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Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

A Cosmere Novel

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Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

By: Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
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About this listen

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
Fantasy Heartfelt Fiction Superhero
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It took me awhile to get in to this, but the cover on the regular books at Waterstones drew me in. Especially because someone I know was trying to get me into Brandon Sanderson books for ages. I love all the Asian influences, It makes the world feel unique and vibrant. Although I found the book a bit difficult to follow at times. I think it’s either Brandon Sanderson‘s writing style or it’s because it’s narrated by another character that’s within the story. As someone who draws this book made me happy:)

Fabulous book

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Ever since discovering Sanderson coming over from wheel of time he has been my favourite author. I’ve consumed everything he’s ever written. I think stormlight archive is my favourite series because of how he weaves mental health into my favourite fantasy genre with incredible magic systems. It resonates on so many levels.

I never thought a book could beat that series for me or any of his other works.

This book is special. It’s now my favourite book. What a gift. I hope I can share it with my future kids one day.

Amazing characters, amazing world building. Touching story with funny anime style influences and humour weaved into a wonderful romantic story that also decides to borrow from a popular late 90’s movie.

You can’t be told what yumi and nightmare painter is about. You’ll have to experience it for yourself.

This could totally be made into a movie.

I cried at the end then laughed through the tears.

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Brilliant story, different from any of Brandon Sanderson’s work. A love story that you don’t realise you are invested in, until the characters realise it themselves.

Amazing Story with Fantastic Characters

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This was quite a departure from Brandon Sanderson's usual style (romance not being his typical genre), but I think he did it beautifully! Yumi and Painter were characters I ended up really enjoying, especially their interactions with each other.

It took a few chapters for me to get fully immersed, but once I was hooked, there was no turning back!

The world-building, as always with Sanderson, was superb. While this novel was a bit lower stakes compared to other Cosmere works, the last quarter was particularly engaging and action-packed.

The ending left me torn - a part of me wished for a happily ever after, while another part felt a different conclusion would be more fitting. Either way, I think I would have felt conflicted, but that's not a negative aspect!

Familiarity with Sanderson's other works is beneficial as you may catch some fun references, but it's not essential to appreciate this standalone novel.

Beautifully done!

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I was trying to find something and this was exactly it! This is easily one of my favourite books in a long time, I can't put into words the perfect meld of narrator and story but it was a visually delightful listen the whole way through.

One of my favourites

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