What if the line between your waking life and your darkest dreams disappeared forever?
Alice Sinclair, a driven psychology professor, is about to find out. When thousands of people begin experiencing terrifying, vivid nightmares ... all centered around her, Alice’s quiet academic life is shattered.

This was an okay read for me. I was expecting more from it, I don't really enjoy when I don't know what the purpose if the book is.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

When strangers, everyone starts dreaming about Jungian therapist Alice Sinclair, it seems at first to just be a fluke. Only, it keeps on happening, andcwhatcis more, Alice is manifesting in these dreamscasca malevolent figure: like a serpent, a vampire, and so on. Eventually she is landed with a court case, where her dream alterego gets accused of inciting someonevto murder.

Alice Sinclair has to go into hiding. Her partner Joe begins to suspect foul play. But how?

Alice, under the protection of a cabal of Jungisn and alternative/New Age therapists, as they try to solve rhe mystery. One leading Jungian dream guru, largely viewed as a crank, is top of the list, especially as he has links to the government. And in any case. important government figures soon start looking for Alice and her friends. Could it be all about some new subliminsl advertising weapon? And who is the real target? Surely nothing to do with corruption in the hiighest places.......

Luckily Alice Sinclair's list of allies soon include a CIA agent. The race is on to put a stop to the lies and manipulation.

Alice Sinclair is to learn a great deal about her history and herself, and this process of individuation is to open up what might be possible for her in ways she had hitherto would never have, well, dreamed about.

This novel is good at building up suspense., and csn be enjoyed as a psychological thriller, withbplenty of ferl-good factor, in times where the manipulators in real life, conszantly aeem to be winning. Plot-wise, the science for how the baddies find out how to manipulate dream power on a collective level is pretty thin, and is never really explained: the genius behind that is conveniently killed off before he can spill. That part is cience fiction, but a little more ofva working theory there, no mazter how far fetched, might have brought a more solid basis to the story.
One final criticism is that the moral, that most people do not have enough faith in their highest pitentials, is put across in a way thatvcan seem a little preachy - gurus like Jung always emphasised that the process to becoming self-aware enough to question collectivecreality can be extremely tough, and that not everyone may be ready for it.

Still, during times like the ones we are living in now, an appeal to rhis basic premise may still be just what is needed, and either way, this novel mskeca highly entertaining read.

Nightborn has a really unique premise focussing on the power of dreams and those who can manipulate them. I enjoyed how the main character Alice, is knowledgable in the area as a psychology professor, and how there were plently of nods to real-life dream-specialising psychologists, which made the situation feel more realistic and believable. However, I did feel that the plot moved quite slowly, and I struggled to engage, particularly at the start. The drama did pick up, and the read became more atmospheric as the novel progressed.

Giving black mirror vibes, in a realistic dystopian setting, it's an interesting novel that will suit those who enjoy thinking "what if". I'm sorry it wasn't the novel for me, but I think it most certainly be a 5 star read for the right audience.

I enjoyed the premise of the book and the idea that the government could try and manipulate the population through mind control via their dreams. Especially in this current climate, where there is a lot of distrust around leadership and people in power. I felt that how the dreams escalated and how the image of Alice spread was accurate for a society where social media is everything and we consume it mindlessly.

However, I felt the climax of the story was really rushed, there was all this build up and then just bang….finished. No suspense, just rushed. I didn’t like the Ward and Alice angle at all, when they suddenly kissed I honestly just felt confused cause how had that escalated to that?!

And then to top it off, you are left at the end, with the feeling of ‘and it was all just a dream..’. I appreciate the whole story is about dreaming and the power of our dreams but I really struggled with this.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC digital copy. This is my honest review.

I received an ARC of NightBorn by Theresa Cheung through NetGalley, and I’m excited to share my thoughts on this debut novel. This paranormal fantasy promised a haunting blend of mystery and supernatural elements, but while it had some intriguing moments, it didn’t fully win me over. Here’s my honest take with pros and cons.

Pros:
Theresa Cheung’s atmospheric writing is a highlight. The eerie setting of Blackwood Manor, with its fog-shrouded grounds and creaky halls, is vividly drawn and perfect for a spooky, immersive vibe. The story follows Mia, a teen who moves to a small town after a family tragedy and discovers she’s a NightBorn, someone with a connection to the spirit world. I liked Mia’s emotional depth—her grief and struggle to fit in felt raw and relatable, especially for a YA audience. The concept of NightBorn powers, tied to dreams and ghostly visions, is creative and had me curious about where the story would go. A few creepy scenes, like Mia’s encounters with shadowy figures, gave me chills and kept me engaged. The pacing picks up in the second half, with some solid twists that added intrigue, and I appreciated the focus on friendship over romance, especially Mia’s bond with her new friend, Ellie.

Cons:
Unfortunately, the book fell short in a few key areas. The plot felt uneven, slow to start with a lot of setup that dragged, then rushing through major reveals at the end, which left me confused about the NightBorn lore. The magic system was vague, and I struggled to understand how Mia’s powers worked or what their limits were. Secondary characters, like some of the townsfolk and Mia’s family, felt flat and didn’t add much to the story, making it hard to care about their stakes. The dialogue sometimes veered into cliché territory, which pulled me out of the moment, and a few plot threads, like the mystery around Mia’s parents, felt underdeveloped or dropped entirely. I also found some of the supernatural elements a bit repetitive, leaning too heavily on familiar ghost story tropes without enough fresh spin.

Overall, NightBorn has a promising premise and a haunting atmosphere, but it needed more polish to fully shine. Theresa Cheung shows potential as a debut author, and I’d be curious to see how she grows in future works. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, and I’d recommend this to readers who enjoy atmospheric YA paranormal stories but don’t mind some rough edges.