The Lost Dreamer is a unique YA fantasy inspired by ancient Mesoamerica, which lends itself to the creation of a story that feels different from other YA fantasies that I've read. The story's mythology is its strong point. The main type of magic focused on is that of Dreamers, which are a type of seer, but there's something special about the way that magic feels connected to tradition and family in this story. Of course, there are also inappropriate ways for characters to use magic, and we see consequences of this throughout as well. The author builds an ambitious yet intriguing world, and I love seeing unique cultural influences that I haven't seen enough of in YA fantasy.
The downside to this story for me was that I did find the plot a little bit confusing. This story is told in alternating points of view of Indir and Saya, who both embark on separate but seemingly related journeys, both hiding and discovering many secrets. While I think the general idea of the plot worked, at times there was just a lot going on, mixed with a lot of new characters at a time and a lot of worldbuilding, so following the story wasn't as smooth as I wanted it to be. I did like Saya's chapters better (possibly because there were fewer characters so easier to focus), and she's definitely the kind of character I think readers will root for. For me personally, it was a story I had to put a little more effort into getting through than I wanted, because there were moments where I was just confused, but I do think any readers who are intrigued by the premise and willing to put in that extra effort might definitely find it enjoyable. My overall feelings are mixed, but I'm glad I got to read it, and it definitely had a cool surprise ending which I liked.
The downside to this story for me was that I did find the plot a little bit confusing. This story is told in alternating points of view of Indir and Saya, who both embark on separate but seemingly related journeys, both hiding and discovering many secrets. While I think the general idea of the plot worked, at times there was just a lot going on, mixed with a lot of new characters at a time and a lot of worldbuilding, so following the story wasn't as smooth as I wanted it to be. I did like Saya's chapters better (possibly because there were fewer characters so easier to focus), and she's definitely the kind of character I think readers will root for. For me personally, it was a story I had to put a little more effort into getting through than I wanted, because there were moments where I was just confused, but I do think any readers who are intrigued by the premise and willing to put in that extra effort might definitely find it enjoyable. My overall feelings are mixed, but I'm glad I got to read it, and it definitely had a cool surprise ending which I liked.