A teen seeks revenge in a land of dreams and nightmares.In the town of Hereswith, beneath the cursed Seren Mountains, Clementine and her father, the warden, record the townsfolk's dreams and confront the walking nightmares that appear every new moon. Clem, the opposite of her cautious father, is a headstrong apprentice eager to explore the limits of her magic. When two young magicians appear before the new moon to challenge her father for wardenship of Hereswith, Clem's entire world is ripped apart. Seeking revenge, Clem discovers old family secrets and uncovers the truth behind the century-old Seren curse. The worldbuilding is well rounded, incorporating history, politics, and economics as well as an original and detailed magic system that is expertly woven into the plot and mythology. Similarly, discussions of creativity, both in art and in magic, add an extra layer of interest. The themes of recognizing one's true self, controlling one's emotions, the importance of family and home, and lies versus truth are well developed within Clem's overarching quest for vengeance. While the curse originally appears straightforward, its unveiled complexity is pleasantly surprising. A slow-burning romance primarily emphasizes character development. The main characters are White; there is an interracial lesbian couple in the supporting cast.A twisty tale of nightmares, secrets, and curses that readers won't soon forget. (map) (Fantasy. 13-18)

Gr 7 Up Every new moon, Clem Madigan patrols the streets of her small town with her father as a dream warden, to fight the nightmares of the townsfolk made real by a curse that plagues the kingdom. That is, until a pair of rival wardens win guardianship of their town in a challenge, leaving Clem's father to return to his estranged wife in the city, Clem in tow. Refusing to let the theft of her home go unpunished, Clem devises a plan to disguise herself and take revenge on the rival wardensonly to realize that there are much deeper machinations afoot. With the atmosphere and pacing of a fairy tale, but with a milder form of the political maneuvering more popular in modern fantasy, this is simultaneously reminiscent of both Caraval and Finale by Stephanie Garber. Clem and her rival wardens are well rounded, although the rapidity with which the plot unfolds leaves character depth relatively unexplored. The combination of mystery, magic, action, and intrigue is quite a bit to pack into one book, but Ross maintains an excellent balance throughout that will satisfy even the most selective fantasy readers. For the most part, characters are cued white. VERDICT A strong addition to collections where fantasy is popular. Austin Ferraro, Brambleton Lib./Loudoun County P.L., Brambleton, VA