★★★★★ ⋆˚࿔ 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝒂 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

Luscious, addictive, enchanting & mysterious.

Nora doesn’t believe in luck. Her life is nothing but helping pay off her father’s debt after he passes and tutoring spoiled rich kids. But when a strange illness affects her brother and lands him hospital, Nora’s world suddenly is thrown off her axis, especially when she wins the lottery to the grand Dream Gala. The only this is, she didn’t buy a ticket.
As secrets unravel and hearts break, Nora has to fight for herself, for her brother and protect her heart when things become a little tricky.

Firstly, thank you NetGalley for the arc which I unfortunately didn’t finish because I was in a reading slump. But when I finally picked it up again after buying it, I’m so glad I got to read this!

As mentioned before, it was addictive on the front that it was a page turner, full of so many mysteries that it kept me on edge; It was luscious and magical but not in the magic sense that you’d find it to be. It was magic based on science through the use of a drug called levic which enhanced your senses to chemical elements. This was definitely an interesting and fun way to describe this type of power. Which made it all the more reason to enjoy this book. The author was so creative in this with certain plot points that it just made my head explode. This was so fresh it was unputdownable.

The romance was beautifully written too. Although, the ending made me sad; what did she write in the letters!? I say the romance was interesting because omg it was a love triangle - or rather a touch complicated - which had my head in a spin. Nora was great for both LI’s in this story.

The dynamic of each character was greatly written, so much so, I wouldn’t be able to choose if I were to pick a favourite. Nora is strong, smart, brave and knows how to bargain. Remy is stoic, cold secretive and mysterious, but underneath the mask he puts up, he’s just a normal sweet kid with flaws. Dom is hilarious, sweet and flirtatious but he has a good heart and knows how to stand his ground. Angela is honestly the sweetest friend you could ask for and it didn’t matter that she was a different social class from Nora, she still wanted to be friends. The other characters you’ll get to know will take you for a ride for sure.

Overall, if you want a bit of magic that isn’t exactly magic, this book will take you on a journey that you will love. The rich lifestyle and the glamour was AMAZING! I want more from this author if she writes another!! Even if it’s a small novella of what was written in the letters? I’d take that 😭 cause I NEED TO KNOWWW

“Nora has been swept into the luxurious world of the rich, from a lottery win she never entered to begin with, and now has to discover why, while facing rumours, conspiracies and dangers.”

This book had me hooked from the beginning and kept such a great pace the whole way through. I personally have not read a book with such a unique magic system and I loved how Emma didn’t make the explanations take up the entire book. She was thorough and concise and it truly felt like something that already existed, it didn’t in anyway feel overdramatised and it didn’t take away from the characters and their story arcs.
Being a YA novel, you expect the dramatics and naivety that comes with teenage inexperience of the world, and yet I found it all so enjoyable and relatable. Emma has created such a luxurious world that I was all too happy to be swept up in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for a digital copy to review.

I adored this book. It’s the kind of story that grabs hold with a glitter-dipped hand and doesn’t let go. Think billionaire drama, twisted secrets, and dazzling magic—but make it pharma-based, high-stakes, and deliciously dark.
The magic system was such a standout for me. Magic isn’t just an aesthetic here—it’s science. It’s controlled like a drug, distributed by a single powerful family, and woven into healthcare, entertainment, and status. As a bit of a science nerd, I found that concept incredibly compelling. It added depth and realism in a way that fantasy sometimes skips over. And the way it explored inequality? Sharp and unsettling in the best way.

Nora, our main character, felt so grounded and real. She’s determined, vulnerable, and clever—and watching her navigate this chaotic, manipulative high-society world while holding onto her values made her easy to root for. I loved how layered the cast was too; everyone had secrets, and I constantly found myself flipping back pages to reread dialogue and check for clues.

Romance-wise, this is where things got messy—and I mean that in the best way. I usually side-eye love triangles, but this one defied expectations. There’s real tension, softness, chaos, and queerness baked in, and while some parts didn’t fully land for me, I appreciated how it wasn’t afraid to be complicated. The bi rep? Loved it.

The pacing was intense—at times I felt like I was sprinting through the plot (not a bad thing), and there were moments I needed to breathe. But it’s so immersive that you won’t want to stop.

Final thoughts: This was bold, brilliant, and original. It gives Caraval-level magic, The Inheritance Games-style manipulation, and just enough emotional gut-punch to leave me wanting more.

This Dream Will Devour us & you will devour this book. 💅

Emma Clancey’s debut is an original YA fantasy thriller - think The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games wishes) but with a little magic. 🧪✨

Nora, is a studious 18 year old who’s determined to become a Dream Engineer and work towards righting the inequalities in a society where problems can *literally* be solved with a magic potion. Magic meets late-stage capitalism in pill & liquid form known as levincium, and it’s 100% owned and controlled by the elite Lamour family. After losing their father due to a car crash and being unable to afford levincium-assisted treatment that would have saved his life, Nora and her brother are struggling to make ends meet when her brother has a sudden medical episode and is in a coma.

Nora’s world is turned upside down again when she ‘wins’ a lottery she never entered and receives an invitation to the Lamour family’s prestigious dream gala. Nora has no love for the Lamours, or desire to bare witness to an extravagant display of wealth and levincium that could have saved her father. HOWEVER, Nora is wily and she knows if she plays her cards right she can get the best treatment for her brother and a guaranteed opportunity to become a Dream Engineer.

Healthcare for all? Slayed.
Bringing down elites? Slayed.
Love triangle? Slayed.
Gay? Slayed.

I loved this book!! It’s super fast-moving and there’s so much action. This is an urban fantasy that literally takes you around the globe and offers plenty of surprises. I think this is a fantastic representation of upper-YA writing and it really shows what I love about YA. The characters play off each other really nicely and each one has a clear beginning, middle and end (back to basics!!!). There were definitely a few things that I found easy to predict but if I have fun while doing it, that’s not a negative for me.

The biggest praise I have for this book is around the magic system and more specifically how it’s used. In my opinion, there’s enough explanation to make sure the reader knows what they need to, otherwise there is a bit of ambiguity, BUT it’s not used as plot armour!!! WHAT A RELIEF! There were several points in the story where it would’ve been so easy to resolve a conflict by throwing in ‘oh the potion can do this too!’ but she doesn’t happen and I love her for that. Another bonus is you do not need to like/read fantasy to pick this up! I can see fans of all genres getting stuck into this book.

I really wanted to love this one and I did enjoy it but it took me agessss to read as I just wasn’t that interested to pick it back up.
I loved the premise of levic (magic) and our FMC Nora never giving up to make it more accessible for the less well off.
This book is YA and definitely reads as that. The writing is amazing. The twists and turns are right up until the end, I wasn’t expecting the love triangle which was interesting, the book was great it just wasn’t for me, you can’t love them all right!? I definitely recommend reading as I’ve seen so many reviews were people love it!

I picked this novel up because of the intriguing title. I’d never heard of the author and didn’t even read the blurb. And I lucked into a riveting and original fantasy story that immediately put this debut novelist on my “read more” list.

Nora Blake dreams of entering the prestigious and exclusive Dream Engineer training program. Dream Engineers have the world at their feet: they’re trained to use the incredibly expensive drugs which allow people to use magic and have access to as much of the drug as they want.

Nora’s father died because they couldn’t afford magic-enhanced medical treatment for him. So when Nora is mistakenly offered a ticket to the Lamour family’s Dream Gala, with its’ access to people who could guarantee her access to the program, she jumps at it.

But Nora finds herself caught up in a world she doesn’t expect – a world of celebrity, intrigue and betrayals. Soon her goal to win entry to the program is superseded by the goal of survival.

I really loved this. Clancey has built a vivid world, similar enough to ours that it’s easy to slip into, but with distinct and important differences. She integrates the world building into her story, and I was impressed by how quickly she immerses the reader in the first chapter.

More importantly, she gives us vivid and believable characters and a riveting plot. Sure, some of the story beats are pretty familiar, but there are enough surprises that it doesn’t feel predictable. Most readers won’t know exactly where it’s going or how it’s going to get there.

Nora will win the empathy of most readers very quickly. She’s a fully rounded person, and her goals, dreams, and fears are all very realistic. We feel that we might do exactly as she does when faced with difficult choices, while admiring some of her bravest choices.

Other characters are drawn strongly, although some are deliberately less immediately knowable and sympathetic than Nora. The whole cast felt like people you might actually meet.

This is nominally a young adult novel for the older end of the spectrum. I’m rather older than the target group and I found this not only immensely enjoyable, but the sort of novel that kept me reading longer than I’d intended. This is an engaging and involving story.

This is a great novel, readable and enjoyable, and with a bit of meat for you to think about. It’s original and interesting, with a vividly created fantasy world. Highly recommended for anyone over 14 years who enjoys urban fantasy stories with strong characters.

Sometimes you've got to kill a dream to escape a nightmare.

Nora is unlucky. While trying to fix her father's debts she was saddled with, a mysterious illness lands her brother in hospital. Nora thinks maybe her luck has changed when she wins a lottery to attend the magical Dream Gala with the heir to the Lamour fortune, Remy. But Nora never bought a lottery takes: and she is determined to find out who wants her at the gala.

This story was refreshing and unique - while Nora is finding out who wanted her at the gala, she stumbles upon a dangerous secret. It's full of twists and turns and jet setting adventure, and you never quite know who to trust or believe.

This a great read for those that love high society secrets, a bit of enemies to lovers and fake dating, and those that would kill to keep their secrets safe.

Thank you to Allen and Unwin for a review copy! All opinions are my own.

Didn't expect to enjoy this as I'm not ordinarily a fantasy fan, but I was hooked! Gripping storyline and amazing intrigue, and the magic systems were cool too!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for providing a digital copy to review*

I love stories that feel unique, and this one definitely qualifies. I would describe it as Gossip Girl meets fantasy, and includes backstabbing and the rich thinking they can do what they like.

The magic in this world is thanks to a drug that is owned by one family, making them basically untouchable. Every year, they host the Dream Gala (basically the MET Gala but with magic), and the average person can buy a ticket in hopes of attending. Our FMC, Nora, has not had the best luck, but somehow, without buying a ticket, she wins the spot.

While this book is YA, it didn’t feel like it at all, and I kind of forgot that the characters are basically teenagers. All the characters are complex, with every chapter making you constantly question who to trust. I really loved this aspect as it kept me engaged with the story.

It’s incredibly fast-paced with the characters constantly jetting off to different countries and uncovering more information. There is a bit of a love triangle, which I’m usually not a fan of. However, this one I liked and it had a somewhat satisfying outcome at the end of the book.

This book kept me hooked till the end and had so many twists I never saw coming, which was amazing.

⭐️ 4.2/5
🌶️ 0.5/5

Eighteen-year-old Nora Blake is drowning in debt when her brother falls mysteriously ill. A sudden stroke of luck lands her at the elite Dream Gala, where winning over heir Remy Lamour could secure her a place in the Lamours’ magical training program—and the money to save her brother. But Nora never entered the lottery to win entrance to the exclusive event. As she unravels the mystery of who got her there, she’s drawn into a world of wealth, power, and deadly secrets. When she stumbles upon a dangerous conspiracy, she must decide: stay silent or risk everything against a family that gets away with murder?

Tropes:
💎 The Inheritance Games x Caraval vibes
🩷 Fake dating
💎 Enemies to lovers
🩷 ANGST
💎 A family of magic-making billionaires who’d kill to keep their secrets safe
🩷 Magical spectacles in NYC, Paris & Sydney
💎 Found family
🩷 Bisexual chaos

MY THOUGHTS

WOW. Just WOW.

This book is like the most sublime blend of romance, mystery, science fiction and fantasy that I have read in a long time!

It is so full of twists and turns!! Right when you think you understand what’s going on, Emma turns everything you thought you knew onto its head. I found my jaw dropping regularly, or myself saying “OH MY GOD” to myself at least a few times—particularly in the last third of the book

Every single character is so loveable/ hateable in their own way, and also relatable, which made the plot twists that much more gripping and even heart-wrenching.

The banter was so hilarious (there is one character in particular I’m thinking of who gives off such playful Loko energy heheh) and the “not knowing who to trust” aspect—which you will definitely understand when you read this—really challenged the found family vibes that gradually developed throughout the story.

And the ending… GUYS, this book has a somewhat OPEN ENDING which frustrated me so much 😂😂 I have my own vision for how it should have turned out (which I think is vaguely hinted at in the last chapter) but I let you decide what you want for yourselves ;)

Overall, a spectacular experience!! I can’t wait to see what Emma Clancey writes next!! (Hopefully a sequel to this book OML 😂) Definitely recommend this book for YA book readers in particular!!

(I will be including this review with some graphics on my bookstagram, @for_ambrolia, over the next fortnight or so!)