The Dream Hunter

By: Laura Kinsale

Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton

Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

To love him is to face her deepest fear...

In search of a legendary mare, Lord Winter enters the crucible of the red sands, forging unbreakable bonds of loyalty and trust with his young companion in the desert. But hidden beneath the ragged costume of a Bedouin boy is a remarkable young woman: Zenia Stanhope, daughter of the extraordinary Queen of the Desert.

Zenia wants nothing of the danger that Lord Winter lives for. She wants only to reach England, far from the blood and sand of the desert. But in one night of terror, condemned to death, their lives are irrevocably bound. Zenia escapes to an English world of elegance and comfort, leaving behind the lonely, fearless man who has changed her life and conquered her heart... until he returns to invade her sanctuary.

Now she must choose between safety and love, but can she find the courage to be the person she was truly born to be?

©1994, 2013 Hedgehog Inc (P)2013 Hedgehog Inc

Not my favorite but worth a credit

If you could sum up The Dream Hunter in three words, what would they be?

Passionate, uncomprehensible, loose-ending

Would you be willing to try another book from Laura Kinsale? Why or why not?

Absolutely! I've tried all of her books on Audible and love the passion of her characters, especially the males. However, couldn't get into the "moon" book, and I'm glad I didn't start with that one. The first two are among my all-time favorites.

Have you listened to any of Nicholas Boulton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, all the Kinsale audio books. He's superb in each one. I feel he does his homework on each character.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

The main characters felt so deeply for each other it was hard to understand why one of them wouldn't except the other. I understand the person's history, but . . . really. Good story, excellent narration, but the end didn't wrap up the supporting characters in which I became very interested. Perhaps Ms. Kinsale does that in her next book.

Rich

This is the second Laura Kinsale book I've listened to, and both have been rich in character development and painful in the proximity to emotional disaster the characters allow themselves. Not perfect people, which is always refreshing in what can be a predictable genre. I am an historical romance fan partly because they are easy and entertaining reads/listens. I don't expect to find myself getting teary! But with Laura Kinsale I do. Her books are long enough and rich enough in detail, plot, and emotion that I stay engaged and become involved. The narration is excellent.

2 for 2

This is my second Laura Kinsale book. I really like her writing. The narrator, Nicholas Boulton is exceptional. He isn't able to change his voice as Rosalyn Landor does but he is quite wonderful. He narrated this book and Flowers From the Storm.
Her books are very detailed. At times it may seem a little too detailed. I think though with the subjects Laura tackles in her writing the need to be detailed is necessary.
In Flowers From the Storm with Christian and Mattie it was definitely necessary. Christian a mathematical genius Lord suffers a brain hemorrhage. Since there was little to nothing known about this at that time it was thought he was MAD. He was institutionalized. She weaves her story well and wonderfully. Mattie gets a bit on the maddening side with her wishy washy self. She has a great internal tug of war with what she feels she should be and what she actually is. I was literally in tears with this book. I loved it.
Now on to my review of this book.. The Dream Hunter.. the first part of the book is an exciting tale of a jaunt in the desert for Lord Winter to find a spectacular horse called the string of pearls. Of course it takes some twists and turns and Zenia comes into our story. Although at first I thought this story was about Arden/Lord Winter to me it was more about Zenia and her inner struggles of who she is and the treatment of her by her mother. A young girl raised as a boy in the desert. A girl who never owned a pair of shoes.
A compelling story of what these two people came to mean to each other through the hardships of the desert. How they came to admire the strengths of the other.
I think Zenia is mad.. even though she tells Lord Winter many times he's a "madman".
Two very flawed people that make it work. They love each other in-spite of the flaws.
I will listen to another Laura Kinsale book... I just love her. Nicholas Boulton is worth listening to as well. He has his finger on the pulse. =]

Another Unique Love story

I read part of this in paper part in audio. The audio was superb. This narrator, Nicholas Boulton, whom
Laura Kinsale uses for her work is incredible. His voice as the lead dark and powerful hero is superb yet he does the softer female voices just as well. He can switch up between characters without fault. The narration is wonderful because there are quite a few Arab phrases and words used as part of this story takes place in the Far East. There are 2 factual characters used and the story springs off them as a start. I rarely will read (or listen to) the same author same narrator back to back but the two novels are very different there was no formula cookie cutter writing here.

Best Historical Romance Author!

This was one of my favorites. Her books have all the romance others do with added character depth, plot complications, and beautiful imagery.
The research, historical authenticity, and writing skill are apparent and appreciated. The narrator is amazing! A great read!!

Beautiful!

I had so many emotions during this listen, I needed this story as it has mirrored many issues of my own life and gives me hope, it’s amazing!

The Dream Hunter

I love the way Nicholas Boulton narrated this book. He made the characters seem like they were real. I’m not sure the title really described the book though. I really like the was Laura Kinsale writes. She does a lot of research that’s for sure

I absolutely love kinsale's books

I have yet to listen to one of kinsale's books that has bored me or that I have found tedious and uninteresting. Her heroines are great and the hero is always a man I can admire and respect. I would definitely recommend this book as well as any other by this author.

Excellent story read by the perfect narrator

I had the Kleenex out within the first third of this audio. It has adventure, romance, and more. I didn't think Kinsale could top Flowers from the Storm, but I liked this one even more. Audible, please release more books by Kinsale!

It all clicked

Would you listen to The Dream Hunter again? Why?

Maybe but I don't usually listen to a book more than once. There are so many I haven't read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I like the hero perhaps a little more, because the heroine was frustrating. He did so much for her and she seemed so indifferent.

Have you listened to any of Nicholas Boulton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Right up there with the rest. His male voices are fabulous.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Loved the train episode. A perfect example of him doing something so unreal and although caught up in the moment, her appreciation fizzled.

Any additional comments?

There were some real LOL moments between the two main characters.