City of Nightmares is a book that deseves more love. It's slightly different from books I might usually read, but I loved it. It was a lot fun and was such an unexpected surprise that I had to give it five stars.

It’s a dark, gritty novel set in a Gotham-like city where all seems hopeless. Criminals run free and people turn into their nightmares. At the center of the novel is Ness, a cowardly girl who has to somehow find the courage to do more than hide and save herself. One of the rare times she does try ends with an explosion and her being stranded with a Nightmare boy...so it's a bit iffy whether she will overcome her crippling fear. 

As someone who loves a kickass heroine, I was often frustrated with Ness’s difficulty to overcome her fears--I swear I would feel differently if it was real though. They controlled her and adversely affected the people around her. Of course, it was understandable why fear maintained such a tight grip on her–her sister turned into a giant man-eating spider. While Ness has limited agency, her potential to be more pops out at various points in the novel. Her transformation from the beginning of the novel to the end was one I was proud of.

Overall good book. It was very fast paced with interesting characters, but it wasn't the best book Ive read.

This book definitely had an interesting premise, a person can turn into their worst nightmare. This is what happened to the main character's sister and she turned into a big freaking spider and ate their dad! What?!?! Needless to say, there are drugs to stop you from dreaming and turning into a man-eating spider, but alcohol nullifies the drugs. Unfortunately, it didn't quite hold my attention and I struggled to get through it. I didn't care much for the main character, I didn't really find her likable. I think the overall concept was good so it was a 3.5 star book for me.

3.5 stars

I was inspired to read this after I saw comparisons to strange the dreamer and the bone season by Samantha Shannon. Overall, I can see the similarities, but this novel just didn’t quite come together for me.

I enjoyed this read, unique concept (a bit creepy-scary) but it was fun. Got some Sandman vibes while reading. The characters, banter and worldbuilding was good too. I like originality that surprises me and this book did just that.

City of Nightmares by Rebecca Schaeffer - 3.5/5
Sci Fi & Fantasy - Teen & YA


This book honestly threw my mind for a bit, it was a struggle for finish, but towards the end I was becoming invested. A fantasy/horror book that left me curious for the sequel. In a city filled with crime and corruption, everyone is shattered when a man-eating spider is causing murder and destruction throughout the city. Ness is trying to survive in this world knowing the man-eating spider is her sister, and trying to find a way to fix what has happened.

Available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookShop.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the eARC.

I liked this book a lot. It was fun and unique, with a lot of heartfelt moments. The characters were the strongest aspect. I feel like the plot was enjoyable, but that it's not going to stick with me. Like I'll have to reread this before the sequel because I won't remember anything about it. So not a favorite, but definitely not one I regret reading at all.

Struggled with this story. I had such high hopes when I was reading the description, however it was just one that I could not get into. I might try again at some point, but at this time I did not find it overly enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this book. I love the Gothum-esque world, a main character that is flawed, and the whole idea of this book. I'm very excited to read the next book in the duology to see what happens next.

A wonderful fantasy horror book. Everyone needs to take medications to stop dreaming. If one dreams you will become your own worst nightmare. The protagonist Ness has a fear of Nightmares, ever since someone she loved turned into a spider and ate her father. The plot is wonderful and fascinating. City of Nightmares is very well executed. .

A delicious piece of fantasy horror. Newham is a city chock full of crime and corruption... and nightmare inspired monsters. In this world, everyone has to take medication to prevent dreaming; if you dream, you are basically guaranteed to physically turn into your worst nightmare. Protagonist Ness has a crippling fear of Nightmares, ever since her sister turned into a giant spider and devoured their father several years before. Understandable. The one place she feels safe is in her closet sized room at the Friends of the Restful Soul charity/(maybe cult) that took her in when she needed it. Discovering that she's at risk of being kicked out due to her inability to overcome her panic attacks and succeed in her job, Ness offers to do a mail run in one last attempt to prove her usefulness. Of course it turns into a flaming disaster, throwing Ness way out of her comfort zone. She has to rely on a Nightmare, a vampire named Cy, to survive. This really opens her eyes to the true state of the world. Humans can be just as monstrous, and some Nightmares are more human than they seem.

I ate this story right up. The plot of nightmares becoming reality is fascinating and nothing I've read before. Newham is a horrifying place to imagine, but definitely makes for a great setting. I loved following Ness as she worked to overcome her panic and fear. Her process of fear was well described and easy to relate to. It's inspiring to see, even in fantasy. I also loved her friendship with Priya- it feels genuine and sweet, as well as with Cy, as she sees beyond his Nightmare status to the person he clearly is. I truly cannot wait to see where the sequel goes.

It's an interesting concept, a world where people are turned into what they fear the most. I do wish we got a bit more on the dream world and the guy who controls it. Hopefully, we will get more in the next book. I also have some theories about some of the plot lines that I can't wait to see if I'm right or not.
I thought it was a really neat idea that our MC struggled with paranoia and severe anxiety. She is extremely meek in the beginning and we get to see her grow and shift her beliefs by being brave and experiencing more of her world.
Overall an enjoyable, easy read with likeable characters and a great plot

Thank you so much to Clarion Books and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of City of Nightmares! This book came out back in January and I read it back in January, but I’m finally getting around to writing my review now!
City of Nightmares 4/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads: Gotham meets Strange the Dreamer in this thrilling young adult fantasy about a cowardly girl who finds herself at the center of a criminal syndicate conspiracy, in a city where crooked politicians and sinister cults reign and dreaming means waking up as your worst nightmare.
Ever since her sister became a man-eating spider and slaughtered her way through town, nineteen-year-old Ness has been terrified—terrified of some other Nightmare murdering her, and terrified of ending up like her sister. Because in Newham, the city that never sleeps, dreaming means waking up as your worst fear.
Whether that means becoming a Nightmare that’s monstrous only in appearance, to transforming into a twisted, unrecognizable creature that terrorizes the city, no one is safe. Ness will do anything to avoid becoming another victim, even if that means lying low among the Friends of the Restful Soul, a questionable organization that may or may not be a cult.
But being a member of maybe-cult has a price. In order to prove herself, Ness cons her way into what’s supposed to be a simple job for the organization—only for it to blow up in her face. Literally. Tangled up in the aftermath of an explosive assassination, now Ness and the only other survivor—a Nightmare boy who Ness suspects is planning to eat her—must find their way back to Newham and uncover the sinister truth behind the attack, even as the horrors of her past loom ominously near.
City of Nightmares was such a fun book! I read it by the pool, and I highly recommend it as a fun pool read, because it’s not super serious, but so much happens during the book and it’s super plot driven, so you’re always reading about something or the other happening. I really enjoyed Ness and Cy as main characters and Priya was for sure my favorite side character. I thought the whole premise of people turning into their nightmares was super cool. I loved how that played out throughout the book and how that really changed the course of so many people’s lives. Overall, I really liked City of Nightmares as a book and I cannot wait to read the next one!

Link to be added once post goes live

Huge thanks to HarperCollins Children's Publishing, Clarion Books and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a gigantic fan of DC Comics so this book hit straight to my Gotham City loving heart. I like the world building with this. While there could have been just a little more background, I still grasped the overall setting. The main character hit along the lines of an early YA female MC which I wasn't mad about. The only thing that got me on this was the pacing. There was alot of build up with very little payoff. However, we will see where that lands us in the next book.

Overall, 3.5 stars. I did have a hard time staying engaged and did have to convince myself at times to pick this back. However, I would recommend this to those that like Batman and the Gotham City atmosphere.

I unfortunately did not have a chance to finish this title before it was published despite having an interest in it. Rated 5stars, did not finish.

This is one of the most weirdest entertaining fantasy book I’ve read in a long time. It’s has chaos, dark humor, Gotham, and gloominess. Hell’s Bells, it’s got everything to keep you in your toes!

Basically, we have a coward young adult who cannot defend herself since the tragedy where her sister tuned into a spider who ended up being killed. The main character is about to lose her apartment where she felt the safest. She was literally forced out to the point where she had to to get on the ship where it blew up, not realizing it was meant to kill her. During that time she meets a boy turned vampire and barely escape with their lives on an island. This is where I leave off so you readers can pick up this wacky novel and find out for your self! I’ll be reading the second book in this series when it comes out. It’ll be interesting when protagonist Ness will be like. Will Ness be become stronger and wiser.?. we shall see!
Three and half stars
Thank you Netgalley and Clarion Books for this inanely interesting novel!😊

Where do I start?

This book promised morally ambiguous, darkness, and it did not deliver. This was nowhere within the realm of any of the promised things.

Schaeffer attempts to write social commentary on the normalization of abuse, of the usage of alcohol, and it is done extremely poorly.

The writing is boring and repetitive and the dialogue is so ridiculously unbelievable that it mad my brain hurt.

I read an interview with the author somewhere that said the idea for this book came from the world of Gotham (aka where Batman patrols), but what happens to the normal people who have to deal with the fallout of the monsters and murders and corruption. And that could not be more accurate for this story. In a world where people wake up forever as their nightmares if they don't take medication, gangs run wild, nightmares attack on the regular, and a "helpful" organization (totally a cult) helps people in need, cowardly Ness completely against her will ends up in the middle of a giant conspiracy where lots of people want her dead.

This was such a crazy ride, I was instantly engaged and did not want to put the book down. Keep in mind the story is filled with all kinds of horrors, death, destruction, murder, body parts... and all the gory details to bring it all to life- so if you are squeamish beware (and maybe only give to older teens and adults). I read the author's previous series and really enjoyed it so I could not have been more stoked to jump into this new world.

I love this book so much! The story wrapped up super well and all my questions were answered, but I am ever so happy that there is going to be a second book set in this super messed up, interesting world with such a likeable, completely normal anti-hero coward.

"City of Nightmares" is a thrilling urban fantasy novel that takes place in a dark and gritty version of Los Angeles. The story follows a young woman named Bea, who possesses a unique ability to enter people's dreams and influence them. When she discovers that a powerful and dangerous figure known as the Governor is hunting down people with her gift, she teams up with a group of unlikely allies to stop him.

The novel is filled with twists and turns, as well as plenty of action and suspense. Schaeffer's writing is engaging and vivid, bringing the world of the novel to life in a way that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are well-developed and complex, each with their own motivations and secrets.

Overall, "City of Nightmares" is an excellent read for fans of urban fantasy and action-packed thrillers. It's a fast-paced, exciting story that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of city of nightmares by rebecca schaeffer. i was really looking forward to this one but unfourtunatly i couldnt read it. when netgalley crashed a few weeks ago it wiped all my downloads that were on the app but i will be getting myself copies of this for my shop anyway