Dream Treaders offers a whole new world for Christian fantasy readers
Edgar Allen Poe once said,
“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”
The Dream Treaders series, written by Wayne Thomas Batson, tells a story of how powerful dreams can become and how they shape our conscious selves. The main character, Archer Keaton, is the chosen disciple of the Archangel Gabrielle. In the book, he becomes the bridge between the conscious and the unconscious mind within the dream world. Once asleep, Archer becomes a warrior, destined to defeat the evils that plague people’s dreams.
In this Christian fantasy series, readers are exposed to a world where anything is possible. I had the pleasure of reading this over winter break and found myself completely captivated by the war between Archer and the evil reign of the Nightmare Lord. As a lover of books, I have to say that this is one of the best Christian fantasy pieces I’ve read in a while. Not only does Batson explore the creative world of dreams, but also incorporates how dreams aren’t as harmless as they seem. The “anchor,” as Batson refers to it, is the main connection point between waking up and becoming forever lost in the unconscious. If one becomes lost in the dream world for too long, one of two things can happen: that person can become mad or be locked in a coma for the rest of his life. 
Batson says,
“People are fascinated by dreams, and the Bible has a great deal to say about them. Dreams have been powerful ingredients of God’s plan as revealed through Scripture.”
Dreams have always been a way for God to communicate the plans he intends for us. Interpreting them can be tricky and requires time to understand them. As Archer learns this on his mission, his fears and doubts test his trust, his faith, and most importantly his friendships, pushing all of his emotions to the edge. He has everything to lose. The one thing a Dreamtreader must never do is fear, for fear is what gets them killed.
Although written for a younger crowd and at times predictable, I found the book to be extremely entertaining. Being twenty years old, books written for younger readers don’t generally appeal to me, but this novel has an intriguingly high level of intensity. The author had me enthralled in the story until the very end. If you love fantasy stories with a great Christian perspective on dreams and God’s message, then this may be something you’ll want to check out the next time you’re at a book store. Batson’s next book in the Dream Treader series called, Search for the Shadow Key, can also currently be found in stores. Let us know how you like the Dream Treader series or any other Christian fantasy series by leaving a comment below.
