"spectacular epic fantasy"

In Sitrene the old traditions remain in place. The Shapers protect the Keepers from the magical beasts. A union between a Keeper and a Shaper can lead to the birthing of Dreamers, who protect the realm from other dimension creatures who want to destroy humankind. King Sene's son is expected to marry his keeper's foster daughter, but she chooses to love the monarch causing dissension.

In Dherrica, Palle declares that his nephew Prince Pirse killed his mother the queen. The Keepers protect the Prince because he fights monsters and Abstainers who would hurt them. A wizard sends him to Doran a keeper woman in the hopes they will have a Dreamer child if they ever stop squabbling long enough to mate. King Palle's rule is so ineffective anarchy is coming.

In Rhenlan, the king is dying and his heir Prince Damon accepts no defiance. When his sister Vray disobeys him, she is banished to a horrible place. The Dreamers rescue her and place her with a keep family to heal. The young men are forcibly conscripted into the army and the guards take what they want from the villagers. Prince Damon is a nasty dictator leading his nation to the brink of civil war.

MOON'S DREAMING is a spectacular epic fantasy about three kingdoms where culture, tradition, and overall well being are being destroyed by ineffective or abusive leaders. The magic appears genuine and the varying groups enhance one another, provide additional depth to a multilayered strong tale. Readers will look forward to dancing to the follow-up "Dream" as Margaret Krause and Susan Sizemore will continue the stories of the next generation coming into power.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted November 8, 2003

Originally published in CD-ROM format from Starlight Writer Publications, 08/99

Summary

Epic Fantasy -- In a world under three moons, in the courts and villages of three kingdoms, the fates of the Dreamers are at stake. Only Dreamers can bend the power of the gods and perform the magic that holds chaos at bay. The Dreamers are always few in number, born of rare unions between ruling Shapers and peasant Keepers. The Shapers no longer believe in magic. The practical Keepers no longer see any need for it.

The Dreamers need to find Shapers and Keepers who will love each other, but love between the rulers and the ruled is harder and harder to come by. While the Dreamers battle against extinction with the help of only King Sene of Sitrine, the rest of the world is plunged into power struggles and turmoil. The death of a princess sends another, Vray of Rhenlan into exile, results in the murder of the queen of Dherrica, and plants the seeds of revolution in Jordy the carter and Dael, captain of the royal guard of Rhenlan. If the world no longer needs dreamers, they think, why do we need Shapers, either? If the world no longer needs Dreamers, Prince Damon of Rhenlan thinks, why bother with tradition and the vows that keep a man from obtaining all the power he can?

The rare and tender love so necessary for the birth of Dreamers does manage to blossom between a few couples amid the conflict, but are these small sparks enough to hold back the darkness of war and waiting chaos?