DiscoverYoung Adult

The Slayer, the Seer, and the Dream Stealer (The Dream Gate: Book 1)

By

Must read 🏆

Matthew and his two best friends are anything but popular in their waking lives. But discovering their dream worlds changes everything...

Matthew is a smart boy who tries to keep a bright outlook on life despite being bullied solely for being in a wheelchair.


His two friends, Amanda and Alex, encourage him to find strength even as they struggle to overcome their own personal demons. Amanda wants to be confident, and discover her own self-worth. Alex wants to curb his rage, and for once be considered something more than a brute.


All three children find a whole new lot in life, though, when they awaken in the realm of dreams.


With their inhibitions behind them and endless opportunities ahead, it falls to the three underdogs-turned-heroes to discover their own strengths, work through the lies and secrets tying their waking and dream worlds together, and save the world from ultimate destruction.


The Slayer, the Seer, and the Dream Stealer is a brilliant tale of three 13-14 year old students who come into their own thru their friendship, mistakes, and hope even in the darkest of times.


While some content within was a bit darker than some younger YA readers may be ready to face (parents should give this piece a once-over before passing it on to their younger readers; I have listed some trigger warnings at the end of this review), the ultimate theme of this story is one of hope in the darkness. Of redemption and forgiveness even amid the desperate darkness of mistakes we've heaped upon our own heads.


Frost writes about love and hate, bitterness and forgiveness, actions and consequences are all written in such a raw, real way, that it is impossible to read this story and not think about how we ourselves can grow as people.


With fantasy elements and dual-reality revelations with real-life consequences, The Slayer, the Seer, and the Dream Stealer is reminiscent of a YA Matrix meets Sword Art Online.


This is a wonderful debut to an exciting series, and I can't wait to see what adventures awaits this heroic trio next.


**Trigger Warnings: War, blood, gore, manipulation/mind control, injury/abuse/death of a minor child under age 18 shown on page, bullying of individual with disability**

Reviewed by

I am a USA Today Bestselling author and developmental editor with 10+ years of experience. I am a huge fan of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, J.R.R. Tolkien, Clare B. Dunkle, and Timothy Zahn. I also enjoy indie works by Nicole Wells, Andrei Saygo, and Luke Courtney.

Prologue

About the author

Alan Frost writes mostly middle grade and young adult sci-fi and fantasy. After nearly 15 years working as a translator, Alan decided to take the plunge and start publishing his own material. Alan's family is from Washington DC, but he resides in Copenhagen, Denmark. view profile

Published on August 16, 2022

100000 words

Contains mild explicit content ⚠️

Genre: Young Adult

Reviewed by