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azrah786's review against another edition
2.5
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, gun violence, blood, injury, gore, body horror, murder, death, death of parent, child death, grief, police brutality, animal cruelty, kidnapping, panic attacks/disorders
--
Despite the promising initial concepts and the Gotham vibes of the setting I did not enjoy this one. I feel like this story had so much potential but for me the primary plotline just bored me to tears.
I think a lot of this comes down to the protagonist. Now there are times when books have leading protagonists who aren’t the “chosen one” or have anything special going on that have been written really well but I sadly didn’t find that to be the case here. Ness very much felt like a side character in her own story to me throughout the whole book, nothing about her journey ever stood out and just felt very minor in the whole scope of things especially when there are more interesting things occurring in the background.
I managed to push through because I wanted to see who was behind some of the more unknown elements of these background plot points but the story never fully followed these other elements.
Ness’s perspective just felt very repetitive and it got tedious fast and I also found literally every supporting character to be more interesting than her. The relationships that formed between the characters were well written but I don’t think they were given enough room to grow.
So it’s safe to say I won’t be picking up the sequel.
Final Rating – 2.5/5 Stars
CW: violence, gun violence, blood, injury, gore, body horror, murder, death, death of parent, child death, grief, police brutality, animal cruelty, kidnapping, panic attacks/disorders
--
Despite the promising initial concepts and the Gotham vibes of the setting I did not enjoy this one. I feel like this story had so much potential but for me the primary plotline just bored me to tears.
I think a lot of this comes down to the protagonist. Now there are times when books have leading protagonists who aren’t the “chosen one” or have anything special going on that have been written really well but I sadly didn’t find that to be the case here. Ness very much felt like a side character in her own story to me throughout the whole book, nothing about her journey ever stood out and just felt very minor in the whole scope of things especially when there are more interesting things occurring in the background.
I managed to push through because I wanted to see who was behind some of the more unknown elements of these background plot points but the story never fully followed these other elements.
Ness’s perspective just felt very repetitive and it got tedious fast and I also found literally every supporting character to be more interesting than her. The relationships that formed between the characters were well written but I don’t think they were given enough room to grow.
So it’s safe to say I won’t be picking up the sequel.
Final Rating – 2.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Police brutality
kirstenf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
Minor: Police brutality and Kidnapping
accidentalmuse's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
City of Nightmares was the fairyloot young adult book pick for February, which is why I read it. To briefly summarise, we follow a female protagonist living in a dangerous city, as she tries to overcome her crippling fear of Nightmares.
I'll start with what I liked.
In my opinion, the concept is the best part of this novel. It's such a unique idea - when people have nightmares it changes them, and they wake up as their greatest fear. That idea alone gives an unbounded amount of creative freedom. You can't predict the plot because at any second a curveball could be added in the form of a Nightmare. I've not seen another novel that's tried something like this before. The uniqueness of this idea is definitely one of the biggest selling points of this book.
The other thing I liked about this book was the friendship and the character growth. I personally found our main character very unlikeable in the beginning. She's selfish, incredibly so, prejudiced, and terrified of everything. So terrified that it makes her a bad person. I don't think the writing style helped - but I'll get into that later. Ness was set to continue life in just the same way, but she's suddenly thrust into the middle of secrets and conspiracies, forcing her to adapt. Also in the same boat (literally) is Cy, a super nice guy who absolutely deserves better than being forced to hang out with Ness.
Regardless, befriending Cy forces Ness to confront the way she perceives other people, and to face her fears. Throughout the novel you see Ness tackle assumptions she's made, behaviours she's adopted, and you see her question the entire way she's lived. It was really great to see her grow into a protagonist I enjoyed listening to, rather than one I was disgusted by.
That said my likes ended around there. There are two major things that limited my rating of this book. The narration style, and the plot. Both felt incredibly simplistic. Initially, everything felt like a caricature - the city, the people. I'm unsure whether this was intentional or not - it's plausible to think the author may have been going for a setting like Batman's Gotham.
Regardless of how utterly hostile the city is, it's the simplicity of the characters I took the brunt of my issue with. Everyone felt so one-dimensional. Priya is the energetic friend who loves fighting, Ness is scared TM, Cy is really nice and there's not much beyond that, bad guys are bad because they're bad people. We get snippets of depth, but that didn't feel like enough.
For example, at one point in the novel Priya's hardy exterior cracks, and she's surprised when Ness admits she thought Priya was absolutely fearless. Perhaps everyone feels so simple because that's how Ness sees them. She's so preoccupied with herself, and her trauma, that she hasn't deeply connected with anyone else? It's a weak excuse even if that is the case.
Similarly, the plot was very simple too. Some aspects were incredibly well done - my favourite being the side-plot about Ness' sister Ruby. That was written so brilliantly, and progressed naturally throughout the story. All the other events in the novel felt so unrelated, or anticlimactic though. It made this book an incredibly quick read, very easy to breeze through, but I was left wanting more.
There's going to be a sequel, and I think I'll read it. I'm very curious to see where Schaeffer is going to go with the plot, especially after what was unleashed at the end of this novel. I am, however, hoping that her writing continues to develop to match the calibre of the ideas she has.
I'll start with what I liked.
In my opinion, the concept is the best part of this novel. It's such a unique idea - when people have nightmares it changes them, and they wake up as their greatest fear. That idea alone gives an unbounded amount of creative freedom. You can't predict the plot because at any second a curveball could be added in the form of a Nightmare. I've not seen another novel that's tried something like this before. The uniqueness of this idea is definitely one of the biggest selling points of this book.
The other thing I liked about this book was the friendship and the character growth. I personally found our main character very unlikeable in the beginning. She's selfish, incredibly so, prejudiced, and terrified of everything. So terrified that it makes her a bad person. I don't think the writing style helped - but I'll get into that later. Ness was set to continue life in just the same way, but she's suddenly thrust into the middle of secrets and conspiracies, forcing her to adapt. Also in the same boat (literally) is Cy, a super nice guy who absolutely deserves better than being forced to hang out with Ness.
Regardless, befriending Cy forces Ness to confront the way she perceives other people, and to face her fears. Throughout the novel you see Ness tackle assumptions she's made, behaviours she's adopted, and you see her question the entire way she's lived. It was really great to see her grow into a protagonist I enjoyed listening to, rather than one I was disgusted by.
That said my likes ended around there. There are two major things that limited my rating of this book. The narration style, and the plot. Both felt incredibly simplistic. Initially, everything felt like a caricature - the city, the people. I'm unsure whether this was intentional or not - it's plausible to think the author may have been going for a setting like Batman's Gotham.
Regardless of how utterly hostile the city is, it's the simplicity of the characters I took the brunt of my issue with. Everyone felt so one-dimensional. Priya is the energetic friend who loves fighting, Ness is scared TM, Cy is really nice and there's not much beyond that, bad guys are bad because they're bad people. We get snippets of depth, but that didn't feel like enough.
For example, at one point in the novel Priya's hardy exterior cracks, and she's surprised when Ness admits she thought Priya was absolutely fearless. Perhaps everyone feels so simple because that's how Ness sees them. She's so preoccupied with herself, and her trauma, that she hasn't deeply connected with anyone else? It's a weak excuse even if that is the case.
Similarly, the plot was very simple too. Some aspects were incredibly well done - my favourite being the side-plot about Ness' sister Ruby. That was written so brilliantly, and progressed naturally throughout the story. All the other events in the novel felt so unrelated, or anticlimactic though. It made this book an incredibly quick read, very easy to breeze through, but I was left wanting more.
There's going to be a sequel, and I think I'll read it. I'm very curious to see where Schaeffer is going to go with the plot, especially after what was unleashed at the end of this novel. I am, however, hoping that her writing continues to develop to match the calibre of the ideas she has.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Death and Gun violence
Violince, including gun violence, and death are mentioned often and casuallygoldkatze's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
ambledsoe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Think Gotham but no Batman justice and the people are all corrupt, plus the villains are 90% murderous people turned into their greatest fear if they dream while sleeping.
The concept was brilliant and well executed. The storyline progressed at a good pace.
Things to know:
1. It's not a cult
2. No one is trustworthy
3.... Maybe don't read if you are easily scared if your sister turns into a giant spider who eats your dad
The concept was brilliant and well executed. The storyline progressed at a good pace.
Things to know:
1. It's not a cult
2. No one is trustworthy
3.... Maybe don't read if you are easily scared if your sister turns into a giant spider who eats your dad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
kris386's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Trafficking, Abandonment, and Alcohol
pvbobrien's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, and Classism
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Holy man-eating spiders! You do not want to miss this gloriously dystopian and utterly addictive YA fantasy, where your nightmares can transform you into literal monsters.
It’s set in Newham (a city so crime-ridden it makes Gotham looks tame by comparison) and follows nineteen year old Ness, who has an irrational fear of nightmares (and of becoming one) ever since her sister turned into a man-eating spider and went on a killing spree.
And Ness is willing to do anything to make sure she doesn’t suffer the same fate, even joining Friends of the Restful Soul-a group that offers help to those affected by nightmares (and which may or may not be a cult.)
But being part of Friends of the Restful means contributing to the group. And when her assigned voluntary job ends in disaster—AGAIN—she cons her way into delivery duty as penance. Until that too ends in chaos.
Now Ness is tangled in the aftermath of the explosion and, alongside the only other survivor, decides to look for answers. Because the accident may not have been soo accidental after all…
I absolutely loved every second of this—it’s pacey, plot twisty and fabulously dramatic in all the best ways!
The world-building was really good and leans into the dark and gritty, 1920s-style comic book aesthetic that paired well with all the morally ambiguous characters we encounter. Most of whom had some rather big personalities, or eccentric quirks that made them really memorable (like keeping a pterodactyl to kidnap or eat your enemies.) Their questionable actions also kept me on my toes, though it’s probably the first time my tendency to suspect everyone has actually paid off.
I did like Ness, though she is a complex and utterly flawed character still coming to terms with her PTSD-like childhood trauma. She can be selfish, cruel, and a little unlikable at first but I did find her really relatable—particularly in terms of her fear. I mean, if I lived in a city that’s nearly destroyed by dragons, dinosaurs or giant carnivorous creatures on a weekly basis, I’d be terrified too!
But what made her such an interesting character was that she’s entirely aware of those flaws, and is both honest and unapologetic about it. And it didn’t take long for me to warm to her (and root for her) inspite of it.
The simmering undercurrent of tension that permeates the entire plot also really amps up the mystery aspect, as Ness attempts—with her only friend Priya and fellow boat survivor Cy, to find out what really caused the explosion. I also really enjoyed that old school, crime noir-style dynamic that we see between Ness and both Priya and Cy.
As a nightmare whose own fear turned him into a vampire, Cy was definitely a character I enjoyed getting to know. Unlike the romanticised versions, Cy is pretty much the complete antithesis of what vampires are expected to be—and even argues against the widespread media coverage that glorifies them. Even bringing up some very valid (and thought provoking) points on the ethics of consent within the vampire mythos-such biting/ feeding without consent (or mind controlling them) and then wiping the memories being no different than date rape.
Schaeffer also explores some pretty important issues such as kidnapping, human trafficking, and fraud, bribery and corruption in both government and law enforcement. Issues that, despite the absurdity and fantastical elements of the plot are sadly but unsurprisingly rather relevant in the world’s current social climate.
Overall, a deliciously thrilling and utterly entertaining read that lovers of morally grey characters,Gotham or stories of pure unadulterated chaos are gonna love!
Also, a huge thank you to Kate over at Hodder for the wonderful physical arc.
It’s set in Newham (a city so crime-ridden it makes Gotham looks tame by comparison) and follows nineteen year old Ness, who has an irrational fear of nightmares (and of becoming one) ever since her sister turned into a man-eating spider and went on a killing spree.
And Ness is willing to do anything to make sure she doesn’t suffer the same fate, even joining Friends of the Restful Soul-a group that offers help to those affected by nightmares (and which may or may not be a cult.)
But being part of Friends of the Restful means contributing to the group. And when her assigned voluntary job ends in disaster—AGAIN—she cons her way into delivery duty as penance. Until that too ends in chaos.
Now Ness is tangled in the aftermath of the explosion and, alongside the only other survivor, decides to look for answers. Because the accident may not have been soo accidental after all…
I absolutely loved every second of this—it’s pacey, plot twisty and fabulously dramatic in all the best ways!
The world-building was really good and leans into the dark and gritty, 1920s-style comic book aesthetic that paired well with all the morally ambiguous characters we encounter. Most of whom had some rather big personalities, or eccentric quirks that made them really memorable (like keeping a pterodactyl to kidnap or eat your enemies.) Their questionable actions also kept me on my toes, though it’s probably the first time my tendency to suspect everyone has actually paid off.
I did like Ness, though she is a complex and utterly flawed character still coming to terms with her PTSD-like childhood trauma. She can be selfish, cruel, and a little unlikable at first but I did find her really relatable—particularly in terms of her fear. I mean, if I lived in a city that’s nearly destroyed by dragons, dinosaurs or giant carnivorous creatures on a weekly basis, I’d be terrified too!
But what made her such an interesting character was that she’s entirely aware of those flaws, and is both honest and unapologetic about it. And it didn’t take long for me to warm to her (and root for her) inspite of it.
The simmering undercurrent of tension that permeates the entire plot also really amps up the mystery aspect, as Ness attempts—with her only friend Priya and fellow boat survivor Cy, to find out what really caused the explosion. I also really enjoyed that old school, crime noir-style dynamic that we see between Ness and both Priya and Cy.
As a nightmare whose own fear turned him into a vampire, Cy was definitely a character I enjoyed getting to know. Unlike the romanticised versions, Cy is pretty much the complete antithesis of what vampires are expected to be—and even argues against the widespread media coverage that glorifies them. Even bringing up some very valid (and thought provoking) points on the ethics of consent within the vampire mythos-such biting/ feeding without consent (or mind controlling them) and then wiping the memories being no different than date rape.
Schaeffer also explores some pretty important issues such as kidnapping, human trafficking, and fraud, bribery and corruption in both government and law enforcement. Issues that, despite the absurdity and fantastical elements of the plot are sadly but unsurprisingly rather relevant in the world’s current social climate.
Overall, a deliciously thrilling and utterly entertaining read that lovers of morally grey characters,Gotham or stories of pure unadulterated chaos are gonna love!
Also, a huge thank you to Kate over at Hodder for the wonderful physical arc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Trafficking, and Death of parent
amyejones's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Read this as an e-arc, and I’m so glad I did! The concept was so interesting and I enjoyed finding out more about it as the book went on. It was a rollercoaster of a book and I hope there’s a second one because I need to know more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Gore, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence and Grief
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
megu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Imagine a world where dreams come true. Ah — no, no, not daydreams and hopes, but those horrifying nightmares that get a stranglehold on you in your sleep. This is the world of Newham. It's a world where people distort in their sleep, where vampires become real and your sister just might turn into a man-eating giant spider. Which happened to Ness. She lives in a state of crippling fear after her sister's incident, petrified by living Nightmares and manipulating her way to survival in an unscrupulous city... until she accidentally gets caught up in a scheme that ties her to the very Nightmares and fears she tries to run from.
First off, I read this really quickly. Like really quick. Like in one day quick. That is rare for me.
This is a bonkers book. It's dark (and bloody and nightmare-filled) but at the same time a total romp. I'm not a horror lover in any way, but this book somehow remained fun and light. Everything about the world created within those pages is slightly off... but in a free-wheeling way. There are coffee shops where the characters get fluffy, sugary coffees while at the same time being in awe of the new black-and-white TV inventions. There are giant talking lizards, gangs that take each other down suddenly in the streets, superhero-esque groups that fight the Nightmares, bloody skirmishes every day, mindful cults that pass out flyers to any passersby... an imbalance all stemming from the chaos caused by Nightmares appearing in the world. It's like stepping into a dream world, a comic book world. It works.
The writing is rather simple. There are also a lot of "morals" or opinions very blatantly spelled out through the book. But most of these are well-meaning takes on how to respect other living beings or how to exist better in the world... and for the younger readers that this novel is targeting, I think that's okay.
The relationships are very sweet. The book tries hard, despite the evils rampant in the story, to keep hold of a sense of goodness. And it succeeds, it seems — somehow the assassins, and gang warfare, and child kidnappings belong to the dreamlike comic-book world, and the care for others becomes the real heart.
CW: It's not as graphic as it sounds, in any way. But... limbs being torn off, people contorting into monsters, children being kidnapped, parents being eaten, gun battles, assassination attempts, explosions...
Thanks to NetGalley and the editors for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder