POSTED SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 BY SYDNEY S. IN REVIEWS / 0 COMMENTS
A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld, Gary Furlong
Published by Penguin in August 2025
Length: 10 hours 44 Minutes
Genre: Detective / Mystery, Young Adult Fiction, Folklore & Fairy Tales, Fantasy
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Goodreads
Some dreams are dangerous. Effy may have finally earned a spot at the literature college, becoming the first woman in history to enroll, but the entire university—and soon, the entire nation—is waiting for her to fail.
With Effy under threat, Preston dreams of a palace under the sea, a world where he is king—visions that begin to follow him even in waking.
As war between Llyr and Argant explodes, Effy and Preston find themselves caught in the cross fire—Effy losing her dreams and Preston losing himself to his. But are they truly just dreams?
Sydney’s Review
After reading the first book in this two part series I knew I’d have to read the second. Effy and Preston’s story wasn’t finished and the second book did not disappoint! Before I give a review, I would first like to say that this book was so enthralling that I just couldn’t put it down! Ava Reid’s writing style is so expressive and immersive, it creates an environment which I simply cannot walk away from!
A Theory of Dreaming is written in the dual point of view of Effy and Preston. While Effy deals with being stuck in reality, a stark contrast from the fantasy of the first book, Preston starts to visit his own imagination. An imagination which starts to bleed into reality, the biggest revelation of this fact is when he no longer needs his glasses. I really enjoyed seeing more of Preston’s point of view as it captured a broader reach of the story. Through their experiences we watch as the war between Llyr and Argant reaches an all time high. The emotional range from Preston and Effy upon their world becoming consumed with this visual representation of the war deepens each of their struggles; Effy’s depression, Preston’s dreams.
The expansion of exploring the literary aspect of the Sleeper’s within the world was, in my opinion, an exceptional addition to the story line. The idea that other Sleeper’s were fake brings into an important political question, how much of history is re-written for power over someone or something else? And to add to that, what can we truly learn if the information we’re given is already corrupted? I think Reid does a great job of discussing these topics throughout the novel, and while it is a fictional world, it brings into question ideas that all books should, the real world aspect.
Overall, I think that A Theory of Dreaming is an amazing read! I enjoyed every twist and turn, and especially the ending. It didn’t feel rushed and never excused what they had done. It didn’t wrap up their humanity and let them stay flawed at the end. It kept the lessons learned: how to be better people and be better for each other.
Review of the Series
A Study in Drowning
An Archive of Romance
Read the full series?
