Assessment:

Plot/Idea: In The Dark Of A Dream is a Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror novel about J.J., a teenage girl who just lost her father, finds herself in the custody of her long-absent mother, and is now trapped on a secluded island owned by a mysterious biotech company. If that wasn't stressful enough, she endures increasingly horrific night terrors which might not be mere nightmares, and finds herself an unwitting test subject for unscrupulous experiments.

Prose: DeLano's prose is engaging and filled with lively descriptions. Her dialogue is light and realistic, especially for the teenagers. The author also manages to slip in lots of lighter, hilarious moments, a good trick given the seriousness of J.J.'s situation. And it all starts with a killer opening sentence: "Let's begin with your death."

Originality: In The Dark Of A Dream pulls together multiple threads, succeeding as a book about a teenager mourning her father and resentful of her mother; about a shadowy biotech company; and about a squad of desperate soldiers doing all they can to survive in the face of annihilation.

Character/Execution: J.J. is everything a teenage heroine struggling with adolescence should be: sarcastic, serious, loving, hateful, overwhelmed and underwhelmed, brave and terrified, resentful, and remorseful. The author also shows us J.J.'s growth throughout the novel. Her friends and squad-mates (Rio, Shadow, Beast, Chef, Sarge, etc.) have their own distinct personalities, as do J.J.'s parents (even her deceased father), and the villains are suitably awful without coming off as cartoonish.

Date Submitted: August 16, 2024