The Dreammasters

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.

Dreammasters is an engaging story from the very start. As Aisling grieves her mother’s death she realizes she must learn more about Irish heritage. She travels from New Hampshire to Galloway to visit her Mothers homeland, and family . She encounters old rivalries, memories, and monsters on her journey. Irish mythology brings the reader into the story, and makes all the characters believable. I was so engrossed in the story I read it too fast, trying to find out what will happen next. I then, had to reread to get the details I missed. This is an intriguing book and I can hardly wait to read the sequel.

This was an incredibly well written book. Thr twists and turns are so surprising. The book kept me engaged the entire time.

I absolutely loved this book! The Dreammasters had me totally engaged throughout the entire book; it was hard to put down. I loved the plot of the book and the mystery, and magical system of the book. A 46 year old wife and mother is faced with some recent tragedies and seeks out her family in another country to get answers about her family heritage. She finds out everything is not what it seems when she travels to her grandmothers home in Ireland to find answers regarding the dream she had the night of her mothers death, and .since her mothers recent passing. The end of the book ended on a cliffhanger leaving me with a lot of questions, so I am hoping there will be another book!

Horror isn’t at the top of my favorite genres, but I do like to read it. This title seemed like a mix of horror and urban fantasy, so I eagerly started reading it. It was a little horror-ish, but it’s more like a paranormal mystery on the dark side. I loved the type of magic this universe presents, and I found it very interesting. Aisling, the main character, really struck me as a good character at first. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that she became a “bad” character, but she became what I thought of as tremendously naïve. I know she’d been a little sheltered, but all the pieces of the puzzle were there, and she didn’t see it. That really frustrated me, but it’s a good thing the author can evoke such emotions. LOL! All in all, I really enjoyed this well-written book, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

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

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.

"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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.