Review: Dreamfall by Amy Plum

Dreamfall

Author: Amy Plum

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Young adult / Thrillers and Suspense

Pages: 288

Release date: 2^nd May 2017

Synopsis (Goodreads) Cata Cordova suffers from such debilitating insomnia that she agreed to take part in an experimental new procedure. She thought things couldn’t get any worse...but she was terribly wrong.

Soon after the experiment begins, there’s a malfunction with the lab equipment, and Cata and six other teen patients are plunged into a shared dreamworld with no memory of how they got there. Even worse, they come to the chilling realization that they are trapped in a place where their worst nightmares have come to life. Hunted by creatures from their darkest imaginations and tormented by secrets they’d rather keep buried, Cata and the others will be forced to band together to face their biggest fears. And if they can’t find a way to defeat their dreams, they will never wake up.

Review: 2 ½ out of 5 stars

To be honest, I expected to like this book a lot more than I did as I have been a big fan of Amy Plum and her books for some time now.

Dreamfall is a book about seven teenagers between the ages of 13-19 years of age who are taking part in an experiment at a world leading sleep disorder clinic to help with their chronic insomnia with the use of electroconvulsive technology which will hopefully cure them all.

Our main narrators are Cata who has severe insomnia and PTSD, Fergus suffers from insomnia stemming from narcolepsy and Jaime is a pre-med student who is observing the experiment, the story is told from each of their POV’s.

Whilst in the experiment, the participants find themselves stuck in a group dream where they are forced to encounter their worst nightmares; this was a result of an earthquake. I found Jaime’s POV to be the most interesting during this time as he/she is witnessing it from the outside in the lab, I enjoyed this aspect more than those within the dream.

I really enjoyed the scientific side but found myself skimming the dream sequences as I found them quite repetitive; the teens were hunted by creatures and tormented by secrets; they were forced to face their worst fears, I didn’t think there would ever be release for them.

What let this book down for me mostly was the lack of characterisation and details we are given about the characters we meet, we don’t truly get to know them as people, it was more as subjects, I also would have liked more of a ‘scary’ plot.

Amy Plums writing style is gripping and engaging and I found the concept to be extremely fascinating and unique but unfortunately it didn’t truly wow me; the twist at the end has left me excited to continue with the series but up until that point I wouldn’t have continued.

The next instalment, Neverwake has an expected May 2018 release date.

Thank you to HarperTeen via Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review Dreamfall.

About the author: Amy Plum is the international bestselling author of the DIE FOR ME series (Indie Next List pick, Romance Times top pick, and recipient of a starred review from School Library Journal). The books have been translated into thirteen foreign languages. The trilogy is accompanied by two eNovellas entitled DIE FOR HER and DIE ONCE MORE and a compendium entitled INSIDE THE WORLD OF DIE FOR ME.

DREAMFALL, the first book of her YA horror duology, will be released by HarperTeen in summer 2017, with the second book, NEVERWAKE publishing in summer 2018. In the new books, a radical experiment to cure chronic insomnia goes wrong, and its seven teenage test subjects are plunged into a shared coma populated by one another’s nightmares; those who die in the dream will also die in real life.

Amy's action/adventure/magic duology, AFTER THE END and UNTIL THE BEGINNING, received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, 4 1/2 stars from RT Book Reviews, and enthusiastic reviews from Kirkus, USA Today, ALA Booklist and School Library Journal.

After being raised in Birmingham, Alabama, in a rather restrictive environment, AMY PLUM escaped to Chicago to an even more restrictive environment at a university that expelled people for dancing. (And where she was called to the dean’s office for “wearing too much black”.) After all of that restrictiveness, she was forced to run far far away, specifically to Paris, France, where she only wore black and danced all she wanted.

After five years in Paris, she ventured to London, where she got an M.A. in Medieval Art History, specializing in Early Sienese Painting (1260-1348) mainly because it promised almost no hope of finding a paying job afterward.

Amy managed to find work in the world of art and antiques in New York. But after almost a decade of high-pressure lifestyle in the Big Apple, she swapped her American city for a French village of 1300 inhabitants.

After signing with HarperCollins for the DIE FOR ME series, Amy left her job as an English professor at Tours University to write full-time. She now lives in Paris with her two kids and her black lab, Oberon.

She is a huge fan of Edward Gorey and Maira Kalman (and collects both of their books/art), as well as David Sedaris, Amadeo Modigliani, and Ira Glass.

Check out videos and extras from Amy at Revenant Central. 

ARC Review: After the End (After the End #1) by Amy Plum

After the End

Author: Amy Plum

Series: After the End

Pages: 352

Publisher: Harper Teen

Amazon

Release date: 6^th May 2014

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

She’s searching for answers to her past. They’re hunting her to save their future.

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

Review: 3 out of 5 stars

After the End is a book I have been really eager to read, as a huge fan of Amy Plum's Revenant trilogy I was keen to start on her newest series and despite not being completely wowed by it, I feel it was a promising start to what I think will be a great series.

After the End is a book that took me a while to get into, it started off slowly and I honestly had no idea what was going on but after my initial confusion I soon became invested in the story and the unique characters.

Seventeen year-old Juneau Newhaven is the future Sage of her clan, her role will enable her to protect her people by predicting storms or natural catastrophes, she can conjure healthy crops and source where food can be found, to do this she is able to communicate with the earth or what they call The Yara.

When Juneau’s camp is destroyed and there is no sign of her people she flees her Alaskan home to bustling LA, a place she always believed was a post-apocalyptic wasteland and this is where she is certain she’ll find her mentor and father. What she learns along the way certainly baffled her and she begins to question why she would have been lied to and betrayed her whole life.

Eighteen year-old Miles is a bit of a school trouble maker and after three strikes he is now out of his exclusive academy. Forced to work with his pharmaceutical executive father and out to seek his approval, he goes in search of the girl with the star-burst in her eye who is extremely important to his dad for reasons he isn’t too sure of; what I found far-fetched though was Miles searching for a girl he had absolutely no idea about but he was able to find her quite easily.

The main characters made this book, they were wary of one another initially but they came to form a mutual trust and close bond; there were a few miscommunications but nothing was dragged out and they came to work well together, they were complete opposites but I appreciated their slow to build relationship. I was also really curious to learn more about Juneau and her unique abilities, this aspect was done well.

The plot centres around Juneau finding and saving her people and working through the betrayal she feels from those she once trusted all the while being hunted for potentially knowing of a secret drug for immortality. The premise was intriguing and the small details and vivid imagery really kept the story interesting. Unfortunately though, there were also a few occasions where resolutions came too easily.

Told in alternating POV’s from both Juneau and Miles it gave us great insight into their thoughts and emotions which I always like and each had their own distinct voice, it was done well. After the End is an engrossing read and well-written but it lacked tension and the overall wow factor. I also feel little explanation was given about the drug so I hope more information will be provided in the sequel.

Overall, After the End is an engaging and enjoyable start to series; it’s an exciting mystery with a fascinating cast of characters and a nice blend of romance and intrigue; the book ends on a cliff-hanger so I am definitely eager to read the sequel.

Thank-you to Harper Teen via Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review After the End.

 

About the author: (Goodreads) Amy Plum is the author of the International Bestsellers DIE FOR ME (Indie Next List pick, Romance Times top pick, and recipient of a starred review from School Library Journal), UNTIL I DIE, and IF I SHOULD DIE. The books have been translated into eleven foreign languages. The trilogy is accompanied by an eNovella entitled DIE FOR HER.

Amy grew up in Birmingham, Alabama before venturing further afield to Chicago, Paris, London and New York. An art historian by training, she can be found on most days either daydreaming or writing (or both) in a Parisian café. Visit her athttp://www.amyplumbooks.com and check outhttp://www.youtube.com/user/revenantc... for videos and extras. 

After being raised in Birmingham, Alabama, in a rather restrictive environment, AMY PLUM escaped to Chicago to an even more restrictive environment at a university that expelled people for dancing. (And where she was called to the dean’s office for “wearing too much black”.) After all of that restrictiveness, she was forced to run far far away, specifically to Paris, France, where she only wore black and danced all she wanted.

After five years in Paris, she ventured to London, where she got an M.A. in Medieval Art History, specializing in Early Sienese Painting (1260-1348) mainly because it promised almost no hope of finding a paying job afterward.

Amy managed to find work in the world of art and antiques in New York. But after almost a decade of high-pressure lifestyle in the Big Apple, she swapped her American city for a French village of 1300 inhabitants.

After signing with HarperCollins for the DIE FOR ME series, Amy left her job as an English professor at Tours University to write full-time. She now lives in Paris with her two kids and big red dog Ella.

She is a huge fan of Edward Gorey and Maira Kalman (and collects both of their books/art), as well as David Sedaris, Amadeo Modigliani, and Ira Glass.

Check out videos and extras from Amy at Revenant Central.

REVIEW: Until I Die (Revenants #2) by Amy Plum

 

Author: Amy Plum

Series: Revenants

Pages: 357

Genre: Young Adult – Paranormal

Publisher: HarperCollins

Amazon: Until I Die

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.

REVIEW: 4 out of 5 stars

Until I Die is the second book in the Revenants series by Amy Plum.

After events which happened in Die for Me, Kate has been accepted into the Revenant family, is training alongside them and is learning more about their history and their purpose. Her boyfriend Vincent is as protective as ever and their relationship is going along seemingly well until their future comes into question and what will happen as Kate ages and Vincent will stay forever young.

Vincent as a Revenant feels the compulsion to die over and over again to save others, it is his sole purpose for being so will continue to reanimate at the age he originally died, after experiencing grief and depression recently after losing her parents, Kate can’t bear the thought of seeing Vincent die so they seek alternative ways to be together but Vincent’s way seems to cause him more harm than good and leave him in a weakened state and Kate is getting involved in a world and with people that could possibly cause everyone around her harm.

Not only do they have to sort out their budding relationship but the ongoing feud between Revenants and the Numa is getting to be more serious and with someone close possibly leaking crucial information things are as intense as ever. Secrets are being kept; there is betrayal, miscommunication and deceit and Vincent is looking at any way possible to keep Kate safe.

I love the world Ms Plum has created, it is a fascinating and unique concept and each of the characters, secondary included are truly wonderful. I especially adore revenants Ambrose, Charlotte and Jules – the relationship between Kate and her sister is lovely, the close bond they share is really sweet. We are also introduced to a few new characters, Arthur and Violette who both played important roles. The beautiful setting of Paris is vivid and detailed to perfection.

The mystery, suspense and unexpected plot twists and turns kept me riveted, I was immersed in this amazing story from the very first page but was also completely gob smacked by the heart wrenching ending! Therefore, I am eager to get hold of the final book in this series, If I Should Die which has an anticipated May 2013 release date.

Overall, Until I Die is a thoroughly enjoyable, action-packed and intriguing sequel; to me it definitely read more as a middle book filler and focused on the relationship between Vincent and Kate but it has also set the scene for the final book perfectly.

Die for Me REVIEW

REVIEW: Die for Me (Revenants #1) by Amy Plum

Author: Amy Plum

Pages: 344

Genre: YA

Publisher: Harper Teen

AMAZON: Die for Me

From the blurb. (Goodreads)

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.

Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

REVIEW: 4 out of 5 stars

After the death of their parents in a tragic car accident, grief-stricken Kate and Georgia Mercier move to Paris to live with their grandparents, a place they both loved growing up as young girls and a place they can hope to move on from bad memories. Whilst party-loving Georgia seems to be getting on with her life, Kate has become a recluse and disconnected from friends and memories of her past, she finds solace in her books but needs to find her purpose and a way to learn to live again as well as cope with her loss.

When Kate starts to venture out, she continues to bump into a gorgeous boy, her interest in piqued and she is intrigued by the handsome stranger who also appears to have an interest in her.

Vincent Delacroix is not your average teenager; he is mysterious and darkly handsome with an old world charm. When strange events begin to happen around him, Kate starts questioning who or what he really is.

Vincent is a Revenant or as they call themselves, a Zombie; I won’t reveal Vincent’s purpose but the world Ms Plum has created is unique, fascinating, certainly unusual, detailed and original.

Where there is good, there more often than not is evil, in this case it is the Numa; I enjoyed how things played out and although the action was quite brief, the story behind the ongoing feud was fascinating, I enjoyed the history.

I liked the main protagonists; they were practical and didn’t fall into the typical cliché of YA heroes/heroines; I enjoyed the relationship development and chemistry between Kate & Vincent, despite their instant attraction it was a slow progression to earn each others trust in order to live in each others worlds; Their initial meeting wasn’t exactly memorable unless it was based on looks alone so I would have liked to know why Vincent had such an attraction for Kate, it is mentioned Revenants at times become obsessed with those they save but it wasn’t the case in this instance. Am I the only person who wishes at times that the heroines were a tad bit older?

The secondary characters were well thought out and entertaining, the close bond between not only the Kindred but also Kate and her family was refreshing.

I love the romantic and picturesque setting of Paris; the descriptive details were wonderful, I have always loved all things Parisian so I was captured by the location.

I had read a number of reviews noting many similarities with Twilight & I honestly couldn’t see the comparisons, except maybe the romance; young girl falling for the handsome immortal but this seems to be the main prose in all YA novels so is not something new.

It is a well-structured world with a fascinating and fast-paced plot that kept me interested, it was a satisfying ending and I am keen to read book 2, Until I Die.