le_domaine's Full Review: Nick Ruth - The Dark Dreamweaver: Easyread Super L...
When I think of the perfect story for young readers, I think of The Wizard of Oz. It is a tale of youthful yearnings, of the search for self-worth and the meaning of the world around them, and a realization of their place in this world. Reading The Dark DreamweaverThe Remin Chronicles: Book 1 by Nick Ruth gave me a similar feeling. Instead of Dorothy and her little dog, Toto, we meet David and his two kitties, Cutie and Spud. A boy and his cats, took the place of a girl and her doggie. However, the basic principles held true in the land of Remin as did in Dorothy's land of Oz.
There have been fantasy adventures with a boy as their central character. However, in this story of David traveling through the vortex which separates our world from the world of Remin, we are treated with our young adventurer actually using his brain instead of his brawn! Novel idea.
As many of us might have already surmised, Remin is the Land of Dreams. David, a "tall, thin eleven-year-old boy with light brown hair" who was "always in motion." He also dreaded nightfall and bedtime. It seems his sleep has become invaded by dreams filled with a dark, sinister, very tall man in a dark gray robe and long white hair. More nightmares than dreams, David realizes when the dark creature growls in a deep voice, "I can feel your fear.It fills me.Soon, I will be the true master of dreams and all will tremble before me."
Upon learning of his son's nightmares, David's father shares an article which proves that not only is the boy's sleep becoming invaded by nightmares, but many others' worldwide, all over planet Earth. After reading it, David can't decide if he's happy to know he is not alone in his nightly experiences of terror or if he should perhaps be more worried. Although he's always dreamed of becoming a powerful wizard, David's aware that was all that it was... a dream. He could not seriously imagine having the power to defeat the evil entity he'd just seen in his nightmare.
One thing, other than the rising sun, lightens the boy's mood. His father reminds him of the family's plans for the next morning.
David and his parents' nature outing ends with the family finding several eggs of the monarch butterfly and bringing them home. One turns out to be much more, and that's before his nature change through the butterfly's cycle of life. David's infatuation with these beautiful creatures, coincidentally, introduces him to the one being in both his world and the other who could help him stop the nightmare invasion.
Another childhood favorite came to mind as I accompanied our David on his journey. Some of the characters he met on his visit to Remin were animal, others were not. Like Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass, there were some denizens of the land of dreams who might remind the reader of the Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit, the over-sized chess pieces, etc. Ruth takes us over the rainbow and then, through the looking glass as David's quest progresses. We are given an idea of who and what he sees, not only by the author's descriptive narrative in words, but also by the illustrations of Sue Concannon. Each chapter is preceded by a rendering by the artist which gives the reader a visual image of what the chapter holds.
In The Dark Dreamweaver we catch glimpses of Harry Potter as the young hero discovers his magical abilities at a time in his life which teeters at the brink of puberty and his own change-in-lifecycle. We are entertained by his discovery, entranced by his development, and enchanted with his encounters and new relationships through the magical fantasy world of Remin. This is storytelling that takes us back to a time when there was real wonder in a fantasy world without the need for science fiction-based contraptions. I will wager that it will keep the young--as well as the young-at-heart--riveted and spellbound from beginning to end. Good thing, since The Remin Chronicles: Book 2 by Nick Ruth is due in bookstores soon.
Additionally, the series subtly stresses an environmentally-friendly theme. Staying true to its theme, the book is printed on recycled paper and bound in paperback format. 5% of net proceeds of sales go to the Michoacan Reforestation Fund which will help fund the reforesting of the monarch butterfly's overwintering sites.
Though the target market audience was set for children age 8-12, I enjoyed The Dark Dreamweaver and can't wait to read the next book in the series. I give this fanciful fantasy 4 and a half stars out of 5 and highly recommend it for young and youthful readers.
TITLE:The Dark Dreamweaver, The Remin Chronicles: Book 1 AUTHOR: Nick Ruth
ILLUSTRATED BY: Sue Concannon
COVER DESIGNED BY: Mayapriya Long; Bookwrights Design
PUBLISHER: Imaginator Press; Baltimore, MD
CLASSIFICATION: Middle-Grade Fantasy
PRICE: $11.95 U.S.
BINDING: Paperback
# OF PAGES: 256
ISBN: 13 978-0-974-4560359 (trade)
FINISHED SIZE: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
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