Summary
**Although this summary is brief, it does contain spoilers.**
Book 1: Twelve-year-old Lily is struggling with keeping her mind in the real world after her father is lost at sea. When a dragon appears in her kitchen, things start to get strange, fast. She is transported to another realm- the Somnium Realm- where she discovers that her dad’s stone pendant is no ordinary stone, and she is no ordinary girl, but a Dream Artisan- where what she imagines becomes real. Lily finds herself on a quest to save the Realm and the waking world from the evil dragon Eymah.
Along the way, she encounters countless magical creatures, enemies who become friends, friends who become enemies, and the Prince of the Realm, Pax the Unicorn. After failing to withstand the lies and pressure of Eymah, Lily witnesses Pax defeat the dragon and set free everyone he had imprisoned, including Lily’s dad.
Book 2: Lily is summoned back to the Realm. Pax has disappeared and a terrible sickness called the Blight has almost entirely consumed the land and the beings in it. Lily is able to help rebuild some of the damage with the help of Barth, another artisan who happens to be a minotaur. Realizing they cannot stop the Blight themselves, Lily and her friends seek The Sovran Merrow- a terrifying sea monster who is loyal to Eymah- the initiator of the Blight. They discover the Blight can be undone by a not-dream-born person drinking a vile called the Draught, but it will cost that person their life.
After almost being lost in the Sea of Oblivion, Lily is rescued by Pax who reunites her with her friends. Pax then drinks the Draught, and reverses the Blight by laying down his own life.
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Read Aloud Age: 7+
Mom Thoughts
The Dream Keeper Saga is a Christain fantasy/allegory that holds its own in the company of classics like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. If you are comfortable with the level of magic in Narnia, chances are good you will also be with Dream Keeper, although they might be slightly heavier in the latter. There is a wizard called Merlin who only briefly appears in both books, although he never performs any sorcery. There is also a short scene in the first book where a dream-born woman has the power to read Lily’s mind by placing the palm of her hand on Lily’s forehead. Magical objects, powers, and occurrences are par for the course in this series (apothecaries, sages, unicorns, dragons, sea serpents).
The text is very plot-driven, which is great for the reader who loves a page-turner, but I did wish for more character development- especially in book two. The characters that have been created are enchanting and lovable, which is why I would have liked to know more about them. These books are rather intense, so if you have a child who is sensitive to extreme peril in books, this might not be the series for them. That said, if you have a child that loves a thrilling, sometimes heart-stopping adventure, look no further! Here is a writing sample from the first chapter of book one:
“Her eyes darted from the dragon’s fistfuls of claws, to the window, to the sink, to the counters. What should I do? she asked, wringing her shirtsleeve as she fretted. What can I do? All the details she’d read about dragons-the first breathing, the treasure hoarding, the maiden swiping- rushed through her mind in a frightening tangle. Surely, she was no match for this beast. yet, what alternative did she have? If she stood idly by, she might be swiped herself. Or worse, barbecued.”
The allegory that runs through these books is thoughtfully done and beautifully executed, while still managing to be fresh. I definitely teared up at the end of book two! While these books have a fantastically interesting storyline, the undercurrent that we cannot save ourselves, but only Christ can, is my absolute favorite part. These could be a huge hit with a fantasy-loving reader!
Language:
Used as insults: worm, Silly Lilly, midget, freak, maggot, stupid, terrible person
Questionable Behaviors:
Taking someone’s lunch and smashing it.
Mocking Lily for her father’s death.
Lily punches and fights with a boy at school after the above statement.
A dragon complains that because his wife has three heads, she has three times the belly-aching.
Lily remembers seeing a show where, “an unidentifiable mammal…glued its tongue to the toilet.”
Other Things to Know:
There are a few scenes that are a little creepy, like a teddy bear whose face is half-eaten coming out of the sand, as if “rising from the grave.” More creepy creatures tear at a human character’s clothes and claw his face. There is another scene that is meant to be a bit scary that uses coffins and turning characters to stone.
The Dragon and the Stone (#1)
The Prince and the Blight (#2)