Boek
Dream Wisperer
| Auteur | Daniel Draym |
| Eerste Uitgave | 2020 |
| Uitgave | 2020 |
| Uitgeverij | Self-pubished |
| Vorm | roman |
| Taal | Engels |
| Bladzijden | 567 bladzijden |
| Gelezen | 2021-01-22 |
| Score | 8/10 |
Inhoud
While the Great War is raging, a terrifying monster is unleashed. It leaves a trail of death in its wake, and others like it may soon follow. Fleming, a man with a tragic family history and head of the Special Branch of the British Secret Service, is on the case. Guided by the formidable Mycroft Holmes, he is racing against the clock to prevent the enigmatic Dream Whisperer from opening a portal that will allow the Outer Gods’ return to Earth. The fate of human civilisation depends on the outcome of a heart-stopping battle of wits, magic, and brutal violence. If you think you know everything about the Cthulhu Mythos, this novel will set you straight. The Outer Gods may be gone for aeons, but they left behind a secret world order.
Bespreking
Good start...
From the first words of the hilarious author’s notes at the start of the book it becomes overtly clear that Daniel Draym really enjoys writing. And that feeling of fun oozes from every page of this wonderful fantasy horror novel.
The aim of the author was to write an high-paced, action packed story that is embedded in a reality closely related to ours by using historically accurate events to guide the narrative. And, oh boy, did he succeed… In much less able hands this historical embedding could have resulted in a high-brow, irritating showcase of the author’s ‘unlimited’ knowledge, but Daniel kept far away from that trap. At no point does this extra layer break the flow. Most of the time it even heightens the impact of the fantastic elements.
Yes, it is a novel about monsters and fierce, world-threatening battles and as such will please an audience that is prepared for this kind of fun. This being a tribute to H.P. Lovecraft it also feels like coming home to a world familiar to readers of this galactic horror-icon. It is in many ways similar, without the long winded Lovecraftian expositions, I must say.
This brings me to the single problem I have with Dream Whisperer. Reading it is like sitting in a high-speed train with tinted windows and riding through the most exhilarating landscapes. It is an amazing experience, but you so often get the urge to call the conductor to demand him to stop the train for a moment. You would love to get out and enjoy the scenery.
Daniel has created a wonderfully fantastic world, but because of his focus on action and spectacle, he sometimes forgets to weave in the backstory and maintain the eery atmosphere so characteristic to Lovecraft. I know, this is not supposed to be an imitation of the Cthulhu novels, but still its subject matter is so well crafted that exploring it would have been the cherry on the cake.
Since this is the first book in the Fleming Chronicles, I do hope that in the next chapter (which I definitely will read) a bit more of that promising backstory is revealed.
But let it be clear. This is a page-turner if there ever was one. And a must read for readers searching for a great fantasy ride.
And one message to Daniel: get that second novel finished… you got me addicted!