Alan Frost
The Slayer, the Seer, and the Dream Stealer
(The Dream Gate, book 1)
“All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”
- Edgar Allan Poe
Thirteen-year-old Matthew Jones hates everything about being disabled: his inability to walk, his dependence on others, the constant bullying at school. Then, one night, while experimenting with lucid dreaming, he discovers the Dreamworld.
In this alternate reality, which exists in parallel to our waking world, Matthew’s keen intellect grants him everything he always wanted and so much more: independence, strength, and wondrous magical abilities. But there’s a catch. Something sinister rules here, exerting its influence on the waking world like a puppet master.
Together with his best friends, Amanda and Alex, Matthew explores this new place, uncovering disturbing connections between the two worlds and a power struggle that spans time itself. And for some reason, both sides seem to take a keen interest in him.
In this labyrinth of hidden motives and manipulation, every answer leads to more questions – all compounded by the corrupting nature of power and pride. When the darkness of the Dreamworld threatens our waking world, can Matthew and his friends make the right choices before it is too late?
Age group: Young adult (13+)
Genre: Modern fantasy
Formats: Kindle and paperback
Self-Publishing Review
The veil between our waking and sleeping lives begins to fracture in The Slayer, the Seer, and the Dream Stealer, the first installment of Alan Frost’s new Dream Gate series, an energetic and inventive YA caper about a young physically disabled boy who becomes a hero in the Dreamworld. Matthew and his pals Amanda and Alex learn to lucid dream in order to fight the Ministry of Nightmares - an evil organization with the potential to destroy the real world. Sometimes Frost’s overly quick world-building can lead to confusion, but the gripping characters and high-stakes scenes of fantasy adventure make for a thrilling read with a keen message about the power of friendship, and plenty of potential for sequels in the series.
Reedsy Discovery Review
...Frost writes about love and hate, bitterness and forgiveness, actions and consequences are all written in such a raw, real way, that it is impossible to read this story and not think about how we ourselves can grow as people.
With fantasy elements and dual-reality revelations with real-life consequences, The Slayer, the Seer, and the Dream Stealer is reminiscent of a YA Matrix meets Sword Art Online.
This is a wonderful debut to an exciting series, and I can't wait to see what adventures awaits this heroic trio next.
Literary Titan Review
On one hand, the story has a wide spectrum of representation and on the other, it is seriously quite addictive, keeping readers hooked until the end. This alone demonstrates the fact that the author has a gift for storytelling. Towards the end, there is a certain feel-good effect, a kind of satisfaction in seeing the weak, the fallen, the beaten, rise up and confront a force of greater power and evil.
The message the author shares in this heartening story seems to reflect the old saying, “united we stand, divided we fall”... ...The Slayer, the Seer, and the Dream Stealer is an enchanting coming-of-age adventure story that is an epic start to what is sure to be a rousing fantasy series.