*I received this book from Hachette in exchange for an honest review.*
Title: Muse of Nightmares
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
ISBN: 9780316341714
Synopsis from Goodreads:
In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep. Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice—save the woman he loves, or everyone else? As humans and godspawn reel in the aftermath of the citadel’s near fall, a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, and the mysteries of the Mesarthim are resurrected.
AHHHH! Ok, review done. Just kidding! Laini Taylor will forever be one of my favourite YA authors. There has yet to be a book of hers that I didn’t like. She’s a fantasy writing goddess. I really don’t want to give too much away because this is a sequel. Let me tell you up front, if you haven’t read Strange the Dreamer, then GO GET IT NOW!
Just to recap, this series explores the world of gods, godspawn, and humans. Book one walks us through Lazlo’s perspective as he discovers the strange city of Weep and the mysterious citadel in the sky that has plagued their city for years. Book two, Muse of Nightmares, thrusts the aftermath of this story onto the reader confronting death and loss head on. Everything has changed and the characters must now figure out how to move forward in their new realities. Blends the present with an origin story, Taylor offers the reader a comprehensive look at how her world came to be and how it can possible progress forward from here. There is so much hurt and hatred that permeates this story, that it’s seemingly impossible that any peace or resolution might be found.
Taylor proves again and again that she is a masterful storyteller. Her tale calls back to the previous book, gently reminding us of all the action that occurred without becoming repetitive. She has built a vivid and tangible world, demonstrating her deftness with the figurative pen. Her already expansive universe explodes in this novel, becoming something that the reader never imagined. She demonstrates her ability to weave and transform story lines, allowing them to grow and adapt without becoming too out of control or overwhelming. It remains engaging, well-structured, and beautiful. Her world is sound and ever changing.
The characters are breathtaking as they unfold throughout the story’s progression. This book allows us to experience the same characters even more deeply, as well as introducing new characters whose stories are equally devastating. There is SO.MUCH.CHARACTER.GROWTH. I’m so pleased. Even new characters have complete story arcs and incredible transformation throughout the novel. Delving into Minya’s past, we experience her tortuous past and begin to understand her complexity in intense and devastating detail. We also see Sarai and Lazlo struggle with the new realities that they face and we follow them as they explore new possibilities.
Everything about this duology is incredible. The only thing I wants is MORE of these books!
Worn Pages and Ink 