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The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams #1
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams
In this adventure-packed portal fantasy, three teens discover a gateway to a mythical Labyrinth in the Appalachian Mountains
Barren’s Peak, West Virginia, is not a place anyone would call magical, but Thea
LaGuerre calls it home. A high school drop-out whose mother died in an accident, Thea is stuck working part-time jobs just to make ends meet. The most she has to look forward to are barn parties where she can make out with Callum, the one interesting boy who moved to town six months ago.
Thea doesn’t know it yet, but Callum was sent to Barren’s Peak to watch her. He was raised within the magicians’ order, a shadowy organization meant to keep humanity safe from an underworld of monsters. Callum would sacrifice anyone, including himself, to help their cause, but he still can’t help falling into Thea’s orbit. She’s the first person he’s felt seen by since his childhood sweetheart, Oliver—who he hasn’t seen since Oliver’s banishment from the order.
But Oliver hasn’t given up on Callum or on magic. Following a magical creature’s trail to Barren’s Peak, Oliver happens upon Callum and Thea at a barn party that turns into a monster-overrun massacre. To save Callum and the girl he’s protecting from a wave of deadly fairies, Oliver opens a portal for the three of them to flee into the Labyrinth.
To get home again, Thea, Oliver, and Callum will have to work together to survive the Labyrinth’s trials and discover the threads that brought them there.
Barren’s Peak, West Virginia, is not a place anyone would call magical, but Thea
LaGuerre calls it home. A high school drop-out whose mother died in an accident, Thea is stuck working part-time jobs just to make ends meet. The most she has to look forward to are barn parties where she can make out with Callum, the one interesting boy who moved to town six months ago.
Thea doesn’t know it yet, but Callum was sent to Barren’s Peak to watch her. He was raised within the magicians’ order, a shadowy organization meant to keep humanity safe from an underworld of monsters. Callum would sacrifice anyone, including himself, to help their cause, but he still can’t help falling into Thea’s orbit. She’s the first person he’s felt seen by since his childhood sweetheart, Oliver—who he hasn’t seen since Oliver’s banishment from the order.
But Oliver hasn’t given up on Callum or on magic. Following a magical creature’s trail to Barren’s Peak, Oliver happens upon Callum and Thea at a barn party that turns into a monster-overrun massacre. To save Callum and the girl he’s protecting from a wave of deadly fairies, Oliver opens a portal for the three of them to flee into the Labyrinth.
To get home again, Thea, Oliver, and Callum will have to work together to survive the Labyrinth’s trials and discover the threads that brought them there.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published April 21, 2026
About the author
Michelle Kulwicki
4 books107 followersMichelle Kulwicki grew up in the Pacific Northwest overturning every rock and stick in an unending quest to find portals to worlds far more exciting than her own. After moving to the mountainless Midwest, she earned her bachelors and master’s degrees in music performance, and spent years in the symphony and musical theater pit circuit. She’s now a mom by day, musician by night, and writer in all the spaces in between—a life that is somewhat lacking in portals, but is still full of magic.
Her short fiction has been both Locus Recommended and Hugo nominated, and her first full length novel, At the End of the River Styx, will be debuting in Spring of 2024 from Page Street Kids.
Her short fiction has been both Locus Recommended and Hugo nominated, and her first full length novel, At the End of the River Styx, will be debuting in Spring of 2024 from Page Street Kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
June 28, 2026
review to come!
January 18, 2026
I’m the first to admit I’m not a huge fantasy reader and often get lost in the worldbuilding. So when I learned that Michelle Kulwicki’s sophomore YA novel leaned much more heavily into fantasy than their debut, I started writhing in my seat. But I loved At the End of the River Styx, so I knew I had to give The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams a chance.
I’m glad I did.
When Thea was sixteen, she was still sitting at a desk in high school, taking notes, trying to hold down two jobs.
When Oliver was sixteen, he was trying to escape the place that had caged him his whole life and never shown him an ounce of love.
When Cal was sixteen, he was already lost.
These sentences alone explain why I love a book like this. A school dropout, a boy who grew up unloved, and a boy so lost he knows only one thing: going on. Add the triple perspective in short chapters, and you get a story that’s so incredibly fast‑paced I had to stop and catch my breath once in a while, and still so inviting that I kept reading on and on and on.
Oh Thea… Oh Oliver… Oh Callum… That ending! I need to meet you all again. Please Michelle, write a sequel!
Thank you Pagestreet YA and NetGalley, for this amazing ARC!
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I’m glad I did.
When Thea was sixteen, she was still sitting at a desk in high school, taking notes, trying to hold down two jobs.
When Oliver was sixteen, he was trying to escape the place that had caged him his whole life and never shown him an ounce of love.
When Cal was sixteen, he was already lost.
These sentences alone explain why I love a book like this. A school dropout, a boy who grew up unloved, and a boy so lost he knows only one thing: going on. Add the triple perspective in short chapters, and you get a story that’s so incredibly fast‑paced I had to stop and catch my breath once in a while, and still so inviting that I kept reading on and on and on.
Oh Thea… Oh Oliver… Oh Callum… That ending! I need to meet you all again. Please Michelle, write a sequel!
Thank you Pagestreet YA and NetGalley, for this amazing ARC!
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May 9, 2026
Fantastical elements in West Virginia, perfect for people like me who like not too much and not too little fantasy.
The most stand out part of this book was the writing and the characters. The writing was so raw and descriptive, I found myself cringing so many times and how graphic the world was. It was delicious!! The characters—Thea, Oliver and Cal, were so young and naive and flawed and the way they were written perfectly reflects that. Cal and Oliver are exes who were split by a tragic betrayal, Thea and Cal with threads of attraction on the cusp of something more, go on a journey that test their resolves on a lot of different levels.
I really did enjoy this because the author set up their growth arcs so well that I'm excited to read the next book! Thank you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
The most stand out part of this book was the writing and the characters. The writing was so raw and descriptive, I found myself cringing so many times and how graphic the world was. It was delicious!! The characters—Thea, Oliver and Cal, were so young and naive and flawed and the way they were written perfectly reflects that. Cal and Oliver are exes who were split by a tragic betrayal, Thea and Cal with threads of attraction on the cusp of something more, go on a journey that test their resolves on a lot of different levels.
I really did enjoy this because the author set up their growth arcs so well that I'm excited to read the next book! Thank you Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2026
О як тепер дочекатися продовження!
Перша третина стала моєю улюбленою — не відірватися, як гарно розкриваються персонажі (Олівер just my type), Теа і десь за ними Каллум, який очевидячки замішаний в темних справах кривавих магів.
Зізнаюся, що для мене книга значно просіла, коли герої зайшли в Лабіринт, бо й подій там було мало, хіба переживання чи виживуть вони у сутичках з чудовиськами, та й ті слабко підсвічували характери персонажів. На жаль, частина з чудовиськами, які населяють наші кошмари та мрії теж не стала сильною стороною оповіді. Спонукало читати все далі саме переживання персонажів, як змінювалися їхні почуття одне до одного, як розкривали минуле, і чим тепер вони зв'язані з Лабіринтом, одне з одним.
Моя друга улюблена персонажка — Теа, вона справжня, щира, і так, сильна. У порівнянні з першими розділами, було трохи неочікувано, що історія вийде про неї (це не спойлер), але хотілося більше, тому що її бекграунд справді цікавий і має потенціал грецьких героїв.
Це незвичне фентезі, не в класичному нині розумінні. Тут багато магічних аспектів в недомовках, а герої самі не знають, куди їх кинули. Тим цікавіше дізнаватися, куди заведуть їхні почуття на небезпечному шляху.
Дякую NetGalley за ARC за мій чесний відгук✨
Перша третина стала моєю улюбленою — не відірватися, як гарно розкриваються персонажі (Олівер just my type), Теа і десь за ними Каллум, який очевидячки замішаний в темних справах кривавих магів.
Зізнаюся, що для мене книга значно просіла, коли герої зайшли в Лабіринт, бо й подій там було мало, хіба переживання чи виживуть вони у сутичках з чудовиськами, та й ті слабко підсвічували характери персонажів. На жаль, частина з чудовиськами, які населяють наші кошмари та мрії теж не стала сильною стороною оповіді. Спонукало читати все далі саме переживання персонажів, як змінювалися їхні почуття одне до одного, як розкривали минуле, і чим тепер вони зв'язані з Лабіринтом, одне з одним.
Моя друга улюблена персонажка — Теа, вона справжня, щира, і так, сильна. У порівнянні з першими розділами, було трохи неочікувано, що історія вийде про неї (це не спойлер), але хотілося більше, тому що її бекграунд справді цікавий і має потенціал грецьких героїв.
Це незвичне фентезі, не в класичному нині розумінні. Тут багато магічних аспектів в недомовках, а герої самі не знають, куди їх кинули. Тим цікавіше дізнаватися, куди заведуть їхні почуття на небезпечному шляху.
Дякую NetGalley за ARC за мій чесний відгук✨
November 13, 2025
This is a dark fantasy aimed towards Young Adult readers!
This is not your typical fantasy story where a group of teens who can use magic fight together searching for a way out. The Labyrinth is a melancholic and a lethal place where all of the magical creatures from our childhood stories are trying to eat you, literally! And, the magicians who fight to protect the Labyrinth are not the heroes they appear to be.
The three protagonists are interconnected and display hostility towards each other. They're better off trying to escape the Labyrinth separately instead of together.
The pacing drags on at times, but it's an interesting dark fantasy story.
This is not your typical fantasy story where a group of teens who can use magic fight together searching for a way out. The Labyrinth is a melancholic and a lethal place where all of the magical creatures from our childhood stories are trying to eat you, literally! And, the magicians who fight to protect the Labyrinth are not the heroes they appear to be.
The three protagonists are interconnected and display hostility towards each other. They're better off trying to escape the Labyrinth separately instead of together.
The pacing drags on at times, but it's an interesting dark fantasy story.
April 22, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams is not, yet, a romance. But it’s also not not a romance. Cal and Oliver were almost in love until a betrayal ripped them apart. Oliver and Thea have a definite spark between them, but Oliver is still hung up on Cal. Thea and Cal are very much interested in one another, but Cal’s lying and Thea’s uncertainty about whether she can trust him are getting in the way. It’s the start of a triangle, but by the time the book ends — on a cliffhanger — there’s no real solid relationship between any of the pairs.
The writing is clean and smooth, the pace is solid — though the middle chapters slow down a bit, they do end up picking up speed towards the end. The characters are solid, and it’s clear they all have so much more growing to do. And, of course, the world building, which is creative and fun.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams is not, yet, a romance. But it’s also not not a romance. Cal and Oliver were almost in love until a betrayal ripped them apart. Oliver and Thea have a definite spark between them, but Oliver is still hung up on Cal. Thea and Cal are very much interested in one another, but Cal’s lying and Thea’s uncertainty about whether she can trust him are getting in the way. It’s the start of a triangle, but by the time the book ends — on a cliffhanger — there’s no real solid relationship between any of the pairs.
The writing is clean and smooth, the pace is solid — though the middle chapters slow down a bit, they do end up picking up speed towards the end. The characters are solid, and it’s clear they all have so much more growing to do. And, of course, the world building, which is creative and fun.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
April 8, 2026
Strongly reminds me of teen paranormal fantasy in the first decade of the 2000s, before YA was really a category. It starts really rooted in the real world. The characters tend towards working class or financially strained. Weird, fantastical things happen that pull the main character into a separate, dangerous, magic-filled world. Often filled with emo metaphors, misunderstood heroes, and surprisingly violent action. Reminiscent of Tithe by Holly Black, Wicked Lovely by Marissa Marr, The Iron King by Julie Kagawa, etc. It also feels a lot like The Forbidden Game series by L.J. Smith from the 1990s. This is not necessarily a compliment nor an insult. It depends on what you enjoy.
I do like how it is set up to be a duology. The story is propelled into a new mission, a new story to occupy book two. It also does have the standard “oh no how could this one character possibly survive?” cliffhanger, but the way it sets up the sequel makes up for that in my book.
I received a physical ARC copy of the book for review. I do think that impacted my fun with the story. I may have been more annoyed by the story, how it tried hard to not build a whole world, giving us only glimpses, or how much of the book was about survival and violence, with the character arcs being somewhat repetitive. I don’t think it’ll be for everyone, but I think younger age YA fans will find it enjoyable and thrilling. I wouldn’t buy it myself, but I would definitely borrow it from a library.
I do like how it is set up to be a duology. The story is propelled into a new mission, a new story to occupy book two. It also does have the standard “oh no how could this one character possibly survive?” cliffhanger, but the way it sets up the sequel makes up for that in my book.
I received a physical ARC copy of the book for review. I do think that impacted my fun with the story. I may have been more annoyed by the story, how it tried hard to not build a whole world, giving us only glimpses, or how much of the book was about survival and violence, with the character arcs being somewhat repetitive. I don’t think it’ll be for everyone, but I think younger age YA fans will find it enjoyable and thrilling. I wouldn’t buy it myself, but I would definitely borrow it from a library.
May 15, 2026
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams sees an intrepid trio descend into a labyrinth of Hell, where they must survive punishing levels in their bid to escape.
I was invested in the story from the get go, and was fully onboard with the world building and character backstories. It felt like something great was coming but unfortunately, a large chunk of the middle felt repetitive and samey. Things did pick back up in the end but by then the story had lost its grip on me and I was feeling as deflated as the characters.
The story is part one in a duology but I’m not sure if I would seek out the next one without some reassurance it maintains a good pace and colours in more of the world.
The audiobook performance was good, with different accents and intonations for each character. Sarah Beth Pfeifer did a particularly good job of upping the pace during the high-stakes actions scenes and contributed a significant amount toward my initial immersion in the story.
Thanks to Michelle Kulwicki, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing me with an advance listener copy in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I was invested in the story from the get go, and was fully onboard with the world building and character backstories. It felt like something great was coming but unfortunately, a large chunk of the middle felt repetitive and samey. Things did pick back up in the end but by then the story had lost its grip on me and I was feeling as deflated as the characters.
The story is part one in a duology but I’m not sure if I would seek out the next one without some reassurance it maintains a good pace and colours in more of the world.
The audiobook performance was good, with different accents and intonations for each character. Sarah Beth Pfeifer did a particularly good job of upping the pace during the high-stakes actions scenes and contributed a significant amount toward my initial immersion in the story.
Thanks to Michelle Kulwicki, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing me with an advance listener copy in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 23, 2026
Advanced reader's copy review
I went into this book with incredibly high expectations, and it exceeded them all. For starters, it was a visually stunning novel that desperately deserves to be adapted to visual media. The Labyrinth was such a well written setting, with amazing descriptions both beautiful and terrifying, creating such a tense atmosphere that drove the plot. I was on the edge of my seat the entire book, though at times the pacing felt a bit off. There was great action but also psychological trials that allowed us deep into the characters’ heads. Of course, I loved our three main characters so much. They were each so complex, and they all had different motivations that produced a lot of tension in their teamwork. There was just as much internal conflict as external, within both the trio and each one’s own mind. Thea in particular had a lot of development as she was thrust into this brand new world, and while I struggled a bit with Callum I am optimistic about his growth in book 2. Which cannot come soon enough, because that ending destroyed me. So overall I highly recommend!
Thank you to the author for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I went into this book with incredibly high expectations, and it exceeded them all. For starters, it was a visually stunning novel that desperately deserves to be adapted to visual media. The Labyrinth was such a well written setting, with amazing descriptions both beautiful and terrifying, creating such a tense atmosphere that drove the plot. I was on the edge of my seat the entire book, though at times the pacing felt a bit off. There was great action but also psychological trials that allowed us deep into the characters’ heads. Of course, I loved our three main characters so much. They were each so complex, and they all had different motivations that produced a lot of tension in their teamwork. There was just as much internal conflict as external, within both the trio and each one’s own mind. Thea in particular had a lot of development as she was thrust into this brand new world, and while I struggled a bit with Callum I am optimistic about his growth in book 2. Which cannot come soon enough, because that ending destroyed me. So overall I highly recommend!
Thank you to the author for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
April 20, 2026
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams is about three teens fighting their way through a series of nightmares. Thea is a normal(ish) 18 year old girl in rural Appalachia, working multiple jobs and studying for her GED after mom died and her dad sunk into depression. She is intrigued by the handsome, mysterious newcomer, Cal. Then another boy, Oliver, appears one day, asking about magicians. Suddenly, Thea is sucked into a world of magic that she no longer believed in, fighting for her life against monsters and mind games.
I thought Thea was a very cool character. She is capable, steadfast, and determined - 100% grit. I also adored Oliver, who has been through so much trauma, but is still funny and dramatic. Oliver and Cal together are so - they love each other so much but they have fundamentally different beliefs keeping them apart.
The action sequences and plot movement were very intense, interesting, and satisfying. Everything moved at a good pace and kept me interested and wanting more. The ending doesn't wrap the story up, so I am assuming there will be a sequel (and I can't wait!).
4.5⭐
(I received a free advanced review copy from the publisher/NetGalley.)
I thought Thea was a very cool character. She is capable, steadfast, and determined - 100% grit. I also adored Oliver, who has been through so much trauma, but is still funny and dramatic. Oliver and Cal together are so - they love each other so much but they have fundamentally different beliefs keeping them apart.
The action sequences and plot movement were very intense, interesting, and satisfying. Everything moved at a good pace and kept me interested and wanting more. The ending doesn't wrap the story up, so I am assuming there will be a sequel (and I can't wait!).
4.5⭐
(I received a free advanced review copy from the publisher/NetGalley.)
April 21, 2026
*I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) via Netgalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.*
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. It took about half of the book for me to really become invested in what was going on and then I felt like it ended right when the momentum was picking up. The characters were pretty one dimensional for me and I didn't feel like they had enough growth or revelation in the short amount of time we saw them interacting. I also felt like the big reveals were just dropped in and didn't have enough weight to them to actually be that attention grabbing.
I enjoyed the premise of the book. I also liked the descriptions of the different places. I'm just not sure that any of that is enough to continue on with this series.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. It took about half of the book for me to really become invested in what was going on and then I felt like it ended right when the momentum was picking up. The characters were pretty one dimensional for me and I didn't feel like they had enough growth or revelation in the short amount of time we saw them interacting. I also felt like the big reveals were just dropped in and didn't have enough weight to them to actually be that attention grabbing.
I enjoyed the premise of the book. I also liked the descriptions of the different places. I'm just not sure that any of that is enough to continue on with this series.
Did Not Finish
April 11, 2026DNF @ 33%
I just couldn't get into this book- the characters weren't one I felt would grow on me (excluding maybe Oliver, depending on how things went) and I'm simply wasn't invested in the world or the actual stakes of surviving this labyrinth. I love a portal fantasy and I love messy relationships, so I was ready to have fun, but for some reason it just isn't panning out for me.
I just couldn't get into this book- the characters weren't one I felt would grow on me (excluding maybe Oliver, depending on how things went) and I'm simply wasn't invested in the world or the actual stakes of surviving this labyrinth. I love a portal fantasy and I love messy relationships, so I was ready to have fun, but for some reason it just isn't panning out for me.
January 10, 2026
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams is a gripping and thrilling story from start to finish. A character driven story of three souls battling through their issues to escape monsters in Hell. Our characters are college aged and each have stories of their own that really envelop you into the story from start to finish. The magic is interesting and as you learn more about each character you also learn their darkest secrets and betrayals. The world building was easy to follow and made sense, the monsters added to the dark fantasy vibe perfectly. The ending was a little ambiguous but I really enjoyed that!
I also enjoyed the representation of LGBTQ+ and mental health portrayed in the story!
Thank you to the Author, publisher and NetGalley for the E-Arc
I also enjoyed the representation of LGBTQ+ and mental health portrayed in the story!
Thank you to the Author, publisher and NetGalley for the E-Arc
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Beautiful cover. This book reminded me a bit of a YA Katabasis. Unfortunately this just wasn’t the book for me and I had trouble really immersing myself into this. Chapters vary between the perspectives of the three characters, Thea, Callum and Oliver.
This book was provided as an advance copy via NetGalley.
This book was provided as an advance copy via NetGalley.
Want to Read
June 17, 2026Won and received a copy through a Goodreads Giveaway.
June 1, 2026
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Thank you! All opinions are my own.
A very entertaining read!
Thea LaGuerre is a high school drop–out whose mother died in an accident and she's been working part-time jobs to make a living. But one of the things she looks forward to are barn parties where she may make out with Callum, the new boy in town. But Callum has a secret, he's been sent to watch Thea. He's from a magicians' order, an organization that keeps humans safe from monsters from the underworld. Callum hasn't feel seen like this since Oliver, his childhood sweetheart who was banned from the order. But then Oliver reappears in Callum's life when he follows a magical creature's trail to the party where Callum and Thea are.
I read At the End of the River Styx by the same author last month and I loved it so when I saw another one of her books on NetGalley I requested it and I got the audiobook!
This was a bit of a dark YA portal fantasy and it was really good. The audiobook was great, I had a fantastic time listening to this!
The story was so good, the labyrinth was interesting and I really liked the characters and their journey. I kind of saw one of the plot twists coming but I think it was meant to be discovered like that so that was fun.
I love the myth of the labyrinth so I was super excited for this book and it didn't dissapoint.
That ending was amazing, what a cliffhanger! I really want (and need) to read the next one!
A very entertaining read!
Thea LaGuerre is a high school drop–out whose mother died in an accident and she's been working part-time jobs to make a living. But one of the things she looks forward to are barn parties where she may make out with Callum, the new boy in town. But Callum has a secret, he's been sent to watch Thea. He's from a magicians' order, an organization that keeps humans safe from monsters from the underworld. Callum hasn't feel seen like this since Oliver, his childhood sweetheart who was banned from the order. But then Oliver reappears in Callum's life when he follows a magical creature's trail to the party where Callum and Thea are.
I read At the End of the River Styx by the same author last month and I loved it so when I saw another one of her books on NetGalley I requested it and I got the audiobook!
This was a bit of a dark YA portal fantasy and it was really good. The audiobook was great, I had a fantastic time listening to this!
The story was so good, the labyrinth was interesting and I really liked the characters and their journey. I kind of saw one of the plot twists coming but I think it was meant to be discovered like that so that was fun.
I love the myth of the labyrinth so I was super excited for this book and it didn't dissapoint.
That ending was amazing, what a cliffhanger! I really want (and need) to read the next one!
June 25, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the ARC of this audiobook, The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams.
I went into this book blind and it was just okay. I laughed every time they said that they were magicians (just people who use magic), because every time they would say that, I imagined a person in a red and black cape, that pulls rabbits out of their top hat.
All I had to hear was WV and Appalachia and I knew magic, fairies, time travel, monsters all made sense.
Oliver was completely intorable the entire book. So much so I wanted to DNF the book multiple times. The rest of the characters didn't seem to have much depth. We were told about their hardships, but if there is no connection to the characters, their difficulties mean nothing.
I liked the narrator, but wish there were 2 male narrators for Callum and Oliver. It made the different POVs hard to follow. There was also what seemed like background noise behind the narrator's voice in and out of the book. It was enough to be noticeable, but not enough to stop listening.
The end was a good twist, but I don't think it's enough to read the next book.
I went into this book blind and it was just okay. I laughed every time they said that they were magicians (just people who use magic), because every time they would say that, I imagined a person in a red and black cape, that pulls rabbits out of their top hat.
All I had to hear was WV and Appalachia and I knew magic, fairies, time travel, monsters all made sense.
Oliver was completely intorable the entire book. So much so I wanted to DNF the book multiple times. The rest of the characters didn't seem to have much depth. We were told about their hardships, but if there is no connection to the characters, their difficulties mean nothing.
I liked the narrator, but wish there were 2 male narrators for Callum and Oliver. It made the different POVs hard to follow. There was also what seemed like background noise behind the narrator's voice in and out of the book. It was enough to be noticeable, but not enough to stop listening.
The end was a good twist, but I don't think it's enough to read the next book.
April 24, 2026
A great YA dark fantasy novel. Anyone who loves Appalachian horror/fantasy will love this book. An accessible and quick read that was a true joy.
May 22, 2026
While for me this was unfortunately a DNF at ca. 70%, I still consider it a solid three star book. It just wasn't for me, mostly because it came with a lot of potential but fell slightly short in terms of impact. I can still see it being liked and enjoyed by many as a fun YA adventure that combines known patterns with intriguing relationships dynamics.
PLOT
The plot, while looking unusual upon first glance, is straightforward enough, with uncomplicated world building and a magic system that doesn't need a lot of exploration. Generally, the labyrinth is a great theme when done well and the twist of the relationship dynamics had me intrigued.
Some things just fell short for me. For example, while a magic system doesn't need to be all new and intricate, this one felt like it could've been better developed. I think it's mostly the enchantments being random made up two syllable words. That is something that easily makes a book feel more amateur than it actually is.
I also think there was a bit of a lack of padding, although the rings were a nice detail, so was the issue of responsibility and consent in regards to the use of magic.
But what probably had me lose interest most was when I kept feeling underwhelmed because in my opinion, the labyrinth trope missed its potential impact. A labyrinth that reacts to moods is great but big fights and dramatic decisions at the height of them just didn't quite suffice. There was so much space for mind games and extra layers.
(There is a possibility that this is what happened and I just don't know because I didn't know the characters well enough to be able to tell if their behaviour was off)
CHARACTERS
In general, the focus was more on the characters and I feel like while the book offered a lot of space for that to work, a less demanding background trope might've helped. Regardless, the characters were chosen well and their interactions and relationships brought a lot to the story - The dynamics were intriguing and their development felt natural.
There is a lot to uncover about the pasts of all of them and the insecurity that came from the preexisting conflict between the MMCs allowed for a great tension. While it wasn't a deal breaker, instead of random revelations throughout the story, I would have hoped for either a bit more depth and impact earlier on or a full uncovering of past events much later into the book.
I think these moments could've packed a much bigger punch than what they got, buried within plot developments.
WRITING
The writing style was solid and good enough that I was surprised by the choice of enchantments for spellwork. It was also part of what still makes this a good book, even when I personally wasn't interested enough to finish. Also, I really liked the narrator for this. I'm not sure if I've heard Sarah Beth Pfeifer before but she was a great fit here.
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Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Michelle Kulwicki for an ALC of The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams
PLOT
The plot, while looking unusual upon first glance, is straightforward enough, with uncomplicated world building and a magic system that doesn't need a lot of exploration. Generally, the labyrinth is a great theme when done well and the twist of the relationship dynamics had me intrigued.
Some things just fell short for me. For example, while a magic system doesn't need to be all new and intricate, this one felt like it could've been better developed. I think it's mostly the enchantments being random made up two syllable words. That is something that easily makes a book feel more amateur than it actually is.
I also think there was a bit of a lack of padding, although the rings were a nice detail, so was the issue of responsibility and consent in regards to the use of magic.
But what probably had me lose interest most was when I kept feeling underwhelmed because in my opinion, the labyrinth trope missed its potential impact. A labyrinth that reacts to moods is great but big fights and dramatic decisions at the height of them just didn't quite suffice. There was so much space for mind games and extra layers.
(There is a possibility that this is what happened and I just don't know because I didn't know the characters well enough to be able to tell if their behaviour was off)
CHARACTERS
In general, the focus was more on the characters and I feel like while the book offered a lot of space for that to work, a less demanding background trope might've helped. Regardless, the characters were chosen well and their interactions and relationships brought a lot to the story - The dynamics were intriguing and their development felt natural.
There is a lot to uncover about the pasts of all of them and the insecurity that came from the preexisting conflict between the MMCs allowed for a great tension. While it wasn't a deal breaker, instead of random revelations throughout the story, I would have hoped for either a bit more depth and impact earlier on or a full uncovering of past events much later into the book.
I think these moments could've packed a much bigger punch than what they got, buried within plot developments.
WRITING
The writing style was solid and good enough that I was surprised by the choice of enchantments for spellwork. It was also part of what still makes this a good book, even when I personally wasn't interested enough to finish. Also, I really liked the narrator for this. I'm not sure if I've heard Sarah Beth Pfeifer before but she was a great fit here.
---
Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Michelle Kulwicki for an ALC of The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams
May 21, 2026
I have recieved an ARC of this book via NetGalley, thank you!
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams tells a story of a girl who grew up in a small town in West Virginia and after meeting two magicians with a messy past gets pulled into a mysterious magical labyrinth that borders between life and death.
What I liked the most about the book was the characters and the relationships between them. Their personalities popped off the page from the moment they were introduced, especially Thea's and Oliver's. Thea was a strong girl, who had a rough life and didn't let others walk all over her, Oliver was a little weird nerd with anxiety and Callum was a conflicted lonely boy who played it cool. I think Callum's personality was the least intense out of the three but given the circumstances it also made a lot of sense.
Usually when I read poly romance there is always a relationship between two characters that is better developed than the others, which kind of turns me off from books like this. I didn't have this issue here. While there isn't technically any "endgame" couple since the book is the first part of a duology, I liked all the relationships between the main characters, especially the one developed between Oliver and Thea.
The worldbuilding was interesting but I feel it wasn't developed enough. The Labyrinth and the Sanctuary seemed to be the only places that existed in the magical part of the world and we didn't see much of the Sanctuary aside from mentions in Callum's and Oliver's part. I didn't feel like I knew enough about the world at any point, even from the POV of characters who were familiar with it. I wish it was flashed out more, it would make the reader more immersed.
Another thing I had an issue with was the ending. As I was nearing the end of the book I could see that there was absolutely not enough time to wrap up the story in a satisfying way, so I checked to see if it was a series. Despite that, I didn't really love the way it ended. It felt a little rushed and the conclusion left me kind of disappointed. Still, it's mostly based on my personal taste so someone else could absolutely love it.
All in all, The Labirynth of Waking Dreams is a fast-paced YA book with a good cast of characters. It reads quickly and I'm curious to check out the next part.
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams tells a story of a girl who grew up in a small town in West Virginia and after meeting two magicians with a messy past gets pulled into a mysterious magical labyrinth that borders between life and death.
What I liked the most about the book was the characters and the relationships between them. Their personalities popped off the page from the moment they were introduced, especially Thea's and Oliver's. Thea was a strong girl, who had a rough life and didn't let others walk all over her, Oliver was a little weird nerd with anxiety and Callum was a conflicted lonely boy who played it cool. I think Callum's personality was the least intense out of the three but given the circumstances it also made a lot of sense.
Usually when I read poly romance there is always a relationship between two characters that is better developed than the others, which kind of turns me off from books like this. I didn't have this issue here. While there isn't technically any "endgame" couple since the book is the first part of a duology, I liked all the relationships between the main characters, especially the one developed between Oliver and Thea.
The worldbuilding was interesting but I feel it wasn't developed enough. The Labyrinth and the Sanctuary seemed to be the only places that existed in the magical part of the world and we didn't see much of the Sanctuary aside from mentions in Callum's and Oliver's part. I didn't feel like I knew enough about the world at any point, even from the POV of characters who were familiar with it. I wish it was flashed out more, it would make the reader more immersed.
Another thing I had an issue with was the ending. As I was nearing the end of the book I could see that there was absolutely not enough time to wrap up the story in a satisfying way, so I checked to see if it was a series. Despite that, I didn't really love the way it ended. It felt a little rushed and the conclusion left me kind of disappointed. Still, it's mostly based on my personal taste so someone else could absolutely love it.
All in all, The Labirynth of Waking Dreams is a fast-paced YA book with a good cast of characters. It reads quickly and I'm curious to check out the next part.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams is a dark fantasy written for YA with a fun mashup of American and ancient mythology.
Barrens Peak, West Virginia, deep in the Appalachian Mountains is not a memorable place but it is hiding a magical secret. When a new boy shows up asking so really weird questions, Thea is annoyed. Little does she know this boy, Oliver, and the new kid Callum are harboring some deep secrets. Secrets that she is tied to. Soon she finds herself running through a Labyrinth under her town with these two, being chased by creatures who want to eat them, and trying to save her town. Thea is about to learn a lot about herself, her family, and the history and secrets of magic.
There are some YA books that you read that you forget are YA, this was not one of them. I am not saying that is a bad thing, I am saying I am old.
Kulwicki writes a very plot driven story here with not a lot of character development which made it hard for me to connect with the book. That is a me problem. I like action in a story but I also like to get to know my characters, make them my friends (or enemies.) I didn't get that in The Labyrinth. Thea, Oliver, and Callum have a lot going on in their lives but we don't get to stop and feel their pain much because they are always on the move, always running from the next monster, always on to the next adventure. That is what makes this feel YA. Again, not a bad thing, just not MY thing.
I think the writing, adventure, and mythology are great. I believe this would be a great book for older kids and young adults to read to get into fantasy. It has it all! Monsters, portals, magic, secrets, adults you can't trust (or can you?) It was a fun read and I believe it will be a very fun series. The book also dives into themes of trusting adults, figuring out your own emotions, and finding your own way. Which are all important and great.
3.5 stars rounded up.
If you are or have teens that are looking for a fast paced fantasy adventure, this is the book for them! I personally just wanted more depth.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for an ARC.
Barrens Peak, West Virginia, deep in the Appalachian Mountains is not a memorable place but it is hiding a magical secret. When a new boy shows up asking so really weird questions, Thea is annoyed. Little does she know this boy, Oliver, and the new kid Callum are harboring some deep secrets. Secrets that she is tied to. Soon she finds herself running through a Labyrinth under her town with these two, being chased by creatures who want to eat them, and trying to save her town. Thea is about to learn a lot about herself, her family, and the history and secrets of magic.
There are some YA books that you read that you forget are YA, this was not one of them. I am not saying that is a bad thing, I am saying I am old.
Kulwicki writes a very plot driven story here with not a lot of character development which made it hard for me to connect with the book. That is a me problem. I like action in a story but I also like to get to know my characters, make them my friends (or enemies.) I didn't get that in The Labyrinth. Thea, Oliver, and Callum have a lot going on in their lives but we don't get to stop and feel their pain much because they are always on the move, always running from the next monster, always on to the next adventure. That is what makes this feel YA. Again, not a bad thing, just not MY thing.
I think the writing, adventure, and mythology are great. I believe this would be a great book for older kids and young adults to read to get into fantasy. It has it all! Monsters, portals, magic, secrets, adults you can't trust (or can you?) It was a fun read and I believe it will be a very fun series. The book also dives into themes of trusting adults, figuring out your own emotions, and finding your own way. Which are all important and great.
3.5 stars rounded up.
If you are or have teens that are looking for a fast paced fantasy adventure, this is the book for them! I personally just wanted more depth.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for an ARC.
June 7, 2026
There is so much I love about this book that I'm not sure I can coherently list everything that makes it excellent, but here's an attempt:
• Appalachia. I grew up in West Virginia and Maryland, sometimes in poor towns and sometimes in rich suburbs, and I love how well it threads the needle of depicting the way that the town has been screwed over by every conceivable institution but is full of people who are still fighting onward despite the threat of despair.
• All of the other elements of realism. The main character left school to take care of her dad through working, and is now attempting to get her GED using the public library's variable-reliability computers. This feels like a refreshingly new type of protagonist: she's not some dreamer geek from a nuclear family longing for adventure, but a real-feeling 18-year-old.
• Excellent bursts of humor, without resorting to quippiness. I laughed (and cringed with sympathy) at the line about Callum showing up to a party and then discovering it's a birthday party and he doesn't have a gift. Lots of other little details are sink-your-teeth-in rich and enjoyable.
• The It's a trope I didn't know I needed until I was partway through the book and wildly enjoying how messy it made the protagonists' dynamic.
• Everything about the fantasy-world felt real, because of how the characters interacted with it. Thea ends up covered in mud, and spends the rest of the story grimy and itchy. Oliver has to swim at one point, and his hair is damp for hours afterward. Callum gets injured and then stays injured. The characters' feet hurt, their eyes itch from sleep deprivation, and they get thirsty as they travel.
I guess my only complaint would be that there were times when the literal logistics of the fight scenes felt a little confused. The scene where especially felt hard to follow on a literal level, and I would've appreciated another sentence or two laying out the scene to clarify. But overall I enjoyed it so much that I blasted through the whole book in a day and a half (RIP my sleep schedule), and I can't wait for more.
• Appalachia. I grew up in West Virginia and Maryland, sometimes in poor towns and sometimes in rich suburbs, and I love how well it threads the needle of depicting the way that the town has been screwed over by every conceivable institution but is full of people who are still fighting onward despite the threat of despair.
• All of the other elements of realism. The main character left school to take care of her dad through working, and is now attempting to get her GED using the public library's variable-reliability computers. This feels like a refreshingly new type of protagonist: she's not some dreamer geek from a nuclear family longing for adventure, but a real-feeling 18-year-old.
• Excellent bursts of humor, without resorting to quippiness. I laughed (and cringed with sympathy) at the line about Callum showing up to a party and then discovering it's a birthday party and he doesn't have a gift. Lots of other little details are sink-your-teeth-in rich and enjoyable.
• The It's a trope I didn't know I needed until I was partway through the book and wildly enjoying how messy it made the protagonists' dynamic.
• Everything about the fantasy-world felt real, because of how the characters interacted with it. Thea ends up covered in mud, and spends the rest of the story grimy and itchy. Oliver has to swim at one point, and his hair is damp for hours afterward. Callum gets injured and then stays injured. The characters' feet hurt, their eyes itch from sleep deprivation, and they get thirsty as they travel.
I guess my only complaint would be that there were times when the literal logistics of the fight scenes felt a little confused. The scene where especially felt hard to follow on a literal level, and I would've appreciated another sentence or two laying out the scene to clarify. But overall I enjoyed it so much that I blasted through the whole book in a day and a half (RIP my sleep schedule), and I can't wait for more.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book is mostly setup. We’re introduced to the world, the stakes — magic is breaking into the mortal world and humans are being eaten by monsters (oh no!) — and the characters. Of the three, Oliver is probably my favorite. He’s all heart, all hurt, and all impulse. He doesn’t think before he acts because in Oliver’s mind he’s the only one who can save everyone. Thinking would have him realizing that maybe he’s not the only one … and maybe his plan isn’t the best. He’s very reactionary, often lashing out to keep from feeling anything.
Thea goes from being passive, simply living her life and doing what other people tell her to do to taking charge of her own fate. She doesn’t believe she’s a magician, mostly because her magic isn’t like Calllum’s, isn’t visible and flashy. Instead it’s more personal, more tied to her desire to survive. When she learns the truth about her mom, Thea doesn’t just accept it. She questions, she wants to know the why as well as the how.
Callum is a rock. He’s big and immovable, and uninterested in changing. He’s lived his whole life in a cult and, unlike Oliver, saw no need to question things because, unlike Oliver, he wasn’t a fish out of water. He was a fish, just like every fish around him, and content. During the adventure both Oliver and Thea challenge him, push him to think, to questions, to grow, and Callum refuses.
And then the book ends on a cliffhanger that indicates Callum will spend the next book growing whether he likes it or not. Only, having pushed Oliver and Thea away, much of his growth is going to be lonely with no one around him to support him. Which, frankly, he deserves. Not because he did bad things, but because he rejected their help again and again … and now he’s going to have to learn to ask.
I really liked this book. The characters are a bit undeveloped, but this is just the first book (I assume), and much of what’s done here is ground work to establish the characters and show the directions they’ll be growing in.
Thea goes from being passive, simply living her life and doing what other people tell her to do to taking charge of her own fate. She doesn’t believe she’s a magician, mostly because her magic isn’t like Calllum’s, isn’t visible and flashy. Instead it’s more personal, more tied to her desire to survive. When she learns the truth about her mom, Thea doesn’t just accept it. She questions, she wants to know the why as well as the how.
Callum is a rock. He’s big and immovable, and uninterested in changing. He’s lived his whole life in a cult and, unlike Oliver, saw no need to question things because, unlike Oliver, he wasn’t a fish out of water. He was a fish, just like every fish around him, and content. During the adventure both Oliver and Thea challenge him, push him to think, to questions, to grow, and Callum refuses.
And then the book ends on a cliffhanger that indicates Callum will spend the next book growing whether he likes it or not. Only, having pushed Oliver and Thea away, much of his growth is going to be lonely with no one around him to support him. Which, frankly, he deserves. Not because he did bad things, but because he rejected their help again and again … and now he’s going to have to learn to ask.
I really liked this book. The characters are a bit undeveloped, but this is just the first book (I assume), and much of what’s done here is ground work to establish the characters and show the directions they’ll be growing in.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Characters: 4.00⭐️
Setting: 4.00⭐️
Plot: 3.75⭐️
Themes: 3.75⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.75⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.50⭐️
Overall rating: 3.75⭐️
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams is a portal fantasy set in the backwoods of West Virginia about a high-school dropout named Thea gets wrapped up in a world that is invisible to everyone except the magicians sworn to protect it from us. Callum was sent to watch her because Thea might have some magic in her. Oliver was banished from the magical order, but is drawn to Barren's Peak after following a magical creatures trail where he discovers Callum and Thea being attacked by monsters and the only way to save them is to bring them into Labyrinth.
I think this was a really interesting take on traditional Labyrinth mythology that we all know from pop culture references. I liked the idea that myths and religions and the like were all stories told about these parallel magical dimensions that exist in the world surrounding us. Thea, Callum and Oliver were great lead characters and each have a lot of depth to them, and represent a diverse audience. There is magic and monsters and stories interwoven into this book and a little litRPG references like the Labyrinth providing for them before they set out.
Overall, I think this was a real fun read with a lot of emotional depth and perfect for a young adult reader who wants to get into portal fantasy.
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Thank you to Page Street YA for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Setting: 4.00⭐️
Plot: 3.75⭐️
Themes: 3.75⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.75⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.50⭐️
Overall rating: 3.75⭐️
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams is a portal fantasy set in the backwoods of West Virginia about a high-school dropout named Thea gets wrapped up in a world that is invisible to everyone except the magicians sworn to protect it from us. Callum was sent to watch her because Thea might have some magic in her. Oliver was banished from the magical order, but is drawn to Barren's Peak after following a magical creatures trail where he discovers Callum and Thea being attacked by monsters and the only way to save them is to bring them into Labyrinth.
I think this was a really interesting take on traditional Labyrinth mythology that we all know from pop culture references. I liked the idea that myths and religions and the like were all stories told about these parallel magical dimensions that exist in the world surrounding us. Thea, Callum and Oliver were great lead characters and each have a lot of depth to them, and represent a diverse audience. There is magic and monsters and stories interwoven into this book and a little litRPG references like the Labyrinth providing for them before they set out.
Overall, I think this was a real fun read with a lot of emotional depth and perfect for a young adult reader who wants to get into portal fantasy.
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Thank you to Page Street YA for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams.
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams feels like an eerie, twisted fairytale layered with darkness and mystery, where the dreamlike world slowly reveals something more unsettling beneath it.
The story follows three young adults:
Thea, who is fighting to keep her head above water.
Oliver, who is running away from the very thing he’s always running towards.
Callum, who feels like a hollow shell, drifting through life while trying to convince himself he is doing what is right.
These three teens collide and discover that while they appear to be living in the same world, their realities are anything but the same. Eventually they find themselves in the Labyrinth, fighting for their lives, wrestling with their emotions, and trying to determine whether survival is possible both inside it and beyond it.
Eyes are opened. Hearts are broken. Betrayal runs deep.
The story asks difficult questions. How can you both love and hate something at the same time? What happens when you are drawn to someone who represents everything you hate? Can you convince yourself you have done the right thing after doing so much wrong to get there?
In the end, they are forced to confront a painful truth. They are not who they thought they were, and neither are the people around them.
Overall, it is an eerie and mysterious story that explores identity, choices, and the complicated emotions that come with them.
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams feels like an eerie, twisted fairytale layered with darkness and mystery, where the dreamlike world slowly reveals something more unsettling beneath it.
The story follows three young adults:
Thea, who is fighting to keep her head above water.
Oliver, who is running away from the very thing he’s always running towards.
Callum, who feels like a hollow shell, drifting through life while trying to convince himself he is doing what is right.
These three teens collide and discover that while they appear to be living in the same world, their realities are anything but the same. Eventually they find themselves in the Labyrinth, fighting for their lives, wrestling with their emotions, and trying to determine whether survival is possible both inside it and beyond it.
Eyes are opened. Hearts are broken. Betrayal runs deep.
The story asks difficult questions. How can you both love and hate something at the same time? What happens when you are drawn to someone who represents everything you hate? Can you convince yourself you have done the right thing after doing so much wrong to get there?
In the end, they are forced to confront a painful truth. They are not who they thought they were, and neither are the people around them.
Overall, it is an eerie and mysterious story that explores identity, choices, and the complicated emotions that come with them.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a kid, I wanted to be an archaeologist. Well, truthfully I wanted to be Indiana Jones; by the time I found out that archaeologists daily life doesn’t involve death-defying adventures, I was already in love with history. While I ended up in another career, that need to dig into things, to see beneath the surface and find out what’s been hidden, is still very much part of my skillset.
Which leads me to The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams. I think that the author has written a clever mashup of ancient mythology, of American mythologising, of YA and fantasy tropes. But for me, while I did think some of these influences may be bubbling under the surface, ultimately, I wasn’t intrigued enough to dig for them.
The book, while competently written, is very plot driven, our protagonists feeling less as though they make choices and are more placed according to authorial forces. The characters feel thin and lack solid, real weight (which is perhaps by they chiefly feel like plot devices) and the angst they feel and go through felt like a layer of paint, not experience.
So while there are interesting things happening here—the idea of magic as a mirror, how and why adults let kids down, the tantalising references to legends—and it is well written enough that I finished the DRC, it isn’t for me. I lay down my tools.
Thanks to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this DRC. All opinions are mine alone.
Which leads me to The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams. I think that the author has written a clever mashup of ancient mythology, of American mythologising, of YA and fantasy tropes. But for me, while I did think some of these influences may be bubbling under the surface, ultimately, I wasn’t intrigued enough to dig for them.
The book, while competently written, is very plot driven, our protagonists feeling less as though they make choices and are more placed according to authorial forces. The characters feel thin and lack solid, real weight (which is perhaps by they chiefly feel like plot devices) and the angst they feel and go through felt like a layer of paint, not experience.
So while there are interesting things happening here—the idea of magic as a mirror, how and why adults let kids down, the tantalising references to legends—and it is well written enough that I finished the DRC, it isn’t for me. I lay down my tools.
Thanks to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this DRC. All opinions are mine alone.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams is a wild ride where magicians, creepy labyrinths, and nightmare monsters aren’t just stories — they’re real. And three characters get tangled up in all of it.
I thought this would be a typical YA fantasy, but nope — it gets pretty dark.
The labyrinth itself is manipulative, draining the characters physically and mentally with every trial, and the monsters are seriously unsettling. Honestly, that’s what made me keep turning the pages — the mystery just pulls you in.
The story is told from three perspectives, which I loved:
Thea starts off knowing nothing, only to discover she’s part of it all along. Watching her fight to survive was fascinating.
Oliver, the exiled one, was my favorite. Even after betrayal and being cast out, he still wanted to return to save his friend. I admire his bravery.
Callum seemed cool at first, but as secrets unraveled, his character wasn’t as strong as I hoped. Still, I understood him more by the end and wished he’d gotten a redemption arc.
The plot is solid, the world-building is unique, and the mix of magicians, dimensions, and monsters makes it feel fresh. The last chapters hints that the story is far from over, so I’m definitely hoping for a sequel!
Thank you to Toppling Stacks Tour, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: body horror, blood, death
I thought this would be a typical YA fantasy, but nope — it gets pretty dark.
The labyrinth itself is manipulative, draining the characters physically and mentally with every trial, and the monsters are seriously unsettling. Honestly, that’s what made me keep turning the pages — the mystery just pulls you in.
The story is told from three perspectives, which I loved:
Thea starts off knowing nothing, only to discover she’s part of it all along. Watching her fight to survive was fascinating.
Oliver, the exiled one, was my favorite. Even after betrayal and being cast out, he still wanted to return to save his friend. I admire his bravery.
Callum seemed cool at first, but as secrets unraveled, his character wasn’t as strong as I hoped. Still, I understood him more by the end and wished he’d gotten a redemption arc.
The plot is solid, the world-building is unique, and the mix of magicians, dimensions, and monsters makes it feel fresh. The last chapters hints that the story is far from over, so I’m definitely hoping for a sequel!
Thank you to Toppling Stacks Tour, author and publisher for giving me an e-ARC of the book and for having me on this book tour. I’m leaving this review voluntarily!
⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: body horror, blood, death
May 21, 2026
One crazy party leads to a journey through a labyrinth that has the party fighting for their lives.
Thea has been through some hardships and is trying to improve her situation to the best of her ability. She just wants to complete her GED in between the hours that she is not working to support her family. Callum is part of the magicians and finds himself being stationed to watch Thea. Oliver has been chasing trails of magic for years and he finds himself in Barren’s Peak where Callum and Thea live.
During one of the high school barn parties there is an attack that forces this unlikely trio to have to work together. Oliver does not hesitate to do everything he can to summon a portal and help the trio escape the massacre. Unfortunately, this portal leads to the dangerous trial infested labyrinth that will have them all fighting for their lives.
Will they survive the labyrinth and each other?
I really enjoyed everything about the book. I thought the story was fantastic and it had me wanting to get lost in the maze of the pages from the start. The story is told from three different perspectives. I felt that the transition from character to character was smooth and easy to follow. I liked the differences that each character brought to the team and they all have different outlooks on the situation. Oliver is definitely my favorite character out of the three and I can totally relate to him. I finished this book in a day and need more!
Thea has been through some hardships and is trying to improve her situation to the best of her ability. She just wants to complete her GED in between the hours that she is not working to support her family. Callum is part of the magicians and finds himself being stationed to watch Thea. Oliver has been chasing trails of magic for years and he finds himself in Barren’s Peak where Callum and Thea live.
During one of the high school barn parties there is an attack that forces this unlikely trio to have to work together. Oliver does not hesitate to do everything he can to summon a portal and help the trio escape the massacre. Unfortunately, this portal leads to the dangerous trial infested labyrinth that will have them all fighting for their lives.
Will they survive the labyrinth and each other?
I really enjoyed everything about the book. I thought the story was fantastic and it had me wanting to get lost in the maze of the pages from the start. The story is told from three different perspectives. I felt that the transition from character to character was smooth and easy to follow. I liked the differences that each character brought to the team and they all have different outlooks on the situation. Oliver is definitely my favorite character out of the three and I can totally relate to him. I finished this book in a day and need more!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for this eARC. This honest review is done voluntarily by myself.
4/5 from me.
Dark fantasy ✅
Portal fantasy ✅
Queer ✅
Magic vs Forbidden Magic ✅
3 PoVs but still from third PoV ✅
YA ✅
This is the first book of a duology.
It is action packed, but IMHO, the pace is a little bit slow. I need more than 5 chapters before I can get familiar with the characters and the world building
From the story, we learn that Labyrinth is not just a simple physical maze but also something related to the mind. Could you escape from your own nightmare?
And is a Sanctuary is really a sanctuary or does it hide something more sinister?
The main story itself is interesting, but the writing is a little bit sloppy.
From the 3 characters, I think that Oliver is the most well built. The complexity of his character is well described and well developed until the end of the book. i could feel his p
Thea and Callum characterization are simpler than Oliver.
Thea is well described at the beginning but getting flat toward the end of the book. I don't really understand with her last action. If that happens in the second book, I think it will be more understandable. But on the first book? Seems like a harsh decision based on suspicion?
Callum? Just flat like a paper puppet.
Read it if you want to enjoy some YA dark portal fantasy.
.
4/5 from me.
Dark fantasy ✅
Portal fantasy ✅
Queer ✅
Magic vs Forbidden Magic ✅
3 PoVs but still from third PoV ✅
YA ✅
This is the first book of a duology.
It is action packed, but IMHO, the pace is a little bit slow. I need more than 5 chapters before I can get familiar with the characters and the world building
From the story, we learn that Labyrinth is not just a simple physical maze but also something related to the mind. Could you escape from your own nightmare?
And is a Sanctuary is really a sanctuary or does it hide something more sinister?
The main story itself is interesting, but the writing is a little bit sloppy.
From the 3 characters, I think that Oliver is the most well built. The complexity of his character is well described and well developed until the end of the book. i could feel his p
Thea and Callum characterization are simpler than Oliver.
Thea is well described at the beginning but getting flat toward the end of the book. I don't really understand with her last action. If that happens in the second book, I think it will be more understandable. But on the first book? Seems like a harsh decision based on suspicion?
Callum? Just flat like a paper puppet.
Read it if you want to enjoy some YA dark portal fantasy.
.
April 21, 2026
“This is where the nightmares live.”
I ate this one as voraciously as the Labyrinth’s nightmares try to slay the book’s trio. I dove head first into this action packed novel, following the characters’ adventures and couldn’t put it down.
If the mythology references are obvious very early in the book (the Minotaur!), there is more to this story. The Labyrinth soon becomes a beautiful metaphor of the human’s mind (and, more specifically, the characters’) in all its complexity of ideas and emotions. All 3MCs use their time in the labyrinth to question who they are, their relationship(s) —past, present, and… to come?— as the mysteries unveil one after the other, one part of the quest after the other. It explores grief, doubt, guilt, insecurities ,and identity, as it’s a beautiful coming of age story, especially regarding Thea’s origins. But the book also questions indoctrination and power. I truly can’t wait to discover what book 2 will uncover about that , and many other things as the last third of the book was nothing but astonishing (in the best way). Is it too early to say that I wish I had it already between my hands? I’ll be there for it when it comes anyway!
Thank you to Page Street YA for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
4.5/5
I ate this one as voraciously as the Labyrinth’s nightmares try to slay the book’s trio. I dove head first into this action packed novel, following the characters’ adventures and couldn’t put it down.
If the mythology references are obvious very early in the book (the Minotaur!), there is more to this story. The Labyrinth soon becomes a beautiful metaphor of the human’s mind (and, more specifically, the characters’) in all its complexity of ideas and emotions. All 3MCs use their time in the labyrinth to question who they are, their relationship(s) —past, present, and… to come?— as the mysteries unveil one after the other, one part of the quest after the other. It explores grief, doubt, guilt, insecurities ,and identity, as it’s a beautiful coming of age story, especially regarding Thea’s origins. But the book also questions indoctrination and power. I truly can’t wait to discover what book 2 will uncover about that , and many other things as the last third of the book was nothing but astonishing (in the best way). Is it too early to say that I wish I had it already between my hands? I’ll be there for it when it comes anyway!
Thank you to Page Street YA for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.
4.5/5
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