This has the vibes of classic kids literature, set in a fantastical world, where there are truly evil villains and a slight hint of magic. The tone of the setup reminded me a little of Lemony Snicket, and instantly hooked me in.

I wasn't always sure what direction the book was going to go in, which I loved, and there are a lot of questionable characters to back that up. A book that was a whole lot of fun, and one I would definitely recommend to middle grade readers/fans.

Set in the country of Krasnia, which is ruled by an evil dictator called Charles Malstain, this story centres on brother and sister Robert and Rachel Klein, and a book that they must protect, that was given to them by their librarian father before he was arrested. A book that Charles Malstain is very keen to have. This is such a good book. I could not put it down. The author really conveys the sense of menace in the city, and I don't think I'm alone in drawing parallels with Nazi Germany. I cannot wait to read the next story.

A splendid adventure with all the elements to hook readers in: desolate library, relatives in the attic, dystopian worlds. Delicious!

Right from the first page, I was completely sucked into this story. The plot, the characters and the writing style were perfect and I loved every minute of my time reading this story.

The story is set in an alternate world, which in my mind I pictured as similar to 1920s Russia. The weather is cold and an oppressive regime has seized power. There is some technology, such as cars and airships, yet the only phones available are ones that connect to the wall, music comes from violins and pianos and messages are sent via letter or written in books.

In this world, we follow the story of Rachel and Robert Klein. Despite hardships, they have an idyllic family life until one day when their father entrusts them with The Book of Stolen Dreams. This event leads to imprisonment, murders, betrayals and being chased by dangerous criminals. Facing an overwhelming weight of evil forces, can the two siblings keep the book safe and unlock its mysterious secrets?

My favourite thing about this book was the narrator's voice. The writing has a lyrical quality to it which adds to the fantastical nature of the world and makes some very simple statements beautifully poignant. Parts of the story are told in a dry, satirical way, which helps to lighten the mood as sometimes this tale can get quite dark!

The plot and the characters worked brilliantly. The main aim of the plot was clear and easy to follow and it was made wonderfully intriguing by the misunderstandings, near-misses and scheming from different characters. The underlying commentaries on kindness, family, love and death kept the story interesting and gave me plenty to think about after I'd read it.

I would highly recommend this book to readers aged 10+. In particular, I think this boon would suit readers who have enjoyed Sophie Anderson and Katherine Rundell.

Will definitely be recommending to my class and looking out for more books by this author!! Tremendous. I kept on turning the pages and couldn’t put it down!

Absolutely exquisite story telling! Fans of Orphans of the Tide and His Dark Materials will love this. The Book of Stolen Dreams is so cinematic and it's no surprise coming from screen writer David Farr. This is his debut children's novel and my, what a debut it is! I was so excited to read that there is to be another book after this one.

All I can say is WOW, what a book, it is full of twists and turns and keeps you guessing, the art work is amazing and really brings the book to life and the stunning red hardback cover just shouts magic is inside.
It is a brilliant story of how important family is and the journey we take together, it is one to be shared and enjoyed by both adults and children and would make the most amazing and treasured gift.
If you are looking for a magical story then look no further, open up and enjoy this book.

The land of Krasnia has been ruled by dictator Charles Malstain for what seems like forever. Liittle do the citizens of Krasnia know, he is ill and will surely die soon. In what seems like a pointless act of resistance, Rachel and Robert are given a stolen book by their librarian father who is captured and taken away. The pair must go on the run and protect the book at all costs, for The Book of Stolen Dreams has many secrets that could be very dangerous should they fall into the wrong hands.

This was a book that I read with much anticipation. So many others I know have read this book and enjoyed it, I knew I had to get on it quickly – and boy do I wish I had read this book sooner! David Farr has built a world that feels so real and so dangerous, but so entrancing at the same time. Krasnia has so many layers of mystery and political intrigue that completely enchanted and fascinated me. There’s some absolutely phenomenal story telling here with a fast-paced plot that keeps the reader guessing throughout. I read this book in one sitting because I simply couldn’t put it down.

I enjoyed that chapters alternated between Rachel and Robert and we got to see both children’s stories advancing and filling in the gaps of the other. The dual narrative was easy to follow and kept the reader wanting more as we were left on cliffhangers for one character only to return to the other. Rachel and Robert were strong characters who were forced into this danger and handled it marvellously. However, the real star of the show is dictator Charles Malstain who is a fantastically scary and truly ruthless villain.

Captivating pacey storytelling set in a dangerous and thrilling world. 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Usborne Publish and NetGalley for providing an e-book review copy.

Exciting adventure, perfect for fans of the Pages and Co Series

With engaging characters and a plot with twists and turns, this book had me unable to put it down!

With a gorgeous cover like that and with the tile of The Book of Stolen Dreams I had high expectations for this adventurous middle grade novel. Unfortunately those were not at all met.

A lot had to do with the writing and the set up of the story. This story is written from a third person omniscient point of view as we follow two siblings. I felt so far removed from these characters however. The start was okay, I could feel the love for their parents and especially their father but when it comes to the setting and world, not so much.

Despite following both characters, it is clear that the book is setting Rachel up to be the star. I feel having a limited third person point of view would have worked better. I think getting completely swept up in Rachel throughout the story and discovering what happened to her brother instead of knowing what is going on before her would have jammed up the suspense and engagement.

I also wasn't a big fan of how the story was build up. We find Rachel at the start. And then we go all the way back to the beginning and get in some history. Which can work great but it didn't. We went into too much action detail but I still get nothing on the emotional front.

Other than that I liked Robert and Rachel was okay. But I also had some problems with the plot decisions and side characters. I had expectations of those stolen dreams but it kind of fizzled out. And then those characters that brought others back and now someone else wants to live forever and oh no that can't happen. Please. Nothing of that was challenged either. I was very over this story by the end.

However I am rating it 3 stars here because I do think that the targeted audience won't be an as harsh critic as me.

trigger warning
<spoiler> grief, trauma, torture, kidnapping, death of a parent </spoiler>

They don't question their father when he takes them to break the rules, since the rules are wrong - they're living under a dictator who does as he pleases. And so they venture to the library, or rather to the rare manuscript room in the library, not knowing that this will set off an adventure.

We have two povs: Each of the siblings has one, and each has a different path to go, to protect the Book of Stolen Dreams.

I liked the plot, the characters and their developement. Since our protagonists are young, there is much to learn, and they will have to do so on their own - always under high risk, because their country's leader despises children and wishes them to remain unseen.

A big part of this book is that bravery is not an once-off thing, you have to do it again and again and again, and you might have made a wrong call in the past, but that doesn't mean you can't change your opinion of how things are going and act accordingly.
This message is nicely woven in and does not came heavy handedly, which I appreciate.

Another aspect I liked is that we don't have a chosen one and there is no prophecy. The Klein children were thrown into this because of a choice their father made, and because of where they happened to live. Under other circumstances, they would have lead an ordinary life. It feels very realistic despite the magical elements.

I liked this a lot and would recommend it to both the target audience and grown up readers alike.
The arc was provided by the publisher.

This was a fantastic and highly imaginative debut for middle grade children. Two children embark on an adventure to keep the magical Book of Stolen Dreams, with the secret to immortality, out of the hands of an evil dictator. Brilliantly paced, full of twists and quirks, this has a host of great characters that all work really well together. I loved the fact that the story dealt with a dictatorship and how you combat oppression, and while it can be read as a good tale of good vs evil, it is also about courage, humanity, and truth. Genuinely exciting, I loved this!

An evil dictator has taken power in Krasnia. The only hope for the citizens is that he is ill and likely to die very soon. However, the Book of Stolen Dreams has magical powers and could save him, if only he could get his hands on it.

Robert and Rachel, children of the city librarian enter into a race to save the book from those who wish to use its power to further their own ends. Cue the entrance of a dozen or so different characters. I really enjoyed the premise of the story but this is where I got a little lost. There are so many different characters that I struggled to remember who they all were and which side they were on. Had I been able to read the book in one sitting, I am sure I would have been able to keep better track.

I am sure this book will become a hit. It has all the necessary ingredients - great plot, pace, magic and lots of opportunities to make moral choices.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the most fantastic books I have ever read. What a privilege it was to be immersed in its pages! I am not usually a reader of fantasy books but thus fast paced adventure with loyalty and family at its heart had me steaming through the pages to its conclusion. Introduced today as one of the best books I have ever read, one pupil’s response was, “Woah, and you read a lot of books!” I do but once as superb as this will stay with me forever. Thank you!

This is David Farr's childrens debut. The Night Manager and Spooks screen writer has adapted his master storytelling gift to tell the story of two of the bravest children, siblings Rachel and Robert Klein. Inspired by true family events dring the WW2 era David melts the reader into the world of Krasnia under the rule of the ruthless, evil and child-hating dictator President Charles Malstain. On Rachel's birthday her father takes her and her brother to the public library where he works. This is a huge risk, but Felix Klein needs his children to embark on a mission to save their country from the tyrant ruler. There he shows them a rare book with magical powers of eternal life. It is the guardianship and search for the final missing page that puts Rachel and Robert's lives in terrible danger whilst they work out clues and escape from the clutches of the enemy time.and again in order to do what's right. This story reminds us that children are resilient, brave and hopeful even when in the most perilous of situations. There are so may threads woven into this plot bringing it together just like the poetry and beauty of The Book of Stolen Dreams itself. Resistance fighting, believing in people no.matter their past and never giving up on freedom, justice and peace are all powerful elements of this memorable storytelling.

I am not sure where to start with this wonderful read! It reminded me so much of Kathryn Rundell's 'Rooftoppers' (one of my favourite children's books) to start with that I was totally captivated.

However, it is not a copy of someone else's style. It is unique and quirky, too! I had an e copy which was missing (I presume) some illustrations and I cannot wait to get my hands on a printed copy to see what I missed.

This is an adventure of two brave children, Robert and Rachel, who essentially have the chance to save the world from a dark, eternal fate. They live in a world which has a dictator, who doesn't like children, or anyone who challenges him (predictably), but, as you can imagine, the outlook for humanity is bleak. The book is a mixture of dystopian adventure with fantasy and a little bit of steampunk thrown in.

So many opportunities for discussions with children and inference. The humour and humanity are around every corner. There are puzzles and twists... what are you waiting for? Stop reading my review, buy this book, read it, love it!

An absolute belter of a story. The tension is palpable throughout.
The author has created a world that is believable and surreal at the same time.
This is going to be a timeless classic.

What a fabulous, heartwarming, adventurous book. An ode to the power of words and writing and to the importance of free thinking and not being swept away by a charismatic speaker.

The Book starts in the middle, hops back to the start and runs for a while, then splits into two timelines. I was never confused about what was going on or who anyone was, and that's a feat for me - I often run characters together or forget who's who, but that never happened during this read. I was enthralled, reading as quickly as I possibly could to find out what would happen.

My proof had only some of the illustrations, but I've seen the finished copies and they're amazing (and watch out if you have an independant bookstore near you, as some of them will have an amazing extra special offer soon!) The decorations around the poems are amazing, and I love the full page illustrations scattered through the story.

I can't wait to read more in this amazing series. I'm sure it'll be just as good. (And hopefully make me cry less.)

The Book of Stolen Dreams was unlike anything I'd ever read before. From the very first page, we not only get to know the characters but also the author's undoubtedly brilliant writing style. The way Farr makes words dance across the page so that at one point, you're confused while still completely invested in whatever the next sentence will say was truly magical.
Beyond the phenomenal writing, there is also the enthralling setting of this wasteland with its evil tyrant and the characters that are determined to save one man - and the entire country in the same process, it seems.
I don't want to give too much away, but I'd be surprised if you don't fall in love with these characters and get highly invested in their quest from the very first chapter.
I can't wait to read whatever Farr bestows upon us next!

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

So, I picked this book up because I love books about books. And this cover grabbed me and so did the title.

The story tells of two children, Rachel and Robert who are living under the tyrant of Charles Malstain in a place called Brava. Children are to not be seen or heard from and the people are imprisoned for speaking out again the dictator. However, Charles Malstain is sick and is after a very special book in hope to fix all his problems… however, that book has disappeared and the children are doing everything they can to make sure the book doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

This book was not what I expected going into it, I was expecting a whimsical story about the love of books based solely off of the beautiful cover. However, the book is a bit darker than that, with cruel and horrid leaders, mentions of torture and children running from danger. Of course, that doesn’t make this book bad, I enjoyed it immensely. It was such a gripping story, with an array of interesting characters and lots of adventure. So many moments where the story gets your heart racing as you see the children battle things close to the wire. It reminds me of the adventures in a series of unfortunate events, where the children are the ones trying to save the day against the terrible injustice and ugliness that comes with adults behaviour. I love a dystopian style read and was so lovely to read one from a middle grade point of view and from a fresh perspective. It looks like we can expect more from this author so I look forward to seeing what comes next!