The Crystal Key: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 2

Sequel to the AURORA AWARD WINNER and the Juried IAP AWARD WINNER, The Hollow Boys

"Give me the Crystal Key!"

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. 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 engrossing second installment of The 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 that readers won’t want to miss." —Blueink Review (★ Starred review)

Praise for Douglas Smith:

"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

Douglas Smith is a multi-award-winning author described by Library Journal as "one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction." His books include The Wolf at the End of the World, Chimerascope, Impossibilia, Playing the Short Game: How to Market & Sell Short Fiction, and the YA urban fantasy trilogy, The Dream Rider Saga (The Hollow Boys, The Crystal Key, and The Lost Expedition). Published in 27 languages, Doug is a 3-time winner of Canada's Aurora Award and has been a finalist for the Astounding Award, CBC's Bookies Award, Canada's juried Sunburst Award, and France's juried Prix Masterton and Prix Bob Morane. "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