Like many, I discovered Rebecca Ross through her bestseller Divine Rivals — romantasy at its best! Since then, I’ve read some of her other work. Dreams Lie Beneath (2022) was my most recent pick.
A Summary
Dreams Lie Beneath explores the magic and power of dreams. The world of Azenor is cursed by nightmares that come to life. Magicians act as wardens to protect the people. Clementine Madigan works alongside her father as a warden of their small town. But when two magicians challenge her, she is drawn into an ancient conflict.
What I Liked about this Romantasy
- Original Magic Concept: I loved the magic of dreams and nightmares and found it unique and intriguing. I liked the atmosphere of the book and its setting.
- Beautiful Writing: Ross is a talented writer, and her descriptions and dialogue between characters always making for a well-written book.
Why I was Disappointed
Where Divine Rivals thrived in originality, prose, chemistry, and plot, this romantasy fell short for me in several ways.
- Unlikable Characters: None out of the cast of characters in Dreams Lie Beneath stood out to me as original or layered. The main character, Clem, was intended to be strong and bold, but I found her lack of empathy and kindness to be a turn off. Phelan, the love interest, was predictable.
- Poor Worldbuilding: Interesting as the concept was, the execution was mediocre, and I was left with more questions than answers. Details were dropped in with no (or little) explanation or resolution, leaving me perplexed.
- Lackluster Ending: The book changed direction in the last 100 pages or so, and it seemed like a stark contrast from what I had been reading. But, it resolved a bit too quickly and neatly for my taste. The ending felt abrupt and somewhat unsatisfactory for the story.
Is Dreams Lie Beneath for You?
If you like:
- Clean YA Romantasy
- No swearing
- No explicit sexual content
- Enemies-to-Lovers
- Strong Heroine
- Misunderstood Hero
- Atmospheric Fantasy based on Dreams and Nightmares
Then Dreams Lie Beneath should be added to your TBR list!
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this YA romantasy as a light, easy read. But I was left wanting more, especially compared to Divine Rivals. If you’re a Rebecca Ross fan or you enjoy clean romantasy, definitely give Dreams Lie Beneath a try to see if it’s up your alley!
Content Rating: Mild
slow-burn romance, some intense sequences
Copyright Rebecca Ross and Quill Tree Books. Image from Amazon.