Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2) by Laini Taylor

Amy     

Lynnie  

young adult, fantasy

Muse of Nightmares begins exactly where Strange the Dreamer left off.  From Goodreads: "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."

Amy's Review

WOW! WOW! WOW!  I LOVED this novel! And I’m thrilled that there isn’t a third novel in this series.  Thank you, Laini Taylor, for not forcefully inflating the story arc in order to squeeze a third novel out of this series as many other authors would have done.  Of course, you did leave the door open for another sequel (which I would gladly read!) but you satisfactorily closed this one so perfectly!

Did I mention that I loved it?  I gave the first novel, Strange the Dreamer, four stars. I’m giving this one five stars.  Taylor’s creativity is simply the best—she wins!  Her ability to weave an engaging tale full of lovable characters in a dream world that is both scary and spectacular has been proven over and over with her novels. She’s magical. This novel was like the most delicious dessert you could ever read!  I had to know what was happening next. The story-crafting was superb.  I cannot wait to read whatever she writes next. 

Adding to the beauty of the novel, Steve West does the narration of the audio book with his velvet voice. I adore him.  Laini Taylor’s books + Steve West’s voice = pure awesomeness!  I will be missing these characters and Steve’s voice in my ear for a while.  West Withdrawal is a real thing for me!  And, of course, I give him an A+ for his fabulous voice acting.

Lynnie's Review

This sequel to Strange the Dreamer picks up right where that book leaves off; I found myself thrilled to send my imagination back to the Citadel and the Weep and all of the residents of both. It’s hard to say too much without spoiling the plot, but I can tell you that once you get to the 70% mark in the book, only read it if you have time to stay awake and finish. I kept thinking I would put the book down after the next chapter but it was so full of action and excitement I couldn’t drag myself away.

I am firmly in the Laini Taylor fan club. The worlds she creates are so engaging and while completely magical and unrealistic they also seem somehow plausible. Her world-building continues to blow me away. There is a nice reference within the story to Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, making it very clear that these worlds are related. I would not be surprised if her next book brings the two worlds together.

If you enjoyed Strange the Dreamer, this sequel will not disappoint you.