A Theory of Dreaming Deluxe Limited Edition: Sequel to A Study in Drowning Hardcover – July 29, 2025

Effy and Preston return to university amid a changing landscape. Effy is now a literature college student, though her classmates are anything but welcoming. The war between Llyr and Argant intensifies. And the truth of Myrddin’s legacy is suppressed by the government. All the while, Preston is dreaming of a kingdom beneath the sea and slowly losing sight of himself and Effy.Read if you like:-Reality vs Dreams-History vs Propaganda-Love Conquers AllI loved A Study in Drowning and thought it was going to be a tough act to follow, but wow oh wow did Ava Reid say 'hold my beer.' I love A Theory of Dreaming even more than ASID! I did not want to put this book down and simply could not read it fast enough. It is such a beautifully written book. It echos some of the themes of ASID and takes a new look at them, while expanding on the Llyr/Argant divide with such great commentary on all of it.I love that we got Preston's POV in this book. He is such a tragically romantic MMC.I can't recommend this duet enough!

Let me start my review with this: A Theory of Dreaming is not a feel-good sequel. If you’re going into this expecting a soft, romantic continuation of Effy and Preston’s story, brace yourself. This book is darker, grittier, and emotionally heavy. It deals with mental health, trauma, and the effects of war. There are some moments of beauty and connection (and there are positive messages of love throughout), but this is not a light read. I think it's important to establish that right at the beginning. Reid herself has recently shared that the book was partially written in frustration with the ongoing crisis in Palestine, specifically how academic institutions treat students who speak up, and the influence is apparent. The political and emotional weight of the story is heavy, especially in the way it explores how institutions and media manipulate truth and isolate people who are already vulnerable. One of the criticisms I’ve seen from other readers is that Effy seems to take a step backward from where she ended up in A Study in Drowning. I understand that take, but I don’t agree with it entirely. For me, this felt honest. While I loved book one, I had a harder time with how neatly things wrapped up. A Theory of Dreaming unpacks that. It reminds us that healing isn’t a linear process. Effy is dealing with the “after” of her victories. She shows that even when life should seem objectively better, we can feel worse. That’s a truth that hits close to home. I’ve had some of my worst depressive episodes right after positive life milestones—acceptance into a new college program, a new job, even meeting my (now) husband. But depression doesn’t follow logic. Effy’s internal battle—“Do I deserve this?”—mirrors so many of my own thoughts. This book made me feel seen in ways I didn’t expect.Not only that, but she is also still dealing with a lot of external forces going against her. Her classmates don't believe that a woman should be allowed in the literature program, and they constantly belittle her and treat her as if she doesn't belong. On top of that, she is targeted by the University as well, causing added pressure from local newspapers and media. Yes, she has defeated her "life-long enemy," but there's no way to "defeat" real life. One of my favorite parts of A Theory of Dreaming was how much more we got from Preston’s point of view. It was great to see more about what he was struggling with, especially with the growing tensions on campus being caused from the war and the pressures he's under at the university. Through Preston, Reid builds a dream world that feels both surreal and painfully real. The atmosphere in this book is incredible. Reid is a master of mood and setting, and she doesn’t miss a beat here.It is obvious that I enjoyed this book, but I did still have a couple of complaints. My biggest issues involve the pacing of the plot. The middle section started to drag a bit. There were moments that felt repetitive, especially in terms of Effy and Preston's inner monologue. Not only that, but there are placements of diary entries that Effie is reading throughout the book, and most of the time, they felt incredibly out of place. I could see what Reid was trying to do with them, thematically, but the connection to Effie and the plot wasn't always clear. Part of this is because we got so much more Preston, so Effie's plotline got pushed to the side.Did A Study in Drowning need a sequel? No. But even so, A Theory of Dreaming has some important things to say, and I'm glad it exists. Ava Reid isn’t afraid to write about hard things. She’s not afraid to let her characters be messy and raw. And she’s not afraid to bring her own grief and frustration into her stories. I will definitely continue to read more of her books in the future.

I adore this series and I think this book is my favorite of the two! They are slower paced but the story sweeps you along with gorgeous imagery and intriguing and magical mysteries. I loved how this story focused more on Preston and his journey to acceptance of the magic in their world! The depression storyline with Effy was very well handled and complimented the message in this story. I also loved the political themes in this book around how we treat immigrants, the role culture plays in education, and the continued silencing of women. And I loved that all of these themes were not subtle but also fit into the story seamlessly. I adore this series and it is a must read for anyone that enjoys a more academic style of fantasy!Also this version is absolutely gorgeous!!