Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Trigger warning: this book contains some scenes of domestic violence.

The Place Beyond Her Dreams starts with Ona who quickly experiences a great loss in her life. She soon discovers her ability to travel to a dream like world. She knows she will have to sacrifice something to achieve her purpose in life, but her journey to that discovery comes at many ups and downs.

This book is light on the fantasy aspect. I was expecting more fantasy, specifically more time in Luenah, the dream-like world. However, the story was far more grounded in reality. Not just in plot, but in themes. I cannot say I have much experience in royalty or magic, but the struggles Ona goes through resonated with me. Her loss, love, inability to choose one thing or another, and constant fighting what she knows is technically the "right" thing for things she knows matter more, are all things we've experienced.

What stood out to me the most was the love Oby Aligwekwe has for each one of her characters, both he good and the bad. The way she wrote each character, you could feel how much attention to detail and character development Oby Aligwekwe poured into them. The language also felt magical at times. Her use of imagery and description really sold the "fairy tale" aspect more than the plot. I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to future YA releases from this author.

Well I don't really want to say too much on this one because it definitely needs to be experienced for yourself.

The story was incredibly refreshing and unique with a dreamlike quality that persisted throughout that perfectly suited the story being told.

This is a story where coming of age meets fantasy and I thought both aspects were beautifully handled. I really enjoyed the characters and relationships in this as well.

I think the pacing could have perhaps been a little better. The beginning felt slow and the ending felt fast and there were some darker themes that took me by surprise.

That said highly recommend this one.

This is a lovely book that feels simultaneously heartfelt and engaging. I enjoyed my reading journey alongside Ona and the terrifying enormity of small choices that impact the rest of a young adult's life feels real throughout the novel. The plot moves along at a quick pace, and upon finishing this book I've found myself searching for more of Oby Aligwekwe's work. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Eclat Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I would recommend this to those who used to love Neil Gaiman but have grown out of it. Is that a weirdly specific niche? Yes but thats my rec. I really loved it, very immersive, very lovely world to be in for a few days of reading.

I would recommend this book to young adult readers who enjoy fairytales and stories with female protagonists. I enjoyed the level of detail that the author put into explaining how Luenah relates to the real world. I also related with the main character's lack of experience in love and it was interesting to see how she grappled with defining love in her relationships with Albert and Okem. One element that could be added is a glossary. While I did not feel that the unfamiliar words reduced my immersion in the text, I did also tend to gloss over the new words to continue engaging with the story.

I didn't expect to fall in love with this as much as I did.
The writing was absolutely incredible and I found myself entranced with each word. The world of Luenah was so beautifully written and described that I had no issues with seeing and feeling as though I was there.
The story of Ona was heartbreaking, I thought this would be an easy read but it definitely had a deeper message of choices made, love, betrayal, and loyalty to one's self. I felt everything that Ona felt and cried when she cried, hurt when she hurt. It was an emotional rollercoaster. I am glad she found her purpose. I loved Ona and Okem and at first, liked Albert too. Oby Aligwekwe made her characters come to life with her writing.

The story was so complex, moved beautifully, and was tied up so well. The ending left me feeling hopeful to overcoming personal fears, barriers, and life in general. Definitely a positive ending with amazing themes and emotions.

I cannot say enough how much I loved this book! I loved the thought of a place called Luenah that only some can travel too. Some of it was hard for me to read as it brought back memories that aren't all that pleasant but even in doing so it was comforting because knowing that someone else like Ona experienced those things and felt the same way that I did created a bond between the character and myself. The descriptions of the so called villians and the way they were made out to be was interesting a few of them you didn't see coming. The twist with Albert was interesting I didn't expect things to turn the way they did. I love the character of Okem he is such a strong stalwart person who still is able to be vulnerable. Beware though that there are some triggers in this book for those that have been through abuse.

Arc provided by netgalley for an honest review.

The Place Beyond Her Dreams begins with Ona, a young girl whose family takes in Okem and they both end up growing close despite her initial hesitations. But early on, Ona who loses her grandfather, someone whom she loved and was very close to. She quickly begins to learn that she has the ability to travel through a dream world.

The writing was beautiful and it was written in a way that made it easy to appeal to an older audience and the frequent memories included in the story made you feel vey connected into the story itself.

It was very clear from the beginning how much love Oby Aligwekwe had for her characters, it was very easy to become connected and attached to them. And while there were darker aspects of the book, the dreamy prose softened that edge which was very mesmerizing. I really enjoyed this book and the writing and I will most definitely be looking forward to reading more of Oby’s writing.

TW: domestic abuse

I loved the writing style, I found it super enjoyable and easy to read. I especially loved the writing when we visited Luenah (the dream world). I thought more time would’ve been spent in Luenah, but I’m actually glad most of the story took place in the real world. I found Ona’s story super inspiring, and was always rooting for her happiness.

I could tell that lots of effort went into developing the characters, but unfortunately I didn’t feel very connected to a few of them. I adored Ona and her grandparents though! I didn’t really care for the love triangle, but I’m not a fan of romance in general, so that’s more to do with my preferences than the book itself.

The domestic abuse was handled very well. I’m used to reading about abuse being romanticised, so at first I was a bit worried. But thankfully that wasn’t the case in this story at all. I was very impressed.

I had a big fantasy block and tried to stay away from it because it couldn't get into it. But this story catched my eye, so i gave it a try and it sucked me right in. A beautiful young adult story that has everything to be something big. A fmc that tries to find her place in this world. A mc who has been in love with the fmc since childhood. A devastaning death. Unknow magic powers. And one hell of a journey to find their place in this world.

It was so easy to read that i was sucked right in and couldn't stop until i finished this book. The way its written it so easy to get lost in your mind in this amazing beautiful setting of Africa.

This is definitly a author to keep your eye on!


*i got a free arc from Netgalley and leave this review voluntarily.

A little book full of life lessons. I would have loved a more in dept connection with the characters. A little book with a lot of story.

4 dreamy, magical, reminiscent stars!

The Place Beyond Her Dreams is a promising book about a young girl who's family takes in a young house boy and raise him as their own. Along the way, her grandfather dies unexpectedly, they fall in love, and a love triangle surfaces, and amidst it all, she realizes she has powers to travel to a magical realm while she sleeps.

It has all the makings of a book that I like: magical realism, love triangles, fast paced, dream-like story telling. A fantasy set in Africa? Fantastic! Amazing! Beautiful! STUNNING! The writing was written with a fun prose that felt like a reminiscent memory, so it appealed to older readers too. I loved that tactic! Honestly, I really enjoyed reading it.

The author seemed to have put a lot of care into each character, and by keeping the dreamy prose it separated you a touch from some of the harsh moments, while still keeping close just enough to like the characters. I didn't realize there was going to be some intense moments, as it starts out with the MC a young girl. But overall I enjoyed it quite a bit!

Big Takeaway
The prose was dreamy, the story absolutely matched in a great way. The story was a bit rougher than I expected, but I did still really enjoy the story and the prose. I especially loved Luenah, and wish we dove into it more, but I was satisfied with it regardless.

*I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily*

Content warning: Domestic abuse!!!!

**Big plus, I've spoken to the author of this book, and she is absolutely wonderful and, to me, that is HUGE encouragement to support her. :)

This book was published today and oh my goshhhhh SOOOO GOOD.
I forgot how much I love books like this because I've been so caught up in high fantasy and YA contemporary romance novels.
This was such an amazing refresher.
highly recommend.
Characters : 5 stars
Plot : 5 stars
Setting : 4.9 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars

The Place Beyond Her Dreams is Oby Aligwekwe’s third book and her debut in the Young Adult genre. Previously the books Hazel House and NFUDU – Skirts, Ties & Taboos were released. This is the first book I have read by Oby Aligwekwe.

At the age of seven, Ona already knows that she is different, but when her grandfather suddenly dies and she ends up in Lueneh during an unconsciousness, she discovers what it is that makes her different. She is an Eri, destined to perform a special task on Earth. In order to do this, she must exchange her greatest desire for a box that will preserve her most important memories of self-development. Ona agrees, but as she gets older Ona learns that everything has a price. As the chief’s daughter, she is the one who must marry the prince of a rival village. But is this where her heart feels at home? What price should she pay in exchange for the box? How will this affect her dreams?

The story has a slow start in which the reader is introduced to Ona and Luenah. Although Oby Aligwekwe maintains a relatively slow pace throughout the story, the twists and turns in the story ensure that the tension remains present in the story. What I really liked is that A Place Beyond Her Dreams is set in Africa, a continent not yet really known in Young Adult fantasy books.

Trigger warnings that Oby Aligwekwe warns about are physical and emotional abuse, violence and religious undertones in the story. Although religion is not mainly present in the story, violence and abuse are clearly present in the story. In addition to these trigger warnings, there is also a love triangle that emerges throughout the story and although Ona’s final choice will not come as a surprise, in this book the love triangle was a real addition.

"Choosing for you would tip the balance in the universe" - Oby Aligwekwe

Partly due to the synopsis of A Place Beyond Her Dreams, I expected that the story would mainly focus in Luenah, but the story has a completely different unexpected turn that will surprise many readers. However, this twist makes the story less fantasy than you might expect.

"Nothing is ever as it seems" - Oby Aligwekwe

Ona is growing rapidly in the story, and with the help of her grandfather and Luenah, she gets the tools she needs to grow further. This book really shows what a person must go through to achieve their greatest dream. A Place Beyond Her Dreams is a book full of self-development, dreams and the misfortune you may come across. Oby Aligwekwe certainly knows how to write a story. The story feels realistic while reading, and I am very curious what else this author will have in store.

“We’re most courageous at our weakest; when we believe we have faced what we fear the most and have nothing more to lose.”

This book is evidently well planned, woven intricately for both the reader's and author's pleasure. I am amazed at the world-building, at the introduction of new concepts and development of the hows of Luenah. I still haven't figured out how to pronounce that...or the numerous new names in the book. Which is always a fun part of fantasies! I love the feeling of wonder such books give me, including The Place Beyon Her Dreams.

The writing style is immaculate! Oby Aligwekwe satisfied me with wonderful #wordporn. Really amazing descriptions that help one visualize the better...I honestly woundn't stop raving about this if I could.

On that note, it is also rife with lessons. Step-by-step morals which we can inculcate in our daily lives and in achieving various long-term goals. Ona's Papa gives solid advice which break even with those of counsellors.

We, humans, are flawed and most of the people I've met I'd rather not have done so. That along with myself. Real personas are all prone to being insufferable. And yet the author managed to create REAL AND LIKEABLE characters. A huge rarity.

I am excited for The Place Beyond Her Dreams, I anticipate the moment when its beauty is unveiled for the reading community (and beyond) to witness! A definite masterpiece!

I loved this book! The story was a lovely and I enjoyed the love story. The characters were amazing and I loved how they were written. Aligwekwe did an amazing job with the book and I look forward to reading more in the future.

After the sudden passing of her grandfather, Ona realizes she can transport herself into another place called Luenah. There the world is totally different, she can meet her grandfather whenever she’s allowed to, which relieves her pain after his sudden passing, and also gain a lot of wisdom to help her in her everyday life.

This book for me personally has been a roller coaster of emotions. What affected me the most, was the social differences that everyone pointed out between her and Okem. Okem was the poor guy and he was so often called in the book the helper boy, when in fact he has been raised by Ona’s grandparents as her brother, her grandfather loved him as his own son – but people didn’t think the same, so more than often he was made to feel like the last person in the world. The book indeed has triggers, loss of a family, abuse, and depression. While the triggers didn’t affect me per se, it left me to feel very sad from the things Ona had gone through.

While the book is a magical realism I felt the focus was way too much on Ona’s life and very little on Luenah’s world. I felt Luenah was a way of escape for Ona whenever things were bad or she went through a rough patch, Luenah was her safe place to retreat and deal with whatever was going on in her life. That’s not a very bad thing in my opinion, but I wanted to know more about Efi and Luenah and the people that inhabited her, especially since many people from there on her normal world have already passed, she was one of the few people that were granted passing there while being alive – this difference I wanted it more explored.

While I am a religious person, I can’t say I am overly religious, however, this book has touched on some religious things that really made me feel very at peace. The lessons, the wise words her grandfather always had for Ona touched me in ways that I haven’t felt in a long while. I loved the religious lessons behind his stories, the quotes along with the book.

For me, this book has been an interesting journey, and it made me think about a lot of things. For me, this book has been an interesting story, with amazing lessons to re-read and follow when things don’t go as planned. And fill that “box” with horrible things that we go through in order to find the goals we want to achieve, be it happiness or love or just peace.

This book was an interesting read, I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy and wants a diverse novel!

I was drawn in by the uniqueness of this book - the setting, the storyline, the characters. If you like fantasy with a touch of romance, and are looking for something unique, you’re going to want to pick up this book. The beginning started a little slow for me, but I quickly found myself lost in the pages as the pacing hit its stride. Ona’s journey is a powerful one filled with loss, love, and self discovery. A great read for adults young and old.