Review: A great adventure in an intricate world
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 15, 2014
Joey Cola is no ordinary kid.  Bordering on genius, the skinny gangly 15 year old is about to graduate the youngest in his school and attend the illustrious MIT.  Joey’s friend Alex, is just as smart, but her style would be considered a lot more eclectic than Joey’s. Alex has bright red hair and doesn’t ever miss a chance to sport fishnet tights and red boots as loud as her hair.Everything was swimming along semi normal towards graduation.  Well, as normal as it can be for a kid genius who is constantly being bullied and beaten up by his older brothers.  Not all 13 of them, just the closest three to Joey’s age.When Joey’s dad, gives him a precious ornament supposedly recovered from an ancient Egyptian temple.  Joey thinks his life is about to change, but the change he envisaged only encompassed his college attendance, not the weird and vivid dreams that begin plaguing his sleep.When his brothers jump him, leaving him for dead down a sewer, Joey is soon drawn into the dark and mysterious dream world, where he can become everything he will never ever be in the physical world.  Turns out, his not so ordinary friend Alex, has been making her mark in the dream word too, but in her own inflated persona of Boudica.Joey’s life starts taking some incredible turns, when he realises the dream world is every bit a reality as the real world, and it has consequences.  He learns the Pharaoh of the dream world, is every bit as powerful in the real world, and he is planning a big showdown with the worlds food supply.  One that Joey is unsure involves his elusive and exquisitely beautiful daughter Cleopatra.Joey must become a powerful dream warrior, in order to even have a chance against the Pharaoh.  With the help of his trusty friend Alex, or Boudica as she is feared in the dream world and their guide Ammon, Joey will have to learn some fast moves to gain the Pharaoh’s Daughter’s trust in order to infiltrate the Pharaoh’s house, or risk losing the battle that will effect everything he has ever known in the real world.This was an intricate adventure, with an exciting world, full of action and suspense. Joey’s perspective was refreshing, and the torn emotions he experiences are palpable, as he comes to realise his significance in the all the chaos.  I enjoyed this rendition, or what seemed like a take on the biblical story of Joseph and his dreams.  I believe this will appeal to a young adult audience, of both guys and girls, with the gripping fights scenes, a little unrequited love and the expert weaving of a very entertaining story.  I am looking forward to the next instalment.Note, I gained a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.