NEED TO KNOW
\nA self-published romantasy phenomenon is getting a traditional release this summer in Dream by the ShadowsLogan Karlie’s YA gothic romance has been described as Beauty and the Beast meets The Labyrinth, with a dash of Phantom of the OperaRead an exclusive excerpt shared with PEOPLE, below<\/p>\n
Logan Karlie’s gothic romantasy<\/a> Dream by the Shadows has had an extraordinary publishing journey so far \u2014 and the adventure is just beginning!\n<\/p>\n The author originally self published the book in 2023, where it found a robust fan base \u2014 so much so that Christy Otaviano Books, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, is publishing it this summer, nearly two years after its original release. And the new deluxe edition will come with sprayed edges, a foil case and entirely new content, so even fans of the original will find plenty of reason to pick up their own.\n<\/p>\n As if that’s not exciting enough, another standalone novel in\u00a0The Shadow Weavers duology is on its way in Summer 2026.<\/p>\n Dream By the Shadows<\/a>, described by its publisher as The Labyrinth<\/a> meets Beauty and the Beast<\/a>, takes place in the Kingdom of Noctis, plagued by The Shadow Bringer, who rules from his castle in the Dream Realm, stealing souls through dreams. Only taking an elixir each night can ward off the dreams \u2014 if dreamers can resist the siren call of the Dream Realm.\n<\/p>\n Author Logan Karlie.<\/p>\n Til Death Photo Co<\/p>\n Esmer Havenfall is desperate to escape her dreadful\u00a0village and when her sister, Eden, succumbs to Corruption and their elixir-dealing parents are accused of a terrible crime, Esmer\u2019s life devolves into a nightmare. When she dreams of the Shadow Bringer and learns she may have a chance to avenge her family and end the kingdom’s curse, she follows him depper into the Dream Realm. But his haunted past may change the fate of her kingdom \u2014 and her heart \u2014 forever.\n<\/p>\n “As a child, I desperately wished my dreams could be real \u2014 and as an adult, I’m bringing that wish to life through\u00a0Dream by the Shadows,” Karlie explains, noting that she drew inspiration from her own dreams and nightmares, as well as a lifelong lover of tales like\u00a0Beauty and the Beast,\u00a0Labyrinth and\u00a0The Phantom of the Opera<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n “I’m thrilled for this book to be out in the world because it’s truly the culmination of everything I’ve ever wanted to write: haunting romance, shadowy magic, creeping horror and a layered exploration of grief and the scars it leaves behind,” the author continues.\u00a0“Dream by the Shadows\u00a0reminds us that even in a world full of nightmares, beauty can still be found if we’re brave enough to dream, and I can’t wait for it to be in readers’ hands soon!”\n<\/p>\n Intrigued? Read on for an exclusive excerpt from Dream by the Shadows<\/a>.<\/p>\n ‘Dream by the Shadows’.<\/p>\n Christy Otaviano Books<\/p>\n When I opened my eyes, I expected to be greeted by swaying treetops and the smell of breakfast at our camp. Instead, I woke in a sprawling room layered with ancient tapestries, dusty bookshelves and the barest hint of candlelight. It smelled of night, rain and old things.\n<\/p>\n Of dust and objects left in obscurity for far too long.\n<\/p>\n And that\u2019s when I saw him.\n<\/p>\n The Shadow Bringer was sleeping in a canopied bed, cloaked in shadow, obsidian armor and his typical draconic mask with its caged jaw. Silvery fabric curtained the frame around him, floating loosely in the cold, dusty air. He appeared frozen in sleep, silver-white hair pooling on the pillows below him.\n<\/p>\n I was in his room.\n<\/p>\n I was in the Shadow Bringer\u2019s room. Creeping backward, I felt for a weapon while keeping my gaze locked on him. I was unsettled by his silence and lack of movement. Was he dead? I considered testing this theory, perhaps feeling for a pulse or a sign of breath, but quickly decided against it. Something told me that he was very much alive \u2014 just depleted from using whatever power it was that stemmed from him.\n<\/p>\n I found a steel fire poker leaning next to a cold fireplace, weighty and sharp despite the dust it left behind, then carefully slid within arm\u2019s reach of the Shadow Bringer\u2019s massive, lavish bed. Strange, that such extravagance could be found consorting with an equal amount of rot. The mix of luxury and decay was uncomfortable. Intolerable, even. I drew up the fire poker, holding it over the Bringer\u2019s exposed throat.\n<\/p>\n Demon. Monster. Killer. Hate surged through my veins, nearly choking me. This man, the horrid origin of Corruption, damned my sister, cursed my parents, ruined Elliot\u2019s future and wrecked any chances I had at normalcy. If I killed the Shadow Bringer now, perhaps Corruption would end, the demons would be destroyed and all captured souls would finally rise to meet the Maker\u2019s holy light.\n<\/p>\n The poker hovered over the smooth stretch of skin just below his jawline. One swift thrust, and it would all be over.\n<\/p>\n Grrrrssschk. Rrrssschk. Rrrssschk. I froze, listening intently. The wind, perhaps.\n<\/p>\n \u201cLet us out,\u201d a demon suddenly howled, snarling and groaning from just beyond his bedchamber door. \u201cSet us free.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Something heavy slammed against the door, causing me to flinch and lose my balance. The fire poker slipped from my hands, sliding off the bed and crashing to the floor.\n<\/p>\n The Shadow Bringer\u2019s eyes opened, depthless and aching.\n<\/p>\n \u201cYou,\u201d he rasped, caged lips close to my ear. He put his gauntleted hands over mine, cold and sharp, and my traitorous heart stuttered.\n<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t need to panic \u2014 I can manage them. I always have.\u201d\n<\/p>\n He rose to his elbows as I felt myself slipping back into consciousness.\n<\/p>\n His hands were iron.\n<\/p>\n Then clay.\n<\/p>\n Then dust.\n<\/p>\n The demons repeated their chant as they threw themselves against his door. The screams layered together, rising and echoing in a hellish chorus.\n<\/p>\n \u201cLet us out.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cSet us free.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cLet us out, let us out, let us out!\u201d The last scream yanked me back into the dream.\n<\/p>\n