REVIEW: Dreaming Awake by Gwen Hayes

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2012

She fell for him in a nighttime world. But the time for dreaming is past—and the here-and-now can be just as fragile their love…

When Theia Alderson first encountered a mysterious, handsome boy in her dreams, she never imagined how finding Haden Black—and falling in love—could change her life. To save Haden, Theia sacrificed everything. And the dangerous bargain she made could have lasting repercussions.

Now Theia has returned to Serendipity Falls, and she finds herself struggling with the same deadly hungers that have tortured Haden. When students at their high school fall prey to a mysterious illness, Theia can’t help but wonder if Haden’s control is slipping—and how much longer she’ll have a grip on her own.

And still the nightmare realm of Under won’t let them go. Someone from Haden’s past is determined to destroy Theia from the inside out, starting with those closest to her, forcing Theia to choose between family and friends and a love that may have been doomed from the start...

About the Author

Gwen Hayes lives in the Pacific Northwest with her real life hero and a pack of wild beasts (two of whom she gave birth to). She is a reader, writer, and lover of pop culture (which, other than yogurt, is the only culture she gets).

Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451235541
• ISBN-13: 978-0451235541

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

*** possible slight spoilers***

Theia is miraculously recalled from Under by her besties, Ame, Donny, Gabe and Miss Varney.  Varney is a psychic and plays a larger roll in this installment.  He helps bring her back tthrough the efforts of Ame's newly discovered spell casting talents.  Back in Serendipity Falls, Theia tries to resume her teen life, but finds her remote father even more distracted and she finds that the deal she made with Haden's mother may have even deeper repercussions than she thought possible.  While the blood following through her now includes a bit from Mara (Haden's nightmare of a mother), it also includes a bit of her power.  This leads to some interesting plot twists later in the story. 

Welcome to my Nightmare should have been the title of this book since all of Theia's  friends are now involved in her life for better or worse and they are all exposed to Haden's mother just by being her friend.  Theia finds herself with a need to feed on souls like Haden and doesn't realize she is doing it until Haden discovers her unwittingly drawing upon others.  Some of her classmates are suffering from some weird illness that Theia  believes Haden has something to do with, while the fact that Mara has come calling on her father makes the situation even more dire.  It is a severe test of time to see if Theia and her friends can help the others at school while they are all pulled Under to face their fears.

I think I actually liked this one better than the first one which surprised me a great deal since I really loved the first one.  It was so nice to see Theia really come into her own after her mousiness in the Falling Under.  There was less of a romance and a lot more action, some of it a little horrifying.  There is a lot more Ame and Donny in this one which helps quicken the pace and add more comical elements.  I really don't think I can wait for the next installlment since this one left me hanging a bit.  There are some sexual situations, alcohol use and some horrifying moments, so it is best suited to teens.