Where Dreams Fall

Defying Fate #1

by R.L. Caulder

In a world in which dreams are guarded and nightmares are unsanctioned, one woman's unraveling mind may hold the key to everything the empire fears.

Elysia has spent her life thus far beneath the white clouds of the Dromin elves, protected from nightmares and the Nithrin elves that feed on them—until now. Her dreams have begun to twist into haunting scenes of ancient creatures, death . . . and a mysterious figure cloaked in light and shadow. Elysia suspects he's a Dromin elf breaking multiple laws to appear to her, and his whispered words and lingering touch ignite a spark between them that the gods themselves will soon fear.

When the queen dies and a brutal selection process to replace her begins, Elysia quickly realizes the waking world is fracturing alongside her sleeping one. Women across the empire are offered to the elven high priestess, put forward as potential heads for a crown drenched in blood and lies. Elysia finds herself at the center of the trials, and if she's to survive them, she'll have to decide what she's willing to fight for—and if she can live with the choices she's forced to make. Because only one will be chosen as queen, but all will be broken in the process.

Elysia eventually ascends into the elven world to find the one who stirred her heart is waiting there, but his true identity is far more dangerous than she ever imagined. Choosing each other will mean forsaking the world they're trying to save . . .

Sweeping, perilous, and aching with forbidden passion, Where Dreams Fall is the first book of a dark romantasy series in which love is the most dangerous rebellion of all.

Narrated in duet style.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Magic, Fiction, Dark Romance

256 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 17, 2026

About the author

R.L. Caulder is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in her writing cave away from the intense heat of the Florida sun with her husband and furry writing assistants, MeowMeow and Winrey. Life is never boring for R.L., who has hundreds of imaginary friends constantly vying for her attention and begging for their stories to be told.

If you're looking for ways to interact with R.L., you can find her on Facebook, in her group:
The Cauldron: R.L. Caulder Reader Group

Reviews

[Maeghan 🦋 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huge thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!!

Between the dream/nightmare system, the queen selection and a fmc who doesn’t stop at anything - this book had the makings to be a very good read for me. Sadly, the execution didn’t quite work out and left me with many unanswered questions.

30-40% of the book is building the reader up to the queen trials… for it to be over with faster than the buildup. I was left with many unanswered questions regarding this aspect. The pacing was a bit random and thus made certain situations feel underwhelming. I was also wondering why everyone just went with it if only one village was made to be enriched for 100 years or so?

The fmc was sincerely the strong suit of this novel. She’s strong willed and maybe a bit too perfect but that never feels like something worth complaining about. The mmc on the other hand… what a drag. He was kind of pathetic if you ask me - just trying to recruit people to his pity party. Maybe he’ll get out of his victim mindset but he seemed quite stuck in it.
The romance was pulling on strings. She saw him twice in dreams (from what she remembers) and had minor interactions with him… then jumped to comparing every men to him. Which gave me whiplash. I don’t think you can judge ‘the goodness of his heart’ or ‘love her right when you see her’ upon a few brief meetings in dreams but maybe I’m in the wrong here.

The side characters were sadly only present to move the plot along… they didn’t have fleshed out personalities and felt more like decorative plants than actual characters.

I will say that the world building and the descriptions were very well done. Though I do believe some aspects of the world should’ve taken more place for it to be fluent and not leave the readers with many unanswered questions.

[meg *ੈ✩‧₊˚ (semi ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

we are brought into a world of elves and humans.. where dreams and nightmares fuel the elves.. where human decide one girl from their village to be chosen by the elves.. but is it truly a gift the humans think? or their ruin?

the story is very fast paced and keeps you wondering what's going on... my only quip with it is, i wanted more story and plot then i did romance... and it truly shows you why at the end, but i just wanted more world-building...more knowledge to the magic... more of what the plot truly is, then two souls fated to be together but torn apart cause of the past they did not know would shape them.

overall, it kept me intrigued and i still devoured the book so fast and will continue to read the series.

[☀︎El In Oz☀︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! What an amazing start to a romantasy series!! This is a very short and fast paced novel, which means every scene is written with an absolutely wonderful precision.

The magic system is so cool. I think books need more dream based magic! The world of the elves is described so wonderfully that it feels like you’re living alongside them. The historical background of the world is well explained so we can see why characters act the way they do, which is something I always appreciate. And let me tell you, this world is fascinating!! I have a feeling things from the past aren’t quite what the history texts say 👀

Elysia is an absolutely wonderful main character to be following. Her kindness, compassion, and genuine love for the world makes you want to see her succeed so badly. Her courage and strength and fury are all so vibrant and with the reveals at the end, I am gobsmacked. Desperate to know more. I’m so excited for more of her!!

Rhune is so so sweet. I love a love interest that has been through so much in their last yet still can be kind. I absolutely am loving what we’ve seen of him so far and again, THE END?!!!

The way the first chapter becomes full circle with the end is INSANE and I absolutely love it. The initial premise of the book is flipped on its head twice, and I’m beyond intrigued to see where the story is going to go next. I thought every section of the book was well thought out. Although I wish some sections had been paced slower, it’s a short book, so I get why everything was so fast!

The ending has the type of reveal that leaves your jaw on the floor and your brain whirring with theories for the sequel. I am beyond excited to read it!

[RedFireLady · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
🫑

This had all the makings of a book that I would love - A human FMC forced from the life she has always known into a word of fae that are divided but holding onto a fragile peace. Unfortunately, this one just really didn't hit for me.

I liked that Elysia was so good-hearted. She puts others before herself and tries to do what she feels is right. She's strong willed and determined , yet also has moments of weakness and doubt.

I like the MMC ok.. he starts off a bit weak and hiding in the shadows but eventually seems to find his strength and motivation. He has the potential to be good book boyfriend material, but I just didn't get there with him.

The insta-love connections is also not for me. I prefer more tension and development of a relationship rather than instantly having a devotion to someone you have barely interacted with.

All of that being said, the plot was interesting enough to keep me from DNF'ing the book. The pacing of events wasn't the best but the story was still interesting and I liked the premise behind it. I would have liked for the book to have been longer with more character and relationship building as a lot of thaf felt very rushed.

If you like a romantasy book with an instant connection and an interesting premise to the story, then this may be something you would enjoy. It's not a bad book, it just wasnt for me.

Thank you to R.L. Caulder and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

[ᴊᴇꜱꜱᴛʜᴇʙᴏᴏᴋᴅᴇᴍᴏɴ ☾ ✧˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮,” 𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐬, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐦𝐞. “𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞.”

i don’t read a lot of romantasy anymore but when R.L. Caulder announced a book that’s Legolas and the Sandman mixed together, i was SOLD.

get ready for a slow burn but with great pining for a forbidden love. if you’re the oldest daughter in a family, you’ll relate to Elysia so much. she strong and trying to take care of everyone around her, even when she’s “chosen” to potentially be the next Queen.

“𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐈’𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭.”

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍 is the first book in this new series, but it doesn’t just feel like an info dump but sets up a world that has you more and more curious as you continue reading.

but the ending… only R.L. can drop an ending/cliffhanger like that and fracture my heart but still beg me for wanting me. this is such an intriguing story that has me ready for the next book to find out what is going to happen next.

thank you R.L. Caulder and NetGalley for an e-ARC of 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍

✨ 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍 releases March 17th, 2026




✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
M/F, dual 1st person POV, 23 fmc / ??? mmc
elf mmc / human fmc
slow burn, forbidden, cliffhanger

[Shoshana Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

How often do you meet the man of your dreams? R.L. Caulder absolutely blew me away with this new romantasy. Where Dreams Falls is the first book in her new Defying Fate series.

This is was one of my favorite reads this year! WDF had such a new and refreshing plot line I was immediately reeled in and left wanting more. From the lore to the building tension between our FMC Elysia and MMC Rhune, IM SAT! It’s impossible to not like Elysia — I won’t be accepting any slander against her. She was strong, witty and resilient. Definitely someone I would want in my corner. Daddy Rhune ? Everyone has been wanting more yearning and here it is wrapped up in the form of a sexy elf. Because what do you mean he’s been in her dreams for YEARS breaking the rules!

I’m excited to go on this journey with these characters. This first book was just a taste. I know that RL has more in store for us. That cliffhanger had me in shambles.

Hats off to her because I imagine it’s difficult to build a completely new world, lore, characters, relationship dynamics and plant the seeds of mystery and romance. But she did it all! It’s so deeply satisfying to watch everything unravel while being immersed in this new world and learning the magic system and lore.

As always the writing was on point! I’m loving this new era of RL’s work.

I’m both excited and terrified 😂 for what is to come. I already know book 2 is going to have me crying screaming and throwing tf up. As always I love RLs particular brand of torture!

Thank you Podium Entertainment and NetGalley for this EARC.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Cassie W · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
🌶️🌶️

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC read. This was such a great first book in the series!! I haven’t read this author before but definitely will be looking at more. The magic system was so different and the FMC and MMC was so unique. Can’t wait for the next one!

[Jenn (loves_a_good_book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic just doesn’t cover it. I loved this book! I think this is my favourite RL book now.

The world and storyline is unique, to me at least, and it was so interesting and entertaining. I didn’t want this to end.

I loved the mystery that surrounded Rhune and how Elysia will fight for what’s right and the people she cares about. This book gave me goosebumps, tears in my eyes and my jaw dropping at the ending.

Definitely recommend!

Thank you Podium Entertainment and NetGalley for this eARC.

[Lila‘s 1000Lifes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where Dreams Fall is book one in a dark romantasy series centred around Elysia, a human girl, living in a world of fragile peace where Elves feed from humans’ dreams.

This was my first R.L. Caulder book, but it will certainly not be the last! Her flowy and descriptive writing style drew me in and it‘s been a while since I could let myself fall so much into a story. It felt like the words carried me through it.

This first book was mainly focused on the heroine Elysia and the world and character building centred around her. What a great heroine Elysia is. She’s hard-working, brave, and has a heart of gold. Of course, she’s also a little bit naive, but this is rooted in her upbringing in a secluded and poverty-stricken village. I loved to see the world through her eyes with a mixture of wonder and horror. How she slowly found her backbone and I‘m sure she‘ll be a badass in the books to come.

This is a slow-burn romance, so the MC was only teased at in this book. Though the book is written in his POV as well, these parts were minor and I don‘t think I know him well yet. I do think he and Elysia are set to have great chemistry.

I‘ll admit that I did see minor stumbling blocks in this story and some plot twists definitely felt like a hammer to the head, but I loved that! It’s been a while since I was really surprised by the progress of a story and Where Dreams Fall definitely surprised me a time or two. Maybe I could have seen the twist at the end coming, but while reading, I was so captivated I could barely breathe, let alone think in advance. So to me, it came out of the left field.

Overall, this book was a fantastic vibe read to me; it was one of these books I couldn‘t put down and the five stars are well deserved. Can‘t wait for book two!

Thank you to R.L. Caulder for sending me an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Cassie Nosko · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book right here is going to blow up for sure! This book is so refreshing, so original and I could not and did not want to put it down! I think it's safe to say this book is going to be my new personality because I am obsessed!

This book is a mash up of The Hunger Games, Sandman and ACOTAR vibes! Absolutely magical!

Elysia is the FMC whose family is on the poorer side within the village. She is determined to help support her family and is such a hard worker! Elysia and her family are the definition of selfless and they aren't afraid to help others in whatever capacity they can. Elysia has a loud voice to stand up when she sees injustice and you can't help becoming so invested in her character. Even though she holde value towards her family, she yearns for more. Elysia is faced with an unexpected reality, once it's announced the current queen is dead. She will face whatever may come with determination and resilience.

This book kicks off with Elysia in a dream, or rather a nightmare. A surprise visitor makes himself known....The Dromin elves are the dream keepers. The Nithrin elves feed off of nightmares. They are sectioned into east and west lands and depending where you live, those elves have domain over your dreams. All the elves live above the clouds. The intricate workings and laws of the elves is so fascinating; the world development an storyline is the book was FLAWLESS!

Rhune, Rhune, RHUNE! Has just been enlisted into the roaster of book boyfriends! You heart just squeezes for him; his self worth is diminished. He is the definitely of "he falls first, and hard".

I cannot wait for the next book and to see where will happen next 🥺 when is the release day for book two because I need it NOW 🤣😘



⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️n

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

R.L. Caulder hit the nail on the head with Where Dreams Fall. It checked so many boxes. Elves, dream magic, deadly trials, a kingdom in the clouds, and the bodyguard trope, which is becoming a new favorite of mine. It's everything I could want in an epic fantasy romance. I did not want to put it down. There were more than a few surprises that left me gasping. Elysia was a sunshine girl but with an edge. She was easy to like, truly about people, and putting others before herself. Elysia was a good soul. Rhune was a dream; see what I did there, haha. He redefined the word brooding, although he didn't start off that way. The connection between him and Elysia was strong. However, their situation is anything but perfect. So much angst, and it does not stop. The plot more than makes up for it.


The further I get into the story, the more I realize something hinky is going on. While some questions were answered before they were even really brought up, it's the unanswered questions that had me on edge. And rightfully so. The brutality of this book is jaw-dropping. That plot twist was so freaking savage. By the end, I lost my freaking mind. I am not okay.


Where Dreams Fall has one of those cliffhangers that you just carry with you. Gods, I need the next book ASAP! If you're looking for your next great romantasy, this is it. Ten out of ten stars.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

The world building and magic system in this story were so interesting. Our FMC is strong-willed and really stole the whole show. The plot kind of jumped around a little and I was left with more questions than answers. We're introduced to a lot of characters but dont really get enough of them, they didnt feel fleshed out as I'd like them to be. The romance was a little lacking and I'm really looking forward to just more.

I'm going to hold on to the fact that this is just book 1 and everything will be made more clear in the next book. I really like the premise behind this story and love the FMC!

I was gifted an ALC from Podium Audio and I have to say the narrators were phenomenal! I absolutely adored them.

[DarcieReadsALot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not me bawling my eyes out in Chapter 8! I don’t even know how that happened when I barely even knew any of the characters yet, but it’s true! The first half was kind of giving Hunger Games vibes and the romance was glacial in nature. Knowing R.L. Caulder’s writing, it’ll steam up later I’m sure! There were several moments throughout Where Dreams Fall that had my heart pounding with fury and fear and heartbreak. There was a quick taste of the intrigue and whispers of a royal court and you truly have no idea who you can trust, which keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout! So much stuff gets set up for more fantastic magical adventures and I cannot wait for the next book!

[My Green Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Wishes it was longer with more connection to the side characters but can’t wait for the next.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

R.L. Caulder has done it again! Yet another amazing book she's put out. I really enjoyed this the MFC is someone I would love to meet in real life. I about died because of that cliffhanger, ok well I almost threw my phone. 😆

[Nadi | Tales and Talons · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️.5
I was really excited to read this because the premise sounded like something that’s right up my alley. I genuinely enjoyed the beginning of the story, meeting the FMC and getting a peek at the MMC in her dreams. Unfortunately, it lost me a bit along the way.

First of all, I would like to say that the author has great ideas and knows how to outline a story. The writing is lush and the world building was so interesting. The cast of characters has real potential, and I don’t think I have read something similar to it before, so the story felt fresh.

That being said, I wanted more.
More character development, more tension between the FMC & MMC (she feels deeply attached to him after only seeing glimpses of him in her dreams, which didn’t fully work for me), and most of all more pages to give all of the above some breathing room to fully unfold the potential of this book.

I felt like we chased through this book without catching our breath, and therefore a lot of the major events didn’t have an emotional impact, nor could I develop any kind of connection with the characters, who also felt pale and like untapped potential for me. Things the FMC said about characters she met like five minutes ago — “we cannot lose more of our people” — I mean, that just didn’t land for me, and I could not get behind that emotion because I was not feeling it.

I am kind of curious how this story will continue, but at the moment I am not sure if I will continue, as it left me a bit frustrated while reading because I really wanted this to hit harder.

Thank you to the author for providing me an eARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Andrea Morgan -Bookaholic Sisters blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

i wasnt sure what to expect from Where Dreams Fall, i knew it sounded like something i would love so i was excited to start, i struggled at first but its a fast paced storyline so it didnt take long till i was invested.

"you've been taught to fear nightmares, but they're just dreams in a darker mirror."

i ended up really enjoying this book, alot more than i thought when i first started, this is mainly due to the staoryline ,i found myself really needing to know what was going to happen, that being said i would have loved more depth, i wanted more information, more world building and much more relationship building, the romance felt a bit too insta lovey for my liking, but i must admit i have a soft spot for the mmc

"such a pretty little dove, in such an ugly, gilded cage"

will i read the next?........yes im intrigued to see what happens next!!

[Gyula0311 · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC READ**

4.5⭐️
0/5🌶️
Dual/first person POV
Book 1 in a new series
Format: e-arc

Spoiler free

In the words of Gaga: no sleep, bus, club, another club, plane🤣

Thank you tons to NetGalley & Podium Publishing for granting me this arc.

The pacing here is what makes this read so good. At roughly 250 pages, the fast paced plot did not take away from anything else (almost.) In fact, this is how authors should write such short books: NO spice in book 1 + a story that packs it all. The style of writing is atmospheric & has an almost (pun intended) dreamy quality to it.

From chapter one, I was literally sucked into the FMC’s dream. The premise is very original for romantasy: the humans live on land & in the clouds above live the elves. There are the elves of the court of dreams & those of the court of nightmares. While the humans sleep, these elves feed on their minds. During these exchanges, neither of them can communicate with the other.

Well, that’s where the MMC comes in; who we meet in the first chapter. That almost ghostly/slinky/wispy introduction to him was mysterious perfection. & that’s all I’ll say about him😉 The FMC is a crafter that lives a very humble life with her family. She’s all the things: soft, kind, thoughtful, determined, hard working.

When the queen dies, our girl becomes one of the candidates for the replacement thus sparking the path that she must journey on. Throughout it all, she carries herself with dignity & grace & really giving it her all. Honestly, the goodbye in the beginning made me so emotional.

I love that brief glimpse of female friendship amongst the juxtaposition of the candidates being in competition with each other. Also, the testing was so tense & gripping then turned just plain emotional.

That ending came out of nowhere! I did NOT see that coming at all. Then it proceeded to stab me in the heart😅

My critiques:
1 this book could have still benefited from being slightly longer. at times the world building/magic system needed to be fleshed out more because it was confusing/tough to follow.
2 I wish there was more of that female friendship. The ladies didn’t stand a chance because the book is so short.
3 the plot twist/cliffhanger was done a bit clunky. Again because everything was rushed, including the ending.
4. It felt like because everything needed to be packed into such a short word count, the reader is rushed to the finish line; which did feel overwhelming at times.

**Releases: 3/17/26**

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I am Elysia Virellan of Edritch and I am done watching them fall."

I cried. I cried a lot. Chapter 8 had me crying. Chapter 15 had me crying. The last five chapters had me crying. Elysia and Rhune are my power(fully heartbroken) couple of 2026.

I was lucky enough to be chosen as an alpha reader for this book, and I yelled at R.L. a lot. A lot a lot.

I got to read it a second time when looking for sound blurbs, I got sucked back in.

Finally, I was allowed to be an ARC reader through NetGalley. SUCKED RIGHT BACK IN.

Every book R.L. writes is my new favorite. Each and every time I read them.

I want more of Elysia's story. And that cliffy is heartbreaking. I cried because the book ended.

Rhune is 10/10 top tier future book boyfriend material. He *is* the trauma I am waiting for in 2026 when the book is officially released.

I laughed, I cried, I cheered for girl power, I made sure the dog didn't die, and I connected so hard to eldest daughter/oldest sibling Elysia. I absolutely cannot wait for 2026 because of this series.

The one and only "spoiler" I'll give you is this: the dog doesn't die.

*comes out 3/17/26

[MaReads Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had every ingredient to be my next dark romantasy obsession… but the story ran out of pages before it ran out of ideas.

2,5 ⭐️/5 — 🫑

⛅️ Dream talking
🔗 Bond
💘 Forbidden love
❤️‍🔥 He falls first
💪🏻 Bodyguard
👑 Journey to become Queen

The premise of When Dreams Fall is irresistible: dream magic, nightmare magic, rival elven courts, a deadly queen selection, and a forbidden love between an ambitious human and a dangerously compelling elf.
On paper, I was obsessed. In execution… I felt a little lost.

🗺️ Fascinating worldbuilding, but frustrating pacing
The world is ambitious:

• elves who feed on dreams and nightmares

• an oppressive religious system

• a brutal queen-selection process

• ancient gods, political tension, and forbidden magic

But at only 250 pages, the story simply doesn’t have enough room to breathe.
There’s too much information, not enough development, and major events happen so fast that transitions feel abrupt.
This book needed twice the page count to fully explore everything it introduces.

The Characters
👩🏻 Elysia: an excellent heroine

«  I will not… die here »

I really liked Elysia. She reminded me of Thea (The Legends of Thezmarr) for her ambition and sharp observation. She’s perceptive, confident, determined, and uses her position to secure her family’s future. 
I also enjoyed her growing bond with Berrin and Luand, a subtle found family dynamic that reminded me a bit of Auren/Digby (The Plated Prisoner), but it was too short…

🧝🏻‍♂️ Rhune: intriguing but stuck in a pity-party loop
Rhune worked for me… mostly.
His scenes felt very reminiscent of:
• Ruhn & Lydia (Crescent City)
• Cyrus & Alizeh (This Woven Kingdom)
The idea that he’s been visiting her dreams for years is fascinating, but the relationship escalates too fast.
They barely know each other, yet act like they’ve been courting for ages.
The “he falls first” trope is there, but without the slow burn it needed to hit emotionally.

« I’ve spent years breaking laws in silence, visiting her night after night. »

« I will never be able to choose him. Not because I don’t want to… but because he won’t let me. »

« Don’t do that. Don’t look at me like that anymore.
Like what?
Like I’m worth fighting for. »

« You’re the only soul atop these clouds I don’t fear.
That’s interesting, because yours is the only soul I do fear. »

Underdeveloped side characters
This is where the short page count really hurts.
So many characters had potential:

• Sorryn’s arc flips too quickly

• Zayvin is barely there
• Serenath needed more quiet scenes with Elysia

• Enari becomes “important” despite barely talking to her

• Lisbeth goes from mean girl to ally too fast
Every relationship needed more scenes, more depth, more breathing room.

📚 Overall
I loved:
✔ the concept
✔ the dream/nightmare magic
✔ Elysia as a character
✔ the atmospheric fantasy tone
✔ the echoes of other stories I adore

But:
✘ too short for its own ambition
✘ romance feels rushed
✘ worldbuilding is dense but compressed
✘ emotional beats don’t land fully
✘ pacing jumps from scene to scene too quickly

I’m frustrated because the potential is HUGE.
With 500 pages, this could have been a dark romantasy masterpiece.
As it stands, it’s an interesting but uneven read.

Thank you NetGalley and Podium Entertainment | Podium Publishing for sending me this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Elanda Birch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love RL Caulder! She write the best fantasy romance, with characters that are both relatable and yet rooted in our fantasies. This book had me from the first page, with an exciting sequence that scared you and yet made you sure that the hero would swoop in and save our FMC. And as expected, our author made it all happen, just as we wanted, but with a HUGE twist!
Our book is set in a world of dreams and nightmares. One half of the kingdom is watched over by the dream elfs, and the other half is watched over by the nightmare elfs. One is not good or bad, but there needs to be balance between the two. Once, long ago, there was unity between the two kingdoms, but then the war happened and the two kingdoms were split apart. They are desperately trying to find balance to garner the Goddess's blessings.
Our MMC is an anomaly in the kingdom. He is one of three brothers in the elfen kingdom with supposedly little to no power of his own. He is not a dream elf or a nightmare elf, but a combination of the two. One of his brothers is the king of dreams and the other is the king of nightmares. They get their power from feeding on the nighttime adventures of the humans that they watch over.
Our FMC is a human in the dream world. In the opening sequence of the book, she is saved by none other then a dream elf (or so she thinks). When she is unexpectedly taken to the elfen kingdom and meets him in person, she is surprised to discover that he is NOT a dream elf, but a hybrid of both kingdoms.
This book is SO good, it grabs you by the throat from the first word and drags you along this suspenseful ride until the very end! This book DOES end on a cliffhanger, and this book IS a "previous lives" book. Which, in all honesty, I dislike strongly! If this is like all the other previous lives books I have read in the past, we are going to spend the next 3 books in the series going back and forth between enemies to "maybe" friends, all because of what happened decades ago when they were other people. Inevitably one or the other in the relationship cannot get past who or what the other was in the previous life. It's repetitive, and it's hard to read. Just once, I would love to read a "previous lives" books where both the FMC and the MMC were like "ya know what...we really F*c@ed up that last life, let's learn from our mistakes, understand that we are different people this time, and really make it work this go round!" And then use the books in the series to put them in situations and trials where they use their past experiences to push through and make things better together. I absolutely ADORE RL Caulder, and I guess we will see what she has in store for us in the next book. 4.3 stars, and it DOES end on a cliffhanger.

[Jade Kaawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

dreams & nightmares

romantasy | paranormal romance | dual POV | slow burn | goddess | elves | quest | magic | chosen | first in a series | humans x elves | sunshine x grump | man obsessed | yearning | he falls first | insta love | body guard | silver haired MMC |

This was a really quick and engaging read. The bones of this story were really good. I liked the plot, I liked the world, and I liked the integration of dreams and nightmares as magic wielded by elves. I think this particular facet of the magic of this world made for a really great romance arc. I loved the sentiments behind the meaning of dreams and nightmares in combination with the translation of the greater meaning of dreams whether good or bad.

I am someone who is really big on family and familial love, so the relationship between the FMC and her family, and to an extent even her village as a whole really hit for me. This succeeded in portraying not only the weakness, but also the heart of the main character.

The pacing was very fast, and at times, I think that slowing the pace to really let some things grow more organically would have greatly benefited the story. When the main stage of the plot is finally set, the peak of the conflict ensues, and things begin to unravel, it takes place over roughly 2 days. I think this story would have greatly benefited from letting this story grow wings and take flight over a series of days versus a quick snap. Things moved so quickly as soon as the plot really picked up that I was struggling to stay immersed in the story.

Regardless of how quickly this story moved, there was a really great plot twist at the end. I think R.L. Caulder had a few tropes or ideas in her head as she set out the write this, and I think the gut punch that sound have been the final plot twist of this story would have hit so much harder had she let things grow over time instead of rushing through to the end. Although its rare in my experience to want more pages and more building in a book, this is a story that I feel would have been exceptional if things had slowed down.

As things tended to move quickly in this story, we were being introduced to new characters quite rapidly that died off just as quickly. These characters deaths should have held a greater impact but they were not given enough time to fully develop and build a meaningful relationship with the main character.

This book held great promise, and although I took issue with the pacing and lack of contextual development, I will be continuing this series. I really loved the ideas and broad strokes of this story and that is worth seeing how this story develops further.

happy reading, friends xx

[BECCA · Rating 5 out of 5]

When good vs evil is not as clear as light vs dark. When one girl's journey weaves between dreams and nightmares. Will heart or history prevail?

What an absolutely epic adventure that had me thinking I knew what was going to happen next. Spoiler: I did not know and was utterly unprepared for that ending. Absolutely dreading the wait for book two to hopefully start repairing my heart.

The story was refreshingly new, mixing concepts I haven't seen together before and the world so elaborate, and well written, I truly feel I know the fine details of the universe the author has created.

I did not love the description of the elves personally (esthetic wise) as it felt more like alien meets Avatar meets angel but it does not at all take away for the actual story as my mind pictures them the way I like anyway. One thing I thought I didn't like was actually explained and makes total sense for the story line (sorry no spoilers here, you'll just have to read it haha). For my Healthcare readers....one location is called Sacrum. It doesn’t effect the story but always made me think about the human bone instead of a fantasy location which bugged me a little but not enough to effect the brilliance of the story. The beginning felt very Hunger Games meets the selection series which I adore but wish that period was longer. The writing of it did not feel rushed at all but the process within the story felt like it should have taken longer. Maybe that just shows how immersed I was in the story.

The FMC is probably my favorite lead in a very long time. She is just real and has this quiet fierceness that is so relatable. She is vulnerable yet brave which leads to such a captivating read and just makes you so invested in her story. Also love the sisterhood element woven throughout this whole story and the depths of various characters that slowly get unveiled. It is definitely a SLOW burn but it works so well with both the story and character arcs.

This needs to be THE fantasy book of 2026 and if it's not, something is wrong. I was 17% in and bawling and even before that I was thinking this would be so good on a movie screen or even as a TV show. Hope that dream turns into reality.

[Amanda BookishRabbits · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You didn’t fall apart,” he says. “You just broke open. That’s how new things are discovered.”

This book caught me completely off guard! I knew going in that it was short, so I expected something quick and enjoyable. What I didn't expect was to be emotionally grabbed by the heart and shaken around a little. In the best possible way!

This story pulled me in immediately and somehow managed to make me feel everything in such a small space. I was shocked by how invested I became, how quickly the world felt real, and how deeply the emotional moments landed. I finished it slightly stunned, a bit emotional, and very impressed.

Things I loved:

✨ Beautiful writing that feels dreamy, lyrical and effortless, the kind you sink into without even realising

🌙 An atmospheric world that feels rich and immersive despite the shorter length - with so many little details that make it easy to get completely lost in the story

💔 Emotional moments that genuinely hit - from quiet ache to sharp, heart-squeezing shocks that caught me completely unprepared

🔥 A romance full of tension and longing that had me holding my breath and rooting for Elysia and Rhune far too hard

📖 Perfectly paced from start to finish, with enough depth and heart to pull me in completely and keep me there. Nothing wasted, nothing rushed, just a story that knows exactly what it wants to be and fully commits to it

What really stayed with me was how much this book made me feel. Hope, longing, fear, tenderness and that sudden emotional punch to the chest that makes you pause and stare at the page for a second. It put me through the full range of emotions!

Where Dreams Fall proves that a story doesn’t need to be long to be powerful. It’s heartfelt, immersive, and quietly devastating in all the right ways. I went in expecting a nice, quick read and came out slightly emotionally undone and very grateful for the experience. It ends on such a strong note that all I wanted was to keep turning the pages, which feels like the highest compliment I can give - even if it's left me staring at the book like it personally owes me answers and now ridiculously impatient for book two!

Five stars, without hesitation 💙✨

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars and sign me up for book 2!

The idea behind this book is unique to other stories I have read! The premise of the dream and nightmare elves and the ruling structure was very intriguing. The author likened the MMC to a combo of Legolas and The Sandman, and my interest was snagged!

Elysia isn't the usual bad-a woman written in a lot of fantasy/romantasy books these days. She's softer, more vulnerable, open with her feelings, yet has a core of brave strength. She has a supportive family (that I hope we'll see more of), and the beginnings of some friendships that I really hope to see flourish in the coming book(s)!

The MMC is a bit of a mystery at first, a figure only seen in Elysia's dreams and nightmares- but she shouldn't be seeing him...or having nightmares. They meet in their reality and the yearning commences. Forbidden desire- per the elven laws. And the forbidden tastes the sweetest, right? Maybe we'll find out 😉

The world was explained in a way that made it easy to follow along. There is still some past mystery/event to be pieced together, but that will definitely have to be a part of future books in the series. When the action started in this first book, it started quickly and brutally. The only reason for the 4.5 vs 5 star was how sudden everything seemed to happen- the connection for the main characters (which is kind of explained at the end of the book, but you don'tknow this information when it's happening), and how quick everything happened with the first fight relative to Elysia's appearance in the realm.

AND THAT ENDING. GEEZ! I cannot wait to see where this story leads! I do like the main characters, and would love to see more from some of the side characters in the next book- which I feel is likely!

A big thank you to RL Caulder and her team for providing me with an e-arc of this book! This review is voluntary and contains my own opinions.

[Lauren Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elysia is a human who has spent her whole life under the clouds of one set of elves, and only knows of the "dark" nightmare inducing Nithrin from what they've been taught. When the most recently chosen human Queen unexpectedly and mysteriously dies, a new set of games to find the new Queen begins. Elysia is thrust into these deadly games where she realizes that things are not what she and others thought. Where some may see her as weak, she is the empathetic and protective woman the human females need...and maybe the elves too.
She is so strong through all the trials she and others are put through and during it, she never gives up on who she is or her beliefs. Elysia protects those she can however she can, but what do you do when the game pieces keep changing and no one has even told you what game it is? When Elysia eventually ascends to the elven world, she realizes that it's possible the Nithrin elves aren't as wicked as she's been lead to believe, that the game seems like it could be rigged. Would the Dromin elves and priestess do that?
I love how strong Elysia is. Not just physically, but mentally. She is tested like the others, but instead of playing for herself and village, tries to make sure all survive. When it comes to her dreams and the man who is trying to protect her, can she truly trust in him? In what he is trying to help her accomplish? Elysia thinks so, but also does her best to show she is not afraid of the courts or how they may try to play her and win her over.
The world building was done so well that you can picture in your mind where everything is happening, see facial expressions and faces of different species due to R.L.'s descriptions, and be truly immersed in this world. But also it's an R.L. Caulder book, so have fun with that cliffhanger ;)

[Jo Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating world - humans live on the ground and elves above the clouds. The eleven kingdom is split into two, with one type of elf fuelling their magic by feeding on human dreams and the other by feeding on human nightmares.

Add into the mix the fact that the elves need a human queen to keep their magic stable and things start to get complicated.
Especially when we meet the elven king twins, and the mystery hottie appearing in our FMC’s dreams.

The two main characters were well written; human Elysia embodying compassion and inner strength and Rhune having that shadow daddy, mystery air with a big dollop of infatuation thrown in for good measure.

The pace was good and I raced through it. There were definitely moments when I just didn’t want to put it down.

That said I would’ve liked to know more about some of the side characters, such as her childhood friend Pat - I felt like some of the backstory was missing there. Ditto for Serenath and Enari - there is very little interaction between them and Elysia and yet they are suddenly bosom buddies. A bit more depth would have been good, to give us more character insight and provide a clearer basis to their strong friendships.

Overall, I really enjoyed the unique premise of this world (though some more info on how the elves feed on dreams/nightmares would’ve been fascinating), and the complications for our two MCs as they try to figure out their feelings. I would’ve liked to see more character depth to some of the side characters, and while the cliffhanger ending was totally unexpected I did feel that Rhune’s reaction was a little out of character. All of that reduced my rating by a star.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for the ARC.

I give it 4 stars and will definitely read book 2 once it’s available.

[fablereadz · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK!! R.L Caulder did it again with this book! A tension filled romantasy, with a cliffhanger that left me reeling.

This book had basically everything I wanted - so much yearning between the main leads, a male lead that is so swoon worthy -- seriously, I am in LOVE with Rhune -- Elves, magic, and a female lead who is anything but weak. I honestly didn't want to stop reading once I started. This book had some amazing plot twists that I did not see coming, and the ANGST, oh god the angst. I rarely cry from books but this one ripped out my heart, and made me fall in love all at once.

With only around 250 pages, it is relatively a quick read BUT that doesn't take away from the story or the world building. R.L Caulder did an amazing job with the world building in this story. The pacing is medium-fast paced, but in no way is the story rushed. There is so much focus on the world building that I could almost see it for myself. The more I read in the story, the further i got dragged in. The book left me with questions that I can't wait for the next book to solve, and a cliffhanger that has me absolutely craving the next book!

The main characters Elysia and Rhune's connection is so strong, right from the beginning, but thankfully, that doesn't rush their relationship. The book contains no spice, which I actually loved because I felt like it helped to focus more on the characters relation, and let the slow burn, burn. I can't wait to see how their relationship develops over the next book!

I can't wait to see what comes next in the series. I absolutely love R.L Caulder's books and this one is no different! I know the year just started, but this is going to be one of my top books for 2026!

[Bethany Button · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where Dreams Fall starts with one of the most unique premises I’ve read in a long time. The world of the Dromin and Nithrin elves—where dreams are a guarded resource and nightmares are a literal threat—is hauntingly beautiful and immediately immersive. Elysia is a fantastic lead; she’s resilient, smart, and has enough backbone to carry the story through the intense political rot of the empire. I was 100% all-in on the lore and the high-stakes Queen trials.

The "man of your dreams" trope is taken to a whole new level with Rhune, and the tension between him and Elysia feels both electric and perilous. The first two-thirds of the book are paced so intentionally, building up the mystery and the forbidden passion with real precision. It’s dark romantasy done right, keeping you hooked on the "why" and "how" of their connection while the waking world begins to fracture alongside the sleeping one.

However, while the core premise was a 5-star experience, the execution struggled toward the end. There were so many moments that deserved more depth—particularly the secondary characters—but they often felt like decorative plants rather than fleshed-out people. Everything from the Queen trials forward felt like it was running on 2x speed, sacrificing the emotional weight of big reveals for sheer momentum. It was such a sharp turn that it gave me serious whiplash; I wish the back half had been given the same care as the beginning. This rushed finale left me feeling so disconnected that I’m actually on the fence about book two. It’s a solid 4-star read for the world-building, but the strange pacing might be where the dream ends for me.

- - -

I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. ***

[Caitlynn Burnaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’ll always find you,” he murmurs, his voice a low promise that cuts straight through me. “There’s nowhere you could be lost to me.” … “What if I want to be lost with you?”

Elysia lives in a land where dreams are fuel for the elves’ magic and hers are increasingly dark and dire. When their queen dies, Elysia’s reality quickly spins out of control as the selection process to replace her begins. Suddenly it seems that her dreams are more powerful than she gave them credit for — and closer to reality than she realized. Now she must confront her power to determine who to fight and how to survive.

R. L. Caulder has crafted something truly exceptional within the pages of Where Dreams Fall and I knew I was hooked the moment Elysia accepted her fear and volunteered to be her village’s Chosen. I really enjoyed the lore and history of the land and people groups that we’ve only had glimpses of. Parts of the rising action felt almost rushed. The tension was fantastic, and I would have happily lingered in it longer before the final twist and conclusion. She built enough trust with readers to have taken us farther and deeper.

Elysia blew me away — she’s thoughtful and kind, and willing to confront her emotions — but so brave and bold to mend the wrongs she witnesses. She reminds you to defend the weak and to return a voice to those who have lost theirs. She fights to give others a chance and most importantly, to give them a choice. Readers who love strong FMCs, hidden identities, forced proximity, and yearning will absolutely love Where Dreams Fall.

This is the kind of story that leaves you slightly overwhelmed — in the best way. Grateful. A little breathless. I am so grateful to R. L. Caulder, Podium Entertainment, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Where Dreams Fall, and I look forward to what comes next.