Audio Book Review: In an Absent Dream

In an Absent Dream

By:  Seanan McGuire

Publish Date:  January 9, 2019, Audiobook Release January 8, 2019

Format:  Audiobook - 4 hrs 57 mins
Narrated By:  Cynthia Hopkins

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  4th book in Wayward Children series

Impression:  A view on fair living, in a paranormal market

Synopsis:
This fourth entry and prequel tells the story of Lundy, a very serious young girl who would rather study and dream than become a respectable housewife and live up to the expectations of the world around her. As well she should.

When she finds a doorway to a world founded on logic and reason, riddles and lies, she thinks she's found her paradise. Alas, everything costs at the goblin market, and when her time there is drawing to a close, she makes the kind of bargain that never plays out well.

First Sentence:
In a house, on a street, in a town ordinary enough in every aspect to cross over its own roots and become remarkable, there lived a girl named Katherine Victoria Lundy.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles 

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:

*I was given this free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Cynthia is a new narrator for me. She feels to be precise in what she says, which would fit the personality of Katherine at this age. But in doing that it leaves the narration feeling a little flatter for me, almost like no emotion in the narrators voice. I do like that she gives a different feel when she vocalizes the Archivist and a few characters.

The story starts with a lot of details for a few chapters. There's not much interaction with Katherine and others. This is Katherine's interaction with what she sees. It felt slow for me as it built up Katherine (Lundy's) character and reasoning for why she does what she does. Then when Lundy finds the door, all changes and the story becomes much more.

This story feels to have much to share and teach, more than what Lundy's story is. It feels as though it's teaching people how to treat each other kindly. There feels to be a cost for everything, even in questions. But, if you are fair to each other it's a balance - a fair value for everything. There is a bond in promises too. Promises are not something you make then easily break. There is meaning in that promise, and you should honor it.

The story is a shorter one. It's classified as a prequel as well. I've not read or listened to the previous three books, so I don't know how it falls in the events of the other books. I do know, the story can stand on it's own and the other books aren't needed to be read first. Though the mention of one person at the end of this book had me searching out the other book descriptions to learn who she is. And it also has me very curious and wanting of the previous books.

I really liked this story for all the meanings and themes I felt pop into my mind as I listened. I really got drawn into Lundy and her story of wanting to be at the Market. In the end, I wanted more of the world and Lundy's life. I went searching to see if the books were on Audible, and they are! I'll have to save up to get them in the future.



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