Yumi and the Nightmare Painter
AUTHOR:
Brandon Sanderson
GENRE:
Fantasy & Romance
AGE:
16+
RATING:
4/5 Stars
REVIEW:
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is a genius story for so many reasons. Set on an alien planet where you can (a) use paintbrushes to dispel the massive darkness-shrouded monsters called Nightmares before (b) grabbing a bowl of ramen at the local cafe, this book is a mashup of fantasy and sci-fi with modern relatability at every turn. The world building is incredible—pretty typical for Sanderson novels—but it also dives deep into the characters. Yumi and Painter, and their growth: both as people and in their relationship. The book is beautifully illustrated, too, contributing to the story’s overall focus on art (which is just perfect and one of the many reasons I love it). Yumi and the Nightmare Painter nails the “atmosphere” aspect of a novel better than a lot of other fantasy books I have read. The little things that make up the world are such a unique combination, yet work together perfectly. It is just a masterpiece… and it comes so close to being 5 stars, but I had a few minor issues with it that keeps it at 4.5 (rounded down). Firstly, the ending to me was not as satisfying as I was hoping—the beginning and the buildup were so masterful that I was expecting more. Secondly, while it’s not a mature romance, there are some mildly sexual situations that, luckily, were nothing more than awkward due to the immaturity of the characters. These little things bring down the rating a bit, but the book excels in so many other areas that I will be more than happy to return to it.
WARNINGS:
Made-up form of cursing / Suggestive comments and situations (Two people bathe together multiple times)
TAKEAWAYS:
An excellent read for anybody who loves a unique fantasy. I would not give it to a young person just due to suggestiveness, but if you are 16+ and in the mood for something new and different to suck you in, then I would highly recommend.
The Blurb
Yumi has spent her entire life in strict obedience, granting her the power to summon the spirits that bestow vital aid upon her society―but she longs for even a single day as a normal person. Painter patrols the dark streets dreaming of being a hero―a goal that has led to nothing but heartache and isolation, leaving him always on the outside looking in. In their own ways, both of them face the world alone.
Suddenly flung together, Yumi and Painter must strive to right the wrongs in both their lives, reconciling their past and present while maintaining the precarious balance of each of their worlds. If they cannot unravel the mystery of what brought them together before it’s too late, they risk forever losing not only the bond growing between them, but the very worlds they’ve always struggled to protect.
About the Author
I’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers. Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, comes out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that will see the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and Secret Project Four (with its official title reveal coming October 2023). These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time. November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. The third era of Mistborn is slated to be written after the first arc of the Stormlight Archive wraps up. In November 2020 we saw the release of Rhythm of War—the fourth massive book in the New York Times #1 bestselling Stormlight Archive series that began with The Way of Kings—and Dawnshard (book 3.5), a novella set in the same world that bridges the gaps between the main releases. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. The fifth volume, Wind and Truth, is set for release in fall 2024.
Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, and various novellas available on Amazon, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.
I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, come out in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.
Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the Legion series, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. There’s a lot of material to go around!
Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart,The Emperor’s Soul, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.
I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.
Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.
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