This author is TALENTED. As the story progresses a sense of dread and unease grips the characters as well as the reader - despite it not being in first tense. Descriptions of actions, emotions and characters were vivid, I could imagine what was happening throughout. 🤩
I look forward to any Mara Rutherford books in the future! ✨

This book is a retelling of an old Poe tale, and it certainly shows. I loved the slowly creeping horror that comprised the first half of the book. It had the perfect eerie feeling of "something isn't right here" as I watched the characters slip closer and closer to an abyss none of them could see. The second half of the book was faster and more direct, which created a sense of urgency that I think worked well.. Relationships and character development felt a little rushed in the second half, but I did enjoy the ending, and felt that the story had a good resolution that wasn't too happy or too sad.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. Great for readers who enjoy gothic fantasy like Belladonna or Lakesedge.

A Multitude of Dreams is a book that will captivate you from the very first chapter and keep you hooked the whole time you are reading.

In the aftermath of a deadly plague, the story follows Princess Imogen and Nico Mott, two people who could not be more different, and yet they come together at the most crucial time. With deadly secrets and monsters looming over the castle, the princess and Nico will need to trust each other and survive.

For me, this story was about survival and what it means to forgive yourself and your past, and figure out your future.

“Survivor's guilt was the price you paid for living, and sometimes the cost was too high.”

I loved not only Imogen and Nico, but also all the side characters, but especially Colin and Jaqueline, and Henry. I really enjoyed all the plot twists and how the story came together, it kept me guessing the whole time.

The pace of the book was what I expected for a standalone fantasy, but I wished we could learn even more about the mori roja and what the world will look like going forward. I also wish there could have been some more moments between Nico and Imogen.

“The thought of losing you is like a knife in my heart, but if you ever feel like my presence would make you unhappy, I’ll go. I’ll let you face your battles alone, if that’s what you need.”

I highly recommend this book if you like darker fantasy, with romance, friendship, and a happy ending.

Thank you, Inkyard Press and NetGalley, for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Anything this author writes is pure magic. I enjoyed the character and the vibe of the whole story. I love the darkness of it. I would highly recommend anything this author writes.
10/10 perfectly written.

Full review to come. I adored this story and the Edgar Allan Poe vibes. It started off slow but definitely picked up. I loved Mara's take on vampires even if I was a bit lost in the beginning with how she broke down the lore. It is definitely a very unique premise. And while I am not Jewish, I truly did appreciate the representation, especially in a fantasy story.

A Multitude of dreams is a dual pov story between Seraphina and Nico, both impacted by the deadly plague that wiped off most of their town, and face the remnants of what the plague has left behind.

I can't speak on the Jewish rep as I'm not Jewish. I appreciated having it in the book though, and the perspective of being Jewish especially in relation to a plague as is the premise of this book. Especially knowing now that Jewish people were often blamed for plagues, that was a pretty new insight for me.

The vampire twist was a bit left field especially since the book's description doesn't mention anything supernatural, and the science seemed like there were some liberties taken in terms of how to make immaculates (people who aren't immune but avoided the plague) gain immunity. But honestly I didn't mind the vamps and was just along for the ride. I think the author even mentions in her acknowledgements that she took some liberties with the science, and although I would have liked some more accuracy, her making it known that it's not the most accurate is not the worst thing in the world for me.

Seraphina was a character I empathized with a lot and Nico was admirable in his desire to help people. Colin and Jocelyn were also such lovely friends and Henry was a surprise addition to the group of characters that I love in the book. Despite the grim and dark setting, it's hard to not enjoy the story especially with such awesome characters and loyal friendships.

This was a genuinely fantastic and horrifying read. I fully enjoyed it and was completely engrossed in the story. A plague, a princess, and a horrifying mystery.

I actually couldn’t put it down and would highly recommend this novel.

So, I loved this this book. It was filled with suspense and mystery. A Multitude of Dreams starts out by slowly revealing secrets about the main characters and the plague, and the last 1/3 of the book is almost non stop action as answers to a lot of questions are revealed, and then the main conflict happens between the antagonists and protagonists. I do wish that the romance between the main two characters had been fleshed out a bit more. I loved the development of their friendship, but their love felt too rushed to be real, or maybe it was a realistic portrayal of the desperation the two felt towards the end at actually making it through the main conflict. I'm not sure. I really hope there is a book two. I feel like there is so much more to explore in this world. A Multitude of Dreams did a good job at portraying Jewish people in a fictional world. Another reason I am hoping for a book two is so the FMC can reclaim some of her Jewish heritage. So much was robbed from her, and I want to see her truly thrive after her ordeal in this book.

If Mara Rutherford writes it, I'm going to read it and love it, and A Multitude of Dreams was no different.

I really loved this story! I had such a hard time not rushing through this book, I was so engrossed in the story from the jump. I really enjoyed the gothic royal vibes this book was giving, especially during the ball, and could easily imagine everyone's costumes.

I also appreciated how Rutherford incorporated the Jewish religion into the story, I don't know much about Jewish culture and what they went through, so it was very interesting to read about.

Tense, mysterious, and atmospheric, A Multitude of Dreams drew me in from the very beginning!

A plague has swept the kingdom, and survivors believe up to 3/4 of the population has died. Those who have survived are either immune - marked by branching lines on their wrists - or immaculate - having hidden themselves away for the years the plague has ravaged the land.
Princess Imogen has been locked away with her family and several hundred nobles, her father slowly descending into madness and everyone too afraid to even mention the plague. But food supplies are running out, and Imogen has a secret of her own she is terrified the King might one day discover.
Nico is the sole survivor from his half-noble family. Taken in by a local Lord, he is grateful to be alive and have a small community in their new and terrifying world. However when Lord Crane sends Nico and several others to search for survivors, they begin to suspect all is not as it appears.
As the two find themselves thrust together, their chances of survival - and that of everyone they care for - suddenly seem uncertain.

I was immediately taken with both of our MCs, Imogen and Nico have had entirely different experiences of the plague, and yet they are both haunted by surviving when those they love have not. Their characterisation was fantastic, and they felt very real and rounded to me. Their relationships with other characters were similarly believable, and I liked that despite there being limited survivors they both still had people they were less than fond of b

The plot was fast paced and quick to get started. Almost immediately we were faced with several mysteries to unravel and dilemmas which had to be resolved. This meant the story was interesting from the off, and remained so as the novel progressed.

The various settings were atmospheric and vivid. I loved the contrast between the castle where Imogen and the nobles were holed up and the outside world Nico and his group were exploring. Similarly, I liked the disparity in their attitudes to their new world - where Imogen and the others have not been exposed to the plague and are hoping to find out whether it has passed, Nico and his group are immune and thus know they have nothing to fear even if the Mori Roja were still around.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed A Multitude of Dreams. It was a quick, compelling read which I didn’t want to put down, and I will absolutely read more books by Mara Rutherford in the future.

This YA gothic romance inspired by Poe’s ‘Masque of the Red Death’ is a fast, enjoyable read - and its late September release will make it a perfect addition to spooky October TBRs. This is especially perfect if you’re looking for something with a creepy atmosphere but don’t want extreme gore or horror, since this maintains a YA feel in the writing style as well as with both the gothic/gore content and the romance (which is mostly very sweet and innocent so perfectly appropriate for older teens, one very mild spice scene but it’s mostly off page).

The story flows well and the pacing was just right, it never felt rushed or like it was puttering around needlessly. I found Seraphina and Nico to both be really likeable, though Jocelyn was probably my favorite out of everyone and I really loved the bond between her and Seraphina. I thought the story was an interesting take on Poe’s original and overall another great story from Mara…I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

My fifth book by Mara Rutherford! I love how similar, but different all of her novels are!
What you can find in this book:
- court intrigue
- Jewish rep
- vampires
- royalty
- secret identities

I love court politics and royalty in general, so following the princesses in the castle has been really fun for me. The two plotlines merged really well and I appreciated that both were given enough room to be explored on their own before they joined together. The world sucked me right in, and I would love to explore more of it, to see how the plague affected other realms. I loved how the plague and the vampires were explored and eventually brought together, I really didn't saw it coming. In here, they really are the bad guys, not enchanting at all. As for the romance, I think it worked really well within the story, and it was kind of in the background for the most part until the end, but there were hints and it did have a big influence on the story!

Thank you again for the opportunity to read and review this early! Be on the lookout in September for a prefect seasonal read!

A Multitude of Dreams by Mara Rutherford
Publication Date: September 26, 2023

Princess Imogen has been locked away for years in a castle along with all the other nobles and servants as a result of the mad king’s orders. A plague moved through the Kingdom decimating the population not lucky enough to have been locked in the castle. What the castle inhabitants don’t know is that the plague is mostly over and survivors are starting to come out of hiding. The question being how exactly did they survive? And what does this mean for the castle’s inhabitants?

I thought this book was about a deadly illness (which if I’m being entirely honest still feels too soon to be reading about) and the political fallouts set in a fantastical world. *Here comes the spoilers* What I wasn’t prepared for was the vampires. It was at that point that book just fell apart for me. I was prepared for political maneuvering and maybe some romance. I was not prepared for bloodsucking, bloodthirsty creatures. On the bright side, at least these ones didn’t sparkle?

There were also just a ton of plotholes and again *here comes the spoilers.* How did NO ONE realize she wasn’t Imogen? Not one person threatened to reveal the truth to gain standing?! What kind of court is this?! If the plague was a great equaliser, why was Nico acting as a servant to a person who saved him? Were the other kingdoms also affected by this plague? Do they also have vampires? Why did no one ever correspond about this issue? Why would a foreign prince agree to enter a territory they knew to be affected by a plague? Surely Imogen would have had to go to him?

Imogen was also unremarkable. She had no standout characters. She didn’t possess any special abilities. The fact that she would run head first at danger and get mad when she left behind resulted in my frustration over her nativity.

The book briefly touches on the treatment of Jews during the outbreak of the plague (how they were blamed for it and what happened to them as a result). The main female character is also Jewish. There was too much going on in the book and I don’t think it appropriately handled the topic. It just didn’t feel right to me that antisemitism was being used as a plot device without any real exploration into the matter. Perhaps if this hadn’t ventured into vampire territory it could have been more meaningful but there was just too much going on.

Thank you to Inkyard Press for providing an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Multitude of Dreams contains a compelling plot with lies, conspiracies, political machinations, religious prejudice, and vampires. The writing and atmosphere in this novel was exquisite, and I was drawn into the world of Goslind right away. This book's gloomy and ominous aesthetic was amazing and jump scares, high stakes, cleverly scripted terrifying situations, and narrative surprise and suspense were all beautifully delivered. The small story twists, the hints, the well-written villain with concise and clear motivations fit together so perfectly. The ambience was suspenseful and slightly eerie since everyone at Eldridge Hall has something to cover up. The characters were well-developed and had rich backstories. I could sense Seraphina's optimism, wants, longing, worries. She is persistent in making her own decisions, particularly given how long it has been taken away from her. I always love hidden identities in books so I was really intrigued by that element in this book. I also admire how she proudly upheld her ethnicity and identity while never losing sight of it. I adore how sharp and perceptive Nico is, he is so brave and devoted to helping people. I loved both Seraphina and Nico's points of view equally because both of them are incredibly likeable and realistic characters. The relationship between them was so tender and sweet. Being able to see the plague’s aftermath from their two very different points of view was truly fantastic. I especially loved how the author included her Jewish history, illustrating how they were both disproportionately impacted by the plague and blamed for it. There are also elements of fantasy incorporated into the story and the vampires and monsters were written in such an interesting and creative way. This book centres around the peaceful, intimate feeling of the power in learning about oneself, in knowing who you are and hanging on tightly to that and about the personal journeys of identity.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A Multitude of Dreams is the fifth book written by Mara! It is a Poe retelling of Mask of Red Death, in a land that has been tortured by a bloody plague. Imogen, the princess locked in the castle to keep the disease out and Nico, a grave digger who is immune to the disease. When Nico is sent to the castle to see if there are survivors, he and Imogen meet and discover what the plague did.

“But the fact is that the circumstances of our birth don’t really matter, do they? You and I may come from different worlds, but we’re both here in this one now”

I have been part of Mara’s Street team for over a year and I love every minute spent with the amazing group of people who are part of it with me. I fell in love with Mara’s writing while reading Luminous and every book since!

The very first pages of this book gripped my and sucked me into the story! While I was sucked in, I did feel this book was a slow read for me. Instead of the slow read making the book boring or hard to get through, I just really sucked the words in. I feel like the slow reading made me really appreciate the atmosphere and ambiance that was created. It has a really dark, rich and gothic feel and really made me want to keep on reading and really take my time.

The plot is very engaging! I love the idea that this plague brings on three types of survivors, the immune, immaculate and the vampires who are more like zombies. We’ve taken to calling them zompires hahaha!

Aside from an engaging plot, it really brings a historical aspect of Jewish persecution to the table. I actually applaud Mara for taking on this topic. It brings the belief from the Middle Ages, that the Jews were responsible for the plague, which is of course a load of bull, but this way of thinking is also present in the book.

The characters are super different from each other and soooooo loveable! I have to say that Nico, my smoll bean Nico, is my absolute favorite. I just love his understanding and calmness, but also his fearlessness and loyalty! Seraphina is such a strong character who had to endure way too much. She comes across as mature beyond her years with a fierce longing to be free. I love how both fight for what they want!

I love the progression of the romance in this book. There was a sort of hint of a love triangle, but with the stakes and everything happening it really took a seat on the background. I love how the romance never overpowered the need for survival and how it wasn’t some Insta-love between the characters. The progression feels natural and believable and fitting for the events happening in this book. At the same time, the desperation of being free and wanting to survive does push them together more quickly, but still in a very believable way. I also love, love, love the fact that the girl is bold and claimed the boy! On the other side, the friendships have been growing for years and the deep connection that the characters have with each other is equally beautiful to read.

One thing I also really love that this book has is the non-romanticized way that vampires are portrayed. I really like to see the vampires truly be “the bad guys” in this case. It is a fresh and different take on the many vampire stories out in the world.

There is a moment that I really had a jump scare and honestly screamed out loud because of what happened! I love a book that can take me by surprise like that and made me feel my heartbeat in my throat! The stakes were so high, nobody could be trusted and I loved every second I sat in suspense reading on to find out what would happen next!

Overall, A Multitude of Dreams is a beautiful and unique story that is a perfect read for the spooky season, with the dark, rich and gothic atmosphere created!

inspired by “the masque of the red death” by edgar allan poe, a multitude of dreams is a YA gothic fantasy full of strong female characters, found family, vampires, disguises, secrets, suspense and a sprinkling of horror and I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT!😭🖤

i absolutely flew through this book!! the plot kept me on my toes and guessing what the hell was going to happen next, the character growths were *chefs kiss*, the writing was beautiful and i loved the Jewish rep within this story☺️

Seraphina and Nico have my entire heart and so does Jocelyn!! the friendships within this story are top tier and i wanted to protect each and every one of them (i still do)🤺

the book comes out on 26th september 2023 just in time for spooky season🕸️

thank you so much mara & inkyard press & netgalley for sending this to me!

I loved The Poison Season and loved this!! 4.5/5! Thank you so much for the ARC, I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book :)

"Besides, what the girls back home thought of any of this didn’t matter anymore. All the girls back home were dead."

🥀 Goslind has been the victim of a deadly plague
The mori roja has ravaged the kingdom and there are only two ways to survive it: pray for blood immunity or lock yourself away and avoid any contact with the outside.

🏰 Eldridge Hall is a palace built on lies
To escape the disease, Princess Imogen has been trapped in the castle for years with the rest of the nobility.
But the princess has a secret: the real Imogen has been dead for three years.

🫀 Cozy dystopia
The fact that much of the story takes place inside the castle makes this book have a warm and cozy tone, which reminded me a lot of the cozy fantasy that I love so much, and I thought it was a great decision 🤍
It does not pretend to offer you the most complex plot but if you enjoy quiet books (and adorable romances) and want to try something new I highly recommend this one.

🐦‍ Edgar Allan Poe references
Truth is, I have never read Poe before but there are many references to "The Masque of the Red Dead" in this book that and you will surely love them if you have read it. 🖤

I unfortunately just couldn't get into this one. I absolutely love Mara Rutherford so this was highly anticipated for me. Unfortunately it just fell flat for me.

I found myself getting bored, I didn't feel like the flowed very nicely, the magic system wasn't for me, I'm just slightly disappointed. That's not to say the book was bad at all.

I appreciate that it was brought to a bigger light the old thoughts that Jewish people were thought to have spread the plague. That's not widely known. I also loved the omens, the symbolism, and the details when describing settings.

While overall for me this book was just okay, I definitely recommend you read and decide for yourself.

A MULTITUDE OF DREAMS is an Edgar Allan Poe retelling that involves a plague and a masquerade. In the dual POVs, we follow Princess Imogen, who holds a deadly secret, and Nico Mott, a rich boy turned peasant. Princess Imogen has spent the past four years locked away in the palace with a mad king and a bunch of royals who would rather pretend than face his wrath. What she longs for is freedom, but she has no way to gain it due to the boarded up windows and doors that prevent anyone from leaving. Nico Mott works for a man who is a monster (in the literal sense and not figurative). When he discovers that his master does not have good intentions, he immediately decides to warn those trapped with the palace. Though both of them have different reasons, their goals are the same: escape the palace.

Rutherford does a remarkable job with world building and establishing characters who are a wide range of manipulative and controlling to sweet and uplifting. Character development, on the other hand, is a different story. These characters are very static, remaining unchanging throughout the entire plot.

This book has Jewish representation, a strong female lead, and… vampires(?). Overall, I would give this book 3.5/5 stars.

*Thank you NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing an e-arc*