In Dreams Begin by Skyler White. © 2010 Berkley Trade. ISBN 9780425236956. Trade Paperback. Dark Fantasy / Historical Fiction. 375 pages. Source: review copy from publisher

Synopsis: In a Victorian Ireland of magic, poetry, and rebellion, Ida Jameson, an amateur occultist, reaches out for power-but captures Laura Armstrong, a modern-day graphic artist, instead. When Ida channels Laura into the body of celebrated beauty and Irish freedom-fighter Maud Gonne, Laura falls in love with the young poet W. B. Yeats. Their love affair entwines with Irish history and weaves through Yeats’ poetry- until Ida discovers something she wants more than magic in the subterranean spaces between Laura’s time and her own. With Laura’s Irish past threatening her orderly present, she and Yeats must find a way to make their love last over time, in changing bodies…or lose each other forever.

Review: Gosh, where to start with this book. Victorian London and Ireland? Check. Occult practices? Check. Poetic historical figures? Check. Gorgeously written sensuality? Check. Happiness spread across my face from this amazing book? Double Check.

I’m not the world’s biggest fan of narratives that tell two stories—one from modern day and one from the past—in the same book. In my opinion, it’s not something every writer can pull off. However, Skyler weaves the strands of past and present so deftly in this novel that it creates a stunning tapestry of love, magic, poetry, sacrifice and damnation that left me feeling breathless. Not once was I confused at whose storyline I was reading, never did I forget what had happened in a previous storyline when another was picked up. The timelines were handled impeccably. Let me just say this: I loved And Falling, Fly but I really loved In Dreams Begin.

I’m blown away from the amount of research that went into this book. I mean, just how often does one read a fiction book with a bibliography at the end? And even though a lot of things are cited in the novel, never does it feel like you are reading a history book. Instead, you feel like a proverbial fly-on-the-wall, witnessing a piece of history that may have went on behind closed doors. I’ve always admired Yeats poetry and other works, but I cannot wait to dive into the other facets of his life now.

The only disappointment I have is that I was expecting more steampunk. The cover is gorgeous (Craig White, you are a god). We have a lovely lady in Victorian garb with the trademark goggles on which is misleading. No goggles to be found in the story itself. And the only device I thought might possibly be steampunk, is the homunculus device used to converse with the dead. *pout*

Still, that didn’t dampen my enjoyment of this book and I’m left feeling hungry for more of the Harrowing universe. Rating: 5/5

In Dreams Begin releases on November 2, 2010. Pre-Order Online from Amazon.

Giveaway

Thanks to Skyler, one lucky follower will win an autographed copy of In Dreams Begin for their own collection. Contest is open to US residents only and will end on November 6th. Be sure to come back on October 27th to see our interview with Skyler. Rules:

1. Be a follower of Read All Over Reviews (GFC, Facebook, Twitter, etc)
2. and fill out this form.

P.S: Be sure to check out GiveawayScout.com for other giveaways currently going on in the book blogging community and elsewhere on the web. Giveaway Scout brings you the latest giveaway promotions with products ranging from coupons and samples to high value jewelry and electronics.

Teresa

Teresa (nom de plume: Torrance Sené) is a self-proclaimed geek, a Janeite, a lover of werewolves and bad-ass angels, an aspiring novelist and an avid book reader who freelances as a web designer. You can follow her on Twitter at @eireannoir.

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and Falling, Fly by Skyler White. © 2010 Berkley. ISBN 978-0-425-23234-7. Paperback. Dark Fantasy. 335 pages. $15.00 US. [ Purchase ] Source: review copy from author

Olivia, vampire and fallen angel of desire, is hopeless…and damned. Since the fall from Eden, she has hungered for love, but fed only on desire. Dominic O’Shaughnessy is a neuroscientist plagued by impossible visions. When his research and her despair collide at L’Otel Mathillide—a subterranean hell of beauty, demons, and dreams—rationalist and angel unite in a clash of desire and damnation that threatens to destroy them both.

In this underground world, vampires are not the nocturnal blood suckers we are used to, nor do they sparkle. They are fallen angels, cursed forever by their angelic parents—who were banished from the Garden of Eden—to feed on the blood of Eve’s children as vengeance. However, that sustenance can only be harvested if the donor (willing or unwilling, doesn’t matter) either fears or desires the vampire.

From page one and Falling, Fly is a trip down the rabbit hole. A dark, psychological rabbit hole which will leave you wondering what exactly is the reality of this phenomenal and original novel. I don’t want to spoil the mind-blowing twist at the end of the book, but even now I’m struggling to figure out which world actually happened— what was real and what was actually the projections of the characters. Speaking of the characters, Olivia and Dominic are insanely multi-faceted and their characterization is amazingly deep.

and Falling, Fly is a sensual, thought-provoking, speculative piece of prose—with delightful soupçons of steampunk—that is definitely not to be missed!

Teresa

Teresa (nom de plume: Torrance Sené) is a self-proclaimed geek, a Janeite, a lover of werewolves and bad-ass angels, an aspiring novelist and an avid book reader who freelances as a web designer. You can follow her on Twitter at @eireannoir.

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