Review: Dreams Dark Kiss

I’m a big fan of Urban Fantasy, a genre which for the most part features some combination of vampires, shapeshifters/werewolves, witches and/or Fae. It’s an unusual author that finds a new otherworldly focus. And even more unusual: to make it work.

Dreams’ Dark Kiss follows the world of dream guardians.  Our heroine,  Ciaran, has been ferrying souls through the Dreamscape to the Other Side, ever since she was a child. But suddenly, she finds herself in the unfamiliar and desolate Wastelands –an in-between place inside the Dreaming. She is attacked by a beast and nearly raped, but she calls out to others of her kind for help.  In doing so, she summons the man who will be her mate, a dream guardian named Keoni.  Through him, Ciaran learns that she is more powerful in the dream world than she knew.   

Of course, the story has to have a villain.  The one here is trying to bring the stuff of nightmares into the waking world. Oh, and he wants to make Ciaran his broodmare to help with his cause. Ciaran must work with Keoni to discover why she is so special and to foil the bad guy’s evil plan.

There’s a reason so many authors go the vampire and werewolf route: people already understand the fundamentals of the mythology. As refreshing as a new story is, understanding the world building is a serious endeavor.  I didn’t always follow the what was happening in the dreamworld. The glossary of terms at the end was helpful. But I think, by the time I got to the end, I understood what was going on. And after reading this, I believe a sequel would be much easier for me to jump into.

Nearly 4 stars.

*ARC Provided by Net Galley