Review: A Season of Sinister Dreams by Tracy Banghart

A Season of Sinister Dreams

by Tracy Banghart

June 22, 2021

402 pages

Goodreads Summary:

Furyborn meets A Curse So Dark and Lonely in this courtly feminist fantasy from Grace and Fury author Tracy Banghart.

Annalise may be cousin to the prince, but her past isn’t what she claims, and she possesses a magic so powerful it takes all her strength to control it. Evra is a country girl, and has watched as each friend and family member came into their own magic, while hers remains dormant. But everything changes after Annalise loses control of herself and Evra begins experiencing the debilitating visions of a once-in-a-generation clairvoyant meant to serve the crown.

Thrown together at court, Evra and Annalise find that they have the same goal: to protect their kingdom from the powerful men who are slowly destroying it. But neither is quick to trust the other — Evra’s visions suggest a threat to royal rule, and Annalise worries that her darkest secrets will be revealed. Their magic at odds, the young women circle each other, until the truth must come out.

Full of intrigue, romance, and shocking twists, this gorgeously immersive fantasy will keep readers spellbound until the very last page.

Review

Having loved Tracy Banghart's debut duology, Grace and Fury, I was ready to jump into whatever she put out next. I wish I could say A Season of Sinister Dreams became another favourite but I had some major issues with this one.

My biggest problem with A Season of Sinister Dreams was its slow pacing. I had a hard time getting into the story. Nothing was happening in the first half of the book and it was boring. When things did get interesting, the plots felt rushed and not well-explained. Even the small bit of romance that existed felt unnecessary. "But the heart sometimes believes its own lies, doesn't it?" (p. 347) Sadly, the whole story gave off an incomplete vibe.

What I liked was the dual POV. It helped me understand both girls and their motivations. Annalise had the best of intentions at heart but struggled to rein in her magic and to do right by others. "You can't just want to do the right thing. You have to choose to do the right thing. Even if it means sacrifice. Wanting achieves nothing if you don't act." (p. 314) Evra had a good heart and wanted to be of help yet misfortune befalls her and changes her forever.

My favourite part of A Season of Sinister Dreams was Evra's relationship with her best friend, Tam. I was very touched by how supportive Tam was. She stood by Evra through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I was very happy to see such a strong friendship bond!

I desperately wanted to love A Season of Sinister Dreams but it was not meant to be. Since I had high expectations, this was definitely a case of the it's-not-you-it's-me. If short fantasies and solid friendships are your thing then A Season of Sinister Dreams might just be for you.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not affected in any way. Any quotes included in my review were taken from the copy I received.