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Court of Dreams #1
Thief of Dreams
Twenty brides. One prince. Who will survive when the competition turns deadly?
When Prince Keir of the Court of Dreams sends out a summons in search of a bride, the Wraith King sees a chance to steal the powerful Dragon's Heart. He sends his best thief, Zemira Az Ghul, to penetrate the court as one of the potential brides.
All Zemira wants is freedom from the chains that bind her to the king, and if she finds the relic she'll have it. But the Court of Dreams is more dangerous than she ever expected, and Zemira must soon choose between her freedom—and her heart.
Join USA Today bestselling author, Bec McMaster, on a thrilling heist, featuring a heroine determined to escape her evil father, and the wicked prince she must deceive to do so. Download this epic fantasy filled with magic and breathtaking romance today!
When Prince Keir of the Court of Dreams sends out a summons in search of a bride, the Wraith King sees a chance to steal the powerful Dragon's Heart. He sends his best thief, Zemira Az Ghul, to penetrate the court as one of the potential brides.
All Zemira wants is freedom from the chains that bind her to the king, and if she finds the relic she'll have it. But the Court of Dreams is more dangerous than she ever expected, and Zemira must soon choose between her freedom—and her heart.
Join USA Today bestselling author, Bec McMaster, on a thrilling heist, featuring a heroine determined to escape her evil father, and the wicked prince she must deceive to do so. Download this epic fantasy filled with magic and breathtaking romance today!
110 pages, ebook
First published February 11, 2020
About the author
Bec McMaster
64 books3,443 followersKidnapped by a dread pirate when she was a child, USA Today Bestselling Author Bec McMaster was raised on myth and legend, and offered her younger siblings to the goblin king many a time. Unfortunately, he did not accept.
Now she writes epic fantasy romance with a dark and sexy twist, which is almost as much fun. She has a secret weakness for villainous heroes, wicked fae princes and dangerous vampires, though in all her daydreams, she’s the one rescuing them.
Bec lives happily-ever-after with her very own hero and princess-in-training in the wilds of Australia, where she can often be found drinking tea or plotting her next travel adventure.
Escape the ordinary at www.becmcmaster.com
Join Bec's mailing list at http://eepurl.com/F_LkD for all the latest news on releases, exclusive excerpts, cover reveals, and epilogues.
Newest Release: CROWN OF DARKNESS (Available now)
Next release: MASTER OF STORMS (Legends of the Storm #5--coming January, 2021)
Where to start?
If you want deliciously dark fae princes, then try Dark Court Rising or Court of Dreams.
For sexy dragon shifters, see Legends of the Storm.
Sorcery and magic?
Try the Dark Arts series.
Kick-bustle ladies-saving-the-day steampunk romance?
Then check out London Steampunk and the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series.
For rocket-fuelled post-apocalyptic romance with a twist on the werewolf theme, then read the Burned Lands.
Now she writes epic fantasy romance with a dark and sexy twist, which is almost as much fun. She has a secret weakness for villainous heroes, wicked fae princes and dangerous vampires, though in all her daydreams, she’s the one rescuing them.
Bec lives happily-ever-after with her very own hero and princess-in-training in the wilds of Australia, where she can often be found drinking tea or plotting her next travel adventure.
Escape the ordinary at www.becmcmaster.com
Join Bec's mailing list at http://eepurl.com/F_LkD for all the latest news on releases, exclusive excerpts, cover reveals, and epilogues.
Newest Release: CROWN OF DARKNESS (Available now)
Next release: MASTER OF STORMS (Legends of the Storm #5--coming January, 2021)
Where to start?
If you want deliciously dark fae princes, then try Dark Court Rising or Court of Dreams.
For sexy dragon shifters, see Legends of the Storm.
Sorcery and magic?
Try the Dark Arts series.
Kick-bustle ladies-saving-the-day steampunk romance?
Then check out London Steampunk and the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series.
For rocket-fuelled post-apocalyptic romance with a twist on the werewolf theme, then read the Burned Lands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
June 27, 2022
Pretty cool premise. 🗡
It has definitely spiked my interest.
The fantasy part was great. Some of the powers even greater.
The love part has made me intrigued, but I have yet to be completely “swallowed” by it. It seemed a little aloof. Not as powerful a connection as I usually get from McMaster, but it’s a novella, and we got a lot of information and a general idea of the world building, so it not like we got so many pages to work with. And the stuff we did get was awesome & highly devolved.
I am happy with it, and look forward to read the rest of the series 👏👏
Read: 01/04/2021
1st rating: 3 stars
Genre/tropes: Fantasy/romance/magic/Fae
Cover: 3.5 stars
POV’s: Single -1st person (Zemira)
Will I recommend: Yes🔆
It has definitely spiked my interest.
The fantasy part was great. Some of the powers even greater.
The love part has made me intrigued, but I have yet to be completely “swallowed” by it. It seemed a little aloof. Not as powerful a connection as I usually get from McMaster, but it’s a novella, and we got a lot of information and a general idea of the world building, so it not like we got so many pages to work with. And the stuff we did get was awesome & highly devolved.
I am happy with it, and look forward to read the rest of the series 👏👏
Read: 01/04/2021
1st rating: 3 stars
Genre/tropes: Fantasy/romance/magic/Fae
Cover: 3.5 stars
POV’s: Single -1st person (Zemira)
Will I recommend: Yes🔆
July 1, 2020
I've given this a B- at AAR, 3.5 stars rounded up.
Thief of Dreams, book one in Bec McMasters Court of Dreams series originally appeared in the Of Thrones and Crownsanthology in 2019 and was republished separately earlier this year. It’s novella length and sets up the storyline that will (I suspect) run throughout what I believe is going to be a trilogy, so while Thief of Dreams does contain a complete story, it also ends with something of a cliffhanger, and serves as an introduction to the overarching plot. The author sets up the main romantic pairing – and if the chemistry hinted at here is continued, then I can’t wait for the rest! – and while I was a bit disappointed things didn’t progress very far on that front, I was also pleased that the author wisely decided there wasn’t time for bedroom scenes or an HEA in the 126 pages that comprise this instalment.
As was the case with the author’s recent Promise of Darkness, I found the first person, present tense narration off-putting. I understand why first person is necessary in a story like this – it seems to be the preferred style for YA and many contemporary romances – I just don’t care for it, and it took me a while to get used to it. Actually, it took me longer than it should have done to read 126 pages, and that was partly because of my dislike of this narrative style (and partly because I was listening to an amazing audiobook and didn’t want to stop!)
Once I got back to Thief of Dreams, however, I found it bears all the hallmarks of a Bec McMaster read; a kick-ass heroine, a dangerous, sexy hero and extensive worldbuilding done in a way that flows naturally and never feels like an info-dump; there was (I think) one point at which I felt I was reading a list rather than information that unfolded naturally. BUT – while the author generally disseminates the information subtly, there’s a LOT of it to absorb here concerning the various fae courts and magic systems, and it all feels a bit rushed and superficial.
Zemira Az Guhl wants nothing more than freedom from the chains that bind her to her father, the Wraith King Beyond the Shadowfangs. For almost all her life, she has been the kingdom’s most successful thief, able to pluck the last coin from a miser’s purse while he’s watching it, forced to do her father’s bidding in hope of his eventually returning the half of her soul he stole from her at birth. At last, the opportunity she has waited for is offered her – the king will grant her the rest of her soul if she will steal the Dragon’s Heart from the legendary Court of Dreams. Zemira is aghast. Nobody knows where the Court of Dreams resides; its prince tore it from the mortal world long ago and even if its location was known, it’s impossible to enter the court without Prince Keir or his guards knowing, even for her. But the Prince has sent out a Summons – an invitation to every fae princess in the land – and this is Zemira’s way in. She must take the place of one of the more obscure of the potential brides, avoid the Prince’s notice as much as possible, locate the heart and steal it. It’s not exactly going to be a walk in the park.
Of course nothing goes to plan. Zemira’s plan to avoid Keir’s notice backfires – she’s the one ‘princess’ not falling over herself to win him, so naturally, she’s the one who intrigues him the most. The other princesses – a bunch of ‘mean girls’ if ever I saw one – start getting picked off, one-by-one by unknown creatures, and a final and hurtful betrayal puts Zemira’s quest at risk and turns her fate in a different direction.
I enjoyed the story, the murder-mystery aspect to the plot is resolved here and there is clearly more to come – but book two isn’t out until 2021, so I hope I’ll remember to look for it! There’s a definite spark of attraction between Zemira and Keir and their flirtations are swoony, but I felt there was something missing in the characterisation, and the first person PoV didn’t allow me to connect with Keir at all.
If I were grading Thief of Dreams purely on its own, I’d probably give it a C+/C. The writing is solid and the ideas are good, but overall, it feels rushed, the hero is peripheral and the romance doesn’t really get off the ground. As the introduction to a new series however, I’m upping that to a B- because there’s a lot of potential I’m hoping will play out as the series progresses. To be honest though, I sort of wish I’d waited to read this until I could jump into book two straight afterwards.
Thief of Dreams, book one in Bec McMasters Court of Dreams series originally appeared in the Of Thrones and Crownsanthology in 2019 and was republished separately earlier this year. It’s novella length and sets up the storyline that will (I suspect) run throughout what I believe is going to be a trilogy, so while Thief of Dreams does contain a complete story, it also ends with something of a cliffhanger, and serves as an introduction to the overarching plot. The author sets up the main romantic pairing – and if the chemistry hinted at here is continued, then I can’t wait for the rest! – and while I was a bit disappointed things didn’t progress very far on that front, I was also pleased that the author wisely decided there wasn’t time for bedroom scenes or an HEA in the 126 pages that comprise this instalment.
As was the case with the author’s recent Promise of Darkness, I found the first person, present tense narration off-putting. I understand why first person is necessary in a story like this – it seems to be the preferred style for YA and many contemporary romances – I just don’t care for it, and it took me a while to get used to it. Actually, it took me longer than it should have done to read 126 pages, and that was partly because of my dislike of this narrative style (and partly because I was listening to an amazing audiobook and didn’t want to stop!)
Once I got back to Thief of Dreams, however, I found it bears all the hallmarks of a Bec McMaster read; a kick-ass heroine, a dangerous, sexy hero and extensive worldbuilding done in a way that flows naturally and never feels like an info-dump; there was (I think) one point at which I felt I was reading a list rather than information that unfolded naturally. BUT – while the author generally disseminates the information subtly, there’s a LOT of it to absorb here concerning the various fae courts and magic systems, and it all feels a bit rushed and superficial.
Zemira Az Guhl wants nothing more than freedom from the chains that bind her to her father, the Wraith King Beyond the Shadowfangs. For almost all her life, she has been the kingdom’s most successful thief, able to pluck the last coin from a miser’s purse while he’s watching it, forced to do her father’s bidding in hope of his eventually returning the half of her soul he stole from her at birth. At last, the opportunity she has waited for is offered her – the king will grant her the rest of her soul if she will steal the Dragon’s Heart from the legendary Court of Dreams. Zemira is aghast. Nobody knows where the Court of Dreams resides; its prince tore it from the mortal world long ago and even if its location was known, it’s impossible to enter the court without Prince Keir or his guards knowing, even for her. But the Prince has sent out a Summons – an invitation to every fae princess in the land – and this is Zemira’s way in. She must take the place of one of the more obscure of the potential brides, avoid the Prince’s notice as much as possible, locate the heart and steal it. It’s not exactly going to be a walk in the park.
Of course nothing goes to plan. Zemira’s plan to avoid Keir’s notice backfires – she’s the one ‘princess’ not falling over herself to win him, so naturally, she’s the one who intrigues him the most. The other princesses – a bunch of ‘mean girls’ if ever I saw one – start getting picked off, one-by-one by unknown creatures, and a final and hurtful betrayal puts Zemira’s quest at risk and turns her fate in a different direction.
I enjoyed the story, the murder-mystery aspect to the plot is resolved here and there is clearly more to come – but book two isn’t out until 2021, so I hope I’ll remember to look for it! There’s a definite spark of attraction between Zemira and Keir and their flirtations are swoony, but I felt there was something missing in the characterisation, and the first person PoV didn’t allow me to connect with Keir at all.
If I were grading Thief of Dreams purely on its own, I’d probably give it a C+/C. The writing is solid and the ideas are good, but overall, it feels rushed, the hero is peripheral and the romance doesn’t really get off the ground. As the introduction to a new series however, I’m upping that to a B- because there’s a lot of potential I’m hoping will play out as the series progresses. To be honest though, I sort of wish I’d waited to read this until I could jump into book two straight afterwards.
March 8, 2020
3.75
There's more at stake than stealing an artifact and deceiving a prince. For Zemira, it's about getting her freedom back.
This novella-length story is the first part of what I think is meant to be a trilogy (at least there's already two more books to come that been advertised). Still in a Fae World, with YA vibe, but think Hunger Games and The Bachelor mix😂.
It's written at first person but with only Zemira POV so for me, Prince Keir's POV is missing and explain why I can't connect with this character.
There's more at stake than stealing an artifact and deceiving a prince. For Zemira, it's about getting her freedom back.
This novella-length story is the first part of what I think is meant to be a trilogy (at least there's already two more books to come that been advertised). Still in a Fae World, with YA vibe, but think Hunger Games and The Bachelor mix😂.
It's written at first person but with only Zemira POV so for me, Prince Keir's POV is missing and explain why I can't connect with this character.
June 13, 2021
Such a promising introduction to this new series. Bec McMaster laid a solid foundation for a new world , complex characters and intrigue.
Love her heroines, strong independent and resourceful females that take no shit. Zemira is sent by her father to steal the Dragon's Heart from Prince Keir's Court of Dreams, the cover being a bride hunt that he is hosting.
Should have been a simple in and out operation but you know that saying with best laid plans.
The Hero seems the typical alpha male but well..I love those 😋😅
Looking forward for more.
Love her heroines, strong independent and resourceful females that take no shit. Zemira is sent by her father to steal the Dragon's Heart from Prince Keir's Court of Dreams, the cover being a bride hunt that he is hosting.
Should have been a simple in and out operation but you know that saying with best laid plans.
The Hero seems the typical alpha male but well..I love those 😋😅
Looking forward for more.
February 14, 2020
One of the best opening of the series ever! I've so fallen crazy in love with this world and the HEA couple: Prince Keir and Zemira! Prince Keir of the Court of Dreams was officially in search of a bride but in truth? Only Zemira knew his true goal . . . his secret! This novella lured me in with dazzling and wicked baits and I was hopelessly hooked! The most intriguing puzzle was that neither the Prince nor Zemira was who they appeared to be. Well, now that I thought more about it, this puzzle could apply to other characters, too!
I'm dying to read the next and next book! Looking forward to super amazing events to explode and the truths to be revealed! And for myself to be blown away! Yes! I'm definitely looking at a Fantastic Fantasy!
Sharing one of my favorite scenes:
I'm dying to read the next and next book! Looking forward to super amazing events to explode and the truths to be revealed! And for myself to be blown away! Yes! I'm definitely looking at a Fantastic Fantasy!
Sharing one of my favorite scenes:
"A year and a day of service," he whispers, and then lowers his face to mine. . .
Fire blazes beneath my skin, a searing kind of magic that steals every thought from my mind. A scream escapes me as it brands itself up my arms, golden light spilling through sudden glyphs that appear on my skin. I don't need to count them. I can feel them igniting inside me. All four hundred and thirteen marks.
A year and a day.
August 21, 2020
Three and a half
This is the first part of a series of what seems to be novellas . We are introduced to Zemira a half Wraith half Fae with the ability to move through shadows and misdirect others making her a pretty darn good thief ! Forever trapped by her evil father who holds a part of her soul Zemira is sent to infiltrate the kingdom of dreams and nightmares posing as a full blooded Fae Princess . Trying not to be noticed goes very wrong and soon Prince Kier appears to be courting her but what will happen when Zemira betrays him and steals his magical talisman ?
This is a prequel I’m guessing as it’s a story that introduces characters and the dark world they live in. There’s definitely some serious chemistry between the couple and I liked that a murder mystery was woven into the plot. Sadly because it is quite short I didn’t quite get as much interaction between the couple as I wanted although it’s obvious that there’s much more to come. There is definitely potential for this series (trilogy possibly ? ) to get very interesting and Zemira made an excellent heroine with brains, a quick wit and she can be pretty kick axx when necessary . I genuinely look forward to more and sincerely hope that the author can flesh out this world bringing these characters to life even more.
This voluntary take is of an advanced copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
This is the first part of a series of what seems to be novellas . We are introduced to Zemira a half Wraith half Fae with the ability to move through shadows and misdirect others making her a pretty darn good thief ! Forever trapped by her evil father who holds a part of her soul Zemira is sent to infiltrate the kingdom of dreams and nightmares posing as a full blooded Fae Princess . Trying not to be noticed goes very wrong and soon Prince Kier appears to be courting her but what will happen when Zemira betrays him and steals his magical talisman ?
This is a prequel I’m guessing as it’s a story that introduces characters and the dark world they live in. There’s definitely some serious chemistry between the couple and I liked that a murder mystery was woven into the plot. Sadly because it is quite short I didn’t quite get as much interaction between the couple as I wanted although it’s obvious that there’s much more to come. There is definitely potential for this series (trilogy possibly ? ) to get very interesting and Zemira made an excellent heroine with brains, a quick wit and she can be pretty kick axx when necessary . I genuinely look forward to more and sincerely hope that the author can flesh out this world bringing these characters to life even more.
This voluntary take is of an advanced copy and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
November 5, 2021
Intriguing start to a new series but I'm kicking myself for not realizing the 3rd book isn't out yet!
May 31, 2021
Oh man, this story just basically dived right on in and left us with a cliffy! Keir, I'm on to him to see what he's all about. I'll be back for the next one!
June 22, 2023
This is a good introductory novella to the series and I'm excited to dive into the next one.
I must admit I had my doubts, considering it's only 100+ pages long, but I was quickly proven wrong.
I must admit I had my doubts, considering it's only 100+ pages long, but I was quickly proven wrong.
February 29, 2020
Another great world & compelling characters that Bec has created! I can't wait for the next one.
March 15, 2022
I got this for $0.99, but you don't have to.
‼️FREE‼️ RN 3/15/22 on Amazon
(Normally $2.99)
I highly recommend! ❤️😍❤️
‼️FREE‼️ RN 3/15/22 on Amazon
(Normally $2.99)
I highly recommend! ❤️😍❤️
November 29, 2022
"Three thousand years is a long time to know the kiss of betrayal."
And that's all I can offer him.
And that's all I can offer him.
February 25, 2020
The only reason this isn't 5 stars is because it is way too short and felt a bit rushed. There wasn't enough build up to the murder mystery nor was there enough interactions to actually strengthen and/or destroy relationships.
I honestly flew through this, and loved every second! I like the characters, the world, the family issues, and the magic. I impatiently await the next book.
I honestly flew through this, and loved every second! I like the characters, the world, the family issues, and the magic. I impatiently await the next book.
February 13, 2020
Liked it very much! I liked the inner dialogue and the danger all around from all angles. Liked the competition amongst the contenders and the banter. She’s funny. I liked how it ended and really psyched to see what happens next! There are adventures to come....
March 10, 2020
I have it marked as romance, but this is a preview of what is coming!! No romance yet and it looks like we are in for a heck of a ride before we get there!
April 20, 2020
Okayyyy... so this was more like a 3-3.5, BUT I rounded up because I’ve been in a book slump this past week and this was surprisingly just what I needed to get out of it. Literary masterpiece or not!
As engrossed as I was, this book was strange to me. This book feels like a tidy early draft— short, simple, and to the point. You really only get the basics. The characters need a little more refining, the world isn’t really all there, and the relationships that develop aren’t quite at that sweet spot yet, but it’s certainly getting there. You blink, and everything happens a little too fast, and then it’s over and you realize you can’t quite remember anything about the characters or the world... but you at least know you enjoyed it? I have to finish that last sentence with a question mark because I’m truly not sure I’m making any sense!
Point is, this is an easy and fast read that’ll provide nothing beyond the blissfulness of the general idea. It was the perfect little pick-me-up during the few hours I was able to focus.
As engrossed as I was, this book was strange to me. This book feels like a tidy early draft— short, simple, and to the point. You really only get the basics. The characters need a little more refining, the world isn’t really all there, and the relationships that develop aren’t quite at that sweet spot yet, but it’s certainly getting there. You blink, and everything happens a little too fast, and then it’s over and you realize you can’t quite remember anything about the characters or the world... but you at least know you enjoyed it? I have to finish that last sentence with a question mark because I’m truly not sure I’m making any sense!
Point is, this is an easy and fast read that’ll provide nothing beyond the blissfulness of the general idea. It was the perfect little pick-me-up during the few hours I was able to focus.
January 17, 2022
Basic Plot: When a mysterious fae prince opens his borders to look for a bride, Zemira is tasked with stealing the Dragon's Heart, a relic previously inaccessible.
Ok, first of all, have to get this off my chest- her father is named Raesh Ghul. His kids are assassins and thieves. I have read too many Batman comics to not draw parallels. Was this on purpose? It has to be on purpose, right? Oy.
This was a short one- a novella, not an actual full novel. I wasn't expecting that. I felt like we barely had time to get to know any of the characters before it was over. There were a lot of similarities to the Dark Court Rising series- sisters who don't really trust each other, an evil parental figure, a powerful, dark male love interest, etc. I'm hoping there will be more differences in the next book- something to make this stand out a bit more. Otherwise, the pacing was good and the story was interesting. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Ok, first of all, have to get this off my chest- her father is named Raesh Ghul. His kids are assassins and thieves. I have read too many Batman comics to not draw parallels. Was this on purpose? It has to be on purpose, right? Oy.
This was a short one- a novella, not an actual full novel. I wasn't expecting that. I felt like we barely had time to get to know any of the characters before it was over. There were a lot of similarities to the Dark Court Rising series- sisters who don't really trust each other, an evil parental figure, a powerful, dark male love interest, etc. I'm hoping there will be more differences in the next book- something to make this stand out a bit more. Otherwise, the pacing was good and the story was interesting. I'm looking forward to the next one.
May 29, 2020
Я бы сказала, что это черновик к "Promise of Darkness", учитывая, что изначально он вышел раньше, просто не отдельной книгой. Канва ощутимо схожа: мир фейри; две сестры, выращенные в лучших традициях животного мира, где нет места сантиментам, а есть лишь выживание; скотский родитель, держащий их на коротком поводке; попытка подсунуть героиню под мрррачного темного пластелина, который оказывается совсем не лохом, а очень даже хитровыделанным товарищем; метания героини между долгом и любовью. Но вот насколько я ругала Исквиен, настолько похвалю Земиру. Гораздо больше логики в поступках, более рациональное мышление, характер, лучше отвечающий заданным параметрам. Чувствуется, что изначально это был рассказ в антологии, поэтому дело обрывается на нехилом таком клиффхангере, но мне очень интересно, чем все кончится. Пять из пяти, и жду продолжения.
May 30, 2022
I will forever wonder why this was not made into a full-length novel. It's set in an exciting and dark fae world, has a plethora of courts and creatures, has interesting and complex relationships between its characters, and exciting action scenes. Yet I read it in under two hours. While I'm not going to question the author's decision, this first book did do its job of making me want more.
Zemira is an interesting character who has been raised to believe certain things. She and her sister are tasked with obtaining an artifact from a charming Fae prince with an aversion to shirts. The story moves extremely quickly and makes me wish there were more spots for characters and interactions to be fleshed out. The prose is solid and the dialogues are well crafted, but it just seems a little rushed for me.
The ending leaves on a cliffhanger that has me eager for the next book. I'm interested in seeing where this series goes, since if it were given a little more breathing room and growth, I think it could be truly special. Recommended to anyone looking for a quick, Fae-filled read.
Zemira is an interesting character who has been raised to believe certain things. She and her sister are tasked with obtaining an artifact from a charming Fae prince with an aversion to shirts. The story moves extremely quickly and makes me wish there were more spots for characters and interactions to be fleshed out. The prose is solid and the dialogues are well crafted, but it just seems a little rushed for me.
The ending leaves on a cliffhanger that has me eager for the next book. I'm interested in seeing where this series goes, since if it were given a little more breathing room and growth, I think it could be truly special. Recommended to anyone looking for a quick, Fae-filled read.
August 6, 2020
Zemira Az Ghul is the half-fae daughter of the Wraith King, a sadistic ruler who uses his daughters to do his dirty work. He is willing to free Zemira and return the missing part of her soul if she steals the Dragon’s Heart from Prince Keir from the Court of Dreams.
Prince Keir lives in isolation from the outside world, but after 3,000 years, is looking for a bride. He’s invited various fae princesses and ladies to his realm, and Zemira takes the place of one to gain entrance. Once there, she hopes to go unnoticed, but she captures the attention of the Prince, not something a thief wants.
Thief of Dreams is a novella prequel to the Court of Dreams series, and based on this book, it is a fantasy series with romantic elements. It is not a standalone romance. We get looks into both Keir and Zemira’s lives and witness the start of a potential romance. The novella does a good job of building the world and introducing characters and conflict, but it doesn’t do much more.
Narration: The story is shared in the first person, present tense POV of Zemira. I did not care for it at first because it came across choppy. However, after a couple chapters I got used to the present tense writing and narration. The female narrator reads with what sounds like to me an upper crust British accent, and I found it suited Zemira. The dialogue for each character is adjusted accordingly, and I enjoyed the female characters more than the males. Males are generally deeper, but sound off a bit.
Thief of Dreams is a decent start to a potentially good series, but the open-ended nature of the story is a bit frustrating. While the narrator did a good job, the present tense writing annoyed me at times. Since I love this author, I’m willing to try the next book to see what happens.
Story: B-
Narration: B-
Review copy provided by Tantor Audio
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Prince Keir lives in isolation from the outside world, but after 3,000 years, is looking for a bride. He’s invited various fae princesses and ladies to his realm, and Zemira takes the place of one to gain entrance. Once there, she hopes to go unnoticed, but she captures the attention of the Prince, not something a thief wants.
Thief of Dreams is a novella prequel to the Court of Dreams series, and based on this book, it is a fantasy series with romantic elements. It is not a standalone romance. We get looks into both Keir and Zemira’s lives and witness the start of a potential romance. The novella does a good job of building the world and introducing characters and conflict, but it doesn’t do much more.
Narration: The story is shared in the first person, present tense POV of Zemira. I did not care for it at first because it came across choppy. However, after a couple chapters I got used to the present tense writing and narration. The female narrator reads with what sounds like to me an upper crust British accent, and I found it suited Zemira. The dialogue for each character is adjusted accordingly, and I enjoyed the female characters more than the males. Males are generally deeper, but sound off a bit.
Thief of Dreams is a decent start to a potentially good series, but the open-ended nature of the story is a bit frustrating. While the narrator did a good job, the present tense writing annoyed me at times. Since I love this author, I’m willing to try the next book to see what happens.
Story: B-
Narration: B-
Review copy provided by Tantor Audio
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
October 15, 2021
I enjoy this author and the premise of this book is definitely interesting. Be able to listen to it via Audible, brought the story to life but I felt like the story was just enough to wet my appetite. There was just too much backstory and world-building that was lacking for me to feel fully satisfied. I suppose that there is time for more depth development in the next book of the story. That's what I'm really hoping for.
Overall, the angst of the anti-hero and the need for her to overcome that the author cultivates is believable. I really look forward to the next book.
Overall, the angst of the anti-hero and the need for her to overcome that the author cultivates is believable. I really look forward to the next book.
September 7, 2021
This pulled me right in! The writing was good and we got a solid amount of information about the world they live in.
Zemira was everything I look for in a female MC. She was witty, resourceful, and badass. I loved the chemistry and banter between her and the Prince.
I’m so curious to find out how their deal will unfold.
Zemira was everything I look for in a female MC. She was witty, resourceful, and badass. I loved the chemistry and banter between her and the Prince.
I’m so curious to find out how their deal will unfold.
September 19, 2022
It was good, i hope she learns that she can't trust her sister.
January 26, 2024
Read this way too quickly that I forgot the characters names 😅
Also didn’t realise this is a 3 book series and the last one isn’t out yet 🫠
Also didn’t realise this is a 3 book series and the last one isn’t out yet 🫠
January 21, 2022
2 - 2.5 ish
"Thief of Dreams" wasn't what I've come to expect from Bec McMaster. Yes; some books are hit or miss, yet I've found her worldbuilding interesting. This is not the case in ToD. I entered a generic fae world. The heroine reminded me of a sassy new adult contemporary romance heroine. "Thief of Dreams" was almost a DNF. Near the end, I finally became a little invested in the heroine's outcome. Then, it ended, and I'm curious what happens next. Go figure!
Kindle Freebie 12/30/21
"Thief of Dreams" wasn't what I've come to expect from Bec McMaster. Yes; some books are hit or miss, yet I've found her worldbuilding interesting. This is not the case in ToD. I entered a generic fae world. The heroine reminded me of a sassy new adult contemporary romance heroine. "Thief of Dreams" was almost a DNF. Near the end, I finally became a little invested in the heroine's outcome. Then, it ended, and I'm curious what happens next. Go figure!
Kindle Freebie 12/30/21
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July 7, 2022
Three and a half stars.
Zemira and her sister are half-fae, half-wraiths, bred by their father the Wraith King as his weapons. Zemira is a master thief, with the ability to walk through shadows.
Prince Keir of the Court of Dreams issues a summons to all fae princesses, he is looking for his true mate (after 3,000 years). Of course Zemira and her sister aren't invited, but they manage to incapacitate one of the minor princesses that no-one has ever heard of and steal her invite. The Wraith King has demanded that Zemira steal the source of Keir's power, The Dragon's Heart, in return for which he will give Zemira back the piece of her soul he keeps in a vial around her neck.
So it's The Bachelor PNR style. I didn't read The Selection but I imagine it is very similar in premise. There are mean girls who deliberately try to sabotage the other princesses, shadowy assassins and lots of magic.
TBH, my biggest gripe with this is that the novella format meant everything was a bit bish-bash-bosh, I think this could easily have been a full-length fantasy novel. Never mind, I look forward to the next installment.
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Zemira and her sister are half-fae, half-wraiths, bred by their father the Wraith King as his weapons. Zemira is a master thief, with the ability to walk through shadows.
Prince Keir of the Court of Dreams issues a summons to all fae princesses, he is looking for his true mate (after 3,000 years). Of course Zemira and her sister aren't invited, but they manage to incapacitate one of the minor princesses that no-one has ever heard of and steal her invite. The Wraith King has demanded that Zemira steal the source of Keir's power, The Dragon's Heart, in return for which he will give Zemira back the piece of her soul he keeps in a vial around her neck.
So it's The Bachelor PNR style. I didn't read The Selection but I imagine it is very similar in premise. There are mean girls who deliberately try to sabotage the other princesses, shadowy assassins and lots of magic.
TBH, my biggest gripe with this is that the novella format meant everything was a bit bish-bash-bosh, I think this could easily have been a full-length fantasy novel. Never mind, I look forward to the next installment.
Free on the author's website for signing up to the newsletter.
July 20, 2020
I honestly have yet to see enough variations on the Princess Competition. This story seems typical: prince calls in only the most eligible pedigreed women in the realms to choose his mate. Honestly? He is making a big assumption that his one true love in all the world is gong to be female, rich, titled, and beautiful. I would believe it more if he were doing this over and over again for the last 3000 years. But he does mention that he knows his mate by the alignment of the stars...
This is my first foray into the worlds of Bec. For such an easy day read, so entertaining, it still made me think. What is freedom worth at the cost of your soul/morality? It makes me wonder again what the soul is. It is an abstract concept, difficult to grasp. From what I read, it seems to describe the higher consciousness plus morality. When I think about it, no cat will eat another cat, but they have no compunction against eating intelligent birds. Take away their reasoning, and they might eat other cats, too. No soul...
I absolutely love an enemies to lovers novel, and there is enough romantic tension to go along with murders, action, and back-stabbing to make me grab my wish list and add all her other novels. But no...I will try just one. My budget does not allow it.
This is my first foray into the worlds of Bec. For such an easy day read, so entertaining, it still made me think. What is freedom worth at the cost of your soul/morality? It makes me wonder again what the soul is. It is an abstract concept, difficult to grasp. From what I read, it seems to describe the higher consciousness plus morality. When I think about it, no cat will eat another cat, but they have no compunction against eating intelligent birds. Take away their reasoning, and they might eat other cats, too. No soul...
I absolutely love an enemies to lovers novel, and there is enough romantic tension to go along with murders, action, and back-stabbing to make me grab my wish list and add all her other novels. But no...I will try just one. My budget does not allow it.
November 7, 2020
I like the setting. I like the hero, he can definitely be an interesting character going forward. However, this kind of story is one you can probably find millions of times out there. The whole construct isn't that unique or new, so that's a bit disappointing. Even worse in my opinion is the obvious repetition of a formula the author has used before. I've read the Dark Court Rising series by McMaster and frankly, the premise, the characters and the probably much of the plot development are very similar. Sisters at war with each other, a spiteful and monstrous parent that has power over them, a love story (sort of)... The list goes on. I was disappointed to see this kind of repetition, maybe because I am generally very disappointed when I see an author use the same formula over and over again.
That doesn't mean though that the story was bad. I enjoyed it. I was bummed when I saw that the sequel won't be out until next year and I will definitely go ahead and read it because I do want to know how this continues. I will, however, be more careful in the future when I pick up books by this author, because frankly, there's only so many times I can read the same kind of story with the same characters before I get bored.
That doesn't mean though that the story was bad. I enjoyed it. I was bummed when I saw that the sequel won't be out until next year and I will definitely go ahead and read it because I do want to know how this continues. I will, however, be more careful in the future when I pick up books by this author, because frankly, there's only so many times I can read the same kind of story with the same characters before I get bored.
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