DREAM TO ME

After their father’s death, two sisters from New York seek an inheritance in Washington state.

Rising high school junior Eva Sylvan and her 22-year-old sister, Rhonda, are reeling from their father’s death. Half sisters through their mom—a mom who left with her new boyfriend and drug supplier when Eva was 11—the girls were raised by Eva’s father as if they were both his own. With limited resources to keep them afloat in New York City now that their paramedic dad is gone, they learn that Eva’s great-aunt left her a house in tiny, rural Madrona, Washington, and they head west. When they arrive, most of the residents are reluctant to welcome them; after all, Eva’s reclusive great aunt was rumored to be a witch. In fact, people start slipping into mysterious comas after Eva dreams about them, and many locals suspect the arrival of Eva, another Sylvan, is to blame. Cal, a cute boy who befriends Eva, also seems to hide a secret. The mystical worldbuilding feels tangible as Eva accesses her dormant, inherited magic but is unsure what she is creating or witnessing. The book moves at an urgent pace, as Eva is determined to unravel the mystery through cryptic clues that her aunt has left. Though eerie in tone, the book weaves together the magical realm with the characters’ grief and guilt, adding nuance to the suspenseful story. Most of the main characters are presumed White.

A haunting and healing journey.