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The Dream Defenders #1
The Dream Defenders
When fourteen-year-old Nolan Erling wakes up with a headache for the fourth straight day, he suspects the likely culprit to be any number of things—from his annoying baby brother, to vehicular crashes with his elderly neighbor, or even his questionable late-night food choices—not his dreams.
Aeryn Sandman knows the true cause, though. She is a junior agent with the DREAM Institute, a secret organization tasked with protecting the world’s population while they sleep, and she’s on her first assignment.
Her mission: infiltrate Nolan’s life—and his dreams—and keep him safe, all while persuading him to join their protective force.
But recruitment missions are no walk in the park, and Aeryn’s goes horribly wrong when Nolan’s powers unwittingly unleash two dream creatures locked away in a restricted area of the dream world. While Aeryn and Nolan search for ways to contain the escaped beings, they uncover a much greater conspiracy.
For these dreams can kill, and someone is orchestrating their actions in the dream world. If Aeryn and Nolan can’t figure out who is behind it, no dreamer will be safe, and neither will the organization that defends them.
Aeryn Sandman knows the true cause, though. She is a junior agent with the DREAM Institute, a secret organization tasked with protecting the world’s population while they sleep, and she’s on her first assignment.
Her mission: infiltrate Nolan’s life—and his dreams—and keep him safe, all while persuading him to join their protective force.
But recruitment missions are no walk in the park, and Aeryn’s goes horribly wrong when Nolan’s powers unwittingly unleash two dream creatures locked away in a restricted area of the dream world. While Aeryn and Nolan search for ways to contain the escaped beings, they uncover a much greater conspiracy.
For these dreams can kill, and someone is orchestrating their actions in the dream world. If Aeryn and Nolan can’t figure out who is behind it, no dreamer will be safe, and neither will the organization that defends them.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2019
21 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Neal DenHartog
5 books64 followersNeal DenHartog was born, raised, and currently resides in Iowa. After a fifteen year career in the sciences he decided to rekindle his childhood passion for writing. Now, when he’s not donning a lab coat, he writes stories about dreams.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
December 20, 2019
The Dream Defenders is about a institute that protects peoples dreams. They recruit agents to help protect it and Aeryn's job is to recruit a 14-year old boy called Nolan. Nolan is a very talented dreamer and they want to recruit him but that turns out, isn't so easy...
I thought this was an enjoyable read although I must say that it did lose my attention about halfway through. I can't really tell you why. I don't think it's the story but the fact that this novel is classed as a YA Fantasy. Maybe it is... but definitely on the younger end as it reads like a children's book. So for older readers such a myself, it didn't challenge my brain enough if that makes sense? It's a bit difficult to explain I suppose.
That said, I do see the potential in this story and I think a lot of younger readers will definitely like this book a lot even if the story wasn't for me personally. The characters will be very relatable and they are interesting. Especially Nolan. I didn't like Aeryn very much because she was unusually mean to her twin brother without the book really explaining why. I felt it went beyond normal sibling rivalry.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
I thought this was an enjoyable read although I must say that it did lose my attention about halfway through. I can't really tell you why. I don't think it's the story but the fact that this novel is classed as a YA Fantasy. Maybe it is... but definitely on the younger end as it reads like a children's book. So for older readers such a myself, it didn't challenge my brain enough if that makes sense? It's a bit difficult to explain I suppose.
That said, I do see the potential in this story and I think a lot of younger readers will definitely like this book a lot even if the story wasn't for me personally. The characters will be very relatable and they are interesting. Especially Nolan. I didn't like Aeryn very much because she was unusually mean to her twin brother without the book really explaining why. I felt it went beyond normal sibling rivalry.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
January 17, 2020
I can honestly say that I loved this book. It had some pretty funny moments and it makes for an interesting thought on dreams. The book kind of puts me in mind of the Nocturnal Academy series. It puts a twist on real life events.
The characters were humorous and you could kind of relate to some of them. I have my favorite characters from the book. This is definitely an author that I would look into reading more of.
The characters were humorous and you could kind of relate to some of them. I have my favorite characters from the book. This is definitely an author that I would look into reading more of.
October 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It's been a while since I could get my hands on a good YA read and this one did not disappoint.
I will be keeping DenHartog on my authors to watch for list.
I will be keeping DenHartog on my authors to watch for list.
October 9, 2019
The Dream Defenders is a wild ride of adventure and imagination. It follows a boy named Nolan as he is “recruited” by the DREAM institute while he is sleeping. The recruitment goes terribly wrong and Nolan and his new friends struggle to make it right.
This book is an extremely clever fantasy about dreaming, the cause of dreams, and their function for the waking world. The writing is excellent and the story moves quickly. As a mom of two boys I can see my oldest son, age 13, enjoying this one immensely.
I recommend this book for teens who can handle intense, nightmare scenarios. I would NOT recommend this book for young or sensitive readers, even if they have the reading skill. The writing is so well done that you can almost feel the nightmare creatures breathing down your neck and see them when you close your eyes. Again, NOT FOR YOUNG OR SENSITIVE READERS.
This book is an extremely clever fantasy about dreaming, the cause of dreams, and their function for the waking world. The writing is excellent and the story moves quickly. As a mom of two boys I can see my oldest son, age 13, enjoying this one immensely.
I recommend this book for teens who can handle intense, nightmare scenarios. I would NOT recommend this book for young or sensitive readers, even if they have the reading skill. The writing is so well done that you can almost feel the nightmare creatures breathing down your neck and see them when you close your eyes. Again, NOT FOR YOUNG OR SENSITIVE READERS.
October 7, 2019
ABSOLUTELY LOVED!! The Dream Defenders by Neal Denhartog is the first in a fantastic new series!! Great immaginative story, wonderful characters, witty, humorous and highly addictive adventure!
The story introduces us to Nolan, who is struggling with the arrival of his new baby brother and is feeling ignored by his parents. He starts having strange dreams, waking with horrible headaches. Nolan soon discovers a world in his dreams where nightmares and worse are a very real thing!
The story is well written, full of action and suspense! I could not put it down till the end!! This is a great beginning to a new series and a definite must read both young and adult alike!!!
The story introduces us to Nolan, who is struggling with the arrival of his new baby brother and is feeling ignored by his parents. He starts having strange dreams, waking with horrible headaches. Nolan soon discovers a world in his dreams where nightmares and worse are a very real thing!
The story is well written, full of action and suspense! I could not put it down till the end!! This is a great beginning to a new series and a definite must read both young and adult alike!!!
September 7, 2019
This book is aimed at young adult readers, however I'm happy to say that is is enjoyable for much older readers too. If you enjoy fantasy action books like Harry Potter, Alex Rider or Percy Jackson then you will love this book. I was delighted to find that it had me hooked from the first word to the last word and as it's the first book in a series I cant wait to find out what happens in book 2. There are many unexpected developments which leave you guessing. I'm not the person who normally reads a book in one session but I simply couldn't put this book down. Completely enthralled, loved it.
October 2, 2019
This book was written for younger audiences but still used a strong vocabulary while having interesting characters and events. Characters were relatable and the main character evolved throughout the work and grew. Was also an interesting topic to explore! Ever wondered why you have the nightmares that you have? Ever wished you could control what you did in your dream? Ever made friends with your older, eccentric neighbor? Overall an easy and engaging read, and would highly recommend it for young and old readers alike!
July 16, 2020
Thoroughly engaging read! The characters intrigued me from the first chapter and I enjoyed following their journey. This is the kind of YA fiction that grabs my imagination and keeps my thoughts returning to it all day. I found the concept of Dream Defenders quite thought-provoking! I'm looking forward to reading a sequel!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author via Voracious Readers Only, but I will happily purchase any other books in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author via Voracious Readers Only, but I will happily purchase any other books in the series.
September 18, 2019
Fun read!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The characters were fun and endearing. The humor made me laugh out loud a few times. There were several chapters that had me worried for some of the characters and whether they would exit unscathed, all managed to come out right in the end. I look forward to reading more of the adventures of the Dream Defenders.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The characters were fun and endearing. The humor made me laugh out loud a few times. There were several chapters that had me worried for some of the characters and whether they would exit unscathed, all managed to come out right in the end. I look forward to reading more of the adventures of the Dream Defenders.
October 6, 2019
My review of the book The_Dream_Defenders_epub_05-21-19v2.
Rating: 5, excellent.
Very enjoyable read, hooked me from the start with engaging characters and plenty of humor.
Echoes of Jasper Fforde, and well worth a read.
I recieved a free copy via Voracious Readers Only and leave this review voluntarily.
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Rating: 5, excellent.
Very enjoyable read, hooked me from the start with engaging characters and plenty of humor.
Echoes of Jasper Fforde, and well worth a read.
I recieved a free copy via Voracious Readers Only and leave this review voluntarily.
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September 1, 2019What a great book. I was worried that reading this as an adult, it would not fully engage me. I was wrong. The storytelling is both captivating for both adults and yound adults. It engages you right from the start of the book, right to the end. I cannot wait for the next one in this series as am so interested to see where the story goes next.
September 18, 2019
It's not my usual type of book but I really enjoyed it. The descriptions of the Dreamscapes were good and detailed but you still have to use your imagination.
I like the twists and turns.
The ending surprised me as what I thought what happen, didn't. If there was a second book I would read it as it would be interesting to see what happens next with Nohan and his training.
I like the twists and turns.
The ending surprised me as what I thought what happen, didn't. If there was a second book I would read it as it would be interesting to see what happens next with Nohan and his training.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2019
This was a really fun read! It had an engaging storyline and the perfect balance of humor while keeping a really great theme. Would 100% recommend!
October 19, 2019
Cannot wait for more from Neal Den Hartog well written adventure
August 6, 2019
A really good, well written book, with lots of descriptive dreamscapes. A well thought out world that is very easy to fall into and float along in. This is a story of strong friendships and family bonds, with action and adventure by the bucket load
November 10, 2019
It’s different from what I’m used to reading but I loved it. It’s funny and action packed. I couldn’t put it down.
February 6, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, very well written. I received a complimentary copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
July 13, 2019
In a world of crazy algebra teachers and annoying jocks, Nolan Erling could not have expected to stumble upon the endless dreamscapes connecting the sleepers of the earth. Aided by young agent Aeryn Sandman, the DREAM Institute tries to recruit Nolan for his remarkable ability to control his and other’s dreams. But the dream world isn’t the harmless place of imagination that Nolan initially believes it to be; there are very real dangers he discovers when he takes a leap to save his baby brother and is thrust into the infamous Deathstream from which few are rumored to return from alive. After unwittingly unleashing nightmares into the dreams of the general populace, Nolan embarks on a daring mission to rectify his mistakes. Accompanied by young agents from the institution, he ventures into a strange new world that will test the phenomenal skills everyone tells him he has been gifted with. But, as internal betrayals and dangerous threats come to fruition, those special skills begin to seem like less and less of a gift...
The Dream Defenders is a wonderfully imaginative story complete with daring action, lighthearted humor, and gentle sentiment. Detailed descriptions bring the world to life while a fast-paced plot keeps the reader engaged. The characters are easy to both understand and relate to from the very beginning, with young Nolan’s family conflicts reflecting the struggles of so many his age. Meanwhile, Aeryn’s feelings of inadequacy may resonate with readers feeling the need to live up to big expectations. The two fast friends navigate a world that is well-introduced and explained by the author; the nuances of the Dreamstream and dreamscapes are made vague enough to be intriguing yet clear enough to be the setting of an epic story of heroism. I especially liked the development of the villain characters in The Dream Defenders; the shadow’s past and current interactions give the story dimension and variation, and the author demonstrated a skill for using different voices to narrate the tales of two opposite characters. This story was a fun read, easy to consume thanks to clean syntax and grammar, and hard to stop reading due to investing characters. The setting is creative and enchanting, and I would recommend this book for middle schoolers who also enjoyed tales like Chris Colfer’s Land of Stories or Michael Buckley’s Sisters Grimm.
The Dream Defenders is a wonderfully imaginative story complete with daring action, lighthearted humor, and gentle sentiment. Detailed descriptions bring the world to life while a fast-paced plot keeps the reader engaged. The characters are easy to both understand and relate to from the very beginning, with young Nolan’s family conflicts reflecting the struggles of so many his age. Meanwhile, Aeryn’s feelings of inadequacy may resonate with readers feeling the need to live up to big expectations. The two fast friends navigate a world that is well-introduced and explained by the author; the nuances of the Dreamstream and dreamscapes are made vague enough to be intriguing yet clear enough to be the setting of an epic story of heroism. I especially liked the development of the villain characters in The Dream Defenders; the shadow’s past and current interactions give the story dimension and variation, and the author demonstrated a skill for using different voices to narrate the tales of two opposite characters. This story was a fun read, easy to consume thanks to clean syntax and grammar, and hard to stop reading due to investing characters. The setting is creative and enchanting, and I would recommend this book for middle schoolers who also enjoyed tales like Chris Colfer’s Land of Stories or Michael Buckley’s Sisters Grimm.
February 1, 2020
AWESOME READ. Full of adventure that runs at full steam right from the start. It's one of those books that once you start reading it, it's hard to put down. Intended for young adults but a great read for everyone regardless of age. Well formed characters that you can relate too.
February 15, 2020
From the description, I expected a fun adventure with humor, and the author delivered on this front. I was often finding myself laughing out loud or at least grinning through the lighter parts, and I couldn't stop at the end! The world is so rich and so full of incredible visuals and lore, I will definitely check the sequel!
February 4, 2020
This book was definitely written for a younger audience than me, but I did enjoy it, and I feel like high school aged me would have absolutely loved it. It was definitely easy to read and fast paced. The concept of entering dreams to save humanity is a little silly to me but the author handled it very well. I felt like the characters were well rounded and had depth so that also made the book enjoyable to read. Without giving too much away, I didnt particularly like the ending but it is a pretty customary ending for the YA genre. I gave it 4 stars because overall the story was enjoyable I just felt the ending was rushed and predictable. All in all, I would probably recommend this book to a friend looking for a light, fast paced fiction read. I will probably buy the second book in the series because I do enjoy the authors writing style.
* I recieved this book for free to do a review. *
* I recieved this book for free to do a review. *
July 4, 2019
Where do we go when we dream? It is a question asked from our youngest years. This question is answered in a creative and captivating way by showing a world in which some can control the Dreamscape, the place we all go to dream. However, with dreams come nightmares. Nightmares are evil beings that torture others, but something infinity worse than nightmares is loose in the Dreamscape.
Nolan, who thinks he is a normal human, is confronted with obnoxious headaches and then introduced to his conscious dreams. When some girl comes to him in his dreams with stories of wonder and weird tales of protecting the people’s dreams, he’s not inclined to believe her. However, a turn of events leaves him chasing the darkness through the Dreamscape. Furthermore, he thinks that he cannot die while dreaming, but is that true? Can he save the dreaming world and dreaming population from evil? Read more in the intriguing story titled The Dream Defenders.
Opinion:
The Dream Defenders is written in a unique style that is interesting and beautiful. The story flows in and out of the living and the dream world, yet it is fairly easy to follow where Nolan is at any point in time. However, sometimes it is difficult to follow who people are and how they are either related or have interacted with others. Nevertheless, the story captures your imagination from the get-go with strangely lovable characters and a world that you go to but can't fully explain. The Dreamscape is something of dreams because it is an intriguingly abnormal description of a very normal part of our lives: sleeping. Overall, I very much enjoyed the book because of its ability to draw me into the story and hold me there.
Nolan, who thinks he is a normal human, is confronted with obnoxious headaches and then introduced to his conscious dreams. When some girl comes to him in his dreams with stories of wonder and weird tales of protecting the people’s dreams, he’s not inclined to believe her. However, a turn of events leaves him chasing the darkness through the Dreamscape. Furthermore, he thinks that he cannot die while dreaming, but is that true? Can he save the dreaming world and dreaming population from evil? Read more in the intriguing story titled The Dream Defenders.
Opinion:
The Dream Defenders is written in a unique style that is interesting and beautiful. The story flows in and out of the living and the dream world, yet it is fairly easy to follow where Nolan is at any point in time. However, sometimes it is difficult to follow who people are and how they are either related or have interacted with others. Nevertheless, the story captures your imagination from the get-go with strangely lovable characters and a world that you go to but can't fully explain. The Dreamscape is something of dreams because it is an intriguingly abnormal description of a very normal part of our lives: sleeping. Overall, I very much enjoyed the book because of its ability to draw me into the story and hold me there.
January 6, 2020
Very interesting concept, couldn't put it down. Writing is definitely directed at early teens though but I still enjoyed it
June 21, 2019
This is an awesome YA book with humor, suspense and everything it takes to keep this population of readers intrigued and reading. I love this story and the characters are absolutely wonderful. This is a compelling story that all should read no matter your age - I am older.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 4, 2020
**I received a complimentary copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only**
I give this a 3.5 stars.
The Dream Defenders is a very quirky and charming novel—a mix between Monsters Inc and a peppering of A Nightmare on Elm Street. I'm not the target audience for this book, but I think young teens will have fun being swept along for a ride with Nolan and his companions through this imaginative dream world.
DenHartog's writing style serviced the comedic tone of this book very well. It's very down-to-earth and laced with comedic remarks, which prevents this book from ever feeling too dark, though this writing style also occasionally impedes on the flow of the sentences.
The secondary characters were truly the standouts for me in this book. The main characters remain fairly grounded, but it's with the side characters that DenHartog truly lets his creativity shine. Frostee, Gearby, Bolt, and Stan all stole the show for me whenever they appeared in the story, injecting a wonderful breath of fresh air into their scenes.
While I'm on the subject of characters, let me briefly touch upon Nolan. Everyone speculates that Nolan's got a way with dreams, but everyone's ignoring his true super power: being a human gyroscope. Or perhaps 'an OtterBox for babies' is a better way to describe it. Or maybe Max is actually the one with the super power; that of indestructibility. Nolan finds himself carrying his baby brother Max fairly often throughout the book, and no matter how many times Nolan tumbles, falls through trees or is flung about, that baby is completely unaffected and remains firmly in Nolan's arms. It's a detail that honestly amused me, though you do have to suspend your disbelief a bit.
In terms of the story, I think the pacing is great. It maintains a rapid pace throughout and never really feels like it lulls anywhere. The narrative also holds a very good message at its core that I think will resonate with a lot of teens.
What mainly prevents this book from being 4 stars for me, though, is the plot. Motivations for certain villains, as well as explanations for certain phenomena, feel a bit weak. DenHartog does provide answers for most questions that arise, but those answers don't always feel satisfactory or like they really hold up. That diminishes a bit of the impact of the ending, which I thought packed a really nice punch but could have been even more effective had certain plot elements been more solidly devised.
All in all, it was an enjoyable and easy read, even if I had to suspend my disbelief on a few occasions, and I look forward to seeing what else this author produces in the future.
I give this a 3.5 stars.
The Dream Defenders is a very quirky and charming novel—a mix between Monsters Inc and a peppering of A Nightmare on Elm Street. I'm not the target audience for this book, but I think young teens will have fun being swept along for a ride with Nolan and his companions through this imaginative dream world.
DenHartog's writing style serviced the comedic tone of this book very well. It's very down-to-earth and laced with comedic remarks, which prevents this book from ever feeling too dark, though this writing style also occasionally impedes on the flow of the sentences.
The secondary characters were truly the standouts for me in this book. The main characters remain fairly grounded, but it's with the side characters that DenHartog truly lets his creativity shine. Frostee, Gearby, Bolt, and Stan all stole the show for me whenever they appeared in the story, injecting a wonderful breath of fresh air into their scenes.
While I'm on the subject of characters, let me briefly touch upon Nolan. Everyone speculates that Nolan's got a way with dreams, but everyone's ignoring his true super power: being a human gyroscope. Or perhaps 'an OtterBox for babies' is a better way to describe it. Or maybe Max is actually the one with the super power; that of indestructibility. Nolan finds himself carrying his baby brother Max fairly often throughout the book, and no matter how many times Nolan tumbles, falls through trees or is flung about, that baby is completely unaffected and remains firmly in Nolan's arms. It's a detail that honestly amused me, though you do have to suspend your disbelief a bit.
In terms of the story, I think the pacing is great. It maintains a rapid pace throughout and never really feels like it lulls anywhere. The narrative also holds a very good message at its core that I think will resonate with a lot of teens.
What mainly prevents this book from being 4 stars for me, though, is the plot. Motivations for certain villains, as well as explanations for certain phenomena, feel a bit weak. DenHartog does provide answers for most questions that arise, but those answers don't always feel satisfactory or like they really hold up. That diminishes a bit of the impact of the ending, which I thought packed a really nice punch but could have been even more effective had certain plot elements been more solidly devised.
All in all, it was an enjoyable and easy read, even if I had to suspend my disbelief on a few occasions, and I look forward to seeing what else this author produces in the future.
August 22, 2021
What a great book! The Dream Defenders is a wonderful fresh concept that was new to me. Imagine being able to consciously surf your dreams, leap great heights in a single bound and fight the ever present evil. Well the dream defenders can do all that and much more.
In this book by Neal DenHartog we meet Nolan who discovers the secret life of dreams with the help of his classmate Aeryn and her family.
I found this book to be easy to read, with plenty of action and enough misadventure to keep me interested and wanting to know more about the characters and the journey that they were on.
There was character development of the main character Nolan from early on in the book. He discovers friendship and realises just how important family is. My favourite character in this story was Aeryn, she is a feisty young red head, with a stubborn streak that she used when protecting her family and friends against the enemy they were all fighting. She was resilient and very loyal.
There was some mystery built in, the criminal mastermind was not apparent from the beginning, a few red herrings were thrown in to keep me guessing. There was quite a bit of violence written in, so beware if you are not inclined to like that, but it was not over the top, certainly did not detract from the story for me.
This story has been written for teens, but as an adult I enjoyed the unique story and will be recommending this story to my family and friends.
I am grateful to the author, Neal DenHarton, for gifting me a copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only.
In this book by Neal DenHartog we meet Nolan who discovers the secret life of dreams with the help of his classmate Aeryn and her family.
I found this book to be easy to read, with plenty of action and enough misadventure to keep me interested and wanting to know more about the characters and the journey that they were on.
There was character development of the main character Nolan from early on in the book. He discovers friendship and realises just how important family is. My favourite character in this story was Aeryn, she is a feisty young red head, with a stubborn streak that she used when protecting her family and friends against the enemy they were all fighting. She was resilient and very loyal.
There was some mystery built in, the criminal mastermind was not apparent from the beginning, a few red herrings were thrown in to keep me guessing. There was quite a bit of violence written in, so beware if you are not inclined to like that, but it was not over the top, certainly did not detract from the story for me.
This story has been written for teens, but as an adult I enjoyed the unique story and will be recommending this story to my family and friends.
I am grateful to the author, Neal DenHarton, for gifting me a copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only.
July 9, 2020
The Dream Defenders is a fun and exciting young-adult adventure novel by Neal DanHartog that is sure to delight readers of all ages.
The story opens with Nolan, a teenage boy who has a particular knack for navigating through dreams. Like most people, Nolan believes that dreams are just harmless visions that play through the mind during sleep. It isn't until he meets Aeryn, a junior agent with the DREAM Institute, that Nolan begins to truly understand what dreams and nightmares are or how real their effects can be.
I was intrigued by the idea behind DenHartog's novel, which I received as a complimentary copy from the author via Voracious Readers Only, and was keen to see how the story would play out. I was not disappointed. The characters are fun and relatable, and the settings are as playful and curious as you would expect them to be in a world made of dreams. One thing I did find a little distracting was the sometimes-ambiguous point of view, but, overall, the novel was well written.
I would definitely recommend The Dream Defenders to young (or just young-at-heart) readers who enjoy fantasy novels and I look forward to reading more of this series in the future.
The story opens with Nolan, a teenage boy who has a particular knack for navigating through dreams. Like most people, Nolan believes that dreams are just harmless visions that play through the mind during sleep. It isn't until he meets Aeryn, a junior agent with the DREAM Institute, that Nolan begins to truly understand what dreams and nightmares are or how real their effects can be.
I was intrigued by the idea behind DenHartog's novel, which I received as a complimentary copy from the author via Voracious Readers Only, and was keen to see how the story would play out. I was not disappointed. The characters are fun and relatable, and the settings are as playful and curious as you would expect them to be in a world made of dreams. One thing I did find a little distracting was the sometimes-ambiguous point of view, but, overall, the novel was well written.
I would definitely recommend The Dream Defenders to young (or just young-at-heart) readers who enjoy fantasy novels and I look forward to reading more of this series in the future.
August 25, 2020
*I received a review copy*
I was intrigued by the synopsis from the get-go. I'm a sucker for stories that take a character into a strange and unusual world, and we all know how bonkers dreams can be. This story played right into that. The dreamscapes the characters take us through are as colourful and crazy as one can imagine. Worlds where anything is possible... within reason in the case of some dreamscapes.
The characters are memorable, and the dreamscapes themselves are painted in a vivid way that will stick with me for some time! I love how the different dreams are actually relatable to ones many people claim to have. A nightmare creature that steals clothes? A world where dreamers just keep... falling?
It can also be a little scary at points. The idea that some of the creatures in dreams can actually harm someone is a very prominent danger that the characters are fighting against. Something is unleashed, and the mystery of who is behind it kept me fixed on reaching the end. I was not disappointed by this story. The writer has done an absolutely fantastic job, and I'm left with enough of a hook to make me want to read the sequel!
I was intrigued by the synopsis from the get-go. I'm a sucker for stories that take a character into a strange and unusual world, and we all know how bonkers dreams can be. This story played right into that. The dreamscapes the characters take us through are as colourful and crazy as one can imagine. Worlds where anything is possible... within reason in the case of some dreamscapes.
The characters are memorable, and the dreamscapes themselves are painted in a vivid way that will stick with me for some time! I love how the different dreams are actually relatable to ones many people claim to have. A nightmare creature that steals clothes? A world where dreamers just keep... falling?
It can also be a little scary at points. The idea that some of the creatures in dreams can actually harm someone is a very prominent danger that the characters are fighting against. Something is unleashed, and the mystery of who is behind it kept me fixed on reaching the end. I was not disappointed by this story. The writer has done an absolutely fantastic job, and I'm left with enough of a hook to make me want to read the sequel!
March 16, 2021
I thought this book was great and perfectly written for its target audience, it is also great for adult readers if you just want to get lost in a story and enjoy yourself.
I received this book through Voracious Readers and I knew within the first couple of pages that I was going to enjoy this story. The whole dream sequence in the beginning was so random but a perfect way to bring you into the story and set up the dream world while giving you some humour along the way.
Nolan was brilliant and relatable. Who hasn’t been a little jealous of their younger sibling when it feels as though they have become your parents whole world and you feel left behind?
I liked how his character grew and changed as he learned more about the dream world and the people that were trying to protect it and learned to see things from different perspectives.
Aeryn and Marshall both bought their own things into the story but Frostee was by far one of my favourite characters.
I loved this book, it had great characters, dream worlds full of weird, wonderful and in some cases truly terrifying creatures and people, and a lesson to be learned.
I’m glad I got the chance to read it.
I received this book through Voracious Readers and I knew within the first couple of pages that I was going to enjoy this story. The whole dream sequence in the beginning was so random but a perfect way to bring you into the story and set up the dream world while giving you some humour along the way.
Nolan was brilliant and relatable. Who hasn’t been a little jealous of their younger sibling when it feels as though they have become your parents whole world and you feel left behind?
I liked how his character grew and changed as he learned more about the dream world and the people that were trying to protect it and learned to see things from different perspectives.
Aeryn and Marshall both bought their own things into the story but Frostee was by far one of my favourite characters.
I loved this book, it had great characters, dream worlds full of weird, wonderful and in some cases truly terrifying creatures and people, and a lesson to be learned.
I’m glad I got the chance to read it.
February 6, 2021
This story is a unique spin on the common tale of an unsuspecting normal kid becoming extraordinary in a world they didn’t even know existed. However, although the main character was naturally good at some things, he wasn’t perfect and there was a pretty big learning curve that left a lot of room to grow. Neal DenHartog did a fantastic job creating his dream world and the book spent a good amount of time in that world, which is what readers really want. The imagery in this book is simply amazing! It wasn’t hard to envision the different locations as well as the multitude of critters and characters being described. The characters were all complex with good dialog, and unique personalities. I absolutely love The Shadow and I am almost bummed he’s a bad guy, I feel like he could develop into a not-so-bad-guy over time. And yet there were other bad guys that I loved to hate, really well done!
If pressed, the only complaint I have is the fast pace, I actually felt like there were moments we could have lingered a bit and had a bit more discussion or exposition. Some parts left me reeling and confused… and in some cases, the explanation never came so I’m still left wondering and a little discontent.
Despite that, I am anxious to read the next book in the series and see what happens, there was a lot left up in the air at the end that left me yearning for more.
If pressed, the only complaint I have is the fast pace, I actually felt like there were moments we could have lingered a bit and had a bit more discussion or exposition. Some parts left me reeling and confused… and in some cases, the explanation never came so I’m still left wondering and a little discontent.
Despite that, I am anxious to read the next book in the series and see what happens, there was a lot left up in the air at the end that left me yearning for more.
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