JenB’s review of Dark Side of Dawn by Kathryn Smith
Paranormal Romance released by Avon 24 Nov 09

I loved Before I Wake, the first book in Kathryn Smith’s Nightmare Chronicles, so much that I placed it in my top 5 books for 2008. I bought copies for friends and practically forced them to read it, and I’m pretty sure I frightened the author with my fangirl squeeing.

In Before I Wake, Dr. Dawn Riley had to face her past and come to terms with the fact that she couldn’t escape who–and what–she was. She met a man who needed her–and several creatures who wanted her dead, she was reacquainted with her absentee father (who just happened to be Morpheus, the god of dreams), and she was forced to use newly discovered powers in a world she hadn’t visited much since childhood. No pressure, right?

Dark Side of Dawn is a direct continuation of Before I Wake, taking place only a few weeks after the close of the first book. For this reason, I highly recommend reading BIW before DSOD (you won’t be sorry!). As DSOD opens, Dawn is interrupted from training with her sexy dream-world mentor Verek when her new boyfriend Noah tells her a terrible thing has happened to someone from his past. As this person is important to Noah, Dawn reluctantly agrees to help, despite her own conflicting feelings.

In the midst of training in the dream world with Verek, searching out the bad guy, learning to reconcile her dream-warrior side with her human side, and feeling out her growing romance with Noah, Dawn also learns her acts from the previous book have made even more enemies for her in the Dreaming. Prominent members of the governing body want her unmade, which basically amounts to death. And did I mention Dawn has some family drama to deal with in the human world as well?

We learn a lot about Dawn, Noah, and Morpheus in this second installment of the Nightmare Chronicles. Dawn’s powers are constantly growing and developing and surprising everyone around her. Noah has some interesting powers of his own. And Morpheus has a past that he hasn’t shared with his half-human daughter.

Ms. Smith really outdid herself with this book. Any complaints I had about the first book are completely cleared up in Dark Side of Dawn. Most importantly, the name-brand dropping is nearly nonexistent this time, which makes Dawn much more likable and real. Noah has hidden depths, and I’m really hoping they’re developed some more in the third installment. I also want to know more about sexy Verek. I found myself completely surprised at the resolution of nearly every plot thread in this book. I consider myself a pretty cynical reader, so I really admire the author’s ability to pull one over on me without resorting to cliches or bringing out the good ol’ deus ex machina.

Without a doubt, Dark Side of Dawn is the most captivating book I’ve read all year. In fact, so far, it’s my favorite book of 2009. I’ve already read my ARC twice, and I still plan to buy a copy of the paperback on November 24 for my keeper shelf. Yes, it’s that good.

Grade: A

Life can be a nightmare. Literally.

On the surface, it might seem like I, Dawn Riley, have it all. I’ve got a great job, a boyfriend who loves me . . . but my family life is a different story.

As the mortal daughter of the King of Dreams, I have an ability to exist between both worlds . . . which is terrifying to some. Now the Nightmare Council claims I’ve broken their laws and is threatening to have me “unmade.” And if that’s not bad enough, I need to track down a vicious criminal responsible for several savage attacks—before he finds me.

I’m lucky enough to have Noah by my side, and he’ll do whatever it takes so that we can have a future together. In the end, though, this is my battle. The fate of a world rests upon my shoulders, and it seems the best that I can hope for is not to die in my sleep . . .

Read an Excerpt