Awry With Dandelions

by J.S. Fields

When do dreams become reality?
Orin sells dandelion latex at a no-name market, barely scraping by.

Mette is a princess. Maybe. What Orin does know is that for thirty seconds every night, Mette visits Orin in xir dreams. Orin has long since written the fancy ghost woman off as a recurring nightmare, but when Mette insists upon meeting in real life, Orin's inner world turns out to be more substantive than imaginary.

Along with best friend Blathnaid, Orin embarks on a journey to discover the truth behind xir otherworldly connection--determined to free xir mind and finally get a good night's sleep. But it's an ancient, planetary magic that binds Orin to Mette, and Orin's dandelions may be their only chance to survive the separation.

If you want a fun, queer romp through a sci-fi planet with magic and dragons (of a sort), download Awry with Dandelions today!

Genres: Space Opera / Science Fiction / Romance / LGBT Lesbian Non Binary

Market: Adult and New Adult

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, Fiction

99 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2022

Reviews

[Della B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since six years of age Orin has been mentally connected to Mette. Every night they have thirty seconds to see and talk to each other in a dream like state. Then they both become violently ill. The connection leaves them ill and sleep deprived. Mette has been trying to find a way to sever their connection for years and this time they need to meet face to face for the first time to make it work, possibly, probably?

The world building is impressive in this novella. It establishes the “not on earth” scenario quickly but as background fodder. Orin is a very likeable character, as is xir best friend Blathnaid. The story is very unique and intriguing.

Awry with Dandelions is a stand alone novel even though I really wish it was the start of a series. We left Orin and Mette well before this reader had wanted.

I received an advance review copy from BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since they can remember, Orin has shared their mind with Mette, who may or may not be real but takes a lot of space in their life. Mette and Orin have tried for years to separate but no amount of bitter potions or jumping off cliffs has proved effective. When Mette swears she’s found a new possibility but Orin would have to join her on the other side of the planet to try, the two of them, with the addition of Blathnaid, Orin’s best friend, set in motion a dangerous but potentially life-saving plan. If it doesn’t kill them first.

This novella started as a short story in the Behind the Sun, Above the Moon collection. It was one of my favourite stories in that book and reading an extended version was interesting. One of the things I like about Awry with Dandelions is that it’s both fantasy and sci-fi. Since I first read the Ardulum series, Fields has become one of my automatic-read authors, especially for sci-fi. I never know where they’re going to take the story and I’m constantly wrong-footed. It’s all very entertaining. They also write endearing characters, of which Orin is a good example: they’re awkward and smart and grumpy. Blathnaid is a great secondary character, the perfect counterpart to Orin. If anything, Mette is the least developed character of the three but I know enough to know she’s a badass and I wouldn’t mind reading more of her adventures.

For a very long time, I didn’t think I’d enjoy shorter stories, but I’ve come to like them a lot and admire the way authors manage to create a whole world, a whole atmosphere, well-rounded characters in a very short time.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original, syfy with a unique story to tell.
It’s a shorter novella f/f so was pleased with the representation, feel I’m slowly finding some good ones for lgbtq here and there so went and searched a bit more to find maybe some needles in the hay stacks.
I enjoyed this one’s idea, however there was a bit of weird terms that kept throwing me out of the story cause I’d be confused who was being referred to, it would be first person but talking also as though in the third? Not even sure how to explain but it left little to be desired for my focal on this. Solid three start for story idea and characters but the writing style is probably what I just couldn’t mesh well and enjoy.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Orin is barely scraping by, selling dandelion latex at a market . Who is having nightmares of a fancy ghost woman, Mette off . When she tells him she wants to meet him in real life his life is turned upside down and his dreams are more then his real life . So off on an adventure with his best friend Blathnaid to discover the truth behind the xir and the other worldly connection and is determined to free the xir mind and maybe finally have a good nights sleep and maybe be able to keep things down. Also it might be the only way to survive the separation of them .

Orin is a sweet guy who is just trying to get ahead in his life . He is sharing his mind with Mette and she takes up a lot of his mind . He is a sweet young man who is stronger then he comes off as . His best friend Blathnaid is a fun guy who is jolly and likes his life . Mette is sweet but there is something more to her. She is tough and along with the guys she is ready to free herself . Each of these characters is fun to read and they are complex for a novella.

This is one of those books where you have sci fi, romance and has LGBT and non binary aspects through out . The main characters are diverse and you will like them . The author does paint a great picture of what it is like on the other planet . There are also dragons mentioned . This is one of those books that was suppose to be part of an anthology but the author expanded it and we got a wonderful novella that will wanting more . So if you want to check out a good story and add it to your summer reading list check it out .

[BookDragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awry ith Dandilions by J.S. Fields is a quick romp of a read. There are amusing situations at points that are interlaced within a unique story told. Orin is just trying to make a living by selling dandilions (not weeds!) and Blathnaid, is the childhood best friend that deals with her eccentricity among other things.

Mette, is the literal dream girl that has been with Orin her whole life, whose presence has induced her to the point of emesis, and has a plan to fix that.

The gender pronoun took me a bit to adjust to, but once I understood, it was smooth reading. I really liked how the book ended as it was in character for both protagonist and amusing.

I recommend this if you are seeking a light read and a unique situation.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Finding Sky Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

Really interesting and fast paced novella! I haven't read anything like this before and I don't dabble into anything in this genre often, but I might need to more.

We follow Orin, who starts xir journey selling their special line of dandelions for latex at the market, alongside is Orins best friend Blathnaid, who has been by their side since xie were kids. I loved the resilience and connection between these two because you could tell they truly cared and trusted one another. It's really nice to see such platonic love and friendship. Blathnaid making breakfast every morning for Orin just incase Orin was able to finally sleep through the night without waking up vomitting and with a terrible headache due to the dream connection with Metta, was nothing short of adorable. Despite the fact that the breakfast got ruined every morning. I also enjoyed the symbolism of the dandelions throughout.

I wish we got to see more of the dream connection between Orin and Mette more, but I understand with the pacing and the length being a novella why it was done the way it was. I wish we dove more into why and how they pulled off the end scene because that would have been so cool to have it more detailled! The end felt so bitter sweet 🥺


Things I loved:
- Queer Romance (Non-binary lead and Female love interest)
- Magic connection since childhood via dreams
- Dandelion farming not on earth
- Use of neo pronouns
- Great platonic relationship with side character

[**Elle**Bee**Double U** · Rating 2 out of 5]

This little short story was weird.
The beginning of the book I was following along just fine. Orin and Mette have some connection, and for the last 20 years have seen each other in their dreams but only for 30 seconds.
But that's about as much as I understood with this.
I feel as if there should've been a book before this one to kind of give the reader some more insight into this world the author was trying to build. The connection Orin and Mette have isn't a new thing, but apparently it's not common on the new world they are on that people just assume they're having dreams or are making things up.
Overall I was lost on the dandelion and magic bit towards the end that I felt I was reading but not exactly understanding the big climax of the book.

[Lisbeth Ivies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multiple times while reading 'Awry With Dandelions,' I was struck by just how much I wanted to read more of the world the author has created here. From being able to create water using a nonsensical string of 17 words to having a custom of kissing cheeks or forehead based on gender, there were so many details shaping a planet akin to ours even though the work is quite short.

The characterizations of Mette, Orin, and Blathnaid were very well done but felt younger to me than their listed ages. The gender of Orin and xir portrayal, in general, was exactly what I hope for in the genre. Being nonbinary wasn't the primary focus of a flat character but only one facet of a fleshed-out, real personality.

The length of the novella is probably my biggest complaint, though it was also a compliment in some ways rolled into one because some of that was my selfish want for more as explained above. However, some of it was also from the technical side too, with the last two chapters especially feeling rather rushed while reading. It also broke one of the "cardinal rules" of the romance genre, but I can't really elaborate on that more without spoiling anything. Ultimately, I think this was just another symptom of the length.

Science fiction and fantasy melded into one, I found 'Awry With Dandelions' stronger through that lens than as a romance. Though the concept of two characters sort of slipping into each other through short, nightly glimpses over the course of years was a very interesting one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[The Delightful Page · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this story. I was really intrigued by the notion of dandelion farming. For me personally, there were just some things that took me out of the world and made it difficult to read. Novellas are tricky because you have to cram a lot into such a short amount of pages. However, I really liked seeing the use of Xie pronouns. There's not enough of that in books.

I think the choice at the end to have Orin and Mette go their separate ways felt like the best outcome to me.

To me, Blathnaid was the standout in this novella. I would love to see the author explore more of his story now that Orin and Mette's connection has been severed. His training to learn actual magic would be such a cool journey to read about! His friendship with Orin is really sweet, so seeing more of their history together would also be interesting to explore.

[Elpis G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awry with Dandelions is a fun novella. It follows Orin and xir friend/roommate who are trying to break a mysterious connection that Orin has had with a mysterious woman called Mette. After trying to solve it for 20 years, Mette finally has a solution but it will involve meeting up in rea life.

I really enjoyed reading this. It was a very fast and easy read once I got into it. Orin and Blanthaid had a really good dynamic with each other and I learned a lot about farming dandelions in a fictional world. I also loved the amount of detail that went into the world building. The pace of the book was a bit weird at times and the ending left me wanting more but overall it was a good read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stephen Poltz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another Orycon Sci Fi convention find. I’ve met Fields and listened to them on panels at the convention. I really like their perspective and ideas. That goes the same for their books. This one is an interesting mix of science fiction and fantasy with dandelions being an integral part of both. The characters are on a colony planet of Earth and the only species of plants to survive genetically unmodified on both is the dandelion. It grows anywhere, even on other planets. I enjoyed this book until the end, where I got somewhat confused about the magic with the dandelions. But overall, a fun, inventive novella.

Come visit my blog for the full review…
https://itstartedwiththehugos.blogspo...

[Andrea Goldfein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novella! It was refreshing to read from the perspective of a xie/xir protagonist, something I’d like to see more of in sci-fi and fantasy. The magic is dreamlike and unpredictable, which gives the story an adventurous quality.

I especially loved the reversal of the “secret princess” trope. Instead of royalty, the love interest is a hardworking glass artisan from the working class, which felt both subversive and satisfying.

Though brief, the story touches on big themes such as identity, rejecting societal expectations, and finding the courage to leave toxic relationships. It acknowledges the pain of these struggles while offering a sense of peace and the hope of building a future on your own terms.

[Brandy Mulder · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this story is interesting but the x in some of the pronouns is distracting. Why are they there? There is a momentary interaction that suggests that Orin is not a boy or girl or something? I feel like there is some large gaps in the world building of this book. I was a bit lost in the 1st chapter trying to figure out what was going on. I would start to get into the story and then those x pronouns would pop up and distract me. Not sure why but they really kept throwing me off. Maybe because I can't figure out what they signify? Either way the story is interesting and I wish there was more to it.

[Cas Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Awry With Dandelions. This is the first book I have read that uses neo-pronouns, and I am here for it. The character Orin is non-binary and full of confidence, as well as a weird connection to a woman named Mette. Orin loves dandelions, and I would say hyper fixated. Xir has a kind and cocky best friend who makes xir breakfast that xir never gets to eat.

I found the ending slightly unremarkable. I guess I was hoping for the bright love filled happy ever after between Orin and Mette, but I was given a more realistic ending where they both head off on their own paths, ready to live their lives as a singular entity for the first time.

[Lisa Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as an ARC, I am leaving my honest review. This is a delightful tale of 2 people joined to each other’s soul. The problem is that every night they appear in each other’s dreams if only briefly. Not knowing if it is real or just dreams, years go by, until a special breed of dandelions are made. The dandelions that will change everything, if they can just figure out how. The magic begins as realization hits, where dreams become reality, and life just may return to normal. But first the magical quest must be completed and the events that develop will hold your attention til the end.

[stephanie cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was able to read this book as an ARC copy. the story line is amazing. Orin, a dandelion grower, and Mette share special split moments together, daily for as long as they can remember. They try to find a way to disconnect the link between themselves because of the toll is takes on their health. I enjoyed the story and was crushed when it came down to them having to find a way to separate their link with each other, to have this connection with someone, regardless how fleeting or not knowing what is real or not, it's always hard when that link has to be disconnected.

[Looby Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a novella about a dandelion grower Orin and Mette the woman she met in her dreams for only a few seconds. These nightly, sometimes in the day too bud it’s take a toll on their respective healths.

It was really good world building and a unique and exciting plot. But the ending didn’t leave me satisfied. An epilogue with a reunion would have made it much better. Without it the book didn’t really have a full outcome as such. Maybe there’ll be a sequel instead.

[William Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an ARC of this book from the author and really enjoyed it!

Orin is linked by dreams to Mette, who may or may not be real. And/or a princess.
There's a lot of story packed into this novella, from a well-built colony planet with magic and science, to three believable characters (I love Blathnaid!) struggling to figure out what's going on.
If you want a fun, quick read with some real heart in it, try this one out!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting quick read. I enjoyed the story of Orion and Mette who were dream buddies for 20 years not knowing if each other were real and making them both sick. When they meet for real it is to undertake a separation of their minds. The process has the ability to kill Orion but with the help of his friend and Mette things are looking up. They both dream of what it will be like to live on their own and hopefully this will work.

[Lori Hammons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intriguing story about Orin and Mette, who gave been telepathically linked for years. With no control when, or for how long they share their minds, they finally meet and attempt to unlink themselves. I would love to read a back story about how their planet and Earth came to know one another, as well as a sequel to this story. I really enjoyed this book.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

I understood the relationship between Mette and Orin at the beginning of the story. But all the x words confused me enough that it was really hard to know what was being said part of the time. I know that capitalized X. are usually a person or place but after that I was confused. So I was not able to get through the book.. Some of it was kind of interesting.

[Breen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’ve mixed feelings about this story. The whole telepathically connection between Orin and Mette was interesting and had potential but at some point I got lost in the flow though I finished the story.”

[Trippentigger · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s alright

I jumped between three and four stars on this one. Went with four as the story and characters work, plus this author writes with great flow. My gripe comes with the bittersweet ending. Worth the read, but sure hope the story continues.

[Alyshondra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ebook.

What a DELIGHT. Poor Orin - xir’s life seemed rough. I love that the dandelions were the answer!

“Lion fern” is still making me giggle. And I love that Orin is good at sales.

[AlexZandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8 stars

[Maia Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and funny and downright charming!

[Vickie Chaisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Sci-Fi and fantasy this book is for you. The characters and world building will keep you totally engaged. As the main characters Orin and Mette come closer to what they want you will be rooting for them to succeed.

As the plot and character definition grows you will wonder how theirs soils meshed together. Their dreams keep them awake most of the night and can invade their waking hours as well. It becomes imperative that they figure away to become separated. Orin's friend Blathnaid as secondary character plays a major part in the story. Because the writing is so well done the world they live on and the connection to Earth is very easy to believe. If all of the author's books are written like this one I highly
recommend you to consider this author.

[Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awry with Dandelions

An interesting and unique story with dandelions, magic, and two strangers connected. The story was fast paced and intriguing but also strange at times and I believe part of a bigger world that I would’ve liked to see more of.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read an ARC copy of this. A fun story with lots of great imagery and characters.

[Connie Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and Silly

This is an imaginative story. It reads quickly. There is great world building set on a planet where there was magic. It is fun.