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Joshua Creed: Keeper of Worlds follows a troubled twelve-year-old who discovers he can travel between worlds, and must confront a prophecy, dangerous magic, and his own unraveling life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My youngest son’s life was tumultuous at best, as he struggled with his emotional health. He always could be found, “in another world,” and I wanted to connect with him, so he could be the hero in his story. I struggled to do this and found a way to connect through writing. I imagined the story where my son could be a hero and fight off the demons to find his internal strength. He was the inspiration.
Joshua’s experience with bipolar disorder shapes how he sees himself and the world. What guided your decision to include this element?
As a mother of a child with bipolar disorder and as a teacher who has witnessed similar struggles within the classroom, I have firsthand knowledge of how mental health impacts young lives. At the time, there were few stories where a child like mine could surely see themselves as a hero. I felt it was vital to bridge that gap by weaving his real-world challenges into the fantasy world I was creating for him.
How did you want to challenge or reshape the traditional “hero’s journey” for younger readers?
As both a mother and educator, I believe there should be books out there for every child. There are several challenges that young readers face today. I just wanted to connect to one little corner of the market, kids struggling with mental health and the realities of life. Another fact is that there are many reluctant readers out there, and if a kid can connect to the story on a personal level, they’re more liable to read and find a love of reading. That too is a challenge I take on in my work.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Oh, this is only the beginning. Joshua’s journey is just heating up, and the stakes are about to get much higher. I’m thrilled to announce that Book Two, Joshua Creed: Curse of the Faet, is set to arrive in Summer 2026! As Joshua grows, he must master a new trade to survive the ancient magic closing in on him. Fans should prepare for a deeper dive into the world of the Faet, unexpected alliances, and a hero who is finally discovering what he’s truly capable of.
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Drawn through a mysterious connection to his eye and a strange, sacred tree, Joshua stumbles into the Land of the Ice Plants, home of the Norkels, a secret people on the brink of disaster. The Norkels believe an ancient prophecy: a Keeper of Worlds will come from the human realm to save them. To Joshua’s horror, every sign points to him.
Terrified and uncertain, Joshua is forced into a role he doesn’t want and doesn’t feel ready for. As he learns the truth about the prophecy, the power hidden in his eye, and the secrets of the sacred tree, he must navigate betrayal, strange magic, and the pressure of two collapsing worlds. Meanwhile, back home, his family fractures further, and Joshua begins to realize that the courage he’s learning in the Norkel’s world might be the only thing that can help him face the pain in his own.
Book One sets Joshua on a path from self-doublt to reluctant braver, laying the foundation for a larger battle to come—where saving the Norkels and saving his family may turn out to be the same fight.
Joshua Creed: Keeper of Worlds
Joshua Creed: Keeper of Worlds is a middle-grade portal fantasy with a strong coming-of-age thread, and at its core, it follows twelve-year-old Joshua as his already-shaky life cracks open even further. His parents are divorcing, school feels like a minefield, and then his strange blue eye starts pulling him into another world, where prophecy, dangerous magic, and creatures like Wormly, Selia, and Gonthragon force him into the role of a keeper between worlds. What makes the book more than a simple quest story is that Joshua is not just trying to save a fantasy realm. He’s also trying to understand his family, his anger, and the fear that he ruins everything he touches.
I liked how directly the author, Dawnette Brenner, writes Joshua’s inner life. The fantasy setup is big, but the emotional entry point is small and human: a tetherball game, a suspension, a kitchen table conversation, a kid trying not to cry. I think that choice works great. It gives the book real footing before the world-hopping begins, and it keeps the stakes personal even when the plot expands into prophecy and interdimensional danger. I also liked that the magic has rules and consequences. The idea that crossing between worlds costs Joshua something, even time from his own life, gives the story weight and keeps it from feeling too easy.
I felt the book was at its best when it slowed down and let character and emotion breathe. Joshua’s bond with Jonah, his guilt over his mother being hurt, and the way fantasy becomes tangled up with family pain all land well. Those parts felt honest. The novel throws a lot at the reader: prophecy, magical tools, multiple creatures, vision lore, world rules, and escalating threats. Some readers will enjoy that rush. I respected the author’s instinct to make this adventure about responsibility instead of simple wish fulfillment. The book keeps asking a solid question: what does it actually cost a kid to become “chosen”? That question gives the story its backbone.
I’d recommend this most to readers who like middle-grade fantasy that blends portals, prophecy, and magical objects with family strain and emotional growth. Kids who enjoy stories in the lane of classic quest fantasy, but want something more grounded in school, home, and identity, will probably connect with it. I think adults who read middle grade closely will also notice the heart behind it. This is a fantasy novel, but it is really about carrying too much too young and learning that bravery is not the same thing as pretending you are fine.
Pages: 281 | ASIN : B0GPP1XLTD
