The first installment in Linda Patricia Cleary's The Black Stone Cycle, THE DREAMER follows Ash: a teenage girl whose life unravels during what should have been a routine stop on the planet Phobos. Suddenly alone and cut off from her vagabond parents, Ash is forced to rely on her instincts while grappling with the awakening of strange, visionary powers. Along the way, she joins forces with a small group of similarly displaced teens: Edan (a guarded fighter with a troubled past), and twins Isaac and Isabel (both gifted with extraordinary abilities and searching for their missing parents). Together, they become targets of a shadowy syndicate determined to capture individuals like them.

Cleary demonstrates particular strength in handling multiple viewpoints. While Ash anchors the narrative, chapters from Edan’s and Isaac’s perspectives deepen the emotional stakes and broaden the story’s scope. The inner lives of these young characters are thoughtfully rendered, capturing the uncertainty, vulnerability, and resilience of adolescence. Shaped by her unconventional upbringing, Ash’s distrust feels authentic, and her gradual acceptance that she cannot survive alone provides a satisfying emotional throughline.

The novel’s worldbuilding is ambitious. The journey carries readers from the dusty landscapes of Mars to settlements near Saturn’s rings, all described in vivid, cinematic detail—whether they are “hit by a blast of amber dust" when exiting their ship or travel through transparent walkways overlooking the “rolling red dunes of Mars.” Technical exposition is kept accessible, and there are enough ships that malfunction and systems that require constant repair to make the setting feeling lived-in. However, beyond the central crew and their pursuers, the wider population remains largely peripheral—limiting the sense of a fully inhabited universe.

Stylistically, Cleary experiments with replacing modern slang with invented terminology to reflect her futuristic setting. While this choice enhances immersion at times, it also creates moments of confusion that interrupt narrative flow. The prose can also feel unpolished at times—with character emotions and motivations conveyed in a way that lacks the depth and subtlety needed to fully support the novel’s ambitious scope.

While the central premise is compelling, this opening installment is clearly structured as the foundation of a broader narrative. Readers who prefer a fully resolved arc within a first book may find the narrative somewhat open-ended; several storylines are intentionally left in motion. However, those willing to commit to a longer journey will likely be intrigued by the suggestive ending and promise of deeper revelations in future volumes.

Despite its uneven execution, THE DREAMER lays the groundwork for an expansive saga. With the novel's found-family dynamic, emerging powers, and interplanetary stakes, it offers an engaging entry point for young adult readers who enjoy character-driven space adventures reminiscent of ensemble-driven sci-fi series.

Written by Linda Patricia Cleary, THE DREAMER: The Black Stone Cycle Book 1 launches a promising YA space adventure filled with found-family dynamics and emerging powers. While its expansive world and engaging teen perspectives offer strong appeal, uneven execution prevents it from fully realizing its ambitious scope.

~ Suneé Jones for IndieReader