Customer Reviews

Dark Side of Dawn: The Nightmare Chronicles

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4 star:		(1)
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I loved Before I Wake (Nightmare Chronicles, Book 1), the first book in Kathryn Smith's Nightmare Chronicles, so much that I placed it in my top 5 books for 2008. I bought copies for friends and practically forced them to read it, and I'm pretty sure I frightened the author with my fangirl squeeing.

In Before I Wake, Dr. Dawn Riley had to face her past and come to terms with the fact that she couldn't escape who--and what--she was. She met a man who needed her--and several creatures who wanted her dead; she was reacquainted with her absentee father, who just happened to be Morpheus, the god of dreams; and she was forced to use newly discovered powers in a world she hadn't visited much since childhood. No pressure, right?

Dark Side of Dawn is a direct continuation of Before I Wake (Nightmare Chronicles, Book 1), taking place only a few weeks after the close of the first book. For this reason, I highly recommend reading BIW before DSOD (you won't be sorry!). As DSOD opens, Dawn is interrupted from training with her sexy dream-world mentor Verek when her new boyfriend Noah tells her a terrible thing has happened to someone from his past. As this person is important to Noah, Dawn reluctantly agrees to help, despite her own conflicting feelings.

In the midst of training in the dream world with Verek, searching out the bad guy, learning to reconcile her dream-warrior side with her human side, and feeling out her growing romance with Noah, Dawn also learns her acts from the previous book have made even more enemies for her in the Dreaming. Prominent members of the governing body want her unmade, which basically amounts to death. And did I mention Dawn has some family drama to deal with in the human world as well?

We learn a lot about Dawn, Noah, and Morpheus in this second installment of the Nightmare Chronicles. Dawn's powers are constantly growing and developing and surprising everyone around her. Noah has some interesting powers of his own. And Morpheus has a past that he hasn't shared with his half-human daughter.

Ms. Smith really outdid herself with this book. Any complaints I had about the first book are completely cleared up in Dark Side of Dawn. Most importantly, the name-brand dropping is nearly nonexistent this time, which makes Dawn much more likable and real. Noah has hidden depths, and I'm really hoping they're developed some more in the third installment. I also want to know more about sexy Verek. I found myself completely surprised at the resolution of nearly every plot thread in this book. I consider myself a pretty cynical reader, so I really admire the author's ability to pull one over on me without resorting to cliches or bringing out the good ol' deus ex machina.

Without a doubt, Dark Side of Dawn is the most captivating book I've read all year. In fact, so far, it's my favorite book of 2009. I've already read my ARC twice, and I still plan to buy a copy of the paperback on November 24 for my keeper shelf. Yes, it's that good.

This well-written book by Kathryn Smith follows Before I Wake and continues the nicely balanced relationship between Dawn and her boyfriend Noah.Dawn is the daughter of Morpheus and her feelings and questions about the dream state are relevant in modern dream research. I recommend both books and I look forward to reading the third in the series.Ms. Smith always keeps your interest in all her novels and this one is another winner.Janet Halsted

This book follows on from 'Before I Wake' and is also a really good read. In the previous book we met Dawn who is a Nightmare - someone who appears in humans' dreams. However Dawn is also singular in that she exists as a human in the human world as well. In the previous book she learned about some of her talents and the identity of her father - the god Morpheus.

In the second book Dawn is continuing her work as a therapist and her relationship with artist Noah. However when Noah's ex-wife is raped, Dawn finds herself drawn in to try to help Amanda and decides to try to find the identity of the rapist herself. Combined with problems in the dream world - threats to Dawn's status as a Nightmare - this story enjoyable shows us how Dawn tries to do the right thing in both the human and the dream world, how she has doubts about herself and her relationship with Noah, and what her role might be in the world of the Dreamkin in the future.

This was also a good read. It's unlike any other book I've read in terms of the plot and Dawn is an appealing character, a mixture of strength and lack of self confidence. Noah, too, comes across well, if a little indistinct at times. The author has set up for a third book (at least) now that Dawn's mother's situation is changing, and I look forward to reading it.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2010

Finally the story of Dawn Riley continues!

Dawn has a great job, with Noah as a wonderful boyfriend and everything seems to be perfect if there wasn't her family. As the mortal daughter of Morpheus, the King of Dreams, she stands between the Dreaming and the mortal world. In Dreamkin she has some powerful enemies since she defeated the dream terrorist Karatos. Suddenly it seems that someone from Noah's past is threatened by someone from Dreaming. Dawn takes up action against the threat, which calls the Nightmare Council into action. They are outraged by Dawn's actions and want her unmade, which would mean her death. Will Morpheus and Noah be able to help her?

Ms. Smith did a really great job with DARK SIDE OF DAWN. The reader learns more about Dawn, Noah and Morpheus and the whole world of Dreaming, as the characters get more depth and develop through the book. We discover that new sides of Noah and Dawn's power are growing. Morpheus has some secrets from his past that he hasn't shared with Dawn so far.

Who really fascinated me was Verek, Dawn's really sexy mentor and I can hardly wait to hear more about him, which I hope will be in the next . I just hope that we don't have too long for the next instalment of the Nightmare Chronicles.

I absolutely loved BEFORE I WAKE and was looking forward to read the sequel. I wasn't disappointed by be book. DARK SIDE OF DAWN takes up a few weeks after where BEFORE I WAKE left off, so I highly recommend that you have read BEFORE I WAKE before you start reading DARK SIDE OF DAWN. You won't be sorry.

No matter if historical, historical paranormal or contemporary paranormal romance each book by Ms. Smith is definitely a keeper!

Courtesy of Loveromances and More!

I usually save my reading for bedtime, but I couldn't help picking up Dark Side of Dawn at odd moments during the day to see what trouble the heroine would get into next. The book is written in first person, which gives the reader an insight into the tough but tender heroine. I could envision her, hear her voice-an area where most books fall down. The story is engaging and the plot moves along with some unexpected twists. Reading the series brings a reality to dream world that caused me to pause and wonder what really happens once I fall asleep.

OMGOODNESS!!! This book was an excellent follow up to the first. The Villian, the chracters, Dawn's relationships with her Dad, Mom, and Noah were written superbly. The Dynamic and realism that comes with our conflicting emotions about right and wrong, trust, forgiveness, betrayal, love and hate were shown here with sincerity. The fact that the truth is not always easy to accept let alone confront.

More explosive battles, love scenes, down right scary at times. And the surprise (sort of) development with Verek and Dawn, and the secrets of her father Morpheus and his own demons. This one is defiantely a must read that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. I could not put this one down.

Before I wake was an unexpected gem therefore I was really excited to read this installment Dark Side of Dawn. I loved it! I loved the relationship between Dawn and Noah, it felt very real. I love that we got to explore the world a lot more. I can't wait to see how the story develops. Two thumbs up!

Hybrid Dawn Riley abetted by her lover Noah Clarke managed to defeat the dream terrorist Karatos (see Before I Wake). However, the cost of the victory is that the half human Dawn is deeply involved in her father the God of Dreams Morpheus' realm, which means she has enemies amidst those who reside in Dreamkin. The dream warden Padera especially wants her to sleep permanently.

In the mortal world, someone viciously assaults and rapes Noah's ex-wife, Amanda. Dawn is outraged and when she learns who the culprit is she decides to attack. However the Nightmare Council is outraged by her actions and they fear Dawn who they know will prove either to be their slayer or redeemer.

The latest Nightmare Chronicles is a terrific fantasy starring a refreshing resolute heroine who faces diverse difficulties in two realms. Dawn Riley has to stop a vicious serial felon on one world and face the funeral music of the Council whose members want her unmade for breaking laws. With Noah at her side, she is at her best though "As I lay me down to sleep" has some nasty implications for this kick butt courageous champion.

Harriet Klausner

The Story
Now that Dawn is starting to accept that she is a Nightmare, born of dream king Morpheus. She is dreamkin, and she is training to be a Nightmare-protector of people's dreams. She travels between the dream realm and earth. During the first book in a moment of panic and despair Dawn pulled her human boyfriend through with her to the dream realm. No other dreamkin can do that, not even the king. Dawn is now brought up on charges for endangering the dream realm. She faces unmaking , being destroyed by the king, if found guilty. Her boyfriend, Noah, is always there for support. He is currently helping his ex-wife who was recently raped. Dawn wanting to help find tries to find the rapist in the dreaming.

Thoughts
I do so love this series, I truly hope there is another. The ending was kind of left open, but not only that I love this creative story. I love the idea of dreams and dreamkin. It is also a unique genre within the paranormal romance classification. The pace is fast, this book was over before I knew it. I love when that happens, but I was sad to have it end. I am really interested in their relationship. It is slow going almost, it makes it seem all the more real to me. The emotions come flying off the pages. The plots are interesting and hints at deeper more troubling news of the dreaming. Dawns training in the dreaming is vivid and unbound creativity. I hope that Kathryn Smith gets to continue this untapped well of fantasticalness!