This was really well done, it had a great overall concept in the fantasy genre. I was hooked from the first page and thought it had a strong concept. I enjoyed getting to know Aisling in this book and how here world was done. It uses the Irish mythology perfectly and was glad I was able to read this. KD Pryor has a great writing style and I enjoyed what I read, it was a strong sequel in this series.

I really wanted to love this book, but I just DNF'ed. The story took forever to get moving, and by the time it did I was already not willing to continue. I think we tried too hard to introduce a ton of characters within the first chapter. And none of them were likeable. Not even the main character.

The premise is interesting, but I couldn't get into it. Might retry it some other day, but not really.

I had never read any books by this author and after reading this book I plan on finding more books by her. It was a little hard to get into but once I got to know the characters more I couldn’t put it down. Anyone that likes fantasy books will love this one. I can’t wait to read the next one. I love Aisling and want to see what she does next.

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this copy of "The Dreammasters."

Aisling Doyle had confusing dreams as a child that started after she visited Ireland with her mother but they later stopped. However her mother journaled about Aisling's dreams and other secrets she wasn't ready to share.

When Aisling dreams about her mother's murder in an terrifying, unreal place, she wakes to find that her mother was killed. After other horrifying dreams, she knows the only place to get answers about her dreams is to visit Ireland.

This is the first in the series "Of Gods and Monsters" and I can't wait for the next book to find out what happens!

The Dreammasters is an entertaining paranormal read. Upon the death of her mother, Aisling, has a strange experience with her dreams. In her efforts to learn more she heads to Ireland to visit her estranged grandmother and aunt. As she is plunged headfirst into a decades old family mystery, she must struggle to master her own skills and learn just who she can trust. With its idyllic setting and great characters, The Dreammasters is a good read.

Aisling Doyle has night terrors. After her mother dies in a violent way then her husband leaves her for another woman, the next day he dies from an accident or was it!?! Her dream's are getting more erratic and she starts to worry so she goes home to Ireland to find out about her dream's and heritage that her mother denied her.
Based on Irish folklore this book is part 1 in a fantasy series and I really enjoyed it. my only fault is the abrupt ending so i've now got to wait for the next book!
Actual rating 3.75

The Dreammasters by KD Pryor is a self-published gem by a small time writer that absolutely should not go unnoticed.

Aisling Doyle's life is falling to pieces around her; her mother is killed just after discovering her cancer is in remission, Aisling's husband walked out on their 25 year relationship for his assistant just to die in a tragic, violent accident, and she feels her children don't need her as they escape to college. On top of everything, both deaths she witnessed in her unusually vivid dreams the night before -- one of which she may or may not have participated in -- and the more distraught she becomes, the more the monsters of those dreams start to seep into the real world.

Aisling's only option is to travel from the states to her mother's home in Galway, Ireland with the hopes that her aunt and grandmother can shed some light on these potentially dangerous dreams. There, she falls into a world of Celtic gods and goddesses, creatures from fairytales, and an unseen world full of magic, mystery, and darkness that she must learn to navigate quickly if she's to survive.

Based on the publisher's description and the somewhat young adult style cover art, I expected much less of this novel. I expected an easy read, maybe a YA or New Adult type of fantasy. I was so happily surprised to find myself sucked into such a complex, well thought-out novel about a 46-year-old learning about a magical heritage with a ridiculous amount of research done on Celtic myths, all presented in a surprisingly well-written urban fantasy novel that I couldn't put down. The way that KD Pryor turns the now generic "16-year-old meets supernatural 1000-year-old and falls in love while trying to save the world" young/ new adult fantasy completely on its head is phenomenal. This really is the adult version of the young adult urban fantasy/ paranormal romance novels we all love.

The juxtaposition of the two worlds -- the real world and the dream world -- and the bleeding lines in-between the two create a depth to each relevant scene that intrigues the reader more and more. It leads us to wonder which way the world is about to sway: more towards the magical, light-hearted dreamworld or towards the stark intensity of the real world. The pieces of information learned by the main character -- events unfolding, backgrounds being revealed, etc. -- were all so intense by themselves, and the author delivered them bang bang bang one after the other just short of being overwhelming. It kept the rhythm of the book exciting, even during the slower contemplative moments, and I had to keep reading. I'm glad I read this on my Kindle while traveling and at the gym and whatnot, so I could binge read anytime I had a spare moment.

The cast of characters as a whole is incredible, too, not in that I personally like every single one, but in that they all serve their purpose in the main story while maintaining their individuality. Every one of them can be described as both chaotic and predictable, strong and weak, relatable and unrelatable, all because they come across as so painfully human; They are highly complex, with their own personal thoughts, feelings, and goals that may or may not be relative to Aisling's story. My favorite character is probably Aisling in relation to the other characters. On her own, I find her self-doubt and turmoil hard to read -- not that it isn't relatable or realistic; in fact, it's probably because of how relatable and realistic her heartache is, given the understandable roots of her issues -- but, when Aisling interacts with the other characters in Ireland that are so stable in who they are and where they fit in the unusual community, it brings out the parts of her personality that want to learn who she is on her own. Stabilizing-Aisling is my favorite for the moment, and I look forward to her coming into her own strength in future installations. As for favorite relationships, of course I like the guys. Tommy is so sweet. Though it's hard to pinpoint his true and/or equivalent age amongst the cast, he fills multiple roles as caretaker, supporter, friend, father, and more. I also love Fergus, because of his intrigue. He has such odd mannerisms and he has this immediate PG, Mr. Darcy-style romance with Aisling that I am OBSESSED with, by the way. Fergus leaves more questions than answers that we haven't asked yet, because why question someone who's just so charming!

So many surface level aspects of this book point towards what's become a fairly common trope amongst paranormal stories with romantic elements, especially those centered around women "coming of age". The lone fact that she alters this the characters to be significantly older -- in this case the woman "coming of age" having already lived a normal life with a career and husband and grown adult children -- is notable commentary on the genre. Then, adding in all of the much more adult problems with the life experiences of an adult creates anew layer that freshens what would otherwise be fairly common. The Dreammasters really does well at entertaining Celtic mythology and bringing fantasy into the real world in a very woman-centric way, but at its core, it reminds readers that growing into your true self can happen at any time, in any place, at any age. Just because onehits their forties doesn't mean that they can't find magic in their lives and themselves, or that they can't redefine who and what they consider to be home.

Anyone that fell into the young adult urban fantasy/ paranormal romance boom spurred by titles such as Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, The Mortal Instrument Series by Cassandra Clare, and others published in the early 2000s will appreciate reading this book, as it has a similar tone, yet is very purposefully geared towards adults. Any fan of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray would equally enjoy The Dreammasters, and vise-versa. They aren't books, but fans may also appreciate watching or attending a performance of Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty, two excellent classic ballets by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (composer of The Nutcracker.)

The worst section of the book is the very, very end... why? Because the book ends!! The cliffhanger is ridiculous! And now I have to wait at least a year -- likely more with book publishing tendencies -- to read the next one! I immediately signed up for the author's newsletter (visit her website at www.kdpryor.com) to a. be notified when her second in the series comes out, and b. to receive an electronic copy of her related novella, which I can't wait to start.

Wow, what an engaging, incredibly thought provoking read! I thoroughly enjoyed the Irish mythology and folklore and this book was a great mix of fantasy and thriller/horror. Highly recommend!

After a really good strong start this just seems to flounder and lose its way. We meet Aisling, her family and acquaintances when it opens with er mother's funeral. She witnessed her mother's death in a dream and is motivated to travel to Ireland to discover more about the dreams and the mysterious man, Lorcan, in them. Her family situation is not going well either. This is quite formulaic, seems to tread water in many places whilst we wait for something to happen. A pleasant read, if not a great one.

"The Dreammasters" offers a chilling blend of psychological suspense and supernatural intrigue. Aisling Doyle's journey from shattered widow to reluctant heroine is gripping, drawing readers into a web of dark secrets and ancient mysteries. Pryor expertly navigates the intersection of mythology and modern-day turmoil, crafting a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The exploration of Irish folklore adds depth and richness to the story, providing a haunting backdrop for Aisling's quest for truth and redemption. Fans of paranormal fiction will be captivated by this compelling debut novel and eager to uncover the secrets lurking within its pages.

"The Dreammasters" is a gripping tale of suspense and self-discovery that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed how the author weaves together elements of Irish mythology with modern-day challenges, creating a unique and compelling narrative. Aisling Doyle is a captivating protagonist whose journey to uncover the truth about her past is both heart-wrenching and empowering. Pryor's skillful storytelling and vivid descriptions transported me to the hauntingly beautiful landscapes of Ireland, adding depth and atmosphere to the story. With its blend of supernatural intrigue, familial secrets, and psychological suspense, "The Dreammasters" is a must-read for fans of paranormal fiction.

I know that some ppl will love this but I am not one of them. I simply wouldn't find the rhythm in the story to get into it. The characters didn't resonate with me either. So pls read the other reviews to see if it is in fact up your alley.

Once I started reading this book, I simply could not put it down. Having skimmed reviews before reading, I worried that the MC would be grating - however, her "cluelessness" seems justified. Who among us would immediately adjust and be well-versed in magic and it's nuance after living a mostly-normal life for over four decades?This story is full of magic and mystery, and while one may suss out the villain early on, motives still remain shrouded.

The Dreammasters weaves threads of delightful Irish folklore into an entrancing tale that would intrigue both fantasy and thriller readers alike. This tale packages fairies, family drama, murder mysteries, and delightful Irish accents into one storyline - who could ask for more?

My only complaint after having read this book is that I must now wait for the next novel to come out.

I started and stopped several times with this book and finally said forget it. Just seemed scattered and poorly written.

I struggled with this one.

I read a lot in the genre, and perhaps that has led to me feeling so underwhelmed here, but I am finding it hard to put together some positives for The Dreammasters.

I found the plot boring and predictable. The only slightly ‘different’ aspect here was that our MC isn’t the usual teenager/early twenties FMC but rather a middle aged Mum of two. Unfortunately being over double the age of most FMC in this genre didn’t do anything to help Aisling be anything but clueless and useless. I think my biggest complaint here is that I felt Aisling was a distinctly unlikable MC. Her children have just lost their grandmother and now their FATHER. So what does their Mum do? Barely spend any time with them at all after dropping that bombshell, and then disappears across the globe to go live out her ‘self discovery’ daydream that she should have done decades ago or at the very least timed better. I couldn’t get over this. It felt like Aisling was a mother only in name and we were only reminded every few chapters when she would mention them but there was barely any thought or attention given to her children here.

She’s clueless and it’s honestly painful watching her be useless and annoying.

Compounded my dislike of Aisling is the unforgivable ending. I don’t have a problem with cliffhanger endings (they can definitely build anticipation and be really impactful when used correctly) but this felt like a lazy ending. There was absolutely no feeling of this book ‘finishing’ and the cliffhanger felt like it was dropped right as things were working towards their conclusion. There was absolutely no feeling of closure for this book at all. I am not interested in spending anymore time time Aisling and I’m disappointed that we got no conclusion here at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC

Aisling Doyle dreams, a lot, but when her dreams start to manifest in real life, Aisling flees from New Hampshire to Ireland, to learn about her heritage, the Dreammasters

The research into Irish mythology and folklore is very well done and executed throughout the book

I didn't gel with Aisling at first as it seemed that her obliviousness was a little contrived, but as the story unfolded, my opinion did change, so it is certainly a book worth sticking with. I will certainly be looking out for the next in the series

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc. My review is left voluntarily

The Dreammasters was addictive and cozy, like slipping into a favorite sweater on a cold winter evening. Aisling's voice instantly became familiar. I kept returning to the book and racing through it because of its intriguing premise. I wanted to see how dreams had power in this world, and how that power could be harnessed.

The author lays the groundwork well. Even though Aisling wasn't the usual fantasy protagonist, she was relatively new to the world so I got to grow in knowledge with her as a reader.

Despite having power, Aisling appeared continuously buffeted by the intentions and desires of other characters. I found only a few points of intentional action from her and I had trouble distinguishing what motivated her from what everyone else wanted her to do.

I think the perspective shifts were a little abrupt at the beginning, and some of the repetitive descriptions (e.g. stomach rumbling, catching breath, trembling chin, flushing cheeks, and beady eyes) didn't work for me. They pulled me out of the flow of the book. Some similies and setting descriptions had a similar effect.

All that said, this is an interesting book that kept me reading until the last page.

Thank you Netgalley. I wanted to love this book but it fell very flat. I loved the story and the magic aspects. The main character was just not someone I could relate to and that made it hard to connect to the story.

A 45-year-old mother of two discovers she is descended from a goddess and has magical powers in the Dreamscape. So she leaves behind (with guilt) her college-age kids and flies to Ireland to meet up with her estranged aunt and grandma. Halloween is imminent, and Aisling must start training for a crash course in magic, because someone is trapped in the Underworld, and Aisling may be the only person who can save him.

We know from page one that the husband has checked out of this marriage. The clues are obvious and they keep building, but Aisling is in denial, until Trevor announces he's no longer in love with her (she's surprised) and he's leaving her for another woman. "I could kill you!" she screams, but then she's begging him to take her back. And this is what the publisher calls a strong-willed woman? Aisling's the last to notice or realize anything, and this may be a literary trick to make readers feel smart, but I just kept getting annoyed with this woman and her immature reactions and total lack of being 'cool' - she comes across more like a teenager, a lot of the time.

This is not a spoiler, because it's right on the back cover: after having an angry nightmare where she pushed her cheating husband down the stairs, she’s horrified to learn in the morning that he is dead, having fallen down the stairs Aisling saw in her dream. Does she have magic powers? Does she have the power to kill people in a dream?

It's an intriguing premise, but the novel gets bogged down in details of this clueless middle aged mother and it takes forever to get closer to the big night, but don't imagine a single loose thread is tied. The identity of the villain is confirmed, and only a reader as obtuse as Aisling will be surprised.

The Celtic parts of the novel are interesting, but I got distracted and annoyed by the endless references to the heroine's stomach/belly. And I hope I never again read another book where the author can't think of anything but "bile in the throat" to convey outrage, anger, horror, or trauma.

The ending is not an ending at all. After pages and pages of training and new revelations and reminders that "Nothing is what it seems," we get a cliffhanger.

I'm not motivated to spend more time with Aisling. Or any more fantasy novels. If you love the genre, you'll probably love this book. I need a more likable main character.

I loved this story!
When Aisling has a dream about her mother dying, only to wake and find her mother had died, she chooses to go to Ireland to learn about her family's legacy as Dreammasters.
The Irish folklore was very interesting. The story was engaging and kept me turning pages.
But...it ends on a wicked cliffhanger. So...when can I get the next one?

This reads a bit like a "chosen one" YA book and then I'd be reminded that Aisling is 45 when she would randomly mention her children. This caused some dissonance.

Overall, a highly engaging story.

Thanks to Netgalley & BooksGoSocial publishing for an early copy for review.