Dream

Foolish Kingdoms #6

by Natalia Jaster

Spicy romantasy. NOTE: This is the previous edition and is no longer available. For the revised second editions of this series with 18+ explicit adult content, changes to worldbuilding, magic systems, and character development, plus rebranded covers, GO HERE

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Romantasy, LGBT, New Adult, Young Adult

389 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2019

About the author

Natalia Jaster is a romantasy author who routinely swoons for the villain.

She lives in a dark forest, where she writes spicy fantasy romance tales about rakish jesters, immortal deities, and vicious faeries.

Wicked heroes are her weakness, and rebellious heroines are her best friends.

AMAZON: www.amazon.com/Natalia-Jaster/e/B00OE...
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/nataliajaster
NEWSLETTER: www.nataliajaster.com/newsletter
TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@nataliajasterauthor
WEBSITE: www.nataliajaster.com

Reviews

[julia ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

full review on my blog: here

"I want you because you're kind, generous, and playful.
I want you because when it snows, you say the stars are falling.
Because you choose joy over bitterness.
I want you because you choose to believe in things you can't see.
Because you choose to dream."

Hello guys, it's me, Julia, and I'm back with another review. This is a special one, because this is the conclusion of one of my favorite fantasy series, and also one of the most underrated gems when it comes to books (in my humble opinion!).

I discovered the Foolish Kingdoms series by Natalia Jaster at the beginning of last year because of some fanart I saw darting around my Tumblr dashboard. I decided to pick it up because as we all know I love me some good romance + fantasy combination. However, this series took me by complete surprise. So much so, that it flew to the top of my favorite fantasy book pile and made me vow to read everything Natalia Jaster has written.

More than a year down the line, I can now say I have absolutely devoured each and every one of Natalia's books, the Foolish Kingdoms books especially. For those of you who have never heard of the Foolish Kingdoms series, let me explain in short what these books are about.

"You're a whisper," he said. "A tender soul. May I call you that?"

What is this book about?
So, the Foolish kingdoms are set in a world where there are four kingdoms; winter, spring, summer and autumn. Every book takes place in a different kingdom (Dream is set in winter as the cover suggests, Dare in Summer, so on) and features characters from different lands. The first book, Trick, introduces Poet, a court jester, and the princess of Autumn, Briar. The books each follow a separate love-story, but include cameos of different characters from previous books in the series. Foolish kingdoms deal heavily with ableism but is set in a fantasy setting, which is unlike anything I have seen in the YA fantasy genre. Now, then, to get specific, Dream, in particular, centers around Nicu, the son of Poet and Briar (yes, the protagonists of Trick!), who is deemed a "fool" for his unconventional way of speaking and thinking as well as his inability to come to terms with the concept of spaces. However, Nicu meets a roguish boy called Lyrik, and the both of them clash. The tropes this book can be categorized under are second chance romance, and a little bit of hate-to-love (which is what Natalia is known for!).

"If you open your mouth, you can swallow the stars."

What did I think about Dream?
First of all, let me just reiterate that Dream is such a special book to me, (the whole series is, c'mon...), but Dream and Trick in particular are my favorite ones. Poet and Briar are my favorite couple of the series, and the both of them have such a heart-warming relationship with Nicu. From the first book on, I've fallen in love with the three of them, so, to see them return (as a family!) had me overjoyed and in mental shambles.

Now, for the writing of Dream, Natalia has such a unique and whimsical way of writing, which fits within the theme of the books. I think her writing style and word-choice is GORGEOUS. The book is filled with metaphors and Natalia manages to create a beautiful poetic atmosphere. A nice thing to note is the difference in the way both Nicu and Lyrik's POV's are narrated. Whereas Lyrik has a first person narration and is a lot more direct, Nicu speaks in third person and uses very whimsical language. I loved this added touch to the novel, and it highlights the stark difference in character between the two!

To come back to the romance plot in the book. I thought this was amazingly done. I was curious to see how the two of them would work after their debacle in Lie, but I adored them together. Lyrik's rogue exterior but his soft attitude towards Nicu made me so giddy, I love dynamics like that. And, yes, I know I keep saying I love Nicu, but I LOVE NICU SO MUCH. Their relationship had such a supportive nature, so nice to see this happen in a genre like this.

As a character, Nicu owns my whole heart. I absolutely love this boy. His unique way of talking and thinking was such a unique experience to read. I loved how Natalia gave him an animal sidekick in this book, once again, which added to the fairy-tale like atmosphere of the series.

Also, I loved the cameos of previous characters in this book. All of the previous protagonists in the series came to say hello and banded together to give the story closure. I loved reading how all of them ended up post-book. I just love them all a lot, okay?

I love how Natalia handles the theme of disabilities and ableism within her books. When I first read Trick, I felt so overcome with how unique and intricately crafted the story was. For Natalia to have kept giving me this feeling book after book is such a feat as an author. Each and every book in this series was a treasure I will keep close to my heart. I love this whole universe and I can't believe it's over now.

Each and every one of these books provided a magical feeling and had me engaged and moved like not many books have done. All of the characters, Poet, Briar, Jeryn, Flare, Aspen, Aire, Nicu and Lyrik brought their own uniqueness to this large story and I can't wait to see what Natalia writes next. If you haven't read the Foolish Kingdoms series yet, please do so because it truly is such a wholesome experience. This whole series deserves a solid five stars.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sing me a song, songbird.

A beautiful conclusion to a truly magical series. We’ve finally come full circle with Nicu’s story and what a tale it was, I simply adore this character. I loved his POV and his poetic way of describing his surroundings that made him even more endearing to me.

Lyrik and Nicu romance did not disappoint, it was beautiful. Nicu had really grown since their last meeting in Autumn, he wasn’t taking any bullshit from him this time. So it was enjoyable to see Lyrik follow Nicu around like some love sick puppy.

There were so many emotional moments in this book, especially the reunion with some much loved characters from this series. It was great to see them all in the same room together. These were the chapters I will treasure from this series.

I can’t believe this is goodbye 😭 I’ve adored these characters, but what a fulfilling conclusion to a great series. Natalia is a beautiful writer and I will love returning to her books again and again.

[Sorceress Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an emotional mess.
Beautiful.

[Brin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review will be up shortly but suffice it to say, I loved this book!!

It destroyed me (in the best possible way).

*****

Full review:

Dream, the final installment in the Foolish Kingdoms series, is definitely one of the best books I have read so far this year (tied with Holly Black’s The Wicked King). Yet, conversely it is also the hardest book in the series to review. I have sat on this review for weeks now. I know how the book made me feel but it was so hard trying to put pen to paper (or, ya know, text to screen) and write a coherent review.

Honestly, most of my thoughts about Dream have basically been purely emotional reactions (tears – actual tears – were shed) but trying to dig deeper has been really hard. I think sometimes it’s possible to love a book so much it’s hard to be objective and cohesive without tripping over oneself!

However, I feel now I have sufficiently calmed down enough to write this review. Dream was the perfect ending to a series that has defied and exceeded each and every one of my expectations. I am sad that the series is over but I am also happy to have gone on this incredible journey with characters that have become so dear to me.

With Dream, the story comes full circle. The very first book Trick was about a stubborn princess and the jester who steals her heart. Yet, underlying this lush love story was an even greater story of familial love. Briar and Poet found each other but it was Nicu (Poet’s young son) who really drew them together and made them a family. It feels fitting that this last book is Nicu’s story.

Nicu is now a young man and, although a prince of the Autumn Kingdom, he is often a source of scorn and derision for being a ‘born fool’. In the last book Lie, Nicu met and fell for a young potioneer named Lyrik, who ultimately broke Nicu’s heart when he left for the Winter Kingdom seemingly without a second glance.

Now, Nicu has been invited by the King of Winter to sing at a special event. What will happen when Nicu’s path once again crosses with the roguish Lyrik? Will sparks fly in this coldest of kingdoms?

Alright, I have to get this out of the way. I was hella pissed at Lyrik at the end of Lie, I can’t even tell you. So going into this, I knew he has so much to make up for. I wasn’t even sure if I could forgive him let alone whether he was deserving of Nicu’s forgiveness (no one hurts my sweet son like that!)

So… lets just say, Lyrik was always going to get a hard time from this reader. Yet, being inside his head, hearing his thoughts, knowing why he did the things he did… it made a huge difference. By the end of the first couple of chapters, Lyrik had completely stolen my heart too (that darn potioneer!)

Nicu is a precious baby that deserves all the love in the world. However, so does Lyrik. I’ll admit, I was shipping these two so hard it was almost painful waiting for them to get a clue and just get over all of the baggage holding them back. When they finally did… well, scorching is the only word I can use to describe it!

I love Nicu and Lyrik. Together. Apart. They are too pure for this world and I will defend them with every breath I have in my body. I loved their connection. It was real and painful but oh so worth it. Nicu is an angel – the sweetest of boys. Lyrik is, well not an angel haha, but a feisty and clever young man who has no idea about his true worth.

Alright, I’m going to address one of the key elements in this book: yes this is a m/m love story. Both Nicu and Lyrik are young men. I love that this series tackles LGBT themes and it does so while weaving it beautifully into the story arc. Nicu and Lyrik might just be my favourite couple yet (and I adore Poet and Briar so that is high praise indeed).

The wasn’t just a showcase for Nicu and Lyrik’s love connection though. This book had the enormous task of tying together all the plot threads from the previous books. And it did so beautifully, let me tell you.

Nothing was left hanging, everything resolved perfectly… while still enough was left unsaid. The author allows the reader a certain sense of denouement while still leaving enough open. Maybe for future spin-off books? Maybe? Possibly? One can hope? Even if this truly is the end (which unfortunately, I think is likely) there is ample room for the reader to imagine all kinds of scenarios in their head which I think a great story ending should have.

Overall, this series has been a fantastic journey with amazing characters who steal your heart and soul. I will never forget Briar and Poet. Jeryn and Flare. Aspen and Aire. And last, but by no means least, Nicu and Lyrik. All of these couple will remain in my heart and I know I will return to their world and their stories, many, many times.

If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to get on that. It is absolutely enthralling and magical. Seriously, one of my all-time favourites. I can’t wait to see what Natalia Jaster does next!

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Trick, a Dare, a Lie, and now a Dream. The Foolish Kingdoms series has been a delightful journey, and Dream ends it on a wonderful note.

When I started the Foolish Kingdoms series, I was a wee bit tentative. It was fun, yes, but I wasn’t completely obsessed in the way other people were. However, I was eager for more. With each new book, however, I was sucked deeper into the universe. By the time we reached Dream, I was desperate to see how everything came together.

With Dream, we get Nicu’s story. We’ve watched Nicu grow from the first book, yet it was Lie that left everyone eager for his story. We got to see elements of where Dream would take us but Lie did not prepare me for the story we were given. Dream gave us more than I’d expected, leaving me addicted from the first to the last page.

I confess, I was a tiny bit worried at first. Despite being sucked in deep from the start, there was a time early in the book where I feared the series would not be ending in a solid manner. You see, we focused heavily upon the romance, which left me worried. I did not mind this, I adored the relationship between the two, but I feared whether we would get a conclusion to the overall Foolish Kingdoms storyline.

Around the half way point, everything started to come together. The romance mixed in well with the overall series elements, and everything came together in the most glorious of ways. The romance continued in a beautiful manner and the world was brought together in a fabulous way. There were layers everywhere, so many things to unpick, and it was wonderful to watch.

I could say so much about this one, but I would never do it justice. All you need to know is Dream is the perfect conclusion to the Foolish Kingdoms series.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I'd like to acknowledge the genuine love I have for this series. Foolish Kingdoms began as one single novel in Trick, and we got to watch, over the years, as Natalia Jaster blew this world wide open, with science and magic and romance and angst and the constant slow burn and such beautiful atmosphere and writing.

I've been saying for years that reading Jaster's books is like finding my happy place, over and over. In Dream, the fourth and final novel, we get to see our precious Nicu come into his own person, prove he's brave, and strong, and capable, in so many ways. We get to love Lyrik, who's fragile, and so eager to leave rather than be left. One dreamer and one rouge, fighting to hate each other but can't help to love instead.

We get to watch the overarching story arc that's been building for four books come to a head, and see the entire ensemble interact in the best way.

We often see companion series end with a book that brings the entire cast together while also trying to introduce new characters. This can usually be pretty annoying- either the old characters take up too much space, or you just don't care about the new characters. Jaster has woven this series so wonderfully that having the entire ensemble in this last instalment detracts nothing, it only adds to the happy feels and just feels so right.

This book brings the entire series full circle, and honestly, it was practically perfection. I adored it. Hell, I plan to re-read this entire series over again just so I can bask in the beauty.

If you're a fan of romance, fantasy, passion, beauty, joy, and agnst, please please please do yourself a favour- get the ebooks, read them ASAP. Dream comes out February 21st!

[Rina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words later.
Still too overcome with joy to process...

[lexi ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book through the author in exchange for an honest review!

For full transparency, I am writing this review while tears continue streaming down my face, so if the entirety of this review feels like a jumbled amount of thoughts in one place, that is fair criticism. That being said, there is nothing that could fully encapsulate this series and this last book except saying it was a remarkable story from the beginning to the end, and a perfect ending to the Foolish Kingdoms series as a whole. From the opening chapters, I was crying tears of intense emotions, and that lasted throughout the rest of my reading of Dream.

As said by Natalia, Dream is the story of Nicu, our lovely tricker's son, and Lyrik, a rogue potioneer from Nicu's past. And it is so easy to feel the frustration of these two lovers, pushing and pulling at each other, deciding what one deserves and doesn't deserve and wondering their love can make it through all of their doubts. It was incredibly realistic, heartfelt, heartbreakingly emotional, and I felt for them not just as partners, but as men in their own right, looking for their place in the world and making that place important. Nicu, of course, had my heart in his hands with every chapter. He's such a dreamer and a fighter, a singer who wants as much change as his parents and friends do. And Lyrik is as sassy as Aspen is if not more, but in his own ways. While it is easy to become frustrated with him because you like him and want him and Nicu to be together, he was relatable too! And their romance, as I said, is organic and grows in spite of its hiccups and hurdles. The two show immense affection for one another even when they hurt each other, because love is not always a dream (excuse all of my puns pals). You can hurt the one you love or even believe you are doing something for them that is better for them, despite how much you care. And thinking about the romance in that way is why I think it works so well, because it can be difficult and still rewarding. Overall, all the characters are just as lovable and as human as they have always been. Of course, seeing all of our old couples in the story again was fantastic too!

As I have always said, while I could be inherently biased because of my love for Natalia, Natalia is an incredible writer. The way that she writes, it is clear to see that the voice of every character is unique in terms of their way of speaking and thinking. While they do have the same goals of peace or love or change, they have different viewpoints of the world and different arcs, and this could not be accomplished if Natalia did not have such a great stronghold on her worldbuilding and the individual stories going on, and she does! By all the Seasons, she does. And it's magnificent to see that while the stories have progressed since Trick, Natalia has always had the same level of artistry in crafting these stories. Dare I say, she only continues to grow and get better.

Seeing the old couples come back was a joy for me, especially Flare and Jeryn. I always love seeing Aspen and Aire and of course Briar and Poet, but their stories were also given beautiful conclusions as well! Natalia balanced the mini subplots of the additional couples' tales with Nicu and Lyrik's, so every couple's story comes to the conclusion we all hoped and yearned for. It was a pleasure and two mini-endings in particular had me clutching my heart and crying tears of happiness.

Overall, this book was a treasure. Every single novel in this series has given me something to take away as a reader, writer, and person. These couples feel genuine in every aspect, the characters are lovable and understandable, and the worldbuilding of every kingdom and season is polished to an insane degree. Every book I have read by Natalia has been a gem and I have never seen a writer pinpoint their craft down as well as she does. I am confounded by these books and will forever be a fan of Natalia and this series, because it is the best book series I have ever read to date. I am deeply saddened that this series is over, but it leaves you on such a hopeful note and you walk away smiling, bittersweet is is done, but happy that these characters will live on in your heart. I am grateful for this series so much, and I will end this review by saying this series and this book was indeed a dream. Thank you, Natalia ♡

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Natalia's writing style whilst reading Trick and with each book I fell a little bit more in love. She has an incredible talent for creating unique and vibrant voices for her characters. Each of the eight main characters in this series have such incredible depth, and we get to fall in love with all of them, despite all of their flaws, or maybe, because of their flaws. The books really focus on character development and each of our protagonists grows over the course of their book - not only as a couple but also as an individual.

Each of the love stories has common threads woven in to the tale, and I am happy to say that we do get to see the characters from previous books in the later ones. Although I love each of the characters, my favourites from the series are Poet, Aspen and Lyrik. I am a sucker for a sassy character and these three can sass with the best of them.

As well as the incredible character development the world building in the Foolish Kingdom books is amazing. The four kingdoms of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter are so distinct and yet share so many of the same issues, very much like our own divided world. I love that Natalia has tackled some really important issues in this series. It is done so well, and as the stories progress throughout the book we are given another voice, another perspective, to add to this already rich world. Each of the book takes place in a different kingdom, we start off in Spring with Trick and then visit Summer for Dare, Autumn for Lie and lastly we head to Winter for Dream. Each of the four kingdoms has something magical, something wonderful about it, and I am glad that we got to explore each of them through the perspectives of our couples.

It was with mixed feelings that I finished Dream, the ending was, for want of a better word, was perfect - the perfect ending to a wonderful series. Yet, on the other hand I was also so sad that the end of Dream means the end of the series. And I would love to spend at least another few books in the lands of Winter and Autumn. I would recommend the Foolish Kingdoms books to any fantasy and romance fans. The series contains four of the best examples of hate to love that I have read - and as it's one of my favourite tropes I have read a lot of them!

[Parvati Patil · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
The story is just the usual retelling, but the writing is really good. This is the first series I've read by Jaster but it won't be my last. Love it.

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous series, I think Dream was my favourite. Just enchanting. Love Nicu and Lyrik. If you haven’t read the Foolish Kingdom books, do yourself a favour ❤️

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

08.10.2021:"And they were happy orange."

I'm just going to lie here for a minute or something, drowning in feels 🥰😭

***************************************

"I cannot think of a more meaningful, nor more powerful, tale to conclude this series than coming full circle with Poet’s son. This is what my jester and princess have always fought for: their child’s freedom. For Nicu’s right to grow up, to love and be loved in return."

Assuming the whole book and the ending of "Dream" failed to make me cry, this afterword from Natalia surely did its job. Still, that assumption would be inaccurate as I've been a sobbing mess throughout the several last chapters of this book.

I love symmetry, parallels and full circles in all things so Dream being about Nicu appealed to me on a whole different level. And I am so very pleased to say that the story didn't disappoint one bit!

Nicu is all grown up and let me tell you, this boy has got feisty. And I love it. In this book, we have alternating 1st person pov and 3rd person pov, which is an interesting combination. I thought it'd be tiring and confusing to switch back and forth but that wasn't the case. And Nicu's pov, that I was MOST CURIOUS about, worked out splendidly! It's even more poetical, beautiful and unique and a touch chaotic here and there, which in my humble opinion served well to show a world from a perspective of someone with spacial and directional impairment.

Nicu and Lyrik's story was full of angst and doubt but it was amazing as well. It did contain one trope I don't really appreciate aka a combination of "I'm not good enough" + "I will break up with you for your own good" but the way it was written made me not mind that much, to be honest. A more than that, the genuine connection I could feel between Lyrik and Nicu made up for that in earnest.

Also...

POET AND BRIAR ARE BACK WOOHOOOO

And Jeryn and Flare!

And Aspen and Aire!

Everyone is back and it's fabulous and I was going through a mirage of emotions between laughing at Poet and Jeryn's bickering, tearing up at Poet, Briar and Nicu family moments and biting my nails during Poet's surgery.

And most of all, I couldn't help but cry at the end, with all of them together, working and fighting for their dream, for Nicu's Dream. With Nicu taking matters into his own hands and realizing he is the only one responsible for his own happiness and for achieving his dreams, not a mystical wishing star (although it is always fun to chase after those!). The scene where Nicu stands up for himself was so powerful. This whole book was powerful.

I've been fan of Natalia's writing since the very first pages of "Trick" and this has been a wonderful, magical journey. The way she weaves words together makes me feel things so deeply, because despite this being fantasy, her characters seem so real.

My first thought when I finished "Dream"' was that I do not want to say goodbye. And I will not. I can already see myself rereading this series over and over again. Because it's just so. damn. good.

[Raven_Blake (dreamy addictions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same Review Also Posted On My Blog: Dreamy Addictions

The foolish kingdoms is one of my favorite NA fantasy series. It’s a unique fantasy romance series which deals with friendship, love, family, and mental disabilities. Dream is the final installment in this series. It’s a love story between a Songbird and a Potioneer. I have been waiting for Niku and Lyrik’s story since I have finished Lie. I enjoyed all the books in this series but my favorite will always be trick. This book can be read as a standalone but I strongly suggest you guys to check out the other books in this series too.

The story picks up three years after the events in Lie where Nicu gets his heart crushed by Lyrik. He loses his ability to sing and hates Lyrik for leaving him. In Iradis of Wiinter, Lyrik has done three years of apprenticeship. He’s skilled in Alchemy and Potionry. He doesn’t regret rejecting Nicu because they both come from different worlds and any relationship between them will never be possible, but he can’t help thinking about him these past three years. When he learns that King Jerin had invited his songbird to Winter, his heart is in turmoil. Nicu is a dreamer and he wants to hunt the Winter’s legendary star in Iradis that grants wishes. When they both meet, the attraction is still there, but they try to deny their feelings for each other. Nicu is ready to move on and he don’t want to get his heart broken once again.

I loved Nicu’s character since he was a little kid and now he is a grown up man but I still find him adorable and cute. His innocence yet smart personality is quite appealing. Despite his disability, he always stood strong and brave which is very admirable. We seriously need more characters like this in the literary world. Now coming to our roguish Potioneer Lyrik, he’s a total bad boy. He cares for Nicu but keeps his distance because he thinks that he doesn’t deserve him. I feel bad for this guy. His back story really surprised me and now I can understand why he acted a bit cold sometimes. I quite enjoyed the forbidden relationship between Nicu and Lyrik. They’re total opposites but perfect for each other. There was a lot of sexual tension between them. Whenever they meet they either clashed or lit the pages on fire. Their romance was sweet, sexy, and totally swoon worthy. As for the secondary characters, I liked Nicu’s sidekick Whisper. She’s a deer who can understand Nicu perfectly well. Every protagonist in this series has a pet sidekick and my favorite is Flare’s Mr. Knight, the frog. I loved the Cameo appearances of Poet, Briar, Flare, Jerin, Aspen, and Aire. They’re all main characters in previous installments but in this book they’re supporting characters. I really enjoyed Poet’s role as a protective father in this book.

The plot was heartwarming and entertaining! The pacing was good but I did found some parts a little slow. I loved the whole concept and it makes a perfect ending to this epic series. That last part made me a bit worried but I’m glad that it ended with a happy ending. The author’s writing was beautiful and lyrical. It’s one of the best aspects of this series. The book was written in dual POV’s switching between Nicu’s third person POV and Lyrik’s first person POV. The world building was great. I liked the wintery landscape the author had created. As usual, this book doesn’t have real magic but it still feels like a magical read.

Overall, it was a great read! I loved the ending, It perfectly wrapped up the series. The whole journey was fun a ride and It’s sad that it is finally over. I’m definitely gonna miss these characters especially Poet. Anyways, I can’t wait to check out Natalia’s other series.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

1) Trick ★★★★☆
2) Dare ★★★★☆
3) Lie ★★☆☆☆

"He sang a carol about love, about many loves, about four loves. He sang a foolish story, a dangerous story, a dishonest story, and a wishful story. He sang about a trick, and a dare, and a lie, and a dream."

This was an amazing and beautiful conclusion to this series. While I liked the Selfish Myths series very much, I loved the Foolish Kingdoms series much more. It's true that it's the one where I gave a two stars rating to one of the novels, but since all the others were four stars ratings, my expectations might also have been higher for this series and the conclusion didn't disappoint. Selfish Myths was fun, but Foolish Kingdoms is another level of beautiful.

With Dream, we get Nicu's story (once again, while those novels seem to be standalones, please read them in order as the characters in one book made appearances from the others, and the characters from previous books make appearances in the next ones - especially with Dream which brings the series full circle) and I loved him and Lyrik. Their romance is another of my favorites, and it's worth saying that it's the first book where the main romance isn't a straight one. It can be a hit or miss when an author who gave us straight romances in the past writes a gay one, and in the case of Natalia Jaster, it's a win.

Both Nicu and Lyrik get great character's development of their own, not just the romance between them, and I loved them both on their own and together. I think they might be my favorite couple so far, which is saying something considering how much I love Poet and Briar.

The characters and romances from this series will stay in my heart and I'll definitely reread this series in the future. I'm so grateful I came cross Kiss the Fae while looking for new NA fae books because I didn't only find a great novel, but also an amazing author and reading all her previous books was such a beautiful journey. Fans of NA who still haven't read Natalia Jaster are definitely missing out.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sing me a song, Songbird.”

I am glad to say that I liked Dream a lot more than the middle two instalments of the Foolish Kingdoms series. While I really enjoyed the first Trick, I had several issues with the sequels. A few aspects that bothered me lapped over into Dream - if you want me to take your book seriously, don't literally call animal characters sidekicks. Unless it's a parody or a heavily comedic work, just don't call them that, it takes away the realistic feel of the story and I cringed every time it came up, and it came up a lot.

In that same vein, tropes were made literal - Nicu narrates that all main couples of the four books are enemies-to-lovers. Come one, it's a trope, not a phrasing you literally throw into your story. In any case, I would argue that not all of the said couples are enemies-to-lovers; some of them certainly are, but some of them are also more along the lines of opposites attract as they were never actual enemies.

So apart from cringing every time sidekicks and tropes were tossed about, I really enjoyed Nicu's story - surprisingly so. I was actually a little uncertain given Nicu's condition and how that would translate to an adult narration and love story. The author did really well on that front, though, with no small thanks to Lyrik whose narration I enjoyed the most. Despite his rough edges, he's such a genuine and nice character. I hadn't quite made up my mind about him in the previous book, but I can now say that I definitely like him.

There was also a lot more foreshadowing than I had expected and it brought the series to a nice closure, patching up some events that were left hanging in previous books. Having really enjoyed Trick, it was definitely a rewarding ending. It turned out to be a nice series - there are a few clumsy elements but the author writes both likable and relatable characters and certainly knows how to write a nice romance.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review can be found on my blog here.

This was the perfect way to close off such a beautiful series. I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did, but Natalia Jaster once again defied all expectations. Dream brought Foolish Kingdoms to a full circle with Nicu and Lyrik’s story, and it was magical.

Words cannot describe how beautifully written Natalia Jaster's works are, but this one definitely takes the lead. Nicu sees the world in such a vivid way, and being able to read from his POV was just breathtaking. There are so many quotable quotes in this novel, and as my roommate says, there are a lot of “roll credits” lines as well. Natalia does a wonderful job with bringing these characters of her book to life, and the raw emotion they feel is written in such a detailed and evocative way. I especially love the latter part of the story, which brought together all the couples from the previous novels. The special appearances only added to the depth the series had, and really made me feel so nostalgic.

I genuinely don’t know why this series (and Natalia herself) isn’t hyped about. If you’re looking for something that will change your life and bring you way too much emotion to bear with, go pick this book, and the rest of the series up. You won’t be disappointed. This book releases in two weeks, so if you want to start the books, it’s best to do it now!

[Michelle | michelledevoursbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a land of the four seasons, those born with ailments and disabilities, known as "fools," fight for rights and equality. Natalia Jaster's TRICK (book 1) introduced Briar and Poet, and Poet's son Nicu. Having both physical and mental attributes of "fools," Nicu always had the cards stacked against him. In LIE (book 3), Nicu ventures with the knight Aire and the wooden girl Aspen to the tree colony of Autumn. There he meets Lyrik, there he falls for him, and there Lyrik leaves him. DREAM continues Nicu's story as he ventures to the Winter kingdom, confronts his past, and searches for a wish to mend a broken heart and find his voice once more.

Jaster does a wonderful job of reconciling Nicu and Lyrik's past with the struggles in DREAM. Lyrik was the smartass potioner we met in LIE, but was given wonderful depth and emotion, particularly when it came to his self-worth. I had more trouble connecting with Nicu and I think this is due to his POV being in third person. It lacked the emotion that Jaster instilled in her other characters. Once Nicu's actions begin to speak volumes, you gain the connection. It just took a while.

This was not wholly Nicu and Lyrik's story. The last half of the book found all the couples from previous books conspiring in their social justice endeavors. It was a treat to see all of the familiar faces again and follow their hysterical interactions. Although this detrracted from the love story at the heart of DREAM, it gave wonderful depth to the series as a whole and made me tear up with nostalgia.

The Foolish Kingdoms series, DREAM included, is emotional journey with an undercurrent of magic. This final installment continued the touching and important narrative, including that the struggle isn't over and their's always more work to do. Nicu's story and the series' conclusion was an absolute treat.

I received an ARC of this book from the author. This in no way influenced my honest review.

[Klarisa ☾✵ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't planning on continuing with the Foolish Kingdom series. Not because it wasn't good, but because it was just lacking something. When I read the first novel, Trick, I just felt like it was lacking some depth and immersion. The concept of the world and characters was interesting, but it felt bare boned overall.

However, this book was available when I was on a Kindle Unlimited Subscription and I was interested in seeing Nicu (who was a small child in Trick) all grown up. I didn't dislike it, but again it was missing that immersion and emotional attachment. The characters had the makings of becoming unique and memorable, but they just didn't get to that investment level that I wanted. Again, not bad, just not exactly good either.

[Jodie Cowdell · Rating 5 out of 5]

All my suns and all my moons. Thank you for taking me tumble-weeding. So much love for Nicu and Lyriks story. 😍😍😍😍

Loved it even more the second time around. ❤

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I finish a four or the rare five star read, I just know my gush is never as compelling as a gripe review. But get it while the gettin's good; four/five stars are getting harder and harder to come by, and despite my last Natalia Jaster book, she hardly disappoints. This review will go... all over the place, as per usual. I have been waiting for Lyrik and more importantly Nicu to come not only together, but into their own. And seeing Winter Court doesn't hurt either. This book reads like a strenuous winter hike; you trek out into the storm, getting stung from face to feet with what appears to be beautiful snow, but you just know there's a hot cup of tea waiting for you in the cabin at journey's end. Nicu isn't a docile born fool. Despite his kind elfin features, and whimsical way of speech (those oh so charming turns of phrase such as,"happy orange" and "silly pink", are sprinkled throughout his POV), he's not blind to brutality. Brutality comes in the form of Lyrik, who left Nicu high and dry at Lie's end three years back. Unlike most brooding heroes, Lyrik isn't forgiven upon first or even fifth meeting; Nicu lets forth all the anger and pain he's been holding back. And though Nicu understands more than anyone what it is to feel unworthy/unloved, he laments that it doesn't excuse Lyrik's behavior. Don't be sorry; be smart. Jeryn and Flare are back! Side note, I couldn't help but sense a pseudo father-son relationship between Jeryn and Lyrik, given that Lyrik is half Winter, half Summer. Perhaps Jeryn's seeing what could be if he comes up with antidote for Flare... Speaking of, Flare and Jeryn were perfection, perhaps on par with Poet and Briar. I had to remember that Jeryn purchased Flare for the sake of gutting her (his words) without hesitation in the name of science; it took more than a few weeks a nice word to make her his wife. Poet and Briar in particular have it the hardest; they have to understand (like all parents) that they did a great job bringing Nicu up, but now he's up. Oh yeah, Aspen and Aire were there too, but you all know how very "meh" I am about them. It was perfect, but I wanted more: I wanted a bigger announcement from Briar to Poet (when you get there, you'll get what I mean); I wanted Jeryn and Flare to have their own children, teaching a balance of reason and whimsy. Am I greedy? You bet! However, Nicu remaining in Winter was the cherry on the series sundae. It began with a ribbon, and now that ribbon's made into a neat little bow.

[MiraJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sing me a song, Songbird.”

“He sang a carol about love, about many loves, about four loves. He sang about a foolish story, a dangerous story, a dishonest story, and a wishful story. He sang about a trick, and a dare, and a lie, and a dream.”

What an ending, what a journey, and what a dream this entire series has been. It all started with Nicu, so how perfect wasn’t it that’s how it ended as well? A beautiful ribbon to wrap up this tricking, daring, deceitful and dreamful tale. From the place it all started it also ends.

The nostalgia throughout the entire book was on the max. The years that had past, the hardships that had been overcome as well as hardships yet to be defeated all made a grand entrance together with all the main characters throughout the series. Together as one they were for sure a force to be reckoned with bringing so many strong and unique personalities to the table, but all united in one thing; equality for everyone in all the four Seasons. Nicu, being the catalyst for this change from the beginning, it was very clever having him be the resolution and center piece to it all as well. Him having to overcome his own hardships and difficulties that we only got to see scratch the surface in previous books was finally dwelled deeper into. He got his own tale and his own romance story.

I pretty much fell in love with Nicu from book one. So lovable, different and sweet that it was hard not to. Especially the heartbreak of his confusion and sorrow of being treated like a lesser person and a fool had him pulling at my heartstrings. I found myself constantly wanting to crawl into the story and give him a giant hug. At the same time I got to see him grow from an imaginative cheerful little boy to a man. Still cheerful with a wonderful childlike imagination but now with some reservations and mental scars hidden. I love how he interacted with Lyrik, them constantly drawn to each other and always butting heads. The strangely wonderful conversations and their opposite personalities drew me into the relationship like a fish on a hook. While it in the beginning dragged out a bit where nothing much happened, it soon enough picked up and I fell in love. I fell for brute-gone-soft Lyrik and once again the songbird Nicu. I fell for the drama, the struggles and I fell for their love.

If I wished one thing however, it would be that their relationship would have been given more room than it got. While they were the main couple in Dream, they sometimes completely disappeared behind the other power couples. Don’t get me wrong. I loved getting reacquainted with all the characters again, seeing Jeryn and Flare reunited. Seeing Poet and Briar being their wonderfully quirky and loving selves together with Nicu and seeing Aspen and Aire enjoying married life. However, it feel like the author spent too much time trying to show us how deliriously happy they all were that both Lyrik and Nicu were forgotten when they were supposed to be the the most important characters in Dream. Since I was hoping to see them all again it wasn’t the end of the world, but I just wished it had been a bit toned down.

Another thing not given enough room was the conflict. I mean, the fight and all was very well written, but instead of the story building up to that it kind of just come out of nowhere. If so many were displeased I feel like we would have seen it escalate throughout the book until it hit that boiling point. And sure, we got to see some sneering and laughing at Nicu and one particular person being downright nasty to him, but it wasn’t really anything that I could tell would lead to something. Even the resolution to all the fighting ended quickly. The means to how it ended was for sure unique and epic, but I feel like if it turned so ugly it wouldn’t have ended so easily with everyone happy just like that. It didn’t feel real to me.

Still, with the pervious characters and Nicu and Lyrik all together and happily ever after just around the corner I could easily forget the issues and move on. With the end came some new and exciting surprises that had my toes curling. While it might have been a bit too sappy and slightly unrealistic for me with everyone over the moon in love and happy I am still a sucker for happy endings and I could see no better way for this epic adventure to end. Were it all started it also ended, just as it should.

“And they were happy orange.”

[Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Okay, so without spoiling anything from prior books -- this one is my second favorite in the series and I adore this couple. It also has a fantastic ending which I felt gave the series a feeling of closure. It made me happy, nostalgic, and gave me a yearn for more even while agreeing that there was nothing more I could ask for. It features all the main characters and brings the issue of Fools to a good close. 

NOW, here there might be some minor spoilers for book 1 and 3, because I'll be talking about Nicu and will slightly touch on what happens to him and Lyrik in book 3. 

I LOVE THEM. When I saw that Nicu was going to get a book I was whole-heartedly excited. I love that another character with a mental disability became a main character AND that he falls in love with another guy. Again, in this world there is no stigma on sexual preferences, so they don't have those trials to face, which was nice because they have enough in front of them as it is. 
Nicu is the son of a famous Jester and is raised as royalty-- he is known as a Prince-- while Lyrik isn't royalty, but a inventor in Winter. Nicu is brave, kindhearted, a dreamer, and an actual cinnamon roll come to life, while Lyrik is hardened, pushes people away so he doesn't get hurt, and is the one who broke Nicu's heart, forcing him to finally grow up. This couple has history, both good and sad, and yet they can't stay away from each other. Their romance is sweet, adorable, and oh so painful. My heart!! This couple just hurt me so bad. I love them haha. 

The story could be slow at times and occasionally I did forget the background story, but the couple and their budding romance more than made up for it. 

[Ashlee Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful ending to a truly enchanting series!

There's something so perfectly lyrical (pun intended!) about wrapping up this narrative about compassion, understanding, and equality for all "fools" with Nicu's story, and showing how he's able to not only find his own voice but forge his own life to fill it with love, with all the "happy orange" his heart will allow. Given his impairments, his perceptions of the world are as vivaciously topsy-turvy as they are mellifluous and bewitching. Hence why they only make him all the more magnetic as a character. You can't help but want to lend him your ear (and eyes) so he can dazzle you with the tingling cadence of his words. And, boy, does he dazzle!

Lyrik, too, is full of spunk and bluntness and unapologetic sarcasm - as any rogue should be - only it's the tender kindling he tries so desperately to hide which makes him so gripping. The struggle in him throngs, and while I'm usually not a fan of the "not good enough" trope, his silent you-deserve-better sufferings and toilings still managed to well a few tears in my eyes. (Which is quite an authorial feat, let me tell you!) Lyrik can be distant and callous when he shouldn't be, but he somehow finds a way to soften you with his passionate, genuine affection for the Royal Son and the way he comes to know the best and worst of himself. The peek into his mind, chronicling his thoughts and the reasons why he acted in certain ways, helps to alleviate much of the frustration I'd ordinarily experience with a character like him who repeatedly "walks away."

As a whole, Lyrik and Nicu's love story is the perfect balance of angst and feelings too strong to subdue, and I adore how it resonates through every line, every sentence, every page, like a dreamy ballad with no earthly rival. The reappearance of other characters from the series - Poet, Briar, Jeryn, Flare, Aspen, and Aire - is the cherry on top because it underlines the dream they all fought to build and implement, with them back to finally carry it over the finish line. Together.

There's so much to love about this book, about this series. My only complaint is that I still don't know Poet's real name, but do I care that much? Not really. After all, I figure a jester likes to keep his audience guessing. ;)

[Nerissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazing.

full review to come...

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great installment in the series. I won’t say (I refuse in fact) that it’s the final book, because I really hope that we get some future stories, even with the ending we have. Only Trick topped it, and I suspect that’s because I went into Trick with no expectations and was surprised (pleasantly) with a great story and a great world.

With Dream, I had already met the characters and knew their world, so there were fewer surprises. That being said, there was a ton to like and a few pieces of information that were definitely unexpected. I liked how Jaster circled back with all of the other couples and inter-twined their stories with that of Nicu and Lyrik. I do feel, sometimes, as though it was forced a little bit in a few spots, but overall well handled. I also would have liked a bit more Flare but I get that it was hard to bring her in without having a chapter from her perspective, simply because she had limited ways to express herself verbally with the rest of the group.

So, confession time: I spent most of Lie invested more in Nicu’s story than in Aspen and Aire’s. While I still loved Lie, it was probably the book that I liked least in the series. I felt that Nicu actually saved the book in a lot of ways for me. So to have Dream pick up and be such a strong follow up made my day.

I don’t think that you can really read Dream as a stand alone, simply because of the story we get in Lie that kick starts the Nicu-Lyrik dynamic. I tried to take a step back to assess this, and even with glimpses here and there of their time with Aspen in the treehouse, I can't see how someone picking it up wouldn't lose something by not having read the other three volumes. This book tells a story that ties all of the work and relationship from the first stories together. That means it’s also the one story that really shouldn’t be read alone.

Nicu is great as a character. He’s always been special in many ways, and this book gives us a chance to see that. From his friendship with Whisper to his truth-telling. Lyrik also evolves as something more than his past and his outside façade, which was necessary of course for him to be a likeable person. Their romance works, and even the love triangle (of sorts) didn’t annoy me as much as love triangles typically do. I mean, most love triangles are either about making the main romance a little more complicated for a while (which I hate as a plot device) or about a main character having trouble deciding between two people (which makes me think they’re just not very nice people).

Add in some great writing and some interesting metaphors, and you’ve got another great Jaster book. I don’t know how she comes up with some of her turns of phrase, but it’s so lyrical (pun intended).

[Lynn Give 'Em Hel Vetica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely book to finish out the series; it tied everything up very nicely. My third favorite of the series. And verily, if Poet and Briar ever want to make a reappearance in their own series, I would welcome that profoundly.

Later, they would flaunt the Royal event that everyone expected. The showy one where a boisterous population of thousands would crowd the Autumn streets, tossing maple leaves into the air and cheering. The extravagant one where the jester got to splurge, juggle—and wear a crown. Seasons help us. With Poet at the helm, that platinum day was going to stress the lot of us. As it was, we’d already been subjected to the planning for this intimate affair. In the past month, he’d been a high-maintenance brat to everyone within whining distance, lamenting about food, music, pastries, and his hair. Speaking of the bride from hell, Poet arrived.

Nicu is precious and joyful and I love the way he thinks and dreams. The only thing that gave me slight pause was seeing him in an adult relationship. I can't help but feel much like Briar and Poet (feeling overly protective) and thinking no one is good enough for him. But in the end I suppose Lyrik proves himself worthy kinda sorta.

He hummed to the flocked trees, to the fringed trees, to the frostbitten trees. Their needles threaded and shivered, his voice ruffling their edges, making them chuckle. Funny, since he’d been told that few things chuckled in this kingdom.

Lyrik's motivations became much more clear in this book, as they were quite muddled and hard to decipher previously. There were a few times I wanted to wallop him upside the head for being so awful to Nicu. He was so hot and cold it was infuriating, but now I am able to see his rationale.

Making me notice. Making me look at him, too. But what had made the biggest difference was his voice. It used to flutter like a butterfly, while I’d swatted the air like a jackass, trying to catch something too bright to be caught.

I am infinitely happy to see the return of Briar and Poet. They make my soul sing and I love them so.

“Ah, Your Majesty,” Poet said. “’Tis been months since I heard your vixen call.” Jeryn grimaced. “I suggest we forgo your compliments and break our fast.” “Such a pity, for you haven’t yet complimented me. Don’t I look ravishing? I wore this coat just for you.”

I'm quite well pleased to see everybody got their happily ever after and equally chuffed that they're all working towards making their kingdoms more tolerant. It's so wondrous to see a book with such inclusivity, proving that just because some people are different it doesn't make them lesser.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely and beautiful conclusion to the Foolish Kingdoms series. Dream is about Nicu and Lyrik's story, a couple that I've been interested since they appeared and clashed together in Lie.

This is the story of how a boy of lost carols and the boy of potions, Nicu and Lyrik respectively, find themselves in a whirlwind romance full of angst, lots of banter, tension and precious sweet moments. The push and pull of their strenuous relationship alongside the premise of Wisdom's Eve, a holiday where Nicu hopes to find his voice and Lyrik hopes to make a name for himself to the world, collide the two together as magic whirls around them in the Winter kingdom. Nicu is Nicu, someone who is special, a sunrise, a blooming song, and a fighter to the end. Lyrik never coddled Nicu and understood him in more ways that one, so their romance was special and natural, and we get to see Lyrik's reason for leaving him behind and why his past-why he never thought he was good enough for Nicu. We also get to experience Nicu's own hunt to find himself and make his own way, finding in the end the wish he was looking for all along, while having his heart broken and encountering new experiences and friends and a kickass animal companion in the form of a deer named Whisper.

Not to forget, the appearances of the other couples really made my day. I loved how everyone came together full circle in Dream with Nicu's own chance to be able to free to love whoever he wants, and to be free as person. What started in Trick, seeped into Dare and blew into Lie, culminated in the start of change for all the Seasons in Dream. I loved seeing Briar and Poet's banter, Flare and Jeryn's being reunited, and Aspen and Aire being their sassy and honest selves. Natalia wrote each of the couple's endings and futures beautifully, with a few surprises here and there.

Words cannot express how much this series means to me and what this ending makes me feel. Nicu will forever hold a special place in my heart alongside the rest of the couples in the series. I am so forever grateful to Natalia Jaster for making such a wonderful series full of awesome characters and for sharing their Foolish stories of love with us.

It comes with a bittersweet feeling to have to say goodbye to this series but their message and their stories of love and acceptance will stay with me forever. Alongside with the intricate and beautiful writing, I will never forget the joy I reread this series over and over again.

Let us not forget to wish and to Trick, and Dare, and Lie, and most of all to Dream.

[Anya F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, just wow. I can't believe we've come this far. After the first three books, Dream really was the perfect way to conclude the entire series. As Natalia had said herself, the story of the Foolish Kingdom started off with Poet, and there is no better way to end the series than with Nicu, Poet's son.

The story focuses on Nicu and Lyrik's relationship (finally!), which we've read about in Lie. Now they're finally the main character. I just love the entire "like each other, aren't together, but still like each other" trope. And that's what this is. Honestly, this is the first guyxguy novel I've read, but there is no one more suitable for Nicu than Lyrik himself. I mean, aside from the fact that Lyrik understands Nicu's whimsical langauge, he even uses the same words to communicate to Nicu.

Anyway, aside from the obvious romance, here are more reasons why you would love this book:
- The characters we love make a return. Reading that scene unfold was like the Avengers finally assembled together. I was cheering so hard, cause I love unity and teamwork themes in a story, and this was definitely it. Plus, it's so nostalgic to read about every couple we were introduced to before.
- The sidekick is a hopeless romantic! Lol. I found this so funny. But there was a scene where the deer was watching a romantic scene, and it sighed in awe. That's downright adorable!
- Lyrik. There is no reason not to love Lyrik.
- Poet is back. There is no reason not to love Poet either. Some of the things he said made me laugh.
- Nicu and Lyrik working together was beautiful.
- I almost cried toward the end.. Oh, the end... It's such a perfect ending.
- The message. As always, one of the things I admire about Natalia's writing is the message of change she put in her story. There were so many phrases I highlighted because they were so beautiful and really made me think.
- Natalia's writing is as seamless and beautiful as always. With every character coming together in one book, we really get to see the extent of her skills. From Poet's lyrical proses, to Aire's fanciful Victorian-like speech, Flare's strong voice despite her inability to speak, Nicu's speech that was so innocent and riddle-like, Briar's poignant one, Aspen being Aspen, and Lyrik's honest rogue-ish narration... I just... I'm blown away.

Thank you so much for writing this series! I hope more people will pick up this book and read it.

[Maddy Estherby · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fantastic, heart-wrenching and beautiful conclusion to the Foolish Kingdoms series and I could not get enough of it. The story of Lyric and Nicu is a sweet, intense romance. I devoured this story and know you will too.

Where do I even begin to start with this book? Dream is the fourth and final book of the Foolish Kingdoms series and follows the story of Lyrik and Nicu who are characters who featured prominently in the third book Lie. Three years after Lyrik left the Kingdom of Autumn, Nicu visits the Kingdom of Winter where Lyrik works for the crown. Seeing each other once again, unresolved feelings abound, and as the two search for a dream, other feelings are discovered, some that will enlarge hearts, others that threaten to break them apart from the inside out.

Lyrik and Nicu have such an amazing story and I love the way it is told, between the two perspectives. It’s harsh, overwhelming, gorgeous and intense and every scene with the two of them together makes you ache with feeling. I love seeing the two of them go back and forth between each other, I love Nicu’s dream speak and how Lyrik understands him, and I love that it’s not over the top, or unrealistic in the way their relationship unfolds. It’s intense and full on, but in all the best ways.

Nicu is the son of Poet, our main character from book one Trick and I love that you get to see him come into his own across the whole series, as he sets out to live his life and discover love and life in the Kingdom of Winter. This book tackles concepts like family, love, life, disabilities and more, and does it in a way that is careful and meaningful. I love that Nicu being a born-fool isn’t ignored, but it rather celebrated and further explored in this novel.

The writing is absolutely gorgeous (as is all of Natalia’s work), and the plot unfolds fantastically. I love that we get to see the whole series ensemble come back and play a big role in changing the world that they are living in. It is great to look back at this series and see where it has led to since the events of Trick, an ending that I really didn’t see coming but is so wonderful.

You get to see my favourites Trick and Briar, as well as Jeryn, Flare, Aspen and Aire. I like that you get so many nods to the other books and how it is just such a conclusive ending, but not one that has you rolling your eyes. It’s gorgeous and mystical and magical and truly perfect.

The Foolish Kingdoms series has stolen my heart and made me want nothing more than to travel to Mista and live there forever. Thank you Natalia for a series that has romance, fun, love and laughter. It has truly been a dream.

Recommended for: fantasy lovers, romance lovers, anyone who loves romantic tension. This story has a good amount of smut (a lot) so best to avoid if you don’t like that, or if under 17.

Quotes:

“‘So it begins, so it lasts.’ The ultimate vow in Winter.”

“Lyrik was a cyclone. An unpredictable blast of air that capsized Nicu, then caught him when he least expected it, kept him from falling.”

“Why did wants always come with unwants?”

“It made sense that he’d been singing about thieves. Because the sight of him finished me off, stealing the rest of my air.”

“Ink,” Paste remarked. “Now that is a mighty weapon.”

“He sang a carol about love, about many loves, about four loves. He sang about a foolish story, a dangerous story, a dishonest story, and a wishful story. He sang about a trick, and a dare, and a lie, and a dream.”

[Roan Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minor spoilers ahead!


Foolish Kingdoms is one of my all-time favorite book series. It’s a collection of tales that will make you believe in magic, will make you cry, will make you laugh, will make you swoon.

Briar (first appearing in “Trick”) is one of the few female characters out there I feel like I can relate to. Aside from being a fellow redhead, she is strong and quiet and brave and gentle all at once. And her lover, the Court Jester himself, Poet, has to be one of my favorite characters of all time. Other than being a total dreamboat, I find him to be so refreshingly complex in a literary world riddled with tropes and stereotypes. His son, Nicu, is no exception.

I was so excited to hear that sweet, doe-eyed Nicu was getting his own tale in this final installment and “Dream” couldn’t have exceeded my expectations anymore.

Nicu and Lyrik are like opposing hues on a color wheel— their differences compliment each other, contrast each other. Together, they become brighter. Jaster’s fantastic use of character voice in each POV really shines with these two. Nicu, bright and musical. Lyrik, smokey and brooding. Their trials and tribulations throughout the story are human and realistic. They are both fierce people— they love fiercely and fight fiercely.

The couple’s story is wound seamlessly into the over-arching theme of the entire series: equality for all. I couldn’t hide my giddiness seeing characters from the past books all coming together and rising up together. Many, many late nights were spent fangirling over each jest and interaction!

“Dream" left me with all of the rawness of a good book hangover; the heartache that it’s over and warm feeling that you’re still enveloped in the world. A beautifully wrapped conclusion tied with a scarlet ribbon. ;)