This was a quick read and dove right into a world of alcoholism, sensitivity to spirits, and a very dysfunctional life. Peyton struggles with her addiction to alcohol which she uses to mask the messages that come from the spirit world. It’s a messy existence, but it’s her coping mechanism.
I have to say I was not a fan of her friend, or how she insisted on bringing Peyton to a wedding even though she had clearly had a rough night. The longer the story went on the more I disliked her friend. I would have called an Uber and gotten out of there! But it’s implied that Peyton is there not only because of her friend’s insistence and almost hawk-like monitoring of everything she did, but also due to the peer pressure of the friends who know her.
The setup may seem long at times, but then once the ending comes around, things happen fast! Hold on to your seat as the whole scene shifts into something far more deadly. Overall this is a strong start to a series following Peyton and her strange life, and I am so ready to see where this goes!
Sarah Lampkin is another one of my incredible Parliament House Press sisters, and we’ve been fortunate enough to work alongside each other at not one, but two events this year!
(Check out our interview on YA Fantasy and Science Fiction at the Alabama Book Festival below!)
I look like a Batman villain in that preview pic!
Sarah is awesome to work with. She’s also a gym rat and is a big inspiration to hit the gym if you follow her on social media! So I was thrilled to get a chance to review her book, To Dream Is To Die.
Brenna is clearly ready to kick some ghost butt!
Finished: June 5, 2019
First of all, the concept behind The Dead Dreamer series (this is book 1 of that series) is so fascinating! I love the mixture of dreamers, spirits, and portals for demons and fairies. Brenna is a tough-as-nails protagonist and although her pessimistic personality took a bit to win me over, her friends and experiences soften her hard exterior throughout the story.
I also loved the mystery that takes place on a haunted college campus! I mean, technically anywhere Brenna goes is ultimately haunted, but you know what I mean. As someone who works on a campus, this especially appealed to me. I really enjoyed the fast pace and the way each of the characters change and evolve over time. For fans of ghost hunters, conspiracy theories, administrators hiding the truth, and characters with big secrets to hide, this is a novel for you!
I’m really excited to read book two in The Dead Dreamer series, To Wake The Dead, coming in October!
What I consider a 5-star book:
Is it a fun read? Although it took a little longer for Brenna to grow on me due to her pessimistic outlook on life, once the story got going I had a hard time putting this down!
Would you recommend it to others? If you love ghosts, people who turn into ghosts, or ghosts co-existing with demons and the fae, then this is definitely a book to check out!
Does it stick with you? This book has some scenes that will absolutely stick with you for a long time to come!
My overall rating: 5/5
Note: This book follows Brenna in her first year of college and she’s surrounded by party people who drink a LOT, with all the detail of having to puke into trash cans and whatnot. For me, this was triggering, but I’m a little squeamish about that sort of thing. For others, it may not be a problem at all. So just a warning if you’re squeamish like me to tread cautiously!
Each October, horror authors converge on a site to share stories about one of the best holidays of the year: Halloween. We talk about spooky stories, some of them true, some of them not. We share information about our books, and maybe even do a giveaway.
Today I talk about growing up in a haunted town and in a haunted house. This post was more difficult to share than I expected it to be. I’ve been flighty about even admitting this to myself for a very long time, so getting it put up online is a big step.
