Book Review: Dreambound by Dan Frey

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

Dreambound by Dan Frey

Mogsy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Science Fiction

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Del Rey (September 12, 2023)

Length: 400 pages

Author Information: Website

Dan Frey seems to have a preference for the epistolary format, and to that I say: More power to him! If henceforth all his novels are going to be written in this style, I would certainly continue to eat them up. Clearly, he knows what he’s doing. Much like his previous book, The Future Is Yours (which I adored!) his newest work Dreambound felt surprisingly well-suited for this distinctive approach to storytelling. And in this one, he’s even upped the ante, pushing the boundaries creativity and suspense.

First, the scene is set. Byron Kidd is the protagonist of this tale, an award-winning investigative journalist whose personal mantra has always been “Stick to the facts.” And before she went missing six months ago, his 12-year-old daughter Liza had been the opposite. Possessed of a vivid imagination, the young girl loved things like make-believe and reading fantasy books. Like millions of fans around the world, she had been obsessed with the massively popular Fairy Tale series written by the elusive author Annabelle Tobin. In fact, Byron suspects the books may have something to do with why Liza disappeared.

Unfortunately, it’s a theory no one will take seriously. Never mind that Liza’s disappearance isn’t the only one that has been connected to the Fairy Tale books. All around the world, reports have surfaced of young readers of Annabelle Tobin’s beloved series going missing—dozens of them—but most have dismissed these as coincidences or called those trying to link them conspiracy theorists. Undeterred, Byron decides to do his own digging and write his own piece, going against the advice of his publisher. Ever since Liza vanished, his marriage has also deteriorated. His wife Val, believing their daughter is dead, has all but moved on and won’t support what she feels is his unhealthy denial.

But Byron feels deep down in his gut that Liza is still alive. He has but one clue to go on, a brief ping from his daughter’s cellphone from Los Angeles, not long after she disappeared. The police explained that the phone was likely stolen, but to Byron, the location cannot be an accident. If there’s any truth to the wild speculations he’s read online, all the missing children were trying to find the Hidden World, the magical land of the Fairy Tale books. It would make sense that they would start in L.A., as that is where Annabelle Tobin lives. Ever the pragmatic man though, he still believes there is a perfectly rational explanation to the disappearances. Discovering the truth, however, will turn his world upside down.

I’ve aways been a big fan of epistolary novels because when done well, they can be incredibly immersive and addictive. This is why I loved Dreambound. Like I said, Dan Frey knows exactly how to utilize the format to great effect, creating something interesting and amazing on every page. Through Byron’s personal notes, written in an almost stream-of-consciousness style, we were able to glean so much—of not only what was going on in the story, but also what was happening inside the frenzied mind of our protagonist. All his observations, delivered in rapid succession, painted a picture of a man who was very good at his job, yet the jumble of agitated, fevered thoughts also suggested a desperate father who was barely holding onto his sanity.

Other pieces of documentation, like email exchanges, excerpts from news articles, forum discussions, and even fanfiction, came together to build the world around our characters—brilliantly playing upon readers’ own knowledge and experiences of pop culture and fandom. From Star Wars to Lord of the Rings to Twilight to Harry Potter and beyond, crazes may come and go, but the energy from the communities that form around them have a certain kind of power. In a way, this is what Dreambound seeks to explore: What if there was a magical connection between the Fairy Tale books and the real world? Could the collective enthusiasm and shared beliefs of its readers somehow bring the Hidden World to life, opening the way to a select few—the ones who believe in it the most, as it were?

Granted, this is not a particularly new idea, especially if you read a lot of portal fantasy, but this was certainly one of the most remarkable and fun ways I’ve seen an author go about it. And sometimes, that’s what’s most important. I needed Dreambound to come along when it did, and because it was such an entertaining read, I could give it no less than full marks. Highly recommended for lovers of “books about books” who are looking for a fast-paced part fantasy and part mystery adventure delivered in a unique way.