A review by thebalancedbookshelf
Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross

adventurous inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Dreams Lie Beneath is an intricate story about how magic and dreams intertwine. The story follows Clem and her search for revenge after her and her father are displaced from their job and home. 

I loved this book and could not put it down. The storyline and magical system is so refreshing. I loved the main character and easily understood her motives. Every part of this book was written well and I never had a moment of displeasure in what was happening or where the story was going. 

The magic in the book was one of my favorite parts. I liked that there was different kinds of magic and not everyone knew each aspect. I also liked that you could be taught and it wasn’t something you inherently had. The most unique part to me was how art was mixed in and wish we could have seen more of that throughout the book. I also found it really interesting being able to see other peoples dreams and nightmares and how they manifested into the world every month. 

I loved the main character Clem and her determination to avenge her family. While initially seeking revenge she falls into something much bigger that pales in comparison to her initial plans. I liked how her resolution with Phelan came to be because they both realize how small in comparison her betrayal really was. You can tell that Clem grows throughout this novel since she really cares for people and while her plan might have been rash and naive you can tell she learns from that. Phelan was a great characters as well and I liked their dynamic together. 

The wraiths were such interesting characters to me and they hid their identities well. I was not expecting the twist in this book about Clems father and his brother. I loved how we were fed stories from the mountain and it turned out to be from the original players. I also liked how the countess created and profited off of a card game based off of their trials. I do wish we got a little more insight into their lives and motives before the curse and what lead to their downfall. I also would have loved to learn more about Mazarines role in the court before and how she came to be trapped. 

My only complaint is that some characters were a little too in the background and didn’t add much to the story. Clems mom has no purpose and honestly could have been omitted. She doesn’t take an active role in their parenting and we don’t even see her use her magic. She really only was there to serve as a place for them to stay. As for Lennox I think he could have been a bit more “bad”. As the story goes we barely get any interactions with him and I would have liked for him to take on more of a villain role. Olivette and Nura were also two characters who I could have had more backstory and interactions with. 

This is one of those books that make you appreciate the fantasy genre. It has a little bit of everything and that makes it impossible to put down. The writing, magic, story and characters are all equally enchanting. I definitely recommend this book to any fantasy lover!