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A review by novelsbycaitlin
Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier
3.0
Three point five is more like it.
Dream a Little Dream was a pleasant surprise. I expected nothing going into it, and ended it with quite the complex story. In the end, I feel like quite the fool for not picking up on plot, but really it's a good thing. I rather feel dumb about not figuring out the plot then reading three hundred pages waiting for everyone and their grandmothers and mothers to. With that said, there are some very familiar flaws and annoyances that I couldn't ignore, thus the lack of four stars.
What initially drew me in was the quirky narrative by Liv quickly followed by her family problems in a very non melodramatic. And I loved it. From the very start we're given a foundation that Gier continues to return to when Liv is not stumbling around in other's dreams or facing the many mysteries of what the hell she's gotten herself into. Even better, she's able to tie a non main character to one plot arc with the other. I mean, there's more to it, but basically, it's nice to see that Liv isn't facing the typical "i'm a new girl in a new city in a new school" situations.
Liv herself is a big plus. Her involvement is a choice (which for spoiler purposes I won't reveal) and she dives right in for curiosity and concern (her sort of idol is Sherlock Holmes). Curious because she doubts it all. Concern because these boys are dead serious and she wants to prove it all wrong. What makes it even better. She may bend, but she doesn't break. Instead she continues to search for reason and solve mysteries that linger between the boys. Her bending attitude rubbed off on me definitely. The entire time I felt myself questioning my own predictions--whether the whole thing was paranoia or really supernatural--who wished what--who could be trusted--and so did Liv. As more information came forward her mind continued to expand on the situation and even considering the impossible ("What happens after the last seal? Have you guys ever thought of that? Are you really going to do it...or???")
Which leads me to another big plus: the plot. There isn't some giant obvious big bad. No string of murders or accidents or weird incidents. No string of clues to follow that lead to a giant X. If anything it's like a ticking clock and everyone is waiting for the hands to strike twelve. And during that time Liv asks questions and analyses the answers, even admitting she would have done the same thing in the same situation, probably. During this time, a nice little romance happens along with more family issues. Nice bits that fill the gaps between figuring out dreams and the boys she's in cahoots with. It's a nice gradual build that feels natural. No fast hitting brick wall pacing. No, waving plot speeds. It was a lot more personal and almost psychological. Liv was never some special girl who came to safe the day. She was just another part of the equation. ("Am I actually feeling eyes on me or am I just being paranoid?" "We don't know. We just go along with it." plot stuff).
SO yea. Now to the usual disappointing stuff.
There are like, very very few female figures Liv actually liked. And they were all family (her sister and her nanny). Every other female was either too snotty, to materialistic, too into gossip, too too too much for her. In fact, Liv and her sister criticized and made fun girls who liked boys! Oh no!!! Feelings??? Romance??? Gosh, those sappy girls how could they. We're so different from other girls. And when Liv finally is in a relationship with a boy, Mia (the younger sister) teases her about it. Yes, hypocritical. Boys on the other hand, sure Liv had problems with certain guys, but she didn't look down at them like nearly every other female that walked in her site. Liv had only two female friends and both were considered family. Not a very positive message for girls.
There is a also a plot point about virgin blood--which later is cleared up (thank god) but point: I hate the use of "MUST BE VIRGIN BLOOOOOD" Like, come on now. We all know virgin blood is the same as blood why must we continue with this stupid ugly cliche. For most the book I rolled my eyes at that, but in the end it was laughed at. thank god thank god.
But really, I enjoyed this book. I read it in a single day. And I'll be back for book two. Probably.
Dream a Little Dream was a pleasant surprise. I expected nothing going into it, and ended it with quite the complex story. In the end, I feel like quite the fool for not picking up on plot, but really it's a good thing. I rather feel dumb about not figuring out the plot then reading three hundred pages waiting for everyone and their grandmothers and mothers to. With that said, there are some very familiar flaws and annoyances that I couldn't ignore, thus the lack of four stars.
What initially drew me in was the quirky narrative by Liv quickly followed by her family problems in a very non melodramatic. And I loved it. From the very start we're given a foundation that Gier continues to return to when Liv is not stumbling around in other's dreams or facing the many mysteries of what the hell she's gotten herself into. Even better, she's able to tie a non main character to one plot arc with the other. I mean, there's more to it, but basically, it's nice to see that Liv isn't facing the typical "i'm a new girl in a new city in a new school" situations.
Liv herself is a big plus. Her involvement is a choice (which for spoiler purposes I won't reveal) and she dives right in for curiosity and concern (her sort of idol is Sherlock Holmes). Curious because she doubts it all. Concern because these boys are dead serious and she wants to prove it all wrong. What makes it even better. She may bend, but she doesn't break. Instead she continues to search for reason and solve mysteries that linger between the boys. Her bending attitude rubbed off on me definitely. The entire time I felt myself questioning my own predictions--whether the whole thing was paranoia or really supernatural--who wished what--who could be trusted--and so did Liv. As more information came forward her mind continued to expand on the situation and even considering the impossible ("What happens after the last seal? Have you guys ever thought of that? Are you really going to do it...or???")
Which leads me to another big plus: the plot. There isn't some giant obvious big bad. No string of murders or accidents or weird incidents. No string of clues to follow that lead to a giant X. If anything it's like a ticking clock and everyone is waiting for the hands to strike twelve. And during that time Liv asks questions and analyses the answers, even admitting she would have done the same thing in the same situation, probably. During this time, a nice little romance happens along with more family issues. Nice bits that fill the gaps between figuring out dreams and the boys she's in cahoots with. It's a nice gradual build that feels natural. No fast hitting brick wall pacing. No, waving plot speeds. It was a lot more personal and almost psychological. Liv was never some special girl who came to safe the day. She was just another part of the equation. ("Am I actually feeling eyes on me or am I just being paranoid?" "We don't know. We just go along with it." plot stuff).
SO yea. Now to the usual disappointing stuff.
There are like, very very few female figures Liv actually liked. And they were all family (her sister and her nanny). Every other female was either too snotty, to materialistic, too into gossip, too too too much for her. In fact, Liv and her sister criticized and made fun girls who liked boys! Oh no!!! Feelings??? Romance??? Gosh, those sappy girls how could they. We're so different from other girls. And when Liv finally is in a relationship with a boy, Mia (the younger sister) teases her about it. Yes, hypocritical. Boys on the other hand, sure Liv had problems with certain guys, but she didn't look down at them like nearly every other female that walked in her site. Liv had only two female friends and both were considered family. Not a very positive message for girls.
There is a also a plot point about virgin blood--which later is cleared up (thank god) but point: I hate the use of "MUST BE VIRGIN BLOOOOOD" Like, come on now. We all know virgin blood is the same as blood why must we continue with this stupid ugly cliche. For most the book I rolled my eyes at that, but in the end it was laughed at. thank god thank god.
But really, I enjoyed this book. I read it in a single day. And I'll be back for book two. Probably.