The Gods of Dream: An Epic Fantasy

by Daniel Arenson

Visited Narnia and Middle Earth?  Now escape into Dream.

What are dreams? Some think they are figments of our mind. But what if they were wisps of a distant, magical world... a world you could visit?

Twins Cade and Tasha discover Dream, the land dreams come from. It is a realm of misty forests, of verdant mountains, of mysterious gods who send dreams into our sleep. Cade and Tasha seek solace there; they are refugees, scarred and haunted with memories of war. In Dream, they can forget their past, escape the world, and find joy.

Phobetor, the god of Nightmare, was outcast from Dream. Now he seeks to destroy it. He sends his monsters into Dream, and Cade and Tasha find their sanctuary threatened, dying. To save it, the twins must overcome their past, journey into the heart of Nightmare, and face Phobetor himself.

Discover a world of light and darkness, of hope and fear, of dreams and nightmares. Discover The Gods of Dream .

Genres: Fantasy, Ebooks, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

335 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 2010

About the author

Daniel Arenson is a bookworm, proud geek, and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. His novels have sold over a million copies. The Huffington Post has called his writing "full of soul." He's written over forty novels, most of them in five series:

EARTHRISE — They came from deep space. They came to destroy us. Against the alien onslaught, Earth stands alone. But we will fight. We will rise. We will win. Start reading with Earth Alone, the first novel in this military science fiction series.

REQUIEM — Welcome to Requiem, an ancient kingdom whose people can grow wings and scales, breathe fire, and take flight as dragons. Requiem is explored in six trilogies, which can be read in any order. If you're new to Requiem, you can start reading with Requiem's Song (you can download it for free). For fans of dark, gritty fantasy like A Game of Thrones.

MOTH — Discover Moth, a world torn between day and night—its one half drenched in eternal daylight, the other cloaked in endless darkness. For fans of classic fantasy worlds such as Middle Earth and Narnia. Start reading with Moth, the first novel in this epic fantasy saga.

ALIEN HUNTERS — Got trouble with aliens? Call the Alien Hunters. A group of scruffy mercenaries, they'll remove the pest for you. Low rates. No questions asked. Start reading with Alien Hunters, the first book in this space opera series. For fans of Star Wars, Firefly, and Guardians of the Galaxy.

KINGDOMS OF SAND — Enter a world of sand and splendor, a world where gladiators battle in the arena, where legionaries and barbarians fight for glory, and where empires rise and fall.

Reviews

[Robert Duperre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.8 out of 5

All my life I’ve held the opinion that fairy tales come to us from the darkest depths of imagination. They are stories of suffering and grief wrapped up in a bundle of cutesy imagery, mythical beasts, and social disorder. They come as warnings: Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel against the allure and dangers of child predators, Jack and the Bean Stock against the perils of experimentation and exploration without first understanding the consequences…and these are only a few examples. They are at their core disturbing, grim tales, meant to pass along a necessary social message.

This is what The Gods of Dream, written by Daniel Arenson, accomplishes. In spades.

The Gods of Dream is the tale of Cade and Tasha, twins from a never-disclosed, war-torn country, whose parents were killed during a bombing at a local market. They are forced to leave their home and travel to a new country, where they are alone, afraid, and despondent. Tasha hates life and has tried multiple times to end it. Cade does his best to support and coddle her, his own war-ravaged hands constant reminders of the past they left behind. He does everything he can to give his beloved twin a reason to live.

Well, they have one. For reasons never fully explained (and thankfully so), Cade and Tasha have been granted access to Eloria, the true land of Dream. In this reality they are Talon and Sunflower, children of the illusory wilderness, unscarred (both physically and emotionally) by their guilt, sorrow, and the horrors of their past. When in Dream they cavort like the free youths they should have been, before the real world cruelly tore all that away from them.

This carefree existence is not to last long, however, for it seems that Phobetor, the ruler of Nightmare, obviously the counterpoint to Dream, has set his sights on conquering the sleeping paradise. Cade is recruited into the fight, told he must defeat the evil prince, and heads out on a long, long quest. Tasha, for some reason left out of the original plan (actually there is a reason, though it’s never spoken, and that reason is sublime and necessary), sneaks in and joins her beloved brother on his journey, disguised as a mouse.

Along the way Cade and Tasha meet all sorts of strange and wonderful creatures. They are the gods of Dream, and they’re fantastic creations with roots firmly planted in Native American (or any other naturalistic culture’s) lore. Each resides in (and is master of) a certain location and aspect of Dream. These gods have lived for thousands of years, and they take it upon themselves to assist Cade and Tasha in whatever way they can.

The twins journey for weeks (possibly months) through the landscape of Dream and enter Nightmare. I could go on and on describing every step of their journey, but I won’t. This review would be ten pages long if I did that. Just believe that there are a great many plot points in the book that are worth mentioning, but what interests me more than anything are themes, and that’s what I’m here to discuss right now.

One of the first things I noticed when the chapters started shifting between events happening in Dream and Nightmare, respectively, was the paradigm of these realms. Just as Dream’s gods are constructs of the “real world” – elks, cats, lions, hippos, pandas, etc – so is the landscape. It is filled with earthly trees, grass, rivers, and gardens of flowers. There is a day and night. There are oceans and beluga whales. There is also a natural order to the land, represented in pockets that depict the seasons of Earth. The lands of Nightmare, on the other hand, are cracked and burnt in some places; in others, the ground is covered with what could be skin. The trees there are likewise fleshy, covered with eyeballs. The creatures that inhabit it are gruesome, beasts of fangs, spikes, hooks, fur, and bodies that don’t seem to follow a natural order (aka shark head on a wolf’s body, etc). These unsavory citizens carry themselves with utter hatred and intend to harm, and every emotion is taken to the extreme. To break it down, Dream is the land of balance and healthy imagination; Nightmare of radicalism and brooding darkness. Sure, at first glance one might say, “But doesn’t the existence of Nightmare balance out Dream?” And the answer to that would be no. Some of Nightmare’s inhabitants were born in Dream, and they were born the way they are – wicked, cursed, unsavory – and at least one was told he did not have to leave despite this. That, in and of itself, demonstrates that the world of Dream is evenhanded. Because of this, Nightmare is actually a weight that tips the scales toward darkness.

(Not to mention that Dream exists seemingly of its own accord, while Nightmare needs a motor. It’s powered by a subway system that runs beneath its soil. I won’t explain what this subway system is or how it operates, because I wouldn’t want to give that away, but trust me when I say it’s one of the most inspired and original ideas I’ve ever set my eyes upon.)

The creative inventions of the world aside, the emotional threads are spectacularly done as well, in fact more so. Cade and Tasha really feel like damaged souls. They’re full of doubt and guilt. Tasha is nearly pathetic in her unhappiness, and you pity Cade for how hard he tries, even while he’s doubting his every action. In every way it makes sense that these two were the ones chosen to save Dream, because they needed to be saved just as much. They needed to rediscover beauty even in the face of ugliness and evil. And I think that might be the main point: that there is splendor all around you, that if only you’d take the time to actually deal with the hardships that come upon you, you’d bust out on the other side realizing all you’ve had and all you could have. Tasha, herself, embodies this. She is small in soul and scope at the start of the novel. In this way, it’s no wonder that she chooses to be a mouse when she crosses into Dream. For she is afraid of everything, her fear and sorrow have made her as insignificant as a creature that makes its home in shredded bits of discarded paper. In this case, that discarded paper is her life, both former and present.

All of this is sad yet beautiful to read, and I have to admit that on more than one occasion I found myself getting teary – especially at the beginning and end of the book. The middle is where the action is, and it is wonderful, but let me tell you…the emotions that run through these opening and closing segments are just about perfect. We see Tasha staring at her bandaged, scarred wrists, and we sob for her, when it would be very easy, if the work wasn’t crafted as well as it is, to say, “Just get it over with, already.” The writing helps in this regard, with flowing sentences and vivid description. Really, I can’t say enough good things about it.

So why, one might ask, did it not receive a perfect score? (Yeah, I have to be a little bit critical.) Two reasons. First of all, author Arenson has a habit of repeating things, important points that need to be remembered (such as the reminders that Cade and Tasha have to save Dream…or else.) Now, I get that, but I thought it was done just a tad too much. I understand that this is the author’s style, however, and it really doesn’t distract from the story. The second is the character of Phobetor, the ruler of Nightmare. His repartee his demon wife is eerily similar to the interplay between a pair of characters in another one of Arenson’s books. Now, I almost didn’t mention this, but I felt the need to, if only to assure readers who’ve read the author’s other works that these sections are short and few. In fact, there are only two scenes that actually have both characters in them. However, they’re both towards the beginning of the book, and I want to assure any who might notice that the characters are, in fact, quite different, as the meat of the tale bears out and their interactions cease. I wouldn’t want anyone to put the book down because of something minor such as this.

On a whole, The Gods of Dream is a very impressive, nearly impeccable work of art. It’s The Neverending Story meets The Dark Crystal meets The Odyssey. It surges in parts, lingers in others, and always leaves the reader with the impression that they’re taking in something important. It teaches a lesson about pain and what it takes to withstand it. It shows how important life is, how important love is, how important family is, be them blood or otherwise. It takes you on its journey of imagination and leaves you both panting and sighing at the fantastically bittersweet, yet hopeful, ending.

In other words, it’s magnificent. And I have a sneaking suspicion The Gods of Dream is going to end up being one of the best books I read in 2011. It gets the highest recommendation from me that a single book could possibly ever get.

Plot - 10
Characters - 9
Voice - 10
Execution - 9
Personal Enjoyment – 10

Overall – 48/50 (4.8/5)

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

The Gods of Dream by Daniel Arenson is a safe, young adult oriented fairytale. It is a bit on the dark side but is very light on violence and fear. I am a fan of Arenson and have really enjoyed his Moth series. This one is simply too straight forward and toned down for my liking. The main character siblings are not all that likable even though they have a very interesting history, as well as present situation.

I breezed through much of this book and retained very little. I thought about stopping half way through but pushed on.

This one is meh...

[Alexia Pemberton10 · Rating 2 out of 5]

The novel Gods of Dream was not the best book I had ever read. Gods of Dream by Daniel Arenson is about two twin teens that get called to a place called Dream. They are called because they have to save the land from their neighbor, none other than Nightmare, (as a book normally goes).
The characters in the book were not so clear. I had many difficulties trying to picture what the kids actually looked like. Other than Cades hands, they had scars on them from a tragic accident that was never revealed. Tasha also acted strangely from this terrible accident but we never really find out why.
For about 50% of the book was just repeating one scene over and over with new allies, gifts and villains. As the kids were trying to find their way to Nightmare they would run into someone that would give them a gift that would help with the oncoming war. But soon after receiving the gift a minion of Phobetor, lord of Nightmare, would show up and the gift was destroyed. Pretty much you could tell what was going to happen next through most of the book.
I really would not suggest this book to anyone. It seemed like it had a lot of potential it just needed more detail. It was great as a fantasy and new worlds but it still needs more work.

[Rau · Rating 1 out of 5]

So far (about 20%), this book has made less than a sterling impression on me.

To start with, I think there is a limit on how many times you can use the expression "dappled with light", and Daniel here has surpassed it many times.

About the songs I can only say this: they can rhyme or they can have rhythm or even both. To be honest, these did neither.

The villains are clichéd, and the story so far is somewhat simplistic. I will try to finish it because I don't like to leave books unfinished, but I'm really thinking to let this one be the first.

UPDATE: 30% already. I can't go forward. The story, up to this point, looks more like a gymkhana tan anything else - go there, get that, now keep going, now fight whoever, pass this place, fight a bigger guy, etcetera. And... pegacats? Really?

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of a boy and a mouse, Cade and his twin sister Tasha, in an epic journey to save Earth by traveling across Dream in into the heart of Nightmare.

Knowing that it is a stand-alone story, I didn’t want it to end. I loved the incredible landscapes and inhabitants of the Dream and Nightmare worlds; the author wrote just enough to let my imagination run wild.

[Carena Wood beimler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good fantasy story.
Not exceptionally deep or surprising, but good. Totally worth the read.

[Rachel Hyland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cade and Tasha are twins. As children, their world collapsed when a bombing in an unnamed but evidently dangerous country killed their parents, and both still bear the scars: Cade, on his hands; Tasha, on her psyche. She’s suicidal and clinically depressed and absolutely, heart-breakingly pitiful. Actually, they’re both pretty fucked up.

Happily, they have an escape from their workaday world that most PTSD sufferers are denied. They have been given access to the magical quasi-land of Dream, the realm from whence all good dreams come. With a talking bird as their guide, they assume the guises of Talon and Sunflower, Lords of Dream, and spend their nights ensconced in a shared happy place where nothing can hurt them but the threat of waking up.

But then, oh no! The neighboring land of Nightmare invades Dream, helmed by its wicked king, the strangely attractive Phobetor, and it is up to Cade (and, since she insists upon it, Tasha) to save their slowly dying haven from the ravening darkness that would result in the destruction of Dream, leaving all people on Earth to only ever have nightmares for the rest of time.

I don’t think I’m giving away too much when I tell you: they save Dream. The wondrous, captivating and often startlingly original surprise lies in exactly how they do that.

This is such a glorious story, I cannot even tell you. From its heroes to its villains to its love interest (yes, her name is Moonmist, but don’t hold that against her), the characters immediately draw you in and never once let you go… even if one of them, the Demon Queen, does seem awfully familiar to anyone who’s read Arenson’s previous novel, Flaming Dove. The language is evocative and lyrical, which is something of a departure in style for Arenson, and is evident especially when we’re in Dream, whose denizens think and speak in such a formal, precise and poetical manner; it’s all very Tolkien. There are larger themes to the book, themes of self-determination and sacrifice and faith and loyalty, optimism and redemption and courage and love -- but above all of that it is just a really great quest adventure that, yes, is a little bit Never Ending Story, but brings in enough unique fantasy lore and additional plot fodder (ie. the dastardly King of Nightmare’s hard on for the oh-so-pure princess of Dream), and is also so clever executed, as to avoid outright copyright violation.

One odd thing about the book, though, is that its protagonists are 22 years old.

There are some (in my case, many) books that are intended for children and or young adults, but can be enjoyed at any age. The Gods of Dream feels like it should have been a YA book, but one that we alleged proper grown-ups would also have loved. It’s incredibly enjoyable as it is, and I even really like the contrast between the age of its characters and the ebullient fairy tale existence Arenson creates around them. But as a YA, with teenaged protagonists and some of the attendant angst over trivia that is practically a prerequisite in such things, The Gods of Dream could easily have been a sensation.

Nevertheless, I have to highly recommend this book as an exceedingly worthwhile way to spend some quality time with your Kindle. (It’s only available as an e-book. You'll probably never feel as grateful for the existence of e-books as you will when you read this one.) It is an epic journey through an unknowable land, a smart allegory about life and death and everything in between, and a truly beautiful piece of work with emotional depth, tremendous heart and a more than occasional thrill of discovery.

Oh, and for an independently published e-book, one has to wonder at the simply gorgeous cover image with which it has been blessed. A+, Daniel Arenson! This is just terrific work, all around.

This review first appeared in Geek Speak Magazine. Do you speak geek?

[Juli Rahel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sent to me by Daniel to review and I really enjoyed it. It's a fantasy novel that will definitely warm your heart. It is centered around two young adults, Tasha and Cade. Cade has survived a terrible accident that scarred him and killed their parents. This has turned Tasha into an emotional wreck, trying to commit suicide multiple times. There is only one place they can be happy, and that is: Dream.

Dream is a beautiful place where our dreams are made. It has its own pantheon (group of Gods) and has a lot of different landscapes, some of which you are bound to have seen in one of your dreams as a reader. In my case that was The Crystal Caves. But there is a problem, called Phobetor, Lord of Nightmare. He has planned to take over Dream and turn it into a Nightmare. Everywhere he goes he is followed by monsters and horrors unimaginable. Cade is "recruited" by Windwhisper to challenge Phobetor and Tasha secretly joins him in the form of a mouse.

I really enjoyed reading this book because it reminded me of the fantasy books I used to read, like the Neverending Story. Throughout the book I kept on seeing hidden references to this book, especially when the Silkworms were introduced. Arenson has created a very rich world with a solid "religion". He has clearly put thought into how such a group of Gods should be structured, taking notes, I think, of the Greek Gods and how they are interlinked. I really liked the way he combined good and evil within these, making the "bad guys" spring from the good. The pegacats Starlight and Harmony were an adorable addition to the Gods. They really brought light to certain scenes.

What Arenson did really well was describing his character Tasha. In the beginning she is depressed and can't deal with normal life. In the book she is a constant companion to Cade, who does the biggest part of the travelling because Tasha is now a mouse. As a reader you can feel her character grow and mature and in the end you really have a bond with her. Another character that goes through a strong character development is Moonlight, the Princess of the Begemmed City. In the beginning, although nice, she is a bit spoiled girl and easily scared. In the end, after having fought and almost died, she is strong and clearly a woman.

Overall, Arenson has a significant talent for story writing and knows how to guide a reader through a story and keep them interested. Maybe he had a little bit too many ideas for this book, making it seem rushed in some bits, yet all of this is only positive. It is better to have maybe too many good ideas instead of only two that are boring.

[Grace Krispy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by Daniel Arenson, "The Gods of Dream" is an epic fantasy with an exquisite and surreal feel. The author has a talent for description, and it's easy to picture the worlds of Dream and Nightmare. They're everything you thought they may be, and maybe even more. The storyline has a bit of a Biblical feel, a feeling which is heightened as the two sides draw closer to the battle that will determine the future of both realms, as well as the future of all humans. Each realm has a variety of different regions, and those in Nightmare almost felt like Dante's circles of hell. Each of the areas in Nightmare presents a different type of horror to be experienced, just as each area in Dream provides a special type of pleasure. The author has crafted his characters nicely, and the gods of each realm are distinct and fascinating. The hierarchy of the gods in Dream mirrors those found in Nightmare. The relationship between the various gods is somewhat reminiscent of the relationship between the Devil and his minions, and God and his angels. While I loved those two worlds and the characterization of each world, I wanted to understand a bit more the relationship between these realms and Earth.

The story started out somewhat slow for me. It took me some time to really get a feel for what was going on and where we were going. As I read on, my interest grew and I became much more entranced by, and committed to, the story. Taking such ethereal creations as dreams and nightmares and transforming them into actual physical places to be experienced and explored puts a new and exciting spin on something we only experience while we sleep. Although the story did drag for me at times, as we battled with all the lesser gods of Nightmare and walked for days and weeks and months, it was worth the read. The story itself didn't totally "wow" me, but the creativity of concepts and the beautifully flowing writing left me thinking about the ideas long after I'd finished reading. I wasn't completely captivated by the plot, but I was entranced by the worlds the author created. The gorgeous cover of the book really captures the feel of the story. I suspect I'll be thinking about the imagery and concepts woven into this story long after I've forgotten about Cade and Tasha and the details of their quest.

4.5 /5 stars @ MotherLode blog

[Missy (Missy's Reads & Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

To describe it in one word: fabulous. This story, from start to end, keeps your attention. From the plot to story to characters, there is not one thing about it that doesn't draw you in and keep you there. The language used in the book is nothing short of completely captivating, and [dare I say] lyrical - though I vowed to never use such a word for words in all of my reviews. I can't help it, there's no other way to describe it. As a matter of fact, I've never seen the English language used so eloquently in a long, long time. It was amazing, to say the least.

I couldn't get enough of the characters in this one. They're so formal yet exciting, which I never really thought I could say together. Usually formal characters are a total snooze, but it worked well with this book. Our main characters in this story [twins, Cade and Tasha] come from a sad story and feel damaged in the beginning. However, they prove their worth in gold throughout the novel. Even though they don't feel like they're fit to save Dream in the beginning, they come through valiantly with courage, strength and so much more.

The other characters fit their parts perfectly in this book, but I think I was more amazed with the settings. The differences between the real world, Dream and Nightmare are vast. Typically with different settings, there are always many similarities and a few minor details that are changed. It's the total opposite with The Gods of Dream. Each is unique and you never get confused where the characters may be throughout the story.

I can't say enough good things about this story. From beginning to end, it has you on an emotional roller coaster that never seems to let up - especially the opening and closing chapters. The ending was a little predictable for me, BUT it wasn't even about the ending because I was still too caught up in all of the adventure throughout the book getting to that point. The writing is impeccable and a complete work of art. Even though it's not marked as so, I think this would be a great story for the older YA readers and it is a MUST READ for fantasy lovers. If you love Tolkien, you'll definitely want to give The Gods of Dream a try. I don't normally compare authors, but I have to make an exception in this case because it is THAT good!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to pick one word to describe Gods of Dream, it would definitely be lush. Maybe vivid. While fans of epic fantasy will find many well-loved and familiar threads here, it's the word usage and the description of the setting and characters that set this book apart.


The story is familiar enough- a beautiful and beloved land is in danger of being overrun and ruined by a dark and evil land, and an unlikely choice of hero is chosen for a great quest. In this case, our unlikely hero and heroine are a set of human twins named Tasha and Cade, and they receive help along the way from a series of ever more interesting allies.


The story uses the dichotomy of Dream and Nightmare to illustrate the difference between the good side and the bad side, and the King of Nightmare, Phobetor, is one seriously creepy dude with a seriously grand chip on his shoulder. His ultimate goal is to rule both Dream and Nightmare, even though such a thing is inherently impossible; it's up to Tasha and Cade to keep him from succeeding.


By far my favorite part of this story was the word usage. Everything is described so beautifully and so lushly that I can picture each scene perfectly in my mind. There were lots of times that I stopped reading and just took a second to fully absorb the impact of the words arranged in that order. I tweeted this line while I was reading the book, and it's still one of my favorites: "Colorful fish and crabs lived in the pools, and salt coated the edges of stones like sea-swept margaritas." Every page has an example like that, where the words rise up and erupt into a beautiful picture.


Folks who have read Tolkien and other leaders of the epic fantasy world will definitely see a lot of familiar elements here, but I don't think that's a bad thing. The Gods of Dream is a good example of how someone can so lovingly express devotion to an existing work or style while still creating something new and different. I definitely think the writing style is more accessible here than in other fantasy works. While there's plenty of fantasy language, by which I mean words and character names that are totally made up, the names are easy to figure out and the flow of the story isn't interrupted.

[Nathaniel Matychuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, I am pleasantly surprised. Could get 5 stars from me. Getting a real Neverending Story vibe.

---

EDIT:

Finished,

If you like fantasy of the Neverending Story, Labyrinth, and Legend variety, you are in luck. If you only like Game of Thrones style fantasy, then you should realize that this is something else.

This book has butterfly winged kittens playing a major role, so decide ahead of time if that is something for you, and don't criticize something as bad when it is really just the aesthetic the author is going for. Daniel Arenson picked a mood for this novel and courageously and faithfully brought it to fruition.

This is why I am coming to love indie publishing, not a lot of novels aimed at adults/young adults would use imagery typically seen in children's literature, and not many of those would never get bought by a publisher. So bravo, brave new publishing world, you have produced another winner.

I got this book for free, but it was one of the better indie reads I have experienced, thus far. I love this style of fantasy, best read while listening to Giorgio Moroder, Limahl, and FutureCop.

If you play a drinking game involving the number of times the word "tears" is used, you will die of alcohol poisoning 75% of the way through.

PS: the cover is unbelievable.

PSS: one issue that needed editing was that there was a character in the book with feathers instead of hair... yet it must not have been this way in an early draft, because the chapters in the middle say she had hair instead of feathers. A bit distracting, in my opinion. I don't get hung up trivial stuff like this and did not take away from my enjoyment of the book, but some might be disappointing. If the author ever revises the novel, I would hope that gets fixed.

Also, maybe I was just misreading the early chapters, but it seemed to me that the characters were brought into the fantasy world for a very specific purpose, other than defeating the villain, yet the conclusion seems to contradict this and the reason things change was not satisfactorily addressed.

[Jessica Billings · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the world of Dreams come under attack by Nightmare, twins Cade and Tasha are the world's last hope. With help and gifts from many of the strange inhabitants and gods of Dream, they slowly work their way into the evil that's threatening to take over. They must fight off hordes of demons, outwit monsters, and work their way out of hopeless traps.

When I call this an epic tale, I truly mean it. There are so many places to visit in dream, so many gods and strange beings, and so many challenges to overcome. Cade and Tasha travel for over a year, growing in incredible ways, and changing the lives of everyone living in that land as they overcome many obstacles to reach their destination.

One of the best things about this book is the richness of even the most minor characters. Everyone has a back story, a reason for being the way they are, and they grow throughout the story. Even very brief scenes stayed with me and made me think and imagine what other strange things might be found in Dream. The descriptions are a huge strong point of this book.

For me, the book really picked up about halfway through, once the characters reach Nightmare. That's when the fun really starts and they meet their biggest challenges. Before that, it's a fascinating read to learn about all the different gods and lands of Dream, but much of the story is simply traveling and learning about what is to come. There are the occasional monsters as well, but not nearly of the danger and scale as in Nightmare. In the beginning, I had no idea how the entire book could simply be a tale of their journey through Dream and into Nightmare, but it's true: It's not the destination, but the journey.

[Mikaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb caught my attention, and when the author offered it as a free read on Amazon, I decided to take the chance. I am leery when it comes to indie books, since you never know what you get. I am glad I took the chance.
To me, this book felt like one of the old sagas, set in the unique world of Dream. Dream are filled with gods, speaking animals, and magical beings like the Pegacats. Dream is lush and sunny.
If Dream is sunny, Nightmare is dark and bleak. Nightmare is home to demons, and other monsters.
The contrast is stark, but it felt right. I liked how the bleakness of Nightmare affected Cade and Tasha.
I loved how all the characters, both gods, Elorians, and animals were prepared to fight for Dream. I liked how Moonmist, which was a protected princess, took charge of a large group of soldiers.

The book was good, but after awhile I started to wonder if Cade and Tasha would ever reach their goal. On the other hand, I don't think the book could have been that much shorter.

Will I buy another book by Daniel Arenson? Probably. 2.99 isn't that much. But not until June, or something.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book totally missed the mark for me. At the beginning it seemed like a children's book with the Candyland-ish place names--Beluga Beach, Caterpillar Cove... Then the main characters and the plot made it feel like a YA novel so I was getting on board with that when suddenly there was some fairly sexual dialogue between the bad guy and his demon wife whom he created to be his sex slave. It felt totally inappropriate.

The writing was very simplistic and the plot consisted of a very long string of brief encounters with various good or bad guys with nothing fleshed out. I still have no idea whether this was intended as an adult or a YA novel.

[Greymalkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed that this was a more native american-ish take on fantasy worlds, the actual plot was a total clunker. There was very little tension and the endless repetition of "unbeatable horrible monster faces off against totally untrained hero and somehow gets defeated and then they get some special treasure" felt like a D&D session. A boring one. I couldn't finish it. When the hero and the princess meet and fall in love at first sight that was it for me. Felt like it was written by a talented middle schooler who doesn't actually understand interpersonal relationships or what happens in war except for what they see in movies.

[Maria Hooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always amazed by authors who can create such intricate fantasy worlds, and Arenson is masterful in this regard. During this novel's journey, I felt as though I'd really traveled to the world of Dream, and I loved every moment of it. In a matter of pages, I realized that this story was filled with possibilities and mythology, and I liked the idea that in order for Cade and Tasha to embrace their real lives in spite of a painful past, they had to save another world and that act would give them the strength they needed. I don't often forget about the world I'm in, but The Gods of Dream swept me away. I'm looking forward to more of Arenson's work.

[Amanda Fantini · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I'm not even sure why I finished this book. The plot itself was intriguing enough, and the mythology that surrounded it had good bones but was poorly executed. The writing style seemed childlike in nature, as if written by a fantastical 12 year old child with a big imagination but just lacking the skills to properly weave such a grand saga. The author seemed to go on and on with repetitive descriptions as if trying to beat into the readers' heads just how beautiful Dream is and how gruesome Nightmare is. The end itself was anticlimactic, as well, and for the most part, it all seemed extremely rushed.
I would not recommend this to another reader.

[Laurie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another freebie and...strike 3 they're out! This one was slightly better than the previous two I had gotten for free. The storyline was intriguing, but some things made me think maybe a high school student wrote it. That's what I kept thinking while I was reading. That and how many times can a person be knocked unconscious but wake up and be miraculously saved? It should have been better than it was. The world of Dream was described well enough for me to wish I could actually go there. But the storyline didn't flow well and I couldn't wait for the end to come.

[Deana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Given the right set of circumstances, this book could have been incredible. I don't know if I was jut in a horrid mood (doubtful, but willing to consider that possibility) or what, but this story left a lot to be desired for me. It wasn't great, wasn't horrid, but the most I can say about it is "Meh," and "Long."
Dunno. Hopefully, I'll get around to re-reading it at some point, and it will be a better read then. Again, a lot of potential, but just didn't do it for me.

[Neil Blaiberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad fantasy adventure, but not my favourite by Daniel Arenson.

In summary a boy and his sister travel to the land of Dream to save it from the onvading forces of Nightmare. Should they fail, both Dream and Earth will perish.

A solid 3 / 5 book, enjoyable, although the ending was predictable and not believable.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok, interesting concept. However, the characters were way too gruesome. Too many adjectives were used to describe their evil appearance. Their appearance was too far-fetched. In some ways it reminded me of a condensed Lord of the Rings. If you've read LOTR then it was somewhat predictable.

[Chrys · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. This book had high ratings on Amazon, so I figured I would give it a try, but I was sorely disappointed. The writing is immature, the dialogues are awful and the whole story predictable. The author borrows too much from other stories. Dream and nightmare resembles heaven and hell too much to be interesting. The attempt to create a a new language is pretty sad. I do not recommend this book.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright. It was interesting enough to keep me reading, although the prose and characters were extremely jouvenile. It felt like Arenson had taken a children's book and made a few alterations just so he could tag it as "adult." Though I enjoyed it, I will most likely never read it again, and would not recommend it unless it were to an 11-year-old girl.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book for free and unlike some, I love reading Indie authors! I have found reading Indie authors is like going to an off Broadway show. Yes, you can hit bad one but when you hit good one they are very creative and they take risks. This is one such story. It contrasted the fancifully beautiful against the ugly.

[Anita Japp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Epic tale : maybe TMI on details

Good story lots of interesting characters. I did find myself skimming some parts where the descriptions of the landscape were overdone in a way that appeared like the author was trying to be poetic. Creative and interesting, but just a little too much/long in places. Excellent YA story and interesting enough for adult readers to enjoy as well.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

D. Arenson did a really nice job. The book held my interest quite well despite many distractions. Storyline and characters were well developed, and even got a couple of tears from me. Definately a Fantasy Author I would recommend.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story of a quest to save the world of Dream held my interest from beginning to end. The charcters came alive for me and Arenson did a wonderful job of creating a fantasy world and drawing me into it.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an adventure! Started out a bit slow..but after that...hang on!

[Carol Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord of the Rings meets Narnia. Epic adventures and epic battles. Excellent book!