I came across a link for the first three Dream Walker Chronicles books and they intrigued me. The blurb sounded like Epic high fantasy with all the elements I enjoy. It did not disappoint. The epic nature of this story’s setting, characters, and plot were both engaging and enthralling. I didn’t want it to end. I have decided to review each of the three books individually and recommend them all to readers who enjoy The Lord of the Rings or Cast of Stones (The Staff and the Sword series). It’s a coming-of-age, hero’s journey fantasy series set in an extensive world filled with a host of well-developed characters including humans, elves, dwarves, dragons, and more. It takes a little reading to get to know who is who with this host of characters, but Patterson does a good job of laying the foundation that makes this story flow and make sense. Each book is a complete story with a satisfying ending, with some open plot threads that lure you to read on. I don’t include spoilers, so while I could say more, I don’t want to risk ruining the experience for future readers.
I highly recommend this series to fans of high fantasy. The Dream Walker Chronicles gives birth to a new legend in Erik Eleodum. Fantasy fans will embrace these characters, the world they traverse, and the challenges they face. I’m happy to give all three of these books five out of five stars.
Book Review: A Chance Beginning: Shadow's Fire Book 1 (Dream Walker Chronicles Book 1)
In a Chance Beginning, readers meet Christopher Patterson’s protagonist Erik Eleodum. He comes from a farming family in the North, with a life he is content to live. When his older brother, Befel, and his cousin, Bryon, decide to leave that life behind for adventure and fortune in the East in the country of Golgolithul, fate has Erik join them on the adventure, but with plans to return home to marry his fiancée, Simone, and to settle down.
In short order, the trio learns that their adventure is wrought with danger, betrayals, and all kinds of unsavory sorts and that the cost for this adventure is high in more ways than one. They are forced to sell their swords to survive, along with other difficult choices that include joining up with gypsies, thieves, dwarves, and working with mercenaries.
The story is wrought with battles and skirmishes. The fighting scenes are well-written and include swords, knives, fist fights, and plenty of magic. When these three farmers come against dark magic, they experience deadly consequences and I started to wonder if they would survive.
Book Review: Dark Winds: Shadow's Fire Book 2 (Dream Walker Chronicles Book 2) (Shadow's Fire Trilogy)
By the start of book two, Dark Winds, Erik has been forced to kill men
in self-defense and now suffers haunting dreams. As their journey progresses,
he grows apart from his brother and cousin and turns to a man he once detested.
This part of the hero’s journey has him face a variety of enemies including dwarves,
murderers, slavers, dragons, and the undead. All that he experiences tests his
faith and leads him to question his loyalties. While this is a dark part of
the story, it is well-written, and while it is violent, in my opinion, it is not
excessively graphic.
Erik has grown both physically and emotionally, and his fighting skills have improved. His adventure brings with it terror, political intrigue, and sorcery. His thoughts often return to home and the fiancée waiting for him but his circumstances don’t allow him to return yet because he feels a great evil rising and knows he must do what he can to stop it.
Book Review: Breaking the Flame: Shadow's Fire Book 3 (Dream Walker Chronicles Book 3)
In Breaking the Flame, Book 3, Erik Eleodum has grown into a force to be reckoned with. He’s picked up nicknames like Wolf's Bane, Troll Hammer, and Dragon Slayer, and is challenged to become a Demon Killer as he faces an ancient evil in the demon, Yebritoch.
For this fight, Erik is joined by new allies, along with former partners in the fight to stop the demon before it destroys the world and rebuilds it as his own. Erik must find the missing piece to the Dragon Scroll as well as the Dragon Crown if he is to defeat this nemesis. But this difficult task comes at a high cost and Erik’s confidence wains. He questions whether he can stop the evil and wonders if he will ever see home and Simone again.
This book is fast-paced, emotionally charged, and engaging. I am totally invested and look forward to reading the remaining three books in this series.
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I received a copy of these first three books via a link shared on X (formerly Twitter) and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending them. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.
About the Author: Christopher Patterson
Christopher Patterson grew up reading The Hobbit and wrote his first fantasy adventures on his grandmother's typewriter. Following a degree in creative writing, he has become an Amazon Best Seller of Fantasy, Christian, and Historical Fiction, crafting detailed worlds, characters you can believe in, and entertaining stories. He lives with his family in Arizona. You can learn more by visiting his website: https://www.christopher-patterson.com