A stunning YA fantasy with heart, humour, and otherworldly political intrigue. Fans of Michelle Madow and Elise Kova will devour Wren Handman’s In Restless Dreams, the first installment of The Phantasmer Cycle.
Sylvia is just a normal girl with huge, normal problems—her mother’s attempted suicide; how to adjust to life on the Upper East Side; trying to make friends in a rich prep school where she … friends in a rich prep school where she doesn’t belong; whether or not to trust the cute boy with the dangerous eyes.
She thinks that’s more than she can handle, but she tests the limits of her endurance when she learns that she is the long awaited Phantasmer, a human who can change the fabric of Fairy simply by believing in a new story. Sylvia’s life is thrown off course as two warring Courts, the Seelie and Unseelie, both attempt to co-opt her gift to fight the other Court, which she has to deal with while trying not to get kicked out of school for fighting.
And it doesn’t help matters that the fairies begging for her help are both attractive young men with their own agendas.more
Rating:
A fantastic surprise!
I like the kind of paranormal/fantasy where the girl is a regular human girl from the current time, living in our normal world, then she somehow gets pulled into this supernatural situation and has to come to terms with it. That is exactly how this book is and I really enjoyed it. This story was about a girl named Sylvia who lives in a small town in Nevada and she leaves early from a party after her boyfriend breaks up with her so he can dance with another girl. Sylvia gets home to find her mother on the floor after swallowing a bottle of pills.
Sylvia and her younger brother Eric, wait at the hospital for their very wealthy father who lives in New York and once he arrives he ends up taking them with him to live in his mansion in New York. They begin attending an exclusive private school and from the very first day, Sylvia gets on the bad side of one of the mean girls in the school, Cassidy. Though she also makes friends with some of the popular crowd as well.
This section of the book goes forward pretty much as a standard bully romance type of story, which I like. But also it serves the purpose to set up the fantasy/paranormal part. It also serves the purpose of developing the characters very well and world building. We get to see the way Sylvia interacts with her friends, her father and her brother. We see that Sylvia is lonely and nothing seems to work out right for her.
I don’t want to give things away so I will only say that Sylvia meets some men from the abstract lands (A.k.a. Fairy realm) which is another dimension that sits on top of ours. Suffice it to say that humans including Sylvia aren’t supposed to be able to see them. However due to extenuating circumstances she can. There is what’s called the shadow which is a sort of barrier between the two realms that is where one of the two men likes to hang out. Sylvia names him The Stranger and he is a commoner from the Unseelie court and is a bit of a trickster and likes to try to mess with humans from the shadow. The other guy, whom Sylvia finds out is named Royan, is a knight from the Seelie Court and is very handsome and gallant.
From here, the story is more like a Fantasy and an adventure but Sylvia still has to account for herself in our world. It isn’t so easy to be the lone human who can see things other people can’t. It gets harder for her to explain what she is doing. But that is part of what I enjoy about stories like this. You can see the dilemma and it feels like it could be a real situation (if the Fae really did exist).
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
(I received this title as an ARC. All opinions are mine and freely given.)
“Relief is a memory you will forget.”
‘In Restless Dreams (The Phantasmer Cycle Book 1)’ by Wren Handman is one of those seemingly innocuous titles that slowly shows itself as much, much more than it appears to be.
The pitch is this.. the main character, Sylvia, is a teenage girl whose mother’s attempted suicide lands her in the big city. She and her brother end up there with their estranged dad, the rich prep school she’s forced to attend, a complete departure from the life she knew.. and one she’s struggling to navigate at best.
To make bad into worse, she’s the most recent incarnation of something the neighboring fae world refers to as a Phantasmer, a human who can literally change everything simply by believing. Lucky girl, that places her right in the middle between the two warring Courts. The Seelie and Unseelie both have their own strategies for dealing with her ability, and the young men trying to sway her loyalties have intentions of their own.
“When you get older, plainer, saner, when you remember all the danger we came from.” — “Burning like embers, falling, tender, long before the days of no surrender. Years ago, and well you know…”
At the start of the book, it actually seems to center mostly around Sylvia’s day to day situation in New York. Some of her classmates are typically awful, but she meets a couple of people who seem nice. As she trudges through her new situation, it’s just kind of your average story.
So, when she first really crosses paths with one of the fae and the dialogue takes a sharp dip into this beautifully crafted sort of homage to all things Wonderland, I found myself straightening up in my chair and reassessing the writer entirely.
Certainly, some of the similarities are overt and deliberate, but I feel like there are glimpses of other worlds here too. Influences, even if subconscious, on the author.
“This new thing is made up of barbed wire and gunny sack, a scarecrow of madness. It twitters, something halfway between a laugh and the scream of ripping metal.”
Initially, that snippet seemed most obviously some darker combination of Oz, but for me it felt like something I might see in Kingdom Hearts. In my mind, it was both frightening and ridiculous, but it still made me uneasy and I loved that.
There’s this brilliant character whose intentions you’re never quite certain of. Everything you’re shown says one thing about him, yet my instincts continued down their own road. He’s a creature of darkness wrapped in some strange joy, who loves to sort of linger in the gray.. toying with anyone who might be able to glimpse him. Ultimately, good or bad.. he’s my favorite.. simply for the way he’s able to wander along that line, swerving this way and that without much concern for the consequences. Besides, even wickedly so, he’s delightfully playful.
I feel like the author really benefitted from her work in scripts. While oft times, this can throw a writer off, resulting in scenes that only play out well in a visual medium, Handman has a unique mastery of how best to utilize what she knows. She’s able to create these moments (and if you read this, you’ll see one during the night of the party.. there are soaps and hand creams involved, just remember that much), that are warm and funny, visualized so well that I can still replay the images in my memory.
“I don’t know…Did you know your belt is made of sorrow?” I ask. — He gives me an odd look. “You’re still high, aren’t you?”
Beneath the most obvious plotlines, the changing of the world and the battle between the two Courts, even the potential romantic angles.. what I really love is the origin story of their world and the history within it. The creation of the cycles these beings have been subjected to is uniquely inventive and held me fascinated. The connections they held to great artists, how they benefitted from the work they were putting out into the world, is incredibly unconventional in the best way.
Wren made me laugh out loud, leaving me to explain my strange outbursts to my family.. and made me cry, which thankfully no one was present for. It can’t be proven. Never happened. *cough* Really though, the truth is, I was terribly sad and hopeful for all of the fae. Even those who didn’t necessarily deserve it.
To me, this is the most unique story about fairies and humans. I’ve never read anything like this before. A world of fairyland mix with the human world, taking place in the modern day era, and a girl who can change the fairyland just by using her mind…
One word: POWERFUL
This book follows the journey of a girl named Sylvia who just moved to New York City and is a new student at her new school, and one night she encountered a stranger who is actually from the fairyland and that’s when strange things start to happen to her.
I loved the plot and the storyline, it focus on Sylvia being the Phantasmer and how she was supposed to be the one to change the fairyland. The thing with the Phantasmer can be a bit complicated to get. But I do appreciate the author for putting a lot of information regarding Phantasmers and the history behind it, and what does it had to do with humans and fairies. The history was very intriguing, and I was really invested in wanting to know more about it.
The magic in this book was different, and not what I expected at all. It’s not the same magic as the magic in most books, Sylvia basically changed the fairies and the way of their world by using her mind alone. She single-handedly used her mind to change the rules of the fairyland and the way the fairies live their lives. The new changes is more better, at least the fairies get to live in a world where there is no bloodbath, and no more war between the Seelie and Unseelie Courts.
The book only showed the Unseelie queen, Queen Mab, and I was wondering what happen to the Seelie queen, Queen Titania. She was mentioned a couple of times but wasn’t shown at all. I guess she will play a major part in the next book. These two queens wanted to use Sylvia for their own agenda; one wanted to change the fairy world to be better which is wiping out all evils, and the other wanted to change the fairy world to the way it used to be which was before the human wizard wrecked their world.
I totally get their reasons, but I’m not siding with any Courts. I don’t even know which one to trust, Queen Mab already showed how evil she can be, and I wasn’t sure what Queen Titania was like. And after the ending, I wasn’t sure if there is any queen at all. The changes was truly magnificent, Sylvia managed to make the fairyland into a much better world. So I’m excited to see what happens next, the prophecy that the old witch was saying in the epilogue chapter was kind of eerie.
I have two theories regarding the prophecy; either Sylvia have to face the new Phantasmer which is a male Phantasmer since the old witch said, “and so will he,” or Sylvia will have to face the human wizard who vanished a long time ago. Either way, whoever will come next is dangerous, and I have a feeling that they will have to battle Sylvia for the fate of the fairyland. If the ‘he’ is a new Phantasmer, then the title of the next book better be like, Battle of the Phantasmer. I know it sound simple, but hey, I’m just saying!
I was really enjoying the second half of the book which focus more on the fairyland and the history of the fairies. The first half not so much, I was really disappointed with the first half due to it focusing on the stuff such as bullying, and spoiled rich kids in high school. Sylvia is the new student, and the treatment that some of the students at her new school gave her really made me want to skip the first half. I don’t see the importance of the first half at all, especially when it has to do with showing how rich the high school kids are, and what kind of luxury they’re living in. Sylvia is rich too, but at least she keep it low instead of flashing how rich she is to everyone. One of the more reason why I really like her character.
Honestly, it was very unnecessary for the first half to be about those rich kids, their homes, their money, their lunch at an expensive restaurant, and the luxury party they were throwing to celebrate a birthday. I much prefer the whole book to be all about the fairies and magic, better that way than focusing on spoiled kids who bullied others just because they’re rich. The only thing I get from the first half and second half was the difference in the tone of the story, that’s it.
The characters in this book are a mix of good and bad. Those spoiled kids are mostly bad such Cassidy and Alex, only a few were good like Chris and Fiona. But the main three characters: Sylvia, Royan, and the Stranger are great characters with strong personality.
Sylvia is the protagonist of the story, and despite the new changes in her life—that she still had a hard time adjusting to—she managed to divide her time between her life and her mission on saving the fairyland. It must’ve been hectic for her to always pop in and out of the fairy realm, but I do like her own adventure when she went to the fairyland by herself without the help of the Stranger and Royan. She was using her knowledge and her research to get there. I don’t think she is the type who easily get scared or afraid of anything or anyone. She is in fact a great and strong character, it wasn’t easy to break her or her mind. I like that she is tough and doesn’t let other people put her down so easily. She does have her weakness too, but doesn’t show it too often. She’s also very daring, love throwing sarcasm, and easily handled her own enemies. She is an overall a nice protagonist.
Royan is one of the knight from the Seelie court. He’s great and nice too, but I disliked how he’d been lying from the moment he met Sylvia. I totally get that he did it to protect her, but it was still wrong because in the end, Sylvia still getting tortured no matter what. I finally understood why Sylvia kept saying he had sad eyes, it was because he had to lie to her and he felt guilty about it hence the sadness in his eyes. Royan has some great qualities being the knight, but the ending made me feel sad for him. I wonder if he will be able to remember Sylvia at all, or at least manage to keep a small memory of her. The changes will change him for sure, but what will happen to him next? I would like to see the changes in his character in the sequel.
As for the Stranger aka Spooklight, from the moment his character appeared, I get a feeling that he is different than most of the fairies. The ending was proof that he is the only one who doesn’t change, and also the only one doesn’t lose his memories. He might not be as special as Royan, but he has all the good qualities and to me, that was the reason why he is above Royan’s level. Stranger was all plain and simple, but his honesty and his will to help Sylvia understand more about the fairyland are what makes him deserve that ending. He’s not the type to give up hope, he disobey his own queen and betrayed the Unseelie court in which he came from just to help Sylvia and save her life. I’m hoping he will be given a better development next, and hopefully he’ll stay happy as he is at the end of the book.
There’s a little romance in the story, basically it was just Stranger and Royan who are obviously liking Sylvia. It’s not a love triangle but far from it, and as a reader, I don’t have to choose which guy is perfect for the heroine. Both guys are great in their own ways, and I’m happy with whoever Sylvia end up with. This isn’t like those books with a love triangle trope that I totally cannot stand. It was obvious since the beginning on who the heroine will choose. It was nice to see everything works out just fine, and I don’t want to reveal who Sylvia choose, but it will surprise a lot of people…unless, you can see the obvious from the start like I did then you’ll be happy with the result. Most importantly, this isn’t a love triangle at all although it seems like it, but actually it’s not.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable story. And I’m looking forward to read the sequel. I’m so excited to know what happens next, especially the thing with the prophecy. That epilogue is giving me anxiety mix with a little bit of excitement. I need more of Sylvia doing her secret work as the Phantasmer, and here I am hoping for the author to give Sylvia a nice upgrade, and I would like to see her discovering her power and perhaps let her have a training scene in which she can learn more on how to use her power.
#bookreview #wrenhandman #spoilers
.
.
Book; In restless Dreams
.
.
Sylvia is an amazing girl that just wants to be an ‘normal’ teenager, and so far it goes ok, she has friends and fun. Till she comes home and everything will get up side down and she has to deal with stuff.
Her parents are divorced and now dad needs to step up…
Dad has an whole other world and way of living and Sylvia and her brother needs to adapt to that while mom gets better…
Sylvia gets involved with the famous kids and she triggers her special side and ends up in an whole other world again
.
.
I totally loved the way of writing and how this story has been building up.
And the cute hot fae guys; Royan the Gentry Knight and the Stranger shadow fae. They both realize that Sylvia is the girl they are looking for, the Phantasmer that can change everything.
.
You can read this amazing book as standalone but there is an big possibility of an other book coming in the future and I will definitely be looking forward to it.
.
.
Blurb;
Sylvia is just a normal girl with huge, normal problems – her mother’s attempted suicide; how to adjust to life on the Upper East Side; trying to make friends in a rich prep school where she doesn’t belong; whether or not to trust the cute boy with the dangerous eyes. She thinks that’s more than she can handle, but she tests the limits of her endurance when she learns that she is the long awaited Phantasmer, a human who can change the fabric of Fairy simply by believing in a new story. Sylvia’s life is thrown off course as two warring Courts, the Seelie and Unseelie, both attempt to co-opt her gift to fight the other Court, which she has to deal with while trying not to get kicked out of school for fighting. And it doesn’t help matters that the fairies begging for her help are both attractive young men – with their own agendas.
.
.
Rating;
Genre; YA, fantasy, faerie, adventure
.
.
#adventure #arc #bookstagram #book #tbr #excited #faery #booksleeve #booksleeves #book #review #sogood #