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The Metiks Fade Trilogy #1
Anna Undreaming
Anna is a student surviving the city, and she lives by a simple credo, “Never play their game; their game is always rigged.” For every man she has ever known, it’s a saying that has served her well.
Especially when Anna becomes lost to the dark heart of the city. She finds herself hunted by Dreamers—artists, both good and evil, who construct new worlds—within a complex community that threatens to undermine reality itself. When Anna learns that she’s an Undreamer with powers she cannot yet comprehend, she must travel through their strange and treacherous creations to discover that there’s as much beauty in life as there is darkness. As her existence spirals into wonder and danger, Anna must look deep within herself and face the horrors of her own past, to save her old world as well as her new one.
Especially when Anna becomes lost to the dark heart of the city. She finds herself hunted by Dreamers—artists, both good and evil, who construct new worlds—within a complex community that threatens to undermine reality itself. When Anna learns that she’s an Undreamer with powers she cannot yet comprehend, she must travel through their strange and treacherous creations to discover that there’s as much beauty in life as there is darkness. As her existence spirals into wonder and danger, Anna must look deep within herself and face the horrors of her own past, to save her old world as well as her new one.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2018
9 people are currently reading
537 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Welsh
6 books52 followersThomas Welsh is an award winning urban fantasy and short story author based in Scotland. He was the winner of the Elbow Room fiction prize for 'And Then I was Floating' and has also been published in 'The 404 Ink F Word Collection', 'Pseudopod' and 'Leicester Writes'. His fantasy trilogy 'Metiks Fade' debuts in Spring 2018 with book one, 'Anna Undreaming' published by Owl Hollow Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 19, 2018
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I haven’t read much urban fantasy before so I had no idea what to expect going in, but I ended up loving this book.
This book gave me a ton of Alice in Wonderland vibes especially in the second half, which I was totally digging since I love Alice in Wonderland. The book had the same dream-like quality and mad characters that Alice in Wonderland has.
The premise of the book was so creative. People with the ability to build new worlds is such a fascinating concept.
The whole book was absolutely stunning in terms of execution. Welsh writes brilliantly and through his prose crafts a gorgeous world.
My favorite character was Elise. She was just so fun and quirky and I loved that about her. I hope we get to see more of her in the following books.
As someone who majored in philosophy in college, I enjoyed the philosophy references throughout the book. Rousseau, Nietzsche, and Camus were all mentioned by name.
The glossary at the end of the book was tremendously helpful in learning about the their world. I used it numerous times while reading.
The one thing this book was missing was a map. I would have loved to seen a map of The Realm.
Overall, this was a fantastic start to a magical new trilogy! I can’t wait to find out what happens next and learn more about these characters.
For more book reviews, be sure to check out my blog: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/
I haven’t read much urban fantasy before so I had no idea what to expect going in, but I ended up loving this book.
This book gave me a ton of Alice in Wonderland vibes especially in the second half, which I was totally digging since I love Alice in Wonderland. The book had the same dream-like quality and mad characters that Alice in Wonderland has.
The premise of the book was so creative. People with the ability to build new worlds is such a fascinating concept.
The whole book was absolutely stunning in terms of execution. Welsh writes brilliantly and through his prose crafts a gorgeous world.
My favorite character was Elise. She was just so fun and quirky and I loved that about her. I hope we get to see more of her in the following books.
As someone who majored in philosophy in college, I enjoyed the philosophy references throughout the book. Rousseau, Nietzsche, and Camus were all mentioned by name.
The glossary at the end of the book was tremendously helpful in learning about the their world. I used it numerous times while reading.
The one thing this book was missing was a map. I would have loved to seen a map of The Realm.
Overall, this was a fantastic start to a magical new trilogy! I can’t wait to find out what happens next and learn more about these characters.
For more book reviews, be sure to check out my blog: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/
March 12, 2018
***Actual rating: 5/5 Brightly Burning Stars***
Wow, reading this book is truly a mind-blowing journey. Anna Undreaming is a YA dark urban fantasy about a young lady, Anna, discovering her capabilities of wielding the four major Metik powers—the Will, the Word, the Sight and the Sword—by exploring some imaginary places created by the Dreamers called the Hazes.
Before you ask, the magical world in this book is composed of several types of people, including the Dreamers (who are pretty much a bunch of incredible artists, talented actors/actresses/performers or anyone who’s creative enough to build a Haze), the Undreamers (a rare yet powerful breed of the “Metiks,” who can destroy a Haze with a flick of the wrist) and of course, the Metiks.
To be honest, my first impression on this book is the glossary at the end of it. Seriously, it’s the first time I pay attention to the glossary since the urge to familiarize myself with those interesting terms is so strong that I have no choice but to memorize as many of them as possible before fully immersing myself in the story. Besides, it’s hard not to remember the links among these concepts and characters when they’re connected seamlessly throughout the story.
Moreover, the setting of this story is by far the most creative one I’ve ever read since everything Anna experiences not only takes place in the real world but within these intriguing Hazes. Much to my astonishment, what happens in the Hazes actually happens in reality; the only difference is the surroundings. That being said, those who died in the Hazes really ceased to exist in the real world after Anna came back. By the way, the space elevator and a certain haze on the moon really touch my heart partly because everything is so beautiful out there and partly because I’m more than happy to see Anna get to enjoy the peace of mind she deserves…before things go downhill.
In my opinion, the most unique feature in this book is Anna’s character development. I believe it’s also the key element making Anna Undreaming stand out from all the other stories in the urban fantasy genre. Speaking of character development, the first thought comes to mind is the complete process of a character’s physical or mental development throughout the book. After reading his/her story, we’ll pretty much get the full picture of him/her in respect to their own personalities, viewpoints or set of complexities. However, the most impressive part of Anna’s character development is that it’s an on-going process of her becoming a more powerful, respectable Metik/Undreamer. She’s continuously gaining experiences from all the tough situations she gets herself into and as impossible as it sounds, she never makes the same mistake twice as her journey goes on.
Surely, Anna won’t survive all her troubles without the help of an incredibly amazing person, Teej. Just like Anna, Teej is a Metik but he’s also Anna’s mentor andhopefully-soon-to-be-more-than-friend friend, who’s always there to guide her through the haze (PUN INTENDED!). I love him to death, for real, because he’s so patient and selfless when it comes to Anna. I don’t know if that’s his job or mission or whatever he has to do but I truly hope there’s more of them to discover in the sequels.
Another surprising aspect of this book is the fact that Dreamers and Metiks aren’t necessarily enemies to each other! When I read the glossary, I initially thought different categories of people would never get along with one another. I mean, how could you possibly help someone while knowing that person can easily destroy your work of art?
Thus, color me shocked when I reached the last part of the book, where Teej is so desperate to save Anna that a specific Dreamer who couldn’t care less and normally doesn’t give a hand HELPS HIM!!!!! I kid you not, such a simple gesture brings tears to my eyes.
Undeniably, there’s not a single thing I don’t love in Anna Undreaming—from the badass heroine, Anna, to her adventure in the Hazes with Teej, and whatever she’s about to face in the foreseeable future—and above all, the mysteriousness of the characters as well as the lack of disclosure in some plot twists only end up in building the anticipation more deliciously. I can’t wait to discover more about Anna’s deceased husband, her potential of being an Undreamer, and the strong bond between Teej and her. Although romance is not a big part in this book (so far), I can definitely sense the chemistry between our beloved protagonists!Anyway, I just hope I’m right about them for once!
All in all, Anna Undreaming is an enrapturing story you’ll fall in love with immediately because of Welsh’s exquisite writing style. He manages to craft a world so magical and original that it’s totally worthy of traveling to. Aside from his unbounded imagination, he also successfully breathes life into Anna, the most empowering woman I’ve ever known, and lets her take the lead in this enticing journey. The Matiks Fade trilogy has already won its spot in my heart with Anna Undreaming and all I can do now is trying to survive until the sequel comes out.
Therefore, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Anna Undreaming to everyone! Even though it’s not easy to read this book because there’s a lot to digest in Anna’s world, I can promise you that once you’re familiar with the terminology, you’re going to have a helluva fun enjoying the rest of the trilogy!
P.S. You can check out the first three chapters of the book HERE!
***Huge thanks to the author and publisher for generously sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!***
In a world of dwindling light, you’re a bonfire in the night.
Wow, reading this book is truly a mind-blowing journey. Anna Undreaming is a YA dark urban fantasy about a young lady, Anna, discovering her capabilities of wielding the four major Metik powers—the Will, the Word, the Sight and the Sword—by exploring some imaginary places created by the Dreamers called the Hazes.
The writhing shapes in the shadows forced her to look for any escape she could find. She was running, discovering energy she didn’t know she had.
Before you ask, the magical world in this book is composed of several types of people, including the Dreamers (who are pretty much a bunch of incredible artists, talented actors/actresses/performers or anyone who’s creative enough to build a Haze), the Undreamers (a rare yet powerful breed of the “Metiks,” who can destroy a Haze with a flick of the wrist) and of course, the Metiks.
To be honest, my first impression on this book is the glossary at the end of it. Seriously, it’s the first time I pay attention to the glossary since the urge to familiarize myself with those interesting terms is so strong that I have no choice but to memorize as many of them as possible before fully immersing myself in the story. Besides, it’s hard not to remember the links among these concepts and characters when they’re connected seamlessly throughout the story.
Moreover, the setting of this story is by far the most creative one I’ve ever read since everything Anna experiences not only takes place in the real world but within these intriguing Hazes. Much to my astonishment, what happens in the Hazes actually happens in reality; the only difference is the surroundings. That being said, those who died in the Hazes really ceased to exist in the real world after Anna came back. By the way, the space elevator and a certain haze on the moon really touch my heart partly because everything is so beautiful out there and partly because I’m more than happy to see Anna get to enjoy the peace of mind she deserves…
She took a quick glance through the black sky encompassing her, and tears came to the corners of her eyes as she glanced down at the small blue planet she’d spent her whole life on.
In my opinion, the most unique feature in this book is Anna’s character development. I believe it’s also the key element making Anna Undreaming stand out from all the other stories in the urban fantasy genre. Speaking of character development, the first thought comes to mind is the complete process of a character’s physical or mental development throughout the book. After reading his/her story, we’ll pretty much get the full picture of him/her in respect to their own personalities, viewpoints or set of complexities. However, the most impressive part of Anna’s character development is that it’s an on-going process of her becoming a more powerful, respectable Metik/Undreamer. She’s continuously gaining experiences from all the tough situations she gets herself into and as impossible as it sounds, she never makes the same mistake twice as her journey goes on.
Surely, Anna won’t survive all her troubles without the help of an incredibly amazing person, Teej. Just like Anna, Teej is a Metik but he’s also Anna’s mentor and
Another surprising aspect of this book is the fact that Dreamers and Metiks aren’t necessarily enemies to each other! When I read the glossary, I initially thought different categories of people would never get along with one another. I mean, how could you possibly help someone while knowing that person can easily destroy your work of art?
”When Metiks fight Dreamers, it’s like two songs are playing, yours and theirs, and they’re competing. You have to match the tempo, and then make your melody catchier till only one song remains. And I’m no soloist. On my own, the result is always the same. Stalemate. And each fight takes a toll.”
Thus, color me shocked when I reached the last part of the book, where Teej is so desperate to save Anna that a specific Dreamer who couldn’t care less and normally doesn’t give a hand HELPS HIM!!!!! I kid you not, such a simple gesture brings tears to my eyes.
Undeniably, there’s not a single thing I don’t love in Anna Undreaming—from the badass heroine, Anna, to her adventure in the Hazes with Teej, and whatever she’s about to face in the foreseeable future—and above all, the mysteriousness of the characters as well as the lack of disclosure in some plot twists only end up in building the anticipation more deliciously. I can’t wait to discover more about Anna’s deceased husband, her potential of being an Undreamer, and the strong bond between Teej and her. Although romance is not a big part in this book (so far), I can definitely sense the chemistry between our beloved protagonists!
All in all, Anna Undreaming is an enrapturing story you’ll fall in love with immediately because of Welsh’s exquisite writing style. He manages to craft a world so magical and original that it’s totally worthy of traveling to. Aside from his unbounded imagination, he also successfully breathes life into Anna, the most empowering woman I’ve ever known, and lets her take the lead in this enticing journey. The Matiks Fade trilogy has already won its spot in my heart with Anna Undreaming and all I can do now is trying to survive until the sequel comes out.
Therefore, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Anna Undreaming to everyone! Even though it’s not easy to read this book because there’s a lot to digest in Anna’s world, I can promise you that once you’re familiar with the terminology, you’re going to have a helluva fun enjoying the rest of the trilogy!
P.S. You can check out the first three chapters of the book HERE!
***Huge thanks to the author and publisher for generously sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!***
August 3, 2018
Read more at www.yourwordsmyink.com
What a rollercoaster ride of a book. I enjoyed every minute of it. Welch created a believable world that I would love to get lost in. I love urban fantasy and this book blended the real world and the fantasy worlds created by the Dreamers together seamlessly. The book comes with a glossary of terms, but I never once looked at it because it was so easy to follow Teej's explanations and understand the mythology of the world. Exposition is done really well and in a way that seems completely natural.
Welch brings nightmares to life with a truly terrifying antagonist and horrifying dreams and creatures. His writing is so vivid and clear, this book was a joy to read. The only complaint I have is some weird pacing here and there, but overall the book was stunning. Welch created a haze and pulled all his readers in for a journey of a lifetime. His characters are well developed and at home in the world they live in. Anna's journey is believable and easy to follow and I can't wait for it to continue in the second book.
What a rollercoaster ride of a book. I enjoyed every minute of it. Welch created a believable world that I would love to get lost in. I love urban fantasy and this book blended the real world and the fantasy worlds created by the Dreamers together seamlessly. The book comes with a glossary of terms, but I never once looked at it because it was so easy to follow Teej's explanations and understand the mythology of the world. Exposition is done really well and in a way that seems completely natural.
Welch brings nightmares to life with a truly terrifying antagonist and horrifying dreams and creatures. His writing is so vivid and clear, this book was a joy to read. The only complaint I have is some weird pacing here and there, but overall the book was stunning. Welch created a haze and pulled all his readers in for a journey of a lifetime. His characters are well developed and at home in the world they live in. Anna's journey is believable and easy to follow and I can't wait for it to continue in the second book.
January 22, 2020
Full review to come later but I’m can already tell you that this book will 100% make my 2020 best books of the year list!! Pinky promise!
It’s just soooo good? The writing is incredibly beautiful?! And I’m just in awe! 😱😍❤️
It’s just soooo good? The writing is incredibly beautiful?! And I’m just in awe! 😱😍❤️
March 7, 2018
Anna is a student surviving the city, and she lives by a simple credo, “Never play their game; their game is always rigged.” For every man she has ever known, it’s a saying that has served her well.
Especially when Anna becomes lost to the dark heart of the city. She finds herself hunted by Dreamers--artists, both good and evil, who construct new worlds--within a complex community that threatens to undermine reality itself. When Anna learns that she's an Undreamer with powers she cannot yet comprehend, she must travel through their strange and treacherous creations to discover that there's as much beauty in life as there is darkness. As her existence spirals into wonder and danger, Anna must look deep within herself and face the horrors of her own past, to save her old world as well as her new one.
I was absolutely delighted to receive an advance copy of this to read and review. After noticing promotion for the book on social media, I had already made the decision to buy it, so being allowed the opportunity to devour this before anyone else was nothing short of delectable. And devour I did.
You couldn’t call this sci-fi, and it doesn’t even fit fully into dystopian. This is like nothing else I have ever read. Welsh takes everything you know and twists it into a world where reality doesn’t follow the rules we’re used to. The people who are truly in charge aren’t government or business types – they’re artists, and they can easily craft and dismantle what we see and experience. Anything fatal which happens in their dreamworlds (or, to use the correct term, their Hazes) is quickly written off in reality as something we can wrap our heads around; because wrapping our heads around what happens in a Haze is no mean feat.
To combat these Dreamers, Welsh gives us Anna, a strong female protagonist (always a winner in my book) with some serious flaws. She’s headstrong, she’s badass, but she also has issues she’s working through, and demons in her past. Hey, don’t we all? Doesn’t mean we can’t beat the shit out of very real, yet dreamed up monsters. Anna is brilliant, yet the journey we experience with her is even greater. She struggles to come to terms with her abilities, and what’s now expected of her. What she’s capable of is destructive, cruel, and gorgeous.
The world Welsh has created is mind-blowing. There’s a lot to learn, and it’s no easy ride, but by the time I was less than halfway through, I was fully engaged. I was only glad I already knew there was a sequel in the making, as I was loathe to reach the final page. We’re left considering Anna’s emotional journey, and the importance it’s had on the development of her abilities. I am ready for more.
Anna Undreaming will be released on 20 March, but the good news for you kids is that you can read the first three chapters here. My gift to you.
An altogether wonderful experience; I would urge fans of sci-fi and dystopian novels to try this. Just remember it doesn’t actually fit into either of those categories, and probably deserves a new genre to be invented in its honour.
Never play their game, their game is always rigged.
March 1, 2018
Highly addictive, What’s not to love about Anna Undreaming! It’s an inspired, atmospheric fantasy, accessible for the genre and is sure to leave fans shouting for more.
May 15, 2021
This book is amazing.
Anna is so humanlike, I just want to hug her. The book starts when she's in a bad place, her husband just passed away. She's not ready at first to understand everything that's happening to her, but the book follows her closely and seeing her develop a new hope and new beginning in life is beautiful. Elise is a very funny character too, a light in an otherwise dark world.
The world building is very detailed, even if it's confusing at the start, I jumped right in the next time it happened.
The terminology is a little bit complicated to understand at first, but there is a glossary at the end of the book (you don't need it though, I saw there was a glossary when there were 50 pages left in the book and I understood it well).
I really, really loved it and can't wait to jump into the 2nd book.
Many thanks to the author for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Anna is so humanlike, I just want to hug her. The book starts when she's in a bad place, her husband just passed away. She's not ready at first to understand everything that's happening to her, but the book follows her closely and seeing her develop a new hope and new beginning in life is beautiful. Elise is a very funny character too, a light in an otherwise dark world.
The world building is very detailed, even if it's confusing at the start, I jumped right in the next time it happened.
The terminology is a little bit complicated to understand at first, but there is a glossary at the end of the book (you don't need it though, I saw there was a glossary when there were 50 pages left in the book and I understood it well).
I really, really loved it and can't wait to jump into the 2nd book.
Many thanks to the author for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 23, 2019
UPDATE: I enjoyed this book so much that I bought myself a Kindle copy so I can re-read it on the go when the mood strikes me! I'm also doing a flash giveaway on Twitter for three copies, more info & enter here!
Our protagonist is Anna, a 20-something graduate who has recently experienced the death of her husband. At the beginning of the book, Anna and her friend Sue are drugged at a bar she is at by the guy her friend is with "to loosen her up." Lovely. (As a note, you can skip the first chapter to avoid the bar scene and that misogynistic pig Dean.) The side effect of this special drink is that she becomes aware of the Hazes, and her life will never be the same. Turns out she is a rare foil to the power of the Dreamers; as an Undreamer she has the ability to destroy the Hazes, and there is a faction of Dreamers called the Doxa that will stop at nothing to destroy her before she realizes her power.
The entire book is a masterful exposition into a new world just beyond the understanding of our reality. There is a lot of worldbuilding but it never once felt like an infodump. The way that Welsh unveiled the intricacies of the new world that Anna's found herself in is through a mentor, Teej. We are learning about everything alongside Anna, with information doled out as it is necessary in the plot. I never felt overloaded or confused, but definitely was eager to learn more.
We never really learn Anna's age, but early on we find out that she was Anna is a recent graduate, who wrote a thesis called "Absurdism and Camus." I would definitely love to talk to her at a party, because philosophy and I are like best friends and no one wants to talk Nietzsche to me.
The concepts of light and darkness run throughout the book. Anna is referred to as a beacon of light in a dark world, and Anna has been succumbing to the darkness of her own despair. One of the Hazes that Anna is brought into brings the darkness and despair in a place where everyone eventually drowns themselves. I found it to be a beautiful metaphor for her own grief, and as a person who personally suffers from depression and suicidal ideation I appreciated her falling literally into the depths of her despair but still finding the will to fight. I absolutely loved the ending so much, but I mention it because I want you to be aware and in the right headspace before picking this book up.
This book reads like a Young Adult fantasy in style, but actually features a new adult aged protagonist and other adult characters. If you've been looking for a YA style fantasy with NA aged characters... READ THIS BOOK. I know the NA classification has come to largely encompass a specific genre, but this is a true gem and what I want to see published more often. This book also has crossover appeal with teenagers.
This book is like reading a dream. It has hints of Alice in Wonderland, and I felt like both Anna and I went through the looking glass into a fantastical Inception-like world. The book is fast-paced and captivating, and I really enjoyed it.
Overall this is an incredible story written in the young adult fantasy style but with new adult aged characters! I was immersed into the story with its Don't sleep on this book and trilogy, friends! Anna Undreaming was published in March 2018 and has flown under the radar with just 26 reviews on Goodreads as of my writing this review (with a 4.31 average on 72 ratings). The second book in the Metiks Fade Trilogy, Anna and the Moonlight Road, will be released this Spring by Owl Hollow Press and I cannot wait!
Many thanks to the author and his publicist for sending me a finished copy for review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
"A spark caught, and she felt something awaken. Something angry and defiant."This is a book that has haunted me and my physical TBR shelf since May 2018. Anna Undreaming was the first physical book that I was sent for review and one that I have been really excited to read, but mood reading stinks. I knew in my bones that this was a story that I would absolutely love, and wanted to wait for the absolute right time to read it... and it just so happens that the right time was eight months later. I'm sorry Thomas, but this book was definitely worth the wait!
"Anna... in a world of dwindling light, you're a bonfire in the night."This book is beautifully written and fast paced, an effortless and engaging read right from the first pages. Welsh has crafted a magical feeling world just behind the veil of our understanding, a world ruled where monsters roam.
"People experience Hazes... they don't see them. The mind rationalizes it all away."Hazes are described as part of our world (I kind of think of them like the Fade in the Dragon Age games) and they are created, ruled, and maintained by Dreamers. Anything goes within their Hazes and "within the Haze the dreamer is God and can dream anything into reality. They can change the rules of existence, and they can make and unmake life itself." Think of it like Inception.
Our protagonist is Anna, a 20-something graduate who has recently experienced the death of her husband. At the beginning of the book, Anna and her friend Sue are drugged at a bar she is at by the guy her friend is with "to loosen her up." Lovely. (As a note, you can skip the first chapter to avoid the bar scene and that misogynistic pig Dean.) The side effect of this special drink is that she becomes aware of the Hazes, and her life will never be the same. Turns out she is a rare foil to the power of the Dreamers; as an Undreamer she has the ability to destroy the Hazes, and there is a faction of Dreamers called the Doxa that will stop at nothing to destroy her before she realizes her power.
The entire book is a masterful exposition into a new world just beyond the understanding of our reality. There is a lot of worldbuilding but it never once felt like an infodump. The way that Welsh unveiled the intricacies of the new world that Anna's found herself in is through a mentor, Teej. We are learning about everything alongside Anna, with information doled out as it is necessary in the plot. I never felt overloaded or confused, but definitely was eager to learn more.
We never really learn Anna's age, but early on we find out that she was Anna is a recent graduate, who wrote a thesis called "Absurdism and Camus." I would definitely love to talk to her at a party, because philosophy and I are like best friends and no one wants to talk Nietzsche to me.
"... that darkness you feel. It doesn't go away, but eventually, you see it as just a different kind of light."Anna Undreaming is definitely a plot driven narrative. There are glimpses about the pasts of Anna and Teej, but I didn't really learn a lot about the characters in this book. Somehow despite this there is excellent character development, which is honestly masterful. Anna and Teej's relationship evolves from skepticism to loyalty, and their interactions all felt realistic to me. I fell and rooted for them, and was intrigued by the secrets of the past that was alluded to throughout the story. I really enjoy this narrative technique when it is done well, like the narrator is "the characters have a secret, and if you keep reading I will tell you what it is." The setting and world of Anna Undreaming is almost a character itself, and with all the necessary worldbuilding done, I am really excited for the rest of the trilogy.
The concepts of light and darkness run throughout the book. Anna is referred to as a beacon of light in a dark world, and Anna has been succumbing to the darkness of her own despair. One of the Hazes that Anna is brought into brings the darkness and despair in a place where everyone eventually drowns themselves. I found it to be a beautiful metaphor for her own grief, and as a person who personally suffers from depression and suicidal ideation I appreciated her falling literally into the depths of her despair but still finding the will to fight. I absolutely loved the ending so much, but I mention it because I want you to be aware and in the right headspace before picking this book up.
This book reads like a Young Adult fantasy in style, but actually features a new adult aged protagonist and other adult characters. If you've been looking for a YA style fantasy with NA aged characters... READ THIS BOOK. I know the NA classification has come to largely encompass a specific genre, but this is a true gem and what I want to see published more often. This book also has crossover appeal with teenagers.
This book is like reading a dream. It has hints of Alice in Wonderland, and I felt like both Anna and I went through the looking glass into a fantastical Inception-like world. The book is fast-paced and captivating, and I really enjoyed it.
Overall this is an incredible story written in the young adult fantasy style but with new adult aged characters! I was immersed into the story with its Don't sleep on this book and trilogy, friends! Anna Undreaming was published in March 2018 and has flown under the radar with just 26 reviews on Goodreads as of my writing this review (with a 4.31 average on 72 ratings). The second book in the Metiks Fade Trilogy, Anna and the Moonlight Road, will be released this Spring by Owl Hollow Press and I cannot wait!
Many thanks to the author and his publicist for sending me a finished copy for review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
August 6, 2018
We are surrounded by art. The framed photograph hanging on our walls, the music we hear through the radio, even the books that we are reading are forms of art. Whether we admire these things or not, they greatly influence our feelings and perspectives. However, many individuals fail to realize how art affects our daily lives.
Now imagine these masterpieces are used to alter the realities of life in the present world. Indeed, it opens a lot of possibilities a human mind can possibly imagine. However, everything has their drawbacks. Some will take this opportunity to gain power and control. With that, things will get messy. The equilibrium of the world will start to fall. Who will save the world from this destruction?
In this surreal novel mix of facts and fantasy, Anna Undreaming written by Thomas Welsh opens a new, dark world where the artists themselves can change reality using their crafts to create imaginary places waiting to be explored.
The story follows a young lady named Anna, who later discovers her rare abilities to help save the world from the threats of Dreamers. I had a fun time accompanying Anna while she discovers the mysterious world of Dreamers and Metiks. It is fast-paced, and surprisingly action-packed as well. Welsh's writing is addictive, and he knows how to tell a story brilliantly while keeping the reader tense and fervent to what will happen next. He has the effect which readers are hanging on his every word.
This book has many good elements that I am looking for a fantasy book. First, the setting, while imaginative as its best, is also believable. The terminologies and how the magical system works such as the Hazes is plausible that I can't help but keep wondering myself that this is possible to happen in the real world. I also like the execution of how these things are explained to the readers. It is well-detailed and not confusing at all. Also, even though the terms in this novel are quite overwhelming, the readers can easily check the glossary included at end of the book.
Next is the complexity of the character. I like how Anna isn't dull or flat at all. I like how authentic she is. Her skepticism makes her seek more about the truth which helps her a lot throughout her journey. She faces a lot of challenges, both physical and mental, and learning a lot from these difficult situations. I also like how her flaws were shown in the story. Her conflicting attitude towards certain situations makes her more relatable.
The third is the intricate layers of the plot. I like how the subplots weave together with a bigger element in the story. I am truly curious about the political and somehow "religious" struggles in the story. The possibilities of unexpected twists are high as well. I also like the philosophical contradictions entwine with the story. I am hoping to see a lot of this in the next book.
Overall, Anna Undreaming is a whimsical story everyone will enjoy reading. I highly recommend this book!
I gave this book 5/5!
Now imagine these masterpieces are used to alter the realities of life in the present world. Indeed, it opens a lot of possibilities a human mind can possibly imagine. However, everything has their drawbacks. Some will take this opportunity to gain power and control. With that, things will get messy. The equilibrium of the world will start to fall. Who will save the world from this destruction?
In this surreal novel mix of facts and fantasy, Anna Undreaming written by Thomas Welsh opens a new, dark world where the artists themselves can change reality using their crafts to create imaginary places waiting to be explored.
The story follows a young lady named Anna, who later discovers her rare abilities to help save the world from the threats of Dreamers. I had a fun time accompanying Anna while she discovers the mysterious world of Dreamers and Metiks. It is fast-paced, and surprisingly action-packed as well. Welsh's writing is addictive, and he knows how to tell a story brilliantly while keeping the reader tense and fervent to what will happen next. He has the effect which readers are hanging on his every word.
This book has many good elements that I am looking for a fantasy book. First, the setting, while imaginative as its best, is also believable. The terminologies and how the magical system works such as the Hazes is plausible that I can't help but keep wondering myself that this is possible to happen in the real world. I also like the execution of how these things are explained to the readers. It is well-detailed and not confusing at all. Also, even though the terms in this novel are quite overwhelming, the readers can easily check the glossary included at end of the book.
Next is the complexity of the character. I like how Anna isn't dull or flat at all. I like how authentic she is. Her skepticism makes her seek more about the truth which helps her a lot throughout her journey. She faces a lot of challenges, both physical and mental, and learning a lot from these difficult situations. I also like how her flaws were shown in the story. Her conflicting attitude towards certain situations makes her more relatable.
The third is the intricate layers of the plot. I like how the subplots weave together with a bigger element in the story. I am truly curious about the political and somehow "religious" struggles in the story. The possibilities of unexpected twists are high as well. I also like the philosophical contradictions entwine with the story. I am hoping to see a lot of this in the next book.
Overall, Anna Undreaming is a whimsical story everyone will enjoy reading. I highly recommend this book!
I gave this book 5/5!
August 6, 2018
Anna Undreaming by Thomas Welsh has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Award.
www.chillwithabook.com
Pauline Barclay
Founder of Chill with a Book Awards
www.chillwithabook.com
Pauline Barclay
Founder of Chill with a Book Awards
March 15, 2018
✴This book was given to me for free in exchange for my honest review.✴
Anna Undreaming is a fantastic thrill ride! It is a very special and unique book. Before writing this review, I had to take a little time to savor it and digest it because there is so much depth to the story and the characters. I knew it was going to be a difficult book to review, for me anyways, because I just adore everything about it and I wanted to do it justice, but it's hard to break down a story with so much to it into a review size portion. I also hate reviews that just quote the synopsis or give too much of the plot away, so I am going to do my best to entice you to read it without doing that. Here it goes!...
✨When we first meet our heroine, Anna, she is recovering from a very painful event in her past, and has become depressed and quite jaded with life. While out one night drowning all her sorrows with a friend, things get out of hand with a guy at the bar, and she quite literally stumbles onto something she never knew about herself. She is what's called an Undreamer, also referred to as a Metik, and she has these really powerful abilities.Through the tutelage of Teej, a mysterious guy she previously met and pretty much immediately wrote off as crazy, she learns about what it means to be a Metik, and that there are others called Dreamers, also known as Aesthetes, who can manipulate reality by creating Hazes, which are pretty much like alternate fantasy worlds within our world, where Dreamers can create whatever they imagine with their abilities. There are both good and evil Dreamers, and she will have to use her Metik senses to figure out who within this magical new reality she can actually trust, because the evil ones have big plans they don't want her ruining, and with her new-found ability to destroy whatever they create, they know she's quite capable of doing it. Anna has just began to come to grips with all this when the real trouble starts, and her enemies true intentions are revealed! Now she must accept the fate life has given her, muster up all of her courage, and save both worlds before it's too late!
I don't want to give away too much of the plot here because it's better for you if you read and learn about this beautifully complicated fantasy world and all the terms on your own. This book was so much fun to read, but very hard to explain in a review mainly because of the incredible amount of detail Thomas has put into it. This is only the first book of the series, so this one mostly deals with laying down the back story, introducing the characters and their motivations, and explaining this dreamy world he's so lovingly created, but it's never boring! We also get to read about her first adventures and watch her "grow" into the powerful kick ass heroine she was always meant to be, so no complaints here, right? I was happy to discover he included a glossary in the back to help explain what all the important terms mean, but I really didn't feel the need to use it much because he does a really stellar job of explaining down to the smallest details. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent in Anna's incredible world, born from the colorful imagination of a very skilled author! I loved how strong, brave, and spunky she was, yet also at times scared, uncertain, and lost. This is truly a very well written and entertaining book that I will not soon forget. I really look forward to seeing where Thomas takes this highly addictive series in the future, and will be anxiously waiting for each book to come out!
Thank you to Thomas Welsh for this outstanding escape from my reality. You have quite an inventive imagination and I would absolutely love to take a vacation in it one day! Thank you also to #partner, Owl Hollow Press, for sending me this magical book in exchange for my honest opinion! I hope my review makes sense and portrays just how much I enjoyed it! Anna Undreaming comes out on March 20th. Pre-order now!
Anna Undreaming is a fantastic thrill ride! It is a very special and unique book. Before writing this review, I had to take a little time to savor it and digest it because there is so much depth to the story and the characters. I knew it was going to be a difficult book to review, for me anyways, because I just adore everything about it and I wanted to do it justice, but it's hard to break down a story with so much to it into a review size portion. I also hate reviews that just quote the synopsis or give too much of the plot away, so I am going to do my best to entice you to read it without doing that. Here it goes!...
✨When we first meet our heroine, Anna, she is recovering from a very painful event in her past, and has become depressed and quite jaded with life. While out one night drowning all her sorrows with a friend, things get out of hand with a guy at the bar, and she quite literally stumbles onto something she never knew about herself. She is what's called an Undreamer, also referred to as a Metik, and she has these really powerful abilities.Through the tutelage of Teej, a mysterious guy she previously met and pretty much immediately wrote off as crazy, she learns about what it means to be a Metik, and that there are others called Dreamers, also known as Aesthetes, who can manipulate reality by creating Hazes, which are pretty much like alternate fantasy worlds within our world, where Dreamers can create whatever they imagine with their abilities. There are both good and evil Dreamers, and she will have to use her Metik senses to figure out who within this magical new reality she can actually trust, because the evil ones have big plans they don't want her ruining, and with her new-found ability to destroy whatever they create, they know she's quite capable of doing it. Anna has just began to come to grips with all this when the real trouble starts, and her enemies true intentions are revealed! Now she must accept the fate life has given her, muster up all of her courage, and save both worlds before it's too late!
I don't want to give away too much of the plot here because it's better for you if you read and learn about this beautifully complicated fantasy world and all the terms on your own. This book was so much fun to read, but very hard to explain in a review mainly because of the incredible amount of detail Thomas has put into it. This is only the first book of the series, so this one mostly deals with laying down the back story, introducing the characters and their motivations, and explaining this dreamy world he's so lovingly created, but it's never boring! We also get to read about her first adventures and watch her "grow" into the powerful kick ass heroine she was always meant to be, so no complaints here, right? I was happy to discover he included a glossary in the back to help explain what all the important terms mean, but I really didn't feel the need to use it much because he does a really stellar job of explaining down to the smallest details. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent in Anna's incredible world, born from the colorful imagination of a very skilled author! I loved how strong, brave, and spunky she was, yet also at times scared, uncertain, and lost. This is truly a very well written and entertaining book that I will not soon forget. I really look forward to seeing where Thomas takes this highly addictive series in the future, and will be anxiously waiting for each book to come out!
Thank you to Thomas Welsh for this outstanding escape from my reality. You have quite an inventive imagination and I would absolutely love to take a vacation in it one day! Thank you also to #partner, Owl Hollow Press, for sending me this magical book in exchange for my honest opinion! I hope my review makes sense and portrays just how much I enjoyed it! Anna Undreaming comes out on March 20th. Pre-order now!
March 29, 2018
Thomas Welsh’s debut novel is an inventive story that pulls on the heartstrings and introduces a character in Anna that will resonate with many.
A broken widow, a world unseen, and a battle for life itself.
Torn apart by grief and trying desperately to battle the pull of desolation, Anna is tossed into a world where she can choose to fight for survival or have her wish for death granted.
When Anna stumbles into a Haze her whole world as she knows it changes. Attacked and fighting for her life, the only person she can turn to for answers is the mysterious Teej, the guy she met over the internet and has been avoiding because he’s completely mad.
From the first moment Anna encounters the Haze, and this new world she was unaware of, her life is in danger. Now struggling to overcome the grief eating her up inside she is faced with a new battle – the one for her life. An enemy called the Midnight Man wants her dead because she is his undoing and that of all the Astethes. He has sent his monsters after her and she has nowhere to hide.
Thrown into this new world and finding out she has strange powers, Anna becomes the saviour not only of herself but of the mysterious Teej. The choice for Anna now is whether to believe the unimaginable and fight back or hide and pretend none of it is real.
This book had me hooked from page one and in reading I became Anna. I felt her pain and suffering, understood the desolation that she wanted to give in to, and I felt the power thrum through me as she battled and became the heroine to save them all. Her strength and determination, her courage, her will to live, flowed through the pages and into part of me as well. Although she knew nothing of this new world she stood her ground and fought.
It’s not often we get a book where the female character has to save the male and this is what made Anna Undreaming such a joy to read. It was real, it was emotional, it was moving at times, and it was an adventure I didn’t want to end. Adrenaline coursed through my veins in parts as I held my breath and hoped for success. The descriptions of the monsters in the Haze were excellent and I found myself shivering as Anna tried desperately to escape. I felt it all and I enjoyed every single moment of this book, from the gory to the fantastical, this is a book that will take you away to another world and remind you why we strive to live.
It’s entertaining and imaginative, and yet poignant and emotionally deep at times. It reminds readers of the power we all have within to survive no matter what life throws at us. A truly excellent start to what I’m sure will be an outstanding series.
A broken widow, a world unseen, and a battle for life itself.
Torn apart by grief and trying desperately to battle the pull of desolation, Anna is tossed into a world where she can choose to fight for survival or have her wish for death granted.
When Anna stumbles into a Haze her whole world as she knows it changes. Attacked and fighting for her life, the only person she can turn to for answers is the mysterious Teej, the guy she met over the internet and has been avoiding because he’s completely mad.
From the first moment Anna encounters the Haze, and this new world she was unaware of, her life is in danger. Now struggling to overcome the grief eating her up inside she is faced with a new battle – the one for her life. An enemy called the Midnight Man wants her dead because she is his undoing and that of all the Astethes. He has sent his monsters after her and she has nowhere to hide.
Thrown into this new world and finding out she has strange powers, Anna becomes the saviour not only of herself but of the mysterious Teej. The choice for Anna now is whether to believe the unimaginable and fight back or hide and pretend none of it is real.
This book had me hooked from page one and in reading I became Anna. I felt her pain and suffering, understood the desolation that she wanted to give in to, and I felt the power thrum through me as she battled and became the heroine to save them all. Her strength and determination, her courage, her will to live, flowed through the pages and into part of me as well. Although she knew nothing of this new world she stood her ground and fought.
It’s not often we get a book where the female character has to save the male and this is what made Anna Undreaming such a joy to read. It was real, it was emotional, it was moving at times, and it was an adventure I didn’t want to end. Adrenaline coursed through my veins in parts as I held my breath and hoped for success. The descriptions of the monsters in the Haze were excellent and I found myself shivering as Anna tried desperately to escape. I felt it all and I enjoyed every single moment of this book, from the gory to the fantastical, this is a book that will take you away to another world and remind you why we strive to live.
It’s entertaining and imaginative, and yet poignant and emotionally deep at times. It reminds readers of the power we all have within to survive no matter what life throws at us. A truly excellent start to what I’m sure will be an outstanding series.
March 20, 2018
Have you ever stood in awe of an artist’s masterful paint strokes? Or had your breath taken away by a beautiful sculpture? Have you ever been transported to wondrous worlds of make-believe within the pages of a book? There is no denying that there are many talented, creative people in the world, some have talent so remarkable that they might seem to possess magical powers. Masters of their craft, able to conduct our emotions and manipulate the way we see and think. In Anna Undreaming, we are introduced to a world where these Master Artists or ‘Dreamers’ really do have the ability to create whole new worlds through their art.
Anna Undreaming, is Scottish Author, Thomas Welsh’s debut novel, and the first volume in ‘The Metiks Fade Trilogy’. In Welsh’s new landscape, he asks the reader to become enveloped in a magical world just outside of our normal perception. A world which is separated from our own by such a thin veil that they can occasionally mingle and have very real consequences. Anna, the feisty female lead, has a gift, she is an ‘Undreamer’, someone who can pass through the veil into the ‘Haze’, a world where anything is possible. Anna is unwittingly drawn into this fantastical world of magic and wonder, however dark, evil things lurk in the shadows, forever watching, forever getting closer. She is reluctant to face these foes, reluctant even to believe. Until the day comes when she no longer has a choice. Guided by her friend Teej, Anna learns about all the magical things that exist beyond the veil of reality, in the Haze. About the Dreamers and the Night Collectors, about real magic and the very real dangers. Most importantly, she learns about who she really is.
Anna Undreaming is beautifully written, and Welsh has done a standout job in creating a new, dark world that is intriguing and full of potential. If you like your YA contemporary fantasy a bit dark and a bit gritty, with a foothold firmly in the real world, then this may just be the new series for you.
Anna Undreaming, is Scottish Author, Thomas Welsh’s debut novel, and the first volume in ‘The Metiks Fade Trilogy’. In Welsh’s new landscape, he asks the reader to become enveloped in a magical world just outside of our normal perception. A world which is separated from our own by such a thin veil that they can occasionally mingle and have very real consequences. Anna, the feisty female lead, has a gift, she is an ‘Undreamer’, someone who can pass through the veil into the ‘Haze’, a world where anything is possible. Anna is unwittingly drawn into this fantastical world of magic and wonder, however dark, evil things lurk in the shadows, forever watching, forever getting closer. She is reluctant to face these foes, reluctant even to believe. Until the day comes when she no longer has a choice. Guided by her friend Teej, Anna learns about all the magical things that exist beyond the veil of reality, in the Haze. About the Dreamers and the Night Collectors, about real magic and the very real dangers. Most importantly, she learns about who she really is.
Anna Undreaming is beautifully written, and Welsh has done a standout job in creating a new, dark world that is intriguing and full of potential. If you like your YA contemporary fantasy a bit dark and a bit gritty, with a foothold firmly in the real world, then this may just be the new series for you.
March 11, 2019
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
3.5 stars.
The premise and general mood of this novel are so unique; it really conveys that creepy but slightly hazy (pun intended) feeling of a bad dream — come to think of it, the vibe reminds me a bit of the TV show Falling Water (which I had not realized had a second season! After finishing this book, I kind of want to watch it now, inevitable nightmares notwithstanding).
Anna's character is wonderfully nuanced, with moments of determination and of depression and grief; she's humanly flawed and dynamic and constantly developing, and I really enjoyed that. The other characters felt a little more flat, though they have a perverse quirky appeal — except Teej; he seems relatively normal, if mysterious — and hopefully we'll get more insight into the remaining Dreamers and Metiks as the series goes on.
Plot-wise, I did get a little confused since the scenes tend to flow into each other, which does fit with the blurring of reality/dream (Basine/Haze) but isn't the most pleasant reading experience in my opinion. The action is continuous: there are some lulls, but on the whole it's a really immersive reading experience.
Overall, this was a fascinating read and a solid start to the trilogy; I'm looking forward to the sequels!
content warnings:
Recommended by Kal @ Reader Voracious.
3.5 stars.
The premise and general mood of this novel are so unique; it really conveys that creepy but slightly hazy (pun intended) feeling of a bad dream — come to think of it, the vibe reminds me a bit of the TV show Falling Water (which I had not realized had a second season! After finishing this book, I kind of want to watch it now, inevitable nightmares notwithstanding).
Anna's character is wonderfully nuanced, with moments of determination and of depression and grief; she's humanly flawed and dynamic and constantly developing, and I really enjoyed that. The other characters felt a little more flat, though they have a perverse quirky appeal — except Teej; he seems relatively normal, if mysterious — and hopefully we'll get more insight into the remaining Dreamers and Metiks as the series goes on.
Plot-wise, I did get a little confused since the scenes tend to flow into each other, which does fit with the blurring of reality/dream (Basine/Haze) but isn't the most pleasant reading experience in my opinion. The action is continuous: there are some lulls, but on the whole it's a really immersive reading experience.
Overall, this was a fascinating read and a solid start to the trilogy; I'm looking forward to the sequels!
content warnings:
Recommended by Kal @ Reader Voracious.
June 21, 2018
This is a YA dark fantasy novel, although, I don't think it's all that dark, but that's personal opinion. This all starts with two girlfriends going out to get some drinks. Anna and her friend Sue run into a charismatic guy named Dean who Sue liked immediately, but Anna has the same thought for all men "Never play their game. Their game is always rigged." Dean turns out to be a slimeball who drugs the drinks of women so they do what he wants. After Anna was drugged her life was changed forever.
This book has many new words or old words with different meanings, I like that the put a small helpful dictionary in the back to keep them all straight.
Anna goes from being a pessimistic winer to a badass undreamer and then at the very end of the book is back to pessimistic winer for a few pages. The author seems to bring Anna full circle, but the journey in the middle is filled with descriptive stride worlds seamlessly flowing into reality. I think the author did a good job in balancing the "Haze" and the "Basine".
Anna Undreaming is a great read, different, original. The author does a great job building two worlds that flow together easily when needed. The first time Anna gets trapped in a "Haze" is confusing for Anna and the reader, but that's part of what hooked me, I HAD to know what was happening.
This is an excellent book for any fantasy reader. Well done Mr. Welsh!
This book has many new words or old words with different meanings, I like that the put a small helpful dictionary in the back to keep them all straight.
Anna goes from being a pessimistic winer to a badass undreamer and then at the very end of the book is back to pessimistic winer for a few pages. The author seems to bring Anna full circle, but the journey in the middle is filled with descriptive stride worlds seamlessly flowing into reality. I think the author did a good job in balancing the "Haze" and the "Basine".
Anna Undreaming is a great read, different, original. The author does a great job building two worlds that flow together easily when needed. The first time Anna gets trapped in a "Haze" is confusing for Anna and the reader, but that's part of what hooked me, I HAD to know what was happening.
This is an excellent book for any fantasy reader. Well done Mr. Welsh!
March 23, 2018
A real page turner! I love Anna and how Welsh guides us along her journey into this dark twisted world of artists and metiks. It's really refreshing to have a strong female that gets things done and saves herself instead of being a damsel! The world that Welsh crafted is really rich and imaginative- from the settings to all the diferent dreamers powers. I can't wait for part 2.
If you're into strong female characters and magical things happening in a real world seting - Anna Undreaming is for you!
If you're into strong female characters and magical things happening in a real world seting - Anna Undreaming is for you!
July 30, 2018
Did I read the same book as these other people? Unlikable characters, poor world building, plot points that don't make sense, uninteresting plot, silly and uninformative descriptions and terminology...Not sure why I finished this book.
April 24, 2018
DNF....nearly 50 pages into the book and still no clear explanations of WTF is going on in this universe.
April 13, 2018
Anna Undreaming was a fast-paced, throw everything in the world at you thriller that kept me turning pages (digital ones on my kindle) until there were no more left to turn. The novel follows Anna, an Undreamer, as she traverses worlds and realities derived through art, while trying to find her place in the madness. Welsh does a fantastic job illustrating these various locations and settings while never losing the reader in too much detail. I highly recommend this novel for fans of portal fantasy, urban fantasy, and fans of Alice in Wonderland. A solid debut novel from an writer that will hopefully be putting pen to page for a long time coming.
March 31, 2018
Wow! What a wild ride! The world building, the character's growth, and the twists and turns of the plot made this such a page turner. And the author's word-smithing skills were top notch. Anna Dreaming is the debut novel by Thomas Welsh. He is officially going on my "author to watch" list.
December 21, 2019
1,5 points for the book cover
October 8, 2018
I'm done!! First of all, I'm sooo excited that I finally managed to finish this book and get out of a smaller reading slump due to being sick. I hate when you're getting sick to the point where you can't focus for a long time and this book definitely had me want and need to focus while exploring a new high fantasy - with some sci-fi features - world.
I want to thank the author for sending me this great book and waiting so long for me to review it due to writing my master thesis!
So now to the book. ;)
It took me quite some time to get into the story. I believe it is due to the fact that it was a more adult world I had to enter and I am used to mostly YA. In my opinion, it is always hard to get into the first book of a series or trilogy. While tellin g a story that builds up tension and a plot the world of new things also had to be described. I would have been lost without the amazing glossary in the back sometimes because this world takes up so many new objects and views you would have never dreamed about - or rather undreamed! ;)
Due to this fact, you could really feel the authors passion in this story and let him guide you into this totally new world. I loved the topic of dreams becoming kind of true and it being made realistic in not just focusing on the good and happy dreams, but also or more often than I wanted to nightmares were appearing everywhere. As I'm never that comfortable for brutally and scary stuff it was sometimes slightly too much for me but on the other hand it seemed a perfect read for the spooky October. :)
Since the first page, there was a mystery to the main character Anna. Especially about her past, but also about who she has become now, why and what the future brings. This unravels slowly throughout the whole book, with some clearer inside of her past and the end of the book.
Throughout the book, you have to get through a lot of loss, but one gladly almost loss took me really hard. I was both sad and angry as I couldn't believe everybody disappearing from her life.
All in all this book keeps you on your toes. As I'm just starting out with this genre and it took me really long to get in I personally give it 3 stars. But I can recommend this book to anyone more interested in adult high fantasy and a love for robots in a hidden world, just behind a thin veil. ;)
I want to thank the author for sending me this great book and waiting so long for me to review it due to writing my master thesis!
So now to the book. ;)
It took me quite some time to get into the story. I believe it is due to the fact that it was a more adult world I had to enter and I am used to mostly YA. In my opinion, it is always hard to get into the first book of a series or trilogy. While tellin g a story that builds up tension and a plot the world of new things also had to be described. I would have been lost without the amazing glossary in the back sometimes because this world takes up so many new objects and views you would have never dreamed about - or rather undreamed! ;)
Due to this fact, you could really feel the authors passion in this story and let him guide you into this totally new world. I loved the topic of dreams becoming kind of true and it being made realistic in not just focusing on the good and happy dreams, but also or more often than I wanted to nightmares were appearing everywhere. As I'm never that comfortable for brutally and scary stuff it was sometimes slightly too much for me but on the other hand it seemed a perfect read for the spooky October. :)
Since the first page, there was a mystery to the main character Anna. Especially about her past, but also about who she has become now, why and what the future brings. This unravels slowly throughout the whole book, with some clearer inside of her past and the end of the book.
Throughout the book, you have to get through a lot of loss, but one gladly almost loss took me really hard. I was both sad and angry as I couldn't believe everybody disappearing from her life.
All in all this book keeps you on your toes. As I'm just starting out with this genre and it took me really long to get in I personally give it 3 stars. But I can recommend this book to anyone more interested in adult high fantasy and a love for robots in a hidden world, just behind a thin veil. ;)
March 6, 2019
I was lucky enough to receive this book from Thomas Welsh and Owl Hollow Press after responding to a tweet about a review copy. My review is honest and given with no strings attached! But still, a big THANK YOU to the and Kal who strongly recommended this book!
It's rare to get a good dark urban fantasy [It's one of the reasons I became enamoured by Holly Black but I digress] but this one was a very good dark urban fantasy. It was creepy without being too much if you get my drift and the 'worlds' called 'Hazes' were surreal and wonderfully chilling at times. Speaking of Hazes and other things, we were lucky enough that Thomas Welsh put a glossary in the back which came in handy at the start but he also does a great job of explaining the terms during his worldbuilding. And his worldbuilding is not only introducing us to this new setting but Anna as well so it doesn't feel out of place or redundant. [The Sump was my favorite place.]
"Never play their game. Their game is always rigged."
Anna is raw, real, she is suffering through a dark time in her life and she has learned a mantra that suits someone living in a world that's felt so harsh to Anna. I absolutely loved that quote and each time I read it I would be nodding as if to say 'that's right Anna, you got this.' Because usually, she was in the middle of dealing with everything under the sun when that quote came up. Her background isn't thoroughly given up and neither is Teej's, but, you don't need their full histories for this, you're sucked into their world and are rushing with them through everything that happens!
Teej, her mentor of sorts, tries to help Anna in this new world she's been flung into but ultimately Anna is on her own, she is the one who is supposed to be saving him and she saves herself over and over and you have to admire that kind of strength. <3
The pacing was on point, it never really dragged for me, I mean I got impatient but that was not on the book, that was on me, haha. And it's divided into two parts but come on, I read right into the second part to see what was going to happen, who wouldn't? I really enjoyed this book and it was a great read for me.
It's rare to get a good dark urban fantasy [It's one of the reasons I became enamoured by Holly Black but I digress] but this one was a very good dark urban fantasy. It was creepy without being too much if you get my drift and the 'worlds' called 'Hazes' were surreal and wonderfully chilling at times. Speaking of Hazes and other things, we were lucky enough that Thomas Welsh put a glossary in the back which came in handy at the start but he also does a great job of explaining the terms during his worldbuilding. And his worldbuilding is not only introducing us to this new setting but Anna as well so it doesn't feel out of place or redundant. [The Sump was my favorite place.]
"Never play their game. Their game is always rigged."
Anna is raw, real, she is suffering through a dark time in her life and she has learned a mantra that suits someone living in a world that's felt so harsh to Anna. I absolutely loved that quote and each time I read it I would be nodding as if to say 'that's right Anna, you got this.' Because usually, she was in the middle of dealing with everything under the sun when that quote came up. Her background isn't thoroughly given up and neither is Teej's, but, you don't need their full histories for this, you're sucked into their world and are rushing with them through everything that happens!
Teej, her mentor of sorts, tries to help Anna in this new world she's been flung into but ultimately Anna is on her own, she is the one who is supposed to be saving him and she saves herself over and over and you have to admire that kind of strength. <3
The pacing was on point, it never really dragged for me, I mean I got impatient but that was not on the book, that was on me, haha. And it's divided into two parts but come on, I read right into the second part to see what was going to happen, who wouldn't? I really enjoyed this book and it was a great read for me.
March 27, 2020
Thomas Welsh introduces us to a vivid and fascinating world as Anna goes Behind the Veil and discovers she has hidden powers in another dimension.
Danger hangs in the air when Anna enters this new reality, known as Hazes, as a murderous Dreamer known as the Midnight Man tries to wipe her out before she can even work out what is happening to her.
But, guided and mentored by a mysterious man called Teej, Anna eventually discovers she has the ability to fight back against these nightmarish Dreamers and destroy the worlds they have created.
That throws her headlong into an idealistic conflict as a dark cabal known as the Doxa view Anna as someone either to be recruited or obliterated.
This book is the scene setter for a series of novels set Behind The Veil and Welsh does a good job introducing the many threads to his vast universe. It gets a bit confusing and jargon-heavy in places but there's a glossary at the back of the book to help you out when the characters throw around all the terms and phrases.
I took a break for a few days midway through reading the book due to a busy schedule and found it a bit hard getting used to all the phraseology again. So I'd recommend reading this at least once a day to stay on top of the story.
Fantasy isn't a genre I usually read but I found this book entertaining and gripping throughout. The influence of films such as The Matrix and Inception is clear but Welsh has created an original landscape and the novel brims with imagination.
Welsh is an excellent writer and you get a great feel for the characters, especially Anna and Teej as their shared experiences bring them closer together. It will be interesting to see how their future plays out in the rest of the series.
Judging by the twists and turns in this first offering, it certainly won't be predictable.
Danger hangs in the air when Anna enters this new reality, known as Hazes, as a murderous Dreamer known as the Midnight Man tries to wipe her out before she can even work out what is happening to her.
But, guided and mentored by a mysterious man called Teej, Anna eventually discovers she has the ability to fight back against these nightmarish Dreamers and destroy the worlds they have created.
That throws her headlong into an idealistic conflict as a dark cabal known as the Doxa view Anna as someone either to be recruited or obliterated.
This book is the scene setter for a series of novels set Behind The Veil and Welsh does a good job introducing the many threads to his vast universe. It gets a bit confusing and jargon-heavy in places but there's a glossary at the back of the book to help you out when the characters throw around all the terms and phrases.
I took a break for a few days midway through reading the book due to a busy schedule and found it a bit hard getting used to all the phraseology again. So I'd recommend reading this at least once a day to stay on top of the story.
Fantasy isn't a genre I usually read but I found this book entertaining and gripping throughout. The influence of films such as The Matrix and Inception is clear but Welsh has created an original landscape and the novel brims with imagination.
Welsh is an excellent writer and you get a great feel for the characters, especially Anna and Teej as their shared experiences bring them closer together. It will be interesting to see how their future plays out in the rest of the series.
Judging by the twists and turns in this first offering, it certainly won't be predictable.
Read
April 18, 2019Really great, original world building, some cool characters (Garret!) and a tale that takes twists and turns I couldn't have expected. Easy to recommend this to anyone who likes a bit of fantasy, and I look forward to seeing where Anna goes next.
April 26, 2018
*I received this book for free, in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!*
Anna Undreaming is a dark Urban Fantasy novel, following our main character Anna, who has just discovered that she has the ability to wield supernatural powers by traveling through imaginary worlds created by the Dreamers. At first, she's not able to distinguish reality from illusion but, she fights the monsters she encounters in these hallucinations she's lost in, with everything she's got! Her battles attract the attention of Teej, who saves her using powers she cannot understand and reveals that she actually shares them and will one day save him in return! She's an Undreamer, which means that she has the ability to join Teej's fight and stand against the Dreamers, artists that can create new realities which are filled with both beauty and horror!
The setting of the story blew my mind from the moment I started reading it! At first, I had no idea what to expect because the synopsis was very hazy inside my head and I couldn't really remember it in detail. The first couple of chapters were a bit slow but, as the story progressed and I got used to its pace, I finished it in a matter of hours! The plot was very engaging and managed to keep me at the edge of my seat for the majority of it! Its combination of dark romance and unique story line really intrigued me because one complimented the other perfectly! There were so many interesting terms scattered throughout the novel and each time I encountered when, I got even more excited and couldn't wait to lose my self even more in this fascinating world the author created!
The idea behind the novel was seriously so authentic and it's worth reading just because of its premise! I loved the Hazes and how much they actually impacted the plot itself. They weren't really hallucinations and I'm so glad Anna fought through them because they took place in a different reality but still influenced the real world. Her character development was quite impressive and probably what I enjoyed more in the novel! She has so many layers as a character and I loved how they were slowly revealed through each chapter. She's definitely what we'd call a three dimensional character and has a depth that's not very easy to come by in Fantasy books nowadays. She's one of the most mysterious heroines I've come across recently and I really appreciated her determination to see things through, as well as her bravery when it came to fighting monsters she wasn't even sure were real. She really stood out as a main character and learned from her mistakes, without having to repeat them!
Teej was also a very intriguing and mysterious character, who's purpose was to guide Anna through wielding her powers and helping her come to terms with who she's meant to be. He was such a patient and selfless character, willing to do anything in order to help Anna and show her the ropes of this new world that was revealed to her unexpectedly and without a single warning! There wasn't really a romance between them, just the potential of one that I cannot wait to be the witness of! I've probably never shipped a - to be - romance as much as I ship theirs so, fingers crossed there will be one in the next novel. I know not everything is about romance and this particular story definitely doesn't need one to stand out but, the anticipation is already there without overshadowing everything else so, why not?
The writing itself was great and even though I'm not the biggest fan of third person narratives, the author managed to make me enjoy this one! Also, the lack of answers and some pretty important twists really added so much more into the story itself, making the experience of reading it even better! I really appreciated the fact that, there were some questions left unanswered but not infuriatingly so, because that just adds to the mystery and builds up the before mentioned anticipation of finding out what'll happen next!
Overall, Anna Undreaming is a very original story, that captures the meaning of fighting through a reality you're not sure exists, in order to create a better life for yourself! The world crafted through the pages of this book really made me want to get lost in it and the ending left me hungry for more! I absolutely fell in love with Anna and how real she felt, which made it so much easier to connect with her as a character and follow the journey she embarked on! Highly recommend it to fans of dark Fantasy, ready to enter a world they've never experienced before!
Anna Undreaming is a dark Urban Fantasy novel, following our main character Anna, who has just discovered that she has the ability to wield supernatural powers by traveling through imaginary worlds created by the Dreamers. At first, she's not able to distinguish reality from illusion but, she fights the monsters she encounters in these hallucinations she's lost in, with everything she's got! Her battles attract the attention of Teej, who saves her using powers she cannot understand and reveals that she actually shares them and will one day save him in return! She's an Undreamer, which means that she has the ability to join Teej's fight and stand against the Dreamers, artists that can create new realities which are filled with both beauty and horror!
The setting of the story blew my mind from the moment I started reading it! At first, I had no idea what to expect because the synopsis was very hazy inside my head and I couldn't really remember it in detail. The first couple of chapters were a bit slow but, as the story progressed and I got used to its pace, I finished it in a matter of hours! The plot was very engaging and managed to keep me at the edge of my seat for the majority of it! Its combination of dark romance and unique story line really intrigued me because one complimented the other perfectly! There were so many interesting terms scattered throughout the novel and each time I encountered when, I got even more excited and couldn't wait to lose my self even more in this fascinating world the author created!
The idea behind the novel was seriously so authentic and it's worth reading just because of its premise! I loved the Hazes and how much they actually impacted the plot itself. They weren't really hallucinations and I'm so glad Anna fought through them because they took place in a different reality but still influenced the real world. Her character development was quite impressive and probably what I enjoyed more in the novel! She has so many layers as a character and I loved how they were slowly revealed through each chapter. She's definitely what we'd call a three dimensional character and has a depth that's not very easy to come by in Fantasy books nowadays. She's one of the most mysterious heroines I've come across recently and I really appreciated her determination to see things through, as well as her bravery when it came to fighting monsters she wasn't even sure were real. She really stood out as a main character and learned from her mistakes, without having to repeat them!
Teej was also a very intriguing and mysterious character, who's purpose was to guide Anna through wielding her powers and helping her come to terms with who she's meant to be. He was such a patient and selfless character, willing to do anything in order to help Anna and show her the ropes of this new world that was revealed to her unexpectedly and without a single warning! There wasn't really a romance between them, just the potential of one that I cannot wait to be the witness of! I've probably never shipped a - to be - romance as much as I ship theirs so, fingers crossed there will be one in the next novel. I know not everything is about romance and this particular story definitely doesn't need one to stand out but, the anticipation is already there without overshadowing everything else so, why not?
The writing itself was great and even though I'm not the biggest fan of third person narratives, the author managed to make me enjoy this one! Also, the lack of answers and some pretty important twists really added so much more into the story itself, making the experience of reading it even better! I really appreciated the fact that, there were some questions left unanswered but not infuriatingly so, because that just adds to the mystery and builds up the before mentioned anticipation of finding out what'll happen next!
Overall, Anna Undreaming is a very original story, that captures the meaning of fighting through a reality you're not sure exists, in order to create a better life for yourself! The world crafted through the pages of this book really made me want to get lost in it and the ending left me hungry for more! I absolutely fell in love with Anna and how real she felt, which made it so much easier to connect with her as a character and follow the journey she embarked on! Highly recommend it to fans of dark Fantasy, ready to enter a world they've never experienced before!
April 7, 2019
★★★☆☆
I would like to thank the author for being so generous to send me a copy of Anna Undreaming in exchange for an honest review.
Going into this book I didn’t quite know what to expect, I’d heard a few captivating things about it and read the synopsis, but the story could still go in so many different ways! I just knew that I wanted to read it because it intrigued me and the cover was gorgeous and I’m a sucker for that:)
I’m not going to give you a spoiler-free summary of what happened, because it won’t be more informative than the synopsis already given, so you should just stick to that one. I will just shoot right from the hip, this book was not really for me. I will explain why in this review. What I do think is that it has so much potential and I would definitely recommend you to give it a go, because if this is something up your ally, you’ll probably love it very much!
There were just quite some things that bothered me a bit. To me, the story didn’t feel very coherent, it felt more like different (good!) parts sticked together with a common thread that I couldn’t remember most of the time. Nearing the end, the timeline felt somewhat confusing to me. The chapters with Peter just felt a little bit random and I had some struggles getting back to the others when their chapters started, because I had sometimes forgotten what was really happening. Most chapters were, for me, not very easy to get into. I really had to sit down with my book to give it my full attention, which, on itself, isn’t a big deal, but I like books that read very fluently a little bit better. What also was difficult was the amount of new words, that i could not seem to remember. But, here is this amazing glossary in the back!
So now let’s start from the beginning. We enter the story in a way that can be very effective - just falling straight in it. Initially I thought it was great, I enjoyed my first few chapters, but later on when I had read more of it I just didn’t really see the connection between the introduction and the following story. It just felt a bit random at first. There were also quite some sudden tantrums from which I have no idea where they came from. So the organisation in the opening section could’ve been better, less messy, but I have to admit that that did significantly improve later on.
What got under my skin was how much details Teej kept from Anna. But I see that as something positive, I think it’s cool that the Thomas Welsch managed to do that to me! Considering how few things Anna knew, I think she coped really well with it. Of course, the first couple of interactions with Teej and the world of the Dreamers and Undreamers and Metiks were a bit stiff, but Anna handled things pretty well. I really enjoyed the first time that Anna was in a Haze! That was action-packed and engaging. Also when Anna used her powers for the first time was really cool.
Now on to the characters. I do have some trouble with certain characters, for example Dean. I know he doesn’t play a big role at all but that doesn’t mean he has to be sooo annoying! I made me so frustrated so often:) He is just so wrong!! Same goes for Peter though, he said some things that went a little too far for me. For example: “They were all beautiful in different ways. Cute or demure or pretty or sexy. Every type of girl would pass through, and every one of them would scramble his thoughts like a car crash.” I know this might seem silly to some, but I think it was a triggering sentence. To me, it implies that those are the only types of beautiful and I really do not approve of that sort of mindset.
Another thing I have to get off my chest is something about Sue. She is fine as a character, but when
What I did really like was that I didn’t know that I cared for Teej, but when he , I did feel sad which means I did care for him.
Last thing about the characters - I don’t really like that new characters are introduced so late in the story - just, how am i expected to get used to them?
Nearing the end I just wanted to say something about some issues I encountered that really confused me. Sometimes things really contradicted each other. For example hey’re (I don’t remember who) talking about a pool and at first it’s described as ‘deep and clear’, and a few sentences later as ‘shallow, only a few feet’, so, what is it? I don’t really care but just choose!
A similar thing: “Peter blinked twice - what do you mean, no?” followed a couple sentences later by “He blinked twice. Of course you do”. So first nodding twice is negative, and suddenly it’s positive… I do want to stress that maybe I just didn’t understand, or misread it!
Some random thoughts:
* I liked how the author sneaked some references of great philosophers in the book, like Nietzsche, Rousseau, and Camus.
* I do really appreciate the small things, like how the ring was really important.
* I also loved the scene from the train in Canfrac station!
* It was a very creative setting, very original
Overall, a little bit disappointed but i did still enjoy it! I think it just wasn’t really for me, I’ve heard from a lot of people that they loved it so i would still recommend giving it a go!
I would like to thank the author for being so generous to send me a copy of Anna Undreaming in exchange for an honest review.
“Never play their game, their game is always rigged.”
Going into this book I didn’t quite know what to expect, I’d heard a few captivating things about it and read the synopsis, but the story could still go in so many different ways! I just knew that I wanted to read it because it intrigued me and the cover was gorgeous and I’m a sucker for that:)
I’m not going to give you a spoiler-free summary of what happened, because it won’t be more informative than the synopsis already given, so you should just stick to that one. I will just shoot right from the hip, this book was not really for me. I will explain why in this review. What I do think is that it has so much potential and I would definitely recommend you to give it a go, because if this is something up your ally, you’ll probably love it very much!
There were just quite some things that bothered me a bit. To me, the story didn’t feel very coherent, it felt more like different (good!) parts sticked together with a common thread that I couldn’t remember most of the time. Nearing the end, the timeline felt somewhat confusing to me. The chapters with Peter just felt a little bit random and I had some struggles getting back to the others when their chapters started, because I had sometimes forgotten what was really happening. Most chapters were, for me, not very easy to get into. I really had to sit down with my book to give it my full attention, which, on itself, isn’t a big deal, but I like books that read very fluently a little bit better. What also was difficult was the amount of new words, that i could not seem to remember. But, here is this amazing glossary in the back!
“Only two things ever happen in this world. Things change or things stay the same.”
So now let’s start from the beginning. We enter the story in a way that can be very effective - just falling straight in it. Initially I thought it was great, I enjoyed my first few chapters, but later on when I had read more of it I just didn’t really see the connection between the introduction and the following story. It just felt a bit random at first. There were also quite some sudden tantrums from which I have no idea where they came from. So the organisation in the opening section could’ve been better, less messy, but I have to admit that that did significantly improve later on.
What got under my skin was how much details Teej kept from Anna. But I see that as something positive, I think it’s cool that the Thomas Welsch managed to do that to me! Considering how few things Anna knew, I think she coped really well with it. Of course, the first couple of interactions with Teej and the world of the Dreamers and Undreamers and Metiks were a bit stiff, but Anna handled things pretty well. I really enjoyed the first time that Anna was in a Haze! That was action-packed and engaging. Also when Anna used her powers for the first time was really cool.
“She willed herself to be dry, imagining the water on her skin was evaporating into the air. And it did.”
Now on to the characters. I do have some trouble with certain characters, for example Dean. I know he doesn’t play a big role at all but that doesn’t mean he has to be sooo annoying! I made me so frustrated so often:) He is just so wrong!! Same goes for Peter though, he said some things that went a little too far for me. For example: “They were all beautiful in different ways. Cute or demure or pretty or sexy. Every type of girl would pass through, and every one of them would scramble his thoughts like a car crash.” I know this might seem silly to some, but I think it was a triggering sentence. To me, it implies that those are the only types of beautiful and I really do not approve of that sort of mindset.
Another thing I have to get off my chest is something about Sue. She is fine as a character, but when
What I did really like was that I didn’t know that I cared for Teej, but when he , I did feel sad which means I did care for him.
Last thing about the characters - I don’t really like that new characters are introduced so late in the story - just, how am i expected to get used to them?
“Anna, honey, you can’t keep the darkness away by closing your eyes. You must open them and let them adjust. Then you see that the darkness is just a different kind of light.
Nearing the end I just wanted to say something about some issues I encountered that really confused me. Sometimes things really contradicted each other. For example hey’re (I don’t remember who) talking about a pool and at first it’s described as ‘deep and clear’, and a few sentences later as ‘shallow, only a few feet’, so, what is it? I don’t really care but just choose!
A similar thing: “Peter blinked twice - what do you mean, no?” followed a couple sentences later by “He blinked twice. Of course you do”. So first nodding twice is negative, and suddenly it’s positive… I do want to stress that maybe I just didn’t understand, or misread it!
Some random thoughts:
* I liked how the author sneaked some references of great philosophers in the book, like Nietzsche, Rousseau, and Camus.
* I do really appreciate the small things, like how the ring was really important.
* I also loved the scene from the train in Canfrac station!
* It was a very creative setting, very original
Overall, a little bit disappointed but i did still enjoy it! I think it just wasn’t really for me, I’ve heard from a lot of people that they loved it so i would still recommend giving it a go!
May 10, 2018
Dark Fantasy. I had no idea what to expect from this book. I've never read a dark fantasy novel before, and to my surprise, I enjoyed the story. Though, I'll admit (and I'm not sure the exact range of how dark a dark fantasy novel can get) that I'm not sure I'd be able to handle a much darker, graphic story-line. But again, that's a personal preference. Thomas writes a well-balanced story for Anna of both the real world and the world "Behind the Veil".
Anna is an Undreamer. What is an Undreamer you ask? Welcome to Thomas Welsh's creation of an alternate, co-existing reality. Within the regular world, artistic realities in which dream-like-states, called Hazes manifest into a physical reality, overlapping parts of the real world. These Hazes are created and maintained by Dreamers; on a side note, not all Hazes are friendly and inviting.
To read my full review, visit www.plumreport.com (review shortcode: https://wp.me/p9IFXh-K2)
Anna is an Undreamer. What is an Undreamer you ask? Welcome to Thomas Welsh's creation of an alternate, co-existing reality. Within the regular world, artistic realities in which dream-like-states, called Hazes manifest into a physical reality, overlapping parts of the real world. These Hazes are created and maintained by Dreamers; on a side note, not all Hazes are friendly and inviting.
To read my full review, visit www.plumreport.com (review shortcode: https://wp.me/p9IFXh-K2)
December 29, 2018
Book Name: Anna Undreaming
Author: Thomas Welsh
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Owl Hollow Place
Note: Book one in the Metik's Trilogy
.
Plot: Anna is a student surviving the city, for every man she has ever known, it’s a saying that has served her well.
Especially when Anna becomes lost to the dark heart of the city. She finds herself hunted by Dreamers—artists, both good and evil, who construct new worlds—within a complex community that threatens to undermine reality itself. She must travel through their strange and treacherous creations to discover that there’s as much beauty in life as there is darkness. .
My Opinion: Again a book in a series & again this book left me so desperate in the end that what would happen next. Like, seriously this was one of the most amazing fantasy book I read recently. Anna is an amazing character- she is peculiar, crazy, strong, wired but yet she is so lovely. Anna faces alot of struggles in her life & like every other girl she has the fear to lose people & things. She is definitely shown as an very amazing & interesting character. I loved how the author made me re lived her life with her through the book & I actually felt that I was facing & jumping over my fate here & there with here. The Metik's Trilogy is definitely gonna rock & I am just waiting for the next book. The cover is so alluring- loved it. Highly recommend.
.
Pros: The author maintains an unique writing style throughout the book, he was just too high on keeping the suspense factor which I loved much. The painful part of the book actually felt so real & touched my heart. The book follows an amalgamation of many emotions which just can glitter anyone's memories while reading. The most amazing part is that- it's a heavy large book but I bet you won't stay calm until you finish it once you pick it!
Cons: The book certainly is amazing but I don't recommend this to people who are beginners because the writing & wording was up to the mark but it's not for everyone. Now, I am like when the next book gonna come out?
.
Rating: 4.35🌟
Author: Thomas Welsh
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Owl Hollow Place
Note: Book one in the Metik's Trilogy
.
Plot: Anna is a student surviving the city, for every man she has ever known, it’s a saying that has served her well.
Especially when Anna becomes lost to the dark heart of the city. She finds herself hunted by Dreamers—artists, both good and evil, who construct new worlds—within a complex community that threatens to undermine reality itself. She must travel through their strange and treacherous creations to discover that there’s as much beauty in life as there is darkness. .
My Opinion: Again a book in a series & again this book left me so desperate in the end that what would happen next. Like, seriously this was one of the most amazing fantasy book I read recently. Anna is an amazing character- she is peculiar, crazy, strong, wired but yet she is so lovely. Anna faces alot of struggles in her life & like every other girl she has the fear to lose people & things. She is definitely shown as an very amazing & interesting character. I loved how the author made me re lived her life with her through the book & I actually felt that I was facing & jumping over my fate here & there with here. The Metik's Trilogy is definitely gonna rock & I am just waiting for the next book. The cover is so alluring- loved it. Highly recommend.
.
Pros: The author maintains an unique writing style throughout the book, he was just too high on keeping the suspense factor which I loved much. The painful part of the book actually felt so real & touched my heart. The book follows an amalgamation of many emotions which just can glitter anyone's memories while reading. The most amazing part is that- it's a heavy large book but I bet you won't stay calm until you finish it once you pick it!
Cons: The book certainly is amazing but I don't recommend this to people who are beginners because the writing & wording was up to the mark but it's not for everyone. Now, I am like when the next book gonna come out?
.
Rating: 4.35🌟
October 7, 2019
Anna Undreaming tells the story of Anna who gets sucked into this other side of our world called a Haze or Behind the Veil. A Haze is another dimension of our world created by a Dreamer.
After being given drugs Anna is able to go Behind the Veil and finds out that she is an Undreamer, together with Teej, a Metik that she know before all this happened, Anna starts to unravel this new world she got sucked into.
I had mixed feelings while reading this book. On one hand I really loved the writing style of the author and the concept, but on the other hand I was really confused the whole book. Not only are we following a character who doesn’t seem to have any idea of what is going on, so the readers don’t get much more inside, but she is also left in de dark by Teej who seems to know a lot of this world.
There is also the matter that us readers like a fast paced book, but for me this book was to fast paced… Half of the time I wasn’t sure what was exactly going on or how they got there. Anna Undreaming isn’t a book that is set in a month or so, you sometimes jump 6 weeks ahead. That combined with a character who doesn’t understand what is going on makes it hard to understand.
I am doubting between a 2.75 and a 3/5 for this book. I like the writing style and the really cool concept but the pacing was a bit of for me.
Overall it is a good book, but you have to keep your mind to it. If you are like me and enjoy reading a book an hour or so before bed while already tired, I doubt you will enjoy this book. I mostly enjoyed it when reading it in the day and not getting tired after a whole day of school.
After being given drugs Anna is able to go Behind the Veil and finds out that she is an Undreamer, together with Teej, a Metik that she know before all this happened, Anna starts to unravel this new world she got sucked into.
I had mixed feelings while reading this book. On one hand I really loved the writing style of the author and the concept, but on the other hand I was really confused the whole book. Not only are we following a character who doesn’t seem to have any idea of what is going on, so the readers don’t get much more inside, but she is also left in de dark by Teej who seems to know a lot of this world.
There is also the matter that us readers like a fast paced book, but for me this book was to fast paced… Half of the time I wasn’t sure what was exactly going on or how they got there. Anna Undreaming isn’t a book that is set in a month or so, you sometimes jump 6 weeks ahead. That combined with a character who doesn’t understand what is going on makes it hard to understand.
I am doubting between a 2.75 and a 3/5 for this book. I like the writing style and the really cool concept but the pacing was a bit of for me.
Overall it is a good book, but you have to keep your mind to it. If you are like me and enjoy reading a book an hour or so before bed while already tired, I doubt you will enjoy this book. I mostly enjoyed it when reading it in the day and not getting tired after a whole day of school.
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