Cats, pumpkins, and a missing aunt with a family secret?! Say less and sign me up!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It gives the perfect autumn vibes I was looking for! I also enjoyed the astrology aspect of this as well I think it added to the fall vibes and everything flowed so well! I cant wait to follow Hannah on her journey of discovering/evolving her power.

Hannah Skye, a young woman in search of meaning, receives a cryptic letter from her missing and eccentric Aunt Jewelia. Her experience of a recurring powerful pumpkin patch dream unfolds into a spiritual journey to a mysterious island of eternal autumn, Maple Hollow, where she discovers the mystical Skye Manor and her magickal family legacy.

Haunted by shapeshifters bent on trapping people in their nightmares, Hannah, with the help of wise villagers and feline companions (including a talking cat dream guide), must solve the riddle, unlock her powers, and dive into the dream dimension to save her aunt by Halloween night, when the veil between the worlds is thinnest.

Escape into this metaphysical mystery of magick, where spells, music, and dreams converge in a vortex of secret societies and spiritual inheritance. Travel beyond time and space into a world of unexpected portals, ancient traditions, and dreamscapes.

I really wanted to love this but unfortunately it just wasn't for me, though I do feel that some of this was to do with the narration and I may have felt differently about it had I been reading rather than listening.

"The Dream Haunters" by Megan Mary is book 1 of her new Witches of Maple Hollow series. It's a teen/YA mystery.

I listened to the audibook narrated by Pearl Hewitt . She is a good narrator, but she was absolutely the wrong narrator for this book, in my opinion. The voice didn't fit the story at all. Other reviewers liked her narration of the book.

Hannah is a young lady who just lost her job and then gets an encrypted letter and a plane ticket from estranged Aunt Jewelia. Then she finds out her aunt is missing, so she packs and heads to her aunt's place across the country.

There is a talking cat, a hidden library, and pumpkin portals. There is a lot of teaching about Mercury Retrograde, Halloween, and power vortices. There is too much telling and not enough showing, though at the end there is more showing. It's a bit too simple for most anyone who is anyway into metaphysical stuff and likely to pick up this book.

I liked the cats. They were the best part.

Characters - 3/5
Writing - 3/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 3/5
Narration - 3/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 24/8 = 3 1/8

Thank you to Netgalley, Inner Realms Publishing, IBPA Members Audiobooks, and Megan Mary for providing me this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Hannah Skye keeps having a recurring dream with pumpkins. When she receives a cryptic letter from her aunt, she starts to think her estranged aunt might have answers. Shortly after she received the letter, however, a policeman in Ireland contacts her to see if she knows why said aunt may have disappeared. Having recently lost her job, she decides it must be fate. Using the invitation to visit any time, she travels to Ireland to see if she can figure out what happened. Soon, her dreams are haunted by shapeshifter bent on trapping her in her dreams. With the help of wise villagers and cats, she must uncover her powers, her family’s magical legacy, and solve the riddle. What happened to her aunt? What do the dreams mean?

Narrator, Pearl Hewitt does a great job of bringing to life Hannah’s world. Her unique intonations help distinguish the well developed main characters. The plot is engaging, well developed, and intense. World building is well done and draws the reader into Hannah’s world. Listeners who like mystery, thriller, horror, and magical realism will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections.

Please Note: A copy of this audiobook was given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. No other compensation was received.

🎧 I just wish there was more to this book, to this story. More dark atmosphere, less learning about the clichéd origins of Halloween, more show not tell. Honestly, it's a good little book to get you in the mood, but it's pretty flat. It lacks editing, but has potential.

⭐️⭐️✨ (2.5 stars)

Let’s talk The Dream Haunters. It’s got all the ingredients for a magical autumn read—spooky shapeshifters, a mystical family legacy, and a talking cat dream guide (yes, really!). On paper, this sounded like it would be a cozy, whimsical escape into a pumpkin-scented, dream-drenched world. Unfortunately, the reality didn’t quite cast the spell I was hoping for.

Hannah Skye’s journey to save her aunt in Maple Hollow had potential, but the story didn’t stand out for me. The plot was overflowing with ideas (dream dimensions! magick! secret societies!), but they didn’t fully gel into a cohesive narrative. The pacing felt uneven, and while the concept of an eternal autumnal island was enchanting, the execution didn’t immerse me as much as I’d hoped.

That said, Pearl Hewitt’s narration of the audiobook brought some warmth and charm to the story. Her voice gave the mystical setting and quirky characters a bit of life that wasn’t always apparent in the text.

Thank you to Megan Mary, Inner Realms Publishing, and NetGalley for the chance to explore this dreamscape. If you’re into metaphysical mysteries or want a light Halloween-themed read, you might enjoy it more than I did. For me, it was a quick detour into spooky season vibes, but not one I’ll be revisiting.

What a cozy little book!

I grabbed this audiobook from NetGalley's listen now section. I wasn't sure what to expect. This was just a pleasant little fall book. The narrator for the audiobook did a fantastic job with pacing and setting the tone of the story.

Hannah is a young woman who is at a crossroads in life when she receives a cryptic message leading her to Maple Hollow in search of answers to her estranged Aunts disappearance. This comfy read combines elements of mystery, mysticism, and all of the best fall elements into a sweet little package. While I loved many of the witchy elements of this story and I did enjoy the book. I wish there was just a little more driving it. It was a good read, but I think it could have been a great read if it was a little less predictable.

This audiobook was interesting and encapsulating. I loved hearing about Hannah's story and how she feels so lost in life. I could relate to so many of her feelings throughout this book and found the experience to be rather enjoyable. The setting descriptions of Maple Hills was absolutely gorgeous. I felt like I was in the actual story just while listening. Thank you!

Thank you to the author/publisher and Netgally for sending me an e-arc of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I was expecting this book to be cozy and whimsical, with fantastical elements—a quick read perfect for the holiday season. And while it was that, it wasn’t in the way I had hoped.

I don't personally mind a good low-stakes story but with this one the plot really didn't seen to be going anywhere. The mystery plotline felt like a gimmick, making me lose interest rather quickly which isn't a great sign to be honest.

And although the audiobook was well produced, it was a struggle to stop myself from dozing off as the narrator's voice kept lulling me to sleep. I kept rewinding parts to make sure I wasn't skipping anything and it quickly got exhausting.

Overall, this book wasn't for me.

This book was just very....basic. It felt like a bare bones idea for a story, and one that's been done before. I didn't connect with any of the characters, and even the talking cats were more annoying than charming. The anti-Catholic rhetoric really rubbed me the wrong way and was completely unnecessary to the story as well.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the Audio-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book follows Hannah, a pianist trying to solve the mystery of her Aunt's disappearance.

All Halloween essentials were covered; cats and pumpkins - a loooot of pumpkins.

I feel like many people would enjoy this book but it was just not for me.

Not much happened. Despite the high stakes, it felt like all the answers and solutions to the mystery just conveniently fell into the protagonist's lap without any effort which killed any chance of building suspense.

The premise of the story was good but the execution could use some work.

4/5 ⭐️This audiobook was a super easy listen! Got thru it in one day! The story was very intriguing to me with the dreams connected to Halloween, grimoires and cats! This story had Sabrina the Teenage Witch vibes with a mystery to it! Had a cute cliffhanger at the end so I might wanna listen to book 2 when it comes out!

Thank you to NetGalley, Inner Realms Publishing, and the author, Megan Mary, for providing this free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
 
The Dream Haunters: A Metaphysical Mystery of Magick is the debut novel by Megan Mary and Book 1 of the Witches of Maple Hollow Series. The story follows Hannah Skye, who receives a cryptic letter from her Aunt Jewelia and who also experiences recurring pumpkin patch dreams that transport her to Maple Hollow, an enchanted island with autumnal vibes, crystals, and spiritual portals. There Hannah takes shelter in the mystical Skye Manor and learns more about her family lineage and the island’s inhabitants. The story is fast-paced, compelling, and easy to follow from beginning to end. The writing is filled with vivid imagery that creates an immersive and atmospheric reading/listening experience for readers.
 
Hannah is incredibly likeable and wholesome, yet also very naive at times, and her journey from the waking world to the dream world is an exciting adventure. Once in Maple Hollow, she quickly makes new friends as she inquires about the town and her aunt’s disappearance. The story definitely has the feel of a Young Adult novel, with a coming-of-age subplot for Hannah. Even still, there are powerful spiritual messages presented in the story that readers of all ages will appreciate.
 
Narrator Pearl Hewitt does an amazing job creating an atmospheric feel to the story with a suspenseful tone and perfect pacing. She vividly brings Hannah to life and provides entertaining and distinct voices for all characters, including a memorable talking cat.
 
Overall, this is a great story to enjoy in the autumn, with its inclusion of pumpkin patches, shapeshifters, and Halloween magick! If you enjoy stories that include the mortal world, spirituality, secret societies, and fantasy, along with charming characters, definitely add this one to your list! Book 2, The Dream Mirrors, is slated for release in May 2025, so it’s a great time to try this series!

I went in not knowing anything about the book. I listened to the audiobook. On the normal 1x speed, the narrator sounded like a grandmother reading a story. It was slow. Then I increased to 1.25 speed and got the story moving. It was an okay story. It wasn't gripping. Clean novel, no explicit sex or mature.

I received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

i saw the cover of this book and also in the audiobook category so i knew i had to try it out! it seemed like a fast and cozy read, which it was!

🦇 this was giving cozy fantasy vibes and it was so atmospheric! you definitely could feel the autumn within these pages.
🦇 i also could relate to hannah quite a lot: she loved thunderstorms, preferred animal company over people, basically was an introvert, never knew both of her grandads either.
🦇 loved the mercury retrograde inclusion, i find astrological things so fascinating!
🦇 it does read a bit too ya-ish but i was still enjoying it. i think even the teenagers could read this. the writing was also easy to get into and nothing too lyrical or hard to grasp.
🦇 i loved the idea of cats being able to talk to you in a spiritual manner. 🖤
🦇 it was a good time to read it as well because american congress confirmed days ago that aliens were in our oceans and since then i've gone into the rabbit hole regarding egypt's mysteries such as the pyramids and sphinx and in this book other dimensions and pyramids were mentioned also!
🦇 the idea behind the dream haunters is quite unsettling lol i have seen this done before but it'd be fascinating and scary if it happened in real life.
🦇 morgan was my favourite character. she came across as such a spiritual and emotionally intelligent person. kinda like a mentor to hannah at the same time. i loved their conversations.
🦇 music doing things that it did in this story was a bit cheesy though.
🦇 when stuff hit the fan at like 87% i did find it a bit cringy which made me decrease the rating from 3.5 to 3, i thought it was gonna be a bit better than that, but honestly i still liked it, it just wasn't my favourite.
🦇 this is the perfect book to read just before or during halloween as it takes place in october. and if you like cozy books that you just have a good and easy time with, you'll breeze through this!

The Good: The story line was good. A young woman, who was orphaned by her parents when she was young, discovers her paternal aunt is missing. Even though she had no relationship with that aunt, she has the desire to solve her aunt's disappearance. She learns that her aunt's disappearance may have something to do with magical abilities her family has: to protect people's dreams. The culprits: the Dream Haunters. Why? They want to permanently invade people's dreams.

The Bad: The author's writing was elementary. She overused hyperbole to describe situations.

The Ugly: The writing was inconsistent. There are multiple examples. However, three I can easily remember are as follows:

The first example is where the author describes that Hannah always wondered why it was so hard to make friends. All the while, Hannah continuously reaches back to a friend for help.

The second example is a part where the author describes how the moon in retrograde may be the cause of all that is going wrong. Hannah knew immediately that retrograde was the cause. Later, the author details that Hanna wonders if retrograde is the cause. (Additionally, the author expected the reader to know what retrograde was and how it could affect events).

The third example is where Hannah knew she had magical capabilities. Later, Hannah is wondering if she has magical abilities.

Overall, this book had promise if the author had a good editor and publisher.

Dream Haunters Centers around Hannah Skye and a sleepy town, Maple Hollow. Hannah is not having the best time and after a letter from her missing aunt heads to the mystical town and finds herself on a spiritual journey learning about herself, her lineage and the world.

It’s a rather cosy autumn set book with spooky vibes. The characters and setting are likeable but not developed in the manner I like. For me this book was all tell and not enough show. Whilst it’s a short read, I understand it’s hard to get the balance right however the characters being less developed than I would like, I didn’t find myself loving, hating or even understanding them that well.

I listened to this on audiobook and did enjoy the narrator Pearls voice and narration.

Hannah is feeling lost in life regretting and focusing on past events she can not change. When all seems lost she receives a letter from her Aunt, followed by a phone call from the police that her Aunt has gone missing. Hannah is pulled by the news and travels to her Aunts house where a mystery unfolds. She is confused by the disappearance of her Aunt, the abundance of cats and cryptic messages spoken by the locals. Not to mention the lucid dreams she has been having.

This book is a cozy read for young adults and adults.No romance or murders. Just a clean fun read.

I think a large variety of readers would be interested in this mystery and if you love cats, I guarantee there are many parts that will make you smile.

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to listen to this book.

It's very hard to commentate on this story because it just didn't appeal to me. There was zero suspense and just an all round meh of read.

Saw that this is book 1 in a series, I will not be picking it up unfortunately.

Hannah's mysterious aunt that she's never met goes missing and the journey she goes on to get answers also reveals a lot about Hannah and her family's history.

The idea behind this book was interesting. I do, however, think a lot of the intrigue gets lost in the murky world-building.