It was the traditional St. Lazarus Eve performance, and Grace Tiebold, the famous Dreamhunter, was to perform Homecoming to a crowd of more than a thousand at the Rainbow Opera. But things don't go according to plan and instead the nightmare Buried Alive causes pandemonium to break out. The effects are to last far longer than just the night, and dreamhunters have been apprehended for their own protection as riots break out. Laura Hame, daughter of the missing Tziga Hame, has gone into hiding, suspected of performing Buried Alive.

Secretary Cas Doran is annoyed at the nightmare, but also pleased that his colourist has been able to infiltrate the original dream with pro-government propaganda.

Laura and her cousin Rose Tiebold are swept up in intrigue and deception as they struggle to come to grips with Cas Doran's corrupt plans and the true nature of The Place - that mysterious area that only Dreamhunters can enter and capture the dreams that populate it.

Dreamquake is the sequel to Dreamhunter, and is aimed at the young adult market, and the female young adult in particular. There are the usual romantic intrigues and friends against the world motifs however Dreamquake seems to transcend those due to a solid story line, well developed characters and enough twists and turns to capture the imagination of adults of all ages and genders.

There are some great messages in this book for young women, but they are woven seamlessly into the narrative. It doesn't moralise, but provides multiple viewpoints that allow the reader to take their own stand on some issues that could well be seen as sensitive.

The central character, Laura, is at first difficult to get to know, however as the plot develops, so does her unique and defiant character. Laura is shaped by her adversity and struggles to come to terms with the enormous responsibilities placed on her.

When I started reading Dreamquake, I thought it would be one of those horrid teen books with weak plots and mindless dialogue. It wasn't. I was taken in by the world created and loved every minute of the journey. I am neither female nor could I ever be mistaken for being young, but I would heartily recommend this book to both young and old.