Summary:
When Byron Kidd’s twelve-year-old daughter vanishes, the only clue is a note claiming that she’s taken off to explore the Hidden World, a magical land from a series of popular novels. She is not the only child to seek out this imaginary realm in recent years, and Byron—a cynical and hard-nosed reporter—is determined to discover the whereabouts of dozens of missing kids.
Byron secures a high-profile interview with Annabelle Tobin, the eccentric author of the books, and heads off to her palatial home in the Hollywood Hills. But the truth Byron discovers is more fantastic than he ever could have dreamed.
As he unearths locations from the books that seem to be bleeding into the real world, he must shed his doubts and dive headfirst into the mystical secrets of Los Angeles if he hopes to reunite with his child. Soon Byron finds himself on his own epic journey—but if he’s not careful, he could be the next one to disappear.
Told through journal entries, transcripts, emails, and excerpts from Tobin’s novels, Dreambound is a spellbinding homage to Los Angeles and an immersive and fast-paced story of how far a father will go—even delving into impossible worlds—to save his daughter.
Info:
400 pages
Published: September 12, 2023 by Del Rey
Audio: 11hr 34m
Narrated by: Full Cast
Review:
Dan Frey’s Dreambound takes the classic “lost in a fantasy world” premise and twists it into something darker, more conspiratorial—a noir-tinged mystery layered with ancient, ritualistic lore. What makes it especially compelling is how seamlessly the fantastical is embedded within the everyday. The world of Dreambound isn’t hidden away in some far-off realm; it’s right under our noses. You just have to know where to look—and how to open the gateways.
At the heart of the novel is Byron, a skeptical investigative journalist who refuses to believe in anything remotely supernatural—until he has no choice. As he searches for his missing daughter, he’s dragged deeper into an unsettling, hidden reality, inching further down a rabbit hole from which there may be no return.
The antagonist is just as intriguing as the mystery itself, and the novel’s climax delivers a satisfying confrontation. Frey also strikes a careful balance when introducing the book’s mythology. Rather than overwhelming the reader with exposition, the lore unfolds naturally through Byron’s journey, allowing us to discover the truth alongside him.
For those who love stories that blur the line between our world and the uncanny, Dreambound offers a gripping descent into the unknown—one filled with conspiracies, hidden doorways, and the kind of magic that might just be lurking in plain sight.
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