- Fantasy
- The Dreamsnatcher collection
- Ages 9–12
The Dreamsnatcher
Part of the collectionThe Dreamsnatcher→A darkening three-book quest — a brave, stubborn heroine and her wildcat versus masked dream-stealers, from haunted forest to frozen wilderness.
- Books3 / 3
- Arcs1
- Span2015–2017
- StatusComplete
The series
At a glance.
The complete three-book Dreamsnatcher trilogy by Abi Elphinstone, following fierce twelve-year-old Moll Pecksniff and her wildcat Gryff against the dark magic of the Shadowmasks. It reads as one continuous quest for the Old Magic and the Amulets of Truth: book one pits Moll against the terrifying witch doctor Skull in the wildwoods; book two moves to a smuggler-haunted coast where trust turns dangerous; the finale sweeps across a frozen, monster-haunted north to a last reckoning. Each instalment is darker and more perilous than the last, yet the trilogy keeps its wild heart, its daring escapes and its steady faith in courage, friendship and hope even in the bleakest moments. Best read in order.
A darkening three-book quest — a brave, stubborn heroine and her wildcat versus masked dream-stealers, from haunted forest to frozen wilderness.
Primary themes
Overall tone
- Exciting
- Dark
- Adventurous
- Suspenseful
Read in publication order — this is a continuous story that must be read 1, 2, 3.
One arc
The shape of the series.
- INarrative arcBooks 1–3 · 2015–2017Moderate sensitivity
The Dreamsnatcher trilogy
Moll and her wildcat Gryff hunt the Old Magic and the Amulets of Truth to destroy the Shadowmasks.
One continuous, darkening quest. Book one throws Moll against the Dreamsnatcher, a witch doctor named Skull who wants to steal her dreams and then her life; with Gryff, Siddy and a mysterious boy, Alfie, she seeks the Old Magic to destroy the dark force that took her parents. Book two trades forest for a smuggler-haunted coast and a race for the Amulet of Truth, where trust becomes dangerous and not everyone is who they claim. The finale sends Moll, Gryff and Siddy across a frozen northern wilderness of witches, goblins and giants for the last Amulet, as losses mount and she must cling to hope. Peril and emotion rise with each book, but courage, loyalty and a fierce heart hold the trilogy together.
Fit check
Right for your reader?
Where the series lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- 15
- 17
- 19
- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 8–11
- Independent · 9–12
Reluctant-reader friendliness
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Adult crossover
Low
Grows with the reader
Not especially
Sensitivity envelope
Moderate overall, and consistent.
Content notes
- Scary imagery
- Violence
- Death of parent
- Death of character
- Animal harm
- Grief
Where it sits
In conversation with other series.
About the author