4.5 stars!

A Study in Drowning was one of my favorite reads last year, so imagine my joy that not only (1) we got a sequel, but (2) I somehow managed to get an arc of it?!

Overall, I really enjoyed this! Ava Reid is a master of atmosphere and I think she did a great job capturing the dark academia and gothic vibes and aesthetic in this sequel. I also enjoyed the greater exploration of the themes of the first book -- especially the often hidden role of women in historical literature and academia.

I also liked how Reid showed the aftermath and effects of the events of the first book on Effy and Preston, and how their individual and collective struggles to cope with the horrors they experienced fueled them and their actions on this book. I feel like a lot of fantasy-esque sequels rarely touch on the (often traumatizing and insane) experiences of their main characters, so this was an intriguing change from that.

I also really enjoyed the introduction/fleshing out of more characters -- especially Rhia and Lotto!

In all, I really enjoyed this duology and would highly recommend for anyone looking for an atmospheric dark academia/fantasy story!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the arc!

Thank you so much for this ARC! I enjoyed this duology, but the second book was lacking slightly. I love Ava Reid's writing so much; it is like poetry and music and all beautiful things in this world. It didn't feel as balanced as the first book. To me it felt like the first half was slower and the book skimmed over plot points rather than going deeper. I did prefer book one but was honored to read this one. Anything Ava writes, I will read! Thank you, HarperCollins and NetGalley!

What a truly beautiful novel. I loved A Study in Drowning so much, and I was not disappointed in A Theory of Dreaming.

What I loved so much were two themes that I noticed throughout this novel.

The first was how beautiful and terrifying love can be. But how it's worth all that we can spend on it, all that we can give up for it. Love is difficult and painful but it's worth everything.

The second was the importance of dreams. Not just while we sleep, but any dreams that get us through our lives. Sometimes we fall back on these things to keep us going. And while she explains how this can be beneficial, Reid also helped us see that we cannot always stay in this dreams. (In the words of a famous wizard: "One cannot dwell in dreams and forget to live.") Even though it would be nice to fall into our dreams and never come out, they can't compare to the real life, no matter how difficult and painful real life can be.

Overall this story is very hopeful and poignant. I loved every minute of it. I'm' excited for it to come out so I can share specific quotes, Reid writes some BRILLIANT lines.

Where do I even begin? This book was such a poetic masterclass in grief and propaganda and the magic of belief and the lesson that even when the heroes change the world, there is still so much learning and growing and catching up for the rest of the world.

Preston and Effy are so delightfully, heart-achingly real. Their different struggles and the battles they have to fight in the wake of the events of A Study in Drowning and mounting war tensions are tragic and gritty and undeniable.

Ava has once again penned an astonishing story that provides a harrowing reflection of the world we live in. I hope that when her books are read in future, the readers know to eschew formalism and dive deep into the context of our time to truly understand why Ava Reid’s stories are so gut wrenching and poignant. That fact that this is coming out the same year as Fable for the End of the World is so appropriate.

I couldn’t recommend this duology more strongly. I cried through the last fifth of the book. This book will continue to resonate with me as I wake and in my dreams.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Ava Reid for this advanced copy of ATOD. It ripped my heart out and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Solid 3.5⭐️

I am not sure what I was expecting going into this duology, but I was wonderfully surprised either way. The writing in this is beautiful. The underlying themes in this are pretty dark (depression, attempt suicide), but I think the way it explores mental health and depression is amazing. The symbolism in here is an interesting take on those darker themes.

I was excited to explore Preston's side of things more in this book. I was a little disappointed that it was not more focused on him though (it was about 50/50). I do appreciate his point of view and his growth as a character. Angharad is every woman's hero and foundation of strength, no matter what form your strength comes in.

I did prefer book one to this one, but I would still suggest to read this one. The story tends to drag a little in the first half, but that is very on brand with the way that Effy is feeling as you are reading it. Beautiful writing, and I will absolutely be buying a book trophy of these. The covers are as gorgeous as the words inside. I am excited to see what else this author has in store!

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC and offer a review.

I quickly scooped up a copy of "A Study in Drowning" and devoured it so that I could read this advanced copy right after. That being said, I felt like this sequel really fell short. It felt like we skimmed the surface of many plot points. If there was just more to everything - or maybe more to just a few things - then maybe there would be more substance to this book. My appreciation for the mental health struggle and Preston's discrimination struggle can't seem to overcome the slow pacing and superficiality of the plot to make me love it more.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I enjoyed this book, but I did have some unanswered questions at the end. It has been a while since I read the first book, so it's likely that I've forgotten certain details. However, I didn't feel like I understood the dreaming and its purpose, or why Preston could control it when nobody else could. The social commentary was cutting and felt very close to home, addressing the ideas of discrimination, immigration, and war. As far as fantasy books go, this was on the darker side of dark academia, but I did enjoy revisiting the characters in a new setting. This book made me feel so protective of Effy and Preston.

I crawled through "A Study in Drowning" and what got me through that book was Preston. His character intrigued me from the start, so when I saw that there would be a sequel dedicated to his journey after the demise of the Fairy King, I was convinced to give this saga another shot. I felt that it took way too long to get to the actual story, and that the first 60% of the book was just a perpetual cycle of repeated actions. Preston's strength and storyline was barely touched upon, but the fact that he was the target of nonstop bullying was at the forefront of nearly every interaction people had with him. There was one redeeming part to his and Effy's relationship at the end of the book, but that's it. I feel that the author really did Preston a disservice to his character in this book and that there was too much time focused on Effy's mish-moshed journey. If there is a third book in this saga I will not be reading it.

Rating this was a very hard decision because while Ava Reid has weaved yet another beautiful story, I couldn’t find its purpose. This was in a way much darker and at times more frustrating. We got closure from the first book but to me it feels a bit unnecessary. The ending of A Study in Drowning left you wondering but hopeful. The magic was real and the mystery of the bells only added to that. I love Effy and Preston but part of me wishes it had left off there.

Honestly, while I’m still in awe of Ava Reid’s gorgeous, atmospheric writing, the sequel just doesn’t hit the same. It feels like a filler, with both main characters mostly stuck dealing with their past traumas on separate tracks—while Preston’s deeper story gave me some cool moments, I really missed Effy’s spark and that signature gothic vibe. The pacing and romantic tension were on point, but overall the book felt heavier and less balanced than the first, making for an experience that’s just not as magical as I hoped.

This is one of those books that I can’t stop thinking about and it becomes my whole personality. I loved it! I didn’t expect a sequel from the first book,and I really enjoyed the sequel. I thought it was interesting that the sequel was focused on their return to school and the continuing world building. Although I didn’t feel like it was really resolved, I did really enjoy the storyline and the concept. I enjoyed the “theory” behind dreams and the continual snuggle of our main character. I just wished I had re-read the first book before I read the sequel because there were some confusing names and things I had forgotten about.

I would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it!

As much as I enjoyed “A Study in Drowning”, I believe “A Theory of Dreaming” is immensely superior in plot, character development, and overall atmosphere. While “A Study in Drowning” focused on Effy, I’m glad “A Theory of Dreaming” places Preston at the forefront. He is more than just a love interest in this sequel, and the depth of his character is brought to life throughout the story. He is the scholar we all know and wish to be, and personally I couldn’t help but feel happy at the outcome of his character arc. With the ongoing tension between Llyr and Argant, the rising academic hostilities, and the blurring between fantasy and reality, “A Theory of Dreaming” is never boring. I highly recommend it!

I enjoyed the first book in this duology but this one just was t as great. I’ll recommend the series moving forward but the second just didn’t hit the way the first did.

I absolutely loved A Study in Drowning, it was a book I couldn't put down, and A Theory of Dreaming was even better. It cleared up most of the faults I found in the first book. Ava Reid's writing paints everything in such a vivid picture that it's a more than reading a book, it's being immersed in a world in such a beautiful way. Seeing Effy and Preston grow together and learning more about Preston's history and family was such a great path for this book to take. The writing creates an emotional connection between the characters and the readers that leaves you chasing the high of it. I would highly recommend this to anyone who read A Study in Drowning!

A Theory of Dreaming is the sequel to A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid. I definitely enjoyed A Study in Drowning but I really really enjoyed A Theory in Dreaming. I felt like this book worked through a lot of the issues in the first book. I enjoyed the romance. I also enjoyed Effy working through some of her mental problems with help. The one issue I had with this book is the wedding ring situation. I SO get the sweetness that is Preston purchasing a silver chain so Effy can wear his engagement ring.. but why not wear the ring on the other finger? That was just a bit confusing to me. Overall it was a wonderful book!

A Theory in Dreaming is a dreamy, atmospheric fantasy that blurs the line between reality and imagination. The pacing is slower in the first half and can feel a little lacking in plot momentum, but this quieter beginning thoughtfully plants seeds that bloom beautifully in the second half. All the Easter eggs and subtle details from earlier chapters tie together in a way that is both clever and rewarding. Effy's mental suffering throughout the story is heartbreaking to witness, adding emotional depth to the novel’s atmosphere. Thankfully, the ending strikes a hopeful, uplifting note, making the journey feel all the more worthwhile.

It was great returning to the world of Llyr, its magic and Sleepers and stories. Ava Reid paints such a vivid picture of the university, the snowy days, the river. And it was great catching up with Effy and Preston (and very much enjoyed getting to have his POV in this book).
I really liked this story, especially Preston's. It was so rich with imagery and history and I loved learning more about him and his family. However, it was frustrating to have Preston and Effy keeping things from each other the entire book. Preston never shares anything he experiences out of his love and desire to protect Effy, but it puts them at odds and apart for most of the story. Even in the end, things are still never revealed, just resolved without her. It left her sidelined for a lot of the story.
I just wanted more from this book. More about the Sleepers, more about the war (and why and how the two are connected). There are so many threads started in A Study in Drowning that are continued in this book but are still not really explained. I like ambiguity, but this book doesn't leave things ambiguous, just muddled. I do still think A Theory of Dreaming is worth the read if you want to see the continuation of Effy and Preston's story because parts of it are really lovely.

4.5 Stars, rounded down to 4

This is a dreamy fantasy romance book with dual POV, inspired by folklore. It is a stunning sequel to A Study in Drowning, one I didn’t think was needed but I desired all the same. I was not disappointed.

Here’s some of the highlights you can expect:

-Dark Academia coded world and characters
-The return of Effy & Preston (& in love!)
-Grounded worldbuilding
-Lovable and diverse college friends
-An exploration of the thin line between awake and in dreamlike state

About our protagonists:

Effy has everything she earned from the first book, but she discovers it isn’t easy to be the first to go down her chosen path. She’s learning to cope with the loss of who she was while becoming who she can be if she lets herself be loved.

Preston has his dream girl, his dream school role, and his dream of academic acknowledgment from his work in the first book. He gets to take a bigger role in this story as he confronts his academist realist tendencies of looking at the world and the place that calls to him in his dreams.

Overall:

I was immersed with this book and how it wonderfully wrapped up some lingering threads from the first book as well as gave us a satisfying vision for this world. I would recommend it to those who enjoy some solid YA dark academia and fantasy with a strong romantic plot. If it is a true end to this world’s story, it would be more than satisfying. I would be disappointed we won’t get to see more of this world or the characters for certain but I’m grateful we got to spend the time we did with them in this story. This book’s biggest strength was in its romance and fantasy worldbuilding elements. Something I would have loved to see developed more was the school and class plotline. We spent more time outside of class doing academic work than in class so it felt a little contrived when our characters were at risk of being ousted from school, it never felt like they actually needed or wanted to be there in the first place.

Of course! Here’s your original review rewritten in your voice — keeping it genuine, emotional, and conversational like you naturally write:

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*“A Theory of Dreaming” is just as painstakingly beautiful as A Study in Drowning. This one is very character-driven, really honing in on Preston while still being told in third person. We’re back in that whimsical world after the fall of the Fairy King, but now there’s this quiet, creeping tension — war is definitely on the horizon in Llyr.

Nothing feels quite right. The line between dreams and reality is starting to blur, and the more you read, the heavier that feeling gets. You can feel something coming, something they can’t quite believe or name, with war rushing in fast overhead.

Preston is a character I absolutely fell head over heels for back in ASID, and that love just deepened here. The way he’s written in A Theory of Dreaming is absolutely stunning — you feel every tug, every slip, as he’s pulled deeper between reality and the dreams he so badly wants to hold onto. At first, it’s beautiful. Magical, even. But like all good things, it can’t last forever… right?

Effy broke me in this book. There’s one scene — I had to just set my phone down, close my Kindle app, and breathe for a second. It’s not graphic or anything, it just hit hard. If you’re sensitive to themes around suicide attempts, I would definitely caution you to skip that part. Watching her slow unraveling was gut-wrenching, especially because you could see it happening and there was nothing anyone could do. Her friends missed the signs, and we’re just… stuck watching.

While I really loved this story, I have to say A Study in Drowning still blows it out of the water for me. That book was everything — the hidden messages, the feeling it left behind… unmatched. But I’m so grateful I got this ARC because A Theory of Dreaming is still breathtaking and so full of meaning if you sit with it. Getting to revisit this world, to see the aftermath of the Fairy King’s downfall, was honestly such a gift. I’m so glad Ava Reid made it a duology instead of leaving us with just a standalone.

Welcome back to the “real” world, Effy and Preston. We are rarely gifted what happens next to the heros and I think ATOD does an incredible job of executing and showcasing those unseen struggles, while keeping mystical elements from ASID. ATID doesnt have the same feel as ASID but this doesn’t subtract from it and works perfectly as a sequel. A simple idea from ASID (the bells still towing underwater) helped spawn this beautifully tragic story that felt so real and raw. I found myself connecting with both Preston and Effy many times and the end had me bawling. I was absolutely enthralled from start to finish and highly recommend if you were a fan of the first.