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Some Advanced Notes On Practical Dreaming
- GenresFantasy
378 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 11, 2025
If THE ATLAS SIX and THE RAVEN BOYS (or rather, more specifically, THE DREAM THIEVES) had a dark, twisted baby, it'd be SANOPD, without a doubt.
Full of characters you cannot help but root for even as you watch them make the most unhinged decisions of their lives, twists that will make your jaw drop, and the coolest yet creepiest magical school setting you'll come across, SANOPD is a spectacular debut novel.
Full of characters you cannot help but root for even as you watch them make the most unhinged decisions of their lives, twists that will make your jaw drop, and the coolest yet creepiest magical school setting you'll come across, SANOPD is a spectacular debut novel.
August 3, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.5 stars rounded to 5.
I’m going to think about this book for a long time, I just know it. Although some parts didn’t flow quite how I’d like for my brain to digest the insanity unfolding.
The depth of this story just grows and suffocates, then shows you such strength in our characters considering where they begin and how they fall back into coping mechanisms they just aren’t ready to escape. There’s a number of layers to this story with beautiful friendships, romance, loyalty, betrayal and secrets that Auchter house isn’t going to give up for free. This felt like a well paced dark academic fantasy with fever dream like vibes and I really enjoyed this.
The story tackles some tough subjects that may be triggering for some people like loss and depression, but I do feel like it did this with a great sensitivity while intertwining it with fantasy elements of the plot.
I highly recommend this one for fans of All the Devils, it’s intriguing and darker than expected.
I’m going to think about this book for a long time, I just know it. Although some parts didn’t flow quite how I’d like for my brain to digest the insanity unfolding.
The depth of this story just grows and suffocates, then shows you such strength in our characters considering where they begin and how they fall back into coping mechanisms they just aren’t ready to escape. There’s a number of layers to this story with beautiful friendships, romance, loyalty, betrayal and secrets that Auchter house isn’t going to give up for free. This felt like a well paced dark academic fantasy with fever dream like vibes and I really enjoyed this.
The story tackles some tough subjects that may be triggering for some people like loss and depression, but I do feel like it did this with a great sensitivity while intertwining it with fantasy elements of the plot.
I highly recommend this one for fans of All the Devils, it’s intriguing and darker than expected.
September 5, 2025
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.75 stars.
A dark academia, following Sam, as she studies at Auchter house, a university specialising in arcane subjects, including practical dreaming, the art of removing objects from dreams. Sam has struggled with mental illness and has found a safe haven at the university.
Dark secrets are uncovered and friendships are put in peril as the story progresses.
I loved the premise of the book, particularly the practical dreaming, and the prose was quite lovely.
I did have some issues though. Firstly, the way that the magic works was not really explained, it just happens. I also found that from the start of the book like I was missing something. We are continually told that Sam has this love of Auchter house, and close relationships with her friends around her, but I struggled to see this, and therefore when characters were put in peril it was difficult to feel that invested.
I also felt like Sam didn't have much of a personality past being troubled, and the constant line-breaks got a little tiresome after a while.
Real promise though, and it was nice to read something that felt different from other dark academia I've encountered so far.
2.75 stars.
A dark academia, following Sam, as she studies at Auchter house, a university specialising in arcane subjects, including practical dreaming, the art of removing objects from dreams. Sam has struggled with mental illness and has found a safe haven at the university.
Dark secrets are uncovered and friendships are put in peril as the story progresses.
I loved the premise of the book, particularly the practical dreaming, and the prose was quite lovely.
I did have some issues though. Firstly, the way that the magic works was not really explained, it just happens. I also found that from the start of the book like I was missing something. We are continually told that Sam has this love of Auchter house, and close relationships with her friends around her, but I struggled to see this, and therefore when characters were put in peril it was difficult to feel that invested.
I also felt like Sam didn't have much of a personality past being troubled, and the constant line-breaks got a little tiresome after a while.
Real promise though, and it was nice to read something that felt different from other dark academia I've encountered so far.
July 23, 2025
This book was so confusing in the best way. I really enjoyed Sam’s character development throughout the book and her acceptance of love by the end. She was someone I think a lot of readers can relate to in one way or another.
I liked the storyline but the pacing was a little off for me. I kept getting confused by larger details in the book that weren’t really explained well and I wish we saw more of Autcher House and how the dreaming worked. We are kind of thrown in with little information and while it is somewhat explained along the way, I still found myself lost in some places.
With all that said, I did like the idea of the book and the writing style this author has. They were amazing at describing feelings and situations in really good detail. The dark vibes and found family aspects were really interesting and enjoyable!
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this ARC!
I liked the storyline but the pacing was a little off for me. I kept getting confused by larger details in the book that weren’t really explained well and I wish we saw more of Autcher House and how the dreaming worked. We are kind of thrown in with little information and while it is somewhat explained along the way, I still found myself lost in some places.
With all that said, I did like the idea of the book and the writing style this author has. They were amazing at describing feelings and situations in really good detail. The dark vibes and found family aspects were really interesting and enjoyable!
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this ARC!
July 27, 2025
I have the honor of being friends with the brilliant mind behind this book as well as to have provided edits for her. Some Advanced Notes On Practical Dreamers is a story rooted in dreams and how the act itself is an immersive experience that can sometimes immerse us too deeply. It teaches us that waking up from a dream is not always that bad, and that waking up and facing reality might be the biggest dream of all. With writing that reads like a poem, flashes before your eyes like a movie. SANOPD is a beautiful debut.
August 14, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC
This book is insanely good. All of the characters have depth and they practically sing on the page. The plot has twists and turns and keeps you hooked in. I love the mysterious academy. The world building is done insanely well. The writing itself is stellar.
I was left without words.
This book is insanely good. All of the characters have depth and they practically sing on the page. The plot has twists and turns and keeps you hooked in. I love the mysterious academy. The world building is done insanely well. The writing itself is stellar.
I was left without words.
June 6, 2025
ARC Provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
I truly do not have the words nor the intelligence to explain just how incredible this book is. I am of the extraordinary good fortune to be friends with the author, and while naturally that was always going to have coloured my opinions coming out of this book - I can truly say if this had been some complete stranger I’d have said the exact same thing.
But from the incredibly privileged position of having been there (usually pissing her off via text message) through a good chunk of lifetime and writing process. I know for a fact just how much love was poured into this book.
And every page sings with that.
Now of course love doesn’t always good book make. Ask my me x Bucky Barnes fanfictions from me teenage years. So without that context is this a good book?
In every describable way.
This feels like an absolute love letter to fantastical academia with undertones of horror that truly leave your heart racing.
1. Characters
Saying I have a favourite character of this book genuinely feels like being asked to pick a favourite kid. Gun to my head? Bridge with Tate as an incredibly close runner up. They’re so fleshed out, they’re funny and intelligent without being facetious and absolutely stand out from the crowd.
Sam is beautiful. If that woman has 0 fans I am dead, and honestly probably raging in heaven about how good this book is. She is heartbreaking, strong, funny and realistic. Tate is everything you could want in a partner and I’m frankly furious he’s not real, kind, warm, hilarious and a backbone to this story. The entire cast is gorgeous and I could go on forever and ever. But if everyone loved the way these characters loved one another in a fictional goddamn book, the world would be far better for it.
Everything is written with such absolute passion, depth and dimension that you truly feel like the characters were sat parroting in her ear with every word typed.
2. Plot
I truly cannot put into words how good this plot is. It’s got a mysterious Scottish academy with a lake and dangerous professors. A mental health rep that leaves your heart aching and watching Sam grow through it is astonishingly beautiful. You’ve got a roadtrip with a group of dear friends and several crashes (as you do). And some good old fashioned fight sequences with a villain you truly want to knock the teeth out of.
The twist I already knew (I read the first version of this years ago and get to say nah nah nee nah nah for it) but it’s so beautifully foreshadowed and interwoven into this book that it slaps you like a brick wall when it finally comes to light.
3. World building
This left me mad practical dreaming isn’t a thing. Truly.
and also not entirely unconvinced that Robertson isn’t actually a Dreamer because how she wrote such a novel magic system in such an in depth way? I truly can’t fathom it.
4. Language and Theme
Robertson writes in a way that both makes you fall in love with the world and feel entirely afraid of it in the space of a breath. The poor woman has been borderline harassed since Tuesday (when I began reading) with quotes and words to the effect of “omg” “you’re an evil cow” and “marry me.” If I were to tattoo myself in all the gorgeous favourite bits of pose from this book, I’d have no skin left.
Love and friendship particularly she writes with such absolute voice and precision that makes you pine to feel that kind of love (though I’m admittedly a lonely feckwit so that could well just be me.)
Do I recommend this book? Without a breath of hesitation.
I truly do not have the words nor the intelligence to explain just how incredible this book is. I am of the extraordinary good fortune to be friends with the author, and while naturally that was always going to have coloured my opinions coming out of this book - I can truly say if this had been some complete stranger I’d have said the exact same thing.
But from the incredibly privileged position of having been there (usually pissing her off via text message) through a good chunk of lifetime and writing process. I know for a fact just how much love was poured into this book.
And every page sings with that.
Now of course love doesn’t always good book make. Ask my me x Bucky Barnes fanfictions from me teenage years. So without that context is this a good book?
In every describable way.
This feels like an absolute love letter to fantastical academia with undertones of horror that truly leave your heart racing.
1. Characters
Saying I have a favourite character of this book genuinely feels like being asked to pick a favourite kid. Gun to my head? Bridge with Tate as an incredibly close runner up. They’re so fleshed out, they’re funny and intelligent without being facetious and absolutely stand out from the crowd.
Sam is beautiful. If that woman has 0 fans I am dead, and honestly probably raging in heaven about how good this book is. She is heartbreaking, strong, funny and realistic. Tate is everything you could want in a partner and I’m frankly furious he’s not real, kind, warm, hilarious and a backbone to this story. The entire cast is gorgeous and I could go on forever and ever. But if everyone loved the way these characters loved one another in a fictional goddamn book, the world would be far better for it.
Everything is written with such absolute passion, depth and dimension that you truly feel like the characters were sat parroting in her ear with every word typed.
2. Plot
I truly cannot put into words how good this plot is. It’s got a mysterious Scottish academy with a lake and dangerous professors. A mental health rep that leaves your heart aching and watching Sam grow through it is astonishingly beautiful. You’ve got a roadtrip with a group of dear friends and several crashes (as you do). And some good old fashioned fight sequences with a villain you truly want to knock the teeth out of.
The twist I already knew (I read the first version of this years ago and get to say nah nah nee nah nah for it) but it’s so beautifully foreshadowed and interwoven into this book that it slaps you like a brick wall when it finally comes to light.
3. World building
This left me mad practical dreaming isn’t a thing. Truly.
and also not entirely unconvinced that Robertson isn’t actually a Dreamer because how she wrote such a novel magic system in such an in depth way? I truly can’t fathom it.
4. Language and Theme
Robertson writes in a way that both makes you fall in love with the world and feel entirely afraid of it in the space of a breath. The poor woman has been borderline harassed since Tuesday (when I began reading) with quotes and words to the effect of “omg” “you’re an evil cow” and “marry me.” If I were to tattoo myself in all the gorgeous favourite bits of pose from this book, I’d have no skin left.
Love and friendship particularly she writes with such absolute voice and precision that makes you pine to feel that kind of love (though I’m admittedly a lonely feckwit so that could well just be me.)
Do I recommend this book? Without a breath of hesitation.
June 22, 2025
Beautiful book that is an absolutely ethereal read. The story itself unfolds like a dream and had the reader questioning what is really happening and what is in the mind of the narrator as she dreams. I found myself drawn into this unique universe and rooting for our main character throughout.
We follow Sam, who is at Autcher House, an elite school with some very unusual studies. Sam and her friends are dreamers and focus on the magic of dreaming things into being. A map, a ticket, or even a weapon. Sam, struggles with accepting herself and has a history of mental ill was which made her feel unworthy of so many things. The school is her favorite place and she has found love and acceptance for the first time.
However, very quickly she realizes that things aren’t always as they seem and her beloved home may not be so safe at all when her friend is taken. She has to fight her own demons and the school itself to get her back.
The journey itself is surreal, and we love that Sam discovers she is so much more capable and loved than she has ever believed possible.
This book is beautifully written but there are so many metaphors that at times it can seem to drag a bit to get on with the story at times. I also feel that some things just aren’t explained well, but that also goes with the dream like quality of the writing and story so I don’t feel like this is a true critique of the book. It’s absolutely a slow burn story, as Sam has so much to figure out as the story goes on.
The author did an incredible job of immersing you in what feels like a dream for the whole novel. I would say that the first third of the book did seem a little slow until I got a better feel for the characters and the magic system. So absolutely buckle up for that slow burn. It totally paid off as the last third was so worth it.
We follow Sam, who is at Autcher House, an elite school with some very unusual studies. Sam and her friends are dreamers and focus on the magic of dreaming things into being. A map, a ticket, or even a weapon. Sam, struggles with accepting herself and has a history of mental ill was which made her feel unworthy of so many things. The school is her favorite place and she has found love and acceptance for the first time.
However, very quickly she realizes that things aren’t always as they seem and her beloved home may not be so safe at all when her friend is taken. She has to fight her own demons and the school itself to get her back.
The journey itself is surreal, and we love that Sam discovers she is so much more capable and loved than she has ever believed possible.
This book is beautifully written but there are so many metaphors that at times it can seem to drag a bit to get on with the story at times. I also feel that some things just aren’t explained well, but that also goes with the dream like quality of the writing and story so I don’t feel like this is a true critique of the book. It’s absolutely a slow burn story, as Sam has so much to figure out as the story goes on.
The author did an incredible job of immersing you in what feels like a dream for the whole novel. I would say that the first third of the book did seem a little slow until I got a better feel for the characters and the magic system. So absolutely buckle up for that slow burn. It totally paid off as the last third was so worth it.
July 28, 2025
Thanks to netgalley for the eARC!
I was drawn in by the dark academia and magic vibes. I knew this was going to be a bit different but in a good way.
It is definitely confusing at first, the story seems a bit all over the place as we discover what it is to dream and how it works in this magical world.
As the story develops though then so does the intrigue. I did think it would be more dream walking than it actually was but I still enjoyed it. I think its more of an inception style vibe which I got more towards the end of the book.
What I will say is that the characters make it. They are well developed, that found family vibe is perfect and we even get a solid ending.
I also think the writing style really helped me love this book, the author wrote well, kept me intrigued and wanting to know what happened even at the parts I was a bit confused.
SANOPD is a great read, with well developed characters and a very intriguing world. If youre looking something a bit different and quirky, then Id highly recommend.
I was drawn in by the dark academia and magic vibes. I knew this was going to be a bit different but in a good way.
It is definitely confusing at first, the story seems a bit all over the place as we discover what it is to dream and how it works in this magical world.
As the story develops though then so does the intrigue. I did think it would be more dream walking than it actually was but I still enjoyed it. I think its more of an inception style vibe which I got more towards the end of the book.
What I will say is that the characters make it. They are well developed, that found family vibe is perfect and we even get a solid ending.
I also think the writing style really helped me love this book, the author wrote well, kept me intrigued and wanting to know what happened even at the parts I was a bit confused.
SANOPD is a great read, with well developed characters and a very intriguing world. If youre looking something a bit different and quirky, then Id highly recommend.
June 21, 2025
3.5
Sam Sheridan estudia en Auchter House, una universidad remota y misteriosa donde los sueños no solo se interpretan: se manipulan, se estudian y se convierten en herramientas tangibles. Sam es una soñadora práctica, capaz de crear objetos reales dentro de sus sueños y traerlos a la vigilia. El problema es que su talento es inestable, su método desordenado y su miedo al fracaso paralizante.
En medio de exámenes que la arrastran al límite, amistades intensas y una creciente sensación de que hay algo profundamente inquietante escondido en los rincones de la Casa, Sam empieza a perder el control. Cuando una puerta cerrada desde siempre comienza a responder desde el otro lado, y los sueños se tiñen de horror y sangre, Sam deberá enfrentarse no solo a la oscuridad que habita en Auchter, sino también a la que vive dentro de ella.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.
Sam Sheridan estudia en Auchter House, una universidad remota y misteriosa donde los sueños no solo se interpretan: se manipulan, se estudian y se convierten en herramientas tangibles. Sam es una soñadora práctica, capaz de crear objetos reales dentro de sus sueños y traerlos a la vigilia. El problema es que su talento es inestable, su método desordenado y su miedo al fracaso paralizante.
En medio de exámenes que la arrastran al límite, amistades intensas y una creciente sensación de que hay algo profundamente inquietante escondido en los rincones de la Casa, Sam empieza a perder el control. Cuando una puerta cerrada desde siempre comienza a responder desde el otro lado, y los sueños se tiñen de horror y sangre, Sam deberá enfrentarse no solo a la oscuridad que habita en Auchter, sino también a la que vive dentro de ella.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.
August 22, 2025
Some Advanced Notes on Practical Dreaming by Clare Robertson hooked me right away with its premise. The mix of dark academia, dream logic, and supernatural mystery felt really fresh and different from anything I have read recently. Auchter House is such an eerie, fascinating setting, and I loved the ambition of the story. It is layered, imaginative, and definitely not afraid to take risks.
That said, the execution did not quite live up to the concept for me. Even for an ARC, there were a lot of distracting issues like typos, duplicated passages, and even a character being called by the wrong name at one point. On top of that, the writing style sometimes felt like it was trying too hard to sound literary, which made the pacing a bit clunky. The ideas are fantastic, though, and with more editing and polish this could really shine.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
That said, the execution did not quite live up to the concept for me. Even for an ARC, there were a lot of distracting issues like typos, duplicated passages, and even a character being called by the wrong name at one point. On top of that, the writing style sometimes felt like it was trying too hard to sound literary, which made the pacing a bit clunky. The ideas are fantastic, though, and with more editing and polish this could really shine.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 23, 2025
I was fully drawn to this by the premise of the story. And yes, it does have a more original premise than some other books lately. However...
The biggest problem - the ARC itself had a lot of errors - there were duplicated pages, spelling errors, problems with grammar and if I remember correctly one character being called the wrong name repeatedly which just made me confused for a while. Not helped at all by the writing style of the author, which wasn't really my own personal cup of tea.
There is good stuff in here like the vibes of the whole book, being set in Scotland, but this probably needed another round of edits and adding/removing stuff and fleshing out the secondary characters more. Even Tate could use a few more.. building blocks to be honest. While I loved his love for Sam, I feel like we don't really know him.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC: All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The biggest problem - the ARC itself had a lot of errors - there were duplicated pages, spelling errors, problems with grammar and if I remember correctly one character being called the wrong name repeatedly which just made me confused for a while. Not helped at all by the writing style of the author, which wasn't really my own personal cup of tea.
There is good stuff in here like the vibes of the whole book, being set in Scotland, but this probably needed another round of edits and adding/removing stuff and fleshing out the secondary characters more. Even Tate could use a few more.. building blocks to be honest. While I loved his love for Sam, I feel like we don't really know him.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC: All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
June 23, 2025
This has all the hallmarks of a great read for fans of dark academia: an isolated university with magical secrets, dream-based powers, a missing best friend, and a narrator with a fraught past. The concept is intriguing, and there are moments of real atmosphere and tension that pulled me in.
Unfortunately, the plot didn’t fully connect for me. The pacing dragged in places, and I found myself wishing for clearer stakes and a tighter throughline. Sam’s motivations often felt more like they were serving genre expectations than arising from her own internal logic, which made it hard to stay emotionally invested.
There’s definitely an audience for this book, especially readers who enjoy moody settings and themes of found family—but for me, the story didn’t quite land.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Unfortunately, the plot didn’t fully connect for me. The pacing dragged in places, and I found myself wishing for clearer stakes and a tighter throughline. Sam’s motivations often felt more like they were serving genre expectations than arising from her own internal logic, which made it hard to stay emotionally invested.
There’s definitely an audience for this book, especially readers who enjoy moody settings and themes of found family—but for me, the story didn’t quite land.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“auchter is not something, sam knows, that you can leave lightly. she feels it still, in her very blood. the knowledge of how close she was to something beautiful. how much she loved something without seeing the way it had rotted all the way down to its insides.”
firstly, thanks to netgalley and clare robertson for the arc, and an extra thanks to clare for hooking me up with the manuscript when i realised my arc was faulty, months after it had left the platform. i know the errors in the arc left this book with lower reviews than it deserved and it saddens me.
i’m a simple girl who loves simple things in literature: water as a motif, girls who are a little fucked in the head, and ronan lynch. add to that beautiful, flowery language and scotland as one of the primary locations, and this book felt perfectly made for me. it feels almost strangely fitting for a book about dreams to be this hard to acquire. and yet, here it is, one of my favourites this year.
sometimes it’s hard to even put into words why you love a book. all i can say is the arc on my kobo is highlighted in every colour it offers. i simply loved the experience of reading the book itself. i am one for fancy metaphors, especially when they tie down the character to nature and wilderness, which i know isn’t everyone’s thing, but you can take the girl out of tumblr or whatever they say.
i love sam. maybe because i was once a depressed 16-year old (bottle) redhead, so she’s an archetype i’m naturally drawn to. maybe it’s the lack of confidence, the overthinking, the intrusive thoughts. she’s such a loved character, both by her friends and by the author. i do wish more love had been shown to the side characters, more time to flesh out the relationships. you can feel it well with tate and sid, not so much with nina or bridge.
“some advanced notes” is deeply immersive (pun intended), gorgeously atmospheric, and dreamlike in its prose. i really look forward to what robertson has next.
firstly, thanks to netgalley and clare robertson for the arc, and an extra thanks to clare for hooking me up with the manuscript when i realised my arc was faulty, months after it had left the platform. i know the errors in the arc left this book with lower reviews than it deserved and it saddens me.
i’m a simple girl who loves simple things in literature: water as a motif, girls who are a little fucked in the head, and ronan lynch. add to that beautiful, flowery language and scotland as one of the primary locations, and this book felt perfectly made for me. it feels almost strangely fitting for a book about dreams to be this hard to acquire. and yet, here it is, one of my favourites this year.
sometimes it’s hard to even put into words why you love a book. all i can say is the arc on my kobo is highlighted in every colour it offers. i simply loved the experience of reading the book itself. i am one for fancy metaphors, especially when they tie down the character to nature and wilderness, which i know isn’t everyone’s thing, but you can take the girl out of tumblr or whatever they say.
i love sam. maybe because i was once a depressed 16-year old (bottle) redhead, so she’s an archetype i’m naturally drawn to. maybe it’s the lack of confidence, the overthinking, the intrusive thoughts. she’s such a loved character, both by her friends and by the author. i do wish more love had been shown to the side characters, more time to flesh out the relationships. you can feel it well with tate and sid, not so much with nina or bridge.
“some advanced notes” is deeply immersive (pun intended), gorgeously atmospheric, and dreamlike in its prose. i really look forward to what robertson has next.
July 25, 2025
hanks to the author, Clare Robertson, for this arc. Publication coming on September 01 2025.
New dark academia, but I was thrilled to find the main characters are in their 20's, because this is not your usual school. Fast paced, dark and twisty.
New dark academia, but I was thrilled to find the main characters are in their 20's, because this is not your usual school. Fast paced, dark and twisty.
November 18, 2025
This was a confusing slog of pretentious writing. It truly felt like the author was trying to make Tumblr quotes every other line. I know I called it a slog and trust me it really was one but also it rushed through the exposition at breakneck speed. We were given no time in the world as the characters allegedly viewed it in the beginning before it was all the sudden evil the whole time and we were thrust out of it. The main villain got the same treatment. There was no build up of why we should trust this character before his "betrayal". Overall the concept was interesting but the writing was horribly paced and juvenile
Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for my honest review
Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for my honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2025
I truly thought this would be a book right up my alley, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. I was initially drawn in by the gothic setting and the promise of a unique magic system. but despite that strong foundation, the characters and plot felt strangely lifeless.
I found myself confused for most of the story. The magic system is never fully explained, and the characters’ motivations remain murky. One moment a character is a friend, the next an enemy, and then suddenly one is dead(?) with little explanation of how or why. Events seem to happen without buildup or clarity, leaving me disconnected and unsure of what was even going on.
This book had a lot of potential, and I really wanted to love it. But at the halfway point, I realized I couldn’t bring myself to continue. I still want to know how it ends, yet I don’t feel invested enough to push through.
Additionally, I’m not sure if this was an error in my ARC on Netgalley, but several pages appeared to duplicate themselves or were possibly out of order. If this was a formatting issue, it certainly added to the confusion.
I found myself confused for most of the story. The magic system is never fully explained, and the characters’ motivations remain murky. One moment a character is a friend, the next an enemy, and then suddenly one is dead(?) with little explanation of how or why. Events seem to happen without buildup or clarity, leaving me disconnected and unsure of what was even going on.
This book had a lot of potential, and I really wanted to love it. But at the halfway point, I realized I couldn’t bring myself to continue. I still want to know how it ends, yet I don’t feel invested enough to push through.
Additionally, I’m not sure if this was an error in my ARC on Netgalley, but several pages appeared to duplicate themselves or were possibly out of order. If this was a formatting issue, it certainly added to the confusion.
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