The Dream Protocol (Descent #1) by Adara Quick (2016)
-NetGalley Review-

YA Fiction | Dystopian

Blurb:

“WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T GET OLD.

In fiery young Deirdre Callaghan’s home of Skellig City, no one has dreamt their own dream in over a thousand years. Dreams are produced by the Dream Makers and sold by the Ministry, the tyrannical rulers of the city. In Skellig City, years of life are awarded equally and the ruined are cast away beneath the city on their 35th birthday. 

Unbeknownst to the Ministry, Deirdre’s handsome friend Flynn Brennan is afflicted with a terrible disease – a disease that accelerates the aging process. Knowing his fate if the Ministry should ever discover his illness, Flynn has lived his whole life hiding from their watchful eyes. When Flynn’s secret is finally discovered, Deirdre is determined to free him from the Ministry’s grasp. But to save him, she will have to reveal herself to a shadowy enemy…one that none of them even knew existed.”
–Goodreads

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pooled ink Review:

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to review!

Rich with Irish notes this story begins with the deep and steady beating of funeral drums sending off the unwilling to the next life. Taking place far in the future we meet the fiery Deirdre who must fight the slow suffocation of the Ministry to save the boy she loves, Flynn.

In a buried city of steel and concrete people spend their wages on dreams, are punished with nightmares, and above all are taught to despise the ruined. When a person reaches their 35^th birthday the signs of aging have already begun and the ruined are removed from society. Skellig City provides its citizens with food, clothing, and work as it promises equality for all, but in a city where there is no freedom Deirdre finds no comfort in the façade of equality. Everyone else may be too scared to speak up but when Flynn is hauled off and locked away the last fibers of her restraint disintegrate.

This was an interesting concept to read. It’s a short book, perhaps closer to novella length actually. It had lots of tension, mystery, intrigue, and secrets. It’s sort of like an Irish-oriented dystopian story. Pretty cool, really.

The characters were captivating, the plot held strong, and the world-building was quite creative and well done.

The Dream Protocol is a high-stakes dystopian story that gleams with the soft caresses of ancient Ireland with all the sinister schemes and deadly betrayals of this high-tech future sealed far below the earth’s depths. Deirdre and Flynn will see the blue sky one day, they will be free, and they will fight death itself if they must to get there.

Cheers.

 Purchase here: The Dream Protocol 

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Meet Adara Quick!

Irish-American author, Adara Flynn Quick, is the writer of The Dream Protocol series.  Early in her career, Adara was fascinated by dreams, the unconscious, and the healing stories of many cultures.  As a contemporary author, she writes young adult literature that brings ancient myths and legends into futuristic worlds.  She is an accomplished visual artist and uses her background as a psychotherapist to inspire the finest and darkest moments of her characters.

Driven to distraction by her computer, Adara writes all of her stories longhand.  Pen and paper are two of her favorite things.  The author tortures her husband with a passion for downtempo electronica and too many pillows.  She is a firm beleiver that there are never enough pillows.
-Adara’s website

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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