Friday, August 5, 2011

Book Review


Author: Sandra Chandler
Series: Dream World Series
Format: paperback, 198 pages
Published: April 2008
 

Back Cover Blurb:  
David is an outcast in the world of the living as well as among his own kind. He hates what he is and struggles against it, making him dangerous to those like him. He struggles to set matters right, getting the mortal where he rightfully belongs even if it means the end of his immortal existence.

With help from his newfound friends, he might just succeed, but what future awaits him if he does?

  
Synopsis:
I typically don’t write a synopsis, because I feel that they give too much away. However, seeing as though the back cover blurb was…well, short, sweet and to the point, I feel okay giving some details. The story follows several characters through their perspective, separate adventures, flitting in and out of their lives. David, the vampire, opens the Dream World to the reader and introduces Eldon, the mortal, who resides in the "real world". Then there are other "real world" dwellers, Jamison, Eldon’s cousin, and Cassie, who roars into the story out of nowhere. Both have their own story lines and complications that draw them into the plot twists. Sometimes it seems there are too many random people followed, there is a strong moral tie between all the main characters who, above all else, give of themselves to help others. (Wow, it’s like a Hallmark card…seriously). That’s really all I can detail without feeling like I'm giving too much away. There’s no spoilers on my blog!

My take on it:
Sandra Chandler paints a whole new world, two actually, dipping the reader through alternate realities as the plot unfolds. Since the synopsis on the back of the book doesn’t really describe much I felt like I was lost during a good part of it. Normally I’m a big fan of being a little lost. I tend to shy away from reading reviews before I read a book because I don’t want any spoilers, but there’s a point when I need a little nugget of information to help me get through. Once I got my footing in the story though, I was taken in by the third person narration which bounced around, following the characters.

I loved the plot twists in this (which I’m not giving away). Just when I thought “Oh, I know what’s going to happen” Chandler threw me for a loop. There’s a definite element of mystery that hangs like a mist around the plot, preventing the reader from seeing past what is happening at any given moment. Seriously. It was like a battle of the wits there while I tried to see if I was good enough to plot the story before she wanted me to know it. The plot twists kept me turning the pages too. Each time I’d decide to put it down for the night, the plot tension would increase until it peaked at the chapter end forcing me to continue on. Crafty.

I was a little disappointed in the beginning, which was a little heavy on the information drop for my tastes. I prefer to jump into the action right from the get-go, but I’m really glad I stuck it out. Chandler has a very unique twist on vampires that rival the werewolves of Patricia Briggs – where the beast and mortal are separate entities of the same being. It makes for interesting complications that I rather enjoyed.

Favorite Quotes:
“The blood from his nose and mouth had dried, the remains of his rewards for his noncooperation.”

“She showed neither surprise nor revulsion that a dangerous creature such as he would tenderly hold her hand or offer her assistance. She did not flinch from his cold touch, nor did she look away as he sought to look into her face, knowing that he could mesmerize her with a fleeting glance.”

“Then she saw something rather curious. His gait, his stride. Something about him was familiar.”
 
If you like Outcast, look into book 2:
Master of the Dream World, book 2 in the series, was released June 2011 and appears to follow the quest of a secondary character from book 1. Though I am a big fan of his so I'm hoping the book continues with its POV hopping.

You can find Sandra Chandler on Twitter, check out her Faith in Vampires guest post over at The Search for the Lure of the Vampire or stop by and like her Facebook page.

4 comments:

  1. Yay for a twisty plot! I do get tired of the same old vamps, it's always nice when a story puts a new spin on legend and really makes it their own.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for a blog award :)

    Here's my post about it: http://thoughts-of-an-endless-dreamer.blogspot.com/2011/08/liebster-blog-award.html

    <3
    Taylor :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for a great yet honest review, Andi. I'm thankful for your input, compliments and criticism; and I will take it all into account as I continue on with the series. I could always send you a copy of "The Master of the Dream World" too, if you would like to write another review... I am so very thankful for your time and insanely glad that you found plot twists that kept you reading. This is wonderful feedback for a writer.

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  4. Excellent review! There are very few books I like where there are more that two people's POV followed throughout the story. Some authors do it well, others not as much. It can become too difficult to keep track of everyone.

    Also, I’m a new follower—great blog! Stop by my blog and follow me too? :) http://rachelbrookswrites.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete

 

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