Jumping back into the world of Effy and Preston was so exciting and I loved getting to hear more of their story. This story had me second guessing everything and I still ended up being wrong with what ended up happening. Ava Reid is AMAZING at creating a world that sucks you in leaves you wondering what the next twist is.

Plot: 5 out of 5
Characters: 5 out of 5
Setting: 5 out of 5

Pros: Gives a brief review of what happened in the first book so that you will not need to reread it. Also I think many people who are chronically ill will connect with Effy.

Cons: Felt a little slow to me. Seems to have a mental disorder topic overlay which might trigger some readers.

I felt that this was a great conclusion to the original. I really liked getting to know the characters better and understanding some of their choices. I loved seeing more of Preston and how he really yearns to protect Effy and I grew to love his character much more in this book. This book does have some content warnings, so be aware of that before reading, but I felt that the author was very respectful to mental health and how it really affected these characters in their daily life.

4.5 stars rounded up
Ava Reid’s breathtaking writing hits once again. Her ability to create a lush, immersive atmosphere is unmatched.The pacing is slower, which didn’t bother me, but it’s something to keep in mind. One of my favorite parts was getting Preston’s point of view. I loved that he had his own journey in this book and that we got to see his character grow. Also loved the new side characters!! They were such a great addition to the story.

While it wasn’t quite as good as the first book for me, it was still a lovely continuation to Effy and Preston’s story and I’m so glad she decided to write a sequel.

A book for the academics and dreamers alike! There are many things that Ava Reid does well. I appreciated the beautiful prose, worldbuilding, and character development–all things that she did expertly in the first novel. She is a master at creating subplots (such as with Angharad and Antonia's characters—I would pay to read the stories of both) and I have to applaud her ability to create worlds within worlds and the way the story felt so authentically academic yet with all of the fairytale aspects that I love.

However, I do feel that the sequel fell a bit flat for me. For starters, it felt like the story did not have much of a plot for the first 60 percent of the novel and honestly felt a bit repetitive at times. Everything that happened in the first novel did not bear much weight in this one. The focus was on Preston's character, which I have no objections to, but it almost felt like Effy was put on the back burner, which I felt was detrimental to the story as Preston and Effy played much larger roles in each other's character development in the first novel. In this one, they didn't seem to have that same depth of connection. The fact neither one really knows what's going on with the other throughout the entirety of the novel is frustrating. The magic system was also not very clear and it was hard to tell what was actually happening or whether something was simply a character's delusion. Which perhaps is what Reid intended as one of the major themes being explored is the difference between reality and fantasy and how each character copes with both. I feel as though the story has a conclusion and yet doesn't—at least not one that leaves the reader wholly satisfied. I would have loved to see Effy and Preston work together more in this novel and the ways in which they grow together and separately. The character development could have been much more powerful in this way. A Study in Drowning may have been better off as a standalone, but I do appreciate Ava Reid giving us more of this world. In any case, Reid proves just how powerful of a writer she can be and I look forward to her future works.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the opportunity to read this early! I was a major fan of Reid’s first book in this duology, and I had extremely high hopes for this sequel. It’s exactly what I envisioned and hoped for. The expansion on the lore and being able to immerse myself in the gothic world Ava has created has been a treat for me. I only wish this series could go on and on.

I thought this was good. The pacing good be a bit better but all in all it was good. The characters were great and the story was great.

It pains me to say this, but as much as I adored A Study in Drowning, the sequel just didn’t live up to my expectations. Ava Reid’s amazing way of portraying this world is still unmatched, but the plot was nearly nonexistent, and I really struggled to get through it.

I adored A Theory of Dreaming and will, hands down, still recommend that book to anyone who will listen, but it should have been a standalone.

Thank you Netgalley, and HarperCollins for the eARC!

I loved this follow up to "A Study in Drowning". Ava Reid has such a unique style and I loved the dreamlike qualities of this book. I appreciated the continued exploration of Effy's mental health and intersection of real world issues and fantastical elements.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely breathtaking! Ava Reid has done it again! 😭 Not even going to lie, I screamed out of excitement when I got approved for this ARC because A Study in Drowning was one of my top favorite reads of all time (I own literally 4 different editions of this book! 🤣🤣).
A Theory of Dreaming plunges you right back into the immersive, lush, and dreamlike world you fell in love with. The aftermath of their first discovery pulls Effy and Preston on a final, heart-wrenching adventure, bringing their haunting love story to its stunning conclusion.
I was utterly captivated by Effy's navigation of her groundbreaking role as the first woman at literature college, a journey complicated by the loss of her familiar nightmares and the crushing weight of expectation. And Preston's internal struggle and those mysterious dreams of a palace under the sea? Absolutely gripping! The way Reid weaves the line between reality and fantasy, especially as the war between Llyr and Argant escalates, is masterful. You'll be questioning everything right alongside Effy and Preston.
This final book in the duology is a triumph. It's beautifully written, emotionally resonant, and delivers a powerful ending. If you loved A Study in Drowning, prepare to be utterly spellbound by A Theory of Dreaming. This is a must-read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ava Reid, and Penguin Random House for early access to the ebook version in exchange for my honest review.

Similar to a Study in Drowning, the gothic atmosphere and vibes really do carry the story and, for the most part, kept me intrigued. There just isn’t a lot in the plot that commands your attention and drives the story forward. The characters - mainly Effy - did not really get my sympathy for their struggles with adapting to life back at university. It seemed like a bit of a stretch for how affected they were, so it was a bit of a miss for me emotionally. I still appreciated Preston’s foray with magic and thought the additional lore of the Sleepers was interesting. It was, again, very obvious where the plot was heading, and the ‘revelations’ for the characters were relatively bland. If anything, this sequel just solidified for me that I do have a lot of love for this genre, and will definitely continue to seek out more stories within the gothic/grim fantasy space.

Big thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Thank you so much Netgalley for an early copy of this. I love Ava and have loved all of her works that they have come out with. I was worried about the idea of a sequel. A Study In Drowning is one of my favorite books of her published works, but Ava never disappoints. The atmosphere of the world and the Having the novel surround Preston gave me what I was missing in ASID. Also having more background about The Sleepers and the larger conflict fleshed out the world that some argued was missing from ASID. The only critique I have there was a loss of Effy's agency through Preston's perspective. In ASID, I loved that she was a "soft" female protagonist that was able to save herself from the previous doomed narrative of Angharad. I felt that we lost some of her story to understand Preston. But overall, I really enjoyed Theory of Dreaming and I believe that if you enjoyed ASID you will enjoy it's

Ava Reid is an auto-buy author for me. I will devour everything she writes. A Theory of Dreaming was no exception. I had been anxiously awaiting the continuation of Effy and Preston's story. I loved the world, the struggles, and the social commentary. This was a win for me!

4.25 stars -- A Theory of Dreaming is the sequel to A Study In Drowning, one of my favorite reads of 2023. I was so looking forward to being immersed inside this world again. A Study in Drowning was mystical, folkloric, and eerie. A Theory of Dreaming is realistic, emotional, and raw. At first, I was unsure with where the story was headed, but in typical Ava Reid fashion, I shouldn't have worried. This sequel proved that once the fairytale is over and the monsters are vanquished, the fight isn't always over. But that fight is worth it.

"There are versions of the story where you save her."

This book is much more of an in-depth character study than a plot driven one. Effy and Preston grapple with the aftermath of the Fairy King and they both are struggling. Effy must navigate the sexism from being the first female admitted into the literature college, while Preston stumbles upon another world in his dreams that shows hidden meaning, if only he can parse out what. His POV was a really nice addition to this book and I loved how a lot of his yearning for Effy was intrinsically rooted inside his dream world. Preston's Argantian heritage takes center stage as Argantian and Llyrian tensions mount, which was quite a timely reminder considering our world today.

While this story is darker and less ethereal as the first, I think it was a great reminder for myself that not all stories are done even after the main conflict has concluded. This is quite true for real life outside of fictional tales, and I am constantly in awe of Ava Reid's writing. Their mastery of prose, flawed characters, and current sociopolitical issues are always placed with care and intention into their stories. I think this will be a book that resonates with many, even as it strikes a darker tone. This will be out on July 29, 2025!

Thank you to the publisher HarperCollins and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy. This did not affect my review in any way.

5/5 stars!

TWs for implied/subtextual sexual assault and incest in texts within the story, as well as off-screen attempted suicide by a main character.

Bias disclosure: A Study In Drowning (ASID) was my top book of 2023, and has remained a favorite of favorites to this day. Because of this, though I was desperately excited when the sequel, A Theory of Dreaming (ATOD) was announced, I was also very nervous. The ending of ASID left the story at a point of completion I was happy with, though still curious about some aspects of the world and a general question of "what next?" for Effy and Preston.

Luckily, I had nothing to worry about!

ASID left roots in me with its prose and messaging, and ATOD, though a bit less prosey to me, has surpassed its predecessor – especially in terms of plot, story, character progression, and world building. ATOD beautifully weaves fairytale elements throughout the story without feeling heavy-handed, and feels distinctive from ASID with more focus on the lore of Effy and Preston's world, as well as the fallout from the events of the first book.

It does an excellent job of continuing themes from ASID, particularly in regards to voices silenced by those in power or with power over them; how the works we love can be stained for us by the circumstances of the writing (or the authors themselves); and the importance of balancing escapism with living in the waking world.

I was driven by the unfolding history of Argant, Llyr, and the Sleepers, desperate to see how the scattered puzzle pieces fit together. I also very much loved seeing more of the characters important to Effy and Preston in their lives. Where both were secluded with each other in ASID, here they're surrounded by classmates, professors, and friends. Preston felt more fleshed out as a character, and I loved seeing more of his thoughts, feelings, and interactions with other people besides Effy (especially Lotto!), but also especially with Effy!

I cant recommend A Theory of Dreaming more!

Songs that haunted me while reading this:
•Blinding by Florence + the Machine
•The Prophecy by Taylor Swift
•Drumming Song by Florence + the Machine
•What the Water Gave Me by Florence + the Machine

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free digital ARC for my honest review!

Ava Reid takes us back to this world where what’s real and imagined become easily blurred. On the heels of their remarkable discovery about the true author of Angharad, Preston and Effy face a whole new set of issues on campus.

It’s an intense exploration of mental health, intellectualism vs faith, and how easily any of us can spiral given the right circumstances.

Ava Reid captures the emotional struggle for both characters with such honest and intensity. Their journey is hard to read at times, but so deeply meaningful!

Again, the writing transports you to the setting. I felt the cold, the wet, the wind. This second book felt much slower and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first. I missed the magic and felt it didn’t show up as quickly as it did the first time.

I did like this book better than the first. It still follows a similar thread with Preston and Effy our main characters from book one. They are both struggling to deal with the aftermath from the first book each in their own way. This one more primarily follows Preston with his struggles at the literature college, bringing to the forefront the Llyrian-Argantian clash and what it means for Preston being the only Argantian at the college. Effys story continues parallel while she continues to explore other female authors whose work was wrongfully claimed by the men in their lives. If you are looking for a book/series that provokes some additional thinking, this is for you.

The criteria for judging a sequel is purely subjective, as with any review. However, as A Study in Drowning, is my most favorite book ever, I feel at odds. Should a sequel be judged as a separate entity or should it be judged off its connection to the first book? Either way I swung it, it is still a 5 star read for me for reasons different than the first.

Magical is what I would describe these books are, fitting as they are so deep in tune with the idea of that itself. A Theory of Dreaming centers more on Preston, who was introduced as a gentle yet resolute scholar who grapples with his sense of reality and truth being warped by a fantastical world bleeding from fairy tales he heard as a child. It depicts itself as a much more beautiful world than the one he lives and breathes daily, with so many external factors that tear at him and his beloved, Effy constantly. He can only enter into that seemingly perfect world when he is dreaming.

This is a heavy book - we watch an even deeper level of depression seep through Effy's bones and Preston's struggle to maintain both his world and the world in his dreams. Effy and Preston want so deeply to be happy and it is hard to view how heavy their loads are. I admit, until about 3/4 of the way through, I was not sure about this book. Although the prose was characteristically atmospheric and eerie as expected with the high caliber of Ava Reid's writing, it lacked the same spark I felt when turning the pages of the first book. I rushed to highlight phrases on almost every page of the first but a Theory of Dreaming almost feels like it was intended to be more muted. I initially was concerned but after reflecting on this, maybe it was not meant to be flooded with beautiful prose and allegories. A Theory of Dreaming is harsher and much more serious. I felt these points deeply.

I was expecting the same knockout formula as A Study in Drowning so I was shaken when it didn't have that. Don't fret, it is irrefutably its sequel. Many of the central themes are revisited and built upon and it is incredibly well done. Ava brought a new edge to the book with parts that rocked me, and took me out of my comfort zone. I appreciate the growth in her writing and it feels as though it may have been a cathartic release, for her and for me as a reader. She did not hold back and I am so glad that she didn't. Ultimately, this most definitely feels like a final end to Effy and Preston's stories. I am sad to see them go but I also think there is a real beauty in not fully sharing every aspect of their lives. I will dream about these characters and imagine their paths forward longingly.

Thank you Ava, for creating two of my favorite people, imperfect but beautiful all the same. I will keep these two lovebirds utterly safe, and in my heart forever.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

A Theory of Dreaming continues to display Ava Reid's talents; her writing is lyrical and entrancing. I wish I would have read A study in Drowning again prior to starting this. I feel the impact may have been greater for me. However, I did find it lacking in a solid plot line. The days seemed to drag on and not much if anything was taking place. I'm willing to accept that I'm too impatient for a slow plot and I may be the problem. I rated a two because I adore Preston and Effy, the writing was well done, but I just didn't have a great time.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get better Reid swoops in and writes the greatest love of all time. This book is everything. The characters, the feelings and the atmosphere are all perfect.