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gaderianne's review
4.0
This is the first graphic novel that I have ever read. My brother has been trying to convince me that I would like this genre and found the perfect place for me to start. As a historian focused on the American Revolution - I LOVED THIS STORY! It was the perfect blend of realism (like the references to CATO, for instance), historical accuracy (although Bea's period undergarments were not quite correct), and fantasy. I've always been enamored by the colonial/revolutionary period, while understanding the horrors of war. This graphic novel captured both and the artwork was beautiful. I will admit that it took me a little while to get into the flow of reading this graphic novel (like the order of conversations, for example).
I did not give this one five stars because
1. I found I didn't care about Bea's real life and only her "dream life."
2. It was not in-depth enough for me. Since I readily admit that I am new to the genre, this may be something that I just have to get used to. However, I wanted to know more, learn more, feel more about the characters.
Still, I would gladly follow this series to the end. I love the fact that you can keep up with the story online and read a new page each day! I'll be checking in to keep up without a doubt and hoping that Major Alan Warren will invade my dreams!
I did not give this one five stars because
1. I found I didn't care about Bea's real life and only her "dream life."
2. It was not in-depth enough for me. Since I readily admit that I am new to the genre, this may be something that I just have to get used to. However, I wanted to know more, learn more, feel more about the characters.
Still, I would gladly follow this series to the end. I love the fact that you can keep up with the story online and read a new page each day! I'll be checking in to keep up without a doubt and hoping that Major Alan Warren will invade my dreams!
diamontique's review
5.0
"The Dreamer" comic is a fantastically drawn and written story about a girl named Beatrice Whaley who keeps on having strange dreams. Of course, everyone get weird dreams, but her dreams actually feel and look REAL. It's as if it's reality, and...possibly, might be. This comic is really interesting because the "dreams" are set in the American Revolution, and how many comics are set in that time period? Also, it's pretty fast-paced and crazy, so you never know what might happen next (especially when you only have Friday updates).
kristy_k's review
4.0
This is the first graphic novel/comic book I've read, and if more of them are like this, it definitely won't be my last. I've debated reading a comic before (mainly because I love the Marvel arcs), but have always felt overwhelmed by the options and didn't want to commit to the research I felt it'd involved. Goodreads itself actually recommended The Dreamer comics to me, and when I checked it out, I saw the author offered it free on her website. (which is awesome btw)
The Dreamer has so much to offer: historical fiction, suspense, action, romance, and even mystery (how are her dreams so real? and later...which part is reality; is there a psychological reason? time travel?). There were so much I loved about this comic. It was refreshing to see high school kids act like actual teenagers- fawning over crushes, feeling distant and disagreeable with their parents, the petty fights with friends. And of course the dreams, when history came in to play, was so action packed and emotionally ridden. These sequences were my favorite.
I really felt Bea's turmoil as she first found the dreams disconcerting and later became obsessed with them, spending almost every waken minute thinking about Alan, Nathan, and the other Patriots. I also liked how Bea's character stayed essentially the same, whether in present day or the 1700s. There were subtle differences (there's no way she could get away with being a 21st century girl back then...), but her overall personality remained unchanged. It helped with the cohesiveness of the story and also made for some great dream scenes.
As Bea becomes more invested in her dream world, she begins to neglect her reality, and she has to deal with the consequences. Like Bea, I am thoroughly invested in her American Revolution dreams and cannot wait to see what happens next.
The Dreamer has so much to offer: historical fiction, suspense, action, romance, and even mystery (how are her dreams so real? and later...which part is reality; is there a psychological reason? time travel?). There were so much I loved about this comic. It was refreshing to see high school kids act like actual teenagers- fawning over crushes, feeling distant and disagreeable with their parents, the petty fights with friends. And of course the dreams, when history came in to play, was so action packed and emotionally ridden. These sequences were my favorite.
I really felt Bea's turmoil as she first found the dreams disconcerting and later became obsessed with them, spending almost every waken minute thinking about Alan, Nathan, and the other Patriots. I also liked how Bea's character stayed essentially the same, whether in present day or the 1700s. There were subtle differences (there's no way she could get away with being a 21st century girl back then...), but her overall personality remained unchanged. It helped with the cohesiveness of the story and also made for some great dream scenes.
As Bea becomes more invested in her dream world, she begins to neglect her reality, and she has to deal with the consequences. Like Bea, I am thoroughly invested in her American Revolution dreams and cannot wait to see what happens next.
margaret_j_c's review
4.0
you mean my obsessive reading of webcomics can actually count towards my goodreads reading goals?! win!!
but seriously, lora is a genius. bye.
but seriously, lora is a genius. bye.
numinaluna's review
5.0
I had picked up a couple issues at the comic shop a while back, when I had money in the budget for comics. The artwork is eye catching, and Colonial America/Revolutionary War stories are a favorite sub-genre for me. I found the GN at the library and decided to see what I've missed. It was a quick read, as comics usually are, but being only the first volume, it's not entirely gripping. I'll check out the next volume, but I probably won't buy it.
notwaverly's review
2.0
I picked this up (on scribd) because it was under the "women writers of graphic novels" category, plus it's Marvel. I must say-- I wasn't blown away. It was just alright. Bea (the main character) is the star actress in school, not into being book smart, and boy crazy for this one guy. None of these things are necessarily a bad thing, and actually she's not as flat a character as I originally suspected, but hell's bells she's still hard to care about. I found myself just dying to be through with this. Not sure if it was the time period (revolutionary war- not something I care much about), or the conceit (so far, she's like the C Minus History Student Time Traveller videos-- basically she knows nothing and is in the past specifically to be saved and fall in love with one dude. I suspect the later issues will have her be a little more swashbuckling but this one was pretty action-free on her side.) not sure I'll read the others.
akmargie's review
4.0
This story totally played into so many of my likes, romantic story, impossible love, sassy friends, revolutionary heroes with great names (looking at your Nathan Hale). Art was solid. Looking forward to the next book.
brucethegirl's review
5.0
a really great insight into the revolutionary war, and into a story of love across the ages.
blackbibliophile's review
5.0
I had the pleasure of meeting Lora Innes at Baltimore Comic Con in September 2014. I haven't read comics since I was a child, so when I came across The Dreamer, I was intrigued. The story is captivating and I can't wait to read the next volume.
truestorydesu's review
4.0
Pretty awesome. It's all online, this book is just a bit of it. I should probably read the rest but...eh.