"This gothic fantasy sequel tingles with sublime storytelling, political corruption, and the blazing courage and wit of two unforgettable characters"
With an undeniable knack for coming up with unique concepts and story worlds, writer Richard Lambert also has a talent for presenting said concepts through fascinating characters in supremely witty style, and we’re thrilled to report that his latest novel, The Republic of Dreams, does exactly that.
Sequel to Shadow Town, this glorious gothic fantasy is an absolute corker of a story. Pulsating with tension, conspiracies, corruption and distrust, it has political resonance, and a duo of compelling characters at its exhilarating heart.
Though Toby has returned to the normal world from the kingdom of Balthasar — a realm in which Dreamers can envision things into existence — his life is far from normal. Power- crazed Malladain has fallen from the sky, from Balthasar, set on revenge, and set on seizing control of the kingdom before Toby’s friend Princess Tamurlaine is crowned queen.
Meanwhile, back in Balthasar, Tamurlaine is suffering: “If only she had someone to talk to, it might have been bearable. But she didn’t. The friend who mattered most, Toby, wasn’t even in Balthasar.” In essence a prisoner in her own castle, with an assassin on her tail, Tamurlaine is also held responsible for the hunger of the kingdom’s citizens.
She was compelled to ban the Dreamers from dreaming to stop a succession of devastating natural disasters, and now a crisis has come in the wake of the disasters – with no crops to harvest, “the kingdom had no food and its people were starving.”
Playing out in two worlds, through two principal characters, The Republic of Dreams unfolds as a heady hotbed of political drama, high-stakes decisions, and the notion that messing with nature has catastrophic consequences.

A Gothic fantasy littered with suspense and unforgettable characters — can Toby and Anon, his half-angel ally, save the queen of Balthsar?
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the best books for 9-12 year olds · the best books for teenagers
A Gothic fantasy littered with suspense and unforgettable characters — can Toby and Anon, his half-angel ally, save the queen of Balthsar? In the kingdom of Balthasar some children have the power to use dreams to change reality- an activity fraught with danger.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Republic of Dreams and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
The Republic of Dreams features in the following genres: Ecological and Environmental Interest - Fiction, Recommendations, Fantasy / Magical, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Featured Books for 9+ readers
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Republic of Dreams was written by Richard Lambert and published by Everything With Words
The Republic of Dreams has 320 pages
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. In Stock.