Great narrator but a lack luster story. I didn’t find myself enjoying any but if it. I know someone else will love this one but it wasn’t for me.

DNF at approximately 15%

I tried to get into this book, but ultimately the world, characters, initial setup of conflict, and magic system did nothing for me. I didn’t find Annalise or Evra particularly compelling, and the world felt like a generic medieval setting with a vague magical twist.

Thank you Hachette audio and NetGalley for this AudioARC and I apologize for the delay in publishing this review.

A Season of Sinistet Dreams had so much promise in being a take no prisoners feminist stwndalone fantasy.

My favourite part of this book was definitely the characters, Annalise and Evra were both strong determined women in there own right.

Also the narration of this audiobook was fantastic. No vocal fry or overwhelming accents to distract from the story.

Unfortunately that was really all I enjoyed about this book. Not only was it filled with many over done fantasy tropes, but the magic system is not explained not do there seem to be any consequences for using magic. This makes any conflict seem not overly threatening or alarming because you could just use the magic that has very little limits to resolve the crisis.

Also the ending was a complete let down and ruined any chance of this book being the feminist fantasy I wanted.

Unfortunately this book was a disappointing 2 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Season of Sinister Dreams introduces us to two young ladies who are coming into their own. First, we meet Annalise, the King's niece who has just learned of her betrothal. Annalise also has a massive magical ability that she is attempting to control, but sometimes it acts out. Evra is a young woman who has no magical ability whatsoever, until she is tapped by a soothsayer type magic that forewarns of a threat against the kingdom. How are these two's stories intertwined and what is this coming threat? Pick up this novel to find out!

This story had the making of a great villain origin story. A battle royal of good versus evil which never really came to fruition as our villainous character didn't embrace her desires and tried(failing miserably) at being good. I really enjoy books that make you choose a side, even if it ends up being the wrong one, but it honestly felt like neither of these characters had their hearts in it. The magic system was pretty cool, and the reveals were pretty interesting; but the execution of where the characters went with these revelations fell flat. This story fall victim to the notorious "I've got a great beginning, but I'm not sure how to end it" syndrome. For me, it took what started as a great story and just made it okay.

This story is perfect for those looking for any kind of oracle or soothsayer magic, that area is where the story really shines. 12+ as there isn't anything not appropriate for younger readers.

This was a fantastic audio book! It kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The characters were rich and complex, and the author had a great number of surprises. She very effectively told the story from two perspectives, although near the end the timeline got a tad bit confusing.

My only critique was the magic system. I found myself confused about it--does everyone have magic? Is it no big deal? Why don't people assume Annalise has magic? Or do they? I think that these questions get answered in a sense, but not clearly. I think that she could have better explained it. But, other than that, the world building was excellent.

And the narrator was great! Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the free earc.

A great fast paced fantasy with incredible female characters. Definitely one to recommend to friends!

A Season of Sinister Dreams is a captivating fantasy about two women in opposite situations who are thrust together by a tyrant king.

I loved the used of magic, and the fact that there was some mystery to the story. The "villain" is actually totally relatable and sympathetic, which makes for an even more interesting plot.

A good, engaging and fast paced read!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I love how many twists and turns that the book has and the narration is on point. The narrator keeps the pace of the story and I love the magical elements. Such a great listen!

With the king so close to death and his grandson, who is next in line, abdicating and disappearing, the king must find another heir. He doesn't have to look to far to find his grand-niece, Annalise. As Anna battles with the king's policies, he grows weaker and closer to death. The appearance of a clearcy, Evra, changes things up. Evra, who just came into her power, fights to understand it and how to interpret what she has seen in her visions. Both Evra and Anna want what is best for the kingdom however the way one goes about it is not necessarily the best.
Opinion
I listened to the audiobook (so I apologize if I misspell something.) The flow and pacing of the reading was fabulous. I did have a little bit of trouble with the same voice doing both Evra and Anna's parts. The sections are titled with the names and their parts of the stories are different enough that I was able to pick up quickly whose part I was listening to. However, if you do not pay close attention, you may get lost. (In the grand scheme of things, this is a minor complaint as the reading was excellent.)
The story was fascinating. I loved "watching" Evra try to figure out her visions. The puzzle pieces in her mind and the way she went about solving them was truly interesting. Anna's story was quite unexpected. I was honestly speechless when her past was revealed.
I loved this book.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Actual rating 2.5/5 stars.

Annalise is used to life at court but she has higher aspirations than merely gazing up at the throne everyday - she wants to sit upon it. Evre wants as far away from the king who currently resides upon it as possible, but when her magical abilities manifest themselves they see her torn from her home and placed right beside him. The fates of these two individuals seem to be intertwined, but if they are to be each others ally or enemy still remains to be seen.

I can't quite place exactly why this book did not wholly work for me. There was no inherent flaw nor any unlikable trope present but I still felt some distance forming between myself and all that was occurring. I honestly wish I could say exactly why this was as I realise it is both unfair to the author and for anyone looking for an insight to see if this book is for them. There is magic and intrigue and court politics and much drama. This seemed like a book I should have loved, and yet...

Perhaps this distance was my own fault. If I had read the synopsis properly I would have quickly realised that there was two perspectives present, but somehow failed to catch this when listening to the audio narration and got entirely confused. I restarted the book again, once I had realised my mistake, and immediately understood all that was unfolding. Maybe the damage had already been done, though?

But perhaps my disconnect was truly formed in the final quarter. I felt the characters that had grown over the course of the novel altered somewhat and I did not really appreciate the new direction that they took the story in. There was also a romantic undercurrent that became more present (although never to the point that it overtook the plot) and I cared little for it.

To conclude, this is an entirely unhelpful review and I still don't know how I truly feel about the book. I'm still hopeful to read Grace and Fury and become a fan of this author's work, though.

A Season of Sinister Dreams by Tracy Banghurt
Narrator - Christie Moreau
Genre - YA/Fantasy
Rating - 5 out of 5 stars
Narration - 5 out of 5 stars

This book is an incredible coming of age story about two different girls. One that is just coming into her magical powers and one that has had them most of her life but is taken over by the greed that comes along with them

This book has many twists and turns and would be good for teens and adults alike. It is full of mystery and intrigue. It is set in a time where magic is real and King’s can force common people to use their magics at their every whim.

The narration is excellent and the narrator keeps the pace quick and easy. Even listening at 1x speed. She also makes you want to keep coming back for more.

This was one of those just one more chapter audiobooks for me and then it would be an hour or sometimes two later and I would still be listening. The writer leaves almost every chapter on a cliffhanger. I think that is why I would always end up listening longer than I had intended.

There is a huge twist at the end! You will be so shocked but of course I won’t tell because I don’t do spoilers.

How dare you comp this to Furyborn, show the glimpses of an excellent villain POV, and then drive it all into the ground first chance you get.

Full review at A Book Shrew

Maybe I just no longer wish to read of stories with princesses and kings. This had all the makings of being something very cool, but ended up coming across as a little tropey and overdone. I struggle to see this as a smash the patriarchy story. I was really looking forward to a good girl power story, especially with that aforementioned villainous viewpoint, but it never found roots. Honestly, I'm really unhappy with how it panned out. Like no offence, but one character deciding to (view spoiler) is so unbelievably weak.

A large part of my problem is this started off on the wrong foot for me and set the tone for the rest of the book. Annalise's first few chapters were quite messy. I had no idea what was going on with her, her cousin, and the magic she unleashed. I also struggled with Annalise's character because she wasn't set up well. For one, her magic was poorly explained in the context of this world and didn't serve the purpose it could have. Two, she is described as a character determined to gain whatever power she can while at court. She coaxes information from people and manipulates people to her side ... but apparently she has absolutely no idea she's second in line to the throne? I'm sorry, but no. If that naivety was not included, the opportunity to make Annalise into a fabulous, villainous character was right there. Instead her ambitions were highly flawed and made her out to be incompetent.

Evra was a far more interesting character, but even her chapters were a little confusing with her visions. This could be because I listened to the audiobook, but there was no break in the narrative. The visions bled into the scene and were often hard to follow. And while Evra was my favourite of the two, she, too, lost me at the end. The problem with the dual POV consisting of two characters on very separate tracks is that the reader is so far ahead of Evra. We know everything, can see all the obvious signs, and yet she's completely blind to it all. It's so frustrating to experience because it made her seem unfairly oblivious. I also didn't like the odd noble route she adopted towards the end.

It pains me to admit, but I think this lost a star with every plot twist. In order for them to work, the groundwork needed to be there. Hints and glimpses that you don't connect until that moment. They flopped for me here. What's worse is this book was solid. It's rating was salvageable for me until the last 100 pages or so. Suddenly nothing made sense and characters were doing complete 180s in motives and personalities without any clue as to why. And talk about a disappointing ending. Oh, I hated how it worked out so much because again, it felt there was zero groundwork laid for it to be deemed right. Really, it was too noble and horribly safe.

As I said, I received a copy of the audiobook from the publisher for this review. Gotta say, it was a poor choice not to have two narrators, one for each girl. While the single narrator did alright with the material, each POV blended together and I didn't really find either girl distinct.

Sigh. I have permanent wrinkles between my eyebrows now from the expressions I made in the last 100 pages. If I have to ask "what, whyyyyy" that many times about a character's actions or thoughts, you missed something. I have a copy of the author's previous book series, but now I'm quite hesitant to give it a go.

A standalone YA fantasy
I liked the characters they were not good or evil, they had good sides and bad sides.
Sometimes I did want to yell at them because they didn't see things that where very obvious (to me).
But the story was good and had a lot of pace.

The narrator also did a very good job.

Kind of a slow start but once the pacing balanced it was a breeze. I have mixed feelings about Annalise. She was really coldhearted and made rash decisions, I believe she really wanted to better her land but was to manipulative. Her romance was a no go for me. Evera was better to read through, but why be afraid of someone with no magic? I did like that she was able to see beyond what was being spoon fed to her and admired that she wanted to do something about it. The world building need a little more work and the magic system needed to be clarified.

Thanks to Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

Narration: the audiobook narrator was good. They voice kept me interested and they did a good job of distinguishing between what characters were talking.

A stand alone YA fantasy! About two girls who find themselves coming together in an unlikely way.

I liked the duel narration of this story. It made the book flow well. The idea of magic in this kingdom was cool, the fact that they fear it’s weakening is also an interesting concept as well.

3 Stars
It is a decent stand alone fantasy! Some of the plot felt rushed/confusing. Some parts were boring and I think could have also been cut. It was an okay read but could have been better. I feel like the audiobook helped me get through these less interesting parts better than if I was reading this book with my eyes. But overall it was a good story.


Thanks to Netgalley
chette Audio
Little, Brown Young Readers
for providing me with this audio book in exchange for my honest opinions and review.

It took me a while into this book and I really don't know why because I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. It might have been because the physical book I was reading was similar so it was just hard to keep track of what was happening in which.
The characters were interesting. We had 2 main characters, Annalise and Evra. Annalise lived in the castle and was next in line for throne. Evra has just discovered her clearsee (spelling?) magic, one of the most rare magical gifts. While these 2 girls had great personalities, it was told from each of their POV's in the first person, so there were so many times I couldn't remember which POV I was on unless someone else said one of their names. A lot of the side characters were really great too.
The plot once I really got into it was captivating. We learn about some things Annalise that she isn't proud of and doesn't want Evra to find out being a clearsee (able to see past/present/future visions). It really seems like these 2 girls have the same overall goal and will be fast friends to conquer that goal, but it really ends up the opposite which was different and refreshing. All the twists and turns at the end really had me excited to listen to every single minute.
While I think this is a standalone, there is a lot of potential for a future sequel and I would be very interested to learn more about these characters.

I’m giving this a three because I normally like Tracy Banghart’s books and I loved the narrator’s voice, but I’d say this fell more in a two category. But, there were so many holes in this novel, and honestly too many easy ways out. The premise was interesting; that everyone had a little bit of magic but Evra was weird and scary because she has none. Yet, it seemed like there were multiple characters who didn’t appear to have any magic and they weren’t weird... Toward the end, I had to go back and listen to two chapters again because someone miraculously appears just in time to be a super important character with very little transition. I actually did it twice because I thought maybe I misheard details leading up to the reveal.

Another big issue: the advisors. They’re supposed to be celibate; does that rule spontaneously disappear the second the new ruler steps into power? I mean this towards the end of the novel — as it’s utilized as a “taboo” for mid-novel but then the rule is forgotten at the end.

I really thought this novel had such promise, but I’m left feeling very “meh” about the whole thing. The majority of Evra’s story felt a bit clunky, while Annalise’s seemed more solid.

Overall, not a bad read. It was quick and interesting and the narrator was pleasant to listen to.

At its heart, A Season of Sinister Dreams by Tracy Banghart is the story of two strong yet flawed heroines trying their best to protect the kingdom they both so dearly love. Annalise, the niece of the king, must hide the powerful magic she struggles to control so she can use her influence to change the way the kingdom of Tyne is being run. Evra, the daughter of a farmer living in a poor village, discovers that she possesses special powers that allow her to see the past and future and speak with ghosts. Over the course of the novel, Annalise and Evera’s stories weave together and intertwine, with each affecting the other in ways they could never have predicted.

❤️❤️❤️ What I Loved ❤️❤️❤️
Standalone - When it comes to fantasy, I feel like ‘the norm’ tends to be expansive series that span across multiple books. And while I enjoy digging my teeth into a great series, it’s refreshing to pick up a novel, reach the end and have everything wrapped up in a satisfying and conclusive way. I like to use standalones as a palette cleanser between other reads, and seek out books that are enjoyable, provide a satisfying ending, and don't leave me with too much to think about or ponder once everything is said and done. If that's something you also seek out, I think A Season of Sinister Dreams works great for that purpose.

Dynamic Heroines - From browsing through other reviews, it seems that most people prefer Evra over Annalise. For me, I found Annalise to be the more compelling character. She was not likable, and her decisions and choices were often poor and caused more harm than good. But I love a flawed character that is trying to do what’s best, even if their actions don’t necessarily reflect that. So, I actually enjoyed Annalise’s chapters the most. For me, Evra felt a bit flat. Personality-wise, I don’t know that I could distinguish between her and any other YA fantasy protagonist. However, with both of our protagonists, I did love that Banghart was able to show strength and resiliency in two very different but equally valid ways.

Themes - I enjoyed a lot of the themes that were touched upon in this book. One of the big ones being, of course, the female experience. I loved that Banghart had so many wonderful female characters, each with a different personality but all strong and capable. Additionally, the conversation of sexism and men trying to control women were powerful and much appreciated. The discussion of wealth disparity felt very timely and reflective of what’s happening in the current day and age. Also, the ostracization of others – like Evra, who at the start of the novel did not possess magical powers felt a little heavy-handed but was nonetheless appreciated. I think Banghart could have done more to weave these themes into the story in a less blatant way, but I’m still glad they were included.

💔💔💔 What I Didn't Love 💔💔💔
Poor World Building - I think the world-building in this one left a lot to be desired. I don’t feel like I had a good grasp on the magic system and how it varies from person to person. I think it’s an interesting concept, but I wish we were given more, especially about their origins and history. Same for the origins and history of Tyne. I wanted more! I know this was a standalone and that there was only so much room to flesh out this world, but to really enjoy the central plot, I feel like I needed at least a little bit more of the framework. I also wish I knew more of the characters’ backstories, so I could better understand their choices and actions.

Pacing Issues - I have to say, the first chunk of this book felt as slow as molasses. It took me a ridiculously long time to get invested in the story and to have a decent understanding of what was happening. And honestly, had it not been an ARC, I probably would have DNF’d this one at about 25% of the way through. I didn’t know what was happening and I didn’t care enough to put in the effort it would require to figure it out. But a little ways after that, things started to pick up and I could see how the chess pieces were moving and why. By the end, I felt fully invested, and I do really like the final twist and how everything wrapped up.

Cliche - Besides the unlikability of one of the main characters, there’s not much about this one that stands out from the slew of other young adult fantasy books that are seemingly being churned out daily. A lot of the characters and plot points felt so recycled that I found myself disengaging from the story for long stretches. And the fact that I didn’t miss anything or feel confused when this happened really does speak volumes to how predictable and cliched this story was. With so many choices available in this genre, you really must do something unique to stand out and be memorable. Unfortunately, this book did not.

🌟🌟🌟 Final Thoughts 🌟🌟🌟

A Season of Sinister Dreams was okay. A bit like eating an individual-sized bag of chips, it tasted pretty good but left me wanting more. And in a few days, I’ll likely forget everything about it. This is a real disappointment, as Banghart’s Grace and Fury duology was one I really did enjoy and that I still find myself thinking about. I’ll still pick up her next work, but my expectations will definitely now be tempered.

CW: violence, death.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Hatchette Audio, for sending me this audiobook in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Banghart tells the story of two young women: one who becomes heir to the throne under dubious circumstances and one who has magic and can speak to the dead in some kind of in-between world. It’s set up to be a quite political story and also, according to the blurb, a story about female friendship – although I wouldn’t say – personally – I found that to be a great part of the story as a whole.

All in all its your normal YA-fantasy, nothing more, nothing less. I bet you 10SEK you'll recognise a few draft characters and scenarios from other similar works. With that said it is not bad - I fairly enjoyed listening to the book - but it doesn't present anything new to this sort of story or genre, really. I feel like Bangheart tried to write a partly political story but didn't quite got to the point where she, perhaps, wanted to go.

It's hard to differentiate between the two main characters as the narrator doesn't change her voice at all so both POVs just flows into one another. It took me a few chapters to realise this which of course led to some confusion for me at the beginning of the story.

This was a very fast paced entertaining fantasy novel. You have zebra who is really on a journey of growth and coming into herself and Annalise who is not all she seems. Both are very powerful girls. I really liked this standalone. The world building was lush and never lacking and the rotating POVs really helped the character development.

The narration was well done and enjoyable. I would highly recommend this one and am giving it 4 out of 5 stars.