"... this universe has laws. I know this in my bones. And one of those laws is that Madinia Farrow is no one's captive. She is no one's victim."

Kingdom of Lies is one of my favourite romantasy series of all time, and when I heard that we were getting our own book for Madinia! And Calysian!?! This story was a dream come true and it did not disappoint. You absolutely do not need to read the Kingdom of Lies series to understand these, but I do think it would help fill in some of the blanks to characters and really give richness to Madinia's backstory.

Stacia is a beautiful writer, and she has crafted such a rich story filled with twists and turns, love and betrayal, and lots of steamy spice. There is banter and fun, and I was laughing out loud at times with some of the witty remarks that would fly back and forth between Madinia and Calysian. These two characters were written so well, and their relationship dynamic and growth (both as individuals and a pair) was authentic and blossomed over the course of their journey. This story follows Madinia in the aftermath of the Eprosian war, on a mission of her own and a journey of self-discovery. She is captured and trapped but manages to escape her prison - though there are many secrets hidden to all that will alter her life forever. The storyline is gripping and dramatic, with action and suspense, and I was hooked on every single word.

This story does end on a cliffhanger, and my jaw dropped, thinking surely this isn't how Stacia is going to leave us 🤣 The narrators really brought this story to life, with so much emotion and vulnerability to really highlight and enhance their stories. They suited the characters perfectly and really emphasised the complexity of Madinia's character in a subtle way, and delivered Calysian's intensity without feeling over the top.

Tropes include:
✨Dual POV
✨One bed
✨Forced proximity
✨Secrets and betrayal
✨Gods and magic
✨Slow-burn, enemies (sorta) to lovers

Thank you so much to Stacia and Dreamscape Media for the early ALC. Stacia will forever be one of my favourite authors, and I'm blessed to have been able to be a part of this before release 💕

This is a spin-off series to Kingdom of Lies, which is still on my TBR, but I decided to dive into This Vicious Dream because the blurb hooked me—and I’m so glad I did. That said, I do think reading Kingdom of Lies first might give more context and depth (can anyone who’s read it confirm?). Still, I had no problem following the writing or the worldbuilding—it was vivid and easy to get into.

We follow Madinia and Calysian (ughhh this man🫠) on a search of grimoire to bring Dark God to full force (or not). They’re two intelligent, wary individuals with conflicting goals and a mutual distrust of others. Watching them try to outmaneuver each other while slowly building mutual respect was addictive. The tension between those two is 🔥

Narration-wise, the audiobook was phenomenal. The voice actors brought so much emotion and nuance to the story, perfectly capturing each character’s vulnerability and fire. I I love dual POV narration. I devoured this book in two days and can’t wait for the second book.

What you will find:

❣️Strong, sassy, independent FMC
❣️Morally gray, possessive (but soft) MMC
❣️“Who did this to you?”
❣️Forced proximity
❣️Sizzling tension


Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 3.5🌶️

“If anyone else ever hear you make this sound, I’ll kill them”

If you love morally complex characters, immersive magic, and tension that crackles, This Vicious Dream is a must-read (or listen!).

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC!

Thank you for the eARC! The narration was sublime. I love the two narrator split and how well they kept the story moving throughout. Wonderful voice acting! Riveting story!

I will admit, I did not know this was a spinoff but I will now be going back and reading (or listening to) the OGs! Medinia is one of my new favorite characters and the spice level was perfect! I finished this book in just under 3 days because I could not put it down! 10/10

Arc Review*

Okay so this was fine, not bad by any means but it just did not wow me like I’d hoped.

The plot was amazing. However, the world-building fell short for me unfortunately.

The setting was just lacking in my opinion, making it difficult to feel fully immersed in the story.

That said, the pacing was okay and the tension between Madenia and Calysian had intrigue and was the main reason I continued reading.

I think if you’re looking for a quick and easy romantic fantasy then you should give this a read. If you’re looking for rich lore or world building you might be left wanting more.

This audiobook absolutely captivated me from start to finish! "This Vicious Dream" marks my introduction to Stacia Stark's writing, and I'm already planning to dive into her backlist. While this story is set in the same world as her Kingdom of Lies series, it stands perfectly well on its own. That said, I suspect readers familiar with the previous series would appreciate the clever Easter eggs woven throughout.

Madinia and Calysian's relationship unfolds with exquisite tension against a richly imagined backdrop. The story moves at a brisk pace, filled with unexpected twists that kept me eagerly listening to discover what would happen next. Stark masterfully employs forced proximity scenarios that create delicious angst and palpable chemistry between the protagonists.

The dual narration by Meg Sylvan and Tim Paige elevates the experience tremendously. Their performances bring distinct personalities to life and enhance the emotional impact of key scenes. Sylvan captures Madinia's complexity with nuance, while Paige delivers Calysian's intensity with compelling conviction.

My single critique concerns the audiobook's production rather than the story itself—the transitions between present-day scenes and memories occasionally lack clear audio cues, which created momentary confusion at certain points.

Overall, "This Vicious Dream" offers an immersive fantasy experience with compelling characters, high-stakes tension, and romance that sizzles. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven fantasy with romantic elements.

Stacia has done it again! This Vicious Dream is a captivating adventure from start to finish. As a fan of the Kingdom of Lies series, I was thrilled to delve into Madinia's story. Her character, introduced in the KoL series, is now given the spotlight she truly deserves.

This Vicious Dream is set in the same world as the Kingdom of Lies series, however, it offers a fresh and unique perspective, getting to see this world through the eyes of someone that sees a darker side of life. Madinia and Calysian are thrust together on an adventure to find important magical grimoires, but they are tracking them for different reasons. As the adventure progresses, the tension and angst between them continues to escalate, creating a compelling slow burn romance that kept me turning page after page.

If you're new to this world, reading the Kingdom of Lies series first is highly recommended to fully appreciate the depth of the characters and the intricate world building. However, This Vicious Dream can also be enjoyed as a standalone series.

This one is a must read, and while it wasn't quite a Kingdom level cliffhanger (thank goodness!), I was left craving more and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! Thank you to Stacia and team for the ARC of this story, I am eternally grateful. <3

I received an ARC audio of this book from Dreamscape Media over on NetGalley and it was my very first time listening to a smutty book. While I can't say that it was bad, because the narrators did an amazing job, it was certainly an experience that left me feeling a little embarrassed and certain that I'd stick with Audiobooks that paid less mind to the warmth pooling between a woman's legs. Listen, we all do things that we're not proud of when we're as desperate to read a story as I was for this. Madinia was my favorite character from the Kingdom of Lies series and her little tiffs with Calysian practically promised that they'd get their own story so I was over-eager and dove head-first into this audiobook.
With a fast paced plot and a churning tempest of existing chemistry between our main characters, This Vicious Dream kept me engaged and eager to see the story through to its cliffhanger ending. For the most part I think that this first book could be read as a standalone without missing much since even the name-dropping of fan favorite characters felt organic without being cheesy. But nearer to the end when other more important characters to the Kingdom of Lies series are implied as being on the way to join the story, I'm left wondering if this duology SHOULD be read as a standalone.
Madinia is our fiesty red-headed main character who has gone through such physical and emotional hurts that it's a wonder she's still filled with spunk and kindness. Stacia Stark writes those tortuous inner thoughts so well, allowing the trauma to linger in every decision that's made and reminding the reader of Madinia's strength by showing her persistence despite what's in her past and what uncertain future awaits.
Calysian is perhaps one of the most fun male love interests I've read in a while. He carries himself with a suave certainty, aware of his handsome features while also being oblivious to the ways of the humans he encounters. His chapters were some of my favorite to experience because the way he thinks is refreshing and often humorous. He's Madinia's perfect match for wit and charm which made their banter some of the best I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
Their relationship is definitely more physical than emotional at first but I think that's okay. It works out and it's a refreshing change of pace to most other books I've read lately. I'm sure that the second book will cover more of the deeper emotions which had only really just begun to catch on in the third-act of the first. This totally would have been a 5 star book from me if some of those Kingdom of Lies characters didn't infiltrate the story so deeply near the end. I just feel that there will inevitably be a bit of confusion regarding the world and powers that can only be resolved by reading all four books in the other series.

I will preface this review by noting I did not read the Kingdom of Lies series first.
I will also note - I don not think you need to!

I really enjoyed This Vicious Dream. It's very much your typical Romantasy with tropes that are expected.
Medinia and and Calysian have a fun slow-burn relationship with passion, banter, and a bit of spice. Their journey is exciting and interesting.

There are some fun twists and unexpected surprises that kept me engaged and a cliffhanger that will have me impatiently waiting for the next book.

I also enjoyed the narrators , they made it easy to be fully immersed in the story.

Ooo baby I loved this book.

The narrators!!!! Calysian!!! He absolutely killed it. I absolutely loved his voice. It fit the character so well and matched what I had in my head from his appearances in previous books.

This is absolutely without a doubt my favorite Stacia Stark book that I’ve read.

If you haven’t read the Kingdom of Lies series, you might want to read that before this one. You don’t have to, but there’s lot of references to what happens in that series, and this one absolutely makes a lot of sense if you know what happens. Plus, it spoils the other series.

I’ll be honest here: in the Kingdom of Lies series, I wasn’t the biggest Madinia fan. So I went into this book scared. But man I love her now. She’s gone through so much and she doesn’t deserve any of it. Honestly, I want to be Madinia.

Calysian you little snake. My girl Madinia didn’t deserve half the crap you put her through. She deserves better than you. You better have the world’s biggest redemption arc in book two or I’m going to hate you forever.

I was immediately invested on page one of this book. And I stayed engaged throughout. Lately, I’ve been having attention problems when reading and have been reading several books at once, but I didn’t put this one down even once.

Thank you so much to the incredible Stacia Stark for an ARC of this book and NetGalley for an ALC. All opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by the manner in which I received it. I really just loved this book.

4 stars for This Vicious Dream by Stacia Stark! Madinia and Calysian's story was such a ride. There were tons of twists and turns and I enjoyed the story. The dual narration by Meg Sylvan and Tim Paige was excellent! I feel like any romantasy that does an audiobook should at minimum give us dual narration, and at best, duet—my fave! It adds soooo much to the experience.

Unfortunately, I had not read the Kingdom of Lies books that precede this one, so a lot of context was missing, but I am not knocking a star for that. I do recommend reading the other books first so you won’t have the plot holes I did. I felt it was very long, but again, I’m pretty sure if you are invested in this world from reading the other stories, you would relish all of the details. Also, this ends on a major cliffie, tragically! Be warned!

Tropes:
Forced proximity
Romantasy featuring a GOD
Enemies to Lovers
Revenge
Cat and Mouse games
Feisty FMC and overprotective alpha MC

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.

Not finishing but enjoyed what I listened to so far! I knew this was connected to the other series, but thought there would be slightly more information at the start and felt quite lost from the beginning. I've read the first two of the other series quite a while ago, and found this one a little confusing. However, the writing was great and I think had I known more about the characters going into this, it would have been a fantastic read. Reviewed based on the writing. Think a note to say they're a connected series and to read the other one first may be helpful for readers!

Staci really popped off- From start to finish… My Gods. You fr don’t know who to trust!! This was such a fast pace, action packed quest. Straight away we’re in a frenzy & it just keeps that same momentum from there 📈 I literally ate this up in one sitting, such a fun Romantasy!! Apparently Calysian & Madina are apart of another series?! *I must research 👹 ‘Cause the characters were great.

Meg Sylvan & Tim Paige did an amazing job narrating this, but Meg especially impressed me!! Def became a fan 🤍 Overall, I enjoyed this a lot. It def carried a lot of tropes every fave Romantasy has, I will be looking forward to book 2!!

3.75✨.

When I began This Vicious Dream by Stacia Stark, I felt a little lost. We were dropped into memories and backstory with very little to ground us, and for the first 20% or so, I found myself muddled, trying to piece things together. It was a lot—almost too much—but once I got past that point, I eased into the storyline and was happily along for the ride. 🥰

I really enjoyed the relationship dynamics, both romantic and platonic. I could feel the tug-of-war between her mind and her heart, and that internal conflict made her choices and relationships feel all the more real.

The world-building was intriguing, especially the layers involving fates, gods, and their intricate plotting. It was fun trying to tease apart everyone’s agendas and seeing how it all wove together.

As we got closer to the end, the twists took me by surprise—and then came a sprinkle ✨ of my favorite trope ever, which immediately got me so hyped. But just as things started really picking up… it ended! 😭🫣 I’m definitely intrigued by this story and excited to see where things go in the next book.

Thank you so much to Stacia Stark, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for this ALC.

Thank you to Dreamscape media, Stacia Stark, and NetGalley for an Advanced Listening Copy of this audiobook! All thoughts expressed in this review are my honest opinion.

I saw this book advertised as still being able to read it and understand everything without reading the Kingdom of Lies series first, so while the Kingdom of Lies series is on my TBR, I didn’t worry about completing it before reading this book. In hindsight, I wish I had waited, read that series, and then read this later on (not as an advance copy/when it is already out).

Overall, I enjoyed the book and the writing style, and it makes me want to read the original series. However, there were a few times when I was a little confused, and I think things would have been clearer if I had read the Kingdom of Lies series first. I still enjoyed Madinia’s story, but I’d be interested in rereading this book after reading the four Kingdom of Lies books first and see if that changes anything or what additional context I might have going into Madinia’s story!

Even without reading the initial series, I enjoyed it enough and want to know what happens next that I am planning on reading (or listening to) the next book when the time comes. Ideally, I will have the original series read by then!

Thank you Stacia Stark for the opportunity to review this book early. All these thoughts are my own.

So, I think I am in love with Calysian? Anyway… I loved this book. Madinia was one of my favorite characters from the Kingdom of Lies series, so this spin off made me so excited to see. I loved the action from the very beginning, Madinia was fiery and fierce, it was fantastic. The banter and tension between Calysian and her was so good, it had me kicking my feet and curling my toes. I loved it. The twists and turns of this story had me at the edge of my seat the entire time. I cannot wait for book 2!!!

When Stacia Stark announced a Kingdom of Lies spin off series with Medinia and Calysian, every molecule in my body rejoiced. A huge part of me had not been ready to let go of KOL and the intrigue between those two characters promised to provide toe curling tension that I could not wait to read. This Vicious Dream was one of my most highly anticipated releases and it certainly did not disappoint. It felt like a seamless continuation of the story that I've come to love, while keeping its own identity in the process. Stacia has done a truly amazing job with crafting this incredibly intricate world. She writes all the plot twists and heartache you could ask for, while still managing to bring all pieces together in the most satisfying way possible.

The relationship dynamic in This Vicious Dream progressed from intrigue between Medinia and Calysian, to a true cat and mouse, to all the tension and banter, before erupting in the most satisfying way. I am happy to report that the love story did not overwhelm the flow of the book, however. The story was fast paced and very plot driven, with the budding relationship tension coming through as a very happy bonus.

Medinia is a force to be reckoned with and seeing her brought low at the beginning of the story did something to me. I was ready to go to war on her behalf. Her character has already endured so much that I was ready to board a ship, find Kyldare, and tell him in no uncertain terms that he could count his days. Fortunately for me, Calysian stepped up to the plate. He brought Medinias spark back and helped her to realize her potential, before Asinia, Demos, Rythos, and Daharek stepped in to ensure she never forgot it again.

I loved the character development on Medinias character as she sought to find her place in the world, and the journey that Calysian went through at her side to discover who he was as well. Their journey tested their limits and brought them out the other side very much changed. The dual POV was excellently done, providing the perfect amount of insight into each character, while preserving the suspense and anticipation of the conflicts. The action never let up, and the ending only managed to make me more excited for the next book because I know that reunion is going to bring out all the fireworks.

I was so excited that the original audio narrators from Kingdom of Lies came back to perform This Vicious Dream because they did such a wonderful job in bringing the characters to life. Their perfomance only heightened my enjoyment of the story and helped to immerse me into the minds of the characters.

While this is technically a standalone series, my enjoyment of the plot was only heightened by the "foreplay' between these two characters in Kingdom of Lies and I highly encourage everyone to check out that series before jumping into this one.

I was lucky to receive an ALC of This Vicious Dream by Stacia Stark from NetGalley and dreamscape media. This was my first novel by Stark and it will absolutely NOT be my last! I loved how this book was paced, the world and character development and the overall story. I could not stop listening (my poor sleep schedule), the narrators did an amazing job portraying all the feelings the characters were going through. The magic system was one I haven’t seen a lot of and I loved it! The FMC was sassy, strong, and fierce. The MMC was morally grey, possessive, and a bit of a cinnamon roll for her. I was left staring at my device begging for more at the end because that plot twist was definitely not one I saw coming. I cannot wait for the next book!

I am absolutely floored! Madinia is a character I really fell in love with in the Kingdom of Lies series. I loved the way her mind worked and I loved her arc. Madinia getting her own story is such a dream, and it absolutely did not disappoint.

She is a fierce protector for those she feels needs protecting. She is ready to absolutely destroy herself if it means others will be better off. And then enter Calysian. Calysian is captivating from his first moments in this book. I was intrigued by him in Kingdom of Lies, but he is a force to be reckoned with, and you can feel their chemistry in every interaction.

What I love about Stacia's writing is this story takes place in the same world as the Kingdom of Lies series, but it is a total departure in the very best way. You have a few crossover characters, but this is not a continuation of the that series. We are introduced to new territories, new rules, new baddies, and new power. I love all of her books, but I am just wildly impressed and completely obsessed with the way this story went. The ending left SO many questions and possibilities and I cannot wait to see where this will go! This is definitely a top book of 2025 for me.

Thank you to Stacia for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh, honey. I read it, I gasped, I highlighted like a woman possessed, and now I’m here to tell you: if you’re not ready for a tale of knife-sharp banter, soul-searing pining, and feral god-complex alpha energy that makes you question your standards—run. Or better yet, don’t. Buy the book. Strap in. Let’s go.

I Came for the Plot, Stayed Because I Was Chained There by a Dark God

There are few things I hate more than the rain. But finishing this book? Intolerable. My skin is still tingling, my standards for men are now mythical, and I’ve developed a mild psychological dependence on the phrase:
 “You never should have let me taste you. Now I’ll stop at nothing to make you mine.”
Let’s start with our heroine, Madinia Farrow: she’s fiery, untouchable, and about as likely to stab you as kiss you. Which, naturally, makes her the kind of woman which this brooding, power-drunk god wants to bind in enchanted chains and worship from his shadowy altar of angst. And no, that’s not a metaphor. That’s just divine foreplay in this book.

Meanwhile, our leading man—part broody protector, part villainous god, part walking red flag—has the emotional intelligence of a pissed-off war general and the love language of "I will murder every living thing that looks at you sideways."
 He says things like:
* “As you die, your last thought will be this: Harming Madinia Farrow was the biggest mistake of your life.”
* “Fiercely independent Madinia is mentally barring me from her bed. She has decided I’m too much of a threat to the freedom she holds closer than any lover. I nip at her ear. ‘Keep thinking such thoughts. I’ll merely fuck them out of you.’”
I read this. I giggled. I kicked my feet. I questioned the line between feminist empowerment and “yes, Daddy, more threats, please.”
Plot-wise? There's war. There's betrayal. There’s a scene where someone gets slapped on the ass and another where someone refuses to die because they “haven’t been given permission.” And honestly, isn’t that just what we all want in a book?
 Also, this gem:

“I'm not in love with him. He's simply the first man to keep his promises, the first man to see beyond my face and care about who I am as a woman.”

Don’t ask. Just know it sent me.
But it’s not all violence and smoldering. There’s soul in here. Tenderness that creeps up between the blades. When the brooding chaos god says:
 “Because when someone like you takes an interest… worlds change,”
 I, too, changed. Into a pile of swooning goo.
And by the time the story ends, you're no longer sure who you want to win the war—you just know you want Madinia to survive, thrive, and possibly step on you a little.

Final Thoughts: This book is not a romance. It’s an emotional hostage situation.
 You will feel feral.
 You will text your friend “he chained her…and it was HOT.”
 And you will be crawling back for the sequel whispering, “I wasn’t aware you had so many other books lining up, ready to ruin my life.”
10/10. Would chain myself to it again.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

No spoilers ARC review:

This is the best fantasy book I’ve read in 2025, and one of the best fantasy books I’ve ever read. AND this is now my favorite Stacia Stark book. 

This book used some of my favorite fantasy elements from Lord of the Rings and The Mummy (but not Egyptian mythology). It is the only other book outside of Serpent and the Wings of Night to deliver bored, callous, and envious gods with interesting motivations and complexity. This is some of the best world building I’ve seen in a standalone within an existing universe. It would be easy for an author to lean into what they have already presented, but Stacia expands on the entire universe while giving new and creative possibilities. 

Our main character Madinia is a leading lady we very rarely see. When we meet her in the original series she’s very unlikeable, prickly, and difficult to work with. And for a lot of the series you never really know if you can trust her. One of the things I praised Stacia for in the Kingdom of Lies series is giving us complex, realistic, and unlikeable women. Getting to see someone like Madinia become the focus of the story and see how she navigates the world and the types of decisions she makes, was truly enjoyable and necessary. Readers often ask for complex women and Madinia leads the pack. 

One of my favorite things about our two leads is that for the first portion of this book they play a game of cat and mouse. They’re not enemies. They’re two people who want the same thing, have a hard time trusting others, and are very clever. It was so much fun getting to see them outsmart the other and develop a new level of respect. 100% hate the game but respect the player. 

This audiobook was so good that I binged it in a day. There were several times I stopped what I was doing because I was completely sucked in. Several times I gasped. I laughed out loud. I felt numb at the end. I couldn’t believe it was over and yet it was the perfect ending. Looking forward to the next one.