5⭐

Thank you so much to @staciastarkauthor for the #ARC and @netgalley for the #ALC ! Let me tell you, I am OBSESSED!

We're thrown into the intricate life of Madina, a character who first captivated us in the Kingdom of Lies series. Now, she's stepping into her own story, one woven with political intrigue, dangerous alliances, and a simmering tension that had me absolutely glued to the pages. We are quickly thrown right into the action when Madina finds herself unexpectedly bound to the compelling and enigmatic Calysian. Their reluctant partnership ignites a spark that's as thrilling as the high-stakes plot unfolding around them.

Stacia perfectly blends deep character development with a plot that keeps you guessing at every turn. The banter? 🤌 And the action sequences? They leap off the page! The pacing was masterful; I was completely rapt, flipping through the chapters, desperate to know what would happen next.

I was so fortunate to experience this story through both an ALC and an ARC, making it a truly immersive journey. The narration was top-tier, bringing Madina's world and her internal struggles to vibrant life.

Having followed these characters since the Kingdom of Lies series, getting Madina's own book felt like a dream come true, and it absolutely delivered. While this is a standalone duet, I honestly believe that having the context from the previous series enhances the experience, giving you a richer understanding of Madina's journey and the weight of her past. Trust me on this one!

If you're looking for a book with complex characters, a gripping plot, delicious tension, witty banter, and heart-pounding action, then look no further.

Troupes: enemies to reluctant allies to lovers, forgotten identity, morally grey mmc, revenge, forced proximity

Spice 2.5/5
Plot 5/5
Pace 5/5
Character Personality 5/5
Character Growth 5/5
Writing Style 5/5
World Building 5/5

4.5⭐️
we are following madinia, and I would encourage you to read kingdom of lies series first as you get the worldbuilding, plus she already appears there👀👀

this was so good and I need book 2 asap😭😭😭🤧💕💕 all I want to say have spoilers but the past thing??? ghoshhhhh I didn't see that coming and I was eating that up👀👀
that finally??? excuse me???? when are we getting book 2?👀👀👀

I got the arc and the alc and that audiobook is phenomenal!!! the narratores are the same ones from kingdom of lies 👀👀

quotes:
"-Don't fret, i'll see to all your needs."
My thighs clench. "-I thought you were furious with me."
"-I am. And I'm pleased to be the one to introduce you to angry sex."👀👀
••
"-I promised you I would make them pay for every second of life they stole from you. This is just the first. What I will do to that witch will be spoken about for centuries."
••
"-You won't rush me."
"-You're not in charge here."
"-Bigger than you, sweetheart. Stronger than you too. Youll take what I give you."
••
"-I will find you." --(please doooo!!!!!)
••

Tropes:
☆🍁rivals to lovers
☆🍁feminine rage
☆🍁found family
☆🍁forced proximity
☆🍁she saves herself
☆🍁one horse
☆🍁reluctant allies
☆🍁who hurt you?

3.5⭐️’s rounded ⬆️ to 4⭐️’s
This Vicious Dream is a spin off duology from Kingdom of Lies - if you haven’t read that series yet I highly suggest you check it out before this duo - it provides much needed context on many characters/plot points found in this book. And if you’re ready? You can expect:

🔥 Dual POV
🔥 Rivals to Lovers
🔥 Feminine Rage
🔥 Touch her and die
🔥 Memory loss

Let’s start with Madinia!!! My strong willed, inward ice queen (said with love). Hearing her voice brought me straight back to this world 🖤🖤 Taking place right after the events in KOL, Madinia has been locked away for 3 years, captured by Kyldare who’s trying to get information on where the grimoires were hidden. Aemon is a favorite side character of mine in this story and I was happy to see other favorites pop in from KOL.

And thank you, Stacia, for giving us this perfect piece of quotable material:
- He’s weak. Not physically, but inside where it counts. Weak men always believe they can hide their weakness by accumulating power. They can’t help themselves.
BOOM 💥 MIC DROP 🎤

Here’s what stopped me from a 5⭐️ rating:
The sudden alliance between conflicting characters threw me. The names Calysian, Kyldare & Calfarus (spell check) fully confused me on audio 🙈 The last 15% felt too rushed to make complete sense to me while listening. I wish the revelations and prophecies would have been paced a little better, maybe starting around the 75% mark? HOWEVER, Stacia does deliver epic cliffhangers that suck me into wanting the next installment every time! I’m so thankful I got this ALC and will definitely listen to the conclusion of this duology.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media & Stacia Stark for the ALC of This Vicious Dream in exchange for my honest review.

this was so different and easy to pickup and listen to!! i really enjoyed it, and was very happy that i got the opportunity to listen to it early!!

The romantasy I've come to expect from this author. She leads the reader on a dangerous adventure along with the fmc, without skipping the romance. Don't miss this one.

I loved Stacia Stark’s series Kingdom of Lies series which this book is a spin off of. You can start with this book but you will understand more and see characters and events from the first series referenced.

There is a lot of action, adventure and romance in this book so you will never be bord and will be swept off your feet and into the story from the very beginning. I really enjoyed some of the history and story that unfolded as they went about their quest. I love Madinina, she is snarky and can take care of herself which leads me to if you love slow burn you will enjoy their romance as it just simmers along through the book keeping you on edge waiting for them to just accept it. I need the next book yesterday as the story is just that book as is that ending, it makes me want to go back and reread the first series again.

Tropes:
Two pov
Rivals to lovers
Forced proximity
Romantasy

Audio:
The narrators did a great job with the pacing, and did a great job embodying the characters.

Following the Kingdom of Lies series, we dive into a spinoff series featuring an incredibly complex character, Madinia. This Vicious Dream takes place 3 years later, where we are re-introduced to Calysian who is looking for the grimoire Madinia hid after fleeing. Madinia and Calysian meet once again, as she is also trying to get back the grimoire before the Queen of an enemy nation finds it. Madinia and Calysian agree to work together (of course with plans to cross one another) to find the grimoire.

Madinia has such great character development not only in the Kingdom of Lies series, but this book as well and I really enjoy how complex she is as a character. This story is one bed, rivals to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn and absolutely action packed.

I highly recommend this book, and do recommend reading the Kingdom of Lies series before this one. Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Stasia Stark for early access to This Vicious Dream on audio, available now!

This is the first book in the Kingdom of Death duology, a spin-off of the author’s Kingdom of Lies series. However, reading that series first is not required. I received an advance review copy and my thoughts are my own. Thank you to the author for my ARC and ALC.

Tropes and themes include:

✨Fae, human, hybrids and Gods

✨Feminine rage

✨She saves herself

✨One horse

✨One bed

✨Reluctant allies

✨Who did this to you?

✨Back scars

✨She wears his shirt

✨They wash each other

✨Forced proximity

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Flames

The Lovely: I don’t think I’ve spent so much of a book cackling and giggling at a romantasy book. Madinia and Calysian are everything together. I loved Madinia and her sass in the Kingdom of Lies series so seeing her back for more was so much fun.

Also Lovely: The starting plot - protect a grimoire - seems so simple. But this became so much more with feuding gods and goddesses, a power mad leader and a relationship neither of the main characters think they want. It was delicious and beautiful, but tragic, all at the same time.

Recommendation: I’m sorry, what was that ending?!? I was gasping and tearful the last 10%. Not sure I can wait for the next book! If you liked Madinia in Kingdom of Lies, you must read this book. If you like a sassy, stabby and stubborn FMC with wicked banter and an “only her” MMC, I think you’d like this book.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for sending me an E-Audiobook of This Vicious Dream in exchange for review.

~4 Stars~

I stepped into this book not having read any of Stacia Stark’s previous work, which from other things I’ve read it seems as though the characters in this book have had previous appearances. That being said… this was incredibly easy to digest and enjoy without having literally any background knowledge.

It’s been a bit since I’ve read anything with spice so this felt quite heated IMO which after a decent break from the subject, was a fun welcome back even if it surprised me at certain points. It gave the yearning and slow-burn that we want from Romantasy (why is insta-love popular??????) we need build up, we need tension! This Vicious Dream does deliver on that.

One downside for me is that I’m not a huge fan of amnesia situations, which we experience straight off with our FMC. Although the author utilized this in a way that made sense and made for a lot of fun and interesting twists. It just feels overdone in this genre. This could be my own doing though, as I haven’t read the Kingdom of Lies series. I plan to read those and come back to this again afterwards.

Thank you so much for the Audiobook! The narrators were fantastic, I felt engaged through the whole book. 😊

It took me about 20% to get back into this world but after this point I flew through this book, I couldn’t put it down. I need book two now.



Madinia was one of my much loved favourites from the kingdom of lies series and I was so excited to see she was getting her own book. I absolutely ate up the chemistry between our two main characters and I love their dynamic, Calysian is very much ‘I will save you’ and Madinia is ‘I will save myself’ and I love them both for this.



There isn’t much to say other than I loved this book, these characters and this world and as always Stacia did not disappoint, I am so intrigued to see where this story goes and what will happen to Madinia and Calysian after ‘that’ ending.



I do think it would benefit the reader to have read the kingdom of lies series first (5* series), even though this book can be read as a standalone. Thank you to Stacia and her time for gifting me an early copy of this book.

I loved this audiobook. Loved that it was dual narration. The narrators did such a great job of bringing this story to life.

Madinia is a fierce, no-nonsense heroine who has endured more than her fair share of hardship. Sassy, passionate, and utterly untrusting, she’s built walls around her heart to shield herself from further pain. Beneath that tough exterior, however, lies a deep well of emotion—one she refuses to show. She’s unwavering in her loyalty, willing to do anything to protect the people she loves. But after three years of solitude, she comes to a startling realization: she craves human connection. At the same time, she’s consumed by a burning desire for revenge against those who wronged her and her friends. Yet, she’s convinced they’ve moved on without her, forgotten she ever existed.
Enter Calysian—a man who believes he can control Madinia by barking orders. He quickly learns that his domineering approach will get him nowhere. His possessiveness only fuels her defiance, setting the stage for an electrifying dynamic between them.
Their relationship is nothing short of captivating. The banter between them is razor-sharp, their chemistry undeniable from the very first interaction. Every snarky remark, every lingering glance had me grinning. The slow burn was agonizing in the best way possible, making their eventual union all the more satisfying. And the revelations at the end? Absolutely brilliant—they tied everything together and deepened the meaning of their connection. I can’t wait to see where their story leads in the next book.
Set in the same world as Kingdom of Lies, this novel brings back Madinia, a familiar face from that series. While you don’t need to read Kingdom of Lies first, doing so provides valuable insight into Madinia’s past and the intricacies of the world. Stacia does a great job of introducing the setting, but the original series offers even more depth. Seeing old characters return and play a role in this story was a delightful surprise.
The twists and turns kept me hooked from start to finish, and the ending left me absolutely breathless. If you’re looking for a book packed with secrets, action, unexpected revelations, a strong-willed heroine, and a possessive male with a hidden past, this is the one for you. I’m already counting down the days until the next installment!

Came for the author, stayed for the plot! Absolutely loved this! Great world building, characters that build in layers as the plot thickens, banter, magic, Gods & an action filled quest what’s not to love! Can’t wait for the next one. Dual narration that added so much more life to an already amazing book.

Rating: 5 million stars!

A bad ass ex-pirate? A dark god? Three grimmoirs hidden across the world? Enemies to lovers? Always lovers? I had no idea there was a whole series before this book! I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC and I think this book stands firmly on its own. That being said, now that I know there is an entire series with the backstory of these characters, I cannot wait to go read them! The drama, the magical elements, the bad-assery (is that a word?) of the main characters had me FLYING through this book! If I could give this book 5 million stars I would. I cannot wait for book 2!!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙉𝙤𝙬 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚.”

The 1st book in the Kingdom of Death spin-off series of Stacia Stark's Kingdom of Lies series. Madinia was one of my favorite characters from the Kingdom of Lies series, and I love her and her strong, prickly, suspicious, sarcastic, brave personality even more now. The banter and chemistry between Madinia and Calysian was perfection. I loved getting a glimpse of some of the other characters from this universe and what happened with them after the ending! Complex, well-written characters, amazing world-building, action, magic, lost memories, tragedy, betrayal, humor, and the right amount of spice. I loved every second of this book!! I did NOT expect that ending! My jaw literally dropped, and I squealed out loud! I am DYING for the rest of the series!

Oh my god inject this book straight into my veins. Their immediate connection, their shared experience working through stolen memories and trauma, their constant out-maneuvering of each other (and how they kind of actually enjoy sparring with each other). These are two alphas circling each other and vying for control, and watching them be simultaneously infuriated and turned on by each other's schemes is a delightful way to spend a book.

It's written in such a way that you don't need to read the Kingdom of Lies series (A Court This Cruel and Lovely, etc) first, but I think you will probably get more out of it if you do. And that's just a really good series that you should read anyway. If you do read this first, going back and reading Kingdom of Lies could help you pass the time until Part 2 comes out. Honestly, given Stacia's previous demonic cliffhangers, we got off easy on this one, but my god I'm still dying to get my hands on the next one IMMEDIATELY. Like, right now please.

I listened to the ALC of This Vicious Dream, and found it to be a perfectly fine audiobook. It’s dual narration, not duet. The narrators both have the usual ways of pitching their voices to indicate the opposite gender that I don’t terribly care for, but they both thoroughly understand and embody the sass that is so prevalent in each character and their interactions.

Rating: 5/5
Audio: 4.5/5
Spice: 2/5

Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- One horse
- Dual POV
- One bed
- Trauma rep
- Touch her and die
- Banter
- Talking animal sidekick

Thank you to Stacia and NetGalley for the chance to listen to this in advance.

I was so excited to see Madinia's story come to light! Stacia has done an amazing job with the book. The story stands on its own, but you will really enjoy this if you've already read the Kingdom of Lies series. I'm always a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers trope, and feisty FMCs make me happy. Looking forward to the next one because that cliffhanger... !!

This Vicious Dream by Stacia Stark ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When your favourite supporting character now has her own story!!!

“Once, I helped save a kingdom. Now, I'm trapped in a prison of thorns and nightmares.”

If you are looking to cure your book hangover following Stacia Stark's King of Lies series, this is exactly what you need!!!
Prepare to be ensnared by the dark allure of This Vicious Dream, the first book set in the same universe as Kingdom of Lies series, follows one of my favourite characters, Madinia, and her journey. Some of our favourite characters from KOL are refferenced and/or making appearances.

- Romantasy
- Magical Intrigue
- Found Family
- Self Reliant FMC
- Brooding MMC
- Tension
- Betrayal
- Reluctant Allies
- Slow Burn

Madinia, once the saviour of a kingdom, now finds herself being imprisoned. Her captors are looking for the location of a powerful grimoire that she has vowed to protect. Her silence is her only leverage. Calysian mysterious yet gorgeous man arrives, desiring the grimoire for his own ends. Madina must make difficult decisions and is reluctant to ally, but she must navigate a web of secrets and power plays, where trust is a luxury she can't afford.

Madinia and Calysian were fabulous. Madina was one of my favorite characters from the Kingdom of Lies series. You do not need to read the Kindgom of Lies series to enjoy this book. Stacia Stark does a great job of world building. the book has action, spice and great dialogue

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book, but I absolutely devoured this story. I fell in love with the characters immediately and was hooked from the beginning and kept going with so much action and twists and turns. Madinia is a complex, firecracker of an FMC and I really adore her. That cliffhanger is going to leave me reeling until the next book comes out.

This Vicious Dream completely consumed me. With characters that captured my heart and twists that owned me, this story was impossible to put down. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat while you find yourself falling in love and wiping away your tears. This story deserves all the stars!

Madinia could be so vicious and ruthless, so I absolutely loved her! She had been held captive for the last three years inside of a tower, because she knew the location of a grimoire that would completely change their world. She was brave, tenacious, fearless, and would not be broken. So, when Calysian appeared, it set them on a path together. For the grimoire.

Madinia and Calysian both struggled with their memory, but I loved that a common mission forced them together. Their banter was phenomenal and the tension that simmered between them was addictive! And as memories started to find their way back to Madinia, it forced her hand to become hard-hearted and throw remorse out the window when it came to Calysian. But he was tenacious, and he refused to give up Madinia without a fight. Even if she was the one who was standing in their way.

Calysian came across as dangerous and lethal, but I loved how he saw so much. It didn’t matter how much hate Madinia threw his way, he took care of her. And could be so kind and thoughtful. Calysian is a book boyfriend you will fall hard for. So, when he called her beautiful woman or sweetheart, it was impossible not to melt into a puddle. Calysian was everything!

As the story unfolded, I was terrified for them. They were being hunted and nowhere felt safe. Life and death situations were always around the corner. But through it all, they both had their dark and twisted humor. And their vicious rage. Together they were a formidable team. And with fabulous banter and steamy moments, Calysian and Madinia were a powerful couple that sailed right to the top of my favorites list!

With forced proximity, brutal truths, only one bed, betrayal, and trust, This Vicious Dream is easily one of my top favorite books! Plus, the side characters captured my heart so easily too. Eamonn and Fox were two favorites, but we also got to see a few of our favorites from the series Kingdom of Lies. So, while you can easily read this as a standalone, I definitely think certain moments will hit harder if you’ve read the Kingdom of Lies Series first. I found myself crying 7 different times. With phenomenal twists that left my jaw on the ground, I found myself laughing and crying while dread pooled in my stomach in those final few pages. This story was beautifully crafted, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

PS I listened to the audiobook, after finishing this book. And it was phenomenal! They brought the characters to life and I was swept away all over again by this story!