In Dreams Begin

Harrowing #2

by Skyler White

"Close your eyes tightly--tightly--and keep them closed . . ." From a Victorian Ireland of magic, poetry and rebellion, Ida Jameson, an amateur occultist, reaches out for power, but captures Laura Armstrong, a modern-day graphic artist instead. Now, for the man or demon she loves, each woman must span a bridge through Hell and across history . . . or destroy it. "Every passionate man is linked with another age, historical or imaginary,
where alone he finds images that rouse his energy." W. B. Yeats Anchored in fact on both sides of history, Laura and Ida, modern rationalist and fin de sicle occultist, are linked from the moment Ida channels Laura into the body of celebrated beauty and Irish freedom-fighter Maud Gonne. When Laura falls--from an ocean and a hundred years away--passionately, Victorianly in love with the young poet W. B. Yeats, their love affair entwines with Irish history and weaves through Yeats's poetry until Ida discovers something she wants more than magic in the subterranean spaces in between. With her Irish past threatening her orderly present and the man she loves in it, Laura and Yeats--the practical materialist and the poet magus--must find a way to make love last over time, in changing bodies, through modern damnation, and into the mythic past to link their pilgrim souls . . . or lose them forever.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Historical Romance, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Time Travel, Fiction

375 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2010

About the author

Skyler White writes angels and scientists, demons and revolutionaries, secret societies and sacred sex to play in the places where myth and modernity tangle.

OFFERINGS :: Lands of Sex & Magic (October 2013):
An episodic erotica set in the mythical Arcai and modern America

THE INCREMENTALISTS (Tor, September 2013, with Steven Brust): A secret society with an epic history and an almost magical memory must gather in Las Vegas to save itself ... and maybe the world

IN DREAMS BEGIN (Berkley, November 2010): A dark time-travel horror/romance set among luminaries of the late Victorian 'Golden Dawn' occult movement

AND FALLING, FLY (Berkley, March 2010): A dark fable of desire between a fallen angel and a self-medicating neuroscientist in a steampunk hell

Reviews

[Laurie Garrison · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read to page 120 and stopped. My brain just couldn’t grab a hold of this one. To much going back in fourth between times, I just couldn’t keep up. Then I had a problem with the F/F kissing plus touching, just to much for me. There is more I didnt care for, but I dont feel getting into the rest, so I'm stopping here. Maybe someone else can get into this story, not me.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Review:

Laura, a newlywed, is under a lot of pressure. Tonight is her wedding night but the honeymoon has been postponed due to an opportunity to make a name for her small graphic design studio. Now, instead of traveling through Italy with her wonderful new husband, Laura has a week to make the biggest marketing pitch of her career to date. It's perhaps no wonder than that on her wedding night, Laura is consumed by restless and absurd dreams.

Believing at first that she's dreaming, Laura finds herself strangely trapped in another woman's body. Even more curious, she's been mentally transported into the Victorian era. Thinking that her subconscious must be feeling repressed to have conjured a room and clothes straight from Victorian times, Laura easily convinces herself that what she sees before her must be a dream. But the woman peering crazily into her eyes and crying out that Laura's a daemon, definitely doesn't believe her to be dreaming.

Ida Jameson, striving desperately to be accepted into the occult world, is experimenting with her childhood friend, Maud Gonne, when their seance suddenly goes completely wrong, setting into motion the garish events to come. Hoping to channel Maud's father, instead a strange soul overtakes Maud's body. Terrified at first, Ida knocks her friend out while she thinks what she's to do when an idea dawns on her that this is a test. Surely if the leaders of the occult could see for themselves what she's done, they'll initiate her and grant her the magical knowledge she so desperately seeks but has thus far been denied.

A woman consumed by jealousy, Ida morphs from a petty opportunist to woman with a deep black pit that can be never filled with the happiness and power she craves. At the beginning, Ida uses Maud's possessed body as proof of her fledgling power. From there she strives to channel her own soul into Maud in an attempt to possess Maud's coveted beauty. When this fails, she then strives to follow Maud's wandering soul to be in Hell with the handsome devil she falls in love with. Not caring who she hurts, Ida goes to the cruelest extent to bring her daemon lover to life in the physical world.

During this time, Laura, possessing Maud's body when she sleeps, falls helplessly in love with the poet Yeats. Recognizing Laura for who she truly is while wrapped in the flesh of another, the two embark on a doomed love affair for as time unravels in one day increments for Laura, Yeats experiencing years, sometimes decades of loneliness while he awaits one more stolen moment.

Finally, Laura feels incredible guilt for her love of Yeats while a newlywed to a truly wonderful man. She grapples endlessly with questions of whether or not her encounters with another, even while only in her astral form, could be considered adultery. Everything comes hurling to a conclusion that doesn't satisfy or make this reading journey any where near worthwhile.

My Final Thoughts:

In contrast to White's debut earlier this year, IN DREAMS BEGIN holds not a flame to the engrossing darkness and mysticism of its predecessor. Instead, this reader closed the book with a sour taste. What is it that I've just read? What concept is White trying to reveal? What moral am I to learn from this jumbled plot? Perhaps in Ida's case, it's that jealousy is not a trait one should nurture having watched her fail time and again only to grow uglier and more crazed in her desperation for that which she'll ultimately never have. Truly, out of the entire cast of characters, it is only in Ida that the reader can find any type of character evolution. The rest are nothing but window dressing to the tale of this one evil soul.

And to clear up a raging misconception for romance lovers, IN DREAMS BEGIN is not a romance. The blurb hails a deeply romantic love that transcends time but truly, there is nothing romantic about this tale. In truth there's nothing that even whispers of heroics or love between Laura and Yeats. Yes, their selfish, all consuming fascination for one another does transcend time but it's not romantic in any sense of the word and while I have many reasons I'll give you the most romance debunking of them all: Yeats, a poet and hopeless romantic lost all of my trust when he makes love to Maud's body without her knowledge as she's possessed by Laura. Yuck! And shame on Laura for allowing a man to take advantage of another woman's body no matter if her soul has currently taken possession. Shame on them both! These are two cruel and careless beings who care for no one but their own warped desire.

*sigh* In truth, I felt zero connection to any character except perhaps Ida. While evil yes, she's been dealt a fairly cruel set of cards in addition to the fact that she's absolutely crazy, but her journey is the most detailed and the most interesting for truly she's the only character to evolve. I've said that once before but it merits another mention. With regards to the rest, I felt pity and sadness for Maud for she's merely a pawn throughout the novel and she's carelessly used by Ida, Laura and Yeats. And finally, I felt anger and resentment towards Laura and Yeats for they seemed the most human but also the most cruel in their complete disregard for Maud and her body.

Of course, it's possible that my thoughts are mere misconceptions and that my own personal roadblocks prevented me from appreciating this novel. I recognize that I may have in fact completely missed the mark here, but I can only explain that which I feel and in this case it's disappointment.

White's writing is still something to experience for her words are assembled in the most unique fashion. And while I have no trouble recommending her debut of AND FALLING, FLY, I can't in all good conscience recommend IN DREAMS BEGIN. If you want to experience this author, and I think one should, pick up AND FALLING, FLY and if you're still feeling adventurous, then dive into IN DREAMS BEGIN at your own behest.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

For better or for worse, I have a habit of comparing books to other books. It helps me sort out my own thoughts, and it makes recommendations easier, of the “If you liked X, you’ll like Y” variety. A complex book like Skyler White’s In Dreams Begin is hard to pin down. When a comparison finally did come to me, it was this: Reading In Dreams Begin felt like finishing Robert Holdstock’s Lavondyss and A.S. Byatt’s Possession on the same day, then going to bed and having a strange, sensual dream.

Like White’s previous novel, and Falling, Fly, In Dreams Begin features two point-of-view characters. One is Laura Armstrong, a graphic artist in modern-day Portland. The other is Ida Jameson, a Victorian woman with an interest in the occult. On Laura’s wedding night, she’s spirited back to the past by one of Ida’s experiments in spiritualism, and into the body of Ida’s friend Maud Gonne. When Maud has her fateful first meeting with William Butler Yeats, it’s really Laura behind Maud’s eyes, and a passionate attraction sparks between the two. Laura is torn between her waking life with her new husband and the romantic dreams (or are they dreams?) that take her back every night to Maud’s body and Will’s love. The timelines don’t run at the same speed, though, and Laura returns each night to find months or years have passed in Will’s time.

Ida has a fascinating character arc of her own. Manipulating people and events toward her own ends, Ida could be seen as the villain of the piece. It’s hard not to feel sympathy for her, though; she sees herself as unloved, ugly, clumsy, and always second fiddle to Maud. Her role in the novel’s events turns out to be far more complicated than it appears at first glance.

Skyler White introduces each chapter with a quotation that fits the events about to transpire; some of the quotes come from Gonne’s autobiography, some from Yeats’s poetry and letters, some from other writers such as James Joyce and Dion Fortune. These quotes could, if looked at just the right way, suggest the uncanny goings-on featured in the novel. She ties her own prose in with Yeats’s poetry, too, both by using a lyrical style and by invoking images from the poems in her scenes (for example, one memorable scene echoes the “And bending down beside the glowing bars” stanza in “When You Are Old”). Skyler White’s style was already beautiful and distinctive in and Falling, Fly, but in this sophomore effort she has improved. Here is an example of In Dreams Begin's prose:

Through the provincial streets to its tiny cemetery, Maud had walked, a priestess or a secret witch cloaked and hooded with Ida, her familiar bird, wing-in-elbow beside her. But inside Georges’ little burial chapel, Maud shrunk to an Irish crone, her ritual robes a weathered shawl wrapped over curling shoulders and the hollowed-out hole where her heart had been, and Ida, her carrion bird behind her.

In Dreams Begin explores topics such as art, beauty, fidelity, and the nature of love. It’s an intensely sensual story; readers who hate sex in their fantasy novels had best stay away, but readers willing to surrender to In Dreams Begin’s spell will be rewarded with a thought-provoking read. As in and Falling, Fly, White finishes the novel with a conclusion that will have you scratching your head, saying “Oh!” as pieces fall into place, and maybe thumbing back to earlier scenes to reread them with new knowledge in mind.

In Dreams Begin can be read as a standalone; you don’t have to have read and Falling, Fly to follow it. If you have, though, some moments will take on an extra layer of meaning.

This is one of the best, and most brain-tickling, books I’ve read this year. For a poetry geek like me, In Dreams Begin is a seductive dream indeed.

Review originally published at Fantasy Literature

[Torzilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book knowing that I might not enjoy the writing style. From what I've heard about the first book in the series, AND FALLING, FLY, most people had complaints about how disjointed, chaotic, and muddled the writing was. Due to so many people stating similar sentiments (some came from a few I trust when it comes to books and my tastes), I figured I would wait to get a library copy. Then, Skyler approached me to read IN DREAMS BEGIN, and I figured now would be as good a time as any to see what her writing is like.

I wish more people could have enjoyed this book. IN DREAMS BEGIN was a pleasant surprise for me. Not only was it different (in a good way!), but it was also delightful to read. Normally, I do not enjoy reading poems, however, I thought the ones included at the start of each chapter enhanced what I read.

The premise of this story was unique and something that I have not seen done before. I loved that Skyler recreated a person's past. I loved reading the poems by Yeats, and I loved the story between him and Laura. I actually looked up who Maud Gonne was (and checked to see what Yeats looked like). It was pretty cool and a great approach towards encouraging younger readers to investigate the history of these people further!

Some will probably dislike this book because of the first person to third person POV shifts. Personally, I thought it was great for the story line and definitely added another aspect to this story. I actually thought of a possible reason behind why Skyler did this (aside from making the shifts easier on readers): Laura was in first person because she was the modern woman, while Ida was in third person because all the events in her life occurred in the past. Could this have been Skyler's intention? Maybe. Or maybe I'm just thinking about this book too much. Despite my enjoyment of the swaps, sometimes the start of Ida's scenes would confuse me, but I generally could adjust to the changes easily enough.

There was a time or two where I grew slightly confused with what was happening in a scene. During these rare moments, I did end up having to reread a page or two, but it was nothing that lessened my enjoyment of this book. In fact, looking back, I don't think I have any complaints about this story.

Word of warning: if you do not enjoy womanXwoman, then you might not enjoy this book. One of the first of many encounters happens to be right at the start, though it is only kissing and touching. Likewise, if you do not enjoy lots of sex in your books, then you probably won't enjoy this either. What was in IN DREAMS BEGIN was steamy. Very, very steamy.

IN DREAMS BEGIN is a great novel with beautifully written prose that will make you stop and think. Yes, this is a thinker book, and there are discussions within its pages (such as: need versus want, what love is, infatuation, freedom, sexuality, imagination...), yet it is not overbearing. At least, it wasn't for me. I found the exploration of these themes to be fun and exciting. For those of you who enjoy light reads, I suggest you avoid this one. For the rest of you, I highly recommend picking it up!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Victorian Ireland an occultist Ida Jameson is able to reach out to Laura Armstrong in modern day. This act will take them on a journey of magic and passion that they never expected.

When the author asked me if I'd like to review In Dreams Begin, it wasn't a hard decision - she had me at Victorian Ireland. Just knowing that bit of information I knew the story would intrigue me, and it did. There is also a steampunk feel to it that I thought was great.

In Dreams Begin is a darkly beautiful story. A poetic and passionate telling that spands dreams and centuries. Ms. White's writing is true and challenging. It's urban/dark fantasy, but when your reading her stuff she makes you stop and think. This was an enjoyable read for me. I think those who enjoyed and Falling Fly, will like this new book.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Dreams Begin is such interesting for me, in concept and execution.  Though I think there are a lot of people out there that are like "W B who?" and who would hate a storyline that bounces back and forth between past and present (and between different characters bodies), these things really attracted me to it.  I'm not going to lie, I like me some poetry, Yeats included.  And I also am a fan of stories that strive to recreate or even rewrite the life of a real person, not in a biographical way, but as a work of fictitious art.  It fascinates me.  I also like stories that shift back and forth, so long as I don't feel like it's a cheap device used to build suspense and keep me on edge in an otherwise laaame story (I'm talking to you, Dan Brown).  Skyler White does it well.  When the story shifts -- even frustratingly in the middle of something -- it feels natural and real, not gimmicky.  I liked both worlds that were created, and I like who Laura is in both.

The romance, too, worked for me.  Things come quick, and you know I'm normally not a fan of that, but in this, again, it felt right.  It worked for the story and the fantastical aspects of it.  All of this -- the time-shifting, the body-switching, the revolutionary ideals, all of it work together in this grand way to create a sense of destiny, in which case the romance between Laura and Yeats doesn't seem at all far-fetched: it seems fated.  I feel a little differently about Ida, the little nutjob, and her 'romance' but the fact is, I liked her, too, and it worked on its own level.  And there was sexytime.  Boy, was there sexytime.  Occasionally in crypts, but who's counting?

I talked a bit in my review for White's debut and Falling, Fly about her poetic style.  There, it didn't always do the story justice, but here it almost always works very nicely.  There are times when it's a little overwrought or confusing, but for the most part, White has a knack for phrasing something just so.  Things will be going along as normal and then she'll describe something in a certain way, or say such and such of the characters, and it just kind of stops you in your tracks.  You can see it.  As strange a turn of phrase as it may be, you absolute

I do have similar warnings as I did in and Falling, Fly , though.  This book is not for everybody.  Because of the time- and body-switching, it probably could get very confusing for some people, and it definitely takes it out of the 'light read' category; you do have to pay attention.  Also, the poetic prose will turn some off and confuse others, without a doubt.  And of course, there is AFF's steamy test*.  But all in all, I think In Dreams Begin is an improvement over AFF.  White has found her niche and created something pretty compelling here.  And she made me want to read about the real lives of Maud and Yeats.  And that's saying something.


This is Maud Gonne ---> [image error]

<--- And this is W.B. Yeats.  Sexy bastard.


*Quick 'steamy' test: how do you feel about the word 'cock'?  If you just cringed, skip this.  If you sat up straighter and said 'where?' go out and grab a copy.

[Kitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skyler White is back with her second novel, In Dreams Begin, demanding more from her readers by asking harder questions through a provocative prose.

In present day Portland, we meet Laura on her wedding night. Laura has married a man not for love, but for practicality. As a straight forward, smart, independent woman she knows that crazy in love is still crazy and chooses the more safer option. As she falls asleep, her spirit floats up and back down in to the body of one Maud Gonne, Dublin's famous beauty, 100 years in Ireland's past. Greeted by Ida Jameson, she's convinced that it's all only a dream and welcomes the idea of a love play between the crazy in love Ida with Maud believing in only the symbolism of the act.

Ida Jameson believes that everything she wants or loves turns sour at it's climax.

"But every gem-like moment Ida sought to fashion for herself turned to a dirty paste of disappointment while unexpected opportunities inevitably found her unprepared, in her worst dress or bad skin."

Everything that she strives for she knows she will never obtain, but that does not detour her in her journey to find completion. She wants her childhood friend, Maud and to be apart of the Theosophical Society in a way that borders obsession and driven by open opportunities. When she finds a chance meeting between Maud and William Yeats, she hopes to present Maud, in a mesmerism state again, as Laura to him for guaranteed acceptance in to their society. Though, like everything else, it slips from her grasp and as Maud, Laura falls for the hopeless dreamer and handsome poet Yeats and him with her.

Entrancing from page one, In Dreams Begin sets the reader off on a course of finding love, sexuality, security, infatuation, freedom, sacrifice and imagination though a wide scale array of emotions from pain to pleasure. Like and Falling, Fly, Skyler asks what's the difference between need and want? Imagination and reality? Love and infatuation? What do we accomplish by holding ourselves back or sacrificing our love? Is love really a sacrifice of freedom? Adding to her own more person quandaries:

"Do I truly possess my own body? Is it mine to maintain, enhance, neglect or add horns to? Can I give myself to someone? Do I own my child? Is my body’s health a status symbol, a communication tool, a shell for my soul, or a public policy problem? And isn’t channeling the souls of other people really what all writers do?"

As we follow Laura through time to the other half of her soul, we will see the toll it takes on her poet, Yeats. The sacrifices he will endure for the love of Laura. How Laura finds her freedom, security and peace from the war raging inside her. Meanwhile, Ida has shifted obsessions once again, willing to travel to Hell and back to bring her one true love to her at any cost. Is Ida the devil or villain of this fairytale? Maybe, but I can't help but feel sorry for her plight. All she's looking for is love and freedom, however, life is cruel to her. In a time where beauty is everything and woman are less than second class, she has nothing to hold on to. The tighter her fist clench to keep what she wants and needs close, the faster it falls from her grasp leading her down a path of rejection and failure, desperate. Is Laura, Maude and Yeats the victims of crazed actions? Of course, but are they any less to blame? No.

In Dreams Begin will leave you drunk on words of the beautiful poetic writings of Skyler White. However, also like and Falling, Fly, I found the first person past tense point of view of Laura a bit jarring mixed with Ida's third person present tense point of view. Again it took me longer than I would of liked to get into the story, but once I did, it flowed. By the end, you will learn the answers that plagues Laura's questions and Skyler's alike. Your going to have to work for this one, for it is not a simple read, but it will be worth it for what it provokes in you alone.

[Raquel Vega-Grieder]

Review Of In Dreams Begin By Skyler White

In Dreams Begin By Skyler White

Pub. Date: November 2010
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Paperback , 384pp
Sales Rank: 156,971
ISBN-13: 9780425236956
ISBN: 0425236951
Source: Barnes And Nobel (link to purchase HERE)
Purchase: Amazon.Com (link to purchase HERE)

Blurb:

In a Victorian Ireland of magic, poetry, and rebellion, Ida Jameson, an amateur occultist, reaches out for power-but captures Laura Armstrong, a modern-day graphic artist, instead. When Ida channels Laura into the body of celebrated beauty and Irish freedom-fighter Maud Gonne, Laura falls in love with the young poet W. B. Yeats. Their love affair entwines with Irish history and weaves through Yeats' poetry- until Ida discovers something she wants more than magic in the subterranean spaces between Laura's time and her own. With Laura's Irish past threatening her orderly present, she and Yeats must find a way to make their love last over time, in changing bodies...or lose each other forever.

Let me start off by saying how fabulous I think the book cover is. The way the girl is posed and the dress she is wearing makes her and this cover HOT. Also the way the light comes streaming in from the window is awesome. With that being said I have to admit I had a hard time getting into this book. It starts out with a lesbian make out scene which isn't the problem. To me the real problem is having the book start out with it when I barely know who the characters are and therefore I have no vested interest in this scene. Also my taste in poetry tends to run on the dark side i.e. Edgar Allen Poe so the poetry at the beginning of each chapter, though it relates to the chapter, doesn't hold too much interest to me. I really wanted to love this book. I had wanted to read And Falling, Fly by Skyler so bad but never got the chance to so when the opportunity came to read In Dreams Begin I jumped all over it. When I received the book and saw the cover I was like wow this book is going to rock but it just didn't for me. I did enjoy the fact that Skyler used real people like William Butler Yeats a.k.a. W.B. Yeats and Maud Gonne. When I found out she used the poet W.B. Yeats I had to Google him and Maud Gonne just to see what was really up with the two them. I enjoyed reading what really happened with them and comparing the two to how Skyler portrayed them. In that respect, I enjoyed the characters but the past life and first person/third person point of views just did not sit well with me. Just because this book was not for me does not mean that somebody else will not love it, which I am hearing, a lot of people do. I still want to read And Falling, Fly so this book has in no way soured me from reading another book by Skyler White. On a scale of 1-10 I give this book a 6. Like I said the cover was beautifully done and there were some parts to the book that I liked just not enough to keep me invested in the resolution.

Link:
http://www.skylerwhite.com/

[Lady Rogue · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Dreams Begin is a tale that moves back and forth in time from present day to Victorian Ireland. It is about the lives of three women whose lives are intertwinded, Laura, Ida, and Maud. Ida Jameson, an occultist accidently channeled present- day Laura through friend and medium Maud.

At first, Laura believed that the visits to the past were nothing more than dreams, as they only happened when she slept. So, while her new husband, Amit was physically in bed with her...her mind travelled through time and inhabited the body of Maud in the past. While on her dream trip, she met W. B. Yeats. The attraction was instant and thus began a star cross love affair. She began to question what was real and what wasn't. Did she love the man in her bed, or the man in her dreams? As a reader, I couldn't help but wonder...was it infidelity to have a relationship ...even if it was metaphysical? Did I judge Laura for it?

After being refused entrance into a theosophical society, her love for Maud, and her control of Laura, Ida's obsession consumed her and she inadvertantly opened the channel for something darker. I think Ida was an interesting character. In some ways, I sympathized with her fustration and kinda liked her for it. Just when she thought her goals were about to be accomplished, they somehow failed to be acheived.. I can relate to that kind of fustration. I think anyone can. Yet, other times... I couldn't stand her. I didn't like her piting herself and abusing her friendships. I think her choices made her ugly and in some sense evil.

The men of this tale added an interesting element. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Yeats. All the sacrifices he made for his love. I don't think I could be that generous or that patient. I don't know how I felt about Amit. At first, I felt sorry for him, but towards the end...I just didn't know. Some things I didn't like...and yet, for a moment, I thought he redeemed himself. In truth, I think his situation with Ida confused me. From the moment, she revealed herself to him, to the end of the story...it made me think, but it was more of a "What the hell was that all about?"

Overall, the author created a thought provoking and compelling tale that blends historical fact, the magic of mythology and folklore, and the power of love, faith, and dreams. Skyler White's artistic writing style flows off the pages and embeds into the mind and hearts of its reader. The story taunts them with those linger thoughts and questions. Is there really such thing as soul mates. Can a soul be possess? Does love cross all boundries? etc... Like the previous book, and Falling fly, this book is a thinker.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of love and all the aspects of love. Lost love, found love, marital love, true love, spiritual love, physical and mistaken love. Love that grows because of the attention it receives and not of some mystical aspect of a conjurer. It also touches on the concept of damnation but not fully. Perhaps this might be the author's concept of the opposite of love? The poetry of WB Yeats is followed throughout the book to make the path for the story and in fact, makes Yeats an important character. It also follows the lives and dreams of Laura, Ida, and Maud. All with differing agendas but motivated by their view of true love or redemption.

This was a story you had to work at when reading. The connections did not come easily. The shifting POV, not only between characters but between time periods as well as either physical or spiritual settings could be quite jarring. It brought me out of the book at times, but when settled into a specific time or person it became interesting. I appreciated the snippets of a diary page or letter inserted between chapters to fill in the blanks that would have otherwise left me wondering.

I give this book 3 stars. It is interesting, but I don't think it is for everyone. It makes you think and work at putting all the pieces together. It is far from a light quick read. It delves into philosophy and poetry and those are always things you must work to find a place in one's conscience. So, bear that in mind.

I was given this book by Skyler White for my honest review. No compensation was given.

[Lilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, where to start with this book. Victorian London and Ireland? Check. Occult practices? Check. Poetic historical figures? Check. Gorgeously written sensuality? Check. Happiness spread across my face from this amazing book? Double Check.

I’m not the world’s biggest fan of narratives that tell two stories—one from modern day and one from the past—in the same book. In my opinion, it’s not something every writer can pull off. However, Skyler weaves the strands of past and present so deftly in this novel that it creates a stunning tapestry of love, magic, poetry, sacrifice and damnation that left me feeling breathless.

Continue reading here: http://www.read-all-over.net/fiction/...

[Tori · Rating 1 out of 5]

An interesting premise that showed great promise in the beginning. Past and present mix and collide as two Irish women attempt to save the "men" they love through any means possible. However, the over use of affected prose and verse, surrounded by multiple rapidly changing POV's and under developed characters, buries the premise and gave this reader a headache. I found myself spending so much time trying to dig beneath the "fluff" to get to the storyline that I stayed lost and unable to connect.

This particular book was just not for me.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book since it has many things I enjoy reading about (time travel, spiritualism, the Victorian age, insane asylums, demons, and magical groups) but there was so little focus on these things; instead, the parts of the story that were interesting to me seemed like filler for multiple, repetitive sex scenes.

[Mishel Forte · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating: 3.25/5 stars

Skyler White's writing has a unique lyrical quality to it. After reading and Falling, Fly (read my review here) last year I noticed how mind-consuming her words could be. When I say that I mean her writing really engages a reader's mind. I've found some people don't like that quality while other's really seem to like it. So basically, you either like her style of writing or you don't. I enjoyed and Falling, Fly. It was entirely different than books I've read before and the plot line was so interesting and well-written. In Dreams Begin has the same lyrical quality that makes the writing flow like music or poetry...however, I found I didn't quite enjoy this novel as much as her first.

I'm not too familiar with W.B. Yeats, Maude Gonne, their lives or the history of Ireland...so I was going into this novel with not a lot of expectations. The synopsis sounded pretty interesting so I didn't feel like their was anything to lose. And while I didn't fall in love with the book it still had a lot of great aspects that made me enjoy reading.

The story is about Laura, a modern day woman, who wakes up on her wedding night in an Irish freedom fighter's body about one hundred years in the past. Ida Jameson is dreadfully plain and easily overlooked. She desperately wants to become apart of the occult world and be accepted as an equal if not master of the craft. It is when she and her friend, Maud Gonne, start to experiment that she calls Laura's soul into Maud's body. After realizing her mistake, Ida sees a chance to gain acceptance and knowledge from the occult leaders. She sets out to use her newly acquired "friend" to prove her power.

But when that doesn't work Ida quickly becomes somewhat unbalanced. She is soon consumed by a dark need to have the very things she can never really possess: Maud's beauty, a place in the occult world, or the handsome daemon she falls in love with in Hell. I found I really became engrossed in Ida's story. She's entirely wicked but I almost felt pity for her. She is a cruel and desperate woman but really only wants to know things. I believe it is her passion for learning that destroys the kindness in her and drives her to the unhappy fate that awaits her.

While Ida spirals into the twisted path of the occult, Laura (in Maud's body) meets and falls in love with W.B. Yeats. Thus begins a love affair that lasts decades in Yeats' time period but only days for Laura. The time-traveling aspect of the novel was entirely interesting. I mean I'm not too familiar with time-travel fiction but I thought it was such a great and unique addition to the story. Although the love between Laura and Yeats was somewhat selfish in my opinion, I still found it heart-breaking that so much time separated the two. And I say selfish only because Laura's new husband is entirely wonderful. He is very much in love Laura and ends up displaying it in great lengths during the story. So I did find myself somewhat angry at Laura at times. But who am I to judge love? No one can help who they fall in love with. And besides Laura does love her husband. She just happened to love two different men in two different time periods. *shrugs* Could happen to anyone =)

Maud is sort of just a "tool" in the story. Her body is used by Ida, Laura, and Yeats and while I didn't really love her personality I still think Maud got the crap end of the stick to put it bluntly. But like I said, Maud's character didn't really grab my attention anyway. I did find it hard to grasp the concept that Yeats and Laura could look past the fact that it was really Maud's body Laura was in while the two were together. I just think I'd have a tough time overlooking that little detail if I were in Laura's or Yeats' position.

I had much going on personally while reading In Dreams Begin so I think I didn't really come to appreciate the novel for what it was. I had trouble grasping certain things and found my brain just wouldn't quite connect with some of the passages. But I still enjoyed it very much and I think a re-reading is in order sometime in the future. Skyler White delivers another uniquely written story that promises quite an experience. I have no problem recommending this along with her earlier novel and Falling, Fly. It will definitely be a journey for you.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantasy fiction remains one of the most popular contemporary genres. Our frantic way of life, world’s problems and conflicts all encourage us to seek escapes into other worlds, dreams, intense emotions and thoughts we are unable to experience in our lives. This is why fantasy novels get easily published and are widely read across the globe.


Skyler White is another author who chose to write in a similar vein, following the recent trends of popular vampire and gothic fiction, as well as a hybrid genre called ‘dark fantasy.’ Author of two novels, ‘and Falling, Fly’ (March, 2010) and ‘In Dreams Begin’ (November, 2010), Skyler lives and works in Texas, USA. Both of her novels have a common strand: they are mostly situated in Ireland, which served as an inspiration for Skyler with its rich and turbulent history and complex mythology.

Her first novel dealt with a female vampire bored with life, yearning for love and an Irish neuroscientist tormented by visions. Her second novel, ‘In Dreams Begin’ focuses on one of the greatest poets in literary history, William Butler Yeats.

First of all, this is not a historical novel. White might have used real names, places and certain events, but the novel does not engage with Yeats’ time in a plausible and compelling way; the narration, details and events are written in a very modern style: the dialogues are also modern and rarely engage with typical Irish vocabulary of that period, but rather remain very modern American, with occasional items indicating Irish expressions, which seem awkwardly placed considering the rest is American English. This may appeal to a wide variety of readers because it is more linguistically accessible but it certainly does not add to the veracity of the whole plot.




It is clear that White did research but did not delve deeper into it to ensure historical accuracy and a level of realism. Thus, we must consider this work as a fantasy fiction, using Irish history and Yeats’ life as mere skeletons on which this story is built on. The plot deals with time travel and brings the modern reader back in time. Laura, a modern business woman who is about to get married, is summoned back in time into the body of Maud Gonne, an Irish feminist revolutionary with whom William Butler Yeats falls in love. The plot thickens as the medium who summoned Laura also falls in love with her and Yeats becomes aware that Maud is possessed by a modern woman’s spirit. The real Maud and Laura battle inside one body for dominance as Ida and Yeats try to summon Laura back to Maud’s body.

Through Laura as the narrator, White tries to give us a modern perspective on the events that occur. Sex and sensuality play an important part in this fiction, for all the characters seem motivated by their desire and fall in love quickly and without much explanation or motivation. White seems aware of certain linguistic formulas and repeats words and phrases to portray these powerful emotions, which may work for less demanding readers but those who expect novelty and variation might be disappointed. The basic concept of time travel is not successfully portrayed because of the lack of realistic and historically detailed information on that period, and the reader may have the feeling that something is lacking. This book is ambitious in its engagement with emotions and desire, sensuality and transgressive nature of eroticism, but fails to evoke the Irishness on which it insists while dealing with important figures like Yeats and Maud Gonne.

All in all, I do not recommend ‘In Dream Begin’ to more demanding readers. This is an easy read for readers who enjoy a light romance time-travel fantasy and do not dwell on details or the veracity of certain historical details. It is a work of fantasy which can relax and entertain, but does not engage with any deeper topics not brings originality to the popular genre of dark fiction.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot: 3 Stars
I don't often read novels that include time-travel, so this was a very refreshing read for me. Plus, the time travel wasn't as science-fictiony as it could've been. Instead, it blended time travel with occult practices, astral projection, possession, curses and spells. It was a lot more than just time travel, and it was very interesting. The Irish setting was described so well; the author did a great job researching these historic places. As weird as it sounds, the descriptive settings really made the time travel and occult practices seem more real.

Pace: 3 Stars
This novel was definitely a slow read for me. There were a few scenes that seemed a bit dragged out. But, the multiple points of view and differences in time passing (Laura would go a day between seeing Will, but he would go years between each visit) kept me on my toes. As much as I enjoyed reading about both time periods, there seemed to be a bit too much description to get through in Ida's time. There were also some plot points that didn't quite come together in the end for me. Some of the crazy things Ida did seemed a bit arbitrary and didn't affect much of the conclusion of the story.

Characters: 4 Stars
Although there were quite a bit of characters that I would consider main characters (Laura, Amit, Ida, Maude, and Will), it wasn't overwhelming. You get to know each character quite intimately throughout the novel, and you really experience their emotions with them. Laura was my favorite character, so I wish her part had been a bit larger. It seemed like Ida overshadowed her at some points, but it's understandable given the intertwining of their lives. I also really liked the relationships between Laura and Will, and Laura and Amit. I both loved and hated Ida throughout the novel. She had a way of really getting under my skin. Laura's co-workers were also a nice touch. Although they were much smaller characters, they weren't lacking in depth and seemed very real.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
This cover is to die for. The cover model is exactly how I pictured Laura, and her outfit is fantastic. The only slight, slight, slight criticism I have is that her outfit seems a touch steampunk-ish, given the goggles. This novel wasn't steampunk, and goggles like that didn't come into play at all. While they really make the outfit awesome, without them the outfit would be more relevant. But other than that, it's perfection. I like that the background is stone because it links this novel and its predecessor, and Falling, Fly. Plus the color scheme of browns and tans really fit the mood and setting of the novel. The title, both font and shiny gold color, really pop and grab your attention.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via the author.

[Mei · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Dreams Begin
Synopsis
On her first night as a married woman, Laura is drawn into the first of a series of romantic dreams. Ida, an occult practitioner has accidentally pulled Laura back to 19th century Ireland while attempting a seance. This event puts puts Ida on a path with a devil and starts Laura on an adventure where past and present and dreams and reality are indistinguishable.

Review
I realized that this book was more of a romance than a paranormal novel when there was a steamy love scene in the first 10 pages. I found the premise of the book to be interesting, but was unable to connect with any of the characters. I wish that the novel would have focused more on the plot, character motivations, and emotions than on the steamy love scenes.  It would have been a great approach as a historical fiction, but ended up feeling more like an "adult" novel with plot filler than an actual story.

My Recommendation
If you enjoy romance novels with steamy love scenes, than you may enjoy this book. However, if you approach it as a paranormal novel you will be disappointed. 3/5


***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the publisher through Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

[Ria Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where do I start with how enjoyable this book was? Really, where do I start? There was so much that I really enjoyed about it that it’s hard to pick one thing to hone in one first of all.

Let’s start with the plot. In Dreams Begin weaves together two stories: the first of Laura, a modern-day newlywed graphic artist; and the second of Maud Gonne, W. B. Yeats, and Ida Jameson, figures from Victorian-era Ireland, fighting in their own ways for various kinds of freedom. Through her growing obsession with mysticism and the occult, Ida channels the spirit of Laura through time and into Maud, where Laura almost immediately falls “ass-over-elbows in love” with Will Yeats, and him with her. Laura struggles to come to grips with her incredibly realistic “Victorian dreams”, as well as her love for another man. Ida’s power-hungry personality drives the plot forward more and more as she searches for ways to gain all that she ever wanted in life, while Will and Laura must reach their conclusions about a love that transcends time.

If it sounds a little cheesy at first, just give it 50 pages. The writing style is beautifully poetic, stunningly erotic in places, and above all else paints a vivid picture of two very different times, each other them wonderful in their own way. The little details that White threw in, such as references to the semi-obscure erotic Victorian magazine, The Pearl, thrilled the history buff in me, and did wonders for making everything come alive.

This book is more than a troubled love story, or a cookie-cutter paranormal romance. (“Cookie-cutter” is probably the last term I would use to describe this book, actually.) White’s characters talk at length and in depth about difficult subjects: religion, spirituality, love, the nature of humanity, good and evil. Far more than just a fluff read, this is the sort of book I would recommend to those who enjoy a good intellectual paranormal romance, the sort that are few and far between.

If this book suffered anywhere, in my opinion, it was in the sex scenes. That’s not to say they weren’t sexy, or were inappropriate, but my goodness, was the word “cock” ever thrown about! I know, I know, it can be hard to find good euphemisms for the penis without turning in the direction of purple prose, but at times, it seemed that the word was overused.

But when that’s my only complaint, and I admit it’s entirely a subjective one, that isn’t much of a deterrent.

If you’re a fan of good intelligent paranormal novels, you should definitely check this one out. You’ll close it after the last page wishing that the story had never ended.

And maybe it never really did.

[Melissa Hayden · Rating 3 out of 5]

We follow Laura through the pilgrimage of her soul by way of dreams to another body, Maud Gonne, in Victorian Ireland. Laura makes her first pilgrimage, believed to be a dream, on her wedding night when she falls asleep. Unknown to Laura, she is called to Maud's body by way of magic done by Ida Jameson. Ida is one who loves her friend Maud, but wants to be accepted in the magical society who rejected her, she will do anything to get there then falls in love and will do anything to get her love. On Laura's first night in Ireland as Maud, Laura meets the poet Will Yeats and falls madly and passionately in love with him. As Laura fights to be with Will every night in her sleep, she learns that as a day passes in her time months or years pass in Wills. Laura starts to question her love with Amit, her current husband, and her love with Will in Ireland hundred years past - learning about herself and live and love. Will they all find their life's love? Magic, conniving, and lots of love all mixed together.

There were times where I was confused trying to keep up with the passing time in Maud's live and what is happening. Or what the goal was for the characters. But I love how Skyler questions love and feelings in this book. It made me wonder if there are different levels of love we are willing to give, and why. Even relationships as a whole. Skyler tells a story from start to finish with answers but leaves me wondering in the end on the meaning in it.

Skyler has drawn a picture of different loves here, and how we can give into them, or not, in our mind. The one place Skyler creates here which I enjoyed was Hell, where the souls go in between when they are in their trances. And the way the souls journey here.

It took me a little while to get to know the characters. And with having a delay for me to become familiar with them, the sex scenes at the start where difficult for me as they felt forced and to early. But once I got to know the characters the scenes flowed together easily for me, yet I felt I didn't truly connect with these characters. But I did like the feel of wonder and thought on love I was left with.

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the concept behind this novel. The idea of when a person falls asleep they are not drawn into the realm of dreams but into the body of another person/life has always been an intriguing concept for me. And so the idea of Laura falling into the body of Maud and living another life through her, made it easy for me to like the story quite a bit. I also loved the selections of poetry by W.B. Yeats at the start of every chapter. Reading them made me want to pull out my English Lit book from college and reread parts of it.

But there were elements to the book that I found difficult to get through. The bouncing between first and third person point of views made it hard for me to really latch onto the story and connect with it. Just when I would get comfortable reading about Laura's adventures both in her real body and that of Maud's, I'd suddenly find myself reading about Ida and seeing everything from her perspective. It was a bit disorienting to say the least.

Which, in turn, lead to my confusion at the end of the novel. Without giving anything away, because that would be considered a spoiler and I don't like to do that in my reviews, I will only say, just who really has control over Laura's body at the end of the book? If it was White's intent to have that remain a bit of a mystery then she did a wonderful job. But if she actually was clear about it, then I fear that it was lost upon me because I honestly just didn't know at the end, and as a result, I was left a bit unsatisfied only because I don't know if my interpretation of the entire thing was right or wrong.

Regardless of that, between the story concept, the poetry, and the playing with real life historical people/events, I found novel to be an enjoyable read, though be it slightly jarring at times.

[Cassandra Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the minute I heard about this book, I wanted to read it. I love stories that utilize real life personages as characters. If used in a book, usually real life people are placed as secondary characters to add authenticity or give additional insight to a story, so I was very curious when I learned that the hero and heroine of In Dreams Begin were William Butler Yeats and Maud Gonne! Talk about fresh, unique, and delightfully original! As an added plus, the story had paranormal elements besides the spiritual aspect one could expect from a story using both Yeats (Golden Dawn initiate) and Gonne as characters.

Then I sat down to read the book...and realized the difficulty in the herculean task Ms. White set out to complete. The prose bogged in places, and the dream sequences blurred at times, so that I became lost in the what and who and even where...

After finishing the book, I came away with the feeling that instead of Yeats and Laura/Maud being the focus and shining light of the story, it was truly the villain, Ida who "stole the show," catching my focus and the spotlight. The depth of her character far exceeded those of the main characters, making her feel more real than the real life characters in the book. Hers was a dark light, a twisted thing that caught and held my attention. Had the hero and heroine been as compelling, this book would have rated a higher star count.

In Dreams Begin is both unique, fresh, yet dark... but me thinks the villain took control and made the story while the MC's watched helpless.

[Addie McKinley-Minni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eyes are the window to one's soul?! the author, Skyler White, defintely agrees with this age-old saying. this is the second I read from her, and i must agree that her writing and her ability to develop the story have shown much improvement in this book then the previous book "and Fallying, Fly". In short, this story is about a Career-minded Laura time traveling back and forth by the help from a Victorian woman (Ida) who has specific interest in the occult. When Laura travelled to the past, she goes into the body of a lady named Maud, and fell in love with a poet W. B Yeats. the waking life with her new husband and the romantic dream with new lover poet confused and consumed Laura.

Although I was fascinated with the idea of this story in the beginning, unfortunately, it failed miserably short soon after. There are so many lousy lose ends, the plots are confusing and simply don't make sense (often many details seem randomly given.) Although the love scenes are passionate and sizzling, I rather the author spent less time describing these passionate coupling to focus on tightening the story line.
I guess if you love reading poetry.. you may love Skyler White’s book. It reads like a poem, many beautiful words, but otherwise, doesn’t really make sense. Personally I take solid, well developed storylines over beautiful words any day.

[Wendy Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you like to read urban fantasy? How about romance? Toss in time-travelling? Then this book is for you since it has all three, as well as some historical in it too!! Skyler White has penned another lyrical and compelling novel with In Dreams Begin. Laura is a newlywed who finds her dreams spinning her into the mind of 19th century Irish activist Maude Gonne, who falls in love with the famed poet William Butler Yeats. Dark spell? Perhaps. But when Laura IS Maude, she remembers nothing of her present life and husband. However, when she awakes with her own mind, she does remember being Maude and William, and although she loves her husband, she remembers that she loves William too. Dark, lyrical, and mind-bending, In Dreams Begin will leave you breathless and questioning if there can be a happy ending. I won't spoil it for you - read the book!

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 21st century woman's spirit is called back in time by a medium, and finds her soulmate in William Butler Yeats. It's a wild ride, very inventive. I loved the use of historical data.
A nit pick: the purple adjectives obscure the story sometimes. "Ida scrawled two notes... but withdrew her reality-stung hand." Can one's hand be stung by reality? This sort of thing happens frequently and pulled me out of the story. But it is worth the effort.
The tone was dark and mysterious. I loved the descriptions of old Ireland and the contrast between their lives and ours. I plan to to read her other book.

[Laronda Atchison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book about a year ago. I started it and ended up putting it down. I picked it up a couple weeks ago and really got into it. I haven't read the previous book in the series (I didn't realize it was the 2nd in a series when I bought it). I really enjoyed the time travel aspect. Skyler White interweaves true history with alternate history in a believable way for me. I felt for Laura and her questioning whether she was cheating on Amit with Will, if not in body, in soul. Maybe it was just me, but I was a bit confused with what ended up happening with Ida. I'm not sure if I need to re-read it or that was the intent. But, I will be looking for more books by White.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received my book for free through Goodreads First Reads quite some time ago and finally gotten around to reading it. I really liked the concept of the book and enjoyed the characters. However, as others have pointed to I also found myself struggling once in awhile to keep up with what era I was reading in, or, which character I was reading. To remedy that, it was just a matter of skimming back over what I'd just read so that I could get myself back on pace.

Again, I really liked the concept of the novel and also hangin' out in Victorian Ireland 'as seen' through modern eyes was great.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was expecting one thing and then was totally surprised by what actually came to be.

This is not your average paranormal, fit into a mold book. It has extreme depth and emotion that will leave you entwined in the story and not wanting to put it down.

Skyler has written a thought provoking piece of work that will leave you asking deep questions about love, life, and how far that love can go.

It's not a book that you can speed read...you have to soak it in and take your time. You'll get caught up in these characters before you know it.

I loved it!

[Jeremy Preacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand, this book has some really hot sex, an interesting concept, and characters I mostly liked and enjoyed spending time with. On the other hand... it was a lot of time. The pacing is the book's downfall, I think - it's just slow as molasses.

I will say that this is a stronger book overall than the author's first novel, and I like the direction she's going. It would only take a little more tightening to give this one a solid four stars, and I'll definitely check out whatever she's got up next.

[Darcy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Set down with this book today with a little trepidation. This author's first book was hard to get through. This one I didn't make it 20 pages before I had to give it up. I wasn't really sure what was going on, Laura seemed to be dreaming, but maybe not, it was hard to tell. She was in the past and seemed to be possessing someone, then was spoken to like a demon. I don't know it was just too confusing for me, this one and I think this author is just not for me.

[Peculiar Monster · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hated this book for erasing and silencing Maud Gonne. NOT COOL.

The only reason it got two stars instead of one is because all the details about Yeats and Gonne's lives were correct, except for the part where apparently the real Maud Gonne wasn't interesting enough for Yeats to possibly fall in love with and had to have her body possessed by someone from our era instead. Someone who felt like an authorial insert character, to be absolutely blunt.