Book Review | Dreamfall by Amy Plum

Title: Dreamfall
Author: Amy Plum
Publication: May 2nd 2017 by HarperTeen
Series: Dreamfall #1
Pages: 288
Genre: YA Thriller
Copy: ARC provided by publisher & Face in a Book in exchange for an honest review
Summary: Cata Cordova suffers from such debilitating insomnia that she agreed to take part in an experimental new procedure. She thought things couldn’t get any worse...but she was terribly wrong.
Soon after the experiment begins, there’s a malfunction with the lab equipment, and Cata and six other teen patients are plunged into a shared dreamworld with no memory of how they got there. Even worse, they come to the chilling realization that they are trapped in a place where their worst nightmares have come to life. Hunted by creatures from their darkest imaginations and tormented by secrets they’d rather keep buried, Cata and the others will be forced to band together to face their biggest fears. And if they can’t find a way to defeat their dreams, they will never wake up.

I can't remember the last time that I read a thriller, but I have been craving one for so long, so this was perfect for me!  It's a mix of Nightmare on Elm Street and The Matrix, and yeah, it's just as trippy as you would think.  As someone who has vivid nightmares, this was especially creepy to read.  The characters all have terrible insomnia (hello??  I HAVE INSOMNIA) and they will do anything to just get some sleep.  So the sciency people decide to pretty much electrocute these kids until they can sleep normally.  Nice.  I don't know how scientifically accurate this concept is, but I'm gonna give the author the benefit of the doubt on this one.

The characters are all super unique, and I liked how each of them took a different approach to this whole "we're all stuck in continuous nightmares together and we don't know when/if it will end" situation.  I also liked how there was an outside perspective, so we got a glance at what was happening IRL.

As for the actual nightmares, they were pretty darn creepy.  One nightmare in particular literally made me nauseous at the thought of it.  I wanted to know so badly how they were gonna get out of this mess, but alas, CLIFFHANGER.  Augh.  Time to wait a million years for the sequel...

Overall, I am recommending this book to anyone who has been looking for a thriller!  Let me know what you think in the comments below!