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Seeker #1.5
The Young Dread
When she’s awake in the world, the Young Dread can hear an enemy approach from a mile away, manipulate a whipsword into a thousand forms, and attack with it faster than the human eye can see.
And yet, the Young Dread is not often awake. She, like the Old and the Middle Dreads, lives outside the stream of time, frozen for vast stretches. She was a child in the 1400s, but she’s alive today, and aged only into a teen.
She wakes for short bursts, to observe the training of the families known as Seekers. Past and future intertwine in Seeker traditions—they are the keepers of both ancient knowledge and advanced weapons—and the Dreads must oversee it all, testing their skills, swearing them to loyalty, bringing them justice.
Master storyteller Arwen Elys Dayton takes readers centuries into the past to follow this ageless Dread’s footsteps. This time, when the Young Dread wakes, things will change. She is about to discover the first threads of a web in which she and so many others will be trapped.
A ruthless killer to some, an enigmatic upholder of justice to others, the Young Dread is destined to shape the future in ways she is only beginning to understand.
And yet, the Young Dread is not often awake. She, like the Old and the Middle Dreads, lives outside the stream of time, frozen for vast stretches. She was a child in the 1400s, but she’s alive today, and aged only into a teen.
She wakes for short bursts, to observe the training of the families known as Seekers. Past and future intertwine in Seeker traditions—they are the keepers of both ancient knowledge and advanced weapons—and the Dreads must oversee it all, testing their skills, swearing them to loyalty, bringing them justice.
Master storyteller Arwen Elys Dayton takes readers centuries into the past to follow this ageless Dread’s footsteps. This time, when the Young Dread wakes, things will change. She is about to discover the first threads of a web in which she and so many others will be trapped.
A ruthless killer to some, an enigmatic upholder of justice to others, the Young Dread is destined to shape the future in ways she is only beginning to understand.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2015
21 people are currently reading
1016 people want to read
About the author
Arwen Elys Dayton
9 books690 followersArwen Elys Dayton is best known for her 2012 novel Resurrection and the YA Seeker trilogy. She began her career as a teenage staff writer at a foundation that produced Peabody Award-winning educational shows for PBS. Soon afterward, she began writing novels.
She spends months doing research for her stories. Her explorations have taken her around the world to places like the Great Pyramid (which she explored by flashlight when researching Resurrection), Hong Kong and its many islands, lots of ruined castles in Scotland, and the cold cities around the Baltic Sea. She enjoys creating complete worlds inhabited by characters who charm, frustrate or inspire.
Arwen lives with her husband and their three children on the West Coast of the United States. You can visit her at arwenelysdayton.com and follow @arwenelysdayton on Instagram, or reach her by email at arwenelysdayton@gmail.com.
She is represented by Jodi Reamer at Writers House.
She spends months doing research for her stories. Her explorations have taken her around the world to places like the Great Pyramid (which she explored by flashlight when researching Resurrection), Hong Kong and its many islands, lots of ruined castles in Scotland, and the cold cities around the Baltic Sea. She enjoys creating complete worlds inhabited by characters who charm, frustrate or inspire.
Arwen lives with her husband and their three children on the West Coast of the United States. You can visit her at arwenelysdayton.com and follow @arwenelysdayton on Instagram, or reach her by email at arwenelysdayton@gmail.com.
She is represented by Jodi Reamer at Writers House.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 30, 2016
so many feels
December 19, 2015
When I read Seeker, the Young Dread was one of the most intriguing characters to me. This novella gives you a little insight into her thoughts, abilities and even her own fears. I would've liked even more - there are mentions of her mother & father, that she's actually hundreds of years old. I'm sure there are some very interesting tales behind all that. I look forward to more in this series...
November 12, 2015
I really loved this book!
very imaginative and exciting!
very imaginative and exciting!
November 12, 2015
Very cool book! Definitely Recommend.
December 10, 2015
My favorite character from the Seeker was the Young Dread, so I was ready to know more about her. Unfortunately, this is really short. Most of this ebook is a preview of The Seeker. It didn't really tell me much more than what I learned from reading the full length book. I would call this a bonus chapter rather than a novella, and I feel somewhat upset that I paid for it. It didn't even take me an hour to read all of it.
November 4, 2015
Will mark TO READ!!
January 22, 2016
Super short with half a book in it which was longer than the novella. Meh
I would read more, but series are time consuming and i didn't feel this one had enough enticement for continuing... maybe later. We'll see.
I would read more, but series are time consuming and i didn't feel this one had enough enticement for continuing... maybe later. We'll see.
September 24, 2018
Just Get Seeker
I thought this was an inside look at the young dread, but only 2 chapters on her. Save your money and just get Seeker, it is really good . 2 stars for false advertising.
I thought this was an inside look at the young dread, but only 2 chapters on her. Save your money and just get Seeker, it is really good . 2 stars for false advertising.
May 12, 2019
More Maud story please!
November 2, 2024
this is billed as being a 150 page novella. it's literally 30 pages of a few short scenes, and the rest is the "preview" for the first book in the series. nonsensical, and a waste of money.
March 21, 2017
Quick novella giving perspective on Maud, the Young Dread. Nice way to round out a character.
January 8, 2016
Well.... all I can say is that I'm just glad I borrowed this one from the library...
Having already read The Seeker, book 1, I expected so much more...
I loved The Seeker and Maud, the Young Dread, was one of my favorite characters. When I saw that a Novella was released about her, I was overjoyed with anticipation to read more about her life and experiences. Unfortunately, this "Novella" fell short for me.... I agree with several other reviewers that this read more like a bonus chapter than a novella and more than half of this book was a preview to The Seeker (8 chapters of it).... While the Novella only had 5 short chapters. Additionally, I can not understand why this novella would have a preview for The Seeker instead of a preview for The Traveler, book 2.... After all the novella was published AFTER the Seeker was released so it just made no sense to me. I already read the Seeker and probably would not have picked up this novella without prior knowledge and buy in into the story.
What little was written about the Young Dread was interesting and insightful, but I wanted more.... I really loved the premise of the series and the story it is telling so I hope the next book has more details and depth in it - not just surface level fluff.... I'm a true fan and will continue to read the series (I can't wait for the Traveler)... But, I'm just disappointed that this novella was so short and lacking in character building, development, and detail.
I would recommend this Novella to those readers who have already read The Seeker and are fans.... It's a nice filler into some of Maud's life and experiences. However, be aware that you will not receive an in depth analysis of Maud and her world - it a nice bonus chapter.
Happy Reading!
Having already read The Seeker, book 1, I expected so much more...
I loved The Seeker and Maud, the Young Dread, was one of my favorite characters. When I saw that a Novella was released about her, I was overjoyed with anticipation to read more about her life and experiences. Unfortunately, this "Novella" fell short for me.... I agree with several other reviewers that this read more like a bonus chapter than a novella and more than half of this book was a preview to The Seeker (8 chapters of it).... While the Novella only had 5 short chapters. Additionally, I can not understand why this novella would have a preview for The Seeker instead of a preview for The Traveler, book 2.... After all the novella was published AFTER the Seeker was released so it just made no sense to me. I already read the Seeker and probably would not have picked up this novella without prior knowledge and buy in into the story.
What little was written about the Young Dread was interesting and insightful, but I wanted more.... I really loved the premise of the series and the story it is telling so I hope the next book has more details and depth in it - not just surface level fluff.... I'm a true fan and will continue to read the series (I can't wait for the Traveler)... But, I'm just disappointed that this novella was so short and lacking in character building, development, and detail.
I would recommend this Novella to those readers who have already read The Seeker and are fans.... It's a nice filler into some of Maud's life and experiences. However, be aware that you will not receive an in depth analysis of Maud and her world - it a nice bonus chapter.
Happy Reading!
July 15, 2016
A short story between the first book, The Seeker, and the second book. The Dread are the people who know more about the time in between and how to slip into it to rest or even travel to another time/place. The Dread assess and watch over the seekers.
The Young Dread has been alive for hundreds of years but only looks about 14 ýears old. This is from her stepping in between and sleeping for long periods of time. She was once a young girl who lived in a castle until the Old Dread came and asked her to come train with him. Unfortunately, the Old Dread needs more rest than she does so he slips into the in-between and sleeps leaving her with the Middle Dread--a cruel, evil man. This time, the Young Dread awakens to witness the testing of Quinn and her cousin as they become Seekers.
This short story helped provide background information on the Young Dread. While it still does not make it clear what part in this story that she will eventually play, you realize she is part of the story as much Quinn or even John is. I feel like this had originally been part of the first book and had been separated into a short story. I am grateful that it was still part of the overall adventure because the Young Dread is one of my favorite characters in this story and I hope she is the heroine I feel she is meant to be. I feel like this book is a must read if you want to read the series. It explains so much that you only guess at in the first book of the series.
The Young Dread has been alive for hundreds of years but only looks about 14 ýears old. This is from her stepping in between and sleeping for long periods of time. She was once a young girl who lived in a castle until the Old Dread came and asked her to come train with him. Unfortunately, the Old Dread needs more rest than she does so he slips into the in-between and sleeps leaving her with the Middle Dread--a cruel, evil man. This time, the Young Dread awakens to witness the testing of Quinn and her cousin as they become Seekers.
This short story helped provide background information on the Young Dread. While it still does not make it clear what part in this story that she will eventually play, you realize she is part of the story as much Quinn or even John is. I feel like this had originally been part of the first book and had been separated into a short story. I am grateful that it was still part of the overall adventure because the Young Dread is one of my favorite characters in this story and I hope she is the heroine I feel she is meant to be. I feel like this book is a must read if you want to read the series. It explains so much that you only guess at in the first book of the series.
March 19, 2016
Arwen Elys Dayton nous livre là une courte nouvelle, de cinq chapitres, qui nous permet de suivre et d'en apprendre un peu plus sur Maud, ce personnage extrêmement attachant et au combien intriguant découvert dans le premier tome de la Saga LES CLANS SEEKERS.
On plonge ainsi dans une journée un peu spéciale pour Maud, celle de son treizième anniversaire. Malgré cela, on ne va pas se voiler la face, cette nouvelle ne nous apprend rien de bien extraordinaire. Mais elle a le mérite de nous faire patienter gentiment et de nous mettre en appétit quant à la sortie prochaine du tome 2, le 21 Avril 2016.
Donc une lecture agréable et reposante qui m'aura occupé sereinement pendant un petit quart d'heure :D
« La jeune fille pensa à nouveau que l’aigle était comme un Effraie : solitaire, maître de lui, chasseur quand cela était nécessaire, mais plus que ça, un juge du monde qui s’étendait sous lui. » - Arwen Elys Dayton
On plonge ainsi dans une journée un peu spéciale pour Maud, celle de son treizième anniversaire. Malgré cela, on ne va pas se voiler la face, cette nouvelle ne nous apprend rien de bien extraordinaire. Mais elle a le mérite de nous faire patienter gentiment et de nous mettre en appétit quant à la sortie prochaine du tome 2, le 21 Avril 2016.
Donc une lecture agréable et reposante qui m'aura occupé sereinement pendant un petit quart d'heure :D
« La jeune fille pensa à nouveau que l’aigle était comme un Effraie : solitaire, maître de lui, chasseur quand cela était nécessaire, mais plus que ça, un juge du monde qui s’étendait sous lui. » - Arwen Elys Dayton
February 14, 2016
This little vignette really has no impact on the books in this series whatsoever. All it really is, is 5 very, very short chapters on the Young Dread & what her train of thought is. There was nothing of importance in this. The preview for The Seeker that's after this vignette was a lot longer. Honestly, I'm more upset I spent the $1.99 on this.
January 25, 2016
I don't know that the reader of the series needs to read this, as most information is in the 2nd book and I didn't feel like I got anything more from this short story, except for more of her point of view. But I really like Maud, the Young Dread.
February 1, 2016
I was left wanted more after I read this book. Warning it is really short, shorter than most novellas. Also, I didn't really learn anything new about the Young Dread.
April 27, 2016
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March 25, 2023
A Dread living outside the stream of time since the 1400s discovers she's shaping the future.
July 21, 2025
loved it
Didn’t realize it was so short and a part of the first book was most of it but still enjoyed it
Didn’t realize it was so short and a part of the first book was most of it but still enjoyed it
March 28, 2017
Very quick read. Nothing's special about this story, though. Just a quick glimpse of Young Dread's life, which isn't much.
March 30, 2017
It took under half an hour to read. It was fine, but I'm not sure that it necessarily adds anything to the story. Possibly parts of it will become relevant as I read through books 2 and 3.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews