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Threads of Dreams #1
Blind the Eyes: Enter the City of Nightmares
When hope kills and dreams are deadly, your only shot at survival is to shut it all down.
In the Towers of Refuge, regulation dictates every aspect of life.
Haunted 17-year-old Cole would do anything to shake her reputation as a failure. The only way to survive the nightmarish Mara is absolute obedience, and she's down to her last chance.
But when a charismatic stranger shows up claiming to know her and Cole discovers Refuge's absolute control and guarantee of safety are both illusions, she realizes hers isn't the only life at stake and goes on the run.
In the underground club Freedom, nothing's forbidden.
Cole needs allies to help her expose Refuge's lies and escape execution by nightmare. Too bad the only candidates are a hedonistic rebel, a trouble-making ghost, a stylist with a secret and an imaginary friend with a talent for monster-hunting.
With enforcers in pursuit and the dead invading her dreams, Cole must figure out who to trust and stop the dying before the nightmares eat her alive.
Trusted authorities lie, allies have their own agendas and even the monsters wear masks in this post-apocalyptic YA dark fantasy suitable for ages 14 and up.
In the Towers of Refuge, regulation dictates every aspect of life.
Haunted 17-year-old Cole would do anything to shake her reputation as a failure. The only way to survive the nightmarish Mara is absolute obedience, and she's down to her last chance.
But when a charismatic stranger shows up claiming to know her and Cole discovers Refuge's absolute control and guarantee of safety are both illusions, she realizes hers isn't the only life at stake and goes on the run.
In the underground club Freedom, nothing's forbidden.
Cole needs allies to help her expose Refuge's lies and escape execution by nightmare. Too bad the only candidates are a hedonistic rebel, a trouble-making ghost, a stylist with a secret and an imaginary friend with a talent for monster-hunting.
With enforcers in pursuit and the dead invading her dreams, Cole must figure out who to trust and stop the dying before the nightmares eat her alive.
Trusted authorities lie, allies have their own agendas and even the monsters wear masks in this post-apocalyptic YA dark fantasy suitable for ages 14 and up.
302 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2018
About the author
K.A. Wiggins
22 books197 followersK.A. Wiggins is a Vancouver-born Canadian speculative fiction writer, speaker, and creative writing coach. Her work explores social movements, environmental crises, and identity issues through intricate, dreamlike tales of monsters and magic.
Her debut, Blind the Eyes, was shortlisted in the Page Turner Awards 2020 eBook Awards category and a Barnes & Noble Press pick for "20 Favorite Indie Books of 2018." Her short fiction has been published by Enchanted Conversation: A Fairytale Magazine, Frozen Wavelets by the Earthian Hive Mind, Fiction-Atlas Press, and Virgibooks Inc.
Notably, she was a guest speaker at the first ORCHIDS Children's Literature Fest in Mumbai, won the Literary Arts Award in the 2021 Arty's, and is an executive team member and registered speaker with the Children's Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia (CWILL BC) Society. She's currently a creative storytelling coach with the Metro-Vancouver-area Creative Writing for Children Society (CWC).
Her debut, Blind the Eyes, was shortlisted in the Page Turner Awards 2020 eBook Awards category and a Barnes & Noble Press pick for "20 Favorite Indie Books of 2018." Her short fiction has been published by Enchanted Conversation: A Fairytale Magazine, Frozen Wavelets by the Earthian Hive Mind, Fiction-Atlas Press, and Virgibooks Inc.
Notably, she was a guest speaker at the first ORCHIDS Children's Literature Fest in Mumbai, won the Literary Arts Award in the 2021 Arty's, and is an executive team member and registered speaker with the Children's Writers and Illustrators of British Columbia (CWILL BC) Society. She's currently a creative storytelling coach with the Metro-Vancouver-area Creative Writing for Children Society (CWC).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
June 27, 2018
. : ☾⋆ — 3 ★
arc provided from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (thank you Snowmelt & Stumps!!)
(READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG)
this is one strange little book.
Blind The Eyes follows our main character Cole—a probation worker in a dystopian society called Refuge which is haunted by dream-eating monsters as Cole herself is haunted by a ghost named Cadence. Cole harbors a very odd obsession with death, which blooms into bizarre visions of dead people’s past. as the death toll in the Refuge increases due to the dream-eating monsters, Cole decides to join a sort of resistance group called Freedom, and finds an ally in Freedom’s leader, Ravel. or does she?
this book was one big “or does she?”. or really, it was one big question mark. that plot up there sounds all good and nice, except that this book was probably the most confusing book i’ve ever read. i’ll get into that in a bit, but to be fair, i do think Blind The Eyes would make a fantastic plot for a video game. the visuals would be amazing, for sure.
so. this book was confusing as heck. the writing was gorgeous, i’ll tell you that. if i took anything from the book, it’s that K.A. Wiggins definitely has a way with words. however, something very strange happened as i was trying to get into the book. there’s definitely a line here somewhere where the stunning writing overpowered the actual storytelling, and being a good writer won’t guarantee that you’re a good storyteller, or vice-versa. the plot was all over the place and then nowhere at all. the writing kept a lot of things from the reader, which makes me think that Wiggins probably thought she was doing a lot of showing rather than telling, when actually she was doing neither.
most of the time it was hard to keep up with the story since there wasn’t really a lot of world building. as a reader you are thrown into this world with the most unreliable narrator in the entire world and nothing to defend yourself with. most of what would be considered world building was only implied here, and there were no rules. this book was truly the ultimate terrordome. the writer doesn’t explain anything, so the main character doesn’t either. you’re all on your own with a plot that bounces all over the place and characters that have no backstory and no relatable or redeemable qualities.
but there was something enthralling about this book. something that made you want to keep going despite the fact that you can’t seem to understand what’s happening. i know i’m not alone here since most reviews i’ve read share my opinion that Blind The Eyes was confusing as heck, yet felt captivated by the book until the very end.
this book is definitely one of a kind.
arc provided from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (thank you Snowmelt & Stumps!!)
(READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG)
this is one strange little book.
Blind The Eyes follows our main character Cole—a probation worker in a dystopian society called Refuge which is haunted by dream-eating monsters as Cole herself is haunted by a ghost named Cadence. Cole harbors a very odd obsession with death, which blooms into bizarre visions of dead people’s past. as the death toll in the Refuge increases due to the dream-eating monsters, Cole decides to join a sort of resistance group called Freedom, and finds an ally in Freedom’s leader, Ravel. or does she?
this book was one big “or does she?”. or really, it was one big question mark. that plot up there sounds all good and nice, except that this book was probably the most confusing book i’ve ever read. i’ll get into that in a bit, but to be fair, i do think Blind The Eyes would make a fantastic plot for a video game. the visuals would be amazing, for sure.
so. this book was confusing as heck. the writing was gorgeous, i’ll tell you that. if i took anything from the book, it’s that K.A. Wiggins definitely has a way with words. however, something very strange happened as i was trying to get into the book. there’s definitely a line here somewhere where the stunning writing overpowered the actual storytelling, and being a good writer won’t guarantee that you’re a good storyteller, or vice-versa. the plot was all over the place and then nowhere at all. the writing kept a lot of things from the reader, which makes me think that Wiggins probably thought she was doing a lot of showing rather than telling, when actually she was doing neither.
most of the time it was hard to keep up with the story since there wasn’t really a lot of world building. as a reader you are thrown into this world with the most unreliable narrator in the entire world and nothing to defend yourself with. most of what would be considered world building was only implied here, and there were no rules. this book was truly the ultimate terrordome. the writer doesn’t explain anything, so the main character doesn’t either. you’re all on your own with a plot that bounces all over the place and characters that have no backstory and no relatable or redeemable qualities.
but there was something enthralling about this book. something that made you want to keep going despite the fact that you can’t seem to understand what’s happening. i know i’m not alone here since most reviews i’ve read share my opinion that Blind The Eyes was confusing as heck, yet felt captivated by the book until the very end.
this book is definitely one of a kind.
October 22, 2019
Blind the Eyes is a very unique book and one that requires a lot of patience. I was quite confused throughout the entire book up until the last 75% or so. There are many odd things happening to our lead gal and it's difficult to determine what is actually happened, what might just be her perception or imagination. It's the problem (and yet fun) of an unreliable narrator.
Plot
Like I said above don't expect to really follow along with much. What you will know quickly is that there is a gal and she is trying to figure out how to function under the regime of a dystopian society. It is not nearly as clear-cut as she wants it to be. There are people 'helping' her; yet she is never sure who is helping and who is tricking her. Hence as the reader we are never sure who or what is happening.
Imagery
K.A. Wiggins has done a good job of creating imagery that allows us to perceive the world the same way our lead gal does. As Blind the Eyes is written in first person we only get as much information as our lead gal is able to provide. If she can't see then we can't see. If she's confused then so are we (which is a lot of the time!). What we do get descriptions of are the smells, touch feelings and visuals of what our heroine experiences. It kind of reminded of being in a bit of a drug fog. From lost time to being uncertain on who is even speaking there is a trippy confusion throughout.
The Ending
It's very rare I stick with a book this convoluted until the end. In the case of Blind the Eyes I really wanted to know what was happening. Almost every chapter I had a different theory of what was transpiring. From wondering if our gal had a major mental illness to her being drugged 24/7 to her being unable to interpret her surrounds (maybe like someone autistic...) to magical powers to some sort of telepathy or telekinesis to her just being unable to perceive the world and then all the way back to the first theory I had which was that our lead gal was just being lied to by those in power.
I'm obviously not going to tell you what, if any of my guesses above, are correct. What I will say is that it makes perfect sense at the end. One of my personal pet peeves with books are convenient or illogical endings. Blind the Eyes had neither of these and I felt very rewarded when I flipped the last page.
Overall
This is not an easy book. But it is quite clever. I think if I were to read it again I would pick-up on many of the things that weren't clear to me on first read. If there are small inconsistencies then my mind overlooked them out of desire to plow forward and find out what on earth was going on!
After I finished Blind the Eyes I realized that Wiggins has written her story in the way that I wish Carnaval (which I hated) was put together. Sometimes it's appropriate for the reader to drift lost for awhile. So long as the hook is good enough to keep them reading it's okay. I nearly gave up twice and for that reason I give this four stars instead of five. That said, bring on book two ASAP please!
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and Voracious Readers. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Plot
Like I said above don't expect to really follow along with much. What you will know quickly is that there is a gal and she is trying to figure out how to function under the regime of a dystopian society. It is not nearly as clear-cut as she wants it to be. There are people 'helping' her; yet she is never sure who is helping and who is tricking her. Hence as the reader we are never sure who or what is happening.
Imagery
K.A. Wiggins has done a good job of creating imagery that allows us to perceive the world the same way our lead gal does. As Blind the Eyes is written in first person we only get as much information as our lead gal is able to provide. If she can't see then we can't see. If she's confused then so are we (which is a lot of the time!). What we do get descriptions of are the smells, touch feelings and visuals of what our heroine experiences. It kind of reminded of being in a bit of a drug fog. From lost time to being uncertain on who is even speaking there is a trippy confusion throughout.
The Ending
It's very rare I stick with a book this convoluted until the end. In the case of Blind the Eyes I really wanted to know what was happening. Almost every chapter I had a different theory of what was transpiring. From wondering if our gal had a major mental illness to her being drugged 24/7 to her being unable to interpret her surrounds (maybe like someone autistic...) to magical powers to some sort of telepathy or telekinesis to her just being unable to perceive the world and then all the way back to the first theory I had which was that our lead gal was just being lied to by those in power.
I'm obviously not going to tell you what, if any of my guesses above, are correct. What I will say is that it makes perfect sense at the end. One of my personal pet peeves with books are convenient or illogical endings. Blind the Eyes had neither of these and I felt very rewarded when I flipped the last page.
Overall
This is not an easy book. But it is quite clever. I think if I were to read it again I would pick-up on many of the things that weren't clear to me on first read. If there are small inconsistencies then my mind overlooked them out of desire to plow forward and find out what on earth was going on!
After I finished Blind the Eyes I realized that Wiggins has written her story in the way that I wish Carnaval (which I hated) was put together. Sometimes it's appropriate for the reader to drift lost for awhile. So long as the hook is good enough to keep them reading it's okay. I nearly gave up twice and for that reason I give this four stars instead of five. That said, bring on book two ASAP please!
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and Voracious Readers. This is an honest and unbiased review.
July 29, 2018
It was such a wonderful concept that was executed poorly. I wanted to love it really, I even pushed myself to finish it but still ended up not working. I feel awful.
June 21, 2018
Actual rating: 4.5
I received a digital review copy from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is in no way influenced by the author, publisher, or distributor.
For fans of Divergent and This Savage Song, Blind the Eyes is a fantasy dystopian post-apocalyptic adventure of dreams, choice, and desire, and the nightmares that feed on us.
The Writing and Worldbuilding
Our protagonist is a shy, hardworking girl just trying to get through probation, so she can become a real worker and earn the golden band that will protect her dreams from the Mara, sinister shadowy creatures who lurk in the darkness of your desires and pose a very real physical threat, but before she can get that, she has to learn to deal with her ghost, Cadence. But then her world completely changes when she finds a dead body and is, strangely, drawn to it, sending her into a world of dreams and nightmares. Now she has to find an ally, someone powerful and capable, to stop the darkness and get the people of Refuge to safety, but she's learning new things about herself and her world, and she doesn't quite know who or what she can trust.
The first few chapters of this were somewhat difficult to get into, and I found myself somewhat confused at first, but once I got into it, I was totally hooked. The writing style is pretty unique, relying heavily on poetic-type prose and metaphorical imagery, which sometimes made what was actually happening a little unclear, but overall was excellent and made for a beautifully told story.
I loved how the world felt very real and unique despite the common aspects it shares with many other YA dystopias and urban fantasies. When it had a chance to break the mold, it did. There are hints of a love triangle, but the story is not very focused on romance, so it didn't bother me at all. The atmosphere was really tangible too, which added a level of realism to this fantastical adventure.
I loved the symbolism, motifs, and themes in this. The similarities and differences between grey Refuge, the oppressive society Cole serves, and the hedonistic, colorful Freedom were masterfully crafted.
The plot twists and character deaths were shocking and effective, and with each chapter, I felt more and more drawn in. I truly enjoyed this.
The Characters
Cole: Cole's arc in this is wonderful, and I sincerely loved her and cared for her as a protagonist. She is caring and clumsy, and more than she seems.
Cadence: Cole's ghost, Cadence, is an imaginative yet determined girl who just wants Cole to think clearly and do what's right for everyone, not just herself. She was honestly so funny sometimes with her snarky commentary, especially about Ravel and Ange, but she proved to be a sincere and wonderful character, who I really cared about.
Ravel: Ravel is honestly so great as a character. He's basically a morally dubious fairy prince who isn't a fairy but is kind of a prince. He's charming, but manipulative, and craves control in all things, a desire that he indulges in Freedom, his little party city, and in his vision of Victoire, his dream of who and what Cole should be.
Ange: She isn't touched on too much in the book, but is definitely an important player in the plot, and will play a key role in the sequel, I'm sure. She's strong and sassy, and fights for what she believes in, despite the cost.
Serovate: His introduction could have been done a tad better, but I did really enjoy his character and the intensity he brought to the story. He was honestly a surprise, and I was really happy with where his character went in the story.
Ash: He was probably the weakest character, but he also wasn't really focused on a whole lot. I liked what he represented in the story though. He was the mcguffin for the most part.
Conclusion
I thoroughly enjoyed this, which is great, because the cover is freaking gorgeous. I am eagerly awaiting the second book, which comes out next year, and I will get my hands on the prequel novella you can get by signing up for the newsletter on K.A. Wiggin's website ASAP.
I received a digital review copy from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is in no way influenced by the author, publisher, or distributor.
For fans of Divergent and This Savage Song, Blind the Eyes is a fantasy dystopian post-apocalyptic adventure of dreams, choice, and desire, and the nightmares that feed on us.
It had been a dream, and dreams lie. Dreams cannot be trusted. Dreams lure you in with promises of your heart's desire, of everything you hope for, of fantasy and fiction made flesh. And then as soon as you reach for paradise, they turn and crush you.
The Writing and Worldbuilding
Our protagonist is a shy, hardworking girl just trying to get through probation, so she can become a real worker and earn the golden band that will protect her dreams from the Mara, sinister shadowy creatures who lurk in the darkness of your desires and pose a very real physical threat, but before she can get that, she has to learn to deal with her ghost, Cadence. But then her world completely changes when she finds a dead body and is, strangely, drawn to it, sending her into a world of dreams and nightmares. Now she has to find an ally, someone powerful and capable, to stop the darkness and get the people of Refuge to safety, but she's learning new things about herself and her world, and she doesn't quite know who or what she can trust.
The first few chapters of this were somewhat difficult to get into, and I found myself somewhat confused at first, but once I got into it, I was totally hooked. The writing style is pretty unique, relying heavily on poetic-type prose and metaphorical imagery, which sometimes made what was actually happening a little unclear, but overall was excellent and made for a beautifully told story.
I loved how the world felt very real and unique despite the common aspects it shares with many other YA dystopias and urban fantasies. When it had a chance to break the mold, it did. There are hints of a love triangle, but the story is not very focused on romance, so it didn't bother me at all. The atmosphere was really tangible too, which added a level of realism to this fantastical adventure.
I loved the symbolism, motifs, and themes in this. The similarities and differences between grey Refuge, the oppressive society Cole serves, and the hedonistic, colorful Freedom were masterfully crafted.
The plot twists and character deaths were shocking and effective, and with each chapter, I felt more and more drawn in. I truly enjoyed this.
"It's okay to want things, Cole. It's okay to go after them, too."
The Characters
Cole: Cole's arc in this is wonderful, and I sincerely loved her and cared for her as a protagonist. She is caring and clumsy, and more than she seems.
"We’re strong, Cole. You just have to stop believing that all your strengths are wrong. Fight back. Stop waiting. Stop looking for someone else to save us. We’re enough, right now, just as we are."
Cadence: Cole's ghost, Cadence, is an imaginative yet determined girl who just wants Cole to think clearly and do what's right for everyone, not just herself. She was honestly so funny sometimes with her snarky commentary, especially about Ravel and Ange, but she proved to be a sincere and wonderful character, who I really cared about.
"Not safe," I say, wondering if only using very short, clumsy sentences is what he means by being special.
Ravel: Ravel is honestly so great as a character. He's basically a morally dubious fairy prince who isn't a fairy but is kind of a prince. He's charming, but manipulative, and craves control in all things, a desire that he indulges in Freedom, his little party city, and in his vision of Victoire, his dream of who and what Cole should be.
I close my eyes. Golden light shines through my eyelids in wavering patterns of red and yellow. Figures dance and sway in the light, dark eyes flashing. I feel Victoire’s eagerness rise as if it were my own. It ebbs almost in the same instant. What do I care for the pulse of a beat, for the eyes of many, for the touch of heat and sweat? That is Victoire’s passion, not mine. I will not succumb. I am not Ravel’s dream of me.
Ange: She isn't touched on too much in the book, but is definitely an important player in the plot, and will play a key role in the sequel, I'm sure. She's strong and sassy, and fights for what she believes in, despite the cost.
Too many children have suffered. Too many families have been broken. Too many girls have grown up alone. Or not at all. I won’t let them ruin anyone else.
Serovate: His introduction could have been done a tad better, but I did really enjoy his character and the intensity he brought to the story. He was honestly a surprise, and I was really happy with where his character went in the story.
Ash: He was probably the weakest character, but he also wasn't really focused on a whole lot. I liked what he represented in the story though. He was the mcguffin for the most part.
Conclusion
I thoroughly enjoyed this, which is great, because the cover is freaking gorgeous. I am eagerly awaiting the second book, which comes out next year, and I will get my hands on the prequel novella you can get by signing up for the newsletter on K.A. Wiggin's website ASAP.
Failure. An echo of the Mara’s voice—or maybe it’s my own—hisses in my ear. No. Not a failure, but . . . not quite finished. I am enough—for now. But I could be more. I want to be more.
July 5, 2018
I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book!
It's not that I didn't enjoy the book, I found it very complicated not really explained well enough. The world is completely obscure and definitely not like ours and I read a lot of high fantasy and this is actually described as an urban fantasy and I can tell you now it's not.
I think a lot of people could potentially really like this. I would describe it like This Savage Song and I love This Savage Song but if V.E Schwab went overboard on the fantasy elements.
It's not that I didn't enjoy the book, I found it very complicated not really explained well enough. The world is completely obscure and definitely not like ours and I read a lot of high fantasy and this is actually described as an urban fantasy and I can tell you now it's not.
I think a lot of people could potentially really like this. I would describe it like This Savage Song and I love This Savage Song but if V.E Schwab went overboard on the fantasy elements.
June 8, 2018
DNF at 60%
I really wanted to enjoy this book... I knew from the very first page that I would like it, the author's style was so unique, the premise so strange and surreal... but I just couldn't get into it.
Actually, no, I could get into it - at first. I read the first 35% in one sitting. But then when I picked it back up there was nothing to keep me drawn in. My main issue was that it was so gosh darn confusing. I'm never sure who's perspective I'm following, where or whom Cole is, and it bounces around everywhere. I found myself reading and re-reading the same passages over and over just trying to make sense of them.
I couldn't relate to Cole. I got so tired of her constantly ignoring Candace for no reason. I couldn't understand why she wouldn't trust her, she just kept saying "I can't trust her, she could be lying" as if that was enough for us to go on. After hundreds of pages of Cole getting visions, confusing the heck out of me, then yelling that the visions weren't real and Candace was lying to her, I decided to give up. I really want answers but the narrator is too unreliable and too unrelatable to give them to me.
However, the author's style is sublime. The worldbuilding seems incredibly well handled and I'm still really wanting to read more to get those answers. I just can't stand Cole, so I can't. It's just not a book for me.
I really wanted to enjoy this book... I knew from the very first page that I would like it, the author's style was so unique, the premise so strange and surreal... but I just couldn't get into it.
Actually, no, I could get into it - at first. I read the first 35% in one sitting. But then when I picked it back up there was nothing to keep me drawn in. My main issue was that it was so gosh darn confusing. I'm never sure who's perspective I'm following, where or whom Cole is, and it bounces around everywhere. I found myself reading and re-reading the same passages over and over just trying to make sense of them.
I couldn't relate to Cole. I got so tired of her constantly ignoring Candace for no reason. I couldn't understand why she wouldn't trust her, she just kept saying "I can't trust her, she could be lying" as if that was enough for us to go on. After hundreds of pages of Cole getting visions, confusing the heck out of me, then yelling that the visions weren't real and Candace was lying to her, I decided to give up. I really want answers but the narrator is too unreliable and too unrelatable to give them to me.
However, the author's style is sublime. The worldbuilding seems incredibly well handled and I'm still really wanting to read more to get those answers. I just can't stand Cole, so I can't. It's just not a book for me.
June 18, 2018
I gave up at 65% I am not sure what this story is about, and although its well written, I just didnt get it
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 1, 2018
Complicated, mysterious and kind of creepy.
Let the Mara give you some nightmares and may you not dream.
Let the Mara give you some nightmares and may you not dream.
July 14, 2018
DNF AT CHAPTER ONE
Okay there a very few times where books scream “problematic” to me and this one starts right off yelling it at the top of its lungs.
Having a main character with a skin discoloration and calling the spots a vivid stain on a could be perfect face is a Big No in my book. And then the character saying their face is an offense is yet another No. I don’t know if all the characters have spots (one of the officers is mentioned to have lighter spots around the eyes) on their skins or not but just going about it this way is very bad.
Thanks Netgalley, but No Thanks.
Okay there a very few times where books scream “problematic” to me and this one starts right off yelling it at the top of its lungs.
Having a main character with a skin discoloration and calling the spots a vivid stain on a could be perfect face is a Big No in my book. And then the character saying their face is an offense is yet another No. I don’t know if all the characters have spots (one of the officers is mentioned to have lighter spots around the eyes) on their skins or not but just going about it this way is very bad.
Thanks Netgalley, but No Thanks.
June 1, 2018
This is my first book by this author, I highly suggest reading it. I enjoyed how she took a paranormal story and add some humor to it among a few other things. I also enjoyed the different characters and the journey of twists and turns they took me on. This book is about hopes and dreams and things not being as they seem. About secrets being exposed that could change things. The characters come alive in nightmares and fight to survive in them. They kept the story engaging and reading.
February 24, 2022
“Blind the Eyes: A Haunting YA Urban Fantasy (Threads of Dreams Book 1),” by K.A. Wiggins, is a dark fantasy novel about a teenage girl named Cole. Tempted by a golden-eyed, mysterious stranger to leave her oppressive world to avoid becoming something she doesn’t want to be is a dangerous prospect, but the stranger is enticing. Cole discovers who she is, but also has revenge on her mind, and it all plays out in an exquisitely conceived world of dreams, supernatural beings, and intriguing locations. You, along with the well-developed characters, will become enmeshed in a dark plot of secrets, strong emotion, nightmares, and death. But within its dark passages, Wiggins remembers to infuse hope, courage, and possibility.
What I really enjoyed about this book is the author’s gift for world-building and character development. You are with Cole every second on her journey and are invested in a way that causes you to care about what she’s going through, and hoping she is strong enough to not just survive, but to triumph. She has to dig deep and process in order to find the courage to stand up for herself.
The characters are different, piquing curiosity and the imagination, but well-explained and relatable. You never know what lies around the corner in this novel, but you can be sure it’s something dark, deep, and revelatory. The emotional component of Cole’s inner conflict is alluring. Who hasn’t been burdened by so many rules before, and just wanted to be free to be who they are? Who hasn’t questioned authority and doubted the accepted norm? But besides Cole, you’ll meet other supporting characters whose roles become clear and vital to the story.
I admire the way the author combines horror, mystery, and fantasy, and presents the whole novel in a consciously stylistic way. Certain passages in the book evoke a lyrical, poetic feel that really showcases Wiggins’ talent, and she uses horror in just the right places.
The immersive descriptions and manipulation of the reader’s imagination are just two standout skills to enjoy in this book. Just when you think you’ve read it all in a dystopian novel, along comes “Blind the Eyes: A Haunting YA Urban Fantasy (Threads of Dreams Book 1)”, by K.A. Wiggins, to add new life to the genre.
What I really enjoyed about this book is the author’s gift for world-building and character development. You are with Cole every second on her journey and are invested in a way that causes you to care about what she’s going through, and hoping she is strong enough to not just survive, but to triumph. She has to dig deep and process in order to find the courage to stand up for herself.
The characters are different, piquing curiosity and the imagination, but well-explained and relatable. You never know what lies around the corner in this novel, but you can be sure it’s something dark, deep, and revelatory. The emotional component of Cole’s inner conflict is alluring. Who hasn’t been burdened by so many rules before, and just wanted to be free to be who they are? Who hasn’t questioned authority and doubted the accepted norm? But besides Cole, you’ll meet other supporting characters whose roles become clear and vital to the story.
I admire the way the author combines horror, mystery, and fantasy, and presents the whole novel in a consciously stylistic way. Certain passages in the book evoke a lyrical, poetic feel that really showcases Wiggins’ talent, and she uses horror in just the right places.
The immersive descriptions and manipulation of the reader’s imagination are just two standout skills to enjoy in this book. Just when you think you’ve read it all in a dystopian novel, along comes “Blind the Eyes: A Haunting YA Urban Fantasy (Threads of Dreams Book 1)”, by K.A. Wiggins, to add new life to the genre.
June 10, 2018
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
This author has built an amazing world. When you step into this world, you feel that it is completely real. The Mara that inhabit the place will give you nightmares. Do nothing to get their attention. They were very well done. I just couldn't like the main character, Cole so I really didn't care what happened to her. She had plenty of guidance, but chose to ignore it. Candace tried to tell her what to do, but she ignored her. Said that she couldn't believe anything Candace told her, but never said why she couldn't trust her. Cole had visions, but denied they were real. If you are not going to accept help, how can you expect to get anywhere? This story was ok. I just couldn't really become engaged with it. I will probably read more from this author.
This author has built an amazing world. When you step into this world, you feel that it is completely real. The Mara that inhabit the place will give you nightmares. Do nothing to get their attention. They were very well done. I just couldn't like the main character, Cole so I really didn't care what happened to her. She had plenty of guidance, but chose to ignore it. Candace tried to tell her what to do, but she ignored her. Said that she couldn't believe anything Candace told her, but never said why she couldn't trust her. Cole had visions, but denied they were real. If you are not going to accept help, how can you expect to get anywhere? This story was ok. I just couldn't really become engaged with it. I will probably read more from this author.
June 1, 2018
I love the premise of this book and I feel the storyline is amazing and I loved the characters. However, I have a few small issues that prevent me from giving it any more stars. In my opinion whilst reading it I felt dis-attached from the storyline. Sometimes I had to read a passage a few times in order to understand what is going on. The writing to me feels older than what the intended audience is. I am not saying it is a bad book, far from it. I really enjoyed reading it. I do however feel as if it needs tightening up a little.
I would however still be interested in reading what else this author has written.
I would however still be interested in reading what else this author has written.
May 30, 2018
3.5 stars-
This book is a great idea- the world is interesting and although the beginning is really confusing, it clears up after a bit. The writing is great and the characters are intriguing- except for Cole. I really dislike the main character and I don't think she smartens up enough for me. Sadly, this colors everything. But if you like the main character, you will LOVE this book. I was still happy to read until the end
This book is a great idea- the world is interesting and although the beginning is really confusing, it clears up after a bit. The writing is great and the characters are intriguing- except for Cole. I really dislike the main character and I don't think she smartens up enough for me. Sadly, this colors everything. But if you like the main character, you will LOVE this book. I was still happy to read until the end
June 1, 2018
Not my usual type of read but very enjoyable!
Dont read this book if you easily get nightmares.....
Its a twisty story that makes you stay up all night to finish it.
Liked it very much and can't wait to see more from this author!
Dont read this book if you easily get nightmares.....
Its a twisty story that makes you stay up all night to finish it.
Liked it very much and can't wait to see more from this author!
July 25, 2018
I was so excited for this one but the flowery writing made me re-read the first few pages so many times that I lost count. I have no idea what is happening, and I have no intention of re-reading my way through this book.
Want to Read
June 20, 2018ARCs are available for request here: [closed - other review opportunities found here]
June 29, 2018
Blind the Eyes (Threads of Dreams #1) by K.A. Wiggins was a unique, twist dystopian that had me hooked from start to finish.
I love finding books that are out of the box rare, and different. Right from the opening I was drawn in by the weird grey world and dark tones. There was a lifelessness to it that sparked my attention and pulled me in. Cole, our MC, does a fantastic job at setting the stage for one of the best reads of the year.
I'm a little stuck and what to write, the plot is complex and I don't wan to give anything away. At the same time I want to gush about everything, spill all the secrets and shock you with the ending. There is a lot going on in this book, it has its own strange yet captivation writing stay that just traps you. You can't help but read, when you stop, the story is the back of your mind, and you feel a need to get back into that world, like if you're not reading the characters are stuck and calling for you.
Now I must warn you, the way the info is giving in this book isn't straight forward, there is a lot of reading between the lines, and if you're not the type that likes cryptic story telling, then you might find this book a little odd and confusing. This book needs to be read with a opened mind and a openness to let yourself experience non-main-stream writing.
Overall I highly recommend this book, it's a diamond in the rough, a hidden gem that has taken a risk with it's uncommon writing style and elaborate plot, to not only expand the world of writing, but has demonstrated that it's okay to step outside the norm, and be extraordinary different.
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh
I love finding books that are out of the box rare, and different. Right from the opening I was drawn in by the weird grey world and dark tones. There was a lifelessness to it that sparked my attention and pulled me in. Cole, our MC, does a fantastic job at setting the stage for one of the best reads of the year.
I'm a little stuck and what to write, the plot is complex and I don't wan to give anything away. At the same time I want to gush about everything, spill all the secrets and shock you with the ending. There is a lot going on in this book, it has its own strange yet captivation writing stay that just traps you. You can't help but read, when you stop, the story is the back of your mind, and you feel a need to get back into that world, like if you're not reading the characters are stuck and calling for you.
Now I must warn you, the way the info is giving in this book isn't straight forward, there is a lot of reading between the lines, and if you're not the type that likes cryptic story telling, then you might find this book a little odd and confusing. This book needs to be read with a opened mind and a openness to let yourself experience non-main-stream writing.
Overall I highly recommend this book, it's a diamond in the rough, a hidden gem that has taken a risk with it's uncommon writing style and elaborate plot, to not only expand the world of writing, but has demonstrated that it's okay to step outside the norm, and be extraordinary different.
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh
June 24, 2018
Initially drawn to this book by its intriguing premise of a dystopian future world where being different is frowned upon and mysterious beings known as the Mara feed upon the hopes, dreams and desires of people. Only the Refuge is safe, but life there is strictly controlled and tightly monitored. The protagonist of the book, Cole, is a probationer in one of the monitoring centres, but is struggling with the demands of homogeneity.
Unfortunately this book is beyond confusing to read, it is not until well past the halfway point that anything even begins to make sense, and I fear many readers will lack the patience to wrestle with the chaos for so long. The writing style itself is interesting, and kept me going when I might otherwise have given up. However I have to say that the pacing, overly complicated plot and the lack of connection to any of the characters were the books downfall for me
Unfortunately this book is beyond confusing to read, it is not until well past the halfway point that anything even begins to make sense, and I fear many readers will lack the patience to wrestle with the chaos for so long. The writing style itself is interesting, and kept me going when I might otherwise have given up. However I have to say that the pacing, overly complicated plot and the lack of connection to any of the characters were the books downfall for me
December 26, 2018
NOTE: I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Snowmelt & Stumps through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This books was… strange to say the least. Strange and confusing and all over the place. Based on the description I had such high hopes for it, it had such potential to be great, but it fell completely flat and left me more annoyed than anything else. I almost DNF’d at about 40% but I pushed myself to finish it and I kind of wish I hadn’t bothered.
**WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD**
There is no doubt in my mind that Wiggins has an amazing way with words (which is why I gave this one two stars instead just one), but that doesn’t always translate to being able to tell a good story and in this case I think it actually hinders the story, a lot. Her description of events are really well worded, but tend to bog down the plot and confuse the reader instead of making it more interesting. And yet, there are other times were her explanations of things are incredibly, frustratingly lacking.
The story appears to jump all over the place and leave out crucial information and just left me feeling like I had no idea what was going on the majority of the time. In fact, I tried to explain the book to my husband and ended up having to just read him the description on Goodreads because I couldn’t quite tell him what was happening and why it was confusing me. The only thing I was ever certain about in the whole book was that Cadence and Cole were the same person, that much was ridiculously predictable.
I think a lot of the confusion in my case was that there are so many things left out of the world and character building, that was not only frustrating but also stopped me from connecting with any of the characters. I actually kind of hated Cole but I’ll get to that in a minute. I had SO many questions by the end that I was just left feeling incredibly unsatisfied and annoyed with this book. Why does Refuge take children from outside? What exactly are all the people in Refuge “working” on? We only know Cole’s job is to watch the enforcers patrol and fix tech issues, what is everyone else doing? How did Ravel end up starting Freedom and if they’re in the same building as Refuge, why has no one ever found them all and stopped them? Why did the water rise? Did it actually rise? Several times Cole said the was was “supposed to have risen” and killed everyone but then there are people living outside, hinting at the fact that Refuge leaders were lying about the water rising, but she also saw the water for herself on the roof so…? And what the hell are travelers!? We’re told at the end that Cady/Cole is a Dreamweaver, which is a type of Traveler but we’re not told what exactly a Traveler is!
Speaking of Cole… oh boy. I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a main character more. Several times Cadence expresses how annoyed she is that Cole is just happy to sit back and let other people fix things for her, tell her what to do and how to act, and BOY is that an understatement! Cole is completely irrational, stupidly naive, and so unbelievably oblivious. She spends the entire book complaining and falling over herself to find boys to be her “allies”, meaning she allows them to take complete control of her every aspect of her life. She even lets Ravel essentially roofie her so that she doesn’t have to think for herself! She allows him to use her in so many disgusting ways, including having her help him kill innocent people, and just keeps saying “It’s not me, it’s Victoire who’s doing it” and “Victoire makes me happy, I’ll just keep being her”. She never, ever takes responsibility for her own actions, in any sense of the word. So many times I wished I could reach into the book and slap Cole so hard!
If you’re looking for a story with a strong, independent female lead; keep looking. Also, if you like complete world building, half-decent character development, and stories that make sense; this is NOT the book for you. I probably wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone and I definitely won’t be continuing with the series after this one.
This books was… strange to say the least. Strange and confusing and all over the place. Based on the description I had such high hopes for it, it had such potential to be great, but it fell completely flat and left me more annoyed than anything else. I almost DNF’d at about 40% but I pushed myself to finish it and I kind of wish I hadn’t bothered.
**WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD**
There is no doubt in my mind that Wiggins has an amazing way with words (which is why I gave this one two stars instead just one), but that doesn’t always translate to being able to tell a good story and in this case I think it actually hinders the story, a lot. Her description of events are really well worded, but tend to bog down the plot and confuse the reader instead of making it more interesting. And yet, there are other times were her explanations of things are incredibly, frustratingly lacking.
The story appears to jump all over the place and leave out crucial information and just left me feeling like I had no idea what was going on the majority of the time. In fact, I tried to explain the book to my husband and ended up having to just read him the description on Goodreads because I couldn’t quite tell him what was happening and why it was confusing me. The only thing I was ever certain about in the whole book was that Cadence and Cole were the same person, that much was ridiculously predictable.
I think a lot of the confusion in my case was that there are so many things left out of the world and character building, that was not only frustrating but also stopped me from connecting with any of the characters. I actually kind of hated Cole but I’ll get to that in a minute. I had SO many questions by the end that I was just left feeling incredibly unsatisfied and annoyed with this book. Why does Refuge take children from outside? What exactly are all the people in Refuge “working” on? We only know Cole’s job is to watch the enforcers patrol and fix tech issues, what is everyone else doing? How did Ravel end up starting Freedom and if they’re in the same building as Refuge, why has no one ever found them all and stopped them? Why did the water rise? Did it actually rise? Several times Cole said the was was “supposed to have risen” and killed everyone but then there are people living outside, hinting at the fact that Refuge leaders were lying about the water rising, but she also saw the water for herself on the roof so…? And what the hell are travelers!? We’re told at the end that Cady/Cole is a Dreamweaver, which is a type of Traveler but we’re not told what exactly a Traveler is!
Speaking of Cole… oh boy. I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a main character more. Several times Cadence expresses how annoyed she is that Cole is just happy to sit back and let other people fix things for her, tell her what to do and how to act, and BOY is that an understatement! Cole is completely irrational, stupidly naive, and so unbelievably oblivious. She spends the entire book complaining and falling over herself to find boys to be her “allies”, meaning she allows them to take complete control of her every aspect of her life. She even lets Ravel essentially roofie her so that she doesn’t have to think for herself! She allows him to use her in so many disgusting ways, including having her help him kill innocent people, and just keeps saying “It’s not me, it’s Victoire who’s doing it” and “Victoire makes me happy, I’ll just keep being her”. She never, ever takes responsibility for her own actions, in any sense of the word. So many times I wished I could reach into the book and slap Cole so hard!
If you’re looking for a story with a strong, independent female lead; keep looking. Also, if you like complete world building, half-decent character development, and stories that make sense; this is NOT the book for you. I probably wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone and I definitely won’t be continuing with the series after this one.
February 8, 2019
This book was just confusing!
It sounded so promising but after a quarter of the book I still didn’t get what it was about and what was happening at all. The descriptions were blurry and the reader is thrown into a imaginary world that isn’t explained in any way.
The characters weren’t relatable, the plot was confusing for me and I felt like rushing from page to page without getting to know through which story I rushed here.
Sadly I don’t like that book at all.
It sounded so promising but after a quarter of the book I still didn’t get what it was about and what was happening at all. The descriptions were blurry and the reader is thrown into a imaginary world that isn’t explained in any way.
The characters weren’t relatable, the plot was confusing for me and I felt like rushing from page to page without getting to know through which story I rushed here.
Sadly I don’t like that book at all.
Want to Read
June 22, 2018ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
**Review Coming Soon**
**Review Coming Soon**
June 19, 2021
An intriguing style of book that had me hooked from the beginning. Cole’s life isn’t easy and she has to figure out how to change things Ready for the next one.
June 28, 2022
4 Stars
BLIND THE EYES is the first entry in the THREADS OF DREAMS series. The story follows a female protagonist named Cole as she interacts with bizarre, Lovecraftian beings blending dreams and reality. The plot is a bit tough to follow at times, and this is an outside-the-box story.
So…how is a book with a tough to decipher plot 4 stars?
K.A. writes like sugar!
She has this way of describing things that overwhelms your senses. I frequently found myself lost for a few pages only for K.A. to drop another morsel of sugar and suck me back in. She keeps using these short, direct, highly descriptive sentences to communicate a stunning tapestry of words.
Here are a few excerpts that I liked:
“The air is sharp, icy, clear. Like my mind.”
-Love this. Puts you in cold air and gives you a sense of a hyper-focused character…with 9 words!
“A tangle of pipes and cables clutter the ceiling.”
-Another 9 word’er that puts you in a basement of a building and sets the tone/setting economically
Here is a longer excerpt:
“IMPACT. THE FORCE of my fall wrenches my limbs.
And yet.
I’m a mass of bruises and scrapes, a collection of pain, but I am.”
-This is a great example of K.A. using her shortened sentences to great effect. You get a fall. You get pain. You get the feeling of being alive…with 25 words!
There are hundreds of these well-crafted descriptions and moments. I am intrigued to continue reading the series and see if the plot comes into focus more. I think K.A.’s writing style with a more fleshed-out plot could be something for the ages. Call me intrigued and ready for more!
A video version of my review is here: https://youtu.be/gyOeOe9gcCE
BLIND THE EYES is the first entry in the THREADS OF DREAMS series. The story follows a female protagonist named Cole as she interacts with bizarre, Lovecraftian beings blending dreams and reality. The plot is a bit tough to follow at times, and this is an outside-the-box story.
So…how is a book with a tough to decipher plot 4 stars?
K.A. writes like sugar!
She has this way of describing things that overwhelms your senses. I frequently found myself lost for a few pages only for K.A. to drop another morsel of sugar and suck me back in. She keeps using these short, direct, highly descriptive sentences to communicate a stunning tapestry of words.
Here are a few excerpts that I liked:
“The air is sharp, icy, clear. Like my mind.”
-Love this. Puts you in cold air and gives you a sense of a hyper-focused character…with 9 words!
“A tangle of pipes and cables clutter the ceiling.”
-Another 9 word’er that puts you in a basement of a building and sets the tone/setting economically
Here is a longer excerpt:
“IMPACT. THE FORCE of my fall wrenches my limbs.
And yet.
I’m a mass of bruises and scrapes, a collection of pain, but I am.”
-This is a great example of K.A. using her shortened sentences to great effect. You get a fall. You get pain. You get the feeling of being alive…with 25 words!
There are hundreds of these well-crafted descriptions and moments. I am intrigued to continue reading the series and see if the plot comes into focus more. I think K.A.’s writing style with a more fleshed-out plot could be something for the ages. Call me intrigued and ready for more!
A video version of my review is here: https://youtu.be/gyOeOe9gcCE
June 28, 2018
Blind The Eyes
By K. A. Wiggins
4 stars
First of I have to say I absolutely love the cover for this book! There is just something about it that drew me to it straight away. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but I couldn’t help myself with this one! This is the first book that I have read by this author and I will admit it’s not my usual genre but I thought I would give it a read. I cannot fault the writing, the way in which the author wrote this book was just beautiful. Her words flowed seamlessly and that made it easy to read. I did find myself a little confused with the storyline at times despite that wonderful writing so whilst the authors writing flowed well the storyline wasn’t quite as seamless.
I did like the characters and their uniqueness; I will say that about the storyline too it’s unlike anything I have read before.
I believe this is the author’s debut novel and she should be proud of the book and characters she has created. I will definitely be looking for more of her work in the near future and look forward to seeing how she develops as an author! This is definitely a good 4 star read!
By K. A. Wiggins
4 stars
First of I have to say I absolutely love the cover for this book! There is just something about it that drew me to it straight away. I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but I couldn’t help myself with this one! This is the first book that I have read by this author and I will admit it’s not my usual genre but I thought I would give it a read. I cannot fault the writing, the way in which the author wrote this book was just beautiful. Her words flowed seamlessly and that made it easy to read. I did find myself a little confused with the storyline at times despite that wonderful writing so whilst the authors writing flowed well the storyline wasn’t quite as seamless.
I did like the characters and their uniqueness; I will say that about the storyline too it’s unlike anything I have read before.
I believe this is the author’s debut novel and she should be proud of the book and characters she has created. I will definitely be looking for more of her work in the near future and look forward to seeing how she develops as an author! This is definitely a good 4 star read!
July 2, 2018
“I don’t hate my job. Hate is dangerous. Hate is a wish for change. A wish is a dream that can draw down the Mara.”
I have not had the pleasure of reading K.A. Wiggins before and this was a nice introduction. There was a lot of intense and vivid imagery that built up this dystopian world of Vancouver. I enjoyed the obvious amounts of effort that went into the details that made it so realistic and stand out on its own amongst a sea of young adult dystopian novels.
There was also a lot of time put into the characters that support this world that has been built. Some are more apparent and strong throughout the novel than others, but I can see where there will be more of the less poignant ones will have future rolls in the upcoming books in the series.
Cole is such a sweet soul. She truly believes in doing everything she can to protect herself by following the rules regardless of whatever dreams may come to her. She is well balanced with the character of her ghost, Cadence. Cadence provides the much needed comedic relief and is the voice of reason for Cole.
Then we meet Ravel. He is literally the prince of this story with a fairy like quality to him as well. It is a complicated description and confusing at first what his role is but eventually it all makes sense. I loved the way he dreamed, daydreamed, and thought in color. This is a very colorless world that is depressing and dark. It has its purpose in the storyline but the vivid imagery that he describes thinking is beautiful and so breathes a life into the storyline.
“Regulation 3: Distraction is destruction. I must not allow myself to be distracted, nor be a distraction to others. It’s why everything here’s the same shade of grey: the paint, the carpet, even us. It’s the reason for these shapeless, hooded uniforms and masks. It’s even why we have to work every day, instead of letting the computers do it all for us. Distractions leads to dreaming. Dreaming draws the Mara. The Mara would destroy us all-if the Towers of Refuge didn’t protect us.”
I definitely didn’t see where some of this was going. It was hard to get going and hooked for the first six chapters or so. However, when this picked up it was addicting. I was lost in this world and had to see what would become for these characters. Overall I really enjoyed this book and was glad that I let the cover reel me in. Definitely a wonderful rainy day read to devour. I am looking forward to getting my hands on the next novel.
I have not had the pleasure of reading K.A. Wiggins before and this was a nice introduction. There was a lot of intense and vivid imagery that built up this dystopian world of Vancouver. I enjoyed the obvious amounts of effort that went into the details that made it so realistic and stand out on its own amongst a sea of young adult dystopian novels.
There was also a lot of time put into the characters that support this world that has been built. Some are more apparent and strong throughout the novel than others, but I can see where there will be more of the less poignant ones will have future rolls in the upcoming books in the series.
Cole is such a sweet soul. She truly believes in doing everything she can to protect herself by following the rules regardless of whatever dreams may come to her. She is well balanced with the character of her ghost, Cadence. Cadence provides the much needed comedic relief and is the voice of reason for Cole.
Then we meet Ravel. He is literally the prince of this story with a fairy like quality to him as well. It is a complicated description and confusing at first what his role is but eventually it all makes sense. I loved the way he dreamed, daydreamed, and thought in color. This is a very colorless world that is depressing and dark. It has its purpose in the storyline but the vivid imagery that he describes thinking is beautiful and so breathes a life into the storyline.
“Regulation 3: Distraction is destruction. I must not allow myself to be distracted, nor be a distraction to others. It’s why everything here’s the same shade of grey: the paint, the carpet, even us. It’s the reason for these shapeless, hooded uniforms and masks. It’s even why we have to work every day, instead of letting the computers do it all for us. Distractions leads to dreaming. Dreaming draws the Mara. The Mara would destroy us all-if the Towers of Refuge didn’t protect us.”
I definitely didn’t see where some of this was going. It was hard to get going and hooked for the first six chapters or so. However, when this picked up it was addicting. I was lost in this world and had to see what would become for these characters. Overall I really enjoyed this book and was glad that I let the cover reel me in. Definitely a wonderful rainy day read to devour. I am looking forward to getting my hands on the next novel.
July 8, 2018
To start off - I had no idea going into this book that it was a Part I of a series! Now I have to wait until next year to read the next installment which I most certainly will be doing.
When I first started reading this book I had a really hard time grasping onto what was taking place. Wiggins writes the entire story in a "dream-like" descriptive state. You'll understand why here in a moment. There is very little description about the surroundings, with most of the emphasis on thoughts, feelings and only on the immediate interactions.
Cole is a drone worker in a place called Refuge. Everyone in Refuge is conditioned not to have emotions, feelings or even to dream about things. They are told that these dream monsters, the Mara, will eat them if they dream. So, Cole, who is a security technician in Refuge, finds herself tasked to investigate a situation on Floor 16, which is entirely unheard of for someone in her position. As she investigates the floor she finds a body consumed by the Mara. Superior level investigators arrive on the scene looking for her and she escapes into a hallway. As she tries to outrun these men she finds the hidden secrets behind Refuge and the power she has that can save people from the Mara.
Most of the story is spent in suspended animation, a vivid dreamscape sequence of places like Freedom where they dress in vivacious costumes, drink gold flakes and party until they are completely spent. The way Wiggins writes about how the Mara infiltrate dreams and horrifyingly kill those that are dreaming had me in awe.
Wiggins is a truly unique writer that can transport a story into not only a fantasy world, but one that is real in its essence and darkly satisfying at the same time.
Throughout the story, Cole is constantly battling information. She learns something new, challenges the information and over time learns she is far stronger and intelligent than she ever cared to give herself credit for. Oh and did I mention her kick-ass ghost that haunts her? Cadence is her ghost, a subconscious voice that speaks to her, mostly annoying her, but also helping her disseminate information.
I can't wait to read the next installment!
P.S. I highly recommend listening to some appropriate music while reading this book. It assists in creating a feel and ambience for these places you'll be reading about. I found Apocolyptica and dark EDM music to provide the proper setting for me.
When I first started reading this book I had a really hard time grasping onto what was taking place. Wiggins writes the entire story in a "dream-like" descriptive state. You'll understand why here in a moment. There is very little description about the surroundings, with most of the emphasis on thoughts, feelings and only on the immediate interactions.
Cole is a drone worker in a place called Refuge. Everyone in Refuge is conditioned not to have emotions, feelings or even to dream about things. They are told that these dream monsters, the Mara, will eat them if they dream. So, Cole, who is a security technician in Refuge, finds herself tasked to investigate a situation on Floor 16, which is entirely unheard of for someone in her position. As she investigates the floor she finds a body consumed by the Mara. Superior level investigators arrive on the scene looking for her and she escapes into a hallway. As she tries to outrun these men she finds the hidden secrets behind Refuge and the power she has that can save people from the Mara.
Most of the story is spent in suspended animation, a vivid dreamscape sequence of places like Freedom where they dress in vivacious costumes, drink gold flakes and party until they are completely spent. The way Wiggins writes about how the Mara infiltrate dreams and horrifyingly kill those that are dreaming had me in awe.
Wiggins is a truly unique writer that can transport a story into not only a fantasy world, but one that is real in its essence and darkly satisfying at the same time.
Throughout the story, Cole is constantly battling information. She learns something new, challenges the information and over time learns she is far stronger and intelligent than she ever cared to give herself credit for. Oh and did I mention her kick-ass ghost that haunts her? Cadence is her ghost, a subconscious voice that speaks to her, mostly annoying her, but also helping her disseminate information.
I can't wait to read the next installment!
P.S. I highly recommend listening to some appropriate music while reading this book. It assists in creating a feel and ambience for these places you'll be reading about. I found Apocolyptica and dark EDM music to provide the proper setting for me.
August 29, 2018
Ok so about a couple chapters in I had to stop and go check the reviews for this book and found that unfortunately I shared their complaints. First off let me say it was a really kool story, original and captivating and in spite of my gripes the book kept me turning pages long into the night. The writing was beautiful and descriptive, but I do feel there was a missed opportunity to expand upon the traditional myth of the Baku who were mentioned briefly.
Now the complaints. The story was really confusing. I felt as if I were starting in the middle of a book rather than the beginning. It felt like we were missing a lot of crucial background information like about why the city was underwater, the fog, when and where the mara came from, what the deal with Refuge was, what was going on with the outsiders, even why Cole had such a problem with Cadence. There’s a whole bit about floor 6 that feels like it’s missing and I understand why some of this information is left out since it relates to some of the big reveals at the end of the story but I still felt as if the story had no foundation. Who is Cole and why should we care about her? In fact for most of the story I was really aggravated with her and couldn’t understand the basis for any of her choices or feelings. In fact many of the characters that were thrown at us felt the same way like ok here’s this person and this person but none of them were fleshed out enough to make them seem like more than set pieces. I will say that the last third of the book was better written than the beginning and it was easier to be invested. I would suggest maybe a prequel novella to give the story a foundation??
All that being said I will say that in spite of the drawbacks I was captivated and couldn’t read fast enough if only in some places to try and figure out what the heck was going on. It was worth the read and the fast pacing made it a quick and fun trip into a really interesting setting. Like I said the overall idea of the mara and this drowned city and this creepy community who don’t dream was a really awesome piece of science fiction I just think the story lacks the details and background to really flesh it out as a complete novel.
Oh and I will definitely check out the sequel. I have high hopes that this story can be salvaged.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Now the complaints. The story was really confusing. I felt as if I were starting in the middle of a book rather than the beginning. It felt like we were missing a lot of crucial background information like about why the city was underwater, the fog, when and where the mara came from, what the deal with Refuge was, what was going on with the outsiders, even why Cole had such a problem with Cadence. There’s a whole bit about floor 6 that feels like it’s missing and I understand why some of this information is left out since it relates to some of the big reveals at the end of the story but I still felt as if the story had no foundation. Who is Cole and why should we care about her? In fact for most of the story I was really aggravated with her and couldn’t understand the basis for any of her choices or feelings. In fact many of the characters that were thrown at us felt the same way like ok here’s this person and this person but none of them were fleshed out enough to make them seem like more than set pieces. I will say that the last third of the book was better written than the beginning and it was easier to be invested. I would suggest maybe a prequel novella to give the story a foundation??
All that being said I will say that in spite of the drawbacks I was captivated and couldn’t read fast enough if only in some places to try and figure out what the heck was going on. It was worth the read and the fast pacing made it a quick and fun trip into a really interesting setting. Like I said the overall idea of the mara and this drowned city and this creepy community who don’t dream was a really awesome piece of science fiction I just think the story lacks the details and background to really flesh it out as a complete novel.
Oh and I will definitely check out the sequel. I have high hopes that this story can be salvaged.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for sending me a digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The story is set in a Dystopian future where monsters called the Mara feed off desires and dreams. The remaining human population is largely defenseless against them. The book follows Cole who is a somewhat self aware “drone” or worker in a place called Refuge, an organization which protects people by making them more complacent, so to speak, and removing irregularities between them which may result in them wanting to do more with life. Cole has a weird fascination with death and is haunted by a ghost named Cady. One day, they tumble into a mess which makes them realize that Refuge is not what it seems and it might just be up to Cole to save everything.
The story starts out pretty slow. Cole is not a character you immediately like, and even by the end of the book, she hadn’t grown on me much. The explanation regarding the Mara seems both adequate and a little vague. Cole’s fascination with death made me uncomfortable at a number of places and even I could tell it wasn’t just because I’m not a fan of paranormal fantasy. The book is told in Cole’s POV which should work given the premise of the book but because the character is not very likable, the commentary actually gets annoying and her attitude towards a number of characters is frustrating and mostly didn’t make sense. She has too many thoughts for a “drone” and then the ideas she does have are not usually her own so it’s hard to find things to admire bout her and I had to rely on the few supporting characters to keep me engaged.
The author, however, has done a great job with world building. There are still mysteries left unanswered which will likely be served up in the sequels (since this is a planned trilogy). The idea of the Mara itself is interesting and their greater involvement in the second half is what really helps out the plot in my opinion. Speaking of, things pick up quite a bit in the second half and that is what kept me reading. I’m still confused by the Cole/Cady “ghost” relationship but maybe once the series is finished, I would consider reading the rest to find out how the story ends.
Rating: 3/5 stars
The story is set in a Dystopian future where monsters called the Mara feed off desires and dreams. The remaining human population is largely defenseless against them. The book follows Cole who is a somewhat self aware “drone” or worker in a place called Refuge, an organization which protects people by making them more complacent, so to speak, and removing irregularities between them which may result in them wanting to do more with life. Cole has a weird fascination with death and is haunted by a ghost named Cady. One day, they tumble into a mess which makes them realize that Refuge is not what it seems and it might just be up to Cole to save everything.
The story starts out pretty slow. Cole is not a character you immediately like, and even by the end of the book, she hadn’t grown on me much. The explanation regarding the Mara seems both adequate and a little vague. Cole’s fascination with death made me uncomfortable at a number of places and even I could tell it wasn’t just because I’m not a fan of paranormal fantasy. The book is told in Cole’s POV which should work given the premise of the book but because the character is not very likable, the commentary actually gets annoying and her attitude towards a number of characters is frustrating and mostly didn’t make sense. She has too many thoughts for a “drone” and then the ideas she does have are not usually her own so it’s hard to find things to admire bout her and I had to rely on the few supporting characters to keep me engaged.
The author, however, has done a great job with world building. There are still mysteries left unanswered which will likely be served up in the sequels (since this is a planned trilogy). The idea of the Mara itself is interesting and their greater involvement in the second half is what really helps out the plot in my opinion. Speaking of, things pick up quite a bit in the second half and that is what kept me reading. I’m still confused by the Cole/Cady “ghost” relationship but maybe once the series is finished, I would consider reading the rest to find out how the story ends.
Rating: 3/5 stars
June 26, 2018
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with an e-ARC of this in exchange for an honest review. All the views expressed in this review are my own.
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The blurb sold this to me. I went in expecting exactly the kind of unique magic system, characters and vivid worldbuilding that the blurb promised. I was disappointed.
Let's address those three points one by one. The magic system was the most confusing part. The overly flowery writing veiled about 70% of whatever concrete was said about the workings of dreams, the Mara or Refuge Tower. The weird descriptions of the dreamscape scenes covered another 20%. I had a lot of questions about the dreamscape and about 2 out of 20 were answered a few pages before I gave up finishing this.
The plot twists did not exist. I felt that our protagonist was quite unreliable in describing what was happening around her. She also trusted the wrong people easily (despite repeated warnings from her ghost), so she really shouldn't be complaining about the lies that surround her. She makes questionable decisions and the moment a new boy comes in the picture she cannot stop thinking about him.
The worldbuilding and magic system were good ideas but poorly executed. I was very intrigued by the idea of the dreamscape and of drowned cities full of creatures that feed on dreams. Unfortunately, the book left me confused most of the time. The worldbuilding had some loopholes and the explanation of the dreamscape (that came too late) left a lot to be desired. I could not finish this as I had lost all interest in the story. I finished about 75% of this.
Overall, I think this had a good premise but it was ultimately quite poorly executed.
Verdict (out of 5): ⭐⭐
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Short review on Litsy
ARC provided by Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
The blurb intrigued me but the contents of the book unfortunately fell short of my expectations.
The flowery writing confused me instead if pulling me in and made it hard to grasp the already poorly-explained magic system (dreamscape).
The protagonist was unreliable and quite vapid. The worldbuilding had a lot of loopholes.
A good premise but poorly executed.
Rating: 2/5 stars
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The blurb sold this to me. I went in expecting exactly the kind of unique magic system, characters and vivid worldbuilding that the blurb promised. I was disappointed.
Let's address those three points one by one. The magic system was the most confusing part. The overly flowery writing veiled about 70% of whatever concrete was said about the workings of dreams, the Mara or Refuge Tower. The weird descriptions of the dreamscape scenes covered another 20%. I had a lot of questions about the dreamscape and about 2 out of 20 were answered a few pages before I gave up finishing this.
The plot twists did not exist. I felt that our protagonist was quite unreliable in describing what was happening around her. She also trusted the wrong people easily (despite repeated warnings from her ghost), so she really shouldn't be complaining about the lies that surround her. She makes questionable decisions and the moment a new boy comes in the picture she cannot stop thinking about him.
The worldbuilding and magic system were good ideas but poorly executed. I was very intrigued by the idea of the dreamscape and of drowned cities full of creatures that feed on dreams. Unfortunately, the book left me confused most of the time. The worldbuilding had some loopholes and the explanation of the dreamscape (that came too late) left a lot to be desired. I could not finish this as I had lost all interest in the story. I finished about 75% of this.
Overall, I think this had a good premise but it was ultimately quite poorly executed.
Verdict (out of 5): ⭐⭐
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Short review on Litsy
ARC provided by Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
The blurb intrigued me but the contents of the book unfortunately fell short of my expectations.
The flowery writing confused me instead if pulling me in and made it hard to grasp the already poorly-explained magic system (dreamscape).
The protagonist was unreliable and quite vapid. The worldbuilding had a lot of loopholes.
A good premise but poorly executed.
Rating: 2/5 stars
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