When Kane tries to piece together his memories, his definition of reality starts to come undone...
All Kane Montgomery knows is that the police found him half-dead in the river. The only witness — his little sister Sophia — claims he was dragged there by something not of this world. If Kane can’t come up with a better explanation, he’ll be shipped off to award.
As Kane pieces together clues, he’s confronted by reality rapidly coming undone. The local community college warps into a subterranean temple, a historical estate nearby blooms into a Victorian romance, and people come out of the woodwork, claiming to be his secret friends. Increasingly tangible and terrifying realities materialize around Kane…and then his memories begin to return.
About the Author
Ryan La Sala grew up in Connecticut, but only physically. Mentally, he spent most of his childhood in the worlds of Sailor Moon and Xena: Warrior Princess, which perhaps explains all the twirling. He studied Anthropology and Neuroscience at Northeastern University before becoming a project manager specialized in digital tools. He technically lives in New York City, but has actually transcended material reality and only takes up a human shell for special occasions, like brunch, and to watch anime (which is banned on the astral plane). Reverie is Ryan's debut novel.
Industry Reviews
"La Sala created a work that toys with fantasy - as in dreams contrasted with reality - and the fantasy genre itself, which for so long has had a narrow concept of who gets to be heroes. "Reverie" kicks open the doors to new voices, rainbow fire and all." - The ARTery (WBUR) ""Stunning and terrifying to behold."" - Hypable "I don't know that I've ever encountered a book quite like Reverie before. It wears its queerness and its narrative weirdness on its sleeve and it paints outside the genre box, even as it gleefully pulls tropes out of that same box and flings them around like confetti. It feels like something fresh and different, and I'll be fascinated to see if it leads the way for a new YA trend. Queer, dream-bending mystery fantasy may well be the next big thing, and I'm here for it!" - NPR.org "Reverie is easy to fall in love with. La Sala is an exquisite wordsmith and he puts those talents on display as he crafts the intricacies of the reveries and the astonishment of the rainbow-colored magic battles. Reverie makes a strong, late-season case as one of the best young adult fantasies of the year." - Tor.com "[An] inclusive and dazzling debut." - POPSUGAR "Innovative... Featuring magic, monsters, and a drag queen sorceress, Reverie promises to open entirely new vistas in the world of LGBTQ fiction." - Goodreads Blog "A spectacular, imaginative tale unlike anything you've read all year... You don't want to miss this book!" - Paste Magazine "A darkly imagined, riveting fantasy... thrilling." - Shelf Awareness "La Sala weaves compelling tension into the elaborate reveries' richly drawn...worlds...La Sala's portrayal of Kane's friendship with the Others is heartfelt, and the story's many LGBTQ characters are prominently represented and powerfully nuanced." - Publishers Weekly "This outstanding debut novel will light readers' imaginations on fire...Imaginative, bold, and full of queer representation, this is a must-purchase for YA collections." - School Library Journal "A unique addition to YA collections that represents diversity in the book's characters and the author." - School Library Connection "A unique, clever fantasy with a strong protagonist." - Booklist "Joyously, riotously queer... The themes of creating one's own reality and fighting against the rules imposed by the world you're born into will ring powerfully true for many young readers." - Kirkus Reviews "Reverie is a dreamy escapist fantasy that will keep you entertained and on your toes. With beautiful prose, fantastic landscapes, and a drag queen sorceress who I'd let step on me any day, you won't want to miss this debut." - Tara Sim, author of the Timekeeper trilogy
