This Vicious Dream

Kingdom of Death, Book 1

De: Stacia Stark

Narrado por: Meg Sylvan, Tim Paige

Once, I helped save a kingdom.

Now, I’m trapped in a prison of thorns and nightmares.

My crime? Knowing the location of a power that could reshape the world—a grimoire I swore to protect with my life.

That secret is the only thing keeping me alive while my captors wait for me to break.

Until he arrives.

Beautiful. Ruthless. Dark, inscrutable eyes. A dangerously wicked grin.

But he’s not here to rescue me. He wants the grimoire for himself–and he’ll destroy anyone who stands in his way. My only choice is a fragile, temporary alliance with a man I can never trust.

Because there’s more at stake than just a stolen grimoire or an ancient grudge.

And behind his mask of effortless allure, he’s hiding something far more dangerous than a thirst for power.

Something that could destroy us all.

©2025 Stacia Stark (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

Stellar Story!

This was every bit as good as Kingdom of Lies, I just couldn’t stop listening!

Swoon

The banter is top tier and begins immediately. I enjoyed the book a lot. Did the audio for a reread and liked it even more. Ends on a cliffhanger and am anxiously awaiting the next.

Loved Madinia's Story

I honestly could have died when this book announcement was released!! Getting to go back into the World of Kingdom of Lies, but this time to see Madinia’s Story!! I have been waiting for months (but it feels like forever) to be able to get my hands on this book and finally read it!! And I loved every second of it!

If you do not remember, Madinia was a crucial character in the Kingdom of Lies series that Stacia created!! She was always a character I loved, and I could not wait to be able to jump into this book!
My reviews are always a little different, because I truly do not like to put any type of spoilers in my reviews!! And that is a personal preference, because I would not want to ruin anything within the story for anyone else. I love that is Dual POV, as well!! Do you have to read the Kingdom of Lies series to be able to read This Vicious Dream? NO, the world building is fantastic, and this can be read as a standalone. But having all of the knowledge of Madinia’s background definitely made reading this more enjoyable.

We are meeting Madinia after the events of the Kingdom of Lies series. So it does feel like a continuation, but from another character’s point of view (WHICH I LOVED). Madinia is fiery, fierce, and deadly all on her own accord!! We are catching up with Madinia three years after the events of the ending of Kingdom of Lies, and much as happened to our poor girl. Madinia had originally fled with the grimorie and hid it from anyone who wanted to use it!! Especially for anything that they had fought so hard to change.

Calysian was also introduced in the Kingdom of Lies Series. A man with hidden secrets, unknown power, and a little amnesia (Yes, he doesn't remember some of why he is on the continent). We start to peel back the layers that is Calysian during their travels, including his secrets and him wanting the grimorie, and why. His hidden alternative motives come to light and have taken everyone off guard!

Together, Madinia and Caysian spend a good portion of the book not trusting each other further than they could throw each other. But you can feel that spark, that connection, something undeniable that they both feel, and try and fight for as long as they possibly can. Because in their eyes, they are each other's enemy. They spend a great portion of the book trying to outmaneuver each other and figure out what each other's true motives are. But somehow they still come together for some intimate moments, emotions and feelings get high(which is something Madinia is not used to). But too many things happen, that by the end of the book you are ready to start kicking some character butt too!

Lots of twists and turns happen along the way, and you may even see a favorite character or two from The Kingdom of Lies Series!! I truly enjoyed this read, and am so happy it is a duology and can not wait to read the next book, because that cliffhanger sucks!! But Stacia does like to torture us with her cliffhangers!

I do have an ARC of this book, but I read it after the book was released, so this is not an ARC review!

I did listen to the Audio version of the book, and I just loved it!! They continued to use the same narrators that they used with the Kingdom of Lies series, which just made it feel like I was coming home! The book was paced well, and the emotion felt from the narrators was amazing!!

Such a Good Time Returning to this World!

I was so excited to jump into This Vicious Dream by Stacia Stark and it did not disappoint!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

What you can expect…
📖Dual POV
🔥Prickly & Traumatized FMC
💀Cocky & Lost MMC
📖Reluctant Allies to Lovers
🔥Feminine Rage
💀Mystery & Adventure
📖Cheeky Banter
🔥Slow Burn Tension
💀Angst & Turmoil
📖Backstabbing & Trust Issues
🔥Ancient Magic & Prophecies
🐴One Surly & Belligerent Horse ❤️

I had such a good time reading this. The story is so clearly well thought out with incredible world and character/relationship building. The creativity and vivid imagery for places and monsters really is fantastic and you can’t help but picture the story in your mind. The story immediately grabs your attention from the beginning, and then the mysteries keep you on the edge of your seat, with bits of information revealed little by little; literally up until the last page, you will be hit with twists and turns. It’s interesting, intense, and riveting.

This book is exactly what I hope for in an interconnected series. For those who read the Kingdom of Lies (KoL) series, you certainly get a little extra so far as context, as well as the joy of following two beloved characters on a new and more focused journey. If you haven’t read the KoL series, you get plenty of context to follow enough of what transpired in that series so that everything makes perfect sense, but with a little delayed gratification (in a good way) by having to wait for certain information to be given.

I love poor traumatized and tortured Madinia, in all of her grumpy and aggressively prickly, feminine rage-fueled glory. She needs (and deserves) so much therapy and a good quiet life at the end of all of this, but Calysian is the perfect distraction/balm to her tortured soul. And the mysteries around Calysian are so intriguing, adding to the allure of his giant tense and stoic godliness.

The relationship between Calysian and Madinia is so deliciously angsty; the “will they, won’t they”- fueled by intense trust issues- is so well done and is an excellent portrayal of reluctant-allies to lovers. The banter is so much fun- I especially enjoyed how cheeky Calysian can be (like in Chapter 15). I thought the slow-burn pacing was perfect; you have to wait for it, but not too long, and without a 180 in their dynamic after they give in, which I think suits the story well. As the story progresses, their relationship truly develops into something so beautiful, yet beautifully tragic as they each pursue differing end goals. 😩😮‍💨

On a light, side-note, Calysian’s horse, Fox, is my favorite character. His sass, belligerence, and surly/bad attitude are hilarious and I just adore him.

This was such a good time and I cannot wait to see where this series goes… Stacia is a fantastic storyteller, and this book just got better with every page. I definitely recommend this one, especially if you enjoyed the KoL series!

Amazing story

I really liked the Kingdom of Lies series but this new book continues the story and is even better!!! The FMC is relatable the morally grey God/man is delicious great pacing and good twists.

loved this book!!

This story with Medinia was so good!! I need the next book to come out asap!!

Welcome back, Madinia!

I gobbled up the Kingdom of Lies series, and by the end all I wanted was a Madinia spin-off. See my exact mention in my review of that series here:

“I am also very tightly crossing my fingers for a spin-off perhaps focusing on a Pirate Queen and a certain fire wielding Hybrid???”

So when I found out this book was happening, I was thrilled!!

The action was packed and had me hooked from the very first chapter. Madinia was as feisty and prickly as ever, and seriously her signature fire to the story!

The ties to Kingdom of Lies were perfection and I loved the glimpses and the chance to catch up with some past characters. And I without a doubt, cannot wait to see how Madinia and Calysians relationship grows in the next book!

Excellent story!

Absolutely love Madinia and Calysian’s story! I was hoping they’d get their own spin off and Stacia Stark did not disappoint.

Not terrible but could have been better

This book jumps around a ton. Plot is interesting, but execution is pretty slap you in the face obvious. Feels like one of those times the editor made the author cut too much and the story suffered for it.