Published: November 2, 2021
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Series: N/A
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 482 (Hardcover)
My Rating: 5.0/5.0
Synopsis:
Perfect for readers of The Hazel Wood and The Night Circus, this lush and layered story about magic and the captivating power of dreams is delivered with acclaimed author Rebecca Ross’s signature exquisite style.
A curse plagues the realm of Azenor—during each new moon, magic flows from the nearby mountain and brings nightmares to life. Only magicians, who serve as territory wardens, stand between people and their worst dreams.
Clementine Madigan is ready to take over as the warden of her small town, but when two magicians challenge her, she is unwittingly drawn into a century-old conflict. She seeks revenge, but as she secretly gets closer to Phelan, one of the handsome young magicians, secrets begin to rise. Clementine must unite with her rival to fight the realm’s curse, which seems to be haunting her every turn.
Okay, I am so wonderfully surprised at how awesome this book was! I have only read one other Rebecca Ross book and it was her adult fantasy debut, but this was fantastic!
In this world there is a curse that causes nightmares to become reality each new moon and to fight these nightmares there are magicians that specialize in dream-based magic. They can divine nightmares, keep detailed records of them, and go out each new moon prepared to battle anything from snakes to mysterious dark knights. The main character, Clementine, is an apprentice in a small village at the foothills of the mountain duchy where the curse originates. That is, until two other mages show up challenging her father for their territory. Clementine sets out for revenge against the brothers, determined to win back their territory and return to the town she’s called home for most of her life.
This is a really, really cool story that pleasantly surprised me with its deep lore and quality execution all in a single, standalone volume. Clementine is an admirably strong female character with somewhat grey morality at times, though her heart isn’t entirely made of stone (haha). She begins to see that Phelan, who she saw as an enemy, is perhaps not acting on his own nefarious whims. Perhaps he too is a victim of circumstance and birth. The magic itself was a wonderful addition to this magical tale. The wardens who battle nightmares are just plain cool! There is brief mention and usage of other types of magic, ranging from showy stage tricks to ancient spells that can change appearance, which made the world feel richer and more dimensional. There’s also a strong family element to the story. Family ties, guilt, and love can all influence how people make decisions and shape themselves and this story explores all of that and more.
Overall, I was highly impressed by Dreams Lie Beneath and would definitely recommend it! The audiobook (which was my chosen format) was well narrated and as usual made for an enhanced experience. I’m so glad I finally picked this up – it’s good to get books off the TBR instead of just adding them for a change!
Powder & Page 