REVERIE is a captivating and unique YA fantasy without adequate comparisons. The book follows Kane, a teenage boy who was in a strange car accident and who has lost a lot of his memories. He is close to his sister, Sophia, but is otherwise a bit of a loner. That is, he thought he was, but upon finding some pictures and running into some classmates, he is learning that the truth was something different.

Kane has stumbled upon The Others, a group which he was once a part of. This group has powers and can remain lucid during reveries, the magical manifestation of someone's fantasy/dreams that overtakes reality and must come to completion before they unravel it. Otherwise, the world may be destroyed.

As hinted in the synopsis, Poesy is a drag queen whose role is unclear. At first, she seems like a help to Kane, but her plots may be more sinister than they originally seem. With Kane's memories forgotten, the reader follows along with him to understand the past, save the present, and act to save the future.

What I loved: This was a truly unique book, and I was completely enthralled from start to finish. I am not sure I have ever read something like this, and the comparisons all seem inadequate. I loved the characters too- Kane was himself and yet lost. Through his eyes, we explore everyone else. Poesy was probably one of my favorite villains in fantasy for her magical prowess, devious subterfuge, and her lofty speech. She was hard to pinpoint, and I think it made her all the more intriguing.

Add that to The Others who we are unsure whether they are friend or foe, but the reader is still compelled to like, and Dean- mysterious boy- who really comes to life and evolves during the story. Dean is another amazing character, but the whole cast was just really well crafted.

The whole premise was just fantastic too, as people's inner fantasies come to life in incredible, albeit sometimes horrific, displays. The power of such truths and their oddities were really beautifully well done. While some things made you laugh, others made you want to cry- it was fascinating. The world-building here was really amazing. Oh, and also, the LGBTQIA+ representation was really well done, with many characters and beautiful romances.

Final verdict: Overall, this was a truly unique and enthralling fantasy with incredible characters, a well-crafted plot, and great romances. I would definitely love to see more from this talented author. Highly recommend for anyone looking for something completely different in YA fantasy. You won't regret picking up this gem!