Sadly a DNF at 40% (just before part 2)

I found the premise of this a truly fascinating one. There aren't many books that I have stumbled upon that set the main settings around dreams, so excited would be an understatement.

I found I progressively had more and more questions about what was happening or how it was happening, but not quite in an interested to see what was next way, moreso in a 'im so confused' way. I found the magical element to be that of the most confusing. Randomly picking up powers in a dream, believable, however as we journey back into reality and our main character can call on this said power, and use it without any clarity on why she may be able to do so, made it tricky to follow along. And smaller moments, like when certain people have bloodstained teeth, but we aren't really privy to how or why this would be happening made it read as a little more complicated than it may have been intended to be.

I think if there was more time taken to set up the world, and set up the differing magical element this could have felt a little less jarring. However the pacing is super quick so with that, and the missing breakdowns of how things worked it almost felt like being dragged along.

I did also find some of the general writing structure to be a little repetitive. There are many moments where rather than showing through gestures and facial movement and any of the various other techniques to show emotion or presence we are told with three adjectives or nouns. An example would be: Night, shadow, darkness... or screaming, sobbing, begging... Unfortunately, I couldn't unsee this pattern, and everytime I read it it pulled me right out of the story.

2.5 ⭐️ - 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸…

Firstly, I love the cover and plot intrigued me! However, when I started to read the novel, it kind of felt boring and repetitive. I just wanted it to be over; I took so long to finish it.

Idk if it was just me, but throughout the novel - even up until the very end - I felt lost. I didn’t know what the heck was happening throughout each chapter or at least when I felt like I began to understand, things didn’t end up making sense. All wasn’t lost though, because it did have some very interesting plot points (had a bit of Beauty and the Beast feels) and the ending was interesting… but it wasn’t great. Not to mention the romance in the story felt forced?

Overall, it was okay, but the story didn’t flow as good as I had hoped. When the second book does release though, I might pick it up again to see what happens… I mean who doesn’t love a misunderstood hero in disguise?
Also the shadow bringer and the way his hair and armour was described, reminded me of Xavier’s (from love and deepspace) newest myth card.

I thoroughly enjoyed the unique world building of this book as being in a dream realm and searching through dreams to find out how to escape the dreamworld and to stop corruption of the real world. Although I didn't enjoy this book I found that it was a little confusing as there was so much word building to make that I didn't feel the storyline moved much until after the 50% mark. That being said I thoroughly enjoyed the character development of the shadow bringer and Esmer and how they progressed by being enemies to reluctant allies to lovers.

This was such a highly anticipated read for me this year and sadly it really missed the mark.
There was so much potential for this story to be amazing and it just was very boring and lackluster.

The first few chapters that introduced the premise had me so hooked and excited! But, as the story went on my excitement fell into boredom. Though this book has a very linear storyline following the two characters Esmer and the Shadow Bringer, I felt the way the author was trying to covey the story was so tangential. The same conversations were had between the two characters over and over again but in different context. It was always "you killed my family" and then he would be like "I didn't kill your family" "but you're an evil demon" "I'm not an evil demon" over and over again. Whoever described this book to be like Labyrinth was absolutely correct. The writing and the story was one big complex confusing structure.

In terms of the characters, I was hoping for more chemistry between Esmer and the shadow bringer but I found things to be quite solemn. Individually the shadow bringer character was a very empty blank slate, he lacked substance and emotion (which I think was intentional) but overall even his dialogue was just boring. Esmer on the other hand had a good start to her story line and character development but after the main plot progressed, she just didn't.

Not gonna lie i feel like i should've DNF this book considering I fell asleep reading this book on 3 different occasions. Overall I am disappointed, 2 stars because the beginning had me intrigued but the rest fell flat.

Oh my gosh I loved the concept of this one, but ultimately found myself a bit lost and confused. It was super atmospheric, so if you read for the vibes you may fall in love with this one! But if you are easily lost in over complicated worldbuilding you may struggle to keep the story straight, which is what ultimately impeded my enjoyment of this story.

1.5/5⭐

This was one of my anticipated 2025 reads and unfortunately, I was left quite disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for providing me with an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Elara has lived her entire life in a small, isolated village. Her world is plagued by demons who invade people's bodies while they dream, and for that reason everyone must take a tonic prior to falling asleep in order to ensure a dreamless, and safe, slumber. Elara's parents are their village's suppliers of the tonic, receiving periodic deliveries from the capital and rationing them amongst the villagers.

The initial chapters of this book had so much promise. In the opening scenes, Logan Karlie establishes an excellent gothic atmosphere with dark tones and plenty of intrigue. I was so immersed to start with, that I thought I was on to something special. I could see the vision, and thought I could see where the book might be headed. Indeed, the first few chapters are the reason that I haven't rated this just 1⭐. However, the book quickly runs out of steam. The story starts to meander and characters' motivations begin to be all over the place.

The majority of this book takes place between the real world and a dream world, but I found myself quickly confused when it first started jumping between the two. Several times I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't, but not in a fun way - it was just confusing. It felt a lot like the author didn't always know what was going to happen next either, and I couldn't determine why anything was happening the majority of the time. The FMC comes into magic and instantly knows how to use it without any training. There were so many good ingredients here, especially with the world-building and overall concept, but they just didn't end up meshing.

In terms of the romance, I never felt any chemistry between the two main characters. The MMC was described as a villain, but he was really just misunderstood. The FMC grew up thinking her world was essentially condemned by the MMC, but it feels like her opinions of him change without any reason. The romance is slow-burn though, which I'm sure some people may still find enjoyment in.

There are still many positive reviews of this title, both it's original indie published edition and the traditional published version coming later this month, so there is still an audience for this title. If you like gothic atmospheres, shadow weilding MMCs and slow-burn romance, you might still find something to enjoy here.

Dream by the Shadows is the kind of debut that doesn’t just announce an author — it commands attention. Logan Karlie’s writing is soaked in atmosphere, with prose that reads like velvet: dark, rich, and just a little dangerous. It's not a fast-paced fantasy. It's a slow descent — in the best way — into a world that feels cursed and beautiful all at once.

The story follows Esmer, a girl bound to the decaying kingdom of Noctis, where dreams are lethal and magic unravels the soul. The romance — a twisted, shadow-laced enemies-to-lovers arc — is handled with care and tension. There’s no instant gratification here, which is a strength: it builds. And when it hits, it hits hard.

Karlie’s biggest strength is mood. Every scene feels cinematic — candlelight flickering off stone, shadows stretching with intent, and magic that feels old. It's perfect for readers who want to be submerged in a world rather than rushed through a plot.

That said, the pacing won't be for everyone. The book lingers. It trusts the reader to be patient. But if you're the kind of reader who appreciates immersion, slow-burn tension, and lyrical writing that leans poetic without being overblown — you’ll be hooked.

Dream by the Shadows is a dark romantasy with a unique world.
It's set in a world where they must take an elixir every night in order to not dream, because if they do they may become corrupted by the demons residing in the dream world, I honestly found it to be such a fresh take and loved it.
It was a very creepy read, particularly in the beginning. Once I got into it I struggled to put it down, I was really invested in the plot. The slow burn was slowww burninggg.
I just thought the concept of this book was so unique and interesting and I'm excited to read the next one.

Another DNF for me. I made it halfway through, and I could kind of see where the story was trying to go, but the world wasn’t well setup or described and the crossovers between the dream realm and reality were too complicated. Esmer’s hard faith in the light bringer initially had standing but halfway through she’s just as useless and hasn’t really questioned that faith despite new information.

Beauty and the Beast meets Labyrinth, but with nightmares, soul-stealing shadows, and a heroine who makes me want to shake her sometimes

The concept of this book? Chef’s kiss. A cursed land where nightmares literally kill you unless you down your nightly elixir? I was hooked from the premise alone. Dream by the Shadows is eerie, atmospheric, and soaked in gothic vibes. The Dream Realm is a stunning and sinister setting that practically drips with mist and menace.

That said… we need to talk.

This is one of those books where you want to love it. It has all the elements: a mysterious prince of darkness (Shadow Bringer, anyone?), a girl with a hidden power, a sibling lost to a soul-consuming curse, and an entire kingdom sleepwalking toward ruin. But the execution? A little shaky.

The characters shift motivations like they’re changing outfits. One minute they're soft and vulnerable, the next they're brooding and reckless, with no warning. It’s hard to get emotionally attached when I don't understand why they're doing what they're doing or falling in love while doing it.

Despite all this, I still had a good time. It’s not a book I’d scream at you to read, but if you love moody romantic fantasy with horror-lite vibes and don’t mind a few eye rolls along the way, go for it.

World-building is one of my favourite aspects of fantasy, and this eerie, atmospheric setting initially had me captivated. The dream-based magic system was intriguing and promised a story full of depth and mystery.

However, as the book progressed, I found myself increasingly lost. The plot’s direction became unclear, and I struggled to stay connected to the story. I didn’t feel a strong emotional pull toward the main characters, which made it hard to stay invested. The pacing also felt uneven—some parts dragged, while others rushed forward too quickly.

The author clearly has a talent for creating immersive worlds, but unfortunately, the characters and story didn’t hold my interest the way I’d hoped.

Dream by the Shadows is a lush and atmospheric read that draws you in with its vivid world-building and poetic prose. Logan Karlie clearly has a gift for crafting immersive settings, and the mood of the novel is consistently haunting and dreamlike, living up to the book’s title in tone if not always in clarity.

However, despite the enchanting surface, the story struggles beneath. The magic system, while initially intriguing, quickly becomes overly confusing, with inconsistent rules and vague explanations that make it hard to stay grounded in the world. At times, it felt like the plot bent to fit the magic rather than the other way around, leading to moments that felt contradictory or even unintentionally frustrating.

The biggest letdown, though, is in the execution. Based on the marketing, I was expecting a tightly plotted, emotionally gripping fantasy with morally grey characters. Instead, the narrative often meanders, and key character motivations are either underdeveloped or shift in ways that feel unearned. The novel sets high expectations but doesn’t quite deliver on them.

That said, fans of rich, dreamy writing and gothic aesthetics may still find something to love here. There’s definite promise in Karlie’s voice, and while this book didn’t fully resonate for me, I’d still be curious to see what they write next.

I don't know where my thoughts are on this book, the world building was okay, but the plot was a little scattered. I think Logan had great dreams and just got swept away without filling in some of the gaps. The romance fell flat and seemed predictable but not realistic?

Great synopsis, but just lacking in continuity.

This was a perfect blend of suspenseful, dark, action packed yet romantic fantasy. The world building has a nostalgic, fairytale feeling, reminiscent of
“The Sandman” I loved the concept of the weavers and the realms and I really hope this is expanded upon in the future. I loved how complex the characters were, the development and redemption of both characters was beautifully written. The romance was the definition of slow burn but held its own with banter, friendship and connection throughout the progression of the story. Really looking forward to continuing this series.

DNF at 32%.

Unfortunately this was falling flat and the further I got the worse I felt about it. I was excited at the beginning with the eerie atmospheric world-building and evocative prose, but then I started to get really annoyed at the FMC, and felt that the interactions between the FMC and MMC were just unbelievable, stilted and rushed.

I was drawn in by this one as soon as I saw the premise - however, Dream by the Shadows was a polarising read for me.
Very atmospheric, the surreal dreamscape of the world was very unique but I did have to stop & start often to really try and picture what was happening or where we were in the 'realm'.

I found the world building a little convoluted and confusing at times, with a lot of the jumping between realms a little hard to distinguish.
Did it take away from the overarching plot for me? No.
Did I still enjoy the book? Yes!
I feel it could have benefitted from a little more meat to the plot just to make it all thread together a little more coherently - 100 more pages just to flesh out some of the more important plot points and it would have hit the sweet spot, and made a few chapters more involved and explored.

Understanding this leans more YA, the romance could still have been a little more developed for me as well without tipping into spicy territory either. I wanted more from them, it felt somehow simultaneously slow burn and instant-love which was disjointing for me.
I did like the MMC, it was refreshing to have a softer more gentle love interest that still retained a small vicious streak but if you're looking for enemies to lovers this is not it.

Overall, I enjoyed Dream by the Shadows as a vibes read (heavy on the vibes) but it was a little bit of a difficult read for what it is within the genre.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5 stars rounded up.

Dream by the shadows is an imaginative story set in a well-built and novel world. The story is action packed and has a touch of slow burn romance that I expect will develop more in the next book.

The corruption by demons of the townspeople in their dreams was novel and honestly a bit terrifying. I liked that a lot of the story took place within the characters dreams, although occasionally events in the dream world were a little hard to follow.

Esmer was initially quite hard to warm to as a main character but I think that was because we were in her POV and she hated herself for what happened to Eden. She really grew on me though and I am keen to see her come into her own as a shadow weaver and as a partner to Erebus.

I have a lot of unanswered questions at the end of this book and will be looking out for the second. Overall, this was a really strong start to a duology.

Thank you to Hachette Australia and New Zealand and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I follow the author on Instagram and saw all the posts that captured the vibe of the book, and I was really into it, but unfortunately, it just didn't deliver for me. I was literally so confused and the writing style just didn't work for me.

Dream by the Shadows is a dark, dreamy fantasy that gave me all the gothic fairytale vibes. The world feels super unique—like a mix of nightmares and magic—and the dream concept was something I hadn’t read before. It had a slow burn feel with the romance and some really cool imagery (some moments felt like a dark movie playing out in my head).

That said, I did find parts of the world a little hard to follow and sometimes felt like I was missing pieces. The plot had some great ideas but didn’t always land for me emotionally, especially with the characters. I liked the vibe of Esmer and the Shadow Bringer, but I didn’t quite click with them.

Still, the concept was fresh, and I’d be open to seeing where the story goes next—especially if book two dives deeper into the characters and ties up some of the loose ends.

Perfect if you’re in the mood for a haunting, atmospheric fantasy with a slow-burn romance and a unique take on dreams.

Unfortunately, I don't have much to say about Dream by the Shadows. Which is because I didn't get very far through before I decided to DNF (Did Not Finish) it. 

It pretty much jumped right straight into a funeral for the MC's sister. She'd stopped taking the potion that stops them from dreaming and turned evil. People were talking shit about her and MC made it clear that they didn't get the usual burial, just a wooden box. 

Plus, the mum, MC and the little brother didn't seem to care at all. Only the dad. Like thats not a great way to make me like the main character.




Maybe I've been reading too many romance books? I did read A Good Girls Guide to Murder between my last two romance books though and I enjoyed that. It just seemed to introduce you to the world Holly Jackson created in a nicer way than in Dream By The Shadows.




It comes out on August 12, 2025 and I'd love to hear your thoughts! Did I judge it too harshly?




Pre-order it here: https://amzn.to/40iRYXT

You can also buy A Good Girl's Guide to Murder here: https://amzn.to/4ljo2TN