Review: Dreamfall

Dreamfall
by Amy Plum

Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 2, 2017

DREAMFALL is the newest book by Amy Plum, a psychological thriller filled with science and monsters. Seven subjects, all who suffer from lack of sleep from nightmares, are put through a new test to help get rid of their nightmares and help them sleep. The test is highly experimental, so when it goes wrong because of an earthquake, the seven subjects are thrust into a nightmare world called DREAMFALL. There, they must survive each others' worst nightmare, or face being killed both in the dream and in real life.

One of the things that I really liked about this book was the diversity of the characters: everyone seemed to come from different places. All the characters also had their own psychological issues, and while some authors completely over-play this, the characters' issues weren't just thrust into the reader's face. I also enjoyed the mystery behind all the characters. The reader is given little bits of their background stories through reports read by a student who is watching the test with the doctors in the real world. This helped to add dimension to the characters which might have otherwise been lacking. The dreams were very suspenseful, mainly because of the fact that they were really nightmares, but also because the reader is experiencing them at the same time as the characters.

I recommend this book for anyone looking for their next suspenseful read. Some of the “dreams” might be a little intense for some younger readers, but this book is worth it for those psychological thriller fans. The ending of this book is also very good, and will leave readers desperately waiting for the next book.

Review: After the End

After the End by Amy Plum
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication date: May 6, 2014

AFTER THE END by Amy Plum is a story about a girl named Juneau who was born into a world of ignorance and danger. She believed that in 1984 there was a Third World War that killed most of the world in a horrific nuclear explosion. One day, however, when Juneau is off hunting, her family and friends are kidnapped and, for the first time in her life, Juneau finds herself crossing the borders of their clan to go rescue them when she discovers the horrible truth. There was never a bomb. The world never ended, just hers. She finds a fully functioning society 3 days from all she has ever known and she has been lied to for her entire life. While she is trying to cope with this new existence, Juneau goes on an adventure to try to save her clan, understand a prophecy, and escape the clutches of those who are after her, those who might just know the answers to all her questions. This story is filled with adventure and romance and sends you on an adventure in which you learn about the world, about trust, and has just enough magic that you just can’t put it down until you reach the last page. This book tells a completely different kind of story which is action-packed and filled with unexpected turns and leaves you excited, confused, and in love with all the characters. It was great!!