The Crystal Key: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 2

Douglas Smith

Oct 2022 · The Dream Rider Saga Book 2 · Spiral Path Books

About this ebook

Sequel to the multi-award-winning The Hollow Boys

The Dream Rider Saga, Book 2

Will Dreycott is the Dream Rider, the agoraphobic teenage superhero who can walk in our dreams but never in the streets of his city. Case is his girlfriend, a survivor of those streets who hears voices that warn her of danger. Fader is her brother, who is very good at disappearing. Together, they defeated a body swapper and a witch to save the world (The Hollow Boys).

Now, Case battles guilt over living sheltered in Will's tower home while her street friends still struggle. Blaming his affliction for Case's sadness, Will searches for a way to live a normal life with the girl he loves—a way to go outside.

But his efforts draw the attention of dark forces. Sinister figures hunt Will in Dream. Intruders scour the vast warehouse of antiquities "acquired" by Will's missing parents. And a masked swordswoman attacks Will, demanding "the Crystal Key" before disappearing into thin air.

Are they all searching for the same thing? Something from Will's parents' shady past? For the swordswoman leaves behind a flowery scent, Will's only memory from the lost expedition eight years ago that gave him powers in Dream but cost him his parents and his freedom.

A trail of dark secrets leads Will, Case, and Fader to a mysterious world. Trapped between warring cults willing to kill for the Crystal Key, the three friends must master strange new powers that grow stronger and wilder the closer they draw to the truth.

This time it's not just the fate of the world at stake…but the multiverse.

Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from "one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction" (Library Journal).

Praise for The Crystal Key:

"The richly inventive Dream Rider adventure continues in this second appealing entry…with an exciting plot… always enlivened by the Smith hallmarks of crack dialogue, fun sleuthing and puzzle-solving, a strong throughline of emotion, a swift pace…and a principled refusal to settle for the familiar. Takeaway: This thrilling superpowered urban fantasy series continues to grip." (New readers should start with book one.) —BookLife (Editor's Pick)

"The engrossing second installment of Douglas Smith’s Dream Rider Saga trilogy. … Smith continues to demonstrate an ability to expertly weave multiple complex fantasy elements into a cohesive whole. … This fast-paced story delivers in a big way—and Smith has all his ducks lined up for an explosive conclusion [to the series] that readers won’t want to miss." —Blueink Review(★ Starred review)

Praise for The Dream Rider Saga:

"Vigorously imaginative... Thrilling YA fantasy" —BookLife (Editor's pick)

"A must-read story for YA fantasy fans." —Blueink Review (★ Starred review) 

"Inventive, engaging, and boundless fun." —The Ottawa Review of Books 

"Fast-paced and entertaining." —SF Crowsnest 

"A fun supernatural tale with well-developed characters and a touch of romance." —Kirkus Reviews

Ratings and reviews

A great second novel in the trilogy, most of the same characters continue the story, with some intriguing additions. Lots of action and adventure with twists and turns galore. Can't wait to read the conclusion.

Fantastic. This is an immensely entertaining book. It is the second book of the Dream Rider saga and had a lot to live up to. Book one, The Hollow Boys, is fantastic, original and also hugely entertaining. Douglas Smith managed to not only give his readers an equally engrossing sequel he managed to surpass the original. The Crystal Key takes the story and elevates it even further. We follow Will Dreycott, Case and Fader as they continue to search for answers about their pasts. Unknown to them there are dark forces working against them. The question is: why? This is fantasy writing at its best with mysticism, ancient folklore and a modern setting all mixed together creating a superb world for the reader to discover. I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed this book but I’ve already said it enough. This is a great series that I recommend everyone read, it’s that good.

About the author

Douglas Smith is a multi-award-winning author described by Library Journal as “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction.”

Published in twenty-seven languages, Doug is a three-time winner of Canada’s Aurora Award and has been a finalist for the Astounding Award, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Bookies Award, Canada’s juried Sunburst Award, and France’s juried Prix Masterton and Prix Bob Morane.

His works include the young adult urban fantasy trilogy, The Dream Rider Saga (The Hollow Boys, The Crystal Key, and The Lost Expedition); the Heroka shapeshifter novels, The Wolf at the End of the World and The Wolf and the Phoenix (in progress); the collections, Chimerascope and Impossibilia; the writer’s guide, Playing the Short Game: How to Market & Sell Short Fiction; and numerous short stories.

Doug lives near Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

“The man is Sturgeon good. Zelazny good. I don’t give those up easy.” —Spider Robinson, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner

“A great storyteller with a gifted and individual voice.” —Charles de Lint, World Fantasy Award winner

“His stories are a treasure trove of riches that will touch your heart while making you think.” —Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo and Nebula Awards winner

“Stories you can’t forget, even years later.” —Julie Czerneda, multi-award-winning author and editor