Book Review: Perfect Shade of Blue

Reviewed by Lindsay Crandall

A beautiful fantasy novel that weaves together Greek mythology, dream lore, and art

A Perfect Shade of Blue is written from the perspective of various characters from Oneiro, a world that exists parallel to our world, as well as characters from our world. For citizens of Oneiro, there is no aging, no pain, and no death. Citizens are given everything they need in life. The characters from Earth are not so fortunate.

The story starts from the perspective of Antartis, a painter and maker, locked in a prison cell ruminating on his life, now ruined after committing an offense against Oneiro. Soon, he is visited by a woman that he is deeply in love with. “Earlier I had known that there was no future for me.  But now I was not entirely sure.  And it was because of her, and she did not even know it.” 

We are then taken back to our world and introduced to Elaine and Andrea, two sisters who are so similar in appearance that they are often mistaken for twins, even though Elaine is a year older. The sisters are in the process of moving in together after a tragic accident killed their parents. Elaine is plagued by nightmares, while Andrea doesn’t dream. Until one day she does. And in her dreams, she meets Antartis, who is her maker. 

“A maker’s purpose is to create dreams. His participation is forbidden.”  

By inserting himself into her dreams, Antartis has broken the first rule, which lands him in the prison cell we find him in at the start of the novel. Andrea is unaware of the crime he has committed. Both Andrea and Antartis are supported throughout their journey by a unique cast of supporting characters, both in Oneiro and the real world, all keeping their true intentions closely guarded.

The prose in Perfect Shade of Blue is truly lovely. Reese creates and captures the artistic perspective both in describing Andrea’s beautiful dreams and Elaine’s horrific nightmares. She successfully infuses elements of Greek Mythology and dream lore too, adding to the intrigue of those who live in Oneiro.  

Reese does an excellent job of imbibing each character with their own distinct personalities and traits, which helps in keeping track of who’s who and where their allegiances lie. At times, the perspectives, which can change at the beginning of a chapter and occasionally during a chapter, can be confusing and take away from the overall plot, but by the middle of the book these transitions become far less jarring.  Eventually, through these different perspectives, the reader is able to see the big picture of everything occurring in Oneiro, in our world, and how these events are connected. 

It’s been a long time since I’ve read something so unique. An enjoyable read from start to finish, with vivid imagination and beautiful prose. Reese excels in creating intimate relationships among her characters—whether romantic, familial, or master and apprentice—and her artistic vision shines on every page. I can’t wait to see what she does next.

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