A Seduction of Dreams and Nightmares by A.J. Locke was a scorching hot fantasy novel full of all kinds of paranormal creatures like vampires, wytches, incubi, succubi and many types of shifters that a mysterious Deity conjured up and are called Fiends. This unique premise really stood out to me because although I've read several books that feature different kinds of paranormal creatures as well as humans, it was one of the more enjoyable and surprising that I've read in recent years.

This book features Novari (a.k.a. Nova), a human who is a bartender for Luccero, a sexy as hell incubus. She would love to get her hands all over him but Luc being a incubus comes with lots of complications. Then there is Keo, her friend with benefits who is a vampire. He hates his existence and that he has to survive by sucking blood, never aging, so he spends his days searching for the mythical cure that's supposed to be out there, although no know ons what or who it is. You might guess it but Nova, Luc and Keo discover the cure by accident but it might endanger their lives, especially Nova's, if anyone else discovers it. In the meanwhile all three of them can't help but be seduced by one another and giving in to their sensual and lustful desires.

There are no words invented for the way I loved the trio of Nova, Luc and Keo. They were all very different from one another but when they came together they just fit as puzzle pieces. To call the sex scenes hot is such an understatement. Erotic, carnal and and arousing might come closer and then some. And beyond that they also started having real feelings for one another, even with everything that was going on around them.

I also got to talk more about the uniqueness of this book when it comes to how these paranormal creatures are created. In the book they talk about a Deity that conjures them up. You see, vampires, wytches, shifters, incubi (and so on), come into the world fully formed as adults and that's that. I never have known a book to do this but I really liked this part and how mysterious it was. I have so many questions too. Who is this Deity? Why does he create so many Fiends? Why is there a cure? I've gotta know!

The end of the book was a cliffhanger that left me pretty shocked. I had not seen this particular reveal coming at all. It only made me more excited for the second book which also will be the final one. I can't wait to find out where the story goes and what will be in store for Nova, Luc and Keo.

It has a really good, original storyline. But there were just too many pages of the same angsty issues going on. I was hoping I'd enjoy this more than I did.
I did get this as an ARC from Netgalley, but these opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc which is available now!

Wow. I had some fun reading this vampiric mythical creature romance. It had plot. Fast pacing and the steam? The steam was steamy. I truly enjoyed every moment I spent within these pages!

I thoroughly enjoyed this - so much so that I read it within one sitting. Good amount of spice, interesting characters, mythical creatures, and that ending. Would definitely recommend this to my friends who have similar interests.

WHEW THIS WAS SO GOOD!!
ok lemme calm down cuz the ending????? had me screamiiiing???

first off AJ is a fellow trini author so I'm soo glad I read and loved this cuz I'm always looking for more Caribbean authors, especially Trinis, like myself.

This is so intriguing and engaging and sexy from the first page. The author truly created such and interesting fantasy world here. Nova, Luc and Keo are so hot together, when I say this is spicy I mean scorpion pepper level spicyyyyyy, like the bar Nova works at got orgies going on and she gets up to some sexy fun with her sexy guys too ;)

Yes friends I said guys, plural, cuz she's tangling with an incubus and a vampire ;) I loved learning about the different Fiend types and this story truly felt different and fresh.

This was a fun roller coaster ride and I'm gonna need book 2 because....that ending??

Okay I’m gonna give this 3.5 stars and round it up. First off i CANNNOTTTT BELIEVE IT ENDED LIKE THAT! I need the second book immediately because now I am fully invested in what happens next. The cliffhanger was wild!

Some of my favorite aspects of this book were Sott and Nova’s friendship as well as Nova and Keo’s relationship. I think the pacing was great. There was definitely NOT a dull moment. This is my first time reading this author and It definitely won’t be my last. I’d recommend this to anybody who likes erotic fantasy, it was definitely a fun read!

Now, here are my criticisms:

I didn’t really think the relationship between Keo and Luc was as developed as it could’ve been- We didn’t really see them connect that much beyond the surface, so while Nova falling for each of them made complete sense, Keo and Luc having any sort of connection beyond the surface wasn’t really that believable to me.

I also wish the issue of how intimate Luc could be with them was a little stronger with the reasoning. I know it’s fantasy so I should suspend some disbelief but it seems this takes place in modern times and the problem of basically not *exchanging bodily fluids* coulda been solved w a condom… I mean….They work in a sex club, I know somebody at the tempest had to have the condom hookup😭 Some of the magical elements felt like they were just being made up as we went along.

Overall this book was a good time and I look forward to finding out what happens next.

"A Seduction of Dreams and Nightmares" by AJ Locke offers an intriguing premise with its exploration of the intricate world of Fiends and humans coexisting in a delicate balance. Locke's vivid descriptions and imaginative world-building create a rich backdrop for the story, immersing readers in a realm where magic, desire, and danger intertwine.

The novel introduces readers to Novari, a human bartender, and her complex relationships with the alluring incubus Luccero and the vampire Keo. As Novari navigates the dangers of her world and grapples with her desires, she finds herself drawn into a seductive and perilous game of love and power.

One of the strengths of "A Seduction of Dreams and Nightmares" lies in Locke's ability to create compelling characters with layered motivations and conflicts. Novari, Luccero, and Keo are each grappling with their own desires and struggles, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.

However, while the world-building and character development are strong, the pacing of the plot at times feels uneven. Certain plot points and developments may feel rushed or underdeveloped, detracting from the overall impact of the story.

Additionally, some readers may find the romantic dynamics between the characters to be predictable or lacking in depth. The love triangle between Novari, Luccero, and Keo, while intriguing in concept, may not fully resonate with all readers due to its familiar tropes.

Overall, "A Seduction of Dreams and Nightmares" offers an engaging read for fans of paranormal romance and fantasy. While the novel has its strengths in its imaginative world-building and complex characters, it falls short in terms of pacing and depth of romantic development, earning it a solid three-star rating.

Be careful, dreams can turn into nightmares in th blink of an eye..
Living on a world dreamt up by a sleeping deity is an interesting concept that for sure was a unique twist that I have never experienced before.
This probably is one of my favorite books from A J. It juggled spice, world building and witty as hell characters that made me giggle. (I’m looking at you Sot.)
I for sure loved the unique take on vampires, wytches, humans and other mystical creatures that made very intrigued in where this book series could go. I know I need a sequel asap.
Would I recommend this book? Hands down yes! A J Locke knocked it out of the park with this book. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.
Thanks to the folks at NetGalley for a copy of this book. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.

I was hooked from the cover and description. The characters were everything that I wanted from this type of book, it had everything I was looking for from a fantasy romance novel. The plot was everything that I wanted and glad it was so well done. A.J. Locke has a great writing style and enjoyed the way it was written perfectly. I hope there is more in this world and glad it had interesting characters and from A.J. Locke.

A human, an incubus, and a vampire walk into a bar….sounds like the beginning of a fun joke, but A Seduction of Dreams and Nightmares by A.J. Locke takes this scenario and infuses it with spice and emotion to turn it into a wonderful fantasy romance set in a world where paranormal creatures are searching for a “cure” to their cursed existence. Human bartender Novari and her vampire friend Keo find themselves seeking refuge from her incubus boss Luc when that search turns dangerous.

The writing style of this novel is casual and fun. But at the same time, the author uses vivid imagery and profound details to bring the world and the characters’ charged emotions to life. So while this book can fall into the smut category with some excellently erotic sex scenes, it also has heart and the characters are fully realistic with complex personalities. And the love scenes themselves, well they are scorching hot and superbly explicit. This is a true menage scenario with both MF scenes as well as MMF, with the men enjoying each other.

There is a good amount of world building as well, making the setting come to life in ways that erotic fantasy fiction does not always achieve. The book ends on a mild cliffhanger that isn’t devastating while still leaving the reader wanting more, which is not an easy feat to attain for a writer.

The dialogue was at times a bit stilted. Sometimes a character would be highly formal and other times would use slang and be casual. It didn’t always mesh perfectly, but this was not so prevalent that it detracted from my enjoyment of the overall story.

I really enjoyed diving into this unique fantasy romance where the characters inhabit a world that is purportedly the vibrant dream of their deity, a very interesting concept. The romance has heart and the characters have depth that is easy to connect with. This is a great novel for readers who love supernatural creatures, quality spice, and an excellent romance set against a stunning world and high stakes scenarios.

Star rating: 4.5 (the NetGalley system does not allow for half stars)
Spice rating: 5 chili peppers

If you are a fan of mythical creatures, long chapters, and spicy romance then this book is for you. The writing style feels casual, but easy still to read. A Seduction of Dreams and Nightmares was a pretty good read in my opinion, it was fun, and didn't leave me feeling confused at all which is amazing as you can tell the author worked very hard to create a world that readers would love.

Thank you to A.J. Locke and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

This was such a a fun read! Lots of magical beings and terms to learn about, but A.J. presented the information in such a clear and interesting way that I was never confused. The characters are entertaining and the spice is absolutely amazing. This is a MMF polyamorous story, and I loved it.

The only downside for me was that some of the dialogue felt odd. There are many uses of the word "ain't," and other very informal words like gonna, wanna, etc. I think A.J. was going for a more casual dialogue style, but it felt forced and out of place sometimes. This complaint definitely isn't enough to change my mind about how much I enjoyed the book though!

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a spicy romantasy - especially anyone looking for good MMF stories where they males enjoy each other too.

Novari works as a bartender at Tempest. Her boss Luccee is an incubus. Tempest is a club where humans and fiends can go go fulfill their sexual desires and Luc feeds off the sexual energy.
- Fiends are looking for a cure to turn turn human and will do but just about anything to obtain the cure.
- Nova's friend, Keo, is a vampire. One night Nova finds Keo beaten and staked so she attempts to save him by giving him some of her blood. Luc takes them into his private home so Keo can recover.
-After finding out a dangerous secret about the cure they can turn Fiends into humans Nova, Luc and Keo are stuck together in Luc's manor until they can figure out what to do.
- romantasy
- reverse harem
- dystopian
- mythical creatures
- gosh t at the end to help you understand the characters and Fiend descriptions
- extra long spicy scenes
- long chapters
- story dragged out in some places but got really good when things picked up

4 stars
4 spice

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I through enjoyed this spicy MFM fantasy book, set in a world in which Fiends, or supernatural creatures, are dreamed up and popped into existense. The author did a great job of adding little details to make the joys and sadnesses of each kind of Fiend palpable - and painted a vivid image of their restrictions. In this world, being human is the goal, as every Fiend searches for a cure, a way to become unstagnated and grow. Our characters, Nova, Keo, and Luc, all each have their own intriguing personalities. Nova was a fun character to follow, a protagonist who was both logical while falling into lust. I do feel like the book's description does not do this book justice. There is a good amount of world building outside of the smut, though we get a healthy dose of that too. Overall, 3.75 stars with a 4 for spice!