Where Dragonwoofs Sleep and the Fading Creeps by A.J. Massey

My name is Ben, and the first two things I remember after waking up in the Red Forest are being called a weed and learning the horror of the Fading; the lands are slowly disappearing from existence. I was later joined by Marcus and Avery, along with a translucent elf, and we've set off to stop the Fading. We must travel across the lands to retrieve the sphinx's head. Our efforts are complicated since the Sovereign is sending his armies after us to ensure the Fading continues, and the elves must remain hidden to avoid their genocide. I've just discovered something about Avery, Marcus, and I. In addition to being the only weeds here, we all have no memory of our lives before coming to Meridia. What does that mean?

What a strange adventure. The events described above occurred during Ben and Avery's dreams, although they had no recollections of them when they awoke. There didn't seem to be any clear connections between their conscious experiences and their dreams. Both characters experienced bullying, but I couldn't figure out what the Fading might symbolize in their lives. Labeling Ben, Avery, and Marcus as weeds differentiated them from elves, goblins, and other creatures in the dreamworld, but all three of them had no memories of their lives before arriving in Meridia. I would have been okay with the two "worlds" if there had been some clarity connecting them. It was finally explained 3/4 of the way through the book, but there was no reason why these three specific kids were chosen to come together. While the book told a suspenseful adventure, I was distracted by the unusual details added to the plot. Some characters spoke in ambiguous, literal manners, and there seemed to be confusing, unspoken rules for personal interactions and deals. Overall, I liked the plot and characters, but some "creative" elements muddled things.