- ASIN: B0FR8BMQ6C
- Publisher: Balboa Press UK
- Publication date: 11 Sept. 2025
- Language: English
- Print length: 308 pages
- ISBN-13: 979-8765215401
- Genre: Metaphysical & Visionary
The BookViral Review:
A luminous, emotionally charged coming-of-age story.
Steven Lawrence’s The Divine Dream is a sweeping metaphysical adventure grounded in the intimate, heartfelt journey of Trudy Divine, a girl whose life is shaped by loss, destiny, and an incredible inner strength. Although the novel begins with Sebastian Divine and his obsession with finding the mythical plastic-consuming Mose, it becomes clear as the story unfolds that this is very much Trudy’s story, and hers alone.
Her father’s dreams, his fears, and his environmental mission form the backdrop of her early life, but the book’s emotional centre shifts fully to Trudy after the devastating boat explosion that destroys the Divine vessel. In one heartbreaking moment, Trudy loses her father, her beloved dog Morpeth, and her own leg.
This trauma shapes everything that follows. Lawrence handles this turning point with sensitivity, showing both the physical and emotional aftermath with honesty and care. Fom here, Trudy steps forward as the heart of the novel. Her grief is complex—tinged with guilt, unanswered questions, and a longing for the parents she never truly got to know—but her resilience shines. She struggles with abandonment by her mother, memories of her father’s distance, and the strange, shimmering visions that linger at the edges of her dreams. Yet Trudy’s courage, curiosity, and intuition grow with every chapter, making her an incredibly compelling protagonist.
One of the greatest strengths of the book is the cast of characters who help shape Trudy’s life after the accident. Paul, one of the novel’s most quietly powerful figures, becomes a steady presence and mentor. His calm kindness, intelligence, and gentle humour provide Trudy with the stability she desperately needs as she navigates loss, recovery, and the strange metaphysical legacy she has inherited.
Nana, too, plays a huge role. Eccentric, loving, and spiritually attuned, she guides Trudy with warmth and a touch of magic—right up until her own passing, which becomes another profound shift in Trudy’s young life. These losses deepen the emotional weight of the story, but they also reveal Trudy’s growing strength. As she discovers more about her connection to the Mose and the celestial origins of her soul, the story moves confidently into metaphysical fantasy while always remaining anchored in Trudy’s very human emotions.
Lawrence’s world-building is vivid and imaginative—full of celestial chambers, soul journeys, and the creators of Selaschora—but what makes the novel truly shine is how these cosmic elements mirror Trudy’s inner journey. The environmental themes, from plastic pollution to the fragile balance of the oceans, are woven naturally into the plot rather than delivered as messages, giving the book a strong sense of purpose without ever overshadowing the characters.
By the final chapters, Trudy stands as the last surviving Divine, carrying the dream her father could not complete. Her courage, vulnerability, and determination make her a heroine worth rooting for, and her journey is both magical and deeply human.
The Divine Dream is ultimately a story about finding strength through loss, discovering purpose through pain, and embracing the extraordinary possibilities hidden within us. Trudy Divine is a protagonist who stays with you long after the final page—brave, wounded, gifted, and wonderfully real.
Readers who will love The Divine Dream
The Divine Dream is perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally rich, metaphysical fiction with a strong coming-of-age arc at its heart. It will resonate with fans of spiritual fantasy, character-driven environmental stories, and books that blend cosmic mystery with real human emotion. If you love novels like The Alchemist, A Wrinkle in Time, or deeply felt journeys of healing and destiny, this story will stay with you long after you close the final page.
It is unreservedly recommended!
