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Sparkles of Blue: Sleeper Chronicles
That whole thing of being a Sleeper wasn’t my choice, and I was longing for the previous simple life, when my dreams and nightmares were just dreams and nightmares, ending as soon as I woke up. Now everything was different. My consciousness was bouncing between two worlds, and I was forced to live two lives as one. That wasn’t easy.
My days in London used to be grey and unremarkable – I was just another mere office worker doing my job as thousands of others. I was happy to hide in the crowd and live without attracting attention, but now each night my mind was somehow transferred to Rehen – the alien world – where I was at the very centre of everybody’s attention. I didn’t like that. At first, I wasn’t entirely sure if that world was real or only a product of my swollen imagination. But then I found others living the same cycle. It was a permanent curse without the slightest chance to break free.
My name is Kyle Firestone and I am a Sleeper. You? Have you ever dreamed of Rehen? If not, this story is a warning for you – be careful with your life and don’t trust anyone.
My days in London used to be grey and unremarkable – I was just another mere office worker doing my job as thousands of others. I was happy to hide in the crowd and live without attracting attention, but now each night my mind was somehow transferred to Rehen – the alien world – where I was at the very centre of everybody’s attention. I didn’t like that. At first, I wasn’t entirely sure if that world was real or only a product of my swollen imagination. But then I found others living the same cycle. It was a permanent curse without the slightest chance to break free.
My name is Kyle Firestone and I am a Sleeper. You? Have you ever dreamed of Rehen? If not, this story is a warning for you – be careful with your life and don’t trust anyone.
- GenresFantasy
381 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 29, 2018
Publisher: BooksGoSocial
Publishing Date: January 2017
ISBN: 9781999737702
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 2.7/5
Publishers Description: The secret world of Sleepers broke my life like a powerful twister.
Review: This was released a year ago and has only garnered one review on GR. A little puzzling even if released specifically in the U.K. This is about an average office worker that is bitten by a snake on a train that resides on the body of an unknown man. Soon his life changes when he falls asleep in his current reality, he wakes up in a world of Fantasy. These worlds start to merge within his life experiences making life a bit more hectic than usual.
The story line premise is a good one. By design it constantly thrusts the reader into spritely paced movement while giving the reader a chance to breath when sleep for our hero prevails. These instances grow shorter as various villains start to hunt Prince Kyleb/Kyle.
The world building was hard to visualize as the descriptors lacked a well defined progression. No matter how hard I tried, I could not entertain the soaring vertical black cliffs, raging river and the kingdom as a cogent entity. The outer realms were equally hard to visualize, especially the “Braid” and the further reaches.
The characterization was very good except for, you guessed it, the main character. Which is pretty important in pivotal situations. Kyle goes from a mewling trembling wretch to Prince Kyleb, master at arms and genius war general. This constant flutter of personas residing in the same person was not only tiring but wholly unbelievable. The priest was a great addition to the novel but sadly got very little page time. Additionally Prince Kyleb’s sisters are interesting as well.
So, there you have it. A tame review that seeks a bit of clarity from a burgeoning talent. While the ending is abrupt to further whet your stone on a series, the next installment requires some changes in Kyle’s character development along with some enhanced world building to further your interest.
Publishing Date: January 2017
ISBN: 9781999737702
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 2.7/5
Publishers Description: The secret world of Sleepers broke my life like a powerful twister.
Review: This was released a year ago and has only garnered one review on GR. A little puzzling even if released specifically in the U.K. This is about an average office worker that is bitten by a snake on a train that resides on the body of an unknown man. Soon his life changes when he falls asleep in his current reality, he wakes up in a world of Fantasy. These worlds start to merge within his life experiences making life a bit more hectic than usual.
The story line premise is a good one. By design it constantly thrusts the reader into spritely paced movement while giving the reader a chance to breath when sleep for our hero prevails. These instances grow shorter as various villains start to hunt Prince Kyleb/Kyle.
The world building was hard to visualize as the descriptors lacked a well defined progression. No matter how hard I tried, I could not entertain the soaring vertical black cliffs, raging river and the kingdom as a cogent entity. The outer realms were equally hard to visualize, especially the “Braid” and the further reaches.
The characterization was very good except for, you guessed it, the main character. Which is pretty important in pivotal situations. Kyle goes from a mewling trembling wretch to Prince Kyleb, master at arms and genius war general. This constant flutter of personas residing in the same person was not only tiring but wholly unbelievable. The priest was a great addition to the novel but sadly got very little page time. Additionally Prince Kyleb’s sisters are interesting as well.
So, there you have it. A tame review that seeks a bit of clarity from a burgeoning talent. While the ending is abrupt to further whet your stone on a series, the next installment requires some changes in Kyle’s character development along with some enhanced world building to further your interest.
February 18, 2018
Note: I received a copy of this via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion on this book.
I really like the premise of this book, but sadly it fell short for me in the execution. Mainly, I would have liked to see more consequences of this connection, the possibilities. These start to come forward to some extend, but only towards the end of the story. For most of the book the main character is leading two separate lifes.
Something else that lacked for me were answers... there were none. Maybe this is discussed later on in the series, but some sort of progress towards a resolution would have been nice. About the whole Sleeper situation the main character, and the reader, is just told 'you are a Sleeper now, deal with it', which is wholly unsatisfying. There are also many loose plot threads which seem to just die away without ever being resolved or even being connected to the main story.
The last issue which was quite bothersome was the massive amount of grammatical errors and plot holes. The character falls asleep at the table, yet wakes up in his bed (and no, no one moved him). Every few pages there is a sentance like:
"How things are going?" I asked.
"Where I will meet them?"
"I had no any knowledge of those things."
"Could it belong to one of my Rehen relatives of my Rehen relatives?"
"The mirror told that me I needed a shave."
You get the idea... When this happens ones or twice I understand. But it happens so much in this story that it really bothered me.
There are some interesting characters in this book, and I wish we could have seen more of some of them. Because, sadly, thr main character is fairly boring. I know this is what the author intended him to be, describing him as a grey office rat. It does make for a greater contrast with the role he falls into in the dream world and allows some nice character development. However, it also results in every other chapter being very short, mainly consisting of:
Nothing worth mentioning happened on my way home.
or
The journey home was uneventful, as was the rest of the evening.
And something like him eating a pizza, which he does every day, is eventful enough to mention...
So this book has quite a few issues, yet somehow it was still enjoyable to read. It is written, between the grammer mistakes, quite well. It is easy and direct, but sucks the reader in and speed through the story. The dream world is a quite standard fantasy world with princes, politics, creatures and magic... made interesting by the fact that our main character plays a leading role in this but has no memory or knowledge of the world around him.
Overall, this was an okay read. I might pick up the sequel someday, but am in no hurry to do so.
I really like the premise of this book, but sadly it fell short for me in the execution. Mainly, I would have liked to see more consequences of this connection, the possibilities. These start to come forward to some extend, but only towards the end of the story. For most of the book the main character is leading two separate lifes.
Something else that lacked for me were answers... there were none. Maybe this is discussed later on in the series, but some sort of progress towards a resolution would have been nice. About the whole Sleeper situation the main character, and the reader, is just told 'you are a Sleeper now, deal with it', which is wholly unsatisfying. There are also many loose plot threads which seem to just die away without ever being resolved or even being connected to the main story.
The last issue which was quite bothersome was the massive amount of grammatical errors and plot holes. The character falls asleep at the table, yet wakes up in his bed (and no, no one moved him). Every few pages there is a sentance like:
"How things are going?" I asked.
"Where I will meet them?"
"I had no any knowledge of those things."
"Could it belong to one of my Rehen relatives of my Rehen relatives?"
"The mirror told that me I needed a shave."
You get the idea... When this happens ones or twice I understand. But it happens so much in this story that it really bothered me.
There are some interesting characters in this book, and I wish we could have seen more of some of them. Because, sadly, thr main character is fairly boring. I know this is what the author intended him to be, describing him as a grey office rat. It does make for a greater contrast with the role he falls into in the dream world and allows some nice character development. However, it also results in every other chapter being very short, mainly consisting of:
Nothing worth mentioning happened on my way home.
or
The journey home was uneventful, as was the rest of the evening.
And something like him eating a pizza, which he does every day, is eventful enough to mention...
So this book has quite a few issues, yet somehow it was still enjoyable to read. It is written, between the grammer mistakes, quite well. It is easy and direct, but sucks the reader in and speed through the story. The dream world is a quite standard fantasy world with princes, politics, creatures and magic... made interesting by the fact that our main character plays a leading role in this but has no memory or knowledge of the world around him.
Overall, this was an okay read. I might pick up the sequel someday, but am in no hurry to do so.
February 23, 2018
Oh my god, it’s finally over
Ray Zdan’s debut novel, Sparkles of Blue is about Kyle an ordinary if not a bit a bit miserable office rat in London, who after a strange encounter in the subway discovers he has the ability to travel to another world, while he is sleeping -a world of magic, kings and mysterious rings, princesses with ambiguous agendas, ghouls and corrupted priests. In Rehen he assumes the body of an important and rather bloodthirsty lord –completely against his own nature- and realizes that soon he might have to protect the country from an upcoming war.
Net Galley is an online platform that provides readers all around the world free copies of upcoming books in exchange for an honest, albeit polite review. Kindly they granted me a copy a few months back, alas, my academic responsibilities prevented me from giving this book a chance till my break last week. It is with great sorrow I admit, I was rather disappointed.
In theory, Sparkles of Blue is a great book. Who doesn’t like medieval settings? I, for one, am a sucker for the travelling back-and-forth trope after Mary Hoffman'sStravaganza : maskernas stad (which I highly recommend), but I think Ray Zdan’s book just wasn’t for me.
Everyone is entitled in their opinions and hopefully I won’t come off as spiteful, but to me this book was flat, repetitive and excruciatingly slow, without any closure. While the first few pages are extremely endorsing and cinematic, the writer wastes too many identical scenes when nothing -and I mean absolutely nothing happens! Chapter after chapter, events conclude with the admission that “nothing remarkable happened that day” or “I don’t have anything of importance to report”, yet somehow the writer felt the compulsion to include such events to the narrative. Of course, it is not to be expected –or wanted- that the action is constant, let alone equally spread between our world and Rehen. However, not only being reminded every second chapter that the protagonist fell asleep with or without his television on, having or not having eaten was entirely unnecessary and undoubtedly boring if not miserable, but for more than half of the book, even while in the other world, he spends his days locked up in a chamber.
If the writer hoped to justify this behavior with the “impaired” social skills that are to be expected from a –self diagnosed, mind you, Asperger spectrum character [Note Despite the self-diagnose and the issues it raises, in general “mental illness” was depicted in an absolutely frustrating, unrealistic and somewhat biased, in my opinion, matter]- I was not persuaded. Please, don’t misunderstand. Representation -especially this kind of representation- is absolutely ESSENTIAL in contemporary literature (and Francisco X. Stork does a wonderful job in Marcelo in the Real World ), but somehow the character’s social awkwardness (which mind you is not enough to include a person in Asperger-like disorders) seemed to be turned on and off in order to serve the plot’s purposes.
How can someone who is aware or at least not confident about their social skills command troops and armies without asking for council? How come the thought of trying to make a sense of this world by consulting his castle’s library never even crossed his mind, whilst other times he swiftly makes connections and handles the crisis at hand? Where were the rest of the noblemen and how come they did not question or veto his decisions? How is it possible for a medieval lord to remain undisturbed –save for a crooked priest- for days (!) in his chambers without someone other demanding to speak to him, ask for their opinion about matters of state or simply take advantage of his absence in order to serve their purposes? It simply did not make any sense to me.
The action spread in the first half of the book could easily be summarized in no more than three chapters. Rather than that, the answers to the questions I had as a reader about the nature and the purpose of Kyle’s powers were either ignored, teased for the next installment or chaotically answered, building a poor foundation world-wise and preventing me to be immersed into the story. The prose did not help at all. Kyle is so… detached and flat -wooden almost when it comes to everyone and everything. While he heroically stands for the weak, expresses fear and guides his people, the writer chooses to tell instead of show to the degree that his emotions when expressed through exclamation points and descriptions seem entirely inexpedient. It is a first person narrative (the character’s first name is not introduced until chapter three!) and somehow Kyle fails to be relatable in any level!
You are supposed to root for him because he is the underdog –confused, weak, afraid- but the descriptions make him completely indifferent and unlikable. With perhaps the exception of the two female characters –Keely and Hel- which I enjoyed more than the rest, the rest of the characters seemed to be as absurd as him (). To be completely honest, I am not confident with giving this book even just one star.
Hopefully there will be people enjoying it more than I did, but as for me, I am not really invested enough to stick around till the next.
Ray Zdan’s debut novel, Sparkles of Blue is about Kyle an ordinary if not a bit a bit miserable office rat in London, who after a strange encounter in the subway discovers he has the ability to travel to another world, while he is sleeping -a world of magic, kings and mysterious rings, princesses with ambiguous agendas, ghouls and corrupted priests. In Rehen he assumes the body of an important and rather bloodthirsty lord –completely against his own nature- and realizes that soon he might have to protect the country from an upcoming war.
Net Galley is an online platform that provides readers all around the world free copies of upcoming books in exchange for an honest, albeit polite review. Kindly they granted me a copy a few months back, alas, my academic responsibilities prevented me from giving this book a chance till my break last week. It is with great sorrow I admit, I was rather disappointed.
In theory, Sparkles of Blue is a great book. Who doesn’t like medieval settings? I, for one, am a sucker for the travelling back-and-forth trope after Mary Hoffman'sStravaganza : maskernas stad (which I highly recommend), but I think Ray Zdan’s book just wasn’t for me.
Everyone is entitled in their opinions and hopefully I won’t come off as spiteful, but to me this book was flat, repetitive and excruciatingly slow, without any closure. While the first few pages are extremely endorsing and cinematic, the writer wastes too many identical scenes when nothing -and I mean absolutely nothing happens! Chapter after chapter, events conclude with the admission that “nothing remarkable happened that day” or “I don’t have anything of importance to report”, yet somehow the writer felt the compulsion to include such events to the narrative. Of course, it is not to be expected –or wanted- that the action is constant, let alone equally spread between our world and Rehen. However, not only being reminded every second chapter that the protagonist fell asleep with or without his television on, having or not having eaten was entirely unnecessary and undoubtedly boring if not miserable, but for more than half of the book, even while in the other world, he spends his days locked up in a chamber.
If the writer hoped to justify this behavior with the “impaired” social skills that are to be expected from a –self diagnosed, mind you, Asperger spectrum character [Note Despite the self-diagnose and the issues it raises, in general “mental illness” was depicted in an absolutely frustrating, unrealistic and somewhat biased, in my opinion, matter]- I was not persuaded. Please, don’t misunderstand. Representation -especially this kind of representation- is absolutely ESSENTIAL in contemporary literature (and Francisco X. Stork does a wonderful job in Marcelo in the Real World ), but somehow the character’s social awkwardness (which mind you is not enough to include a person in Asperger-like disorders) seemed to be turned on and off in order to serve the plot’s purposes.
How can someone who is aware or at least not confident about their social skills command troops and armies without asking for council? How come the thought of trying to make a sense of this world by consulting his castle’s library never even crossed his mind, whilst other times he swiftly makes connections and handles the crisis at hand? Where were the rest of the noblemen and how come they did not question or veto his decisions? How is it possible for a medieval lord to remain undisturbed –save for a crooked priest- for days (!) in his chambers without someone other demanding to speak to him, ask for their opinion about matters of state or simply take advantage of his absence in order to serve their purposes? It simply did not make any sense to me.
The action spread in the first half of the book could easily be summarized in no more than three chapters. Rather than that, the answers to the questions I had as a reader about the nature and the purpose of Kyle’s powers were either ignored, teased for the next installment or chaotically answered, building a poor foundation world-wise and preventing me to be immersed into the story. The prose did not help at all. Kyle is so… detached and flat -wooden almost when it comes to everyone and everything. While he heroically stands for the weak, expresses fear and guides his people, the writer chooses to tell instead of show to the degree that his emotions when expressed through exclamation points and descriptions seem entirely inexpedient. It is a first person narrative (the character’s first name is not introduced until chapter three!) and somehow Kyle fails to be relatable in any level!
You are supposed to root for him because he is the underdog –confused, weak, afraid- but the descriptions make him completely indifferent and unlikable. With perhaps the exception of the two female characters –Keely and Hel- which I enjoyed more than the rest, the rest of the characters seemed to be as absurd as him (). To be completely honest, I am not confident with giving this book even just one star.
Hopefully there will be people enjoying it more than I did, but as for me, I am not really invested enough to stick around till the next.
February 28, 2018
I received a copy of Sparkles of Blue from Net Galley in exchange for a honest review.
2 solid stars.
Character, Thoughts, and Plot
I picked this up because it sounded different and, therefore, interesting. Unfortunately I struggled to read it both the story and the actual, physical reading of it.
I was reading it upon my phone and immediately realized the print was minuscule no matter how high I demanded the text size to be (try size 50 font and needing a magnifying glass to read it comfortably). That had nothing to do with the actual story, but I really needed to point out how far I went to read the majority of this book.
The premise of the story itself is unique and the alternate sleepers world, quite interesting. The execution, however, was not as well done as I hoped.
Another thing that got me (hopping all over the place this review, sorry) was the opening sentence. It automatically annoyed me. So between tiny font and a poor opening sentence I started pretty annoyed at this book.
Opening Sentence:
I was as tired as a homeless dog
Being tired as a homeless dog? What does that mean? Are you saying that homeless dogs are always tired???? Some homeless dogs are slow moving because they are starving to death and move less to conserve energy and not die. Why are you comparing yourself to poor starving animals??? Are you starving??? You are obviously not starving.
I digress...
Kyle (Aka Prince Kyleb) is an normal, average, unnoticeable office worker who seems to like blending in. However, he gets bitten by a snake in a strange man's body while on the train and when he goes to sleep he wakes up in a fantasy world. He hops back an forth between these worlds while alternating between being awake and asleep, making his mundane life far more interesting. That said, he undergoes something of a personality change between these two worlds and it honestly makes me wonder, if you are living two separate lives (one as an office worker and one as the ruler of a country potentially heading to war), wouldn't your personalities kind of meld together??? You are the same person...in theory.
This book honestly reminded me a bit of reading a fan fiction...It had some lovely descriptions, some beautiful sentences, and then it had overly repetitive things like saying nothing happened or Kyle fell asleep with his tv on or whatever it might be. I DON'T CARE. Why are you being so repetitive? On with the story please!
I noticed the author's definite inclination towards shorter sentences and that kind of annoyed me too. The author also had a tendency to tell you how the main character felt rather then showing you. It may have been on purpose as a writing style choice, but I did not like it at all.
I feel like I'm tearing this book apart, despite sort of liking it for its premise. So I am going to stop now, because I honestly feel like if the author takes some of these criticisms constructively the next book in the series could be phenomenal.
In Conclusion
While this book could use some alterations (better development of the main character, a clearer understanding of how the split personalities exist separately between the two worlds when it's one dude, less repetitiveness, less stilted sentences, etc), there is potential for the next book in the series to be a one sit read for sure. The premise of this book is extremely interesting, but the actual execution of it needs a little more work in order to excel.
2 solid stars.
Character, Thoughts, and Plot
I picked this up because it sounded different and, therefore, interesting. Unfortunately I struggled to read it both the story and the actual, physical reading of it.
I was reading it upon my phone and immediately realized the print was minuscule no matter how high I demanded the text size to be (try size 50 font and needing a magnifying glass to read it comfortably). That had nothing to do with the actual story, but I really needed to point out how far I went to read the majority of this book.
The premise of the story itself is unique and the alternate sleepers world, quite interesting. The execution, however, was not as well done as I hoped.
Another thing that got me (hopping all over the place this review, sorry) was the opening sentence. It automatically annoyed me. So between tiny font and a poor opening sentence I started pretty annoyed at this book.
Opening Sentence:
I was as tired as a homeless dog
Being tired as a homeless dog? What does that mean? Are you saying that homeless dogs are always tired???? Some homeless dogs are slow moving because they are starving to death and move less to conserve energy and not die. Why are you comparing yourself to poor starving animals??? Are you starving??? You are obviously not starving.
I digress...
Kyle (Aka Prince Kyleb) is an normal, average, unnoticeable office worker who seems to like blending in. However, he gets bitten by a snake in a strange man's body while on the train and when he goes to sleep he wakes up in a fantasy world. He hops back an forth between these worlds while alternating between being awake and asleep, making his mundane life far more interesting. That said, he undergoes something of a personality change between these two worlds and it honestly makes me wonder, if you are living two separate lives (one as an office worker and one as the ruler of a country potentially heading to war), wouldn't your personalities kind of meld together??? You are the same person...in theory.
This book honestly reminded me a bit of reading a fan fiction...It had some lovely descriptions, some beautiful sentences, and then it had overly repetitive things like saying nothing happened or Kyle fell asleep with his tv on or whatever it might be. I DON'T CARE. Why are you being so repetitive? On with the story please!
I noticed the author's definite inclination towards shorter sentences and that kind of annoyed me too. The author also had a tendency to tell you how the main character felt rather then showing you. It may have been on purpose as a writing style choice, but I did not like it at all.
I feel like I'm tearing this book apart, despite sort of liking it for its premise. So I am going to stop now, because I honestly feel like if the author takes some of these criticisms constructively the next book in the series could be phenomenal.
In Conclusion
While this book could use some alterations (better development of the main character, a clearer understanding of how the split personalities exist separately between the two worlds when it's one dude, less repetitiveness, less stilted sentences, etc), there is potential for the next book in the series to be a one sit read for sure. The premise of this book is extremely interesting, but the actual execution of it needs a little more work in order to excel.
February 27, 2024
Get on an exhilarating odyssey through the pages of Ray Zdan's mesmerizing first novel, "Sparkles of Blue." Picture yourself awakening to a world where the mundane rhythms of everyday existence collide with the exhilarating escapades of an alternate dimension. Brace yourself for an expedition that will stretch the boundaries of your imagination and whisk you away on an unforgettable voyage of discovery.
Meet Kyle, an office worker whose life takes a mind-bending twist when his dreams start bleeding into reality. Suddenly, he's not just punching the clock; he's navigating a world filled with ancient prophecies, dangerous creatures, and secrets lurking in the shadows. As Kyle grapples with this surreal new reality, he discovers allies and enemies in unexpected places, leading him on a quest for truth that will change everything.
Zdan's writing is a whirlwind of imagination and intrigue, pulling readers into a whirlpool of vivid imagery and heart-pounding action. While some critics have nitpicked at grammar, Zdan's knack for crafting immersive settings and dynamic characters more than makes up for any minor hiccups.
From the enigmatic Kyle to the colorful denizens of the Sleeper world, Zdan's characters leap off the page with depth and complexity. Sure, there's magic involved, but it's the human struggles and triumphs that truly shine, making this more than just your average fantasy romp.
"Sparkles of Blue" delivers a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns, keeping readers glued to the edge of their seats. Sure, there may be a pacing hiccup here or there, but Zdan's expertly crafted plot ensures that every chapter is a pulse-pounding adventure.
At its core, "Sparkles of Blue" explores themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the power of belief. Through Kyle's journey, Zdan encourages readers to embrace their inner strengths and confront the mysteries lurking within their own minds.
Prepare to laugh, cry, and gasp in amazement as "Sparkles of Blue" takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. While some scenes may be a bit intense for sensitive readers, Zdan handles them with care, adding depth and nuance to an already captivating tale.
Zdan's greatest strength lies in his ability to craft a world that feels both familiar and fantastical. From the bustling streets of London to the ethereal landscapes of the Sleeper realm, each setting is brought to life with breathtaking detail, immersing readers in a world they won't soon forget. While "Sparkles of Blue" is a gripping read, it's not without its flaws. Some readers may find the occasional grammar slip-up distracting, and the introduction of magic may dampen the tension for a few. However, these minor quibbles pale in comparison to the sheer joy of the journey.
As a fantasy fanatic, "Sparkles of Blue" spoke to me on a deep level. Zdan's debut is a breath of fresh air in a genre saturated with tropes and clichés, offering a truly original and captivating experience that left me hungry for more.
"Sparkles of Blue" is a dazzling debut that heralds the arrival of a promising new voice in fantasy literature. With its gripping plot, richly drawn characters, and thought-provoking themes, this book is a must-read for anyone craving adventure and excitement. So, grab a copy, dive in, and prepare to be swept away on an unforgettable journey through the Sleeper Chronicles.
Meet Kyle, an office worker whose life takes a mind-bending twist when his dreams start bleeding into reality. Suddenly, he's not just punching the clock; he's navigating a world filled with ancient prophecies, dangerous creatures, and secrets lurking in the shadows. As Kyle grapples with this surreal new reality, he discovers allies and enemies in unexpected places, leading him on a quest for truth that will change everything.
Zdan's writing is a whirlwind of imagination and intrigue, pulling readers into a whirlpool of vivid imagery and heart-pounding action. While some critics have nitpicked at grammar, Zdan's knack for crafting immersive settings and dynamic characters more than makes up for any minor hiccups.
From the enigmatic Kyle to the colorful denizens of the Sleeper world, Zdan's characters leap off the page with depth and complexity. Sure, there's magic involved, but it's the human struggles and triumphs that truly shine, making this more than just your average fantasy romp.
"Sparkles of Blue" delivers a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns, keeping readers glued to the edge of their seats. Sure, there may be a pacing hiccup here or there, but Zdan's expertly crafted plot ensures that every chapter is a pulse-pounding adventure.
At its core, "Sparkles of Blue" explores themes of self-discovery, resilience, and the power of belief. Through Kyle's journey, Zdan encourages readers to embrace their inner strengths and confront the mysteries lurking within their own minds.
Prepare to laugh, cry, and gasp in amazement as "Sparkles of Blue" takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. While some scenes may be a bit intense for sensitive readers, Zdan handles them with care, adding depth and nuance to an already captivating tale.
Zdan's greatest strength lies in his ability to craft a world that feels both familiar and fantastical. From the bustling streets of London to the ethereal landscapes of the Sleeper realm, each setting is brought to life with breathtaking detail, immersing readers in a world they won't soon forget. While "Sparkles of Blue" is a gripping read, it's not without its flaws. Some readers may find the occasional grammar slip-up distracting, and the introduction of magic may dampen the tension for a few. However, these minor quibbles pale in comparison to the sheer joy of the journey.
As a fantasy fanatic, "Sparkles of Blue" spoke to me on a deep level. Zdan's debut is a breath of fresh air in a genre saturated with tropes and clichés, offering a truly original and captivating experience that left me hungry for more.
"Sparkles of Blue" is a dazzling debut that heralds the arrival of a promising new voice in fantasy literature. With its gripping plot, richly drawn characters, and thought-provoking themes, this book is a must-read for anyone craving adventure and excitement. So, grab a copy, dive in, and prepare to be swept away on an unforgettable journey through the Sleeper Chronicles.
February 15, 2024
"Sparkles of Blue: Sleeper Chronicles"
by Ray Zdan
Rating:5/5
Review:
👉"Sparkles of Blue: Sleeper Chronicles" by Ray Zdan is a mesmerizing debut novel that deftly blends elements of fantasy and reality into a richly layered narrative. Set against the backdrop of modern-day London, the story follows Kyle, an ordinary office worker whose life takes a dramatic turn when he discovers the existence of a parallel world within his dreams.
👉One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is its exploration of the connection between the dream world and reality. Zdan skillfully intertwines the two realms, presenting readers with a vivid depiction of Kyle's experiences as he navigates between the mundane existence of his everyday life and the fantastical landscapes of his dreams. The juxtaposition of these two worlds adds depth and complexity to the story, inviting readers to contemplate the nature of consciousness and the boundaries between fantasy and reality.
👉Central to the novel is Kyle's transformation as he grapples with the challenges presented by his newfound awareness of the dream world. Initially bewildered by the strange and often perilous events unfolding in his dreams, Kyle gradually comes to embrace his role as a Sleeper—a denizen of the dream realm—and learns to harness the unique powers and abilities that come with it. Zdan skillfully charts Kyle's evolution throughout the story, exploring themes of identity, self-discovery, and the search for purpose.
👉At its core, "Sparkles of Blue: Sleeper Chronicles" is a story about the power of dreams and the ways in which they can shape our lives. Through Kyle's journey, Zdan invites readers to ponder the significance of dreams and their potential to offer insight, inspiration, and even escape from the constraints of reality. The novel's imaginative world-building and vivid descriptions bring the dream realm to life, immersing readers in a world of magic, mystery, and adventure.
👉In addition to its compelling storyline, "Sparkles of Blue: Sleeper Chronicles" also features a diverse cast of characters who each bring their own unique perspectives and experiences to the narrative.
Happy reading 😁😁
by Ray Zdan
Rating:5/5
Review:
👉"Sparkles of Blue: Sleeper Chronicles" by Ray Zdan is a mesmerizing debut novel that deftly blends elements of fantasy and reality into a richly layered narrative. Set against the backdrop of modern-day London, the story follows Kyle, an ordinary office worker whose life takes a dramatic turn when he discovers the existence of a parallel world within his dreams.
👉One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is its exploration of the connection between the dream world and reality. Zdan skillfully intertwines the two realms, presenting readers with a vivid depiction of Kyle's experiences as he navigates between the mundane existence of his everyday life and the fantastical landscapes of his dreams. The juxtaposition of these two worlds adds depth and complexity to the story, inviting readers to contemplate the nature of consciousness and the boundaries between fantasy and reality.
👉Central to the novel is Kyle's transformation as he grapples with the challenges presented by his newfound awareness of the dream world. Initially bewildered by the strange and often perilous events unfolding in his dreams, Kyle gradually comes to embrace his role as a Sleeper—a denizen of the dream realm—and learns to harness the unique powers and abilities that come with it. Zdan skillfully charts Kyle's evolution throughout the story, exploring themes of identity, self-discovery, and the search for purpose.
👉At its core, "Sparkles of Blue: Sleeper Chronicles" is a story about the power of dreams and the ways in which they can shape our lives. Through Kyle's journey, Zdan invites readers to ponder the significance of dreams and their potential to offer insight, inspiration, and even escape from the constraints of reality. The novel's imaginative world-building and vivid descriptions bring the dream realm to life, immersing readers in a world of magic, mystery, and adventure.
👉In addition to its compelling storyline, "Sparkles of Blue: Sleeper Chronicles" also features a diverse cast of characters who each bring their own unique perspectives and experiences to the narrative.
Happy reading 😁😁
September 10, 2025
This book tells the story of Kyle Firestone, an ordinary office worker. On his way to work one day he is accosted by a strange man whose 'long skinny fingers sunk into my deltoid with incredible force.' This encounter turns Kyle into a sleeper. Which means that when he goes to sleep at night he is transported to the fantasy world of Chadrack. He becomes Prince Kyleb of Chadrack. The chapters of the book alternate between his life as an office worker and his life as a prince in a fantasy world. I'm afraid that this book is complete tosh. Not only that, but it is badly written. Spread throughout the book are simple mistakes such as missing words or words in the wrong order. As just one example the narrator talks about sneaking out of a tent, trying not to wake up her. Surely this should read wake her up? These mistakes I suppose I can live with but the narrative goes absolutely nowhere and even the office worker chapters of the book lack detail. For instance, we never do find out what he does for a living. I really can find nothing to recommend this book. It rambles on for over 450 pages and for me was just a complete waste of time.
September 5, 2018
Another one that wasn't for me. Loved the cover artwork; very enticing! Unfortunately, the story fell flat. I like fantasy fiction and the thought of someone living two parallel lives was intriguing, but not enough info in my opinion. Story just didn't work and maybe it should have- great plot idea. maybe it needed more thought, or maybe a longer book to work out the kinks. Idk. Sorry. I gave up without finishing as I had what I hoped were better stories to catch up with.
I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I received a Kindle ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
January 19, 2018
in ray zdan's debut effort he introduces us to the world of the sleepers, a parallel world that's denizens inhabit whilst they are sleeping in the real world, in this book the magical land and high stations of the prince of chadrack is balanced with the humdrum life of an office drone as our main character learns the tricks and secrets for the life of the sleepers
October 22, 2019
Received from Books Go Social and Netgalley for honest read and review.
I really like the premise of this book,but I could not really engage with the time travel aspect of it , seems to have been done before..
Thought that the main character was a bit meh and could not really feel anything for him, a bit confusing and disappointed.
I really like the premise of this book,but I could not really engage with the time travel aspect of it , seems to have been done before..
Thought that the main character was a bit meh and could not really feel anything for him, a bit confusing and disappointed.
June 2, 2022
I really liked this one. No lack of originality here. It is an amusing journey of a shy man placed in the body of a tyrant, written in first person point of view. Hopping between the fantasy world and contemporary London complicates life for the main character and also raises pace and enjoyment for the reader. Ends in a bit of a cliffhanger, so I will be looking to read the sequel.
June 9, 2022
Interesting concept when a shy grey office rat is placed in a prince's body and forced to play games he doesn't understand. The story is told from the view of the first person, giving insight into his mind's evolution. I enjoyed this book.
June 9, 2022
The book was slightly slow to kick in, but that slow evolving wasn’t boring at all. A good debut.
June 16, 2022
I didn’t have any great expectations but was pleasantly surprised. I found it interesting and well presented.
June 16, 2022
The cover looked promising, and I found the contents fascinating, it really grabbed my imagination. I can’t wait to lay my hands on the next book in this series.
July 8, 2023
Review & Rating to follow soon...
February 12, 2018
*** I was provided this book for an honest review and the thoughts expressed are my own***
In this debut book by Zdan, we are introduced into a world of the Sleepers and the place that we go once are asleep. Honestly, it was the cover that pulled me in. I mean who wouldn’t want to read a book that features a Griffin soaring across what appears to be London? Especially a huge Harry Potter fan with a vibe of Buckbeak the Hippogriff and the lure of a magical setting in the background? Well, I soon found that this book was nothing like I was hoping for and I did not love it.
I struggled through most of this book because of the style of writing and the not so great analogies that the author chose. Plus, the prose felt very choppy and incomplete with one-word sentences or very short sentences but did not convey any type of message. The premise was boundless, but the deliverance was worse than lacking. There was a disconnect from the present world into the realm of the sleepers and I could not for the life of me come up with a proper scene of what the realm was supposed to look like. This comes from the vague descriptions and subpar imagery through both the character’s point of view and the message that the author was trying to deliver.
I did not connect to the main character Kyle who is a cubicle-bound introverted, uninteresting person living in London. Unfortunately, his whole character even as Prince Kyleb was uninteresting and uninspiring. I cannot get a proper connection from this everyday lack illustrious person to a war-hardened general and prince. His sisters were more interesting than he was and even they were lifeless.
I don’t believe I would continue this series or recommend it to anyone -Unless (as the Lorax says)- there were some major improvements made and character flaws have been corrected. I commend the author for putting his work out there and creating a world that is new and completely original. I also want to thank Netgalley, BooksGoSocial, and the author for allowing to read/review this title. So overall, I give this book a two-star rating with the hopes that the author and publisher can work out the issues that lay within.
March 31, 2018
This fantasy novel starts off quite intriguing The main character works in an office in London and suspects himself to have a bit of autism. He is not good in group and a real loner.
One night he dreams so be in a kind of medieval land and finds out he is the ruler there. It scares him to bits.
He is glad to wake up but the next night he dreams he is back there again and the next.
He wonders what is causing those weird dreams. They are quite draining because he is not the man who likes to be the centre of attention of have to lead.
Then he gets the feeling he is followed during the day and to his horror discovers that wounds received in his dreams are still there in the morning. So those dreams are also real!
So far quite good.
However towards the end the story becomes quite "magical / fantasy" and that is a bit overdone for my taste.
There was one weird thing though: he does not ask people what is going on or sets of to do research. Who was the prince before he started dreaming? What happened to him? Does he look different in his dreams?
And when all the pieces are set and one expects to find out what is really happening the book suddenly ends :( You do not have to cut fantasy stories or even whatever other novel in separate books. I have read novels that were 1000 pages.
So good start but would suggest some rewrite towards the ending.
One night he dreams so be in a kind of medieval land and finds out he is the ruler there. It scares him to bits.
He is glad to wake up but the next night he dreams he is back there again and the next.
He wonders what is causing those weird dreams. They are quite draining because he is not the man who likes to be the centre of attention of have to lead.
Then he gets the feeling he is followed during the day and to his horror discovers that wounds received in his dreams are still there in the morning. So those dreams are also real!
So far quite good.
However towards the end the story becomes quite "magical / fantasy" and that is a bit overdone for my taste.
There was one weird thing though: he does not ask people what is going on or sets of to do research. Who was the prince before he started dreaming? What happened to him? Does he look different in his dreams?
And when all the pieces are set and one expects to find out what is really happening the book suddenly ends :( You do not have to cut fantasy stories or even whatever other novel in separate books. I have read novels that were 1000 pages.
So good start but would suggest some rewrite towards the ending.
April 21, 2018
The book description and the cover are what initially drew me to this book and sounded full of potential but unfortunately for me this book just didn't deliver so I was left a little disappointed.
I hope book 2 will be what i was hoping this 1 would be.
Sorry
I hope book 2 will be what i was hoping this 1 would be.
Sorry
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