Dreamer’s Destiny

Title: Dreamers’ Destiny
Author: Tempeste O’Riley
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Release Date: May 13, 2016
Genre(s): Contemporary, Wiccan
Page Count: 200
Reviewed by: Kristin
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Liam Grady is the owner of the Feathered Quill, a quirky little bookstore in Asheville, and—though he doesn’t realize it yet—a dream walker. His last relationship failed almost a year ago, and he’s not had the interest or nerve to pursue anyone he’s met since.

Cameron Danu is a tattoo artist from rural Georgia. Cameron is left without a job after his boss, Jose, is forced to close the shop after a heart attack. When Cameron learns Jose has set up an interview for him at a small tattoo parlor in Asheville, he hopes for a fresh start in a new town.

Fate brings Cameron and Liam together, and they realize they’ve met before—in their dreams. A chance encounter and a winged tattoo might lead them to their destiny—if fear doesn’t turn their dreams into a nightmare

This is a sweet, fast read. There are no huge insurmountable angst issues. No Big Misunderstandings. No past traumas plaguing the present. No past boyfriends coming to lay claim. Cameron – “Cam” – only maintains contact with his sister and her husband, Quill with his Aunt, so there isn’t any rejection drama.

The story really revolves around three things – Quill’s dream-walking, Cam and Quill finding each other after years of dreaming, and the dream attacks/Wiccan background.

The Dream-Walking. Different! Nice touch – kudos! But, flip side, I was not always clear on what was dream and later, reality. And perhaps I missed this explanation, but I wasn’t entirely certain how Cam and Quill started dreaming about each other, only that they had been going at it for years.

Cam and Quill. Again, kudos! to Cam’s reaction with first meeting Quill. It certainly wasn’t all hugs, kisses and insta-love. Cam was, understandably, shaken and he rejected Quill’s initial advances and touches. As Cam began to wrap his head around the idea that Quill was indeed, a REAL person, I appreciated his internal struggle. I liked the insistence of dates to get to know each other rather than basing the whole relationship on dreams.

Wiccanism/Dream walking. Again, nicely done with the use of Wiccanism outside of a fantasy novel. Where I struggled was the impetus behind the dream attacks, and I’m being purposely vague here to avoid spoilers, but the reasoning didn’t resonate with me. I would like to have seen more interaction with Quill and the Coven before the shit hit the fan – at least have explored one coven meeting – before everyone welcomed him with open arms.

The unrequited love between Quill’s Aunt Dianne and Nosha, the coven priest, could have been firmed up more as well. I felt this was left kinda hanging. Maybe I missed something?

Lastly, I also questioned how dream-nightmares could inflict physical harm. Mentally I could understand, I think I’ve read about it in Native American mysticism (and that could have been wrong too), but a nightmare inflicting bruises and deep cuts on a physical body started to push the bounds of belief suspension given the parameters of the rest of the story. Perhaps others won’t find this to be so, and I can write it off as my quirk.

Ultimately, Dreamer’s Destiny is an enjoyable story easily devoured in a very lazy afternoon or as beach read. Light and sweet with a great cover!

  Amazon Global Author Link GoodReads More Author Reviews