thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

<i>I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This story was so easy to fall in love with. First, the cover and title had me desperate to know what was inside. Seriously, MAJOR KUDOS to the cover designer!

I've read one of Dan's books before so I had an idea of the narrative style I'd see here. It's mostly epistolary, with transcribed bits of interviews and more traditional narrative sprinkled in. And I can't imagine this story being told any other way. I was immediately sucked in. Sure, this is weirder and a bit more gruesome than <i>The Future is Yours</i> but it's captivating all the same.

I don't know if it was my nostalgia or if I identified real hard with Liza but suspending my disbelief and buying into the magical realism at play here was easy. Byron frustrated me a lot in the beginning. I admired his dedication and commitment to finding Liza but his stubborn refusal to believe in the impossible kept pissing me off. I warmed to him eventually and I think that's okay. It's all part of his journey.

This book is for dreamers. It's for readers who remember what it's like to believe fully in the stories you loved as a kid. It's for those who can believe in something while knowing it isn't real. This book is a love letter to the power of stories and I'm so happy I read it.

i adored the mixed media of this book! i loved how fast-paced this was and kept my attention the whole time!

This book was refreshing. Initially, I wasn't sure if I'd be drawn in, but once I was hooked, there was no turning back. The style of writing, with its interplay of emails and notes with edits, pleasantly surprised me. It added depth to the narrative and ensured complete immersion in the storyline. Overall, it was a satisfying experience, one that exceeded my expectations.

Twelve year old Liza is not in her bedroom. Her father Bryon Kidd finds a note in a favorite fairy tale book addressed to her parents. She has decided to go and find the “Hidden World.” The parents call the police and they investigate but as months go by without any clues to where she has to go to get to this place or perhaps kidnapped, the case becomes slowly a cold case. Bryon and his wife separate as he doesn’t believe she is gone for good. Bryon’s only clue is from the police. They found her phone was used once in Los Angeles. The police are sure that that the phone was stolen. Bryon decides to go to Los Angeles. As he hunts for his daughter he decides he must discover how the author found her inspiration to write these fairy tales books. It is a short interview as he pressures her with questions. He finds a website that is about the fairy tales books. She is studying at a nearby college in Los Angeles. Her name is Misha. He still doesn’t get the answers that he needs to find Liza. Will he? He manages to get a second interview with the author who ends up having him leave due to his questions. He still hasn’t gotten any help where or how to get to his daughter. Will he find her?

The novel is told through emails, journal entries, transcripts and excerpts from the fairy tales books. The novel is fast-paced, at times and fun. The stories have the power to do more than entertain but seems so real that the reader cannot help but wonder if there is such a place to go to. If so, why not go? I found that to be enchanting and compelling in this novel..I wanted to know what would happen to Bryon and his daughter Liza. It is a great fantasy mystery novel.

Dreambound is ultimately a father’s quest to reunite with the child he has lost touch with in recent years. Basically, the plot involves a journalist investigating the disappearance of his daughter and other children who were all fans of a series of fantasy novels (later turned into films). During the course of the investigation, he begins to understand how his relationship with his daughter has deteriorated over the years as he has allowed his career and other distractions to occupy his time.
This novel will appeal to readers who enjoy portal fantasies. Much of the book is devoted to the question of how you get to the “Hidden World” and, even more importantly, how do you get out of it. I found this novel to be a solid and entertaining read. The father is a flawed and sometimes irritating character, but is ultimately sympathetic as he completes his own hero cycle.

Dreambound merges the fantastical with the fandom of a fantasy series.

Byron Kidd is a no-nonsense, just-the-facts kind of reporter. Only the target of his obsession, the disappearance of his daughter, won't let him stay with just the facts. Rather, the more he digs, the more fantastical everything becomes. To find his daughter, he ends up leaping from his ordered reality into the fantasy world that has captured thousands around the globe.

I appreciated the blend of writing styles: part journal entry, and part interview transcript. It is not a story that grips you immediately. Rather, there are layers upon layers.

The idea of another world hidden from our sight with its villain trying to take control was intriguing. The need for belief and faith to better understand someone's actions and motivations was another layer that added complexity to the story.

In the end, this is a story of love; the love of a father for his child.

The premise of this book has all the elements I love: fantasy worlds intruding in reality, mysteries, and an epistolary format. Unfortunately, this one was not for me. Byron was a grating protagonist—arrogant and very convinced of his own superiority. I am fine with an unlikable protagonist, but I got the feeling Frey didn’t think he was writing one. The epistolary format also fell apart for me quickly since it seemed like every voice had the same tone/prose style, no matter who was writing. Like I said, Dreambound was not for me.


Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

I think I’m realizing fantasy isn’t really for me. And especially family-driving fantasy because I just don’t care about families.

I really enjoyed the mixed media format of this story. I really love those types of books. This was a fantastical, harrowing story of a father's love for his child, and what he does to find her. So good.

This was a magical slow burn mystery about the lengths a father will go to in order to find his missing daughter. I listened to a lot of the audiobook, and it was a stellar production. It gave me similar vibes to Acts of Violet, which I loved. The audiobook has a full cast and was done so well! I definitely recommend if you are looking for a magical mystery.

I’m not typically a big scifi person but the synopsis had me so intrigued. however it took me foreverrrr to finish this book - it went over my head a bit, not sure if it’s the book itself or just because im not used to the genre. I overall enjoyed the ride though and would be open to reading more from Frey

Byron's daughter has gone missing, and he'll stop at nothing to find her, even if it means crossing into a realm that he doesn't think exists. He arrives in Los Angeles determined to bring Liza home. Searching for clues in the fandom of a fantasy book his daughter was obsessed with, Byron is challenged at every turn.

Told through emails, interviews, and notes, Dreambound mixes the speculative with the folkloric in a stunning read.

I loved this book. Something about it gave me similar vibes to The Magicians, but if their parents had wondered where they went when they went to Fillory. The format may not be for everyone, but I felt like it was perfect for showcasing Byron's journey from journalist who is looking for "just the facts" to someone who fully believes in a hidden world. The love for his daughter shines through, even though you're wondering the whole time how reliable of a narrator he is.

This is one I wish I could read for the first time again.

Byron Kidd's twelve year old daughter disappears one day with the only clue being a note saying that she is off to explore the Hidden World, a reference to a magical world in a popular YA fantasy series. It turns out that she isn't the only one that has gone missing under mysterious circumstances tied to this book series.

The journalist Byron, unsatisfied with the lack of progress in the police investigation, decides to do some digging himself in a quest to find his daughter. He journeys from the East Coast to Los Angeles where the author of the book series lives. In the course of his research, he finds that there appear to be parts of the fantasy world blending with the real world. Can he find out what happened to his daughter and the other missing children?

I found the premise of this book very intriguing and the cover is gorgeous. The book is told through journal entries, Reddit posts, interviews and excerpts. While this isn't my favorite style, it seemed to fit here. I found the character of Byron to be a very unlikable person almost all the way through the book. In his defense, his teenage daughter is missing and presumed dead while his wife and others have tried to move on. As a parent, I cannot imagine what that must be like. As a reader, it was really hard to sympathize with him because he is a jerk, lies to people constantly to get what he thinks he needs, drinks like a fish, and looks down on pretty much everyone, especially if you are a woman.

I found this book to be a REALLY slow burn. Things don't really get started until almost 40% in and the action really doesn't ramp up until the last 20% or so. There was a lot of buildup but a quick ending so pacing seemed a little off. It was hard to get a rhythm going due to the writing style changing constantly and Byron's run on sentence journal entries getting in the way. Without the supporting character of Misha, the operator of a popular fan site dedicated to the YA fantasy book series, this would have been a tough read. Byron is just not a fun character to spend time with.

There were some bright spots in this creatively put together modern fantasy novel but it is hard to root for the main character even though his goal is to be reunited with his daughter who he didn't spend enough time with growing up because he was busy with work. Once the fantasy and real world started blending, the book got going but it took awhile. The ending was rushed but was satisfying.

With twists, turns, and rabbit holes, Frey brings another unique story to readers of speculative fiction mixed with fantasy!

Liza Kidd finds escape within a set of fantasy novels. And not just a reading escape, but a literal escape into a hidden world. And she’s not the first kid to find a portal. Her father, investigative journalist Byron Kidd, believes something sinister is at work and won’t quit until he figures out what is going on. But the more the dives down rabbit holes in LA, the more he begins to question what is really happening until he takes his own journey.

Dan Frey dreams up some unique stories that can’t be described as much just read. He tells the story through the eyes of Byron Kidd with different types of correspondence, emails, interview transcripts, and text messages. Readers see one side of the story, but it is fun to try to patch together the pieces until you get the true reveal. There is some language throughout this book, so it is geared more toward mature readers.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

This was such a good read. It took a bit to get hooked, but once you are, you cannot stop! I didn't think I would enjoy the style of writing as much (emails back and forth, notes with strikethroughs during notes). It enhanced the storytelling, and made sure you were fully immersed in the plot. I was surprised at how intense the young fandom for the book is, considering its similar to how fantasy fans are. Overall, I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Title: A Gripping Techno-Thriller Adventure

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dan Frey's "Dreambound" is a masterfully crafted techno-thriller that seamlessly blends cutting-edge technology with a riveting narrative, offering readers a mind-bending journey into the realms of virtual reality. From the first page to the last, Frey keeps the suspense at an all-time high, making this a true page-turner.

The story revolves around a groundbreaking VR experience, inviting participants to explore the deepest recesses of their minds. Frey's world-building is exceptional, painting a vivid picture of both the real and virtual landscapes. The attention to detail in describing the intricacies of the technology adds an authentic layer to the narrative.

The characters are compelling and well-developed, each with their own motivations and secrets. The protagonist's journey from the real world into the digital domain is both thrilling and introspective, as Frey explores the fine line between reality and the virtual.

What sets "Dreambound" apart is its ability to tackle complex themes such as the ethical implications of advanced technology, the nature of consciousness, and the consequences of playing with the boundaries of reality. Frey raises thought-provoking questions that linger long after the final chapter.

The pacing is relentless, with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Frey's writing style is immersive, making it easy to lose oneself in the high-stakes world he has created. The dialogue is sharp, and the balance between action and introspection is well-executed.

For fans of science fiction, thrillers, and anyone intrigued by the potential future of virtual reality, "Dreambound" is a must-read. Dan Frey has delivered a compelling and thought-provoking tale that challenges perceptions and leaves a lasting impact.

If you’re looking for a good fantasy, then STOP ✋🏽 what you’re doing and go check out this book!
This thriller is about a father searching for his daughter who “somehow” (magically) disappears into her favorite fairytale books. You heard me right… into her favorite fairytale books. The synopsis immediately caught my attention.. I mean, imagine if you could get lost in the universe of your favorite fairytale stories.. 
the settling is in the underbelly of LA. Fairytales and LA two of my favorite things in ONE BOOK. 
However, there were a few things that bother me, such as the grammar and the fact that sometimes I couldn’t tell I couldn’t tell if the main character (the dad) was talking or if it was an e-mail etc. 
Rating: 3/5
Title: Dreambound
Author: Dan Frey

This book sounded great, but the writing style wasn’t working for me. I may try and check this book out in the future when maybe I’ll be in the mood for it.