A Theory of Dreaming by Ava Reid
If you love a book with myth and mystery, intricate magic systems, dark academia and of course a little romance, then “A Theory of Dreaming” is for you!
#1 New York Times bestselling author Ava Reid’s highly anticipated sequel to A Study in Drowning returns readers to the lush, dream-filled world that we know and love, but with more than ever at stake. Packed with twists and turns and mysterious magic, A Theory of Dreaming is the dark academia YA novel that you’ve been waiting for.
Picking up where A Study in Drowning concludes, Effy Sayre finds herself back at the University of Llyr in Caer-Isel, Preston Héloury at her side, as their groundbreaking claim against the authorship of Angharad is thrust into the spotlight.
War, Authorship and Magic-Tinged Dreams
A challenge to Emrys Myrddin’s name and credibility is no small thing. He is one of the Sleepers — authors whose work was so important to the national mythos that they were immortalized, their bodies placed in the Sleeper Museum to provide magic and a moral boost to the country.
To make matters worse, tensions are rising and borders are closing as the war between Llyr and Argant comes to a head.
Amid the uncertainty and growing fear in the city, Effy and Preston find themselves fighting their own personal battles, drifting in and out of the waking world with varying levels of success. Effy questions Preston’s feelings for her, as well as her own motivations, wondering why anyone would put in the effort to love someone like her.
Preston begins to see a world beyond the present, sinking beneath the waves in his dreams into a world where he can control the things he can’t while awake. As waking and dreaming begin to intertwine, Effy and Preston slip further into their own struggles. Will either truly wake before it’s too late?
Heart-Wrenching Story, Relatable Struggles
There is something incredibly validating about this book, even though it touches on darker themes. Effy has always wrestled with believing her own mind and believing in herself, and A Theory of Dreaming takes that to a new level. It is absolutely heart-wrenching to experience her internal monologue, and yet very relatable, because there are so many people who have felt just like that.
Reid captures those feelings with such stark truth and resonance, creating a character and a story arc that are raw, exposed, intimate and utterly beautiful. When witnessed alongside Preston’s own fight, which dives into identity, power, family, love and more, it’s a truly fascinating exploration of humanity at its very core.
Through it all, Reid weaves in messages about validating female voices, toppling problematic patriarchal systems, believing victims, and so much more, crafting an incredibly deep piece set within the YA structure. The literary and scholarly framework that made A Study in Drowning so intriguing is back in full force in the best way as well, interwoven with college moments that bring it all together.
Spellbinding World, Magic and Romance
A Theory of Dreaming is built upon full-bodied, multi-faceted characters living within a spellbinding world that draws you in from the very first page and doesn’t intend to let you go. Effy and Preston’s experience will break your heart, and then these two will make you believe in love, deep and true, all over again.
What Reid has crafted in this duology is breathtaking. If you love a book with myth and mystery, intricate magic systems, dark academia and of course a little romance, then A Theory of Dreaming is for you!
Ava Reid was born in Manhattan and raised right across the Hudson River in Hoboken, but currently lives in Palo Alto, where the weather is too sunny and the people are too friendly. She has a degree in political science from Barnard College, focusing on religion and ethnonationalism. She has worked for a refugee resettlement organization, for a U.S. senator, and, most recently, for an AI robotics startup. She is represented by Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord. Her books — including A Study in Drowning, A Theory of Dreaming, Lady Macbeth, Juniper & Thorn and The Wolf and the Woodsman — have been published in over fourteen territories. Follow her on Instagram @avasreid and find her online at tumblr.com/avasreid.
Publish Date: 7/29/2025
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult
Author: Ava Reid
Page Count: 416 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780063432925