I was skeptical about this book in the beginning because while "A Study in Drowning" was one of my favorite reads for the year, it felt complete to me and I wasn't sure how the story would continue. That being said, I loved this story! We got to know the characters that I loved even better, we saw more of their flaws, and how they overcame challenges. While I really enjoyed this book, I did not feel the connection to it that I did to "A Study in Drowning" which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the ARC copy! 

I cried several times reading this and I don’t know if that makes anyone want to read it, but it was deeply cathartic for me. Ava writes in such a beautiful, moving way, that I find myself trying to extend the book to as not to find its ending. I’m so excited for this to come out and force everyone to read it and cry!!!!

This is just as strong as A Study of Drowning, its predecessor. Ava Reid’s prose remains as beautiful as ever.

Be forewarned that it does delve heavily into depression.

The book can sway toward being heavy-handed with it themes, and the indistinct time period can rankle (there are fighter jets and hospital machines, but only landlines and no computers?), but that’s not new to this duology. Fans of Rebecca Ross’s Letters of Enchantment, or A Study of Drowning, will enjoy this.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

The sequel I didn't know I needed!

This book picks up immediately after the events of A Study in Drowning. With their findings published, Effy and Preston have to deal with the fallout of accusing one of Llyr's beloved sleepers of being a fraud at a time when the war between Llyr and Argant is reaching a boiling point. While Effy grapples with her new course load and being the only woman in the literature college, Preston is dragged into a dangerous research project by his advisor, Master Goose, and targeted by his peers for being Argantian. As Preston's dreams slowly overtake his reality, Effy seeks the comfort of dreamless sleep. In order to overcome their personal demons they'll have to learn how to exist in a world that isn't always welcoming.   

I was so curious what this world was going to look like without the chilling backdrop of Hiraeth, but I am happy to report that I loved being back on campus just as much as the sinking manor. This story was slower paced than I typically go for, but I love Effy and Preston, as well as Reid's beautifully lyrical writing, so much that I was content to follow their personal journeys in this book. I did throughly enjoy learning more lore about their world though. I was fascinated by the sleepers in the first book and I was so glad that the author expanded on them in this one. I also appreciated that we delved deeper into the exploration of women's rights, xenophobia, and, of course, what it means to love someone. The love between Effy and Preston is so poetic it makes my heart ache. 

I will say that I wasn't prepared for how sad and dark this book was compared to A Study in Drowning. If we were going to liken them to Taylor Swift albums I would say A Study in Drowning is more Folklore- Illicit Affair, Mad Woman, "stolen lullabies"- and A Theory of Dreaming is more The Tortured Poet's Department- I Hate it Here, Down Bad, "how much tragedy"- which isn't a bad thing, I was just expecting something gothic and suspenseful and instead got something with more dark academia, introspective vibes. 

Overall, I think this is a beautiful companion to A Study in Drowning. Reid has created such a unique world, abundant with rich detail and history, it was truly a joy to revisit it. At it's core, A Theory of Dreaming is an exploration into magic, escapism, and what we're willing to give up to save the people we love. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Harper Collins, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.