⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

Let me just say—I went in completely blind and have zero regrets. I saw *Stacia Stark* and immediately hit request. No reading the blurb. No second thoughts. Just vibes. And WOW did this audiobook deliver.

*This Vicious Dream* pulled me in from the first line and refused to let go. The moment I realized this was *Madinia’s* book, I full-on gasped. The *screams I SCRUMPT* were loud, and I have no shame.

Stacia’s writing is once again absolutely magical—dark, lush, and addictive. If you’ve read *Kingdom of Lies*, you’ll definitely catch some extra layers in the worldbuilding and character depth, but this absolutely holds its own as a standalone. Think Rapunzel meets Beauty and the Beast, but with sharper edges, a touch of amnesia, higher stakes, and delicious slow-burn danger.

Meg Sylvan and Tim Paige *nailed* the narration. Their performance brought every ounce of tension, chemistry, and emotional weight to life.

I’m obsessed. Utterly hooked. And already desperate for more.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC!

In classic Stasia Stark style, “Vicious Dreams” is yet another five-star read! Dropping on May 13th, this thrilling spin-off from the “Kingdom of Lies” series puts the spotlight on one of my all-time favorite characters—Madinia Farrow. She’s finally front and center in her own standalone duology, and I am 100% here for it! And if you love audiobooks...you will love how Meg Sylvan and Tim Paige bring these characters to life!

The plot? Absolutely CAPTIVATING! Madinia, with all her fierce independence, stubborn streak, and unwavering strength, is on a mission to protect her world from a dark god on a quest to reclaim his lost grimoires. The emotional intensity had us hanging on every page—the sharp-witted banter vs the tender moments, the fiery passion vs heart-wrenching pain, the distrust vs true understanding. We’re already desperate for Book #2!

Here’s what you can expect:
– Dual POV (because, of course, you want inside Calysian’s head and the fact that Tim Paige does such a good job narrating our MMC...is a cherry on the top!)

– “Touch her and die” energy 🔥

– Unapologetic feminine rage

– Rivals-to-lovers tension you can cut with a knife

– A ruthless game of cat and mouse

– Forced proximity (hello, slow-burn intensity)

– Vengeful gods with unfinished business

– Hidden identities and ancient secrets

– Surprise cameos from your Kingdom of Lies faves 👀

Spice Level: 3/5 – Just the right amount of heat to keep things smoldering.
Emotional Damage: 4/5 – Our hearts are broken for Madinia and Calysian… and that cliffhanger? Brutal.

Worldbuilding: 3/5 – The layers being added to the Kingdom of Lies universe are *chef’s kiss*
Favorite Character: Calysian—no contest.

Favorite Side Character: Fox, obviously. He’s bitey, grumpy, and we adore him for it.

Runner-up: Eamonn. That mysterious energy? We need more.
Favorite Quote:
“As you die, your last thought will be this: Harming Madinia Farrow was the biggest mistake of your life.”
(Chills. Literal chills.)

Our Take:
You can dive into this without reading Kingdom of Lies—but should you? We say no. Knowing Madinia’s backstory adds so much depth to her journey. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Our two main characters start out as enemies, become reluctant allies, and then lovers — and then a lot more. I did find the beginning of the book a bit harder to follow, especially in the audiobook, as it jumps back and forth in time and sometimes wasn’t very clear. However, once I got a handle on the time jumps, I was able to really get into the story.

Our FMC and MMC team up to find an item that everyone is searching for. It’s very much a traveling story, as they journey first to find the item and then move on to search for another. You can tell there’s a lot more to both characters than meets the eye, though the full picture isn’t clear at first.

The end of this book reveals a lot of information about our two main characters and how they became who they are. We also learn more about several side characters and how they connect to the overall storyline.

This does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, so be aware of that going in! But it’s only supposed to be a duology, so hopefully we won’t have to wait too long to find out all the things.