Dreamslinger by Graci Kim
For lovers of fantasy worlds, Gracie Kim has developed in Dreamslinger, a humdinger of a fantasy world with her creation of The kingdom of Royal Hanguk. UK publishers Piccadilly Press have certainly thrown some talent in with it because, inside the book, readers will find a shiny lift-out inset containing a detailed map illustration of Royal Hanguk by Virginia Allyn. Allyn is a fantasy map illustrator and her hand drawn cartography has illustrated more than 200 maps for novels, helping to establish a rich immersive fantasy world for each novel. Included in this inset is a summary of the 4 seasonal palaces of the Kingdom of Hanguk, a summary of the 4 "Dreampanions" and their "seasonabilities," a map of "The Asleep" and a curious badge token. The cover design by Zareen Johnson beautifully evokes the tone and substance of the story with a dragon appearing with a young girl tossing a glowing orb. As the author writes in the Acknowledgements, "They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I hope readers do judge Dreamslinger by its stunning face."
Graci Kim is the Korean born award-winning author of Gifted Clans, a Korean mythology inspired middle grade series. Dreamslinger is the first book in a new series pitched at the Middle Years cohort of readers. It is refreshing to read a fantasy world that is inspired by Korea. Korean customs, sayings and terminology are scattered throughout the book. We are immersed in a fantasy kingdom but it is definitely through and through Korean infused from the palaces to the hanbok to the food and etc. The kingdom of Royal Hanguk exists within Seoul, something like Bukchon Hanok village or Ikseon-dong Hanok Village (preserved traditional villages with hanoks from the Joseon dynasty) which exists for visitors to see within the busy streets of contemporary Seoul.
Fourteen- year-old Aria Loveridge is the likeable heroine. She lives, separated and exiled from society, in a home for Dreamslingers of which she is one. Dreamslingers have a genetic mutation that allows them to be transported to a magical realm while they sleep and they have powerful magic. Dreamslingers are blamed by the rest of society for an historic event which killed hundreds called The Great Outburst and are therefore distrusted. To keep society safe they must identify, isolate and suppress their power. However, the Kingdom of Hanguk opens Dreamslinger trials to Dreamslingers from around the world and Aria feels that she must go through the trials in order to infiltrate the royal kingdom to take it down. Things do not go as she initially thinks and she begins to question her whole past and identity. Aria forges new and deep friendships and allegiances. The trials are slightly reminiscent of The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) and adhere to the satisfactory, tried and tested fairytale formula that dictates that the hero must pass a set of three trials. There are dream slingers, anti-slingers and freedom slingers. There is violence and a battle for power. Sides have to be chosen and Aria chooses. The guiding principle underlying the story is found in the dedication, " To all those who are exceptions to the rule. May you rise to be exceptional." In Aria, readers have a model of a character who is internally strong and ethical, able to stay true to herself and her values and to flourish. There is plenty of fertile ground in Dreamslinger with Aria, its engaging central character, for readers to keenly await subsequent novels in the series.
With its strong Korean influence, the Dreamslinger series will be an excellent vehicle for expanding the reader's world view, knowledge and intercultural understanding whilst at the same time being an original and exciting read.
Dreamslinger is also available as an ebook and in audio.
Themes: Friendship, difference, dragons, magic, dreams, Korean culture and life.
Wendy Jeffrey