Of Dreams and Demons by Willow Hadley
 

Ma'am… that ending? Are you kidding me right now?!

I swear, Willow Hadley looked me dead in the eye and said, “You thought you were getting answers? That’s cute.” Because wow. That ending was mean.

Now, let’s talk about the start. The first 15% is basically a retelling of book one’s events, but through different POVs. It does add context and insight, sure, but it dragged just a smidge too long for my liking. I found myself itching to jump back into fresh content rather than marinate in an extended recap.

That said, getting to see what was happening in the other realm during book one’s timeline was still super interesting. It added some really solid depth to the world and answered a few lingering questions. But if I’m being honest, book two definitely had weaker bones than book one. It’s not bad, not at all, but there’s something about getting dropped into mostly new characters when you’re still emotionally attached to your favorites from book one. It takes a minute to care again.

Also… Alistair. Good heavens. This man was working my last nerve. I get his role, but wow, was he a lot. Not in the fun way. In the “can you not?” way.

Despite all that, I really did still love it. The stakes are a little higher, the tone is a little heavier, and the cozy slice-of-life feel is shifting as we approach the crossover, but it works. The story is expanding, the world is evolving, and I’m absolutely here for it.

I may have a few minor gripes, but the magic is still there.