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Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML: From the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time�??#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson adds to his Cosmere universe of Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive a standalone novel especially for fans of Asian pop culture. Narrated by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer. There is a world of endless night, surrounded by an even deeper darkness. Filled with nightmares come to life, twisted shapes that slink to windows and slide across floors to look down on helpless faces. There is another world so bright it burns. Filled with stacked stones that call forth miracles, raised by callused hands that tremble in their work. Between these worlds two souls collide, entwine. Yumi's life is spent in strict obedience, granting her the power to summon the spirits that bestow vital aid to her society�??but she longs for a single day as a normal person. Painter patrols the dark streets dreaming of being a hero�??which has led to heartache and isolation, leaving him always on the outside looking in. Both face the world alone. Suddenly flung together, Yumi and Painter 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 their mysterious connection 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: 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 this novel for me. The unanticipated story of two people who find one another. May your dreams live as mine sometimes… (more)
User reviews
It all begins with a spirit asking for help from Yumi and teams her up with Painter, the problem they’re in each other’s bodies—well sort of—and must learn each other’s skills when dealing with spirits as well as figure out why the spirit needs help. Hoid narrates this standalone novel but does take part in the action until the book’s denouement, and because of this the prose was engaging and as always Sanderson’s climax is a highlight. However, there was something that just did not hook me as there were days I didn’t pick up the book because I didn’t feel the urge to keep reading until the last third of the book when it was hard to put down. Honestly, I can’t really figure out why as both titular characters were great and the worldbuilding was spot on, so it was either the romance subplot or maybe one of the characters must endure a monotonous routine every time they go to the other’s place. Whatever the issue I had influenced this review and thus relates only to myself.
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter has two very well written characters, Sanderson quality worldbuilding, and a fantastic climax. Yet for whatever reason there was something in this standalone novel that just did not click with me.
Two main characters, two worlds, one story. Yumi lives in a land of sun and heat, where the people request help from spirits for their daily living needs. Painter lives in a world of twilight and neon energy, where the occasional nightmare comes to life to feed on unsuspecting sleepers. Through a seeming quirk of fate Yumi and Painter find their lives are crossed as each begins to experience the other's world and start to understand the mystery of what's really going on.
I found Yumi to be a highly enjoyable read. Such a sweet story about art, friendship, a slow burn romance, spirits and saving a planet. And Hoid, of course. I am really enjoying Hoids voice in telling this story and Tress though it was more muted in this installment. I hope there's more stories told by Hoid in the future.
This was a very different style from Sanderson's other work. I ended up liking both Yumi and Painter very much. Yumi is an interesting mix of sweet and sternly disciplined while Painter is seemly the goof off yet highly talented artist. Their relationship was a joy to read and shows how much Sanderson has grown in the romance department. The resolution to their story even brought a tear to my as it felt so perfect for these characters.
I can say that while I was on the right track to solving the mystery, I was also very very wrong! The Cosmere references I picked up on were minimal. I really need to read Stormlight Archive. I feel like I've said that a lot this year.