My favorite Sad Boy and Sad Girl are back and sadder than ever. I swear poor Effy just cannot ever catch a break. She’s finally in the literature school but her classmates are honestly the worst. And Preston’s started having dreams of a strange world. Throughout the book both of them start to lose their grip on reality and struggle to know what’s real and what’s not.
Effy feels like a burden to Preston and Preston is scared that confiding in her about his strange dreams will make her more worried. These two clearly love each other so much and it was so sad seeing how much they struggled through this book. I loved how Preston just kept showing up for Effy though and making sure she saw through his actions how much he loved her.
This book has all the dark academia, gothic fairytale, eerie rainy vibes of A Study in Drowning and I ate it up. Much like the first book this one somehow feels both low and high stakes which is a little strange but honestly the vibes were so good that I didn’t even mind.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC!

This was a very unexpected sequel. The first book was amazing but I did enjoy the deeper dive into the lives and minds of effie and Preston in this book. I feel like I was supposed to read it at this time in my life and for that I am grateful to have been given a chance to read it early. Thank you netgalley for the e arc

Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

A Theory of Dreaming picks up right where A Study in Drowning left off and brings us more of Preston’s side of the story as he and Effy navigate life at the university after everything they went through.

A Study in Drowning was my favourite book of last year so I have been eagerly anticipating this book and it did not disappoint. I felt completely surrounded by the sweeping world of these books and loved that there was more of specific dark academia elements (something I like very much). I really enjoyed how much of the book was from Preston’s point of view, as it very much felt like his story, in the way A Study in Drowning felt like Effy’s.

I do wish we had just a bit more world building, specifically in terms of the sleepers, who seemed to haunt the narrative in the same way Myrddin did in the first book. I wasn’t too bothered by it, as the story was so atmospheric otherwise, but this was a wish I had with A Study in Drowning as well. I can’t wait for it officially come out so I can read it again!

Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s Books and NetGalley again for the chance to read this early.

Thank you so much to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this arc! I absolutely love Ava Reid’s writing and was so excited to see that I got approved for this one.

A Theory of Dreaming is everything I had dreamed a sequel to A Study in Drowning could be and more! The author themself states that this book expands on the world and fills in a lot of questions left from book one, and it absolutely does this! I had wished that A Study in Drowning had leaned even farther into the magical aspects of the world, along with diving deeper into the Sleepers, and this book did exactly that.

I love the inclusion of a POV from Preston as he struggles to reconcile his love of logic and science with the magic of the world.


I love where this book takes the story, even if it managed to tear my heart out in the process.

A Theory in Dreaming by Ava Reid is a mesmerizing, thought-provoking novel that delves deep into the nature of dreams, reality, and self-discovery. Reid’s writing is both poetic and haunting, weaving an intricate narrative that pulls you in from the very first page. The characters are complex and relatable, and their emotional journeys are beautifully explored against a backdrop of surreal, dreamlike landscapes. With its rich, immersive worldbuilding and profound themes, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves literary fantasy with a touch of the uncanny. A truly unforgettable experience.

It feels so wrong for me to write a review that I know could never do justice to how beautiful this book is, but I’ll try. As in Ava Reid’s previous books, you’ll find here an exploration of women’s resilience against the patriarchal world we live in, but not only. An exploration of truth, reality, and how we survive both.

And before any of these things, this book is about love, and how beautiful and enduring it is in front of all the hardships we’re faced with.

I have missed Effy and Preston more than I can put into words and this was the perfect conclusion to their story.

A Study in Drowning made me feel seen and heard as a girl with a little bit of madness in her. A Theory of Dreaming makes girls like me feel like we can be easy to love by someone in the world.

The way Ava Reid writes about women and what it is to be a woman in the world, in these many worlds, gives people hope of being okay in them.

I will absolutely gobble up anything this girl writes and i will probably cry at least once in every single book it is all just perfection

I thoroughly enjoyed A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, and assumed it was a standalone novel—imagine my surprise when I discovered it’s actually part of a duology! Even better, I was chosen to read an advanced copy of the sequel, A Theory of Dreaming, and it did not disappoint.

While ASID focused mostly on Effy's journey, it was a treat to dive deeper into Preston's story this time around. In fact, I found A Theory of Dreaming to be even more captivating than the first book. One of my favorite elements of the story is how Reid explores the ethereal, underwater world in such a haunting way, and this book leans into that aspect beautifully. The imagery and dreamlike atmosphere were incredibly immersive, and I loved every moment spent in that fantastical realm.

This novel expands on Preston’s complex background, particularly his ties to Argant, which added depth and intrigue to his character. Reid's world-building remains as vibrant as ever, balancing the tension between the fairy and magical realms with the ongoing war between LLyr and Argant. It’s a juxtaposition that feels both fantastical and grounded in emotional stakes.

Effy’s emotional journey, especially following her defeat of the Fairy King and what she perceives as her return to “normal,” was nothing short of heartbreaking. Reid does an extraordinary job of capturing the weight of her pain and struggles, making you feel every bit of her spiral. The ending was gut-wrenching at times, but ultimately satisfying.

I am so grateful to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced copy of A Theory of Dreaming. Ava Reid continues to amaze with her storytelling, and I’m eagerly looking forward to what she creates next. If you love immersive fantasy that blends dreamlike wonder with raw emotion, this duology is a must-read.

I initially wanted to devour this book in one sitting. I have been looking forward to this book since it was first announced. A Study in Drowning is in my top five favorite books of all time.
However, I decided to savor it and read slowly and let myself be immersed in this beautiful world that Ava Reid has created and I am so grateful I did. I felt so immersed in the world of Llyr and the underwater palace. The atmospheric imagery was brilliant.
I love stories where characters slowly started losing themselves and then find the hope they need to come back and this book captured the emotions and experience so beautifully. I bawled several times and felt the love and struggles between Effy and Preston and even from their friends.
I enjoyed Preston’s pov and Lotto’s character! There are so many brilliant quotes in this book as well.
I could go on about how much I love this book and ASID for so long. Thank you, Ava for sharing this story with us.

Thank you HarperCollins, NetGalley and Ava Reid for a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Ava…girl…I have no words. WOW.

This sequel had my heart bursting with joy and in pieces all at the same time. Effy and Preston remind me so much of so many people in this life, I mean truly we all know an Effy and a Preston. Those people are the kind who are brave even if they are standing tall with trembling legs, who stay true to what is right even if it is unpopular, and who ultimately are terrified and saved all at once by the very thing we all spend our lives chasing, love. In a modern world like the one we live in, where we are all consumed and clouded by the social media world, in a way aren’t we all escaping reality in the form of a dream? I truly am enamored with the parallels that this story has with our current world.

There are so so many lines from this book that are eternally etched into my heart and I will carry with me forever. The eloquence of which the stories and poems are conveyed with is actually breathtaking in the best way. I am truly obsessed with Effy and Preston and all they are.

I laughed, I cried, and I cried some more (seriously Ava sending you my therapy bill after this one). This is a MUST read.

4.25 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for this arc. This book picks up almost immediately where book 1 ends. I really enjoyed learning more about Preston and seeing Effy grow. The story concludes quite nicely with a touch a mystery still lingering and I’m pleased with it. Will definitely recommend.

Where A Study in Drowning pulled me in with its quiet, haunting story, A Theory of Dreaming took everything I loved about the first book and expanded it in all the ways I wanted to see. While the atmosphere this time around is much more trippy compared to the ethereal tone of the original, it remains just as immersive and well crafted.

If A Study in Drowning was Effy’s book, A Theory of Dreaming is undoubtedly Preston’s. The shift in focus allowed for a much deeper exploration of his character, which was something I was super excited for going into this book. His arc, alongside Effy’s, was perfectly executed, and it was so rewarding to reflect on how much they’ve grown since the beginning of the first book.

Effy and Preston’s relationship was another highlight, and if the first one didn’t solidify their spot as one of my favorite literary couples this one definitely did. Established relationships in books sometimes lose their spark for me, but their dynamic stayed just as compelling as it was in book one. They had so many memorable moments that kept me completely engaged.

One of the areas where this book stepped it up was with the world-building. While the setting in the first was still beautifully described, there was one downside of having that isolated setting, and that was that it felt like we had just scratched the surface of what was happening in the world. Here, we delve into the lore of the Sleepers Lord, the ongoing war, and a cast of side characters who added depth and intrigue to the narrative.

The only issue I had in the was in the middle in regards to pacing. There were a couple times where it did feel like it was dragging especially in Effy’s plot for me, and I won’t lie, I was a little worried this wasn’t going anywhere for a minute. Luckily the last thirty percent more than made up for that, and the ending was a perfect way to wrap things up.

Overall, A Theory of Dreaming is a worthy sequel to one of my all time favorite books, offering a story that feels fresh yet deeply connected to the first book. Though it didn’t quite alter my brain chemistry in the way the first book did and I don’t really consider this a new favorite immediately after reading it, this was still a brilliant continuation that enriched the characters and world I fell in love with in the first book. For anyone who enjoyed A Study in Drowning, A Theory of Dreaming will undoubtedly build on that, as it offered so many new layers to the world and characters we’ve come to love.


🅞🅥🅔🅡🅐🅛🅛 🅡🅐🅣🅘🅝🅖: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ . 5

I want to preface this by saying this is the THIRD arc by Ava Reid I’ve read this year. The first two being Lady Macbeth and FABLE- both being five star reads for me. Yet unfortunately, this didn’t quite meet my expectations.
I absolutely adore Reid’s vivid storytelling, and her ability to morph her writing to fit any world she creates. Overall this book didn’t at all lack that creativity from her that I’m use to seeing.
After completing, I was left with the feeling that this book honestly wasn’t even necessary, and felt more written to be of fan service than to further strengthen the story and its characters.
I think if anything, it would have been better taking certain key aspects from the book and slimming it into a novella of sorts.
Compared to book one, which is more heavily focused on the plot of the Fairy King/Myrddin, this was more of a highlight of Preston and Effy’s way of coping with the aftermath of the traumas they faced from the events that took place in it.
I loved the concept, enjoying Preston’s chapters a lot more than his paramour. With that being said, it felt we only were getting a bottle half full when it came to our main characters. They almost felt completely different from those we met in ASID.
I still will recommend this book for those who loved book one, as many will have different opinions and may end up loving this as much as the first.

Writing a sequel to a beloved book is always a challenge, especially when the original was intended to be a standalone. A Study in Drowning was my favorite book of last year - maybe even my favorite book ever. One of the things I loved most about it was its ambiguous ending. That said, I think Ava absolutely nailed it with this sequel. If you adored the first book as much as I did and gave it five stars, I think this one will resonate with you, too.

(Heads up—there are spoilers for the first book ahead!) A Theory of Dreaming shifts focus to Preston’s story - his journey of healing after his father’s death and dealing with the fallout of exposing Emrys Myrddin. At the same time, we follow Effy as she navigates her role as the only woman in the literary college, grapples with her family relationships, and wrestles with her self-worth. Ava’s world and characters feel so real that opening this book felt like coming home. While I did enjoy the plot we were following, this sequel dives deep into the characters, offering a rich exploration of Effy and Preston’s lives, and adding more context to the first book. It’s more of a character study, and I loved seeing their stories so fully realized.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is Ava’s atmospheric writing. While A Study in Drowning had dark academia vibes, A Theory of Dreaming fully leans into the aesthetic. You get the classes, the snarky rich kids, and the morally gray professors - everything you’d want in a perfect fall or winter read. Ava’s ability to set a scene truly shines here.

Okay, I promise I’ll stop talking about this book now. Ultimately, this was the perfect follow-up to A Study in Drowning for me. All I wanted was to spend more time with Effy and Preston and see how they faced the aftermath of the first book. They’ve become two of my all-time favorite characters, and I’m already looking forward to re-reading A Study in Drowning in 2025 so I can dive straight into A Theory of Dreaming again. AHHH!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc! I’m in emotional distress!!! Holy shit this book had me weeping. What an emotional, brutal, and beautiful conclusion to the Study in Drowning duology. This was truly the book the series needed and deserved. Let me jot some other thoughts before tears start to clog my eyes again:

As mentioned, I feel like this book was needed;
It fits perfectly. This is a natural continuation with themes and character studies in line with the material from the first book. Both Effy and Preston are going through character metamorphosis after a traumatic event, and this book explores that, and beautifully.

This book was, like its predecessor, incredibly atmospheric. I could almost taste the brine and feel the statues myself. I hallucinated VIVIDLY to this one, with dripping, indulgent descriptions and Ava Reid’s signature poetic prose.

Very happy to receive more sleepers lore in this one. There’s also more worldbuiskijg in general, mainly through academic and literary channels. Of course, there are added epigraphs at the beginning of every chapter, which is fantastic. Argantian myths, mysterious poems, Aneurin the Bard, etc. I’m eating it all up with a dainty little spoon

People are correct when saying this is Preston’s book. I truly got to know him as a person here, and what a precious man he is. He, and every other character here felt real. His cahatrcyee study in particular was intense, as we get such a detailed and extensive look at his psyche, traumas, fears, motivations, passions, reactions. He truly came into his own as one hell of a literary character. He’s memorable, real, raw, and wonderfully written. If only he was real

The characters were fantastic in general. I, once again, related way too much to Effy. Her character arc here was EMOTIONAL but necessary, and wonderfully crafted with care and hope; you can tell Reid knows mental illness and trauma personally. Losing major parts of your identity is not for the weak, neither is a burdening sense of guilt. This shit hit way too close to home! This book truly is for those who love character-driven stories, who love beautiful writing, and character studies over plot. We get such an intimate and realistic look at recovery and healing. At picking up the building blocks. The side characters were fantastic too. I loved who I was supposed to, and wanted to smash to bits who was supposed to. Rhia is my bffl, Lotto gets a pass, Angharad can adopt me, and every other male character should be pushed off a bridge <3

More complicated than the first, there are multiple running themes in the sequel. Losing a major part of your identity, mental health, weaponizing faith, the draws of escapism, a continuation of feminist themes from the first novel, the link between culture, nationalism, and fascism. There’s so much here, and Reid balances it all so well. Despite there being little plot, there is just so much here.

The ending nearly fucking killed me. Fucking phenomenal; I was gasping for air

In conclusion: I’ve been shot. I’m in pain, my chest hurts, and there’s some weird liquid in my eye. This book is to blame. If you loved the first book in this series, you will adore its conclusion. I LOVED this (more than its predecessor too)! I DEVOURED this! This was such a slay. Anyways, I’m calling 911. -5 stars

A Theory in Dreaming returns to the characters, world and easy to read style of A Study in Drowning. This time there is more concentration on Preston, touching on his family and dreams. The story returns them to college and academic life, introduces their close friends and even nemesis, shows the progression of their romantic relationship and the persistence of some of their demons that were introduced in the prior book. There even seemed to be some attempts at social commentary on contemporarily relevant issues like misogyny, mental heath concerns, and extremist nationalism especially by the rich and powerful, but nothing was explored too deeply and quickly swept under the proverbial rug for fear of becoming too political, perhaps. The book is very much in the same vein as A Study in Drowning and readers who enjoyed the prior book should be content with this continuation. Would I recommend this to YA readers looking for a romance with dark gothic fantasy elements and characters carrying quite a bit of their own emotional baggage? Sure, this book and its predecessor work well in that light; is this my top read of the year that I will be extolling every chance I get? not exactly. (3.5/5)
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

I am seized by such love, I vow / that I must come to ruin now.

if they don't love me like preston loves effy, i don't want them!!!!

rating: 4.25★

this was the sequel we needed: what happens to effy and preston when they return to university from hiraeth manor with their controversial thesis? they must face their colleagues, superiors, and the whole of llyr; effy, as the only woman in the literature college, preston as an argantian on the precipice of a full-out argantian-llyrian war.

preston fans rejoice, bc we get a whole lot more of him in this one! dual (3rd person) POV yayayayay!

while i missed some of ASID's etherealness, this one felt more raw and real. there is still much room for magic, but it deals it more as a method of escapism. we also learn more about llyr and argantia both and the fables of the sleepers. nationalism/xenophobia is a large theme in this one and feels quite on par w current times.

there were a few things that i wanted more precisely wrapped up, but overall this felt like the right conclusion to effy and preston's story 💙

“My mind is never empty of you. Not in waking; not even in dreaming.”

Very thankful/ grateful to have received this ARC 💌

As someone who has read a study in downing ( duh bc this is the sequel lololol ) and enjoyed it but was not IN LOVE with it , I have to say this completely changed my perspective on the first story .

This follows what happens after Effy + Preston uncover the truth about Myrddin’s work .
Not only now is Effy navigating being the only female to earn a spot at the literature college now , but she has to deal with the gossip / entire nation waiting on her to fail bc of her exposing the truth.
Now that she defeated the fairy king , she can no longer escape in her dreams , and she has a hard time excepting that !!!

While Effy has lost her dreams , we follow more of Preston , and see that he is starts to loose himself in his , and things start to completely change for him .

Preston loves Effy so deeply, and my heart was hurting bc of how tender and compassionate he is with her . I loved that we got to read from his POV , and learn more about him and his family .

My favorite quote he tells Effy is ,

“ Whatever faults I might have - and I have plenty- just know I think of you , always . My mind is never empty of you.Not in waking ; not even in dreaming .” 😭💖

Ava’s writing as always is so poetic , and beautiful. She has a way of writing so deeply and intense , that the story stays with you forever . She truly is one of my favorite authors .
I truly did not know what to expect for this sequel , but I am so happy we got one . The ending ended in such a perfect way . I’m truly sad it’s over !
I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy .

Thank you Netgalley + The Publishers for this early access . This was one of my most anticipated reading 2025 , and I am so happy I got early access.

After what was written to be a stand-alone, does the sequel to A Study in Drowning hold up? By how many stars I’ve given it, you bet Reid has mastered it.

Upon hearing the announcement that a book I had loved dearly was receiving a follow-up, I was excited but also nervous for how it would turn out. The first volume ended with the upmost satisfaction to my favor, however, when reading the opening author letter to A Theory of Dreaming, Reid shows us that there was plenty more to tell.

Preston became such a captivatingly deep, complex character full of emotion while sticking true to how he was developed in the first book. Since the adventure against the Fairy King was tied up, the loose strand of the bells in Preston’s ears set off this story along with the after effects of dealing with the first volumes conflict. I would consider Reid brilliant to realize it would be useless to develop another problem that needn’t be which was already taken care of, and instead, use the psychological traumas and personal growth from overcoming those trials as the result of writing a sequel instead.

When people go through anything life-jeopardizing, our characters should be the same way. Too often in storytelling, we see the hero save the day but then what? They act as though the death-defying actions didn’t affect them one bit or at least haunt them later on. Where’s the gravity of the conflict even when it’s over? Reid showcases this throughout A Theory of Dreaming in such heartbreaking yet realistic and enthralling way of storytelling which I love. It’s no longer so much about saving the day for everyone else or the world, but how do we save ourselves when it’s so easy to forget to do so with heroic heart?

Seeing Preston struggle with his past yet his love for Effy grow and be his strength—their relationship altogether settling in deeper roots—was all very beautiful. Even in the midst of tragedy that crashed upon their shores, it is together that no wave can knock them down forever. There were plenty of other things I enjoyed about this book such as the concept of intertwining dreams and reality, to the progression of gender equality in education. Seeing new and old characters come together to create a brighter future. Even the little excerpts in the beginning of each chapter provoke the reader to critically think and connect the dots within the main story. It’s a testament to Reid’s craft within this world she’s created.

A Theory of Dreaming is a powerful sequel that will bring fans of A Study in Drowning into a deeper and complex character-driven story that they won’t want to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy). This review is based off of an uncorrected proof.

I was so happy when this book was announced as I knew there was so much more story for Ava Reid to tell with these characters.

We delve a lot into trauma in this book - both Preston’s and Effy’s (and others) and I thought all the topics were dealt with eloquently.

It’s a lot slower paced than the first book and again deals with some very heavy topics so check CW.

I really enjoy the main characters relationship with each other and how it’s portrayed to not be perfect, like a lot of fictional relationships are. It feels rawer and more true to life.

I did find some plot points kind of unnecessary to the book as a whole but overall I liked this one.