Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

Hoid's Travails #2

by Brandon Sanderson

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings us a gripping story set in the Cosmere universe told by Hoid, where two people from incredibly different worlds must compromise and work together to save their worlds from ruin.

Yumi comes from a land of gardens, meditation, and spirits, while Painter lives in a world of darkness, technology, and nightmares. When their lives suddenly become intertwined in strange ways, can they put aside their differences and work together to uncover the mysteries of their situation and save each other’s communities from certain disaster?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Science Fiction, High Fantasy, Adult

365 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2023

About the author

I’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.

The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.

During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.

Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.

November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.

Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.

I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.

Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!

Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.

I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.

Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on Yumi and the Nightmare Painter.

This was utterly brilliant and satisfying. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter will be the best of the secret project novels, and it is easily one of Sanderson’s finest books in his career.

Since its announcement, the third secret project novel by Brandon Sanderson, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, was already on my list of most anticipated books. It IS my most anticipated book of the secret project novels. This is due to two reasons. First, Sanderson has mentioned that the manga/anime Hikaru no Go by Yumi Hotta (writer) and Takeshi Obata (illustrator) is one of the main inspirations behind this new Cosmere novel. Hikaru no Go is another childhood favorite of mine, and I knew this would bode well for me. And, of course, the other reason, Aliya Chen is the designated illustrator for this book. Aliya Chen is one of the best artists I have come across. You do not need to hear my words on how amazing she is at her art. Check out her artwork portfolio. Or, to put it more simply, read this book and witness her illustrations. Suffice it to say I had high expectations and excitement going into this book, and still, I was astounded. The inspirations that gave birth to this novel are all stories I cherished. I, as some of you might know, LOVE video games, manga, anime, and books. As it turns out, not only Hikaru no Go, but the anime Kimi no Nawa (Your Name) and the video game Final Fantasy X influenced the creation of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter as well. And as a big fan of Sanderson’s Cosmere books plus these three main inspirations, this is a knock-out book for me.

Two locations. Two protagonists. Duality, contrast, and cooperation are evident in Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. In the city of Kilahito, a world of darkness, technology, and nightmares, Nikaro (Painter) works as a nightmare painter. While in Torio, a land of light, gardens, meditation, and spirits, we follow Yumi as a traveling yoki-hijo—a rare priestess capable of summoning and commanding spirits to serve Torio’s inhabitants through rituals and stacking stones. Suddenly, an event unpredictably intertwined their lives together in ways they never imagined. In Torio, Painter now appears to others as though he is Yumi, and Yumi turns into a disembodied spirit visible only to him. In Kilahito, the reverse situation occurred. Both of them must put aside their differences and work together to learn each other's jobs and skills to uncover the mysteries of their situation and save their respective communities from a predicted imminent disaster.

“Human beings are bundles of emotion puppeting muscles like a marionette. We emote not only with our bodies, but with our very souls.”

That’s pretty much the premise, and if you have read or watched Hikaru no Go, you will see the intentional similarities here. In Hikaru no Go, the main character Hikaru finds a haunted Go board someday. The Go board is haunted by a ghost named Sai, the emperor’s former Go teacher in the Heian era. But Sai doesn’t have a physical body of his own to control. He is dead. He is trapped in Hikaru’s mind, and he tells him which move to use every time Hikaru plays Go. You can probably imagine the several frustrations that came from Sai and Hikaru’s circumstances. This is the kind of dynamics and struggles Sanderson implements into Yumi and Painter's story. The story is once again told through the narration of Hoid, but do not expect this to be done in the same voice as Hoid’s in Tress of the Emerald Sea. It is different, and it works amazingly for the narrative and atmosphere. And I should really point this out. Even though Hoid is narrating here, the entire book is, without a shadow of a doubt, Yumi and Painter’s story. We read from their POV like usual, hear their thoughts, and feel their emotions. However, we get the occasional commentary, interruptions, and philosophical musings from Hoid. For me, there was never any dull moment in this book. Even though it is a different kind of Cosmere novel, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter remain Sanderson's storytelling at its prime.

Even in Tress of the Emerald Sea, which I highly enjoyed, a few sections in that book felt a bit dragging, in my opinion. That wasn’t the case with Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. It was thoroughly compelling, and the book was incredibly well-paced. I applaud other readers who started and finished this book in a day or two and then immediately proceeded to talk about the book in detail online. Granted, I failed to prolong my reading of this book as well. But I certainly savored every page. And upon finishing it, I was left dazed, charmed, and positively bewildered. I still am at the time of making this review. I was mesmerized by the buildup, execution, and entire narrative that eventually led to a form of Sanderlanche finished by a hugely satisfying ending. Do not expect actions or battle scenes here. A form of Sanderlanche is existent in the last portion of the book, no doubt about that, but at its core, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is a beautiful, relatable, and charming slow-burn story about the connection and relationship development between two individuals with different personality and upbringings. And yes, I absolutely love the two main characters: Painter and Yumi.

Although Painter and Yumi are characters of opposite personalities and backgrounds, they have attitudes, mentality, and struggles I can relate to. I read Mistborn Trilogy for the first time in September 2016, and although it’s almost seven years since I read Sanderson’s books for the first time, I still think, to this day, he is one of the greatest authors when it comes to characterizations and development. I found Painter to be a genuine character. He strives to fix things. To do right. The issues he’s dealing with revolve around loneliness, his own value as an individual, and the insurmountable pressure he faces. It’s not only Painter. I find this to be so relatable to our society. Often, but not always, we are valued and treated based on what service we can offer and provide to other people. If we fail these services, the result can be devastating sometimes. Dismissal. Ignored. Oblivion. These were several issues Painter is dealing with, and that resonated a lot with me. I assume other readers will, too. His insecurity, his aspiration to be needed, to do good, and of course, his passion for art.

Yumi, in her own way, encounters this issue of having her value determined by her service as a yoki-hijo. She follows tradition as strictly as possible, with no room for freedom. Because of this, for me, Yumi did take a bit of time to like as a character. Initially, she was uptight and strict with her ritual and rules. This, however, does not mean she ever behaved out of character. This first impression is stringed with the gradual character development she went through together with Painter, which gave rewarding results to their relationship and, more importantly, the reader's reading experience. As I said, compromise and empathy are some of the main themes in Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. Also, if I'm not mistaken, the name Yumi is most likely inspired by Yuna in Final Fantasy X video game. Yuna works as a summoner and is one of the two main characters in Final Fantasy X. At the same time, the name Yumi matches the name of one of the creators of Hikaru no Go, Yumi Hotta, the writer. Tidus, the other main character in Final Fantasy X, is a blitzball player. Tidus, a blitzball player, and Yuna, a summoner. Nikaro, a painter, and Yumi, a yoki-hijo. This is practically where Final Fantasy X came in as an inspiration for this novel.

“It’s a common mistake to assume that someone is weak because they are accommodating. If you think this, you might be the type who has no idea how much effort— how much strength— it takes to put up with your nonsense. Yumi wasn’t weak. She wasn’t a pushover. Don’t assume fragility where you should see patience.”

There are a few similarities between the pair Nikaro-Yumi and Tidus-Yuna. And I loved it, especially the slow-burn romance between each pair. Some of you might already know I am not a reader of romance novels. And yes, this book can definitely be categorized as one. But Sanderson deftly handled the balance between plotting, mystery, characterizations, world-building, fantastical aspects, and romance. The romance never overwhelmed the other spotlights of the novel for me. And I will argue that the romantic scene here is relatively few. I understand each reader’s tastes are different, but from my analysis, only someone who despises having any tiny moments of romance in their books will hate this. The majority of this book is just about relationship development. Building characters. Understanding each other. It is a standard human connection. It is believable. And it is well-written. Life is not made up of a few colors. It is brimming with multitudes of emotions, good or bad. Relating to how Tidus and Yuna complement each other, Nikaro and Yumi bring their missing colors and puzzles to complete each other. Not instantly, but gradually. Through hard work, effort, and patience. And I love the two of them. Assuming we are not talking about teenagers, I personally think Sanderson is excellent at writing romantic relationships between characters. Vin and Elend. Wax and Steris. Suri and Susebron. And now Nikaro and Yumi. This is also why I generally prefer slow-burn romance much more over insta-love. I am not saying insta-love is not believable, but in books I read, I tend to prefer connections being nurtured, navigated, and fought for first before the two characters in question become a couple.

Through Nikaro and Yumi and their interactions with the supporting characters, the resonating themes of friendship, responsibility, loneliness, freedom, the need to belong, and art shine through. As you can expect from Sanderson's writing, his prose remains accessible, engaging, and vivid. Although some readers have felt dissatisfied with Sanderson's prose, I always love his writing and storytelling style. His writing is vivid, and the scenes are constantly easy to visualize in my mind, with emotionally impactful and hard-hitting passages placed at the right moment. One of the things I love most about reading, illustrations, and art, in general, is the feeling of being impressed with human creation and creativity after experiencing the emotional effect of the art. A cooking machine that succeeded at creating a noodle will never top me feeling awed by a chef cooking a delicious noodle for me. Or even better, a delicious noodle I cook myself. Similar to The Emperor’s Soul novella, another Asian-inspired fantasy story by Brandon Sanderson that I cherished, one of the main themes of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is art, its creation, recipients, and what it means. For these reasons, this is why I will ALWAYS prefer human-created art over AI art. I want to feel awed by the story and illustrations painstakingly built by a fellow human. Sanderson handled this topic and theme magnificently in Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and it is one of the big reasons I adore this book.

Everything about Yumi and the Nightmare Painter click with me. The mystery was intriguing, the characters were lovable, the world-building was intricate, and the writing was compelling. And as an Asian reader, it goes without saying that I have an affinity toward Asian-inspired fantasy books. The anime Your Name is one of the inspirations behind this book. The well-realized world-building in Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is Japanese and Korean-inspired. Japan and Korea are two countries I visited in the past for holidays, and they remain strong as some of the most memorable experiences for me. And through this experience, Kilahito really feels like modern Tokyo (probably going back a bit in the past) in my mind, and honestly, I thought the setting in Yumi's story was, too. However, Sanderson has mentioned that Yumi's world is inspired by historical Korea rather than Japan. And Sanderson, as proven in The Emperor’s Soul and now this, is bloody good at writing Asian-inspired fantasy books. The clothing, the setting, the cultures, the food, the eternal night and day. The azure and magenta. It is all so atmospheric and imaginable. I hope Sanderson will contemplate writing more Asian-inspired fantasy books in the Cosmere.

As usual, when it comes to every new book in the Cosmere now, people will ask, which books you must read before you start reading this? I’m happy to say, for once, none. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter can be read and enjoyed without reading other books in the Cosmere. Hear me out. I am someone who is very sensitive about spoilers. And yes, first-time readers of Brandon Sanderson or Cosmere will miss out on understanding the Cosmere terminologies and who Design is if they start here. But honestly, if the reader hasn’t read The Stormlight Archive yet, none of these actually count as spoilers. A relatively very minor spoiler, too, if we count some things I can't say here. I’m caught up with all the Cosmere books, and the knowledge I had from reading The Stormlight Archive did not significantly enhance my reading experience of this one. Some readers will and have argued you must read up to Rhythm of War before reading Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. I understand the sentiment, but this is a bit crazy. The effort and reward of doing this are imbalanced. You can’t possibly expect readers to read 4000 pages (currently almost 2,000,000 words) long of books to have a small benefit in reading this 110,000 words long standalone novel. That would make Yumi and the Nightmare Painter as a standalone novel inaccessible to many readers, which I’m pretty sure is not Sanderson’s intention. This is a standalone novel. You WILL benefit from reading other books in the Cosmere first, no doubt about that, especially The Stormlight Archive. But a requirement? I don’t think so. From now on, I will actually recommend Yumi and the Nightmare Painter as one of the good starting points in Cosmere. Especially if that specific reader is looking for a standalone novel.

Lastly, Aliya Chen (the illustrator behind Yumi and the Nightmare Painter) deserves a standing ovation. No offense to Howard Lyon and Steve Argyle, the illustrator behind Tress of the Emerald Sea and The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook For Surviving Medieval England. I loved their contribution, and their illustrations were compatible with the books they were in charge of. But based on my experience, history, and preference, Aliya Chen’s illustrations reigned as the best out of the secret projects so far. It is my favorite, and I think Aliya will still reign even after the last secret novel is published. Some readers might consider Aliya Chen fortunate to have the opportunity to work on Sanderson’s books. The way I see it, it is the other way around. For me, well, I am a happy spectator. Sanderson's book is now filled with one of my favorite artist’s illustrations! I have nothing to complain about here. Similar to my experience reading Sanderson's books, I have been an enthusiast of Aliya Chen’s illustrations for years. This collaboration feels like a match made in the Cosmere. No words are sufficient enough to convey how much I love the stunning artwork in Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. The lighting, the facial features, the characters, the tones, the mood; everything was superbly done. That feeling of finding an artist delivering illustrations that capture or exceed the quality of my own imagination always feels like a blessing to me, and that notion has been achieved here. Aliya’s artworks undoubtedly elevated the overall quality of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter to a higher plane. A picture speaks a thousand words. Including front and rear endpaper in the equation, there are 24 interior illustrations inside this book. I have shared two of them in this review. As for the rest, you have to witness them for yourself.

Stories like this are a necessity for me. While it is true that the book is devoid of massive epic fantasy battles, conflicts, and political intrigues found in other Cosmere books, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter triumphed as the best standalone novel by Brandon Sanderson. For me, this top over Elantris, Warbreaker, and The Emperor’s Soul. Wholesome, romantic, intimate, atmospheric, immersive, and timeless. The inspirations, Aliya Chen's illustrations, and Sanderson's brilliant storytelling and creativity are a union resulting in the immaculately crafted Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. This book intensified why Cosmere is one of my favorite fantasy universes. We decide what counts as art. Books. Paintings. Illustrations. Anime. Storytelling. We have the freedom and power to place a personal and intimate value on any specific art. And for me, the value of art as incredible as Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is priceless. So thank you so much, Brandon Sanderson and Emily Sanderson, for sharing this story for us to read and emotionally experience.

You can pre-order this book from: Blackwells (Free International shipping)

Quotes and images I chose to include were cut out from this review due to exceeding the characters limit on Goodreads. You can find my full review here and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel

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[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She was so tired. Overwhelmed. There was something incredibly therapeutic about sitting, pulling a blanket around herself, and watching someone else’s problems for a while.”

this was such a love letter to stories, storytelling, art, creating, and the connections we make because of them. this book really emphasizes why we need stories, why we need books, and movies, and dramas, and video games, and our family to pass down the stories that were passed down to them. this is not only one of my favorite brandon sanderson books, but it is one of the most beautiful things ive ever read. i recommend this with my whole heart.

like all the books in this secret project series so far, i personally feel like you can read this without reading any other brandon sanderson book. but you will just appreciate more things if you are caught up with the cosmere, especially if you are a little knowledgeable about his stormlight series…. with roshar and spren and investiture!

this is a story about two people, from two very different worlds, who have made a connection against all odds. And when these two meet, via body swapping, they discover the lives of each other alongside the reader. This story is also very inspired from the stories of your name, final fantasy x, and hikaru no go.

☆ Yumi - from an ancient historical korean inspired world where spirits are summoned to help from rituals. yumi is a yoki-hijo who can control the spirits with her stone stacking, and since birth her life has been all honor and devotion to the people of her world who need help from the spirits.

“And more. Yumi was one of the Chosen, picked at birth, granted the ability to influence the hijo, the spirits. It was an enormous honor among her people. And they never let her forget it.”

☆ Painter - from a more modern day japanese inspired world that is set in darkness with neon lights being the light source. nightmares manifest into actual monsters in this world, and nikaro is someone who uses art to banish them and their violence away from the city

“Trauma doesn’t decrease with company, but it does grow easier to work through when you know someone else understands.”

i really loved both of these worlds and settings, but the noodle shop in painter’s world was everything. i mean, obviously the owner and the coatrack were perfection on their own, but just that setting was so cozy and warm and perfect to picture in my mind while reading. i really hope we get to see at least a glimpse of it again in the future.

okay okay, let’s talk about the romance. i feel like i am a little in the minority with this, but i always like brandon’s romances. (truly, vin and elend are the reason i love bodyguard romances!) but i really loved the relationship in this book - its very slow burn, and it really focuses on their friendship, and them being the people they want to be, not the expectations placed on them by their worlds and circumstances. but oh my gosh i was weeping, truly weeping, at the romance in this book. i loved it completely. and i truly believe the second to last chapter in this book (i am trying to be vague hehe) is one of the best things brandon sanderson has ever written.

i was also very moved with brandon really implementing discussions on ai generated art and creation throughout this book. Humans really put themselves, their experiences, the experiences passed down to them, their blood, sweat, tears, their entire existence into their art. Meanwhile, machines just take and take and take and erase and erase and erase. i feel like he incorporated this very loudly and very softly at the same time, throughout this entire novel, and it is an important conversation we all need to be having and actively trying to dismantle.

and speaking of artwork, aliya chen has created some of the most beautiful pieces of art throughout this book. these illustrations truly enhanced and elevated this story to a new level and, again, really emphasizes the importance of human’s creating art and forging connections that transcend words.

“Human beings are bundles of emotion puppeting muscles like a marionette. We emote not only with our bodies, but with our very souls.”

in conclusional gushing, you will see me holding this beautiful special edition up in my end of the year, favorite books of the year picture. i am very obsessed with this and it really was close to perfection for me. truly a reminder why i love art and reading and escaping into worlds with characters like this.

trigger + content warnings: nightmares, anxiety depiction, depression depiction, trauma, blood, death, violence, hurt child, brief mention of bullying in past, abusive childhood, slavery, captivity, arachnoid visual descriptions



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♡ Tress of the Emerald Sea ★★★★★
♡ The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England ★★
♡ The Sunlit Man ★★★★
♡ Isles of the Emberdark ★★★

[Anna [Bran. San. Stan] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read 2025: Another great GraphicAudio adaptation with Hoid’s Stormlight actor narrating the story.

July 2, 2023: I’m calling it. This is my favorite Secret Project; it can’t get any better than this. Brandon and Emily are right.

But let’s start at the beginning. The first few chapters are very world-building heavy, introducing us to Yumi and Painter’s respective viewpoints and societies. While the civilization in Painter’s world is based on modern Japanese culture, Yumi’s is inspired by a more ancient Korean culture; naturally with a whole lot of creative cosmere world-building thrown in. Those worlds Sanderson paints are truly marvelous and just wonderful to imagine – and hearing the descriptions and the story in general in Hoid’s distinctive voice, much more serious and occasionally as tongue-in-cheek as in Tress, gives this story its unique, engaging tone. Both here and in Tress, I find myself enjoying this mix of a reliable (???), interfering, semi-omniscient first-person narrator who is not the protagonist, while still keeping to a familiar dual third-person PoV; it’s a nice change from the standard limited third-/first-person narrator.

“Yumi was one of the Chosen […]. And they never let her forget it.”

One of the PoVs is the eponymous Yumi, a so-called yoki-hijo, which translates to “The Girl of Commanding Primal Spirits,” Chosen at birth and – through the art of rock stacking (which is way cooler than it sounds) – given the ability to influence the hijo (spirits), who can then be bound to perform services, such as transforming into an essential object, to help people survive. While she intellectually knows it is an honor to be Chosen, deep down she is unhappy with her life lived in the service of religion and religious rituals, benefiting everyone but herself.

“She wouldn’t leave, but that night she wished she could. Wished she could escape the prison of her ceremonial nightgown. She wasn’t allowed to sleep as a normal person. She had to be reminded even by her undergarments of what she was. Chosen at birth. Blessed at birth. Imprisoned at birth.”

Nikaro aka (the Nightmare) Painter has a job which similarly helps others, though his profession is not that special – in-world, at least. (So, superficially he seems the antithesis to Yumi.) Basically, he, among many others, patrols at night to find and neutralize nightmares, semi-sapient voids of darkness/creatures that feed on the mind and powerful emotions (such as fear) of the sleeping. He then sort of uses Riddikulus on them, by giving the nightmare a different form on paper, which binds them into a harmless shape and which then evaporates like water. Sounds really exciting and brave to us Earthlings, doesn’t it? Well, it really isn’t most of the time. Why? Because the nightmares initially are formless, aimless, and harmless and take more than ten days to become stable, solid and actually life-threatening; thus, they usually don’t present an imminent danger.

I found this idea of taking the urgency out of nightmare hunting a refreshingly novel move. The fact that it’s not so much a heroic task as one would assume based on the job description makes for a great contrast to the traditional hero. To be fair, nightmare painting entails essentially being a “pest exterminator who had gone to art school”, which does not sound cool, at all. But as usual, it’s all a matter of perspective; I choose to view it as nightmare painting, which just sounds poetic and appropriate.

Sadly, Painter does not think so. He thinks of his job as monotonous, even if strictly essential, and of himself as boring and insignificant, a misfit; as someone who not so secretly does not want to be the loner he is, who is very much conscious of “his easy lies of self-imposed solitude” but not always brave enough to face them – and the mistakes he made in the past.

“Now the story thus far might have given you an unflattering picture of Painter. And yes, much of that picture is justified. Many of his problems in life were his own fault – and rather than trying to fix them, he alternated between comfortable self-delusion and pointless self-pity.”

Then, everything changes. IT happens. I won’t call it a traditional body swap trope because it isn’t; for one thing, the “swap” alternates and, for another, while Painter is in Yumi’s body, others do see him as Yumi but he sees himself as himself – so there are no things like boob grabbing, as everyone who suddenly finds themselves in a different body would naturally do. (I’m mentioning the boob grabbing because that actually happens in the movie Your Name which is one of the inspirations for this story.) The emphasis is more on experiencing another person’s life (not their body) – with the respective other functioning as a guide.

That doesn’t mean there are no awkward nakedness and sexual allusions; there absolutely are – in more (graphic) detail than I’m used to hearing from Brandon. I have to say that I could have done without some of those in the beginning as they struck me as a little cringy and forcibly comical in a YA way; maybe because it seems so out of character for Brandon. I much preferred the humorous scenes caused by the strangeness and unfamiliarity of the respective different worlds.

“Um . . . what is shampoo?”
“For your hair,” he said. “Lather it up in your hair to clean it. Then use the conditioner to . . . uh . . . It’s good for the hair somehow. Trust me. It, um, moisturizes?”
“Right. I’ll . . . shampoo, then? Do I do it now? Or after I’ve used the soap? And to what count do I lather before rinsing?”

Of course, things don’t remain humorous for long. Things get real and very cosmere-heavy which means I absolutely loved them. I was invested (I know that pun is overused but it is just so accurate) and went on a binge to finish the entire book until the wee hours of the morning when my poor brain was craving sleep and I just refused to listen. It is just that good, with twists and turns you don’t see coming, magnificent world-building that is vital to the plot, musings on the nature of art Sanderson Hoid is so fond of, beautiful actual art to illustrate the story, and a lovely romance to warm your heart.

What more could you ask for?

“You’re staring,” she said.
He was a painter. Not a poet. But somehow he found the right words. “I only stare,” he said, “when I see something too beautiful for my eyes to take in at once.”

PS: Just a little piece of advice, if at some point towards the end you’re confused, don’t waste your time re-reading past sections. Hoid will be useful as ever (in chapter 39) and explain it all, so barrel on!

PPS: If you’ve read the previously published seven chapters on Brandon’s website, you should take the time to re-read at least chapter 6 in the officially released version.


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July 1, 2023: LFG!


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March 17, 2022: You can read the first seven chapters of Secret Project #3 here: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/firs...

And/or listen to Sanderson reading them here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFGDc...

Yay! Another Cosmere book! This Cosmere girl is beyond thrilled. The world building is once again magical, this time inspired by Korean and Japanese culture, and the premise is thoroughly intriguing as usual. Sanderson has stated that this is his favorite of the four secret projects. So you know it's gotta be good!
__________________________

!!!! SPOILERS BELOW !!!

Hoid, our favorite story teller, is again telling the story of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. Unlike Secret Project #1 it does not give you a modern fairy tale vibe though, its narrative is more traditional. It still feels kind of tongue-in-cheek sometimes, as we'd expect it from Hoid. Sanderson has stated that he wanted to explore Hoid's voice in preparation for Dragonsteel which he wants to write at some point.

Also, casual reference to Roshar and Scadriel? I'm so here for them! I'm reasonably certain you will appreciate this book more if you've read other Cosmere books. The previous two projects are more accessible to Cosmere newbies.

If you want to find out more about Sanderson's creative process (and the book itself), check the bottom of the website above or listen to the final 5 minutes or so on the YouTube video.

[Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

An anime book with a big romance plot, which just isn't my thing. Give me epic fantasy Sanderson back please!

Watch my video review by clicking here.

[Read By Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very good. Also because Cosmere fans are straight up ridiculous people I am saying here and now that this book does not spoil any other Cosmere book. ANY. COSMERE. BOOK.

I said it, and I meant it. I will fight you, insane people.

[Nikola · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 gwiazdek to za mało, żeby wyrazić moją miłość do tej książki.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is magically experimental. It’s like a manhwa written by Brandon Sanderson, featuring vivid imagery, overflowing creativity, and plenty of drama.

Yumi has spent her whole life as a conduit for the spirits that power her nation. She stacks stones in gravity-defying formations, channeling the creativity that attracts the spirits’ curiosity. She lives a life of solitary ritual and has never made a decision—or a friend—for herself. She is only told to take care of herself so she can continue giving her life in complete service, but people always want more than she can provide.

Nikaro, the Painter, lives in a city surrounded by an impenetrable shroud of darkness, from which nightmares emerge. Driven by the fuel of fear, these terrifying, silent wraiths can decimate a city unless the painters track them down each night. Although his job is creating art to subdue monsters, he still struggles to see his value. Creatively, he’s in a slump—he has seemingly lost his passion for art. Instead of a hero, he just feels like a mundane and lonely employee, one among hundreds.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is Sanderson’s first romance (although it is also a lot of other things). Romance is not known to be one of his strong suits. Usually, his pairings work because the characters themselves are great, not because the buildup of the romance shines. In fact, the lack of details or overt chemistry is what strikes me more often as a characteristic of his preferred style of romance-writing. Surprisingly, not much about that has changed here. However, this book isn’t memorable because of the romance, which I didn’t think was anything remarkable. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is primarily a story of how two people who feel lost and guilty find understanding and freedom in each other. It’s an exploration of what it means to be an artist, along with all the disheartenment of creativity—the slumps, the lack of motivation or understanding of the value of your art, the fear of disappointing others by failing at what you think is your only worthwhile skill. That’s what left the most impact on me.

The aesthetics of this book are just beautiful—the haunted noir urban backdrop of Nikaro’s city, where the only light in a world of shrouded darkness radiates from ghostly beams of teal and magenta; the paradisiacal oasis of Yumi’s world, with its floating flowers and warm earth and red-orange glow. I’m not much of an artist, but if I were, I wouldn’t be able to resist drawing these settings.

However, my reaction to Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is ultimately ambivalent. It was a delightful and amusing read, but those aren’t the adjectives I wish I could have used first to describe this book. On their own, the elements of Yumi are thrilling, romantic, eerie, and heartwarming, but I don’t think Hoid’s narration works to convey those emotions. To me, this story needs to be closer to its characters; the events should be observed and processed directly by the characters themselves. I would prefer that it took Yumi and Nikaro more seriously to be a captivating book instead of merely an entertaining one. The joking and lighthearted writing style doesn’t match the atmosphere and emotional impact I would prefer from a plot like this.

Additionally, the legendary Sanderwave is uncharacteristically convoluted and confusing. Hoid takes at least three infodumps to explain it all, and it really doesn’t need to be that complicated. Additionally, I disliked the use of a frustrating trope, which I thought spoiled the poignancy of the ending.

Despite these missteps, Sanderson’s writing skills are still commendable in Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. The unpredictability kept me hooked as seemingly unassociated parts fell together like cogs in the unfolding mystery of this world. I enjoy Sanderson’s self-contained stories because they bring out some of his other talents, those sometimes overshadowed by his strengths of developing large-scale worldbuilding and huge casts. Although I love his intimidating 10-book sagas, it’s a testament to the quality of his storytelling that he needs only a single book to tell a beautiful and creative story.

3.5/5

[Maddie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING BREAKDOWN
Characters: 4⭐️
Setting: 5⭐️
Plot: 4⭐️
Themes: 4⭐️
Emotional Impact: 5⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 4.75 ⭐️

My God, I did not see this packing the emotional punch that it did. What a love letter to artists and poets everywhere, but also just to human beings. What gut-wrenching exploration of truth and honesty, what a ballad to freedom, and a call to everyday courage. What fucking art! Brandon Sanderson wove magic into this thing. Masterful achievement. Emotional peak excellence. And in typical BrandoSando fashion you have to wait til the end, but MY GOD does he give you the payoff of a lifetime. So so so unbelievably good!

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 Stars.

The only problem I had with this book is that I never wanted it to end.

[Samantha (ladybug.books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter had a very promising setup but failed to capture my attention until the last 20% of the book.

To absolutely no surprise, Sanderson excels at crafting a unique and intriguing world. I was particularly fascinated by the idea of nightmare painters and a world of constant darkness. Unfortunately, it never felt like the story was focusing on the parts that I found most interesting. The reveals at the end both explain and make up for a lot of the details I was missing in earlier parts of the book. But I struggled to stay engaged and frequently considered not finishing the book.

Though the concepts in Yumi and the Nightmare Painter are very cool, the actual story lacks substance. Sanderson explores a lot of interesting themes about art and identity, however, these are delivered in very heavy-handed comments from the narrator. Most of the book involved incredibly repetitive scenes that Hoid told the reader should have depth, emotion, and character growth. But I never felt any of that from the story itself, likely because I was so frustrated with the main characters.

In the absence of a high-stakes plot, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter falls onto its characters and thematic messaging. Unfortunately, I found the characters shallow and annoying which left me incredibly bored for most of the book. Many of the character interactions and conflicts felt unrealistic or lacked enough context to make them compelling. My dislike for the main characters feels a bit unfair because they are both products of their situations. Their immaturity and naivety are understandable, but incredibly annoying to read. The story was clearly biased towards Yumi which was disappointing as I was far more intrigued by Painter. I was also frustrated with how unfair Yumi acted towards Painter—bulldozing through his life while throwing a tantrum if he questioned anything she told him to do in her world. I have seen other reviews describe this as a more romance-heavy fantasy story, but I really did not feel any romantic tension between Yumi and Painter.

I have a lot of mixed feelings when it comes to the choice of narrator for this story. Though I am a relative newbie to Sanderson’s Cosmere I am somewhat familiar with Hoid and the role he plays in Sanderson’s books. I am always a fan of unique narrative styles and I was initially very intrigued by Hoid’s relatively omniscient, quirky narration. Unfortunately, I feel like this snarky, fun narrative voice actually hindered the story in some ways. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter covered some heavier, more serious topics but the quirky commentary often felt like it clashed with the tone that the book was trying to create. The story is frequently interrupted by heavy-handed sermons on the nature of art that felt like thinly veiled, uncreative author self-inserts. My last straw with this style of narration was when Hoid had to info-dump the reveals about the world because there was no way to work the explanations into the story naturally.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is an intriguing contemplation of the nature of art and the role of artists in society. Unfortunately, I spent most of the book bored or annoyed and was ultimately left underwhelmed.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the eARC

Links to my TikTok | Instagram

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It sometimes takes an outsider to point out how broken something is.”

i had high hopes for this secret project specifically since it sounded the most up my alley. to be honest, a lot of this book was boring and hard for me to get invested in. i really loved the magic system though (typical while reading Sanderson). the painters and the way they used their abilities/art is something i haven’t read before, while the yokai are more familiar. the way the story was written through this added narrator didn’t necessarily bother me, but idk what the point was😅. i would’ve given the book a 3.5 but the last half picked up way more and i really enjoyed that whole section a lot, along with the ending.

“Things only have the value we give them. And likewise, actions can be worth whatever we decide them to be worth.”

I’ve seen this advertised as more romance heavy and i feel like that gives the wrong impression. the romance is very minimal but i will say there were a couple really cute moments between Yumi and Painter. the story itself is more character driven as well, so don’t go in expecting action and battle scenes lol. the body swap element was a fun addition too— it helped by bringing something else to focus on in the story since the characters daily lives as they tried to navigate living as each other could get repetitive. i’m happy i finally read this though cause i did end up enjoying it and the characters eventually, i just think my expectations were probably way too high.


➺ thanks to Bree for buddy reading this with me and sending all the added illustrations lol i had fun🤍

[benedicta · Rating 3 out of 5]

two things about sanderson:

☆ he has an unhealthy obsession with solid colors

☆ you'll be able to tell he was thoroughly amused with himself while writing this story (then may or may not have forgotten to take his readers along in that journey)

[aria ✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Why do we tell stories? They are a universal human experience. Every culture I’ve ever visited, every people I’ve met, every human on every planet in every situation I’ve seen…they all tell stories. Men trapped alone for years tell them to themselves. Ancients leave them painted on the walls. Women whisper them to their babies. Stories explain us. You want to define what makes a human different from an animal? I can do it in one word or a hundred thousand. Sad stories. Exultant stories. Didactic morality tales. Frivolous yarns that, paradoxically, carry too much meaning. We need stories.”

The third of Sanderson’s Secret Projects, ‘Yumi and the Nightmare Painter’ is Final Fantasy X meets Your Name.

Yumi is Chosen. In the Kingdom of Torio (inspired by ancient Korea), there are special girls chosen from birth to serve. They are Yoki-hijo and they bring forth the spirits in a ceremony through stacking rocks. Yumi, born under a falling star, is one of them and she has spent her whole life serving Torio. Though she has wishes and wants, she puts them aside to do her duty.

The Nightmare Painter, or simply Painter, is a title held by Nikaro. In Kilahito (inspired by modern Japan), there are monsters known as Nightmares that haunt the night and it is the job of Painters to exterminate them. But after an encounter with a nearly fully formed Nightmare, something strange happens.

Nikaro wakes up in Yumi’s body.

“In storytelling, we pretend you can read all kinds of things from a furrowed brow or a fleeting expression. This is shorthand for a real phenomenon, but it’s more complex than we pretend. The longer you spend with a person, the more you know them. But beyond the obvious details like learning their favorite foods, we internalize the way that they react. The way that they express worry. For some, it’s the archetypal furrowed brow. For others it’s the way they linger, the way they won’t meet your eyes. It’s more than eyes, more than posture, more than brow. Human beings are bundles of emotion puppeting muscles like a marionette. We emote not only with our bodies, but with our very souls.”

While the plot was intriguing as we follow Yumi and Nikaro trying to figure out why they are connected and what mission they need to complete to get back to their lives, the characters and themes hooked me.

Yumi and Nikaro were such amazing MCs.

Yumi has trained since birth to serve her people and when she finally gets the chance for freedom, she takes it but she also remembers that she has a duty, that she is a key component of her people’s survival. After reading so many books where characters run away from their duty, causing so much collateral damage, this was a breath of fresh air. “With great power, comes great responsibility.” and Yumi kills it.

Nikaro made me want to cry. You know that feeling when you’ve done everything right, you’ve worked hard and then all you’d planned just crumbles away. You slowly fall into a slump, everything you loved to do feels soulless and the fact that what you love no longer brings you joy makes you even more depressed? Yeah, that’s basically Nikaro.

And as a couple? “I only stare," he said. "when I see something too beautiful for my eyes to take in at once.” Yeah I love them.

“This was art. Something the machine, however capable in the technical details, could never understand. Because art is, and always has been, about what it does to us. To the one shaping it and the one experiencing it.”

The discussion on art and AI? Sanderson made me cry about stone stacking. STONE STACKING!!! The man cannot keep getting away with this.

Amazing. Show-stopping. This book was such a hit with me.

Also here’s Sanderson’s spotify playlist for the book😭❤️🥹

“Art doesn't need to be good to be valuable. I've heard it said that art is the truly useless creation - intended for no mechanical purpose. Valued only because of the perception of the people who view it.

The thing is, everything is useless, intrinsically. Nothing has value unless we grant it that value. Any object can be worth whatever we decide it to be worth.”

[Library of a Viking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favourite Sanderson standalone!

I had a wonderful time with this one. Stormlight and Mistborn are still far superior but considering this is one cohesive story it was brilliant.

My only criticisms are that the ending was slightly confusing and a bit of a letdown thematically.

4.5 / 5

[James Tivendale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a book just comes along at the right time and hits all the right notes. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, the third of Brandon Sanderson's secret projects is such a novel. It is a beautiful and enchanting fantasy read that I raced through, adoring every page. I rarely give 5-star ratings these days, yet this tale deservedly earns that score from me.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is a story delivered to the reader by a witty narrator. He is knowledgeable of the scenes where these exploits take place, and other planets in the Cosmere; often kindly translating any peculiarities to the reader in a manner that we will understand. There are frequent asides delivered too where extra knowledge is imparted, which makes for quality worldbuilding as well as delivering Cosmere-related nuggets for Sanderson aficionados. The delivery, flow, and pacing are excellent throughout.

The two protagonists are Yumi who administers important and holy duties as the Chosen, and Nikaro who is a city-protecting nightmare painter. Both are unhappy with their relatively mundane places within their respective societies. Put simply, Yumi stacks rocks to entice spirits, and Nikaro (or Painter as he is mostly known throughout) paints images of bamboo to influence and pacify monsters. They live in two vividly different environments with Painter's being more advanced technologically however his city (Kilahito) is surrounded by the shroud: a nightmare-stalking wasteland of perpetual mist, as dark and imposing as the sky. Yumi frequents various cities where the sky is blue, the ground is hot, and trees can float.

My version of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter was 362 pages long, containing 10-15 page chapters that alternated from Yumi and Painter's points of view as their stories in their differentiating surroundings progressed. I do not want to give much away about the narrative, but I will say that I think Sanderson works the romance elements of this novel admirably, as well as weaving a deep, intriguing, and beautifully-envisaged world. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter features estranged friendships, technological advancements, ghosts and spirits, space exploration, and beautiful and crystal-clear imagery and set pieces. Half of my enjoyment came from the mystery and trying to mentally decipher how this could all possibly fit together.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is exquisite. It all wraps up sublimely and I had to wipe away tears as I closed the book's final pages. This relatively short tale would work as a standalone yet I am sure the more of Sanderson's work that you are familiar with, the more that there is to appreciate. Personally, I have read about ten of Sanderson's novels, and because of this, I knew who the owner and assistant of a certain noodle bar were, which was pretty neat. (I even knew what they were talking about some of the time too.) I absolutely recommend Yumi and the Nightmare Painter to fans of well-written, captivating, and unpredictable fantasy novels, whilst reminding them that it features a slightly more predictable yet equally charming romantic side.

I received an early proof copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Brandon Sanderson and Gollancz.

[Lamaleluna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que lectura preciosa ❤️✨

Sin duda Yumi y el pintor de pesadillas va a estar entre mis mejores lecturas del año. Este libro es una maravilla.

Sanderson nos presenta su proyecto secreto 3, uno de los libros que escribió en pandemia y ahora pública trimestralmente. Es una novela independiente y autoconclusiva, pero se encuentra dentro del Cosmere y considero necesario haber leído antes la saga del archivo de las tormentas por lo menos hasta el libro 3.5 (esquirla del amanecer). Aunque mejor si la leyeron entera. Tiene MUCHAS referencias y menciones a esa saga y si no la leyeron antes van a haber páginas y páginas que les van a quedar descontextualizadas.

La historia nos presenta a dos personajes sumergidos en sus rutinas y responsabilidades. Por un lado tenemos a Yumi, que recorre distintos pueblos para atraer a los espíritus y así concederles favores a las personas. Y por otro lado tenemos a Pintor, cuya profesión es de cazador y pintor de las pesadillas que recorren la ciudad.
Es muy interesante ver cómo cada cual tiene un rol distinto y se encuentra en una sociedad completamente distinta hasta que un día sucede un cambio y empiezan a estar Conectados.
Y ahí comienza el viaje de nuestros protagonistas.

Hay muchas razones para destacar este libro.
El romance es precioso y sin duda el mejor del autor. Es muy bonito ver cómo se van conociendo y enamorando, se disfrutó desde la primera página.

Los choques culturales de los protagonistas, que se encuentran en sociedades con diferentes estilos de vida y tecnologías también son interesantes de ver. Cada uno tiene que aprender a vivir como el otro y conocerlo como nadie más lo conoce.

A nivel Cosmere el libro es mega interesante, pasan un montón de cosas, está lleno de plot twist y revelaciones y vale la pena cada bendita palabra.

Lo voy a recomendar una y otra vez, créanme. Vale la pena completamente. ❤️
Espero que tengan la oportunidad de leerlo y amarlo tanto como yo.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a beta reader for this book. It's one of my favorite things Brandon has ever written.

More thorough review to come after it's been officially published.

[Zack Argyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Cosmere book in years.

Some background. Mistborn era 1 is my favorite trilogy of all time. Words of Radiance is my favorite fantasy book of all time. Not a big fan of Mistborn era 2, and Rhythm of War was difficult for me. That said, I did enjoy Tress. But Yumi and the Nightmare Painter was wonderful.

I loved the world. I loved the characters (including every side character). I loved the tropes and the plot. I loved how—in typical Sanderson fashion—everything came together into an epic ending. Was it perfect? Of course not, there is no such thing as perfect in literature. But I loved a lot about this story.

That said, I do think it's important to note that there are A LOT of Cosmere references in this book that would probably be very confusing, weird, or unnecessary to most readers. That does not mean that you should not read this if you're not caught up on Sanderson's other books. I actually think this could be a wonderful entry into his adult series.

[Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really love all the wonderful stuff this book was heavily inspired by: Your Name, Hikaru No Go, Final Fantasy 10, … but sadly, this book didn‘t really work for me despite of all the really fantastic ideas taken from these sources. I usually love Sanderson, but not here.

Hoid didn’t feel like a real character narrating a tale, instead he was an extremely thinly-veiled author stand-in sermonizing with a sledgehammer without possessing true wisdom. The fantasy elements were utilized too much as nauseatingly unsubtle allegories. Especially egregious for me was how the big theme of art and being an artist was handled: like a mere skill used to quickly produce results (defeat monsters), not as a labor of love, not as an end in itself, not engaged in out of the wish to create beauty.

Perhaps the novel would not have been so frustrating for me if the ideas used had not been so cool. So much more could have been done with them! But if you’re not already familiar with its inspirations, maybe this book will work better for you - and judging by its average rating, most people seem to love it.

[John Mauro · Rating 4 out of 5]

What works well:
+ Yumi and Painter are both excellent lead characters. I love their individual personalities and their interactions with each other.
+ There are plenty of Cosmere connections to delight with seasoned worldhopper.
+ Hoid's narration is a delight, although not quite on par with his narration in Tress
+ I love how Sanderson explores the theme of art.

What doesn't work well:
- The pacing is off. The middle part of the book really drags until the Sanderwave kicks in during the last 20% or so.
- Sometimes Sanderson's humor is funny, but other times it's just cringey.
- Sanderson partially botches ending, using three info dump chapters to explain what actually happens. He recovers with a perfect conclusion at the end of the last chapter but then spoils it with two epilogues to make it happier.

[Jaime Fok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slowly working my way through the Cosmere, and this one really turned it around for me!

A cozy story, that didn’t get boring. Loved the magical world.

There was a BIT too much telling-not-showing at the end there, but overall really enjoyed this one!

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

The third book in Brandon Sanderson's hugely successful Kickstarter is Yumi and the Nightmare Painter.  This has been my favorite of the three books as it is set in the Cosmere, has some manga and Asian cultural influences and has a great story told by Hoid who is currently stuck at a statue while his Criptid runs a noodle parlor.

Yumi's entire life has been ritual and sacrifice.  She is waited on, revered and shrouded in mystery. She is also pretty much a prisoner and so lonely.  When a spirit offers her a boon, she can't think of anything she wants, so instead it asks a boon of her to save the spirits.  Nico's life is also lonely.  Every night he roams his sector looking for nightmares to trap into forms by painting them.  It is a strange job but someone has to do it to keep the city safe from nightmares that could become sentient.  The reasons for his loneliness are very different but still present

When Nico wakes up in Yumi's body it is so confusing.  She is there as a spirit to guide him but the two must find out why they are now linked together in this strange bond where they spend time together in each other's world.  Yumi has never had an outsider see her life and Nico keeps pointing out things that are ritual that seem pointless.  Whereas Yumi sees Nico's life and wonders why he hasn't made more of it if he gets to make so many choices.  As the are forced to get to know each other, they find that they understand the other in ways no one else has.

“It’s a common mistake to assume that someone is weak because they are accommodating. If you think this, you might be the type who has no idea how much effort— how much strength— it takes to put up with your nonsense. Yumi wasn’t weak. She wasn’t a pushover. Don’t assume fragility where you should see patience.”

Together they will have to find ways to save both Yumi's and Nico's worlds.  The twist in this one was fantastic, I didn't see it coming and really part of me should have.  That is the best thing about a Sanderson book.  Usually once the reveal is made you see all the other clues that lead up to it and they are always there.

This was written for his wife Emily and so it is definitely a love story, probably his most love storylike story yet.  Still it is Sanderson so the fantasy, plot and worldbuilding are impeccable too.

“You’re staring,” she said.
He was a painter. Not a poet. But somehow he found the right words. “I only stare,” he said, “when I see something too beautiful for my eyes to take in at once.”

While I listened to this on audiobook, I also had the ebook and went back through it to look at all the illustrations.  So much of the book revolved around art and so it was nice to see some of the scenes brough to life at the beginning of the chapters.  I enjoyed how well it lent to the overall story.  If like me you are a huge Cosmere fan, there are great references to some of the places and characters in other stories in the Cosmere to also enjoy.

Side note:  Hoid makes a most dashing Hat/Coat rack

Narration:
If you've listened to anything set in the Cosmere then you are well versed with Michael Kramer and Kate Reading.  They are fantastic narrators and always do a great job especially with the huge casts of characters that are in Sanderson books.  The diction, voice changes and pacing are top notch.  I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.

Listen to a clip HERE

[Hamad · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Trauma doesn’t decrease with company, but it does grow easier to work through when you know someone else understands.”

Yumi and The Nightmare Painter stands out as Brandon Sanderson's third secret project, and notably, his personal favorite among them. Upon its release, the book garnered widespread acclaim, with glowing reviews and a flurry of five-star ratings. Eager to experience the hype firsthand, I dove into its pages and found myself thoroughly engaged. However, amidst my enjoyment, I couldn't shake off a lingering issue that I'll delve into here.

Having lost count of the numerous Sanderson novels I've devoured—somewhere upwards of twenty, perhaps even thirty—I'm no stranger to his writing style. This latest venture, while still steeped in fantastical elements, took a slightly different direction with its prominent romantic themes. Understandably so, considering it serves as a heartfelt tribute to Sanderson's wife. Adorned with vibrant colors and captivating illustrations, the book's aesthetic owes much to the talents of Aliya Chen, whose work deserves commendation.

Drawing inspiration from Final Fantasy, Hikaru no Go (a title I'm unfamiliar with), and the anime Kimi no Nawa (Your Name), Sanderson himself reveals these influences in the postscript. Yet, herein lies my primary gripe: the narrative often felt like a derivative fan fiction, heavily indebted to "Your Name." This nagging sensation persisted throughout my reading, only to be confirmed upon reaching the postscript—an inevitable realization.

Narrated once more by Hoid, albeit with a fittingly altered tone, the story introduces well-crafted protagonists whom I found myself invested in. Sanderson's adeptness at weaving relatable themes into a fantasy setting shines through once again, underscoring his storytelling prowess.

“Everything is useless, intrinsically. Nothing has value unless we grant it that value.”

In summary, while I found much to admire in Yumi and The Nightmare Painter, particularly its stunning illustrations—arguably the finest among Sanderson's secret projects—I couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu induced by its narrative resemblance to "Your Name." Had I not been acquainted with the anime, perhaps my enjoyment would have been less encumbered, for the book's craftsmanship is undeniable.

[Scottsdale Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What another fantastic read from Sanderson. As usual, this author sucks you into this very dystopian sci-fi setting with fantastical elements.

The characters are really put together almost in a familiar way. I felt, cared, and rooted for them. What they went through is very real and relatable, in so many ways; regardless of the fantastical world around them. Sanderson does a really good job with world and character building. I also left this book with all of my queries answered as the author put everything together for us with a bow on top.

A couple of my favorite non-spoiling quotes:

“Trauma doesn’t decrease with company, but it does grow easier to work through when you know someone else understands.“

“Art is about feelings and emotion. It is about letting them escape, so they can be shared. It is about capturing a truth about yourself. Like you are ripping a hole in your chest and exposing your soul.“

Well done again, Sanderson. If you are looking for a semi comfy, yet action packed type of sci-fi fantasy, then this is for you. Enjoy! -Library Volunteer, Lynn O.

[TS Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best secret project for the moment, and that's saying a lot because Tress of the Emerald Sea was wonderful.

Sanderson's imagination continues to astound me. His ability to use that incredible creativity to tell the most fascinating stories through compelling characters and themes, time and again. I'm just in awe. Period.

P/S: We need more novel length Hoid's stories.

[Sana⁷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

When if comes to Brandon Sanderson's books and me, it's either a hit (like The Way of Kings, Elantris or Steelheart) or a miss (like Oathbringer or The Hero of Ages).

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is a hit. And it immediately lands on My Forever Favorites shelf!

I had hopes that I will enjoy this book, but I certainly didn't expect to fall in love with it so deeply. The story is enchanting - I was engaged from the very first page and couldn't stop reading until I reached the last one. The characters are incredibly lovable and you can't help, but immediately cheer for both of them. There are fantasy elements, there are romance elements, comedy elements, mystery elements, basically everything a reader would want. It's also worth mentioning that the author is a big anime fan and this book was at least partially inspired by Japanese stories, especially by the magical movie Kimi no na wa. It's also worth to point out that Yumi's city is inspired by historic Korea and Nikaro's city by modern Japan.


The plot.

The book is split up between two main characters: Yumi and Nikaro (the Nightmare Painter). Yumi lives in Torio, a city where the buildings and plants are floating to avoid the hot ground. Yumi is one of the fourteen chosen girls called 'Yoki-hijo'. Her whole life is made up of rituals and her main obligation is to serve the people by commanding primal spirits. When one day a spirit asks her for help - to save his kind - Yumi's life totally changes. She wakes up as a spirit and finds out that her body was taken away by a stranger called the Painter.

Nikaro lives in a city called Kilahito that is optimally safe, except for the terrifying Nightmares that are terrorizing the residents. Nightmares are amorphous beings made of darkness that feed on humans' thoughts and emotions. Are incredibly dangerous without a face, but even more dangerous if they manage to become stable. Nikaro's one of many painters that need to fight against those Nightmares and keep people safe. When one day Nikaro meets a stable Nightmare feeding of a child, he decides to fight instead of running away. After that incident he falls asleep and wakes up in a different environment. As Yumi, the yoki-hijo.

Together Yumi and Nikaro needs to find out why they are connected and what their mission is so they could come back to their cities and their lives. But the more they spend time with each other, the more they find out about each other and used to their presence. Slowly falling for one another.

Yumi and Nikaro

Look, usually I don't fall in love with both MC's. Usually it's hard for me to connect with the characters, but when I fall for them, I fall HARD. In Yumi and Nikaro's case, they won my heart INSTANTLY. Yumi is really dedicated to her duties as a yoki-hijo. She's admired and looked up to by other people, but, despite having a high position in the society, she dreams about being a normal person who can go to a festival when they wanted to. She's always gives her best in her job, but despite having exceptional talents, she thinks that she's not good enough. At first, she seemed like someone timid, someone that knows nothing else than to serve, but after meeting the Painter, she shows her stubbornness, her bravery, strength and very caring soul. She's curious of everything, would want to do everything, but still think that a normal life is not for her. She's incredibly adorable and you can't help, but cheer for her to finally have a life she always wanted to have. She reminded me very much of one of my favorite Disney princesses - Rapunzel. Both were caged by someone and both dreamed of something more, but didn't have the courage to go into a journey until someone gave them that courage and the freedom they craved to have.

When it comes to Nikaro, he seemed like a nobody. And he thought of himself as a nobody too. A loser who couldn't even get the courage to talk to the people he once called his friends. Someone not important and not interesting in the slightest. But that nobody wanted to be someone. A hero. He craved to feel the passion to art that he once had, but lost himself in a routine. After his first meeting with a stable Nightmare, despite knowing that he does not have the abilities needed to fight that being of darkness, he decided to stay and fight. He had a more courageous heart that he thought. He had been more clever that he thought. And he had more strength that he thought. All he needed was to meet Yumi, a girl convinced that he's a hero send to her by the spirits. All he needed was A CHANCE.

The romance.

I know that Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is mostly a fantasy book, but let's not ignore the importance of the romance part in the story. And it's BEAUTIFUL. Yumi and Nikaro didn't have the best start of their relationship, had their ups and downs, but managed to get along. They got connected by the power of the spirits, but what really connected them were their mission and their feelings for one another. These two had made me laugh and cry so many times, I can't even count (especially on the end). Their relationship has everything I need from a romantasy. It's subtle, it's gentle and so full of feelings. It's perfect.

Hoid's narration and the paintings.

Hoid is an excellent narrator and I truly can't wait to read more of his stories. His comments are truly hilarious, I found myself either snorting or laughing out loud. But in his story he did not forgot about emotions. He tells a very beautiful story and he's aware of it. You can't help, but fall in love with his narration and crave for more.

And the paintings in this book are INCREDIBLE. I love every single one. They are as beautiful as the cover and as beautiful as the book's inside.

The ending.

You cannot do this to me, Mr. Sanderson, I thought that my heart will break and bleed forever!


Anyways, I'm very, very excited to read the rest of the Cosmere's Special stories. If the rest of them are anything like Yumi and the Nightmare Painter I will be sold! Thank you, Mr. Sanderson, for giving me such an amazing story that I will hold on to forever.

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una novela preciosa.

Al principio todo bien pero poco a poco en el transcurso de la historia le coges cariño a los dos protagonistas.

Para ser una novela que rota sobre el romance pues le ha quedado muy bien a Brandon Sanderson y el final ha sido canela en rama.

Hoid le da el punto y exacto de comedia y de romanticismo sin irse a extremos y... debo decir que hay cosas que si no entendí del todo pero eso ya es por culpa del cosmere y que parece que para poder leer una novela de este autor ahora hay que leer como 10 antes.

[Mangrii · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25 / 5

Dos ubicaciones. Dos protagonistas. La dualidad, el contraste y la cooperación de dos personas totalmente diferentes. En la ciudad de Kilahito, un mundo de oscuridad, tecnología y pesadillas, Nikaro (nuestro Pintor) trabaja como pintor de pesadillas. En Torio, una tierra de luz, jardines y espíritus, seguimos a Yumi, una de las pocas Yoki-haijo que existen, una rara sacerdotisa capaz de convocar a los espíritus para que sirvan a los habitantes de Torio a través de rituales apilando piedras. De repente, un evento impredecible entrelaza sus vidas de una manera que nunca imaginaron. Ambos deben dejar de lado sus diferencias iniciales y trabajar juntos para aprender los trabajos y las habilidades de cada uno, descubrir los misterios de su situación y salvar a sus respectivas comunidades de un desastre que parece más que inminente.

Al igual que la entrañable Trenza del Mar Esmeralda, todo Yumi y el pintor de pesadillas está narrado a través de los ojos de Hoid. Sin embargo, no esperes que esta historia tenga el mismo tono jovial de la anterior. Sí, Hoid aprovecha para dejar sus comentarios ocasionales, interrupciones habituales y reflexiones filosóficas. No obstante, en esta novela Hoid está mucho más centrado en contar las historias de Yumi y Nikaro. El ritmo es muy bueno, la escritura parece cobrar vida y las escenas son emocionantes de visualizar. El planeta Komashi es un mundo avanzado tecnológicamente, una tierra de luces con colores neón cian y fucsia, permanentemente envuelto en la oscuridad. Sin embargo, Torio, es un lugar más apegado a las fantasías medievales de otros mundos de Cosmere y cercano a tener una luz solar constante, con temperaturas abrasadoras.

Ambos mundos son particularmente muy diferentes entre sí, pero ambos están increíblemente bien diseñados. Gobernados por un sistema de magia suave y con cierto espacio para el misterio, es interesante este nuevo foco en Sanderson mucho más centrado en la trama y los personajes que otra cosa. La magia de Yumi y el pintor de pesadillas se vuelve recóndita y emocionante por momentos, dejando siempre al lector con ganas de saber y ver más detalles sobre ella. No obstante, lo que hace de Yumi y el pintor de pesadillas una lectura diferente al resto es como se relacionan ambos personajes. El camino desde las diversas frustraciones que surgen de las circunstancias hasta llegar a una conexión profunda entre dos personas que parecen no tener nada que ver, descubriéndose una a otra, es realmente emocionante.

Se ha hablado mucho en redes y reseñas sobre que Yumi y el pintor de pesadillas es un romance, lo cual es bastante discutible. Más allá de todo ello es una historia hermosa y encantadora sobre dos personas que conectan pese a sus personalidades y orígenes opuestos. Sin embargo, ambos conviven con su propia soledad y solo quieren hacer todo lo posible por arreglar las cosas. La primera impresión que obtenemos de cada personaje va cambiando, desarrollándose de forma gradual conforme el carácter de cada uno de ellos y en cierta forma, conectando en sus diferencias. Nikaro y Yumi se aportan entre ellos las piezas del rompecabezas que les faltan para completarse mutuamente. No es algo instantáneo, sino más gradual, realizado a través de mucho trabajo, esfuerzo y paciencia. Al final, Yumi y el pintor de pesadillas es una alegato del propio Brandon Sanderson hacia las cosas maravillosas y terribles que nos puede traer la vida. Y también, hacia el arte, la libertad y el poder de otorgar un valor personal e íntimo a cualquier tipo de arte específico.

Pero, como de costumbre, cuando se trata de cada libro nuevo dentro del Cosmere, la gente preguntará: ¿qué libros debes leer antes de comenzar a leer este? Esto es un debate vasto y solo tu definición de lo que es spoiler dará con una respuesta u otra. En mi caso, la respuesta es que lo puedes leer cuando quieras. Es verdad, te beneficiarás leyendo primero otros libros de Cosmere, especialmente los de El archivo de las Tormentas, Sin embargo, no es exactamente un requisito. Hay muchos huevos de Pascua para los busca pistas del Cosmere como yo, pero están configurados de una manera que no disuadirá a los nuevos lectores en absoluto. Son referencias sin contexto que no revelan nada a otro lector.

Reseña completa en el blog: https://boywithletters.blogspot.com/2...

[thaís · Rating 3 out of 5]

i hate giving a sanderson book less than 5 stars but i gotta be honest. i didn’t really connect to any of the characters and it felt like there was no plot until like 70% in. anyways i feel like secret project 4 is gonna be my favorite 🫶

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took me by surprise in the best possible way! Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is both an engrossing fantasy story, and a beautiful slow-burn romance inspired by manga.

Yumi lives her life as a series of minutely pre-determined rituals allowing her to draw on the spirits of her land to help the people around her. But this doesn't allow for freedom of choice or individuality.

Painter comes from a technologically developed city where nightmares take physical form and his job is to trap them with art.

But then something changes and they are pulled into each others worlds....

The world of this story is so vibrant and feels real. Yumi and Painter are very different people, but both of them grow because of the other person and seeing them develop love for each other and become better versions of themselves is really beautiful. This offers a great balance of mystery, danger, tension, friendship, and romance. I loved it.