Lair of Dreams

Lair of Dreams continues the supernatural mystery series that began with The Diviners, set in 1920s New York City. A sleeping sickness spreads through the city, leaving victims trapped in dreams they cannot escape. The story follows multiple characters with paranormal abilities, including dream-walker Henry DuBois and his fellow Diviners. As they investigate the source of the sleeping sickness, they must navigate both the physical world of Prohibition-era Manhattan and a dangerous dream realm. The narrative interweaves Jazz Age historical elements with supernatural horror, creating a backdrop of speakeasies, vaudeville theaters, and immigrant communities. The characters face threats from both human prejudices and otherworldly forces. The novel explores themes of identity, belonging, and the American Dream through the lens of its diverse cast of characters. It questions the nature of dreams - both literal and metaphorical - and their power to heal or destroy.

Readers found this sequel slower-paced than The Diviners, with many noting the 600+ page length felt too long. The dream-based plot resonated with fans of supernatural fantasy, though some called it less engaging than book one. Likes: - Character development, particularly Henry and Ling's storylines - Atmospheric 1920s New York setting - LGBTQ+ representation - Audiobook narration by January LaVoy Dislikes: - Reduced focus on main character Evie - Multiple plotlines that take time to converge - Long descriptive passages that slow the pacing - Less action than the first book Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (38,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (580+ ratings) "The dream sequences are beautifully written but sometimes meandering," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another writes, "The parallel storylines eventually pay off, but require patience to get there." Several readers mentioned struggling through the first 200 pages before becoming fully invested.

The Diviners by Libba Bray The first book in the series introduces readers to the supernatural 1920s New York world of psychic powers and occult mysteries.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Two rival magicians create a magical circus as their competition ground in Victorian-era London, weaving together romance and supernatural elements.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert A teen discovers her connection to a supernatural world when her mother vanishes, leading her into a dark realm based on her grandmother's book of fairy tales.

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab A young ghost hunter navigates Edinburgh with her ghost best friend while uncovering supernatural mysteries and dangerous entities.

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon A clairvoyant in future London works in criminal underworld while hiding her powers from a government that hunts people with supernatural abilities.

🌟 Lair of Dreams is the second book in The Diviners series, which blends supernatural horror with the glittering backdrop of 1920s New York City. 🌟 Author Libba Bray spent five years researching Chinese-American history and the 1920s jazz age to create authentic historical details for the novel. 🌟 The sleeping sickness featured in the book was inspired by the real-life "sleeping sickness" epidemic (encephalitis lethargica) that affected millions worldwide between 1916 and 1927. 🌟 The author incorporated actual historical locations from 1920s New York, including the long-lost Chinatown theater scene and the city's elaborate underground tunnel systems. 🌟 Libba Bray used to work as a theater lighting technician and wrote many of her early novels while working various odd jobs, including as a waitress and a dot-com company employee.