{"id":1384,"date":"2009-05-04T08:15:31","date_gmt":"2009-05-04T13:15:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/\/?p=1384"},"modified":"2009-05-03T20:20:02","modified_gmt":"2009-05-04T01:20:02","slug":"nightmare%e2%80%99s-edge-by-bryan-davis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=1384","title":{"rendered":"Nightmare\u2019s Edge by Bryan Davis"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>\"\"<\/a>It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/strong> book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Today’s Wild Card author is: <\/strong><\/div>\n
Bryan Davis <\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

and the book:<\/span> <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Nightmare\u2019s Edge <\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

(Echoes from the Edge series) <\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Zondervan (May 1, 2009)<\/p>\n

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/strong><\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>Bryan Davis is the author of the Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire series, contemporary\/fantasy books for young adults. The first book, Raising Dragons, was released in July of 2004, followed by The Candlestone, Circles of Seven, and Tears of a Dragon. Eye of the Oracle launched the Oracles of Fire series and hit number one on the CBA Young Adult best-seller list in January of 2007. Book number two, Enoch’s Ghost, came out in July and will be followed by Last of the Nephilim in the spring of 2008.<\/p>\n

Bryan is the author of several other works including The Image of a Father (AMG) and Spit and Polish for Husbands (AMG), and four books in the Arch Books series: The Story of Jesus\u2019 Baptism and Temptation, The Day Jesus Died, The Story of the Empty Tomb (over 100,000 sold), and Jacob\u2019s Dream. Bryan lives in Western Tennessee with his wife, Susie, and their children. Bryan and Susie have homeschooled their four girls and three boys.<\/p>\n

Bryan was born in 1958 and grew up in the eastern U.S. From the time he taught himself how to read before school age, through his seminary years and beyond, he has demonstrated a passion for the written word, reading and writing in many disciplines and genres, including theology, fiction, devotionals, poetry, and humor.<\/p>\n

Visit the author’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Product Details:<\/p>\n

List Price: $12.99
\nReading level: Young Adult
\nPaperback: 352 pages
\nPublisher: Zondervan (May 1, 2009)
\nLanguage: English
\nISBN-10: 0310715563
\nISBN-13: 978-0310715566<\/p>\n

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:<\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Nathan ducked under a low-hanging branch and pushed a dangling python out of the way with his bandaged hand. It hissed, startling him for a moment. With its beady eyes and flicking tongue, it seemed so real, as did everything else in this dim jungle. Yet, Cerulean, the blue-haired, blue-skinned, blue-everything young man who marched ahead on the narrow path, paid no attention. After all, if this place was a realm of dreams, even the forest was imaginary, though the thick foliage of over-arching trees darkened their steps with deep shadows.<\/p>\n

With just a slender candle in Cerulean\u2019s grip lighting their way, how could two awake people know how to find another one of their kind in this dark land where images conjured by frightened sleepers seemed as real as their own skin and clothing?<\/p>\n

Nathan shivered and hurried to catch up with Cerulean, Earth Blue\u2019s supplicant from the Misty World. Still keeping his eyes focused straight ahead and the white candle out in front, Cerulean stayed quiet. Nothing seemed to phase him. Earlier, he had ignored the twelve talking chipmunks dressed in purple tuxedos. They had been funny at first, chattering about their political ambitions and the proper way to shave an elephant, but when a six-foot-tall electric razor buzzed into the forest, Nathan dove out of the way as it flew past him, chasing a three-headed elephant into the forest. Cerulean merely helped him back to his feet and pressed on.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo,\u201d Nathan said as they marched past an old man wrapped in golden chains floundering in a quicksand bog, \u201cthis dream world really isn\u2019t all that dangerous once you get used to it. Why did you insist on just the two of us going? What\u2019s the risk?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cerulean didn\u2019t even blink. \u201cNot everything is a dream. Jack is here somewhere, is he not?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue. But what other real things could enter this world? Even you had to get Kelly to go to sleep to create a portal. No one else knows what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen there are no wounds in the cosmic fabric, the dream world can only be penetrated by a person\u2019s mind or by a supplicant. With interfinity at hand, however, and many holes throughout the cross-dimensional plane, I suspect that passages abound.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can you tell the difference?\u201d Nathan asked. \u201cI mean, if that poor guy in the quicksand was real, shouldn\u2019t we try to rescue him?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cerulean smiled, finally breaking his stoic countenance. \u201cAs the elephant has taught you, dreams are as real as you allow them to be. Once you train your mind, you will see through them. Whatever is left is reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he passed by a leafy vine that hung from a branch, he gave it a shove, making it swing. \u201cThis jungle is a dream setting for all souls who feel lost. They struggle through vines, snakes, quicksand, and many other obstacles of their own making, thus illustrating their lives of desperation. Since Jack was no longer in the Earth Blue bedroom, I thought perhaps, even though he is blind, he might have found his way here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds reasonable,\u201d Nathan said, \u201cat least as dreams go.\u201d<\/p>\n

While following a meandering path for several minutes, they entered a suburban neighborhood, shaded by thundering storm clouds overhead. Now walking on rubberized streets, they passed a headless woman on a bicycle who was trying to find a place to insert her iPod earbuds. In front of a mansion-like house on a perfectly manicured lawn, a man in a clown costume juggled a woman, three children, and a briefcase. As if on a treadmill, he ran in place, huffing and puffing, but getting nowhere.<\/p>\n

Nathan stared at them, knowing they couldn\u2019t possibly be real. When they faded into ghostlike images, he shuddered. This was just too weird.<\/p>\n

Soon, they entered the darkest place yet, a cemetery with old tombstones rising at odd angles from grave plots. Bones littered the weed-infested grounds. A large raven perched atop one of the burial markers, staring at Nathan as he passed by.<\/p>\n

\u201cInscription,\u201d it croaked. \u201cRead. Read.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nathan paused and leaned closer. \u201cYou mean on the tombstone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes! Read! Read!\u201d<\/p>\n

Cerulean grabbed his arm. \u201cNo. It is not wise to heed the words of the dream creatures.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut if they\u2019re not real, what could it hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n

His bright blues eyes sparkling in the candle\u2019s glow, Cerulean inhaled deeply. \u201cA vision stalker is close. I fear that he has manipulated the environment, and our safety is compromised.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust reading the tombstone won\u2019t hurt.\u201d Nathan took the candle and shuffled to the side of the grave. With the raven still leering at him, he held the flame close to the stone. The inscription, spelled out in deeply etched block letters, read, \u201cHere lies Kelly Clark, murdered in her sleep by Nathan Shepherd. Even now she is unable to rest in peace as her killer shines a light over her bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Nathan slid back. \u201cHow could it know?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cerulean stared at the raven. \u201cThree possibilities. Kelly sees us in her dream, so she created the inscription even as you drew close. Yet, I think that is unlikely since she doesn\u2019t see you as a threat to her life. Still, stranger things do happen in dreams. Second, a stalker could have manipulated this place, and he is trying to intimidate you to keep you from proceeding. Third, and perhaps the most dangerous of all, is the possibility that you are becoming part of the dreamscape. Amber spoke of this when she heard about Jack\u2019s entry. If Patar sent Jack here to keep him alive, then he likely expected the poor man to become part of the dream world, a living phantom who wanders in people\u2019s nightmares. He would be alive, yes, but only Patar would know how to extract him without killing him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nathan pointed at himself. \u201cThen can I leave safely? I mean, I\u2019m not becoming part of this place yet, am I?\u201d<\/p>\n

Fixing his gaze on Nathan, Cerulean shook his head. \u201cYou appear solid, so one of the other two options is more likely. I suspect that a vision stalker is present.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nathan peered behind the tombstone, but nothing was there. \u201cWho? Mictar?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe would be powerful enough.\u201d Cerulean took a quick step and grabbed the raven by the throat. It choked out a squawk and flailed its wings under the supplicant\u2019s grip, vainly trying to claw his arm. \u201cWhere is your master?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNew inscription,\u201d it croaked again. \u201cRead!\u201d<\/p>\n

Cerulean shook its body. \u201cYou have a voice. Tell me who sent you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRead! Read!\u201d The raven broke free, and in a scattering of feathers, it flew into the darkness above.<\/p>\n

As a black pinion floated to the ground, Cerulean took the candle back from Nathan. \u201cCome. We must hurry. The longer we stay here, the greater the danger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShouldn\u2019t we read the inscription again?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cerulean held the flame high and wrapped a hand around Nathan\u2019s arm. \u201cIt is of no consequence. If the message has been written by the stalker, it is likely to be a lie. If it is a product of Kelly\u2019s nightmarish fears, it will only work to heighten your own. And if you are becoming part of this world, deep emotions will only hasten the process.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot knowing will drive me crazy.\u201d Pulling against Cerulean\u2019s grip, Nathan squinted at the tombstone, but it was too dark to read. \u201cTaking a second won\u2019t hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cerulean held fast. \u201cThe risk is too high. Your uncharacteristic insistence demonstrates that the effect this place is having on you is escalating rapidly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I have to know.\u201d As Nathan pulled against the strong grip, the supplicant\u2019s blue hair grew fuzzy, looking like reeds waving under restless waters. \u201cLet me go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNathan!\u201d<\/p>\n

The shout sounded like a thunderclap. Nathan spun toward it. Ahead on the path, a man stood with his fists set against his hips. Tall and lean, he appeared to be dangling a plastic bag from his fingers.<\/p>\n

Nathan blinked. \u201cIs it Mictar?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Cerulean said, loosening his grip. \u201cIt is Patar.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patar walked three steps closer and halted. Now about five paces away, his face bent into a deep scowl. \u201cYou should not have come here. It is far too dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nathan glanced between Patar and the tombstone. He pointed at the inscription. \u201cI need to know what is says. Kelly might be communicating with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you can see, Cerulean \u2026\u201d Patar\u2019s voice grew distant, warped, like he spoke from the midst of a cave. \u201cHe is already being absorbed.\u201d The stalker\u2019s slender form now seemed foggy, distorted, more like a dream than reality.<\/p>\n

Cerulean nodded. \u201cI can see that now. He is showing signs of fading.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fading?\u201d Nathan pointed at Cerulean, then at Patar. \u201cYou two are the ghostly looking ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s only going to get worse,\u201d Patar said. \u201cHis mental defenses are withering, and Kelly\u2019s nightmare is reaching a climax.\u201d<\/p>\n

A sudden gust of wind blew back a blanket of clouds. A full moon, at least five times its usual size, hovered in a purple sky. Its glow illuminated the cemetery, allowing a clearer view of the dozens of gravesites.<\/p>\n

\u201cShall I take him out immediately,\u201d Cerulean asked, \u201cor should I find Jack first?\u201d<\/p>\n

A low rumble sounded at Nathan\u2019s side. At the gravesite where the raven once perched, a hand pushed out of the earth, then a second hand and a head. Finally, an entire body, short and feminine, climbed up and shook dirt from her shoulder-length hair. She looked straight ahead and called, \u201cNathan? Are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKelly?\u201d Nathan stared at her. \u201cIt really is you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Wearing a knee-length nightshirt, she brushed off the soil, revealing letters on the front, \u201cSanity is Overrated.\u201d Then, extending her arms, she staggered toward him, feeling for obstacles in her way. \u201cNathan? Where are you? I hear your voice.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she drew closer, he stiffened. Kelly had no eyes, only vacant sockets. Could she be the Earth Blue Kelly, somehow resurrected? Or was she Kelly Red, a recent victim of Mictar\u2019s cruel electrified hand? Yet, wasn\u2019t she just part of a dream? She looked real enough.<\/p>\n

Kelly stopped and touched Nathan\u2019s cheeks with her cold fingers. \u201cThere you are. Why didn\u2019t you answer me?\u201d She shivered and rubbed her arms. \u201cI\u2019m cold and scared. Will you get me out of this dark place? I can\u2019t see a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nathan reached for her hand but then jerked back. \u201cYou\u2019re just a mirage. I can\u2019t take you anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are correct.\u201d Cerulean lifted his candle higher. \u201cStay in the light, Nathan. Do not be deceived.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is no time for joking around,\u201d Kelly said. Bouncing on the toes of her sock-covered feet, she shook harder. \u201cYou can\u2019t leave me in this horrible place. It\u2019s so cold, so terribly cold. Please take me home.\u201d She reached out and groped for him. With missing eyes and dirty face, she seemed like a pitiful waif as her voice broke into a lament. \u201cNathan \u2026 please \u2026 I\u2019m scared.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get you out. Just hang on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her chilled fingers wrapped around his bandaged hand. She was solid, real, not a hint of fading.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, thank you.\u201d She leaned her head against his shoulder. \u201cI told you never to leave me, not even for a minute. I felt so alone. So scared. I have no idea how all that dirt got on me. It was like I was buried in a grave.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, dizziness flooded Nathan\u2019s mind, but he shook it off. \u201cJust stay with me. Cerulean will get us out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNathan!\u201d Cerulean warned again. \u201cIf you continue\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet him go for a moment.\u201d His voice fading even further, Patar poured out the contents of his bag into Cerulean\u2019s hand. \u201cWhen I wrestled with my brother, I recovered Jack\u2019s eyes from his energy reserves. You will find him approximately one hundred paces ahead. Restore these and get him and Nathan out of here with all speed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nathan squinted at Cerulean\u2019s transparent palm. Two eyeballs, perfectly formed, with nerves and moist tissue attached, lay there. Nathan nearly gagged, but he stayed quiet.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Nathan broke the portal mirror,\u201d Patar continued, \u201cyou will not be able to travel to my world to play the violin at Sarah\u2019s Womb, at least not right now. You can, however, travel to Earth Yellow to gather other options.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Cerulean replied. \u201cNathan\u2019s mother is playing \u2018Foundation\u2019s Key\u2019 as we speak to see which mirror is the correct portal. While we were waiting, we decided to try to find Jack, since he entered the dream world from Earth Blue. I was unsure of how the dreamscape would affect Nathan, so this was a test.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he failed, as usual. His desire for revenge against my brother outweighed his wisdom. He had the power to escape with the mirror intact.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNathan,\u201d Kelly said, her fingers growing warmer within his hand. \u201cDon\u2019t let him talk about you like that. You did the best you could. You were under a lot of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right. I don\u2019t know why they\u2019re saying those things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen don\u2019t listen. We\u2019ll find our own way out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo now,\u201d Patar said, \u201cbefore that rotting cadaver becomes more real to him than life itself. He will soon bond with it beyond all hope of reason.\u201d With that, Patar faded out of sight.<\/p>\n

Cerulean put the eyeballs back into the bag and stuffed the open edges into his waistband. Then, lifting the candle, he pulled Nathan\u2019s arm. \u201cJack\u2019s up ahead. Let\u2019s get him and flee this place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leading Kelly by the hand, Nathan went along with the pull, following Cerulean, now a blue ghost in his sight. \u201cDid you hear that, Kelly? We can follow him. We\u2019ll be out of here soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Nathan.\u201d She staggered along, her empty sockets still wide. \u201cI knew you wouldn\u2019t leave me here.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the moon shining brightly, the going was easier. It took only a few seconds to find Jack sitting on the ground, leaning against a tombstone. Although Cerulean was now as transparent as thinning fog, Jack seemed solid enough.<\/p>\n

Running his fingers through his thick beard, Jack looked around with his empty eyes. \u201cWho is here?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is losing his grip on reality as well,\u201d Cerulean said as he crouched next to the tombstone. \u201cI will have to work quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe looks fine. He\u2019s not fading at all.\u201d Nathan turned to Kelly. He almost said, \u201cRight, Kelly?\u201d forgetting for a moment that she couldn\u2019t see anything. Still, even without her lovely brown eyes, she looked\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cTake this.\u201d Cerulean handed Nathan the candle. \u201cWatch me through the flame.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh. Okay.\u201d Feeling dizzy again, Nathan held the flame close to his nose and peered around both sides. Cerulean pulled the eyeballs from the bag. Then, singing unintelligible words at a high pitch, he laid his palm over Jack\u2019s empty sockets and pushed the eyeballs into place. Keeping his hand there for a moment, he continued singing while blue light seeped around the edges.<\/p>\n

With every second, Cerulean grew more solid while Jack stayed the same. Nathan looked back at Kelly. Her face seemed fuzzier, distant. Still holding his bandaged hand, she angled her head as if listening.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s happening?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything\u2019s okay.\u201d As he spoke, her features clarified again. \u201cCerulean is repairing Jack\u2019s eyes. We\u2019ll leave in a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nathan turned back to Cerulean, lowering the candle to see him better. Now ghostly blue again, he helped Jack to his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you see?\u201d Cerulean asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well, thank you.\u201d Jack pulled a rumpled fedora from beneath his jacket and straightened it out. \u201cI can see everything well, except for you.\u201d He put on his hat and turned toward Nathan, his restored eyes glistening. \u201cNathan! I\u2019m so glad to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSame here.\u201d Nathan gave the candle back to Cerulean and shook Jack\u2019s hand with his relatively uninjured left. \u201cNow let\u2019s all get out of this place. I have to figure out what happened to Kelly and get some eyes for her, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNathan.\u201d Cerulean pushed the candle closer. \u201cYou and Jack will come with me. You must leave Kelly behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Nathan shook his head hard. \u201cI can\u2019t leave her here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelly\u2019s arm locked around his. \u201cNo, Nathan! No!\u201d<\/p>\n

Cerulean pulled Jack and Nathan together and held the candle\u2019s flame near their eyes. His voice mellowed to a soothing chant. \u201cStare at the flame. It is the light of reality. The images around you are mere phantoms. Bring what is real back into focus, or you will not return to the ones you love. Nathan, think of your mother. She waits for you in the Earth Blue bedroom. You must go back and search for your father. The real Kelly is there as well. We must awaken her from this nightmare, so the two of you can go to Earth Yellow and save two world populations from annihilation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The flame\u2019s glow spread over Cerulean\u2019s face, making his features clearer by the second. He compressed Nathan\u2019s chin with his hand, forcing him to keep his stare locked on the flame. \u201cYou must let her go, Nathan. She is not real. Night is over, and dawn is breaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Nathan!\u201d Her voice spiked into a wail. \u201cYou promised to stay with me. This place is cold and dark, and I\u2019m scared.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ever so gently, Cerulean pulled on Nathan\u2019s chin, drawing him forward, his voice now hypnotizing. \u201cRelease her, son of Solomon. All will be well. You will see the real Kelly in mere moments. We will awaken her, and she will escape this torture.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heaving and exhaling shallow breaths, Nathan pried Kelly\u2019s fingers loose and pulled away.<\/p>\n

\u201cNathan!\u201d she cried. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned. Kelly, now ghostly and floating backwards, pressed her hands against her cheeks. \u201cI\u2019ll be alone again. All alone in this cold, dark place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI \u2026 I can\u2019t leave her. She\u2019s\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Cerulean twisted him back. His voice sharpened again. \u201cShe\u2019s \u2026 not \u2026 real!\u201d<\/p>\n

His mind now swimming, he repeated the words in a breathy whisper. \u201cShe\u2019s not real.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cerulean blew out the candle. As the light faded, Kelly\u2019s voice faded with it. \u201cI\u2019m so cold \u2026 so cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seconds later, light flooded Nathan\u2019s vision. He blinked, trying to focus. Cerulean stood in front of him, Jack at his side and the Earth Blue bedroom all around. His mother stood behind them, her violin in playing position, while Amber, the Earth Yellow supplicant, held a square mirror in front of her. On the floor, Kelly lay on a mattress, shivering.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo cold,\u201d she cried out. \u201cSo cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nathan dropped to his knees. He grabbed her arm and gave her a hefty shake. \u201cKelly! Wake up! It\u2019s just a bad dream.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes shot wide open, glassy and wild. \u201cNathan! Don\u2019t leave me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here!\u201d He scooped her up and cradled her. \u201cI won\u2019t leave you. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

She wrapped both arms around his. \u201cBut you did leave me! I begged you not to, but you left anyway!\u201d<\/p>\n

Cerulean crouched on Kelly\u2019s opposite side. \u201cInvaded nightmares are the most vivid of all, and now you understand the danger. When we go to Earth Yellow, it will likely be worse. The veil between nightmares and reality is thinner there, and Mictar will be watching for you.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1384"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1384"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1384\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1386,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1384\/revisions\/1386"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}