Published: 2019 – 2022 (Books in the series were published after 2021)
Series: The Dreamer Trilogy (Books 1-3)
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Illustrator: N/A
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT, Queer, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Magical Realism, Paranormal, Young Adult Fantasy
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 7-9 (This book would fit in the PreK-12th grade library collection)
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)
Goodreads Link: The Dreamer Trilogy
Triggers: Fantasy violence, psychological distress, existential threats, grief, and descriptions of weapon use
Review By: Francesca Miesner
Publisher’s Summary:
Book 1: Call Down the Hawk
The dreamers walk among us . . . and so do the dreamed. Those who dream cannot stop dreaming – they can only try to control it. Those who are dreamed cannot have their own lives – they will sleep forever if their dreamers die. And then there are those who are drawn to the dreamers. To use them. To trap them. To kill them before their dreams destroy us all. Ronan Lynch is a dreamer. He can pull both curiosities and catastrophes out of his dreams and into his compromised reality. Jordan Hennessy is a thief. The closer she comes to the dream object she is after, the more inextricably she becomes tied to it. Carmen Farooq-Lane is a hunter. Her brother was a dreamer . . . and a killer. She has seen what dreaming can do to a person. And she has seen the damage that dreamers can do. But that is nothing compared to the destruction that is about to be unleashed. . .
Book 2: Mister Impossible
Something is happening to the source of the dreamers’ power. It is blocked. Diminished. Weak. If it goes away entirely, what will happen to the dreamers and those who depend on them? Ronan Lynch isn’t planning to wait and find out. Backed by his mentor, Bryde, he is ready to do what needs to be done to save the dreamers and the dreamed . . . even if it takes him far from his family and the boy he loves. Jordan Hennessy knows she will not survive if the dreaming fails. So she plunges into a dark underworld in order to find an object that may sustain her. Carmen Farooq-Lane is afraid of the dreamers — which is why she’s agreed to hunt them down. The closer she gets, though, the more complicated her feelings become. Will the dreamers destroy the world . . . or will the world be destroyed trying to eliminate the dreamers? In the remarkable second book of The Dreamer Trilogy, Maggie Stiefvater pushes her characters to their limits — and shows what happens when they start to break.
Book 3: Greywarren
This is the story of the Lynch family. Niall and Mór escaped their homeland for a new start, and lost themselves in what they found. Declan has grown up as the responsible son, the responsible brother–only to find there is no way for him to keep his family safe. Ronan has always lived on the edge between dreams and waking… but now that edge is gone, and he is falling. Matthew has been the happy child, the brightest beam. But rebellion beckons, because it all feels like an illusion now. This world was not made for such a family–a family with the power to make a world and break it. If they cannot save each other or themselves, we are all doomed.
Review:
Maggie Stiefvater’s The Dreamer Trilogy stands as an exceptional masterclass in urban fantasy, serving as a spin-off to her acclaimed Raven Cycle while forging a spectacular, high-stakes identity all its own. For middle and high school educators looking for immersive worlds that blend high-concept magic with profound character exploration, this complete trilogy is an indispensable addition.
The journey begins with Call Down the Hawk, which establishes the volatile rules governing dreamers and those harvested from their minds. This novel proves that Maggie Stiefvater can write an enticing and well thought out story. After reading her previous collection of books, it seemed that her ability to write an interesting story and enticing characters fell off. Too often when an author is writing for a young adult or teen audience, they start to think that their attention to detail no longer matters. The way that she wrote Carmen is a huge improvement in the way that she was able to write female characters. This novel is a must read for any lover of fantasy.
The tension escalates beautifully in the middle installment, Mister Impossible. Maggie Stiefvater does an excellent job of world building and making the magic in this novel seem plausible. The characters are consistent, diverse, and likable despite their obvious flaws; they are all three dimensional. This novel is the second in the series and is a must-read for fans of fantasy.
The narrative reaches its ultimate, emotional peak in the grand finale, Greywarren. This novel is a love story by Maggie Stiefvater to the character she created, Ronan Lynch. Throughout her previous works that included this character, it was obvious to the reader that he was the favorite. Where this novel thrives is in the characterization and the depth of the universe Stiefvater created. This is an incredible ending to a hard to put down trilogy.
Across all three books, the striking cover art and high-stakes premises are guaranteed to hook teen readers immediately. Stiefvater’s meticulous attention to detail, lyrical pacing, and deep respect for her audience’s intelligence make this 5-star trilogy a phenomenal investment for any library collection.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- ELA / Creative Writing: The trilogy serves as a brilliant mentor text for analyzing complex character voices, alternating perspectives, subverting tropes in modern urban fantasy, and creating multi-dimensional magic systems with concrete real-world consequences.
- Social Studies / SEL: The narrative deeply addresses interpersonal themes regarding familial expectations, individual identity, coping with heavy responsibilities, and navigating peer relationships during times of intense emotional crisis.
- Extension Activity / Library Application: This trilogy is highly recommended for secondary school book clubs, literature circles, or high-interest independent reading programs. As an extension activity, students can participate in a “World-Building Design Workshop,” where they map out their own unique magic system, define its limitations, and write a short character vignette exploring how a “dreamed” object or entity interacts with reality.
- Diversity & Representation: The text outstandingly supports diversity, equity, and inclusion through its thoughtful inclusion of LGBTQ+ themes, centering on queer identities and multi-dimensional relationships. The cast features an array of distinct cultural perspectives and multi-faceted backgrounds, ensuring that complex identities are treated with nuance rather than falling back on flat tropes.
Readalikes:
- The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle) by Maggie Stiefvater
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
