The Last Dreamwalker

By: Rita Woods

Narrated by: Nedra Marie Taylor

From Hurston/Wright Legacy Award-winning author Rita Woods, The Last Dreamwalker tells the story of two women, separated by nearly two centuries yet inextricably linked by the Gullah-Geechee Islands off the coast of South Carolina—and their connection to a mysterious and extraordinary gift passed from generation to generation.

In the wake of her mother's passing, Layla Hurley unexpectedly reconnects with her mother's sisters, women she hasn't been allowed to speak to, or of, in years.

Her aunts reveal to Layla that a Gullah-Geechee island off the shore of South Carolina now belongs to her. As Layla digs deeper into her mother’s past and the mysterious island’s history, she discovers that the terrifying nightmares that have plagued her throughout her life and tainted her relationship with her mother and all of her family, is actually a power passed down through generations of her Gullah ancestors. She is a Dreamwalker, able to inhabit the dreams of others—and to manipulate them.

As Layla uncovers increasingly dark secrets about her family's past, she finds herself thrust into the center of a potentially deadly, decades-old feud fought in the dark corridor of dreams.

The Last Dreamwalker is a gripping, contemporary listen about power and agency; family and legacy; and the ways trauma, secrets, and magic take shape across generations.

A Macmillan Audio production from Forge Books.

©2022 Rita Woods (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“The Last Dreamwalker is a beautiful and compelling book about the histories we hide and the places we forget. It's about buried truths and dreams too long-deferred, and the hope that comes after.” (Alix E. Harrow, Ten Thousand Doors of January)

Very intriguing story!

Very unique. Not a lot of twist and turns but with a solid strong forward movement. There are flash backs to the past to help you understand the present but the movement is always leading you forward toward the final resolution. I enjoyed the story. A very different and unique slave story with a paranormal twist.

Fascinating story

This is the story of beyond slavery. A family of women blessed and cursed with gifts to walk the dreams of others for generations. Unifying and divisive. History and historic moves drive the story. Leila and the aunts. What happened with Eleanor and charlotte? The secrets are slowly and intentionally revealing and explored. The daughters wrestling with the decisions of their mothers and grandmothers. Scotia island. There are many twists and turns that begin unraveling from Leila’s mothers funeral. She begins to learn about the legacies the women left her. I felt pulled into the story from the beginning and lost track of time as I followed it through. This is a different kind of story where dreams and time allows the reader to travel with the characters into the story. Fascinating!

This is a keeper. A creepy, eerie keeper.

Narrator: #NedraMarieTaylor
Length: 11h 49 mins
Speed: 1.5x

I guess it’s safe to say the Layla Hurley never really knew her mother. And when her estranged Aunts come to pay their respect they let Layla in on what they called her inheritance. The book jumps back and forth in time from 1861 to now connecting Layla not just to her mother, but to her roots and this ability that has been passed down from third daughter to third daughter through the generations.

I was absolutely captivated from page one. This is a perfect read to get you in that eerie mood now that fall is finally here. With the falling leaves and blistering winds listening to Layla uncover the secrets her mother died having and finally finding some answers surrounding her own experiences growing up this has easily become one of my favourites of the year.

Nedra did a great job with the narrative and I even really like the addition of the sounds of the beach to breakup when the dreamwalking was happening I was never lost while not following along with the physical book. She definitely brought life to the characters, especially the Aunts, who I think I might’ve been my favourite characters. I liked their dynamic.

I think if you like The Good House by Tananarive Due and are looking for that creepy house feeling with family secrets energy this is definitely the book for you.

Great Story!

The Last Dreamwalker was an exciting read that keep you on the edge of your seat and included great narration.

Wow!

I really loved this book! It held my attention all the way through. In fact, I finished this book quicker than I thought I would. I would suggest to anyone listening to this fabulous book to take notes of what people belongs to which generations. This was helpful to me. I am definitely interested in any other books this author has written. I must also compliment the narrator as she did a fantastic job as well!