Elfri, the protagonist of The Dream Virgin by Don Quine, has been working on comic books about dreams since she was a kid/teen. When she published them, they became a hit and Elfri started traveling around with her grandfather, Will, to offer Dream Circles to the readers of Dream Zoo (her comic series). She enters a start-up contest because she lacks the funds to evolve her dream venture, and the dream zoo bus the unusual team travels in has also seen better days. Elfri is one of the finalists and is invited to the Oregon Alps to take part in the Ventures Nest, where other innovative entrepreneurs work towards achieving their dreams. Elfri is introduced to a special boy who does not talk, but who reacts to her comics. So she is asked to spend time with him, as his guardians hope that she would be able to build a special connection to the boy. Elfri also meets a guy who looks very much like one of the main characters she drew in her more adult - and unpublished - dream comics. All mysteries fade into the background for a while when the man who is responsible for the mute boy's condition escapes from prison. Will the unusual combination of people at Ventures Nest stand a chance against a homicidal moron?

I found The Dream Virgin by Don Quine to be a rather unusual book. It was full of fascinatingly different characters that had many surprises on offer. It was rather refreshing, though some characters I did not like at all. I'd have kicked them in certain body parts if I was Elfri. Underneath the variety of plot points, the story is one of good versus evil, but not a cliched one! The town in which a lot of the plot takes place is an usual place as well, but I won't give away too much as it's fun to discover this place yourself without knowing too much about it. While I can't imagine living there, I could image it would be fun to explore for a while!

Elfri herself is a likeable, multi-faceted and interesting character. You also get to "see" things from the point of view of the horrendous villain (he did something I personally would never be able to forgive), and it amazed me how well the author managed to get the maniacal side of that person across. There's a very different feel to the chapters that focus on him. I can't put my finger on it, but it's clearly something you only manage if you're a very talented writer. I'd recommend this book to everyone who likes stories that can't really be put into a genre as such. It is weird and odd in places, but in a satisfying way.

The Dream Virgin: A Ventures Nest Thriller by Don Quine is book one in the series, and there couldn’t have been a more exciting opening for a promising series than this. Elfri Fleming has just had the opportunity of a lifetime — she has won the startup contest that will allow her to work on her dream in Oregon Alps, an opportunity that “doesn’t grow on trees.” But then her life is in danger when a homicidal maniac escapes from his mental ward in the state prison and tries to kill her and her new friend. Follow Elfri and her ex-cop grandfather as they travel to public libraries for her to work on her Dream Zoo comics while helping children to master the art of lucid dreaming. This is a thriller that will take her to dangerous places, a story in which readers will witness the courage of the protagonist as she fights to liberate others from abuse and violence.

Don Quine is, without a doubt, a gifted storyteller, and right from the opening pages of this book, readers will be pulled in by the strength of the prose and the beauty of the dialogue. The narrative starts with action and readers are introduced to an enigmatic, somewhat strange character, Reimer, and a scene of mild violence. The narrative is done at a great pace and it never slows down. I enjoyed the way dialogues are crafted — exciting, driving both plot and conflict, and a great tool for depth of character. The prose is impeccably good and the pulse-pounding action dominates the narrative. The writing is photographic, with strong images for readers, and will rivet fans. The Dream Virgin: A Ventures Nest Thriller is an engrossing read with characters that will stick with the reader long after the last page is turned. I couldn’t put it down!

The Good: I found the storyline intriguing, particularly the scenes with Elfri and her Dream Zoo comics. I found myself rooting for her and the other Venture's Nest peeps. (Let's get those dream businesses funded!) I was in awe of the amount of attention Don paid to even the smallest detail, which made the story all the more believable.

The Bad: This book contains scenes that are shocking and could be triggering. (As other reviewers have already discussed this, I don't think I need to elaborate.)

Overall: Because it's a thriller, this book has terribly dark scenes that I found myself unprepared for. With that being said, the storytelling was incredible and I had a great appreciation for the unexpected funny moments. (Pun business names, anybody?)

Even though this book isn't for everyone, I loved it and would recommend it to fans of the thriller, horror, and mystery genres as I think they'll have the greatest appreciation for it. The Dream Virgin reads a lot like a movie or TV show (sorta like Stephen King's Rose Red mini-series), and that's basically how I read it (in three parts, rather than all at once).

No spoilers but the ending was so, so satisfying.