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The Last Dreamwalker by Rita Woods

jill.
iPhone sits on a wooden desk with green, fuzzy leaves and purple flowers. On the phone is the book cover for The Last Dreamwalker by Rita Woods shows the shadow outline of a person twirling under the moonlight, in front of water and with birds overhead.

Book Details

The Last Dreamwalker Book Review

The Last Dreamwalker by Rita Woods was an attention-getting blend of family discovery and historical fiction, with a touch of magical realism.  The story centers on an island off the coast of South Carolina in the U.S. and tells the story of a family with Gullah Geechee lineage.  After her mother dies, Layla reconnects with her estranged aunts and visits the island her family comes from; one that she now partially owns.

As Layla uncovers more about her family, she learns that she is a Dreamwalker and can visit people in their dreams, even control their actions in real life.  Her mother could do this, too, and it’s an ability passed down through her Gullah ancestors.

I loved so much about this book.  I am drawn to family discovery and books that center on ancestry, and I loved getting to know Layla and her family.  So many characters start this path after the death of a parent, and it always breaks my heart.  In terms of the family story, if you enjoyed Black Cake I feel confident you’ll enjoy this story too.

The magical realism and historical fiction were important to the story, but secondary to the family lineage.  Even if you don’t normally read fantasy, this book would still be a good option.  It’s about ancestral gifts and the history of this family’s survival through enslavement to current day, not a fantasy world. 

My only wish was for more on the Gullah Geechee heritage and language, with a deeper historical fiction element.  There is a cultural heritage center website (gullahgeecheecorridor.org) that has loads of information and there are national heritage centers in NC, SC, GA, FL coastal areas, if you want to learn more. 

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my review – I really enjoyed listening!  This book is available in print and audio on September 20.

Content warnings: Death of parent, Intergenerational trauma, Slavery, Self-harm

Click here to purchase this book via an affiliate link to my local independent bookstore, Malaprops. Any purchases made through this link support me, and their small business, at no extra cost to you!

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