Dream in the Ash

The Other Half of the End #1

by Jacquelyn Gilmore

THE DREAM HOTEL meets THE ATLAS SIX in this dark, psychologically charged dystopian thriller, featuring speculative elements and a dangerous slow-burn romantic thread.

Only when you're facing the ashes of despair can you truly dream. For Audrey, the ashes are about to give birth to an inferno.



Ten years ago, telepath Audrey Sarafian was convicted of murdering her family after insisting the real killer was a voice inside her head. Without proof, no one believed her. She was declared unstable, sent to prison, and remade into a public monster.

When her conviction is suddenly overturned, Audrey walks free into a society that still sees her as a brutal murderer. And the moment she leaves prison, the voice returns—very much alive. Determined to prove what really happened, Audrey descends into the city’s decaying underworld, where ex-convicts are exploited, and powerful people erase inconvenient truths without consequence.

But the deeper she goes, the more she realizes her family’s murder was never an isolated crime. It was the beginning of something much larger.

And as the hunt closes in, the voice in her head grows more insistent—not pushing Audrey toward madness, but toward becoming something far more dangerous.

Because it doesn’t want her dead.

It wants her transformed.


Dream in the Ash is a dark, psychological speculative thriller with dystopian, sci-fi, and fantasy elements and a restrained, slow-burning romantic thread. It’s set in a near-future Earth society and is for readers who enjoy being dropped into uncertainty, piecing things together, and following a flawed heroine through psychological chaos, betrayal, and dangerous power. It is book one in a five-part series. Please see the author’s website for a list of content warnings.

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2026

About the author

Jacquelyn Gilmore writes dark speculative fiction about villain-coded characters, impossible choices, and the emotional cost of survival. Her books span dark fantasy and dystopian sci-fi, but are united by the same obsessions: morally black characters, dangerous relationship dynamics, psychological intensity, and stories that explore what happens when survival demands monstrosity. With over a decade of professional writing experience and a bachelor’s degree in English literature, Gilmore crafts stories that lure readers into terrifyingly beautiful realms where antiheroes thrive, and every choice carries a cost.

When she isn’t writing, Gilmore lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and dog, Finn, constantly dreaming up new terrifying worlds and the villains who rule them.

Reviews

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a unique read. Dream in the Ash throws you straight into the chaos and expects you to keep up and honestly, that’s part of the experience.

It is a little confusing at times, especially early on with all the terminology and moving pieces, but once I settled in, I found myself really intrigued by the world and what was unfolding. The sci-fi elements were super interesting, especially the telepathy and the underlying conspiracy vibes.

Audrey is not the easiest FMC to love, and I actually appreciated that. She’s messy, struggling with addiction, and dealing with a lot of trauma and that representation felt really well done. Even when I didn’t fully like her, I still rooted for her, which says a lot.

The pacing is pretty fast, and there’s always something happening, but this definitely feels like a setup for something bigger. There are still a lot of unanswered questions by the end, but in a way that makes you curious for what’s next.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with strong psychological elements, a flawed but compelling main character, and a world that slowly pulls you in even if it makes you work for it a bit.

[Camis.little.library · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! OKAY- what did I just read!?! 🤯🔥

✦ Wrongfully accused heroine
✦ The voice in her head is real
✦ Outlawed telepaths
✦ Dangerous slow-burn tension
✦ Psychological mind games
✦ Morally black characters
✦ Conspiracy + violence
✦ Women on the edge of monstrosity
✦ Cliffhanger ending

This dystopian dark thriller romance had me on the EDGE of my seat the entire time, and I still don’t know who to trust!

Filled with secrets, twists, betrayal, tension- I can’t even say too much without giving things away.

Our FMC, is released from prison after being convicted of unaliving her family- when she starts hearing the thoughts of the actual killer.

Telepathy, prison systems & ranking, violence, moments where you think - WTF!?

Ahhh- this was so good and left SO much open, I can’t wait to see where this story goes.

Highly recommend for any dark romance, dystopian, or dark romantasy lovers!

[Chasing Silhouettes · Rating 5 out of 5]

'𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳.
   The word soothed her now like a cold hand across a fevered brow. Better monster than victim. Better beast than burned.' (Ch 21)

Dark Speculative Fiction | Psychological Thriller | Dystopian | Morally Grey | Mystery | Feminine Rage

Have always been fascinated with ESP (Extrasensory Perception) like telepathy, telekinesis, clairvoyance, clairaudience, pyrokinesis, etc. The main character has telepathy, which drew me to this book, in addition to the author (loved her other series), and it being dystopian and a psychological thriller. Add some morally grey, and this book had its hooks in me even before I opened it.

'Audrey curled her lip, blood coating her teeth as she snarled at anyone foolish enough to meet her stare. Let them think she was pathetic. Every wolf was small once.' (Ch 25)

Umm... one word... intense! Like a pressure cooker, the pressure and intensity slowly builds until it's about to combust. Especially about 40-50% in. The suspense! Hanging on the edge, waiting to see what would happen.

'Let him try to break her. She would be waiting, and not to die quietly or to beg— but to hear him scream.' (Ch 21)

Enjoyed this book immensely! The world building and atmosphere that Jacquelyn creates is immersive. And the characters! Loved Audrey, her vulnerabilities, and her strengths. She was a pawn, a weapon, and/or a threat that everyone wanted to use or kill, and a force unto herself. Yet underneath all of that fierceness and rage, there was a lowkey whisper of compassion even for some of her enemies.

'“Like what you see?” he asked.
    “Yes,” Audrey said honestly. He blinked, faint surprise playing across his face. Why lie? He was built like something sculpted for war. A beautiful killer. Temptation with teeth.' (Ch 19)

There is a potential for romance. There's tension, for sure, but nothing substantiated yet. It's a 5-part series, so we'll see what happens next in book 2!

5🌟 eARC voluntary review

[Isabelle Houseknecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! I can’t wait for book two!! It was a magical world with all kinds of powers and different realms! I was sucked in right from the beginning and couldn’t stop reading it!!

[Kathleen Herren · Rating 5 out of 5]

“‘What’s inside you isn’t human. It isn’t gentle.’”

I must need therapy, because I cannot get enough villains, especially Jacqueline Gilmore’s violently destructive creations. Dream in the Ash gives us a tenacious FMC, that is one of the most irresponsibly determined leading ladies I’ve read. Audrey is constantly corrupted by rage and intoxicants. While highly unreliable she’s always a delightful spite fire. But my favorite might just have to be Ryker. While he might be the vilest of them all, I can’t help admiring his nonchalance and snark. He gives me all the Johnny Silverhand (Cyberpunk 2077) vibes.

[Hira Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. The storyline was extremely unique and the worldbuilding was insanely detailed. I can see how much thought went into it, and I’m honestly so intrigued by this world.

Audrey is such a complex FMC. The unhinged rage? Absolutely here for it. At some point I genuinely couldn’t tell if she was the villain or if “number one” was. But I loved seeing her slowly come into her powers and accept what she was. I can’t wait to see more of that growth in the next book.

This is a dark dystopian thriller with sci fi and fantasy elements woven into the magic system. It’s fast paced, intense, and had me on edge the entire time. Definitely not a cozy read, but if you love the darker dystopian stories with a thrill, you’re going to eat this up.

[Bookish_Fantasy_Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my honest review of Dream in the Ash

This starts out real ominous and real on point for a dark thriller. Audrey is not perfect, but that’s understandable with her past. She was jailed for something she did not do and must now try to somehow survive and move forward.

This book has so many twists and turns you won’t see coming! You can expect telepathy, violence, and a loy of betrayal and secrets! This is just the start to this story and will definitely keep you wanting more at the end!

There is immense world building and so much to look forward to that can still be explored! Be mindful of the trigger warnings, but if that doesn't bother you, journey on into this world with your pearls clutched and your breath held tight! Enjoy!

Thank you Jacquelyn Gilmore for this ARC

[Deirdre]

Unfortunately I couldn’t finish this book. I made it 25% and was not enjoying it. I received an eARC from the author and am so grateful; yet I couldn’t push myself to keep going. My primary reason was the chunky writing that didn’t flow well, I was confused. I had to re-read something multiple times and was wondering, how did that happen or what is going on?! After several times, I decided it was time to let this ARC go.

An example to demonstrate my point: the MFC’s lawyer/lifelong friend Alex wasn’t at the prison on her release day, which was shocking for the MFC since he had been her number one support person for over 10 years and she expected him to be there. Then, randomly a good chunk of time later he just showed up at the sex club she was working at. Soon after he revealed information but not enough to get why he was missing or why he couldn’t have communicated with her earlier that he couldn’t pick her up from prison. It was all super vague. While he’s sharing the little information he was willing to disclose, she hit him. The next day, the story abruptly jumped to the MFC taking $10k from Alex’s safe to pay her sex club boss back so she no longer had to work there, and then she just left with a stranger, leaving Alex a note that she was leaving. I was so confused what was happening. Did Alex consent to her using his money? I know he offered it earlier, but when she actually took the money out of his safe he wasn’t mentioned at all nor was it clear that he actually gave her the money. The way it was worded was like she stole the money, but I didn’t think that could be true because why would she steal from the person who was helping her, even though he had secrets. Where was Alex? Also, the author took time to explain multiple times that Alex did A LOT for the MFC over the ten years she was in prison and the time leading up to her imprisonment, but once he shared some of his secrets, she was hitting him because she was angry? What?

Further, when Alex came back into the picture after he was mysteriously missing, he engaged in a conversation with the mysterious man as if they already knew each other. However, the MFC never followed up with Alex about this, rather they talked about her mom. Why didn’t they talk about Alex knowing the mystery man? Why would she just go to bed and not ask about that? It was so odd, they were in a conversation and then it just ended, she was trying to sleep, and suddenly taking money out of a safe and going to pay back her boss. It was so fast and abrupt. I didn’t get it.

Another example: The MFC’s ex-prison cellmate was randomly outside the prison to pick the MFC up when she was released. The MFC was surprised by this and said no to this person. Rather, the MFC got on a public bus and took a two hour ride to the city. The MFC waited outside Alex‘s apartment all day, finding he did not come home. Therefore, she went to the ex-cell mates house. We didn’t get any transition regarding this. She was just all of a sudden at this person‘s house. It was noted that she had to find Alex‘s address on a piece of paper in her bag, specifically writing his address in the margins of that paper. So she didn’t know the address of her childhood friend and lawyer over the last ten years, she needed to find where she wrote it down. Yet, she knew where to walk in the city to this random ex-prison cellmates house that she had never been before? How did she know the address? How did she know how to get there? If the ex-cell mate lived in the same city the MFC just took a 2 hour bus ride too, that means that the ex-cellmate just randomly drove two hours, unplanned to pick the MFC up? Huh? Why? What? NONE of this was fleshed out.

Another example: while she was high and sexually with a client, she looked over at a couch and saw the mysterious man having sex with a woman. Then, all of a sudden, that mysterious man was over by her yelling at someone saying they shouldn’t talk or treat her the certain way they were. I was confused, I thought he was having sex with someone. Did he stop and pull his pants up? Was his dick hanging out? There was just no information to transition from one part to the next. I reread that multiple times and could not figure it out.

Overall, I was excited about the story, especially with an addiction rep and it being a dark dystopian mystery thriller, but I just didn’t feel like I was getting enough explained to me to understand what was going on. I had the base/foundation, but the transitions were chunky and didn’t make sense to me. Truly, reading this and wondered if there had ever been an editor or beta readers who read this and provided feedback.

Lastly, saying this book is like Daggermouth is simply untrue.

[Mandy Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream in the Ash is a dark, compelling, and fast-paced dystopian thriller that hooks the reader from the very first page.

The story centers on Audrey, who is finally released from prison for murdering her family—a crime she swears she did not commit.

From the moment she is released, the voice that was in her head the night her family died returns, sending her paranoia spinning out of control.

Hunted, lied to, and manipulated by almost everyone she encounters, Audrey is forced into a life on the run where she must discover her own inner strength.

​The narrative is intentionally chaotic, dropping you directly into Audrey's world and allowing you to experience the confusion and tension right alongside the protagonist. Audrey is not an easy character to relate to, which makes the psychological journey even more fascinating.

Dealing with trauma and addiction, she is unpredictable, and the story does not try to make her put-together. You are stuck in her head the whole time, questioning reality and the true intentions of the voice guiding her.

​The world-building is expansive and develops rapidly, featuring complex power structures and telepathy. While there are many moving pieces at first, the inclusion of a glossary makes the information remarkably easy to digest.

The psychological side of the story is particularly strong; the voice in Audrey's head feels manipulative and intentional, constantly leaving the reader guessing whether it is helping her or slowly turning her into something else.

​This novel balances its dark, overwhelming atmosphere with a strong focus on survival, control, and figuring out what is actually real. It is a fantastic and promising start to the series that ends on a brutal cliffhanger, leaving me desperate for the next book to see what Audrey chooses to do next.

​

[Brittany Newland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this one really intrigued, and for the first half it absolutely delivered. Audrey is such a compelling main character. She’s gritty, sharp, and unapologetically tough, very Jessica Jones energy with a “don’t mess with me” edge that I loved. She felt different from the typical female lead, which was refreshing.

One thing I really appreciated was how the author handled her addiction. It wasn’t glossed over or wrapped up neatly, and that made it feel real. It may be triggering for some readers, but for others it could feel validating and honest in a way you don’t often see.

Plot-wise, the first half had me hooked. It was fast-paced, engaging, and hard to put down. Around the halfway point, though, it started to lose me a bit. The story seemed to slow down as it shifted toward setting up the next book, and it dragged more than I would’ve liked. That said, it did pick back up toward the end and left me interested enough to see where things go next.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
A strong, unique start with a standout main character, just loses a bit of momentum in the middle.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ ┇ Bookstagram ┇ BookTok

This is a unique, fast-paced story that throws you straight into the action and rarely lets up. I went in completely blind, and it turned out to be a twist-filled ride from start to finish.

The story follows Audrey, a young woman released from prison after being wrongfully convicted of murdering her family in a mysterious fire. As she tries to rebuild her life, she’s haunted by a telepathic killer who may or may not be real, while uncovering the truth about her mother’s past, her own abilities, and a hidden war between powerful factions.

The beginning is overwhelming—with heavy terminology and a lot of moving pieces to keep track of. While it does get easier to follow,
I found myself lost again around the halfway point, before things improved toward the end.

What stands out most are the characters. There are no clear heroes or villains—I just love flawed, messy, and morally black characters. Audrey herself is imperfect but easy to root for, navigating a world where trust is both necessary and dangerous.

It’s a story that demands your attention, makes you think, and keeps you guessing the entire time.

‎‧₊˚✧𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽✧˚₊‧

➳❥ Book 1 / Dark Dystopian Series
➳❥ Telepathic FMC
➳❥ Morally Black Characters
➳❥ Slow Burn
➳❥ Tension
➳❥ Everyone is Flawed
➳❥ Mind Games

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝓕𝓪𝓿 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽t𝓮𝓼

"Let them think she was pathetic. Every wolf was small once."

“You think you can outgrow me?”
“No. I think I can outlast you.”

“There was always a crack somewhere. If you stayed alive, long enough to see it.”

“A smile spread across her face. Not because she wasn't afraid... but because she was done

[Lauren Gamble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream in the Ash is a fast-paced dystopian thriller that demands your full attention from page one and never lets up. The story follows Audrey, a telepathic protagonist grappling with intense internal conflict after being wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of her family. From the moment she’s released, the narrative launches forward with relentless momentum, pulling you into a world where power, control, and truth blur in unsettling ways.
Audrey stands out as a compelling FMC—her abilities are as much a burden as they are a strength, and her psychological struggle adds real depth to the action-heavy plot. The tension is constant, and the pacing leaves little room to breathe, which works in the book’s favor. One line that captures the tone perfectly: “There is a sinister appeal to bending the world rather than bowing to it.”
If anything, the book feels like it’s just getting started. While the plot is gripping, there’s a sense that the characters—beyond Audrey—still have room to grow. Book 2 will likely expand on those relationships and deepen the world-building, which could elevate the series even further.

ARC review

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing speculative fictional thriller following Audrey’s journey of uncovering her true identity and stepping into her telepathic powers as she is released from prison for her family’s murder. This compulsively readable dystopian sci-fi is dark, gritty, and violent, with themes of addiction injected into Audrey’s story and through characters’ motives of using each other for their own gain. I really enjoyed the fast-paced “everything is not as it seems” tone and the winding nature of each character’s arc. The action scenes and telepathic connections are written well. Even towards the end I’m not sure which way is up or down, which characters can be trusted or not, as the world of an organization beyond Earth’s bounds starts to reveal itself. With chapter enders that hook you, there are some loose threads that I hope pick back up in later books. Thank you, Jacquelyn for this ARC opportunity! A great start to The Other Half of the End series!

[Nancy Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dream in the Ash
4.5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read this extremely fast (for me as I’m normally a slow reader). The first chapter got me hooked and I had a hard time putting this book down.

I really enjoy dystopias and this particular dystopia deals with an entirely different world and culture than Earth. I really like the main character, Audrey, who has gone through some s**t. She isn’t the easiest character to love because of her internal dialogue and the things she has gone through. She deals and battles addiction, living and working as a s*x worker, etc. Even when I got frustrated with her, I still wanted her to get up and keep going. I like her attitude, how hard she fights for those she loves and it’s really interesting to learn her thoughts about her powers.

This book really delves into powers and whether they are used for good or bad. And what we really think is “bad”. Because is it always that black and white? It really makes you think about how if you are born with powers but don’t know how to control them, as an adult can you learn control and can they be twisted? A bit like nature versus nurture argument.

The male characters are interesting because the ones that Audrey trust end up betraying her. As she is the narrator, I wonder if we can fully trust her version of events as are they really betraying her trust. I definitely need the next book out asap! I have so many questions - I would like a little bit more accurate information about this society, the history, history of Audrey’s family, etc.

Note: I received and read this as an ARC - received from the author.

[Heidi Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thank you to the Author for an advanced copy of the book!

This book is a dystopian tale that has a mystery thriller vibe. The FMC is messy, but in all the best unlikable until she grows on you way.

I cannot wait to follow Audrey onto the next book!

[Dani-Lynn Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮
N/A - 𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮
🔥🔥🔥🔥 - 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽
🩸- 𝓰𝓸𝓻𝓮

🖤 𝓶𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼🖤
Audrey & Ryker

🖤 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼🖤
📕psychological tension
📕slow burn
📕morally complex characters
📕obsession/rage
📕shift of power

🖤 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
I did not expect to be blown away by the vast approach into a broader magical story, but halfway, I was intrigued with the plot. The female main is likable as you try to develop the deeper meaning behind what really happened the night before she was locked up for the deaths of her family members. It’s quick to start and so many details are thrusted forward the further she tries to figure out that night and discover who she really is. Gilmore grabs you right from the beginning and doesn’t release until the end, making you want more.

*spoilers*

Audrey has been wrongfully accused and locked up for the deaths of her family. At least, she believes herself to be innocent, placing the blame on a figure in the yard. But when she is finally released, the glares from the public refuse to accept that she’s innocent. She still tries to move on with life after her attorney disappears the day of her release.

Years later, he finds her. And she still feels those same eyes staring at her. The same eyes she saw in the yard the day her family died. The day her world burnt up. That is until it is revealed that her mother had survived and even was able to save her sister from the flames. The same sister she caused great pain without knowing what was happening.

See, Audrey has a golden gift. One that people of a higher power may want to gain for themselves. And Audrey is a key to getting just that. Without spoiling too much of the story, the rise of conflict begins the moment she falls into the cell of the wrong man. The very man that ruined her existence. The man that hides within the shadows and sends messages that only she can hear.

As the first book in the series, the build-up of characters, special gifts within people, and world building, I can’t wait to see how the story is going to expand. Gilmore gives the readers a unique murder whodunnit with some magical elements (including telepathy) with a storyline that will have you gasped from the start. I was seated the entire time, waiting for her to reach her fullest potential and reclaim her power again. Dream In The Ash is a fun, enticing first book in a five-part series that pulls you in immediately with its intense premise, likable characters, and a cliffhanger that will leave you needing more.

[thedirtychapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️1🌶
Tropes: dystopian thriller, female rage, slow-burn, multiple worlds, multiple times lines, world at war, captured FMC
Triggers: drug use, S/A, murder, violence, torture, violence, prostitution, imprisonment
" Power means nothing. If it destroys the mind using it."
The beginning of this book was a little confusing to me, basically because of the complex world building that occurs. It took me a minute to wrap my head around everything. But the imagination and creativity of this author is completely off the charts. Another thing I loved was when it was pointed out that characters were making a mistake. For example, it would say something like, and thats where it went wrong. It's actually created a lot of anticipation in me, now I'm dying to know what happens and why that was the wrong move
I can't wait for the next book. Where hopefully Audrey kicks some major butt and we get to see whom she ends up with. As of now I have no idea, could easily be one of about four men and I'm insanely curious.
All in all a great read that will leave you wanting for more.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ I went into this book completely blind. There’s great world building and from chapter one the story jump right into action. I found myself a little confused at a few points in the beginning but since the writing was so engaging it kept me wanting more. There were lots of twist and turns and overall I found this story to be very captivating. I’m appreciative that I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really heavy world .
Big building and alot of explaining necessary, i love the idea & the synopsis . The story was great but one less star because it really took ALOT to get invested & more to understand what was going on. Overall I did finish (a little late) and I did really enjoy the story.

I received an ARC E-BOOK of this book all opinions and reviews are MY OWN.

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before you read this review, just know that Dream in the Ash is not a book I would normally gravitate toward. I live in fantasy, with a little sci-fi on the side, and this sits firmly outside that comfort zone. The only reason I picked it up? Jacquelyn Gilmore’s writing, I already knew I loved her style, so I took the chance.

And she was absolutely right when she said this book is not for everyone.

Described as a dark dystopian thriller where thoughts kill and obsession takes root, that tagline is spot on. This book is heavy. It dives into dark themes and difficult topics, so definitely check trigger warnings before going in.

One of the most interesting aspects is that there are no clear heroes or villains. Everything exists in shades of grey. Every character is flawed, messy, and honestly… a little unhinged. In real life, they would all need intensive therapy, but for this story? It works. The characters are what carried the book for me. Watching how they think, act, and spiral is what kept me turning pages.

The world-building is well done, though it takes some time to fully come together. You don’t really get the full picture until about halfway through, and then there’s a major twist that shifts your understanding of everything. That reveal was definitely a highlight.

The overall plot, people fighting over control of the universe, wasn’t anything particularly new for me. It’s been done before. But again, it’s not really about the plot here. It’s about the characters and the psychological depth they bring to the story.

This was outside my usual genre, dark, intense, and at times uncomfortable, but I’m glad I read it. And I will absolutely be picking up book two.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a twisty story!

We have poor Audrey just getting released from prison where she’s spent 10 years behind bars for a crime that she says she didn’t commit. She’s hearing a voice in her head, and she’s using in an attempt to dull out both his voice as well as everyone’s thoughts. Because yes, she’s a rare telepath (or maybe more).

She starts with an unsavory crowd, which actually may have been helping her hide. But she’s with them in the first place because the man she trusts wasn’t there when she got out (which, rude). Then he crashes into her life, making demands and keeping secrets, but also letting her know that he’s keeping secrets (again, rude). Before she’s rescued by another man who’s been keeping tabs on her.

You really have to wonder who she can actually trust (I’m leaning towards no one). But she’s also somewhat stranded, and if she wants to get anywhere in this mystery, she has to put her trust in someone and hope they don’t hold it against her. But girl! She keeps falling back to her old vices, and while she's experienced the consequences of those vices before, sadly it's by being with Ryker's group that she learns just what falling back to old habits will truly cost.

If you love a dystopian society with shocking plot twists, a bad*ss telepathic FMC, antiheroes and morally black characters, multiple love interests, mental health reps, murder mysteries, and slow burn spicy romance, then you check out Dream in the Ash!

[Dayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long journey for a broken woman

Audrey is being released from prison, finally, for murdering her family that she swears wasn't her. But from the moment she is released, the man who's voice was in her head the night her family died is back in her head again. Her safety net doesn't show and she is forced to choose a life that keeps her moving. With her gifts unknown, her mind and paranoia are spinning out of control. It doesn't help that everyone she encounters seems to want something from her.

Goodness did Audrey get put through so much in this book. She is kidnapped, pushed around, lied to, used, and manipulated over and over again. This woman has no idea how strong she is, what truly lies inside of her, and is filled with nothing but anger with each lie that is exposed. I don't blame her one bit. This book was definitely the journey of getting there for Audrey, but I have no doubt that the world building will pay off in the next book.

“I’m afraid you’ll decide you don’t need to choose any side. People like you rarely do.”

[Jordan McClellan]

A huge thank the author for allowing me to ARC read this. I want to start by saying I enjoyed the concept of this book however, the ideas were sporadic and I didn’t feel like it flowed as well as it could have. I also wanted to learn more about the world because it did fascinate me but the world building fell flat for me personally.

[Bridget Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌟ARC REVIEW🌟

This book had an interesting dystopian concept with a lot of twists and turns. It starts out as Audrey is released from prison for the murder of her family. Things take a jump when she does not realize who she can trust, her best friend/lawyer turns out to be not what she thought. She encounters several mysterious strangers, and more questions than answers come up about her past. She realizes that there was more to her telepathy than she could have imagined. In the end, it remains unclear who she can trust, and what fate has in store for her.


Stars: 3.5 (up to 4 for goodreads)
Spice: 0

[Crystal Jenkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted this book to be good. Some of the concept was good. But the majority of this book was just…bad. I didn’t like a single one of the characters, a lot of the interactions were either completely devoid of real emotion, didn’t make any sense, or dragged on with no real point. It was so rough that I kept asking myself if it was written by AI, because whoever wrote it couldn’t possibly understand genuine human emotions and intimacy in any real level. Yikes. Just, please, don’t torture yourself by reading this one.

[Amanda Gardner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC. It is definitely a new genre for me. The world building was cool and so was the character development. I did feel it was a bit slow especially in the middle when they are traveling but I’m interested to see where the series goes next and who I should be rooting for in the end.

[Justine Summerhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book through me for I loop. I wasn’t expecting things in this book that happened. But overall it’s and interesting read.

[Jayme Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Dream in the Ash is a fast paced, messy, thrilling sci-fi dystopian book that is quite dark with on page drug usage, addiction, and violence.

Audrey spends 10 years in prison for a crime she did not commit. She hears a voice in her head. She holds fast to the conviction that the person that DID commit the crime and the voice in her head are the same person.
When she is freed and her lawyer (and friend, Alex) is not around, she finds other means to survive. She is an addict and has to support her habit somehow as well as have a place to live.
She is a mess. I can't decide if I love or hate her and I believe that's the intention because regardless of how I feel about her, I am rooting for her. Her life is full of twists and turns and manipulations and secrets. She also has this well of strength and resiliance that seems to have no bottom. Oh, and she has some surprises up her sleeve. The barely controlled raged within this woman...

The world was fascinating to me. You have earth and two other civilizations... you have a governing body controlling travel... People with varying degrees of power from none to a sh!t ton. Powers range from fire to telepathy to telekinesis.

Ryker intrigues me. The other men in the story... Emerson, Mihail, Alex... all of them are more questions than answers right now. I know who I suspect with be the love interest as the series goes along. But right now all 4 of them are just characters on a board.
I'm not even 100% sure who the villain is.

This book is definitely a bit confusing at the beginning and requires your full attention. It's not a simple, fluffy read. It's gritty and complex while also being intense. It's approximately 300 pages of moving pieces that is setting up for what is sure to be an incredible book 2.

[Yesilovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely something new for me. So many feelings were felt while reading this. Seeing Audrey suffer and having no one to trust all while trying to survive her new life was definitely heartbreaking. And seeing her struggle and falling prey to a life substance abuse. I loved the world building and getting to see Audrey grow and learn to control her power.

[Aria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dream in the Ash weaves a compelling fantasy tale with atmospheric worldbuilding and a premise that hints at deeper mysteries waiting to unfold. Jacqueline Kilmore sets up an intriguing backdrop of ash-covered realms and lingering dreams, creating moments that spark curiosity and draw you into the story's quiet intensity.
There are scenes where the emotional undercurrents and subtle magic really shine, offering glimpses of the potential simmering beneath the surface. The characters navigate their challenges with a sense of determination that keeps things moving, even if not always at a breakneck pace.
Overall, this was a solid 3-star ARC—thoughtful and atmospheric with promise, though it stayed comfortably in the middle ground for me without fully igniting that extra spark.
I received the ARC in exchange for my honest review