Free Dream Keeper Saga Book Two Book Review and Content Guide
The Dream Keeper Saga Book Two Book Review. The Dream Keeper Saga is a middle-grade fantasy series with themes of friendship, good vs evil, grief, redemption, and perseverance. It makes a thrilling read for those who love fantasy. This series is recommended for ages 9 and up. However, I urge you to consider the content and be prepared to have needed conversations, as some content is heavy with intense scenes.
What to Expect: This content guide is not a literary analysis. It is a note from one mama to another.
Please note the review contains content warnings which are not meant to shame you for enjoying certain books. It doesn’t mean you should avoid it or that you should feel personally judged by the warnings. It’s a heads up for the mama who doesn’t have time to pre-read every book before sharing it with their precious children. We all have different family values and kids of varying ages. Sometimes I will include warnings that may not apply to your family. Please continue to have discernment with book selections for your family. You are the gatekeeper of your home and I am so blessed that you consider me worthy to review this book for you.
Life is too short, time is too precious, and there are too many beautiful stories to read books that do not align with your family values.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you on qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate.
Read below to determine if this book is a good fit for you and your reader.
The Prince and the Blight (The Dream Keeper Saga Book 2) by Kathryn Butler
Age Range: 9+ (9-12)
Read Aloud Age: 8+
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Adventure
Themes: FRiendship, Sacrifice, Forgiveness, Hope, Redemption, and Good vs Evil
Setting: From MassaChusetts to the Somnium Realm (Fantasy world)
Year Published: 2022
At a Glance: The Prince and the Blight
Description (Spoiler Free)
Twelve-year-old Lily McKinley is back in the real world, holding her cracked soothstone and accidentally creating a whole treehouse of misfits. When the strange creatures break free, a glob of butter tries to eat the lunch lady’s hair. Thankfully, Cedric, the talking dragon, shows up right in time. However, Cedric bears bad news. Prince Pax is gone, and everything good is decaying.
Brief Content Warnings
Magical references with magical creatures, spells, wizards, objects, etc. Undesirable words such as stupid, wicked, ghostly, maggot, and “merciful heavens. (<10 incidents). References to Greek Mythology. The main character keeps secrets from her dad. Merrow is an evil mer-monster who serves the darkness and desires to fill his cages with souls.
Discussion Topic (difficult topic)
The Dream Keeper Saga series contains Christian themes and allegorical components. The symbolism and light allegory are very relatable for young teens who doubt and question the Christian faith. This book is great at triggering profound questions, such as:
- [God], where are you? Why don’t you come?
- How could a world of such plenty wither into famine? How could [God] allow it?
- If [God] can heal everyone, then why doesn’t He?
Other Relatable Topics for Teens
- Feeling like they don’t belong
First Line
“This stuff is like ogre slobber.”
Quotes
“None of us really has control, Miss Lily. We think we do, but I reckon that’s an illusion.” – Cedric
“I don’t understand the part I have to play, but my job is to take care of what I’m given.”
“So you see, despite seeing no way out, and despite your failure, hope burned on, didn’t? Hope still endured. Because it never depended on you.”
Book Two: The Prince and the Blight Content Guide
Religious Beliefs
The text includes Christian themes and allegorical components. Prince Pax (Peace) is symbolic of Christ (The Prince of Peace). He is good and true. “He was there in the beginning. The heavens and the mountains…and everything else was made through him.” Eymah is the great dragon, a symbol of Satan. “Pax stripped him of his power, that’s for certain…but he can still wreak havoc. And will, to torment those of us who refuse to bow to him.”
Language
Undesirable words: stupid, wicked, maggot, ghostly, and “merciful heavens. (<10 incidents).
Violence/Behavior
Violence. Brief display of bullying -Lily is mocked by her peers at school. Name-calling: maggot and Silly Lily. The servants of Eymah threaten to harm and kill.
Behavior. Lily hides the soothstone from her dad.
Romance
None.
Political
None.
Other
The Blight is a sickness, a curse progressively killing the Realm. “Everything good is decaying.”
Cedric is no longer welcome home. His dragon wife throws a pomegranate at his head, and his dragon kid wonders when Cedric will return home.
Magical Content
This is a fantasy with magical references, including magical creatures, powers, spells, wizards, objects, vials, etc. Lily is an artisan, which means she can use a soothstone to build, create, and summon. The stone is an amplifier of the gifts given from Pax. Keisha is a sojourner and visits places in her dreams. Sovran Merrow is a mer-monster who lines his burrow in the deeps of the Sea of Oblivion with soul cages.
The Prince and the Blight Book Review
As a Christian mom who enjoys reading fantasy (think C.S. Lewis, George MacDonald, and Tolkien), I am comfortable with my girls reading this series when they are 9+. However, I will never convince you to read fantasy. If your conscience pricks you about magical content, then you must have spiritual discernment and decide if it is right to read fairy tales with your children.
There were a few parts that I felt uneasy about.
The Realm is decaying, and in their efforts to stop the Blight, they have sought out the wisdom of apothecaries, wizards, and sages. Merlin advises them to seek out Nightshade, who is a witch. Frankly, the thought that went through my mind was, “Oh great, when all is lost, then let’s head to the witch.” But you must keep reading because this witch experiences redemption and a name change! I don’t want to spoil it, but it’s good.
Then, many parts truly ignited my moral imagination.
But, first let me mention there is a top-hat wearing French-speaking rabbit. I couldn’t resist telling you about him. Back to the moral imagination, this story reminds us to trust in God even when we don’t understand, because He is with us. This isn’t some new-agey, modern book about self-discovery and self-enlightenment (let’s flee from those books). Rather, this book is about trusting in God. Lily tries her best to find strength within and save the Realm, but she is reminded that hope does not depend on her. Hope is found in Christ alone! The characters are called to repent and turn towards Christ. Christ’s presence changes us. He does not leave us as He finds us. Characters with pride fall and become humble. There is a cost to following your heart. We are reminded that the heart is wicked and deceitful.
A few more book quotes:
“You needed to learn to rely on me, even when you couldn’t see me.”
“Lily, before our quest ends, you will witness things far worse than the taunts of faded shrouds. You mustn’t lose your senses…You must trust me. No matter what happens. No matter what you see, and what you don’t understand. You must trust me.”
“If you’d turned your heart to him, he would have forgiven you.”
If you enjoyed The Prince and the Blight, then try _____ .
Suggestion is pending! 🙂
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The above are my thoughts and opinions.
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HAPPY READING!
– With Great Joy, Katie
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