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Dirk & Steele #10
In the Dark of Dreams
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marjorie M. Liu has captivated readers with her remarkable Dirk and Steele novels, proving herself to be one of today’s most brilliantly imaginative creators of paranormal romance. Lui reaches new heights with In the Dark of Dreams, the breathtakingly sensual story of a young woman’s passionate reunion with a magnificent man from the sea—and the dark mission that binds them both.
369 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Marjorie M. Liu
254 books4,171 followersNew York Times bestselling and award-winning writer Marjorie Liu is best known for her fiction and comic books. She teaches comic book writing at MIT, and she leads a class on Popular Fiction at the Voices of Our Nation (VONA) workshop.
Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.
Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”
Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.
Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing on panels at San Diego Comic Con, the Tokyo Literary Festival, the New York Times Public Lecture series, Geeks Out; and the Asian American Writers Workshop. Her work has been published internationally, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.
Ms. Liu is a highly celebrated comic book writer. Her extensive work with Marvel includes the bestselling Dark Wolverine series, NYX: No Way Home, X-23, and Black Widow: The Name of the Rose. She received national media attention for Astonishing X-Men, which featured the gay wedding of X-Man Northstar and was subsequently nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding media images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Ms. Liu also wrote the story for the animated film, Avengers Confidential: Black Widow and Punisher, which was produced by Marvel, Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and Madhouse Inc.
Her newest work is MONSTRESS, an original, creator-owned comic book series with Japanese artist (and X-23 collaborator) Sana Takeda. Published by Image in Fall 2015, MONSTRESS is set in an alternate, matriarchal 1920’s Asia and follows a girl’s struggle to survive the trauma of war. With a cast of girls and monsters and set against a richly imagined aesthetic of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS #1 debuted to critical praise. The Hollywood Reporter remarked that the longer than typical first issue was “world-building on a scale rare in mainstream comics.”
Ms. Liu is also the author of more than 19 novels, most notably the urban fantasy series, Hunter Kiss, and the paranormal romance series, Dirk & Steele. Her novels have also been bestsellers on USA Today, which described Liu “as imaginative as she is prolific.” Her critically praised fiction has twice received the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, for THE MORTAL BONE (Hunter Kiss #6), and TIGER EYE (Dirk & Steele #1). TIGER EYE was the basis for a bestselling paranormal romance video game called Tiger Eye: Curse of the Riddle Box.
Liu has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, MTV, and been profiled in the Wall Street Journal.com, Hollywood Reporter, and USA Today. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, appearing on panels at San Diego Comic Con, the Tokyo Literary Festival, the New York Times Public Lecture series, Geeks Out; and the Asian American Writers Workshop. Her work has been published internationally, including Germany, France, Japan, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Ms. Liu was born in Philadelphia, and has lived in numerous cities in the Midwest and Beijing. Prior to writing full-time, she was a lawyer. She currently resides in Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
September 25, 2010
IN THE DARK OF DREAMS is a book about yearning. It's also a book about the ocean, dreaming, merpeople, magic (both real and fictionalized), dolphins, loss, betrayal, trust, hope, failure, redemption, love, discovery, the power of believing, how 1+1 sometimes = more than 2, and a little bit about a kind, sad boy who can start fires with his mind. (Oh, Eddie! I can't wait for your book. <3) I loved this story for all those things, even the hard things, but most of all for the yearning. And, in my opinion, nobody writes yearning better than Marjorie Liu.
This, the tenth book in Marjorie's very excellent Dirk & Steele paranormal romance series, has a slightly different flavor than the others. I typically describe these books as being very action-forward--they almost have an urban fantasy feel to them, though the romance is always front and center. And, while there was still plenty of action in this book, there was something about it that left more room for Perrin and Jenny. As if, between those action scenes, their longing for each other swelled to fill every available crevice, ballooning up and off the page, larger and deeper and more hungry than that of previous Dirk & Steele couples.
I really enjoyed Perrin and Jenny. Perrin, especially, is richly drawn. He's a complicated man: equal parts impassioned revolutionary and world-weary cynic, stony warrior and hopeless romantic. Jenny is unapologetically practical yet driven entirely by her obsession with a merman she saw on a beach when she was a child--a paradoxical combination that I absolutely loved. There was a grittiness to them that made them both seem very real (despite one of them being a merman), and that quality seeped into their romance. They did not sweep each other off their feet; they crept ever closer to each other, hesitant, tentative, insecure. They did not make poetic declarations of their love for one another; they allowed their actions to speak for them, in bold statements of loyalty, commitment, trust, tenderness, sacrifice. I have to say it again: the romance in this book--the longing, the hope, the surrender--is beautifully written.
I also felt the world around Perrin and Jenny was especially vivid. Much of this story takes place in or on the ocean and Marjorie has done an amazing job of bringing the sea to life. For those who have read previous Dirk & Steele books, we also learn more of Rik's story and a bit about Eddie, who, I'm not ashamed to admit, I'm already half in love with. He stole every scene he was in.
All in all, a beautifully written and well crafted love story. Despite it being the tenth book in the series, I feel you could easily pick this up and enjoy it without having read previous books. Though, after reading this book, you'll definitely want to read the others.
This, the tenth book in Marjorie's very excellent Dirk & Steele paranormal romance series, has a slightly different flavor than the others. I typically describe these books as being very action-forward--they almost have an urban fantasy feel to them, though the romance is always front and center. And, while there was still plenty of action in this book, there was something about it that left more room for Perrin and Jenny. As if, between those action scenes, their longing for each other swelled to fill every available crevice, ballooning up and off the page, larger and deeper and more hungry than that of previous Dirk & Steele couples.
I really enjoyed Perrin and Jenny. Perrin, especially, is richly drawn. He's a complicated man: equal parts impassioned revolutionary and world-weary cynic, stony warrior and hopeless romantic. Jenny is unapologetically practical yet driven entirely by her obsession with a merman she saw on a beach when she was a child--a paradoxical combination that I absolutely loved. There was a grittiness to them that made them both seem very real (despite one of them being a merman), and that quality seeped into their romance. They did not sweep each other off their feet; they crept ever closer to each other, hesitant, tentative, insecure. They did not make poetic declarations of their love for one another; they allowed their actions to speak for them, in bold statements of loyalty, commitment, trust, tenderness, sacrifice. I have to say it again: the romance in this book--the longing, the hope, the surrender--is beautifully written.
I also felt the world around Perrin and Jenny was especially vivid. Much of this story takes place in or on the ocean and Marjorie has done an amazing job of bringing the sea to life. For those who have read previous Dirk & Steele books, we also learn more of Rik's story and a bit about Eddie, who, I'm not ashamed to admit, I'm already half in love with. He stole every scene he was in.
All in all, a beautifully written and well crafted love story. Despite it being the tenth book in the series, I feel you could easily pick this up and enjoy it without having read previous books. Though, after reading this book, you'll definitely want to read the others.
November 30, 2010
A true love story. A real world romance with believable conflicts, (yes, he's a merman and shape shifters and magic abound - it's still believable) motivations and emotions.
Liu writes like a poet. The phrase "beautiful turn of phrase" was created for writers with her skill. For example:
And then those eyes disappeared, blown apart as though made of sand - each grain floating through the water toward his face, slow and glittering. Perrin watched, breathless. No longer hearing anything but the sound of his pounding heart.
Too often in today's romance novels hot sex (not that there's anything wrong with that & it does put in an appeareance here too) sucks up all the oxygen in the room and leaves none for love scenes. Dark of Dreams has oxygen enough for both:
She wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him close until his head rested on the cot, their cheeks pressed together, her mouth against his ear, whispering words that she forgot as soon as she said them, just that her heart was in her throat, she wanted him to feel her heart, and hear it, and know he wasn't alone.
The lead characters are Perrin & Jenny. Perrin - forgive me - is a fish out of water. Save me from super-natural beings who thrive in the human world. Shouldn't other-worldly beings have a tough time in a society that doesn't have a place for them? In the world Liu has built the "different" truly do have a difficult time fitting in and I think her books are better for it. Perrin is in full exile from his world and people; a true stranger in a strange land and he suffered accordingly.
Jenny is smart and capable, while still being in need of help. She does help herself as much as possible, but she does really need Perrin's support. Together they are more than the sum of their parts. And isn't that a wonderful thing? Two people in love and actively supporting their partner. I think this is something we all dream of. Jenny & Perrin both are willing to sacrifice for the good of the other, this is perfectly written selfless not martyred love.
I'll let you read them for yourselves, the final three lines of In The Dark of Dreams are happily ever after gold.
This is the 10th installment of the Dirk & Steele series. It's not necessary to have read the previous 9 (but you should, Liu is a wonderful writer - her entire body of work is just lovely). Besides pure enjoyment the other books will give you a better understanding of the Dirk & Steele organization.
Liu writes like a poet. The phrase "beautiful turn of phrase" was created for writers with her skill. For example:
And then those eyes disappeared, blown apart as though made of sand - each grain floating through the water toward his face, slow and glittering. Perrin watched, breathless. No longer hearing anything but the sound of his pounding heart.
Too often in today's romance novels hot sex (not that there's anything wrong with that & it does put in an appeareance here too) sucks up all the oxygen in the room and leaves none for love scenes. Dark of Dreams has oxygen enough for both:
She wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled him close until his head rested on the cot, their cheeks pressed together, her mouth against his ear, whispering words that she forgot as soon as she said them, just that her heart was in her throat, she wanted him to feel her heart, and hear it, and know he wasn't alone.
The lead characters are Perrin & Jenny. Perrin - forgive me - is a fish out of water. Save me from super-natural beings who thrive in the human world. Shouldn't other-worldly beings have a tough time in a society that doesn't have a place for them? In the world Liu has built the "different" truly do have a difficult time fitting in and I think her books are better for it. Perrin is in full exile from his world and people; a true stranger in a strange land and he suffered accordingly.
Jenny is smart and capable, while still being in need of help. She does help herself as much as possible, but she does really need Perrin's support. Together they are more than the sum of their parts. And isn't that a wonderful thing? Two people in love and actively supporting their partner. I think this is something we all dream of. Jenny & Perrin both are willing to sacrifice for the good of the other, this is perfectly written selfless not martyred love.
I'll let you read them for yourselves, the final three lines of In The Dark of Dreams are happily ever after gold.
This is the 10th installment of the Dirk & Steele series. It's not necessary to have read the previous 9 (but you should, Liu is a wonderful writer - her entire body of work is just lovely). Besides pure enjoyment the other books will give you a better understanding of the Dirk & Steele organization.
December 6, 2010
Review for Bitten by Paranormal Romance
Enjoyable Paranormal Romance Read!
Mermen fascinate me and when I found out this was about mermen I had to read it. The story was great; the romance was sweet even though I wish the author would have had some erotica in there but the author’s writing made up for it with her easy to read descriptions of the surroundings and the action that made you feel as though you were right there among the characters.
Jenny (human/Fae) and Perrin (merman) met once when they were 12 years old for a few moments on the beach and within those few moments, a destiny was set in place that neither one of them were aware of. As the years passed on they each led separate lives. Jenny worked for her grandparents as a marine biologist charting her own course in the family business while Perrin lived on shore amongst the humans since his exile from his own mermen tribe. During this time they’ve only seen each other within their dreams not knowing if it was real or not.
But when disaster (earth quakes, flooding, etc…) threatens the humans and all living paranormal (immortal) beings upon the earth, Perrin risks going back into the sea to stop the motion of disaster and once again Jenny and Perrin’s paths run across each other as destiny leads them on an adventure of a life time when in the dark of their dreams come true as their love unravels and new bonds are made.
Even though this is the 10th book in the series, it was my first read and it stood alone without having to read the others first. Very easy to follow but made me want to read the ones prior to this one to find out more about the other paranormal creatures that exist in our world. Great ending, I will definitely be reading more from this author.
Enjoyable Paranormal Romance Read!
Mermen fascinate me and when I found out this was about mermen I had to read it. The story was great; the romance was sweet even though I wish the author would have had some erotica in there but the author’s writing made up for it with her easy to read descriptions of the surroundings and the action that made you feel as though you were right there among the characters.
Jenny (human/Fae) and Perrin (merman) met once when they were 12 years old for a few moments on the beach and within those few moments, a destiny was set in place that neither one of them were aware of. As the years passed on they each led separate lives. Jenny worked for her grandparents as a marine biologist charting her own course in the family business while Perrin lived on shore amongst the humans since his exile from his own mermen tribe. During this time they’ve only seen each other within their dreams not knowing if it was real or not.
But when disaster (earth quakes, flooding, etc…) threatens the humans and all living paranormal (immortal) beings upon the earth, Perrin risks going back into the sea to stop the motion of disaster and once again Jenny and Perrin’s paths run across each other as destiny leads them on an adventure of a life time when in the dark of their dreams come true as their love unravels and new bonds are made.
Even though this is the 10th book in the series, it was my first read and it stood alone without having to read the others first. Very easy to follow but made me want to read the ones prior to this one to find out more about the other paranormal creatures that exist in our world. Great ending, I will definitely be reading more from this author.
December 5, 2010
3.5 stars - It's been way too long since the last Dirk & Steele - I love this series - so I may have come into In the Dark of Dreams with overly inflated expectations.
Both of the leads, oceanologist Jenny and exiled merman Perrin, with their tragic pasts are appealing. And I liked the idea of the psychic bond between them that developed when 1st they met on a beach as children, a bond which grew as they shared dreams for eight years before that dream connection was brutally severed. But we aren't privvy to those dreams and their preexisting connection doesn't really facilitate the development of their relationship here when they are finally reunited after years of searching for each other. Consequently, with the heroine Jenny afraid to acknowledge that connection to the boy (now man) who she's devoted her life to finding - and her self preservation instincts telling her to run from Perrin - and also with Perrin hardened by what he has suffered as a stranger in a strange land and hiding his true emotions behind an icy facade, I just didn't feel the irrestible draw between the pair and the romance didn't end being as haunting as it could have been.
Which not to say that I didn't like the book, romance aside, the story still had much to recommend it. There was a decent amount of action, as Jenny and Perrin work together to save the world and there are appearances by several Dirk & Steele old-timers and some interesting members of Perrin's watery kin as well. Hopefully, the next Dirk & Steele book won't be quite so long in coming - I am still waiting for Rictor's book.
Both of the leads, oceanologist Jenny and exiled merman Perrin, with their tragic pasts are appealing. And I liked the idea of the psychic bond between them that developed when 1st they met on a beach as children, a bond which grew as they shared dreams for eight years before that dream connection was brutally severed. But we aren't privvy to those dreams and their preexisting connection doesn't really facilitate the development of their relationship here when they are finally reunited after years of searching for each other. Consequently, with the heroine Jenny afraid to acknowledge that connection to the boy (now man) who she's devoted her life to finding - and her self preservation instincts telling her to run from Perrin - and also with Perrin hardened by what he has suffered as a stranger in a strange land and hiding his true emotions behind an icy facade, I just didn't feel the irrestible draw between the pair and the romance didn't end being as haunting as it could have been.
Which not to say that I didn't like the book, romance aside, the story still had much to recommend it. There was a decent amount of action, as Jenny and Perrin work together to save the world and there are appearances by several Dirk & Steele old-timers and some interesting members of Perrin's watery kin as well. Hopefully, the next Dirk & Steele book won't be quite so long in coming - I am still waiting for Rictor's book.
November 30, 2010
Reviewed by Tori-originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2010/11/rev...
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Jenny. She lived on an island with her grandparents. One day, when walking the beach, she came across a young boy who was injured. But this was no ordinary boy for he was silver. Jenny tried to help the boy but he was taken from her and she never saw him again. Except in her dreams.
Perrin, the boy whom Jenny befriended so long ago, is now full grown and has never forgotten Jenny either. When certain events point towards a world wide catastrophic event, fate re unites Perrin and Jenny in a race towards preventing the destruction of mankind.
The 10th Dirk & Steele Novel, In The Dark Of Dreams, is a thought provoking dark romantic fantasy that put me through the emotional ringer. Ms. Liu’s continued rich world building and dynamic characters explode to life as we are taken on a journey through a past and present filled with tragedy, remorse, and redemption. I have said it before and I’ll say it again. Marjorie M. Liu is the QUEEN of writing stories filled with tortured individuals who’s essence grab your heart and bruise your soul.
Jenny is at sea on a mission and comes across a woman who teases her memory. When they bring her aboard ship and investigate, Jenny realizes two things. The woman was murdered and someone on her ship did it. When the murderer commandeers the ship and Jenny, she escapes with the help of a mysterious and heart stopping man. As Jenny and her mysterious rescuer flee for their lives, Jenny soon discovers that it’s Perrin-the boy she found so long ago.
Perrin who is a Krackeni (merman), has a parentage that bestowed on him a special gift. But his dreams of a human were not tolerated and that caused him to be exiled from the sea. For the past 8 years Perrin has lived as a surface dweller on land-dying a little bit each day.
When Jenny and Perrin realize they have both shared the same dreams and their connection has a direct result on the the catastrophic horrors happening all over the world, they race against time to find the source of the disturbances and halt it’s deadly path.
Jenny and Perrin are to emotionally flawed characters who will capture your heart from page one. Both have suffered horribly at the hands of their families yet their inner strength and loyalties don’t allow them to wallow in self pity or give up. Even from the beginning you see their only shells-neither of them are whole. Both, unknowingly, waiting for the one person who completes them.
Jenny is a strong heroine who’s trials through life have forged her into a deceptively fragile pillar of steel. Yet buried beneath her strength is a vulnerability that speaks to you. Physically and emotionally drawn to Perrin, she shies away from what he silently offers due to fear. Because of her family’s work, she is extremely open minded to the wonders of the unknown. But she fears what she will lose when Perrin finds out exactly who she is.
Perrin is remarkably sane considering what his family had done to him-all because of Jenny. Banished from the ocean, he has suffered unimaginably for the crime of wanting someone he shouldn’t. He is filled with extreme pain, rage, and resentment towards his people yet when he knows he must return to the ocean at the risk of death, he courageously throws it all aside in attempts to save his world. His emotional bond to Jenny is so strong that it dictates the very air he breathes. But he too has secrets that he fears will drive Jenny from him.
Ms. Liu does a fantastic job of blending the suspense of the story with the emotional journey of Jenny and Perrin. Non stop action speeds the story along as you frantically absorb all the nuances and shifts. The plot was remarkable in it’s unique synopsis and I found myself riveted as it revealed itself. While there is a lot going on, Ms. Liu’s clear and concise writing style leaves little confusion. With each scene we watch Jenny and Perrin face their fears and over come obstacles while dealing with external factors that try to stop them. Nether plot nor romance is sacrificed. They balance and complement each other through the entire arc; merging together towards the end.
The romance evolves slowly as they rediscover each other on an adult level. Both have some extreme issues and Ms. Liu requires them to deal with those issues. The chemistry between Perrin and Jenny is electrifying and satisfying. Even though the physical aspects are very low key; the dialog and undercurrents are so emotionally charged you can feel it leaping off the pages.
The supporting cast is written strong and imposing. Complex and convoluted; the good and bad here are merely defined by degrees of separation and much plays out behind the scene. Everyone here has an agenda and does not always play by the rules. We see some old faces along with some new ones. I found each one to be a satisfying addition to the story. There are plenty here to cheer and hate with abundance.
As we headed towards the ending I found myself gripping the book with tension. Ms. Liu plays it close to the vest and I found myself praying the story would end the way I wanted. The ending IS phenomenal and leaves enough open end questions to assure us we haven’t seen the last of these players. Even though this could be read as a stand alone in the terms of the romance, you lose a lot in comprehension of character and arc development by not starting from the beginning of the series-Tiger Eyes.
Rating: A
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Jenny. She lived on an island with her grandparents. One day, when walking the beach, she came across a young boy who was injured. But this was no ordinary boy for he was silver. Jenny tried to help the boy but he was taken from her and she never saw him again. Except in her dreams.
Perrin, the boy whom Jenny befriended so long ago, is now full grown and has never forgotten Jenny either. When certain events point towards a world wide catastrophic event, fate re unites Perrin and Jenny in a race towards preventing the destruction of mankind.
The 10th Dirk & Steele Novel, In The Dark Of Dreams, is a thought provoking dark romantic fantasy that put me through the emotional ringer. Ms. Liu’s continued rich world building and dynamic characters explode to life as we are taken on a journey through a past and present filled with tragedy, remorse, and redemption. I have said it before and I’ll say it again. Marjorie M. Liu is the QUEEN of writing stories filled with tortured individuals who’s essence grab your heart and bruise your soul.
Jenny is at sea on a mission and comes across a woman who teases her memory. When they bring her aboard ship and investigate, Jenny realizes two things. The woman was murdered and someone on her ship did it. When the murderer commandeers the ship and Jenny, she escapes with the help of a mysterious and heart stopping man. As Jenny and her mysterious rescuer flee for their lives, Jenny soon discovers that it’s Perrin-the boy she found so long ago.
Perrin who is a Krackeni (merman), has a parentage that bestowed on him a special gift. But his dreams of a human were not tolerated and that caused him to be exiled from the sea. For the past 8 years Perrin has lived as a surface dweller on land-dying a little bit each day.
When Jenny and Perrin realize they have both shared the same dreams and their connection has a direct result on the the catastrophic horrors happening all over the world, they race against time to find the source of the disturbances and halt it’s deadly path.
Jenny and Perrin are to emotionally flawed characters who will capture your heart from page one. Both have suffered horribly at the hands of their families yet their inner strength and loyalties don’t allow them to wallow in self pity or give up. Even from the beginning you see their only shells-neither of them are whole. Both, unknowingly, waiting for the one person who completes them.
Jenny is a strong heroine who’s trials through life have forged her into a deceptively fragile pillar of steel. Yet buried beneath her strength is a vulnerability that speaks to you. Physically and emotionally drawn to Perrin, she shies away from what he silently offers due to fear. Because of her family’s work, she is extremely open minded to the wonders of the unknown. But she fears what she will lose when Perrin finds out exactly who she is.
Perrin is remarkably sane considering what his family had done to him-all because of Jenny. Banished from the ocean, he has suffered unimaginably for the crime of wanting someone he shouldn’t. He is filled with extreme pain, rage, and resentment towards his people yet when he knows he must return to the ocean at the risk of death, he courageously throws it all aside in attempts to save his world. His emotional bond to Jenny is so strong that it dictates the very air he breathes. But he too has secrets that he fears will drive Jenny from him.
Ms. Liu does a fantastic job of blending the suspense of the story with the emotional journey of Jenny and Perrin. Non stop action speeds the story along as you frantically absorb all the nuances and shifts. The plot was remarkable in it’s unique synopsis and I found myself riveted as it revealed itself. While there is a lot going on, Ms. Liu’s clear and concise writing style leaves little confusion. With each scene we watch Jenny and Perrin face their fears and over come obstacles while dealing with external factors that try to stop them. Nether plot nor romance is sacrificed. They balance and complement each other through the entire arc; merging together towards the end.
The romance evolves slowly as they rediscover each other on an adult level. Both have some extreme issues and Ms. Liu requires them to deal with those issues. The chemistry between Perrin and Jenny is electrifying and satisfying. Even though the physical aspects are very low key; the dialog and undercurrents are so emotionally charged you can feel it leaping off the pages.
The supporting cast is written strong and imposing. Complex and convoluted; the good and bad here are merely defined by degrees of separation and much plays out behind the scene. Everyone here has an agenda and does not always play by the rules. We see some old faces along with some new ones. I found each one to be a satisfying addition to the story. There are plenty here to cheer and hate with abundance.
As we headed towards the ending I found myself gripping the book with tension. Ms. Liu plays it close to the vest and I found myself praying the story would end the way I wanted. The ending IS phenomenal and leaves enough open end questions to assure us we haven’t seen the last of these players. Even though this could be read as a stand alone in the terms of the romance, you lose a lot in comprehension of character and arc development by not starting from the beginning of the series-Tiger Eyes.
Rating: A
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2016
In the Dark of Dreams is the tenth book in the Dirk & Steele series of paranormal romances by Marjorie M. Liu. Thankfully for this reviewer, who had not picked up a book in the series previously, it could be read standalone with very little difficulty. I’m sure some of the nuances and inside jokes and comments were lost on me because I didn’t read the previous nine novels, but overall it didn’t cramp my enjoyment one bit.
There is a lot of subtext and hints at past books, but Liu kept the book firmly in the “here and now.” What leaked through was important to understanding to the plot, not unnecessary exposition being used as filler. The real draw in this book was the strength both Jenny and Perrin had, as individuals and as a team.
Neither of them forgot that moment on the beach when they met, two young children from different worlds who found a way to communicate and offer comfort. Nor did they forget the feeling of reassurance they offered one and other in the intervening years, both through their memories of that night and the dreams they shared. Arguably the thought of Jenny gave Perrin more strength and reason to live, but Jenny’s belief in Perrin–in what he represented (a whole world she didn’t know existed)–was the impetus for her own life choices.
I appreciated that even though the two had a connection (and attraction) to each other, Liu didn’t make it an automatic “love conquers all” scenario. While Perrin was sure as all get about Jenny, his re-entrance into her life was anything but ideal. Especially after what she goes through at the hands of a person she’s trusted for years (who has a connection to Perrin as well). Perrin slowly builds his rapport with Jenny up, slowly gives her reasons to trust him and believe in what they have. He’s battling his own demons, failures and inadequacies he hasn’t overcome in the eight years since he was exiled from his home.
The two of them are scarred and scared to let the other see the darker side of their lives. The tension between them was palpable, as was the almost desperate urgency that Jenny felt. She needed to be able to trust him, knew she could despite her misgivings, but too much in the past kept that from being a reality immediately.
Les, who’s a charming, mysterious friend of Jenny’s, was a different story. At the end of the novel I could see where Liu was leading us, in terms of his characterization, but during the novel he was as scattered as marbles. Not the coherent kind of scattered where you could see it gradually building; no, he just went unhinged and stayed unhinged.
Technically the agency of Dirk & Steele are part of the plot. Jenny’s grandmother’s sister is one of the co-founders of Dirk & Steele, so Jenny has always been aware of them. And the upper echelon of D&S knows about her. This is probably the only part of the book that I was kind of confused with, because the family split 3 ways–D&S, the Consortium (bad guys) and the A Priori (Jenny’s grandparents), but I was unclear as to why D&S and the A Priori weren’t working together. Matter of politics? The A Priori seemed more interested in research and the scientific angle while D&S seems more about helping the not quite human folks, so I don’t see how they couldn’t work together to stop the Consortium (who just seem bad, period).
The romance is a slow burn in the book, building from their attraction and bond with simple gestures of affection and deeper feeling. I liked that; I liked that for the two of them they wanted it to be special and mean something more than just lust. And that they worked out a lot of their issues with each other before settling into bed.
This was a wonderful introduction into Liu’s novel works, and in particular her Dirk & Steele novels. And the cover is just gorgeous (even if Perrin’s hair isn’t the right length).
There is a lot of subtext and hints at past books, but Liu kept the book firmly in the “here and now.” What leaked through was important to understanding to the plot, not unnecessary exposition being used as filler. The real draw in this book was the strength both Jenny and Perrin had, as individuals and as a team.
Neither of them forgot that moment on the beach when they met, two young children from different worlds who found a way to communicate and offer comfort. Nor did they forget the feeling of reassurance they offered one and other in the intervening years, both through their memories of that night and the dreams they shared. Arguably the thought of Jenny gave Perrin more strength and reason to live, but Jenny’s belief in Perrin–in what he represented (a whole world she didn’t know existed)–was the impetus for her own life choices.
I appreciated that even though the two had a connection (and attraction) to each other, Liu didn’t make it an automatic “love conquers all” scenario. While Perrin was sure as all get about Jenny, his re-entrance into her life was anything but ideal. Especially after what she goes through at the hands of a person she’s trusted for years (who has a connection to Perrin as well). Perrin slowly builds his rapport with Jenny up, slowly gives her reasons to trust him and believe in what they have. He’s battling his own demons, failures and inadequacies he hasn’t overcome in the eight years since he was exiled from his home.
The two of them are scarred and scared to let the other see the darker side of their lives. The tension between them was palpable, as was the almost desperate urgency that Jenny felt. She needed to be able to trust him, knew she could despite her misgivings, but too much in the past kept that from being a reality immediately.
Les, who’s a charming, mysterious friend of Jenny’s, was a different story. At the end of the novel I could see where Liu was leading us, in terms of his characterization, but during the novel he was as scattered as marbles. Not the coherent kind of scattered where you could see it gradually building; no, he just went unhinged and stayed unhinged.
Technically the agency of Dirk & Steele are part of the plot. Jenny’s grandmother’s sister is one of the co-founders of Dirk & Steele, so Jenny has always been aware of them. And the upper echelon of D&S knows about her. This is probably the only part of the book that I was kind of confused with, because the family split 3 ways–D&S, the Consortium (bad guys) and the A Priori (Jenny’s grandparents), but I was unclear as to why D&S and the A Priori weren’t working together. Matter of politics? The A Priori seemed more interested in research and the scientific angle while D&S seems more about helping the not quite human folks, so I don’t see how they couldn’t work together to stop the Consortium (who just seem bad, period).
The romance is a slow burn in the book, building from their attraction and bond with simple gestures of affection and deeper feeling. I liked that; I liked that for the two of them they wanted it to be special and mean something more than just lust. And that they worked out a lot of their issues with each other before settling into bed.
This was a wonderful introduction into Liu’s novel works, and in particular her Dirk & Steele novels. And the cover is just gorgeous (even if Perrin’s hair isn’t the right length).
December 3, 2010
I'm a big fan of this series which uses non traditional magical creatures. By that I mean not the European tradition of vampires, werewolves and fae. These are full of shapeshifters from other cultures, people with odd ball pyschic abilities, and in this one mer people.
These two met in the prologue on a beach in Maine when they were about 12 years old. They communicate through dreams for the next 8 years. He is then exiled from the ocean and they can no longer contact each other in dreams. She spends her time looking for him/mer people in the ocean while he is on land.
This book was full of angst and romance. He thinks he will be killed for going back to the ocean to save her when he inexplicably "hears" her again and she is in trouble. He basically says words to the effect that if he can just live long enough to save her, his life will not have been in vain. He is very self sacrificing.
The only part of the story that I didn't like was that the Consortium was trying to capture her. The Consortium is the group of bad guys which throughout this series captures these shifters and pyschics and all for purposes of experimenting on this and trying to breed up new ones to use to conquer the world. At the end though they send her a letter saying never mind, we don't need you right now after all. She is related to some of the bad guys. So that was sort of a cop out. The Consortium was used to create tension and peril then the author said 'never mind'. So total cop out. But the rest of the book was so good in the shear romanitc aspect that I'll forgive her for it but really, don't do it again, ML.
I liked the physical descriptions of the characters especially the hero. His merman coloring made him appear to be an albino to humans which is an interesting choice.
These two met in the prologue on a beach in Maine when they were about 12 years old. They communicate through dreams for the next 8 years. He is then exiled from the ocean and they can no longer contact each other in dreams. She spends her time looking for him/mer people in the ocean while he is on land.
This book was full of angst and romance. He thinks he will be killed for going back to the ocean to save her when he inexplicably "hears" her again and she is in trouble. He basically says words to the effect that if he can just live long enough to save her, his life will not have been in vain. He is very self sacrificing.
The only part of the story that I didn't like was that the Consortium was trying to capture her. The Consortium is the group of bad guys which throughout this series captures these shifters and pyschics and all for purposes of experimenting on this and trying to breed up new ones to use to conquer the world. At the end though they send her a letter saying never mind, we don't need you right now after all. She is related to some of the bad guys. So that was sort of a cop out. The Consortium was used to create tension and peril then the author said 'never mind'. So total cop out. But the rest of the book was so good in the shear romanitc aspect that I'll forgive her for it but really, don't do it again, ML.
I liked the physical descriptions of the characters especially the hero. His merman coloring made him appear to be an albino to humans which is an interesting choice.
December 10, 2011
I just love the Dirk & Steele novels! No two novels are alike, as different characters are featured. There are so many different supernatural people in these stories. The main characters are a young woman, Jenny, who had found a young merboy on the beach of her family's home in Maine when she was only 12 and had never told anyone; and Perrin, now grown, scarred and wounded, and exiled from the sea. There was something that happened when the 2 met, even though they were separated, they started to dream of each other. They both grew up with physical and emotional scars from events that happened as they grew, and Jenny's profession helped her to be on the sea, and she never gave up hope on finding him. She wasn't sure what to do once they were reunited, though, because he had changed so much! Perrin has sensed a danger to the world's population, and it's the members of Dirk and Steele who listen to him. He must return to the sea to try and get his people to listem to him, before it's too late, and before they condemn and kill him. What he does not expect is to come face to face with Jenny (he never knew her name), and to find that she is what he needs in more ways than one! Loved this book!
November 6, 2013
I loved this book! Well written, well constructed. I found it truly moving.
May 24, 2017
Long stretch in between this and the last Dirk and Steele I read- I almost couldn’t remember what all went on beforehand. In the end, the not knowing didn’t deter too much from this story.
Oceanologist Jenny, met a mythical sea creature many years ago as a kid. In a moment of trauma, child of the mer people, Perrin forges a bond with young Jenny. Although separated for many years the bond remains as they share dreams and emotions neither even sure the other is still alive. Still they never give up searching for each other and one day- they find each other.
Reunited, both are emotionally scarred and unable to give over completely to the other, yet they cannot deny the bond. And I suspected long before they that the very same bond was what was going to save Perrin- and the fate of the entire world which is swiftly headed toward destruction.
I, being an unrepentant Jules Verne fan, actually liked the tale of psychic connection with unimaginable sea monsters that both these characters have- one with each other and then, eventually one through the other.
I felt In the Dark of Dreams really stuck to her paranormal romance roots and ended up liking it quite a bit. This series isn't for those who just want straight up easy reading. M M Liu is a writer, and she's a good one.
3.5 out of 4 from me.
Oceanologist Jenny, met a mythical sea creature many years ago as a kid. In a moment of trauma, child of the mer people, Perrin forges a bond with young Jenny. Although separated for many years the bond remains as they share dreams and emotions neither even sure the other is still alive. Still they never give up searching for each other and one day- they find each other.
Reunited, both are emotionally scarred and unable to give over completely to the other, yet they cannot deny the bond. And I suspected long before they that the very same bond was what was going to save Perrin- and the fate of the entire world which is swiftly headed toward destruction.
I, being an unrepentant Jules Verne fan, actually liked the tale of psychic connection with unimaginable sea monsters that both these characters have- one with each other and then, eventually one through the other.
I felt In the Dark of Dreams really stuck to her paranormal romance roots and ended up liking it quite a bit. This series isn't for those who just want straight up easy reading. M M Liu is a writer, and she's a good one.
3.5 out of 4 from me.
October 24, 2011
Tenth in the Dirk and Steele paranormal-romance series revolving around a group of shifters and others with magical talents who have formed a detective agency if you will, with a two-pronged mission: save others like themselves and thwart the Consortium.
The Story
Weaknesses and fears force Perrin into exile. An exile made worse by the loss of his kra'a and the loss of the dreams he has shared for most of his life with Jenny, the girl on the beach. The human with whom he made a connection. Then a psychic event forces Perrin to return to the sea. Find people who can help him prevent what has been foretold.
As Perrin is out searching on the ocean, a betrayal reawakens Perrin's connection with Jenny. Danger threatens her and he must protect her from the many forces arrayed against her. Earthquakes, tsunamis, the world breaking apart are not as important as Jenny's life. Yet, it is all intertwined.
The Characters
Jenny is a member of the A Priori, the better half of the family. Fighting against the more selfish half which makes up the Consortium. She has divorced herself from the entire family wanting nothing to do with the power shifts, angry that they refused to listen when she tried to warn them. Instead, she spends her time finding anomalies both to protect newly-found shifters and to protect the world.
Perrin was a Guardian, a Krackeni. A guardian who used his own dreams to aid in keeping the Kraken dreaming. Condemned for his stance and driven into absolute exile from all waters. An incident at the Chicago aquarium sends him seeking aid, desperate to avert the calamity foretold. A'lesander, a.k.a., Les, is a member of Jenny's team retrieving and protecting. Until he decides to choose his own personal destiny. Krackeni are those whom land people refer to as mermaids and mermen. A simple, yet complex undersea society of shifters charged with the task of keeping the Kraken dreaming in order to keep the world from breaking apart.
Eddie and Rik are with Dirk and Steele and sent with Perrin to aid him in preventing the disaster he forsees. Sajeev is captain of the boat and seems to have a very interesting talent with a sniper rifle. Roland, Charlie, and Agatha provide an intro to this next half of Jenny and Perrin's lives.
My Take
I think this is one of Liu's best in terms of teasing the reader with hints and possibilities into reading as fast as I could. I needed to know what was going to happen. What had happened. It's also the first in this series that is almost entirely in the water addressing the myths and legends hiding in its depths. It has also reaffirmed my enjoyment of Liu's series.
Nasty family dynamics all around.
The Cover
Perrin looks much more robust on the cover than he seems through most of the story. Lordy, that boy has got a very well-muscled back with that gorgeous silver hair lifting a dark-haired, chemise-clad Jenny up out of the sparkling waters, a slash of brilliant light illuminating where their bodies are joined, darkness on either side.
The title certainly fits as the entire story revolves around dreams: those shared for so many years by Jenny and Perrin as well as the dreams used to quiet the Kraken.
The Story
Weaknesses and fears force Perrin into exile. An exile made worse by the loss of his kra'a and the loss of the dreams he has shared for most of his life with Jenny, the girl on the beach. The human with whom he made a connection. Then a psychic event forces Perrin to return to the sea. Find people who can help him prevent what has been foretold.
As Perrin is out searching on the ocean, a betrayal reawakens Perrin's connection with Jenny. Danger threatens her and he must protect her from the many forces arrayed against her. Earthquakes, tsunamis, the world breaking apart are not as important as Jenny's life. Yet, it is all intertwined.
The Characters
Jenny is a member of the A Priori, the better half of the family. Fighting against the more selfish half which makes up the Consortium. She has divorced herself from the entire family wanting nothing to do with the power shifts, angry that they refused to listen when she tried to warn them. Instead, she spends her time finding anomalies both to protect newly-found shifters and to protect the world.
Perrin was a Guardian, a Krackeni. A guardian who used his own dreams to aid in keeping the Kraken dreaming. Condemned for his stance and driven into absolute exile from all waters. An incident at the Chicago aquarium sends him seeking aid, desperate to avert the calamity foretold. A'lesander, a.k.a., Les, is a member of Jenny's team retrieving and protecting. Until he decides to choose his own personal destiny. Krackeni are those whom land people refer to as mermaids and mermen. A simple, yet complex undersea society of shifters charged with the task of keeping the Kraken dreaming in order to keep the world from breaking apart.
Eddie and Rik are with Dirk and Steele and sent with Perrin to aid him in preventing the disaster he forsees. Sajeev is captain of the boat and seems to have a very interesting talent with a sniper rifle. Roland, Charlie, and Agatha provide an intro to this next half of Jenny and Perrin's lives.
My Take
I think this is one of Liu's best in terms of teasing the reader with hints and possibilities into reading as fast as I could. I needed to know what was going to happen. What had happened. It's also the first in this series that is almost entirely in the water addressing the myths and legends hiding in its depths. It has also reaffirmed my enjoyment of Liu's series.
Nasty family dynamics all around.
The Cover
Perrin looks much more robust on the cover than he seems through most of the story. Lordy, that boy has got a very well-muscled back with that gorgeous silver hair lifting a dark-haired, chemise-clad Jenny up out of the sparkling waters, a slash of brilliant light illuminating where their bodies are joined, darkness on either side.
The title certainly fits as the entire story revolves around dreams: those shared for so many years by Jenny and Perrin as well as the dreams used to quiet the Kraken.
December 6, 2010
In the beautifully written prologue to In the Dark of Dreams, a young human girl meets a mer-boy on the beach near her family home. The moment is brief and the two are torn away from each other, but they never forget each other and see each other in dreams for many years afterward.
Fast-forward to the present: Jenny (the girl) and Perrin (the boy) have both grown to adulthood and have picked up their share of physical and emotional scars along the way. Jenny travels the world hoping to find merpeople again, while Perrin has been banished from the sea and is trying to live as a human man. Their lives are changed when they begin to have the dreams again — just in time to face a host of dangers ranging from mercenaries and thugs to an ancient, eldritch being who threatens all life on Earth. Marjorie M. Liu does a great job with the latter in particular, making the creature frightening but not “evil” and hinting at an epic history. As Jenny and Perrin deal with these problems, they become reacquainted with each other and develop a more grown-up love.
At about the halfway point, I found myself having trouble connecting with the story. When I thought about it, I realized the problem was that Liu had left Perrin’s past too mysterious. There are hints of crimes committed, and before I could “invest” in him as a character, I wanted more details so I could be sure he wasn’t a jerk and wouldn’t be abusive toward Jenny. I finally decided that Liu was “vouching” for him by making him the hero in the first place and was able to get past this issue. Most of my questions are eventually answered. Even after finishing the book, though, I still want to know more about what happened with Rik and Surinia. I suspect those details will come out in a later book focusing on Rik.
In the Dark of Dreams is an intense paranormal romance filled with deep love and deep sorrow. There’s plenty of action, too, and a cast of interesting characters. Eddie and the dog are particularly lovable. The main “villain” (in quotation marks because it’s really more a force of nature than a “bad guy” per se) is original, and the means of defusing the threat is emotionally compelling and well-thought-out.
There’s much less time spent underwater than the cover blurb might suggest. The characters spend most of the book on boats or on islands, and In the Dark of Dreams could be just the right escapist read when it’s cold and drizzly out. So long, winter; hello palm trees and beaches! Watch out for mercenaries…
Review originally published on Fantas Literature's Marjorie Liu page.
Fast-forward to the present: Jenny (the girl) and Perrin (the boy) have both grown to adulthood and have picked up their share of physical and emotional scars along the way. Jenny travels the world hoping to find merpeople again, while Perrin has been banished from the sea and is trying to live as a human man. Their lives are changed when they begin to have the dreams again — just in time to face a host of dangers ranging from mercenaries and thugs to an ancient, eldritch being who threatens all life on Earth. Marjorie M. Liu does a great job with the latter in particular, making the creature frightening but not “evil” and hinting at an epic history. As Jenny and Perrin deal with these problems, they become reacquainted with each other and develop a more grown-up love.
At about the halfway point, I found myself having trouble connecting with the story. When I thought about it, I realized the problem was that Liu had left Perrin’s past too mysterious. There are hints of crimes committed, and before I could “invest” in him as a character, I wanted more details so I could be sure he wasn’t a jerk and wouldn’t be abusive toward Jenny. I finally decided that Liu was “vouching” for him by making him the hero in the first place and was able to get past this issue. Most of my questions are eventually answered. Even after finishing the book, though, I still want to know more about what happened with Rik and Surinia. I suspect those details will come out in a later book focusing on Rik.
In the Dark of Dreams is an intense paranormal romance filled with deep love and deep sorrow. There’s plenty of action, too, and a cast of interesting characters. Eddie and the dog are particularly lovable. The main “villain” (in quotation marks because it’s really more a force of nature than a “bad guy” per se) is original, and the means of defusing the threat is emotionally compelling and well-thought-out.
There’s much less time spent underwater than the cover blurb might suggest. The characters spend most of the book on boats or on islands, and In the Dark of Dreams could be just the right escapist read when it’s cold and drizzly out. So long, winter; hello palm trees and beaches! Watch out for mercenaries…
Review originally published on Fantas Literature's Marjorie Liu page.
April 4, 2013
In The Dark Of Dreams is by Marjorie M Liu, its the most recent in the Dirk & Steele series. Jenny at twelve years old found a boy upon the beach, and had dreams of him, dreams of peace and love and a friendship that made her ache to find him, and to never stop searching for the boy that held her heart in his hands. Now she is a adult, and is part of a family that is both good and evil. Half of her family has tried to destroy the life that she has built for herself, the other half is part of the Dirk & Steele company. When she goes to investigate a death of a woman, she never expected on the sea to have her life torn upside down and to be saved by the one that haunts her dreams, Perrin. After having her close friend betray her, she knows that now there is something dangerous yet she trusts him as she has never trusted anyone else. But there is a danger on the horizon, which will take both Perrin and Jenny working together where they will have to trust in the love in each other, to save each other and to save millions.
In The Dark Of Dreams, was a thrilling ride and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read such a read. It was filled with all the kind of aspects that I enjoy in a good romance. Jenny has loved Perrin for a long time, and after finally having found him, she never wants to let him go. She would rather fight by his side, than be left on the sidelines. Perrin, having been exiled by his people and his own father, aches to return back to the sea. Then after realizing the great danger the world is in, he knows that he needs to find the one woman that has held his heart, mind and soul for so many years. All he knows is that he must do everything in his power to protect her at all costs. Both of these two strong characters will come to realize how powerful the love for each other, and how it will manifest itself in this enticing love story that Marjorie M Liu has created for her readers. Although the beginning started up slowly, it picked up pace quickly and I fell in love with the plot and the characters. There was such powerful emotions that were displayed so riveting throughout the whole book, that made the story and the characters come alive for the reader. Marjorie M Liu has done it again, she has created a story that will stir up your senses where you will only want to cry out for more, yet leaving you satisfied.
In The Dark Of Dreams, was a thrilling ride and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read such a read. It was filled with all the kind of aspects that I enjoy in a good romance. Jenny has loved Perrin for a long time, and after finally having found him, she never wants to let him go. She would rather fight by his side, than be left on the sidelines. Perrin, having been exiled by his people and his own father, aches to return back to the sea. Then after realizing the great danger the world is in, he knows that he needs to find the one woman that has held his heart, mind and soul for so many years. All he knows is that he must do everything in his power to protect her at all costs. Both of these two strong characters will come to realize how powerful the love for each other, and how it will manifest itself in this enticing love story that Marjorie M Liu has created for her readers. Although the beginning started up slowly, it picked up pace quickly and I fell in love with the plot and the characters. There was such powerful emotions that were displayed so riveting throughout the whole book, that made the story and the characters come alive for the reader. Marjorie M Liu has done it again, she has created a story that will stir up your senses where you will only want to cry out for more, yet leaving you satisfied.
August 19, 2011
I'm not sure if I was so disengaged with this book because it's been such a long time since I read the last Dirk & Steele books, or if In the Dark of Dreams really was that much worse than all the others. Liu's never exactly been a wonderful prose stylist, but the previous books were compulsively readable, trashy paranormal romance fun, but this was a pretty leaden read—all opaque emotions, tell-not-show and... ominous... ellipses. The plot resolution also left me blinking. If I hadn't been stuck on a bus while reading this, I'm not sure I would have finished it. Disappointing.
December 11, 2018
Perrin is a merman, or Krackeni, whose been exiled and forced to work on land among humans. Trying to survive for years without his natural element, he’s been working at Sheds’ aquarium. But that’s not enough. He still dreams of a human girl he met years ago and his dreams have been getting darker. Fearing that something awful is going to happen, he asks D&S for help.
Jenny is a marine scientist aboard her grandfather’s research ship. He owns the A Priori bioresearch company which happens to be the good side of the Organization. Her childhood memories of meeting a mysterious young man on a cold beach in Maine have given her an attraction for the sea, but lately her dreams too have been turning dark. And now someone is out to get her.
This story is so confusing, it’s like a bad dream. Half the time I had no idea what was happening or being referred to. Whether it was part of a dream or real time. Too much effort was put in to keep the reader confused about what was going to happen that it just became just a bewildering mess.
And it took away from what could have been a wonderful merman undersea story. And why was Eddie who controls fire even there?
Fave scenes: rescuing the dolphin, ‘Rose of the sea, Rose of dawn’, the rescued dog and meeting the shark.
Jenny is a marine scientist aboard her grandfather’s research ship. He owns the A Priori bioresearch company which happens to be the good side of the Organization. Her childhood memories of meeting a mysterious young man on a cold beach in Maine have given her an attraction for the sea, but lately her dreams too have been turning dark. And now someone is out to get her.
This story is so confusing, it’s like a bad dream. Half the time I had no idea what was happening or being referred to. Whether it was part of a dream or real time. Too much effort was put in to keep the reader confused about what was going to happen that it just became just a bewildering mess.
And it took away from what could have been a wonderful merman undersea story. And why was Eddie who controls fire even there?
Fave scenes: rescuing the dolphin, ‘Rose of the sea, Rose of dawn’, the rescued dog and meeting the shark.
September 18, 2017
Perrin is a hot, sexy merman who has been exiled from his world, beaten, tortured and falsely accused of killing one of his own. Jenny is a courageous woman who has separated herself from her family due to different ways of seeing life and the treatment of those not considered normal. They met when both were very young and did not see each other for many years. Fate brings them together and they realize they were meant for each other. Their love is strong and survives many deadly and terrible obstacles. This is a beautiful love story, easy to read and very enjoyable. The story was easy to follow and difficult to put down once I started to read it. Ms Liu is a wonderful author who captures the attention of this reader and has done so with her other Dirk & Steele stories.
March 20, 2021
I want to like this book. I do. It's got mermaids, crazy conspiracy, and the scene was set off the coast of my country. Unfortunately, the pacing and character development didn't work for me. I enjoyed Ms Liu's novellas and she's an award-winning comic and graphic novel writer, but this novel just didn't work for me. I feel like it would work better as a graphic novel than a regular one with no pictures.
December 21, 2017
Loved every bit of this
This is my third book by this author and I loved every minute of this beautifully crafted novel. It is a clever and poignant love story set in a world that is eerily believable with equally believable characters that grab onto our heartstrings and don’t let go.
Just beautiful.
This is my third book by this author and I loved every minute of this beautifully crafted novel. It is a clever and poignant love story set in a world that is eerily believable with equally believable characters that grab onto our heartstrings and don’t let go.
Just beautiful.
August 2, 2020
They first met as children... but were separated
And that had a profound effect on their lives..
He is tasked with a great honour among his people but his dreams are always of her.. so he is exiled because of that..
She has spent her adult life trying to find him...
And what finds her in the deep will change the direction of both of their lives.
I really liked it.
And that had a profound effect on their lives..
He is tasked with a great honour among his people but his dreams are always of her.. so he is exiled because of that..
She has spent her adult life trying to find him...
And what finds her in the deep will change the direction of both of their lives.
I really liked it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2022
I really got into the world of the book. Perrin and Jenny were pretty intriguing. It has been a while since I've read a couple that wasn't instalove. I really enjoyed the slow burn dynamic. The world-building was pretty cool too.
December 28, 2017
Was a great book, I suggest readind the dirk and steel novels in order
April 14, 2021
I think I held my breath through most of this book because it was thrilling. Marjorie Liu created a world that was surprising and amazing, and I can’t wait to see where she will take me next.
January 23, 2023
This is hands down my favorite in the series, it's just beautiful. Perrin and Jenny's love story is pure poetry, I love this book so much.
July 25, 2023
Magical sand dollar parasite and InstaLove™️ vs sleeping, world-ending, lonely Kraken
Meh.
Meh.
November 30, 2022
This book is very hard to summarize but I'll do my best. As children, the hero met the heroine on the beach. He, a merman, running from his destiny and the controlling society he longed to be free of. She, a human with paranormal family ties, desperate to escape the abuse of his childhood and be happy. From that first meeting a bond was created, one that connected these two souls for eternity even though they didn't know each others names or see each others features. They dreamt of the beach constantly, of a place where they could meet and be safe in each others company....And then the dreams stopped. The hero, desperate to keep this connection he had with his human girl, did the unthinkable and as such was severely punished. Stripped of this kra'a, basically stripped of his soul, he is banished from the sea forever. He wash's up on shore naked, with a hole in the back of his head and his heart filled with such agony he wants only to die. The he remembers his human girl. The desire to find her is stronger than the desire to end his misery so he spends he next 8 years surviving, waiting to the chance to encounter her. The heroine has always been driven to prove to herself than merman are real, that her dreams of a little merman boy weren't the delusions of a crazy woman. She's come to Indonesia on company business to find evidence of a shape shifting woman. But upon arrival she sees the woman is dead, murdered. It's then that shit hits the fan, A man in her crew turns on her, kills her friends and attempts to kidnap herself. She's saved by the boy, rather than man as he is now, that she dreamt of all those years ago. He's come to Indonesia because he heard the call of waking Kraken, knowing that a guardian has been murdered. Also, because he knew he'd find his dream girl. Together they fight desperately to escape pirates, the consortium as well as their own pain and doubts. The hero may love the heroine with everything he is but he can't deny the fact that he's no longer that boy she knew. He's seen things, worse, he's done things that put shadows over the notion of him being a 'good man'. He's been to prison, he's killed. He'll kill again if it means protecting the heroine. He knows she's afraid of him but it burns in his heart like nothing else and he tries to convince her he'd never do anything to hurt her. The heroine in turn isn't so much afraid of the hero, though he larger and dangerous to any enemy they face, no, rather she's afraid of what's happening to her. Suddenly her dream boy is back, and this bond between them is stronger than anything she's ever felt. She's got a parasite which is later discovered to be the hero's Kra'a, his soul, and she's responsible for stopping the end of the world. All of this is a lot of deal with even for a woman used to paranormal happenings. This plot had a lot happening but it's hard to summarize because a lot of it is repeated. It was a cycle of escaping, then the enemy shows up, the escape, and so on. It actually got a bit boring towards the end, which I feel sick saying because I absolutely adore this author, but it's the truth. As for the characters, they were lovely as always. So damaged, so tormented. Both of them were very tortured creatures and so alike in the ways they dealt with this pain. The hero, basically left to die to land, breathing in contaminated air, living in the salt water of his bathtub, dreaming a of green eyes girl. He only wanted to protect her, to love her. He killed to do so and he'll do whatever he can to see her safe, even from himself. He did have a quick fire temper and at time his outburst put distrust in his companions eyes. He even, at times, bruised the heroine unwittingly. But regardless he was a good man, tormented with loneliness and self doubt. The heroine, a member of a family with both good and evil ties, grieving the death of his baby and coping with the fact that a parasite has latched onto the back of her head and is send her messages and speaking to her. She kept her head through all this when anyone else would have surely fallen apart. She was not the screaming heroine type but instead the take charge save yourself kind of gal, which I greatly admired. Over all, not my favourite of the series but I can't help but like anything this author produces.
January 5, 2011
Marjorie Liu doesn't disappoint with her latest paranormal romance in the Dirk & Steele series. IN THE DARK OF DREAMS follows Jenny and Perrin as they try to solve a murder and save the world from a monster that slumbers in the deep of the ocean. The chemistry sizzles throughout, and the adventure kept me turning the pages, unable to put the book down.
As a child, Jenny stumbled across a child with fins -- a mythological merman. That fleeting encounter changed her life as she dreamed of her friend, conjured walks on the beach and conversations. Perrin, the young boy of the sea, shared those same dreams and he knew that they weren't just figments of the imagination. As they grew older, the visions stopped -- but Perrin and Jenny never forgot each other and each continued to hope that they would, one day, meet again.
When earthquakes and tsunamis begin to occur with frightening frequency, Perrin knows that he must act. Despite his exile from the ocean and despite the danger, he knows what is causing the earth's turmoil. A leviathan awakes. Guardian mermaids (or mermen) are selected every generation to dream for the mythical beasts, keeping them dormant by sharing visions more satisfying than waking would be. Perrin doesn't know what happened to the Guardian in the Pacific region, but he's determined to find out. When his investigation leads him to a marine scientist, he's amazed to find the little girl from the beach so long ago. Jenny is shocked, too, and unsure whether to trust, but together she and Perrin must solve the mystery of the missing Guardian and somehow deal with the Leviathan before it fully awakes.
IN THE DARK OF DREAMS is a beautiful book. Marjorie Liu has a way with words that is lyrical and I would find myself re-reading a sentence just to fully experience the beautiful pictures she paints with her prose. The dangers that Jenny and Perrin face are palpable. Added to that, the chemistry and tension between the two is always there, always building, so that when they finally admit how they feel for each other, it's a meaningful experience in the book. Every element of the story is combined just so, making the experience something more than just reading a good book. Marjorie Liu is truly an artist with a pen.
If you're a fan of the Dirk & Steele series, IN THE DARK OF DREAMS will satisfy by continuing the world-building introduced in earlier novels. There are also cameo appearances from characters from earlier books. If you're new to the series, though, you should still be able to dive right in and not feel as though you're missing out on the story. IN THE DARK OF DREAMS is a fantastic read, filled with passion, adventure and enchantment.
Originally reviewed for The Romance Reviews.
As a child, Jenny stumbled across a child with fins -- a mythological merman. That fleeting encounter changed her life as she dreamed of her friend, conjured walks on the beach and conversations. Perrin, the young boy of the sea, shared those same dreams and he knew that they weren't just figments of the imagination. As they grew older, the visions stopped -- but Perrin and Jenny never forgot each other and each continued to hope that they would, one day, meet again.
When earthquakes and tsunamis begin to occur with frightening frequency, Perrin knows that he must act. Despite his exile from the ocean and despite the danger, he knows what is causing the earth's turmoil. A leviathan awakes. Guardian mermaids (or mermen) are selected every generation to dream for the mythical beasts, keeping them dormant by sharing visions more satisfying than waking would be. Perrin doesn't know what happened to the Guardian in the Pacific region, but he's determined to find out. When his investigation leads him to a marine scientist, he's amazed to find the little girl from the beach so long ago. Jenny is shocked, too, and unsure whether to trust, but together she and Perrin must solve the mystery of the missing Guardian and somehow deal with the Leviathan before it fully awakes.
IN THE DARK OF DREAMS is a beautiful book. Marjorie Liu has a way with words that is lyrical and I would find myself re-reading a sentence just to fully experience the beautiful pictures she paints with her prose. The dangers that Jenny and Perrin face are palpable. Added to that, the chemistry and tension between the two is always there, always building, so that when they finally admit how they feel for each other, it's a meaningful experience in the book. Every element of the story is combined just so, making the experience something more than just reading a good book. Marjorie Liu is truly an artist with a pen.
If you're a fan of the Dirk & Steele series, IN THE DARK OF DREAMS will satisfy by continuing the world-building introduced in earlier novels. There are also cameo appearances from characters from earlier books. If you're new to the series, though, you should still be able to dive right in and not feel as though you're missing out on the story. IN THE DARK OF DREAMS is a fantastic read, filled with passion, adventure and enchantment.
Originally reviewed for The Romance Reviews.
December 19, 2010
Jenny was twelve years old when she met an extraordinary boy on the beach and she's been dreaming about him ever since. She's now a marine biologist searching for the mysterious and unknown. Perrin never forgot the girl from the beach who tried to save him. He was exiled from his people and had given up hope until he found her again. Now they must face the mysterious danger at the bottom of the sea. Only together can they calm the beast that could destroy the world.
Jenny and Perrin both come from tragedy and have an instant attraction when they meet again. They both try to fight it for different reasons and the feelings of sadness and loneliness from them are heart-wrenching. Ms. Liu does an excellent job of making the reader be right there with them in the moment and I was rooting for them the whole time. The story line was intriguing and kept moving with non-stop action. This is one of my favorites in the series.
Overall, I like the Dirk and Steele series, however the last few books seem more like stand alone books and haven’t been as connected to the overreaching story line. The main characters aren’t from the agency, or at least not the original crew we were introduced to, but a couple of original cast will be thrown in to help so it can still be called a Dirk and Steele book. Also, the big bad consortium also seems to be just thrown into the story line as well, as “out there” chasing one of the main characters, but that thread should be getting tighter as the series goes on and it doesn’t seem to be evolving at all. I’d like to see more connectivity within the books of the series.
Jenny and Perrin both come from tragedy and have an instant attraction when they meet again. They both try to fight it for different reasons and the feelings of sadness and loneliness from them are heart-wrenching. Ms. Liu does an excellent job of making the reader be right there with them in the moment and I was rooting for them the whole time. The story line was intriguing and kept moving with non-stop action. This is one of my favorites in the series.
Overall, I like the Dirk and Steele series, however the last few books seem more like stand alone books and haven’t been as connected to the overreaching story line. The main characters aren’t from the agency, or at least not the original crew we were introduced to, but a couple of original cast will be thrown in to help so it can still be called a Dirk and Steele book. Also, the big bad consortium also seems to be just thrown into the story line as well, as “out there” chasing one of the main characters, but that thread should be getting tighter as the series goes on and it doesn’t seem to be evolving at all. I’d like to see more connectivity within the books of the series.
February 26, 2012
Have I mentioned yet how much I love Marjorie M. Liu books? If I were to ever go Kathy Bates on an author, it would hands-down be her. Except I'm much too lazy to expend energy going bat-crap crazy.
I actually got to meet her in 2006 at World Con. Made a total fangirling fool of myself, but she was so patient and kind and put up with me asking for an autograph and picture with a smile. See proof here: http://clovercheryl.blogspot.com/2006...
But back to the book:
She keeps up her remarkable story-telling with In the Dark of Dreams. I devoured this book in days when I clearly needed to use the time on something else, but what can I say? Mermen, people, mermen. And dolphin shape-shifters, the evil consortium, and a bond between a human and Krackeni that shouldn't exist, let alone be the true source, of once again, saving the entire world.
The situation is unique, the characters so heartfelt and angst-driven and ready to do whatever it takes to keep each other safe. The individual back stories and how they interconnect for decades with each other and other characters is so well crafted and joined. And then, guh, simply the hero and heroine together--they just HAD to make it. Liu crafts them so well, that they just HAVE to survive what's coming, and I'm going to turn every dang page as fast as I can to ensure that they get there.
Rik and Eddie also make an appearance in this. Rik is understandably a jerk in this one, but for good reason, and Eddie is just so sweet and adorable. I've picked up his book next and am, yes, once again, probably going to read it when I should be doing other things.
I actually got to meet her in 2006 at World Con. Made a total fangirling fool of myself, but she was so patient and kind and put up with me asking for an autograph and picture with a smile. See proof here: http://clovercheryl.blogspot.com/2006...
But back to the book:
She keeps up her remarkable story-telling with In the Dark of Dreams. I devoured this book in days when I clearly needed to use the time on something else, but what can I say? Mermen, people, mermen. And dolphin shape-shifters, the evil consortium, and a bond between a human and Krackeni that shouldn't exist, let alone be the true source, of once again, saving the entire world.
The situation is unique, the characters so heartfelt and angst-driven and ready to do whatever it takes to keep each other safe. The individual back stories and how they interconnect for decades with each other and other characters is so well crafted and joined. And then, guh, simply the hero and heroine together--they just HAD to make it. Liu crafts them so well, that they just HAVE to survive what's coming, and I'm going to turn every dang page as fast as I can to ensure that they get there.
Rik and Eddie also make an appearance in this. Rik is understandably a jerk in this one, but for good reason, and Eddie is just so sweet and adorable. I've picked up his book next and am, yes, once again, probably going to read it when I should be doing other things.
March 14, 2011
I'll preface this by saying that, though this is part of a series, I've never read any of the others. This was actually my first romance novel (well, romance novel geared towards adults - I did read Twilight), and I came into this book expecting it to be too much sex and not enough plot. It wasn't! I actually quite liked it!
There was a distinct through-line with lots of suspense and characters that had some depth. It drew me in and made me want to keep reading.
My roommates and I thought it would be ridiculous, so we decided to read it aloud. This was fun and definitely ridiculous, but that could be because of the giggles and breathy echos that accompanied every other word. The writing style was also a little difficult to get past at first; it had lots of ellipses and not a lot of complete sentences. It was hard to figure out how to read them out loud, and our solution may have been a bit over the top, and we eventually got too busy to continue.
However, the story was interesting enough at this point that I couldn't let it sit there, and soon decided to read it on my own. After a chapter or so the ellipses glided right by, and the sentence fragments helped add to the sense of danger and lack of time by making the book just rush by. Because I was blowing through the book I could really feel the pressure of time on the protagonists as well.
I'm not going to say it was the deepest book I've ever read, but it was fun and I enjoyed it. I'm tempted to read the rest!
There was a distinct through-line with lots of suspense and characters that had some depth. It drew me in and made me want to keep reading.
My roommates and I thought it would be ridiculous, so we decided to read it aloud. This was fun and definitely ridiculous, but that could be because of the giggles and breathy echos that accompanied every other word. The writing style was also a little difficult to get past at first; it had lots of ellipses and not a lot of complete sentences. It was hard to figure out how to read them out loud, and our solution may have been a bit over the top, and we eventually got too busy to continue.
However, the story was interesting enough at this point that I couldn't let it sit there, and soon decided to read it on my own. After a chapter or so the ellipses glided right by, and the sentence fragments helped add to the sense of danger and lack of time by making the book just rush by. Because I was blowing through the book I could really feel the pressure of time on the protagonists as well.
I'm not going to say it was the deepest book I've ever read, but it was fun and I enjoyed it. I'm tempted to read the rest!
November 24, 2021
’t Is Perrin de verbannen meerman en Jenny de vrouw die hem ooit eens tegenkwam op het strand toen ze allebei twaalf waren, en die nu de wereld afreist op zoek naar vreemde zeewezen. Maar als ze heel eerlijk is met haarzelf, is Jenny eigenlijk op zoek naar Perrin.
Perrin en Jenny hadden jarenlang ’s nachts een soort gedeelde droom, waar ze elkaar tegenkwamen op het strand van een eiland, maar sinds acht jaar is die droom er niet meer. Het is ook sinds acht jaar dat Perrin uit de zee is verbannen naar land. Hij heeft een parcours van twaalf stielen en dertien ongelukken doorlopen, met onder meer ook ergens een jaar in de gevangenis, en tegenwoordig is hij onderhoudspersoneel in een aquarium.
Lang verhaal kort: ze worden zeer, zeer langzaam stapelverliefd op mekaar — ook omdat ze alletwee gehavende mensen zijn — maar uiteindelijk hebben ze veel seks. En we leren ook nog wat bij over de allesomvattende backstory, en op het einde is het hoezee happy end, en gaan ze trouwen en voor eeuwig bij elkaar blijven.
Dit is het voorlaatste boek van de reeks, en ik moet zeggen dat ik er niet gerust in ben dat het allemaal in één boek kan afgewerkt worden. Er zijn minstens drie organisaties die eigenlijk allemaal uit dezelfde familie afkomstig zijn, en dan zijn er nog demonen in het spel, en een groep die de hele wereld aan die demonen wil geven, en ook nog elfen en alles.
Ik ben benieuwd naar dat laatste boek.
Perrin en Jenny hadden jarenlang ’s nachts een soort gedeelde droom, waar ze elkaar tegenkwamen op het strand van een eiland, maar sinds acht jaar is die droom er niet meer. Het is ook sinds acht jaar dat Perrin uit de zee is verbannen naar land. Hij heeft een parcours van twaalf stielen en dertien ongelukken doorlopen, met onder meer ook ergens een jaar in de gevangenis, en tegenwoordig is hij onderhoudspersoneel in een aquarium.
Lang verhaal kort: ze worden zeer, zeer langzaam stapelverliefd op mekaar — ook omdat ze alletwee gehavende mensen zijn — maar uiteindelijk hebben ze veel seks. En we leren ook nog wat bij over de allesomvattende backstory, en op het einde is het hoezee happy end, en gaan ze trouwen en voor eeuwig bij elkaar blijven.
Dit is het voorlaatste boek van de reeks, en ik moet zeggen dat ik er niet gerust in ben dat het allemaal in één boek kan afgewerkt worden. Er zijn minstens drie organisaties die eigenlijk allemaal uit dezelfde familie afkomstig zijn, en dan zijn er nog demonen in het spel, en een groep die de hele wereld aan die demonen wil geven, en ook nog elfen en alles.
Ik ben benieuwd naar dat laatste boek.
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