A Study In Drowning, left off in a very satisfying way -- while the last lines of ASID left an open interpretation, it was wonderfully memorable, and left a smile on my face.
I was quite surprised to hear that a follow up was coming and jumped as fast as I could to get my hands on the arc as I so thoroughly enjoyed Reids vivid world and the blurred lines she created between reality and fantasy in the first of the series.

Quickly diving in, excited to revisit Effy and Preston alongside the world that had vastly changed due to their experiences in A Study of Drowning. Reid did not disappoint with her beautiful descriptions of the world and her unique way of making the weight of environment feel heavy and dewy on your skin.

Experiencing Prestons' POV as he experienced his journey walking the blurry and deep lines of reality was a beautiful and created a unique perspective that builds a palpable tension as he explores his dream world. The weight and struggles of being the only student from a Waring nation coat his descent into his fantasy dream kingdom. His relationship with Effy so wonderfully tangled in both realities, had a natural and authentic vulnerability to it.

Effy, fulfilled her dream by being admitted into the Literary college -- however, the push back and prejudice toward her weighs deeply. To add in the tensions of war and the complexities of her relationship with Preston she begins to fall into a depression. (with a trigger for attempted suicide)
Effy, has a heavy sense of relatability to her character, one of being a smart, thoughtful, and talented woman; yet, her very existence highlights prejudices that women have faced throughout history in a patriarchal society.

Personally, while I welcomed our trip back into this intriguing and atmospheric world... I cannot help but wonder if it was needed to have a continuation of Preston and Effys' stories. ASID felt complete and satisfying in every way. While the writing and some storylines were so rich and enjoyable in this followup, I cannot help but have thoughts that there are so many other stories to be told in this world Reid created.
Was ATOD enjoyable and beautiful? yes. Would I recommend the duology? also yes. Would I say that I have hopes for perhaps a standalone story set in this world to come into existence (Like Anngharads or the sleepers stories woven together) ?? For sure.
3.75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Author for the opportunity to read and review this Arc.

Review will be shared publicly to my GoodReads, IG and Amazon closer to release date

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with this early copy!

This book was good but nowhere near the first book. There were so many parts where I wanted to give up and stop reading. Effy was so-called supposed to be a strong female lead but ended up crying over a bottle of medicine?!? She really got on my nerves in this book and I feel like she couldn't capture her full story in this one. The whole romance side plot was also boring and too much for the book. It was always focused on Preston and Effy but never the side relationships (Preston and his advisor, Preston and his family, Effy and her mother) that could have made the story more meaningful for me.

Overall not what I was expecting for this book since I really enjoyed the first one.

At the end of A Study in Drowning, Effy's dreams seemed to all have come true--she vanquished the fairy king, co-wrote a paper on the truth about Angharad, her creepy professor was dismissed, became the first woman to be admitted into the literature college, and started a relationship with Preston. But can dreams last?

Effy's admittance into the literature college comes with a slew of problems. Her male peers resent her presence, and their ire draws what her former professor did back into focus. To make matters worse, there's pushback to her discovery about Angharad. Tensions between Llyr and Argant are increasing, and the people of Llyr may not be able to handle the truth about Myrddin. As pressures surmount, Effy begins to question what Preston sees in her and slides into a depressive state.

Meanwhile, Preston is trying to balance protecting Effy with his duties as a TA and legate. His professor pulls Preston into his research on a theory of dreaming, which leads Preston to follow the sound of the bells to an underwater palace where he's king. At first, the palace seems wondrous, but the line between reality and fantasy thins. To make matters more difficult, the war between Llyr and Argant causes trouble for Preston, the only Argantian student at the university. One of the xenophobic aristocratic students in his class keeps goading him. A rage unlike anything Preston's experienced builds inside of him, pushing him further into the dream world.

I loved getting to return to this lush world. A Theory of Dreaming was achingly beautiful. The writing was lyrical and gorgeous and the story definitely made me cry at parts. Whereas ASID was a mix of plot and character, ATOD is very much a character-driven story as both of these characters deal with the fallout from the events of ASID. I also loved that we got to see more of Effy and Preston's roommates. They're both such wonderful characters and added a lot to the story. I also liked that this story took place entirely at the university, and falls much more squarely into dark academia. Readers may also appreciate that the war between Llyr and Argant as well as the Sleeper Museum and the mythology around it are both explored more in this novel.

Overall, I enjoyed conclusion to this duology, and definitely teared up at the end.

CW: As Effy slips further into her depression, she begins to have suicidal thoughts and then attempts it. I didn't find the depiction of her attempt to be graphic. IMO, it was a thoughtful exploration of depression and how all-encompassing it can be, but I did want to add this flag.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for giving me an eARC. All thoughts are my own.

A beautiful follow up to A Study of Drowning. I loved that we got to see a lot more of Preston with the dual 3rd person POV. Both Effy and Preston are facing hardships after returning to school. Effy seeks solace in her dreams in an attempt to escape her struggles. Preston is working on a secret project with his professor that is also testing the boundaries of what's real.

All in all, this was a wonderful story and a great conclusion to the first book.

The sequel to A Study in Drowning was superb, but this author brings nothing less with all of her work. The world in this book is explained in such immersive and stunning detail, just like in the previous installment. Effy and Preston return to the academy, and face respective challenges there as a continuation from the first book. Those two also get a wrap up of their romance, and all that goes down while a war breaks out. This author just keeps bringing the fantastic worlds with mythology mixed in, well-fleshed out characters, and excellent and propulsive writing.

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

After reading A Study in Drowning, I was curious as to what this book would include, as its predecessor left off on a great, tidy endnote. However, I was disappointed and ultimately confused at the decisions made in this book. There were a few outstanding plot points in the previous book, such as the issues with Preston being Argantian and Effy being a woman, and although those were continuous issues in this book, those important issues were never really addressed. The plot was extremely flimsy and difficult to understand, and the prose was so purple that it took the reader out of the storyline and needed to be cut way down. Instead of creating a solid plot and using the book to dive into these issues, it seems like everything was neatly wrapped up in the last chapter without an explanation. The war magically resolved, the authorship claims were proven (after barely being acknowledged throughout the book), there were no consequences for any of the characters’ actions, and Effy’s thesis, depression, and status as the first woman in the literature college were left as big question marks. It seemed like this book was only created because of the reception of the first book, but it had so much potential and failed to address lingering questions. Overall, it was a difficult and disappointing read, Especially with the way that it handled depression and a suicide attempt by the main female character.

Overall Score: 5/5⭐️
Plot: 5/5
Character Development: 5/5
Ease of Reading: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5

Ava Reid has done it again, and is that really a surprise? I simply was unable to put this book down. As a new mom, I thought it would be hard to find time to read but having the kindle app made it so I could devour this book during her feeding times. I am just so obsessed with this world and the characters within it.
A Theory in Dreaming starts off shortly after the events of A Study in Drowning with Effy and Preston having returned to university. Facing the fallout of their actions, we are blessed with third person dual POV so we are able to see the inner workings of not just Effy’s mind, but Preston’s as well. While I will say I was a bit frustrated with the secrets Effy and Preston keep from one another (although done in good faith), I was enraptured by Reid’s ability to demonstrates how easily anxiety and depression can come about. Mental health plays such a large role in this book and it was both devastating and refreshing to read.
Just as A Study in Drowning blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, A Theory in Dreaming makes you wonder at what is the truth and what is imagination. This beautiful second installment had me captivated from page one and I loved delving deeper into the histories of both Llyr and Argant and discovering the hidden truths in them. This was a beautiful end to Effy and Preston’s story and I know this a duology I will read time and time again.

I loved the first book in this duology because I recognized myself in Effy, in her story. But this book took it further, Ava Reid took the crumbling bits of our reality, the way capitalism faith and power have converged into this seemingly inevitable force and rewrote our history, and she built a fairytale. A fairytale that is the very reason I love fairytales, it is far easier for us to admit the fault when we see it in fantasy rather than when we find it in reality. While this book is fantasy, I could write an entire paper on how it is also a beautiful observation of a place most people find themselves in life, facing the crumbling bits of reality that surround us and having to decide how to make our dent.

As soon as I got this ARC I ran to read it! I loved the first book so I was so excited to see how the story continued in this book!
I loved the storyline and how we got to see more of the world!
I also loved getting more of Effy and Preston! I love their relationship!
I wish we got to see a bit more of the strength we saw in Effy in the first book but I still loved her character!
Overall I think this was a great sequel to a study in drowning!

I loved A Study in Drowning, I honestly will read anything Ava Reid writes and I have. I would love to sit with her one day and pick her brain on how it works and how she comes up with such compelling stories. As always her writing never misses, it as atmospheric as always and the prose is so beautiful. A Theory of Dreaming is a continuation of the aftermath of what happens in the end of A Study in Drowning. We get more Preston in this! which was my only complaint from ASID because I absolutely loved his character and I fell in love with him all over again. Effy as always is wonderful and we get to see more of both of them together and their love grow for each other as they are also struggling with their individual issues. So good!

A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid is the kind of sequel that not only lives up to its predecessor but deepens and expands everything that made A Study in Drowning so unforgettable. This book is pure magic—lush, eerie, and unsettling in all the ways that make you wonder whether you’re still awake. And yes, the cover and sprayed edges are chef’s kiss. I’d frame it if I could. But even beyond the aesthetics, this story is something special.

Effy and Preston’s journey picks up with the weight of history pressing down on them—both personal and cultural. Effy has finally clawed her way into the literature college, becoming the first woman to do so, but of course, instead of respect, she’s met with thinly veiled condescension and a crowd of people just waiting for her to fall apart. Effy is no longer haunted by the Fairy King, but Reid is too smart to make that a happy ending. Instead, she asks the tougher question: who is Effy when she can no longer lose herself in stories? Watching Effy navigate the "real" world is painful in the best, most cathartic way—it’s a reminder that surviving your trauma doesn’t mean you stop carrying its weight.

Then there’s Preston. If the first book was Effy’s reckoning, this one belongs to Preston. His arc takes a sharp, fascinating turn as his dreams begin to unravel into something darker, calling him toward the impossible and seductive idea of power. The palace under the sea is one of the most haunting settings Reid has conjured—it practically drips off the page with its eerie beauty and creeping dread. Watching Preston lose his steady, logical grip on reality was both heartbreaking and thrilling. It’s rare to see a character so thoroughly destabilized by his own emotions, especially when they’re tangled up in protection and love.

The pacing is dreamlike—fluid and immersive, occasionally fragmented like a half-remembered vision. The romance between Effy and Preston feels more fragile here, like something precious and human in the middle of a storm they can’t control. There’s no grand melodrama between them, just quiet moments of trust and tenderness that make the looming tragedy hit even harder.

And then there’s the war between Llyr and Argant, threading through everything like a ticking clock. Reid doesn’t just use it as background noise—it’s a visceral reminder that personal stories don’t exist in a vacuum. Effy and Preston are caught in the middle of something bigger than themselves, and that push and pull between personal dreams and national nightmares adds so much depth to the story’s stakes.

If I had one minor gripe, it’s that a few of the supporting characters felt more like symbols than fully realized people—but honestly, this story is so much about the blurring of dreams and reality that it almost felt intentional. Reid's writing is as lyrical and devastating as ever, painting a world that feels both ancient and heartbreakingly immediate.

4.5 stars because it’s not just a sequel—it’s a reckoning. The ending isn’t neat or easy, but it’s the right kind of haunting, the kind that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book. I’ll definitely be buying a physical copy to keep next to the first one—if only to remind myself that some stories deserve to be told and retold, even if they hurt.

Ava Reid continues to vex me. I lauded A Study in Drowning to any and all who would hear me. I just came off of thoroughly enjoying her upcoming Fable for the End of the World. I was so eager to read the continuing story of Effy and Preston.

I was very much disappointed.

This novel felt meandering for the first 70% of the book with both the POV seemingly doing nothing of action besides trying to handle their trauma and angst of life and events from the first book. The self flagellation of Effy was non stop and quite grating. Preston's Adventures in Dreamland was exciting when introduced but fell into the same tedious beats.

I adored Reid's prose. She is lyrical and it is one of her biggest wins of setting the atmosphere of this dreamy/magical world. I just wish...that something were to happen! As the blurb states, Preston's anger begins to boil and it was only at this point (more than halfway through the book) that I could say "finally!" And hope for some exciting culmination. The following 30% of the book brings the duology to it's conclusion with a sluggish plomp.

Reids commentary about women's work being stolen and used to further mens agendas is still here but I don't really know if anything of value was added by continuing this morose journey of inner turmoil for the many, many pages that she does. The war and Preston's bequethed prejudice due to his heritage was an interesting peak throughout the story.

Was it beautifully written? Yes. Will I continue to read each of Ava Reid's works? Yes. Did this story need to be told? 🤷‍♀️


Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!

This was honestly SO good! It wasn't as intense as I wanted it to be but I still enjoyed it very much. I love the author's writing and how both Effy and Preston got time to heal from everything that happened in the first book. All in all, this was a fun and intriguing sequel to A Study of Drowning!!

Your honor I love them <3

Anyways review time.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC !
( I would have sold my soul for this ARC)

A Study in Downing was my favorite read of last year, so I was beyond excited when I learned Ava Reid was writing a sequel.

A Theory in Dreaming was very enjoyable. I love Effy and Preston so much! However, I have seen a lack in warnings when it comes to the marketing of this book. This book NEEDS TRIGGER WARNINGS. Lots of dark and depressing ideas in this sequel.

I also have to say the first book felt a lot more whimsical with that dark academic touch that I really loved. The second one didn't have that much of a mystical feeling for me. Still really enjoyed it and recommend it. The plot was a little lackluster in my opinion, but I really didn't care. I just loved being with these characters.

Personally ranking -
The first one is better, but I still liked A Theory of Dreaming.

Can't wait to see what Ava Reid writes next.

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

ARC provided by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!

I honestly wasn't expecting A Study in Drowning to have a sequel but Ava Reid absolutely knocked it out of the park with A Theory of Dreaming. This successor resolved all the issues I had from the previous book like pacing and character development — a very worthy sequel. It was nice to be revisit this world with Preston and Effy once more as they face the aftermath of the events that happened in book one.

I will say; however, that this book didn't feel necessary for me personally to close out this story. This was more of a fan service. Additionally, it felt like the plot at times didn't exactly have much direction but I didn't mind much considering I took this to be more of a character study between Preston and Effy as they took care of their internal conflicts and trauma.

Despite my critiques, I do believe this was a major improvement from her first book. Reid's strength lies in her atmospheric writing and story-telling and I look forward to reading more of her in the future.

I .... I just .... wow!

Heartbreaking, Magical, and gorgeous world descriptions.

I loved getting to see more of Preston's point of view.

Also Lotto, I love Lotto and would love to see more of him!

While I hated to see Effy like this, the aftermath of ASID is written really well and in a way that felt so relatable.

Picking up where A Study in Drowning leaves off, we follow Effy and Preston after their return to university from Hiraeth manor.

Where ASiD was enchanting and ethereal, this sequel is darker and heavier. Both Effy and Preston are dealing with their own struggles. Effy as the only woman at the literature college and Preston as an Argantian in Llyr on the cusp of war. Mental health and inner turmoil are prevalent throughout the story. I loved getting more of Preston and the shared moments between him and Effy are so tender and achingly beautiful. Their growth both together and individually is truly lovely to watch unfold.

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

This is a more character driven novel and the pacing is slower at times but I definitely recommend picking it up if you enjoyed ASiD.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

This was such a good read! I saw this book on a couple of sites with their "sister books" and it looked intriguing. I liked the premise of the book and the fact that the author put events that actually contribute to the story.

What a stunning continuation of A Study in Drowning! I absolutely loved the first book and didn't think that A Theory of Dreaming would be able to top it. Man were all my expectations blown away! I loved every single second of this book and could not put it down!

ava reid making me believe in love and magic yet again? fork found in kitchen

you know at the end of the story when the heroes go off into the sunset and love conquers everything, well a theory of dreaming proves there’s more to surmount but that love IS the reason we can continue to navigate this waking world and that sometimes we must save ourselves. for preston and effy that is acknowledging just how much they need each other all over again.

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 💙

Overall: This sequel is even darker than the first book, delving into Effy and Preston’s struggles against the injustices of academia, unethical school politics, and harsh societal prejudices. These challenges make you squirm in your seat and ignite a fierce desire to shield this beloved duo from the wolves in sheep’s clothing surrounding them. I adored the dream world and the breathtaking twist revealed in the diary. Spending more time with my favorite characters from A Study in Drowning was an absolute pleasure, and I loved the book’s dark, mystical tone, its rich mythology, and its critique of falsified legends and myths turned into unquestioned beliefs.