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A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dreamspawn
The evil Freddy Krueger once again stalks the inhabitants of Elm Street, finding his prey in the world of their nightmares.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 26, 2005
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654 people want to read
About the author
Christa Faust
79 books398 followersChrista Faust is an American author who writes original novels, as well as novelizations and media tie-ins.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 24, 2018
This truly read like an author who'd been given the chance to pen a Freddy Krueger novel - spent a weekend viewing the movies, then took out an unfinished manuscript and shoved the character into the final act.
This book isn't about Freddy. It's not even about nightmares. It's about young girls finding their place in high school. Geek girls getting their own back on the popular ones. Freddy comes in as a 'means to an end' near the end and with a few spurts of blood and grotesque kills, seems to want to justify his late inclusion. It doesn't.
If you took the Freddy element out completely, you have an interesting book, exploring how vicious high school can be for young girls.
As a Nightmare On Elm Street novel, it fails on almost every level.
This book isn't about Freddy. It's not even about nightmares. It's about young girls finding their place in high school. Geek girls getting their own back on the popular ones. Freddy comes in as a 'means to an end' near the end and with a few spurts of blood and grotesque kills, seems to want to justify his late inclusion. It doesn't.
If you took the Freddy element out completely, you have an interesting book, exploring how vicious high school can be for young girls.
As a Nightmare On Elm Street novel, it fails on almost every level.
October 20, 2016
This one disappointed me just a little. While it wasn't bad overall, the first half of the book read like a Young Adult novel, and not even a horror novel. It just dealt with high school cliques and talked about the worst of today's teenagers, or at the least the stereotypes.
It did get better once Freddy starts to make longer appearances, but even then it felt like something was missing. It was almost like this was an angst filled Young Adult novel and Freddy was just thrown in as an afterthought. Now, that being said, I do understand that some of the teenage drama was necessary in order to build the story up for the conclusion, but to me it felt like it dragged on too long.
This wasn't bad at all, I just thought it could have been better. Now that I think about it, I guess several of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies played out like YA novels with all the angst and teenage tropes and such. If you're a fan of the movies and of Freddy, it's worth reading for sure. Just be prepared to wade though some teenage girl angst before you get to the scary parts. (Or is that vice versa? lol)
It did get better once Freddy starts to make longer appearances, but even then it felt like something was missing. It was almost like this was an angst filled Young Adult novel and Freddy was just thrown in as an afterthought. Now, that being said, I do understand that some of the teenage drama was necessary in order to build the story up for the conclusion, but to me it felt like it dragged on too long.
This wasn't bad at all, I just thought it could have been better. Now that I think about it, I guess several of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies played out like YA novels with all the angst and teenage tropes and such. If you're a fan of the movies and of Freddy, it's worth reading for sure. Just be prepared to wade though some teenage girl angst before you get to the scary parts. (Or is that vice versa? lol)
June 21, 2020
The book was much better than I expected it to be, and for the most part had an interesting plot going on. Then things just turned into a crazy bloodbath, the likes of which Freddy could only dream but not realistically (even in a movie) pull off. As the story went along the language also degraded more and more and the carnage played out like a bullied teenager would write in an effort to get revenge on their tormentors. Still, it was a fun read, better than many of the movie sequels.
June 7, 2017
Christa Faust delivers an enjoyable read with Dreamspawn. The writing style is visual, and engaging. While I liked it quite a bit, it sadly missed the mark in a few places.
What I didn't like?
The first half of the book, literally the first 200 pages, read like a young adult, feminist coming of age story. A good coming of age story, but a coming of age story none the less. Aside from the prologue, Freddy doesn't show up until halfway in.
The second thing that turned me off was the way that a lot of the "in crowd" were written. Even when they are the point of view characters they come across as absurd caricatures, which lends a feeling of immaturity to the writing. The strong "us vs them" feel is something I would have eaten up in high school, but not so much as a grown man.
Lastly, and this is nitpicky, the book places Springwood in California. There is some precedence for this as the first film is riddled with palm trees, but later films establish the location of Springwood as Ohio. This little tidbit took me out of the story hard,
So what did I like?
The characterization of the protagonist and her friends was excellent. They were sympathetic and believable, even as you knew Faust was setting most of them up for a bloody death.
Once Freddy finally does show up things get pretty awesome. Faust does an excellent job capturing the atmosphere of the dreams from the films and rendering Krueger in the written word.
And most of all, I enjoyed the way she wraps everything up in the aftermath of the violence. I should have seen it coming a mile away, but I didn't. Beautiful, organic, and brilliant set up.
Honestly this book could have easily been a four, but I gave it a three because the first half was kind of tough to get through. A little more Freddy would have gone a long way.
What I didn't like?
The first half of the book, literally the first 200 pages, read like a young adult, feminist coming of age story. A good coming of age story, but a coming of age story none the less. Aside from the prologue, Freddy doesn't show up until halfway in.
The second thing that turned me off was the way that a lot of the "in crowd" were written. Even when they are the point of view characters they come across as absurd caricatures, which lends a feeling of immaturity to the writing. The strong "us vs them" feel is something I would have eaten up in high school, but not so much as a grown man.
Lastly, and this is nitpicky, the book places Springwood in California. There is some precedence for this as the first film is riddled with palm trees, but later films establish the location of Springwood as Ohio. This little tidbit took me out of the story hard,
So what did I like?
The characterization of the protagonist and her friends was excellent. They were sympathetic and believable, even as you knew Faust was setting most of them up for a bloody death.
Once Freddy finally does show up things get pretty awesome. Faust does an excellent job capturing the atmosphere of the dreams from the films and rendering Krueger in the written word.
And most of all, I enjoyed the way she wraps everything up in the aftermath of the violence. I should have seen it coming a mile away, but I didn't. Beautiful, organic, and brilliant set up.
Honestly this book could have easily been a four, but I gave it a three because the first half was kind of tough to get through. A little more Freddy would have gone a long way.
August 17, 2020
Without any intentions of sounding sexist, I do not enjoy reading female authors work. I tried Anne Rice, did not care for it and now Christa Faust. If someone can suggest another I will give it one more try.
With that said, the first half of this book had NOTHING to do with Freddy. It spent way too much time building characters of 2 high school girls and their tribulations of self imagery, bullying, boys and dealing with their parents and society. Within a few chapters towards the end, Freddy had a blood bath and a few clever kills, but then the epilogue continued on with the authors own agenda of how media distorts the truth. If anyone remembers the Nightmare On Elm St tv series, this was more like that. A story line that had nothing to do with Freddy except tying in him somehow in order to encompass the horror genre fans.
With that said, the first half of this book had NOTHING to do with Freddy. It spent way too much time building characters of 2 high school girls and their tribulations of self imagery, bullying, boys and dealing with their parents and society. Within a few chapters towards the end, Freddy had a blood bath and a few clever kills, but then the epilogue continued on with the authors own agenda of how media distorts the truth. If anyone remembers the Nightmare On Elm St tv series, this was more like that. A story line that had nothing to do with Freddy except tying in him somehow in order to encompass the horror genre fans.
October 2, 2007
I was pleasantly surprised by the elaborateness of this story. This is what the Nightmare movies should have been like. I would read more from this author.
October 8, 2010
I love thisd book its amazing nightmare on elm street is one of the best books I ever read.
February 5, 2024
Getting this book was more of a lucky chance than anything. I'm not disclosing the entire story, but basically I won it in a giveaway, which saved me over 100 bucks on Amazon. I've been wanting to get some of these Black Flame books for a long time, but they cost too much for me to buy on my own. Now that I've finally got one and read it, I've come to say that, unlike a pretty large majority of people, I actually liked this book.
Random and unrelated Freddy quote: "'I'll be paying you each a very special visit. You won't get away with this" (Faust, 233).
Christa Faust is kind of a new face in terms of authors; I've never read any of her other work. Maybe this book will encourage me to try and seek out her other books (more specifically, her Black Flame work--Snakes on a Plane, Friday the 13th: The Jason Strain, etc--if I can find them). Her writing in this book, especially on both the prologue and epilogue, is great. Well, not amazing, but still pretty good.
I understand why this book is conflicting; Also, there's a lot of character development, which, while I like, can get a little much at times; two chapters involve it, and are on characters who are barely in the book. TWO. Freddy doesn't pop up until around 200 pages, and the book is missing a lot of kills, but that's okay, in my opinion.
I'm with the one reviewer who says it's not focused heavily on Freddy. While a lot of Freddy is good, it also leaves the chance to have too much of him in there, causing a fatigue for how much he's in it.
The characters are pretty well developed enough to make you care for them. There's a couple of references I liked (those who read this book might agree, even if it becomes dated by them). One little thing I like are, funny enough, the little advertisements inside this book. Seeing the other books Black Flame put out--as well as some pictures of them--makes me wonder if one day this and the others will get reprinted for new fans.
Also, there's If you find this, read it. Even if you hate it, just read it. Keep it if you have to. Because these books'll probably never see the light of day in the future ever again if they stop being sold.
Pleasant dreams...
Random and unrelated Freddy quote: "'I'll be paying you each a very special visit. You won't get away with this" (Faust, 233).
March 28, 2022
Wow....this was so not good.
It felt like Freddy was added into the story purely to sell the book. And let's be honest, it wasn't Freddy - it was a character called Freddy who looked like Freddy from Nightmare on Elm Street, but was nothing like the Freddy we know and love. The kills that he was supposed to have done are so....not Freddy.
I keep writing things and deleting them - just....no. Bad book!
It felt like Freddy was added into the story purely to sell the book. And let's be honest, it wasn't Freddy - it was a character called Freddy who looked like Freddy from Nightmare on Elm Street, but was nothing like the Freddy we know and love. The kills that he was supposed to have done are so....not Freddy.
I keep writing things and deleting them - just....no. Bad book!
July 30, 2022
This one disappointed me just a little. While it wasn't bad overall, the first half of the book read like a Young Adult novel, and not even a horror novel. It just dealt with high school cliques and talked about the worst of today's teenagers, or at the least the stereotypes.
It did get better once Freddy starts to make longer appearances, but even then it felt like something was missing. It was almost like this was an angst filled Young Adult novel and Freddy was just thrown in as an afterthought. Now, that being said, I do understand that some of the teenage drama was necessary in order to build the story up for the conclusion, but to me it felt like it dragged on too long.
This wasn't bad at all, I just thought it could have been better. Now that I think about it, I guess several of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies played out like YA novels with all the angst and teenage tropes and such. If you're a fan of the movies and of Freddy, it's worth reading for sure. Just be prepared to wade though some teenage girl angst before you get to the scary parts. (Or is that vice versa? lol)
It did get better once Freddy starts to make longer appearances, but even then it felt like something was missing. It was almost like this was an angst filled Young Adult novel and Freddy was just thrown in as an afterthought. Now, that being said, I do understand that some of the teenage drama was necessary in order to build the story up for the conclusion, but to me it felt like it dragged on too long.
This wasn't bad at all, I just thought it could have been better. Now that I think about it, I guess several of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies played out like YA novels with all the angst and teenage tropes and such. If you're a fan of the movies and of Freddy, it's worth reading for sure. Just be prepared to wade though some teenage girl angst before you get to the scary parts. (Or is that vice versa? lol)
July 7, 2023
Technically I'm putting this closer to 3.75 stars but overall it wasn't terrible. I did enjoy a lot of the character work, and the way Freddy was utilized in the overall story, but the kills left me alternately bored or annoyed, and the epilogue overstayed its welcome, it could have been much shorter.
February 7, 2018
almost exactly like the movie and brings back the times of the great thriilers
March 23, 2023
Freddy’s kinda just there at the end and the false rape accusation story really rubbed me the wrong way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2021
The first half doesn't have much to do with Freddy but does play a part in character development. The second half ramps up and evil, dark Freddy unleashes on the school students. Dream sequences are creepy and the one liners flow but not too comedic. The death count is massive and sadistic Freddy reigns and runs amok. Happy that this series continues and any Freddy is good Freddy.
September 9, 2015
I was deathly afraid of Freddy Kruger as a child. As an adult, he has become a fascination. I checked this book out to see if I was still scared of him. Turns out books about Freddy Kruger are way easier to get through than movies about him, and they're fun to read in the same way I imagine a romance novel is fun to read for those who like them.
February 28, 2008
thrilling..
Read
September 22, 2011Read
Want to read
October 13, 2011i want to read this ghetto book sooooooooooo badly
Read
February 6, 2014I cant read it !
May 12, 2016
Freddy is the best, how frightening is it when the monster can get into your dreams? It makes me want more Freddy movies, keep this guy coming.
April 1, 2017
This second book in the series was not as good as the first book. The first book did a good job or continuing the story from the Freddy vs Jason movie. This second book can stand alone. You do not need to read the first book in the series to read this one.
The start of this book was great. It actually created a situation that had the reader rooting for Freddy in the opening chapter. Then the next 200 pages have almost nothing to do with Freddy. It read more like a young adult book about situations with popular teenagers picking others and how those being picked on find others to befriend.
The second half of the book gets more involved with Freddy and how he ties into the opening chapter that is ignored for the next 200 pages. The second half was closer to what I expected from a Nightmare on Elm Street book, but it never quite had the atmosphere and uncomfortable environment that the author of the first book was able to create.
I'm on to the 3rd book in the series now.
The start of this book was great. It actually created a situation that had the reader rooting for Freddy in the opening chapter. Then the next 200 pages have almost nothing to do with Freddy. It read more like a young adult book about situations with popular teenagers picking others and how those being picked on find others to befriend.
The second half of the book gets more involved with Freddy and how he ties into the opening chapter that is ignored for the next 200 pages. The second half was closer to what I expected from a Nightmare on Elm Street book, but it never quite had the atmosphere and uncomfortable environment that the author of the first book was able to create.
I'm on to the 3rd book in the series now.
Read
October 2, 2018it was a good book.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews