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Centered On The Dream World
The Dreamer follows a teenager traveling through space with her parents, who experiences terrifying visions and must cope with the aftermath of a vicious attack that forces her to make important life decisions. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve always been highly interested in dreams, past lives, and parallel universes. I like to believe it’s all connected. Dreams play a big part in most of my stories. I’m currently working on a new series that is centered on the dream world. When I was little, I had a very lucid dream where I was an older woman who was running through a battlefield and got shot in the leg. I told my father (who is also a historian) about my dream the next morning, and after hearing all the details, he was convinced I had been dreaming of the Revolutionary War. I was too young to know about it! I wanted to write a series with a vast, complex timeline, exploring how one person and their choices could impact an entire reality, because we actually do that every day. I have been working on this series for 17 years, so it’s pretty planned out!
What was your approach to writing the interactions between characters?
I wanted my teen and young adult characters to feel real, with their emotions and dialogue feeling natural. I spent a very long time crafting each character’s background so that I could drop them into any situation and have their interactions flow without me having to think too hard. Sometimes they would say or do things, and I would be surprised as I was writing it! I love that feeling when your book starts writing itself! There are characters in the second book that popped up as I wrote, and I would think, “Who’s this guy?”
The science inserted in the fiction, I felt, was well balanced. How did you manage to keep it grounded while still providing the fantastic edge science fiction stories usually provide?
Honestly, I tried my hardest not to turn this into a super “sciencey” book. I wanted to write a sci-fi saga that was easy to read and accessible to a broad audience. It makes me sad that so many people are intimidated by science fiction. It can get too heady or science-based, taking away from the emotional journeys. I wanted to write about teens who happened to be in space. I wanted to be inclusive and normalize the marginalized. I wanted the fate of the galaxy to fall on a group of misfits who end up saving it, but I also wanted them to be stressed out about their first kiss, engulfed by jealousy, and annoyed with each other. I was a teenager who grew up overseas, performed in theater, and was also trying to learn Klingon… if that tells you anything!
Can you give us a glimpse inside Book 2 of the The Black Stone Cycle series? Where will it take readers?
We open with two brand-new characters, one of whom is the one I mentioned above, who appeared without me planning him at all. He turned out to be one of my favorites! It will explore the galaxy and society further. It’s already written, and I’m always interested in ARC readers, so please contact me if you’re seriously interested!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
But when a quick stop on Phobos goes from routine to disaster, Ash’s fragile world implodes. Stranded and hunted by enemies she doesn’t understand, she’s thrown together with a ragtag crew of teens just as lost as she is.
There’s Isaac and Isabel, telepathic twins caught between uncovering the truth about their missing parents and outrunning the Mind Squad agents they once thought were a myth; Edan, a street-smart survivor who just happens to be the prince of the space pirates; Moon, a savant who speaks code more fluently than feelings; and Xai, a mysterious blue alien boy who lingers in Ash’s dreams―and who might be far more real than she wants to believe.
As Ash wrestles with grief, trust, and the colossal power flickering to life inside her, she stumbles into a prophecy that feels way too personal. Being the “chosen one” isn’t what Ash signed up for. All she’s ever wanted was a chance to stop running and just be a regular teenager on some boring moon colony.
With telepathic super soldiers closing in, betrayals around every corner, and a galaxy-shaking secret in her hands. Ash must decide whether to keep running―or finally stand and fight. Because some destinies can’t be outrun.
The Dreamer is the first book in The Black Stone Cycle, a thrilling YA sci-fi saga about found family, hidden legacies, and the messy, exhilarating journey of discovering who you really are. Fans of Firefly, Skyward, and The Expanse will feel right at home among the stars.
The Dreamer (The Black Stone Cycle Book 1)
The Dreamer follows Ash Bennett, a teenager drifting through space with her parents until her life is split open by terrifying visions, mysterious strangers, and an attack that shatters everything she knows. The story blends sci-fi adventure with a deep emotional undercurrent as Ash realizes she may be connected to powers and histories she never understood. The tension builds fast. The quiet opening on the family ship gives way to vivid danger on Phobos, then to loss, rescue, and a strange new path that forces her to decide who she is meant to be. It feels like the start of a much bigger saga.
When I first settled into the book, I expected a familiar space-opera vibe, but the writing surprised me. Scenes snap together in quick bursts. The images are sharp and sometimes dreamy, and they made me feel like I was walking through Ash’s memories and fears rather than just reading about them. I liked that the story never waited around. It pushed forward with a kind of breathless energy, and even the quieter moments carried this low buzz of anxiety that kept me hooked. I found myself caring about Ash morwe quickly than I expected. Her mix of sarcasm, loneliness, and curiosity felt honest. I appreciated that her voice didn’t get swallowed by the big world around her.
As the story unfolded, I felt a tug in two directions. On one hand, I loved the ideas: the fractured past between humans and other species, the mystery around her abilities, and the sense that Ash is tied to something ancient and powerful. On the other hand, the worldbuilding sometimes hit me like a sudden gust. New terms and cultures arrived fast, and I occasionally had to pause to catch up. Still, I liked the rawness of it. The author took risks with emotion, especially when Ash witnesses what happens to her parents. That whole sequence hit harder than I expected. It left me feeling unsettled in a good way. I could feel the shock in my chest as she tried to understand what she’d seen.
By the time I reached the later chapters, I realized I was rooting not just for Ash but for the strange little group forming around her. The mix of loss, found family, and growing danger pulled me in. I liked that the book didn’t wrap things up neatly. It left questions hanging in the air, teasing a bigger truth waiting on the other side. I enjoy stories that don’t talk down to me, and this one trusted me to sit with the unknown.
I walked away feeling both satisfied and eager for the next piece of the story. I’d recommend The Dreamer to readers who enjoy character-driven sci-fi, especially those who love fast pacing and emotional stakes. It’s a good fit for teens and adults who want a world that feels lived-in and messy, with a heroine who is still figuring herself out. If you like stories that blend danger, heartache, and a spark of wonder, this one is worth your time.
Pages: 328 | ASIN : B0G32FG96C
LITERARY TITAN 