TLDR:

City of Nightmares by Rebecca Schaeffer is a Young Adult Fantasy novel, pitched as “Gotham meets Strange the Dreamer.”

Notable elements:

- Unlikely Allies
- Wrong Place/Right Time
- Political Prowess

What I liked:

- Non-Stop Action — City of Nightmares is fast-paced and action-packed from page one! With unstoppable nightmares, assassination attempts, and hostage situations, this thrilling book is a page-turner that I devoured in one sitting.

- Unlikely Allies — Ness and Cy would have NEVER teamed up in any other version of reality, but they do in this one. The unexpected partnership makes their series of unfortunate predicaments all the more entertaining.

- Nightmare Manifestation Mechanics — I love how the nightmare mechanics are integrated in the story. Schaeffer creates thought-provoking dichotomies for the reader to consider as they mentally construct this dream-based world: contagious vs. non-contagious nightmares, mindful vs. mindless nightmares, physical vs. non-corporeal nightmares, etc.

Reminds me of:

- The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin
- Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough

Content warnings:

- Violence, Blood, Death, Cult Manipulation Tactics

Final thoughts:

I absolutely adored City of Nightmares! Honestly, I think it’s my favorite book I’ve read this year.

This book read like a really well written wattpad novel. It had such a strange canon and interesting connections that made sense but the average person would not make them.

City of Nightmares follows our main protagonist, Ness, who lives in a world where people can quite literally turn into their worst nightmares. Ness is afraid of Nightmares (the people who turned into their fears) and wears gloves to prevent herself from touching them. After an explosion on a boat leads her to meet a vampire named Cyril, which basically forces her to face her worst fears. Following this explosion, there’s assassination attempts, betrayals, and several mentions of a Pterodactyl.

I really enjoyed the weirdness of this book and the way that this author embraced every thought that likely popped into their head.

The parts I did not enjoy was how the main character was constantly self-reflecting on her fear. Ness’s monologue involved a lot of realizations that she was a coward and that she should change but then her actions would do the exact opposite.

I also did not like that the plot did not really happen until halfway through the book. As much as I love world-building, it should have happened in between the plot rather than the first half of the book.

I would recommend this book to my Batman fans or for anyone who is looking for a fun, light read!

This was a very interesting book. While I enjoyed the hidden metaphors and ties to real life, it felt a bit forced and came off as too much for the YA audience. Having a YA plot yet Adult concept didn’t mix well for me due to the varying blurred lines. This book was dark and gritty which I loved, there is definitely an audience for this book.

As usual, Rebecca Schaeffer manages to create a world that hazily borders on ours—recognizable devices with unrecognizable society. The pace transitioning from point to point felt a little uncertain but overall I think enough time was spent getting to know the characters. I’m hoping that as the series continues we will get a better grasp of how this society works. So far a good execution of an interesting concept, I look forward to the next book where we get to see more!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, I enjoyed this book. The premise is pretty unique- people literally fall asleep and turn into their worst nightmare, then wreak havoc on their surroundings, and everyone else has to figure out what to do- Our MC lives/works in this world, where nightmares are managed, but outbreaks still occur. There’s a great deal of mental health rep in this book, which I really appreciated. The first 20% was a little slow for me, it after that it picks up. This is a great YA book, the MC easy to follow, but she reads a little younger than what she is actually is- which bothers me, but a YA audience will appreciate.

Thank you to the publisher/Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this ARC!

This was an interesting read for me. The idea/plot this book has is so interesting and unique that I was instantly pulled into wanting to know more. I will say I was sad I didn't enjoy this book as much as I anticipated. It is not that it was a flop itself but more that I am not the right demographic for this book. A lot of the writing was too basic for me. Dialogue was interesting and realistic but felt too forced. Actually a lot of heartfelt moments felt forced to me and were trying to be too deep when they weren't set up for those heart-wrenching moments correctly.

I don't think this is the authors fault though. In fact I think this is a wonderful book for YA reads that are ranging from 7th to 10th grade. It has a lot of depth on talking about society, perceptions, lifes heartbreaks, etc. If I had a child that was around that age, I think this would be a great way to get them to see these types of perspectives while also reading an intriguing fantasy. The MC is relatable, the friendships that are grown throughout are inspiring. It shows character growth. Honestly if I was in middle school reading this, I would have loved this way more than The Hunger Games.

As an adult, however, I can't say I enjoyed the writing style of this book. The inner monologue and actions of the MC were more told than shown through the whole book. Some of the plot points didn't make sense with where they were placed. The MC felt like she was a lot younger than what the synopsis gave, so therefore it was hard to understand where she really was in maturity.

Overall, I will be recommending this to any friends that have older children, family, and anyone who is interested in I want to say dystopian types of YA books.

I…devoured this. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a stay-up-all-night-because-I-NEED-to-know-what-happens-next kind of read, and wow what a rush.

First off, the concept??? So weird and so cool. A world plagued by nightmares??? A sedated city water supply to prevent people from quite literally turning into their own worst fears in their sleep, for risk of waking up as vicious, monstrous killers??? You have my attention. And the world building was effortless, descriptors and insight rolling seamlessly with the plot.

But while anyone can come up with a neat idea, what I didn’t expect was Nessa, our main squeeze. Experiencing the corrupt and terrorized city of Newham through her perspective was so goddamn refreshing. Because homegirl is ✨terrified✨ and ✨traumatized✨ and scraping by by the skin of her teeth. She is the biggest wuss with a very rational irrational fear of Nightmares and wowie when she ran & hid??? Every chance she got??? I felt that. But man did our girl come a long way. Be proud sister.

The plot moved swiftly but was measured, the author took the time to linger and expand and make us feel the things, to really get at the heart of Nessa’s happenings. There were times when her internal monologue got a little repetitive - like we get it hun, you’re scared, you don’t feel safe - but I think that was used more as a plot device to drive home her fears and her (lack of?) coping strategies. But her dry wit and blasé, unimpressed musings made this story great, made her story matter.

Now for the shocker (& slight spoiler, beware)- the slow burn is still. Burning. As in, NOT EVEN A SINGLE TEENY TINY KISS OCCURS. AND I was robbed of the scene I WANTED MOST. Which means I just read a solid thriller fantasy WITH NO ACTUAL ROMANCE. AND I LIKED IT??? WTF??? WHO AM I???

Sweet precious hopeful baby boy Cy, please be patient with our girl, she scares easily. But while you (& I) wait for the sequel, call me anytime.

4.5⭐️ I need book 2 and I need it now

**big big big thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this eARC**

This book is a chaotic ride about a coward who lives in a bizarre world that is a mash between Gotham City and Supernatural. I adored every second of it.

Nessa is just trying to survive. She lives in a world where people can become their own worst nightmare. When that exact thing happens to her sister Ruby, leaving both her sister and father dead, Nessa is left to fend for herself. She has carved a place of peace for her at a non-profit, the Friends of the Restful Soul (for the last time, it is not a cult...she thinks), and lives life looking over her shoulder. She has always excelled in hiding and running away, but when she and a boy named Cy accidentally lives during an explosion, someone is not very happy. Next thing she knows, she is being targeted by assassins, and it's up to Ness and Cy to figure out who is targeting them before time runs out.

I had so much fun reading this. The concept of people turning into nightmares was executed well. Not everyone turned into a serial killer or such...some just turned into giant worms. Things that would be bizarre in our world are written off so normally in the book, which just goes to show what a good writer Schaeffer is. By the end, I was expecting the whacky and abnormal to happen. The plot was wild from start to finish, and I was never bored.

I adored Ness. She has severe PTSD from what happened to her sister, and while the topic is dealt with at length, Ness' humor surrounding it really resonated with me. Her favorite way to deal with her trauma is sarcasm, which I think resonates with the younger generation. This book actually touched on a lot of hard subjects, such as PTSD, anxiety, consent, hyper-sexualization of women, and more. This is a great book to read with others because I think it opens up hard conversations in a comfortable way. These are important topics that are not dealt with in YA enough.

For a big chunk of this book I was thinking 3.5 star it’s good, has kept me interested so far.

Then the last roughly 20 percent hit me and I just knew this is a 4 star read for me.

I’m not a big fan of cowardly characters but I give them a chance just in case they get better. And I can say it takes awhile but Ness grows through the book and I love it!

This might be a slight spoiler for this one paragraph.
When she meets Cy I instantly am ecstatic. Like yes please be a romance please. I’ll still hold out for it! Because they obviously eventually like each other.

Back to non spoiler bits.
This book is well paced and is very unique for me. The idea of a Gotham inspired city mixed with supernatural elements. I assume it’s supernatural at least. People turning into their biggest nightmares after dreaming, so they put a chemical in the water and give out pills like candy to stop dreaming.

Again the last 20 percent though. All of those twists and turns! I didn’t see it coming who betrayed her, who hired the assassins. Who the big baddie at the end was. And I’m excited for the next book to get more info on what is going on.

Honestly such a great read, it was fast-paced and entertaining

I loved all the characters and the mc was so courageous despite what happened to her as a child

The setting of Newham was very amusing considering I live in the borough (I had a good laugh)

This is by far away one of the weirdest books I've ever read. And I loved every second of it. It's hilariously chaotic in so many ways.

The city has a very Batman/Gotham vibe to it. The MC, Ness, is dealing with so much and just wants a place to call her own. This is a very different kind of lead character than one would usually get in a story. She's a little bit of a coward and not a very good fighter. She almost strikes me as a bit clumsy which is really an interesting aspect to the character. She seems to survive based on like more than anything else. I really love that she's not the typical main character you get in a book like this. The premise of the story is very interesting as well. Just as interesting as the character. In this setting people can turn into their worst nightmare so they are giving drugs to combat having nightmares. Alcohol stops these drugs from working therefore is not allowed. Nessa scared to do her job due to the nightmares. Her sister had a bad run in with someone in the midst of a nightmare and that experience changed Ness. We really get to see Ness develop relationships and get some great self development throughout the book. Overall I really recommend this book it was a fun read.

When people dream, they are transformed into their worst fear, and the world has been decimated by these Nightmares. When Ness was a child, her sister became a giant spider and killed their father and several others. Since then, Ness has had an irrational phobia of Nightmares. Her method of coping: running and hiding like a coward. She has taken refuge at the Friends of the Restful Soul, a group that claims to help society by offering counseling and other charitable services. But after surviving several assassination attempts, Ness begins to unravel sinister plots within the organization.

The setting is like an interesting blend of dystopian future mixed with alternative history. There’s just enough reality baked into the world-building to make all of the fantastical elements feel real. Nightmares come to life is such a fascinating concept.

Cy, a Nightmare, is an alluring, mysterious enigma that changes Ness’s perspectives from black-and-white thinking to a more nuanced perspective of the world around her. I adored seeing the relationship blossom, and I enjoyed following Ness’s journey in learning to thrive in the world. Ness and Cy are an unlikely duo, who both know what it is like just to struggle to survive another day. And it is this that ultimately brings them together.

My one and only point of contention with this book is that Ness’s inner monologues become repetitive at times. I wanted a little more depth into her personality and motivations, other than her simply being a coward, which is overwhelmingly stated.

Priya, Ness’s best friend, is an absolute badass and I loved her fearlessness, fierce protectiveness, and slaying power. In her part of the story, we see how differing views of society can create complex family dynamics, where Priya and her sister both want to make the world a better place but disagree on the method of doing so.

There are so many plots unraveling simultaneously and I never knew what to expect. The surprises just kept coming. This book is emotional, darkly compelling, and a fun, action-packed adventure.

My favorite part of this story is the depth in which it explores themes relevant to the human condition. It explores the differences in how people cope with grief and trauma, how they perceive the world around them, and how the past can affect our decisions. The awareness that we can be a part of something but never truly feel like we belong is something many of us can relate to. This story also reminds us that we should never be quick to judge, as we never really know the full extent of what is going on inside a person.

I loved this book and I highly recommend it - cannot wait for the sequel!

I really enjoyed this! It was different and a bit chaotic, but very enjoyable. Ness is a relatable character, and she developed a lot throughout the story. The only part I did not enjoy was the reveal about 75% into the book. Without spoiling anything, I will just say that it didn't make much sense to me, and honestly seemed unnecessary and dramatic. Otherwise, I loved it! I had a hard time putting it down, and I will be anticipating a sequel!

This book is incredible! I hadn't heard of it but as soon as I saw it on NetGalley I knew that this was going to be something. The magic is incredibly and it is equal parts spooky and full of adventure.

I really enjoyed this book! It's brutal and visceral and captures that atmosphere in such an interesting and engaging way that I read most of this book in one sitting. Newham is unabashed in its monstrosity as a rotten society overrun with Nightmares. The culture of corruption in Newham is described in a blunt way that's almost humorous, which I appreciated against the some of the darker themes.
Ness is an unapologetic coward and is the kind of super flawed protagonist that I adore reading about. She lives and works in an organization that may or may not be a cult just for the free room and board. She jumps out of windows and climbs curtains to get away from the slightest hint of a monster. She's focused on survival in a savage city and I adore her.
The story introduces many mysteries and questions about Ness, her past, the monstrous Nightmares, and Newham itself. We see Ness struggle against threats coming from every direction while fighting her own inner demons, and her character growth is a highlight throughout the book.
Overall, I'm super excited to see where Rebecca takes the series because I have so many questions!

love love love love! i love Rebecca Schaefer’s work SO much! I am so excited for this to be released

Rebecca Schaffer uniquely dark style and stories may not be for everyone, but it most certainly is for me. The world is gritty and fun, and the main character is one of the more unique and realistic heroines I've seen in young adult literature.

I Gotham meets Strange the Dreamer? Sign me up!

It's a bit quirky and a bit chaotic but I adored it. I love that the plot kept me on the edge of my seat and normally the main character I would find annoying, but she has her reasons and I felt for her.

This had what I enjoyed from Gotham, the story in this book was really well done. The description was what drew me in from the start and I'm glad I was able to read this. Rebecca Schaeffer has a great writing style and has a great tense atmosphere. I enjoyed the scifi elements in this book, the plot of the book was exactly what I wanted from the description and I really enjoyed reading this. The characters were what I wanted and I appreciated getting to read this. I can't wait to read more from Ms. Schaeffer.

"I’m sitting on the grass, a blanket draped over my shoulders. Someone is talking to me, but I’m not listening, my eyes vacant and dead. Blood covers my hands, where I had to crawl through a pool of my dad’s blood to get to the cupboard, and I managed to smear that blood all over my face as I covered my mouth to prevent myself from screaming."