Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

A Cosmere Novel

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

Length: 14 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

From the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time—#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson adds to his Cosmere universe shared by Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive with a new standalone novel especially for fans of fantasy romances. Narrated by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer.

There is a world. One of endless night, surrounded by an even deeper darkness. Filled with nightmares come to life, twisted shapes that slink to windows and ease open doors, sliding across floors to look down on helpless faces.

There is another world. A bright world, so bright it burns. Filled with stacked stones that call forth miracles, raised by callused hands that tremble in their work, drained with each stone lifted, settled, lifted again.

Between these worlds two souls connect. Collide. Entwine.

A bridge. A path.

A road to both worlds changing forever.

Yumi has spent her entire life in strict obedience, granting her the power to summon the spirits that bestow vital aid upon her society—but she longs for even a single day as a normal person. Painter patrols the dark streets dreaming of being a hero—a goal that has led to nothing but heartache and isolation, leaving him always on the outside looking in. In their own ways, both of them face the world alone.

Suddenly flung together, Yumi and Painter must strive to right the wrongs in both their lives, reconciling their past and present while maintaining the precarious balance of each of their worlds. If they cannot unravel the mystery of what brought them together before it’s too late, they risk forever losing not only the bond growing between them, but the very worlds they’ve always struggled to protect.

Note from Brandon:

Even for a compulsive planner like me, sometimes a story emerges like magic. Unexpected, unprompted. You build an outline in days, craft worlds during a compulsive daydream, and develop characters with a burst of imagination like the brief flash of a firework.

That was Yumi and the Nightmare Painter for me. The unanticipated story of two people who find one another.

May your dreams live as mine sometimes do.

©2023 Dragonsteel, LLC (P)2023 Dragonsteel, LLC

A masterpiecefrom start to finish

Sanderson has done it again. I loved every aspect of this book. From the relationship between the main characters to the plot twists and the Cosmere connections. I don't know why I don't hear more people talking about this secret project. 100% worth the read.

Such a fun Sanderson Novel

I’ve been really enjoying the secret project novels! This one was such a great story and imaginative plot devices.

The story

Sanderson’s stand alone novels do it again! They have been some of my favorite books of all time!

Slow start that ends amazingly.

It took me a while to get into this book. One of the main characters has some hang ups that I felt became a bit tiresome. In the end I had to give it 5 stars though. Sanderson just knows how to craft an extremely satisfying ending. The main characters really grow throughout the books. I wish they were able to have a pdf or something with the artwork because it is all amazing. If you are reading this after just look it up online and he has it all posted up. Might actually get the hardback because it is just so beautiful.

I knew It!

Awesome story! Had a suspicion that this story is very reminiscent to Japanese style light novels and video games. FFX!

Brilliant new book

So many things to love most especially the nuance of appreciating others in all that they are - through their stumbles and glistening moments of courage

Awesome characters and ending

Brandon's best yet. Full disclosure, I day that about each of his new books.

The narrators story and voice wise were amazing

I picked up this book after one recommendation without a lot of background for it and I'm so happy I did! This book is amazing and the audiobook just made it even better.

Two Worlds, Two Characters, One Heart.

The characters of this book are extremely well written to the point where, when you would’ve been upset with characters at certain points for actions taken/words spoken, you can’t find it in you because that is simply who they are. A general warning though, it can be a little frustrating towards the beginning of the novel but not in a bad way. In the complete way that you, as the reader, realize the right thing to do/say but you understand fully why the character doesn’t see that path. This novel, brought to life wonderfully in audio by Kramer and Reading, pulls you towards the characters and you might find yourself falling in love with them as they fall for each other.
As for other standouts, the world building feels complete and realized without being overdone. The cultures and customs are odd but in a way that a new culture in the real world might appear odd. This, I think is an achievement considering the fantastical nature of the world.
There is also a fresh exploration of themes pertaining to lies, mistakes, forgiveness, tradition, and many others. The exploration of these themes was done well enough where I found myself arriving to the conclusions Sanderson was pointing towards before they were fully realized in text. This culminated in a deeply resonate sense of understanding and catharsis that I’ve felt only a few other times when reading.
I will be reading/listening to this many more times I suspect.

My Favorite Sanderson Book so Far

Beautiful read. Loved the characters and the story. I struggled with the Stormlight archives and this was a much easier read. I absolutely adore this book