Whisper of Nightmares: A Gothic Fantasy Romance Standalone

by Jessaca Willis, Natalie Bernard (Illustrator)

Every nightmare led to him.

Branded cursed after her father’s death, Euphemia has spent her life brewing ale, burying her grief, and praying her dangerous desires never take root. When her family’s apple tree erupts in violet flames and a trail of ashen hoofprints leads to her door, she knows it can only mean one thing: the nightmare horse has returned for her.

Euphemia accepts the only escape offered: a northern widow’s proposal of marriage to her reclusive son, Dagfinn Varinsson.

But her new husband is nowhere to be found by day...

Trapped in a dreamscape shaped by the old gods, Dagfinn has battled draugr and wandering spirits for so long he no longer remembers the man he used to be. Until the woman from his dreams finally appears. Somehow, he knows she is the only way home—even if he can’t remember why.

While Euphemia follows ghosts through the forgotten halls of Thorfell Manor, Dagfinn searches the ever-shifting dream realm for the memories stolen by his curse. As the boundary between dreaming and the waking world begins to fracture, they discover the nightmare imprisoning Dagfinn and the fire haunting Euphemia were never separate curses, but two halves of the same tragedy.

To save the man she’s beginning to love, Euphemia must embrace the fire everyone taught her to fear…or lose him—and herself—to the nightmare forever.

WHISPER OF NIGHTMARES is a gothic romantasy set against a Norse-inspired dream realm, featuring an arranged marriage, a cursed lord, dreamwalking, haunted castles, grief and healing, slow-burn romance, touch-her-and-die devotion, morally grey heroes, monstrous transformation, and a heroine forced to embrace forbidden power.

Genres: Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Gothic, Dark Romance, Dark

460 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2026

About the author

JESSACA is a fantasy writer with an inclination toward the dark, epic, and romance sub-genres. She draws inspiration from books like the Nevernight Chronicles & ACOTAR, videogames like Dark Souls III, and television shows like Game of Thrones and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

She is a self-proclaimed nerd who loves cosplay, video games, and comics, and if you live in the PNW, you just might see her at one of the local comic conventions in one of her favorite RWBY cosplays!


Reviews

[Jessica]

(4,5 ☆)

Euphemia is tormented by nightmares, where a black horse with violet flames and a shadow man is stalking her. To protect her family she decides to leave them and take the offer from a woman to marry her son, lord Varinsson. But Dagfinn is under a curse and Euphemia doesn't seem to have escaped her own nightmares either. What is really going on at Thorfell Manor?

"Whisper of Nightmares" is a standalone fantasy. It's a gothic romantasy inspired by Norse mythology with an arranged marriage, a haunted castle and a slow-burn romance - mostly taking place in a dreamscape. The story handles some heavy topics, such as grief and guilt, so it can be wise to read the author's content warnings in the beginning of the book.

"The horse of violet flames has found her again."

Once again a first sentence that sparks my interest! It still takes a while for me to get a grip on Euphemia. She's not treated well by her mother and sisters, but she always puts her family first. She feels guilty over her father’s death, and she grieves and misses him. It's still easy to understand why she choses to follow Kelda and marry a man she's never met. The mystery surrounding Dagfinn takes some time to unravel, but it keeps my interest alive, and it doesn't take long before I sympathise with him.

"I have forgotten nearly everything - my name, my home, my life." His voice thickens with emotion. "Everything. But I somehow remember you."

Grief is binding the two of them together. Even if it's not the same grief, it's similar, and make them understand each other. I love the chemistry between Euphemia and Dagfinn and how it slowly builds!

"It is like you are my True North. Every time I am lost, you appear like a bright star in the darkness. Whenever you are around, I feel like I might find my way home."

* I received an ARC from the author and I'm giving my honest review. *

[Sarah]

✨ARC Book Review✨

Rating~ 3.5⭐️ rounded up

This would be such a cozy fall read!

Euphemia really is going through it! She keeps having recurring nightmares where a dark horse covered in flames and a shadow man stalk her. In order to keep her family safe, she decides to leave town. She runs right into Kelda, who convinces her to come to her land and marry her son! Wild, right?! Euphemia follows her, but so does her stalker!

I really felt for Euphemia throughout the story! It felt like she was just a normal girl who couldn’t get away from her nightmares and trouble. While reading the book, you understand why she chooses to follow Kelda. It might seem like an odd choice at first, but it really does make sense. I absolutely loved seeing the connection between Euphemia and the man from her nightmares! That part of the story was pretty crazy!

Dagfinn’s story was sad, but it was also really interesting. I enjoyed learning why he was in the state he was in and found myself hoping his curse could be broken. I thought it was so wild that his dreams were connected to Euphemia!

This story has the perfect blend of spookiness, mystery, and romance. Each theme has its moment, and they are all so well done. I loved the ending. It was definitely a fun read!

[Melissa Mejia]

I had the pleasure of receiving this as an e-ARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. I absolutely devoured this book!! I was hooked from the very start!! Loved the character build up and how everything just went together!! Please read your triggers as this does have heavier themes such as grief and guilt. This has all the tropes you love!! High recommended this book!!

“WHISPER OF NIGHTMARES is a gothic romantasy set against a Norse-inspired dream realm, featuring an arranged marriage, a cursed lord, dreamwalking, haunted castles, grief and healing, slow-burn romance, touch-her-and-die devotion, morally grey heroes, monstrous transformation, and a heroine forced to embrace forbidden power.

Whisper of Nightmares is Book #7 in the Forbidden Bonds Collection—a multi-author fantasy romance collection where forbidden love, fire magic, and high-stakes danger collide. Featuring standalone romantasy adventures with smoldering tension, impossible choices, elemental magic, and lovers who should never be together. Each novel is a standalone adventure and can be read in any order.”

[Laurynn | Laurynnslibrary_]

This was a nice, easy book to fly through and I really enjoyed the concepts. Euphemia goes to this sort of dreamscape where there is a mysterious man, dangers, and a nightmare horse.
I think this starts off really strong and I was hooked into the entire premise immediately. The more I read, the more plot points were happening, and the more it became “…what”. Relationships especially didn’t get an opportunity to grow and they just didn’t make sense, especially the mother-in-law one. Honestly, by the end, a lot of things didn’t feel answered or make much sense, it felt like everything was rushed to give some sort of answer to.

-dreamscape
-arranged marriage
-eerie estate
-curses (sort of)

I appreciate the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

2.5⭐️ rounded up.

[Katie]

I received an ARC of this book, I'm just really late.😬

This ended up being a really cute cozy gothy slow burn. The MFC blames herself for her family's problems and struggles, but then she gets approached by a woman who says she would like to help the MFC if she promises to help her out in return. It's an easy choice, and she goes. With the stranger. Little did she know that the curses go beyond just her family. She marries into another cursed one, and that's when she starts to see *HIM* in her nightmares.

This is a great pick for those who love a mix of science and supernatural, healing, village politics, slow burn, revenge, and found family. The main character truly felt like someone lost and feeling alone after losing her father. I can see this book having a sequel but it stands perfectly as is.

Mild trigger warnings such as alcohol usage, talk of death, grief, loss of family, and discussions of religion with religious rewrites. There are also mild spicy scenes towards the end.

It was a good book to begin the spooky season! I'm glad I got to start strong! This was a really satisfying revenge story.

[ashleyc_hockeymom55]

First and foremost, thank you for this ARC!

I honestly don’t even know how I found this ARC or author, but it’s like it found me! I absolutely LOVED this story and all of the gothic details. In general, gothic writing is so descriptive and raw - all your details and descriptions, SO GOOD Jessaca!

Our story follows Euphemia and Dagfinn, both characters are trying to escape their own grief (in a way). While neither do it particularly well, they are inevitably drawn together and help each other out. It’s not an epic love story, but one where the characters have suffered and have grown from it. P.S. Jessaca gives us a little bit of spice mixed in, but that’s it!

You should read this book if you enjoy analyzing your dreams and don’t need a lot of spice. A beautiful gothic love story!

[Carmen]

I received an advanced reader copy 📚. This is my honest review.

What a journey this was. I was captures from the very start.

I connected so much with Euphemia's journey of loss and heartache end feeling like she doesn't belong anymore.

I could not stop reading. From meeting Kelda and accepting her proposal, to finding a new home and making new connections.

When the nightmares started, I was completely invested and OBSESSED!! This is where the story really kicked off for me 👌🙌. Every single scary moment thrown their way and how he protected her through it all. WHAT A MAN 😍🔥.

The fact that Ash was Dagfinn was very predictable. But it didn't take away from the story. I still couldn't put the book down and needed to know how it ended.

I did love how Euphemia helped him to remember who he was and what he was looking for. The connection they build and them both sharing the same type of loss.

His reaction when all the truths were revealed had me swooning and giggling 🤭🤭🫠🫠🫦.

The tension building at the end with Euphemia having obstacle after obstacle to save this man had me at The.Edge.Of.My Seat!! 😱

The helhest was a cool element, although I don't really understand the history of it or how it and Ash was in the village at the start. Why Dagfinn was calling her name? I would wanted a little more backround on that part.

The Slow Burn 🔥 was so so worth it in the end. So beautiful 😍

This was honestly such an enjoyable read and im so glad I signed up for the ARC.

[Carli Nicole]

I received an advance reader copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

🖤 cursed lord and haunted bride
🏰 Norse mythology
💭 dreamscape magic
🖤 yearning
🏰 themes of grief and guilt
💭 found family

Euphemia believes she is being haunted by a nightmare, both in dreams and awake, after losing her father to this flaming beast. To help protect her family she agrees to marry a lord, Dagfinn. The only problem? He wasn’t even at the wedding. He’s been in a sleeping curse for a year. While at her new estate, Euphemia’s nightmares change and she meets a “beast of a man” with a skull face and eyes aflame, who remembers nothing of who he was. Once she discovers this is actually her husband, they have to quickly figure out a way to wake him up, before they lose their estate.

This was such a fun read! While it had a lot of the fantasy tropes we know and love, it also tackled the heavier themes of grief and the guilt that can follow, and how to still find light in the midst of all of it. I really enjoyed Euphemia as a character and how we can see her hard exterior soften throughout as she is able to drop societal norms with Kelda. Dagfinn definitely had many swoon-worthy moments throughout wheeewww!

This book would be perfect for fans of Belladonna, One Dark Window, and House of Salt and Sorrows.

[TribesReadingObsession]

Is was a unique read, I haven’t read a similar book in all my reading so I devoured it quickly.

The main characters were great and so addictive to read. Loved everything to do with them. Euphemia was strong and lovely even though she’s been treated horribly by so many including those that shouldn’t. I loved her growth into herself.

Dagfinn was amazing for the parts of him we got and I’d easily read more books about these two. I enjoyed the other characters especially Dagfinns Mother she was what you’d expect from a strong Viking type lady going through a war herself. Absolutely loved her and she’s exactly what Eyphemia needs in her life.

This was a cursed book, a memory lost, daily nightmares, sleep walking or dream walking, secrets to uncover, a never ending sleeping husband and so much more throughout.

It’s a cosy interesting read, it’s written well and I couldn’t put it down. This also had Norse inspiration throughout some amazing touch her and die energy, beasts we encounter so it’s action packed too. Would easily recommend this story and reread.

[Sabrina Malave]

4.5 Stars ! Thoroughly enjoyed ! True in its description of a slow burn but the details and plot leading up to the BURN was so worth it ! The world building was great and the FMCs development as she comes into her own and learns to own what she and her family sees as her short comings was so good. She was so relatable in how she felt towards her family and their treatment of her…I definitely FELT IT. I did have a lingering question to what I believe is an important piece of the story when it comes to the Nightmare and the FMC. Our MMC Dagfinn was o so swoon worthy and how he spoke to and treated Euphemia. Overall a great Romantasy read with a very satisfying ending !

[Isa Newbury | reading_isa]

**Thank you to the Author for the ARC; all opinions are my own.**

4.25 ⭐️
2 🌶 (on the low end of spicy)

Dagfinn "my wife" Varinsson. That's it, that's the post.

Whisper of Nightmares is the perfect Fall read- it's spooky, it's got mystery, it's got romance. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it. It definitely picks up the pace around 25-30%, so if you're struggling at first, just keep going =)

Euphemia is a very traumatized and paranoid FMC. Her family treats her sort of like she has the plague- they need her, but they aren't very nice. Other townspeople also have nasty things to say. She is offered to go live in another village by this older rich woman, the catch? Euphemia has to marry her son. Once we get to this point, the story really takes off. There's a somewhat haunted mansion, a fiery horse, a curse, and then general bad guy stuff.

I think you guys will really enjoy this one!

[Kelsey 📖]

Thank you so much to the author, Jessaca Willis for this ARC, here are my thoughts:

WOWWWWW. I loved this so so much!
It was so atmospheric and spooky!
It was like insidious but make it less spooky and more romance!

Also, this was the most delicious slowwwwwww burn!
I will be 100% buying a shelf trophy!

This was so unique, and was absolutely sucked in!!

[Karla Marie]

So unique!

I really enjoyed this story! I thought the storyline was super unique and interesting. I ended up falling in love with the main characters.

[Emily]

"Ride through town on an undead, flaming horse while everyone watches in confusion and fear?" A devastating grin curves one side of his mouth...."There's nothing I'd love more. Let's show them who we really are."

One of my most anticipated books this year and it did not disappoint! So much love for Euphemia and Dagfinn <3

[Amanda]

Thank you to the author for this ARC

3.25 ⭐️

I enjoyed the over all book and both main characters. But I did feel like there was multiple plot points happening at the same time that made things both chaotic but almost like nothing happened at the same time, in a few places with in the story. Between the “nightmare”, her grief of her dad, the marriage, him being in a curse, her dreams, trying to figure out who it was in her dreams, breaking her husbands curse, the mother in law, the whole deed of the manor, etc etc. I wish the author focused on 2 things max and really fleshed out the story.

[Natalie]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review 📚

Genre/Themes: ⚔️🪾🌄🍺🧪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇩🇰📜🐍🐎🔥
Tropes: Arranged Marriage, Amnesia, Gothic Romance, New Girl in Town, Nursed Back to Health, Rescue Mission, Royalty / Commoner, Second Chance, Slow Burn, Tortured Hero, Scarred, Widow, Medieval, Cursed, Blackmail, Dark Family Histories, Inheritance Disputes, Puzzle to Solve, Jilted Lover, Mythology, Raising the Dead, The Outsider
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕

✍🏻 Full Review - RISK OF SPOILERS 🛑

What Worked for Me ✅
This author has HEAPS of potential! I genuinely loved the Helheim plot and this was what kept me reading the most. I got giddy every time these scenes came back around because I felt totally immersed there, from the shades of purple grass and water to the bone halls of Náströnd. The water maidens were written with awesome detail and I could picture them perfectly. They were super eery. I loved when Nástrond started to look like Thorfell Manor, and Dagfinn’s mannerisms when his body was taken over by a spirit had me feeling tense the whole time. The plot to bring back Ash’s memories got more and more engaging, and even better when the problem solving followed Euphemia back to the real world. How Ash ended up in Helheim was a very clever plot line. Like Euphemia I ended up not wanting them to leave the dream state. There were flashes of excellent romance writing in this novel, too. It takes a lot to make me physically blush, but I found myself doing plenty with some of Ash’s flirting. Ash and Euphemia’s back and forth had plenty of chemistry and had a very organic build. I liked the symbolism of grief and trauma that was a heavy theme of the story, as was the idea of being Othered. Kelda felt like the most developed character. She was direct and hated falseness, but often hid more difficult feelings behind this. Her and Asvald’s little thing was super cute.

Room for Improvement 🔎
The main issue I had with this novel was the world-building of late-Danelaw England and some inconsistencies in plot. Despite coming from England myself, I found it difficult to feel like I was there. I remember feeling a bit confused when Euphemia said she was a Christian, because I hadn’t had that vibe at all. Some better world-building of Nottinghamshire would have really helped I think, including more of their religious culture especially as it was inferred to be clashing with the waning Norse Gods. Clothing or styling was often kept vague and some more detail may have helped there as well. What was societal structure in Nottinghamshire at the time? Plot-wise, the novel ended with the remaining glaring question of why Dagfinn was calling Euphemia’s name in his dreams when they’d never met? It was never really explained. Why could Euphemia see the Helhest on the mortal plane, let alone ride it? Other things were just small inconsistencies, such as Euphemia finding a specific page in a journal even though it’s later said that she couldn’t read. What did she need the page for? Why was the deed Otho wanted hidden buried in the garden and not burned? Why did Euphemia tell Kelda she would be trying to find roseroot in the morning when she had a bag full of it? There was one tone slip as well which was jarring, when Euphemia describes ‘removing the weight of generational harm’. That felt like a very modern concept / terminology.
In terms of prose, I found the third person present limited narrative difficult to get used to, and felt it affected the flow of the reading experience. I think past tense may have worked better, or if the author was keen to stay in present tense first person may have felt more natural. I think the author occasionally slipped out of it early on as well, which I imagine is easy to do as it’s not a very common tense to write in! I received this ARC very close to release day, so think it would have been very difficult to remove the amount of other errors that were still present, including typos and, later on, incorrect characters marked as speaking or being referred to. I think pacing was another prominent issue I had while reading. The beginning of the novel felt very slow, while the latter act seemed to have everything crammed in to the point that perilous situations were over before they began. For example, the paranormal aspects of Thorfell Manor could have been expanded upon rather than glossed over. The smut scene felt rushed (and also had my biggest pet peeve - virgins having super easy orgasms from penetration alone) which was such a shame considering the great build up. Conversations began to be regularly summarised instead of had, feeling like bullet point lists. Things felt repetitive at times, too, like Euphemia’s internal thoughts and Ash’s rescues. As a result I occasionally found Euphemia a little bit irritating. I’d have also liked more of an explanation of Euphemia’s relationship with her sisters, because they all seemed to be pretty horrible to her for no discernible reason considering they didn’t know the truth about their father’s death.

Overall if you like standalone romances with amnesia plot lines and arranged marriages, with Norse mythology, you might like this one.

[Tayla Jade]

ARC REVIEW ✨.

This is the perfect spooky season cosy read! I throughly enjoyed this!
Euphemia hadn’t had the best upbringing, she’s constantly trying her best but it’s not being appreciated, the raw emotional trauma she’s dealing with, and with that holding onto so much guilt. She’s keeping things to herself that are eating away at her, even through all of this she wants the best for her family.

She’s tormented by a reoccurring nightmare forcing her to re live her worst experience which also bleeds into reality, a flame covered horse and a shadowed man are always somewhere nearby.
She can always feel them.
Always looking over her shoulder to check.
She’s always terrified because of what happened in the past.
The gothic eerie but still whimsy atmosphere that runs through this whole story is perfect!

She embarks on a journey and has been given a ‘way out’ - an arranged marriage that could help her family, and drive the nightmare away.
Only this arrangement is far from what she imagined.
I don’t want to say to much more because you NEED to experience this yourself!

The world building throughout this book was incredibly written, the descriptions were beautiful and I could imagine everything so clearly!

The dream walking and the dream realm?
Perfection!!
This might be a new favourite trope of mine! It was so unique and unlike anything I’ve read, I devoured it 😮‍💨.


The connection that develops between Euphemia and Dagfinn was beautiful! Every night they grew a little closer, gained a little more trust, the fact that he could only remember her? 🥹 & it almost got to the point where Euphemia couldn’t wait to fall asleep again just to see him.

I really enjoyed learning about Dagfinn, how he became in the state he was and learning the similarities that they both share later on.

The vibes, the mystery, the spookiness was perfection, I highly recommend I had the best time reading!
4 ⭐

[Rashelle]

I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review! Thank you so much for the opportunity 🫶🏻

-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️-

Both Euphemia and Dagfinn have my heart🖤

The story follows Euphemia. A girl who is cursed and who has lost her father. She is in immense grief while also trying not to be too much of a burden to the rest of her family. In dreams that feel all too real she is haunted by a hellbound horse and peculiar man/beast. In an attempt to protect her family and herself she is off to an arranged marriage to a man she has never met only to find out after the marriage that he too is cursed. He is cursed to dream for over a year already. The story takes you into their dreams trying to wake him up from his curse while she tries to outrun her own.

I LOVE how Jessaca Willis took me into this realm of nightmares! Where neither waking nor dreaming feels save. I read this in two days only because I have kids but otherwise I would have finished it in under 24 hours! The story kept me invested in trying to find out how the curses worked and what they could possibly do to undo them🥀 I loved the eerie feeling it gave me when reading about what Thorfell Manor looked like🔥 There were two mildly spicy scenes but in my eyes they were done beautifully and very tastefully!

Tropes:
🖤cursed lord
🥀cursed bride
🖤gothic
🥀dream realm
🖤arranged marriage
🥀sleeping curse
🖤brewing potions

Thank you for trusting me with your book🖤

[Amber]

The premise sounded promising, but unfortunately the book didn’t deliver.

The writing wasn’t strong. The biggest issue for me was that it relied heavily on telling instead of showing. The narration pulled me out of the story so many times that it became hard to stay fully immersed.

I understand that the FMC is a naïve nineteen-year-old, but there are so many plot holes that make no sense, especially in the first few chapters. For example, the apple tree burns but no one bothers to extinguish the fire. Her father dies, and she tells no one—not even her family. She thinks she’s responsible for his death even though it’s obvious that she isn’t, and this guilt is presented as the whole motivator for her, but it feels weak and unconvincing.

I also found the decision-making difficult to accept. She agrees to marry an unknown man, but refuses to marry someone who did the right thing and didn’t engage in a forbidden meeting. And then there’s the part where she’s only about two minutes away from the tavern—yet she doesn’t return the stolen money. Instead, she gives it to a stranger and flees, which leads to the exact bad rumours she’s afraid will happen. Those rumours only reach her family weeks later if she doesn’t tell them, so her choices don’t add up. Why not go back, return the money, and tell them she will leave to marry a baron? It would have made so much more sense.

Instead, she goes with a stranger, who could easily have made up anything. And that’s just the first few chapters and already so many inconsistencies piled up that it became frustrating rather than exciting.

I know it’s a debut, but the book needs more work—especially in terms of show-don’t-tell execution, clearer motivation, and more consistent plot logic.

[Natoshia Blaylock]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @jessacawillis for allowing me to review this arc.
These options are my own!

This is a different kind of fantasy romance. It focuses on the dreaming world. Euphemia is followed by what everyone calls “The Nightmare.” She decides her family will be better off without her. She accepts an offer from a stranger to marry her son. She goes to live with the woman and her son in a haunted manor. Euphemia has very realistic nightmares. Then one night when she decides to try to start understanding the dreams and figure out who the guy in the dreams is. Eventually she realized the man in her dreams is actually her husband (predictable). He is basically stuck in the dreamworld and doesn’t remember who he is. She helps him to remember and then he tells her how she can help him to wake up.

I did enjoy reading this book.
I enjoyed all of the different aspects of it. I do feel like there were things left unanswered in this book.
How did he know to call her name in his sleep?
Why is the helhest attached to Euphemia?

I would give it a 2/5 in spiciness 🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
* Haunted bride
* Cursed lord
* Trapped in a dream realm
* Flaming nightmare horse
* Ghosts with unfinished business
* Old gods vs new faith
* Forbidden desire
* Love after grief
* Dreams steeped in Nordic myths (Helheim, valkyries, draugr, hugr, helhest)

[Ashley Jurczak]

I don’t know what Jessaca Willis put in this book, but I **devoured it in 24 hours!** 😮‍💨📖

I was absolutely OBSESSED with the gothic romance vibes in *Whisper of Nightmares*. After reading so much Romantasy lately, this was the perfect refresh—and my first real dive into gothic romance. I’m so glad this book popped up on my Instagram feed and that I was accepted onto the ARC team because WOW… what a read! 🖤

We’re introduced to our FMC, Euphemia, who helps run her family’s tavern while being plagued by mysterious nightmares. One day, she decides to leave it all behind and marry our MMC, Dagfinn, **sight unseen.** 👀

Dagfinn has his own problems—and a curse of his own to deal with. I won’t say too much because **SPOILERS**, but I absolutely adored him. The chemistry and scenes between these two were perfection, and I loved watching their relationship develop and seeing them grow together. 🖤

And can we talk about the **world-building?!** 🤌🏻 I loved how Norse mythology was woven into the story. It added such a unique and atmospheric element that fit the gothic vibes perfectly.

Needless to say, I will absolutely be reading more from Jessaca Willis!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ **5 STARS — NO NOTES.**

If you’re looking for a gothic romance filled with nightmares, curses, Norse mythology, and a book you can binge in 24 hours… **PICK THIS UP.** You will not be able to put it down! 🖤🌙

[bookedonthatfeeling]

I absolutely loved the concept of this story. It was so unique and unlike anything else I’ve read. Euphemia has always been considered the dark cloud in her family, so when she meets a stranger who calls her little cloud, she decides to take her fate into her own hands and goes along with the stranger’s plan.
Euphemia has the ability to dream walk into a different realm, where she tries to help another stranger uncover the answers to some long unanswered questions. Along the way, that stranger becomes someone incredibly important to her. As she continues to dream walk, the two of them work together to unravel their own mysteries, slowly discovering that their stories may be more connected than they ever could have imagined.
I was so happy that we got a HEA because, honestly I wasn’t sure it was going to happen! The romance was definitely a slow burn, but I think that made it even better. Watching their relationship develop alongside the mystery and the dream walking made the story that much more enjoyable.

✨Favourite Quotes✨

“You are the farthest thing from a dark cloud, Euphemia. You are the brightest star in the sky.”

“I fear what existence would be like without you.”

“I’ll see you on the other side of waking, wife of mine.’”

[Courtney]

A slow burn romance featuring lost memories, GRIEF AND LOSS, guilt, and finding who you are and where you belong.
A lot of the story circles around the FMC Euphemia and how a great loss impacts how she is perceived by others AND how she views herself.
When she is pitched the idea of marrying a Baron of the estate, she sees a way of escape.
Euphemia finds herself in the manor married to a man trapped in the dream realm. Not only that, they need to wake him to keep the manor in his family.
As she adjust to her new life. she soon finds that when she sleeps, she goes to the dream realm too.

Grief and loss is portrayed (in my interpretation) in the dream realm as unrest, fighting monsters, and a loss of what is good. Things that appear good, are out to hurt you. It’s almost like a curse that one keeps themselves in by claiming a hand in grief they don’t deserve to claim. And it’s an assumption that nothing will get better.
The FMC and MMC realize they are hurting themselves by holding guilt that isn’t theirs to claim. They realize that they have found another person who understands loss and the guilt as much as they do.

[Paula Livingston]

Thank you Jessaca Willis for an advanced copy of Whisper of Nightmares 💜

This was simply everything I expected and wanted the book to be. It was eloquently written, had such a unique narrative and felt genuinely tender. The decision to combine a Gothic setting with Norse-inspired lore to create such an atmospheric dreamscape was executed perfectly. I have no notes.

The book really highlights the beauty in how to deal with and overcome grief and guilt. There is something so gentle and romantic about the way all the different characters process it, learning to accept the things they can and can't control, and giving grace to yourself. It is vulnerable and raw and such a beautiful depiction of healing.

Reading the tropes, I knew I would enjoy this but I want to especially applaud Willis for her storytelling because it did not *feel* trope-y whatsoever. I was fully immersed and loved every minute of it.

[Marcia - itsabookthing2021]

Whisper of Nightmares was a fantastic read, i really loved the premise and how it all played out.
I thought the dream - nightmares were cleverly done and I really loved how hooked I was by the intrigue of it all. The tropes were all the ones I love, the Nordic myth and the curse created a great story. I loved the gothic vibes - just everything about this story I loved.
I loved Euphemia, her resilience and strength even though she was scared made the character for me, i just loved how she she reacted to everything around her, she was likeable and relatable.
I loved all the characters and their interactions, the way they brought the storyline together, I was invested. This novel gave everything and I greedily took it all!!
Highly recommend.

[Casey Severin]

Whisper of Nightmares delivered everything I want from a gothic romantasy: a haunted bride, a cursed lord, dreamwalking magic, and a marriage of convenience drenched in delicious tension. The eerie atmosphere immediately pulled me in, and the slow-burn yearning between these two was equal parts haunting and addictive.

The pacing dragged slightly in places, and I found myself wanting the romance to move just a little faster, but the mystery surrounding the curse kept me invested. Dark, dreamy, and beautifully unsettling, this was a solid four-star read for anyone who loves atmospheric fantasy romance with a touch of nightmare fuel. 🖤

[Cassie DePlancke]

This book is full of gorgeous imagery. The realm of Helheim is beautifully described and alluring. I loved the way Euphemia challenged the traditional role of women in her society and the way Dagfinn accepts and backs her. Seeing her learn to grant herself grace and accept herself as she is was truly inspiring. The romance between Euphemia and Dagfinn is a beautiful, slow burn that leaves you yearning for more. This book is perfect for readers who love a strong and resilient FMC, intriguing lore and mysterious curses.

[Summer Seeds]

Have you ever wanted to read monster romance but weren’t sure you want to commit to a non-human love interest? Might I suggest a cursed man with flaming eyes who wears a horse skull mask instead? The forbidden yearning that Euphemia feels for the mysterious monster of a man who walks her dreams is almost beautiful. She has no idea what lies beyond the skull but feels inexplicably drawn to him nonetheless. He may look terrifying, and he has no memories of his past, but he fights monsters and protects Euphemia from that which would do her harm. It’s giving beauty and the beast. A shining knight in terrifying armor.

I’m partially joking. Whisper of Nightmares is honestly so much more than just a love story. Euphemia is in mourning. Her father is branded a deserter, but she knows the truth - that the nightmare beast that stalks her dreams devoured him in flames. The guilt and grief she feels at the loss of her parent is visceral. She believes herself cursed, which is why she makes the decisions she does even though they would appear unfavorable to any outsider. And while Euphemia mourns her father, the MMC is grieving the loss of his own father. It’s a tragic set of circumstances that puts this story into motion.

This really was a beautiful and atmospheric story. I loved the gothic setting with the a neglected manor. The dreamscape, though dark and often ruthless, had a certain appeal about it. I loved the characters and the way they grow on you. I loved the story itself. Everything about it was perfect.

Thank you to the author for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

[Sam Dolan]

I've been waiting to get into this ARC and I couldn't read it fast enough. Euphemia and Ash are just brilliant to read but I absolutely loved the plot of this. It felt so new and the writing style was immediately engaging. It's not overly spicy but what you get is enough. Total 5 star vibes!

[Freyja's Athenaeum]

Whisper of Nightmares Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

Whisper of Nightmares by Jessaca Willis is a gothic romantasy perfect for the fall season.

I thoroughly enjoyed the entire ride starting from the first page. The nightmares and mysterious vibes were so unique. The more you read the more intrigued ypu get and let's not forget the ohhhhh so delicious slow burn!

Great characters, unexpectedly cozy and perfectly gothic.

This is definitely up there on my reads this year and I loved starting of spooky season with this book. Thank you Jessaca for gifting my this ARC!