A lot had to do with the writing and the set up of the story. This story is written from a third person omniscient point of view as we follow two siblings. I felt so far removed from these characters however. The start was okay, I could feel the love for their parents and especially their father but when it comes to the setting and world, not so much. The children escape, but have to watch their father beaten by Malstain’s forces. They are subject to intimidation in their home as those under Malstain search desperately for the Book that the children vow to protect, though they don’t really know why.

The plot and the characters worked brilliantly. The main aim of the plot was clear and easy to follow and it was made wonderfully intriguing by the misunderstandings, near-misses and scheming from different characters. The underlying commentaries on kindness, family, love and death kept the story interesting and gave me plenty to think about after I'd read it. Rachel isn’t sure why the secret she’s keeping is so important but she knows it holds the key to freeing Brava from its cruel, tyrannical dictator and the only way she’ll ever get to see her father again. Robert and Rachel are the two main characters who happen to be siblings. Their father, Felix, is a librarian who takes them on Rachel's birthday to the library in the quest of an adventure and to find a forbidden book, the book of stolen dreams. They get the precious book but Felix gets arrested by the brutal President Charles Malstains' soldiers and put into prison. The book withholds some secrets that Charles Malstain is after. Now it's up to Robert and Rachel to find the secret of the book and return it to it's rightful owners. But in the process of doing so, they make many friends but enemies too who are also after the book. Along the way we meet a host of characters - at both ends of the spectrum. Malstain is a shadowy villain, orchestrating terrible deeds for his own selfish reasons. Opposing him are a motley crew, and not all are guaranteed to do the right thing when asked.The story is in part inspired by Farr’s family history, based on his Great Aunt and Uncle’s escape from Nazi Germany - but reimagined in a fantasy dictatorship. This is a story that values bravery, the magic of books and the influence of individuals who follow the right course even when the world around them feels oppressive. The Book of Stolen Dreams offers a tense and thrilling adventure, but one in which Farr allows the youngest characters to win the day - providing a hope-filled reminder that good can triumph over tyranny in a million small, everyday ways. Although it's not outright said, the names and places in this story gave me strong Russian vibes, so I presume it's set somewhere around there, but placing a date is a little harder. It's a fantasy world, that could be our own.

The magical side of the book doesn't dominate and it doesn't overwhelm and confuse, which I was delighted about. We get to read the dreams that comprise this book, and these are wonderful little segment, not too long, but just right, and I wish the ARC had illustrations. I can't even imagine how gorgeous the physical copy will be! Ahhh, I wish I had one right now! Na última página, descobrimos que haverá um segundo livro, o que me agradou imenso, pois adorei a Rachel e o Robert. With a gorgeous cover like that and with the tile of The Book of Stolen Dreams I had high expectations for this adventurous middle grade novel. Unfortunately those were not at all met. No. I suspect you come from the poorer north of the city, from a family of artists. Your eyes are musical, and your nose gives me the strongest impression that you have a piano in your living room.”This is a superbly written book that I highly recommend for children who are not put off by a little darkness in the stories they read.

My favourite thing about this book was the narrator's voice. The writing has a lyrical quality to it which adds to the fantastical nature of the world and makes some very simple statements beautifully poignant. Parts of the story are told in a dry, satirical way, which helps to lighten the mood as sometimes this tale can get quite dark! Esta história é inspirada na família do escritor, nomeadamente uma tia-avó e tio-avô, que conseguiram fugir nos Nazis, na Alemanha. When things are tough, you want those around you to be people you can trust. In the world we encounter at the start of this wondrous story, that is not necessarily the case. Under the rule of Charles Malstain life is dreary, and anyone who does not do as he requests is made to disappear. This is a time of dark secrets, where family are suspicious of each other and where things are about to get worse.

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But, my dear—why do you look so sad? Is it the poor quality of the hot chocolate? No, I see now. Your parents aren’t here with you. You are alone. Where are they?” The mix of characters here provides such wonderful possibilities. From the evil tyrant president who hates children and has turned a country into a wasteland, from the brave, smart, adorable kids like Rachel and Robert on a mission to save their father and the whole country, to a whole heap of side-characters that either made me giggle, or want to hug the book. Some children may skim over the deeper messages of this book, but they provide crucial opportunities for discussions, both at home and in the classroom. As if sensing what she was thinking, the little man stood beside her at the rail and spoke quietly. The story is set in an alternate world, which in my mind I pictured as similar to 1920s Russia. The weather is cold and an oppressive regime has seized power. There is some technology, such as cars and airships, yet the only phones available are ones that connect to the wall, music comes from violins and pianos and messages are sent via letter or written in books.

Now the adventure itself is just so well done and wrapped up even better. There's nothing I can say that I didn't like. The pacing was perfect, I could easily keep up and it wasn't as predictable, which I was pleasantly surprised to learn. It felt like we were given a lot of clues, bits and pieces to put together along with our two main characters, and while it wasn't too complex, I had moments where I failed to piece the puzzles. That's absolutely not a bad thing at all. And when you actually finish the book, you get this sense of accomplishment and happiness that you were able to put these things together and come to a conclusion. Rachel shivered and took the rather grubby piece of old rug that he had unwrapped from around the violin case.Excuse me. I couldn’t help noticing you are alone. Please, my dear girl, you have no reason to fear.” Oh, my dear Isabella! But it’s an all-too-common story these days. Did he put up a fight? No? It was probably wise of him. You don’t mess with Charles Malstain’s state police. In the days of the Emperor, if soldiers came to arrest you, they offered a polite smile, a bunch of flowers, or a box of chocolate hearts. But these days the police have neither reason nor manners. And there are no chocolate hearts.” The book itself is about family and friends, trust and love, bravery... it will, at least for the time you are reading this book, make you step out of your adult state-of-mind and make you wonder if you still have that moral compass that they talk about... This tense and exciting fantasy thriller is complex and magical with some great characters – both heroic and evil.