Berkley Books 1994, 2006
ISBN-10: 0-425-20762-5
ISBN-13: 978-0425207628
- Currently Out of Print
The Dream Hunter
A man of cool demeanor and stubborn solitude, Lord Winter was a restless wanderer who kept the passions of his heart well hidden. But now, traveling alone, he has discovered beneath the ragged costume of a Bedouin boy a remarkable young woman: Zenia Stanhope, daughter of the extraordinary English adventuress known as the Queen of the Desert.
Zenia wants nothing of the dangerous adventuring 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 the lonely, fearless man who has changed her life and conquered her heart…until he returns to invade her sanctuary, and demand that she pay the price of passion.
Discuss this bookSetting:
England and Arabia, 1840’s
Mascot Animal:
Shajar al-Durr, The String of Pearls, a legendary Arabian mare
Laura's Comment:
I’ve learned over the years that I don’t write for every reader. If a reader doesn’t care for characters who make mistakes and misjudgements, who may act—or overreact—out of fears and insecurities, these readers aren’t likely to care for some of the journeys I take. Some readers have been pretty vocal in criticizing Zenia as a heroine, so vocal that they had convinced me I’d written a book that failed. For a number of years, I never picked up The Dream Hunter, feeling that it wasn’t up to standard. When I finally took a deep breath and sat down and read it, some seven years after I wrote it, I had not once looked at the book after correcting the galleys for publication.
I was surprised to discover that I truly enjoyed it. I thought Arden was a great hero, if I say so myself. And Zenia was perhaps a little shrill, but by no means the witch that I’d been led to think by the criticism. In a reversal of the usual hero-heroine interaction, Zenia was the one who was driven away from Arden by fear and her past, and romance readers can be resistant to this type of reversal.
So with the warning that this book may require a bit more empathy for a wounded heroine than some others, perhaps you’ll find it a diamond in the rough, as Arden found Zenia to be.
Recognition:
Romance Writers of America Rita Award—Finalist, Best Long Historical Romance of 1994
Laura's Fave Review:
Laura’s Fave Review of The Dream Hunter:
A reader from Australia—“Not so much the love story as the character study and brilliantly subtle feel of the settings keep you reading this book. Laura Kinsale is the best. No sap, just real people with true problems trying to cope in an imperfect world. I’ve read all of her books and found something that grips the imagination in every one of them. Keep them coming Ms Kinsale!”
A reader from Ohio—“A beautiful story, like all of Ms. Kinsale’s work. Her richly imagined, unconventional characters with very real flaws and internal conflicts makes her books unusual in the romance genre and the reason I keep coming back time and again. I eagerly anticipate her next effort…”
Amazon.com
Old Covers:
Inside cover of The Dream Hunter. I had to tell them to make the horse’s ears smaller; the lovely String of Pearls looked more like a mule.
[1] Posted by laura kinsale on 01.07.2010
Please feel welcome to discuss this book. All opinions are welcome, positive or negative, but civility and polite language are required for comments to remain. Political or religious references are not allowed, unless directly related to the book under discussion. I do answer questions but I seldom give interpretations about my books or characters, because I enjoy hearing what readers see in them. These comments and discussions replace my old forum at The Terrace. (Note that the spam captcha is an english word interspersed with a number—this may help you tell a letter from a number. If it’s still too hard to see, reload the page for another one.) WARNING: Book discussions may contain spoilers.
[2] Posted by Scorpio M. on 01.07.2010
I MUST defend this book!
I am so glad that you do not write for every reader because if you did, The Dream Hunter might not have been written and THIS reader would have lost out. This is a book to be proud of, this is not a tale of a simpering miss and typical lord of the manor. It’s about two people wanting to live beyond the skin they’re in.
The term “soulmate” gets bandied about so much in the realm of love but when Zenia & Arden came together that is what I felt: soulmates. It’s hard to describe their chemistry because they were at odds with their interpretations of happiness but they “got” one another.
It was one little turn of a phrase, easily forgotten, that made The Dream Hunter catapult to being one of my most beloved romances of all time…when Arden dragged Zenia off the train and onto his horse in the snowstorm and held her under his coat, Zenia felt Arden’s breath brush against her face, feeling comforted and she recognized it as “the familiar life of him.” To me that was more beautiful, more meaningful than I love you.
Don’t doubt your ability, Ms. Kinsale. Maybe some readers might not get it but some do.
P.S. Arden, Lord Winter, if I were forced to choose would be my #1 romantic hero. I found his awkwardness utterly charming :)
-Jennifer aka Scorpio M.
[3] Posted by laura kinsale on 01.08.2010
Thank you Jennifer. I truly appreciate every reader who loves this book. Actually Arden is just about my fave too. I think he’d make a great adventurer to see the world with.
[4] Posted by Colleen on 01.10.2010
This and Shadow and the Star are my favorites among your books. I just adore Zenia and how deeply, frighteningly scarred she is by her upbringing. She’s so divided against herself, but it makes utter sense in the context of the book. And I also love Arden, especially in his scenes with Beth. This book makes me cry every time I read it and has one of the most well earned happy endings I’ve ever read.
[5] Posted by laura kinsale on 01.10.2010
Thank you, Colleen! I think maybe more readers “got” this book than I realized.
[6] Posted by Beatriz C Williams on 01.13.2010
Now there’s a discussion topic for the ages: why will readers put up with any amount of borderline-sociopathic behavior from the hero, but only accept a narrow range of mild neurosis from the heroine? I suspect it has something to do with the way romance readers tend to project themselves vicariously into heroines, and don’t want to “be” someone outside the comfort zone. So pert-n-sassy or shy-n-bookish it is. Again.
For my money, Zenia’s one of the more interesting heroines in romance: her vulnerability and endurance are beautifully portrayed, every action consistent. Her approach to motherhood may make us want to take her by the shoulders for a good shake, but it’s absolutely spot-on for her character and background. And what’s not to love about Arden? A resourceful adventurer with a soft nougat center—oh, the sweet strength of him. The scene in the prison slays me. Arden is genuine husband material, a layers-deep complement to Zenia.
And the prose, the prose! No one else in the genre comes close for subtlety and originality. The interlude in the desert, before Arden returns to England, is lyrical and understated all at once. Don’t ever think that it’s not worth the time and effort, that we don’t appreciate it, that everything has to be spelled out in the lazy overwrought cliches and head-bangingly anachronistic dialogue that pass for good writing elsewhere. Please take all the time you need. It’s worth it.
[7] Posted by laura kinsale on 01.14.2010
Beatriz, I really appreciate your comment. I sometimes feel that I get lucky in the words that come to me for certain moments in the books, and I felt that way about the desert scenes in this one. I’ve been to some deserts (thought not Saudi) and I think that came to me from long ago experiences with how the air and the quiet immensity feels.
Indeed, the Heroine Problem is a minefield! ;)
Funny, of all my backlist, I never would have predicted that this book would get the most numerous early comments!
[8] Posted by Dreamer on 03.04.2010
I LOVE the Dream Hunter!! It’s one of my faves! In fact, I wish you would write another story that takes place in that kind of middle eastern setting.
One of my favorite lines is from the scene where Zenia and Arden are being held captive, and she asks him if he thinks she’s like honey, and he says she’s like water…so clear and bright it hurts. (Or something like that.) Because he can’t live without water.
And I agree with Colleen about loving the scenes with both Arden and Beth. While Arden thinks he isn’t a confident person, I think he really is. I love how he takes Beth on a tour of the house. I felt such relief for that little girl. All she wanted was to be a normal child! And he let her do that. (And the picture of him in the jacket flap is stellar!!)
[9] Posted by Von Chestman on 03.11.2010
This book was my first foray into the romance genre. Such quality and insight into the heart and mind. Until I read this book, I only read classics, history and Elmore Leonard. Yes, the characters were imperfect, but that is what’s so special about your writing. I have often wanted to thank-you for writing. I look forward to any new adventures you choose to create.
[10] Posted by eKathy28 on 03.13.2010
A book where the characters through love come to a new understanding of themselves is a book I want to read and re-read. Loved this one as much as the others. I absolutely cannot pick one above the other. They are all fabulous. I also think there should be an award for best pet names. And Laura would always win it. Wolf cub. How endearing is that? My thee-thou girl. Sunshine. It is interesting that the names sometimes reflect the part of the heroine that the hero needs the most. That your characters are not always initially sympathetic gives them room to grow. Zenia was never shrill. She was consistent. She had an alarming upbringing and she had no models for living in anything but an alarming way. When she was able to put that behind her so she did not have to live her mother’s life ... ah, that is what we should all hope for. Yes? We get it. Write for those of us who do and ignore the ones who want formula. Or at least don’t let them get to you if you can’t entirely ignore them.
[11] Posted by Heather on 03.18.2010
I was trying to find the name of the book Arden reads (Phrases for Charming Ladies of Quality? Something) and stumbled here and I was shocked to find this isn’t a popular book. It is my absolutely favorite of yours! It makes me cry every time, and the whole story is so heartbreaking and real yet lovely. Thanks for writing it for me I guess!
[12] Posted by laura kinsale on 03.19.2010
Thank you all.
[13] Posted by Nancy on 05.05.2010
Your writing is my favorite of all romance authors I’ve read, and this was my favorite of your books. I never read a book twice, but the first thing I did when I finished this one was turn to the first page and start all over again. (And I really did read every single word, again.) I wish there were more heroines like Zenia - her flaws and their impact on her reactions made her seem so true, and since we knew her motivations, I felt sympathetic, not annoyed. I can’t stand to read criticism of her and of this book - it is the gold standard for the genre for me! Please continue to ignore it all and keep writing such original and fascinating heroes AND heroines.
[14] Posted by laura kinsale on 05.06.2010
Nancy, it’s really a compliment when a reader starts over again right after they read a book the first time!
I figured out a long time ago that I just have to write what I write. Some people like it and some don’t. But I’m glad to hear from the ones who do.
[15] Posted by Liz on 05.17.2010
I would love to just stay here and write comment after comment on all the books (ahem, maybe I will eventually). I just finished Dream Hunter and my throat is still tight from the tears. You do this to me every time! My heart just broke for Zenia… just about cracked in a million pieces at the end when she finally asks Arden to help her. I also love how Arden can say something as breath-stealing as that “water” comment and then ask “Is that a stupid thing to say?”
ARDEN: You had me at “Oh, God.”
I have yet to find another author who can so completely envelope me in the story and the characters the way you do. On a funny side note, last night I lamented to my husband that I couldn’t put the book down and went on about how your books always do that to me. His reply? “Huh. Why is there no Fabio on the cover?” ;-)
