The old king’s breath came fast as distorted visions of his past and present taunted him. The nightmares clawed in, crushing his hope, fraying his mind and squeezing his soul. Weak as a hare in the grip of a fox’s closing jaw, the king readied himself for the end. But this time, the nightmare was not dosed to kill. Next time, they would finish the job.
12 year old Mimi lives with her aunt Moyna in a centuries-old Citadel where she studies the ancient practice of making, capturing and recycling dreams. The Citadel was once run by Mimi’s parents, who have been imprisoned and accused of treason. When a mysterious visitor arrives at the Citadel, Mimi becomes embroiled in a conspiracy and discovers a dark underworld of creating nightmares… orchestrated by her aunt. Can Mimi save the King’s life and foil her aunt’s schemes?
Wow – there are those books which give you a massive book hangover when you finish and Dream Hunters is one of those: a tightly structured, beautifully immersive fantastical adventure which will stay with you long after reading. I love how Nazima has set this in a reimagined India and the location just bounds off the page – Dream Hunters has had me in bed early this week so I can follow Mimi and Rafi on their quest for justice. There’s a charming fairytale element to this story too, with dreams at the heart following a young girl out to save the king and stop her evil aunt.
Dream Hunters is such a tense and fast-paced story that I didn’t know how Nazima could wrap up all these threads by the end but it all builds to a thrilling finale… although I do hope we get to see Mimi again in the future as this unique world is one I really want to return to. I have been excited to read Dream Hunters since I heard Nazima speak recently at a Simon & Schuster showcase event: it’s clear from this story how incredible she is at world-building and she has shown what a vital voice she is in children’s stories. Nazima has strong children leading the plot and she inspires readers to stick to their convictions and do the right thing, even if it’s a perilous journey to get there. For me, I felt most sorry for the king: manipulated by those closest to him, I was generally in fear for what would happen next to him (especially as the nightmares are genuinely terrifying!). You’ll find no spoilers here but please check out Dream Hunters – your dreams will definitely shine more brightly after reading!
Suggested reading age: 9+
Dream Hunters is written by Nazima Pathan. It will be published by Simon & Schuster on 1st August 2024. It’s definitely to add to your preorder list!
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