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The Dream Voyagers

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The beautiful Elissia's family built their castle over the gate to the underworld
and have protected the location for centuries. But now she is terrified, alone and at the mercy of those searching for the key. Her final hope of salvation lies in people from a different era, Tom Muldoon and The Rainbow Twins, who in a spine chilling and heart-wrenching story, battle against time and the odds to embrace love, save humanity and defend each other.

211 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 19, 2015

29 people want to read

About the author

David Lyons

2 books11 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Sarah Elizabeth.
5,003 reviews1,411 followers
September 4, 2016
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author David Lyons.)

“Well, some say that the only gate to the underworld is hidden somewhere in the castle, but remember, none of you must ever try to find it or you could disappear like many others have, over the centuries.”


This was a YA fantasy story, featuring twins and time travel.

The characters in this were all okay, although I did find it hard to care about them at times. It was unfortunate the way that the twins were treated by their guardians though.

The storyline in this was a little confusing. We had the twins whose parents had disappeared, who were given crystals that turned them invisible and allowed them to get a little revenge on those who had wronged them, and then we had Tom the next door neighbour who had given the twins the crystals. He somehow managed to time travel while he was asleep, and wanted to rescue a woman called Elissia, who was being forced into an arranged marriage with her much older cousin in the year 1507. I did find it a little confusing how these storylines went together, and I did lose interest a bit.

The ending to this was fairly happy, although I was still a little confused as to how it ended that way.



5 out of 10
Profile Image for Reading_ Tamishly.
5,309 reviews3,482 followers
April 12, 2021
"This is where you have been for all those centuries with no-one to visit you except the changing seasons.
This clay doesn't know of your beauty and grace, and this quiet place doesn't know of your bright dancing spirit or your kind brown eyes or your smile that could stop my breath."

This was so fun to read. I really wish this was a series!

What an adventure!

The plot deals with part mystery, part time traveling, part romance, part adventure. The characters are so well woven to the story!

The writing is so damn good! This is the kind of book you wouldn't know if it ended too soon because it's so fast-paced and there's something to look forward to with each turning page.

Our main protagonist, Tom, has to solve the puzzle of this 'key' which a strange woman who he keeps meeting him in the train keeps telling him about.

Anna-Marie, my most favourite character, or the mysterious woman who helps Tom in this quest of finding Elissia, the woman in his dreams, in the other world, who he knows for sure needs to be rescued from the evil clutches of Igor and Gallic, the evils who want to rule the world. There's a grave chance of these demons taking over the place when they take hold of this "key".

I find the narration quite engaging and the plot progression quite engrossing. The characters are engaging from the very beginning till the end. What I love about the entire read is that there's never a boring moment. The ending is so well done! Phew! I didn't know I was holding my breath until I knew Anna-Marie, Tom and the twins got what it took to overcome these evil forces! Told you, this one is such an adventure throughout!

*One of my most favourite scenes:

"Do you want to do it?" Tom held the key out to Anna-Marie.

"Just throw it in," she demanded.

"There you go again, over-reacting. I'm beginning to believe you love melodrama. What can happen to us now? The gate is locked. We are free. The world is saved." Tom laughed and held his hands up in celebration.

**************************************************


Their friendship vibes is all I need! Their banter ever since their very first meet till the end. I love them together so much!


Such a good read!💝
Profile Image for Khyati Gautam.
892 reviews254 followers
May 11, 2021
The Dream Voyagers by David Lyons is a thrilling tale of saving humanity against the clutches of evil. It focuses on Tom, his mysterious friend Anna-Marie, the rainbow twins, a few evil forces, and their fight to protect the underworld. What started off as a story about this, or so I assumed, turned out to be a pleasant surprise that combined love, friendship, intrigue, and juxtaposition of good and bad. Tom has strange dreams of a beautiful woman. His chance encounter and subsequent meetings with Anna-Marie guide him towards his purpose. Would he be successful?

Right from the start, one is hooked and as the pages go further, they cannot stop but gape at the buildup of the plot. I was surely in for a surprise as my assumptions were proven wrong and the story got more interesting. The narration is as good as the well fleshed out characters that brought life to the story. Each small detail was covered wonderfully, each small conversation played out on paper with perfection. Quite honestly, there was not a dull moment.

A perfect blend of fantasy and fiction formed The Dream Voyagers. And by the end, you'd know the reason behind the on-point title as well as a creepy cover. From atmospheric narrative to compelling writing, this book surely leaves a mark on its readers with equal parts banter, fun, mystery, and love. If you're into fantasy and would love to indulge in some adventure, go ahead and pick this one. It would be a sure shot treat.
Profile Image for Christeena  Thomas.
257 reviews7 followers
May 30, 2021

Hey fantasy lovers ✨❤,
May I have your attention please! I've a wonderful rec for you guys.

A spine chilling, adventurous tale weaved with mystery and thrill ," The Dream Voyagers" by David Lyons is a compelling read that catch your attention right from the start.

The story hovers around the life of Tom Muldoon, a museum curator, whose life takes a turn after he began having a dream about a strange , beautiful woman who lives in a magical castle which holds deep secrets. What's strange about her? The novel traces his fight to protect humanity from evil entities. Will he be able to??

It's been a while I read an amazing fantasy novel and to be honest I am really glad I read this. Even though I was clueless at first about what's going on in the novel, it began to make sense as I hunted deep. I really loved the character of Anna- Marie and her acting as an aid to help Tom find Elissia .

The narration is enthralling and the characters were so lovable. Also, I enjoyed the twist at the end. It was quite surprising! I thoroughly enjoyed the read. With simple and elegant language, it became more charming and captivating read. Indeed a treat for fantasy lovers!!
Profile Image for Alex Nonymous.
Author 26 books559 followers
January 24, 2021
Thanks to the author for providing a digital copy of The Dream Voyagers in exchange for an honest review.

The Dream Voyagers is a really promising concept, but the narrative style (especially with dialogue) was a little too blunt for me to ever forget that I was reading a story and it really hurt with making the story feel immersive which is normally key in stories like these with fantastical elements.

As a note, there's an evil sidekick character who fills the bumbling idiot henchmen role who if I'm remembering correctly, is never given a name. Because of that the other characters refer to them as 'the little person' throughout the story and while I'm sure that was just the author being descriptive, choosing to use a term so heavily associated with people with dwarfism felt a little uncomfy. Again, I'm sure there weren't any ableist intentions behind it, but I just wanted to mention it incase the book ever goes through reprints.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
218 reviews25 followers
May 7, 2018
This book was very well written! I fell in love from beginning to the end!The World building is phenomenal as is the people building. I am very thankful do you have received this book from the author for my honest opinion. when he comes out with more books I will be buying them!
Profile Image for Kitabi Keeda.
625 reviews70 followers
May 6, 2021
THE DREAM VOYAGERS
By David Lyons

▶Amazing plot with mind boggling twists and turns.


#INSIGHT: The Dream Voyagers is about a lot of things: time travel, fantasy, romance, thrill and action. Revolving around the history of Pendragon Castle, the story is spun around mysterious characters be it the twins, Anne-Marie, Elissia or Tom. Elissia, with her family has safeguarded the key from the evil forces but is now alone and helpless. The story is about how Tom solves the mystery of the key.

#REVIEW: What twists in the story! The Author has done a commendable job in keeping his readers hooked to the book such that you are transported to an altogether different world. The underlying message of victory of good over evil is also portrayed well. The language is easy to understand and a certain required flow was present in the story. I personally liked the second half of the book better. Overall, a good reading experience.

#STRENGTH: First of all, the writing style impressed me a lot. The story was engaging throughout. The characters were very well developed. I loved how the minutest details were taken care of by the Author creating a connectivity all along. The title couldn't be better and gave me a crisp and clear idea about the importance of dreams in the story.

#WEAKNESS: The cover page could have been worked upon a little bit more. The story was a bit confusing in the first half of the book with respect to what was real and what was a dream.

#TARGET READERS: People having strong inclination towards fantasy novels can read this book.

#AGE GROUP: From 13 to 18 year old

#GENRE: Fiction- fantasy

#RATING: 3.9/5
Profile Image for Fatima Anwar.
212 reviews18 followers
April 5, 2021
Name: The Dream Voyagers
Author: David Lyons
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Time Travel, Fantasy, Action, Romance
Rating:4.4/5
Review:
The Dream Voyagers is a time-traveling adventure fantasy fiction that revolves around the Rainbow twins, Elissia and Tom striving to fight against the underworld and save humanity.
In the 16th century, Elissia lives in a castle built over the Gates of the Underworld. Her family has to protect the key and protect the gate from opening.
In present times, the Rainbow Twins lives with their next-door neighbor, Tom Muldoon. Tom finds a rare artifact, the Key, which will change his life forever. Moreover here comes a mysterious lady, Anne-Marie. The lives of Tom, The Rainbow Twins, and Elissia entangled with this mysterious artifact.
Will, they will be able to protect Elissia and stop the Gates of Underworld from opening? Will they be able to save humanity?
I haven't read any time-travel novels, though I have watched a lot of time-travel movies, dramas, and animes. The Dream Voyagers is an engaging and captivating novel. I enjoyed reading this novel with its amazing world-building and surprising characters.
The storyline is promising, though the narrative can be a bit confusing. If you like reading about time travel, dreams, fantasy, and romance, this is the one for you!!
51 reviews1 follower
June 2, 2021
Firstly talking about the author, David Lyons was a new name for me. But when I saw the cover page of the book, I was awestruck for a moment. Just by seeing the cover I decided to read the book asap. By reading the book I can imagine the creative and innovative mind, David has been gifted with.
Coming to the book it is a good 200+ pages book. The writing consists of several genres in one. It has romance, friendship, time travel, mystery and adventure. It has been well written just like a necklace with beads of different genres bound together in a perfect manner.
The characters in the story, Tom, Anna-Marie, Elissia, the devils Igor and Gallic are very well narrated and plot of the story flows just like a river. Tom is the main character who is in the quest of finding Elissa and getting her freed from the devils (who wish to rule the world). And in this journey, he is helped by my personal favourite character Anna-Marie.
Anna Marie is a mysterious woman who is only in Tom’s dreams and helps him to find Elissa. I was consistently in a phase of surprise because each time my assumption was proven wrong, and it developed an instant urge of curiosity to read further. KUDOS to David for such an amazing writing.
I could go on and on about the book, but it’s greatly recommended to read it yourself and do send a message to the author about your reviews. ENJOY!!!
Profile Image for Booxoul.
484 reviews29 followers
April 18, 2021
Every book we read is an adventure we take. And luckily, I must say, I have read some amazing books this year so far. Novels that took me to the land of magic, and the countries that I have always wanted to visit. One such book I read and enjoyed was ‘The Dream Voyagers’ by David Lyons.

From the beginning, until the end, I was bewitched by David’s art of storytelling. And the characters stole my heart with their sheer simplicity. And what’s more, magic and history, two of my favourite genres were intricately interwoven with the present story, making it unputdownable. In the end, I would say, it was a captivating read. Although, the only regret was ‘The Dream Voyager’ been a standalone. Wish there was a series, so I could read more about these wonderful characters.
46 reviews5 followers
June 3, 2021
The book is about Tom, who works in local museum, the story has ample amount of characters like
Jack and Pippy: the twins- the story begins with them,when their parents go missing suddenly.

Anna-Marie- The most mysterious character of the story, very much suspense is created around her whether she's the helper or she's the destroyer?

Elissia-One more interesting character from the castle whom Tom adores a lot.

Tom works in a museum, the twins are his neighbours, Anna Marie appears suddenly appears and disappers at occasions.
As the story progresses Tom realises, there is a golden box in the museum which is the most important, many people were after the box.

If I had to summarise the book in a line it would be how Anna Marie quotes repeatedly, "The key is most important"

It was my first experience with a fantasy genre book, and I totally enjoyed it. Apart from fanatsy, it also includes fiction and mystery which all have been blended so well that they are indistinguishable. The name 'The dream voyagers' has been given very aptly.

The writing style is simple yet one which arises curiosity.I couldn't put it down I never felt that a fantasy would be this interesting

Would totally recommend it!
Profile Image for Walkwitha_book.
659 reviews33 followers
June 2, 2021
“The beautiful Elissia's family built their castle over the gate to the underworld.”

and have protected the location for centuries. But now she is terrified, alone and at the mercy of those searching for the key. Her final hope of salvation lies in people from a different era, Tom Muldoon and The Rainbow Twins, who in a spine chilling and heart-wrenching story, battle against time and the odds to embrace love, save humanity and defend each other.

This is a different and a unique read. Enjoyed reading it. This book contains a lot like romance, fantasy, thrill, travel and a lot more. It’s more about saving humanity and being a human. It’s an imaginative fantastic novel.

I would recommend to the people who love reading fantasy or have the habit of living in their own world. The plot is intriguing and enjoyable. The characterisation is well narrative. I liked the way the author has narrated the story. My favourite character is Anna-Marie. I will be definitely waiting for the sequel.

A fantastic read for the teenagers.
Profile Image for Solitude and  books.
1,175 reviews53 followers
February 11, 2021
The Dream Voyagers by David Lyons
✨Full Review on my blog ✨

If you are a fantasy lover and looking for an engaging read, check this fiction. For adventure lovers here is a fantasy story to keep you entertained till the end.
Join the ride with the rainbow twins, Elissia and Tom in a magical castle with hidden secrets inside. What does it protect from the outer human world?

A riveting plot with well thought characters that take you into a mystery filled world where Igor and Gallic try to unleash the evil.

The elements of dream, underworld, rainbow twins added with the mystic vibe alongside energetic protagonists and the fight of the right and wrong for the trial of protecting the mankind from an ancient history that slowly unfolds the backstory of the hidden gate to the underworld will be enjoyed by young adult fantasy read enthusiasts. Even it has some components of science fiction and a touch of romance here and there.

"Good will always win"
Will this saying come true or the havoc will get unleashed over the world?

With smooth, captivating narration this book makes for an entertaining read. Do check it out on amazon kindle.
Profile Image for Shally.
263 reviews4 followers
January 30, 2021
"The beauty of her face still haunted him and lingered constantly before his mind's eye."
The Dream Voyagers by David Lyons is a fantastic adventure book, a story of rainbow-twins who strive for humanity and fight evil. Beginning with a sad tone, where the twins are left alone to the time they become the real heroes, especially Tom, to rescue Elissia, the tale unfolds in the most interesting manner. Every detail is just fantastic, imagery is quite real, it all happens on time, the narrative goes in the flow, and one keeps guessing about what is going to happen next.
I love the plot to the core and all the characters are just so amazing. The dream works as a link between the two worlds, and take us to the beautiful castle of the underworld. To know more about this adventurous tale, you can definitely read this book.
Profile Image for Mohit.
84 reviews8 followers
March 11, 2021
BOOK REVIEW:-THE DREAM VOYAGERS

AUTHOR:-DAVID LYONS(@davidlyons7)

FORMAT:-KINDLE EDITION

⭐MY RATING:-4.8/5

📌The dream voyagers is a fantasy fiction and an adventours book.This book contains a story through the imaginary world and the real world.In the whole story their are three main characters Elissia,Rainbow twins and Tom Muldoon.

📌Tom Muldoon is a museum curator and being surrounded by exotic antiquity.He used to get very strange dreams where he meets a beautifull woman Elissia who lived in a pendragon castle from many centuries which is built over the gates of hell.

📌Anna-Marie a lady from his dream tells tom him the story of pendragon family.How they get entry to the underworld and they holds the key thats keeps the demons underworld and prevent them wreaking havoc on the real world.

📌But after many years two demons Igor and Gallic escaped to the outside world, where they continue their quest to get the key back and unlock the underworld once again.Here is the real adventure start where Tom have to save humanity and the woman he loves in his dream.Did he get success in it?

📌The plot is intriguing, and the book cover is well suited to the novel.I really liked the book; it's a great fictional-fantasy story with plenty of adventure and little romance.If you are a fictional-fantasy lover just grab your copies.Thanks for your precious time.

HAPPY READING😊
63 reviews2 followers
June 10, 2021
📘The Dream Voyagers📘

🖋Author:- David Lyons
📱Platform:- Kindle
📄Pages:-298
🌠Ratings 4.9/5

📘Book Review📘

🌠As this is the first book I have read by this author I was not sure what to expect as you just never know when trying a "new to you" author. But once I completed the read I was quite satisfied about my selection.

🌠Being a book of 298 pages I was completely into it as it was such an interesting one.I completely hooked me up and was a page turner. Completed the entire book in mere 4 days. Really impressed with the writing style of the author.

🌠The title of the book is based on the context and the cover is very attractive. The title is the thing which grabs the attention.

🌠The book has been written in a very simple manner so that everyone can understand it and does not require any special aid.

🌠Tom works in a museum, the twins are his neighbours, Anna Marie appears suddenly appears and disappers at occasions.As the story progresses Tom realises, there is a golden box in the museum which is the most important, many people were after the box.

🌠Tom has strange dreams of a beautiful woman. His chance encounter and subsequent meetings with Anna-Marie guide him towards his purpose. Would he be successful?

🌠GET YOURS COPY TO KNOW THE FULL STORY!

🌠The satisfaction you get after the final completion of the book is just incredible, sometimes you are really happy with the ending and sometimes you feel it could have been better but when you will complete this your heart is just satisfied.

🌠I am so excitied for the next books of the same author! Fingers crossed. Can`t wait...
Profile Image for Ultimate World.
776 reviews50 followers
September 12, 2023
Tom Muldoon, a dedicated museum curator, finds his life turned completely upside down when a shipment of valuable artifacts from Pendragon Castle arrives at the museum. Soon after, he begins experiencing peculiar dreams that transport him to encounters with Elissia, a captivating young woman from a distant past. Elissia resides in Pendragon Castle, a structure perched atop the gates of hell, and she possesses the critical key that keeps the underworld's demons at bay, safeguarding the real world from their chaos. Tom's existence starts oscillating between the waking world and this enigmatic dream realm, thrusting him into a perilous battle to not only save humanity but also to protect the woman he's grown to love.

"The Dream Voyagers" is an adventurous and creatively imaginative work of fantasy. While it may take a bit of time for readers to grasp the intricacies of the narrative, particularly as Tom navigates between the real world and the dream realm, the story's clarity solidifies around the sixty percent mark. From there, the pace of the adventure picks up dramatically and maintains its relentless momentum until the surprising twist at the story's conclusion.

This book is ideally suited for middle-grade and young adult readers who relish the world of fantasy. It offers a thrilling and mysterious journey that will undoubtedly captivate those with a penchant for fantastical tales.
Profile Image for Komal Ahuja.
33 reviews8 followers
July 20, 2025
When I picked up The Dream Voyagers by David Lyons, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But as I started reading, I felt like I was watching an intense movie in my mind, where dreams and reality mixed in the most unexpected ways.

What stood out to me was how Tom, a normal museum curator, suddenly starts dreaming about a girl from the past, Elissia. I found it fascinating how his quiet life changed completely because of these dreams. Elissia’s fear and strength felt so real, especially knowing she was protecting something dangerous while feeling all alone.

David Lyons has created characters who feel like people we know – scared yet strong in their own ways. I liked how he added The Rainbow Twins, two teenagers who brought curiosity and innocence to the dark and heavy parts of the story. Their small moments of courage and humour made me smile between the intense scenes.

For me, the unique thing about this book is how dreams were not just dreams here – they became a doorway to courage, love, and secrets of the past. I rarely read books where time travel feels so natural, and the mix of love and hidden family truths made this story unforgettable.

After finishing The Dream Voyagers, I realised it’s not just about saving the world from demons, but about how far people can go for love and truth. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a fantasy story that feels deep, scary, magical, and warm – all at the same time.
Profile Image for Vidhika Yadav.
644 reviews28 followers
July 11, 2025
Book Review: The Dream Voyagers by David Lyons

The Dream Voyagers is a whirlwind of mystery and time-traveling romance in an entirely magical realm. At the heart of it all is Tom, a curbside museum attendant who is haunted by strange dreams of a woman called Elissia. This natural man wakes up to the shifting world after a set of random encounters with a mysterious, witty, and fiercely loyal woman whom we came to know as Anna-Marie: she had steered him toward some ancient key and even an ancient fate.

Tom and Anna-Marie, with the exuberant Rainbow Twins, must put an end to Igor and Gallic's unleashment of chaos through the portal to the underworld. Beginning with a search for meaning, it soon morphs into a high-stake mission to save a hidden world and maybe humanity itself.

Lyons has a breezy yet immersive style; the excellent balance between humor, tension, and heart is his hallmark. The banter between his characters, particularly Tom and Anna-Marie, is sparkling, very genuine, and gives the story heat and momentum. Each scene is filled with cinematic clarity as the plot keeps readers on edge till the exhausting and satisfying end.

Blending dream logic with grounded emotion, The Dream Voyagers is a love letter to fantasy lovers who crave depth, adventure, and charm in equal measure. A must-read for YA and adult readers alike—this one deserves a sequel
Profile Image for Jyoti.
214 reviews12 followers
July 7, 2025
The Dream Voyagers by David Lyons is a fantasy novel that takes readers on a magical and emotional journey. The book begins with a sense of mystery as different characters from different times come together for one purpose – to protect humanity. This makes the story exciting and unpredictable from the start.

The character of Tom Muldoon stands out because he is not a typical hero. He is a museum curator who suddenly finds himself travelling through dreams and time to save Elissia, a girl from the past. His silent love for her and his courage to fight for what is right make him a memorable character.

The Rainbow Twins bring a sweet and hopeful touch to the story. Even though they are teenagers, their bravery, curiosity, and loyalty to Tom and Elissia shine through. Their search for their missing parents adds an emotional layer that keeps readers attached to their journey till the end.

The Dream Voyagers is not just about fantasy or magic. It is about how love, courage, and teamwork can fight the darkest of evils. David Lyons has written this story in a way that keeps readers engaged and makes them believe that even ordinary people can do extraordinary things when it matters the most.
Profile Image for Siddhi Palande.
763 reviews44 followers
July 25, 2025
The Dream Voyagers by David Lyons is perfect for readers who love hearty fantasy adventures. This book offers an entertaining escape into a world where courage, love, and friendship triumph over the dark forces. It's a tale that proves dreams can be the most powerful reality of all.

The story follows Tom Muldoon, a museum curator whose ordinary life takes an extraordinary turn when he begins having vivid dreams about a mysterious woman named Elissia. She lives in Pendragon Castle, built over the gates to the underworld, where her family has protected humanity for centuries by safeguarding a crucial key. When evil demons Igor and Gallic escape to wreak havoc on the world, Tom must embark on a dangerous quest to save both Elissia and humanity itself. Helping him along the way is Anna-Marie, an enigmatic woman who appears only in his dreams but proves to be his most valuable ally.

Within 200 pages, this fantasy novel weaves a richly textured tapestry of - emotional connections, integrity, suspense, drama, love, camaraderie -to present a captivating tale that's immersive and unforgettable. ©

Read the entire book review here 👇🏻
https://ofbookbabiesandmore.wordpress...
Profile Image for Denille Ashley.
314 reviews19 followers
November 4, 2016
Review also on my blog: The Dream Voyagers

The Dream Voyagers by David Lyons is a YA fantasy featuring protagonist Tom Muldoon, a music-loving museum curator, whose life inevitably changes when he meets Anna-Marie, an old woman who starts chatting him up on his train to work. After a polite chitchat conversation, Tom's keen senses pick up on an arousing suspicion that Anna-Marie may know more than she is letting on. While at work, Tom is entrusted with the care of a new collection for the museum from the local Pendragon Castle, and he takes special notice of an unusual box. Upon taking the box to his private office, Tom faints from being hit on the head by a crate and manages to fall asleep. In his lucid dreams, he meets villains Igor and Gallic who are urgently searching for an unknown key, and Elissia, a lonely woman who resides in Pendragon castle and is at the mercy of her nemeses' search. Having fallen in love with the mysterious woman, Tom ventures to find a way to save her from impending danger.

I received a softcopy of the novel courtesy of Mr Lyons. The novel is a fascinating and easy read, and I mostly enjoyed the adventure portions of the novel. I have always found the concept of dream travel interesting, and the fact that dream travel is intertwined with time travel in this instance made it less conventional.

The writing style is reminiscent of Enid Blyton novels in my opinion, simply put and imaginative, which I really love. Enid Blyton was, for most part, the author I grew up reading for most of my childhood. For instance, twins Pippy and Jack (Tom's young cousins) had a story arc that pretty much reminded me of Blyton's writings--the twins are actually the first to travel via their dreams, having been given crystals by Tom (who got them from Anna-Marie). They meet Igor and Gallic as well, and stumble on a secret area filled with incarcerated prisoners. Upon waking up from their dreams, Pippy and Jack make use of the crystals to get back at their distant cousin for years' worth of bullying. Their story arc, while brief and pretty straightforward, did contribute to the dream travel aspect but besides this, I felt that the twins could have been given more major roles in the crux of the story.

The main strength of the novel was in the adventure sequences. I enjoyed the dream travel moments between Tom, Pippy and Jack, and their encounters with the villains. There were times that I would actually forget that they were in dreams, since there was a fantasy-esque edge to the dreams that made them feel like an alternate reality. It was like exploring a new world altogether. We are given glimpses of an old castle, scenes of a man fishing for sharks, and a host of demonic creatures who seek to go beyond their confines. The descriptions were vivid, and at one scene morbidly graphic, particularly the scene depicting the demons and their cruelty. However, I feel like the dream-time-travel could have been further strengthened had there been a formidable explanation for how the phenomenon came about, since it was written into the story as a main event and not much emphasis was placed on how Tom, Pippy and Jack were able to journey through the time-space continuum via sleep. My theory actually hopped onto the astral projection sailboat--though the fact that it was left unexplained left much to imagination as well.

As for the main character Tom, I did feel that his journey was about encountering major changes in terms of attitude--meeting both Anna-Marie, whom he suspected and accused multiple times, and Elissia, the love of his life, turned him from stuffy, judgmental and close-minded curator to a man who was more accepting of change and commitment. This made his dream voyage more meaningful and significant.

The criticism I'd probably give is that Tom and Elissia's relationship was pretty abrupt. Sure, I wouldn't discount the love-at-first-sight archetype, but I personally didn't feel a connection with the moments when Tom was pining away for Elissia. At one point, I felt that Tom was only pining away for someone who lived in his dreams that he couldn't focus on what was more important, such as the quest to protect the Pendragon castle from the danger.

On the other hand, I found Anna-Marie's character to be cryptic, tinged with vagueness. She plays a significant role especially towards the end of the adventure, and keeps things at a need-to-know basis. She actually comes off as pretty creepy at first, what with the whole "stranger-knowing-more-than-she-should" persona when she first meets Tom, but I soon got the feeling that she would be a protagonist as well. While a lot of emphasis was placed on Elissia's salvation, I think Anna-Marie's story could be further expanded, beyond the need-to-know information. I was personally intrigued by the bit of history she explains at one point in the novel, and if Mr Lyons does make a prequel or a sequel to this, I would most likely enjoy more background and insight in relation to the Pendragon history.

Plot-wise, the story is reminiscent of a hero-saves-the-world archetype--good versus evil. Igor and Gallic as the main villains come across as bad guys who want to unleash hell and havoc, quite literally. The cat-and-mouse chases between Tom, Anna-Marie and the villains kept things moving at an urgency and were the main contributors to the plot. I also loved the intertwining moments between past and present that made the atmosphere all the more exciting.

Overall, I think the story could have been strengthened had there been a bit more to the historical background especially, and the dream science (then again, I may just be a sucker for long-winded explanations on how things come about, me and my curiosity) but I was in it for the adventure and dream exploration, which did not disappoint. I look forward to reading more alternate-reality fantasies, which may just be my literary reading niche. Great read, and I would definitely look forward to more of this kind of adventure.
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542 reviews17 followers
May 14, 2016
Review: THE DREAM VOYAGERS by David Lyons ~ I felt I was pushed down a rabbit hole just like Alice in Wonderland!
by eileendandashi


My Thoughts: I felt as if I had gotten my head stuffed down a rabbit hole! Oh, I’m getting ahead of myself, so let’s talk about Tom Muldoon.

Tom Muldoon was a fastidious-type person. He was more organized than organized, punctual and discerning in his clothing, never dreamed when sleeping. He also was a little stuck on himself. You know the type of person, don’t you? He still lived with his mother, who adored him, and so she took care of him.

He was the perfect type to be a curator, so luckily that was his job. The Pendragon Castle collection of valuables was shipped to the museum where he worked. This was the start of life unraveling as Tom knew it. He also met a very strange elder woman, Anna-Marie, who would pop up at the oddest times. One of his bosses was a jerk. People were being injured. Yes, life no longer was the same.

His young friends, twins Pippy and Jack, who lived next door had gotten a very raw deal. One night their parents just disappeared. Yes, just like that. When a young constable went to investigate on the grounds of Pendragon Castle (where the couple were headed), he found the strangest thing. There were tracks – hoof prints of some kind of a two-legged animal. His sergeant told he must have been mistaken or been drinking, since there weren’t any two-legged hoofed beasts. Probably just a cow.

Poor Pippy and Jack were delegated to the attic of their own home, since a distant cousin decided to move in to ‘take care’ of the children. You’ll meet them in the story and you won’t like them anymore than I do. Jed, who went to the same school as Pippy and Jack, made life unbearable for them. He did things that made it appear that the twins were responsible. But good always wins over evil, so Jed will get his comeuppance.

Now since my head was stuffed down this rabbit hole, or where ever I was, sleep seemed to take Tom Muldoon to another world, one where there was good and bad. He met a beautiful young lady, Elissia, who changed who he was. Don’t they say that love changes a person? So Tom would rather sleep than wake for he could be with his Elissia.

Elissia was in peril and Tom wanted to save her. But how could he? Every time he woke up he was back in his own time.

I must say this story certainly was entertaining and the story grew on me--a story full of demons and keeping them where they belong. Always more questions needed answering. And I eventually wanted out of this rabbit hole!

How had Tom gotten roped into this? Great reading entertainment. Although for the young adult, I was an enthusiastic reader. It frankly made my day!


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