I have not read a Mara Rutheford book that I did not enjoy, and as of now, the only one I have yet to read is the Poison Season.

I enjoyed this retelling of the Red Masque of Death. I would say that it’s a little slow in the beginning, but I got more into it after our two main characters finally come face to face.

The FMC, Serephina, is a girl who’s been trapped by circumstance, but longs for freedom and the people she left behind. She made for a compelling character, and a believable representation of survivors guilt even when things are out of our control.

Nico is someone who is really not special in any way, and honestly that’s the good thing about him. He’s not a prince, or a soldier, or a king. He’s someone who has almost nothing left, and still chooses to do the right thing. He’s undaunted by the odds when it comes to those he cares about, and that’s what makes him so likable.

I do feel like the story could’ve made for a good duology or even trilogy. I found myself wanting more at the end, and feeling like we didn’t get a good enough conclusion to the story since realistically the circumstances were still decently dire at the end.

I would still say it’s a solid 4 star read!

I truly don’t know how to describe my feelings for this book. It was… fine? From the blurb and review from one of my beloved authors (Erin Craig), I had high anticipation for something eerie and maybe slightly gory? (Think Belladonna or Gallant). This book just didn’t deliver. The introduction and exposition were painfully slow, and I was hoping that the Jewish people, as a whole, would have a bigger role to play in the plot.
By the 70% mark, I just wanted this to be over and I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters or care what ended up happening.
Three stars overall because I feel generous and I managed to finish it without a DNF.

What I loved
-The commoner forced to pretend they are royalty trope
-exceptionally atmospheric writing
-well executed fantastical elements
What didn't work as well for me
-Slight information overload in the first 3 or so chapters as the author is bringing the kingdom to life for the reader
-oddly modern phrases kept popping up in places that distracted from the story.

Who I would recommend this book for
Fans of gothic fantasy who enjoyed Poe's The Masque of the Red Death. and are ready for a story that expands on the premise of nobility hiding from disease while adding vampires to the mix are going to have a good time with this story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley for this review copy.

This book started off very slow but once it got going it sucked me in. The author did a great job at building a spooky, gothic world. The story was full of anticipation and yet subtle with its eerie reflection of Poe's work.
I feel like it's going to be one of those books that I'm going to have to sit and think about how I'm feeling for a while.

Mara Rutherford provide beautifully crafted descriptions that made you feel as if you were watching the story unfold in front of your eyes. If you want a book with an amazing plot and a world to make you forget you are reading, this is the one. It brought me out of my reading slump and left me wishing for more content.

A Multitude of Dreams by Mara Rutherford is a stunning YA gothic masterpiece!
This was an intriguing, picturesque, atmospheric, and unpredictable story.
The writing was exquisite; the detail exquisite. I was swept away by the writing of this book.
Well written, great premise and interesting characters Rutherford created a deliciously and utterly captivating scene.
Mara Rutherford drew me in from the very first page and sucked me into a new world I didn’t want to escape from.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Inkyard Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I received a free e-arc from NetGalley. These opinions are my own.

The book has a good outline for the plot but lacked execution. The blurb caught my attention but I got bored and could follow the plot by skimming the book and still understood was going on. The characters fell flat to me and nothing ever stood out or was super exciting. I loved the authors other work Poison Season but the eery vibe and gothic feel was meh and the plot twist was lack luster. Just a meh read.

A gothic, YA story involving plagues, corruption, madness, and vampires.

My favorite thing about this book was probably the setting - love the gothic castle vibe. I also loved that it took place in the aftermath of the plague instead of the beginning or middle. You got a feel for the devastation and chaos something like that would bring.

The love interests complement each other well, and I like that Seraphina is not afraid to go after what she wants. I could have used more romance time between the characters - felt a bit rushed. I'd probably go 5 stars if not for that. Also had a bit too much of the "not like other girls" trope.

I had no idea going in that this was a nod to The Masque of the Red Death, but I think it did a good job. It was also cool to have that history of antisemitism related to plagues in there.

All in all, a good book that I'd recommend to vampire and gothic YA lovers.

{AD|GIFTED} [4.5 stars] After reading and loving The Poison Season I became part of Mara Rutherford's street team aimed at sharing news about and hyping her upcoming books. As such, I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of A MULTITUDE OF DREAMS, a retelling of Poe's The Masque of the Red Death.

This is a loose retelling as the source material is so short but all the main elements are there - a plague, nobility hiding in a castle from this plague, and a masquerade ball that takes place in rooms all decorated a different colour. The author though has expanded on this and fleshed out the story by exploring the world outside the castle and the devastating effects of the plague, as well as life inside the castle. She's even added zombie vampires to the mix who hunger for the blood of Immaculates (those rare people who have never contracted the plague).

Told in a dual POV, the story alternates between Princess Imogen, living in the boarded-up and reclusive castle, and Nico Mott, a survivor of the plague who is sent to see if any people remain alive in the castle after the plague seems to have passed. I loved the Jewish representation which is a central aspect of the book. The author touches on how Jewish communities have so often been unfairly blamed for tragedies such as the Black Death. The trauma of survivor's guilt and its wide-reaching consequences is another well-written aspect.

I had a couple of small niggles that knocked off half a star but nothing major. One was that a rare couple of modern phrases jarred me out of the reading experience. The other was the reveal that women zombie vampires tended not to live very long as they refused to drink human blood. I felt this perpetuated the gender stereotype of women as caring and nurturing whilst men were unable to stop themselves from succumbing to their hunger.

Overall, though, this was a sumptuous Gothic retelling, drenched in dread and tension.

Firstly I’d like to thank Mara, Inkyard and NetGalley for the arc 🥰❤️

A Multitude of Dreams tells the story of a land that has been ravaged by the terrible Mori Roja plague, a plague that is so horrible it leaves complete devastation in its wake. There are hardly any survivors and those that do try there very best not to venture out.

Nico Mott, who once lived a comfortable life as a butchers son, now lives with a few immune in a safe house with his master, Lord Crane. Cranes house is run tightly but fairly until they have an unusual visitor who confuses the house. When newcomer Elisabeth arrives Crane’s demeanour changes and she quickly disappears. Nico becomes determined to find out what happened to Miss Talbot and when Crane sends Nico and 2 others out to find other plague survivors in the castle not only does Nico get the opportunity but he also finds much more than he bargained for…

Princess Imogen is not quite who she claims to be. After the real (and king’s favourite) princess passed away from the plague Seraphina was scouted as a replacement for her. Seraphina now finds herself masquerading as Imogen when she, in reality, she is really a Jew, the people who they had been persecuting. For 3 years they has been shut up in the castle together slowly running out of food and people are getting desperate, angry and starting to leave.

When Nico arrives at the castle he immediately finds out that Princess Imogen is stronger and feistier that she looks and that the situation there is definitely not want he thought it would be. And Seraphina and her friends learn that there are far, far worst things outside the castle walls to be afraid of and they’re very, very hungry…🩸🩸

Seraphina is such a brilliant character, she’s so strong and tenderhearted. She was taken from her family and plucked to be a princess and just had to get on with it and the fact she is surrounded by bigots makes her even more special and dynamic. She’s strong willed and knows what she wants and is always hatching plans and she’s the perfect MC. ❤️❤️ Nico completes her amazingly with his level and scientific head (and the amount of blushing as well 🥰😏). I love them both so so much!!

I ADORED THIS BOOK!! 😍😍 I’ve tried to be vague as much as I can as I really don’t want to ruin anything for anyone but it’s so so brilliant, so dark and so gothic!! I love it!! Please add it to your TBR now!! 5✨

I felt that it was extremely boring. Its setup in a dual POV storyline. Typically when that happens I like the female POV way more. Not the case with this one. I liked Nico way more. I don't think I would recommend this to a friend. Sorry.

The beginning is a bit shaky. Lots of info dumping and repetition in the first 3 chapters, which is a shame because the premise of A Multitude of Dreams is compelling, but there’s hardly any chase when so much is revealed right away.
I imagine we will soon see a trend in books about plagues, quarantine, etc given the real life pandemic we’ve been living in for 3 years. Although you wouldn’t guess it from the beginning, this book has some fresh tales and commentary about it. I just wish the author would give readers the chance to explore this world on their one instead of info dumping and telling them exactly where to go.

I enjoyed another of this authors work, but this one was not for me. It takes place a few years after a plaque and some people are immune, while others have been shut in a castle. To me the details were disconnected and overall I found the story on the weaker side.

What a Gothic masterpiece. I was so impressed that although the circumstances and time period are totally different, after living through a pandemic how easily relatable some of it was. I absolutely loved how this story flowed and how I would get so lost in the book for pages and pages that I would look up and an hour had passed. I rarely get the heart fluttering fear while reading like I do on TV or movies but this really had my heart in my throat. As soon as one thing word happen we went right into another twist and turn. This is going to be a top book of the year I can already tell.

This is my first book by this author and I’m so glad I read it! I already have people lined up to read it when it comes out. I loved the two perspectives in the book and thought the way they came together was great. It was a great read- I highly recommend it! I’m off to get her other books now.

I love Mara's writing, it has such a nice vibe and a unique storytelling. This book does not dissapoint either, I enjoyed the story, which was inspired by one of Edgar Allan Poe's story. As a person who lived through a plague kind of thing (looking at you C*vid), most of us will also relate to our characters who find themselves in the middle of a plague.

I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for an adventurous story with two lovely main characters. There were some little love parts added to the story, which was lovely. I've adored Nico so much, and I think you will too, how could you not?

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for this ARC and the chance to read this book early.

What a bloody, horror filled plague ride we went on with Seraphina! Wow!

This book went in a direction I was not expecting and I really enjoyed that. The pacing was decent, and the characters were great.

Things you may like: court politics, a hidden identity, Jewish rep, a masquerade, romance that isn't the main focal point, plague, oh and don't forget the blood, action and decapitations!

Overall, it was a strong book and it kept me on the edge of my seat for a large portion of it. If you're looking for your next suspenseful, fantasy read.. look no further!

Old King Stuart’s lost his head,
Hoping he won’t end up dead.
Lock the windows, bar the door;
the plague will come for rich and poor.

A Multitude of Dreams takes place a few years after a horrible plague, the Mori Roja (or Bloody Three), has ravaged the land. It is a rich, gothic fantasy that was inspired by The Red Masque of Death by Edgar Allan Poe.
King Stuart is though to be mad, and no one wants to be the one to push him over that edge. He has quarantined his daughters ( and 500 other nobles) in his castle. Princess Imogen, the king's favorite, is desperate to escape the castle and has her own deadly secret.
This story was eerie and compelling. It was full of great characters, who each had their own story to tell. I very much enjoyed this twisty story. This was only my second Mara Rutherford book, but I've got to go read more.

Thanks to Netgalley and Inkyard for an early copy for review.

A MULTITUDE OF DREAMS by Mara Rutherford is a gothic standalone Young Adult Fantasy inspired by The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe. This book was dark, luscious, and mysterious, with vivid settings and transformative character arcs. Just when I thought I'd figured out where the story would go, another twist would happen, and all twists had been hinted at, so my surprise was well-earned. Before I gush on more, let me tell you what this book is about.

It stars Princess Imogen of Goslind, a young woman who has lived a sheltered three years inside a boarded up castle in order to stay safely away from the mori roja, a deadly plague. Princess Imogen has a big secret, and she's unhappy being trapped, so she tries to figure out how she may escape, and with whom. It also stars Nico Mott, whose family and home were devastated by the plague. Thanks to the generosity of Lord Crane, he at least has a roof over his head and work to do, even if it's not that glamorous. Their paths collide when Lord Crane sends Nico to the castle to discover if there are any people hiding there. Each of them must steer through a multitude (see what I did there?) of twists and turns if they want to survive something even worse than the plague... it's coming to get them, and they are running out of time.

What I loved most about this book:
- how many times the story surprised me
- Nico! Such a kind, smart, hard-working person who just wants to help those who need it. His perspective, and the roller coaster of feelings he experiences, made me feel so badly for him and his situation
- The Jewish representation, and the author using her novel as an opportunity to educate readers who may have never heard of the word pogrom or understand how much the Jewish people have been persecuted and blamed unfairly over the centuries
- Princess Imogen... once I knew her secret, I just... wow. She'd been through so much and had lost almost everything near and dear to her. Her transformation made me smile with joy.
- The stakes kept rising and shifting in unexpected ways, which kept me reading and kept the pacing top notch, especially in the second half of the book
- The romance was slow burn and really well written
- The secondary characters: I'm looking at you, Colin, and you, Jocelyn, and you, Lord Greymont!
- The well-written villain with clear motivations, and who ends up being the scariest monster of a villain

What didn't work:
- There were too many princesses. I had trouble keeping track of who was who. This may be a me thing.
- Towards the end of the book, Princess Imogen makes a foolhardy error that I don't think anyone would make given the circumstances. It sets off an avalanche of predicaments, which I found so frustrating (of course, this also means that I was super invested in the story to get that frustrated!)

A MULTITUDE OF DREAMS is a rollercoaster ride through the darkness of secrets, the spiraling emotions of being trapped by fear, and the triumph of grasping one's own power and truth. I highly recommend it. Run, don't walk, to pre-order this entertaining novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing me with an eARC of this book for my honest feedback.

AMAZING AND MAGICAL. I truly couldn’t love this book more than I do. Mara Rutherford does it again! I would read anything she writes