Synopsis: The Rainbow Opera is set in a world the same as our own but for one difference - The Place, a mysterious region filled with dreams of every kind. Only a select group of people can enter The Place: The Dreamhunters, men and women who are able to 'catch' the dreams and relay them to eager audiences in the magnificent dream palace, The Rainbow Opera. Now, 14-year-old cousins Laura and Rose are about to find out whether they are part of this prestigious group. But nothing in their darkest nightmares can prepare them for what they discover. For within The Place lies a horrific secret kept hidden for years by corrupt members of the Government. A secret that demands to be told...

Review: The idea behind the story is an intriguing one and at first only the positive and benign possibilities of being able to enter and experience someone’s dreams are explored. As the novel progresses, however, the protagonists enter a far more sinister world and the reader is made aware of the level of corruption which can harness this unusual gift of dream catching for its own undesirable ends.

As well as exploring the power of dreams, the novel also deals with issues of teenagers coping with a variety of problems: unwanted challenge; confident peers; absent parents; separation from friends; relationships with adults; class difference; corruption and exploitation; being driven to do something; and tradition in families. Issues to do with power and its uses are also examined, including Laura’s relationship with the Sandman, a servant made of sand which she can create and destroy at will, but without which she cannot achieve her goal. The protagonists’ relationships with adults are interesting as they have to escape the controlling nature of the family and go against the grown ups’ wishes in order to succeed.

Dreams are usually a fascinating subject for teenagers and this book may be enjoyed as a personal reader by the 14+ age group. With the main characters being female, it may be more attractive for girls, although there is enough to interest boys in the story. It does not make an entirely satisfying read on its own as The Rainbow Opera is the first book of The Dreamhunter Duet: the ending is unresolved and so many questions are left unanswered that satisfaction can only be gained by reading the sequel, which will hopefully tie all the ends together.

2006-11-13