Aria is incredibly proud of her father. He has always believed that the gene-compromised Dreamslingers in their community are not as dangerous as they are believed to be. Aria lives with her father in a centre he has established for Dreamslingers, which helps them control their extraordinary powers. This centre is called Resthaven, and now that Aria herself has discovered she has the Dreamslinger gene, she too follows the centre teachings, in order to keep everyone safe.

Dreamslingers are much maligned, as 10 years before there was an event now called The Great Outburst, where Dreamslinger’s were found responsible for the deaths of many – including Aria’s own mother.

But the practices of Resthaven have been proven to work, and government officials are considering the funding for many more centres across the country to help Dreamslingers – until an uninvited guest ruins everything.

Aria is soon on a quest to save her father’s dream, and the safety and welfare of other Dreamslingers across her country. She must travel to The Kingdom of Royal Hanguk and enter 3 trials. Along the way she hopes to learn more about the people who threaten everything for her kind and her father.

What she finds is far from what she knows, including secrets from her own past. She also finds friendship, a part of her she didn’t realise was missing and a different future for herself and other Dreamslingers.

The first in a new series – The Slinger Series, Dreamslinger is a window into a world of magical creatures, Korean culture and tradition and a series of trials main character Aria must succeed in.

It’s also a mirror on our own society as a marginalised part of their community is misunderstood, shamed and treated badly. Graci Kim gives the reader a world where this can be solved in understanding, honour, kindness and ultimately an exciting and fun read!

Aria is a likeable character as she tries to put wrongs right, stands up for others and changes across the novel, the more truths are revealed to her. The world building is exquisite, the magical creatures breath taking and the plot fast-paced.

Fans of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, Harry Potter and Nevermoor will gobble this up with more in the series to come. 

Author – Graci Kim

Age – 8+

(2025, Penguin NZ, NZ, Action, Adventure, Series, Friendship, Fantasy, Courage, Secret, Dragons, Korean Traditions, Korean Culture, Test, Trials, Undercover, Guilt, Truth, Diversity, Quests, Boarding School,