The Dream-Hunter (A Dream-Hunter Novel, Book 1)

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2007

Status

Checked out

Publication

St. Martin's Paperbacks (2007), Edition: 1st, 352 pages

Description

Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. Thriller. HTML: In the ethereal world of dreams, there are champions who fight to protect the dreamer and there are demons who prey on them... In Sherrilyn Kenyon's The Dream-Hunter, Arik is such a predator. Condemned by the gods to live eternity without emotions, Arik can only feel when he's in the dreams of others. For thousands of years, he's drifted through the human unconscious, searching for sensation. Now he's finally found a dreamer whose vivid mind can fill his emptiness. Dr. Megeara Kafieri watched her father ruin himself and his reputation as he searched to prove Atlantis was real. Her deathbed promise to him to salvage his reputation has now brought her to Greece where she intends to prove once and for all that the fabled island is right where her father said it was. But frustration and bad luck dog her every step. Especially the day they find a stranger floating in the sea. His is a face she's seen many times.... in her dreams. What she doesn't know is that Arik holds more than the ancient secrets that can help her find the mythical isle of Atlantis. He has made a pact with the god Hades: In exchange for two weeks as a mortal man, he must return to Olympus with a human soul. Megeara's soul. With a secret society out to ruin her expedition, and mysterious accidents that keep threatening her life, Megeara refuses to quit. She knows she's getting closer to Atlantis and as she does, she stumbles onto the truth of what Arik really is. For Arik his quest is no longer simple. No human can know of a Dream-Hunter's existence. His dream of being mortal has quickly turned into his own nightmare and the only way to save himself will be to sacrifice the very thing he wanted to be human for. The only question is, will he?.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member webgeekstress
This series is really becoming a little too "same old, same old." I'm only still in it because I like the author's invented Atlantean mythological backdrop, but if the stories don't pick up, I may just bail.
LibraryThing member Jenson_AKA_DL
Arik is a fallen guardian now addicted to the pleasures he can find in the dreams of humans, a pale echo of the emotions stripped from Arik and his brethren by an ancient curse. Drawn to the dreams of one human in particular, Megera, Arik is consumed with a desire to experience her emotions in the
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human world beyond the dream plain. To be with Megera Arik strikes a deadly bargin, using Megera's soul as barter.

Sherrilyn Kenyon has woven another amazing tale in the world of her Dark Hunters with The Dream-Hunter. As her tale unfolds through the course of the story her characters become deeper and more complex, no one more so than Arik. Kenyon is the master of taking a character who might otherwise be unredeemable and makes you care about him. I will say that the last chapter of her story was jaw dropping as the ever powerful subplot prevelant throughout her DH series clicked in to place. I'm definately looking forward to reading more about Kenyon's world as her series and characters continue to evolve.
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Arik is an immortal who feeds off the dreams of others to feel. He's found Megeara, an archaeologist hunting for Atlantis to vindicate her father's obsession, who has such vivid dreams that they have attracted Arik.

Little does she know that there are a lot of people trying to stop her from finding
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Atlantis, if she finds Atlantis she might free Apollymi, and no-one really wants that.

What she also doesn't know is that Arik promised her soul for his humanity, and they've got two weeks.

Kenyon has written a great story here, it's fun and interesting and the politics are understandable, along with interesting interleaving into the rest of the series while being it's own book. Knowing the side characters helps but it's also quite a good story on it's own.
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LibraryThing member klarsenmd
I was bitterly disappointed with this book. I have always heard good things about Ms. Kenyon's books and thought I would love this story. The basic premise is excellent and should have been captivating, instead, it seemed to drag on and on. A book that normally should have taken me 2-3 days to
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read, took several weeks because I just wasn't that interested. I am not sure if it would have been better if I had read her previous works, but I felt it should have been a stand alone read. I found myself more interested in the peripheral characters like Solin, than I was in the hero and heroine, and that is never a good sign.
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LibraryThing member Altarasabine
Arikos is a dream hunter who has been condemned by the gods to foever live with out experiencing emotions. He is only capable of feeling the emotions of others while he wlaks through their dreams. Arikos has discovered one dreamer who displays so much emotion that it makes him feel whole.

Dr.
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Megeara Kafieri made a death bed promise to her father that she will recover his reputation. To do so she has travelled to Greece to prove that the lost city of Atlantis is indeed real. There she pulls a man from the ocean, a man she has only seen in her dreams.

Arikos is mortal, for now, but soon he must return with to the gods with a human soul, Megeara.To Susan Arikos has the missing key to Atlantis,a pure answer to her dreams. Unaware of the danger that waits ahead.
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LibraryThing member chicamimi
One of my friends chided me for having never read Sherrilyn Kenyon in all my reading, so I attempted to start with the Dark Hunter series through my library, but after months on hold, it was removed from their catalog (the horrors), so I finally added the Dream Hunter series to my requests and I'm
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glad I did.

I loved the Greek mythology mixed into the current day world. I loved that no one in these books - gods or not - was perfect in any way, but not inherently evil either. The main characters were compelling. Geary was smart, wary, and while she kept her guard up emotionally, she loved those in her life fiercely. And of course, Arik has his on interesting story of wanting to experience emotion and moving from his own selfish needs to an act of selflessness and trust.

This is one of those books that proves how a typical writing trope can be used well in the hands of a good writer. I'm intrigued to continue on with this series (when the library will let me have the book - sometimes it's hard being at the hands of the library gods).

My only recommendation is not to follow my lead if you start this series. I would suggest starting with the Dark Hunter series. While it wasn't a major part of the storyline, at times I felt like certain scenes would've packed more umph if I knew the dark hunter background.

Very good read from start to finish.
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LibraryThing member thehistorychic
I really enjoyed the story of Geary and Arik but at the end it through me for a loop at the end when I realized that this was set pre-book 1. I really liked that she placed the book here because it was refreshing to see how the ending played into previous books. All in all this was a better one of
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the series even though it was a Dream-Hunter book.
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LibraryThing member kw50197
An okay read, with enough elaboration on the Dream-Hunter world to keep fans interested.
LibraryThing member jshillingford
I read the Dark Hunter series voraciously for years, until I got caught up in other author series. I decided to catch back up to the new releases and, sadly, this is where I had to start. Frankly, if this were the first book I had read in this series I wouldn’t continue. I struggled to finish it
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because I kept putting it down; it is lacking the magic of Kenyon’s other books in the series. I just did not care about these characters, and they were too far removed from other familiar faces in the Dark Hunter universe. The Dark Hunters and Were Hunters are dynamic, complex and interesting creations. Oneroi who exist without emotion, and try to siphon it through humans like a drug when they go bad as Skoti, just didn’t click for me. Arikos was one-dimensional, and boring. His heroine Geary was interesting, but needed more fleshing out. And, outside of dreams (dream sex isn’t as good), I just didn’t see their relationship evolve into being a couple.

Despite these issues, I gave the book 3 stars for a couple reasons. First, Kenyon’s mythology is rich and detailed. I love getting more information about her world-building – especially the gods and their relationships. It was really cool to find out Hades is totally hot and Persephone loves him. Also, the horror and unjust punishment of the Oneroi is interesting, just not as a basis for romance. Plus, Acheron made a cameo, which is always good. Second, the ending was actually exciting when Geary has to go to the Underworld to win Arikos back. Overall, it was okay but just not up to the high standards of the novels that came before it. If it hadn’t been so hyped that we meet Ash’s heroine in this book, I probably would’ve skipped it.
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LibraryThing member mzserena
This series is seriously starting to annoy me. If I didn't want to know more about Ash, I'd give up on the series. I hate the mash-up of multiple series into one.That said, I did not like Arik. I liked Geary, that's the only reason I liked this book at all.
LibraryThing member tivonut
Chronologically this should be before Kyrian's book, either before or right after Fantasy Lover. It is somewhere between a 3 and 4 star but looking at it in comparison to the other Dark Hunter books, I readjusted it to 3 stars. It was the 2nd Dark Hunter book I read and, actually, chronologically
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was the correct position.

I re-read this as it is labeled #10 in the Dark Hunter series and just finished #9. I didn't remember much from 2 years ago when I read it the first time. It can be read as a stand-alone as the setting is before Kyrian's book but reading it now gives me insight to Katra, Nick, the Honoroi, and even a little of Zarek. Still the story isn't as good as the other DH books but alone it does have interesting myths and characters. I never really got to like Arik even though he does redeem himself in the end, he is just too self centered. Feelings don't stop people from being self-centered and egotistical and his turn around is not explained enough in my opinion.
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LibraryThing member kristawalters
I LOVE THIS STORY! But i love everything Sherrilyn Kenyon writes. Megeara Saatsakis is a strong hurt woman determined to have her life turn out different then the rest of her family. Arikos is a Dream Hunter who protects people in their dreams where just so happens to be the only place he can feel
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anything at all due to a curse. Once Arik comes upon Geary in her dreams, he cant let her go, so he makes a deal with Hades and becomes human so he can be with her. Once he's human and after Geary finds out her dads information about Atlantis is true, she starts getting close to finding the real Atlantis & Arik has to try and protect her from those who would rather leave sleeping dogs lie. And then all hell brakes lose & Arik sacrifices everything to make sure Geary has her life even though she turned her back on him when he needed her to believe him. This story was So great and it had a great ending I can't wait to read another one. These stories are the best . She is on my keeper list forever!
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LibraryThing member kristawalters
I LOVE THIS STORY! But i love everything Sherrilyn Kenyon writes. Megeara Saatsakis is a strong hurt woman determined to have her life turn out different then the rest of her family. Arikos is a Dream Hunter who protects people in their dreams where just so happens to be the only place he can feel
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anything at all due to a curse. Once Arik comes upon Geary in her dreams, he cant let her go, so he makes a deal with Hades and becomes human so he can be with her. Once he's human and after Geary finds out her dads information about Atlantis is true, she starts getting close to finding the real Atlantis & Arik has to try and protect her from those who would rather leave sleeping dogs lie. And then all hell brakes lose & Arik sacrifices everything to make sure Geary has her life even though she turned her back on him when he needed her to believe him. This story was So great and it had a great ending I can't wait to read another one. These stories are the best . She is on my keeper list forever!
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LibraryThing member msralways
Good. Kind of slow going at times, but the plot was good and it was good to see some of the characters before their stories happened, like Kyrian and Zarek.
LibraryThing member Vonini
The beginning had me rolling my eyes at the bad motivation Ms. Kenyon gave her heroine. I expected to not really like the book, but the further I came, the more I liked it. It turned out to be a very decent read. I started out fully determined to stop with the series, but I have decided to
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continue. The mythology is a bit much sometimes with all the different gods and demi-gods and what have you, but it's compelling reading as well.
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LibraryThing member larissaleescribbles
This book needs a trigger warning for date rape. I was uncomfortable the entire time I read it. Do yourself a favor and skip to Chapter 20 for a peek into Ash's recent past with Nick.
LibraryThing member SuziQBird
How so? Gods how I hate that question! And it's repeated throughout this series. Like that's the only way they ask why or w/e. UGH! Okay, I'm better now. (sigh)
LibraryThing member Lauren2013
The Dream Hunter
3 Stars

The Atlantis plot premise has potential and the additions to the overall Dark Hunter world building are interesting but the romance is borderline idiotic.

Arik and Geary's relationship is completely inexplicable. Geary goes from overtly skeptical and suspicious of Arik to
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jumping his bones in less than a chapter and Arik goes from unfeeling and self-centered jerk to infatuated and self-sacrificing hero in the time it takes to fall off Mount Olympus.

The pacing is also off - the first 2/3 are slow and tedious but the last 1/3 picks up and manages to save the book from being a complete dud - the resolution to Arik and Geary's dilemma is inventive and I can only lament the fact that their romance is not worthy of it.

The secondary characters are the real highlight of the book from the various Greek Gods (Kenyon shows real insight into their egotistical, capricious and selfish natures) to Geary's quirky/nerdy cousin and Arik snarky "brother", not to mention the enigmatic ZT and Kat who is even more mysterious than before.

Ultimately, the book is worth reading for the tie ins to the Dark Hunter series, which fill in some gaps and add new details.
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LibraryThing member TheYodamom
Not as good as the Dark Hunter series. I really struggled with it for the first 100 pages, it was slow. The greek mythology was interesting but it lost me with some of the unknown greek words that were not translated. There was a small tie to the Dark Hunter series, but not enough. It had a few
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laugh out loud parts but I never really feel in love with the story. I love the Atlantis story line but this one was not a favorite. I will continue on with this series fro at least one more book, only because of the tie to the Dark Hunters
Best line:
"Morornia, Every full moon, they teleport the Morons to earth and let them lose. Consider this your first encounter"
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Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2007-02-06

Physical description

352 p.; 4.22 inches

ISBN

0312938810 / 9780312938819

Barcode

1600034
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