Dreams Lie Beneath by Rebecca Ross is a captivating standalone YA fantasy that weaves a tale of magic, vengeance, and dreams. Set in the fictional realm of Azenor, where a curse transforms dreams into tangible nightmares every new moon, the story follows Clementine “Clem” Madigan, a determined and fiery young magician with a personal vendetta driving her forward. What unfolds is a tale of revenge, resilience, and unexpected alliances, set against a unique magic system and a creepy world where nightmares are all too real.
In Azenor, dream wardens—magicians tasked with protecting their towns from the nightmares that spill into reality—are both revered and burdened by their duty. Clem, trained by her father, the dream warden of Hereswith, is poised to inherit his role until a shocking betrayal upends her life. A rival family, the Vesper brothers—Phelan and Lennox—challenge her father for his position, exploiting a loophole in the town’s laws. When the dust settles, Clem’s father loses everything, and she’s left burning with a desire for retribution.
Months later, disguised after giving up part of her heart, and armed with her magical prowess, Clem returns to Hereswith under the pretense of assisting Phelan, now the town’s warden, as he struggles to contain the escalating nightmare threat. Her plan? Sabotage him and reclaim what’s hers. But as secrets unravel and the curse’s origins come to light, Clem’s mission becomes far more complicated—and personal—than she ever anticipated. The concept of nightmares materializing—whether as monstrous creatures, haunting figures, or twisted landscapes—is vividly realized, with each new moon bringing a fresh wave of tension.
The magic system, tied to dream manipulation and combat, is a standout feature. Wardens use enchanted tools and spells to enter and defeat these dreamscapes, and Ross describes these battles with cinematic flair, striking a balance between visceral action and emotional stakes. Clem’s skill as a magician, honed through years of training, makes her a compelling protagonist—flawed yet fiercely capable, her anger tempered by moments of vulnerability. Clementine herself is the heart of the story, a character who embodies both strength and complexity.
Her rage at the Vespers is palpable, driving her to cunning and morally gray decisions that keep readers questioning her path. Yet, her interactions with Phelan, the kindest and most conflicted of the brothers, add depth to her arc. Their relationship evolves from wary antagonism to a slow-burn romance that feels earned rather than forced, grounded in mutual respect and shared burdens. Phelan, with his quiet intensity and guilt over his family’s actions, serves as an effective foil to Clem’s boldness, though his brother Lennox remains a more one-dimensional antagonist, his cruelty overshadowing any nuance.
The supporting cast, including Clem’s father and the spectral figure of Mazarine—a mysterious woman tied to the curse’s history—enriches the narrative. Mazarine’s backstory, revealed late in the book, ties the plot together thematically, exploring grief, sacrifice, and the consequences of unchecked power. As the stakes rise and the curse’s origins are unveiled, Clem must make a choice of who to trust. After all, her father had lied to her for years, her mother had kept the secret, and she had only had Phelan to support her. Now, she had to be the one to find a way to break a centuries-old curse before the wrong person ruined everything.
A pretty fitting ending considering everything that Clem goes through in this book.
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