I am consistently blown away with how beautiful Ava Reid's writing is, and over time continues to get even better and better and better.

This story is so eerie, and atmospheric, and an exploration of grief, memory, and the blurred boundaries between reality and fantasy. The dreamlike prose and gothic sensibilities really keep you wrapped up in the story, just like book one! Noemi has to navigate the haunting landscapes of both her past and an unsettling dream world that may hold the key to understanding her trauma. This world is so immersive.

Fans of dark, introspective narratives will find this just as amazing as book one.

3.5 stars, rounded up

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the e-arc!

A Study in Drowning was one of my top books of 2024. I read it via audiobook and fell in love with the magic and the darkness and the ‘real or not real’ of it all.

I was so excited when I heard there was a sequel, and I was ecstatic when I was approved for an arc. Unfortunately, I can’t help but feel a little bit let down by this.

A Theory of Dreaming picks up soon after where we left off. This time we also have Preston‘s point of view, and he has his own dealings with magic, while Effy is forced to leave it behind and deal with the real world, which has its own consequences.

The writing is still gorgeous. The discussion of writing, and the authors and people that create and influence these works of art were my favorite parts of it. I had a good time reading this, but I found a lack of desire to pick it back up once I put it down. Despite there being magic and wonderment in this book, despite the war between the two countries closing in, I felt none of the dread, anticipation, or stakes that I did in the first book. There was never a moment that I felt our characters were in real danger, versus in the first book, I was biting my nails towards the end.

Despite preferring magic, I related more with Effy’s part of the story than Preston’s. I have been in her exact position, where every look feels like a dagger, and the world feels like too much and you start to drown in your anxieties. While I liked where her story was going, I don’t feel like we came full circle by the end. There is a few comments between characters that she will forever struggle with her mental health, which I again relate to, but how the end of her story was handled brought me out of the book.

As for Preston, he is having to contend with magic that he never believed in, and this should have been very exciting as he unravels the truth of all the histories and stories he has been told. But it wasn’t. I felt like Preston’s story went around in circles, almost becoming repetitive, but we never really reach the end. At the beginning, it’s very much implied that the magic is changing him for the worse, and that this is something dangerous that he is dealing with. We have a story of a sunken castle that is to one day rise again, but we never quite get there. I feel like the foundations for an amazing and epic conclusion were here, but they crumbled before we reached the end of our journey.

As for Preston and Effy’s relationship, this story felt like they were existing alongside each other, but rarely with each other. They do not tell each other of their struggles throughout this entire book. And there is a decision made at the end which infuriated me. They have lacked communication in their relationship, which is been very short and tumultuous thus far and I feel like this was all pushed aside for a happy ending.

I can’t help but wonder that if I listened to the audiobook version of this, that I would feel the same magic that I did with the first one. The narrator was just amazing. I think I am going to come back to this book in a few years and see if reading that version changes my mind. But for now, when I come back to this world, I think I’ll stick with the first book.

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

I loved A Study in Drowning when I read it in 2023 and loved it even more when I read it again in 2024. I absolutely screamed when I heard it was getting a sequel.

I absolutely loved A Theory of Dreaming. I felt like it was a good continuation of a story I didn't think would get a sequel. As always, Reid's writing is gorgeous and I ate up every single word. Effy will always be my favorite, but I liked the deeper look into Preston that we got in this sequel. I also really enjoyed the friendships that were portrayed here, the love between Preston and Lotto as well as between Effy and Rhia. These interpersonal relationships added to the story and gave it a more well rounded feel.

Ava Reid is an auto-buy author for me and I can't wait for what is next!

Netgalley ARC

I loved A Study in Drowning SO much as a standalone. So, I was a bit worried the sequel could not compare. However, I may have loved A Theory of Dreaming even more!

Effy and Preston are such REAL and relatable characters. Their struggle is familiar to many readers: why face reality when you can live in your dreams?

The writing style is lyrical and atmospheric. This book is for the readers that don’t require constant action and can live on vibes, emotion, and character development.

I’ve preordered the Deluxe Limited Edition hardcover to match my copy of A Study in Drowning. I can’t wait to see them together on my bookshelf!

Okay I really struggled with this one. A Study in Drowning is one of my favorite books, and so I was highly anticipating its sequel. However I was disappointed. While the writing was just as magical as ever I truly did struggle with this plot. The characters seem to have severely regressed in development back to where they were at the beginning of the book. Plot lines such as the anger over their expose on the author from the last book were randomly dropped. The magic here seemed to have no real rules. And most importantly the main couple acted the same as the beginning of the first books with miscommunication and secrets leading to fights. I was particularly baffled by the suicide attempt depicted - especially because of the lack of character development afterwards on Effy who seemed to want to die then wake up full of determination to live. Frankly I feel a little betrayed as a huge fan of book one. I still adore Ava Reid but this felt really unneeded.

i am a shell of a human. after reading this, it has only confirmed that love did not exist before ava reid put it to paper. whatever other people thought they were talking about did not understand the full depth of what you can do with a fictional novel quite the way she has so cleverly mastered. i need a lobotomy. i need a drink. i need to experience this duology again for the very first time.

I loved being back in the world with Effy and Preston. I loved Preston's point of view in this one and his overall journey battling being in the real world vs his dreams. Although there was a certain element missing in this story that I found in A study in Drowning, I still very much enjoyed being in their headspace again, however heartbreaking it was. This story was raw and real, and dealt a lot with Effy and Preston's mental space. I still loved it. I love these characters and how Ava knows them so completely they feel so real. The writing was incredible again, and Ava is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. At times incredibly frustrating, but mostly incredibly captivating, the story wrapped up nicely for me. I will always be thinking about these characters.

Effy and Preston my loves !!! I loved spending more time with my favorite literature students and getting more insight into how they dealt with the aftermath of the last book. Although I wished we delved more into their other relationships (I really loved Lotto and Rhia!!) it was great exploring their dynamic and how they both deal with the repercussions of taking down Myrddin and the prejudices the each endure in this academic world. Both their struggles resonated with me and I just wanted to hug them both. Overall I loved being back in this world and will never say no to reading Ava Reids beautiful words. Big thank you to Harper Collins and Net Galley for the advance reader copy!

My expectations were high, as A Study in Drowning has been one of my favorite books in recent years. And my expectations were met. The writing is lush as ever, with the depictions of mental illness being woven into fairytales so expertly as to be seamless. Somehow, even though this book takes place far from the ocean, it still managed to saturate the pages. (Both books should come pre-waterlogged, in my opinion.) And I love the conclusion that still left enough questions as to be satisfying and not tidy enough as to be stifling.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

A quick, easy read with gorgeous writing, full of tenderness.
However, it was missing many of the elements I enjoyed from the first book; I found this one a bit lacking in comparison-the side characters felt shallow, the literary mystery fragmented, the stakes half-baked. But I enjoyed it nonetheless, and I'll read anything Ava Reid writes!

4.75/5
If you know me, I am a believer of "the right book will find you at the right time" and this duology truly did. Didn't think I'd cry reading this book, but here I am, crying. From now on, this duology will have a special place in my heart and will definitely be one of my comfort read

My heart hurts reading this book seeing how out of place Effy feels now that Angharad is "tainted", add to that the harrassment she now receives as an aftermath from ASID's ending.

Effy and Preston's dynamic in this book reminds me so much of the quote: "I'll take care of you"/ "It's rotten work"/ "Not to me. Not if it's you."

Throughout this book you can see how much Preston wants to help Effy, but if she doesn't want that help, he wouldn't be able to. In this book, we see Preston's struggle just like Effy did in the first book to make sense his "new ability". I wished we get a chapter or two before the epilogue for them to talk about their respective experiences though, because they really really need it.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I very much appreciate the closure that this brought to me and it picks up almost right where we left off. I loved getting to see the after effects of the first book as well as witness these two stubborn idiots fall even harder for each other. While dealing with some expected and some unexpected consequences of their previous adventure Effy and Preston look to navigate this new reality both together and separate and it was both heartbreaking and endearing to hear from both of their perspectives. I feel like we got to learn so much more about Preston and a brand new side to Effy that made me love them even more. I can’t wait for more people to get to experience this story!!

I had such a great time with this book! The atmosphere was so rich and immersive, pulling me even deeper into the world first introduced in A Study in Drowning. This time around, the story expands on the university setting and dives even further into its literary history, which I absolutely loved.
One of the highlights for me was the character development. We get to see more of their inner workings, their ambitions, and the conflicts that drive them. It made the story feel even more layered and compelling. The writing itself had a dreamy, almost haunting quality that perfectly matched the book’s themes.
Overall, this was a fantastic follow-up that built beautifully on its predecessor. If you loved A Study in Drowning, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Ava Reid is such an amazing writer. I will forever buy anything she puts out.
This book did not enthrall be as fast as the first one. Preston took more of a lead and I admit, I was not into that. However the dark academic world in this book is so vivid it feels like a real place.

I just read A study in drowning, so jumping into this was easy. I fell in love with Effy and Preston and seeing more of his side was really great. This is the sequel we needed to tie it together.

A Theory of Dreaming is a poignant & beautiful continuation of the story started in A Study in Drowning. I was very nervous starting this book, because I love A Study in Drowning so much; but this sequel more than lives up to the first book, and finishes Effie & Preston's story perfectly. If you enjoyed the first book, you will also enjoy the sequel; and if you are new to this world, please, please, please do yourself a favor and read A Study in Drowning so you can enjoy A Theory of Dreaming when it publishes later this year.

I would recommend this book to readers who love gothic fantasy, dark academia, and heartbreakingly romantic stories.

Thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins for the arc! All thoughts & opinions in the review are my own.

This was such a good book. If you love the first book this will definitely make your day! I couldn’t put it down. There is mystery and Magic and the love story with effy and Preston if just so good! This book just makes this another perfect duology for a cozy read.

Before reading this, I don’t think I ever imagined A Study in Drowning having or needing a sequel. Now that I’ve finished it, I can’t imagine it not having one—A Theory of Dreaming is a stunning novel and a vital counterpart to the first, exploring the cruelties that still abound after Effy and Preston’s “happy ending” and proving that not all stories can be wrapped up neatly after the last page.

For good or bad, A Theory of Dreaming takes us far from the isolated, otherworldly setting and atmosphere of ASID and tends to ground itself in reality. There were definitely moments in the middle portion when the plot started to slow. At the same time, I so appreciate the return to the academic setting, and it was quite realistic and frustrating to read about the hostilities our main characters face, now that they’ve come back to a university rife with misogyny and xenophobia after writing their controversial thesis. This world they’re forced to return to is certainly hateful and flawed, and without the sheen of magic, the ugliness of human nature comes to light.

Effy is already such a beloved character to me, and it was interesting (and heartbreaking) to glimpse a new side of her, as she struggles to cope with her day-to-day life without the ‘escape door’ of Angharad. But I also loved the new attention given to Preston in this—hearing from his point of view, fleshing out his character and backstory, and exploring his fantastical dreams—all while he deals with his skepticism toward magic and a deeply rooted anger he didn’t realize has been simmering inside him for a long time.

Effy and Preston each have very interior and isolating struggles to work through here. But their love—OH MY GOD, their love is everything. I had initially worried that their romance might bore me, since they’re already in an established relationship, but that fear ended up being totally unfounded. They have a love so tender, brought into focus with dozens of sweet little moments. Simple gestures, almost insignificant, all come together to form this beautiful picture of a safe, soft, and gentle relationship despite any insecurities or anxieties that arise in Effy or Preston. My chest physically ached every time they were together.

Ava Reid also has such a way with words, it’s ridiculous. I highlighted about a billion gorgeous lines and turns of phrase in here. Her writing is absolutely immersive and perfectly suited to a story like this.

Overall, this book really worked for me in a multitude of ways, and I’m so grateful it exists, and that there was still more to explore in this world!

I feel like this was everything I was hoping it would be and more! It took me a while to get through the first book, and I wondered if it was just me. However, I feel like it was a prologue to this book, and after reading it, I feel as though the two go together as a whole really well! I found myself rooting for Effy and Preston so much more, and I loved the atmospheric way it was written. Ava Reid truly knows how to make us feel like we're in the story with the character, and I learned that some of the things we don't know are truly for our benefit so we can go through the emotions with the characters and have it pay off in the end. If you stick with it, it will stick with you!

Disappointed, I thought I would enjoy this as much as the first book, only finished it for the characters.