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raven8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Moderate: Antisemitism
caitcat0212's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.75
Moderate: Gore, Blood, Vomit, and Antisemitism
caidyn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Death, Antisemitism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
directorpurry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, Antisemitism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
reading_historical_romance's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Their choices were almost comically horrific: don’t eat, or be eaten.”
I’ve been hunting for awhile for a great new YA dystopian novel that doesn’t feel like a recycle or mish mash of the plots from the 2000-2010 renaissance of this genre, and I’m so happy to have finally found one in A Multitude of Dreams. This book had a similar feel to The Maze Runner in terms of its elements of violent horror, but it takes place in a medieval fantasy setting and has more fairytale and romance elements. The main characters are also older than a typical YA (the youngest is 17 ½ who presents herself as part of the plot as being 20, and most are grown adults 20 yrs+), so it was refreshing that there weren't the same "coming of age" plotlines that typically thread through a YA narrative.
I loved the premise of the novel, as it is so relatable after living through the COVID pandemic and all of the lockdowns, masking, social isolationism, and depression, fears and anxieties that came with it. Everyone reacted to and experienced the pandemic differently, and this is also true for the characters in the novel who faced and survived a deadly plague. Setting is one of the essential elements of a great novel for me, and the atmosphere developed by the author in this book was so vivid that I could practically hear and smell the environment from the descriptions on the page.
I loved Seraphina (and her name!) and Nico, and I loved how Henry was developed to be a well-rounded character instead of serving as a one-dimensional jealous alpha-male in Seraphina’s climactic last stand to choose life and freedom. I thought that the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and love were poignant, tender, true to the plot and characters, and didn’t feel preachy. The anti-Semitism aspect of the story is timely and circumspect given the sorry state of real-world current affairs.
I loved the characters so much, I would love a sequel. I would love to find out how Seraphina, Nico, and the other survivors rebuild their kingdom and their lives, and how their relationships deepen. I want Nico to find the “cure” so that all of the reborns are able to regain their mortality and resume aging normally. I want to read about how Henry, Dalia, and Colin find HEAs too!
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.
Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Genocide, Self harm, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Murder
teastarsandbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A Multitude of Dreams was a journey I did not expect. And it was a thrilling Gothic journey I relished through clenched toes, fidgeting fingers, and bated breaths.
A plague has crippled the kingdom, leaving few alive in its wake. Princess Imogen is one of those who still lives, thanks to being sheltered in a boarded up castle. But as provisions begin to dwindle and the King’s madness deepens, unrest finds a hold. Nico Mott enters the picture, a young man who lost everything and everyone to the plague and now works as a servant to a local lord. As circumstances thrust the two together, webs of lies woven by them and those around them begin to unravel and alongside the truth, come unspeakable horrors.
I went into this story blind, with only the official blurb as my guide as to what and who the story is about. I never would have guessed vampires and post-apocalyptic world would arise. It. Was. Delicious.
Writing Style: The author has a talent at keeping what seems to be an ordinary tale, interesting and not so ordinary. There was an air about her words that lended to an atmosphere of a broken and haunted world. Of things not quite as they seem. It kept me going, devouring the book in two sittings. Her descriptions are beautiful, masterfully crafted to pull you deeper into the tale.
Plot: It was very, very well done. There is a part of my mind that recognized how slow going the story was, but the author was so masterful at dropping little tell-tale signs of things not being all they seem, that the slower pace didn’t bother me. It especially didn’t bother me as it began to ramp up - again, not at a hurtling pace, at a nice slow canter, leading me on until suddenly everything has gone upside down and I’m clutching my blankets and forcing myself not to start skimming the pages in desperation to find out what happens next. Excellently done. It’s very clear a lot of planning and forethought went into this story.
I can also see how real world experiences influenced the story. I understand from the author’s note at the end, that before the COVID 19 crisis, the author already had this book in the planning stages. Even still, the hardships we faced as an entire world, the hurt and pain and fear - it was written across the pages. In addition, the fact that she made the conscious choice to add Judaism to her fantasy world, I thought, was a beautiful outspoken choice - making the heroine a Jew who is feisty and self-confident, and gentle and kind. I personally loved it. Books are a form of art. And art is meant to send messages. This one from the author is condemning of anti-semitism and throws into light the fact that repeatedly through out human history, with plagues comes a vitriolic wave of anti-semitism. It was true in the Middle Ages, and it was true again the past several years.
I applauded you, Mara Rutherford.
Characters: We have our two main characters - Princess Imogen and Nico Mott. Imogen is a strong young lady, with thoughts of her own, stubborn, and family oriented. While yes, at times her choices land her in trouble, she doesn’t loose her spark. She still keeps trying and continues to rise above the low expectations society placed on her. As mentioned previously, the author made the choice to have Imogen come from a Jewish family and I believe she did justice to them, portraying one of there’s as a fierce and beautiful young lady with a loving heart and fierce determination.
Nico is caring, full of emotion - is human. With Nico, the author not-s0-subtly gives a hero who subverts toxic masculinity and is shown to be desirable, that men with a strong healthy connection to their emotions IS healthy. Both characters have a special place in my heart.
Alongside the main characters, we have a host of supporting characters, all who do a splendid job of complimenting their designated MC. Even the antagonists were a pleasure to read. And that’s always a sign of a good writer to me.
Enjoyment: Oh my lord, I loved this. More than I ever expected. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting and I loved every single second of this book. It was exhilarating. Well earned 5 stars.
Moderate: Antisemitism
jessicaludden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I really liked the concept of this book. The idea of a country in the aftermath of a plague and a castle of noblemen being forced to stay by the king was intriguing. It had more horror elements than I thought it was going to have but I enjoyed the suspense and having to piece together the supernatural elements. But it didn’t feel very high stakes to me and while I enjoyed the characters none of them really stood out to me.
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Murder, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
catreads247's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Self harm, Antisemitism, and Injury/Injury detail
riverlasol's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, and Pandemic/Epidemic
hckilgour's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Surprise, it’s vampires!
So I really enjoyed the plague elements to this and I think the vampires were beautifully done. I did like that some of the lore we know, can’t enter a home without permission and a stake to the heart will kill them, made it into the book.
For Nico and Seraphina’s romance, I like that it wasn’t a focus until right at the end when they both felt safe. Like they weren’t pining after the other while in the midst from fleeing vampires and it made their relationship so much more realistic.
I did think the beginning and first half were very slow but the second half more than made up for it.
I was confused as to while the vampire children weren’t as bloodthirsty as adults. And I do wish there was an epilogue so I could know what happened to Dalia.
Moderate: Antisemitism