kaylakaotik's review against another edition
4.0
Told in letters and journal entries from different people, Ashlynn's Dreams is an interesting book. It's the first book about kidnapping that I've read in this unique format. While I'm not sure every author could pull off this way of telling the story, it works well here.
I really enjoyed the characters. They are certainly what made the story for me. First, there's Jillian. Immediately, she captured my heart with her Southern drawl (which was done well) and humor. I loved learning more about her and her siblings. Speaking of siblings, I was fascinated with them and their different "gifts." Danielle was an interesting addition to the story and I liked the insight she provided on the things that happened.
Overall, the story captured my attention easily and this was an enjoyable read. The story flowed steadily without lulls or drags, but the majority of the action happened in the second half of the book. This is a pretty good example of the type of sci-fi books I enjoy and it was done very well.
* This book was received in exchange for an honest review. *
I really enjoyed the characters. They are certainly what made the story for me. First, there's Jillian. Immediately, she captured my heart with her Southern drawl (which was done well) and humor. I loved learning more about her and her siblings. Speaking of siblings, I was fascinated with them and their different "gifts." Danielle was an interesting addition to the story and I liked the insight she provided on the things that happened.
Overall, the story captured my attention easily and this was an enjoyable read. The story flowed steadily without lulls or drags, but the majority of the action happened in the second half of the book. This is a pretty good example of the type of sci-fi books I enjoy and it was done very well.
* This book was received in exchange for an honest review. *
thechaoshour's review against another edition
4.0
** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **
Cover
This is a pretty cool cover. I like that’s it hand drawn, very nice.
Initial Thoughts
So this book is written using journal entries and letters. I was really nervous going into this book because usually I find it hard to follow journal entries. I was also nervous because it’s in the perceptive of a little girl and I thought that it might make it even harder to understand. Luckily it wasn’t as bas as I thought it would be.
My New BFF
Nadia. I really liked how grown up she had to be because of her situation. She was also really smart and just wise in general. Her little gift was really cool but her story was really sad. She was a character that was kind of just always around. I really liked her.
My Crush
No crush in this book. The characters were all pretty young and that would be weird. There were a lot of characters though so if that’s something you like, check out this book. They were all pretty young though but very interesting.
Writing Style
So this book is classified as a YA but I also think it’s a children’s book and an adult book at the same time. I feel like it’s meant for the 11 – 12 age group but an adult will enjoy it at the same time. It has something to do with how it was written. There’s journals from a younger child and some from a teenager and even some adult letters. It’s a pretty big mixture.
Closing Thoughts
I really enjoyed all the topics in this book. There was the kidnapping which was a thriller and then there was a lot of genetics involved which was kind of science like. There was just a lot of things happening to keep you entertained. I really liked the idea of the book. I thought that what the scientists were doing was pretty cool. Completely wrong and bad, but cool. I enjoy genetics though so this book was a little more appealing to me.
I ended up really liking the journal entries. It made it so you could see the story in a couple different perspectives. I do wish that we could have seen more about what happens after they got home though. Like their reactions or something. I’m not even sure what I’m talking about. I just wish there was more I guess.
There wasn’t a whole lot of action in this book I found. It was more like mental action. There was some things that messed with you a little bit but there was no huge showdown or something. There was a little action scene near the end that was pretty cool but that was the only action I found. Not that it was bad, just more of a warning for anyone who wants to read this book.
At the end it was a really interesting read. It wasn’t something I could read in one sitting and I couldn’t read it very fast either. I had to really concentrate to read it. If you like intense thinking books, this is the book for you.
Cover
This is a pretty cool cover. I like that’s it hand drawn, very nice.
Initial Thoughts
So this book is written using journal entries and letters. I was really nervous going into this book because usually I find it hard to follow journal entries. I was also nervous because it’s in the perceptive of a little girl and I thought that it might make it even harder to understand. Luckily it wasn’t as bas as I thought it would be.
My New BFF
Nadia. I really liked how grown up she had to be because of her situation. She was also really smart and just wise in general. Her little gift was really cool but her story was really sad. She was a character that was kind of just always around. I really liked her.
My Crush
No crush in this book. The characters were all pretty young and that would be weird. There were a lot of characters though so if that’s something you like, check out this book. They were all pretty young though but very interesting.
Writing Style
So this book is classified as a YA but I also think it’s a children’s book and an adult book at the same time. I feel like it’s meant for the 11 – 12 age group but an adult will enjoy it at the same time. It has something to do with how it was written. There’s journals from a younger child and some from a teenager and even some adult letters. It’s a pretty big mixture.
Closing Thoughts
I really enjoyed all the topics in this book. There was the kidnapping which was a thriller and then there was a lot of genetics involved which was kind of science like. There was just a lot of things happening to keep you entertained. I really liked the idea of the book. I thought that what the scientists were doing was pretty cool. Completely wrong and bad, but cool. I enjoy genetics though so this book was a little more appealing to me.
I ended up really liking the journal entries. It made it so you could see the story in a couple different perspectives. I do wish that we could have seen more about what happens after they got home though. Like their reactions or something. I’m not even sure what I’m talking about. I just wish there was more I guess.
There wasn’t a whole lot of action in this book I found. It was more like mental action. There was some things that messed with you a little bit but there was no huge showdown or something. There was a little action scene near the end that was pretty cool but that was the only action I found. Not that it was bad, just more of a warning for anyone who wants to read this book.
At the end it was a really interesting read. It wasn’t something I could read in one sitting and I couldn’t read it very fast either. I had to really concentrate to read it. If you like intense thinking books, this is the book for you.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘Do we need a motive beyond trying to do the impossible?
Jillian Marie Antel Blairington was an average 12 year old girl: she’s living in a new house with her Momma and a new Daddy, looking forward to all those things that 12 year old girls enjoy. Then, one day, Jillian and her babysitter Danielle Mathieson are kidnapped and Jillian’s world is turned upside down.
‘Think of her as an overgrown lab rat, ‘Darren said soothingly. ‘The experiment failed and we’re here to clean up the mess.’
Jillian has a special gift: an ability to enter and shape dreams. She has been kidnapped because of this ability which, after training, she is forced to use to try to locate and save Benjamin Connelly. She’s told that Benjamin is her brother, and that she has another family she knows nothing about. And, if she doesn’t do what’s she’s told, then Danielle will suffer.
‘I’ve waited twelve years for this, I could potentially wait several more, but you’re not leaving until my experiment is finished.’
How Jillian comes to terms with her gift and her new and onerous responsibilities makes for an interesting story. She’s lost all that is familiar (except for Danielle) and Danielle’s safety is dependent upon Jillian what is required of her. If Jillian does what is required of her, will she and Danielle be allowed to return home?
‘Who are these people?’
Jillian’s story is told through letters written by Jillian and others (chiefly Danielle) and this works well as a way of imparting information to the reader while maintaining suspense as to what will happen next. Jillian grows throughout the story (as does Danielle), and I’ll be keen to see what happens in the sequel.
‘Ashlynn’s Dreams’ is marketed as a YA novel, but I think many not-so-young adults will enjoy it as well. I certainly did.
‘Tell her she can’t solve the world.’
Note: I was offered and accepted a copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Jillian Marie Antel Blairington was an average 12 year old girl: she’s living in a new house with her Momma and a new Daddy, looking forward to all those things that 12 year old girls enjoy. Then, one day, Jillian and her babysitter Danielle Mathieson are kidnapped and Jillian’s world is turned upside down.
‘Think of her as an overgrown lab rat, ‘Darren said soothingly. ‘The experiment failed and we’re here to clean up the mess.’
Jillian has a special gift: an ability to enter and shape dreams. She has been kidnapped because of this ability which, after training, she is forced to use to try to locate and save Benjamin Connelly. She’s told that Benjamin is her brother, and that she has another family she knows nothing about. And, if she doesn’t do what’s she’s told, then Danielle will suffer.
‘I’ve waited twelve years for this, I could potentially wait several more, but you’re not leaving until my experiment is finished.’
How Jillian comes to terms with her gift and her new and onerous responsibilities makes for an interesting story. She’s lost all that is familiar (except for Danielle) and Danielle’s safety is dependent upon Jillian what is required of her. If Jillian does what is required of her, will she and Danielle be allowed to return home?
‘Who are these people?’
Jillian’s story is told through letters written by Jillian and others (chiefly Danielle) and this works well as a way of imparting information to the reader while maintaining suspense as to what will happen next. Jillian grows throughout the story (as does Danielle), and I’ll be keen to see what happens in the sequel.
‘Ashlynn’s Dreams’ is marketed as a YA novel, but I think many not-so-young adults will enjoy it as well. I certainly did.
‘Tell her she can’t solve the world.’
Note: I was offered and accepted a copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
sleepysarah's review
4.0
The first of the “Devya’s Children” series (& the first book by this author), I received “Ashlynn’s Dreams free on Kindle, but read the hard copy after Ms. Gilbert sent some free copies to her fans.
I know a lot of people say this, but I honestly had a lot of trouble putting this book down at night so I could go to sleep. The story rather quickly wrapped me in its grasp. And yet, I found myself at a loss when I tried to explain it to my husband. At its simplest, this is a book about the risks of playing “god” with genetics. But it’s *so much more* than that...
BTW, there’s a just a little bit of a “cliff-hanger” in the very last paragraph. However, if you’ve read this one, I’m pretty sure you’ll want to read the next (“Nadia’s Tears”) anyway
I know a lot of people say this, but I honestly had a lot of trouble putting this book down at night so I could go to sleep. The story rather quickly wrapped me in its grasp. And yet, I found myself at a loss when I tried to explain it to my husband. At its simplest, this is a book about the risks of playing “god” with genetics. But it’s *so much more* than that...
BTW, there’s a just a little bit of a “cliff-hanger” in the very last paragraph. However, if you’ve read this one, I’m pretty sure you’ll want to read the next (“Nadia’s Tears”) anyway
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