“Shadows in Dream Stone” by Kelly K. Branyik

Shadows in Dream Stone

Kelly K. Branyik
Write with Light Publications, LLC (2026)
ISBN: 978-1970289107
Reviewed by Jordan Durfee for Reader Views (08/2026)

Boy oh boy, is this novel a big-hitter. Shadows in Dream Stone – and therefore author Kelly K. Branyik – does not shy away from the truly heavy topics in life. Incredibly political, the novel addresses the treatment of women in a dystopian United States of America hundreds of years into our future. While the oppression of varying minority groups is a prominent issue in the novel, the crux of the conflict comes from the severe, authoritarian control governments have over women’s bodies. In a world where a miscarriage can send a woman to prison for nearly a decade, how can women stand up for themselves? Branyik addresses that through her protagonist, Abaddon Ordell.

Can I just say that Abaddon is one incredible woman? She’s experienced unimaginable tragedy and trauma in her life, and while she clearly suffers, she perseveres. She does not do it alone; she has support, but it’s truly impressive the way Abaddon sees herself through truly vile circumstances. Ending up in prison due to a miscarriage, Abaddon is a funnel of rage for readers and characters alike; furious about the state of politics in her world, Abaddon is determined to use that rage as a weapon to enact justice and make institutional change. As an academic whose niche is vigilante feminism, I was drawn to Abaddon on a deeply personal level. Not only is she protective of other girls and women in violent ways, but she also supports them emotionally despite being severely traumatized herself. Both a warrior and a caretaker, Abaddon is the embodiment of female rage being forged into a tool for justice and change.

Abaddon isn’t the only excellent character. The supporting characters truly help make the novel, in part because they each pull something different out of Abaddon. Her sister Shabina pulls out affection and grief in the way only family can, Kila brings out Abaddon’s fight all while giving her a soft place to land, and Mama Red provides quiet and subtle loyalty in the most pivotal moments. Even the villains, as horrendous and horrifying and disgusting as they are, provide exactly what they need to in the story, making them great characters. Without the strong character presence in the novel, the world created wouldn’t be the same.

All in all, for fans of science fiction, sapphic stories, and female rage, Shadows in Dream Stone by Kelly K. Branyik is definitely the book for you. Reading Abaddon’s story is invigorating and cathartic in its own ways; when she’s angry, so are we, but in her quiet moments of healing and reclamation, it can heal a part of you, too.

I will say in closing that there are a lot of sensitive topics explicitly portrayed in the novel; read trigger warnings and take care while reading.