Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I so badly wanted to love this book but I couldn’t find myself immersed into the world. Whereas A Study in Drowning was an absolute wonder of a read for me, the plot and characters ultimately fell flat in this sequel. Reid’s writing is still beautiful, if a bit too atmospheric at times, but the story feels like it’s barely moving and more so just existing. The new characters didn’t enrich the plot, and honestly I found Preston and Effy to be far more boring than their initial introductions. There are moments of true excitement in this book but they’re typically overshadowed by the way this book just insists upon itself. While not the worst sequel I’ve ever read, I’m not sure it is one I think needed to be written.

This book lived up to all my expectations and more. It was lyrical, the prose and storyline engaging, and I cannot recommend it enough. Ava Reid excels at writing, and I will be foaming at the mouth for every book of hers that comes out.

This book was an absolutely beautiful experience. When I finished book 1, I thought the story was complete, and I am so happy Reid did not agree. The sequel was just as haunting and ephemeral as the first. I felt completely immersed in both the waking and dreaming worlds. I was right there spiraling with Effie and Preston, the walls of reality were closing in on me, and I relished every moment of it. I found myself trying to read only a few chapters a day so the experience could last as long as possible.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for giving me this ARC of 'A theory of dreaming ' by Ava Reid.

This was an anticipated sequel of 'a study in drowning ' which I really enjoyed very much. The characters were flawed and realistic. The writing was lyrical and heart wrenching. Though, I believe this book needs some trigger warning, especially about the implied incest. The portrayal of mental health issues was so well done. The characters were multidimensional complex. Overall, I really enjoyed sobbing through this whole book.

I’d like to start off with some trigger warnings for this book and the content that will be discussed in this review. Ava Reid is known for delving deep into sensitive topics that may not be appropriate or safe for all to consume.
* Heavily implied sexual relationship between father / daughter
* Attempted s**cide via overd*se
* R*cism
* S*xism
* Mentions of abus*r

I went into this book with three goals: I wanted to see more of Preston’s character development, I needed more world building especially in terms of the Sleepers and the on-going war, and I wanted to find out more about the bells. All of these items were promised in the blurb so I had extremely high hopes for this book as many of these items were what I found lacking in the first installment of the series.

To begin, Preston, unfortunately is still, what I like to call, a soggy cardboard character. If you replaced him with a box, the story wouldn’t change. He felt flat and was often times hard to read because he was either worrying or livid and there was no in between for him. His whole character relied on emotional instability which was never really commented on or delved into. In relation to Effy, their relationship almost felt toxic because he was either indifferent towards her in that he hardly noticed her rapidly declining mental state or so overprotective of her he left no room for air. Overall, I don’t think his character and the trauma that he suffered was handled well in any aspect.

Effy wasn’t much better in this regard. Rightly so, she still deals with the terror left behind by the Fairy King but this also comes with a somewhat new development of feeling like an overwhelming burden to those around her. While this is a very real thing for people who suffer from mental illness, especially major depressive disorder, I felt like it wasn’t handled well or with the care and sensitivity that it should have. One second Preston is going through with this exhilarating but horribly stupid plan and in the same breath Effy is literally crashing out (for lack of a better word) over something completely unrelated and seemingly minuscule in the moment, which ended up minimizing her struggles in the reader’s eye. There was just so much going on in the book and the pacing was all off so you couldn’t appreciate what Reid was trying to do with the moment. The reader is given no time to digest or empathize with the characters and it makes them appear inauthentic and suspiciously like a checkbox made for dramatic effect.

In terms of the Sleepers, in which only one besides Myrddin is discussed in this sequel, the story mimicked the first in that Effy was actively working to dethrone another sleeper (which I applaud). For me, I don’t think there is ever an excuse to write inc*stual relationships in a Young Adult fantasy novel. Yes, the book ends on a good note in which these situations will no longer be covered up and victims may find justice but I think the same could have been accomplished with Angharad’s story all the same. It just felt so abrupt to be reading the Letters and you digest the meaning behind them and your stomach is turning and there is no escape, you can’t unread it. This would have been hard hitting and meaningful if it were meant for the right audience. However, this is not a book for Young Adults and shouldn’t be marketed as such. As a side note while we’re on the topic of Sleepers, I wasn’t particularly thrilled that all the history and magic behind the Sleepers boiled down to a single sentence the government slipped into an ancient text to uplift their war cause. It felt cheap.

To add cause to injury, the world building was flimsy at best, the magic system was non-existent (literally), the characterization had no development from the first book, and the overall writing and syntax were disjointed and confusing.

I can say I did enjoy Lotto, even though he was only a small percentage of the story. His comedic relief could have done so much more for the reader but he was unfortunately ill utilized. I also really appreciated the unfolding of Antonia’s story throughout the many texts and how important syntax can be in literary analysis. And most of all, I loved the ending. If there is one thing Ava Reid did well with this book it was write a good fulfilling ending. I’m happy to see these women get justice and the literature college and the two nations changing for the better. Overall, this book had some strong points that I really wish Reid had leaned into,. Honestly, I don’t think the magic did it any justice, it would have been a beautiful story all on its own but there was just too much crammed into a small format with little realization of any of the components. I think this will be the final book I read by this author.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the eARC. This review was voluntarily written and all opinions contained within this review are my own.

4 ⭐️ Thank you Harper Collin and NetGalley for this ARC!

Wow. This book brought the emotion and depth of this world to a new level. I cried reading Reid's portrayal of depression and escapism. It was lyrical but really brutally honest in a manner that was fitting for a YA book. I did struggle some truly connecting Preston's ARC to the overall world stage crisis and felt that needed a bit more fleshing out but it didn't detract from the journey the characters took. Overall- if you loved Preston and Effy in book 1, buckle up and pick this up this summer!

As I’ve said before (and will absolutely keep saying), Ava Reid is an auto-read for me. Full stop. A Theory of Dreaming was no exception. Her dreamy, poetic prose and lush, immersive worlds get me every single time. I’m not usually someone who can easily visualize what I’m reading — I don’t exactly “see” books like a movie in my head — my brain just doesn’t work that way. But this book (like most of her others) read like an actual dream: strange, beautiful, a little unsettling, and impossible to look away from.

And listen — I’m not particularly sentimental. (Feelings? Gross.) But this book found me at the exact right moment, when I was neck-deep in managing my own mental health while also holding space for someone I love navigating much bigger, scarier waters. That made Effy and Preston’s story hit extra hard. In this sequel, we get to see Preston’s darkness explored alongside Effy’s, and their messy, achingly tender, complicated love for each other absolutely wrecked me. It’s such a powerful reminder that real love — the kind that actually lasts — isn’t about perfection or pedestals. It’s about showing up with all your cracks and chaos and trusting the other person to stay anyway.

I also loved the structure of this book — slipping between lectures, letters, diary entries, and more. It gave me that delicious, academic, gothic vibe I crave, while the fantastical elements quietly reflected the dark, cruel currents running just under the surface. What’s the quote? “Knowledge is power, but power is rarely kind.” The plot did feel a bit repetitive as a sequel, but honestly, I didn’t mind. I’m here for the formula.

Returning to this world felt like visiting an old, beloved building — the kind where the wallpaper is peeling, the air smells of musty memories, and the drowning dreamworld is battling reality.

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Honestly, for an unplanned duology, this book was so good!! There were some parts that needed fleshed out a little more, but hopefully there is another round of editing to clear that up. There is about 100 more pages in the Goodreads count than the ARC, not sure if that's editing, additional writing, or just font size, etc.

I loved getting to jump back into Preston and Effy's world. This book ended up with a little more world building than the last, and was less along gothic creepy atmosphere than the last. This took a more academia-esque turn than the last book.

I loved getting to know their friends, their advisors, the school, etc. and I loved the way it wrapped up! An excellent follow up if you ask me!

Was so excited to see a sequel for this. Absolutely stunning work and answers the question of what happens after the happy ever after. There was a little less magic in this book but it makes up for it in other ways. Loved this book and thank you for the arc NetGalley

(3.5 stars) This book, while beautiful, didn't feel like a necessary addition to the world of A Study in Drowning. I felt that Effy lost a lot of her strength and substance in the book. While I felt that Reid showcased mental health in a vital and empathetic light, it wasn't the same character I knew from ASID. I'm sad that I didn't love this as much as anticipated, but the slow unfolding of the story was still beautiful enough for me to give this a higher rating than I usually would for a book this slow-paced and, in my opinion, unnecessary to the original story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

I definitely was in the camp of people who absolutely loved the first book and although this sequel didn’t give me the same feelings, Ava Reid’s writing and storytelling are gonna do it for me every time. I love how fantastical every sentence is and it makes me feel like I am being coaxed into this world.

I loved the first book, but this was an unnecessary sequel that wastes the excellence of the preceding novel. It backtracks on character growth, does away with plot, and meanders and plods until it comes to a neat end. Though the writing was beautiful as always, I was heavily disappointed.

A Study in Drowning was o e of my favorite in 2023. So when I found out there was going to be a sequel, and a dual POV one (I love dual/multi POVs) I was so pumped.

However...this wasn't a favorite for me. I understand the intention to show the crippling doubt but I just was disappointed that they couldn't communicate. Even up until the near end they still doubted themselves and each other. After everything they went through in book I was hoping they had a foundation of trust in each other. I just wanted them to communicate.

The writing, setting, and dark academia whimsy was everything I love from Ava Reid though. It was deeply atmospheric and whimsical in a dark kind of way so I loved that it carried over into this despite not being set at a crumbling old manor on a seaside cliff.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Study in Drowning was is of my favorite books so I was extremely excited about it getting a sequel. However, A Theory of Dreaming left me wanting more. I have so many questions about the palace under the sea and what its purpose was. Why didn’t the people discover their entire belief system was built on a lie? I just have so many questions and a few half-baked answers for them.

I did cry, many times throughout the book yet Preston and Effy frustrated me. I just wanted to shake them and yell “COMMUNICATE!”. Their moments of finding their own strength also fell a bit flat for me.

It’s not really fair when the first book was literally perfect in my eyes so nothing would ever be able to compare after that. While I did enjoy the sequel, I don’t think it has the power to make me re-read like the first book did.

This book fell a bit flat for me. I didn't like his POV as much as I liked hers. Something felt missing from book 1 and the world building was not as interesting. I personally believe this should have been left as a stand alone.

This is a great second book in the series! A study in drowning was very good and very fun to read. And this book was just as good!

Let me just start off by saying that Ava Reid has become one of my favorite authors over the past year. The way she writes is so visceral and enchanting. I feel hypnotized every time I delve into one of her written worlds, and a Theory of Dreaming was no exception. Following Preston and Effy from A Study in Drowning, A Theory of Dreaming explores the complex emotions that result from the tumultuous events of the first book. Taking place at the University that our characters attend Effy and Preston quickly the lines can be blurred between dreams and living.

This book was so gut wrenching (In the best way possible of course). I did not expect actual tears to be pouring out of my eyes by the end of this book. I really enjoyed A Study in Drowning for its lush and dark atmosphere but I loved A Theory of Dreaming for Preston and Effy’s story. First, I really enjoyed the dual POV in this book. I think giving more backstory and narrative to Preston really helped shape his character more. It brought him into the light and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to see him shine. Secondly, Effy’s character felt so real and raw. I just wanted to reach through the pages and give her the biggest hug. Her internal dialogue was incredibly heartbreaking and potent, you could feel the heaviness and tiredness he felt lifting off the page.

The backstory and setting of this story was also highly interesting. It was a really nice touch on Reid’s part to include more about the sleepers and their lore. I love the way Reid includes literature throughout the story. You can tell by the way she writes that she has a deep love for words and stories and it shows in Effy and Preston as characters.

However, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the plot. The ending felt a bit rushed as we spent so much time with Preston and Effy and their troubles. The war between Llyr and Argant throughout the book felt out of place to me. I think it was really just there to serve as lore for Preston. Granted, this did not make or break the story for me. I still ended up deeply appreciating this book.

Overall, I really appreciate Effy and Preston as characters. I loved getting to know them more, especially Preston. I love the way Ava Reid writes about mental health. It feels authentic and personal. I found myself relating to Effy in more ways than I would have ever thought possible. Though I’m really sad that we won’t get any more books in this universe, I can't wait to see what Reid writes in the future.

Thank you to Harpercollins Children’s Books and Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you HarperCollins International for the ARC

I am one of those people who liked A study in drowning, but didn't love it.
There were some things about the mystery part that in my opinion could've been handled better, but I appreciated the themes it dealt with and the oppressive, gothic atmosphere of the setting.

While I didn't see the need for a sequel, I was curious about reading it, if only to see if it would be better than the first book.
Unfortunately, not only is it not better than the A Study in Drowning, it was completely unnecessary.

It kind of feels like a very long epilogue lacking atmosphere and plot.
I understand this book was more about Preston, but it was sad to see Effy being such a passive character, completely at the mercy of the events happening around her.
And while I understand it was probably a representation of her mental state, it just felt like her character took many steps back.

The plot is weak, the bonds between the characters as well, it all just felt like it was not developed enough.

I did appreciate the themes - some new, some already seen in the first volume and further developed: depression, found family, political corruption, dark academia, misogyny and my favourite: women being erased from history, science and literature in order to be replaced by men. Something that should be talked about and explored more.

On the whole, I think it might have been better to make the first novel longer and wove this part of the story into the second half, but fans of A Study in Drowning will probably enjoy it anyway.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC!

Like A Study in Drowning, A Theory of Dreaming is a lyrical atmospheric fantasy whose magic lies on the line between metaphor and reality. ATOD feels like a very natural extension, in prose and content, of ASID, where we have the chance to explore the consequences of book 1 and dive deeper in Preston as character, what he struggles with, and how he copes with it.

It primarily focuses on Effy and Preston's struggle to take care of themselves and each other while faced with their poor treatment by (most of) the people and the institutions around them. The plot is a bit of a less clearly defined arc than in ASID because of this, but I actually enjoyed having so much time to get reacquainted with Effy and Preston.

This book sees the expansion of the world and its politics as we see the return of Effy and Preston from the isolated cliffside to their university and community. I think this expansion is fairly successful, largely because it isn't too ambitious in its scope. We learn more about the conflict between Llyr and Argant, about Llyr's founding lore and cultural influences, but the focus is clearly on how these elements affect our characters—particularly how they impact Preston and his treatment as the only Argantian student at the university. There were some things about the Llyrian lore where I felt like I was doing a bit of catch-up to understand their significance, but I think Reid was generally successful in communicating what mattered in a way that made the characters' experiences and feelings seem very tangible.

There isn't any miscommunication drama in this book, but there is a certain lack of communication between Effy and Preston because neither wants to burden the other with what they are struggling with. This is frustrating at times, but I think fairly well-motivated, and it's satisfying nonetheless how much of an effort they make to still return to one another at the end of the day. They are dealing with things on their own, when they really shouldn't be, but they generally don't use that as an excuse to distance themselves from each other.

Ava Reid's first 3 books worked for me in a way that their most recent 2 just haven't quite been able to live up to. ATOD is an imperfect but still very satisfying return to the lyricism and character-work that I love about Ava's storytelling.

It was a good read but felt like the first one gripped me more. I still love the characters and the lore, but would have liked maybe something more thrilling and with some twists, since the story was predictable. 4 stars.