Blog Tour Book Review: Dream by the Shadows by Logan Karlie

About Dream By the Shadows:

Author: Logan Karlie

Series: The Shadow Weavers Duology

Page Length: 352

Pub. Date: Aug. 12, 2025

Synopsis: For fans of One Dark Window and Belladonna comes a darkly beautiful Gothic fantasy about a soul-stealing dream curse, a villain who fights for redemption, and a romance carved from the darkest of shadows.

In the Kingdom of Noctis, dreams are deadly and darkness reigns.

For nineteen-year-old Esmer Havenfall, life is nothing but a series of loss and misfortune at the hands of the wicked Shadow Bringer, a cruel creature who haunts dreams and corrupts souls:

1) Her sister is dead.
2) Her future is bleak and without prospects.
3) Her village is tormented by demons that prey on dreams — and so is she.

To make matters worse, Esmer is unexpectedly accused of betraying her kingdom and promptly banished to the Shadow Bringer’s monster-infested castle. While there, Esmer must face both her inner darkness and the villain she hates to ensure her own survival. Even more vexing is the fact that his powers speak to something within her — and she can wield them, too.

But as her initial hatred for the Shadow Bringer melts into something more passionate, drawing her closer to truths she never thought possible, Esmer realizes they might be the only ones left who stand a chance at conquering the evil plaguing their kingdom. Unfortunately, time is running out — even as they traverse a precarious dreamscape and outwit the demons that haunt it, rushing to unravel a centuries-old curse, more dreamers are falling prey to corruption and dying.

If they succeed, Esmer and the Shadow Bringer will rewrite history and forge a new future for their kingdom. But if they fail, they’ll be lost to the Dream Realm forever.

Be careful what you dream of . . .

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Dream by the Shadows intrigued me with its premise of dreams being a dangerous place that can corrupt you. When I heard it described as Beauty and the Beast meets Labyrinth for readers who liked Belladonna and One Dark Window, I couldn’t wait to dive in. I adored Belladonna and One Dark Window, and Beauty and the Beast is my favorite fairy tale, so I had high hopes for this read.

Esmer’s story is captivating and a bit heart-breaking. Grieving the loss of her sister, Esmer is trying to hold her family together, protect her brother, and help other townspeople while being pulled deeper into this dangerous, dream-filled world. She was an interesting protagonist, and I especially loved her relationship with her brother. Considering all that she lost, her sibling relationship felt even more significant, and it added some positivity and hope to the darker, surreal elements in the story.

The Shadow Bringer was intriguing as well, with a complicated past and a mix of danger, mystery, and vulnerability that made me want to know more about him, his connection to Esmer, and his role in many of the things that happened to her family and others.

The world of Noctis is dark and bleak, with people drinking an elixir every night to keep from dreaming and the mysterious Shadow Bringer ruling the Dream Realm. Becoming a victim of dreams causes people to change, and there’s a constant fear of being corrupted and killed for it. It’s a dangerous world, as Esmer knows firsthand, but it’s also enticing, especially for Esmer. I could easily understand why some characters risked it.

The dream sequences often blurred past and present, which was sometimes a bit confusing, and I never completely understood the dream magic. I have a feeling this will be fleshed out more in future books, as will some of the relationships and the romance.

Overall, I thought this was a good YA fantasy. I liked the characters, plot, and romance, and the ending was unexpected. I’m definitely invested enough to see what happens next.

“Knowing the dark doesn’t make you a monster. It’s what you do in the darkness—and how you rise to overcome it—that matters.”

“Even beauty can be found in the darkness.”

Logan Karlie is an author of surreal and imaginative young adult fantasy books with gothic themes.

Logan grew up in a rural Midwest town in the United States. She studied literature and creative writing at the University of Arkansas, where she completed an MA in English Literature.

Logan loves writing stories for the upper-YA / adult crossover space, and she enjoys books brimming with gothic themes, atmospheric worlds, and characters who fight to overcome the darkness that haunts them.

She currently lives in Illinois with her family, where she taught high school English, and when she’s not writing, she’s likely perusing antique stores, playing fantasy video games, or watching the Phantom of the Opera for the hundredth time.

She invites you to visit her online @authorlogankarlie (Instagram) and @authorlogankarlie (TikTok).

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