Thanks to HarperTeen for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

DNF’d at 52%! I was trying to give this book the benefit of the doubt, but I just couldn’t keep reading and hope for better. I was surprised by this book’s existence. A Study in Drowning was supposed to be a standalone, but I guess there was enough demand and content to write more. 

In order for me to best explain why I did not finished reading, I will talk spoilers on A Study in Drowning, so please do not read this review any further if you have not read the first book yet. If you don’t care, then read on. 

This book starts off right from where we left off in book 1 with Effy being a student at the literature college instead of architecture and going through college life with her boyfriend, Preston. Now that Effy has defeated the Fairy King and co-authored a thesis with Preston on Myrddin’s legacy, she has struggled with imposter syndrome at the literature college, putting a Llyrian icon into questionable integrity, and having no alternative to escape. Not gonna lie, I could not fully care about her struggles since I was more worried and interested in the war between Llyr and Argant. A Theory of Dreaming is more Preston’s story than Effy’s, which was what intrigued me the most about this sequel. Preston is dealing with xenophobia due to being Argantian and entering an underwater palace through his dreams as he becomes a believer in magic. 

I wanted an explanation since A Study in Drowning on the reason for this war between Llyr and Argant and never received an answer. I should not have to hope for such an explanation when this war is clearly influencing Effy and Preston’s decisions on their coping mechanisms and the university’s attacks on anyone not following Llyr traditions. I cannot care about these emotional journeys when the source of their strife does not give me any context. Also, Effy and Preston refused to talk to each other about what they are going through. I could understand some forms of miscommunication between young couples, but I cannot get past not talking to your partner about how you are feeling. This type of miscommunication just adds to the page length at this point. 

Overall, I was curious to see if this sequel was even necessary in the first place. My verdict at around halfway through: not really.