BOOK SYNOPSIS
For Harriet, Eden university is a chance to escape the shadows of a family tragedy and reinvent herself, even though she doesn’t know exactly who she is or where she belongs. She’s grown up hiding from curious eyes, and seeking refuge in the music of Dark Island, who appear to be the only ones who have words for her hidden traumas. She’s escaped into hockey and being an A* student, found companionship and adventure in role-playing games, but somehow she’s never been able to run far enough to avoid the night-time terrors which haunt her. Spurred by a promise from Dark Island that she’s leaving the shadows, Harriet is convinced that university will be the place where all this changes. And yet, finding where she belongs is not easy. Hockey is dominated by the arrogant Mark Collier, and relationships prove as difficult here as at home.
As the structures which have kept Harriet safe start to crumble, she is drawn somewhat against her will towards the cold, mysterious and compelling Iquis. It’s a tumultuous relationship – full of conflict and misunderstandings. And yet, as Harriet starts to recognise a matching brokenness in Iquis, she becomes convinced that their paths are entwined, and that only by rescuing Iquis from what binds her can she, Harriet, ever find freedom from the chains of her own past. But as the girls’ journeys take them across the night-time landscapes of Cumbria, and then deeper into the frozen north, the questions arise: how much of what the girls fear comes from inside and how much from outside, and what is the price of redemption?
The book opens with our main character and narrator of this beautifully written story arriving at Eden University with her dad with whom she appears to have a volatile relationship. But as this story unfolds, the reader will discover that not everything is as it appears to be. Tormented by feelings of guilt and grief over the death of her older brother Stephen and haunted by terrifying nightmares, Harriet is convinced that going to University is the first step in the right direction towards changing her life for the better. Little does she realise that her life is about to change but not in a way that she could ever have imagined or expected. She has hardly had a chance to settle into her room when she has her first encounter with mysterious gothic Iquis (I loved that unusual name) someone who Harriet immediately feels a connection with and a irresistible urge to get to know,be her friend. A urge that swiftly develops into a obsession and as the story unfolds, Harriet finds herself caught up in a waking nightmare that is even more surreal and terrifying that the dreams which haunt her sleep.
Who was the dark and enigmatic Iquis, what secrets was she hiding and why would she not allow Harriet to help me? Why was Harriet so convinced that gothic group Dark Island were trying to communicate with her through the lyrics of their dark and haunting songs? What had happened to Stephen and why was Harriet I convinced that she was responsible for his death?
Harriet was a complex, multi layered character who despite admiring her grit, loyalty and determination, I found difficult to like at times for various reasons. I thought she could be rather childish and had character traits that were irritating and frustrating. The supporting cast of characters were a eclectic mix of vivid, realistic individuals who each had their own unique personalities and character traits, hidden secrets and vulnerabilities.
This is a extremely well written,perfectly plotted blend of genres with a dark and menacing vibe permeating the pages and is written in short and snappy chapters that give the reader a very bad case of just one more chapter syndrome. It's a mesmerising story that hooks the reader in from the first page, keeps you captivated and frantically turning the pages. The scenes and settings are described in such vivid detail that there are times when you can physically feel the rain on your skin and the cold of the snow chilling your bones. I loved this enthralling read and would give it far more than five stars if I could. Very very highly recommended and definitely going to be one of my favourite reads of this year.
AUTHOR BIO
Helen Salsbury is a published short story writer, spoken word performer and community journalist, who has been longlisted for the Mslexia novel competition and shortlisted for the Impress Prize for New Writers. She’s the founder of environmental writing project www.pensoftheearth.co.uk and a director of the Portsmouth Writers Hub.
SOCIAL MEDIA....
www.helensalsbury.com
Publication Date: 28th October 2021
PURCHASE LINK...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sometimes-When-Sleep-Helen-Salsbury-ebook/dp/B09HXVJDPS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ARQD6AMJC713&dchild=1&keywords=sometimes+when+i+sleep&qid=1635514766&s=books&sprefix=Sometimes+when+i+%2Cstripbooks%2C545&sr=1-1
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