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A Theory of Dreaming

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A Theory of Dreaming

By: Ava Reid
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld, Gary Furlong
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

As the aftermath of their first discovery pulls Effy and Preston on a final adventure and brings their haunting love story to its end in this stunning sequel and final book in the duology.

RETURN TO THE DREAMLIKE WORLD OF THE INSTANTLY BESTSELLING DARK ACADEMIA FANTASY A STUDY IN DROWNING
All stories come to an end.

Effy learned that when she defeated the Fairy King. Even though she may never know exactly what happened at Hiraeth, she is free of her nightmares and is able to pen a thesis with Preston on the beloved national fairytale Angharad. She has finally earned a spot at the literature college, making her the first woman in history to enroll.

But some dreams are dangerous, especially when they come true. The entire university - and soon the entire nation - is waiting for her to fail. With the Fairy King defeated and Myrddin's legacy exposed, Effy can no longer escape into fantasy. Who is she without her stories?

With Effy under threat, Preston is surprised to discover a rage simmering inside him, ringing in his ears like bells. He begins to dream of a palace under the sea, a world where he is king - visions that start to follow him even in waking.

As the war between Llyr and Argant explodes, Effy and Preston find themselves caught in the crossfire: Effy losing her dreams and Preston losing himself in his.

Are dreams ever truly just dreams?
PRAISE FOR A STUDY IN DROWNING

'A love letter to stories - and to everyone silenced of forgotten in their retelling.' ALLISON SAFT

'As merciless as a rising tide and as beguiling as a fairy's bargain.' MELISSA ALBERT

'A spell-binding mix of magic, myth and mystery.' RORY POWER

'Darkly romantic and unsettlingly eerie' ERIN. A CRAIG

'Lyrical, incisive, and tragically beautiful, this book will haunt your dreams.' VAISHNAVI PATEL

'Reid is a singular, extraordinary talent.' SASHA PEYTON-SMITH

'I could read this book again and again - absolute perfection.' COURTNEY GOULD

'Incandescent, tender, and fierce. This is a story that lingers, long after the last word.' REBECCA ROSS

© Ava Reid 2025 (P) Harper Collins Publishers 2025

 Action & Adventure Cosy Fantasy Historical Mystery Dream Royalty

Critic Reviews

PRAISE FOR THE DUOLOGY
An academic treat, gowned in gothic darkness
This is one of those books that makes you remember why we read in the first place. A Study in Drowning takes dark academia to magical new heights. Reid is a singular, extraordinary talent. (Sasha Peyton Smith, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rose Bargian)
Rarely before has a sequel ever felt so entirely necessary . . . A true dark academia fairy tale, combining magic, mystery and mythology with literature, politics and intertextuality to craft a haunting story of authorship, identity and love.
A deftly woven mystery, brimming with lyrical writing and compelling characters who will steal your heart. (Rebecca Ross, bestselling author of Divine Rivals)
We've been counting down the days ever since until we can find ourselves reunited with Effy and Preston
A love letter to stories – and to everyone silenced or forgotten in their retelling. (Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic)
Achingly atmospheric and beautifully sharp, A Study in Drowning will draw you in from the first page. (Rory Power, New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls)
Spellibinding . . . gothic fae lore meets dark academia
Lyrical, moving, and sensitive, A Study in Drowning is a magically romantic tale, filled with writing that will sweep you into a whimsical and gothic world. I’ll recommend this beautiful and thoughtful book over and over again. (Isabel Ibañez, author of)
All stars
Most relevant
This is a beautifully written book, Ava Reid is a wonderful writer. I did find book two much slower and more difficult to get into than the first. It lost a lot of that creepy vibe that I loved about book one. A Study in Drowning is one of my top reads and I really wanted to love A Theory in Dreaming just as much, it didn’t quite reach ASID level for me but I did like it. Ava writes grief and despair so convincingly and I feel like her language and description really carried this story. I am so happy to have just been given the opportunity to be pulled back into the world of Effy and Preston! I love that Ava continued their story and hope she’ll one day add another! Anything she writes about these two I will read! I also did really enjoy the side characters of this book. Amazing narration yet again, love these two!! They were perfect!

Beautifully written

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This was just as good as a study in drowning. I absolutely loved it. The narrators did a fantastic job as well

Amazing

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