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Dream Cycle #1
Dream Caster
Haunted by memories of his massacred settlement, sixteen-year-old Weaver seeks cover in a hidden refuge among the remains of a ruined city. In the midst of building a new life, Weaver discovers that he has the amazing power to cast his dreams into reality. Convinced it’s just an anomaly, Weaver ignores it. That is until he learns of a mysterious man who shares the ability, and uses his power to bring nightmares into existence and wage war on the world. The peaceful life Weaver hoped for begins to unravel as waves of chaos begin to break loose about him. In a race against time, Weaver must learn to accept his role as a dream caster and master his new power, before his new home is destroyed and humanity is pushed to the brink of extinction.
254 pages, ebook
First published September 3, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 11, 2016
This book's best feature is easily the original story idea and unique combo of genres. It is in a post-apocalyptic setting, set in Toronto, Canada, approximately 60 years after a cataclysmic war. But despite the futuristic setting, and even before taking Weaver's powers into consideration, it felt like a fantasy in theme, characters, and adventure. With the mysterious, seemingly all-powerful villain, who will likely remain faceless till the end of the series (which is fine, as long as he isnt Weaver's father :P); the boy hero who discovers that he has a power that is the last hope. And Weaver and his friends seem to all have a sense of duty and self-sacrifice in protecting the Shield, which is common in classic fantasy. I am not surprised to see in Najeev Raj Nadarajah's bio that he was inspired by many famous fantasy authors. But this was its own unique new world. Apocalypse by design, where dreams come to life, and fire ignites creatures of nightmare.
The writing style in this was extremely descriptive and had some beautiful imagery. I really enjoyed it for the most part. But sometimes it seemed a bit beyond YA, and a bit word-heavy. And the characters didnt talk like normal 16-18 year olds. It was too formal to seem natural. And some of the characters didnt have enough distinguishing characteristics to tell them apart. Most of them didnt stand out, and I kept mixing them up, despite remembering their names.
But Weaver was a great hero, with great potential. He accomplished much already, with the little knowledge of his power that he has. I cant wait to see what he will accomplish in the future. And I hope to see Toggen there in that future too. I had no problem remembering Toggen. He was a great character, and a great friend, despite denying wanting any friends. He was so loyal and noble, and stoic. Haha, great combo. I cant wait to see what he is capable of either. Considering what faces them in the Dream Eater, they have far to go and much more to do before they are safe and it could be totally epic. I hope it is. I look forward to finding out.
I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The writing style in this was extremely descriptive and had some beautiful imagery. I really enjoyed it for the most part. But sometimes it seemed a bit beyond YA, and a bit word-heavy. And the characters didnt talk like normal 16-18 year olds. It was too formal to seem natural. And some of the characters didnt have enough distinguishing characteristics to tell them apart. Most of them didnt stand out, and I kept mixing them up, despite remembering their names.
But Weaver was a great hero, with great potential. He accomplished much already, with the little knowledge of his power that he has. I cant wait to see what he will accomplish in the future. And I hope to see Toggen there in that future too. I had no problem remembering Toggen. He was a great character, and a great friend, despite denying wanting any friends. He was so loyal and noble, and stoic. Haha, great combo. I cant wait to see what he is capable of either. Considering what faces them in the Dream Eater, they have far to go and much more to do before they are safe and it could be totally epic. I hope it is. I look forward to finding out.
I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2012
Wow! :O
Dream Caster is a novel based on post-war Toronto. It explores the lives of a lucky few who managed to survive the catastrophe, which wipes mankind off the face of the Earth. Weaver, the protagonist, is a very soft and kind hearted character. He is left helpless as his world - the settlement where he grew up - collapses before his eyes. Ever since, thoughts of the disastrous event flood his mind, not allowing him any sense of peace. Soon, he discovers an absurd ability that he possesses – the power to make his dreams come true! Now who doesn’t want that?! However with power comes responsibility and Weaver must learn to control it in time (and use it against the wrongdoers) in order to prevent extinction of life on this planet.
I would like to congratulate Najeev Nadarajah for a job well done and I hope this book crosses boundaries of success!! The storyline was out-of-the-world amazing. There were many jaw-dropping instances. I especially liked Weavers character! It has been inked beautifully with minor flaws as seen in every individual. I ABSOLUTELY loved the style of writing adopted by the author. I have never read a book with such a writing technique, before, and I can tell you, I am definitely hooked onto it. The anticipation with the oncoming 21st December 2012, makes the publishing date of the book (19th December) a little too apt. The book had such a huge impact, I was staring at the last page for awhile before I could snap out of the reverie. It was a lot to process at first but once everything started to seep in, it was mind blowing.Can’t wait for the 2nd book!! :D I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. There's something in it for all fiction lovers. :)
Dream Caster is a novel based on post-war Toronto. It explores the lives of a lucky few who managed to survive the catastrophe, which wipes mankind off the face of the Earth. Weaver, the protagonist, is a very soft and kind hearted character. He is left helpless as his world - the settlement where he grew up - collapses before his eyes. Ever since, thoughts of the disastrous event flood his mind, not allowing him any sense of peace. Soon, he discovers an absurd ability that he possesses – the power to make his dreams come true! Now who doesn’t want that?! However with power comes responsibility and Weaver must learn to control it in time (and use it against the wrongdoers) in order to prevent extinction of life on this planet.
I would like to congratulate Najeev Nadarajah for a job well done and I hope this book crosses boundaries of success!! The storyline was out-of-the-world amazing. There were many jaw-dropping instances. I especially liked Weavers character! It has been inked beautifully with minor flaws as seen in every individual. I ABSOLUTELY loved the style of writing adopted by the author. I have never read a book with such a writing technique, before, and I can tell you, I am definitely hooked onto it. The anticipation with the oncoming 21st December 2012, makes the publishing date of the book (19th December) a little too apt. The book had such a huge impact, I was staring at the last page for awhile before I could snap out of the reverie. It was a lot to process at first but once everything started to seep in, it was mind blowing.Can’t wait for the 2nd book!! :D I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. There's something in it for all fiction lovers. :)
December 10, 2012
I've got two things to say. Remember the name of the book & remember the name of the author.
In another 3 years, the whole world will know his name. That much I can assure everyone.
December 19th when this book hits Amazon Kindle online, it wouldn't surprise me if Nadarajah shakes the young adult fantasy world the way authors like Christopher Paolini did with the debut of Eragon.
In another 3 years, the whole world will know his name. That much I can assure everyone.
December 19th when this book hits Amazon Kindle online, it wouldn't surprise me if Nadarajah shakes the young adult fantasy world the way authors like Christopher Paolini did with the debut of Eragon.
October 11, 2012
What are the three most popular genres?
1. Young adult
2. paranormal/fantasy
3. dystopian
Now, take all three, commercialize it, add a great story line, several pinches of moments that hint at a very, very deep backstory, a list of great characters, a lot of suspense, and a great mystery... and there we have it: Dream Caster.
Can someone say potential best-seller !!!
1. Young adult
2. paranormal/fantasy
3. dystopian
Now, take all three, commercialize it, add a great story line, several pinches of moments that hint at a very, very deep backstory, a list of great characters, a lot of suspense, and a great mystery... and there we have it: Dream Caster.
Can someone say potential best-seller !!!
October 21, 2012
It seems I'm one of the lucky few who received an advanced reader copy through a site where I signed up as a reviewer a long while ago.
I picked up this novel because the blurb sounded cool and I figured I'd give the novel a shot.
I can summarize this book in one word: WOW!
Dream Caster has great potential for becoming a great series. It lacks the romance that girls these days seem to crave, but there are hints, and many hints of romance in the works between certain characters.
I was barely able to put this book down for a second after the first few pages got me completely hooked.
N.R.Nadarajah’s narrative here has immediacy to it that, when combined with the very dramatic plot is incredibly compelling. It's entertaining. If this was merely a good read, I would have given it 4 stars, but they say great art leaves you changed after you experience it... and this book definitely did that. Najeev Raj Nadarajah has, with one amazing work, propelled himself onto my top shelf.
I can see Dream Caster joining the ranks of the hunger games, divergent, and other young adult dystopian novels. Can’t wait for book 2 !!!
I picked up this novel because the blurb sounded cool and I figured I'd give the novel a shot.
I can summarize this book in one word: WOW!
Dream Caster has great potential for becoming a great series. It lacks the romance that girls these days seem to crave, but there are hints, and many hints of romance in the works between certain characters.
I was barely able to put this book down for a second after the first few pages got me completely hooked.
N.R.Nadarajah’s narrative here has immediacy to it that, when combined with the very dramatic plot is incredibly compelling. It's entertaining. If this was merely a good read, I would have given it 4 stars, but they say great art leaves you changed after you experience it... and this book definitely did that. Najeev Raj Nadarajah has, with one amazing work, propelled himself onto my top shelf.
I can see Dream Caster joining the ranks of the hunger games, divergent, and other young adult dystopian novels. Can’t wait for book 2 !!!
November 25, 2012
I almost gave this book a 3.5-4 because of the spelling.
BUT WAIT. it then hit me. Canadian author, duh! lol. No wonder why certain words were spelled differently.
Once I got beyond that, this book was fantastic.
There were many hidden puns and word plays that (for the author's sake) I hope his readers 'get it'.
A young teen might be able to read it and enjoy it, but only someone a bit older with a higher reading standard could truly appreciate it.
The characters and the plot was what i loved the most.
Weaver, Emma-Lee and Toggen are slowly turning into a nice tandem. Toggen is just amazing lol.
I won't say anymore about these three, in fear of giving too much away.
The plot was tight. very tight. NAdarajah must've sat down and thought about the rules of our future world very thoroguhly. For an indie novel this is VERY good. It amazes me why he didn't choose the traditional route and target a publishing house.
All in all, a highly recommended read. 5/5
Keep up the great work, i'm look forward to the 2nd novel
BUT WAIT. it then hit me. Canadian author, duh! lol. No wonder why certain words were spelled differently.
Once I got beyond that, this book was fantastic.
There were many hidden puns and word plays that (for the author's sake) I hope his readers 'get it'.
A young teen might be able to read it and enjoy it, but only someone a bit older with a higher reading standard could truly appreciate it.
The characters and the plot was what i loved the most.
Weaver, Emma-Lee and Toggen are slowly turning into a nice tandem. Toggen is just amazing lol.
I won't say anymore about these three, in fear of giving too much away.
The plot was tight. very tight. NAdarajah must've sat down and thought about the rules of our future world very thoroguhly. For an indie novel this is VERY good. It amazes me why he didn't choose the traditional route and target a publishing house.
All in all, a highly recommended read. 5/5
Keep up the great work, i'm look forward to the 2nd novel
December 17, 2012
I would recommend this book to children, preteens, young adults, parents, and to all those that stay children in their hearts.
Some books are almost impossible to review. If a book is bad, how easily can we dwell on its flaws! But if the book is good, how do you give any recommendation that is equal the book? Unless you are an author of equal worth to the one whose work you review, what powers of prose and observation are you likely to have to fitly adorn the work?
Dream Caster is at one level simply a charming story, perhaps one of the most charming and most adventurous ever told by an indie author. There, see how simple that was? If you haven't read it, you should, because it is quite enjoyable. At some level, there is little more to say. Enjoy the story as the simple entertainment it was meant to be.
But if it was only simple entertainment, I do not think that it would be anything more than just a good book. Instead, this simple young adult story resonates and fascinates. It teases and hints at something larger and grander, and it instructs and lectures as from one of the most subtle intellects without ever feeling like it is instructing, lecturing or being condescending.
I think that is what makes this more than just a good book, but a great one. Nadarajah is able to gently skewer us for our all too human failings, and he does so without adopting any of the cynicism or self-loathing so common with those that seek out to skewer humanity for its so evident failings.
We fantasize about heroes which are strong and comely of form, and we have for as long as we've had recorded literature. Our comic books are filled with those neo-pagan mythic heroes whose exaggerated human virtues always amount to, whatever else may be true of them, 'beats people up good'. These modern Ajaxs, Helens and Achilles dominate the box office, and I would imagine dominate our internal most private fantasy lives as well. Oh sure, the superhero of our fantasy might have superhuman ethics to go along with his superhuman ability to kick butt, attract the opposite sex, and enforce their will upon others, but it is always attached to and ultimately secondary to our fantasy of power and virility. How different is Nadarajah's protagonist from Heracles, Lancelot, Beowulf, or Batman - young, mundane, naive, and weak. Of all the principal characters of the story, he possesses probably the least of that quintessential heroic attribute - martial prowess.
And yet, he is not actually merely an 'average Joe'. An innocent, naïve young man. Weaver is gentle. He is simple. He is humble. Power has little attraction for him. He is kind. He is a peacemaker. Though mistreated, he harbors no enmity. He never puts himself forward, but he never shirks when others do.
How often do we fantasize about being this different sort of hero, and yet how much better we would be if we did? Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. How often is it that we hunger after all the wrong things? What profit would we really have if we had in great measure the power to 'beat people up good'? What real use could we put it too? How much better off would we be individually and as a people if we most desired to be graced with Weaver's virtues, rather than Achilles speed, strength, and skill with arms? How much less mature does this mere children's book of a well lit-world cause our darker fantasies to seem?
Some books are almost impossible to review. If a book is bad, how easily can we dwell on its flaws! But if the book is good, how do you give any recommendation that is equal the book? Unless you are an author of equal worth to the one whose work you review, what powers of prose and observation are you likely to have to fitly adorn the work?
Dream Caster is at one level simply a charming story, perhaps one of the most charming and most adventurous ever told by an indie author. There, see how simple that was? If you haven't read it, you should, because it is quite enjoyable. At some level, there is little more to say. Enjoy the story as the simple entertainment it was meant to be.
But if it was only simple entertainment, I do not think that it would be anything more than just a good book. Instead, this simple young adult story resonates and fascinates. It teases and hints at something larger and grander, and it instructs and lectures as from one of the most subtle intellects without ever feeling like it is instructing, lecturing or being condescending.
I think that is what makes this more than just a good book, but a great one. Nadarajah is able to gently skewer us for our all too human failings, and he does so without adopting any of the cynicism or self-loathing so common with those that seek out to skewer humanity for its so evident failings.
We fantasize about heroes which are strong and comely of form, and we have for as long as we've had recorded literature. Our comic books are filled with those neo-pagan mythic heroes whose exaggerated human virtues always amount to, whatever else may be true of them, 'beats people up good'. These modern Ajaxs, Helens and Achilles dominate the box office, and I would imagine dominate our internal most private fantasy lives as well. Oh sure, the superhero of our fantasy might have superhuman ethics to go along with his superhuman ability to kick butt, attract the opposite sex, and enforce their will upon others, but it is always attached to and ultimately secondary to our fantasy of power and virility. How different is Nadarajah's protagonist from Heracles, Lancelot, Beowulf, or Batman - young, mundane, naive, and weak. Of all the principal characters of the story, he possesses probably the least of that quintessential heroic attribute - martial prowess.
And yet, he is not actually merely an 'average Joe'. An innocent, naïve young man. Weaver is gentle. He is simple. He is humble. Power has little attraction for him. He is kind. He is a peacemaker. Though mistreated, he harbors no enmity. He never puts himself forward, but he never shirks when others do.
How often do we fantasize about being this different sort of hero, and yet how much better we would be if we did? Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. How often is it that we hunger after all the wrong things? What profit would we really have if we had in great measure the power to 'beat people up good'? What real use could we put it too? How much better off would we be individually and as a people if we most desired to be graced with Weaver's virtues, rather than Achilles speed, strength, and skill with arms? How much less mature does this mere children's book of a well lit-world cause our darker fantasies to seem?
August 24, 2013
I honestly don't understand why this book is so highly rated. YA dystopian novels are a dime a dozen and even among all the riffraff, Dream Caster isn't particularly good.
First, the writing style, tone, and pacing itself has a tremendous amount of kinks. Rather than a coherent story building towards the end, it's a lot of exposition scenes with action scenes spliced in. And speaking of exposition, nothing in the book is introduced to the reader in an organic matter. The first half the book consists mostly of other characters telling the main character everything he needs to know. As much as I don't like using this phrase, "show, don't tell" would be what I'd like to slap the author with. "He memorized the route using the method he developed back in his village." I'm paraphrasing because I don't feel like digging back through the book, but essentially the whole book is like that. Rather than explaining how his memory works (photographic memory is cliche, but even that would have been a better explanation than, look! The main character is a special snowflake with a mysteriously good memory that I'm not going to explain!). The author also passed off a good opportunity to really set, well, the setting. While the descriptions the author does include are decent, they are far and few in between and then entire book is way too dialogue heavy. And not good, natural flowing conversation dialogue either. It's all long explanations and somewhat pointless back and forths more for the readers benefit than for the characters themselves' benefit.
None of the characters were particularly memorable or endearing. They function, as cogs in a wheel that move the plot along, rather than as real people to be sympathized and empathized with. The main character is one of those who's clearly special, one of those characters with a mysterious birth, backwater boy propelled into action after the village is destroyed, blah, blah. It didn't work for me in Star Wars. It didn't work for me in The Eye of the World. It didn't work for me in The Naming of the Wind. So it sure as hell isn't going to work for me in Dream Caster, a book which is flawed not just in its main character, but flawed everywhere else as well. In addition to the overdone call to action, the main character also falls into one of those "pointlessly denying the obvious", which is, of course, pointless to readers and a waste of my time to even read those pages. "There's ice formed in a warm room, but it's obviously not me, I'm obviously just a normal person." *cue eyeroll*
I'm too seething in dislike to write coherently, but if you're a seasoned fantasy/sci-fi reader, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. And even if you're not, The Hunger Games, Finnikin of the Rock, The Lost Years of Merlin. I guarantee whatever your book tastes, I can recommend you a book that's better than this one.
First, the writing style, tone, and pacing itself has a tremendous amount of kinks. Rather than a coherent story building towards the end, it's a lot of exposition scenes with action scenes spliced in. And speaking of exposition, nothing in the book is introduced to the reader in an organic matter. The first half the book consists mostly of other characters telling the main character everything he needs to know. As much as I don't like using this phrase, "show, don't tell" would be what I'd like to slap the author with. "He memorized the route using the method he developed back in his village." I'm paraphrasing because I don't feel like digging back through the book, but essentially the whole book is like that. Rather than explaining how his memory works (photographic memory is cliche, but even that would have been a better explanation than, look! The main character is a special snowflake with a mysteriously good memory that I'm not going to explain!). The author also passed off a good opportunity to really set, well, the setting. While the descriptions the author does include are decent, they are far and few in between and then entire book is way too dialogue heavy. And not good, natural flowing conversation dialogue either. It's all long explanations and somewhat pointless back and forths more for the readers benefit than for the characters themselves' benefit.
None of the characters were particularly memorable or endearing. They function, as cogs in a wheel that move the plot along, rather than as real people to be sympathized and empathized with. The main character is one of those who's clearly special, one of those characters with a mysterious birth, backwater boy propelled into action after the village is destroyed, blah, blah. It didn't work for me in Star Wars. It didn't work for me in The Eye of the World. It didn't work for me in The Naming of the Wind. So it sure as hell isn't going to work for me in Dream Caster, a book which is flawed not just in its main character, but flawed everywhere else as well. In addition to the overdone call to action, the main character also falls into one of those "pointlessly denying the obvious", which is, of course, pointless to readers and a waste of my time to even read those pages. "There's ice formed in a warm room, but it's obviously not me, I'm obviously just a normal person." *cue eyeroll*
I'm too seething in dislike to write coherently, but if you're a seasoned fantasy/sci-fi reader, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK. And even if you're not, The Hunger Games, Finnikin of the Rock, The Lost Years of Merlin. I guarantee whatever your book tastes, I can recommend you a book that's better than this one.
December 14, 2012
this is offically my very first review on Good Reads
I found Dream Caster during a promotion on Amazon and I'm glad I downloaded it.
Having read a few other reviews here so far, I won't go into how great the characters were, or the beutiful imagery, the well written dialogues, the uniqueness of the genre combination and themes or anything along those lines. Instead, I'm going to talk about something entirely different. Something bold that Najeev Raj Nadarajah did in this book, which hardly anyone took notice of.
I could not help but notice the percentage of characters that were of different descent. Then again, the story is based in a post-apocalyptic Toronto. I commend Najeev Raj Nadarajahfor taking such a bold step and making his main characters Brown, Black, Asian, Native Canadian, etc.
There was a time when I read a book called the city of ember and it irked me to find a post-apocalyptic world, where a few hundred people survived, and they were mostly all (with the exception of 1-2 characters) Caucasian. Don’t get me wrong, I too am Caucasian but stories like that are hard to picture and hard to believe when the author remains so narrow minded.
Let’s try to envision this for a second. City of Ember …World ends… only Caucasian’s and a very small handful of minority survive in a country (America) with close to 200Million immigrants. Something feels wrong, doesnt it?
Not to make it seem like I'm beating on that one book. I'm a diehard fan of the lord of the rings. But the only coloured people in that book were all goblins, orcs, and uruk'hais. Of course, this was written in a time long ago. But we live in the present. Authors should change their way of thinking. and Najeev Raj Nadarajah did!
This is why I enjoyed reading Dream Caster, where Nadarajah painted a wonderful picture of a world that is well past its days, and laid it out through the eyes of a naive young man who was seeing the wastes of the old world for the first time. Great work on the novel. I can tell this is going to be a fantastic series, and one of immense epic proportions. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
I found Dream Caster during a promotion on Amazon and I'm glad I downloaded it.
Having read a few other reviews here so far, I won't go into how great the characters were, or the beutiful imagery, the well written dialogues, the uniqueness of the genre combination and themes or anything along those lines. Instead, I'm going to talk about something entirely different. Something bold that Najeev Raj Nadarajah did in this book, which hardly anyone took notice of.
I could not help but notice the percentage of characters that were of different descent. Then again, the story is based in a post-apocalyptic Toronto. I commend Najeev Raj Nadarajahfor taking such a bold step and making his main characters Brown, Black, Asian, Native Canadian, etc.
There was a time when I read a book called the city of ember and it irked me to find a post-apocalyptic world, where a few hundred people survived, and they were mostly all (with the exception of 1-2 characters) Caucasian. Don’t get me wrong, I too am Caucasian but stories like that are hard to picture and hard to believe when the author remains so narrow minded.
Let’s try to envision this for a second. City of Ember …World ends… only Caucasian’s and a very small handful of minority survive in a country (America) with close to 200Million immigrants. Something feels wrong, doesnt it?
Not to make it seem like I'm beating on that one book. I'm a diehard fan of the lord of the rings. But the only coloured people in that book were all goblins, orcs, and uruk'hais. Of course, this was written in a time long ago. But we live in the present. Authors should change their way of thinking. and Najeev Raj Nadarajah did!
This is why I enjoyed reading Dream Caster, where Nadarajah painted a wonderful picture of a world that is well past its days, and laid it out through the eyes of a naive young man who was seeing the wastes of the old world for the first time. Great work on the novel. I can tell this is going to be a fantastic series, and one of immense epic proportions. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
March 8, 2013
First of all I want to say thank you to Najeev Raj Nadarajah for gifting me a copy of Dream Caster thus giving me the chance to read and review your book, and wow what a book it is. I see big things for Najeev, and this series. I can only hope that more and more people find out about this book and this author.
I completely loved it. What can I say it is unique, fantastic, wonderful, amazing. Those are just some of the words I could use when talking about this book. Very well written, with many humors moments, I found myself laughing out loud quite a few times.
The characters are so likable. Naajeev has put so much thought in not just the main character but his supporting cast as well. He hasn't just written them in for the sake of doing so, they are not flat and could potentially have stories of their own to be told. Dell is definitely a favorite of mine.
Dream Caster is set mainly in Toronto, Canada. Or what was once known as Toronto. It is a post apocalyptic dystopian fantasy novel.
Please check out Najeev's webpage if you want to learn more about the Ruins of Toronto.
This is a book that I can see myself re-reading again, just as I do my Harry Potter books. This series, Dream Cycle has so much potential and I look forward to reading the next book(s) and watching this authors career take off. I will be placing a physical copy of Dream Caster on my shelves in the near future.
And I have to add one last thing, very sneaky Mr. Nadarajah, the whole second week in April line. ;) Book two, Dreamweaver comes out April 9th 2013.
I completely loved it. What can I say it is unique, fantastic, wonderful, amazing. Those are just some of the words I could use when talking about this book. Very well written, with many humors moments, I found myself laughing out loud quite a few times.
The characters are so likable. Naajeev has put so much thought in not just the main character but his supporting cast as well. He hasn't just written them in for the sake of doing so, they are not flat and could potentially have stories of their own to be told. Dell is definitely a favorite of mine.
Dream Caster is set mainly in Toronto, Canada. Or what was once known as Toronto. It is a post apocalyptic dystopian fantasy novel.
Please check out Najeev's webpage if you want to learn more about the Ruins of Toronto.
This is a book that I can see myself re-reading again, just as I do my Harry Potter books. This series, Dream Cycle has so much potential and I look forward to reading the next book(s) and watching this authors career take off. I will be placing a physical copy of Dream Caster on my shelves in the near future.
And I have to add one last thing, very sneaky Mr. Nadarajah, the whole second week in April line. ;) Book two, Dreamweaver comes out April 9th 2013.
January 19, 2013
I don't know where to begin.
If you're a fan of Young Adult, or Dystopian, or even Fantasy, or a combination of any of those three...then this book is for you!
The story begins, and by the end of the 1st chapter, it's already taking off to the races. Nadarajah has something unique going on here. Hopefully he realizes this and wows us with his 2nd book in the series.
I look forward to picking up a copy of book 2 once its released.
I'd recommend this to everyone.
If you're a fan of Young Adult, or Dystopian, or even Fantasy, or a combination of any of those three...then this book is for you!
The story begins, and by the end of the 1st chapter, it's already taking off to the races. Nadarajah has something unique going on here. Hopefully he realizes this and wows us with his 2nd book in the series.
I look forward to picking up a copy of book 2 once its released.
I'd recommend this to everyone.
January 21, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/01/02...
Publisher:Bookus
Publishing Date: Oct 2013
ISBN: 9780991709403
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 2.0/5.0
Publisher Description: Haunted by memories of his massacred settlement, sixteen-year-old Weaver seeks cover in a hidden refuge among the remains of a ruined city. In the midst of building a new life, Weaver discovers that he has the amazing power to cast his dreams into reality. Convinced it’s just an anomaly, Weaver ignores it. That is until he learns of a mysterious man who shares the ability, and uses his power to bring nightmares into existence and wage war on the world. The peaceful life Weaver hoped for begins to unravel as waves of chaos begin to break loose about him. In a race against time, Weaver must learn to accept his role as a dream caster and master his new power, before his new home is destroyed and humanity is pushed to the brink of extinction.
Review: The cover art is so bad that words almost fail me. It looks like a septuagenarian escaping from the face lift factory. If you had not read the story and knew that the thing on the cover is a dude, you would be hard pressed in choosing the sex.
Our main character, Weaver (Dream Caster, Dream Weaver..get it?) singing softly…”I’ve just closed my eyes again, Climbed aboard the dream weaver train Driver take away my worries of today, And leave tomorrow behind”. Where is Gary Wright when you need him? There is this weird dichotomy that is prevalent throughout the novel. We have an unknown cataclysm that occurred 50-60 years ago, but no one seems to know what it was other than it is called the Cloak War. However, there are clearly people that lived during that time, in the present.
After his village burns down from a Fire Hound attack, Weaver hooks up with some chicky babe who first kicks his ass then takes him to some city of refuge where there is a surviving civilization. He meets some peeps that have no developed personality other than the author’s over use of “He growled” or “She growled”. I think without really keeping count there was around 20 uses of “growled”.
Weaver is an asshat, and wears it proudly. He is at once dumb, one dimensional and incredulous about everything. Its like a little kid breaking into your workshop whom runs around grabbing everything and yelling “WOW, THIS IS SO COOL!!!”. The denying the obvious shtick rears its ugly head in this novel, repeatedly. Weaver pointedly denies everything that passes under his nose and his affinity to it. This constant denial of being the “Caster” wears a little thin when the surrounding evidence is undeniable.
You know, you always want to like a novel prior to reading as we have a little ego and $ invested in the selection of the item. At some point you have to be honest with yourself and claim that you made a bad choice and move on after the self-recriminations and the email to the author demanding your money back. The genre this book falls into is the teenage/YA dystopian melange’. Sounds like an angry baker making sickly sweet confections, doesn’t it? This one got a little long in the tooth as you wait and wait for something to happen. When something does happen the author hammers on it unrelentingly. The story line is pretty good and unique in that regard but the dialogue between the characters is oft times somewhat cursory.
The author almost pulls off a really good read. He has the story-line yet the characters fail to embody anyone you would be interested in. No one character is developed enough to draw you deeper into the story. Conversational exchanges seem stilted and jump around with no focus. Just because a character gives nasty glances or growls at this or that, does not imbue them with a sense of emotive content. The editing was not very good as well. There were a lot of spelling and grammatical errors throughout the novel. Scenes described, failed to transport you into the visualization. You were left with kind of developing your own mental image.
I really wanted to like the novel based on the story-line. The author needs to tighten up some areas and get a focused editor. I am really interested in the next novel of this series if some changes are made.
Publisher:Bookus
Publishing Date: Oct 2013
ISBN: 9780991709403
Genre: fantasy
Rating: 2.0/5.0
Publisher Description: Haunted by memories of his massacred settlement, sixteen-year-old Weaver seeks cover in a hidden refuge among the remains of a ruined city. In the midst of building a new life, Weaver discovers that he has the amazing power to cast his dreams into reality. Convinced it’s just an anomaly, Weaver ignores it. That is until he learns of a mysterious man who shares the ability, and uses his power to bring nightmares into existence and wage war on the world. The peaceful life Weaver hoped for begins to unravel as waves of chaos begin to break loose about him. In a race against time, Weaver must learn to accept his role as a dream caster and master his new power, before his new home is destroyed and humanity is pushed to the brink of extinction.
Review: The cover art is so bad that words almost fail me. It looks like a septuagenarian escaping from the face lift factory. If you had not read the story and knew that the thing on the cover is a dude, you would be hard pressed in choosing the sex.
Our main character, Weaver (Dream Caster, Dream Weaver..get it?) singing softly…”I’ve just closed my eyes again, Climbed aboard the dream weaver train Driver take away my worries of today, And leave tomorrow behind”. Where is Gary Wright when you need him? There is this weird dichotomy that is prevalent throughout the novel. We have an unknown cataclysm that occurred 50-60 years ago, but no one seems to know what it was other than it is called the Cloak War. However, there are clearly people that lived during that time, in the present.
After his village burns down from a Fire Hound attack, Weaver hooks up with some chicky babe who first kicks his ass then takes him to some city of refuge where there is a surviving civilization. He meets some peeps that have no developed personality other than the author’s over use of “He growled” or “She growled”. I think without really keeping count there was around 20 uses of “growled”.
Weaver is an asshat, and wears it proudly. He is at once dumb, one dimensional and incredulous about everything. Its like a little kid breaking into your workshop whom runs around grabbing everything and yelling “WOW, THIS IS SO COOL!!!”. The denying the obvious shtick rears its ugly head in this novel, repeatedly. Weaver pointedly denies everything that passes under his nose and his affinity to it. This constant denial of being the “Caster” wears a little thin when the surrounding evidence is undeniable.
You know, you always want to like a novel prior to reading as we have a little ego and $ invested in the selection of the item. At some point you have to be honest with yourself and claim that you made a bad choice and move on after the self-recriminations and the email to the author demanding your money back. The genre this book falls into is the teenage/YA dystopian melange’. Sounds like an angry baker making sickly sweet confections, doesn’t it? This one got a little long in the tooth as you wait and wait for something to happen. When something does happen the author hammers on it unrelentingly. The story line is pretty good and unique in that regard but the dialogue between the characters is oft times somewhat cursory.
The author almost pulls off a really good read. He has the story-line yet the characters fail to embody anyone you would be interested in. No one character is developed enough to draw you deeper into the story. Conversational exchanges seem stilted and jump around with no focus. Just because a character gives nasty glances or growls at this or that, does not imbue them with a sense of emotive content. The editing was not very good as well. There were a lot of spelling and grammatical errors throughout the novel. Scenes described, failed to transport you into the visualization. You were left with kind of developing your own mental image.
I really wanted to like the novel based on the story-line. The author needs to tighten up some areas and get a focused editor. I am really interested in the next novel of this series if some changes are made.
February 18, 2014
The post-apocalyptic trend is one that has been going on for a while now–and at times it seems very wearisome. Yes, we like our zombies and our aliens, but it’s always good to get something a little more fresh. Fortunately, if you’re still into the post-apocalyptic trend but are looking for something with a twist, then you’re going to want to check out Dream Caster by Najeev Raj Nadarajah.
This is Nadarajah’s first published novel and there’s a lot of accomplishment in these pages. What sets Dream Caster apart from other post-apocalyptic novels is the unique mix of fantasy. This is a world where dreams come to life and supernatural forces are at work to keep the world in its declining state. It has the same sort of spiritual-like elements that reminds one of “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”
The take is definitely unique and works well in creating mystery and intrigue throughout the story. The main character, Weaver, goes through significant changes that readers will enjoy observing. He makes for a good hero amidst a lot of other interesting characters. Nadarajah also has a knack for descriptive narrative which helps bring the settings to life. There are moments where you feel as if you are navigating through the desolated world alongside Weaver and the other characters.
While the concept is unique and well executed, there are still large issues in Dream Caster. Weaver and his friends (most of whom are young adults) all have a similar fashion of speech. What’s more is their knack of talking like adults. This makes the dialogue unrealistic in many places and hinders some of the character development. In some cases it also works against the flow of the story. There are definitely rough patches in the book that make the plot move slow in some chapters.
Still, I was personally able to forgive those aspects simply because of the intriguing concept. There are still engaging mysteries to be solved throughout the book as well as charming pay offs here and there. While it’s far from the best book I’ve ever read, it is an enjoyable one and I just might pick up the sequel to see where the story goes.
Dream Caster's strong points lie in the concept and plot. It brings something new to the post-apocalyptic genre that readers will enjoy. The writing is generally good, although the sophisticated dialogue seems out of place and awkward coming from young adults. B-
ORIGINAL REVIEW: http://7thpage.com/2014/02/dream-cast...
November 27, 2013
I was given a free copy of Dream Caster for review purposes. I thank the author for the opportunity to read it. I was excited by the premise and looked forward to the read, but ultimately came away dissatisfied. The novel does have a lot of good things going for it. I found the concept of the dream casting to be very interesting and liked some of the creatures Nadarajah conjures with his clearly creative imagination. The author has a talent for names and creating a full cast of archetypal characters. That will likely be attractive to younger readers who enjoy characters who neatly fit the standard roles of hero, sidekick, gruff but like-able mentor, etc. I also liked the concept of putting a fantasy world environment over top of a post-apocalyptic future world. Unfortunately, for me it didn’t quite work.
I am willing to suspend disbelief with the best of them, but many of the details of this world were way too far-fetched. There is very little satisfactory explanation of how the world that had been previously using cars and living in skyscrapers, devolved into a population wearing cloaks, using spears and carrying lanterns powered by fireflies. This drastic change also occurred only sixty years in the past, but despite the abundance of old people who clearly would have been alive during the war that devastated the earth, everyone is mysteriously incapable of teaching about the past with authority. I think the setting would have been more plausible without the post-apocalyptic element involved.
The main characters are mostly illiterate, but speak with incredibly expansive vocabularies and very formal voices that at times seem totally overdone. The dialogue was lengthy and could use some trimming down.
The editing overall was good, and formatting clean, with only a few noticeable typos, but the whole book could use a lot of content editing, especially in the dialogue department, where characters tend to get long-winded and over-explain their circumstances. I think the book could easily shed 10,000 words and be a much tighter narrative.
The author is clearly a talented storyteller, well versed in the standard archetypes of fantasy, but I would like to see him break his characters out of their molds and surprise the reader more, especially the villains and bully characters that are currently cookie cutter stereotypes, with predictable dialogue. The story has a lot of potential for its YA audience, but I think it could benefit from a rewrite and some honest cutthroat editing.
I am willing to suspend disbelief with the best of them, but many of the details of this world were way too far-fetched. There is very little satisfactory explanation of how the world that had been previously using cars and living in skyscrapers, devolved into a population wearing cloaks, using spears and carrying lanterns powered by fireflies. This drastic change also occurred only sixty years in the past, but despite the abundance of old people who clearly would have been alive during the war that devastated the earth, everyone is mysteriously incapable of teaching about the past with authority. I think the setting would have been more plausible without the post-apocalyptic element involved.
The main characters are mostly illiterate, but speak with incredibly expansive vocabularies and very formal voices that at times seem totally overdone. The dialogue was lengthy and could use some trimming down.
The editing overall was good, and formatting clean, with only a few noticeable typos, but the whole book could use a lot of content editing, especially in the dialogue department, where characters tend to get long-winded and over-explain their circumstances. I think the book could easily shed 10,000 words and be a much tighter narrative.
The author is clearly a talented storyteller, well versed in the standard archetypes of fantasy, but I would like to see him break his characters out of their molds and surprise the reader more, especially the villains and bully characters that are currently cookie cutter stereotypes, with predictable dialogue. The story has a lot of potential for its YA audience, but I think it could benefit from a rewrite and some honest cutthroat editing.
December 9, 2012
Was offered to read the book for free if I would review it, but have no connection to the author else.
I devour fantasy and SF books so this book was right down my alley. It’s an interesting new take on the urban fantasy genre, which has a bit of doomsday scenario over it as well with the world having ended as we knew it. This up and coming author has a vivid imagination and it gives for a great read. It is clearly targeted for a young adult crowd, and being in the 30s myself I realized I sometimes was quite over the target. That said it is enjoyable. The protagonist is the typical orphan, growing into powers that slowly awaken as the book trundles along, but the world building and the ideas around the special powers makes it interesting, and the pages read well.
One thing that I could have wished which I hope gets more polished in the sequel is a bit more character building. The interrelationship between the protagonist and the people he interact with goes extremely rapid, people meet and next day are tight as forever. I could have wished a bit more time had been spent on developing the relationship, might be me not understanding teenage interaction, but even I would think it takes a bit of time to get that comfortable with each other. The romantic part also seem to jump from nil to a lot more with very little interaction. That said it did not distract me more than I enjoyed the story, but this is the main reason I only gave a good story 4 stars.
Being an ebook I can say it was very nice to be able to read a book without all the grammatical flaws that seems to be standard in so many books these days. I do not remember giving pause at any point over the grammar.
So to sum it up, if you like YU urban fantasy I would definitely recommend giving this book a read. I will for sure check out the sequel.
I devour fantasy and SF books so this book was right down my alley. It’s an interesting new take on the urban fantasy genre, which has a bit of doomsday scenario over it as well with the world having ended as we knew it. This up and coming author has a vivid imagination and it gives for a great read. It is clearly targeted for a young adult crowd, and being in the 30s myself I realized I sometimes was quite over the target. That said it is enjoyable. The protagonist is the typical orphan, growing into powers that slowly awaken as the book trundles along, but the world building and the ideas around the special powers makes it interesting, and the pages read well.
One thing that I could have wished which I hope gets more polished in the sequel is a bit more character building. The interrelationship between the protagonist and the people he interact with goes extremely rapid, people meet and next day are tight as forever. I could have wished a bit more time had been spent on developing the relationship, might be me not understanding teenage interaction, but even I would think it takes a bit of time to get that comfortable with each other. The romantic part also seem to jump from nil to a lot more with very little interaction. That said it did not distract me more than I enjoyed the story, but this is the main reason I only gave a good story 4 stars.
Being an ebook I can say it was very nice to be able to read a book without all the grammatical flaws that seems to be standard in so many books these days. I do not remember giving pause at any point over the grammar.
So to sum it up, if you like YU urban fantasy I would definitely recommend giving this book a read. I will for sure check out the sequel.
December 10, 2012
I recently met Nadarajah in a YA forum was asked to review Dream Caster as an ARC.
It didn’t take long (perhaps 4-5 pages) before I fell in love with the style and flow of the story. The characters are truly believable and share realistic bonds (although i felt like at times their relationship could've used a bit more building).
There was a point in the novel when I had to stop and realize that this was only a story and these characters were only fictional. The dialogue flows very easily and conversations feel as if I was really there listening to two people speaking. There is nothing forced about it. The paragraphs are tight and there are no loose ends or plot holes. Nothing about the book was boring. It read very smoothly.
The suspense is gradual and unbelievable. There is a cliff-hanging mystery to the novel that I enjoyed. It also makes me wonder what Nadarajah has planned for the 2nd novel in the series (Yes, there will be one).
As for the plot, it was spectacular! Set within a post-apocalyptic world a number of years into the future, the world somehow came to an end. Fire and electricity is no more. The world as we know it is long over and even the survivors are being snuffed out one by one. And just when Weaver’s life seems to be getting on track and it seeems his future might look even a tad bit briter, hell breaks loose. Just when he gets it back under control, ALL hell breaks loose and he’s left with a nice big problem.
I give praise to this book and feel that it’s going to go well as the series progresses. I recommend it to anyone who wants a well written story.
Pick it up.
Tell your friends.
Read it!
It didn’t take long (perhaps 4-5 pages) before I fell in love with the style and flow of the story. The characters are truly believable and share realistic bonds (although i felt like at times their relationship could've used a bit more building).
There was a point in the novel when I had to stop and realize that this was only a story and these characters were only fictional. The dialogue flows very easily and conversations feel as if I was really there listening to two people speaking. There is nothing forced about it. The paragraphs are tight and there are no loose ends or plot holes. Nothing about the book was boring. It read very smoothly.
The suspense is gradual and unbelievable. There is a cliff-hanging mystery to the novel that I enjoyed. It also makes me wonder what Nadarajah has planned for the 2nd novel in the series (Yes, there will be one).
As for the plot, it was spectacular! Set within a post-apocalyptic world a number of years into the future, the world somehow came to an end. Fire and electricity is no more. The world as we know it is long over and even the survivors are being snuffed out one by one. And just when Weaver’s life seems to be getting on track and it seeems his future might look even a tad bit briter, hell breaks loose. Just when he gets it back under control, ALL hell breaks loose and he’s left with a nice big problem.
I give praise to this book and feel that it’s going to go well as the series progresses. I recommend it to anyone who wants a well written story.
Pick it up.
Tell your friends.
Read it!
April 12, 2015
The writing was very simplistic but possibly appropriate for the intended age range, it seems to this reader that this particular author does not have very much life experience.
The novel was verbose. The characters did not converse like ordinary people of their age. The characters were also very one dimensional with little to tell them apart. The way these people make connections/friendships is a bit too instantaneous and not what happens in real life, even if that life is against a post-apocalyptic backdrop which surely would make you more cautious than anything else. None of these characters stood out nor did they make this reader identify with any of them. One refreshing thing though was that there was not the usual romance element to this book.
Unfortunately there is loads of repetition in this novel and for all its verboseness there is minimal backstory perhaps this is why the reader could not identify with any of these characters. Equally the plot has about as much depth as the characters.
This book required loads of reading and very little happens – a better editor is required to tighten this up. We don’t even find out who the villain(s) are so there is no payoff.
I think this is one of those books that you either love or hate and I didn’t love it. Perhaps the reason it didn’t grab me was because I am considerably older than the intended audience but try it yourself and come to your own conclusions.
Full Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley for an honest review.
The novel was verbose. The characters did not converse like ordinary people of their age. The characters were also very one dimensional with little to tell them apart. The way these people make connections/friendships is a bit too instantaneous and not what happens in real life, even if that life is against a post-apocalyptic backdrop which surely would make you more cautious than anything else. None of these characters stood out nor did they make this reader identify with any of them. One refreshing thing though was that there was not the usual romance element to this book.
Unfortunately there is loads of repetition in this novel and for all its verboseness there is minimal backstory perhaps this is why the reader could not identify with any of these characters. Equally the plot has about as much depth as the characters.
This book required loads of reading and very little happens – a better editor is required to tighten this up. We don’t even find out who the villain(s) are so there is no payoff.
I think this is one of those books that you either love or hate and I didn’t love it. Perhaps the reason it didn’t grab me was because I am considerably older than the intended audience but try it yourself and come to your own conclusions.
Full Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley for an honest review.
December 8, 2012
this story is about a 16 year old boy who lives in a settlement in the future. the world is post-apocalyptic and no one knows how it came to an end. Weaver, the protagonist, lives a life where he's mistreated and kept stupid by his owner/guardian.
Then just as his life begins to turn around and he gets chosen to be a Watcher of the Night, something terrible happens.
He and a stranger named Abanel take off into the unknown and they come to a refuge where they are taken in.
Abanel pursues her goal to be a scout and Weaver's made into a sewage and waste cleaner because he doesn't know anything else.
Weaver is naive and slow, but he has unbelievable memory and there are subtle hints of him having greatness lurking under him.
He then discovers that he is a dream caster. He does not want that power or that responsibility and is in denial. but It's forced upon him.
I can't say anymore, because you have to read the book to see how it goes.
Nadarajah has an odd way of writing which flows very well and sounds eloquent. The characters are loveable and hateable. The book is fast paced, funny, mysterious, and a page turner.
It does feel like the kind of book that some will love and some will not, but either way, i think a lot of people will end up reading this book because it's only the first in the series and has a long way to go. if it's this good now, i can only imagine how much better book two can be.
i got this as an ARC from Nadarajah
Then just as his life begins to turn around and he gets chosen to be a Watcher of the Night, something terrible happens.
He and a stranger named Abanel take off into the unknown and they come to a refuge where they are taken in.
Abanel pursues her goal to be a scout and Weaver's made into a sewage and waste cleaner because he doesn't know anything else.
Weaver is naive and slow, but he has unbelievable memory and there are subtle hints of him having greatness lurking under him.
He then discovers that he is a dream caster. He does not want that power or that responsibility and is in denial. but It's forced upon him.
I can't say anymore, because you have to read the book to see how it goes.
Nadarajah has an odd way of writing which flows very well and sounds eloquent. The characters are loveable and hateable. The book is fast paced, funny, mysterious, and a page turner.
It does feel like the kind of book that some will love and some will not, but either way, i think a lot of people will end up reading this book because it's only the first in the series and has a long way to go. if it's this good now, i can only imagine how much better book two can be.
i got this as an ARC from Nadarajah
December 7, 2012
Oh. My. Holy. WOW. Amazing? Brilliant? Wonderful? All of those and more. This book is one of my all-time favorites now.
I haven't really been reading since school started because well my life is crazy. I have to be at school for more than 12 hours most days ....not a lot of time to read and get books from the library. But this book made me make time. I hope Nadarajah keeps the pace going and wows us with a wonderful series.
i would also like to say i love Toggen and i love Dell and i hate Cringe. but i especially love Toggen's character...i think he's bound to be a fan favourite before the series is said and done. he almost comparable to characters like Ron from HP, Sam from LOTR, Cara from Sword of Truth, to some degree, where they're not the main characters but still, they are very thoroughly loved
the plot starts off subtle. Weaver is naive, has no clue about anything. but there's greatness lurking within him. and then he makes a discovery, and events begin to unfold FAST. the plot is frantically paced and before you know it, the story's over and your left scratching ur heads wondering when the 2nd book will come out.
i highly recommend Dream Caster to all fans of Young Adult Dystopian Fantasy. If this book is any indication of how great the series is going to be, i think we're in for a plesant surprise
I haven't really been reading since school started because well my life is crazy. I have to be at school for more than 12 hours most days ....not a lot of time to read and get books from the library. But this book made me make time. I hope Nadarajah keeps the pace going and wows us with a wonderful series.
i would also like to say i love Toggen and i love Dell and i hate Cringe. but i especially love Toggen's character...i think he's bound to be a fan favourite before the series is said and done. he almost comparable to characters like Ron from HP, Sam from LOTR, Cara from Sword of Truth, to some degree, where they're not the main characters but still, they are very thoroughly loved
the plot starts off subtle. Weaver is naive, has no clue about anything. but there's greatness lurking within him. and then he makes a discovery, and events begin to unfold FAST. the plot is frantically paced and before you know it, the story's over and your left scratching ur heads wondering when the 2nd book will come out.
i highly recommend Dream Caster to all fans of Young Adult Dystopian Fantasy. If this book is any indication of how great the series is going to be, i think we're in for a plesant surprise
November 26, 2012
i received Dream Caster as an ARC. I wasn't going to get to it for a few books but a day after I got it, i sat down and read the first 3-4 pages.
before i knew it, i was on chapter 5!
2 days later, i was done the book lol. so much for waiting to read and write a review.
first of all, there was something unique about the authors style of writing. his characters (although teenagers) all had an olden, archaic style of speech. the story is about 60 yrs in the future, and all slang, watered down english and stuff is long gone. so people are back to speaking english as it was meant to be spoken.
the protagonist, Weaver, starts off as VERY naive and lost, but that's understandable becuz of how and where he grew up. near the end he surprises you. his character development has been well done.
Toggen ...i LOVE Toggen lol. i won't say anymore
the rest of the cast of charcters are loveable and hateable...nice mix. this book is a great start to what could be a great series.
i look forward to book 2!!!
before i knew it, i was on chapter 5!
2 days later, i was done the book lol. so much for waiting to read and write a review.
first of all, there was something unique about the authors style of writing. his characters (although teenagers) all had an olden, archaic style of speech. the story is about 60 yrs in the future, and all slang, watered down english and stuff is long gone. so people are back to speaking english as it was meant to be spoken.
the protagonist, Weaver, starts off as VERY naive and lost, but that's understandable becuz of how and where he grew up. near the end he surprises you. his character development has been well done.
Toggen ...i LOVE Toggen lol. i won't say anymore
the rest of the cast of charcters are loveable and hateable...nice mix. this book is a great start to what could be a great series.
i look forward to book 2!!!
December 17, 2012
Let me start off by saying this is one of the best Young Adult novels I have read in a very, very long time. Not only is the setting crafted expertly, but the characters are amazing, and the plot is riveting. My favorite aspect of the novel was definitely the characters. Najeev Raj Nadarajah’s ability to weave (lol) utterly believable characters (such as Weaver) is astounding. Each character had their own discernible personality, crafted through description, dialogue and their actions. Their motives for any action actually make sense, something many YA authors seem to struggle with. The connection between reader and character is incredible, especially considering the book is less than four-hundred pages. The plot is also just amazing. I was literally on the edge of my seat while reading the novel, and finished it in under one day because it was so captivating. An expertly written dystopian novel that is probably the best Young Adult novel since Harry Potter, I would recommend this to any lover of science-fiction.
March 27, 2014
A beautifully written and eloquently told tale, with the freshness and originality that can only be found within the realms of independently published fiction. The narrative is instantly enticing, the landscape well conceived and developed, described in just enough detail to allow the reader to form their own mental impressions. The protagonist, Weaver, is a young man of unknown heritage - a trope fairly standard in fantasy novels - but he appears to have no special talents or abilities, and has been raised by a man who treats him more like a servant than a son, yet still shows him care and attention. For the most part, the plot is well constructed, the characters diverse and interesting. The ending did leave me feeling a little disappointed though, not because it left too much hanging, but because I wanted the story to go on further, to tie up the remaining loose ends. I look forward to the sequel!
Ebook provided via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
Ebook provided via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
January 6, 2014
Synopsis:
Haunted by memories of his massacred settlement, sixteen-year-old Weaver seeks cover in a hidden refuge among the remains of a ruined city. In the midst of building a new life, Weaver discovers that he has the amazing power to cast his dreams into reality. Convinced it’s just an anomaly, Weaver ignores it. That is until he learns of a mysterious man who shares the ability, and uses his power to bring nightmares into existence and wage war on the world. The peaceful life Weaver hoped for begins to unravel as waves of chaos begin to break loose about him. In a race against time, Weaver must learn to accept his role as a dream caster and master his new power, before his new home is destroyed and humanity is pushed to the brink of extinction.
Dream Caster's a riveting story about a young man in a post apocalyptic world who learns that he has the power to help change the world for the better. I suggest you read this book if you're into fantasy, or even post-apocalyptic fiction. I give it a five star.
Haunted by memories of his massacred settlement, sixteen-year-old Weaver seeks cover in a hidden refuge among the remains of a ruined city. In the midst of building a new life, Weaver discovers that he has the amazing power to cast his dreams into reality. Convinced it’s just an anomaly, Weaver ignores it. That is until he learns of a mysterious man who shares the ability, and uses his power to bring nightmares into existence and wage war on the world. The peaceful life Weaver hoped for begins to unravel as waves of chaos begin to break loose about him. In a race against time, Weaver must learn to accept his role as a dream caster and master his new power, before his new home is destroyed and humanity is pushed to the brink of extinction.
Dream Caster's a riveting story about a young man in a post apocalyptic world who learns that he has the power to help change the world for the better. I suggest you read this book if you're into fantasy, or even post-apocalyptic fiction. I give it a five star.
January 12, 2013
Dream caster is a fantasy set in post apocalyptic world. It is full of fresh concepts and is unique in many ways. The story is interesting and entertaining.
The story begins with weaver preparing for his first day as night guard a position has worked hard to attain .He finds a survivor on his very first day. But his dream is short lived as his settlement is attacked and he flees with the girl he found the previous day.
They find a new home and along the way he develops strange powers .He meets new friends and enemies in his new home .When his new home is attacked he uses his sharp wit and powers to save it. Weaver is very smart and relies more on his wits than his powers that is what makes him interesting.
The story begins with weaver preparing for his first day as night guard a position has worked hard to attain .He finds a survivor on his very first day. But his dream is short lived as his settlement is attacked and he flees with the girl he found the previous day.
They find a new home and along the way he develops strange powers .He meets new friends and enemies in his new home .When his new home is attacked he uses his sharp wit and powers to save it. Weaver is very smart and relies more on his wits than his powers that is what makes him interesting.
April 2, 2013
Dream Caster, Book One of the Dream Cycle, is a young adult fantasy. Although it starts a little slow, once this story gets going, it grabs you carries you along for a wonderful journey.
Weaver, orphaned and under the care of a selfish man named Ruben, has only one goal, to become a guard in the small village where he's grown up. In one night, he obtains this position and in the matter of hours loses everything, his home, family and friends.
Forced to move on as the only survival of a devastating attack of fire hounds, he soon finds a companion who travels with him to a new home. He soon discovers his true role in life, which is much bigger than he would have ever imagined.
This well-written, intriguing story is the debut of Najeev Raj Nadarajah’s journey into the writing world. With the promise of more to this series, I predict this story teller has many more adventures to share.
Weaver, orphaned and under the care of a selfish man named Ruben, has only one goal, to become a guard in the small village where he's grown up. In one night, he obtains this position and in the matter of hours loses everything, his home, family and friends.
Forced to move on as the only survival of a devastating attack of fire hounds, he soon finds a companion who travels with him to a new home. He soon discovers his true role in life, which is much bigger than he would have ever imagined.
This well-written, intriguing story is the debut of Najeev Raj Nadarajah’s journey into the writing world. With the promise of more to this series, I predict this story teller has many more adventures to share.
December 7, 2013
A slow start to this YA fantasy. Dreams, the North American Indian dream catchers, and the powers of dream casting are the central theme here in a post-apocalyptic world. Weaver, country bumpkin, slowly discovers he's different from others when his village is destroyed and he must fend for himself. Stumbling along he discovers another village, the Shield, and soon makes friends. The people here are much more savvy as to who is trying to destroy their world. Weaver slowly learns to control his dream casting power and, with his friends, embark on saving an outpost of Shield. Didn't like a trio of delinquents that try to unsurp and bully the group as they are stereotypical cardboard cutouts which could be developed much better. This genre is not my normal read but it was highly rated on the Bookkus publishing site where readers review and choose books for publishing. This is the first publication for Bookkus
January 10, 2014
Dream Caster is a remarkably refreshing read. While at first glance the world seems destroyed and with little or no hope of a story taking off, a sudden twist suddenly gives the story a sufficient character to stand out and take charge.
The characters are well detailed, properly motivated and sufficiently strong through the books with their individual vulnerabilities. The story-line is well paced and occasional twists keep it going through all chapters. Most of the story-line twists are pleasantly unexpected and do not feel artificial for just dragging the story onward but instead are reasonably plausible allowing one to follow the heroes of the story in well immersed manner.
Dream Caster is a special novel and could lead into a great series for many to read and cherish and remember.
The characters are well detailed, properly motivated and sufficiently strong through the books with their individual vulnerabilities. The story-line is well paced and occasional twists keep it going through all chapters. Most of the story-line twists are pleasantly unexpected and do not feel artificial for just dragging the story onward but instead are reasonably plausible allowing one to follow the heroes of the story in well immersed manner.
Dream Caster is a special novel and could lead into a great series for many to read and cherish and remember.
January 11, 2014
I got this book because I've always been surrounded by D&D from my brothers and husband and from the other reviews it seems like I would like it. I'm also a big fantasy fan in general. I wasn't let down at all by this book. It had exactly the elements I was looking for in a fantasy book. The characters were dynamic, likable and even amusing at times, especially Toggen.
The plot was exciting and sucked me into reading it right away which was great. So many times I get bored in a book within the first few pages, but not with this one. This story is solid and action packed. There is never a dull moment in Dream Caster! After I finished reading it, I quickly went to buy book two. Unfortunately, it's not yet available. I can't wait until it comes out!
I have questions that needed to be answered and I look forward to continuing the cycle.
The plot was exciting and sucked me into reading it right away which was great. So many times I get bored in a book within the first few pages, but not with this one. This story is solid and action packed. There is never a dull moment in Dream Caster! After I finished reading it, I quickly went to buy book two. Unfortunately, it's not yet available. I can't wait until it comes out!
I have questions that needed to be answered and I look forward to continuing the cycle.
December 2, 2012
An entirely fresh novel with a new take on things. Witty, funny, suspenseful, has lots of meaningful interactions between the main characters, and a great Great GREAT start to what could potentially be a terrific series.
Dream Caster tells of a future where the world has gone dark and cold. Fire and electricity are gone and in their presence dark creatures appear if fire and electricity are used. people have found a way to survive.
*SPOILER*
To make matters worse, there’s a dream caster out there who’s brought the world to an end and no one knows what his motives are or why he did what he did. We probably won’t know until the latter books anyways. But I’m really looking forward to the second book when it does come out.
Dream Caster tells of a future where the world has gone dark and cold. Fire and electricity are gone and in their presence dark creatures appear if fire and electricity are used. people have found a way to survive.
*SPOILER*
To make matters worse, there’s a dream caster out there who’s brought the world to an end and no one knows what his motives are or why he did what he did. We probably won’t know until the latter books anyways. But I’m really looking forward to the second book when it does come out.
December 12, 2012
I picked this book up not expecting too much - Young Adult, likely to be mildly entertaining and all about girl empowerment (WAY overdone).
Instead, I found an excellent dystopian urban fantasy world that gripped me from beginning to end.
The characters were likable and sharply drawn characters as well as the overall plot kept me thinking about it for a few days, wondering what will happen when the second book in the series comes out.
Nadarajah paints the picture of dystopian Toronto very well enough to be able to see the world as he sees it. He sticks to the rules of his world and there are no plot holes. This is going to be a very difficult series to write and finish, but if Nadarajah prevails, then this series will be a sure hit without doubt.
Instead, I found an excellent dystopian urban fantasy world that gripped me from beginning to end.
The characters were likable and sharply drawn characters as well as the overall plot kept me thinking about it for a few days, wondering what will happen when the second book in the series comes out.
Nadarajah paints the picture of dystopian Toronto very well enough to be able to see the world as he sees it. He sticks to the rules of his world and there are no plot holes. This is going to be a very difficult series to write and finish, but if Nadarajah prevails, then this series will be a sure hit without doubt.
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