What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dreamslayer Trilogy #1
Dreamslayer
Not yet published
Expected 1 Dec 26From the bestselling author of the Five Crowns of Okrith series comes Dreamslayer, the first book in a dark romantasy series in which a devout acolyte must form an unholy alliance with the very monsters she was trained to destroy in a desperate quest for the truth—and her survival.
She was meant to become a dream. Instead, she fell in love with a nightmare.
Acolyte Praer Dundariff is only one year away from her ascension to the dream world, but when her friend dies with a chilling warning, Praer’s world fractures. Praer seeks comfort in the one place she can be her true her dreams. Inspired by a beautiful statue in the temple gallery, Praer imagines being in the arms of a dream warrior named Reverie.
But instead of the normal sleepy comfort of Reverie’s embrace, Praer loses control of her dream and Reverie gives her a violent warning never to return. As more temple secrets emerge, Praer abandons Reverie’s wishes and seeks her out in sleep. After all, Reverie is just a figment of Praer’s imagination, isn’t she? But when Praer returns to her dream, she discovers she’s not asleep at all but rather she’s portalled herself, not to the dream realm, but to Hell. Worse, the woman she’s fantasized about for years isn’t a dream at all, but a nightmare incarnate.
Trapped in Hell, Reverie knows that Praer is the only way to break her curse. Along with her other nightmare companions, Reverie drags Praer on a harrowing journey to the gates of Hell. On a death-defying quest to assemble the key to the gate, Praer finds herself caught between destruction and desire. Reverie is her sworn enemy and Praer knows if she can’t resist the pull of her nightmare, more than her heart will break.
She was meant to become a dream. Instead, she fell in love with a nightmare.
Acolyte Praer Dundariff is only one year away from her ascension to the dream world, but when her friend dies with a chilling warning, Praer’s world fractures. Praer seeks comfort in the one place she can be her true her dreams. Inspired by a beautiful statue in the temple gallery, Praer imagines being in the arms of a dream warrior named Reverie.
But instead of the normal sleepy comfort of Reverie’s embrace, Praer loses control of her dream and Reverie gives her a violent warning never to return. As more temple secrets emerge, Praer abandons Reverie’s wishes and seeks her out in sleep. After all, Reverie is just a figment of Praer’s imagination, isn’t she? But when Praer returns to her dream, she discovers she’s not asleep at all but rather she’s portalled herself, not to the dream realm, but to Hell. Worse, the woman she’s fantasized about for years isn’t a dream at all, but a nightmare incarnate.
Trapped in Hell, Reverie knows that Praer is the only way to break her curse. Along with her other nightmare companions, Reverie drags Praer on a harrowing journey to the gates of Hell. On a death-defying quest to assemble the key to the gate, Praer finds herself caught between destruction and desire. Reverie is her sworn enemy and Praer knows if she can’t resist the pull of her nightmare, more than her heart will break.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication December 1, 2026
About the author
A.K. Mulford
24 books2,061 followersA. K. Mulford is a bestselling fantasy author and former wildlife biologist who swapped rehabilitating monkeys for writing novels. They/she is inspired to create diverse stories that transport readers to new realms, making them fall in love with fantasy for the first time or all over again. They now live in Australia with their husband and two young human primates, creating lovable fantasy characters and making ridiculous TikToks (@akmulfordauthor).
Get the Okrith Novellas FREE at www.akmulford.com
Get the Okrith Novellas FREE at www.akmulford.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is very dramatic and angsty in all the best ways, with plenty of charged sapphic tension. To be honest, while I enjoyed the ride, I was slightly confused for almost the entire way through, mostly due to the entangled web of the plot. There were certain things that I didn't feel were explained well enough, even though I understood the general overview of what was going on. Also - there's a few pages towards the very end that get extremely graphically violent, just a forewarning.
I found the different ways the author chose to show the significance of our choices, experiences, and all of the things that make up a human life through the lens of what someone might do to reclaim any piece of their humanity once they're on the other side compelling and thought-provoking. There's certainly much more here than just romance tropes, and this is very much a DARK fantasy. Do not go into this expecting anything lighthearted - while there are certainly moments of humor, the entire story is grounded in a very serious examination of the cost and worth of a human soul and how we might be judged for our actions.
The premise is super interesting; the idea of someone ending up in Hell instead of the Dream realm they expected, and then by the end of their journey having all of their views of everything completely upended to the point where they're not sure if they want to leave? Very cool. The multiple revenges that are visited upon wicked men? Amazing. Lots of sexy angry flirting that DOES eventually culminate in something? Yes please. (I'm a sucker for two women who have a fucked up relationship dealing with lots of sexual tension. That's like my whole thing.)
Also, the cover is fucking AWESOME.
Definitely check it out if any of the above has intrigued you >:)
[Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of this title - all opinions are my own.]
I found the different ways the author chose to show the significance of our choices, experiences, and all of the things that make up a human life through the lens of what someone might do to reclaim any piece of their humanity once they're on the other side compelling and thought-provoking. There's certainly much more here than just romance tropes, and this is very much a DARK fantasy. Do not go into this expecting anything lighthearted - while there are certainly moments of humor, the entire story is grounded in a very serious examination of the cost and worth of a human soul and how we might be judged for our actions.
The premise is super interesting; the idea of someone ending up in Hell instead of the Dream realm they expected, and then by the end of their journey having all of their views of everything completely upended to the point where they're not sure if they want to leave? Very cool. The multiple revenges that are visited upon wicked men? Amazing. Lots of sexy angry flirting that DOES eventually culminate in something? Yes please. (I'm a sucker for two women who have a fucked up relationship dealing with lots of sexual tension. That's like my whole thing.)
Also, the cover is fucking AWESOME.
Definitely check it out if any of the above has intrigued you >:)
[Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of this title - all opinions are my own.]
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A masterpiece - I am truly gobsmacked at how this had me gripped from start to finish. A triumph in yearning and heartrending tragedy. What an honor to be the first review.
The plot of Dreamslayer dances on the delicate knife’s edge between beauty and complete, utter devastation. We have a love story that is equal parts entrancing and tragic, and naturally, I was alternating between kicking my feet and crying. I should have known when the plot was basically “sapphics attempt to escape Hell,” but AK Mulford knows how to twist the KNIFE.
What also makes Dreamslayer a standout is the world-building, which I would describe as creatively gruesome. I figured Hell would be unpleasant, but the degree of imagination that went into constructing vividly brutal tableaus was truly impressive.
The character work…. Don’t get me started on these characters. I feel broken that I cannot protect them all after they’ve been through so much. I need everyone to have a happy ending by the end of this series. I cannot stomach the thought of anything else. Speaking of… I NEED BOOK 2 ASAP.
The plot of Dreamslayer dances on the delicate knife’s edge between beauty and complete, utter devastation. We have a love story that is equal parts entrancing and tragic, and naturally, I was alternating between kicking my feet and crying. I should have known when the plot was basically “sapphics attempt to escape Hell,” but AK Mulford knows how to twist the KNIFE.
What also makes Dreamslayer a standout is the world-building, which I would describe as creatively gruesome. I figured Hell would be unpleasant, but the degree of imagination that went into constructing vividly brutal tableaus was truly impressive.
The character work…. Don’t get me started on these characters. I feel broken that I cannot protect them all after they’ve been through so much. I need everyone to have a happy ending by the end of this series. I cannot stomach the thought of anything else. Speaking of… I NEED BOOK 2 ASAP.
June 1, 2026
It has taken me a good 24 hours to process Dreamslayer. I immediately want to read it again.
It’s dark, it’s tragic and different from anything A.K. Mulford has written.
The description of the scenery is perfection and I can vividly see where the group is travelling.
The Meat Market was not what I thought it would be, it’s so much worse (in the best way), bringing up feelings of sadness and pity. The things people are willing to do to get a moment of happiness in the darkness.
There are of course many twists and turns.
I knew the ending would be sad but I was sad about the wrong things.
There is so much more to be explored in this world. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Dreamslayer and can’t wait to read more in this style from A.K. Mulford.
It’s dark, it’s tragic and different from anything A.K. Mulford has written.
The description of the scenery is perfection and I can vividly see where the group is travelling.
The Meat Market was not what I thought it would be, it’s so much worse (in the best way), bringing up feelings of sadness and pity. The things people are willing to do to get a moment of happiness in the darkness.
There are of course many twists and turns.
I knew the ending would be sad but I was sad about the wrong things.
There is so much more to be explored in this world. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Dreamslayer and can’t wait to read more in this style from A.K. Mulford.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews