Dreambound, Dan Frey
Dreambound, Dan Frey
List: $22.50 | Sale: $15.75
Club: $11.25

Synopsis

In this thrilling contemporary fantasy novel, a father must investigate the magical underbelly of Los Angeles to find his daughter, who has seemingly disappeared into the fantastical universe of her favorite books.

“Dreambound is a glorious mash-up of fantasy and modern-noir.”—David S. Goyer, executive producer of Foundation

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.

About The Author

Dan Frey is a professional screenwriter and the author of The Future Is Yours and The Retreat. He lives in Los Angeles.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Blair on March 08, 2024

I picked this up a) on the strength of a glowing review at Strange Horizons and b) because I thought it was mixed media. Strictly speaking, it’s mostly epistolary, switching between diary entries and emails as it tracks a father’s determined search for his 12-year-old daughter. The missing girl, Liz......more

Goodreads review by Jordan (Jordy’s Book Club) on April 27, 2023

QUICK TAKE: cool concept, iffy execution. I don't have issues with Frey and his take on an epistolary (seems to be his kinda thing), but this is basically a fantasy version of STRANGER THINGS, but if Leigh Bardugo created the upside down. I would have liked a bit more magical realism, and the ending......more

Goodreads review by Jenna on March 08, 2023

3.5 stars. Full review to come closer to publication date.......more

Goodreads review by AndiReads on March 27, 2023

Remember when a great fantasy novel took you away? Did you look in your closet as a kid and hope to find the door to Narnia? Dreambound is an homage to those stories and those feelings. A thrilling adventure against the backdrop of LA, we follow Byron Kidd as he tries. to locate his missing 12 year o......more

Goodreads review by Chris on August 30, 2023

This is my second book by Dan Frey, and I enjoyed it. Byron Kidd is a journalist whose daughter goes missing. She leaves a note saying she's going to the Hidden World, which is a universe in a series of YA books called the Fairy Tale series. Byron, who thinks fantasy novels, fan fic, and cosplay are......more


Quotes

“Frey’s novel is a glorious mash-up of fantasy and modern noir—a little bit Jonathan Carroll and a whole lot of glorious invention. Follow Byron Kidd down the rabbit hole. You won’t be disappointed.”—David S. Goyer, executive producer of The Sandman and Foundation