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Dreamland: Part 1: The Fabric of Dreams

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One hero, one destiny. Unleash the power of dreams.

Young Eric has slipped into a coma and has been summoned into a magical realm: Dreamland. Weird and wonderful creatures have summoned him for one purpose, to become their saviour. Across the horizon, the dark and shadowy realm of the fearsome Nightmares looms. The Dark Lord Hermantrude and his fearsome monster’s world is ever growing, ever stretching, consuming the land. Their purpose to take over Dreamland and in turn, every other world throughout the cosmos. Using the limitless power of the light and the help of some magical allies, the boy must be trained to master his mind, body and spirit, to unlock his powers, and to meet his destiny. The fate of us all, rests in his hands. Can the young apprentice survive long enough to become the master?

Shock, awe and wonder await in the first part of the trilogy. If you love fantasy adventure, then you'll love this imaginative, action-packed and inspirational epic for the ages.

Buy the book and start dreaming today!

Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2020

42 people are currently reading
41 people want to read

About the author

Barry S. Brunswick

14 books15 followers
Igniting Kid’s Imagination

‘Once upon a time, there was a wizard and that wizard had a dream. His dream was to spark kid’s imagination through the telling of amazing tales. So, with his pointy hat on his head and his long and slender fingers, he picked up a pen and began to write. The candle flickered as the pages turned one after the other, night after night.

He journeyed long and journeyed far. He went all the way to the mountains, through the forests and valleys. He travelled through the mists of time and through the wonders of space. He met dragons and ghosts and a myriad of magic creatures along the way. And, he did it all without ever leaving his chair.

As the images ran wild through his mind, his pen scratched away on the paper. Then one day, after many years and much toil, he had done it. He had created wondrous books to ignite kid’s imagination and to help them to think and grow and dream.

And just in case you wondered, the wizard still journeys through story world and scribbles by candlelight to this day.’

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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
5 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2022
Hello, I am Venice Mancuso and welcome to my podcast Look at that Book, where I am going to be discussing my opinion on a very cute book I’ve read recently called Dreamland. Dreamland is a fantasy novel written by Barry S. Brunswick. It focuses on an 8 year old boy named Eric, who suffers from a disorder that makes him enter a state of dream anywhere at any given time. One day he goes into a coma and falls through a dream puddle that brings him into a beautiful, happy, and mystical place called Dreamland, where he meets Lacy, Rollo, Dutch, and many other creatures. Dreamland is in trouble because it is being consumed by the Land of Nightmares, which is the complete opposite of Dreamland. It is up to Eric to save this beautiful sacred land as he is the chosen one. The conflict in this book is that the little boy Eric is supposed to fight Hermantrude, a very dangerous and powerful nightmare from the Land of Nightmares, in order to save Dreamland. The Nightmares are basically rogue creatures from Dreamland that have been consumed by darkness. They go into people’s dreams and turn them into bad dreams; the nightmares are filled with darkness. Eric is the only one who can fight Hermantrude’s great power and darkness, but he starts to question his own worth and power after seeing what he must face and how he must face it. In order for Eric to successfully use his power, he must be focused and not feed into Hermantrude’s negative vibes and talk; the key is for him to be confident and joyful which hurts the nightmares. The reader gets to see Eric grow stronger from his training by not only increasing his power, but learning how to be more confident, focused, and positive which is a very virtuous lesson to take in to apply to your everyday life. I really like how this lesson is taught throughout the book in a happy and mystical way, because it makes the lesson more interesting and comforting to read about. It was comforting to read about this wholesome story that takes place in a wholesome land where everything is like a dream come true; it was almost like a break from reality. The book shone light on things that seem scary, especially fears. Eric’s dream guide, Jamelia and Valdorral of the dream lake teach him about how he must not show negative emotion while fighting Hermantrude because that is what he feeds off of; it is what makes him grow bigger and stronger. They tell him to instead bring positive talk and emotion because that will make Hermantrude weaker. This is pretty much one of the main lessons of the book, and it is trying to say that you need to be positive in life to fight and get through dark things or times. A lot of people need to hear this because unfortunately so many people are so surrounded by negativity that it’s hard for them to be positive, and this book opens up a new light to them that maybe things aren’t so bad. Reading this book made me feel calm and happy, and it teaches a great lesson to people. I definitely recommend you read this book if you’re looking for a distraction from reality that also helps you emotionally grow.
Profile Image for Jas Phoenix.
94 reviews8 followers
December 11, 2025
Dreamland Part 1: The Fabric of Dreams, the first instalment in The Dreamland Trilogy by Barry S. Brunswick, is an absolute delight. Eric is a boy who has always dreamed, but when the line between sleep and waking begins to blur, life becomes increasingly strange – and a little alarming. One day he doesn’t wake up at all and finds himself in another realm entirely. With a destiny to fulfil, he’s thrust into a world of wonder and danger, where he must learn to harness extraordinary powers and face formidable foes to save Dreamland itself. Along the way, Eric learns about the power of belief, the strength of friendship, and the magic that lies within imagination.

Although this story is written for a younger audience, I found it an utterly captivating and enchanting read. It transported me to a place of magic, adventure, laughter, and warmth. The characters are vividly drawn, the descriptions rich and immersive, and the pacing keeps the reader completely engaged from start to finish. Barry Brunswick writes for children with a rare understanding of how their imaginations work. He captures their sense of wonder and humour perfectly, creating stories that are both exciting and meaningful. His writing is playful yet profound, and he never talks down to his readers – instead, he invites them to think, dream, and laugh along the way. It’s a story that feels as unique as it is brilliant. I would wholeheartedly recommend this to both children and adults, and I can’t wait to continue the adventure in book two.
Profile Image for Anna Ivanova.
1 review
November 20, 2019
I loved the fantastic Dreamland depicted by Barry. I never expected any of the events happened in the story because they were so bizarre and unforeseeable. In my opinion, this is a clever book, and Barry's created a thrilling adventure that I hadn't experienced before. Therefore, I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
857 reviews26 followers
May 26, 2022
Eric is a boy with dreams - but now your typical boy with dreams. You see, Eric cannot seem to prevent himself from slipping into dreaming, whether it's the middle of the night or the middle of the day. Unfortunately, not all of the dreams are good and it is actually preventing Eric from getting the dreams he needs. Desperate to help their son, Eric's parents take him to a sleep doctor, who prescribes some medication for Eric. It helps, at first, and stops the dreams but Eric doesn't like the way he feels on the medication so he stops taking it. Not long after, the dreams start up again - stronger and more frequent. Then, Eric happens to cross into a dream puddle and finds himself in a strange world - Dreamworld - which is very different from Earth and which is under attack by an evil foe who wants everybody to have only nightmares. Eric agrees to help, not realizing that similar events have already occurred, and Eric helped then, too. But, while Eric is in Dreamworld trying to save the day, he has slipped into a coma back on Earth and his parents are both worried sick - maintaining a vigilant watch by his hospital bedside.

Will Eric be able to save Dreamland? Will he accomplish it before serious harm comes to his real body on Earth?

This was a very different kind of book. Despite jumping almost directly into the action of the story, it still felt like it started off kind of slow for me. Although the speed did pick up a little, it never reaches warp speed. Even still, the story is definitely an interesting one. Because this book kicks off a trilogy, it does end without a full resolution, though there's not really a cliffhanger either. It's more like the author just picked this random point in the journey to stop the story, right after a battle and resolution of said battle.

I do like the worldbuilding of Dreamland and the shadows, how the power of the light works, and how it is all tied to a person's feelings. It reminded me very much of the scene in Peter Pan when Tink is dying and Peter begs the audience to save her - that she can be saved if the audience would only believe. It's such a simple concept, yet a powerful one, and it suits this story. I look forward to reading the rest of the series, as I am definitely invested in the outcome of the various characters. I am also REALLY looking forward to seeing what happens when Eric faces off against Hermantrude and his Nightmares and Nightslaves.

If you're a person who cherishes good dreams, then you should read this book. Not only is Eric a great character trying to save Dreamland, but all the crazy rules of Dream Logic that we've all experienced in our dreams are absolutely used here. Spot On!
4 reviews
September 12, 2024
Dreamland was a very unique read for me. I can safely say that I’ve rarely come across a book as vivid, magical and immersive as this one. While fantasy is my favorite genre, it has always been so challenging to find a book that hooks me from start to finish like Dreamland.
Throughout the whole book, it’s clear this one is a work of passion and wonder and lots and lots of daydreams. Barry S. Brunswick really took me on a journey like no other. The world of Dreamland is so unique and magical.

His writing style creates such vivid imagery that is hard not to imagine. You’ll see every color, every setting and every creature as if they’re right before your eyes. You’ll hear the enchanting sounds of Dreamland, feel Eric's emotions as if they are your own, and you’ll even taste Lacy’s wonderful cup of tea. Barry’s writing is deeply descriptive, immersive and entertaining.

He skillfully created a lovely relationship between the reader and each of the main characters, making you feel attached to every one of them. That, in my opinion, is very clever and not every author can pull it off in the reasonable length of Dreamland. I’d say that no chapter felt like just a filler to me, which is another important aspect. Feeling like each chapter serves a purpose is truly vital.

I’d say that indeed Dreamland isn’t just for children, which is another brilliant aspect that showcases the author's talent. Capturing the attention of a 70-year-old, a 21-year-old, and a kid alike takes real skill. ;)
I can't wait to dive into Book II and then III and then more and more of Barry's work. Keep on crafting your magical worlds, word wizard! 💫
Profile Image for Manisha Halkhoree.
88 reviews
May 25, 2024
This book is an adventure traversing different, imaginative worlds; and on this adventure, is young, brave Eric. Ravaged by haunting nightmares and daydreams, Eric is transported to 'Dreamland'- where dreams are fabricated. There, he is debriefed on a mission to save the worlds-including his- from the 'Nightmares' from the 'Land of Nightmares'. Eric is the 'Chosen One' as only he has the powers to defeat the evil a second time.

The writing style and descriptions were lively, and the interestingly-written characters added humour to the story. The banter between the characters in 'Dreamland' was terrific and unique. It was really enjoyable.

Overall, this book made for an entertaining read. There was plenty of action (especially at the end). This book makes an excellent part one in the trilogy.
Profile Image for J.S. Larmore.
Author 10 books13 followers
March 11, 2020
Magical, spiritual, funny, genius

Barry S. Brunswick has an imagination unrivaled by any other MG writer I have ever read. Dreamland's world is rich, deep, and incredibly magical! This story is written in a language, with imagery, simple enough for children to understand, but with a spirituality deep enough for adults to connect with. The characters will pull at your heartstrings and have you celebrating their triumphs with happy tears, and laughing along with them. I cannot wait to see where my favorite characters go next!
1,612 reviews32 followers
March 29, 2022
This is a brilliant read! It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This novel has strong, well developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. I recommend this novel and would read more novels by this author. I received a free copy of this book via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Michelle.
171 reviews
February 3, 2020
This is a really good book for children, and was a very pleasant book to read even as an adult. It is very well written, and children will love the hero aspect of the main character in the book. Although it has some monster-type characters, it read with with a happy theme to it. I will keep looking for more books by this author.
Profile Image for Judy Ferrell.
Author 20 books88 followers
March 24, 2020
I got to be a kid again. Barry Brunswick has a rich imagination that leads you down the rabbit hole info fun and the unbelievable. And yet in Barry's world, it's all possible. Dreamland takes us into the world of beautiful deans and nightmares. And leaves us hanging and wanting more. I highly recommend this book for everyone. It's a great read and very fun.
Profile Image for FC ..
97 reviews2 followers
May 19, 2021
Imagination at its best

A story of good versus evil, a really fabulous story for the young generation, lots of imagination here for the readers to dive into and live the adventures with characters. Its exciting, dangerous, it has adventure and loads of fun.
Can't wait to read more...
Profile Image for Stephen Ainley.
Author 12 books20 followers
January 20, 2020
Enjoyed this colourful and imaginative tale. For little kids and big kids. You will want to read book 2 to find out what becomes of our hero, young Eric.
Profile Image for Jennifer Shepard.
844 reviews121 followers
April 30, 2020
Great book! Barry really takes you to the scene... I love it from the beginning to the end!
Profile Image for K.
58 reviews8 followers
May 9, 2024
Very cute, kind, imaginative middle grade!
Profile Image for Brandy France.
763 reviews4 followers
December 7, 2019
I received this book free and I am voluntarily doing a review. I've got to admit that this book is the complete opposite romance genre I read, I wanted to read something different and in glad I picked this book. Talk about imagination, the author done awesome making it like a magical show running through my head. Loved the writers writing style.
Profile Image for Amy.
43 reviews2 followers
March 7, 2020
This book truly is an adventure of a generation. Eric is our hero, who draws on the knowledge and wisdom of his new friends to learn the skills he needs to fight the Darkness.

In a subtle way, this book teaches some good life lessons such as the importance of friendship and never giving up. I love how at the end of the day the friends talk, laugh and share stories – strengthening their friendship every day.

The author has done a wonderful job of creating a fantasy world, filled with strange and interesting beings. Jamilla and Valdorral are truly unique characters. This author has an amazingly magical imagination. The action scenes are well written – I could see the scene roll out in my head movie, and the dialog is so real I can hear the friends laughing and joking.

In summary, this book is a must read. I highly recommend this book for all ages. The content is suitable for parents to read to younger kids as well. You will enjoy it!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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