The Lord of Dreams by C. J. Brightley
When a fairy king grants a human wish, there’s more at stake than dreams.
Claire Delaney has a good life, despite her adolescent angst. But she wants more. In a moment of frustration, she wishes to be “the hero.”What she actually wants is to be the center of attention, but what she gets is a terrifying Fae king demanding that she rescue an imprisoned fairy, facing fantastical dangers and hardships she could not have imagined.
Yet the dreams–and the rescue–are only the beginning of her journey. She is at the center of the king’s audacious gamble to end the war that has raged in Faerie for half a century.
The Lord of Dreams follows Claire—she wishes to be a hero, to be noticed, and when that wish is granted by a Fae king, Claire is thrown into an adventure she is woefully unprepared for.
This story is like a puzzle. With each chapter, we are given one more puzzle piece, gain another part of the larger picture. At first we understand very little, but it unfolds, slowly, naturally, until we see everything. It’s subtle and clever and I enjoyed it immensely.
Brightley really has a way with fae, and just like every other story by her I’ve read with them, the fae and their world and their magic shine here too.I loved watching Claire go from selfish and afraid at the beginning of the story to selfless and brave at the end. It was a gradual, subtle shift, and it really was beautiful to watch.
And the fae king. He is a fascinating character to peel back, layer after layer. His hair made me chuckle every time it was mentioned. He’s enigmatic and definitely a little crazy and I loved every moment of it.Like the rest of the story, the romance was subtle and gradual, and it ends with a great HEA.
I highly recommend this story. I hope Brightley writes more about Claire and the fae world one day.
This review was written by Constance Lopez. Constance knows magic is real. Dragons, faeries… and don’t even get her started on unicorns. She grew up having epic duels in the woods with her siblings, and nature is still one of her favorite places to be. If she isn’t out there working on her stories, she’s dragging her children and husband on adventures (they always enjoy it once they’re outside). Except in summer. For those months she hides inside, because Texas heat is real and it hates her.
Books have always been her haven and inspiration, and now she writes her own noblebright stories, hoping to pass those feelings along to others. Fantasy, of course. Because everything is better with magic. Her debut YA fantasy will release in Spring 2021.
