Vale of Dreams

Fey Academy for Spies #2

by C.N. Crawford, Alex Rivers, Amanda Leigh Cobb (Narrator)

Nia never imagined becoming the fake mistress of a terrifying Fey prince known as the Dream Stalker. But that’s exactly what happens when she ventures into Brocéliande to rescue her lover, Raphael. Sometimes, fate has a twisted sense of humor.

Captured by the prince, Nia quickly learns he’s a beautiful, living nightmare. He soon discovers her hidden talent—mind control—and gives her no choice but to serve him. Avalon Tower believes it’s a good idea, too. Now, Nia is keeping secrets from everyone, and the Dream Stalker remains unaware that she is a spy. His plan? Manipulate ministers, overthrow his father, and annihilate humanity.

Seductive and complex, the prince is a constant threat, always on the verge of getting inside her head. In the Fey palace, courtly intrigue reigns. If Nia can’t outsmart the prince, her neck will be the next on the execution block, and humanity will be crushed in his beautiful hands.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fae, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Audiobook, Fantasy Romance

Audible Audio

First published August 16, 2024

About the author

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C.N. Crawford are Wall Street Journal bestselling authors of romantasy books, including books with fae, demons, and magical academies.

We write fantasy romance, urban fantasy, and portal romance. Our books often include trials, banter, and enemies to lovers stories.

Note: We are actually two people--a former biologist (Nick) and a former school psychologist (Christine).

Some books are both of us, and some are just Christine!

Reviews

[Kiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ Seriously… what is this author putting in these books?? 🤭

🗡️ The Premise

What starts as a rescue mission soon turns into Nia’s most dangerous assignment yet.

Going undercover in the Fey court as the Dream Stalker’s mistress, Nia must secretly gather information from the enemy—without blowing her cover.

🏰 My Thoughts

Once again, I had an absolute blast reading this!! If book one hooked me with its world, this one hooked me with Talan.

I really enjoyed seeing the story move beyond Avalon Tower. Trading the spy academy for the Fey court gave the book a completely different feel. Watching Nia juggle her mission while keeping up appearances made for such a fun change of pace.

I also loved the little bits of humor sprinkled throughout the story. They caught me off guard in the best way and balanced some of the more intense moments perfectly.

“I’m feeling oddly better about things. Maybe this is what everyone needs after a breakup: onion farming.”

While the pacing felt a little different from book one, I never found myself bored.

Nia continues to be such an easy character to root for. She’s clever, capable, and always finds a way to adapt, even when everything around her is falling apart.

But the real highlight of this book was Talan.

“I like my beautiful things to have a bit of darkness in them.”

I loved every moment he was on the page. He’s one of those characters that constantly keeps you guessing. I still can’t tell if he’s truly the villain or if there’s something much bigger happening beneath the surface.

Their banter was easily one of my favorite parts of the book. The chemistry, the tension… I genuinely couldn’t get enough, and I’m completely invested in these two.

“You might loathe me, but you are mine now, and if anyone tried to burn you at the stake, I’d make them wish they were never born.”

Raphael definitely takes a step back in this book. While I wasn’t expecting things to play out the way they did, his choices still felt true to his character.

Honestly, my only complaint is that there wasn’t enough Talan!! I wanted more scenes with him, more banter, more insight into who he really is…

I still have so many questions… and that cliffhanger got me GOOD. Thank goodness book three is already out because I need answers immediately!! 🫣

Tropes / What to Expect

🕵️ Undercover Spy
💋 Fake Relationship
🖤 Morally Grey Prince
🏰 Court Intrigue
👑 Political Intrigue
🗡️ Hidden Identity
❤️‍🔥 Slow Burn
🛏️ One Bed
🤍 Found Family
✨ Forced Proximity
☠️ Touch Her and Die
⏳ Cliffhanger Ending
🎧 Full Cast Graphic Audio

Fey Academy for Spies Series

Avalon Tower — 4.5 ⭐️ My review
Vale of Dreams — 4.5 ⭐️
Lady of the Lake — 4 ⭐️ My review

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
✧･ﾟPre-Read ･ﾟ✧
i have a feeling i’m about to fly through this one too 🤭

[Ss · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐ A good sequel, it expanded the world and raised the stakes, some characters completely surprised me, though I struggled a bit with some things in the beginning but thankfully it got better.

I enjoyed the world and seeing it expand beyond what we learned in book one. The royal fantasy atmosphere, castles, and politics. However, while I was interested in what was happening, it took me a bit longer to become fully invested in the story again.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 definitely felt bigger in scale than the first book. There were higher stakes, more political intrigue, more deception. I liked the direction the story was taking but I also felt that some parts in the beginning were dragged a bit.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 was fine overall. The beginning and middle felt considerably slower compared to the final stretch of the book.
but nothing that took me out of the story completely. I just wish the same level of urgency from the last 20% had been present throughout more of the book.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 is where my feelings become complicated 😭. Is it leaning into a love triangle? Yes and no. I'm now loving characters I never thought I'd love, I started this book firmly on one side and somehow ended it questioning everything 🫣.

𝗡𝗶𝗮 is still carrying the story well. I enjoyed watching her navigate situations while trying to balance her responsibilities, emotions, and secrets. I found it easy to root for her.

𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻 completely surprised me. I expected to dislike him, but the more page time he got, the more interesting he became. The story does a great job of making you question his intentions and constantly wonder where his loyalties truly lie. Did he make me question myself a few times? Maybe 🫠. And for 𝗥𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹... I mean, it was fun when it lasted! I was expecting much more from him in this book, but he was barely there. From the way I really loved him in book1 I didn't expect to start disliking him a bit, tho I don't wanna say anything bc I still don't know if I may like him again in book3.




|𝐏𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 ۫.˚ෆ ִֶָ₊̣̇
I 𝖿𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽 𝖺 𝗇𝖾𝗐 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗈𝖻𝗌𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋, 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖻𝗅𝖺𝗆𝖾 𝗆𝖾? 🙂‍↕️

[Emmy Rosam · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ Pacing and focus felt different to book 1, focusing less on the plot and more on the romance. I’m not mad about it though.

I think the overall plot development took a backseat in this book. We are missing that diverse group of characters, individual character development, fast paced action we had in book 1. I had a lot of questions that still are unanswered but because we got sooo little of this specific character dynamic in book 1 so I think it was intentional in book 2 to have it be the focus. I’m sure book 3 will bridge the two together with an epic conclusion and all our questions will be answered (or so I’m hoping).

I’m simply obsessed with the dream stalker!!! More!!!! I need book 3 now. Also, Raphael… bye!

[èvieane · Rating 3 out of 5]

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . 3.3 -3.5 ☆ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ˋ°•*⁀➷ㅤmight contain spoilers ❗

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I swear this series just keeps pulling me back in—like some chaotic, chaotic fever dream I didn’t ask for, but I’m not entirely mad about either. Vale of Dreams by C.N. Crawford somehow managed to be even more entertaining than the previous book, even though the plot decided to take a very extended vacation in favour of thirst, vibes, and a few unhinged decisions. Still... it worked?? Somehow??
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ What you won’t find here is groundbreaking, world-shifting narrative brilliance. But what you will find is character chaos, exquisite banter, questionable romantic decisions, and one of the funniest endings I’ve read in a while. So honestly? No complaints. Let's get into it.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ “You should never fall for a fae prince. But what if he’s hot, ancient, morally ambiguous, and somehow funny as hell?” — not in the book, but spiritually accurate.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ short summary
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ In "Vale of Dreams", the chaos continues. This time, we leave Avalon behind (blessedly) and venture into Brocéliande, which is immediately a hundred times more interesting. The main character finds herself caught up in an unfamiliar world filled with danger, temptation, and of course, very attractive men with way too much power and absolutely no sense of chill. There’s ancient magic, seductive darkness, and a thin thread of a plot that mostly exists to tie together all the banter, weird dreams, and steamy encounters.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ The book leans far more into character-driven chaos than plot, and although the structure is a bit loose and events often feel like a vehicle for spicy scenes, it still manages to be a very fun, easy-to-devour read. But what makes this one work is that it leans into the absurdity of it all and doesn’t take itself too seriously. That’s the secret sauce.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ honest thoughts
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ Okay, let’s start with this: entertainment value? WAY up. Plot complexity? Still snoozing somewhere off-page, but honestly? I didn’t really care. What this book lacked in narrative depth, it made up for with sharp dialogue, chaotic magical shenanigans, and laugh-out-loud moments that actually got me cackling out loud. So, I didn’t mind it too much, because this book really leaned into character interactions and setting atmosphere, which kept me engaged.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ The best part? The shift in focus. This one really dials in on the characters—letting them have more fun, more banter, and more space to just exist in their mess; I liked that. It’s what made it so easy to speed through the pages without once checking the clock. However, and this is a big “however”: I would have loved to see some actual character development. Like, our girl is going through it, and you’d think that would push her into some deep emotional evolution. But… not really? Her taste in men is finally improving (thank the fae gods), and her roster is expanding impressively, but personal growth? Still pending.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍⋅ ☾ Brocéliande was a definite highlight. It had that eerie, mystical quality that made it feel both alluring and dangerous. Compared to Avalon, this place just felt more alive—more layered, more unpredictable. Yes, the plot was sacrificed to make room for lust-fueled moments (and there were a lot), but somehow, it still worked. It was messy, but in a chaotic-good kind of way.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ The romance didn’t necessarily improve overall. The sexual tension is turned up to eleven, but underneath the surface, there’s not that much going on. There was insta-lust with very little buildup to anything deeper. But the banter? Immaculate. I’m a sucker for good verbal sparring, and this book delivered hard. I was genuinely grinning through half the chapters, and honestly? That kind of good mood does make up for the rushed chemistry and insta-lust vibes.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⋅ ☾ And finally, the ending. Absolute perfection. I wasn’t just smiling—I was full-on laughing at the last chapter—it was chaotic, unexpected, and just so fitting for the tone of the book. The final chapter was exactly the kind of delightful chaos I needed, and it immediately made me pick up the next book. C.N. Crawford knows how to leave you dangling off the edge of a cliff with nothing but jokes, tension, and desperation. Respect.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ characters
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍The cast in this one is full of misfits, warriors, fae kings, and walking red flags you somehow still root for. And while the emotional depth could’ve used a boost, the vibes were definitely vibing.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ✧ Nia - Our chaotic queen. She’s sarcastic, reckless, and constantly trying to make sense of this twisted fae realm she got dumped into. But as much as I enjoy her sass and defiance, I wish we got a little more depth from her. I still like her sass and spirit, but it feels like she’s treading water. With all the new things thrown at her, there should’ve been more change, more reflection, or something internal to latch onto; she’s in a whole new world, facing huge challenges—but emotionally, she feels kind of stuck. More growth, please! On the plus side: excellent taste in morally grey men.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ✧ Talan - Our mysterious new love interest. Talan is far more interesting than Raphael ever was, and the moment he stepped onto the page, the tension soared. There’s something magnetic about him, and I was definitely invested. That said, I really wish we’d seen more emotional depth from him. There were so many moments where he could’ve been explored further—but I also understand that the mystery is part of the setup for the next book. Still, he’s got the potential to absolutely shine as a leading character if we just get more of his backstory and internal conflict.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ✧ Tana, Darius, Serana, Nivene, Raphael - They were almost entirely pushed aside. I understand this was a shorter book, but their near absence felt odd. These are characters who played pretty significant roles earlier, and now they’re just… there in passing? A bit more attention to them could’ve added so much more depth and tension to the story.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹ should you read this?
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ If you’ve already made it through the first book and are still intrigued? Absolutely. Vale of Dreams might not deliver peak plot, but it is an incredibly entertaining ride full of magical mischief, dark fae vibes, sharp-tongued chaos, and a setting you actually want to live in. It’s funny, immersive, and messy in the best ways. It may not be life-changing, but it’ll keep you hooked from the first page to that perfectly chaotic ending. And if you’re like me, you’ll be diving into the next one immediately.




⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ✿ㆍ┈ㆍ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ᯓ ✿ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍pre-reading ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⪼ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ started ┆09-July-2025┆
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⤿ Please be better than the first book. Please be better than the first book. Please be better than the first book. Please be better than the first book.

[♡Naz♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

OKAY, I CALLED IT! If you saw my review for book one, please give me my flowers because my theory about the love triangle was spot on.

Vale of Dreams didn't just meet the bar; it vaulted over it and sprinted into 5-star territory. The tension between Talan, the Fae Prince, and Raphael is absolute chef’s kiss levels of delicious, and I have a confession: I am leaning hard toward Team Talan right now. I know, I know—he’s incredibly cocky and I’m currently in a total conundrum because I can’t tell if he’s a "burn the world for her" good guy or a "villain in disguise" bad guy, but wow... the man has presence.

The character development in this sequel is a total glow-up. Finding out that Nia is actually the Lady of the Lake? I am vibrating with excitement to see how that power accumulation plays out. She isn’t just some girl with potential anymore; she is a high-stakes player in this mythical game.

Watching her handle that poisoning attempt was peak badassery. She didn't just survive; she handled it with so much poise and grit that I wanted to stand up and cheer. Nia has officially entered her "don't mess with me" era, and I am living for every second of it.

This book was everything a sequel should be—faster, darker, and way more addictive. C.N. Crawford and Alex Rivers have outdone themselves with the pacing; there wasn't a single chapter where I felt like the story was dragging.

Between the political intrigue of the Fae world and the simmering romantic tension that is basically lava at this point, my heart was doing marathons. If you thought book one was a ride, Vale of Dreams is a full-blown rollercoaster. I am obsessed, I am stressed, and I am officially demanding the next book immediately. 5 stars—no notes.
--------

Tropes:
⚔️ Elite Love Triangle
🌊 The Lady of the Lake Lore
✨ Fae Prince x Human/Fae Hybrid
🔥 "Who Can I Trust?" Suspense
🏰 Court Intrigue & Assassination Attempts

[Marianna Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up for Goodreads. I was lucky enough to receive an arc of Vale of Dreams and after devouring Avalon Tower I dove straight into book 2 once it hit my Kindle! This truly is such a fun, fast paced, easy to read fantasy romance series and I cannot recommend it enough to those new to the genre or just looking to turn their brain off an have a fun time!

There were so many things I loved about this book but there were definitely aspects of it that fell a bit flat to me but I think the authors set us up perfectly for an epic conclusion in book 3!

The beginning started out a bit slow, so it was a little difficult for me to get into it, but once I hit the 30% mark, I couldn’t put it down until the end!

I continue to love this world and really enjoyed how it expanded in this book. I would have really liked a better explanation of the magic system. How our FMCs power works really could have benefited from further explanation. We don’t really know why she’s so powerful or how her power continues to expand. There might be a reason for this though and I feel like we will get answers in book 3!

As a whole I still really like our FMC Nia, however in this book she did seem to make a few idiotic decisions that clash with her character (who is incredibly smart and not at all naive)! I wish we got a little more depth from her!

IM ABSOLUTELY FERAL FOR DREAM STALKER OH MY GOD!!!! I can’t say too much because I don’t want to spoil anything…. But let’s just say his character is my new favorite, the twist with the romance in this book was EVERYTHING!! I love him and Nia’s relationship, the banter is too tear. Also I’m a sucker for fake dating, it adds to all the scrumptious tension! I mean I’ll eat up a dark, mysterious, flirtatious, misunderstood villain any day of the week… my only problem is that I wish we got more of him!!! I think this book would have a been an easy 5 stars with the addition of his POV and more scenes with him and Nia! Their chemistry was phenomenal it seemed like a very missed opportunity to not have them spend more time together! But also it’s never a bad sign when an author leaves you wanting more!!

Raphael…. instant ick. Don’t even get me started. I’m very glad he didn’t linger to cause unnecessary drama, however I do wish he wasn’t thrown to the side so quickly. I feel like his character was almost forgotten and how he acted really contradicted his character in book 1.

There was a lot more political intrigue and court politics in this book than book 1 which was done really well but for me I found it to be a little bit boring at points. My personally preferences just leans more towards the action and adventure we got in book 1!

All in all I still did enjoy this book and can’t wait for book 3, i definitely recommend this series! It just fell short on a few pieces which ultimately lead it not quite being the 4 star read that book 1 was!

[Hannah Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what it is about this series. I love it, but it doesn't really hold my attention? I finished this a couple of days ago and I've already forgotten everything I wanted to say about it 🙃 Don't get me wrong, it was GOOD but I just didn't really vibe with it.

[vicky ꨄ︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5**
rtc




ೀ preread ᡣ𐭩


I’m finally done with my second year of college which i’m so so happy about, having to do six finals was the most stressful thing but now I finally have time to read!!

I’ve been meaning this continue this series since I’ve finished avalon tower and I’m so excited to see how it will continue!!

[shaelinslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series EATS THE HOUSE DOWN BOOTS MAMA.

6 GLOOOOWING STARS! I AM OBSESSED. This story starts off as kind of “not so serious” in book 1, then does a complete 180 in book 2, to a “serious, clenching all your limbs in anxiety” type of story. I LOVED this book, this is exactly the type of romantasy that I personally love! With the action, romances, found family, and chosen one tropes… It’s a formula for perfection, imo.

Talan is the MMC of all my dreams, he’s got so much Cardan Greenbriar similarities, it’s exactly what I love- I can’t wait to find out more about him in book 3 (which I need right now, btw).

The FMC is hilarious, fun, relatable but also so bad ass. I love her and can’t wait to see what she is able to do in book 3.

Moral of the story is, please read this.

[Emily-Rose At The Rose House · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I like my beautiful things to have a bit of darkness in them”

The villains healing magic only works if he kisses or licks you … yes, you read correctly 😏 add in fake dating, forced proximity and an undercover spy, the BEST combination 🙌🏼

I need book 3 immediately…if it doesn’t end with “the villain gets the girl” I don’t think I’ll emotional recover from this series! 😭

“I’m screaming at them to save the life of the man I’ve been planning to kill all this time”

Thank your NerdFam for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raphael absolutely fumbled, but you know what… sign me up for fake dating the villain.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good!! If you saw my review for book 1 (Avalon Tower), you may remember that I wasn't a huge fan of it; I thought it was pretty mediocre and nothing new. However, I gave this book a shot because I read a review that the authors decided to pivot on the love interest, and I thought that was 100% the right approach. Some spoilers below.

In this book, the FMC, Nia, quickly is broken up with by Raphael (the MMC from book 1). I've seen some reviews that said their breakup was too abrupt and quick, which is completely true, but I also didn't like Raphael so I didn't care that he was more-or-less dropped completely in this book. The new love interest is the villain, and I loved Prince Talan. He seems pretty complex. I just know that he's not as seemingly evil as he comes across. I'm really intrigued by this bond that he and Nia have somehow shared their whole life. There were times throughout this book where I really wanted to shake Nia and make her tell Prince Talan everything because I'm just sure that he's not as evil as they want us to think, but alas, I will be patient. I hope that when all is said and done later in the series, Prince Talan will reveal that he knew who she was this entire time. Also, their smut was so slow-burn (they haven't really done anything yet by the end of this book), and it worked very well. It was hot. I appreciated that she wasn't overly-lusty when it comes to Prince Talan. Way to have a backbone, Nia! Say no to body-betrayal-syndrome in books!

In terms of the plot and world-building, there are things that didn't make sense, but I am willing to overlook those pieces of the book because I liked the direction of the romance a lot more in this book. For example, Nia is gathering intelligence for "Avalon Tower" for this entire book, which is confusing because Avalon Tower is led completely by villains. I low-key wish Nia and her father just killed all of the Pendragons in this book. While they are only the minor villains in this book, they still sucked, and they feel like a fly that I want to just swat away. I don't understand why the demi-fae that were stationed in Avalon Tower (Nia's friends, who all blend together in my mind) got fully attacked in the middle of the night by these Pendragon humans, and then the demi-fae just like, went back to sleep. Are they waiting to get fully killed? Why aren't they fucking leaving this place? It didn't really make sense. They're fighting for people who want them dead against other people who want them dead. I think this whole area of the plot just needs to be cleaned up because while it somewhat worked in book 1, it didn't work in this book and didn't make sense imo. Also, I have no idea what Nia's "lady of the lake" power is supposed to be. I am not sure if it was explained in book 1, but I forget what the actual power is, and then randomly throughout this book, she was moving faster than ever before because of her "lady of the lake" power. Can we get a reminder on what this means?

Low-key, I really liked Nia's father in this book. After watching how shitty her mother is, I hope her father is the misunderstood villain who will love his daughter, even though she's only half-fae. I liked the storyline of him spying with his moths throughout this book. I kinda feel like him and Prince Talan should hang since they're both lonely dudes. I also wanted Nia's friends from Avalon Tower to move over to Moldred's castle after they were attacked by the Pendragons, but nooooo, they stayed with the humans trying to kill them.

Anyways, this was a lot better than book 1, in my opinion. I'm glad I gave it a shot! I liked the cliffhanger, and I'm excited to read book 3. Prince Talan is my bebe. Raphael can go away permanently for all I care.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CHOOSE!?

AHHHHHH onto book three IMMEDIATELY.

[Sophie (lambsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You might loathe me, but you are mine now, and if anyone tried to burn you at the stake, I’d make them wish they were never born.”

Well, I got my wish for the psychotic Dream Stalker to make an appearance. And what an appearance he made. Talan is fucked up lmao

It’s quite another thing to dance with the Dream Stalker seconds after he slit a man’s throat, then drank his mead.

4.5 stars
Meet your newest morally grey boyfriend

"I like my beautiful things to have a bit of darkness in them.”

This was super fast-paced with forced proximity, fake um dating/fake mistress, lots of morally greyness, killing people left right and centre, and heart-pounding emotion. Pretty sure I didn’t even breathe properly for the last 20% of the book.

Deep asleep, he looks so peaceful— the beautiful monster who intends to destroy us all.

Nia continues to get shit done. That woman is strong, smart, resourceful, and just an all-around great FMC. She can plot, plan, and scheme to no end but she’s also not so perfect that things aren’t a struggle for her either. A realistic main character!

"And what happened to your man with the cheap velvet suit? Why didn’t you make a family with him, like other people?”
“He left me for a singer.” Also true.
“So, the man is a fucking idiot. Would you like me to torture him to death? I would use the rack again, if it made you happy.”

Raphael...Bitch, what the fuck?

I glance up and find the Dream Stalker lying awake, staring at the ceiling. Fuck. “Sorry,” I whisper. “I was asleep.”
“My dear Nia, you have absolutely nothing to apologize for. You should wrap yourself around me whenever you want.” His voice is a velvet caress over my skin.

Talan. Boy, you’re pushing your luck. Imma need some redeeming actions soon from him. Yes, he’s a sexy dream stalking, mind-fucking, morally grey killing machine, but he is also kinda evil lmao and needs to show some less evil qualities in the next book.

"And if I fucked you for real, Nia, I can assure you that you would not need to fake it.” His voice is a deep, velvety whisper that sends shivers over my skin."

That ending. How dare it end like that? I need book 3, my heart can’t take the wait.

“Why is your heart beating so fast?” he murmurs.
“Don’t you know everyone is scared of you?” Silence falls in the darkened room.
“Yes,” he says quietly, “but I didn’t think you were.”

Thank you to the authors for an eARC!

[annotated by Noi (in & out) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll probably read book 3, when the graphic audio format is out
--------------
I was promised book 2 is better than book 1

[Luce · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 🌟

I preferred this book so much more than book one. There’s so much to love about this part of the journey. It was SO fast paced and easy to read and the whole story flowed so much better in this book.

I really enjoyed the direction of the plot and it really gave us a better understanding of Nia and Tallen.

I did find Nia to be insufferable at times, she’s not my fave character ever. And sometimes I questioned whether she really was the best spy, at times it just felt like she was being so obvious. So that’s reflected in the score. But so glad I carried on with this series, will definitely be reading the final book!

[Karla Martínez · Rating 4 out of 5]

la pasé sorprendentemente mejor de lo que estaba esperando. me da pena saber que el tercer libro es el último 🥹.

[Emily ✨ Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vale of Dreams ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If Avalon Tower hooked me in, Vale of Dreams had me completely obsessed. I did an immersive reading for this book as well, since I enjoyed doing that so much in Book One.

This is where the story levels up — we’re seeing more of the fae realm, straight into enemy territory, and Nia is desperate to get Raphael back. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time — more danger, more political intrigue, and higher stakes on every page. There are secret deals, oaths, and all the drama and tension in between.

And I’m in trope heaven: fake relationship arranged for convenience, spying, forced proximity, secret alliances, and one seriously dark (and HOT) fae prince — the dream stalker (who can stalk my dreams any time he likes, if you know what I’m saying 😜). It’s exciting, chaotic, and addictive in the best way.

We also get huge reveals about family ties (set up at the end of Book One) that had my jaw dropping and shouting NO. WAY!! And the interactions between Nia and her father were some of my favorite moments in this book. (I don’t know what to tell you, I like the guy!)

One of the best things about this trilogy so far is all the humor and banter throughout. It’s done so naturally and had me laughing out loud often, which made it feel real and almost relatable. I LOVE the found family vibes and seeing Nia continue to navigate this new life she’s been thrown into, and watching her relationships grow.

This book had my heart racing and I was literally on the edge of my seat the entire time.

🎧📖 Audiobook note: Same single female narrator as Book One, and she crushed it again. Great character voices, easy to follow, and she carried both the tension and the humor effortlessly.

➡️ Overall: Vale of Dreams is everything I want in a sequel — bigger stakes, danger, fake relationships, politics, perfectly-timed comedy, and nonstop action. I tore through it and couldn’t wait to dive into the finale.

[bella fazzati 🌟 · Rating 5 out of 5]

THAT FUCKING ENDING??? oh. my. god. 🗣️🗣️
also, i'm completely bewitched by the Dream Stalker! Raphael, who?? 🙂‍↕️🛐❤️‍🔥

[Aya ☕︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

WHAT. THE. HECK?

[يمنى سمير · Rating 4 out of 5]

الجزء الثاني من السلسلة وأراه حافظ على ذات الجودة التي تميز بها الكتاب الأول
القصة تركز على نيا، التي تصبح عشيقة مزيفة لأمير في المملكة الفي، وتواجه مؤامرات سياسية وخطراً جسيماً.
الكتابة مشوقة ووصفية، مع حوارات ذكية تضيف لمسة من الدعابة. يتميز الأسلوب بصور حية تجعل عالم الفي يبدو واقعيًا، مع تركيز على التوتر والرومانسية. نمط "أعداء إلى عشاق" التقليدي.
تدور القصة حول نيا، التي تجد نفسها في موقف خطير عندما تصبح عشيقة مزيفة لأمير في المملكة الفي المعروف بـ"المطارد الأحلام" كانت مهمتها الأصلية هي إنقاذ حبيبها رافائيل، لكن بعد أن تُقبض عليها، يجب عليها التعامل مع خطط الأمير الخطيرة للتلاعب بالوزراء، الإطاحة بوالده، وربما إبادة البشرية. نيا تمتلك موهبة سرية للتحكم بالعقول، مما يجعلها أداة مهمة، لكنها أيضًا جاسوسة تحاول إخفاء هويتها. القصة مليئة بالمؤامرات البلاطية، والتوتر، والرومانسية المعقدة، مع نهاية مثيرة تترك القراء في انتظار الجزء التالي.

[Witchwanderess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this second book. My curiosity is peaked. What will happen with Tallen. How will it all end. Can we trust everyone. Off to jump into book 3.

[Tetiana O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Чим далі тим цікавіше 🤭
Мене захоплює ця гра в шпигунів, він шукає, вона переховується під носом.
Багато інформації і подій, більше хочеться про історію, бо трошки все заплутано, пророцтво є, але ми дуже благородні, щоб виконати, хоч ті люди і бісять 🫠

В цій частині є вайб Різа, Талан, моя зірочка ясна. Відчуваю шо скоро в нас буде якийсь звʼязок істинних пар, бо не дарма ж це все весь час було, думки, сни, чекаю, коли вона здасться 😏
А Рафаель такий мутний тіп, сім пʼятниць на неділю, то люблю, то не можу, то щє шось, фу

Іду читать продовження відразу, дуже цікаво що ж там далі 🤭

[Kate Dash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean the second he said "be my mistress" it was YESSS.
First book was good and got me ito all that fae spy academy thing but second book was one that really got me hooked. First of all, spies. Yes, we have spies and they nor just for good picture. They gather informathions, have codes. I know it's not James Bond level bur come on.
Second, Talan. I mean Dream Stalker, like let's be real, I can let him stalk me dreams all day, all night. And we have book 3 to know more about that Mister. I have too mny opinions and thoeries about him and it's incredible big plus.
Same for Nia. That girl literally quick learner. She's witty and of course lucky. But it's actually not make me feel like she's overpowered or have plot armor. Nope. She's not invinsible. And i hope she opens her eyes about man she needs.
Let's move to Raphael. Ew. Just no. Too many meh. That man needed to do one thing - be good bf and he messed up. I can't comprehend that. So for me he's now level npc. Period.
Anyway, it was good read. I had too many emotions. Even had notes. Can't wait ot start book 3

[kitkat]

4.2☆

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up immediately after finishing Avalon tower and finished within a few hours, I am now sat wondering what I did to deserve this not being a completed series?!?!?! Such a fun easy read! If you aren’t prepared to lose yourself for a few hours, don’t pick it up yet.

[🌙henny✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay!!! I see the vision!!!!

I didn’t like book 1 that much, mostly because the mmc was a wet little bitch, but book 2 was MUCH more interesting. Spoiler alert but mmc no. 2 was leagues better than the first guy, and the TENSION was actually nauseating. Scorching. It was 33 degrees today and I struggled reading this because it made me feel hot. And I was already sweating because of the heatwave, this book was damaging to my health!!!

I am now thoroughly sat, and eagerly awaiting the conclusion. It’s giving a bit of a fated mates type situation and I’m screaming crying throwing up about that 😌💅 I see those clues about the girl of his dreams existing only inside his head. I SEE. I KNOW.

[Brittany Ferraro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way I KNEW I was going to love this book as soon as I found out it was about our dream stalker 🤭 Idc if he’s the villain (that’s my type) it’s giving “but daddy I love himmmmmm” The way he so casually talks about ripping anyone apart who touches Nia. The fake dating in a fantasy book was such a nice surprise. I really fucking love the connection that Nia & Talan have & I just KNOW there is something much deeper there.

“𝘐𝘧 𝘐 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘕𝘪𝘢, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵” SQUEALINGGGG

(go away, Raphael)


I felt like they really wasn’t a dull moment in this book, it was fast paced, and it kept me wanting more the entire time. It had so many things that I love in a book

• morally grey FLIRTY MMC
• enemies to lovers
• secret identity
• tensionnnnnn babyyyyy 😮‍💨
• action
• “you’re mine”
• a strong FMC who gets shit done

“I like my beautiful things to have a bit of darkness in them”

I am so grateful for this ARC, and I’m loving this series so far!! I can not WAIT to see where this plot goes ( I like where its headed haha) but I just know there’s so much more to this story and shit is about to hit the fan, my favorite.

[ᴏɢɪᴍᴀᴀᴋᴡᴇ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok this one was much better than the first. I guess I’m a villain gets the girl, girlie. The dream stalker can get it. 😚👏🏼 I read this one too quick! That ending! But why did he barely fucking question where tf she was for days??? Like just skip over the fact that shorty was missing in action for several days and nobody knew where she was and your mission just happens to get sabotaged??? Oh. But again this book was much more interesting than the first book for sure. Ready for lady of the lake..🤪😅

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely inhaled this book!! I’m beyond obsessed with this series and immediately starting the final book