I really wanted to love this but it's very, very busy. There's a lot of action in every chapter and the pace felt relentless and complicated. The world is complex enough as it is, so it needed fewer shenanigans.

I couldn't get into this - my fault for choosing a children's book which I thought would be more YA adventure. Great for ages 10 to 13 maybe? Giving it four stars as I chose this in error and have seen other reviews saying the kids loved it

Dreamstalkers: The Night Train” by Sarah Driver Is an intriguing premise: the concept of a magical Night Train that ventures into dreams is captivating. We are definitely pulled into an imaginative world with many themes: identity, dreams, courage, and family bonds.
We have fearless Bea, her familiar Pip an owl, and Martha her almost friend. On a quest from their hamlet to the big city to stop an evil power hungry queen from tipping the balance of society.

There's a lot happening as the girls seeks their destiny, grow into her skills and abilities, whilst trying to confront the big, bad in the world. And in places it was just too much. I couldn't warm to any of the characters and found them misguided and lacklustre. This meant that there were many fits and start before I really started the book, with unintentional long pauses between reads, which is surprising as it all the ingredients to be engaging, thrilling and enjoyable.

It's likely to be a me thing, at the very least it's my reason for not reading and reviewing by the publication day. I'm sure others will be enthused to go on this adventure into dreams.

My thanks to Netgalley and publishers for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well, this started as one of the more distinctive fantasies for this age range for quite some time. Yes, it has the really old basis, of a girl unaware of her true destiny and how she can change/repair/save the world, but it does it with brio, energy and distinction. In the isolated corner of the land is an isolated village and isolated from that is our heroine and her mother, cast out much like witchy-type characters often are. But quite quickly everyone is cast out – the problem is everyone has become unable to dream, and nightmares might be prowling the real world instead. A mage arrives to say everyone needs to become refugees elsewhere – but this doesn't sit in with the family past. For the mother had a career she's kept quiet about, and her daughter is stuck in the a**e-end of nowhere because she is not supposed to inherit it. Well, look you now, for that's just what she's going to do. If she can sort good from bad, and train herself up to enter dreams and restore their natural order, that is.

Despite all that wonderfulness, this is not without problems. It could probably afford to lose any percentage of its over-burdened running time you care to mention and get away with it – at times it felt not like the opening of a trilogy but the first two books in a set of five. And despite the wonderfulness of the cover (if you in your territory are seeing what I'm seeing), that too is a let-down when the mahoosive train of the title is off these pages for hour after hour. And there's more – the fact the book can (and does) divert into this dreamscape, that nightmare, this situation and that imaginative piece means we really do lose the concision and tautness of the earlier sections. This ends up doing what it feels like, whether it ought to or not.

That aside, this still has merits. Our lass is a feisty thing, heavily yet excusably very flawed in her interactions with others. The book definitely has the sincerity and conviction to carry this mythology off, and when the blot dragons turn up in the illustrations you see that carried across to our artist too. For yes, there are dragons, as well as familiar/daemon-type birds, secret underground refuges, and all that the dream worlds here entail. But while I was probably going to launch into a "buttercruds in heaven, this is brilliant" mode, this is more of a "thistles and gorse, this is too woolly, far too long, and just bring back the train already" mish-mash. A mish-mash that more patient readers will slog through and relish the thought of more from – just because it tested my patience it doesn't mean to say others will find it anything other than quite wondrous. But from me now it's three and a half stars – built on the first third and the ending, and not enough of what was in between.

Bea and Martha, the two main protagonists in this immersive fantasy novel join forces, somewhat reluctantly at times, to defeat Queen Mora and her nightmares as they seek to destroy all that is good within the dreams of the people.
The two girls have very different natures, and very different gifts, and it is only in combination that they can bring about an, almost, total victory
There is so much to admire in this story, I would set it as being best for 10 to 13 year old as the language and concepts are rich but often complex. I particularly like the way Sarah Driver does not shy away from depicting quite savage and dark scenes, the story is often not for the faint hearted. The characters are well rounded, and the heroines make mistakes, bicker and even fail quite badly from time to time.
The world building is extremely adept and I am sure that many able readers will be desperate to get book 2 in the series!

Bea Grimspuddle is unsettled, her dreams have disappeared and she doesn't know why.
Her mother Ula is ill and she wants them to leave their home on the Tor as nightmares are taking over from dreams.
Forced to leave Ula she and her friend Martha embark on a wonderful adventure aboard the night train where she goes to Silvervein where the Dreamstalkers are, but they have lost control and the nightmares have taken over.
Hoping to save her mother Bea knows it's upto her, Martha and her little owl Pip to battle Queen Mora, the agent of destruction and who is behind the insidious nightmares.
This was a very fresh, inventive fantasy with great characters that would appeal to children and adults.
The storyline was engaging and as a lover of fantasy this was a perfect read for me.
Throughly enjoyed it.
Thank you for the chance to read it.

What a perfect book for a gloomy Sunday!
I loved the fantasy world created by Sarah Driver. It was richly described and full of details which made it easy to visualise. Settings were carefully manipulated to create a sense of threat/tension which just made me want to keep reading. The main characters of Bea and Martha were very realistic and I felt complete empathy for them and the quest they found themselves undertaking.
I can't wait to share this with some of our UKS2 children who I am certain will enjoy it as much as I did. I do hope there will be a sequel!

One of those book that talks to your inner child and makes travel to new and fantastic worlds.
A good fantasy, a moving and compelling plot, great characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Everything changed the day the dreams disappeared… and the nightmares came.

Twelve-year-old Bea lives with her mother Ula and her owl Pip in a cottage on the wild moors. Since the day the dreams disappeared, and an affliction of nightmares began sweeping across the lands, everyone is leaving and their settlement is being abandoned. But when Ula grows sick with the affliction, she won’t leave – and she’s keeping a secret from Bea.

Just as Bea begins to despair, the mysterious Night Train steams across the moors, bringing a stranger who offers her the chance to save her mother. Bea is flung into a faraway adventure in the world of the Dreamstalkers, skilled warriors and performers who must go to work each night inside the dreams of the powerful. But the nightmares are following close behind.

This is an amazing fantasy novel that my daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed. We can't wait for the next installment.

Dreamstalkers: The Night Train is a mesmerising, magical adventure that took me on an unforgettable journey into a world of disappearing dreams and roaming nightmares aboard the Night Train as I entered the world of the Dreamstalkers …

Twelve-year-old Bea Grimspuddle lives in a cottage on Thunderheart Tor with her mum, Ula and her long-eared owl, Pip. Sitting in an ancient dragon-skull, Bea views the wild moors below pondering why her dreams have disappeared. When she sees a girl from the settlement, Martha Hearthsweep, approaching her cottage, she races towards home where she discovers that everyone’s dreams have disappeared … and in their place nightmares have escaped into the living world. This scourge of nightmares threatens to destroy Thunderheart, forcing those living there to abandon their home.

When Bea breaks the news that they must leave to her mother, she discovers that Ula has been keeping secrets from her, secrets that may reveal the reason behind her mother’s sickness. But before Bea can persuade her mother to leave, a mysterious steam train arrives outside the cottage, and Bea finds herself boarding the Night Train …

And so begins the most incredible adventure as Bea, Pip and Martha journey aboard the Night Train to Silvervein where they are thrown into the mysterious world of the Dreamstalkers, a secret guild of mages, who are responsible for keeping the balance between dreams and nightmares. But what happens when the balance is broken and someone is intent on usurping dreams and inflicting nightmares for their own gain? Can Bea connect with her wild magic, enter the world of the Dreamstalkers and find a way to save her mother before the nightmares stalking her catch up with her, destroying her hopes and dreams?

This is an adventure that really immersed me in a fascinating, intricate world with the most incredible, cinematic world-building: a world of dreams and nightmares; of magic and secret guilds; of music and theatre; of mythical creatures, sentient locomotives and malefic rivers; and of wild mountains, moors and wandering towers. I absolutely loved exploring Silvervein and the world of the Dreamstalkers with Bea, learning about their history, their remarkable magical abilities, and their terrible exploitation. Utterly absorbing!

I was completely captivated as I eagerly followed Bea on her quest, not only mesmerised by the world I found myself in, but on the edge of my seat as the increasing danger for Bea and her friends reached a crescendo, as secrets were revealed and as friends and foes were unmasked.

Bea is a wonderful protagonist and I liked her all the more because of her fallibility. She has been ostracised by her peers and finds friendship with her adorable, long-eared owl, Pip – their close bond is wonderfully heartwarming. Her developing friendship with Martha is by no means easy and at times it is fractious and difficult laced with jealousy and hurt. Bea is trying to find her place in the world, who she really is, whilst finding the courage and strength to fight against a terrifying foe who seeks to control the world that she wants to become part of. I really liked that she is a complex young girl which makes her feel more genuine and someone who readers can relate to.

A captivating, magical adventure into an unforgettable world where nightmares roam, but dreams may be realised … perfect for young adventurers of 9+.

This book so reminded us of some of our favourite childrens authors previous offerings. Although the adventures on trains is now a well used trope, this did feel fresh and the characters and world setting were engaging. The children enjoyed this.

Bea and her mother Ula, are basically outcasts in their community. People believe the nightmares and disappearance of dreams is because of them.
One night, something unbelievable and life changing happens outside Bea’s cottage. Her mother has become ill and there are nightmares raging around the tor, forcing the people to flee. At once, comes a terrifying steam train, laying its own tracks and forging it own path.
Bea’s classmates Martha is smuggled on board by Bastien, a guard come to take Ula back to Silverthorn, where she abandoned her duties as a Dreamstalker.
In an effort to save Martha, the girls find the,selves trapped on this fast moving train. Their adventure is only just beginning as the train deposits them on the outskirts of the city, where a dangerous Queen rules over all the night,ares.
Bea and Martha must find their place in this new world, bolstered by the thought of saving the world and finding their way home again.
It’s a thrilling and unique story, one that I would hope is just the start of a new series!

I absolutely adored this book. It’s a perfect escape for adults and children to an exciting world that you’ll just love. Perfectly balanced. Love everything about it.

Wonderful book. Adults and children will enjoy this book. I enjoyed this very much, this was exciting and fast-paced.i loved it. Worth five stars. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This is such a perfect book for any child who is a fan of Philip Pullman, Katherine Rundell or Jessica Townsend. The fantasy world crafted by Driver is immediately absorbing, and crafted with care. With its unique twist on the quest plot, Bea is such an inspiring and likeable heroine, and the magical elements are similarly well-embedded and thoughtfully crafted. As a teacher, the language is inspiring and provides ample challenge for a reader while also creating vivid images and highly immersive scenes for any reader., and the book makes great use of popular and exciting tropes, including trains, warriors and the power of dreams. The adventure is wild and the story fast-paced, and we will definitely be adding a copy to our library upon publication!