DREAM BY THE SHADOWS

In this duology opener, darkness is “devouring dreamers’ souls” in the Kingdom of Noctis and one 18-year-old is trying to save them all.

Esmer Havenfall’s family have always been Absolvers—chosen by the Light Bringer to distribute a life-saving elixir and protect their town from dreaming, a state that leaves people vulnerable to demons. But now, more people are being taken. After losing her parents and sister, Esmer is imprisoned for her ability to wield shadows, the force controlled by the Shadow Bringer and the source of Corruption. Esmer makes a pact with the Light Bringer to keep the Shadow Bringer’s mortal body sealed in his tomb; she believes she’s fighting for good. But as she enters the Dream Realm alongside the Shadow Bringer, she begins to question the stories she’s always believed. Through their journey, Esmer realizes that history changes depending on who tells it—and that good and evil may not be so easily defined. What begins as a mission to end Corruption transforms into a deeper quest for truth and identity, and Esmer and the Shadow Bringer realize their bond runs deeper than either of them imagined. Karlie’s debut, which was originally self-published in 2023, is a bloody and terrifying gothic fantasy. The complex worldbuilding and numerous cast members can be hard to track, although both are powerfully developed. The main characters are cued white.

Dark, exciting, and filled with dread.