The Dream Alchemist by Joanna Chambers

Title: The Dream Alchemist
Series: Somnus, #1
Author: Joanna Chambers
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel (
Publisher: Samhain Publishing (December 2nd 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5 Hearts
Blurb: When the sun goes down, their passion awakens…and so do their nightmares.

Centuries ago, a man with Bryn Llewelyn’s dream walking ability would have been a shaman or a priest. In this time, he’s merely exhausted, strung out on too much caffeine and too little sleep.
Sleep means descent into Somnus—an alternate reality constructed of the combined dreaming consciousness of ordinary humans. A place he’d rather avoid. Trouble is, his powers don’t include the ability to go without sleep indefinitely. At some point, his eyes close…and his nightmare begins.

As a teen, the treatment that cured Laszlo Grimm’s sleep disorder stole his dreams—and his ability to feel emotion. Petrified of needing more “treatment,” he clings to familiar rituals and habits. But lately his nightly terror has returned, and when he meets Bryn in the real world, the man seems hauntingly familiar. Not only that, Bryn awakens feelings in Laszlo for the first time in years…

Slowly Bryn and Laszlo realize they are both unknowing pawns in a plan of unspeakable evil. And that their powerful attraction could release the destinies locked within them—or be the instrument of their doom.

ISBN: 9781619224254

Product Link: https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5265/the-dream-alchemist

Reviewer: Tams

Review: Bryn Llewelyn lives on Red Bull with Vodka and caffeine in an attempt not to sleep. When he sleeps he doesn’t dream, he wakes in an alternate reality known as Somnus where Bryn is a sleepwalker. His gift in Somnus is continually evolving though, and most recently, he has shown a talent for alchemy as well. When the shadow of a man tries to catch him in Somnus, intent on doing wickedly sexy things to Bryn, he tries harder to stay awake when he is in reality. Then he meets that man at a party and everything changes.

Laszlo Grimm was treated for a sleeping disorder when he was a child and since then, he doesn’t dream. He is completely unaware of his trips to Somnus while he sleeps, until he meets Bryn and is told that they are sharing their dreams. Laszlo can’t figure out if Bryn is crazy or if he is losing his own mind, but there is something in the back of his mind telling him that what Bryn is saying is true. And then Bryn proves it to him.

The world building and character development was very unique in this story, but it was also slightly overwhelming. It took a while for the connection between Somnus and reality to really start to blend. They weren’t cohesive in the beginning. Then the story sort of fell off toward the end, and there was so much content between the dream walking, alchemy and almost zombie esque persona of Laszlo when he was in Somnus that it was confusing and scattered at times. But then there were some seriously sexy and passionate moments between Bryn and Laszlo that makes me want to see where there story goes after this book.

This is the first book in a series and while it was a little chaotic and confusing, the world of Somnus and the relationship between Bryn and Laszlo has piqued my interest and I am curious to see where Chambers takes this story in the next book. If you are a fan of paranormal romance, the twilight zone and a touch of mystery and suspense then you’ll likely love this one.

*on a side note; apologies if this review is short or elusive, it’s a hard story to sum up and not give spoilers*

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *