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A Practical Guide to Sorcery #6
A Builder of Dreams: A Horror Progression Fantasy
Dreams are coming true in Siobhan Naught's village—and it's killing them all.
Siobhan is struggling with loneliness after her mother's death, but even though her grandfather is the only one she has left, he’s more interested in his secretive research than his granddaughter. But when a mysterious stranger arrives to help him with his work, nightmarish phenomena begin to plague their village.
As her neighbors are bewitched by vivid dreams, the town seems to teeter on the brink of madness. Siobhan is the only one who notices.
With her grandfather growing more secretive by the day, Siobhan is determined to uncover the truth before it's too late.
But some doors are locked for a reason.
When dreams become real, nightmares come to life.
A Builder of Dreams is a prequel novel set seven years before the events of the main story, but should be read in sequence with the other books in the series to avoid spoilers.
Siobhan is struggling with loneliness after her mother's death, but even though her grandfather is the only one she has left, he’s more interested in his secretive research than his granddaughter. But when a mysterious stranger arrives to help him with his work, nightmarish phenomena begin to plague their village.
As her neighbors are bewitched by vivid dreams, the town seems to teeter on the brink of madness. Siobhan is the only one who notices.
With her grandfather growing more secretive by the day, Siobhan is determined to uncover the truth before it's too late.
But some doors are locked for a reason.
When dreams become real, nightmares come to life.
A Builder of Dreams is a prequel novel set seven years before the events of the main story, but should be read in sequence with the other books in the series to avoid spoilers.
- GenresFantasy
210 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2025
37 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Azalea Ellis
17 books178 followersAzalea Ellis loves to bend the world to her will. Maybe that's why she likes writing books. Creating worlds and people and then sending them through every ordeal imaginable might even give her some kind of sick thrill. Who knows?
Azalea is also an artist, so perhaps she just likes taking things from her head and bringing them to life. Because of her artistic background, she's lucky enough to also be able to do all of her own book covers, and does freelance illustration when she feels like it.
She's fascinated by almost everything, and wishes she could live to be a thousand, so she would have time to learn and do everything she wants.
Azalea is also an artist, so perhaps she just likes taking things from her head and bringing them to life. Because of her artistic background, she's lucky enough to also be able to do all of her own book covers, and does freelance illustration when she feels like it.
She's fascinated by almost everything, and wishes she could live to be a thousand, so she would have time to learn and do everything she wants.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 14, 2025
I loved this series so much I made a promo of sorts for it on Youtube
https://youtu.be/SQjL9ZNBcwc?si=A-yik...
https://youtu.be/SQjL9ZNBcwc?si=A-yik...
September 23, 2025
Binged the entire book in one go, had a blast.
If this book was released separately as a prequel I would easily give it 5 stars.
But when released as a continuation of the story it just leaves me feeling that I would've rather read a sequel.
If this book was released separately as a prequel I would easily give it 5 stars.
But when released as a continuation of the story it just leaves me feeling that I would've rather read a sequel.
October 21, 2025
Story ends at 82% point
This book is much shorter than the others in the series. I am somewhat glad it is shorter in that a young Siobhan is not as interesting as her older counterpart. At times I felt like she was too wise for her age. Regardless, this book explains, somewhat, the mystery of Siobhan’s nightmares. It also adds more conflict to her desire to get rid of them.
This book is certainly a horror story for those with vivid imaginations. There are grotesque self-mutilations and cannibalism. Suicide, grief and loss, the death of numerous people (young and old), and desecration of bodies (think zombies) are elements in this book that may be triggering for sensitive readers. It’s not a story for squeamish readers. If I had not already invested in the series, I would not have read this book as horror is not my preference. Let’s just say I’m glad it has fewer pages!
This book is much shorter than the others in the series. I am somewhat glad it is shorter in that a young Siobhan is not as interesting as her older counterpart. At times I felt like she was too wise for her age. Regardless, this book explains, somewhat, the mystery of Siobhan’s nightmares. It also adds more conflict to her desire to get rid of them.
This book is certainly a horror story for those with vivid imaginations. There are grotesque self-mutilations and cannibalism. Suicide, grief and loss, the death of numerous people (young and old), and desecration of bodies (think zombies) are elements in this book that may be triggering for sensitive readers. It’s not a story for squeamish readers. If I had not already invested in the series, I would not have read this book as horror is not my preference. Let’s just say I’m glad it has fewer pages!
October 2, 2025
amazing and horrifying
Absolutely worth the wait, but holy shit it makes me bite my nails. It’s super similar to the first arc of circle of inevitably which is one of my favourite arcs of all time and this is definitely on par. Definitely craving more now.
Absolutely worth the wait, but holy shit it makes me bite my nails. It’s super similar to the first arc of circle of inevitably which is one of my favourite arcs of all time and this is definitely on par. Definitely craving more now.
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October 6, 2025Another great installment.
I am usually not fond of prequels but this seems more like a huge retrospection in a novel form, and we've been long owed this one. Prequels rarely bring something new to the table - not in this case. The events depicted were alluded to since vol 1. and explain a great deal about Siobhan's character - her nightmares, her insecurities (mistrust of everyone, for example and a habit of pushing them away), her authority figures.
I am relieved that the thing going on with her is not necessarily fatal and seems like a huge issue to overcome more than certain doom. It is entertaining to see that Sebastien's mannerisms belong, essentially, to a younger and less traumatized Siobhan (some trauma is already there before the action starts though), who in turn mimcs her grandfather and what she imagines Thaddeus Lacer to be. Her spectrum-y side was also always there. On a side note, to me she comes across more like indifferent to gender than gender-fluid. She thinks of herself as a woman, it's just the last concern on her list.
I love how each installment builds the world in a meticulous, interconnected way and I wonder if this is great planning on the author's part, or an equally great improvisation.
I am usually not fond of prequels but this seems more like a huge retrospection in a novel form, and we've been long owed this one. Prequels rarely bring something new to the table - not in this case. The events depicted were alluded to since vol 1. and explain a great deal about Siobhan's character - her nightmares, her insecurities (mistrust of everyone, for example and a habit of pushing them away), her authority figures.
I am relieved that the thing going on with her is not necessarily fatal and seems like a huge issue to overcome more than certain doom. It is entertaining to see that Sebastien's mannerisms belong, essentially, to a younger and less traumatized Siobhan (some trauma is already there before the action starts though), who in turn mimcs her grandfather and what she imagines Thaddeus Lacer to be. Her spectrum-y side was also always there. On a side note, to me she comes across more like indifferent to gender than gender-fluid. She thinks of herself as a woman, it's just the last concern on her list.
I love how each installment builds the world in a meticulous, interconnected way and I wonder if this is great planning on the author's part, or an equally great improvisation.
September 27, 2025
Just finished this haunting prequel to A Practical Guide to Sorcery, and I’m floored. Azalea Ellis dives deep into Siobhan’s childhood, blending grief, isolation, and the terrifying power of dreams into a psychological horror-fantasy that lingers long after the last page If you’re into magical realism, horror fantasy, or character-driven lore, this is a must-read.
waiting for the story to progress.
waiting for the story to progress.
October 20, 2025
I've been reading the series for a long time and I've really liked every track it took. I didn't expect it to delve into horror, but this book did it perfectly. Even if I already knew the end result, I was still in suspense the entire time reading it.
October 2, 2025
Fun and interesting backstory of the protagonist. I hoped it would also cover the present a bit.
October 2, 2025
fun. will continue the series happily
October 26, 2025
Not my favorite of the series, since I generally don’t like prequels, but it did finally clear up a lot of the mysteries in Siobhan’s past!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews