Review: The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters

The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Historical

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Olivia Mead is a headstrong, independent girl—a
suffragist—in an age that prefers its girls to be
docile. It’s 1900 in Oregon, and Olivia’s father, concerned that she’s headed for trouble, convinces a stage mesmerist to try to hypnotize the rebellion out of her. But the hypnotist, an intriguing young man named Henri Reverie, gives her a terrible gift instead: she’s able to see people’s true natures, manifesting as visions of darkness and goodness, while also unable to speak her true thoughts out loud. These supernatural challenges only make Olivia more determined to speak her mind, and so she’s drawn into a dangerous relationship with the hypnotist and his mysterious motives, all while secretly fighting for the rights of women. Winters breathes new life into history once again with an atmospheric, vividly real story, including archival photos and art from the period throughout.

The Good

The theme.

Yes, yes, and YES. This is the book that I want my (future) daughters to read. This is the book that I want my (future) sons to read. Cat Winters blew me away with the way that she wrapped this story around the beginnings of feminism. Just like the women Cat Winters writes about planted seeds of feminism and equality, The Cure for Dreaming can plant the seed for the newer generations.

Olivia.

I loved Olivia. I felt so much sympathy for her. There were times that I was brought to tears with what she had to endure. Cat Winters made such an incredible character with Olivia and I cannot imagine anyone else being capable to deliver the story in The Cure for Dreaming than her.

Henri.

From the very first scene, I adored Henri. I just knew that he would be a character that I will remember for a long time. And that he is. The development that went into his character was extraordinary. 

The secondary characters.

Cat Winters just has a thing for creating and molding remarkable characters. None of them let me down. Even whenever they were vile and I wanted to shake some sense in them, I could recognize how much the author put into developing this cast of characters.

The setting.

It was perfect. It was essential. It was heartbreaking. It was hopeful.

Everything.

I feel like if I keep going I'll just list every aspect of this book. It was that good. It's in the top three best books that I've read in 2014. It's one of those books that I wish I could put in the hands of everyone. It deserves to be read. It needs to be read.

The Bad

Nothing.

There is not a single bad thing I could say about this book.

The In-Between

Nothing. 

Seriously, this book is flawless.

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.