The Kingdom of Rising Nightmares
Exiled for loving the wrong person, Oliver will do anything to get back to the boy who broke his heart. But when he meets Thea, a girl tied by blood to the monstrous Labyrinth, he’ll have to confront the magic that tore his life apart and decide if saving her means saving the world...or destroying it.
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what readers are saying…
"The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams is just pure dopamine, baby."
Reactor
"Readers of the genre will appreciate this dark fantasy novel."
School Library Journal
Grounded by the heart-wrench of forbidden queer love, Michelle Kulwicki uplifts tenacity, resilience, and staunch determination in the face of monstrous darkness.
C. S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of the DARK RISE series
"This duology opener quickly dives into the action...[and] will leave readers anticipating more to come."
Kirkus Reviews
'“The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams, hits like buckshot: hard, fast, and where it matters most. Beautiful display of rough Americana and exhilarating magic that feels as fresh as it does grounded. A truly unique fantasy novel well deserving of a fandom of its own."
K. Ankrum, author of The Corruption of Hollis Brown, Icarus, and The Wicker King
"THE LABYRINTH OF WAKING DREAMS sets the stage for a stunning duology of magic and monsters—including those within ourselves. Filled with Kulwicki’s signature queer yearning, readers will be pining for a continuation of Oliver and Thea’s story. "
-Cass Biehn, author of Vesuvius
"Transporting you into an atmospheric world of bloody magic, ravenous monsters, and nightmares given teeth, The Labyrinth of Waking Dreams oozes shadows with every word, but the humanity and resilience of the characters shine through the darkness. Prepare to be ensnared at every twist and turn, until the final pages rip your heart out and leave you aching for the sequel."
―Camilla Raines, author of The Hollow and the Haunted, and The Forsaken and the Fated
In this adventure-packed portal fantasy, three teens discover a gateway to a mythical Labyrinth in the Appalachian Mountains
The barrier between worlds is broken, and Barren's Peak is paying the price. When Oliver and Thea flee the wreckage, they carry more than guilt: Oliver's magic is sporadic at best and destructive at worst, and Thea is hiding a secret that could destroy everything between them. A chance meeting with a mysterious woman at a roadside diner sends them chasing the Night Market, a hidden gathering of magical creatures already living on Earth. But the closer they get to the truth, the harder it becomes to tell the monsters from the people sworn to hunt them.
Meanwhile, Cal's friends have left him for dead, surrounded by monsters in the Labyrinth. Thea stabbed him, and Oliver probably would too now that he knows Cal is the reason the magicians' order caged his magic and exiled him. But Cal's not dead yet. A magician pulls him from the wreckage and brings him back to Sanctuary to recover, offering him a mission: return to Earth, hunt down a gathering of monsters, and earn his place amongst the highest level magicians that Sanctuary has.
Sanctuary is the last stronghold capable of defending Earth from the monsters pouring through the broken barrier. It is also a lie, a prison, and a place that wants Oliver and Thea dead. Set on a collision course, the trio will all up in the same place with the same impossible choice: if they tear it down, humanity will be defenseless. If they leave it standing, they won’t survive.
more about THE KINGDOM OF RISING NIGHTMARES
you’ll like this book if you like:
✨”you left me for dead!”
✨mutual pining, mutual distrust
✨forbidden magic
✨morally gray magic users
✨trust no one (especially your ex)
✨high stakes emotional damage
✨messy love triangles
playlist
A soundtrack for dreams half-remembered and monsters half-seen. Here are the songs that fueled the yearning and sweeping magic of The Labyrinth Duology.