et il reste vraiment sexy.Bref, je l'aime bien celui-ci.
- Lance et Selene : Si la meilleure amie sirène de Dusty fait toujours partie intégrante de la Dream Team, sa présence est plus discrète dans ce tome. Il n'empêche que ses interventions sont toujours bien pensées, et au vu de la fin je me porte à espérer que son personnage reprendra plus d'importance dans le troisième tome. Quant à Lance, après l'avoir détesté dans The Nightmare Affair je dois dire qu'il m'a énormément amusé dans celui-ci, et que j'ai savouré ses petites batailles avec Dusty.
"Nuh-uh." Lance pointed a finger at me. "No way am I letting you mess around in my brain. You might incinerate it."
I rolled my eyes. "Like you'd even miss it."
- Paul : Qui? Hein?
Et vient le moment où je vois que la suite ne sort qu'en mars 2015 au plus tôt. Arg.
Cette série n'est pas un énorme coup de cœur, je pourrais vivre sans lire la suite mais rien que pour le sourire, cette sensation de légèreté qu'elle m'apporte, eh bien je ne regrette pas de l'avoir découverte. Du tout.
Ce second tome prend place quelques mois après la fin de The Nightmare Affair, et n'est pas exempt des défauts inhérents aux suites de très bons premiers tomes.
Disons-le tout de suite : il est moins bon que le premier. C'est dit.
Mais il est tout de même génial. So... Let's go!
- Commençons par les rêves : J'aime toujours autant le concept. Et je sais, ce devrait être évident, mais je ne pense pas que cela le soit tant que ça.
Question : Cela ne vous est jamais arrivé de continuer à lire un livre dont vous n'aimez pas particulièrement le monde parce que l'histoire d'amour est adorable ?
Jamais?
Genre. *roll eyes*
Ce n'est pas le cas ici. Je suis heureuse d'annoncer que ce qui me plait le plus dans ce livre, eh bien c'est le monde créé par Mindee Arnett, son Arkwell Academy, la nature de Dream-Seer de Dusty et d'Elie, et leurs pérégrinations dans les rêves à la recherche d'indices. Malgré quelques longueurs parfois, je reste investie dans la résolution du mystère, du début à la fin. L'ambiance est sensiblement plus sombre dans ce second tome, les membres des trois familles de magiciens se recroquevillant sur eux-mêmes, ne faisant confiance qu'à leurs semblables. Cette évolution est crédible au vu de la fin du premier tome, et j'avoue qu'il me tarde de voir si les witchkind, les naturekind et les darkkind parviendront à vivre en harmonie.
"That was the problem with the true version of fairy tales - they managed to be even more gruesome than the original Brothers Grimm, and that was saying something."
- L'histoire maintenant : Il faut avouer que j'ai été moins emportée par le mystère à résoudre dans ce tome-ci, qui n'échappe pas aux défauts des seconds tomes de séries. Cependant, ce livre reste un formidable page-turner et m'a réservé quelques surprises bien agréables : comme toujours, je ne demande pas à un thriller de tout me cacher, mais j'apprécie de ne pas deviner l'intégralité de l'histoire avant la fin, si ce n'est pas trop demander. D'autant plus que tous les mystères ne sont pas résolus à la fin de ce tome.
- Arkwell Academy : Oh la la, il doit y avoir un espace particulier dans mon cœur qui se réveille en sursaut lorsque je lis des passages où les héros sont en cours de magie :
"Hydro-rhe." A jet of blue light shot out from my fingertips."
*giggle*
Tous ces petits détails qui font que le monde de Mindee Arnett est cohérent, qui m'apportent la sensation de rentrer dans un monde fantastique mais familier, rassurant, que j'apprécie et qui parvient à faire renaitre des sensations enfouies dans mon enfance de lectrice. D'autre part, l'auteur parvient à intégrer des mythes très connus sans jamais que cela semble du déjà-vu. Je ne sais pas vous, mais moi je trouve ça assez bien joué.
"Elie said as he brushed the ashen remains of the card off the table onto the floor. All the computers in the room beeped at once, the noise like a high-pitched foghorn going off. (...)
"I'm sorry!" Eli shouted to the room at large. It wasn't the first time one of us had upset the place. "I'll bring a vacuum next time. I promise!"
The computers beeped again in final scolding then fell silent.
"Great headquarters you got here," Lance said."
Maintenant que j'y pense, je crois que mon ordinateur souffre également d'un problème d'animation spontanée parfois. *sigh*
Passons maintenant aux personnages.
- Dusty : Un peu moins sarcastique dans ce second tome, d'aucuns diraient qu'elle mûrit, bon il faut avouer que je la préférais dans le premier tome ... Mais elle reste une héroïne tout à fait appréciable, qu'on prend plaisir à suivre.
Faut dire qu'elle parvient toujours à me faire rire :
"Fighting is against the rules," Gargrave said.
"No kidding, Captain Obvious," I said.
(...)
I had a feeling my sassy response didn't bother him half as much as the unintentional captain pun. I mean, how often is the person you say something like that to an actual captain?"
Et ce que j'apprécie par-dessus tout, c'est que ses réactions sont saines et compréhensibles. Allez, combien d'héroïnes engluées en plein mystère se concentrent réellement sur sa résolution? Si on est honnêtes, la plupart se déconnecte à un moment pour penser au(x) charmant(s) jeune(s) homme(s) qui gravite(nt) autour d'elles.
Dusty ne fait pas exception. Okay.
Mais il y a un moment où elle se dit "Bon, c'est pas la priorité pour l'instant", et même si oui j'aime les romances, eh bien je dois dire juste merci.
Parce que suis-je insensible de penser que si un meurtrier menaçait l'avenir de mes amis je n'aurais pas envie de perdre des heures à m'interroger sur les facéties de mon petit cœur de femme amoureuse?
Je ne crois pas que ce soit insensible. Je pense que c'est une réaction tout à fait naturelle. Parce que je ressens toujours quelques relents d'agacement quand je vois comment sont dépeintes les femmes dans ces livres parfois. Comme si du moment que l'homme que l'on aime est présent, cela nous suffit et on oublie tout le reste. Dusty n'oublie pas qu'il y a des vies en jeu et un mystère à éclaircir. Je l'apprécie énormément pour cela.
Donc Dusty, on est d'accord, fais ce qui doit être fait, on verra plus tard pour qui ton cœur bat le plus fort.
- Elie, donc ♥ : Hey! Chacun ses faiblesses hein^^. Faut que j'avoue que son petit côté enquêteur me fait sourire et même s'il a quelques réflexes d'alpha-male parfois, Dusty ne le laisse pas faire donc cela ne me dérange pas. J'ai trouvé son évolution dans ce tome très intéressante, et je dois dire que j'ai hâte de découvrir où tout cela nous mènera.
- Lance et Selene : Si la meilleure amie sirène de Dusty fait toujours partie intégrante de la Dream Team, sa présence est plus discrète dans ce tome. Il n'empêche que ses interventions sont toujours bien pensées, et au vu de la fin je me porte à espérer que son personnage reprendra plus d'importance dans le troisième tome. Quant à Lance, après l'avoir détesté dans The Nightmare Affair je dois dire qu'il m'a énormément amusé dans celui-ci, et que j'ai savouré ses petites batailles avec Dusty.
"Nuh-uh." Lance pointed a finger at me. "No way am I letting you mess around in my brain. You might incinerate it."
I rolled my eyes. "Like you'd even miss it."
- Paul : Qui? Hein?
Et vient le moment où je vois que la suite ne sort qu'en mars 2015 au plus tôt. Arg.
Cette série n'est pas un énorme coup de cœur, je pourrais vivre sans lire la suite mais rien que pour le sourire, cette sensation de légèreté qu'elle m'apporte, eh bien je ne regrette pas de l'avoir découverte. Du tout.
June 8, 2017
While I like a good mystery, the romance is a little over the top. Also, I would think that the magickind wouldn't be as racist anymore but apparently hatred runs deep. I mean they live in the same school surrounded by different creatures just about 24 7 and they still don't know how to get along. Also they say that the younger generation is more impressionable so I really have to look at the parents and see if they have a good influence on their view point, which I have to say I not seen from them at all. Even though change is slow, it still happens but it seems to be regressing. The students are really reflecting their parents viewpoints, it is said that peace starts at home so I have to wonder.
On top of that, I've read so many books that for some reason the couple get separated, they can still come together in some way. Though there is a curse, they will find a way around it, eventually. Dusty is rebellious enough that through shear determination, she will get through this; Eli is another story of what he's willing to do in order to be with her.
I have some speculation about true names that I want to share, there is a discussion about the fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin between Dusty and her teacher and the power of true names. He had explained that with the power of the name, the witch was able to make the imp rip himself in half; something that would have been impossible if Rumple had cast the spell on himself. So if Dusty wanted the sword destroyed, and she had it's true name, she could potentially command it to destroy itself. However I believe the reason why it wasn't destroyed before was because it was too powerful for whatever anyone else throw at it, with the exception of it's own power.
This brings me to another detail, is Dusty, if she figures this out for herself, willing to do it? The sword is a vessel for a ghost and thus has a will and is able to take over Dusty, so there's another problem, even she does figure out a way to destroy the sword, the big question is will it let her? This is an ancient sword and must have seen many things, so it must have a powerful will; there is a good chance that it could take over and stop her from destroying it, convincing her that the world still needs it in order for self preservation. At the end of the book, she has a dream, not dream-sheering, about Eli and Excalibur. Dream Eli wouldn't approach her approach as long as she held it so I wonder if it's saying that as long as she has it, it will be the wedge that will end up with them killing each other just like their curse would dictate.
On top of that, I've read so many books that for some reason the couple get separated, they can still come together in some way. Though there is a curse, they will find a way around it, eventually. Dusty is rebellious enough that through shear determination, she will get through this; Eli is another story of what he's willing to do in order to be with her.
I have some speculation about true names that I want to share, there is a discussion about the fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin between Dusty and her teacher and the power of true names. He had explained that with the power of the name, the witch was able to make the imp rip himself in half; something that would have been impossible if Rumple had cast the spell on himself. So if Dusty wanted the sword destroyed, and she had it's true name, she could potentially command it to destroy itself. However I believe the reason why it wasn't destroyed before was because it was too powerful for whatever anyone else throw at it, with the exception of it's own power.
This brings me to another detail, is Dusty, if she figures this out for herself, willing to do it? The sword is a vessel for a ghost and thus has a will and is able to take over Dusty, so there's another problem, even she does figure out a way to destroy the sword, the big question is will it let her? This is an ancient sword and must have seen many things, so it must have a powerful will; there is a good chance that it could take over and stop her from destroying it, convincing her that the world still needs it in order for self preservation. At the end of the book, she has a dream, not dream-sheering, about Eli and Excalibur. Dream Eli wouldn't approach her approach as long as she held it so I wonder if it's saying that as long as she has it, it will be the wedge that will end up with them killing each other just like their curse would dictate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2017
I want to start off by saying that I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and a little quirky. The story moved fairly quick with some well placed plot points and an unintentional (hopefully) plot hole or two. Though the characters are dynamic and interesting, I felt that there were places where they could have been given more of a personality. Some of the dialog between Selene and Dusty felt a little forced, like it was out of character for them. I think that some of that feeling might be from them dealing with the aftermath of the last book. But the weird dynamics between Dusty and Eli this time around made for some seriously awkward moments. **mini rant** I really hate the "forbidden love, but let's get together anyway and screw the consequences" trope. It is so freaking cliched in YA books. I don't see why this had to happen for this series. Sure there is a little something there between Eli and Dusty, but I feel like it's being exacerbated by Dusty's rebellious nature. I didn't feel like there was enough chemistry between them to warrant them getting together. I felt more chemistry between Dusty and Paul. Even though Paul did some bad things to gain access to his powers, he was genuinely trying to help in this book. And he deserves a second chance, just like Dusty said. **end rant** Overall I give this book a 3.75 stars. I think if that trope hadn't been mixed into this story, I might have given this a 4.25 stars.
March 30, 2020
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
Short and Simple Review
Sigh. I reread book one to get ready for this book and you know what, it just wasn't worth it. This book wasn't terrible, but I felt like I was forcing myself to read it. I didn't care about the characters. The setting, which was kind of charming in the first book, felt more like a Harry Potter knock-off. The main thing that bothered me was that the mystery just wasn't there. Yes, there were some intriguing elements, like the dreams. The dreams were still interesting and I was curious why Dusty kept dreaming the same image. But, most of the book was just our Dream Team (as our cast calls themselves) running around, breaking into things to get "clues", and getting in trouble. On repeat. There was also an awful lot of info-dumping, especially for a sequel. We get more romance in this book but I really didn't care. In fact, I skipped the scenes with kissing because it just didn't move the plot at all. In fact, a lot of scenes did absolutely nothing for the plot.
I think if I read this book when it first came out I would have liked this book a lot more. When I first read The Nightmare Affair, I loved it. But when I reread it (seven years later) it was just a solid three stars. I think it just comes down to this book being forgettable to me. I just read this book and I had trouble thinking of the characters' names!
I don't plan on continuing the series.
Short and Simple Review
Sigh. I reread book one to get ready for this book and you know what, it just wasn't worth it. This book wasn't terrible, but I felt like I was forcing myself to read it. I didn't care about the characters. The setting, which was kind of charming in the first book, felt more like a Harry Potter knock-off. The main thing that bothered me was that the mystery just wasn't there. Yes, there were some intriguing elements, like the dreams. The dreams were still interesting and I was curious why Dusty kept dreaming the same image. But, most of the book was just our Dream Team (as our cast calls themselves) running around, breaking into things to get "clues", and getting in trouble. On repeat. There was also an awful lot of info-dumping, especially for a sequel. We get more romance in this book but I really didn't care. In fact, I skipped the scenes with kissing because it just didn't move the plot at all. In fact, a lot of scenes did absolutely nothing for the plot.
I think if I read this book when it first came out I would have liked this book a lot more. When I first read The Nightmare Affair, I loved it. But when I reread it (seven years later) it was just a solid three stars. I think it just comes down to this book being forgettable to me. I just read this book and I had trouble thinking of the characters' names!
I don't plan on continuing the series.
March 14, 2022
2.5 Stars
2.5 stars is being... generous.
This wasn't the best book, in my opinion. Nothing bad really, it was just... boring. I forced myself to finish it, obviously, but this book just felt a lot like Harry Potter- and not in a good way.
There were just way too many similarities. For one, Mr. Corvus just felt a lot like Professor Mad Eye. They both have an eye missing, both are very strict and, well, bipolar. And then the whole phoenix deal. I don't know, but there was a lot more, and although I am a HUGE fan of HP (don't get me wrong), I just couldn't help but think this was a bad carbon copy of the series.
The sad part? Book one was so much better, and I really hate it when I like a first book in the series, but the next one/s aren't really my fan-favorite.
Maybe I'll go back after I read some other books and continue onto the last book in this series; it wasn't absolutely dreadful, but for now?
Not exactly my fav.
2.5 stars is being... generous.
This wasn't the best book, in my opinion. Nothing bad really, it was just... boring. I forced myself to finish it, obviously, but this book just felt a lot like Harry Potter- and not in a good way.
There were just way too many similarities. For one, Mr. Corvus just felt a lot like Professor Mad Eye. They both have an eye missing, both are very strict and, well, bipolar. And then the whole phoenix deal. I don't know, but there was a lot more, and although I am a HUGE fan of HP (don't get me wrong), I just couldn't help but think this was a bad carbon copy of the series.
The sad part? Book one was so much better, and I really hate it when I like a first book in the series, but the next one/s aren't really my fan-favorite.
Maybe I'll go back after I read some other books and continue onto the last book in this series; it wasn't absolutely dreadful, but for now?
Not exactly my fav.
September 24, 2017
I really enjoyed this second book! It continues our story of Dusty - a Nightmare - a magical being who feeds off people's dreams. Dusty is also a dream seer - basically really special because with her partner they can see prophecies/see things before they happen. One thing I do enjoy about this series though, is that Dusty isn't a special snowflake - she really isn't good at magic and being a dream seer, half the time she can't tell what her dreams mean and misses the clues. She is however a realistic teen - as realistic as she can be with magic - and struggles with crushes and friendships. Dusty does develop more in this instalment and I really enjoyed seeing her grow - although she did get annoying at points, but I think it's because when you're older you have 20/20 vision. I enjoyed the side characters as well, but I wish we got to know them more.
The plot was quite enjoyable - if a little formulaic, but I still liked it. Dusty encounters a new mystery to solve and has to use her sleuthing skills to figure out what is going on with some students on campus. We do end up learning more about the world of the magic-kind and I really like how the author integrated the magical with the ordinary world.
Overall, enjoyable, and definitely a fun, easy, read.
The plot was quite enjoyable - if a little formulaic, but I still liked it. Dusty encounters a new mystery to solve and has to use her sleuthing skills to figure out what is going on with some students on campus. We do end up learning more about the world of the magic-kind and I really like how the author integrated the magical with the ordinary world.
Overall, enjoyable, and definitely a fun, easy, read.
November 22, 2018
the more I read this series, the more I hate it. honestly
oh no, we cant be together because...
random curse.
also, why does her name have to be Destiny? Every main character in every book has dumb names. "My character has to be special so they get a weird name" said every author.
also what is with ever single character being the height of mankind and sacrificing themselves for the greater of humanity. seriously? who does that? trying extra hard to make your main character be the best person on earth is going to downplay the "miss-relatable" part of every main character, essential in any "good" book. is this book from wattpad?
shut the fuck up and be a real person and not just a perfect little do gooder.
im so nice.
:D
oh no, we cant be together because...
random curse.
also, why does her name have to be Destiny? Every main character in every book has dumb names. "My character has to be special so they get a weird name" said every author.
also what is with ever single character being the height of mankind and sacrificing themselves for the greater of humanity. seriously? who does that? trying extra hard to make your main character be the best person on earth is going to downplay the "miss-relatable" part of every main character, essential in any "good" book. is this book from wattpad?
shut the fuck up and be a real person and not just a perfect little do gooder.
im so nice.
:D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2018
Dusty, Eli, and Selene are contentedly attending classes when Dusty is informed that Paul Kirkwood has been released. In the first book, Paul (a siren) was Dusty's boyfriend turned traitor and was thought to have a long term in prison. With the help of his evil Uncle, he was released early. Things go downhill from there when the trio discover a plot to kill the Consul/President so that Uncle Titus can take over and destroy all the progress the magickinds have made with the normal folk. Eli also reveals to Dusty why they can never be together. Another non-stop exciting tale at Arkwell Academy.
July 30, 2021
I finally came across something familiar, in the last chapter, a line I recognized only since I had written down bc it had been so heart-wrenching to me at the time. Other than that, the entire plot really did not ring any bells.
Also, no offense to the Dream Team, but they are idiots for not figuring out what Terra Tribe means. Selene has literally been taking Latin for two years, can translate an entire sentence in her head, yet she nor any of them could guess what the TERRA Tribe might be about? Given that there’s rising tensions between kinds, including NATUREkinds??? Smh, learn your roots.
Also, no offense to the Dream Team, but they are idiots for not figuring out what Terra Tribe means. Selene has literally been taking Latin for two years, can translate an entire sentence in her head, yet she nor any of them could guess what the TERRA Tribe might be about? Given that there’s rising tensions between kinds, including NATUREkinds??? Smh, learn your roots.
June 30, 2017
I had the same feelings for this book as I had for The Nightmare Affair, which wasn't bad but it was not wonderful either. It was a good story overall and well-written, though its not particularly memorable or anything. Its the type you find at the library JUST 'CAUSE and something you read because you're a reader and thats what you do.
I also read this one a few months back and have not picked up the third book, nor do I plan to do so.
I also read this one a few months back and have not picked up the third book, nor do I plan to do so.
December 20, 2016
3.5 is more suited to my feelings about this book. I liked it a lot more than the first one but not quite a 4 star for me. I liked how the story progressed and the theme that continued in this one but some things made me roll my eyes (slightly). Overall it was a nice read and I plan on reading the last one soon (-ish)!
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