D.R.E.A.M. - What We Do At Night by Charles Franklin Quaas intends to get you intrigued as soon as the main character Aldon and his friend Grsk stumble upon a group of men wearing suits of armor they have never seen before. Here they find a mysterious book with no pages, a grimoire—a powerful magic book where a mage draws his magic after binding one’s soul to whoever wrote it. On top of that, they find a wounded stranger that they help. This act of kindness is something that Aldon will soon come to regret. The stranger, whose name is revealed as Felix, possesses tremendous healing powers. His encounter with Felix forces him to unearth a dark past, which has something to do with a stone capable of granting the holder whatever they desired. Aldon knows that he cannot run away forever and that he must face the odds in order to redeem himself.

D.R.E.A.M. - What We Do At Night contains that trope common in classical myths where gods meddle in the affairs of men. In this case, the gods appear to experiment with what men would be capable of if granted tremendous power, and the mortals, of course, would blame the gods for the fate that had befallen them. But Quaas takes it a notch higher, as he combines ancient and contemporary elements in the application of magic. Flashbacks written in italics provide you with a textbook reference to the past, saving you from asking too many whys and hows. I like this kind of stuff. I do not say that it is better than other modern fantasy novels, but I recognize the creativity that goes into it. Do I recommend that you read it? Yes, because this is a story where men face challenges and take charge of their own destiny.

D.R.E.A.M. - What We Do At Night by Charles Quaas is an action-packed epic fantasy featuring exceptionally developed and gifted humans and dark forces at play. It opens with action that continues until the end, introducing readers to an array of captivating characters. Aldon and his friend Grsk are stunned when they discover the carnage and devastation left by a god, a shadow monster, upon their return from a business trip outside the village. But there is a survivor, a boy who Aldon brings along to help — Felix. Aldon quickly notices that there is more to the boy than meets the eye, and he heals faster than any human can. Who is he? But when a dark past starts catching up with him, Aldon finds himself on the run, accompanied by a few companions. Can he outrun his past and can he trust the mysterious grimoire, the magical book with no pages, that emits powerful magic?

D.R.E.A.M. - What We Do At Night is a great story with enjoyable and well-developed characters, from friends of the protagonist like Toli and Grsk to Felix, his daughter Amira, Sabato, Trow, and Lance. The narrative is never lacking in drama and intrigue, and from the start, the reader is captivated by Charles Quaas’s ability to conjure up vivid images. At times the style is lyrical, at times hugely descriptive, but the narrative voice stays consistent and engaging. These characters are pulled from different backgrounds, including an ex-soldier, a fool, and others. The darkness that pursues Aldon grows stronger as the narrative moves forward and readers wonder if he will be able to pay his debt. The prose is gorgeous, littered with beautifully written dialogues. One of my most favorite characters was Felix and I enjoyed the effect he has on Aldon and his daughter, Amira. The plot is well-crafted, the pacing is good, and the story moves through the conflict to a conclusion that is unexpected — heartbreaking and warm at the same time.

D.R.E.A.M. - What We Do At Night by Charles Quaas is an epic fantasy with plenty of action and intense drama to keep you entertained. The story follows the woes of Aldon, a man desperate for a break and peace. Living in chaos is not easy for anyone, and Aldon understands that, but destiny had other plans for him. He and his friend Grsk are coming back from a trip when they encounter charred remains of bodies with only one survivor. But that is not the only thing they find. Aldon comes across Grimoire, a magical book that holds immense power. However, the charred remains of the book do not contain any pages. To make matters worse, Aldon’s past comes back knocking, and he is not ready to face it yet. Why is it that Aldon finds the book now? Why did a whole population get burned? Is Aldon strong enough to face his past and figure out what is happening?

The author opens D.R.E.A.M. - What We Do At Night with a bang and makes sure the reader is hooked from the very beginning. Charles Quaas introduces suspense and intrigue from the first chapter and keeps it up as the story progresses. The narrative creates an atmosphere of doom, makes the reader anticipate something terrible is about to happen, and they hold their breath while Aldon uncovers the mystery. The concept behind Grimoire and the power it has fascinates me, and so does the concept of the gods. The background building is complex, and that makes the story even more interesting. Aldon’s character is very vulnerable, yet there is a hidden strength in him that is just waiting to be unleashed. The descriptions are amazing, the dialogues are brilliant, and the author sets the stage for the next novel in the series.