A Season of Sinister Dreams

by Tracy Banghart

Annalise may be cousin to the prince, but her past isn’t what she claims, and she possesses a magic so powerful it takes all her strength to control it. Evra is a country girl, and has watched as each friend and family member came into their own magic, while hers remains dormant. But everything changes after Annalise loses control of herself and Evra begins experiencing the debilitating visions of a once-in-a-generation clairvoyant meant to serve the crown.

Thrown together at court, Evra and Annalise find that they have the same goal: to protect their kingdom from the powerful men who are slowly destroying it. But neither is quick to trust the other — Evra’s visions suggest a threat to royal rule, and Annalise worries that her darkest secrets will be revealed. Their magic at odds, the young women circle each other, until the truth must come out.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, LGBT, High Fantasy, Magic, Audiobook

407 pages, Hardcover

First published June 22, 2021

About the author

Tracy Banghart grew up in rural Maryland and spent her summers on a remote island in northern Ontario. All of that isolation and lovely scenery gave her the time to read voraciously and the inspiration to write her own stories. Always a bit of a nomad, Tracy now travels the world Army-wife style with her husband, kids, and pets.

Reviews

[Tracy Banghart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started writing A SEASON OF SINISTER DREAMS years ago. I was on vacation with my family, and I was struggling with my writing...it looked like my dreams of being published might not come true. I was looking for a way to process my grief and feel hope and joy in my writing again. I decided to write a traditional fantasy just for myself, inspired by the books of Robin McKinley that I'd loved as a teenager, and by my dog, Scrabble, who was big and yellow and looked so at home in the wilds of Northern Ontario, where we were staying. The book changed and grew over the years. But at its heart, it's always been a story about managing grief, the hope that those who leave us are never really gone, and what it takes to be at peace with yourself and what you can offer the world. The irony, for a book about grief, is that a week before its release, I had to say goodbye to Scrabble, my inspiration and constant companion for almost 15 years. And now, as his book goes out into the world, I find myself hoping, as ever, that those we love stay with us, and that I'll see him again someday. <3 I hope you all enjoy A SEASON OF SINISTER DREAMS.

[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC for the book tour

[Intisar Khanani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story, especially the character of Annalise. And by that I mean I didn't know what to think about her for the majority of the story; she's such a wonderfully gray character trying so hard to do good while desperately doing things all wrong. Kudos to Banghart for creating such a complex and sharp-edged character, and setting up Evra as a foil of sorts for her--both girls grow, but while one needs to face her sharpness and flaws, the other needs to gain her own strength and hone her edges.

I totally expected that once they came together they would automatically become fabulous allies, because that's how YA books work. The fact that they were each too deep in their own lives and fears that they actually ended up on opposites ends of the metaphorical battlefield--and that it was completely realistic--was such a lovely twist, and oh did it keep up the tension!

This story is fun and very fast paced, and--that ending! I had a moment of near horror, thinking things would go absolutely the wrong way, but I also knew I could trust Banghart to bring it around, and wow, did she deliver. So thank you, Ms. Banghart, for this book, and these fierce, conflicted, complex, beautiful characters.

I received an ARC from the publisher. My views are my own.

[Kristin Sledge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an AudioARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Season of Sinister Dreams introduces us to two young ladies who are coming into their own. First, we meet Annalise, the King's niece who has just learned of her betrothal. Annalise also has a massive magical ability that she is attempting to control, but sometimes it acts out. Evra is a young woman who has no magical ability whatsoever, until she is tapped by a soothsayer type magic that forewarns of a threat against the kingdom. How are these two's stories intertwined and what is this coming threat? Pick up this novel to find out!

This story had the making of a great villain origin story. A battle royal of good versus evil which never really came to fruition as our villainous character didn't embrace her desires and tried(failing miserably) at being good. I really enjoy books that make you choose a side, even if it ends up being the wrong one, but it honestly felt like neither of these characters had their hearts in it. The magic system was pretty cool, and the reveals were pretty interesting; but the execution of where the characters went with these revelations fell flat. This story fall victim to the notorious "I've got a great beginning, but I'm not sure how to end it" syndrome. For me, it took what started as a great story and just made it okay.

This story is perfect for those looking for any kind of oracle or soothsayer magic, that area is where the story really shines. 12+ as there isn't anything not appropriate for younger readers.

[Mary Seaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by Edelweiss:

Stand alones can be so refreshing sometimes. Not having to wait years for each book. This stand alone was so good. I loved the characters, their complexity and struggles. You see the good and bad in them rather than just one is evil and one is not. I’m glad this type of writing is in style now. We all have some evil in us but we also have the good. Sometimes stories tend to make characters one or the other. Tracy did such a good job of making these characters both. Makes them so relatable, besides the magic part.

This was full of magic, hardships and triumphs. I definitely recommend, an adventure from start to finish.

Content warnings: violent

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review of
A SEASON OF SINISTER DREAMS
By Tracy Banghart
Gifted & Published by @TheNOVL @LittleBrown
On Sale: 6/22/21 - Purchase Link in my Bio
******
A highly subversive read that takes you away into a new and different kind of fantasy world. This was one extraordinary, non-stop & character driven plot that kept me flipping page after page. I liked that it was a refreshingly new heroine and a story I haven’t read before. The writing was unique and so well written. I recommend to all who love the fantasy genre.
*****
Synopsis:

Annalise may be cousin to the prince, but her past isn't what she claims, and she possesses a magic so powerful it takes all her strength to control it. Evra is a country girl, and has watched as each friend and family member came into their own magic, while hers remains dormant. But everything changes after Annalise loses control of herself and Evra begins experiencing the debilitating visions of a once-in-a-generation clairvoyant meant to serve the crown.

Thrown together at court, Evra and Annalise find that they have the same goal: to protect their kingdom from the powerful men who are slowly destroying it. But neither is quick to trust the other—Evra's visions suggest a threat to royal rule, and Annalise worries that her darkest secrets will be revealed. Their magic at odds, the young women circle each other, until the truth must come out.

[Lieke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A standalone YA fantasy
I liked the characters they were not good or evil, they had good sides and bad sides.
Sometimes I did want to yell at them because they didn't see things that where very obvious (to me).
But the story was good and had a lot of pace.

The narrator also did a very good job.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Anna Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A SEASON OF SINISTER DREAMS glitters darkly with betrayal, forbidden love, and the unbearable weight of magic.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A SEASON OF SINISTER DREAMS is an engaging YA fantasy that follows two young women, Evra and Annalise. Annalise lives in the palace as the niece to the king. She hides her powerful magic that threatens to overtake her, as she has vowed for herself and her mother that she will change the way the kingdom is being run. When she is engaged to a foreign nobleman, her anger becomes dangerous, and it affects the person in her vicinity, with dangerous and deadly consequences. As she tries to cover up what she has done, she soon learns it has made her the new heir, potentially allowing her to make the changes she is so desperate for - if her secrets are not exposed.

Evra is a magicless daughter of farmers in a poor village, amongst the country of poor villagers. Almost everyone is born with magic, though the strength of it varies from person to person. Between the king's taxes and his claiming of everyone of strong magical ability, the village is bereft. They do not have the magic they need to keep their crops alive and protect their houses, and they do not have money to buy it from elsewhere. As the only person in their village without any magic, Evra faces a lot of prejudice, and she has learned to fend for herself. Soon, however, she learns that she has a special type of magic that feels like a curse - she is a Clearsee, someone who can see the past and future and speak with ghosts. This power only appears to someone in her line when the kingdom is in danger.

Evra does not understand what the visions she has means, and she faces opposition from Annalise who fears her secrets will be revealed. Although they seem at odds, both young women are each trying to create a better country.

What I loved: This was a slowly building plot with a heavy air of mystery as we seek to unravel the world Annalise has made for herself and the lies that have seemingly become truths. Annalise herself does not seem to know how to separate the consequences of her magic from reality. Both Evra and Annalise were compelling characters. Their ethics and decisions are, at times, twisted, but their reasonings and rationales are described. Although the reader may not agree, they can understand what has led to the present.

This is a kingdom which is suffering. There are some interesting themes of ruling, wealth disparity, and deciding on consequences/punishment that were thought-provoking at times. The making of a villain is another major plot point, and the gray/borderline ethics of Annalise's decisions and magic are present throughout. This was definitely something I wanted to discuss outside of the book, as it's not a simple equation, and I think this would make a great book club read.

I enjoyed the magical elements, as magic manifests differently for different people, and I would have loved to learn even more about its origin and history. The Clearsee magic was particularly intriguing, and I really enjoyed what we do learn about it.

Final verdict: Overall, A SEASON OF SINISTER DREAMS is a compelling YA fantasy. Recommend for fans of FURYBORN, THE QUEEN'S RISING, and SWEET AND BITTER MAGIC.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Daniella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to Those Who Prey, a solid read but one that I don't know will particularly stick with me.

I liked how our characters had nuance and weren't just pure good or evil, especially Annalise who genuinely cared about the kingdom but just went about everything in the wrong way. Sadly, though, I didn't feel super connected to the characters or the plot. The central mystery felt pretty obvious from the beginning so you spent the rest of the book waiting for the characters to catch up, and the romantic elements especially felt underdeveloped.

I feel this would be a good read for those making the jump from young fiction to YA, as it is pretty easy to follow and has a lot of the things we love to see in YA (quests, magic, prophecies, correcting injustice). If I had read this when I was younger I probably would have really loved it, but sadly didn't find myself getting as invested in this as I hoped.

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a world where magic is as much a curse as a blessing, thanks to an evil and desperate king trying to extend his life. Away from the castle, it's a hard existence, made more so by the king's continuous increases in taxes and conscription of magic users. When he tries marrying off his cousin Annalese to an older and distasteful count, she loses control of her magic, turning her cousin and heir to the throne, into a beast. Meanwhile, Evra, a young woman from the country has just come into her own magic, a type not seen in years. When she comes to the castle to serve the king, she scares Annalese who fears Evra's magic will unravel her plan to become queen and make things better for the residents of the kingdom. Following the intricate dance of magic between these two young women involves vivid experiences for Evra, an ever-increasing web of coercion by Annalese and some grim fallout as the story continues. It makes for a satisfying, but somewhat dark read with a good cast of supporting characters.

[Bayan Sh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super enticing, what with all its magic and drama, politics and thrill.

It was fan to see a somewhat gray protagonist like Annalise, who wants to do all that is right but somehow always finds herself doing wrong, lol.
I loved how much space the author gave the characters to grow, they were created needing development and the events of the book seemed to put the girls' pieces together just right.

I absolutely enjoyed the tension and nerves I felt as I put the pieces of these girls' opposite ends of battlefield together.

It was a fun and well plotted book and it was my first time reading this author’s work and I’m amazed.

[Amanda B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an early copy of this book. I love Tracy Banghart. I’ve met her at an author event and we spent like an hour talking, so I love to read and support her work.
A Season of Sinister Dreams follows two main characters, Annalise and Evra. Annalise is the grandniece to the King and cousin to the prince. But she has secrets that she would do anything to protect. Evra is a country girl. She’s worried that she’ll never have any magic and the people in her town are starting to treat her differently. But Evra starts having visions that mean the kingdom is in danger. She’s this generations Clearsee. The Clearsee’s only appear once in a generation, and only when the kingdom is in danger. Evra must travel to court to meet with the king and inform him that she has been revealed as this generations Clearsee.
Evra and Annalise meet at court. But since we’re seeing things from both points of view, we know things that the other characters don’t. I think this fact made the story infinitely better. Knowing that there were secrets to be revealed and knowing what those secrets were kept me engaged into the story. Wondering how each of the characters were going to react when the truth finally came out was a really great way to add some suspense to the story.
Now, I really loved Evra. She’s a girl that loves her family. She loves her kingdom. And she’s willing to do her duty as Clearsee despite the fact that she disagrees with many of the things the king has ordered for the people. She’s taking her responsibility seriously and she does her best to make the right choices, the choices that will help the most people. The author really did her dirty with some of the things that happen, but I really loved Evra.
Annalise was a fascinating character. I wanted to hate her so badly, but I just couldn’t. I liked her. Her backstory pulled on my heartstrings. Because we got to see things from her point of view, we know that some events were complete accidents. We get to see the other side of the story which made it easier to sympathize with Annalise, even though she was in the wrong. I didn’t want to like Annalise at all, but I couldn’t help it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s a short, political fantasy that follows two strong women. I liked the politics. I liked the bits of romance we got. I liked the different kinds of magic there was to see. I just genuinely enjoyed this book.

[Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have such mixed feelings about this book and the characters. A Season of Sinister Dreams is told from the dual POV of Annalise who is the cousin to the prince and Evra who is just a farm girl with surprising powers.

I am going to be honest and say that I pretty much disliked Annalise throughout the entire book. She is cold, manipulative and basically refuses to listen to anyone else because she is convinced they are trying to sabotage her or hold her back. I am all for fierce females but when they feel no remorse for the terrible things they do and justify their actions with the excuse of "well at least I am not doing what the king was doing". You could say that she has some character development at the end but to me it was very minimal and I felt that her character was only slightly better.

Evra is an easy character to like because she is extremely kind but is also so naïve. She struggles throughout most of the book to understand her new powers as a Clearsee. Even with her gift as a Clearsee, she does not do much in the book with it. She relies a lot on her bestfriend Tamsin and her brother Hagan for just about everything.

Overall A Season of Sinister dreams is a fast paced and action packed fantasy standalone. I think if this book had been spread out into a duology, it would have allowed for a lot more character and plot development. The story felt almost too rushed because the author was trying to fit everything in into one book. The chemistry between characters was not really there and the romance in this book felt extremely forced and underdeveloped.

I had high hopes for this book but it really fell flat for me.

[Kareena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can stand alone fantasies please come back! I heartily enjoyed this one. I loved seeing the character development and growth. It can be a challenge to have unlikable characters, but the author did an excellent job of balancing it. I was rooting for both girls and I'm very happy with the ending. Not five stars because the writing itself wasn't amazing, but the story was.

[Kendra (NurseKendraReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

Narration: the audiobook narrator was good. They voice kept me interested and they did a good job of distinguishing between what characters were talking.

A stand alone YA fantasy! About two girls who find themselves coming together in an unlikely way.

I liked the duel narration of this story. It made the book flow well. The idea of magic in this kingdom was cool, the fact that they fear it’s weakening is also an interesting concept as well.

3 Stars
It is a decent stand alone fantasy! Some of the plot felt rushed/confusing. Some parts were boring and I think could have also been cut. It was an okay read but could have been better. I feel like the audiobook helped me get through these less interesting parts better than if I was reading this book with my eyes. But overall it was a good story.


Thanks to Netgalley
chette Audio
Little, Brown Young Readers
for providing me with this audio book in exchange for my honest opinions and review.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

My full review can be found on the Epilie Aspie Chick blog!

I wanted to love this story because I so much enjoyed the author's novel, Grace & Fury. That love for her original work is interestingly enough the reason why I ended up thoroughly annoyed by her most recent one. On every level, this book feels like a knockoff of Grace & Fury. Both novels feature two leading ladies with a dual narrative, a slightly sexist kingdom in the need of strong women to take charge, and interesting hurdles getting in the way of a better world. While Grace & Fury didn't have magic at its fingertips, it did have the much more likable sister act of Serena and Nomi. This book made me miss them very much.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Season of Sinister Dreams is a book filled with magic, politics, court intrigue, and a touch of romantic love. It's the story of two, very different, young women trying to understand the magic they possess while also trying to make their kingdom a better place. One woman, Annalise, lacks a close-knit family, while Evra has thrived under the love of her mother, brothers, and best friend on their farm.

Annalise has a mission, and she's driven by a set of goals established long before the reader meets her. She's also burdened with a magic that consumes her, a magic she can barely harness when she isn't stressed. A stressful moment early in the story leads to a tragic event, one that leaves her cousin, Prince Kendrick, transformed into a wolf. This moment defines every action Annalise takes, every decision she makes, as the story progresses, creating quite a conundrum for the reader: To like her, or to not like her? (Who doesn't love a good villain?)

Despite Evra's initial lack of magic and the insecurity she feels as a result of that lack, she's confident, strong, and skilled with a set of throwing knives. For me - she was the character to love through and through. (Maybe she reminds me of a friend from high school, but I thought she was great, and honestly, couldn't get enough of her portion of the story.)

There's a lot that happens in this book - ominous visions, deathbed healing, magic battles, arrows flying, round table advisor discussions, a fierce blizzard; all set against the backdrop of a throne room, an enchanted garden, a mystical in-between land; and filled with gorgeous gowns, roasted meats, firelight and so much more. The writing is strong and the descriptions alone will keep you turning the pages. (There's also a pretty cool library in the castle, with a not-so-nice librarian - what???)

All in all, A Season of Sinister Dreams is about staying true to yourself and the people you love, and relying on others when you really need to. This is one I'll definitely put on display in my library, and I'll also talk it up to the teens looking for fantasy and adventure.

P.S. Seriously though, if Evra were real, I'd totally invite her over to watch some old Christian Slater movies. ;)

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the king so close to death and his grandson, who is next in line, abdicating and disappearing, the king must find another heir. He doesn't have to look too far to find his grand-niece, Annalise. As Anna battles with the king's policies, he grows weaker and closer to death. The appearance of a clearcy, Evra, changes things up. Evra, who just came into her power, fights to understand it and how to interpret what she has seen in her visions. Both Evra and Anna want what is best for the kingdom however the way one goes about it is not necessarily the best.
Opinion
I listened to the audiobook (so I apologize if I misspell something.) The flow and pacing of the reading was fabulous. I did have a little bit of trouble with the same voice doing both Evra and Anna's parts. The sections are titled with the names and their parts of the stories are different enough that I was able to pick up quickly whose part I was listening to. However, if you do not pay close attention, you may get lost. (In the grand scheme of things, this is a minor complaint as the reading was excellent.)
The story was fascinating. I loved "watching" Evra try to figure out her visions. The puzzle pieces in her mind and the way she went about solving them was truly interesting. Anna's story was quite unexpected. I was honestly speechless when her past was revealed.
I loved this book.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Season of Sinister Dreams tells a story of two sisters seeking vengeance, Tracy Banghart creates a magical wold with amazing characters. Annalise and Emma are such good characters, seeking revenge and are strong female characters. They both have struggled and East have their own agenda that can be stopped. a Season of Sinister Dreams is a magic world with hardships and triumphs and many twists along the way.

The plot starts off slow, taking several chapters before it captured my attention. .The story also left me a little confused about the world building. There were several parts where I felt there needed to be more explanation that could have gave readers more insight, especially being a standalone.

The audio narration was average. I found my self loosing interest in the first several chapter. The pacing was well done and dialogue was easily decode. I would recommend this book to m lovers of YA fantasy with strong female characters and a few twists.

Thank you to Little Brown Books for young Readers, Hattete Audio, and Natgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Carissa Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Season of Sinister Dreams by Tracy Banghurt
Narrator - Christie Moreau
Genre - YA/Fantasy
Rating - 5 out of 5 stars
Narration - 5 out of 5 stars

This book is an incredible coming of age story about two different girls. One that is just coming into her magical powers and one that has had them most of her life but is taken over by the greed that comes along with them

This book has many twists and turns and would be good for teens and adults alike. It is full of mystery and intrigue. It is set in a time where magic is real and King’s can force common people to use their magics at their every whim.

The narration is excellent and the narrator keeps the pace quick and easy. Even listening at 1x speed. She also makes you want to keep coming back for more.

This was one of those just one more chapter audiobooks for me and then it would be an hour or sometimes two later and I would still be listening. The writer leaves almost every chapter on a cliffhanger. I think that is why I would always end up listening longer than I had intended.

There is a huge twist at the end! You will be so shocked but of course I won’t tell because I don’t do spoilers.

[Andy B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved so many things about this book!
My favorite part of the book is the exploration of power, in the form of “magic” in this case. Tracy Banghart does a fantastic job showing how having power can affect people, and how using power doesn’t always work out the way people intend.

I always love Tracy Banghart’s books because the female voices are diverse (not all badass, not all caring, not all empathetic, not all doubtful). Her characters always make surprising decisions that end up seeming natural to who they are, you just didn’t realize it until the author showed it to you. I am a combat veteran who has served with many women in uniform, and Tracy Banghart’s cast of women are a great representation of my female colleagues. They can’t be put into one box.

My favorite main character is Annalise, who is given great power through her mother’s magic. Her attempts to do the right thing, for herself and for her kingdom, are always dependent on her magic and we get to see how power alone doesn’t save her from the complex world of the kings court. I also found her endgame the most interesting of all. I won’t give spoilers, but it was different than I expected and an interested new approach.

Evra, the other main character, is also very compelling, but i have to admit that her best friend Tamsin was my favorite character from that side of the story. She does have some typical “reluctantly beautiful tomboy” traits, but I found her motivations convincing and admirable. She was always focused on real people and real relationships in a way that made her disdainful of court and fancy trappings, and also gave her a determination to do the tough things that had to be done. Most true Soldiers fight for the people beside them. She was a great personification of that quality.

All in all, I would recommend this book to anybody interested in strong females, a very good exploration of power and consequences, and some classic fantasy elements.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Hachette audio and NetGalley for this AudioARC and I apologize for the delay in publishing this review.

A Season of Sinistet Dreams had so much promise in being a take no prisoners feminist stwndalone fantasy.

My favourite part of this book was definitely the characters, Annalise and Evra were both strong determined women in there own right.

Also the narration of this audiobook was fantastic. No vocal fry or overwhelming accents to distract from the story.

Unfortunately that was really all I enjoyed about this book. Not only was it filled with many over done fantasy tropes, but the magic system is not explained not do there seem to be any consequences for using magic. This makes any conflict seem not overly threatening or alarming because you could just use the magic that has very little limits to resolve the crisis.

Also the ending was a complete let down and ruined any chance of this book being the feminist fantasy I wanted.

Unfortunately this book was a disappointing 2 stars.

[Jessica Arnold · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ultimately I think it was the narrator that turned me off of this book. However, I also felt like lots of details that could have seriously helped with background and world-building were glossed over, making me feel semi-lost as I was listening/reading.

[G Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Season of Sinister Dreams by Tracy Banghart was a very good and well told story deserving of a 4.5 rating.

The story is set in a kingdom where magic is common. The despised king is dying, his heir apparent grandson, Kendrick, does not want the position but only through a sense of duty will take the mantle and be king. The second or spare, is the niece of the king, Annalise, who desires the throne and wants to rebuild the kingdom which has plunged into poverty through the king’s selfishness. Because Kendrick does not want the crown but Annalise does, it would make sense for Kendrick to step aside and allow her the thronebut due to law and the king, the only way Annalise can gain the crown is if Kendrick is no longer around. Annalise mistakenly unleashes her magic on Kendrick and tries to make it look like Kendrick fled the country due to his desire to abandon his heir apparent responsibilities so that she might avoid execution Annalise, now in line to take over the throne and be crowned queen as she desired, until.
Aalong comes a poor farm-girl, Evra, who has the magic of visions, known as a “Clearsee”. Since all Clearsees are immediately placed into service of the king, Evra is taken to the castle to report her visions she’s concerned she will be imprisoned, or worse, because her vision was of the death of the king and the destruction of the throne. While at court, Evra continues to have visions getting closer and closer to the truth of what Annalise did. Annalise and Evra circle each other because Annalise is afraid Evra’s visions will reveal her secret and she will not only lose the crown, but be executed for treason. Evra, innocent and naïve at first, trusts Annalise, but ultimately becomes her enemy.

What was unique about this story was the characters.
Annalise was not the greedy, power-hungry royal spare attempting to steal the throne for her own selfish reasons. She was committed to repair the damage the king had created on the kingdom through his selfishness. Annalise cared about the kingdom and was genuinely a gentle decent person wanting what was best for the kingdom. Her intentions were stellar but her execution left much to be desired. She unintentionally committed a terrible mistake with dire consequences. She could not confess to this accident without severe punishment so she had to hide it. The resulting paranoia of being discovered made her jump to erroneous conclusions that only exacerbated the situation and snowballed out of control. When she learned of the consequences, even though she could not correct them, she tried to make up for it by doing what was right, sacrificing her own happiness. Evra, also jumped to false conclusions, ultimately blaming Annalise for something Annalise had not intended nor commanded. Due to miscommunication and judgmental errors, the two women ended up as adversaries instead of partners when they both had the same goal. Annalise was afraid of Evra and Evra misjudged Annalise’s intentions. Though they had much in common, they had different strategies on how to achieve the shared goal which ultimately pitted them against each other and set Evra out to gain vengeance upon Annalise, justified or not.

The ending was strong, unique and unforeseen. Suffice it to say it was a proper ending for a well told story. Tracy Banghart really came through with a unique story and well written to keep it interesting without falling into cliché traps. I highly recommend this book and will be reading more of Ms. Banghart’s works.

[Ashley Dang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two girls, both gifted with magic, and intertwined with each other’s fate. Annalise is the cousin to the prince and has been hiding her powers, waiting to get revenge against the king, however when he announces that she is to be betrothed to a stranger 20 years her senior and sent to a far away kingdom...that is the last straw. Her rage, her magic, cannot be tamed and when her cousin tries to bring her back to the ball to dance with her new fiancee she snaps...and accidentally damages the prince. Now she uses her magic to not only influence the king but to influence the advisors into believing her cousin has run away and that she is the rightful heir... all to further her plans to not only save the kingdom from the slightly deranged king but to also avenge her mother. Evra was raised to believe she didn’t have magic, but after a disastrous meeting with her crush that ends with her crushed... she is suddenly thrust into a painful vision. Evra soon finds out that she is a once in a generation clairvoyant... who is meant to serve the crown. With her new visions Evra is sent to warn to King about the visions she is seeing but soon she finds herself in the midst of court politics as well as trying to decipher her new visions and a strange boy who appears in them. Filled with intrigue, romance, and politics this was such a fun read. It is told from alternating POVS between Annalise and Evra, you get to see both sides of their stories and their motivations and personally I empathized with Annalise so much. The romance was interesting as we got two different types of relationships: Annalise with hers which had a interesting take on whether this love was right, whether it was magic, or how far and deep loyalty goes, and Evra’s was a sweet one, from building their friendship and helping one another. Overall a great stand-alone fantasy read!

[Sequoia Cron · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the Grace and Fury duology, I was on the look out for a future Tracy Banghart book. I was happy to finally have A Season of Sinister Dreams in hand when it came out.

Side note:
This is my 50th book of the year and I completed it in the span of a day!

The story is told in two POVs. We have twenty one year old morally grey, manipulative Annalise with a vendetta: who wants to become Queen of Tyne, to better her country and act on her revenge against the King. Evra, a farmers daughter, who can see complicated prophesies/visions of a darkness to come against the crown. Evra and her brother and best friend journey to the castle to warn the King of what she has been seeing. Annalise has done a terrible deed that she is afraid will be Seen by Evra and will come out before Annalise takes the throne.

I really liked Annalise's morally grey thoughts and the way she used her manipulative powers against people. I didn't like her ending though. I felt her storyline started great but ended on a weak note.

I did enjoy reading Evra's POV more as she started to learn how to control her visions and had help from her friend and brother. I did not like how I couldn't tell the difference between Evra having a vision verses her in real time. The visions weren't italicized and blended together too much with what was going on "now" verse what was in the future.

I do want to point out there were times when the POVs were difficult to separate. One chapter would be shorter than the other and their "voices" would blend a bit at the beginning of the chapters.

Overall I do recommend checking out A Season of Sinister Dreams. It's a pretty good standalone and the pacing kept me glued till the end.

4 stars

[Eileen (BookCatPin) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having loved Tracy Banghart's debut duology, Grace and Fury, I was ready to jump into whatever she put out next. I wish I could say A Season of Sinister Dreams became another favourite but I had some major issues with this one.

My biggest problem with A Season of Sinister Dreams was its slow pacing. I had a hard time getting into the story. Nothing was happening in the first half of the book and it was boring. When things did get interesting, the plots felt rushed and not well-explained. Even the small bit of romance that existed felt unnecessary. "But the heart sometimes believes its own lies, doesn't it?" (p. 347) Sadly, the whole story gave off an incomplete vibe.

What I liked was the dual POV. It helped me understand both girls and their motivations. Annalise had the best of intentions at heart but struggled to rein in her magic and to do right by others. "You can't just want to do the right thing. You have to choose to do the right thing. Even if it means sacrifice. Wanting achieves nothing if you don't act." (p. 314) Evra had a good heart and wanted to be of help yet misfortune befalls her and changes her forever.

My favourite part of A Season of Sinister Dreams was Evra's relationship with her best friend, Tam. I was very touched by how supportive Tam was. She stood by Evra through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I was very happy to see such a strong friendship bond!

I desperately wanted to love A Season of Sinister Dreams but it was not meant to be. Since I had high expectations, this was definitely a case of the it's-not-you-it's-me. If short fantasies and solid friendships are your thing then A Season of Sinister Dreams might just be for you.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fell in love with the Grace and Fury series and was stoked to read A Season of Sinister Dreams. It took about 20% for me to actually get into the story, but once that happened I was hooked. The two narrators are Annalise (cousin to the Prince) and Evra (a farm girl without magic), and Evra was my favorite. I had a love/hate relationship with Annalise due to her manipulative nature. On one side, I understood her internal battles because she passionately loved Tyne (their country) and strived to make it better by undoing the evil machinations of the King. But her executions were ill-thought out and she used her power for her own advantage, not caring if it hurt another. Her instant-love romance was also pretty awkward and rushed.

As for Evra, I absolutely adored her and the way her family and best friend rallied behind her when she came into her Clearsee magic. The dedication and love from her mother, brothers, and best friend was amazing. They stood behind her from beginning until end and wouldn't let her face anything alone.

I kind of feel like this should have been written from Evra's point of view that way more things could have been detailed and explained. After finishing the book, I don't quite have a good viewpoint of the magic or the Clearsee magic. It wasn't really explained enough to grasp that understanding. Plus, I would have loved to learn more about Evra, her family, and Tamsin.

Thank you Edelweiss for an ARC.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

#ASeasonofSinisterDreams
What a wonderful surprise to read a book that wasn't part of a series! The young female leads in the book are strong and diverse people that mimic real people. The desires and reailty of a friendship that grows in different directions is how life can work. We have to follow our own paths. I loved the writing and the tempo of the novel as well. It keeps your attention and even when it slows down you are still page turning for the next plot twist.