Friday, May 6, 2011

Dreamwalk - Sarah MacManus - Blog Tour Review

DREAMWALK is a romantic mixed beat of time travel and mythology for both teens and adults. After the death of her mother, Chloe Hawthorn is haunted by terrifying nighttime hallucinations. Determined to take control of her dreams, she uses them to find Shane Anderson, a charming and troubled musician whose online videos have been holding her in thrall. She finds him in the Dreamtime, sweating out heroin detox in a run-down rehab center.

Chloe sets out to find Shane in the waking world and discovers her dreams have been taking her into the past. Horrified, Chloe realizes Shane doesn't survive his addictions. In order to save him, Chloe must master her Australian mother's legacy — the secret of walking the Dreaming through time. But what price will Chloe pay for this Dreamwalk and will she save Shane only to lose him forever?
Synopsis taken from goodreads

Title: Dreamwalk
Author: Sarah MacManus
Genre: Young Adult, Time Travel, 
Publisher: Young Rebel Publications
Publication Date: March 14, 2011
Format: E-book
Source: Received from author courtesy of Teen Book Scene. Many thanks goes to Sarah MacManus, and Kelsey at Teen Book Scene for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 
Tour: Teen Book Scene blog tour review. If you would like you follow along with the tour, you can do so here, or by clicking the banner located at the bottom of the review. 
My rating: 3.5/5


Dreamwalk is a book that mixes mythology with time travel, and love with addiction. Chloe has always had night terrors. When her mother died, Chloe and her father were left on their own, and have since moved halfway across the country. When her friend sends her a link to a video, she doesn't realize how much this video is going to change everything for her. She is enthralled by it, and by all of the videos featuring this unknown man, Shane. Her fascination increases when she begins meeting Shane in the dreaming. Things become even more complex when she realizes that he's from a different time, and that he might not make it alive to hers. Will she be able to alter the past, and will the consequences be more than she bargained for? 
Chloe's story unfolds with her in the midst of a night terror. She is falling. Again. She keeps to herself and since the move, has not even attempted to make any friends at her new school. Her night terrors threaten to consume her life as she tries to find ways to stop the nightmares. She is a relatable character, yet is very cold and distant. She keeps to herself, and won't let anyone in. She's got a lot going for her, but you can see the strain the night terrors have had on her. She makes a couple of decisions that some may not agree with. 
Dreamwalk has some strong themes and dark subject matter running through it, especially when we see how heroin detox and the struggle to overcome an addiction affects everyone involved. The story is told exceptionally well, but I had a hard time accepting some of the decisions that Chloe made.  The tone and subject matter make this a dark read, but there is also the time travel aspect, which I found really unique. I thought it played well with the characters, and I enjoyed seeing Chloe interact with Shane and the people that come with his world. 
All in all, an intense look into the dark side of addiction, but also allows us a glimpse of hope, to see that things can change. Chloe and Shane's story is an intriguing one, especially coupled with time travel. Though there are some parts where you will be going "Oh, Chloe" you will also be invested in the story until the very end to see what ultimately happens to them.