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The Sleeping Key: A Dark Fantasy Romance
A young woman discovers dark powers lie beneath her nightmares and that her life—and love—depends on her defeating her demons in this dark romantasy.
Fey Masterson can’t escape the darkness lodged in her mind. Awake or asleep, she’s consumed by an anxiety that’s wreaking havoc on her life. The paralyzing dread has stolen everything from her, leaving her yearning for a life of solitude.
When she enrolls at a remote art institute deep in the Redwoods, Fey believes she’s finally found sanctuary. Her nightmares only grow more intense, however, as a menacing beast stalks her throughout. Her sole balm is the powerful bond she feels with her mysterious mentor, Cillian, whose strange magic, familiar green eyes, and sharp tongue all have her questioning her desire to be alone.
But as the two begin to fall more deeply for each other, a new threat arises. It seems a baneful witch seeks to unleash an army of monsters into the world, confirming Fey’s greatest her harrowing dreams are becoming a daunting reality . . .
Now, Fey must wield ancient magic and prove herself capable of slaying these wicked enemies. Because if she loses her battle against the mighty demon who haunts her, the consequences could be dire not only for her and Cillian but the entire mortal world.
Tropes forbidden love, hidden magic, secret identity, mentor/mentee, and fated mates.
Fey Masterson can’t escape the darkness lodged in her mind. Awake or asleep, she’s consumed by an anxiety that’s wreaking havoc on her life. The paralyzing dread has stolen everything from her, leaving her yearning for a life of solitude.
When she enrolls at a remote art institute deep in the Redwoods, Fey believes she’s finally found sanctuary. Her nightmares only grow more intense, however, as a menacing beast stalks her throughout. Her sole balm is the powerful bond she feels with her mysterious mentor, Cillian, whose strange magic, familiar green eyes, and sharp tongue all have her questioning her desire to be alone.
But as the two begin to fall more deeply for each other, a new threat arises. It seems a baneful witch seeks to unleash an army of monsters into the world, confirming Fey’s greatest her harrowing dreams are becoming a daunting reality . . .
Now, Fey must wield ancient magic and prove herself capable of slaying these wicked enemies. Because if she loses her battle against the mighty demon who haunts her, the consequences could be dire not only for her and Cillian but the entire mortal world.
Tropes forbidden love, hidden magic, secret identity, mentor/mentee, and fated mates.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
September 16, 2026
This was an amazing book. When it started I thought I'd picked up the wrong book because it felt like a general fiction, then things started to get knocked off kilter. The author does an excellent job of developing a sense of dread and unease throughout the book. At times you have no idea who can be trusted, and just when things start to make sense, everything gets stirred up again. This was also a new genre for me as I don't typically go for the dark side of things, but it was just so good. Definitely check it out, even if it's not what you usually go for. I read this book through Netgalley.
May 9, 2026
I am SCREAMING! That was so good 5 star vibes, 5 star emotional damage and 4 star pacing (for me). I am so grateful to have received an ARC of this book!
I loved Fey and the found family she collected along the way! She was a beautifully written, complex character that dealt with trauma and anxiety in such a genuine way that truly felt like therapy sessions for me. You are learning information along with her so there are parts of the story that are confusing but you learn what’s up as Fey learns so it makes sense. The yearning and love were impeccable - I only wish we would have gotten to see Cillian perform because that man was hot AF, that was my only disappointment but the fade to black moment didn’t detract from the story at all just left me hot and bothered.
The pacing flowed well but I felt like SO much happened in the last 20% of the book and it was truly an emotional gauntlet. That was really my only issue with the pacing and honestly it’s because I am selfish and wanted more. The cliffhanger literally had my jaw on the floor- talk about a gut punch! I need the next book yesterday! I highly recommend this when it releases!
I loved Fey and the found family she collected along the way! She was a beautifully written, complex character that dealt with trauma and anxiety in such a genuine way that truly felt like therapy sessions for me. You are learning information along with her so there are parts of the story that are confusing but you learn what’s up as Fey learns so it makes sense. The yearning and love were impeccable - I only wish we would have gotten to see Cillian perform because that man was hot AF, that was my only disappointment but the fade to black moment didn’t detract from the story at all just left me hot and bothered.
The pacing flowed well but I felt like SO much happened in the last 20% of the book and it was truly an emotional gauntlet. That was really my only issue with the pacing and honestly it’s because I am selfish and wanted more. The cliffhanger literally had my jaw on the floor- talk about a gut punch! I need the next book yesterday! I highly recommend this when it releases!
July 8, 2026
"If this was to be his grave, then it would be mine too."
4 ☆
WOW WOW WOW, I was in the worst reading slump literally ever and I couldn't decide what to read so I picked this ARC up and it really just grabbed me and threw me right out of it.
I love finding books with unique and unexpected plots and this was exactly that. This gave me the best dark academia vibes, it felt a little spooky and dark and the setting was written In such a good way it painted the perfect picture. The plot was AMAZING. Fey goes to this academy for arts where she starts unearthing these secrets about herself and the people around her. It was done so incredibly well, I just kept wanting more. At some point, I was like "oh this is what's going to happen." And NOPE the author just deviated from my thoughts completely and took the story in a different direction. After chapter 40, the way these new points were being uncovered literally gave me shivers.
The character ughhh they're so so precious. Fey is a character who I see so much of myself in. Some of her dialogues put words to things I feel as someone who struggles with very bad anxiety. Her anxiety was portrayed so so well and accurately on such a relatable level and it was given so much attention through every action of hers. Her feminine rage at the end gave me goosebumps. And the way she fought for Cillian was so good to see when the norm is an MMC fighting for the FMC usually. Cillian was such a good MMC🥹. They literally were "I would find you in every single lifetime" and that's my favorite trope ever!!! His protective instincts for Fey and the way he was so gentle with her had me in tears. That ending absolutely destroyed me but luckily I was put back together by the epilogue only for me to be like WTF on the last line.
My favorite highlights:
"I love you. I'll follow you into the dark."
"You were a child, and no child should ever have to bear the weight of their parent's unprocessed trauma."
"For Cillian O'Connell, I'll be undone."
"I have missed you desperately, aches for your touch every second of every day since you left. Living without you, well... I wouldn't call it living at all."
"Because how do you escape your own head? You can't."
4 ☆
WOW WOW WOW, I was in the worst reading slump literally ever and I couldn't decide what to read so I picked this ARC up and it really just grabbed me and threw me right out of it.
I love finding books with unique and unexpected plots and this was exactly that. This gave me the best dark academia vibes, it felt a little spooky and dark and the setting was written In such a good way it painted the perfect picture. The plot was AMAZING. Fey goes to this academy for arts where she starts unearthing these secrets about herself and the people around her. It was done so incredibly well, I just kept wanting more. At some point, I was like "oh this is what's going to happen." And NOPE the author just deviated from my thoughts completely and took the story in a different direction. After chapter 40, the way these new points were being uncovered literally gave me shivers.
The character ughhh they're so so precious. Fey is a character who I see so much of myself in. Some of her dialogues put words to things I feel as someone who struggles with very bad anxiety. Her anxiety was portrayed so so well and accurately on such a relatable level and it was given so much attention through every action of hers. Her feminine rage at the end gave me goosebumps. And the way she fought for Cillian was so good to see when the norm is an MMC fighting for the FMC usually. Cillian was such a good MMC🥹. They literally were "I would find you in every single lifetime" and that's my favorite trope ever!!! His protective instincts for Fey and the way he was so gentle with her had me in tears. That ending absolutely destroyed me but luckily I was put back together by the epilogue only for me to be like WTF on the last line.
My favorite highlights:
"I love you. I'll follow you into the dark."
"You were a child, and no child should ever have to bear the weight of their parent's unprocessed trauma."
"For Cillian O'Connell, I'll be undone."
"I have missed you desperately, aches for your touch every second of every day since you left. Living without you, well... I wouldn't call it living at all."
"Because how do you escape your own head? You can't."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Advanced copy courtesy of NetGalley and publisher.
This was an uncorrected draft and it was obvious. There was quite a bit of word choice error throughout the book, for example fowl vs foul and switching between ravens and crows, decent instead of descent. The idea was there and it was a really good idea. But the execution did not land for me.
What I liked: the story idea itself, living many lives and finding connections throughout, There was some rare but lovely prose, such as the opening description of the cafeteria.
What I found lacking: the tone of the voice was giving childish and contrived and honestly read like a wattpad story from 15 years ago. There were parts I wanted to tear my hair out - the ‘who did this to you’ was forced, the constant reminder that FMC is so funky and troubled and anxious and also her hair is teal. I didn’t connect with the characters at all, I didn’t sympathise with the villain, and there were too many deus ex machina plot devices for my taste.
And this passage: “Even if I ached like the distance between stars until I burned out.” What does it MEAN. Absolutely nothing.
Overall I struggled with this book. I am interested in what happens next but I’ll probably read a spoiler review instead of sitting through another one. I also think the romantasy marketing doesn’t do the book justice, this is really more of a YA fantasy.
This was an uncorrected draft and it was obvious. There was quite a bit of word choice error throughout the book, for example fowl vs foul and switching between ravens and crows, decent instead of descent. The idea was there and it was a really good idea. But the execution did not land for me.
What I liked: the story idea itself, living many lives and finding connections throughout, There was some rare but lovely prose, such as the opening description of the cafeteria.
What I found lacking: the tone of the voice was giving childish and contrived and honestly read like a wattpad story from 15 years ago. There were parts I wanted to tear my hair out - the ‘who did this to you’ was forced, the constant reminder that FMC is so funky and troubled and anxious and also her hair is teal. I didn’t connect with the characters at all, I didn’t sympathise with the villain, and there were too many deus ex machina plot devices for my taste.
And this passage: “Even if I ached like the distance between stars until I burned out.” What does it MEAN. Absolutely nothing.
Overall I struggled with this book. I am interested in what happens next but I’ll probably read a spoiler review instead of sitting through another one. I also think the romantasy marketing doesn’t do the book justice, this is really more of a YA fantasy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2026
Firstly, a massive thank you to Gemma Ashborne, Podium Entertainment and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this amazing book!
The Sleeping Key is an atmospheric and emotionally devastating 5 star dark romantasy. The book follows our FMC Fey, who suffers chronic and debilitating anxiety and, when she sleeps, is haunted by monsters in her nightmares. The Sleeping Key sees Fey enrolling in an art institute where she discovers magic and a mysterious man and must face ever-worsening nightmares.
I was absolutely hooked from the start - Gemma Ashborne’s writing creates such vivid imagery and you can really feel the dark academia and gothic atmosphere shine (or darken) all the way through.
The plot was definitely plotting. There are so many twists and turns, red herrings and foreshadowing to try and wrap your head around. There was a decent portion of this book that kept you wondering who you could even trust - which really helps you to feel like you’re walking in Fey’s shoes as she unravels the mysteries and secrets she’s discovering. I did see the very clever foreshadowing hints for one of the plot twists, but had forgotten about it by the time the plot twist hit and boy did it hit hard! 🤯😭🫠
Also, that CLIFFHANGER?! I was speechless. I am emotionally spent, I need answers and I might need at least a few business to process the whiplash from the last 10% of the book. I am not okay but in the absolute best way!
I will say, this book is darkkkkkk. It is emotionally devastating and deals with sensitive topics from mental health, self h@rm and unaliving ideation. It is raw and gritty and I strongly encourage readers to consider the trigger warnings before reading.
Readers will love this story if they like:
✨ dark academia / gothic vibes
✨ mental health representation
✨ witchy magic
✨ who did this to you?
✨ slow burn
✨ fade to black romance
✨ found family
The Sleeping Key is an atmospheric and emotionally devastating 5 star dark romantasy. The book follows our FMC Fey, who suffers chronic and debilitating anxiety and, when she sleeps, is haunted by monsters in her nightmares. The Sleeping Key sees Fey enrolling in an art institute where she discovers magic and a mysterious man and must face ever-worsening nightmares.
I was absolutely hooked from the start - Gemma Ashborne’s writing creates such vivid imagery and you can really feel the dark academia and gothic atmosphere shine (or darken) all the way through.
The plot was definitely plotting. There are so many twists and turns, red herrings and foreshadowing to try and wrap your head around. There was a decent portion of this book that kept you wondering who you could even trust - which really helps you to feel like you’re walking in Fey’s shoes as she unravels the mysteries and secrets she’s discovering. I did see the very clever foreshadowing hints for one of the plot twists, but had forgotten about it by the time the plot twist hit and boy did it hit hard! 🤯😭🫠
Also, that CLIFFHANGER?! I was speechless. I am emotionally spent, I need answers and I might need at least a few business to process the whiplash from the last 10% of the book. I am not okay but in the absolute best way!
I will say, this book is darkkkkkk. It is emotionally devastating and deals with sensitive topics from mental health, self h@rm and unaliving ideation. It is raw and gritty and I strongly encourage readers to consider the trigger warnings before reading.
Readers will love this story if they like:
✨ dark academia / gothic vibes
✨ mental health representation
✨ witchy magic
✨ who did this to you?
✨ slow burn
✨ fade to black romance
✨ found family
May 18, 2026
This book was full of so many different twists!!! Fey, our FMC, is so relatable. She struggles with anxiety and the way it’s written is literally like it was pulled from my own brain on numerous occasions throughout this book. She has these nightmares (whenever she actually falls asleep) where she is being stalked by this dark beast, but has no understanding as to why or what it means. She gets accepted into an art institute hidden away in a forest and thinks she may finally be finding her path in life, only something SO much bigger is discovered during her time here…
Thank you Gemma & her team for selecting me to be apart of the ARC team! So grateful to have gotten the chance to read this! This book left me jaw dropped at the end. I had no idea what the heck to expect and the end left me screammming for answers! I can’t wait for the second book!
Tropes include: forbidden love, hidden magic, secret identity, mentor/mentee, found family and fated mates.
Thank you Gemma & her team for selecting me to be apart of the ARC team! So grateful to have gotten the chance to read this! This book left me jaw dropped at the end. I had no idea what the heck to expect and the end left me screammming for answers! I can’t wait for the second book!
Tropes include: forbidden love, hidden magic, secret identity, mentor/mentee, found family and fated mates.
September 15, 2026
✨ALC REVIEW✨
Thank you so much to Podium audio for the early audiobook of The Sleeping Key!
🎧The audiobook was excellent! I love Amanda Dolan so much (she also narrates the Kindred Curse Saga, Silver Elite and The Red Queen series) and she did not disappoint! Her solo narration is so well done that her male voices don't feel awkward or forced. Looks like she will also be narrating book 2, so I'm excited to listen to it next year!
📖This is a fun Romantasy that has some darker elements and academia vibes! The nightmare world with monsters and magic was really interesting and I like how the story unraveled as we learned more about Fey's powers and role in that realm. As with so many romantasy books, she is the only one who can save the realm...but I still love it for the vibes.
I’m such a sucker for a past lives plot line and this one delivered. Fey slowly remembers her past lives over the course of the book and in that, we get a great plot twist and a satisfying reveal of who Fey really is and what she needs to become in order to save everyone. The magic system with the crystals and tarot at its core was also fun. I love when the magic is familiar, but then there's a twist to make it unique.
The world building was pretty good- there were diaries and some academic setting classes that gave background and lore of the world. The monsters in her nightmares were gruesome and so cool and I like that we still had a ton of mystery surrounding her "helpers" until the end of the book.
The romance was also super sweet - they have some great banter at the beginning as Fey is trying to decide if she can trust Cillian...even though her nightmares seem to go away when she's with him...Oh also, Cillian is hot AF. Tattoos and and Irish?? It's no wonder Fey finds him in every lifetime. Girl, I would too!
Overall, The Sleeping Key is a solid romantasy read and a great vibes read during spooky season! I'm looking forward to the sequel, cause damn...that was quite the cliffhanger!
Thank you so much to Podium audio for the early audiobook of The Sleeping Key!
🎧The audiobook was excellent! I love Amanda Dolan so much (she also narrates the Kindred Curse Saga, Silver Elite and The Red Queen series) and she did not disappoint! Her solo narration is so well done that her male voices don't feel awkward or forced. Looks like she will also be narrating book 2, so I'm excited to listen to it next year!
📖This is a fun Romantasy that has some darker elements and academia vibes! The nightmare world with monsters and magic was really interesting and I like how the story unraveled as we learned more about Fey's powers and role in that realm. As with so many romantasy books, she is the only one who can save the realm...but I still love it for the vibes.
I’m such a sucker for a past lives plot line and this one delivered. Fey slowly remembers her past lives over the course of the book and in that, we get a great plot twist and a satisfying reveal of who Fey really is and what she needs to become in order to save everyone. The magic system with the crystals and tarot at its core was also fun. I love when the magic is familiar, but then there's a twist to make it unique.
The world building was pretty good- there were diaries and some academic setting classes that gave background and lore of the world. The monsters in her nightmares were gruesome and so cool and I like that we still had a ton of mystery surrounding her "helpers" until the end of the book.
The romance was also super sweet - they have some great banter at the beginning as Fey is trying to decide if she can trust Cillian...even though her nightmares seem to go away when she's with him...Oh also, Cillian is hot AF. Tattoos and and Irish?? It's no wonder Fey finds him in every lifetime. Girl, I would too!
Overall, The Sleeping Key is a solid romantasy read and a great vibes read during spooky season! I'm looking forward to the sequel, cause damn...that was quite the cliffhanger!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2026
Okay, this book was unexpectedly awesome. 👀
The Sleeping Key is my first book by Gemma Ashborne, but it definitely will NOT be my last. There is so much going on in this story, and nothing is quite what it seems. Not Feyanna. Not the world around her. Not even the things happening in her dreams… or should I say nightmares. 👀
Our FMC, Feyanna, is so much more than she initially appears to be, and I loved discovering things alongside her. The information unfolds at the right pace, and because we learn things as Fey does, I didn’t feel like I was being handed answers before I was ready for them.
I also refuse to name the MMC because part of the fun for me was letting that unfold naturally. 😂 Just trust me when I say he is freaking awesome. Major green flag energy with some morally gray vibes thrown in, which is basically my favorite combination.
The book calls itself a dark romantasy, and at first I wasn't totally sure I would classify it as “dark.” But then the story got into some seriously deep mental health themes, dark thoughts, and the process of confronting and overcoming some very difficult things, and I was like… okay, YES. Dark definitely qualifies.
We get a really interesting mix of dark fantasy, paranormal elements, ancient witchy magic, demons, romance, and found family, which was one of my favorite parts. 🥹 I will ALWAYS be happy when a story gives me people who slowly become each other's safe place.
And the setting?! A famous, old art school in California is the primary backdrop, but a huge part of the story also takes place inside Feyanna's dreams/nightmares. That combination created a unique atmosphere and made the whole “what is real?” feeling even stronger.
Nothing played out the way I expected it to. And instead of trying to figure everything out, I just leaned into the chaos and enjoyed the ride. 😂
If you enjoy a dark romantasy with paranormal elements, mental health themes, found family, morally gray green-flag MMC energy, demons, and ancient witchy magic…
Yeah. This one is for you.
And apparently for me too. 🖤✨
The Sleeping Key is my first book by Gemma Ashborne, but it definitely will NOT be my last. There is so much going on in this story, and nothing is quite what it seems. Not Feyanna. Not the world around her. Not even the things happening in her dreams… or should I say nightmares. 👀
Our FMC, Feyanna, is so much more than she initially appears to be, and I loved discovering things alongside her. The information unfolds at the right pace, and because we learn things as Fey does, I didn’t feel like I was being handed answers before I was ready for them.
I also refuse to name the MMC because part of the fun for me was letting that unfold naturally. 😂 Just trust me when I say he is freaking awesome. Major green flag energy with some morally gray vibes thrown in, which is basically my favorite combination.
The book calls itself a dark romantasy, and at first I wasn't totally sure I would classify it as “dark.” But then the story got into some seriously deep mental health themes, dark thoughts, and the process of confronting and overcoming some very difficult things, and I was like… okay, YES. Dark definitely qualifies.
We get a really interesting mix of dark fantasy, paranormal elements, ancient witchy magic, demons, romance, and found family, which was one of my favorite parts. 🥹 I will ALWAYS be happy when a story gives me people who slowly become each other's safe place.
And the setting?! A famous, old art school in California is the primary backdrop, but a huge part of the story also takes place inside Feyanna's dreams/nightmares. That combination created a unique atmosphere and made the whole “what is real?” feeling even stronger.
Nothing played out the way I expected it to. And instead of trying to figure everything out, I just leaned into the chaos and enjoyed the ride. 😂
If you enjoy a dark romantasy with paranormal elements, mental health themes, found family, morally gray green-flag MMC energy, demons, and ancient witchy magic…
Yeah. This one is for you.
And apparently for me too. 🖤✨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 ⭐ Rounded up.
So this book had minor issues like the writing feeling very young and cringy at times, but it had one major issue, which was the ineptitude and inaction of our heroine Fey. But first, some positives.
Firstly, I loved the mental health representation in our protagonist; she really does struggle with her demons, although I do wish we'd got the details about her mum's mental health issues much earlier in the book. I feel like that could have helped inform her character early on and her disdain over the nightmares.
I also quite enjoyed the banter between Cillian and Fey at times, although there were also times when it made me cringe really badly. The "who did this to you" felt soooo forced, and I didn't care for the nicknames; they again felt cringy and forced. But on the whole, I liked them as a pair.
Now into the negative. The non-spoiler version is that Fey, after finding out some pretty earth-shattering truths, just makes no moves to get more answers from the people around her, then later complains they abandoned her and didn't tell her anything, WHAT? Cillian was IN YOUR CLASS, and you're still going on about him "ghosting you" Here's a wild idea: go TALK TO HIM and ask some damn questions, good lord. She has exactly zero agency for most of the book.
Does she research the magic that's happening or the names of some of the nefarious people she's learned about? No.. Does she try to get more answers from Cillian or her professor (who obviously knows more than she's letting on). No. Does she try to work with Cillian to pool information so she can, you know, solve the issue of these nightmares that have plagued her life? Also No. Hell, when she thinks Cillian is "avoiding her", does she actually ever once try to track him down? No. Does she try to talk to him during the classes she admits he attends with her? No. So.... where is he avoiding you? Cause to me it just looks like you can't be bothered to go talk to him? It all just adds up to Fey having little to no desire for answers and being unbelievably passive in events that directly impact her life. I would be okay with her not finding much, if anything, out, but at least have her try for goodness sake.
This is especially awful because it's repeatedly hammered home that Fey is a very studious and academic girl who always has her nose in a book. The closest she gets is these diaries she finds that tell a story eerily similar to hers. Does she skim through these to correlate details and try to use that to figure out what's happening? Don't be silly, that would mean Fey being productive instead of just twiddling her thumbs until the next person comes to her to tell her the next plot-relevant bit of information with no effort on her part.
We could have really played into Fey's intelligence and penchant for books to help her figure out how to defeat the Lores, for example. Instead, she, by chance, reads a sentence before she falls asleep in a recreational read about dreams that ends up helping her. It would have been so much cooler if this had been much more purposeful and she had been actively looking for answers rather than finding them by chance.
Unfortunately, Fey's lack of agency or enthusiasm for the story she was a part of, coupled with some cringy writing, really hampered my enjoyment of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc.
So this book had minor issues like the writing feeling very young and cringy at times, but it had one major issue, which was the ineptitude and inaction of our heroine Fey. But first, some positives.
Firstly, I loved the mental health representation in our protagonist; she really does struggle with her demons, although I do wish we'd got the details about her mum's mental health issues much earlier in the book. I feel like that could have helped inform her character early on and her disdain over the nightmares.
I also quite enjoyed the banter between Cillian and Fey at times, although there were also times when it made me cringe really badly. The "who did this to you" felt soooo forced, and I didn't care for the nicknames; they again felt cringy and forced. But on the whole, I liked them as a pair.
Now into the negative. The non-spoiler version is that Fey, after finding out some pretty earth-shattering truths, just makes no moves to get more answers from the people around her, then later complains they abandoned her and didn't tell her anything, WHAT? Cillian was IN YOUR CLASS, and you're still going on about him "ghosting you" Here's a wild idea: go TALK TO HIM and ask some damn questions, good lord. She has exactly zero agency for most of the book.
Does she research the magic that's happening or the names of some of the nefarious people she's learned about? No.. Does she try to get more answers from Cillian or her professor (who obviously knows more than she's letting on). No. Does she try to work with Cillian to pool information so she can, you know, solve the issue of these nightmares that have plagued her life? Also No. Hell, when she thinks Cillian is "avoiding her", does she actually ever once try to track him down? No. Does she try to talk to him during the classes she admits he attends with her? No. So.... where is he avoiding you? Cause to me it just looks like you can't be bothered to go talk to him? It all just adds up to Fey having little to no desire for answers and being unbelievably passive in events that directly impact her life. I would be okay with her not finding much, if anything, out, but at least have her try for goodness sake.
This is especially awful because it's repeatedly hammered home that Fey is a very studious and academic girl who always has her nose in a book. The closest she gets is these diaries she finds that tell a story eerily similar to hers. Does she skim through these to correlate details and try to use that to figure out what's happening? Don't be silly, that would mean Fey being productive instead of just twiddling her thumbs until the next person comes to her to tell her the next plot-relevant bit of information with no effort on her part.
We could have really played into Fey's intelligence and penchant for books to help her figure out how to defeat the Lores, for example. Instead, she, by chance, reads a sentence before she falls asleep in a recreational read about dreams that ends up helping her. It would have been so much cooler if this had been much more purposeful and she had been actively looking for answers rather than finding them by chance.
Unfortunately, Fey's lack of agency or enthusiasm for the story she was a part of, coupled with some cringy writing, really hampered my enjoyment of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
A unique dark romantasy that turns nightmares into reality.
This was such a fun read. Dark fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and this story had many of the elements I love. The premise immediately stood out to me—a woman haunted by nightmares that become reality every time she falls asleep. It felt fresh, original, and unlike anything I’ve read before.
The lore was equally intriguing. I especially enjoyed how crystals were woven into the magic system. Grounding the magic in something tangible that exists in our own world made the fantasy feel even more immersive.
Fey’s journey was what truly drew me in. She struggles with crippling anxiety, and it genuinely shapes how she views herself and interacts with others. Her fear of letting people see the darkest parts of herself made her feel incredibly human. Those themes of feeling broken and believing you’re beyond repair are deeply relatable, and I appreciated that the story wasn’t afraid to explore heavier emotional topics. They made it much easier to connect with her as a character.
The pacing kept me turning the pages well into the night. I constantly wanted to know what nightmare Fey would face next, and the connection between dreams and reality created an addictive sense of suspense. I also appreciated that, while Fey questioned what she learned, she didn’t spend chapters endlessly going back and forth. Instead, her doubt evolved into curiosity, allowing her character to grow naturally.
That said, there were times when the story jumped from zero to one hundred so quickly that it created a bit of whiplash. Fey would dive wholeheartedly into a decision before abruptly changing her mind, and this happened with multiple characters throughout the story. I felt something similar with several of the Lore creatures. A beast that had haunted Fey’s dreams for years would sometimes be defeated far more easily than I expected. I wanted those encounters to feel more dangerous and hard earned, with each creature leaving a stronger impression.
I especially felt this with Cillian (which also happens to be my son’s name and spelled the same, which was a fun surprise!). For a romance that’s meant to span lifetimes, I wanted more opportunities to experience their connection firsthand. We were often told how profound their love was, but we didn’t spend enough uninterrupted time watching that relationship develop. Just as they began sharing meaningful moments together, something would pull them apart again. While I enjoyed the romantic scenes we did get, I wanted more conversations, more quiet moments, and more emotional depth. At times, their dialogue felt a little fragmented and overly youthful rather than reflecting a love that had endured across lifetimes.
I also think the overall pacing would have benefited from allowing the story more room to breathe. While I enjoyed how quickly the plot moved, there were several major reveals and emotional moments that deserved more time to develop. The worldbuilding was easy to follow overall, but as the story progressed, so many new magical concepts and revelations were introduced that they occasionally felt disconnected from one another. Spending more time exploring Fey’s past lives, her history with the supporting characters, and how those relationships evolved over time would have added even greater emotional weight.
The same goes for her children. As a parent myself, I found that aspect of the story especially moving. I loved that twist and the way those family bonds were woven into the narrative. However, I wanted to spend more time exploring those relationships, particularly with Cillian and their children, and how they ultimately connected to Bethesda and the larger story.
Despite my critiques, I found myself genuinely invested in this world and these characters. The concept is incredibly creative, the atmosphere was compelling, and I finished the book wanting to know what happens next. If this is the beginning of a series, I’ll definitely be interested in continuing. My criticisms ultimately come from wanting to spend even more time in this fascinating world because I felt there was so much potential to explore.
A unique dark romantasy that turns nightmares into reality.
This was such a fun read. Dark fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and this story had many of the elements I love. The premise immediately stood out to me—a woman haunted by nightmares that become reality every time she falls asleep. It felt fresh, original, and unlike anything I’ve read before.
The lore was equally intriguing. I especially enjoyed how crystals were woven into the magic system. Grounding the magic in something tangible that exists in our own world made the fantasy feel even more immersive.
Fey’s journey was what truly drew me in. She struggles with crippling anxiety, and it genuinely shapes how she views herself and interacts with others. Her fear of letting people see the darkest parts of herself made her feel incredibly human. Those themes of feeling broken and believing you’re beyond repair are deeply relatable, and I appreciated that the story wasn’t afraid to explore heavier emotional topics. They made it much easier to connect with her as a character.
The pacing kept me turning the pages well into the night. I constantly wanted to know what nightmare Fey would face next, and the connection between dreams and reality created an addictive sense of suspense. I also appreciated that, while Fey questioned what she learned, she didn’t spend chapters endlessly going back and forth. Instead, her doubt evolved into curiosity, allowing her character to grow naturally.
That said, there were times when the story jumped from zero to one hundred so quickly that it created a bit of whiplash. Fey would dive wholeheartedly into a decision before abruptly changing her mind, and this happened with multiple characters throughout the story. I felt something similar with several of the Lore creatures. A beast that had haunted Fey’s dreams for years would sometimes be defeated far more easily than I expected. I wanted those encounters to feel more dangerous and hard earned, with each creature leaving a stronger impression.
I especially felt this with Cillian (which also happens to be my son’s name and spelled the same, which was a fun surprise!). For a romance that’s meant to span lifetimes, I wanted more opportunities to experience their connection firsthand. We were often told how profound their love was, but we didn’t spend enough uninterrupted time watching that relationship develop. Just as they began sharing meaningful moments together, something would pull them apart again. While I enjoyed the romantic scenes we did get, I wanted more conversations, more quiet moments, and more emotional depth. At times, their dialogue felt a little fragmented and overly youthful rather than reflecting a love that had endured across lifetimes.
I also think the overall pacing would have benefited from allowing the story more room to breathe. While I enjoyed how quickly the plot moved, there were several major reveals and emotional moments that deserved more time to develop. The worldbuilding was easy to follow overall, but as the story progressed, so many new magical concepts and revelations were introduced that they occasionally felt disconnected from one another. Spending more time exploring Fey’s past lives, her history with the supporting characters, and how those relationships evolved over time would have added even greater emotional weight.
The same goes for her children. As a parent myself, I found that aspect of the story especially moving. I loved that twist and the way those family bonds were woven into the narrative. However, I wanted to spend more time exploring those relationships, particularly with Cillian and their children, and how they ultimately connected to Bethesda and the larger story.
Despite my critiques, I found myself genuinely invested in this world and these characters. The concept is incredibly creative, the atmosphere was compelling, and I finished the book wanting to know what happens next. If this is the beginning of a series, I’ll definitely be interested in continuing. My criticisms ultimately come from wanting to spend even more time in this fascinating world because I felt there was so much potential to explore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thick romantic tension, even thicker plot!
In this epic dark romantasy, college student Fey enrolls in a remote art institute with the dream of finding a life of solitude and peace. But her lifelong nightmares worsen, through which she uncovers her role in a mysterious dark realm and the fate of the world as we know it. The story follows her journey to understanding her true identity and a budding romance amidst impending doom. I highly recommend this for for romantasy readers who are fascinated by dreams & crystals and are looking for something darker.
* Yearning & slow burn
* Fated mates
* Who did this to you & wound tending
* Hidden magic/secret identity
* Witchcraft, tarot, and dreams
* Recluse & shameless flirt
* Mentor/mentee
* Found family
* Mental health, trauma, and grief rep
* LGBTQ+ rep
The romance is sweet and emotional. There’s no open door spice, but plenty of yearning, flirting, and tension. The push and pull between the two love interests is a little repetitive for my taste but is successful in setting up the slow burn and rewarding payoff.
The FMC’s character development, specifically with mental health, could only be written by someone who’s gone through it themselves. It’s deeply emotional and raw, showcasing a trauma survivors journey in healing their shame and finding confidence and empowerment. There’s also a beautiful depiction of how allowing yourself to be vulnerable can open the door to deep friendships and found family.
Some of the banter didn’t entirely land for me, but I’m still giving this a 5 as I think it may just be my personal preference. The pace is steady and natural in the first half of the book, and then picks up even more in the second. There’s a nice balance between quicker paces during fight or horror scenes in the "dream" realm and slower paces during other scenes in the human realm. Toward the end there is shocking reveal after reveal that makes it impossible to turn the page fast enough.
The world is vivid and atmospheric. The school is whimsical and witchy (you’ll want to enroll immediately) but the “dream" realm is dark and gruesome. The magic system weaves together spiritual beliefs from different practices, not asserting one over the other, but rather implying that they all point to the same truth and can all work together in harmony.
I can’t find anything that says definitively if this is a standalone or a series, but there’s a cliffhanger ending that hints at a continuation that I’m desperate for. Thank you to Podium Entertainment and Gemma Ashborne for the free advanced copy!
In this epic dark romantasy, college student Fey enrolls in a remote art institute with the dream of finding a life of solitude and peace. But her lifelong nightmares worsen, through which she uncovers her role in a mysterious dark realm and the fate of the world as we know it. The story follows her journey to understanding her true identity and a budding romance amidst impending doom. I highly recommend this for for romantasy readers who are fascinated by dreams & crystals and are looking for something darker.
* Yearning & slow burn
* Fated mates
* Who did this to you & wound tending
* Hidden magic/secret identity
* Witchcraft, tarot, and dreams
* Recluse & shameless flirt
* Mentor/mentee
* Found family
* Mental health, trauma, and grief rep
* LGBTQ+ rep
The romance is sweet and emotional. There’s no open door spice, but plenty of yearning, flirting, and tension. The push and pull between the two love interests is a little repetitive for my taste but is successful in setting up the slow burn and rewarding payoff.
The FMC’s character development, specifically with mental health, could only be written by someone who’s gone through it themselves. It’s deeply emotional and raw, showcasing a trauma survivors journey in healing their shame and finding confidence and empowerment. There’s also a beautiful depiction of how allowing yourself to be vulnerable can open the door to deep friendships and found family.
Some of the banter didn’t entirely land for me, but I’m still giving this a 5 as I think it may just be my personal preference. The pace is steady and natural in the first half of the book, and then picks up even more in the second. There’s a nice balance between quicker paces during fight or horror scenes in the "dream" realm and slower paces during other scenes in the human realm. Toward the end there is shocking reveal after reveal that makes it impossible to turn the page fast enough.
The world is vivid and atmospheric. The school is whimsical and witchy (you’ll want to enroll immediately) but the “dream" realm is dark and gruesome. The magic system weaves together spiritual beliefs from different practices, not asserting one over the other, but rather implying that they all point to the same truth and can all work together in harmony.
I can’t find anything that says definitively if this is a standalone or a series, but there’s a cliffhanger ending that hints at a continuation that I’m desperate for. Thank you to Podium Entertainment and Gemma Ashborne for the free advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Sleeping Key had me in an absolute chokehold. I knew I was going to enjoy this one from the beginning, but I wasn’t prepared for just how completely immersed I would become. The combination of dark academia, gothic atmosphere, nightmares, hidden magic, mystery, and romance was basically designed specifically for me. Fey was such a compelling FMC. I loved that her anxiety, trauma, and struggles weren’t simply brushed aside once the fantasy elements came into play. Instead, they were an important part of her journey and intertwined beautifully with everything she was discovering about herself. Watching her slowly become more confident and learn to trust herself was one of my favorite parts of the story. And then there’s Cillian. The chemistry between these two was EVERYTHING. The yearning. The tension. The mystery surrounding him. The mentor/mentee dynamic. The whole “I will find you in every lifetime” feeling. I was completely sold. Their relationship had me simultaneously screaming at them to just TALK and desperately wanting every single interaction to last longer. The setting was another huge highlight for me. The remote art institute tucked away in the Redwoods was the perfect backdrop for this story. It felt beautiful, eerie, magical, and just a little bit wrong in exactly the right ways. And once the nightmare world started unfolding, things got DARK. The contrast between the whimsical/witchy academy and the much more brutal dream realm worked so well. I also loved the magic system and all the lore surrounding it. There were so many secrets and twists that I kept thinking I had figured something out, only for the story to basically look at me and say, “Cute theory.” And the found family? I loved watching Fey build these connections and finally find people who made her feel like she belonged.
But that ENDING.
WHAT. WAS. THAT.
The final stretch was an absolute emotional rollercoaster, and that cliffhanger left me staring at the page like there HAD to be more. I need the next book immediately because I have approximately 47 questions and absolutely no patience. This was such an atmospheric, emotional, twisty, addictive dark romantasy, and I genuinely didn’t want it to end. If you love dark academia, gothic fantasy, nightmares, witchcraft, hidden magic, fated mates, forbidden romance, found family, tortured characters, and a mysterious MMC who will have you absolutely feral, put The Sleeping Key on your TBR.
But that ENDING.
WHAT. WAS. THAT.
The final stretch was an absolute emotional rollercoaster, and that cliffhanger left me staring at the page like there HAD to be more. I need the next book immediately because I have approximately 47 questions and absolutely no patience. This was such an atmospheric, emotional, twisty, addictive dark romantasy, and I genuinely didn’t want it to end. If you love dark academia, gothic fantasy, nightmares, witchcraft, hidden magic, fated mates, forbidden romance, found family, tortured characters, and a mysterious MMC who will have you absolutely feral, put The Sleeping Key on your TBR.
September 15, 2026
This one sounded so good based off the blurb, and while it does have several elements to it that I really enjoyed, it just fell flat for me.
The utilization of crystals and taro through the book were a fun little addition, and I did like that a lot of it's explained so even if that's not your thing, you get a general idea. How the crystals, especially, work alongside the magic is an interesting take. The magic and explanations are well done—for the basic, entry level stuff. The horror aspect for the dreamscape/shroud was really well done, with just the right amount of creepy and ick to make you feel it. The descriptions of the scenery were also a great touch.
There were some things that just didn't hit with me.
• The writing itself has a very heavy YA feel.
• This is labeled as slow burn, but it's not. It's an abrupt shift from strangers to lovers with very little tension.
• Chakeras also make their appearance, but this one kind of felt like a self insert of knowledge because what the character tried to do with them was a flop, and then it was never utilized again after all the info given for them.
• The FMCs lack of drive was also really frustrating. You've got this horrible thing happening to you, but you aren't going to question the people with knowledge about it? You're not going to pull out every book available to you and try to figure it out yourself?
• The push on religion and how it's connected to magic, but then not even really explained, which loops back to the last point because why would you not question this some more?
• "He's ghosting me" but, again, zero drive to find where he is and figure out why.
• "I remember everything" but... not how to use your magic???
• The villain's drive make zero sense and only make even LESS sense when the big reveal is made on who she actually is.
Overall, this one was entertaining but frustrating. I enjoyed the bones of the story, and the things that this author did well with, they did great at fleshing out. I'm sure there are a lot of readers who will really enjoy this one and just go along for the ride. I just couldn't turn my brain off to do so when the story kept making me ask so many questions.
The utilization of crystals and taro through the book were a fun little addition, and I did like that a lot of it's explained so even if that's not your thing, you get a general idea. How the crystals, especially, work alongside the magic is an interesting take. The magic and explanations are well done—for the basic, entry level stuff. The horror aspect for the dreamscape/shroud was really well done, with just the right amount of creepy and ick to make you feel it. The descriptions of the scenery were also a great touch.
There were some things that just didn't hit with me.
• The writing itself has a very heavy YA feel.
• This is labeled as slow burn, but it's not. It's an abrupt shift from strangers to lovers with very little tension.
• Chakeras also make their appearance, but this one kind of felt like a self insert of knowledge because what the character tried to do with them was a flop, and then it was never utilized again after all the info given for them.
• The FMCs lack of drive was also really frustrating. You've got this horrible thing happening to you, but you aren't going to question the people with knowledge about it? You're not going to pull out every book available to you and try to figure it out yourself?
• The push on religion and how it's connected to magic, but then not even really explained, which loops back to the last point because why would you not question this some more?
• "He's ghosting me" but, again, zero drive to find where he is and figure out why.
• "I remember everything" but... not how to use your magic???
• The villain's drive make zero sense and only make even LESS sense when the big reveal is made on who she actually is.
Overall, this one was entertaining but frustrating. I enjoyed the bones of the story, and the things that this author did well with, they did great at fleshing out. I'm sure there are a lot of readers who will really enjoy this one and just go along for the ride. I just couldn't turn my brain off to do so when the story kept making me ask so many questions.
September 15, 2026
The Sleeping Key is one of those books that I might have DNF'd early on but I would have missed out. It has an interesting magical system - almost all of the magic takes place in a dreamscape, and there are many crystals - and there's some good twists and turns.
It goes in a vastly different direction than the beginning would suggest. At the beginning the FMC was so self-involved that it was painful - completely unhealed, which is sort of the point (or at least I think it is) - but I felt like I was being told about her feelings and experiences rather than through descriptions of the impact or reactions, which made her sound very whiny and woe-is-me. She's her own worst enemy when it comes to relationships and connections, and while I understand why, I found it annoying. She has a tendency to think she's the only one with problems or interests, and stick her head in the sand and it makes her difficult to like and empathise with.
BUT once the plot gets going, there is some good character development when she finds a safe place - she starts to address her issues, and starts to build strength and resilience, while uncovering important secrets about herself.
I love the MMC - he's very secretive, but there was good chemistry and tension between them, and we do love a man who waits (though their game of hide & seek was anticlimactic).
The world building and diversity were also strong, in my opinion, although there's some virtue signalling and therapy speak that didn't add anything to the plot and felt a little shoehorned in.
There are sections where I would have liked a little more detail or development, but others where there were some beautiful turns of phrase and descriptions.
Overall, it's a little inconsistent - the second half of the book is much stronger than the first, but there are still ups and downs. I'm glad I continued, and ultimately enjoyed it, but I'm wary about the second book as it will bring in a historical character!
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I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It goes in a vastly different direction than the beginning would suggest. At the beginning the FMC was so self-involved that it was painful - completely unhealed, which is sort of the point (or at least I think it is) - but I felt like I was being told about her feelings and experiences rather than through descriptions of the impact or reactions, which made her sound very whiny and woe-is-me. She's her own worst enemy when it comes to relationships and connections, and while I understand why, I found it annoying. She has a tendency to think she's the only one with problems or interests, and stick her head in the sand and it makes her difficult to like and empathise with.
BUT once the plot gets going, there is some good character development when she finds a safe place - she starts to address her issues, and starts to build strength and resilience, while uncovering important secrets about herself.
I love the MMC - he's very secretive, but there was good chemistry and tension between them, and we do love a man who waits (though their game of hide & seek was anticlimactic).
The world building and diversity were also strong, in my opinion, although there's some virtue signalling and therapy speak that didn't add anything to the plot and felt a little shoehorned in.
There are sections where I would have liked a little more detail or development, but others where there were some beautiful turns of phrase and descriptions.
Overall, it's a little inconsistent - the second half of the book is much stronger than the first, but there are still ups and downs. I'm glad I continued, and ultimately enjoyed it, but I'm wary about the second book as it will bring in a historical character!
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I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Sleeping Key ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Amazing … Gemma Ashbourne delivers a beautifully dark and atmospheric romantasy that completely pulled me in from the very first pages. Between the haunting dreamscape atmosphere, hidden magic, emotional tension and addictive romance, this was such an immersive and memorable read that I can’t stop thinking about it.
One of my favourite things about this book was the atmosphere. The remote art institute hidden amongst the Redwoods created the perfect eerie setting, and the blend of nightmares, magic and creeping dread gave the story a constant sense of tension. The darker fantasy elements felt vivid and cinematic throughout.
Fey was such a compelling main character, and I really connected with her struggles with fear, anxiety and isolation. Her emotional journey added so much depth to the story, making her growth feel powerful and rewarding as the plot unfolded. I also loved how the magical elements intertwined with her internal battles in a way that felt emotional as well as fantastical.
The romance between Fey and Cillian was another standout for me. The chemistry, tension and emotional pull between them was so well done, and I loved the mentor mentee dynamic alongside the forbidden romance side of things. Cillian had exactly the right balance of mystery, sharp wit and emotional depth to make him impossible not to love.
The pacing kept me fully invested throughout, with plenty of twists, danger and emotional stakes woven into the story. The world building and magical lore felt rich but not overwhelming, and the ending left me completely satisfied while still wanting more from this world.
This was such an addictive and emotionally engaging romantasy, and I will absolutely be reading more from Gemma Ashbourne in the future.📚✨
Amazing … Gemma Ashbourne delivers a beautifully dark and atmospheric romantasy that completely pulled me in from the very first pages. Between the haunting dreamscape atmosphere, hidden magic, emotional tension and addictive romance, this was such an immersive and memorable read that I can’t stop thinking about it.
One of my favourite things about this book was the atmosphere. The remote art institute hidden amongst the Redwoods created the perfect eerie setting, and the blend of nightmares, magic and creeping dread gave the story a constant sense of tension. The darker fantasy elements felt vivid and cinematic throughout.
Fey was such a compelling main character, and I really connected with her struggles with fear, anxiety and isolation. Her emotional journey added so much depth to the story, making her growth feel powerful and rewarding as the plot unfolded. I also loved how the magical elements intertwined with her internal battles in a way that felt emotional as well as fantastical.
The romance between Fey and Cillian was another standout for me. The chemistry, tension and emotional pull between them was so well done, and I loved the mentor mentee dynamic alongside the forbidden romance side of things. Cillian had exactly the right balance of mystery, sharp wit and emotional depth to make him impossible not to love.
The pacing kept me fully invested throughout, with plenty of twists, danger and emotional stakes woven into the story. The world building and magical lore felt rich but not overwhelming, and the ending left me completely satisfied while still wanting more from this world.
This was such an addictive and emotionally engaging romantasy, and I will absolutely be reading more from Gemma Ashbourne in the future.📚✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️
This was such an interesting concept! I really liked the combination of dark academia, nightmares, witchcraft and romantasy. The whole idea of Fey discovering that there is something much deeper behind her nightmares was probably my favourite part of the story.
Fey was an interesting FMC. I liked seeing her slowly start to understand herself, her abilities and what has actually been happening to her. I also appreciated that her struggles with anxiety weren't simply forgotten once the magical elements came into play.
And then there’s Cillian 👀. The mysterious mentor, the sharp tongue, the secrets and that connection between them definitely kept me interested. Their romance had plenty of yearning and tension, although I did feel like some parts of their relationship developed a little quicker than I would have liked.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The remote art institute surrounded by the Redwoods, the nightmares, magic, tarot and darker supernatural elements gave the book a creepy, gothic feel that worked really well.
My biggest issue was that some parts felt rushed, especially towards the end. Fey discovers a LOT of information, and her character development sometimes felt like it jumped forward rather quickly. The final portion also packed in so much that I wanted a little more time to process
Overall, I enjoyed this one. It wasn't a perfect read for me, but the concept, atmosphere, magic and Cillian kept me invested. I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy darker romantasy with dark academia, hidden magic, nightmares, fated mates and a mysterious romance.
Thank you to NetGalley, Podium Entertainment and Gemma Ashborne for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an interesting concept! I really liked the combination of dark academia, nightmares, witchcraft and romantasy. The whole idea of Fey discovering that there is something much deeper behind her nightmares was probably my favourite part of the story.
Fey was an interesting FMC. I liked seeing her slowly start to understand herself, her abilities and what has actually been happening to her. I also appreciated that her struggles with anxiety weren't simply forgotten once the magical elements came into play.
And then there’s Cillian 👀. The mysterious mentor, the sharp tongue, the secrets and that connection between them definitely kept me interested. Their romance had plenty of yearning and tension, although I did feel like some parts of their relationship developed a little quicker than I would have liked.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere. The remote art institute surrounded by the Redwoods, the nightmares, magic, tarot and darker supernatural elements gave the book a creepy, gothic feel that worked really well.
My biggest issue was that some parts felt rushed, especially towards the end. Fey discovers a LOT of information, and her character development sometimes felt like it jumped forward rather quickly. The final portion also packed in so much that I wanted a little more time to process
Overall, I enjoyed this one. It wasn't a perfect read for me, but the concept, atmosphere, magic and Cillian kept me invested. I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy darker romantasy with dark academia, hidden magic, nightmares, fated mates and a mysterious romance.
Thank you to NetGalley, Podium Entertainment and Gemma Ashborne for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I picked this up almost entirely because of the art institute. As someone who spent years in art school, give me a creepy old campus full of artists, magic, and secrets hidden in the studios and I’m already sold before chapter one. That setting ended up being everything I wanted. It felt cozy one minute and deeply unsettling the next, like there was always something watching from just outside the edge of the page.
Fey was such an easy character to root for. Her anxiety isn’t treated like a personality trait that disappears the second the plot gets exciting, and I appreciated that so much. It felt honest and relatable. There were so many little moments where I just wanted to reach through the book and tell her she’d be okay.
And Cillian… ugh. 😩
The romance is definitely more about the tension than anything else, which worked for me. Every conversation had me looking for crumbs. Every little glance. Every almost-confession. I loved it.
The mystery kept pulling me along too. Every time I thought I had something figured out, another piece would fall into place that made me question everything again. I love when a book lets you play detective without making you feel completely lost.
The atmosphere is what I’ll remember most. The redwood forest, the old buildings, the dreams, and the feeling that magic was hiding in every corner of campus. It made me wish this school actually existed… minus the nightmare creatures.
The ending was a dang rollercoaster of emotions and I am excited and desperately needing the next book!
Thank you Podium Entertainment, NetGalley, and Gemma for the arc!
Fey was such an easy character to root for. Her anxiety isn’t treated like a personality trait that disappears the second the plot gets exciting, and I appreciated that so much. It felt honest and relatable. There were so many little moments where I just wanted to reach through the book and tell her she’d be okay.
And Cillian… ugh. 😩
The romance is definitely more about the tension than anything else, which worked for me. Every conversation had me looking for crumbs. Every little glance. Every almost-confession. I loved it.
The mystery kept pulling me along too. Every time I thought I had something figured out, another piece would fall into place that made me question everything again. I love when a book lets you play detective without making you feel completely lost.
The atmosphere is what I’ll remember most. The redwood forest, the old buildings, the dreams, and the feeling that magic was hiding in every corner of campus. It made me wish this school actually existed… minus the nightmare creatures.
The ending was a dang rollercoaster of emotions and I am excited and desperately needing the next book!
Thank you Podium Entertainment, NetGalley, and Gemma for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Sleeping Key was a wonderful literary discovery for me! I hadn’t heard of Gemma Ashborne before, but you can be sure I’ll be reading her future books.
This was one of those stories where I kept thinking I had things figured out… and then the book was like, "cute theory." 😂 Every time I thought I had a theory, another little piece of information would make me question everything again.
What I loved about this book:
🖤 The Vibe & Atmosphere: The remote art institute, Redwoods, the dreams, the magic, and the creepy feeling that you shouldn't trust everyone worked so well together. It had that perfect dark academia/gothic vibe that made me want to keep reading even when things got worse.
🧠 Fey & Her Anxiety: I really connected with Fey. I am very familiar with anxiety myself, having been diagnosed with generalized anxiety. I truly appreciated that her struggles weren't simply forgotten once the fantasy elements came in. It remains part of her journey, yet it never overshadows the other elements of the book.
👀 Cilian (The Romance): Then there’s Cilian. The mysterious mentor with the sharp tongue, secrets, and way too much intense chemistry with Fey? Yeah… I was invested. There was a lot of "we probably shouldn’t do this… but I’m absolutely going to keep thinking about you" energy, and I was here for it. 🫠
🧩 The Lore & Twists: The magic, the lore, and the mystery surrounding Fey's dreams kept me completely hooked. Some twists I suspected, but some I absolutely did NOT. I especially loved how the line between her nightmares and reality kept getting blurrier.
Thank you to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was one of those stories where I kept thinking I had things figured out… and then the book was like, "cute theory." 😂 Every time I thought I had a theory, another little piece of information would make me question everything again.
What I loved about this book:
🖤 The Vibe & Atmosphere: The remote art institute, Redwoods, the dreams, the magic, and the creepy feeling that you shouldn't trust everyone worked so well together. It had that perfect dark academia/gothic vibe that made me want to keep reading even when things got worse.
🧠 Fey & Her Anxiety: I really connected with Fey. I am very familiar with anxiety myself, having been diagnosed with generalized anxiety. I truly appreciated that her struggles weren't simply forgotten once the fantasy elements came in. It remains part of her journey, yet it never overshadows the other elements of the book.
👀 Cilian (The Romance): Then there’s Cilian. The mysterious mentor with the sharp tongue, secrets, and way too much intense chemistry with Fey? Yeah… I was invested. There was a lot of "we probably shouldn’t do this… but I’m absolutely going to keep thinking about you" energy, and I was here for it. 🫠
🧩 The Lore & Twists: The magic, the lore, and the mystery surrounding Fey's dreams kept me completely hooked. Some twists I suspected, but some I absolutely did NOT. I especially loved how the line between her nightmares and reality kept getting blurrier.
Thank you to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Okay… this book was SUCH a ride. 🖤🌙
The Sleeping Key completely pulled me in with its dark academia atmosphere, eerie nightmares, hidden magic, and the feeling that there was always something lurking just beneath the surface. The art institute in the middle of the Redwoods was such a perfect setting for this story—it felt beautiful and atmospheric while also being just a little unsettling.
I really loved Fey as a main character. Her anxiety and fear are such an important part of her journey, and I appreciated that the magical elements didn’t simply erase those struggles. Watching her slowly uncover the truth about herself, her nightmares, and the magic surrounding her made her journey so compelling.
And then there’s Cillian. 👀 The mystery, the sharp banter, the tension, the yearning… I was HERE for it. Their relationship added such a good layer to the story, especially with the mentor/mentee dynamic and all the secrets surrounding them.
But honestly, the mystery was what kept me turning pages. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, another secret or twist would come along and make me question everything again. The combination of witchy magic, nightmares, crystals, tarot, found family, and darker supernatural elements made this feel different from a lot of the romantasy I’ve been reading.
And THAT ENDING. 😳
I genuinely need to know what happens next because I am absolutely not emotionally prepared to just sit here with all those questions.
Dark, atmospheric, mysterious, emotional, and addictive—this was absolutely a 5-star read for me. 🖤🔑🌙
Okay… this book was SUCH a ride. 🖤🌙
The Sleeping Key completely pulled me in with its dark academia atmosphere, eerie nightmares, hidden magic, and the feeling that there was always something lurking just beneath the surface. The art institute in the middle of the Redwoods was such a perfect setting for this story—it felt beautiful and atmospheric while also being just a little unsettling.
I really loved Fey as a main character. Her anxiety and fear are such an important part of her journey, and I appreciated that the magical elements didn’t simply erase those struggles. Watching her slowly uncover the truth about herself, her nightmares, and the magic surrounding her made her journey so compelling.
And then there’s Cillian. 👀 The mystery, the sharp banter, the tension, the yearning… I was HERE for it. Their relationship added such a good layer to the story, especially with the mentor/mentee dynamic and all the secrets surrounding them.
But honestly, the mystery was what kept me turning pages. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, another secret or twist would come along and make me question everything again. The combination of witchy magic, nightmares, crystals, tarot, found family, and darker supernatural elements made this feel different from a lot of the romantasy I’ve been reading.
And THAT ENDING. 😳
I genuinely need to know what happens next because I am absolutely not emotionally prepared to just sit here with all those questions.
Dark, atmospheric, mysterious, emotional, and addictive—this was absolutely a 5-star read for me. 🖤🔑🌙
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I AM SCREAMING. That was SO good.
The Sleeping Key had me hooked almost immediately. The dark academia setting, magic, mystery, nightmares, found family, and romance were all things I absolutely loved. I especially loved Fey and the little found family she creates along the way. She was such a complex and beautifully written character, and the way her anxiety and trauma were portrayed felt incredibly genuine.
And Cillian??? SIR. The yearning between these two was EVERYTHING. Their chemistry was so good, and I was completely invested in their relationship. I only wish we got to see Cillian perform because that man was HOT AF 😂. The fade to black didn’t bother me, but it definitely left me wanting more.
I also really enjoyed discovering everything alongside Fey. There were definitely moments where I was confused, but because Fey was also figuring everything out, it made sense and kept me wanting to know more.
My only real issue was the pacing toward the end. SO much happened in the last 20%, and it felt like an emotional gauntlet. Honestly though, I think I was mostly just being selfish because I wanted MORE.
And that cliffhanger??? My jaw was literally on the floor. I NEED the next book immediately.
Overall, this was such a fun, emotional, atmospheric fantasy romance and I absolutely devoured it. I’m so grateful to have received an ARC of this book and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for the opportunity to read this ARC! I’m so grateful I got to experience this story early.
I AM SCREAMING. That was SO good.
The Sleeping Key had me hooked almost immediately. The dark academia setting, magic, mystery, nightmares, found family, and romance were all things I absolutely loved. I especially loved Fey and the little found family she creates along the way. She was such a complex and beautifully written character, and the way her anxiety and trauma were portrayed felt incredibly genuine.
And Cillian??? SIR. The yearning between these two was EVERYTHING. Their chemistry was so good, and I was completely invested in their relationship. I only wish we got to see Cillian perform because that man was HOT AF 😂. The fade to black didn’t bother me, but it definitely left me wanting more.
I also really enjoyed discovering everything alongside Fey. There were definitely moments where I was confused, but because Fey was also figuring everything out, it made sense and kept me wanting to know more.
My only real issue was the pacing toward the end. SO much happened in the last 20%, and it felt like an emotional gauntlet. Honestly though, I think I was mostly just being selfish because I wanted MORE.
And that cliffhanger??? My jaw was literally on the floor. I NEED the next book immediately.
Overall, this was such a fun, emotional, atmospheric fantasy romance and I absolutely devoured it. I’m so grateful to have received an ARC of this book and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for the opportunity to read this ARC! I’m so grateful I got to experience this story early.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fun dark romantasy read!
The concept is what first drew me into this story—a woman who is haunted by nightmares that become reality whenever she falls asleep. It immediately caught my attention!
I thought the lore and the magic system were fairly unique and intriguing. The use of crystals throughout was an element that I personally hadn’t read about before, so I appreciate how that made the magic feel more grounded and immersive.
Fey was a compelling protagonist to follow. As someone who deals with anxiety, the way her anxiety was portrayed felt believable and relatable, and I liked that this story explored deeper emotional topics through her journey.
I will say that there were moments where the pacing felt a bit too fast to me, specifically when it came to some of the monsters being defeated so easily and quickly. There were also times where characters made decisions, only to abruptly change their minds out of the blue. And I wish that the development of the romance between Cillian and Fey had been shown a bit more, so that I could truly feel like it spanned over lifetimes. All in all, I think the story just needed room to breathe a bit more.
I still enjoyed my time reading this book though. And I think other dark romantasy readers will enjoy it as well.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for allowing me to read the eARC!
September 16, 2026
I absolutely looooved this story!
From the characters and setting to the magic and lore, The Sleeping Key checked all the boxes for me. To be honest, I knew I would love this book—Gemma’s writing is amazing, and I loved the previous books I’ve read by her.
The Sleeping Key is a dark academia that follows Fey, a college student who suffers from crippling anxiety and horrible nightmares that are too real to be just nightmares. When she transfers to an art school in a remote California town, she truly finds who she is, in more ways than you could imagine. It’s emotional, magical, dark, and such an original, incredible story.
I loved the mental health representation in this one. Fey’s battles with anxiety and not being good enough were very relatable for me, and not just that, but the techniques she used to try to calm herself were ones that I’ve used in the past. Gemma conveyed Fey’s feelings incredibly well, from the beginning to the end of her journey to heal her mental health.
The plot was interesting and had more depth and world-building than I expected. I loved learning the history of the world’s magic as Fey herself does. As she learns more about magic, she’s also learning more about herself, her dreams, and the people around her.
From her first interaction with the MMC, Cillian, you can tell that he’ll be a big part of the story. Also, there was no way Fey wouldn’t like him; he’s tattooed and Irish. Yes please. He was definitely not my favorite at first, which I’m sure was intentional because of reasons... that you learn later in the story.
Which leads me to the ending, where the gasp I let out probably could’ve woken the dead. And now I have to wait soooo long to know what happens next, which is just tragic. I need answers, and I need them now!
From the characters and setting to the magic and lore, The Sleeping Key checked all the boxes for me. To be honest, I knew I would love this book—Gemma’s writing is amazing, and I loved the previous books I’ve read by her.
The Sleeping Key is a dark academia that follows Fey, a college student who suffers from crippling anxiety and horrible nightmares that are too real to be just nightmares. When she transfers to an art school in a remote California town, she truly finds who she is, in more ways than you could imagine. It’s emotional, magical, dark, and such an original, incredible story.
I loved the mental health representation in this one. Fey’s battles with anxiety and not being good enough were very relatable for me, and not just that, but the techniques she used to try to calm herself were ones that I’ve used in the past. Gemma conveyed Fey’s feelings incredibly well, from the beginning to the end of her journey to heal her mental health.
The plot was interesting and had more depth and world-building than I expected. I loved learning the history of the world’s magic as Fey herself does. As she learns more about magic, she’s also learning more about herself, her dreams, and the people around her.
From her first interaction with the MMC, Cillian, you can tell that he’ll be a big part of the story. Also, there was no way Fey wouldn’t like him; he’s tattooed and Irish. Yes please. He was definitely not my favorite at first, which I’m sure was intentional because of reasons... that you learn later in the story.
Which leads me to the ending, where the gasp I let out probably could’ve woken the dead. And now I have to wait soooo long to know what happens next, which is just tragic. I need answers, and I need them now!
September 8, 2026
Some doors were never meant to be opened…
The Sleeping Key by Gemma Ashborne was a dark and atmospheric fantasy romance that drew me into a world filled with mystery, magic, secrets, and just the right amount of danger. 🌙🖤
I really enjoyed the darker tone of this story. There’s something wonderfully addictive about a fantasy where you can feel that there’s something lurking beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered. The mysterious elements kept me curious, while the romance added another layer to the story without taking away from the darker fantasy atmosphere.
The world had an intriguing, almost haunting quality to it, and I loved the feeling of stepping into a place where nothing is quite as it seems. There were plenty of moments that made me want to keep turning the pages and uncover what was hiding behind all those secrets.
Overall, this was an enjoyable dark fantasy romance with magic, mystery, danger, and romance woven together into a captivating read. If you love your fantasy a little darker and your romance wrapped in secrets, this one is definitely worth picking up. 🖤🔮
A deliciously dark fantasy read where every secret feels like a locked door… and I definitely wanted to find the key. 🔑🌙
Thank you to Gemma Ashborne for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Sleeping Key by Gemma Ashborne was a dark and atmospheric fantasy romance that drew me into a world filled with mystery, magic, secrets, and just the right amount of danger. 🌙🖤
I really enjoyed the darker tone of this story. There’s something wonderfully addictive about a fantasy where you can feel that there’s something lurking beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered. The mysterious elements kept me curious, while the romance added another layer to the story without taking away from the darker fantasy atmosphere.
The world had an intriguing, almost haunting quality to it, and I loved the feeling of stepping into a place where nothing is quite as it seems. There were plenty of moments that made me want to keep turning the pages and uncover what was hiding behind all those secrets.
Overall, this was an enjoyable dark fantasy romance with magic, mystery, danger, and romance woven together into a captivating read. If you love your fantasy a little darker and your romance wrapped in secrets, this one is definitely worth picking up. 🖤🔮
A deliciously dark fantasy read where every secret feels like a locked door… and I definitely wanted to find the key. 🔑🌙
Thank you to Gemma Ashborne for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The blurb caught my attention, but the book itself never fully captured me. The bits that most interested me never really materialized in a way I'd have hoped - is the "forbidden love" in the room with us? And just because it takes place in a school doesn't make it dark academia...
The writing felt more akin to YA than a dark romantasy for the vast majority of the book. The nightmare realm and the world building was fun at the beginning, but it felt like more elements were continually thrown into the story and the reasons did not always feel like enough to support it. There was a bit of a romance brewing, but I guess I missed the tension and yearning that others picked up on. The magic was fun, the characters were interesting enough, and I could feel the anxiety and guilt that poured off of Fey, but I still found myself struggling to get through.
I don't foresee myself continuing this series, but I do believe it could be a great read for others. If you like latent magical abilities and forgotten past lives, mysteries and twists, then you may like this book! It just didn't work for me. ⭐2 Stars⭐
Thanks to Netgalley, Podium Entertainment, and the author for providing an early copy of this book in exchange of an honest review!
The writing felt more akin to YA than a dark romantasy for the vast majority of the book. The nightmare realm and the world building was fun at the beginning, but it felt like more elements were continually thrown into the story and the reasons did not always feel like enough to support it. There was a bit of a romance brewing, but I guess I missed the tension and yearning that others picked up on. The magic was fun, the characters were interesting enough, and I could feel the anxiety and guilt that poured off of Fey, but I still found myself struggling to get through.
I don't foresee myself continuing this series, but I do believe it could be a great read for others. If you like latent magical abilities and forgotten past lives, mysteries and twists, then you may like this book! It just didn't work for me. ⭐2 Stars⭐
Thanks to Netgalley, Podium Entertainment, and the author for providing an early copy of this book in exchange of an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Woah... I definitely did not expect this story to go the direction that it did, but damn if it wasn't incredible with any twist and turn!
Our FMC Feyanna just wanted to attend a private art college to get her degree and then live secluded and alone while creating art... Instead she got a soul make who has found her in every lifetime, Add on to that a nightmare world full of monsters and an evil witch hellbent on breaking into the real world.
I absolutely loved Feyanna, she felt real and vulnerable. I love when authors allow their characters to be damaged and then build them up. It makes the story so much more rewarding and relatable. The Mental Health representation in this book was just chef's kiss.
As was the tension and build up between Feyanna and Cillian. I was glad the slow burn took its time and fizzled before it finally exploded but I will say, don't go into this book expecting heavy petting because the story was the main point of this story and the romance, while equally important was not the main point.
Highly suggest if you like Dark Academia, Life long soul mates; life after life, and some truely heart breaking plot twists!
Our FMC Feyanna just wanted to attend a private art college to get her degree and then live secluded and alone while creating art... Instead she got a soul make who has found her in every lifetime, Add on to that a nightmare world full of monsters and an evil witch hellbent on breaking into the real world.
I absolutely loved Feyanna, she felt real and vulnerable. I love when authors allow their characters to be damaged and then build them up. It makes the story so much more rewarding and relatable. The Mental Health representation in this book was just chef's kiss.
As was the tension and build up between Feyanna and Cillian. I was glad the slow burn took its time and fizzled before it finally exploded but I will say, don't go into this book expecting heavy petting because the story was the main point of this story and the romance, while equally important was not the main point.
Highly suggest if you like Dark Academia, Life long soul mates; life after life, and some truely heart breaking plot twists!
Read
June 29, 2026That cliffhanger left me hungover for days!
I was in the mood for dark fantasy romance with magic, and The Sleeping Key delivered that with gods, demons, and Stranger Things vibes. We follow Fey as she battles her debilitating anxiety and finds answers at a new art school steeped in secret magic.
One thing I loved about The Sleeping Key is it doesn’t just represent mental health. Fey’s 1st person mental health struggles, therapy, and treatment are central to the storyline. Part of her battle with anxiety and personal growth involves rebellion against loved ones trying to protect her by titrating information based on her readiness for the whole truth, but then turning around and doing the same to people she wants to protect. It’s ARGH upsetting to watch but then satisfying that she learns from it.
One thing I struggled with was unsteady pacing. Once Fey awakened her magic, the narration became unreliable. Fey moved so quickly from a mental space of questioning and uncertainty to one of absolute certainty and knowledge that the plot holes started piling up.
I was expecting a standalone novel, but the cliffhanger at the end left me really looking forward to Book 2 in hopes of answering so many questions!
Readers who like dark academia, found family, fated mates, and the Chosen One will like this book. Load that up with crystals, tarot, chakra, and tattoos.
Thanks to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for the advanced reader copy!
I was in the mood for dark fantasy romance with magic, and The Sleeping Key delivered that with gods, demons, and Stranger Things vibes. We follow Fey as she battles her debilitating anxiety and finds answers at a new art school steeped in secret magic.
One thing I loved about The Sleeping Key is it doesn’t just represent mental health. Fey’s 1st person mental health struggles, therapy, and treatment are central to the storyline. Part of her battle with anxiety and personal growth involves rebellion against loved ones trying to protect her by titrating information based on her readiness for the whole truth, but then turning around and doing the same to people she wants to protect. It’s ARGH upsetting to watch but then satisfying that she learns from it.
One thing I struggled with was unsteady pacing. Once Fey awakened her magic, the narration became unreliable. Fey moved so quickly from a mental space of questioning and uncertainty to one of absolute certainty and knowledge that the plot holes started piling up.
I was expecting a standalone novel, but the cliffhanger at the end left me really looking forward to Book 2 in hopes of answering so many questions!
Readers who like dark academia, found family, fated mates, and the Chosen One will like this book. Load that up with crystals, tarot, chakra, and tattoos.
Thanks to NetGalley and Podium Entertainment for the advanced reader copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC review through NetGalley and the publisher.
Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.
My biggest stumbling block was the writing. It felt quite young, and I never found myself fully immersed in the story or connected to the characters. Rather than becoming invested, I kept feeling like I was reading a very early draft and finding excuses to put it down and do something else.
There are some original ideas at the heart of the novel, but they never felt fully realised. The world-building, magic system and romance all seemed to move from one plot point to the next without enough development to make me believe in them. As a result, I found myself skim reading because I wanted to finish, not because I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
This took me ten days to get through, which is unusual for me. I kept putting it down after a chapter or two, and I never reached the point where I felt truly invested.
Overall, The Sleeping Key has the foundations of an original story, but for me it needed another few drafts to fully develop its ideas and develop more into a gripping story rather than an idea. Unfortunately, I never found my way into this world.
2 Stars.
Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.
My biggest stumbling block was the writing. It felt quite young, and I never found myself fully immersed in the story or connected to the characters. Rather than becoming invested, I kept feeling like I was reading a very early draft and finding excuses to put it down and do something else.
There are some original ideas at the heart of the novel, but they never felt fully realised. The world-building, magic system and romance all seemed to move from one plot point to the next without enough development to make me believe in them. As a result, I found myself skim reading because I wanted to finish, not because I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
This took me ten days to get through, which is unusual for me. I kept putting it down after a chapter or two, and I never reached the point where I felt truly invested.
Overall, The Sleeping Key has the foundations of an original story, but for me it needed another few drafts to fully develop its ideas and develop more into a gripping story rather than an idea. Unfortunately, I never found my way into this world.
2 Stars.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
* ARC received by Podium Entertainment on NetGalley. All Thoughts and feelings are all my own *
Thank you so much!
5⭐️
I’m not really sure where to start with this review because I have so much to say. This book literally ripped me from my reading slump. I could not put it down, i literally carried my kindle to every room in chance I’d get to read a page. The characters and Story gripped me immediately. This is how you do a dark academia! The gothic, witchy spooky vibes? Immaculate. I saw so much of myself in Fey it was like looking in the mirror. Her crippling anxiety and coping strategies was so personal to me and it actually reminded me to breathe and ground myself in a panic attack that I had yesterday. She is so special to my heart.
The tension between Cillian and Fey was so intense,
‘ I will find you in every life time’ trope is the best and this was so special. I cannot recommend it enough especially if you’re tired of the same tropes in Romantasy. I adored the unique magic system , the crystals, tarot. It was just perfect and I cannot wait for the next.. because that cliff hanger?! 🥴 I’ll be here impatiently waiting for the next 🥹🖤
Thank you so much!
5⭐️
I’m not really sure where to start with this review because I have so much to say. This book literally ripped me from my reading slump. I could not put it down, i literally carried my kindle to every room in chance I’d get to read a page. The characters and Story gripped me immediately. This is how you do a dark academia! The gothic, witchy spooky vibes? Immaculate. I saw so much of myself in Fey it was like looking in the mirror. Her crippling anxiety and coping strategies was so personal to me and it actually reminded me to breathe and ground myself in a panic attack that I had yesterday. She is so special to my heart.
The tension between Cillian and Fey was so intense,
‘ I will find you in every life time’ trope is the best and this was so special. I cannot recommend it enough especially if you’re tired of the same tropes in Romantasy. I adored the unique magic system , the crystals, tarot. It was just perfect and I cannot wait for the next.. because that cliff hanger?! 🥴 I’ll be here impatiently waiting for the next 🥹🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
From the first chapter of The Sleeping Key, I was completely hooked by the creepy dream world, dark academia atmosphere, and all the mystery surrounding what was happening. Every answer just led to more questions, and I loved trying to piece everything together.
Fey was such a great main character. I really appreciated that her anxiety wasn’t ignored, and watching her slowly become stronger and more confident made her journey even more satisfying.
Cillian completely stole my heart. He’s broody, protective, and mysterious, and the slow-burn romance between him and Fey had me hanging on every interaction. I really wanted more of them, honestly. I’m hoping there’s a lot more of that coming.
The twists kept coming, and every time I thought I had something figured out, Gemma Ashborne basically looked me in the eye and said, “Cute theory.” I closed this book with about 47 new questions, an emotional support coffee, and an overwhelming need for book two. My only complaint is that I have to wait to find out what happens next.
Fey was such a great main character. I really appreciated that her anxiety wasn’t ignored, and watching her slowly become stronger and more confident made her journey even more satisfying.
Cillian completely stole my heart. He’s broody, protective, and mysterious, and the slow-burn romance between him and Fey had me hanging on every interaction. I really wanted more of them, honestly. I’m hoping there’s a lot more of that coming.
The twists kept coming, and every time I thought I had something figured out, Gemma Ashborne basically looked me in the eye and said, “Cute theory.” I closed this book with about 47 new questions, an emotional support coffee, and an overwhelming need for book two. My only complaint is that I have to wait to find out what happens next.
September 7, 2026
This book throws all the emotions at you; and it takes dark academia to a whole other neighborhood.
I think a lot of readers will connect with Fey, who has anxiety issues, so much so that it affects her dreams- or so you think. Who she turns out to be is extraordinary, literally.
The first third of the book feels completely different from the rest. It all fits together, but the tone shift is astronomical. Fey starts to learn who she is, or should I say has been. The characters around her become better known to her, in more ways than one.
The writing kept me attention the entire time, but I am still questioning bits and pieces (hopefully they'll be put to rest with the next book). The world that the author has created is exceptional; the creatures that inhabit the Shroud are truly terrifying. I really like the way in which characters from Fey's past are woven into her new life.
I'm really excited to read The Nightmare Key next year.
Thank you to Netgalley and Podium Entertainment for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I think a lot of readers will connect with Fey, who has anxiety issues, so much so that it affects her dreams- or so you think. Who she turns out to be is extraordinary, literally.
The first third of the book feels completely different from the rest. It all fits together, but the tone shift is astronomical. Fey starts to learn who she is, or should I say has been. The characters around her become better known to her, in more ways than one.
The writing kept me attention the entire time, but I am still questioning bits and pieces (hopefully they'll be put to rest with the next book). The world that the author has created is exceptional; the creatures that inhabit the Shroud are truly terrifying. I really like the way in which characters from Fey's past are woven into her new life.
I'm really excited to read The Nightmare Key next year.
Thank you to Netgalley and Podium Entertainment for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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