The first 15/20% of this, I was locked in. The vibes were immaculate. It had an eerie, spooky atmosphere that immediately drew me in, a plot that made me want to keep reading and endearing, interesting characters. After that point though, it did lose me a little. There's so much world-building delivered in this and not all of it is clear. A lot happens without me ever really understanding why it was happening or what the purpose of it was or where it would go. The pace slowed right down and I found myself losing interest. Also, I struggled to get invested in the romantic storyline. It's definitely a subplot, but it went from 0-100 so quickly with no real on-page substance to back it up. That being said, the last 15% definitely picked up again. There's an Inception kind of dream-within-a-dream situation that happens and more in-depth exploration of the Dream Realm which I thought was really cool.
I finished the story intrigued about where it will go in book 2.

Dream by the Shadows is a dark and eerie fantasy that I really wanted to love. Unfortunately, the writing style just wasn't for me and I couldn't stand the main character. The plot was good though and I really do wish I'd enjoyed it more - definitely one to try if you're looking for something with real atmosphere!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

5⭐

Thank you Logan Karlie, Headline Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

Beauty and the Beast meets Labyrinth in this YA romantic fantasy about a deadly dream world and the shadow-cursed girl who must venture its depths to save her family, all while she falls in love with the prince of darkness.

The way the author entertained the fates of the main characters is so interesting, one seen even partially reminded me of a scene from Howl’s Moving Castle, which is one of my favorite movies. I loved reading about the relationship between the two main characters, and trying to come to my own conclusions as to what caused such Corruption and grief in their world.

Esmer and The Shadow Bringer are very complex characters with lots and lots of layers that we as readers get to uncover as the story progresses. The most beautiful thing about these layers is that the characters uncover them at the same time as us. We get to read about how one changes his views about the other according to every small piece of information they are presented with. The slow burn here is done perfectly! Even if the characters acknowledge the physical attraction to the other, neither of them allows themselves to feel it.

The ending makes me want the next book immediately, there was so much information given in the last few chapters but it didn’t feel overwhelming or like it was too much.

I don’t even know where to begin...
Normally I’d say I devoured this book — but this time, it 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 me. I was completely enchanted, clinging to every word until I suddenly found myself staring at the word “Epilogue.”
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨… 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘮𝘦 — 𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵
We all have our cages.
For Esmer, it’s the village of Norhavellis — a place where joy and dreams have long since died, or worse, been haunted by demons.
Her sister, one of the many victims of this Corruption.
But never in her wildest dreams did Esmer imagine that her path to freedom would come through a “monster” imprisoned for 500 years, carrying darkness and sorrow in equal measure.
What begins as distrust blooms into something fragile and fated — a connection that feels written not in ink, but in starlight and by the Maker himself .
Their bond is slow, aching, and 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴.
And when it burns… oh, how it burns
If ACOTAR and One Dark Window had a love child, this would be it.
I adored the gothic vibes, the world building is deep and alive, and Esmer — brave, angry, grieving — Esmer saw the monster — not with fear, but with 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.
Because sometimes, broken souls find each other in the dark and the things we’re taught to fear are the ones that understand us best.
So yeah, my five stars were never in question (I’d give a million if I could).
Now the only thing I need to know is: WHEN DO WE GET BOOK TWO?!
P.S. Worried about a cliffhanger? Don’t be — it’ll leave you craving more, not crushed!

dream by the shadows by logan karlie had a really promising concept - a haunting dream realm, mysterious powers, and a girl pulled between two worlds - but sadly, the execution didn’t live up to the idea for me

the world building was definitely one of the strongest aspects, but it also felt like the biggest hurdle. there was so much detail and lore packed in, especially in the first half, that it became overwhelming. it slowed the pacing to a crawl and made it hard to feel grounded in the story. instead of being swept away by the magic of noctis, i often found myself confused or having to reread passages to keep up

i also struggled to connect with the characters. esmer had the potential to be a compelling protagonist, but her internal voice didn’t quite resonate with me. i wanted to feel her fear, her wonder, her longing - but a lot of her emotional moments felt surface-level or rushed. the shadow bringer had intriguing layers, but the third-person chapters made it harder to feel close to him, and the switch between perspectives disrupted the flow. their romance was clearly meant to be a slow burn, but the chemistry didn’t quite hit. it felt more like i was told they had a connection rather than shown it through meaningful development

overall, this book had some really cool ideas and an impressive imagination behind it, but it didn’t fully land for me. i wanted to love it more than i did- i think with a tighter focus on character development and emotional payoff, the next book could be much stronger

Hey Bookwyrms👋🏻

So I heard about this from a bookstagram friend (@nabzrealbooktalk 👀) and I immediately requested an E-ARC😂 (thank you @netgalley and @headlinebooks 🥰) and I can say with absolute certainty that it did not disappoint!😏

I loved every single second of this book and it definitely gave me Labyrinth vibes which was one of my favourite films growing up!!😍

I loved the plot, the magic system and above all I ADORE Esmer and Eberus😍🖤 they’re two characters that go through and have gone through so much and, despite this, they keep pushing forward🫶🏻 their chemistry was on point and felt natural for their characters🙌🏻 Eberus is, dare I say it, DREAMY😍 (I’ll see myself out…)

I can’t wait for this to be out and have already pre-ordered a copy🤭 @authorlogankarlie thank you for brining Dream by the Shadows into the world 🫶🏻 I cannot wait to see where Esmer and Eberus go next and the battles they will face!👀😍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had originally read the indie pub version of this book, and the new content does not disappoint!! my favourite parts that I loved was the more detail added on the worlds mythology, and more moments between the FMC Esmer and her sister Eden! Specifically the two sisters reading stories about the Weavers with their brother Elliot and the apple cider they would drink together.

the strawberry scene was just as fun as the first time I had read it and i’m so so excited for when Dream by the Shadows releases in august!!

i loved this so goddamn much!!! such a fun debut fantasy novel and super sexy!!!! definitely gonna need more!!!!

This was sold as villain gets the girl romantasy and it absolutely isn't. There is very very little romance and the tiny bit that's there is not very believable, they have no chemistry whatsoever. There wasn't even really a plot just endless world building that was complicated for no reason and had holes. Feels like the author just saw what was popular and used that to market the book without delivering on any of it

The plotline of this book has a good layout and therefore a lot of potential but unfortunately the writing just couldn't capture my attention.

In the Kingdom of Noctis, dreams are lethal, spreading a soul-stealing curse known as Corruption. The only safeguard is an expensive elixir taken before sleep, which offers no cure for those already afflicted. Esmer Havenfall dreams of escaping her mundane village life, but when her sister dies from Corruption and her parents are accused of a grave crime, she's thrust into the perilous Dream Realm. There, she discovers she may share the terrifying powers of the Shadow Bringer, who resides in a foreboding castle. Together, Esmer and the Shadow Bringer must fight to save their kingdom and their souls, racing against time as more dreamers fall victim to Corruption. Failure means being forever lost to the Dream Realm.

Good premise. I wasn't too keen on the writing style. Still a good book though.

Dream by the Shadows follows Esmer who lives in a curse ridden world where dreams could be your downfall. After the curse spreads in her town, Esmer must do what it takes to save her brother and ultimately herself.

What I liked about this book was that it was incredibly atmospheric and had an interesting plot. I do feel like the world building could be expanded upon a little, and sometimes the writing felt a little choppy. However, overall I thought it was quite an enjoyable read. I liked the relationship between the two main characters and hope that it’s expanded on further in the next book.

This book had so much potential. The magic system was interesting, the shadows and the dreams. This book promises a gothic fantasy filled with magic and a slow burn romance. For fans of Beauty and the Beast and Labyrinth, this book sounded perfect for me. However, I found it rather boring and a slog to read.
The premise sounded fantastic, but unfortunately the execution wasn’t what I wanted out of the book.

DNF @ 54%

I was loving this book so much when I started it. The world building was a lot, as it switches between reality and a dream state but it’s fairly easy to follow along.

Once I hit the 54% mark I’ve found it difficult to continue- I feel like a lot is happening without anything actually happening…or being explained well enough to even get an idea. While the building is heavy throughout, I actually have no idea about anything that is going on

This book has so much potential but unfortunately not something for me to continue.

In the land of Noctis, to dream is to risk being corrupted by the demons of the dream realm.

Esmer finds herself caught in the events that unfold in her village as corruption takes over, and caught in the dream realm at the mercy of the shadow bringer, keeper of demons. Through layers of dreams and reality, Esmer must do all she can to save her brother, stop the spread of corruption, and escape the shadow bringer's castle.

Set within the two worlds, of dreams and reality, both are visceral in their details and haunting. The un-realities of dreams and nightmares are captured in a way that's spellbinding.

I really enjoyed this story, how it explored the vulnerabilities of the characters through their dreams and how the shadow bringer's history unfolded.

Dream by the Shadows is a bewitching gothic fantasy, by Logan Karlie. An atmospheric tale set in the Kingdom of Noctis, a land plagued by a dream-induced curse known as Corruption. The story follows Esmer Havenfall, a young woman whose life takes a dark turn when her sister succumbs to the curse and her family is accused of a heinous crime.

Esmer's journey into the Dream Realm, ruled by the enigmatic Shadow Bringer, is both haunting and mesmerising. The narrative is steeped in vivid imagery, with the Dream Realm coming alive as a place of terror and wonder. Esmer and the Shadow Bringers romance is well written, emotive and allows the readers to share in their depth of emotion for each other.

Logan Karlie's prose is lush and evocative, drawing readers into a world where magic and shadows intertwine. The first half of the story is more character focused, following Esmer as she navigates the new world she finds herself in, the latter half has a whirlwind of action and revelations.

The world building has been done in a way that allows the readers to be fully immersed whilst also leaving room for further exploration in the sequel.

Dream by the Shadows is a enjoyable dark fantasy and gothic romance. Themes of love, sacrifice and the battle against inner darkness resonate deeply, making it a memorable start to the Shadow Weavers Duology.

I wanted to love it, I really did. It just fell a bit short unfortunately.

Set in a kingdom where dreaming leaves you Corrupt and taken over by a demon, FMC gets trapped in dream land with MMC. I really struggled with understanding what was a dream and what was awake at the beginning (it was more of a mix of both at the start, and ended up all dream, or dream on dream towards the end). I feel like italics or bold or just something to differentiate would have helped, because I honestly didn’t understand what was happening in the first half.

There is a lot of lore and world building. Like my kindle was marked at 70% and there was still lore unfolding. A duology doesn’t need that much lore IMO, it needed to be trimmed down a bit. The writing style was a bit confusing, so I do genuinely think that with more editing the world building could have been a lot shorter yet made more sense than it actually did.

It’s also a massive slow burn. I don’t think they kiss until around the 80% mark? Which I didn’t mind, but from the looks of it it’s being pushed as a romantasy so 80% in book one of a duology feels a bit late?

That being said, I did enjoy it. The concept of the dream world and dreams on dreams was good, the plot did pick up right at the very end, and I’m interested in how it resolves itself. I will read the second one when it comes out - hoping that since there’s been so much lore in this one that the next one will be quite plot driven!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for a copy of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dream by the shadows
By Logan Karlie

-Slow burn
-Dark Romantasy
-Shadow daddy
-Dream and shadow magic

I have to be honest, this book was well written and the story and characters were great… but sadly it wasn’t for me.
A little confusing at times but in all a story I would recommend to lovers of darker/a little gothic fantasy.

“I fell. Wildly. Relentlessly. My hands clenched around wet, slimy things. Cold mud. Decaying leaves. I was a doll, a stone—useless, useless—slamming into branches and the sharp underside of tree roots.”

Dream by the Shadows is the first volume in the Shadow Weaver Duology and takes the reader on an immersive journey through a dark, gothic world full of magic and mystery. Although the story took a while to get going, I was soon fully immersed in the unique setting Logan Karlie has created.

The world and story of this book is unique and refreshing and something I am dying to delve into. The whole gothic world is set up and all the layers the characters have to offer.

Mythology, monsters, castles, dreams and curses! This book has it all. After all, what is reality? And when are you stuck in a dream that seems to become a nightmare?

The romance in this book is a side plot and hugely slow burn! I am a huge fan of this myself and really enjoyed it due to the fact that this is sometimes harder to find among all the fierce romantic fantasy books.

This is an ARC ebook thanks to netgalley!

And honestly, I can’t wait for book 2 now.

4.5⭐

Once I started I couldn’t put this book down, everything was written beautifully.

From the plot to the beautifully gothic setting, to the way the demons were written with such descriptive yet terrifying ways and an enemies to lovers storyline that was done so well. The uniqueness of this book is what pulled me in a setting based in a dream realm, the author takes you on a journey in a writing style that isn’t done enough, the world building was perfect and full of every little detail that wasn’t lacking at all.

I loved Esmer as the fmc and especially liked how it felt you were being taken along with her as she navigated her way through her dream journey. A villain in the shadow bringer that was written just right and you felt everything that he was going through and I loved how we learnt things along the way with the characters.

A truly beautifully written gothic book and I cannot wait to read the second one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.