Reviewed by dragononabook on
Reverie has been on my radar for a while now, and when I finally got to read it, it exceeded every single one of my expectations. I picked it up to reread almost as soon as I finished this.
It follows a teenage boy, Kane, trying to figure out the gaps in his memory and how they came to be, alongside having to deal with manifestations of people's daydreams - reveries.
Now it may seem obvious what part these reveries play in the plot, considering the title of the book and all, but they were so well developed, but in a way that ignites the reader's curiosity and basically makes Reverie unputdownable. Without going into too much detail so as to avoid spoilers, each reverie is written in such a way that they have their own unique tones, and come to life as stories within the main plot, adding an extra dimension to the already dynamic plot. Major kudos to Ryan La Sala for coming up with stories within this one; I would have read a full novel for each one.
The writing style itself was breathtaking. There were several part where I had to put my kindle down because the writing was so visceral, and as great as the book was, I really didn't want to be sucked in literally. It also changed in subtle ways for each reverie that made it so I could picture exactly what they would be like if I were sitting in a movie theatre watching them on the big screen. I'm honestly still not over how beautiful this book is.
The writing is not alone in what makes Reverie so magical and wonderful. The magic system in this, with the etherea that creates the reveries and the powers that characters possess, is a large part of how compelling Reverie is as a story. It worked similarly to science, in a way that reminded me of A Wrinkle in Time; even though it was at times complex (which goes to show the thought that Ryan La Sala put into it) everything made sense. Also, where can I apply to do Poesy's degrees?
The characters themselves are all fantastic. Poesy especially was really well written, multidimensional with compelling motives that felt completely natural, even though unfortunately we live in a world where (as far as I know) there are no reveries. Kane, the main character, was extraordinarily relatable as we followed his journey through the book, and even though part of the plot revolves around his loss of memories there is a very strong sense of who he is as a person, but he also has good character development. Also, he's gay, and we really could use more fantasy that has gay main characters but doesn't centre around their struggles, at least with regards to sexuality. I could go on an in-depth rant on how great some of the characters who show up later in the book are, but we'd be here for days and I'd like to avoid spoilers. What I will say, though, is that Sophia is the best sibling ever, and Kane is lucky she's on his side.
The plot itself is just twisty enough to keep the reader at the edge of their seats, but not so twisty that it launches them into space. The different elements of the book come together to enhance the plot, not detract from it, and lend themselves well to creating a perfect pace, balancing well with the twists and the suspense.
TL;DR: Everyone should preorder this immediately. It is such a fantastic book that whenever someone asks me how much I liked it, I loose all knowledge of the English language. Whether you're a plot person, a fan of great antagonists, or a lover of magic, you will not feel deprived.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- Finished reading
- 21 September, 2019: Reviewed