When I first heard A Study in Drowning was getting a sequel, I was a little hesitant: the book ended in a really satisfying way and I couldn't think of how the author could continue it. After all the first book was one of my favorite books I've read this year, and maybe read...ever. To paraphrase the first book, it was a lighthouse for a girl that needed it. That girl being me and so many others that connected with the message about being silenced and made small.

And also...What was left for Effy and Preston to do?

Quite a lot, as it turned out actually.

I'm pleasantly surprised and relieved to say that this sequel very much justifies its existence: the prose is still heartbreaking and gut punching. The descriptions are just as dark, moody, and gothic as you like. The final ending here was satisfying. The first book didn't NEED a sequel, but I'm glad it got one.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this early copy in exchange for my honest review!

Ava Reid can do no wrong. A THEORY OF DREAMING is just as gorgeously gripping and ethereal as its predecessor. But this time, the stakes somehow feel even higher for our favorite duo. Beautifully done.

This is a review I just hate to post.


I loved the first book in this series but this second was just way off the mark.

I felt like there were so many plot holes. My biggest issue is several statements that were made about Effy missing the fairy king. How?! She was made to be terrified of him in the first so it makes no sense that she misses the comfort of seeing him. Also I could not stand how her and Preston were never on the same page. It makes no sense that Effy admitted to experiencing magical things in the first with Preston not believing her and then him NEVER mentioning anything that happens to him in the entire book. Why would you not tell the one person who wouldn’t think you were crazy? Also Effy having a drug addiction was just poorly done. It was frustrating how she was written to be such a weak main character when she overcame a lot of that in the first. And it doesn’t make sense that she is just magically better after her trip into the hospital. I was so excited for this book but it just missed the mark for me.

2.75

This was…okay? I’m very unsure of how I feel about this. The continuation of the story feels a little unnecessary to me. I do always like the atmosphere that Ava Reid creates, but I don’t know that this story was strong enough to live up to it. The inclusion of Preston’s POV could have been interesting, and it did help to break up the very bleak tone of Effy’s storyline, but I don’t feel like he had very much to say. It was very frustrating reading about these two main characters who are supposedly deeply in love withhold SO much from each other. They both separately have magical experiences, Effy in the prior book and now Preston in this, but they don’t communicate about it at all? Effy has no clue what Preston goes through this whole book and that just doesn’t make much sense to me. I kept waiting for their stories to converge, and they just never did. This really had a ton of potential, but it fell pretty flat for me unfortunately. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review which has already been posted to Goodreads.

Ava Reid strikes again with A Theory of Dreaming. This sequel to A Study in Drowning takes the reader back to the fantastical world of Effy and Preston. Much to my delight, this book had more prominent tones of dark academia with the book taking place at their university, Caer-Isel.

A Theory of Dreaming dives right back into the world, exploring the aftermath of Effy’s and Preston’s published paper from the end of A Study in Drowning. This book cleverly tackles many prevalent topics, such as personal identity as Effy and Preston return back to their everyday life at university, and escapism as the burdens accumulate in their lives. Reid explores different ways that people escape from reality as Preston and Eddy each utilize a different method of coping. Lastly, A Theory of Dreaming explores more of a focus on the ever-present political conflict between Argant and Llyr. In the wake of our current world today, this felt like an important portrayal of the effects that this conflict and ingrained prejudice affects the everyday life at the individual level.

Overall, A Theory of Dreaming is a great sequel that every lover of A Study in Drowning should read.

Thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book.

I liked this one much better than the first book since it had the dark academia setting I was looking for. I liked the take on propaganda and challenging the status quo. I think it went on a little too long and I found myself getting bored and just waiting for it to wrap up by the end. I liked the relationship between Effy and Preston and how it built in the first one but wish we could have seen more of their relationship deepening in this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Harper Collins for sending me an ARC. A Study in Drowning is one of my all-time favorite books, and this sequel did not disappoint! I’m so very glad Ava Reid decided to continue the story through Preston 🔔

This book presents many dichotomies for consideration: Faith vs. Non-belief, Folklore vs. Academia, Truth & Lies, Feminine vs. Masculine, and most importantly, Dreams vs. Real Life. It's a really captivating exploration of all of those elements, without overwhelming the reader or being too on the nose. The setting is so immersive, it's so easy to feel like you're right there along with the characters. I also love that Reid expanded on Rhia and Lotto's characters as mirrors to Effy and Preston, they add so much to this story.

This nook is simply beautiful - from Preston’s underwater dreamscape, to both his and Effy’s personal growth, their romance, the poetry, and the true story of The Sleepers.

A must-read duology in my opinion!

Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this one early!

I really loved Ava Reid's book A Study in Drowning last year, so I was so excited to find out that there would be a sequel--preordered it and everything. And then I saw it up come up on netgalley, so I crossed my fingers and requested it...and I got it! I then proceeded to devour the whole book in a single morning. I loved it--it's more of the same from the first book. It's sad and sweet and acknowledges the reality of mental illness. One thing I love about Ava's work is that she doesn't feel the need to wrap everything up with a pretty bow--not everything is going to end up perfect, but as long as it's satisfying and hopeful, that's all I need. Would absolutely recommend this anyone who loves fantasy.

I received an eARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review--all opinions are entirely my own.

Firstly, the writing is lovely as well as the cover. Though mainly I enjoyed seeing how the characters interacted with eachother. It allows a more in depth understanding of the characters themselves and who they interacted with.
The conflicts between the main character Preston and Effy honeslty seems real. Since those characters are young they aren't going to be the best at communication with eachother. So I think the miscommunication trope was done well.
I enjoyed the interactions between Preston and the professor. It was interesting how that last interaction, between the two of them, in the book seems like an open interpretation. I liked to think that the professor was a father figure to Preston but I am more of a hopeful person.
The general vibe of the book felt like cozy academia which I enjoyed and felt like it was done well. I definitely would recommend this to anyone that enjoys cozy reads!

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

Wow, what a lovely conclusion to this duology! This book focuses more on Preston but we still get Effy’s POV which was a treat. I think Ava did really well tackling some of the issues left open ended in ASID and I believe these were handled with care. Preston and Effy both struggle with belonging and allowing themselves to be a burden rather than trudging through alone but it was also an important way for them to grow and find themselves. ATOD beautifully weaved fantasy and reality and I loved that dreams were a realm between the two. Water still plays a large part in this book and I appreciated all the vivid imagery. I’ll leave you with this:

“So runs this tale, like a stream into the sea…not to fade, but to change and to be free.”

A Theory in Dreaming is the amazing sequel to The Art of Drowning and I just want to live in these stories forever. The world is so beautifully built, and I just want to hop right in.

I really wanted to like this one. I hated to love A Study in Drowning because Ava has a way to get me completely obsessed with a the dark and gorgeous atmosphere but then I struggle to appreciate, personally, the character development. I was not fond of the repetitive low regard that Effy had to go through yet again with her peers. I think ASID should have been left as a standalone. Sadly this was not as enjoyable but I would still recommend the first on its own because the ambiance alone is one to experience.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts are my own!

I had a really difficult time trying to rate this book but ultimately decided between 3.75-4 stars.

As always, Ava Reid's writing was so beautiful. I had a harder time getting through this book, but that was simply because of the difficult themes being addressed. This book continues shortly after A Study in Drowning and shows the aftermath and repercussions of Effy and Preston's experiences and findings in that book. I really enjoyed that A Theory of Dreaming added the dual POV, giving the reader most insight into Preston. In both books I found myself really connected to the characters, so it was genuinely sad to read about the struggles they both faced. It felt like two people drowning next to each other unable to hold on or pull each other up, and while it was upsetting, it was so well written, and I felt accurately portrayed mental health struggles.

This was not what I was expecting in the sequel, but not in a bad way. I would definitely recommend both A Study in Drowning as well as A Theory of Dreaming!

4.5 beautifully written stars!

Thank you to Ava Reid, NetGalley, and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for review.

As a follow up to a Study in Drowning, this absolutely cured my book hangover with sweet Preston and Effy!

A Theory in Dreaming picks up where ASID leaves off. Effy and Preston are back at university and dealing with the fallout over their massive discovery about Angharad and Myrddin. They're both having to deal with the fury of the non-believers of their discovery. Effy has been let into the literature college as the first female and the deep-seated misogyny is difficult to combat. She's handling learning that all her childhood fears were actually true and everything she'd been told was her imagination, was in face true. She flounders somewhat, not knowing what way is up and grapples with mental health struggles that have been brushed under the rug by her family.

Preston is back at university as the newly appointed Legate of the Literature College. He's a teaching aide to his mentor, he just made one of the biggest discoveries in literature in years, but can't stop hearing church bells. He's also dealing with the residual grief from his Father's death, discrimination and xenophobism for being the only Argantian student at the Llyr University. His mentor partially guides/partially manipulates Preston into a magical dream world where Preston can keep Effy safe and speak with his Father again. But when the dream world starts leeching into reality, everything breaks down. And it's up to our 2 leads to conquer their inner demons and save themselves and Llyr.

I absolutely adored this book and how it navigated complex topics such as grief, PTSD, depression, misogyny and xenophobism. Loved the dual POV and getting inside Preston's head. My one wish is that we could have seen more of Preston and Effy working together, they shine when working together. However, they were both on their own journeys and wanted to keep their love safe and protect them from any additional stress. Overall, I am so glad there was a sequel to ASID as this tied up so many lingering questions and I'm so glad that Effy and Preston get their Happily Ever After.

Hmmm - this one is though. It’s a 3.5 rounded to 4.
Here’s the thing. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Did it feel… needed? Not really. As someone who’s perhaps used to series that have their own storyline each book this one felt more like a drag. Idk if that makes sense.
It wasn’t u til later on that I found out previous book was supposed to be solo! Lol kinda makes sense.

It’s not bad by any means but it def didn’t keep me as enamored as first one. Should you read? Yes, especially if you read book one

**Thank you to Harper Collins for giving me an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts!**

Before you read my review, keep in mind that it's been awhile since I read A Study in Drowning... and I didn't have time to reread it before reading this.

Even though I didn't have time to reread A Study in Drowning to remember everything, I still really enjoyed this book! It was pretty clean and tugged at my heartstrings. I couldn't really remember the magic or school systems and how they worked, but I mostly understood everything going on. The magic system seemed weirdly disconnected from the plot and also weirdly inconsequential. I didn't feel any urgency to resolve those issues, and I don't know if it was the writing or the plot or both.

I really enjoyed the romance, though, and the school stuff! The writing was pretty good as well. I would recommend this book!

A Theory of Dreaming picks up pretty soon after the events in A Study in Drowning, where we find Effy and Preston dealing with both the external and internal repercussions of the events in the first book. It's a little dark like its predecessor, and just as emotionally exhausting and fulfilling in the exploration and excavation of its themes. Unlike the first book, it is dual POV and I loved the addition of Preston's POV. The pacing felt slow at times in the middle of the beginning, but I stayed intrigued.

Initially, I struggled with bits of the story itself until I realized I was struggling with how personally familiar much of it felt and how much I needed this book. It was uncomfortable at times, but the good kind. The kind where you can see how far you've come, but can also see where there's still much work to be done.

A Theory of Dreaming is for the dreamers who love to get lost in the safety of stories and struggle in reality. For those who know all too well that it is a bravery to choose to live and to love, and a bravery to keep choosing them over and over. Effy and Preston will stay with me for a long, long time.

Thank you so much NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC.

2023 (the vibes were immaculate!), but I will admit that I was a little bit skeptical when I found out that a sequel was coming out.

Why, you ask? (You didn’t—but I’m going to answer anyway). Because if you’ve read the first installment of this now-duology, you can probably tell from how it ended that it was originally meant to be a one-and-done. There’s nothing more disappointing than a fantastic book with a sequel that’s…well, disappointing, so I picked up A Theory of Dreaming with not a small amount of trepidation mingling with my excitement.

TL;DR—I loved reading it. I also hated reading it.

Let me explain.

Do I think this sequel was warranted? Yes, actually. Even though it wasn’t originally in the cards—as Ava Reid says outright in the foreword—it still manages to continue the storyline of the original in an interesting way. Our protagonists, Effy and Preston, must deal with the aftermath of what happened to them in the first book while continuing to be smothered by the misogynist and nationalist ideals of their university and country.

In A Study in Drowning, Effy was plagued by magic while Preston was a staunch nonbeliever. Now, Effy is plagued by the absence of magic while Preston has reframe everything he believes in to make room for the fact that magic might be real. Although the story is told through their alternating points of view, I would say it’s more so about Preston than it is about Effy.

That said, I think it’s completely valid to finish the first book and not actually want to know where the characters’ lives go from there. Especially because, I will be honest, this book was depressing and difficult for me to read.

Not because it was bad—I think this is one of the most creative fantasy series in recent years—but because the extent to which Effy struggles with her mental health makes me sad. I have to commend Ava Reid for writing about depression in a way that makes me feel similar to how I might feel if I was watching someone in my own life experience it. Sometimes I felt bad for her, sometimes I felt outright mad at her for not asking for any help. It might be a fantasy novel, but in this way A Theory of Dreaming mimics real life in a very poignant way. If I’m remembering right, I think I experienced some of these feelings while reading the first one as well, but frankly I must have blocked it out.

This book felt like a gut punch, hence why it took me over a month to get through it. But if you couldn’t get enough of A Study in Drowning, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed to see how it evolves in this compelling sequel.

The sequel was truly stunning. It felt extremely raw and emotional. We got more story development that tied in to book one in the perfect way. This was the perfect wrap up to Preston and Effy.

This novel picks up right where Effy and Preston’s story left off in “A Study in Drowning,” seamlessly continuing their journey. “A Theory of Dreaming” beautifully weaves together fantasy, romance, and dark academia elements, maintaining the lyrical prose that made the first book so captivating. This book is more focused on personal development and discovery than magic/adventure. I found the pacing to be slow at the beginning, while the ending felt somewhat rushed. This cover is just STUNNING! I want a physical copy for my self because it’s so lovely. Fans of “Divine Rivals” will likely enjoy this book and should definitely add it to their TBR!
Thanks to NetGallery and HarperCollins Children's Books for an advanced copy of this eBook in exchange for my honest review.