This was a darkly cool tale about the importance of dreams – and the way they can take over our lives. The writing was evocative, the plot well-paced, and the drama was just the right amount of overblown to keep pace with the magnificently horrifying world(s) on display. There are drag queens on a mission, teenagers with super (scary) powers, and more worlds-within-the-world than one book should be able to safely hold. There are secrets and lies and secret lies. And there is an overarching tale about growing up and getting out of our own way long enough to realize who we are and who we want to be.
It is, in a word, fantastic.
“Just because something is imagined doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. Sometimes the things we believe in are the most dangerous things about us. That’s why people build entire worlds in their minds. Because they think they’re safe, but they’re wrong. Dreams are like parasites. They grow up in the dark within us, and they grow deadly.”
In this truly imaginative tale, La Sala crafts a world that is manipulative AND manipulated in equal parts. There is magic here, and much of it lies in the characters and their quirks, foibles, and hidden depths. The story includes some heartache-inducing realizations about identity, self-awareness, and self-actualization. They are well-presented in a way that doesn’t feel preachy or Hallmark-movie-of-the-week, but instead ring with a clarity that I found quite resonant. As with so much YA fiction, there’s a lot of truth feathered into the dramatic story arcs in such a way that they further the story while simultaneously providing guidance and direction. It’s a tough dance but La Sala does a masterful job with it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will definitely be on the lookout for more from this creative and clever author!
My review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. The title will be released on January 7, 2020.
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