The Dancer and the Dream Thief

Dreams are hard to come by in the city of Hebron Falls, and everyone is looking for an escape. One young woman is about to learn just how much power dreams can hold.

“An ingenious combination of noir and fairy tale.”—Mary McMyne, author of The Book of Gothel

Evelyn Pulaski spends her evenings selling dreams working at the Palace Ballroom. For a dime a dance, she plays into a cheap fantasy of romance before returning to the gritty reality of everyday life. When dance hall girls start disappearing, a mysterious group of elfin bootleggers is the prime suspect.

Raife is also in the business of selling dreams. He is part of an operation stealing dreams from humans and peddling them in the elfinlands. Raife takes a shine to Evelyn, telling himself his interest is purely professional, but there is something…entrancing about her.

When Evelyn’s best friend disappears, she is forced into an uneasy alliance with Raife. And together they’ll discover the power of dreams to change, or even remake, the world.

• "A unique, magical fantasy world that manages to be both terrifying and tender. I loved it!" 
  Louisa Morgan, author of The Faerie Morgana
• “Reading The Dancer and the Dream Thief is like sipping a goblet of fairy liquor in a speakeasy at midnight. An ingenious combination of noir and fairy tale.” 
  Mary McMyne, author of The Book of Gothel
• "As gritty as it is glamorous; as magical as it is magnetic. I could feel the ache and echo of those gilded dance halls until the very last page." 
  Ryan Graudin, author of Bright and Broken Things
• “An achingly lovely blend of meticulously researched history and beautifully imagined fairy tale, glittering and illusive and filled with heart. I couldn't put it down.” 
  H.G. Parry, author of The Witch Below the Dreaming Wood
• “A graceful tale of magic, dreams, and second chances…The vividly imagined world and bittersweet ending are sure to appeal.”
  Publishers Weekly
• "Noir and fantasy intertwine in this clever tale of memory, dreams, and sacrifice. Miller (The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill, 2023) will have readers aching for dreams lost and paths not taken."
  Booklist
• Praise for Rowenna Miller
  
  "Imaginative and sparkling and full of heart, The Palace of Illusions is the kind of book you want to crawl inside and make a home." ―Devin Madson, author of Between Dragons and Their Wrath
  
  "Miller’s atmospheric writing creates a richly detailed historical fantasy that lets readers see The Nutcracker in a unique way." ―Library Journal
  
  “Beautifully observed, steeped in folklore and rich with historical detail, The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill weaves a warm-hearted yet fierce fairy tale around the bonds of sisterhood and the choices facing women in a changing world. A true delight.” ―H. G. Parry, author of the Shadow Histories series
  
  "Miller seamlessly blends historical fiction and fantasy to create this enchanting tale of two sisters. The book is awash in period details as well as a vivid fantasy world, but Miller never loses sight of the sisters’ relationship that sits at the heart of the story. Readers will be charmed by this tale of sisterhood, female strength, and the fae." ―Booklist
  
  "It's impossible to resist the allure of this charming book. Its focus on the small, everyday things that can be made easier with a little luck and a little fairy grace really creates a lived-in world where you can smell the apple blossoms in the orchard and hear the rattle of wagon wheels on dirt roads." ―NPR
  
  "Atmospheric ... a thoughtful meditation on sisterhood and priorities." ―Publishers Weekly