Muse of Nightmares

Contains spoilers for Strange The Dreamer. Read my review here.
Muse of Nightmares
Strange the Dreamer Book Two
Written by Laini Taylor
Fantasy, Magic, Romance
Publishing October 2nd 2018
432 Pages
Thank you to Hachette Australia
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★★★★☆
Sarai has lived and breathed nightmares since she was six years old. She believed she knew every horror, and was beyond surprise. She was wrong.

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, while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the muse of nightmares, has not yet discovered what she's capable of.

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. Where did the gods come from, and why? What was done with thousands of children born in the citadel nursery? And most important of all, as forgotten doors are opened and new worlds revealed, must heroes always slay monsters, or is it possible to save them instead?

Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Strange the Dreamer.
Lazlo Strange perches high above the city in the Citadel where the body of Sarai lies, her soul consumed by the malevolent, warmongering Minya and tethered to the Unseen City. The citadel continues to conceal the history of the Mesarthim and their offspring, the humans of the metropolis enduring captivity and enforced to procreate. Thousands of Mesarthim were slain throughout the Citadel, an eternally preserved mausoleum above the City of Weep.

Siblings Novali and Korako Vasa are interesting characters and indispensable to the narrative. The Mesarthim journeyed provinces and communities pursuing exceptional young individuals for servitude. Novali and Korako are the offspring of Nyoka, a Mesarthim combatant. Korako is a superior being, collared and separated from her sister. The nonlinear narratives converge spectacularly in an abundance of breathtaking revelations.

Lazlo Strange is Mesarthim, orphaned and his identity concealed and now feeling a sense of acceptance and belonging. Lazlo, a child of thousands conceived within the Citadel, created by coercion and a nonconsensual relationship. The abuse is addressed and condemned within the narrative, reiterating the importance of consent. Sarai is tethered to Minya and the Citadel and although her physical body is cremated, her spirit remains corporeal and able to interact with her environment. Including Lazlo. Lazlo and Sarai continue their relationship, able to explore one another within the safety of Lazlo's conscious, lucid dreaming.

The blue of her skin, the silver stars and moon. She was the sky. Heavy, bewitched, he leaned forward and brushed his lips over a star.

An adult captured within perpetual juniority, Minya is an intriguing character and often misunderstood. A tender child as the Citadel was decimated by the Godslayer Eril Fane, Minya is resolved to protect her family, the surviving offspring of the Mesarthim and is acrimoniously vengeful. Although appearing heinous, Minya is a causality of her environment and has nurtured the Godspawn children since infancy. Throughout the narration, Muse of Nightmares touches upon learning from our ancestral transgressions, resolution beginning when we absolve others. Warmongering is not our only recourse. 
Minya's conviction was absolute. The humans has slain her kind. She had stood in the passage and heard the screams dwindle, baby by baby, until silence has reigned. 

Laini Taylor is a remarkable author, weaving imaginative and atmospheric narratives. The lyricism is breathtaking, intricate and incredibly enchanting, transcending fantasy literature. Absolutely exceptional.

I anticipate the beginning of a new adventure.

17 comments

  1. I still need to read the last book in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series and then hope to start this one.

    Her writing is so beautiful and complex.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. She truly is one of the loveliest writers of this generation isn't she, so beautifully lyrical.

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  2. Glad you loved this so much. I have not read Strange the dreamer yet. My friend is a huge fan of the book and she has been waiting for Book 2 ever since. Also I need to read the book as soon as I can

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    1. It's such a magnificent series and Laini is a remarkable storyteller, it's one of the most imaginative series in young adult and looking forward to seeing where she takes the series. It's supposed to be a duology but allows you to assume there is more to come. I'm so excited!

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  3. Brillant review. I got chills.
    I am equal parts dreading and eager to read this book. The ending of Strange the Dreamer DESTROYED ME! But *rocks herself anxiously* I loved Lazlo and have pre-ordered a copy.

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    1. I can't wait for my preorder to arrive to be able to read it again. The formatting on Netgalley was a little jarring but I simply couldn't put it down. You're in for an absolute treat!

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  4. Laini Taylor is one of those authors that I've always meant to try, but have not yet. Her books are so epic, aren't they?

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    1. They certainly are. This series is a great one to begin with before Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Both are equally as incredible and her writing is perfection.

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  5. I still need to read Strange the Dreamer, but I own it, so it's one I hope to read soon since the sequel is coming out. I loved her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy so I'm hopeful I'll enjoy this series too. I'm glad to hear that you really liked Muse of Nightmares. That's good that the topic of consent is touched on and handled well - such an important issue! Lovely review - you have such a way with words!!

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Thank you Lauren sweetheart, I can't wait to see what you think of the series. If you loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone, you'll adore this one too. It's absolutely lovely.

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  6. Psst! I feel like we haven't talked in ages! How are you? Is life treating you well? Is your laptop trying to self destruct? ;)

    I've only read Daughter of Smoke and Bones by this author, but I remember really loving it at the time. I need to re-read it and finish the series. I've also been wanting to start this one, so I'm happy to see you enjoyed it! Lovely review as always! <3

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear?

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    1. We haven't! I'll send you a private message soon, been sick and also been on a cleaning spree as well. We have to catch up!

      The series gets better with each book I found too, I was totally smitten by the second book and inhaled the finale. This series is just as brilliant and I have a feeling that we might see a third series in the works where worlds will collide.

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    2. Ohh, a third series sounds fun! Especially if it correlates with the others.

      We've been sick, too. My husband left for training, was made to work at night in the rain, so naturally he brought home a cold. He kindly passed that on to me and the children, so my head has felt stuffy all week. Fussy kiddos, too. I hope you're feeling better! I need to go on a cleaning spree of my own. :)

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  7. Minya's character was so intriguing in the first book, and it looks like we're getting more of her in this one! I can't wait. Laini's writing is definitely beautiful, although I hope that won't stop me from reading the book at a decent speed. xD Lovely review as always, Kelly. ♥

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    1. It took me a while to get through this one, I was struggling with chronic tonsillitis and heavily medicated otherwise I would have finished in a few days. It's still lyrical but not at the expense of the storyline. One of my favourite aspects is Minya's character growth. I really hope you enjoy this one too Aimee.

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  8. Nonlinear narratives you say? I am excited, I can't wait for all of this to come together!

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    1. It's brilliant Amber and I can't wait until it's released so I can start talking to people about the ending.

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