Drown Me With Dreams: the darkly enchanting young adult fantasy

By Author / Illustrator

Gabi Burton

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Hodderscape

ISBN

9781399718462

Format

Hardback

Published

20-08-2024

Synopsis

Hearts break. Kingdoms shatter.... In the second book in this dark and seductive YA fantasy duology, which began with Sing Me to Sleep, a siren must decide if saving her kingdom is worth betraying the boy she loves.

Saoirse Sorkova is on the run. Accused of several murders, her siren identity compromised, even the newly crowned King Hayes can't protect her if she's caught. The only way to save her life is to send her on a dangerous mission across the magical barrier that surrounds the kingdom.

Forced to travel with Carrick - once her best friend, now her greatest betrayer - she begins to unravel multiple plots that threaten the safety of her family, the livelihood of the entire kingdom, and her future with Hayes. And the more time she spends with Carrick, the harder it is to keep hating him . . . Soon, Saoirse is forced to question: what if Hayes isn't the right ruler for the kingdom? And if he's not, is she willing to betray her king - and her heart?

Featuring an all Black and Brown cast, a forbidden romance, and a compulsively dark plot full of twists, this thrilling YA fantasy series is perfect for fans of A Song Below Water and To Kill a Kingdom.

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Reviews

Drown me with Dreams is the concluding book to the dark and seductive Sing Me to Sleep. With the characters more fleshed out and a plot full of dramatic twists and turns, you are in for a rollercoaster journey from the very first page until the last…

Saoirse has been set up, accused of murder. Her only option to save her own life and her family is to go on a mission; to pass the magical barrier that surrounds Keirdre. However, she will not go alone; she is forced to travel alongside Carrick - once her best friend and now her betrayer. Will she ever be able to trust him again? Will Hayes be heartbroken when he finds out that she has also betrayed him? Is Saoirse really the only siren left in her world?

The reader gets to follow Saoirse on her journey that is full of deceit and deception as she attempts to create a safe place for her family. On this journey we see a non-Disney side of sirens (no little mermaid here!) as she is a dark and dangerous being who will do anything to protect those she loves and shows no regrets. We feel for her as she struggles with her romantic feelings for Hayes and the betrayal from Carrick. I also enjoyed the additional mythical characters from Alkara, the magical world she crosses into, who live alongside humans quite peacefully.

Drown me with Dreams contains an all-black cast, magical beings, forbidden romance and a compulsive dark plot that is perfect for 14+ readers. I highly recommend this duology, you will not be disappointed as the author has created a world that you will not want to leave.

432 pages / Reviewed by Linda Brown, school librarian