Book Review: Dreamteller, K.D Shade

Book Review: Dreamteller, K.D Shade

Review: Dreamteller, K.D Shade

 Book Category: Clean YA Medieval Fantasy

Recommendation based on likability/story:  5 ⭐

            Age recommendation: 13-14+ 


Story Synopsis 


An heiress with everything to lose. A prophecy she never asked for. A glimpse of the past with the power to change the future.

Lady Shannyn was raised to rule.

But when a vision of the past uproots a buried betrayal, her secured future unravels.

Spies whisper in the halls, assassins lurk in the shadows, and secrets fester behind silk-draped smiles, but rebellion isn’t the only danger in Megara.

A masked archer, a man cloaked in mystery, might be the only one who can help Shannyn uncover the truth—if she dares trust him.

Every step closer to the truth brings new enemies and every choice demands a sacrifice. Shannyn finds herself stepping into a prophecy that could save her kingdom—or destroy it.

Perfect for fans of plot twists, court intrigue, and stubborn hope conquering the darkness.


Why we love Dreamteller! 

🏹Court intrigue

🏹Snarky banter/humor 

🏹Epic battles for truth 

🏹Prophesies & visions

🏹Righteous rebellion 

🏹Sacrificial courage

🏹Arranged marriage and royal alliances


NOTE FOR PARENTS:

There is mild gore and battle scenes in this story. We would recommend this story to ages 13-14+, depending on your teen.



Likes

The Christian allegory: It wasn’t preachy at all, which I appreciate! It was done in a lovely, convincing, and creative way that added so much value to the story—truths being laced and woven throughout.

Example:

“We all die, Shannyn,” Asher said carefully. “Men can break the body, but they cannot break the soul.”

“There’s more to life than living. There is also more to death than dying.”


The powerful messaging: This story is not only gripping, but shows what it means to have sacrificial courage, and the bravery to do what’s right instead of what’s easy.

Example:

 After the FMC finds out from a vision that she will die—sacrificing herself so that others can have a chance to live in freedom and let the rightful heir inherit the throne—she doesn’t fight it. She has the priceless quality of sacrificial courage. The courage to die (but not in the annoying giving-up sense). 

“You know death waits for you, yet you go.”


The compelling characters & their nuanced relationships: The characters are what made this story so real. You can have a killer plot, but unless the reader is made to care for the characters, it’s dead. I was delighted with this story! The characters were so relatable, hilarious, touching, and real—even deceiving at times (ahem, I won’t tell you which character I’m raising my eyebrow at). All of this made the story even more gripping.

Humor, banter, & snark: Gotta love a character with a never-ending supply of snark—you’ll get plenty of that in this story! There were moments where I couldn't resist a laugh.

Examples:

When a torturer kicks his prisoner, limping back in pain and spitting curses, the prisoner grins through the pain. Coughing, he rights himself. “How will your leg heal if you keep kicking prisoners with it?”


When the rebel is being tortured but doesn’t give in, the master torturer, overlooking his apprentice, says: “With this sort, the best thing is to threaten someone they love—a family member, perhaps.”An odd relief touched the prisoner. “Sorry, I’m out of family members. You killed the last of them a few nights ago.”

When the character is brought up to the execution block, a man begins to read the list of offenses… and it’s quite funny.

“Quinn Gorham, for your sins against the Crown, you are summoned here today for judgement and renume—remuna–”
 He paused, squinting.
 People in the crowd shifted.
 “Remuneration?” Quinn suggested.
 The reader nodded. “Ah, yes. Remuneration.”
 Then he paused, glancing at Quinn.
 “It means payment,” Quinn explained.
 “I know what it means.”
 The reader coughed and straightened the parchment.

“I handle stress with humor.”
 “You must’ve had a stressful life.”
 “That’s kind of true.”

Touching moments… and a plot twist!?:  I don’t usually cry when I read books, but this one got me! There were also a few really touching moments throughout the book that made me tear up. I’ll just give you one example (it’s even more sad when you understand the rest of the story leading up to this scene):

“Somehow, she knew Quinn was with her again. She could feel his hands pulling her into his lap. She felt his tears on her face. The last thing she remembered was the sound of his weeping.”

It was such an immersive story. If this book was made into a movie… oh my. But they’d better get every detail right! 

The era & aesthetic: It’s giving medieval vibes! Think medieval + Arthurian + Robin Hood aesthetics. The perfect combination, ah!

Dislikes 

1: I wish that the FMC would’ve stood up for herself more when she was wrongly accused by those she was trying to help. The way she answered people’s questions came across as validating their suspicions. Eventually they were proved as untrue…but when given multiple chances to redeem herself, she could’ve just given a simple, straight answer that would’ve removed some headache. Anyway, I can overlook this because it made me want to keep reading and find out how it ended up. It wasn’t really deterring, just one of those slightly annoying things! 

2: I wish this was a series *cry face* 

Content Warning Section 

Each category is rated on a scale of 1-5 in terms of the amount of the content. 


Violence/gore: Medium intensity. 3/5 stars ⭐

Overall: Frequent mentions of blood, fighting, arrows, and swords; some battle scenes. Violence usually described briefly to semi-detailed, not graphically prolonged or detailed.

  • Battles & Injuries:

    • Arrows hitting characters (neck, shoulder, calf).

    • Corpses on battlefields, blood mixing with water/sand.

    • Men stabbed or cut, collapsing in pools of blood.

    • Soldiers and civilians killed or captured.

  • Women & Children in Danger:

    • Girl nearly drowned by a man; fights back with rock.

    • Child struck by a guard, women slapped.

    • Houses burned with families and people inside, screams heard.

  • Torture & Execution Mentions:

    • Prisoner whipped with glass-laced whip (not graphically detailed).

    • Characters chained, beaten, and interrogated.

    • Public hangings (not detailed) and talk of executions.

    • Corpses found poisoned, mauled, or scarred.

  • Poisoning & Suffering:

    • Several characters poisoned, shown delirious, writhing, coughing blood, or unable to breathe.

    • Poison used to weaken or manipulate victims.

  • FMC Encounters:

    • Bruises, slaps, and rough handling by attackers and betrothed.

    • Nearly killed by a deadly creature; stabs it in self-defense.

    • Dream/vision sequences featuring corpses and scars.

    • Struck by arrows, beaten, or collapsing from injuries.

  • Creature Violence:

    • A certain creature described as monstrous, killed in bloody encounters.

    • Black blood mentioned.

  • Execution & Battle Climaxes:

    • Guards and creatures shot, stabbed, or axed.

    • Graphic but not excessive gore (blood spilling, pink froth, spattered wounds).

  • Overall Tone:

    • Violence contributes to high tension and emotional stakes.

    • Mix of quick, sharp images (blood, bruises, arrows) with a few torture/poison scenes.

    • More focused on danger, suffering, and stakes than on gore for gore’s sake.

Romance: Minor Intensity. 1/5 stars ⭐
Overall: Mentions of close proximity (feeling another's warmth or breath by their ear), some minor contact (hands on the waist, or hand brushing another’s cheek). Some kissing on the cheek, and on the mouth (2x total, not detailed).

  • FMC & Betrothed Character:

    • Arm around waist, hand on cheek, breath near ear.

    • Flirting and compliments (“most stunning beauty in the room”).

    • A few kisses (cheek, forehead, mouth) — often unwanted or uncomfortable for FMC. None are overly detailed.

    • She stiffens or pulls away; moments carry tension rather than affection. Betrothed most times takes the hint. 

  • FMC & Male Friend:

    • Comforting gestures: brushing away curls/tears, gentle embraces.

    • One scene where FMC initiates a kiss; tender and mutual. Ends with light humor.

  • Other Mentions:

    • Married couple share a kiss (brief, not detailed).

    • FMC noted to have admirers due to her beauty, tragic past, and inheritance.

Language: Mild intensity. 1/5 stars. ⭐
Some unspecified cursing, minor teasing, and minor language and insults such as, “I hate you” (1x), “scoundrel”, “shallow/arrogant fool”.

General Swearing / Harsh Phrases:

  • Some unspecified cursing.

  • A scene mentions a man “spitting out a low string of curses” that the FMC couldn’t hear.

  • Minor language and insults such as:

    • “I hate you” (1x)

    • “Scoundrel”

    • “Shallow/arrogant/loitering fool”

    • “You murderous rat”

    • “Bastard child” (1x)


Religious/Exclamatory Phrases:

  • “Oh Creator”

  • “Creator’s sake, man!”

  • “By the gods!” (1x)

  • “By the gods, she’d have his feet cut off if he walked any slower”


Threats:

  • “Speak up uninvited again and you’ll pay with your tongue, do you understand me?”

  • “Rebellion seems in that one’s blood. Once it’s spread that far, there’s only one way to get rid of it, and that’s by spilling it. Or in this case, heating it to a boil.”

  • “Let them out or I’ll kill you, I swear it!”

  • “The harlot has betrayed her throne, her promises and responsibilities.”

  • The FMC says to another character: “Your father deserved a better son.”

  • FMC says someone wants her dead, to which her recipient replies: “Yeah, well they’re not the only one.” (The words haunted her.)


Teasing / Banter:

  • Some teasing, such as calling the FMC and her betrothed “lovebirds” (in a humorous and endearing way).

  • A character frequently uses the nickname “Pretty Eyes” for the FMC.

  • Teasing line: “Let me guess… you’ve decided Lord Adrian could never fill the void in your heart like I could.” (The FMC fights the urge to roll her eyes.)

 


Personal Insults:

  • FMC calls another character a:

    • “Flirtatious, self-absorbed, shallow lout who likes to hear his own voice above everyone else’s.”

    • “The child I used to know felt others’ pain like his own. Look at you now! You’re a shallow, self-absorbed, fickle fool who cares more about the wrinkle in his shirt than the feelings of others.”


Other: Mild-Medium intensity. 1.5/5 stars⭐

  • Visions & Nightmares:

    • FMC experiences frequent visions/nightmares of monsters, death, and suffering. Not graphic.

    • Physical effects: pain, dizziness, collapsing, waking to phantom screams.

    • Dreams include people she loves dying, or failing to save her.

  • Religion & Faith Specific:

    • Frequent mentions of the Creator, prayer, and faith.

    • Dreamtellers believed to have gifts given by the Creator.

    • FMC prays for guidance; faith tied to her late father’s legacy.

    • The queen limits Church influence outside chapels.

  • Modesty & Conduct:

    • Some embraces, wrist-grabs, light teasing, and slaps (not romantic).

    • FMC slapped her friend when he grabbed her wrist.

    • False rumors about the FMC sneaking away with a man.

    • A friend comforts and protects FMC, reacts strongly to her bruises.

    • Guards and authority figures sometimes use physical intimidation (grabbing chin, twisting arm).

Summary

All in all, this was such an enjoyable, emotional, and compelling story. There was a bit of violence and gore, up to semi-detailed, but not gruesomely detailed. There was a small amount of romance, but it didn't take over the story. The powerful messaging of sacrificial courage was beautiful and moving. Many scenes are tear-worthy! 

This is one of my new favorite reads! If you love plot twists, prophesies, and righteous rebellion, all while giving Robinhood x medieval fantasy vibes, you'll devour this book! 


Happy reading!

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