Dreamlight Trilogy by Jayne Ann KrentzDreamlight Trilogy by Amanda Quick, Jayne Ann Krentz, Jayne Castle
Published by Jove Genres: PNR
Format: Paperback
Goodreads
four-stars

Fired Up (Krentz): More than three centuries ago, Nicholas Winters irrevocably altered his genetic makeup in an obsession-fueled competition with alchemist and Arcane Society founder Sylvester Jones. Jack Winters, descendant of Nicholas, has been experiencing nightmares and blackouts? just the beginning, he believes, of the manifestation of the Winters family curse. The legend says that he must find the Burning Lamp or risk turning into a monster. But he can't do it alone; he needs the help of a woman with the talent to read the lamp's dreamlight. Jack is convinced that private investigator Chloe Harper is that woman.

Burning Lamp (Quick): Plagued by hallucinations and nightmares, the notorious crime lord Griffin Winters is convinced he has been struck with the Winters Curse. But even as he arranges a meeting with the mysterious Adelaide Pyne, he has no idea how closely their fates are bound, for she holds the missing lamp in her possession.

Midnight Crystal (Castle): Adam Winters is convinced his recent nightmares and hallucinations will lead to him becoming a psychic rogue ? unless he can find a stolen relic and a woman who can read dreamlight. Marlowe Jones rides into his life on a motorcycle and with a dust bunny at her side. Though a descendant of the rival Arcane family, she's just what Adam needs: a psychic private investigator and dreamlight reader extraordinaire.

After reading Jayne Castle’s Illusiontown (review to be posted this week), I really wanted more. I picked up the Dreamlight Trilogy which spans all 3 of this author’s pen names and series. For those who aren’t familiar with this series or author, she writes 3 separate series each under a different pen name. But all 3 series are set in the same universe, just in different eras. Her Amanda Quick series takes place in the Victorian era. Her Jayne Ann Krentz books take place in current times, and her Jayne Castle books take place in the future, and on a different planet.

This trilogy is set in the middle of the whole series, but it can stand on its own.

The first book, Fired Up, takes place in our time. Jack Winters, descendant of Medieval alchemist Nicholas Winters, is looking for a lost family heirloom. A lamp that Nicholas made. This lamp is rumored to be able to stabilize the powers Jack is coming into. In this series, when you hit puberty, you also come into whatever psychic powers you may have. Not every human has them. Those who have them in strong talents are usually registered with the Arcane Society. But rarely does one ever come into more than one talent or he goes crazy, and it definitely never happens past puberty. Jack is 36. Uh oh…

Chloe is a dream light reader who uses her talent in her work as a PI. She finds antiques, and helps identify the fakes from the originals. Jack Winters needs her to find a relic that went missing a little over 30 years ago. She can find it, but will she be able to help Jack work it? And will she be able to keep it safe?

The two of them set off for an adventure in Vegas that they never signed on for. The people who want the relic more than Jack does, may not let Chloe and Jack live. The hunt for an old family heirloom becomes a race to save their lives, and the lives of others.

***

The second book The Burning Lamp takes us back to the Victorian Era.

I liked the first book better, I think. Both books are a bit longer than they need to be. This series has a lot of repetition, that I get some is necessary, but not to that extent.

This book has the same premise as before: A Winters man needs a female dreamlight talent to help him work the Burning Lamp to help him keep from going insane.

The Victorian Era holds many new inventions and discoveries, and all of those only fuel the fire for psychic discoveries amongst those who have the talents. The original Winters alchemist who started all this was Nicholas Winters. He created the Burning Lamp to enhance his psychic talents. But he was driven mad by the amount of power, or so the legend goes.

But as we see, all legends are rooted in truth.

Adelaide becomes more to Griffin than just a dreamlight worker. But he knew that from the moment he met her. Griffin does everything he can to protect Adelaide, because she has her own demons she’s facing.

But can London’s biggest crime lord help a respectable woman like Adelaide? Or will she end up helping him?

 

***

The third book is Midnight Crystal, and we have a similar plot, but I think that’s the point. I like the new complications that have come into play.

Marlowe Jones sets up a meeting with Adam Winters, but while they’re discussing why she contacted him (Someone stole a relic from the vault at the museum), someone takes a few shots at them. Adam has suspected someone has been not only following him, but is trying to kill him. So he’s prepared. He and Marlowe escape, but it isn’t easy. Their talents both come into play, and it seems they are the strongest of the bunch so far. Although being on Harmony amplifies their powers so to speak, so that might be why.

And don’t forget we still have old Nicholas Winters’ lamp bouncing around!  It’s a new planet, same families.

Marlowe and Adam have to not only figure out who’s trying to kill him, they have to find the lamp, and they have to figure out if Nicholas’ curse of the lamp is just an old tale, or if it’s really true.

Since all 3 books’ plots mirror each other, they do feel a bit samey, but I’m okay with that, since I knew what I was getting into. I wouldn’t recommend reading this entire series at once though. It’s too similar. This author definitely has a style that works for her.

Since this review is already longer than all 3 books (LOL), I’ll stop here. It’s a neat idea for a series-a book that’s set in the present, past, and future, with characters from each series, and showing just how connected they really are. If you like this author, you’ll definitely like this series. If the author is new to you, read the trilogy in order.

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four-stars