DREAM COUNTRY

The killing of a goddess tears the world—and her three children—apart in this YA fantasy.

Theodore, Fanta, and Tores are the triplet Major gods of Sleep, Dream, and Nightmares, respectively. They once lived together in Zion. But after the murder of their goddess mother, the All-Mother, when Night disappeared from the skies, they decided to reside in domains separated by the gates of Ivory, the material of Dreams and Horn, and the material of Nightmares in order to prevent a civil war. Ever since, the siblings have been filled with mistrust and remain suspicious of one another—after all, who else but a Major could kill the Night? The creatures and Minor gods who inhabit their domains harbor the same apprehensions. Now, it is time for a new Majoracle, the festival that takes place on the siblings’ birthday, when the gates are closed to mortals and the Major and Minor gods can rest for a few days. But just before the Majoracle begins, a mysterious child enters Theo’s domain, a youngster who may spark explosive, life-altering consequences for everyone. If Tores gets his hands on the child, perhaps the god can finally achieve what he wants the most: access to Dream Country, his sister’s domain, and a way to be rid of the Nightmares once and for all. Peppered with Brazilian and Kenyan cultural references, Brown’s beautifully written novel delivers an inventive, dreamlike tale about a dysfunctional family whose love-hate dynamics are infused with wariness, envy, and yearning. The book rewards patient readers who enjoy slow revelations and striking stories with thought-provoking elements of theology and mythology. The chapters deftly alternate between peaceful, unassuming Theo and bitter, assertive Tores. This leaves Fanta still a delectable mystery to readers, with a promise of more to come by the time the bracing narrative reaches its explosive twist ending.

A fantastic, engaging, mythology-rich tale about family, murder, and, above all, balance and change.