The Dream Walker

Forgotten Legacies book 4

Fiction - Magic/Wizardry
547 Pages
Reviewed on 11/03/2020
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

The Dream Walker by KJ Simmill is the fourth book in the Forgotten Legacies series. The Father of Nightmares was sealed away within the Forest and has gained power that could lead to his success. Everyone must join forces to fight for the survival of everything and everyone they love. Fey is a guide who, during a journey, discovers a distressed woman in the marsh that brings him to a shocking discovery. Alana is a child whose destiny draws her into the midst of the fight emerging before them while she embarks on a journey into her power which sends her down an unexpected path. Along her journey, she learns about respect and is pushed towards the hero she is meant to become. Xantara was chosen by the Spirit which helps her get in touch with a power that leads her to the mantle of her birthright. This helps her face a force that has detained a part of Leona, which lands her in the clutches of a dangerous threat.

The world comes to life through stunning descriptions that KJ Simmill elegantly weaves by vividly capturing every aspect of this setting and drawing you into the adventure along with the characters. Simmill creates a vibrant setting with unique magic and otherworldly beings used to build the ideal fantasy world. The whole mythology of the world is fascinating and in-depth which makes this vibrant place come alive. The language is rich with such vivid images that you see this story unfold through descriptions that are elegant and detailed with engaging phrases. The thrilling conclusion explores the perspective of various characters with each of the perspectives adding a different aspect to the tone and journey of the story.

Each of the characters has their own story as they are brought together against the growing threat of the Father and his darkness. Alana and her parents are at the heart of the upcoming fight with her journey at the root of it as she learns about her own power, destiny, and capability. Fey’s story begins with his role as a guide before shifting into an adventure that takes him down an unexpected path. Xantara faces a dangerous force and through this is able to confront her own fears. Simmill explores various other characters throughout that deliver several surprises and twists as the story heads toward a thrilling end. The Dream Walker is an exciting adventure that brings to life a tale of power and destiny through moments of action, danger, and magic.

K.C. Finn

The Dream Walker is a work of fantasy fiction in the sword and sorcery sub-genre and was penned by author K. J. Simmill. Written as the fourth novel in the Forgotten Legacies saga, this captivating book is largely suitable for teen audiences and above due to moderate fantasy violence and some non-graphic implied sexual situations. In this final book in the saga, the standalone tales of Darrienia, Severaine, and Remedy come together as the powerful Father of Nightmares stands free and is ready to wreak havoc upon many lands. What results is a story of unity against all odds to rise up and face the ultimate battle of good and evil.

Author K. J. Simmill has crafted a truly epic tale with immersive worldbuilding and enticing, visceral imagery from the off. I really appreciated the balance of non-graphic violence, yet there are tension and horror in many situations in the piece which really deliver thrills without the need for anything gratuitous on the page. Despite not having read the other books in the series, I found the world and the prophecies were easily recapped and I was soon ready to follow the storyline and watch the darkness rise as the stakes got higher. The plot arc goes through many different characters and factions and each is given their due time to be developed and feel realistic in their contribution to the fight. Overall, I would certainly recommend The Dream Walker to anyone seeking a magical fantasy war novel with plenty of accomplished writing.

K T Bowes

In this unique story, The Dream Walker by K.J. Simmill, a group of complex characters takes on the quest to stop the forces of evil from devastating their world. In a mix of mythology and the paranormal, enemies will become allies, unifying against the Father of Nightmares. When his name is accidentally uttered in a prophecy, he is released from his supernatural prison and free to unleash hell within the known world. There are many twists and turns, leading the reader on a series of mini-quests with this end goal constantly in mind. The story begins with the mysterious and ominous slumber of the Spirit Maidens and finishes with an epic battle for the light. At the heart of the story is the legendary incarnation of the Mitera, a tragic story of a child whose parents will be made to forget she ever belonged to them.

‘Those of instinct, of true courage, knew there were things no man could explain away with logic.’ An incredible amount of effort has gone into the world-building in this series and K.J. Simmill has excelled. It’s exquisitely crafted and each of the characters serves a specific function within the rich tapestry of description. No two characters are cut from the same cloth; each wields their immortality and their skills to different effect. The novel is written with real flair in a cornucopia of overlapping images which produces a coherent and engaging image right down to the last detail. The monsters are terrifying, the magic subtle, and the influence of the antagonist overarching. Right down to the last minute, it seems that Ikelos will prevail as gods, seraphim, and otherworldly creatures fight to the death to stop him.