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Daughter of Dreams and Dread
When fate tears Estelle Verndari from an ordinary world, dreams become a sinister new reality. In Kiliac, different is dangerous. Different means magic, and magic is punishable by death.
Lost and alone in a forest of nightmares, Estelle is saved by Rose, a man with fire in his eyes and blood on his hands. But she must learn to survive this brutal new world if she ever hopes to make it home. As the forest becomes a sanctuary, Rose captures her heart, and Estelle discovers a secret magic in her soul—the ability to heal in a world full of ruin.
But an ancient power is calling her name. A tyrant king is drowning the forest in death, and taking up arms to defend it means giving up on finding her path home. If Estelle’s secret is uncovered, everything she’s grown to love will be destroyed.
Lost and alone in a forest of nightmares, Estelle is saved by Rose, a man with fire in his eyes and blood on his hands. But she must learn to survive this brutal new world if she ever hopes to make it home. As the forest becomes a sanctuary, Rose captures her heart, and Estelle discovers a secret magic in her soul—the ability to heal in a world full of ruin.
But an ancient power is calling her name. A tyrant king is drowning the forest in death, and taking up arms to defend it means giving up on finding her path home. If Estelle’s secret is uncovered, everything she’s grown to love will be destroyed.
- GenresFantasy
320 pages, Paperback
Published November 16, 2020
6 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 29, 2020
Daughter of Dreams and Dread by Clare Kae is a story I didn’t expect to love as much as I did in the end. Putting my thought into words and writing this review was difficult, but let me say this for a start: This book, this story is excellent!!
When I started reading this book the first thing that caught my attention was the easy writing style and the sarcastic and sometimes dry humour, which is something I really love in books. The beginning of the story is intense and mysterious and it already shows these fantastical hints of magic that will accompany you throughout the story. A story that is incredibly versatile.
It has magic, yes, but it also has animal companions that you just have to love - I’m talking Abraxos style -, it has deep characters that you grow to love really quickly even though they may seem a little wicked or odd in the beginning. It also has side characters that might surprise you in the further course of the story - for better and for worse.
DoDaD has friendship, it has romance and banter, it has diverse characters, it has scenes that will warm your heart, because they are just so humane. It has action and fighting and a badass female lead - a female lead that changes and develops so so much throughout the story and this change doesn’t feel forced - it feels natural and it just makes sense.
But DoDaD also gets really really dark. This book has a darkness I didn’t expect in this way and especially not at a scale as grand as this. It knocked me off my feet and destroyed me completely. There is pain and cruelty and heartbreak and betrayal and horrible twists and honestly some of these scenes were really heavy, so definitely prepare for some emotional turmoil and prepare to have your heart ripped to pieces…
Estelle lands in this foreign world without any recollection of how she got there in the first place and she has to adapt to circumstances that are completely foreign to her, but she manages. She grows strong, because it is what she has to do. She goes through highs and lows and you ultimately do not know what to expect of her, because the things she goes through are devastating to say the least, but I won’t tell you anything about this, because that is something you need to experience for yourself and honestly the heartbreak that this story put me through is one of the reasons I ended up loving this book so much. Is this masochistic? I don’t know, but let’s be honest. These stories that leave us completely dumbfounded and these books that hurt us so much we would like to throw them against the wall… these are the best kinds of stories, because they stay with us the longest, right? Daughter of Dreams and Dread definitely is such a story for me. I know I will think of this book for a long time and I also know that I will reread it eventually.
There is one character in particular, that has my heart torn in half, a character that is so cruel that I should hate him, but that’s also so broken inside that I cannot help to feel a kind of fondness for him. I will not say that character’s name, but if you end up reading this book (and I beg you, please do!) you will know who I mean. I think writing such a complex character that you hate to love and love to hate is so difficult and Clare, I applaud you for this brilliancy!
There is only one minor thing that I would criticise, which is the confession and the kiss somewhere in the middle of the book. Given the circumstances and given what happened before that I found it a bit rushed. It makes sense that it needed to happen right then and there (because of what happened after), but overall I wished for a little more slowburn. Though thinking about the ending and the current situation and where the book ends, I believe that I could maybe get this in the sequel.
That is why I will give an overall rating of 4.5 stars, but this is still an absolutely amazing debut novel that everyone that likes fantasy and darker books should check out!!!
When I started reading this book the first thing that caught my attention was the easy writing style and the sarcastic and sometimes dry humour, which is something I really love in books. The beginning of the story is intense and mysterious and it already shows these fantastical hints of magic that will accompany you throughout the story. A story that is incredibly versatile.
It has magic, yes, but it also has animal companions that you just have to love - I’m talking Abraxos style -, it has deep characters that you grow to love really quickly even though they may seem a little wicked or odd in the beginning. It also has side characters that might surprise you in the further course of the story - for better and for worse.
DoDaD has friendship, it has romance and banter, it has diverse characters, it has scenes that will warm your heart, because they are just so humane. It has action and fighting and a badass female lead - a female lead that changes and develops so so much throughout the story and this change doesn’t feel forced - it feels natural and it just makes sense.
But DoDaD also gets really really dark. This book has a darkness I didn’t expect in this way and especially not at a scale as grand as this. It knocked me off my feet and destroyed me completely. There is pain and cruelty and heartbreak and betrayal and horrible twists and honestly some of these scenes were really heavy, so definitely prepare for some emotional turmoil and prepare to have your heart ripped to pieces…
Estelle lands in this foreign world without any recollection of how she got there in the first place and she has to adapt to circumstances that are completely foreign to her, but she manages. She grows strong, because it is what she has to do. She goes through highs and lows and you ultimately do not know what to expect of her, because the things she goes through are devastating to say the least, but I won’t tell you anything about this, because that is something you need to experience for yourself and honestly the heartbreak that this story put me through is one of the reasons I ended up loving this book so much. Is this masochistic? I don’t know, but let’s be honest. These stories that leave us completely dumbfounded and these books that hurt us so much we would like to throw them against the wall… these are the best kinds of stories, because they stay with us the longest, right? Daughter of Dreams and Dread definitely is such a story for me. I know I will think of this book for a long time and I also know that I will reread it eventually.
There is one character in particular, that has my heart torn in half, a character that is so cruel that I should hate him, but that’s also so broken inside that I cannot help to feel a kind of fondness for him. I will not say that character’s name, but if you end up reading this book (and I beg you, please do!) you will know who I mean. I think writing such a complex character that you hate to love and love to hate is so difficult and Clare, I applaud you for this brilliancy!
There is only one minor thing that I would criticise, which is the confession and the kiss somewhere in the middle of the book. Given the circumstances and given what happened before that I found it a bit rushed. It makes sense that it needed to happen right then and there (because of what happened after), but overall I wished for a little more slowburn. Though thinking about the ending and the current situation and where the book ends, I believe that I could maybe get this in the sequel.
That is why I will give an overall rating of 4.5 stars, but this is still an absolutely amazing debut novel that everyone that likes fantasy and darker books should check out!!!
November 16, 2020
Do you ever wonder what would happen if you got stuck in the land of your dreams (and maybe nightmares) and couldn't find your way back? Well, that's what happens to Estelle in this story, and I got so caught up in reading about her perilous adventure right from page one! There is so much mystery and intrigue right away, with Estelle lost in a strange world and totally confused by everything around her.
The things in this book that I liked a lot include: great character depth, awesome animal companions, mysterious magic, and banter-filled relationships even including some romance.
But you should also know that this book gets darker and more painful as it goes on. There are some really emotional moments and shocking plot twists, including cruelty and betrayal, which may not be for everyone.
A few of the scenes were a little too dark for me, and also a little too rushed perhaps for the level of emotion they were dealing with. However, I think that is more about my preferences and not necessarily something that would put other readers off.
If you love dark fantasy romance, definitely read this book. It is so well-written that I can't believe it's a debut. I can't wait to read what else Clare Kae has in store for us!!
The things in this book that I liked a lot include: great character depth, awesome animal companions, mysterious magic, and banter-filled relationships even including some romance.
But you should also know that this book gets darker and more painful as it goes on. There are some really emotional moments and shocking plot twists, including cruelty and betrayal, which may not be for everyone.
A few of the scenes were a little too dark for me, and also a little too rushed perhaps for the level of emotion they were dealing with. However, I think that is more about my preferences and not necessarily something that would put other readers off.
If you love dark fantasy romance, definitely read this book. It is so well-written that I can't believe it's a debut. I can't wait to read what else Clare Kae has in store for us!!
May 18, 2021
This book was so good! Estelle is written as such a fierce, snarky female lead and I absolutely loved every second of it! I really loved her relationship with Tor. It was amazing how he pushed her to be the best.
I adored the way she genuinely cared about the animals and always tried to save them. And Achilles is precious!
Another thing that I really loved about this book was that she was learning how to live in the renaissance style. It felt like you were actually there with her learning to fight and hunt.
Rose was my favorite character! I really wished that there were more scenes with the two of them! I loved the witty banter and the overall genuine connection that they had.
This book did get a little too violent at moments for me, but I think it definitely helped develop the villain and plot.
I adored the way she genuinely cared about the animals and always tried to save them. And Achilles is precious!
Another thing that I really loved about this book was that she was learning how to live in the renaissance style. It felt like you were actually there with her learning to fight and hunt.
Rose was my favorite character! I really wished that there were more scenes with the two of them! I loved the witty banter and the overall genuine connection that they had.
This book did get a little too violent at moments for me, but I think it definitely helped develop the villain and plot.
August 11, 2021
4.5.
Wow, where to begin with rating this book?
Estelle is a regular 19 year old girl from our world, who, from the first page of the book, wakes up in a strange and unnatural forest. It quickly becomes apparent to her that this is not her world and she has no idea how, or why, she came to be there.
After being saved from bandits by the enigmatic Rose, he takes her to a man called Tor, who he trusts to protect and care for her.
Estelle discovers a mystical connection to the forest and the strange and varied creatures that live in it, and slowly Tor trains her into someone who is fierce and confident. Until, at about 60% it all comes crashing down in the most horrific of ways.
I had read reviews, so I was somewhat prepared for this book to take an aprupt dark twist, but that did not really prepare me. When this book gets dark, it gets very upsetting. Be prepared for extended physical abuse and sexual abuse (though that mostly happens off page and is not graphically described). Be prepared for torture and emotional abuse as well. I found it all horrific, but I think it was dealt with very well.
Once the book gets dark, it doesn't let up until the last page. Whilst it ends with hope for Estelle, that doesn't mean the darkness ends.
This was brilliantly written and I highly recommend, if you think you can deal with the above.
Wow, where to begin with rating this book?
Estelle is a regular 19 year old girl from our world, who, from the first page of the book, wakes up in a strange and unnatural forest. It quickly becomes apparent to her that this is not her world and she has no idea how, or why, she came to be there.
After being saved from bandits by the enigmatic Rose, he takes her to a man called Tor, who he trusts to protect and care for her.
Estelle discovers a mystical connection to the forest and the strange and varied creatures that live in it, and slowly Tor trains her into someone who is fierce and confident. Until, at about 60% it all comes crashing down in the most horrific of ways.
I had read reviews, so I was somewhat prepared for this book to take an aprupt dark twist, but that did not really prepare me. When this book gets dark, it gets very upsetting. Be prepared for extended physical abuse and sexual abuse (though that mostly happens off page and is not graphically described). Be prepared for torture and emotional abuse as well. I found it all horrific, but I think it was dealt with very well.
Once the book gets dark, it doesn't let up until the last page. Whilst it ends with hope for Estelle, that doesn't mean the darkness ends.
This was brilliantly written and I highly recommend, if you think you can deal with the above.
November 20, 2020
Clare Kae’s Daughter of Dreams and Dread took me by surprise.
Not only was the writing style incredibly addicting, but the characters, plot, and world-building were terrific.
Like many others of the same genre, the story started off with predictable fantasy tropes of late: the girl suddenly finds herself in another world – oblivious to literally everything, having to keep secrets from those she grows to care about. But Kae quickly switched gears and took me to places that left my jaw on the floor. The way that she has been able to drag the reader into the world she has created is masterful – or should I say magical?
There wasn’t a single page that I felt the need to skim or put the book down – I ended up reading the entire thing in one sitting because Kae’s style had me hooked.
I loved the sassy characters, the phenomenal animals, and the descriptive scenery throughout.
I loved the build-up throughout this book and that the MC was still able to have breathers throughout the fast-paced danger scenes, all of which really helped make the story and Estelle both believable and relatable.
However, about halfway through, when I was genuinely lulled into Kae’s false sense of security – she struck with a meteor-sized curveball of darkness. The tone of the book plummeted to depths that I had not been expecting. It got murky. Not in a ‘this book is bad’ way – gods no! This book is incredible because it went where it did.
This is not a happy fairytale. This is fear, and pain, and heartbreak.
This is a darkness that is real.
The way that Kae switched up the tone in this book had my heart in my throat, my stomach turning circles, and my mind spinning. It made me feel so much emotion for the characters – it made me scream at the pages a few times too!
The twists and complete savagery of the second half of this book – hand in hand with the incredibly romantic and Disney-esque first half – have me screaming for more. I only hope that Kae graces us with a sequel soon, or I might go mad wondering what hellish situations my new friends are stuck in.
Not only was the writing style incredibly addicting, but the characters, plot, and world-building were terrific.
Like many others of the same genre, the story started off with predictable fantasy tropes of late: the girl suddenly finds herself in another world – oblivious to literally everything, having to keep secrets from those she grows to care about. But Kae quickly switched gears and took me to places that left my jaw on the floor. The way that she has been able to drag the reader into the world she has created is masterful – or should I say magical?
There wasn’t a single page that I felt the need to skim or put the book down – I ended up reading the entire thing in one sitting because Kae’s style had me hooked.
I loved the sassy characters, the phenomenal animals, and the descriptive scenery throughout.
I loved the build-up throughout this book and that the MC was still able to have breathers throughout the fast-paced danger scenes, all of which really helped make the story and Estelle both believable and relatable.
However, about halfway through, when I was genuinely lulled into Kae’s false sense of security – she struck with a meteor-sized curveball of darkness. The tone of the book plummeted to depths that I had not been expecting. It got murky. Not in a ‘this book is bad’ way – gods no! This book is incredible because it went where it did.
This is not a happy fairytale. This is fear, and pain, and heartbreak.
This is a darkness that is real.
The way that Kae switched up the tone in this book had my heart in my throat, my stomach turning circles, and my mind spinning. It made me feel so much emotion for the characters – it made me scream at the pages a few times too!
The twists and complete savagery of the second half of this book – hand in hand with the incredibly romantic and Disney-esque first half – have me screaming for more. I only hope that Kae graces us with a sequel soon, or I might go mad wondering what hellish situations my new friends are stuck in.
October 5, 2020
*ARC provided in exchange for honest review*
Daughter of Dreams and Dread is a wonderful debut novel. The premise is fairly straightforward: Estelle Verndari wakes up in a strange world, where magic exists (but is illegal). And it is a rollercoaster from there. From the very beginning, Kae gives the reader action.
We are quickly introduced to two vital characters, Rose and Tor. Honestly, probably my favourite relationship in this book is between Estelle and Tor. Tor is the father Estelle never really had: He is protective, loving, warm, and wants her to be the badass he knows she could be.
Estelle's relationship with Rose is sweet, but he did not grab me as a character, especially for a love interest. However, it was really refreshing to not have a man become the centre of a protagonist's universe. While Estelle develops strong feelings for Rose, she also has important, meaningful relationships with Tor, Kiita, and Achilles. She does not lose herself the moment a guy comes into the picture.
Speaking of Estelle...Her development as a character is amazing. She grows in leaps and bounds, becoming strong, independent--all while surviving in a brutal world so different from her own. I really enjoyed her training sessions with Tor, and I honestly hadn't expected to, because protagonists needing training for chapters and chapters is getting quite tiresome in the NA genre. There's just something about Estelle that drew me in, and I was always rooting for her.
The world-building in this book is good, especially for a first novel, but it wasn't quite as detailed as I usually like. There were moments where I would have liked more history and information, but even without this, I had a pretty good idea of the kind of world Estelle had been dropped into.
The plot is, in a word, fast. It would be easy to devour this book in a couple of sittings, because things progress rapidly. While fast-paced, DODAD doesn't feel rushed. A few lighter moments in the next book would slow the pace a little, and give the reader a moment to really take in the action.
There is one aspect of the book I think important to highlight: the dark themes it explores. As another reviewer mentioned, this book is more suitable for adult readers (I would put it in the NA genre, probably). Physical and sexual abuse, assault, and violence are explored. I think Kae handles these topics with superb, gentle skill. I found myself holding my breath, with a knot in my stomach, during her encounters with her abuser.
All in all, DODAD is a wonderful debut novel, and a great start to what I am sure will be an absorbing series. I can't wait for the next installment!
Daughter of Dreams and Dread is a wonderful debut novel. The premise is fairly straightforward: Estelle Verndari wakes up in a strange world, where magic exists (but is illegal). And it is a rollercoaster from there. From the very beginning, Kae gives the reader action.
We are quickly introduced to two vital characters, Rose and Tor. Honestly, probably my favourite relationship in this book is between Estelle and Tor. Tor is the father Estelle never really had: He is protective, loving, warm, and wants her to be the badass he knows she could be.
Estelle's relationship with Rose is sweet, but he did not grab me as a character, especially for a love interest. However, it was really refreshing to not have a man become the centre of a protagonist's universe. While Estelle develops strong feelings for Rose, she also has important, meaningful relationships with Tor, Kiita, and Achilles. She does not lose herself the moment a guy comes into the picture.
Speaking of Estelle...Her development as a character is amazing. She grows in leaps and bounds, becoming strong, independent--all while surviving in a brutal world so different from her own. I really enjoyed her training sessions with Tor, and I honestly hadn't expected to, because protagonists needing training for chapters and chapters is getting quite tiresome in the NA genre. There's just something about Estelle that drew me in, and I was always rooting for her.
The world-building in this book is good, especially for a first novel, but it wasn't quite as detailed as I usually like. There were moments where I would have liked more history and information, but even without this, I had a pretty good idea of the kind of world Estelle had been dropped into.
The plot is, in a word, fast. It would be easy to devour this book in a couple of sittings, because things progress rapidly. While fast-paced, DODAD doesn't feel rushed. A few lighter moments in the next book would slow the pace a little, and give the reader a moment to really take in the action.
There is one aspect of the book I think important to highlight: the dark themes it explores. As another reviewer mentioned, this book is more suitable for adult readers (I would put it in the NA genre, probably). Physical and sexual abuse, assault, and violence are explored. I think Kae handles these topics with superb, gentle skill. I found myself holding my breath, with a knot in my stomach, during her encounters with her abuser.
All in all, DODAD is a wonderful debut novel, and a great start to what I am sure will be an absorbing series. I can't wait for the next installment!
December 4, 2025
I shouldn't have judged this book by its cover.
The first half was fine-ish, I guess, I didn't really vibe with it but would have given it 3 stars if it would continue like that. Then there was a huge tonal shift and the latter half was so dark. I didn't read the reviews beforehand and I thought it was a YA book, so I was really surprised by it.
While I don't mind dark, it did feel unnecessary to go into details and stretch the torture and abuse out for as long as it did. Also our FMC went from a "badass" girl (with quote markings because I didn't feel her badassery as much as the book wants me to) to a damsel in distress who made some questionable choices later on, so it felt like the latter half was a completely different book than the first.
The worldbuilding really felt lackluster. The world is very much divided between "good" people and "bad" people with a few exceptions, which felt really one dimensional.
The writing was a lot of tell, don't show, and while I saw all the twists coming a mile ago they didn't feel earned because it didn't get the build up it deserved.
There were also a lot of weird sentences that didn't really make much sense.
A small example, but in the first page our FMC says something like "I shouldn't be able to bleed here"
But why shouldn't she? The book seems to imply that it's because she's dreaming, but I don't know about you but I can bleed in my dreams.
There were a lot of things unresolved in the end, and I was glad the book wasn't longer, but the book ended just as abruptly as it started. I've read some reviews and people are talking about a sequel but at least according to Goodreads this seems to be a stand alone. Though to be fair; even if there is a sequel I won't read it.
I was planning on giving it 2 stars because the first half was okay-ish, but the longer I think about it the more I hate this book and so I'll give it a rare 1 star.
The first half was fine-ish, I guess, I didn't really vibe with it but would have given it 3 stars if it would continue like that. Then there was a huge tonal shift and the latter half was so dark. I didn't read the reviews beforehand and I thought it was a YA book, so I was really surprised by it.
While I don't mind dark, it did feel unnecessary to go into details and stretch the torture and abuse out for as long as it did. Also our FMC went from a "badass" girl (with quote markings because I didn't feel her badassery as much as the book wants me to) to a damsel in distress who made some questionable choices later on, so it felt like the latter half was a completely different book than the first.
The worldbuilding really felt lackluster. The world is very much divided between "good" people and "bad" people with a few exceptions, which felt really one dimensional.
The writing was a lot of tell, don't show, and while I saw all the twists coming a mile ago they didn't feel earned because it didn't get the build up it deserved.
There were also a lot of weird sentences that didn't really make much sense.
A small example, but in the first page our FMC says something like "I shouldn't be able to bleed here"
But why shouldn't she? The book seems to imply that it's because she's dreaming, but I don't know about you but I can bleed in my dreams.
There were a lot of things unresolved in the end, and I was glad the book wasn't longer, but the book ended just as abruptly as it started. I've read some reviews and people are talking about a sequel but at least according to Goodreads this seems to be a stand alone. Though to be fair; even if there is a sequel I won't read it.
I was planning on giving it 2 stars because the first half was okay-ish, but the longer I think about it the more I hate this book and so I'll give it a rare 1 star.
November 17, 2020
I received an ecopy of this book from the author/publisher. This review is honest and of my own choice.
Estelle has been transported to another world and learns that she has been called to the forest by magic. But even talk of magic in this world is cause for punishment. Estelle refuses to let evil win, until her life begins to be consumed by the very forces she's trying to drive away.
5 stars to Clare Kae's first book. Where do I start? Nothing I say can give this book the praise it deserves, so I will touch on my favorite parts.
The magical creatures, first of all, stole my heart right away. Kae creates gorgeous and gruesome beasts that have never been heard of before. Their descriptions are spot on, I thought I would step outside to be immersed in a forest and be greeted by a yole or attacked by a jarrah.
Kae's characters are given so much depth. Immediately, you are thown into this world surrounded by so many beautiful, and evil, personalities. You can submerge yourself into Estelle's mind to see and feel through her, and appreciate her new friends as if you are there for yourself. One aspect that I adore is one that Kae agrees is important in any novel: humor. Kae knows how to create a fantasy world and make it feel real, and that is through humor. She knows when to use it, which is often, and it helps to round out characters.
This book is also not for the feint of heart. Kae can turn from light-hearted humor to sexual tension to morbid violence in less than a page. This is the perfect balance of a dark fantasy novel I've read yet. Noone needs a happy ending when you have the Daughter of Dreams and Dread.
Estelle has been transported to another world and learns that she has been called to the forest by magic. But even talk of magic in this world is cause for punishment. Estelle refuses to let evil win, until her life begins to be consumed by the very forces she's trying to drive away.
5 stars to Clare Kae's first book. Where do I start? Nothing I say can give this book the praise it deserves, so I will touch on my favorite parts.
The magical creatures, first of all, stole my heart right away. Kae creates gorgeous and gruesome beasts that have never been heard of before. Their descriptions are spot on, I thought I would step outside to be immersed in a forest and be greeted by a yole or attacked by a jarrah.
Kae's characters are given so much depth. Immediately, you are thown into this world surrounded by so many beautiful, and evil, personalities. You can submerge yourself into Estelle's mind to see and feel through her, and appreciate her new friends as if you are there for yourself. One aspect that I adore is one that Kae agrees is important in any novel: humor. Kae knows how to create a fantasy world and make it feel real, and that is through humor. She knows when to use it, which is often, and it helps to round out characters.
This book is also not for the feint of heart. Kae can turn from light-hearted humor to sexual tension to morbid violence in less than a page. This is the perfect balance of a dark fantasy novel I've read yet. Noone needs a happy ending when you have the Daughter of Dreams and Dread.
October 25, 2020
*ARC exchanged for an honest review*
What the hell just happened?? 🤯 I hope book 2 comes out quickly because that ending shattered me.
This book is brutal and should come with a warning label!!
Overall for a debut novel this is bloody fantastic. Estelle is smart, brave, curses like a sailor, loyal and so real. I can’t wait to see how she grows with book 2. Rose is definitely winning me over and I can’t wait to see how their relationship continues. Tor, oh my sweet Tor and Kiita, there are so many great characters in this book!
There was a lull in the middle of the book but it just builds to such a strong plot twist and craziness that you can’t help but sympathize with Estelle all throughout the book.
Clare, please hurry and release book 2!
What the hell just happened?? 🤯 I hope book 2 comes out quickly because that ending shattered me.
This book is brutal and should come with a warning label!!
Overall for a debut novel this is bloody fantastic. Estelle is smart, brave, curses like a sailor, loyal and so real. I can’t wait to see how she grows with book 2. Rose is definitely winning me over and I can’t wait to see how their relationship continues. Tor, oh my sweet Tor and Kiita, there are so many great characters in this book!
There was a lull in the middle of the book but it just builds to such a strong plot twist and craziness that you can’t help but sympathize with Estelle all throughout the book.
Clare, please hurry and release book 2!
September 24, 2020
Y’all. Daughter of Dreams and Dread!!!!!!!! Wow, wow, wow! It is currently 3am because I just HAD to finish this book!
You do not want to miss this epic and heart wrenching story!
Estelle is a firecracker, you will fall in love the minute you start reading. Her fight for survival was a fierce one, and the companions and friends she made throughout the book were beautiful. This haunting tale of endurance and strength was breathtaking and an overall an amazing rollercoaster. Rose was so swoon worthy too, and so was Kiita! #NewBookBae.
I’m so happy I got the chance to read this, and I now have a massive book hangover. You do not want to miss out on this amazing book!
You do not want to miss this epic and heart wrenching story!
Estelle is a firecracker, you will fall in love the minute you start reading. Her fight for survival was a fierce one, and the companions and friends she made throughout the book were beautiful. This haunting tale of endurance and strength was breathtaking and an overall an amazing rollercoaster. Rose was so swoon worthy too, and so was Kiita! #NewBookBae.
I’m so happy I got the chance to read this, and I now have a massive book hangover. You do not want to miss out on this amazing book!
November 29, 2020
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
I have so many thoughts about this book! For the most part I really did enjoy it. It was a quick read once I got the hang of the worldbuilding and premise. Finished it in about 3 days!
A lot of my qualms come from personal preference so I know a lot of readers will enjoy it in ways I didn't.
The Pros:
- Most of the writing itself was beautiful. Kae has a deep knack for bringing out the beauty in the world and it's clear she put so much thought into how someone from our world would make do in another, like the matter of plumbing, that time of the month, etc.
-The romance. No surprise Estelle/Rose is our main ship here, and the moments they share are for the most part sweet and memorable. Rose's love confession was GORGEOUS.
- The friendships. These too are for the most part absolutely lovely. Particularly fond of Tor and Estelle's friendship as well as hers with Achilles.
- The fauna of the story are incredible. I loved every your, yau, and cioraun on the page!!! Their colors, their personal, their bonds with Estelle were all AWESOME.
The Cons:
- The pacing was a little off for me. There were time jumps that gave me whiplash and I was shocked at the end realizing how much time passed. Because of this, I also felt some relationships happened too slow or too fast. I would've liked to see MORE jealous Iro, more Kiita and Estelle bonding, more of that group together. I also felt At times her calling Tor her father was premature, though that lends itself more to another matter...
- Estelle's character was hard for me to connect to. I didn't quite fathom her ease of giving up her life in this world, and at times it was hard for me to grasp whether I was meant to see her as a resourceful, tough cookie badass or not. At certain parts she came across really tough and a quick learner, then flipped a bit too far and left me pulling out my hair. I also had a hard time with how she didn't seem to miss her old life or her family much at all. That backstory just felt very shallow and her lack of real concern for her family, plus the lack of backstory given to her discord with her father that led her to fill that hole with Tor, etc, kept me from fully embracing her eagerness to stay in Kiliac.
(On a similar note I struggled a lot with character voices. I never really could hear Tor or Rose in my head because they'd speak incredibly formally without contractions, and then use slang. Same with Estelle who was mostly pretty slang but then jumped to more formal speech at times).
- While sweet when it happened, the romance didn't quite deliver what i hoped. What sold me on the premise was the notion that this book would have a lot of Estelle and Rose against the world, but Rose disappeared for large chunks, and the amount he was around wasn't quite enough for me to buy the best friendship or romance Estelle proclaimed.
- The second half. This is where a lot of this lends to personal preference, but from the midway point on this book became too dark for me to handle. I had a difficult time with Estelle's motivations and plans...or lack thereof...and struggled with quite a bit of the themes of subjugation, slavery, and abuse. There wasn't one person in the latter half who didn't rub me wrong and I wish there had been more exploration or dynamism to those in the royal Court, and more work on Estelle's part for her agency beyond "don't make the abuser angry", as she was portrayed as quite resourceful in the first half. I felt adrift and could no longer connect to the story at that point. It was sort of like a more drawn out version of Under the Mountain from ACOTAR, the part I skimmed and can't ever reread.
- There were also several places where the punctuation, grammar and some spelling and formatting things dragged me out of the story.
However, this was overall a well-written book with a ton of heart poured into it. I so admire Kae's craftsmanship and obvious love of this story and characters and find her an amazing author and person. If my qualms with it are not something you share, then I think you'll find this an enjoyable read! Also the cover is one of the best in the indie world, hands down. 🤩🤩
I have so many thoughts about this book! For the most part I really did enjoy it. It was a quick read once I got the hang of the worldbuilding and premise. Finished it in about 3 days!
A lot of my qualms come from personal preference so I know a lot of readers will enjoy it in ways I didn't.
The Pros:
- Most of the writing itself was beautiful. Kae has a deep knack for bringing out the beauty in the world and it's clear she put so much thought into how someone from our world would make do in another, like the matter of plumbing, that time of the month, etc.
-The romance. No surprise Estelle/Rose is our main ship here, and the moments they share are for the most part sweet and memorable. Rose's love confession was GORGEOUS.
- The friendships. These too are for the most part absolutely lovely. Particularly fond of Tor and Estelle's friendship as well as hers with Achilles.
- The fauna of the story are incredible. I loved every your, yau, and cioraun on the page!!! Their colors, their personal, their bonds with Estelle were all AWESOME.
The Cons:
- The pacing was a little off for me. There were time jumps that gave me whiplash and I was shocked at the end realizing how much time passed. Because of this, I also felt some relationships happened too slow or too fast. I would've liked to see MORE jealous Iro, more Kiita and Estelle bonding, more of that group together. I also felt At times her calling Tor her father was premature, though that lends itself more to another matter...
- Estelle's character was hard for me to connect to. I didn't quite fathom her ease of giving up her life in this world, and at times it was hard for me to grasp whether I was meant to see her as a resourceful, tough cookie badass or not. At certain parts she came across really tough and a quick learner, then flipped a bit too far and left me pulling out my hair. I also had a hard time with how she didn't seem to miss her old life or her family much at all. That backstory just felt very shallow and her lack of real concern for her family, plus the lack of backstory given to her discord with her father that led her to fill that hole with Tor, etc, kept me from fully embracing her eagerness to stay in Kiliac.
(On a similar note I struggled a lot with character voices. I never really could hear Tor or Rose in my head because they'd speak incredibly formally without contractions, and then use slang. Same with Estelle who was mostly pretty slang but then jumped to more formal speech at times).
- While sweet when it happened, the romance didn't quite deliver what i hoped. What sold me on the premise was the notion that this book would have a lot of Estelle and Rose against the world, but Rose disappeared for large chunks, and the amount he was around wasn't quite enough for me to buy the best friendship or romance Estelle proclaimed.
- The second half. This is where a lot of this lends to personal preference, but from the midway point on this book became too dark for me to handle. I had a difficult time with Estelle's motivations and plans...or lack thereof...and struggled with quite a bit of the themes of subjugation, slavery, and abuse. There wasn't one person in the latter half who didn't rub me wrong and I wish there had been more exploration or dynamism to those in the royal Court, and more work on Estelle's part for her agency beyond "don't make the abuser angry", as she was portrayed as quite resourceful in the first half. I felt adrift and could no longer connect to the story at that point. It was sort of like a more drawn out version of Under the Mountain from ACOTAR, the part I skimmed and can't ever reread.
- There were also several places where the punctuation, grammar and some spelling and formatting things dragged me out of the story.
However, this was overall a well-written book with a ton of heart poured into it. I so admire Kae's craftsmanship and obvious love of this story and characters and find her an amazing author and person. If my qualms with it are not something you share, then I think you'll find this an enjoyable read! Also the cover is one of the best in the indie world, hands down. 🤩🤩
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2020
Not very many books have the ability to make me feel like Alice plunging down a dark and twisted rabbit hole, appearing in a frightful nightmare landscape filled with dangerous creatures both human and woodland fae the way Daughter of Dreams and Dread did so spectacularly.
I offer five delightfully dark and shimmery stars to @clarekae's debut NA dark fantasy/romance novel, Daughter of Dreams and Dread, because I believed in Clare Kae's storytelling and knew she would shred my heart into a million little pieces from the very first chapter.
I am the type of reader who wants to be emotionally crushed and slightly devastated by the turn of events in a novel and Daughter of Dreams and Dread delivered that up to me on a shiny silver platter. It is those kinds of books that attach to my heart and refuse to let go.
The further I delved into the Daughter of Dreams and Dread I became ravenous for more--to consume the monstrous yet beautifully magical world of Kiliac, to understand Estelle's role in protecting the Fae living in the woods from being ruthlessly slaughtered by King Horen's soldiers, and to find out the mystery behind the devilishly handsome love interest, Rose. I devoured this book but definitely took my time reading it, savoring the emotions that fiercely gripped me, because it is not a read for the faint of heart.
Be prepared, dear reader, to be whisked away into a tale where you find yourself wishing for a small glimpse of hope and happiness amidst all the dread Estelle Verndari experiences. There is graphic violence, abuse, adult language, and the mention of rape and assault.
When fate tears Estelle Verndari from an ordinary world, dreams become a sinister new reality. In Kiliac, different is dangerous. Different means magic, and magic is punishable by death.
Lost and alone in a forest of nightmares, Estelle is saved by Rose, a man with fire in his eyes and blood on his hands. But she must learn to survive this brutal new world if she ever hopes to make it home. As the forest becomes a sanctuary, Rose captures her heart, and Estelle discovers a secret magic in her soul—the ability to heal in a world full of ruin.
But an ancient power is calling her name. A tyrant king is drowning the forest in death, and taking up arms to defend it means giving up on finding her path home. If Estelle’s secret is uncovered, everything she’s grown to love will be destroyed.
I grew to love the characters in Daughter of Dreams and Dread to the point where I had a fierce anxiety for their well-being. The title suggests there will not be a happy ending and with a ruthless and cruel King terrorizing the people of Kiliac, no good can come out of the horrors Estelle witnesses. This is a tale of survival, a type of survival that reaches the heights of Aelin Ashryver Galathynius from Throne of Glass and Feyre Archeron from A Court of Thorns and Roses. You cannot do anything but silently pray all the characters will be alright and accept the fact that some will never be okay again.
You guys! Estelle Verndari's power is vast and I get chills every time she wields it when she calls upon the creatures of the forest to her aid or heals the villagers. The moments with her Dyr, a young stag named Achilles, are precious and I wish I had my own familiar.
Clare Kae's voice and writing style has touched my soul and is a refreshing new addition to the fantasy genre that I just know my fellow readers will appreciate. Daughter of Dreams and Dread is perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, Outlander, The Handmaid's Tale, and Alice in Wonderland.
I am eagerly awaiting the second book, Daughter of Starlight and Shadow!
Thank you to Clare for providing me with a free copy of Daughter of Dreams and Dread in exchange for an honest review.
I offer five delightfully dark and shimmery stars to @clarekae's debut NA dark fantasy/romance novel, Daughter of Dreams and Dread, because I believed in Clare Kae's storytelling and knew she would shred my heart into a million little pieces from the very first chapter.
I am the type of reader who wants to be emotionally crushed and slightly devastated by the turn of events in a novel and Daughter of Dreams and Dread delivered that up to me on a shiny silver platter. It is those kinds of books that attach to my heart and refuse to let go.
The further I delved into the Daughter of Dreams and Dread I became ravenous for more--to consume the monstrous yet beautifully magical world of Kiliac, to understand Estelle's role in protecting the Fae living in the woods from being ruthlessly slaughtered by King Horen's soldiers, and to find out the mystery behind the devilishly handsome love interest, Rose. I devoured this book but definitely took my time reading it, savoring the emotions that fiercely gripped me, because it is not a read for the faint of heart.
Be prepared, dear reader, to be whisked away into a tale where you find yourself wishing for a small glimpse of hope and happiness amidst all the dread Estelle Verndari experiences. There is graphic violence, abuse, adult language, and the mention of rape and assault.
When fate tears Estelle Verndari from an ordinary world, dreams become a sinister new reality. In Kiliac, different is dangerous. Different means magic, and magic is punishable by death.
Lost and alone in a forest of nightmares, Estelle is saved by Rose, a man with fire in his eyes and blood on his hands. But she must learn to survive this brutal new world if she ever hopes to make it home. As the forest becomes a sanctuary, Rose captures her heart, and Estelle discovers a secret magic in her soul—the ability to heal in a world full of ruin.
But an ancient power is calling her name. A tyrant king is drowning the forest in death, and taking up arms to defend it means giving up on finding her path home. If Estelle’s secret is uncovered, everything she’s grown to love will be destroyed.
I grew to love the characters in Daughter of Dreams and Dread to the point where I had a fierce anxiety for their well-being. The title suggests there will not be a happy ending and with a ruthless and cruel King terrorizing the people of Kiliac, no good can come out of the horrors Estelle witnesses. This is a tale of survival, a type of survival that reaches the heights of Aelin Ashryver Galathynius from Throne of Glass and Feyre Archeron from A Court of Thorns and Roses. You cannot do anything but silently pray all the characters will be alright and accept the fact that some will never be okay again.
You guys! Estelle Verndari's power is vast and I get chills every time she wields it when she calls upon the creatures of the forest to her aid or heals the villagers. The moments with her Dyr, a young stag named Achilles, are precious and I wish I had my own familiar.
Clare Kae's voice and writing style has touched my soul and is a refreshing new addition to the fantasy genre that I just know my fellow readers will appreciate. Daughter of Dreams and Dread is perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, ACOTAR, Outlander, The Handmaid's Tale, and Alice in Wonderland.
I am eagerly awaiting the second book, Daughter of Starlight and Shadow!
Thank you to Clare for providing me with a free copy of Daughter of Dreams and Dread in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2020
I typically don’t write reviews. I felt the need to write this review, because I was so letdown. This book was recommended to me by a couple of friends on Instagram, and I was very excited to read it based on the reviews currently released. I tend to gravitate towards stories that are fantasy or science fiction stories with a strong female protagonist that doesn’t experience instalove.
In the story we follow a confused woman name Estelle through a forest. She comes upon a handsome stranger who saves her from bad men, and then takes her to a safe space where she can grow overtime - both in medieval skills and fortitude. The story’s “twists” are very easy to see coming and predict pretty early. She ends up spending most of the book having semi-forced sex. To be honest, I am pretty sick of sexual abuse and abuse of women being the vehicle by which a plot moves forward.
Overall the story was lackluster, the characters simplistic, and the amount of smirking overbearing. It had real promise and seemed to fizzle about a quarter of the way through.
In the story we follow a confused woman name Estelle through a forest. She comes upon a handsome stranger who saves her from bad men, and then takes her to a safe space where she can grow overtime - both in medieval skills and fortitude. The story’s “twists” are very easy to see coming and predict pretty early. She ends up spending most of the book having semi-forced sex. To be honest, I am pretty sick of sexual abuse and abuse of women being the vehicle by which a plot moves forward.
Overall the story was lackluster, the characters simplistic, and the amount of smirking overbearing. It had real promise and seemed to fizzle about a quarter of the way through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2020
First I would like to thank Clare Kae for giving me the opportunity to read her book before it’s publication and I have to say I did not expect to enjoy it so much! This book hooked me in from the get-go and I did not want to stop reading.
‘No amount of time where you are concerned is wasted, lass.’
Kae has created a beautiful and intricate world filled with characters that I could not get enough of. Estelle finds herself in this new world, Kiliac, and throughout the book, her character grows stronger, both physically and mentally. I found it really easy to like Estelle at the beginning but I won’t lie I did get a bit frustrated with her later on. Rose was one of my favourite characters, and I feel like I didn’t get to see enough of him! So I’m hoping that he will be more prominent in the next book. I really liked the portrayal of Rose as a man who wants to save the damsel in distress but is still respectful of the woman in question, as I think sometimes this type of character thinks they then own the woman. I am invested in Estelle and Rose and I NEED MORE CONTENT!
‘Estelle, having a soft heart in a hard world is courage, not weakness.’
I really liked how the book was quite fast-paced because it kept me turning the pages and it felt like there was never a dull moment. Whilst romance is an aspect of this book, it doesn’t hide the plot which I think is very important. The plot was so intricate and had a few twists and turns that I didn’t predict, and a few that I did. As a debut novel, I think this book goes above and beyond and I wish I could talk more about the plot without giving away spoilers! The book is told in the first person from Estelle’s point of view mainly, but there are a few sections told from Rose’s, which indicated to me that he was an important character!
‘You were born for greatness and will never again succumb to those unworthy of you.’
Character relationships are the things I love most about books and I was not disappointed by this book! I’ve already mentioned Estelle and Rose, but I ADORED the father-daughter relationship that grows between Estelle and Tor. Also, her relationships with Kiita and Achilles were important to Estelle’s growth as a character. It felt that as Achilles grew up, Estelle developed into a stronger woman.
‘She is free and I will dance on your bloody corpses when she comes to rip you both apart.’
Kae covers some dark topics like sexual abuse and assault which may be triggering. However, I think she approaches the topics well and they don’t consume the plot but are very tense moments as a reader.
All in all, I have nothing bad to say about this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. After that massive cliff-hanger, I am counting down the days till I can read the next installment! Someone please read this so I can talk to them about it! I would recommend this book to older fantasy readers, it is so gripping!
‘No amount of time where you are concerned is wasted, lass.’
Kae has created a beautiful and intricate world filled with characters that I could not get enough of. Estelle finds herself in this new world, Kiliac, and throughout the book, her character grows stronger, both physically and mentally. I found it really easy to like Estelle at the beginning but I won’t lie I did get a bit frustrated with her later on. Rose was one of my favourite characters, and I feel like I didn’t get to see enough of him! So I’m hoping that he will be more prominent in the next book. I really liked the portrayal of Rose as a man who wants to save the damsel in distress but is still respectful of the woman in question, as I think sometimes this type of character thinks they then own the woman. I am invested in Estelle and Rose and I NEED MORE CONTENT!
‘Estelle, having a soft heart in a hard world is courage, not weakness.’
I really liked how the book was quite fast-paced because it kept me turning the pages and it felt like there was never a dull moment. Whilst romance is an aspect of this book, it doesn’t hide the plot which I think is very important. The plot was so intricate and had a few twists and turns that I didn’t predict, and a few that I did. As a debut novel, I think this book goes above and beyond and I wish I could talk more about the plot without giving away spoilers! The book is told in the first person from Estelle’s point of view mainly, but there are a few sections told from Rose’s, which indicated to me that he was an important character!
‘You were born for greatness and will never again succumb to those unworthy of you.’
Character relationships are the things I love most about books and I was not disappointed by this book! I’ve already mentioned Estelle and Rose, but I ADORED the father-daughter relationship that grows between Estelle and Tor. Also, her relationships with Kiita and Achilles were important to Estelle’s growth as a character. It felt that as Achilles grew up, Estelle developed into a stronger woman.
‘She is free and I will dance on your bloody corpses when she comes to rip you both apart.’
Kae covers some dark topics like sexual abuse and assault which may be triggering. However, I think she approaches the topics well and they don’t consume the plot but are very tense moments as a reader.
All in all, I have nothing bad to say about this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. After that massive cliff-hanger, I am counting down the days till I can read the next installment! Someone please read this so I can talk to them about it! I would recommend this book to older fantasy readers, it is so gripping!
September 25, 2020
There are not enough good things to say about this book!
Daughter of Dreams and Dread is both an incredible debut novel and a fantastic example of how to start a series. From the stunning cover design, to the thoughtful chapter titles, there is not one part of this book that isn't mindfully put together. It is evident that DODAD was a product of passion for Clare Kae and it turned out beautifully!
From page one Kae immerses you in a fantastical world of magic and mystery that leaves you aching to see it, and the creatures, for yourself. Kae's protagonist Estelle is a fiery, sharp-tongued, over-all badass fighting to survive in a strange world. You can't help but love her and root for her on her journey of self-discovery as she navigates her new reality. The cast of characters we're introducted to are endearing, compelling, relatable, wonderfully diverse and representative, and very well written. Some feel like family while others crawl beneath your skin. And let us not forget about our love interest, Rose! He will capture your attention in no time and will undoubtedly be gracing book boyfriend lists everywhere. I love that Rose exists in the story without becoming the absolute center of it. The storyline of this book is unlike one I've ever read before and remains gleefully unpredictable up until the very end. You will find your list of questions growing just as quickly as they are answered throughout the novel, making it nearly impossible to put down.
Daughter of Dreams and Dread would be best suited for adult readers as it does include dark themes such as abuse, assault, graphic violence, and implied sexual assault as well as the use of adult language. However, I'd like to note that in my opinion none of those themes are used in a way that comes off as excessive, unnecessary, or detracts from the story.
The only "con" on my list is that Estelle's story can feel slightly rushed at times. Kae packs these pages with action, adventure and (thank God) a lot of plot! I'm sure it was an honest effort to fit all the details between the covers of this book because it is minimal on filler. And that is where I found myself wanting for *more*. I would have loved just a bit more world building, more relaxed moments, and more time to live within the pages.
If you're interested in a dark (sometimes haunting) fantasy, all things magical, and the promise of an emotional quest for survival I HIGHLY recommend Daughter of Dreams and Dread. You will not be disappointed!
Daughter of Dreams and Dread is both an incredible debut novel and a fantastic example of how to start a series. From the stunning cover design, to the thoughtful chapter titles, there is not one part of this book that isn't mindfully put together. It is evident that DODAD was a product of passion for Clare Kae and it turned out beautifully!
From page one Kae immerses you in a fantastical world of magic and mystery that leaves you aching to see it, and the creatures, for yourself. Kae's protagonist Estelle is a fiery, sharp-tongued, over-all badass fighting to survive in a strange world. You can't help but love her and root for her on her journey of self-discovery as she navigates her new reality. The cast of characters we're introducted to are endearing, compelling, relatable, wonderfully diverse and representative, and very well written. Some feel like family while others crawl beneath your skin. And let us not forget about our love interest, Rose! He will capture your attention in no time and will undoubtedly be gracing book boyfriend lists everywhere. I love that Rose exists in the story without becoming the absolute center of it. The storyline of this book is unlike one I've ever read before and remains gleefully unpredictable up until the very end. You will find your list of questions growing just as quickly as they are answered throughout the novel, making it nearly impossible to put down.
Daughter of Dreams and Dread would be best suited for adult readers as it does include dark themes such as abuse, assault, graphic violence, and implied sexual assault as well as the use of adult language. However, I'd like to note that in my opinion none of those themes are used in a way that comes off as excessive, unnecessary, or detracts from the story.
The only "con" on my list is that Estelle's story can feel slightly rushed at times. Kae packs these pages with action, adventure and (thank God) a lot of plot! I'm sure it was an honest effort to fit all the details between the covers of this book because it is minimal on filler. And that is where I found myself wanting for *more*. I would have loved just a bit more world building, more relaxed moments, and more time to live within the pages.
If you're interested in a dark (sometimes haunting) fantasy, all things magical, and the promise of an emotional quest for survival I HIGHLY recommend Daughter of Dreams and Dread. You will not be disappointed!
November 16, 2020
Estelle Verndari is pulled from her ordinary world into the land of Kiliac. Lost alone in a forest of nightmares, Estelle is saved by a mysterious man named Rose. She must learn to survive in this brutal new world if she ever wants to make it home. As her time in Kiliac goes on, the forest becomes her sanctuary, Rose captures her heart, and she discovers a rare magic in her soul- the ability to heal. But a tyrant king is threatening both her dear forest and her life. To save the forest and everyone she loves, Estelle will have to give up on ever going back to her own world. This is a dark fantasy (TW- vioence; abuse; sexual assault mention (no graphic descriptions!)
So I did not expect to be so in love with this story! I got sucked in so quickly. I loved the world building, especially the forest and its creatures! And then we get the characters. Estelle has a great humor, and I loved her heart too. She's so protective of the ones she loves, and she's very determined. She doesn't let herself be a victim, and she survives. From the second we met Tor, I adored him. Their father/daughter relationship is probably my favorite in the whole book. And Rose. I liked him from the start, and I enjoyed his relationship with Estelle. I also really appreciated that the romance, while still central to the plot, wasn't the main focus. There's so many awesome types of relationships in this book, not just romantic ones. Estelle's friendship with Kiita is so good too. I knew I'd love her from the start! And of course, Estelle's relationship with the forest and its creatures. That was awesome, and I loved that she was so connected with the animals.
And wow the plot! It is definitely fast paced! It didn't feel rushed though! I won't give too much away, but there were so many twists, and some I definitely didn't expect. I loved Estelle's development through it all, and you can't help but be rooting for her and want her to succeed.
Overall, I laughed. I cried. I'm desperate for more. Seriously, I'm already dying for the next one. If you're a fan of fantasy, love fierce characters with a healthy dose of snark, enjoy diverse and beautiful relationships, like it when books emotionally hurt you, and can handle some darker elements, you need to grab this book NOW!!!
So I did not expect to be so in love with this story! I got sucked in so quickly. I loved the world building, especially the forest and its creatures! And then we get the characters. Estelle has a great humor, and I loved her heart too. She's so protective of the ones she loves, and she's very determined. She doesn't let herself be a victim, and she survives. From the second we met Tor, I adored him. Their father/daughter relationship is probably my favorite in the whole book. And Rose. I liked him from the start, and I enjoyed his relationship with Estelle. I also really appreciated that the romance, while still central to the plot, wasn't the main focus. There's so many awesome types of relationships in this book, not just romantic ones. Estelle's friendship with Kiita is so good too. I knew I'd love her from the start! And of course, Estelle's relationship with the forest and its creatures. That was awesome, and I loved that she was so connected with the animals.
And wow the plot! It is definitely fast paced! It didn't feel rushed though! I won't give too much away, but there were so many twists, and some I definitely didn't expect. I loved Estelle's development through it all, and you can't help but be rooting for her and want her to succeed.
Overall, I laughed. I cried. I'm desperate for more. Seriously, I'm already dying for the next one. If you're a fan of fantasy, love fierce characters with a healthy dose of snark, enjoy diverse and beautiful relationships, like it when books emotionally hurt you, and can handle some darker elements, you need to grab this book NOW!!!
November 3, 2020
Daughter of Dreams and Dread was a book that took me by surprise (in a good way). Estelle Vendari doesn't know what to think when she wakes up in a strange world that is not her own. Rescued by a handsome stranger, Estelle soon discovers that this world, Killiac, is a place where those who are different have magic, and that magic is expressly forbidden, but that cannot stop Estelle from exploring new found powers and her connection with the forest. As Estelle delves into her secret magic, she finds a family that she's craved for so long, as well as a sense of belonging among the common folk of Killiac. But everything changes when the evil King Horen attacks and destroys everything that she's built, and leads her down a path of captivity, darkness and torment that turns Estelle's life into a fight for survival.
Daughter of Dreams and Dread is one of those books that starts off ok, but it gets better and better with each page. Be forewarned though, as this book contains a good amount of violence as well as descriptions of sexual/physical/emotional abuse. This book takes a very unexpected and dark turn when Estelle is captured by King Horen and Prince Taryn, but honestly, I thought that it was handled very well. Estelle is one of those characters that I really appreciate, one whose resilience helps her to survive even in the absolute worst circumstances. I thought the dynamic between her and Prince Taryn, although clearly abusive and toxic, shows just how complex abusive relationships can be and the lengths people go to to survive them. I also adored her relationship with Tor and how that develops into such a sweet surrogate father/daughter relationship. That's something you don't see much in fantasy anymore and it really resonated with me. I thought the world-building and Kae's writing was really beautiful and transportive. I thought the highs and lows of the plot were really great and it kept me turning page after page. In the end, Daughter of Dreams and Dread is a story that is a portrait of survival, family, and hope, and I cannot wait for the next one and hope Estelle gets the opportunity to burn it all to the ground.
Daughter of Dreams and Dread is one of those books that starts off ok, but it gets better and better with each page. Be forewarned though, as this book contains a good amount of violence as well as descriptions of sexual/physical/emotional abuse. This book takes a very unexpected and dark turn when Estelle is captured by King Horen and Prince Taryn, but honestly, I thought that it was handled very well. Estelle is one of those characters that I really appreciate, one whose resilience helps her to survive even in the absolute worst circumstances. I thought the dynamic between her and Prince Taryn, although clearly abusive and toxic, shows just how complex abusive relationships can be and the lengths people go to to survive them. I also adored her relationship with Tor and how that develops into such a sweet surrogate father/daughter relationship. That's something you don't see much in fantasy anymore and it really resonated with me. I thought the world-building and Kae's writing was really beautiful and transportive. I thought the highs and lows of the plot were really great and it kept me turning page after page. In the end, Daughter of Dreams and Dread is a story that is a portrait of survival, family, and hope, and I cannot wait for the next one and hope Estelle gets the opportunity to burn it all to the ground.
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November 19, 2020Apparently night time reviews are my *thing* now. I think the shorter days have just completely thrown off my sense of time and being and I just keep losing my days. BUT ANYWAYS, this book deserves all of the love and then some. It’s just one of those books that takes you by surprise and makes you really fall for it. It has so many elements done so so well that it just all weaves together into an amazing story.
The friendships in this book is something special and the bond between these characters is really refreshing. This is a story more about these bonds than it is about a girl losing herself in love with a boy. And the character development is sublime and I wish more books had such growth in the characters. Plus this book gets dark. And you know that’s an instant win for me. I love me some dark and gritty themes because I always feel as if it makes the book more realistic in a sense.
This book is just such a joy to read and it’s incredibly fast paced. So grab your blankie and some hot cocoa, cuddle up, and be ready to be surprised by this delight of a book. And psssttttt, there’s animals for all my animal companion story lovers. You know that makes you want to read this even more *nudge, nudge, wink wink*!
You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
The friendships in this book is something special and the bond between these characters is really refreshing. This is a story more about these bonds than it is about a girl losing herself in love with a boy. And the character development is sublime and I wish more books had such growth in the characters. Plus this book gets dark. And you know that’s an instant win for me. I love me some dark and gritty themes because I always feel as if it makes the book more realistic in a sense.
This book is just such a joy to read and it’s incredibly fast paced. So grab your blankie and some hot cocoa, cuddle up, and be ready to be surprised by this delight of a book. And psssttttt, there’s animals for all my animal companion story lovers. You know that makes you want to read this even more *nudge, nudge, wink wink*!
You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
October 22, 2020
5/5
DODAD is about an Australian girl name Estelle who finds herself in a completely different world from her own, where magic exists, creatures of myth roam, and a tyrannical king seeks to only destroy.
This. Book. Blew. Me. Away! OMG I loved it! The world building. The plot. The story. The characters. The romance. The TWISTS. The despair. All of it.
I was extremely surprised by this book. It went completely different then how I envisioned it originally. I read this all in one day because I literally could not put it down and stop reading. The book was very past paced but not rushed. The flow was very nice and kept you wanting to continue.
I absolutely loved Estelle. I thought she was brave, stubborn, strong willed, yet emotional and caring. And I found that I could relate to her as a person quite a bit which made me really enjoy the story that much more. I also loved the bond between her and Tor.
It made me laugh, it made me feel such sorrow and sadness. I cried. I was angry. I had all the feels that a good book gives you. This book touches on some darker aspects, which I think the author handled very well and with care.
My favorite character was Achilles! The sweetest, most adorable fawn ever and he quickly stole my heart.
I am absolutely dying to read the sequel and wish I had it in my hands today!!
*Thank you to the author and BOMM Tours for proving me an eARC. All opinions are my own.*
DODAD is about an Australian girl name Estelle who finds herself in a completely different world from her own, where magic exists, creatures of myth roam, and a tyrannical king seeks to only destroy.
This. Book. Blew. Me. Away! OMG I loved it! The world building. The plot. The story. The characters. The romance. The TWISTS. The despair. All of it.
I was extremely surprised by this book. It went completely different then how I envisioned it originally. I read this all in one day because I literally could not put it down and stop reading. The book was very past paced but not rushed. The flow was very nice and kept you wanting to continue.
I absolutely loved Estelle. I thought she was brave, stubborn, strong willed, yet emotional and caring. And I found that I could relate to her as a person quite a bit which made me really enjoy the story that much more. I also loved the bond between her and Tor.
It made me laugh, it made me feel such sorrow and sadness. I cried. I was angry. I had all the feels that a good book gives you. This book touches on some darker aspects, which I think the author handled very well and with care.
My favorite character was Achilles! The sweetest, most adorable fawn ever and he quickly stole my heart.
I am absolutely dying to read the sequel and wish I had it in my hands today!!
*Thank you to the author and BOMM Tours for proving me an eARC. All opinions are my own.*
November 2, 2020
𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘐 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦. "𝘐 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦."
I'm simply blown away that this is a debut novel! I have so much love for this book! I was intrigued by its stunning cover and the story within was nothing short of amazing.
Two things I loved the most about this story: Magical creatures galore & our heroine didn't become a badass overnight. Those 2 things made me insanely happy. Plus she's got that smart mouth that I adore in a character. This book seriously has it all!
Estelle wakes up wandering a forest she'd never seen before. She's positive that she must be dreaming. A man named Rose saved her from some bad guys and then took her to a safe haven with a giant named Tor. She plans on finding her way back to her world until she finds peace within the forest and all of the magical creatures accept her as part of their pack. Once she realizes that this world is where she belongs, she knows that she must fight to save it from the tyrannical, bloodthirsty king. Can she save this home that she's grown to love?
I know I can't do this review the justice it deserves. I literally couldn't put this book down. I slacked off all responsibilities to just sit and read it from start to finish. It's one of a kind and I highly recommend it to any and all fantasy lovers!
I'm simply blown away that this is a debut novel! I have so much love for this book! I was intrigued by its stunning cover and the story within was nothing short of amazing.
Two things I loved the most about this story: Magical creatures galore & our heroine didn't become a badass overnight. Those 2 things made me insanely happy. Plus she's got that smart mouth that I adore in a character. This book seriously has it all!
Estelle wakes up wandering a forest she'd never seen before. She's positive that she must be dreaming. A man named Rose saved her from some bad guys and then took her to a safe haven with a giant named Tor. She plans on finding her way back to her world until she finds peace within the forest and all of the magical creatures accept her as part of their pack. Once she realizes that this world is where she belongs, she knows that she must fight to save it from the tyrannical, bloodthirsty king. Can she save this home that she's grown to love?
I know I can't do this review the justice it deserves. I literally couldn't put this book down. I slacked off all responsibilities to just sit and read it from start to finish. It's one of a kind and I highly recommend it to any and all fantasy lovers!
November 16, 2020
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
My Rating – 4 Stars
This book hugely surprised me in the BEST way! The book starts extremely quickly, throwing us right into the middle of this terrifying situation with the main character Estelle. One night, Estelle went to sleep in her own bed, and she woke up the next morning in a terrifying and unfamiliar land. When she is approached by men who obviously have nefarious plans for her, she is relieved to be rescued by a stranger named Rose. I loved the immediate banter between the two character, and really enjoyed that Estelle didn’t act like a damsel in distress. She was terrified, but held herself together and stayed strong throughout the book.
I really adored Estelle’s exploration of her new found magic, and was obsessed with the found family she discovered as well. The relationships between her Achilles, Tor, and Kiita were among my favorite and I felt that they really fleshed out the story as well as Estelle’s character.
Daughter of Dreams and Dread definitely takes a dark turn that readers will need to prepare for, but it was really well done.The author’s imagery put me solidly into the story, and I felt emotionally connected to Estelle. It quickly becomes a book that you are unable to put down and ended up being a very quick read for me.
My Rating – 4 Stars
This book hugely surprised me in the BEST way! The book starts extremely quickly, throwing us right into the middle of this terrifying situation with the main character Estelle. One night, Estelle went to sleep in her own bed, and she woke up the next morning in a terrifying and unfamiliar land. When she is approached by men who obviously have nefarious plans for her, she is relieved to be rescued by a stranger named Rose. I loved the immediate banter between the two character, and really enjoyed that Estelle didn’t act like a damsel in distress. She was terrified, but held herself together and stayed strong throughout the book.
I really adored Estelle’s exploration of her new found magic, and was obsessed with the found family she discovered as well. The relationships between her Achilles, Tor, and Kiita were among my favorite and I felt that they really fleshed out the story as well as Estelle’s character.
Daughter of Dreams and Dread definitely takes a dark turn that readers will need to prepare for, but it was really well done.The author’s imagery put me solidly into the story, and I felt emotionally connected to Estelle. It quickly becomes a book that you are unable to put down and ended up being a very quick read for me.
January 25, 2021
4.5 ⭐ This book has everything. Magic, romance, friendship & family, animal companions, smut, and it will make you feel every single emotion. It also gets REAL dark. Content warning for abuse, slavery & rape.
Estelle, our protagonist, goes to sleep one night in the very normal home she shares with her mother & wakes up in a dangerous, magical, completely foriegn world. Some of the scenes are so heart warming and beautiful but there are also very dark scenes that contain a lot of cruelty & pain & heartbreak. There was seriously one part in the book when I sat crying in the bathtub and had to put my book down to message the author on instagram because my heart was shattered. This is Clare Kae's first novel & I am already anxiously awaiting the rest of Estelles story. I finished DODAD several books ago but this is a book that still has me hungover and living in it's world. Even though by the end I loved this book, there were a few places early on in the story that I felt were disconnected and rushed through..I just wanted MORE of everything. More of Estelles backstory and more time to build all of those strong relationships... there were times that it just didnt feel believable because of the lack of build up. It didnt take long to lose that feeling though and be submerged completely into the story.
Estelle, our protagonist, goes to sleep one night in the very normal home she shares with her mother & wakes up in a dangerous, magical, completely foriegn world. Some of the scenes are so heart warming and beautiful but there are also very dark scenes that contain a lot of cruelty & pain & heartbreak. There was seriously one part in the book when I sat crying in the bathtub and had to put my book down to message the author on instagram because my heart was shattered. This is Clare Kae's first novel & I am already anxiously awaiting the rest of Estelles story. I finished DODAD several books ago but this is a book that still has me hungover and living in it's world. Even though by the end I loved this book, there were a few places early on in the story that I felt were disconnected and rushed through..I just wanted MORE of everything. More of Estelles backstory and more time to build all of those strong relationships... there were times that it just didnt feel believable because of the lack of build up. It didnt take long to lose that feeling though and be submerged completely into the story.
November 3, 2020
*ARC exchanged for an honest review*
4.5 tearful, heart-racing stars
Wow wow wow! This book was really good. I went back and forth between not being able to put it down and not being able to stand continuing for fear of what was going to happen next!
The characters were masterfully created and their personalities were so unique from one another. The main character, Estelle, goes through so many periods of growth that feel really authentic to the story and to her character. Her progression never felt forced or rushed and she is probably one of my favorite heroines that I’ve read recently. The relationships that exist between her and Tor, Kiita, Achilles, and Rose are just *chefs kiss*.
Also I seriously cannot get enough of the creatures that exist in this world; they brought such a magical quality to the story. I hope there will be sequels to this book and we get to learn more about Galdurne and all of the beings that live within it.
There was some tiny grammatical/punctuation errors that I noticed, but it didn’t bother me or take away from the story and is probably not even worth mentioning to be honest. When it comes down to it, this is a truly an incredible debut novel. I cannot wait to see what Clare Kae has in store for the future!
4.5 tearful, heart-racing stars
Wow wow wow! This book was really good. I went back and forth between not being able to put it down and not being able to stand continuing for fear of what was going to happen next!
The characters were masterfully created and their personalities were so unique from one another. The main character, Estelle, goes through so many periods of growth that feel really authentic to the story and to her character. Her progression never felt forced or rushed and she is probably one of my favorite heroines that I’ve read recently. The relationships that exist between her and Tor, Kiita, Achilles, and Rose are just *chefs kiss*.
Also I seriously cannot get enough of the creatures that exist in this world; they brought such a magical quality to the story. I hope there will be sequels to this book and we get to learn more about Galdurne and all of the beings that live within it.
There was some tiny grammatical/punctuation errors that I noticed, but it didn’t bother me or take away from the story and is probably not even worth mentioning to be honest. When it comes down to it, this is a truly an incredible debut novel. I cannot wait to see what Clare Kae has in store for the future!
November 7, 2020
*ARC exchanged for an honest review*
Wow wow wow!! I knew the synopsis sounded good, but I did not expect it to be this good! The world the Clare Kae created was so detailed that I felt like I was right there with the characters. I wasn't as connected to the characters as I wish I could've been because of how much detail was put into the world. However, by the end of the book I definitely felt what the characters felt. The beginning was a little slow to me, but once Estelle went into Salem I just couldn't put the book down! At times It also felt that I was missing something from a scene, but the more the scene continued the better it got.
I wish we had more of Estelle and Rose, I just love the banter that they had (maybe more in book #2?). The connection Tor and Estelle had was just beautiful. They both needed each other more than they even realized and my heart just shattered when they were ripped from each other! AND THE TWIST!! Did not see that coming Clare! That just destroyed my already shattered heart. The second half of this book was just full of all the FEELS! I cried when she finally got back into the woods, only to be separated by Rose again. AND THE ENDING! Clare I'm gonna need book #2 real soon so I can know what happens next!!
Wow wow wow!! I knew the synopsis sounded good, but I did not expect it to be this good! The world the Clare Kae created was so detailed that I felt like I was right there with the characters. I wasn't as connected to the characters as I wish I could've been because of how much detail was put into the world. However, by the end of the book I definitely felt what the characters felt. The beginning was a little slow to me, but once Estelle went into Salem I just couldn't put the book down! At times It also felt that I was missing something from a scene, but the more the scene continued the better it got.
I wish we had more of Estelle and Rose, I just love the banter that they had (maybe more in book #2?). The connection Tor and Estelle had was just beautiful. They both needed each other more than they even realized and my heart just shattered when they were ripped from each other! AND THE TWIST!! Did not see that coming Clare! That just destroyed my already shattered heart. The second half of this book was just full of all the FEELS! I cried when she finally got back into the woods, only to be separated by Rose again. AND THE ENDING! Clare I'm gonna need book #2 real soon so I can know what happens next!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2020
💙English 💙
This book was very interesting to read. And it was so well written.
I really loved Estelle. She is a fiery character, and I love her sarcasm and sense of humor.
I really enjoyed developing your apprenticeship in the Renaissance era. In fact, I felt identified as it is a time that I would love to go and see how Estelle did it in history. I am also an animal lover 🙈 so many times I felt very identified with the protagonist's desire to save animals and those situations hurt me a lot
Thanks to bookofmatchesmedia and author Clare Kae for the ARC 💙
💙Español 💙
Este libro fue muy interesante de leer. Y estaba tan bien escrito.
Realmente amaba a Estelle. Ella es un personaje fogoso y me encanta su sarcasmo y sentido del humor.
Realmente disfruté desarrollando tu aprendizaje en la era del Renacimiento. De hecho, me sentí identificado ya que es un momento al que me encantaría ir a ver cómo lo hizo Estelle en la historia. Yo también soy amante de los animales 🙈 tantas veces me sentí muy identificado con el deseo del protagonista de salvar animales y esas situaciones me duelen mucho
.
.
Gracias a bookofmatchesmedia y a la autora Clare Kae por el ARC 💙
.
This book was very interesting to read. And it was so well written.
I really loved Estelle. She is a fiery character, and I love her sarcasm and sense of humor.
I really enjoyed developing your apprenticeship in the Renaissance era. In fact, I felt identified as it is a time that I would love to go and see how Estelle did it in history. I am also an animal lover 🙈 so many times I felt very identified with the protagonist's desire to save animals and those situations hurt me a lot
Thanks to bookofmatchesmedia and author Clare Kae for the ARC 💙
💙Español 💙
Este libro fue muy interesante de leer. Y estaba tan bien escrito.
Realmente amaba a Estelle. Ella es un personaje fogoso y me encanta su sarcasmo y sentido del humor.
Realmente disfruté desarrollando tu aprendizaje en la era del Renacimiento. De hecho, me sentí identificado ya que es un momento al que me encantaría ir a ver cómo lo hizo Estelle en la historia. Yo también soy amante de los animales 🙈 tantas veces me sentí muy identificado con el deseo del protagonista de salvar animales y esas situaciones me duelen mucho
.
.
Gracias a bookofmatchesmedia y a la autora Clare Kae por el ARC 💙
.
November 26, 2022
Please check TWs before reading the book!
This book was dark and full of fantastical elements and some beautiful world building, but it did fall a little flat for me.
From page 1 it delves into the story and action, without explanation throughout the story which kind of irked me. I felt like the a lot of context was missing and the MC Estelle was a little too content with being thrown into this new world.
Estelle is brave and feisty, but her decisions were questionable. Her personality seemed to switch and I still can't figure out if I liked her or not.
The romance was a good start. Rose was almost the perfect love interest...until he disappeared for a massive part of the book. A lot of time skips and I would have liked to read more about their developing relationship rather than to just hear about how they connected off page.
The story is fairly repetitive at beginning and the end, but the middle was great. The pacing felt a little off and I found that some parts were too action packed where others hardly had any at all.
Overall this WAS a good book and an easy and enjoyable read, however it also had a few issues.
This book was dark and full of fantastical elements and some beautiful world building, but it did fall a little flat for me.
From page 1 it delves into the story and action, without explanation throughout the story which kind of irked me. I felt like the a lot of context was missing and the MC Estelle was a little too content with being thrown into this new world.
Estelle is brave and feisty, but her decisions were questionable. Her personality seemed to switch and I still can't figure out if I liked her or not.
The romance was a good start. Rose was almost the perfect love interest...until he disappeared for a massive part of the book. A lot of time skips and I would have liked to read more about their developing relationship rather than to just hear about how they connected off page.
The story is fairly repetitive at beginning and the end, but the middle was great. The pacing felt a little off and I found that some parts were too action packed where others hardly had any at all.
Overall this WAS a good book and an easy and enjoyable read, however it also had a few issues.
September 25, 2020
Daughter of dreams and dread is the story of Estelle, who one day wakes up in a forest, in a world where magic still exists. Rose saves her life and finds her a safe place to stay. Quickly she understands that she cannot find a way to go back to her world, so she needs to adapt, and find her place here. That’s how she discovers her connection to the forest and her healing power. Honestly it’s so hard to give you an idea of what exactly this book is about because it is so much more than this.
This book is full of magic, mystery, friendship, love (but not in the overwhelming way thankfully), betrayals & surprises (I had a few “did not see that one coming” reactions), some nice fighting scenes, dark parts (not to graphic but definitely there).
My only issue was that the book was moving very fast, I do like when authors take more time to build the characters. Not to worry though, that won’t stop me from reading the next one. The book in general and the end can only leave you wanting more, you’ve been warned.
This book is full of magic, mystery, friendship, love (but not in the overwhelming way thankfully), betrayals & surprises (I had a few “did not see that one coming” reactions), some nice fighting scenes, dark parts (not to graphic but definitely there).
My only issue was that the book was moving very fast, I do like when authors take more time to build the characters. Not to worry though, that won’t stop me from reading the next one. The book in general and the end can only leave you wanting more, you’ve been warned.
November 15, 2020
4.5/5stars
I was sent this book by the author in exchange of an honest review, thank you Clare Kae.
Omg. This book.
It was a bit slow towards the beginning but once I got into it and understood what was going on, I couldn't put it down. About half way through, everything changed and it was almost a completely different story.
I have felt all the feelings and I'm not really sure what to feel now. Reading bits of this really hurt.
It's been a while since I've hated a character as much as Horen. And Taryn. I really don't know how I feel about Taryn. I can't sympathise with him at all but it hurt a lot when he was better when Nora was there but then went even worse completely. I struggled with some of the abuse and rape scenes. I just wanted her back with Tor.
And Tor!!! He was a wonderful character and I was so sad there wasn't more of him!
I would like to know more about Estelle as a character, as in how she got there and why, in the next book. But after that ending, need the sequel now!
A great start to a series!
I was sent this book by the author in exchange of an honest review, thank you Clare Kae.
Omg. This book.
It was a bit slow towards the beginning but once I got into it and understood what was going on, I couldn't put it down. About half way through, everything changed and it was almost a completely different story.
I have felt all the feelings and I'm not really sure what to feel now. Reading bits of this really hurt.
It's been a while since I've hated a character as much as Horen. And Taryn. I really don't know how I feel about Taryn. I can't sympathise with him at all but it hurt a lot when he was better when Nora was there but then went even worse completely. I struggled with some of the abuse and rape scenes. I just wanted her back with Tor.
And Tor!!! He was a wonderful character and I was so sad there wasn't more of him!
I would like to know more about Estelle as a character, as in how she got there and why, in the next book. But after that ending, need the sequel now!
A great start to a series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2020
It was so good and I just need more of it right now! The characters and the story itself is so compelling. There's a lot of secrets and mystery surrounding the characters and you have no choice, but to keep reading to find out what it is their hiding. I have a lot of book boyfriends, but this is honestly the first book where I've had a book dad. I read this book wishing I could have a dad like him.
This book broke my heart a few times, but kept remaking it again. This book has romance, but it doesn't distract from the rest of the story, nor does it feel lacking. It's also fantasy without the cliché and overused storylines we see so often of the genre.
There is a trigger warning for this book for some graphic violence, abuse, sexual abuse/rape (the sexual abuse and rape isn't graphic, but based on the writing you understand what is implied to have happened).
Over all, I loved it and can't wait for the next book!
This book broke my heart a few times, but kept remaking it again. This book has romance, but it doesn't distract from the rest of the story, nor does it feel lacking. It's also fantasy without the cliché and overused storylines we see so often of the genre.
There is a trigger warning for this book for some graphic violence, abuse, sexual abuse/rape (the sexual abuse and rape isn't graphic, but based on the writing you understand what is implied to have happened).
Over all, I loved it and can't wait for the next book!
September 26, 2020
This is the kind of book that used to get me in trouble in high school because I was sneak-reading it during class instead of paying attention. Clare's writing style and imagery had me captivated from page one and her characters took over after that, earning the last 6 hours of the book a shameless binge-read.
Emotionally charged, Clare's vivid descriptions and heartbreakingly beautiful characters make Daughter of Dreams and Dread one of my top favorite books. I wouldn't be surprised if I've just read the next Sarah J. Maas, just with a little less adolescence.
If you like fantasy, romance, and conflict, you will LOVE Daughter of Dreams and Dread.
***Trigger warning*** Clare does a remarkable job of illustrating the cycle of a brutally abusive relationship. This being said, it takes up a relatively small portion of the book and is vitally essential to the plot.
Not only will I be closely following this author for her sequel, but I will be re-reading this book as soon as opportunity allows.
Emotionally charged, Clare's vivid descriptions and heartbreakingly beautiful characters make Daughter of Dreams and Dread one of my top favorite books. I wouldn't be surprised if I've just read the next Sarah J. Maas, just with a little less adolescence.
If you like fantasy, romance, and conflict, you will LOVE Daughter of Dreams and Dread.
***Trigger warning*** Clare does a remarkable job of illustrating the cycle of a brutally abusive relationship. This being said, it takes up a relatively small portion of the book and is vitally essential to the plot.
Not only will I be closely following this author for her sequel, but I will be re-reading this book as soon as opportunity allows.
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