The Lost Dreamer Left Me Gooped

• Lizz Huerta
• Debut; Book 1 of a Duology
• Genre: YA Fantasy
• Background: First Gen. Mexican and Puerto Rican
• Instagram: @lizzhuertawrites; Twitter: @lizzhuerta; www.lizzhuerta.com
• Release: 3/1/2022 (this NEEDS to be in your TBR!)
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux BFYR (MacMillan Imprint)
• Favorite Character: Naru! She had all the fire and sass that I look for in secondary characters! I only wish I saw more of her…but that’s just how I am about characters I like right off the bat…you’ll see why from my favorite quote below!
• Favorite Quote(s): “I don’t need guarding, you fangless, soft-bodied children of men!”-Naru. I mean…Naru knows her strength and can’t be faulted for that! The subsequent responses after prove it too! I laughed pretty hard at this!

When I saw the cover for The Lost Dreamer, I just knew that I had to read this book. I found myself awestruck and speechless for a moment. Of course, I cranked that “Read It” button on Netgalley right away (Shout Out to MacMillan for liking me enough to grant me auto-approval) and later they did a happy hour event for it that solidified my need to read this book! I received two book boxes for TLD, here is the first video and here is the second (which I did while working on this post because I received the box the day before & I mention this post in that live too, lol)! I want to note that this post is apart of MacMillan’s Blog tour for TLD and this post will be a little veiled in how I write it because I don’t want to give anything away!

I’m going to start this by saying that this book is a Dual Perspective book and y’all know how much I LOVEEEEEEEE Dual POVs! I find that when a book has more than one perspective, it’s easier for me to get sucked into the world because the world is being shown in different ways! We get to see the world that the MCs Indir & Saya live through their lenses, which are quite stark in their views and personalities. On top of this, we don’t just get the actual world that Indir and Saya live in but we also get to go into “The Dream”, which is another experience itself! Lizz did an amazing job building up this multi-dimensional, and to borrow words from Dhonielle Clayton, texturally-rich world. There were points where I felt like I was right in the story, which is ALWAYS a good sign when I’m reading (unless it’s scary, then not so much, lol).

Indir and Saya are like two sides to the same coin. Both have special abilities but one has the support system of the strong women around her while the other is pretty much isolated from the world around her. I found myself drawn to them both through their pull to “The Dream” but also their longing for something more that they couldn’t always express that wasn’t “The Dream”. You know that feeling of wanting more but not exactly what “more” is? It was very that. It was also clear that they had a connection but it wasn’t clear as to what it was (don’t worry, you’ll find out when you read the book because you know there are no spoilers here).

Another thing I loved about this book is the cast of characters. They offer another layer to the world of TLD. I felt myself excited when a potential love interest enters the scene, I leaned in more when the siblings & aunts of one of the MCs came in and I sneered when the “bad guy” showed their face (I literally sneered so you know I didn’t like that Eff-er). I loved that the characters had different lineages that explained some of their traits/gifts and you learn a lot more about the world outside of what is seen from Indir and Saya’s perspectives through knowledge shared. Naru comes from another group of people that we get to see a little of in this book and their energy is everything (it gives very bad bish/Dora Milaje energy)…I’m not trying to say too much because I want you to get this book, lol! My hint though would be that they may or may not do some shape shifting…that’s it, that’s all I will say (lol)!

Something else that I loved about this book is the fact that it was inspired by Ancient Mesoamerica. We know that ancient civilizations have such rich cultures and there is always something special about when they are brought to the forefront again. Its a way of remembering and honoring their legacy that [redacted] history has attempted to erase. This book was a beautiful tribute to Lizz & so many other’s ancestors! I’m lowkey disappointed that this is only a duology because I felt there was so much in the world to be seen (but maybe this means the second book will be a long one…we shall see)!

I know that I didn’t give you a whole lot that could give you a fuller picture to the story & characters but I really want you and anyone else you can think of that would appreciate a fantasy book with dual perspectives, twists & turns, lush worlds and magical gifts to read it. There are gags & goops that I didn’t see coming (that’s saying a lot too) and I don’t want to ruin those experiences for anyone (that’s sacred to me and I respect you way too much). Just know that this book is worth picking up & reading so you can join me in my gooped state of being!

Is The Lost Dreamer in your TBR? Have you requested it from your library or picked up a copy? Let me know in the comments or on social media! As always, You can find & follow me out on the innernets on Instagram @bookishgirlmagic, Twitter @bookishgrlmagic and Clubhouse @bookishgrlmagic where you can find me mostly in book centered clubs/rooms (primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays). Also please subscribe to this blog if you haven’t already because it makes me feel like I just finished a book that caught me off guard in the best way! As always, I’m sending y’all bookish love and wishing you happy reading! Peace peeps!