Dark Side Of Dawn: The Nightmare Chronicles [Mass Market Paperback]

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

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