Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Muse of Nightmares

From the first page of Strange the Dreamer, I knew that I had stumbled upon a book that was going to challenge everything that I thought a book could be. That book altered me in some magical way and Muse of Nightmares was no different. In the short time that it took me to finish Muse, I felt like I’d found myself in a dream and when the ending came, I was reluctantly kicked out of it. For me, the magic of these books far surpass their pages. This series had this ability of finding its way to me, like the Universe wanted me to read it and, most remarkably through no expense of my own. My first encounter with Strange the Dreamer was an audiobook that I got for free for Independant Bookstore Day. And then I unbelievably won Uncorrected proofs of both Strange and Muse of Nightmares. And if this wasn’t enough to make me believe that these books were bound to me in some way, both covered in magic and mysticism, than the stories themselves and their prose was the final decider.My expectations for this book were high and so I was riddled with nerves, when I set my eyes on the first page. However I can safely say that this book completely shattered my expectations in every way. The story starts with the introduction of two new characters, sisters Kora and Nova, and as is Laini Taylor’s way, I fell in love with them immediately. I never imagined that it would be possible to introduce new characters and have me feel so deeply about them as I do with those from Strange, but inevitably it happened. I cried for Kora and Nova, laughed with them, hated them, rooted for them, raged for them and just loved them, all in a never ending loop.Being given chapters from the past and then the present, following Kora and Nova and then the original cast just made everything so much more intense. It takes sheer genius to be able to create stories, within stories, within stories and for each one to fully hold it’s weight and all come together in such a bittersweet way. Something would occur in the past and then you’d be flung into the future and your mind would start making the connections of how this led to that and so on. It was truly the mark of great craftsmanship and was endlessly fascinating to have realisation dawn on you time and time again. Kora and Nova’s story was just so mesmerisingly haunting and yet filled with the purest love, that I couldn’t help but clutch their chapters a bit closer to my heart.The dynamics between those in the Citadel had me on the edge of my seat the whole time, Minya as expected was as unpredictable as ever, which led to others acting in the most uncharacteristic of ways. These scenes were some of the most tense I’ve ever read and were an mini echo of the whole novel, as everyone had valid arguments for and against, valid reservations, valid feelings, no matter how unnerving, and were all suffocating in the shadow of their own pasts and of those who came before them. This book had the most complex characters and it truly put my heart through the ringer to see them trying to figure, not only each other, but themselves out. I found my self weeping for characters that I’d despised no more than a minute ago, reflecting in the most honest way, how good and bad lives in all of us and that second chances are always there if we want them.This book was such a tangle of relationships; family, friends, enemies to friends? Humans and godspawn, lovers and fighters, the living and the dead and those on the cusp of forming relationships. With all these complex interactions, Lazlo and Sarai’s relationship was such a safe haven for me, and them, amid everything that seemed to be going wrong. It was so beautiful to read and this really was where the author showed off that wondrous prose, that seemed to exist solely to document this relationship. I also loved the little hints at a certain romantic relationship that was slowly materialising (it’s my favourite of the whole book), concerning Thyon and someone no one could have guessed, I just wished there was more of it because it was so unexpected but so stinking adorable!Speaking of Thyon Nero, the character development in this book was amazing and for so many of them. Thyon’s transformation was so funny and endearing to read and I love him…just like a little bit, it was done in such subtle ways, progressing at such a believable pace. Minya’s was by far the most monumental for me, I mean she was my favourite character before this book, but this just confirmed it for me. I was so glad that Laini Taylor allowed us to explore why Minya is the way she is, because hand on heart she deserved it. I can’t believe some of the things that came to light about her, I really couldn’t handle the way that she’d been showing them all along how she cares for them ,without even herself realising. You’ll know exactly what I mean when you read the book, trust me it will touch your heart and make you rethink everything you thought you knew about her.Another aspect that I was so grateful to the author for, was the ‘history lesson’ we were given about, well everything. It felt so good to finally know what on earth had been going on in the citadel for all those years, that so few now recalled. There were so many backstories that were finally revealed, that allowed us to see just how much the characters’ pasts and presents overlapped.Not only were we fed the history of Weep, but offered the history of their whole Universe, it was spellbinding and clearly a different class of storytelling, given the sheer detail in everything. Learning more about the lost godspawn, Skathis, the rest of the Gods and how they got their powers is what I desperately wanted from this book, and I got what I wanted, no matter how disturbing. This book definitely had a darker tone to it than Strange the Dreamer, but I enjoyed it quite a lot, as it made the story unbearably honest and raw. I can’t think of a story as greatly weaved and constructed as this. It had everything; complex characters, emotive, hypnotic language, a seamless plot, rich setting, the purest romances, easy and strained friendships, enemies, magic and action. There were so many battles in this book of all shapes and sizes, but each was completely enthralling.To conclude, I doubt I’ll ever read anything like this duology again, or have any story or cast of characters mean so much to me, give so much to me. These stories offered themselves to me without me giving anything in return…literally. Although I’m making up for it buy collecting every edition I can and I can’t wait for the audiobook of Muse, as the Strange the Dreamer one took the story to a completely different level. It was utterly phenomenal!! I plan to re-read this duology many a time as I’m sure there’s things that I didn’t fully appreciate, it was epic after all. I don’t know what force brought them to me but I’m so grateful, these books will forever be apart of my heart and I hope they find their way into yours too! And judging by the ending, I’m not quite sure that this story is finished being told.

Ya que aquí en México decidieron sacar una re edición con nueva portada, decidí comprar la versión en inglés que va al corriente con la primera edición sacada en México y pues no en decepcionó. Es verdad que el libro 2 no viene tan lujoso como el 1 pero encajan muy bien en cuanto a portadas.El nivel de inglés del libro es avanzando.

Primeiro: Que edição linda!Segundo: Eu ainda não sei como vou ler outras fantasias depois dessa perfeição!Comecei a ler Muse of Nightmares completamente focada no acontecimento que encerrou Strange The Dreamer. E apesar de termos isso acontecendo no segundo e último volume dessa duologia, nós recebemos diversas outras coisas em paralelo que irão se conectar do meio para o final do livro e causar um mindblow!Laini Taylor introduz aqui novos personagens: Kora e Nova. O arco delas é interessante, bem feito, emocionante (chorei mesmo) e totalmente conectado a história principal. Nesse livro, temos respostas sobre os Mesarthim e o Mesarthium, sabemos de onde eles vieram, quem são e o motivo de sua chegada em Weep. Entendemos quem foram esses deuses, um pouco sobre seus poderes, mas isso não foi só o que a autora nos entregou, ela veio com muito mais. O universo criado em Strange The Dreamer expande de um jeito que eu não esperava. Tem mais, muito mais e muito além do que se pensava. E o final deixa um gostinho de quero mais que dói no peito por não existir... ainda.Sobre os personagens que já conhecemos: Lazlo e Sarai continuam as pessoas incríveis de sempre, mas agora nós temos outros ganhando mais espaço nas narrações e isso inclui Minya e a verdade por trás do seu crescimento, no caso, a falta dele. Se antes ela era uma vilã fácil de detestar, aqui Laini Taylor nos dá uma lição de complexidade. Todos são muito mais do que bons ou maus. Eu notei muitos paralelos entre o destino e personalidade de Nova e Kora em Minya e Sarai. A questão de ser ou não consumido por sentimentos que nos matam aos poucos, o fato de ter um único propósito na vida e não ser mais nada sem ele... Laini Taylor deu um show de complexidade, profundidade, personagens tridimensionais e de criação de mundo.A última coisa que tenho a dizer é: QUERO CROSSOVER JÁ!

En cuanto al pedido, llegó rápido y en buenas condiciones. En cuanto al libro, una maravilla de libro, superó mis expectativas y mucho mejor que el primero de la duología.

Highly satisfying sequel. I hope there will be more to come.