THE CRYSTAL KEY

Smith’s YA Dream Rider Saga continues as its eponymous superhero protagonist faces even bigger challenges in this fantasy novel.

Will Dreycott is the wealthy 17-year-old superhero/hooded vigilante called the Dream Rider, who has the ability to travel through people’s dreams. His most recent victory saw him save the world and defeat a villainous duo alongside his new girlfriend, Case, and her brother, Fader. The trio now live together in Will’s luxurious tower (a building the rich teen has outfitted for his own purposes) in Toronto, but there is trouble in paradise: Will still yearns to find his parents, who disappeared mysteriously eight years earlier while on an expedition in Peru, and to learn the truth behind his astral powers and his severe agoraphobia. Case and Fader also hope to find their mother, who likewise disappeared years before. Meanwhile, the siblings’ own strange superhuman abilities start to malfunction as Case’s inner Voice, which warns her of danger, starts to multiply, and Fader’s ability to “fade out” makes him disappear from people’s sight—and from their memories. Further complicating matters, a cult of warring sisters schemes to obtain a mysterious crystal key by any means necessary as, in the background, a sinister figure plots away. The author’s sequel to the excellent The Hollow Boys (2022) ups the ante for adventure and suspense and continues to deftly fuse superhero and fantasy tropes. The trio of protagonists have relatable inner struggles and compelling story arcs that work well both independently and when woven into the overarching storyline of Will’s parents’ fateful expedition. Smith excels at strong action sequences, worldbuilding (introducing engaging new characters and the concept of the multiverse), and humorous dialogue: “Home Boy, ever notice your explanations don’t, you know, explain? Anything. At all.” There is plenty here to entice readers to return for the grand finale.

A fun and engrossing superhero sequel.