Muse of Nightmares is the second book in the Strange the Dreamer duology. laini Taylor’s writing was beautiful in this duology; it was poetic and lyrical, just beautiful.

We follow the characters immediately after Strange the Dreamer’s semi-climatic ending and continue on the character’s path to get to the bottom of their gilded cage and all the secrets it holds.

I love their little squad. They just worked amazing together.

This is a MUST READ for all those that enjoy fantasy with a poetic and lyrical writing style that is out of this world.

Muse of Nightmares was more action packed than Strange the Dreamer as the latter had a lot of world building which the former didn’t have to do.

While I have enjoyed all Laini Taylor’s books this duology really stood out to me with its absolutely beautiful writing. This is a classic and a must have on anyone’s bookshelf.

I LOVE THIS SERIES! The whole experience reading this to me was so fond and I adore all of the characters and their stories. I love this series and would definitely recommend it!

Gorgeous. Laini Taylor weaves pure magic in her storytelling and MUSE OF NIGHTMARES did so much justice to STRANGE THE DREAMER. Perfect duology that I love recommending to fans of Fantasy.

I didn't think it was possible to top the first book but by gosh, Laini Taylor has done it! Muse of Nightmares was everything I wanted in a sequel and more. The characters and world get are deliciously fleshed out even more in this book and I think I felt every damn emotion when reading this. Binged over a weekend, Muse of Nightmares is nearly perfect. 4.5 stars!

As long-time blog readers might remember, Strange the Dreamer was one of my favourite reads of 2017. Within the first few pages, I was captivated by Lazlo’s dreams, Sarai’s musings, and the magic of Weep. If the first book in this duology was a languid and indescribably vivid dreamscape, then Muse of Nightmares was a triumphant awakening into a reality equally monstrous and fantastical. To me, Muse was pitch-perfect from beginning to end, marked by Laini Taylor’s inimitable lyrical prose and enviable imagination.

Strange ended with a heart-stopping and utterly cruel cliff-hanger, and much of Muse leaves the reader tethered to that self-same cliff. The question of what Minya will do with Sarai’s soul haunts these pages – creating a litany of moral dilemmas and suspenseful crisis. In Muse, we see Lazlo and Sarai pushed to their limits in every sense. The character development they undergo in this book is phenomenal, and Lazlo has especially endeared himself to me and cemented his status as one of my favourite YA hero of all time.

One of the most remarkable things about Muse is the complexity in its villainous characters. Minya’s portrayal was especially nuanced, the writing allowed me to feel the spectrum of her emotions: her fury and her fears were laid bare for the readers to ponder. I won’t speak too much of the other antagonist in Muse for spoilery reasons, but I found her characterisation equally powerful, with her motives ringing with heartbreaking truths. I love that Muse allows room for all of its women to be angry, to be flawed, and to be utterly human even when they wield the power of gods.

There are many characters in the cast who suffers from PTSD, crush by the shadow of the Citadel and the memories of Skathis’s cruel reign. The repercussions from events which occurred decades, or even centuries past still holds weight and influence the choices of these characters. Muse takes us through the highs and the lows of all of their emotions, I felt both drained and empowered by the end.

With Muse, we get a further dive into Laini Taylor’s vast and alluring universe, and certain revelations has me clamouring to go back and read everything the author has ever written. There are seraphim and false gods, mayhem and magic, hopes lost and regained. In the rich fabric of this world, there lies a story about family and humanity that is timeless and true. The book’s ability to portray both the supernatural and the human within the same breath leaves me in awe, and makes the magic within all the more potent.

I know that many readers found the pacing of Strange to be slow and difficult to follow. I am happy to report that pacing wise, Muse is unputdownable. I read the book over a red-eye flight at midnight, and I barely got any sleep because I had to know what will happen to all of my favourite characters. The book deftly shuffles between the current events of Weep, and a pair of twin sisters at an unknown time and space. Piecing their stories together and watching it unfold was incredibly satisfying. The final quarter of the book had me literally biting my nails and left me breathless. Even long after the last pages are turned, I am still thinking of the world and wonders within this strangely beautiful universe.

I declare it’s an imperative that all lovers of monsters and magic read this duology immediately. Read Laini Taylor’s entire backlist while you are at it.

After reading three books in the first week of 2020, I decided I was finally motivated enough to take on a mammoth book I had been putting off for a year! Muse of Nightmares is the other half of the Strange the Dreamer duology that completes the story of Lazlo and Sarai. As I wrote in my review for Strange the Dreamer, I loved that book but it was difficult to get into for me. Being one of my most anticipated books of the year, I pushed through because I knew I would enjoy it but I didn’t really feel on the same page with it until I was at least a hundred pages into the book. I also read an ARC copy from Netgalley so perhaps having the physical book would have helped. However, it was still one of the most beautiful and fantastical books I read that year.

I read the first book in January of 2017 so it’s funny that I’m reading the second one in January of 2020 but, because so much time has passed, I was trying to put all the pieces back together in my head. The main characters were impossible to forget but I forgot the little details that went into the background so I did feel disconnected to some secondary characters. I think the secondary characters have such small roles in this book though so they weren’t standout. We’re also introduced to two new characters, an event at the end of the book ties everything together and explains their story but I still struggled to care about their path alongside Lazlo and Sarai’s.

Overall, I enjoyed this book while I was reading it but there wasn’t an even flow to reading it. The consistency of interest throughout the book was a rollercoaster. At the end of the book, I feel like I enjoyed the story and I liked the way it ended but I don’t know that it had to be so long because there were a few lulls that could’ve been cut to keep the story flowing at an interesting pace. I loved the moment between Lazlo and Sarai but Minya’s story was the most exciting of all the characters and I was hooked into every chapter that they delved deeper into her mind and her history.

Laini Taylor works magic. I enjoy everything she writes, and this book is no exception. I'm ashamed it has taken me so long to finally pick this one up.

A beautiful conclusion - although I really do hope there shall be more to come as I love these characters and the world. Taylor's wonderful prose is so evocative and lyrical it really brings the world to life. It both makes my heart swell with the glory of it and break woth the sorrow. Magnificant work once again from one of my favourite authors.

This is not a happy novel. In fact, the more that you find out about the history of the characters and the world here, the more you find out that it's filled with rape and various kinds of abuses. The only upside I found of the twists and turns of plot and exposition was the reference to it being set in the same universe as Daughter of Smoke and Bone that I loved so so so much.

As I said in the first one of this duology, Strange the Dreamer, I had a difficult time loving this story as much. That one, though, was because it was such a slow burn for the majority of the novel.

This follow up had no such concerns. And we did get to know Minya better. And Thyon Nero does get his own redemption in the end.

But... still... the darkness and pain and suffering that this whole story was based on... I dunno, it kinda stripped the good feelings away in this book.

The will-they-or-won’t-they (can-they-or-can’t-they?) question that began in Strange the Dreamer continues here, and it must be said that at times this can be a somewhat frustrating journey. But this is the only real complaint this reluctant fantasy reader has about this 514 page fantasy sequel.

When this push and pull between Lazlo and Sarai (and Minya) isn’t front and center, Taylor is delivering more background as to who the Mesarthim are and where they come from, and taking readers along on an engaging ride through the amazingly well built universe we only got a glimpse of in the first book.

As well as the characters we know and love from the first book, and some new ones we’re bound to adore.

Laini Taylor does it again in this epic masterpiece of love, revenge, magic, and loyalty, of blue-skinned gods, and metal that can move with thought, and of more worlds than the one we have come to expect.

I will eagerly devour anything Laini releases, and I think it’s high time for me to journey into her back catalogue with Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

Do yourself a favour and go on this journey with Lazlo Strange.

When the first book in the duology came out, Strange the Dreamer captivated me and I knew that I needed the next book - stat! But Muse of Nightmares blew me away. Laini Taylor has phenomenal talent when it comes to creating magical worlds with characters that stick with you even after the story is over. I cannot believe the series is over, and now I'm left to fill the void that only Lazlo and Sarai could.

Now, to re-read the entire series.

"I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review"

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?

This is my last book review for 2018 and the last book I have read for 2018 and I am glad to finish of f the year with such a great book.

I will admit I was not sure at first when I heard about Strange the Dreamer if it would be a book for me, but after reading both books I am really glad I read them both. Laini's writing style is amazing (my first Laini Taylor book) and it was a world I can say I have never read about and I have read a lot of books over the years. This new concept kept me on my toes the whole way through because I had no idea what was going to happen. Even the people who may of seemed like the "bad guys" really weren't in the end.

I really can't say much about this book without giving away spoilers for book one so all I will say is this was such a great read and I loved so many of the characters within the series. I ended up rating this book 4.5 stars and the only reason it isn't a 5 star rating is because I still had so many questions about some of the characters at the end of the book. This is a series I would suggest everyone should at least try because it is so different and the writing is so amazing.

Huge thank you to Hachette Australia and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book!

I loved the first book in the series and while this one was also really good, it wasn't as good as the first. It was a little slow in some areas and didn't feel as exciting as the first. But that being said, I feel like this series is refreshingly unique, I've never read anything like it before and I would definitely recommend the series.

Full (spoiler-y) review here: http://wmsreads.tumblr.com/post/181236805362/

Strange the Dreamer was an absolutely stunning and mesmerizing start to this duology. Muse of Nightmares was a complete and utter journey of whimsicalness. Laini Taylor is a stunning author. I loved this duology.

I've loved all of Laini Taylor's books so far. She really has a magical way with words that is so different than other authors. I was excited to keep reading about this world and the characters in it. Loved it!

After that horrific cliffhanger at the end of Strange the Dreamer, I have literally been waiting all year for the release of this beautiful novel. I can definitely confirm that the wait was 100% worth it; The Muse of Nightmares is worth all of the hype, and then some.

The backbone of Laini's books is always the characters. Her characters are absolutely wonderfully developed. Even the villain is so easy to understand, and the way that she shows us the various backstories and how they've been shaped by their experiences is so masterful. And her writing is so gorgeous; she has a descriptive prose that has a flow to it that makes it so easy to read.

I am absolutely loving the potential further books that Laini could be writing right now. She hasn't spoken about it yet, but I don't doubt at all that she's at least planning some extra short stories; those who have read Muse will know where I'm going with this one... won't elaborate because no spoilers though, of course!

Ratings
Overall: 10/10
Plot: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 5/5

The review was based on the physical book as the e-copy was in an unreadable format.

To be honest, I don’t even know where to start with the perfection that is Muse of Nightmares. I could never do this book justice, so I am not even going to try to be comprehensible; I am just going to fangirl over it.


Although my expectations were impossibly high, Laini managed to exceed every single one of them! This amazing conclusion was enchanting, enthralling, thrilling, heartbreaking and exciting. All the emotions rolled over me throughout this story while I held my breath and felt unexpected thrills all at the same time.

Going into Muse of Nightmares I was scared for so much – for the characters, for what answers were to come, for what Minya would do, for the end of this story/world. I left this book feeling amazed, fulfilled and yet still filled with anticipation. All my questions were answered – and then some. Some more answers, and more questions!

Muse of Nightmares picks up where Strange the Dreamer left – with the exception of an introduction to new characters, this story picks right up where we left holding our breath for Lazlo and Sarai. The story hits the ground running with the threat of Minya’s revenge and control, Lazlo’s desire to make everything right and Sarai’s “otherness”. And from here, it is all action and heartbreak, exploration and growth, compromise and answers.

The writing is breathtaking!!! Only Laini knows how to write with such exquisite prose and vivid imagery. You are not reading words on a page, you are transported to another world. With heart and heartbreak, you feel the characters rather than just getting to know them.

And speaking of the characters – the character growth in this story is phenomenal! And each characters arc is so very different from another’s, and only Laini can make you despise and feel for a character from one second to another! I absolutely love the fact that there is no clear line between good and evil characters, that there is such complexity to these characters that they can both, or neither, at the same time. This is not a story of vs evil; this is a story of everything in-between. Heroes come in all shades of grey (pun intended).

We get to explore a little more about other characters we love. Along with this I found my feelings change towards some characters. Partly because of their growth, but primarily as we get to see other sides to them through different eyes. Minya and Thyon in particular. I think the distance from Thyon and his growth changed my mind on him (although there was something that I now want to see more of from him), And our evil little Minya is explored in much more depth. She always was an amazing character, but you get so much more of her in Muse of Nightmares (yay!). As mentioned earlier there is the introduction of new characters, but don’t worry, these characters are integral to the story, and have a wild story to tell themselves.

There were moments where my heart stopped during this book. At one stage I actually stopped and thought “oh god, Laini just Laini-ed me”. I won’t say what that aspect was, but my shattered heart jumped into my throat. Over and over (hint for those who have read it). But in saying that, Laini “Laini-ed” me a few times. In that, I mean she threw something at me that made me hurt or become breathless and then she switched the view and I wanted to yell at the book. But within a sentence I was transported into the other aspect of the story. This happened over and over again. While I was desperate to continue one storyline, I got fully enchanted with another.

There were so many questions from Strange the Dreamer, and I hoped that Muse of Nightmares provided answers. And it did. Most however were not the answers I was expecting and I loved that. This world is so huge and complex and layered – and oh my, so fabulous!

There is one aspect to this story that made me want to scream with excitement, but yet made me desperate at the same time. (view spoiler)

Be still my beating heart! My heart still beats faster when I think about it. (view spoiler)

In summary: The writing is beautiful and lyrical, each sentence is flawless. The characters are filled with complexities stemmed from pain and love and they have amazing amounts of growth over the course of this journey. The story is filled with twists and turns and so many surprises. The story is filled with magic and love, tragedy and pain, hope and determination.

In summary: The writing is beautiful and lyrical, each sentence is flawless. The characters are filled with complexities stemmed from love and pain and each have so many obstacles to overcome, resulting in amazing amounts of growth across this journey. The story is filled with twists and turns and so many surprises. The world is layered and intricate and filled with magic and love, tragedy and pain, hope and determination.

Muse of Nightmares fulfilled all my dreams – and created some new ones. It thrilled me and broke my heart and I loved every single second of this amazing story. I always have extremely high expectations of Laini’s books, and that is both thrilling and crazy scary going into them. But this book was everything I could have ever wanted, without even knowing what wanted. Muse of Nightmares is absolutely perfect!

If I had to describe Muse of Nightmares in two words it would be brilliant… yet brutal.

It’s evident Laini Taylor loves to play with the theme of war. It’s especially prevalent in this sequel and Taylor tells this story incredibly. I couldn’t stop thinking about a quote from her previous trilogy Daughter of Smoke and Bone – “Have you ever asked yourself, do monsters make war, or does war make monsters?” I would say the latter half of that quote is particularly relevant to this book.

As fascinating as the story is, it’s the characters that make this book what it is. With new additions Kora and Nova, helping the reader dive deeper into the mysteries of this world., there is also one of the best redemption arc(s) I’ve read in a long time. And whilst I loved Lazlo and Sarai in Muse of Nightmares, it’s not solely these two main characters that carry this novel. Eril-Fane’s guilt, Kora and Nova’s sisterhood and other familial themes between the Godspawn children are so prevalent in this novel and Taylor does every character justice. Minya in particular is such a fascinating character, I think many readers will enjoy her arc here too.

By the end of this book I struggled to perceive any of the main characters as evil. In the beginning you might be quick to assume which characters are the ‘antagonists’ of the story. However as the novel progresses this notion is completely unpacked in such a thoughtful way. The depth of which I was able to sympathise with the characters pain and not feel animosity towards them is a credit to Laini Taylor.

Taylor’s approach to telling this story is so clever. This story frequently moves perspectives throughout – usually I’m not that interested in multiple POV stories. Here, this serves the story incredibly well and it’s done so cleverly. There is so much to know about Weep, the Gods, the Carnage and characters themselves. That’s why we need as many views as possible to unravel the mysterys and honestly, it was so much fun and really compelling.

Although this novel is ripe with grief and sadness and other repercussions of war… there were several comedic moments that lighten this book up too. Not only do these moments serve to lighten the mood, but these moments make the book even more human. For example, Ruby and Feral spend a lot of time bickering, but it’s incredibly entertaining. Ruby herself has some great one liners, especially her desperation for cake. Surprisingly, Suhelya saying she’s “in her element,” had me quietly choking on my train ride home from work.

This has been a five star duology for me. Those who enjoyed Strange the Dreamer will no doubt enjoy this too – especially as the mysteries surrounding this world are unravelled

‘They stared at each other in mistrust and confusion. Across worlds and through portals cut long ago by angels, their lives collided right here. Both came to this place seeking something.’

Last year Laini Taylor introduced us to ‘Strange the Dreamer’ (review HERE) and it was magnificent. I found myself swept away by her lyrical prose on an amazing journey to some incredible places with memorable and unforgettable characters. But the ending, what a c-l-i-f-f-h-a-n-g-e-r! How she has made us wait for a magical conclusion to this mighty tale. Thankfully, this book picks up right at the harrowing conclusion to Strange the Dreamer. Left with so many questions, you will be happy to know that all will be answered in the epic conclusion to this wonderful duology. Worlds expand, relationships get more interwoven as you once more return to the amazing world building that Laini is renowned for.

This tale is more complex than its predecessor - elaborations from other worlds, characters and timelines all merge together for an almighty conclusion. Two new characters, with seemingly little connection to those from Weep, will gradually tie all the loose strings together and provide answers to the many questions raised in book one. Sisters born before the Godspawn will tell their tale of misery and heartbreak and eventually merge with those in Weep for a fitting conclusion.

‘Would she find, no matter what she tried, that some people cannot be saved?’

Laini Taylor is one of the most remarkable storytellers I have ever come across. The raw emotion combined with out of this world experiences combine to sweep the reader away on an unforgettable journey. The imagination! The complexity of plot! The heartfelt emotions merge together to provide a truly breathtaking experience. This is writing at the next level and you feel such connection to these characters, you will find it difficult to lay the book aside at any point.

If you read and loved, ‘Strange the Dreamer’, I doubt you will be disappointed with this sequel. All of your burning questions from the harrowing conclusion to book one, and indeed so much more, will be given. The incredible history of those ‘blue Gods’ in the sky will be revealed and it will go beyond anything you could have imagined. Once again, it is just best to go in blind and let the story unfurl and captivate you: overcoming the odds and past mistakes and learning to forgive and see beyond the surface. I just can’t wait to see where Laini will take us next.

“You don’t know yet what you’re capable of, but I’m willing to bet it’s extraordinary.”



This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

*spoilers ahead*

AHHHHHHHHHHH. Muse of Nightmares hooked me from beginning to end. The writing, as with all of Laini Taylor’s books, was beautiful and spell-binding. I liked the character development for the main cast (I still have mixed feelings about Minya though), but the development for the supporting characters such as Thyon was weak – I didn’t think he contributed much to the story. I also felt that the book could’ve explored Lazlo and Sarai’s new states more.

Nova was a formidable villain (her powers are so cool) – her villainness coming from her fear of failure and unwavering loyalty to her lost sister made me feel a lot of feelings. But I don’t think she should’ve died by suicide – a weak end to the climax. The other characters didn’t seem strongly effected by her death either.

There were moments that dragged and there was a lot of backstory, so the book was a little underwhelming compared to Strange the Dreamer. Despite this, Muse of Nightmares is still a good read. The ending was sweet and left the possibility for more stories.