“Dreams in Atlantis” by Jessica Hill

Dreams in Atlantis

Jessica Hill
Ace of Swords Publishing (2024)
ISBN: 978-1990496646
Reviewed by Stephanie Lim Uy for Reader Views (06/2024)

A compelling and mesmerizing page-turner, Jessica Hill’s “Dreams in Atlantis” introduces us to a young woman who works as a slave for the most powerful family in Atlantis. Through her bloodline, she has a gift that enables her to weave herself inside people’s dreams and compel them to do her master’s bidding. Taken away from the people who love her at a young age, she has no real recollection of who she is or what she’s capable of beyond what she’s ordered to do. The only things she remembers are mythological tales of magic, legend, and her name – Xzya.

After she kills her bodyguard – the ‘how’ of which you’ll find particularly intriguing – she meets another slave with an unusual name – Thomas, who’s to be her new bodyguard. He’s unlike any other slave she’s ever met. Big, bold, and undefeated in the fighting pits, it’s his entry into her life that triggers a series of events that propel her journey of self-discovery and allow her to finally gain the courage to free herself from slavery.

If you’re a lover of fantasy fiction and mythology, like I am, this book is a must-read. Jessica Hill’s words are vivid and masterful, weaving a rich tapestry that just jumps off the page and into the reader’s imagination. Her skills at worldbuilding allow us to fully immerse ourselves in the fabled city of Atlantis, experiencing its technology, society, and way of life. The initial pacing of the story may feel a little slow for some, but this essential foundation lays the groundwork for her solid and fully developed characters, as well as the events that unfolded soon after.

Hill’s multi-faceted characters are compelling, richly developed, and well-written. Their motivations, personalities, goals, desires, strengths, and weaknesses make them easily likable and relatable. As the story unfolds, we get to know the characters on a deeper level – Xzya and Thomas both have depth, flaws, challenges, and regrets that they’re trying desperately to overcome. Even the minor characters have multiple layers that make us sympathetic to them. Each one has a purpose to fulfill and a contribution to the narrative that pushes the plot. There were some characters I loved to hate, and some I was sad to see go.

“Dreams in Atlantis” by Jessica Hill is a book that has something for everyone. An intriguing combination of mystical elements along with adventure, suspense, fantasy, and romance; it’s a must-have for every book lover’s collection. I can’t wait to discover what happens next.