I still haven’t decided whether or not I like the latest series I’ve been reading.  The first book is titled Wake, and the second- which I just read- is titled Fade, and the third is titled Gone.  I read Wake quite a few months ago and when I started reading Fade I couldn’t really remember what had happened previously, but the book did provide enough details to recall the gist of it.  I actually started reading it about a week ago, and put it down on page 22 because it seemed…off.

There was something about it that made me not want to read it, but I picked it up today, found my place, and continued reading it straight through.  And now I desperately want to read Gone.  However, I’m not sure if I particularly like it, even though I’m entirely hooked.  Author Lisa McMann has a very interesting style of writing, though it’s good enough to work perfectly for the storyline.  More on that later, though.

The story takes place in Michigan, centered on the main character (who else?)- Janie Hanagan.  Janie is a dream catcher, falling into people’s dreams and nightmares every day.  When she falls into the dream of a fellow student, assumed to be a lazy drug dealer, she doesn’t know what to think of what she’s seen.  When she tumbles into his nightmare, Janie is driving outside of Cabel Strumholder’s house and doesn’t at first know whose twisted nightmare she gets an inside look of.

As she gets to know Cabel, she finds someone who can not only relate to her past, but also having their own ugly secrets.  She also finds herself a confidant, and begins to fall in love with Cabe.  Cue the reality check.

Both she and Cabe find comfort in one another, especially because of sharing so much in common.  While Cabe is not a dream catcher like she, both characters have pasts they are ashamed of- and parents they are even more ashamed of.  As the plot unwinds, we learn more about who we suspect Cabe to be, and who he really is.

Regarding the style of writing: the books are written in third-person and told in a unique way.  Sentences are short and choppy, but bring you closer to the characters- especially because of Janie living a minute-by-minute life, unsure of when she might next fall into the dream or nightmare of an unsuspecting napper.  It seems to me that you’ll either hate this book or love it.  It’s a very quick read, and despite taking a few pages to get used to the style, it really is an excellent book.

More twists in the plot appear in the second book, and I’m sure there are even more in the third.  Definitely check this book out if you’re into obscure topics, interesting writing styles, love that cannot be, or any of the above.



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