The Nightmare Virus

by Nadine Brandes

Some viruses go after the body. But the Nightmare Virus goes after the mind.

When dream technology goes wrong, a virus spreads across the globe, trapping people in a universal dreamscape. They call it the Nightmare Virus.

Cain Cross is determined to find a cure . . . if he can decipher his brother’s chicken-scratch formula notes. But when he gets infected, he has only 22 days until he’s trapped in the mental prison forever. Now, every time he falls asleep, he must fight in a Nightmare Arena until he earns his freedom to live in the “new world” that exists only in the mind.

Then he finds a way to manipulate the Nightmare—to change it by mere thought.

Forced to navigate a world of nightbeasts, mistblades, and half-truths, Cain turns his focus to survival. When the Emperor offers him a LifeSuPod—and access to a cure—in exchange for a dangerous favor, Cain thinks he’s found a way out. But Cain’s new power threatens to take him on paths that jeopardize his very soul.

Will he continue searching for a cure, or will he swear allegiance to the Nightmare? And the bigger question might be . . . will he even have a choice?

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia, Christian, Science Fiction, Christian Fiction, Young Adult, Christian Fantasy

423 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

NADINE BRANDES has been known to do wild things (like ride a sleeper train across Russia) in the name of book research. She is the 4-time Carol Award-winning author of seven Young Adult novels (ROMANOV, FAWKES, WISHTRESS, THE NIGHTMARE VIRUS, and The Out of Time Series.) While inventing worlds is fun, she is most passionate about Jesus, motherhood, and creating with the Creator. Nadine and her husband strive to live out Psalm 34:3 with their four exuberant children.


(Connect with her on her Instagram and her YouTube)

Reviews

[Lovely Day · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75⭐️

First person

I’m SO SAD that this was disappointing for me. Maybe my expectations were too high going into it….?

This is a great example of a story that tries to do too many things.

In this world, which is meant to be a version of our real world, there is a virus going around that slowly kills you in 22 days. The virus puts you in a comatose state in which you are then in a dangerous dreamscape, where you can create things and creatures from your mind.

First off, the sci-fi elements of a rampant virus that people are desperately trying to find a cure for……
the fantastical elements of the dreamscape where dinosaurs, dragons and creatures of all sorts can behave magically…..
then the mystery element of who is behind the virus and the threats in the dreamscape….
then the social commentary of the virus, cures and who’s being deceived by whom…..

And THEN to top it all off, it is supposed to be a Christian allegory, however the allegorical themes are fairly muddled. When God is talked of only a handful of times it seems random. We don’t really see the connections any character has with God, only that he is mentioned randomly. Even in saying that, when God is referred to as ‘God’ it takes me out of the allegory….is this a real world setting with our real God, or is this an allegory?

The consequences in this book don’t mean anything and the supposed high stakes are constantly undermined which makes you care a lot less when bad things happen.

The constant referencing of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings felt disingenuous to the story setting as well. You could definitely see the inspiration from the movie Inception and the Hunger Games.


———

As you can tell, my disappointment in this story was a HUGE letdown 😭

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... I finished last night, and I'm still struggling to put my thoughts into coherent words...

Characters:
Cain is such a great character! His struggles, his half in half out leaving all the doors open personality is something I totally relate to! Not wanting to commit to one thing because what if that's not the right thing to commit to and then you torn between it all. Yeah, relatable.
Stranna was so cool! I loved her, even if her unwillingness to give Cain answers frustrated me at times.😂
Luc was definitely interesting... I'll give him that.
Crixus...I'm so torn, man! So torn!
And there's so many other characters! I don't want to give too many names because of spoilers though...lol...

Themes:
That light overcomes darkness! That no matter what, the light wins in the end. That no matter how dark the world gets... the light is still there!
It was beautiful! That and the power of creating and using our creating for good things, not evil. It's gorgeous! Just beautiful!

Language:
N/A

Romance:
A dash...so cute!

Overall:
This book is sooo good! Intense and thrilling and just...out of this world! I was so invested you guys! Like...wow. that ending...that ending! I finished the book and just stared off for five solid minutes trying to wrap my head around it all...just wow!
I love this story! And can't wait to get a physical copy for my bookshelf...wow.
I'm still struggling with words, but just know it is so good!

[Saraina Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start? I went into this book knowing I would enjoy it, because it's Nadine Brandes. (You know, one of those auto-buy authors. ;) )

But I really didn't expect Cain Cross to leap off the page like that and grab me by the throat into the story. He captivated me right from the start. He's so real and layered. A fresh, unexpected mix—he exudes snarky attitude, he's determined, he's innovative, but he's not arrogant and self-important. In fact, he's used to being in the shadow of his smarter older brother. He can hold his own, but he doesn't crave the spotlight. He's even a little camera-shy. (Which I found so relatable and wonderfully unexpected. And cute lol.) He's a delightful realistic mix of contradictions. And his struggle with anger...that was written so well. I *felt* it.

I'm gonna say it...Cain might be my favorite Nadine Brandes character. Like, ever. 🤭

The concept of the story—being trapped in a nightmare dreamscape with time running out with each new sleep and awake—is pure brilliance. Because of the ticking clock and the high stakes (and how much I cared about the characters), I don't think ANY book has given me as much suspense as The Nightmare Virus. I felt the anxiety in my stomach, guys. So, I guess, there's a warning for the sensitive readers. 😅

The plot was insane. Full of twists that stunned me, and balanced with suspenseful hints to twists that I knew were coming. This is one of those books that keeps you flipping pages because YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW THEY MAKE IT THROUGH THIS ONE.

The dual worlds were richly drawn but never forced down our throats with info-dumps. The real world is dystopian, and it feels like a cold gray version of normal life in our world. And the nightmare world felt strange but imaginable, a symbolic contrast of dark and light.

I will not lie, by a quarter through the book, I was praying that there would be some romance. Just a teensy tiny hint of it. And guess what? THERE WAS! It's subtle, but for those of you who love romance, like me, you will be satisfied. :P

A very random thing I loved is how food was incorporated into the story. (I guess that was because of how crucial food was, but still.) Pancakes, potatoes, peanut butter, turkey, sourdough bread...these little details are so familiar and palpable, it somehow made the world come alive for me. (I have a thing for food in stories, okay? 😂)

Overall, the story is rich and deep, intense and action-packed, and if you couldn't tell, I absolutely loved it. I recommend it to anyone who loves a sci-fi dystopian world, snarky and lovable characters, hope-filled themes, and books that keep them up WAY past their bedtime! ;)

[Jane Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely could not put this book down. While this is a very different genre from Nadine Brandes' other books, it's got the same sweet heart (and masterful writing) as always.

There was such a fantastic cast of characters, yet they were all so dynamic and realistic. I LOVED the family vibes and so many sweet "motherhood" sort of themes throughout the story. It was so heartfelt and touching, and so perfect for the story.

Cain was the perfect main character--by which I mean, he was so flawed and raw and has some low and deep and soul-searching moments, and also the best banter which had me laughing out loud. That's what we call RANGE, folks!

I was thoroughly hooked in this story from start to finish, and I loved that the world was complex enough to make it unique and keep me curious, but not so complex that I felt confused. My heart was literally POUNDING through some scenes, I was so engrossed and invested in what was happening.

I was so touched by the faith themes throughout the story. They were very tasteful and always fitted the story--not distracting from the plot or forced in. A good laugh, high stakes, and heart-deep themes, and you've got the next best Nadine Brandes' book.

The ending surprised me a little, but not in a bad way. I loved the way it framed the story, and the hopeful tones it rang with. Encouragement that can be applied to real life too! I love me a good happy ending.

This is a definite re-read-worthy story, and I highly highly recommend it. Loved every second!

[Caitlin Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

If you enjoy books full of suspense, action, and mind-bending realities, The Nightmare Virus will be right up your alley. The Christian themes are subtle, but present, and I loved the moments where the MC reflected on his faith.

This book was definitely plot-driven, which if you love stories that focus on the plot, you'll love TNV. However, I'm definitely more of a character-driven reader; if I connect with the character, I'll stick with the story and be invested in it, even if the plot isn't the most elaborate or intricate one out there. I don't know if there's a specific reason why, but I just couldn't connect with the MC, which kept me from being invested in the story.

While this isn't my favorite of Brandes' books, I have no regrets reading it :)

If you enjoy the movies Ready Player One, Inception, and Gladiator, you'll love TNV.

Thank you to the author and Enclave for an eARC. A positive reviewe was not required, only my honest thoughts.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My mind isn't the one connecting the dots, my soul is."

The Nightmare Virus swept me away. The story was fantastical and wonderfully woven, yet it felt personal at the same time. Like it was written with the intent for me to read it. But in the same way, written with the intent for the next reader to read it too.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I just say that for being a self-proclaimed fantasy nerd who references a lot of iconic franchises, Cain does NOT make the decisions I would in his place 🤣 (granted, I would've died very quickly in his place so... good for him I guess)

This was fascinating; it's equal measures a post-apocalyptic road trip and something like a portal fantasy, which isn't something I've read before. The world, in and out of the Nightmare Arena, was intense and absolutely captivating. I couldn't look away. There are messages of grief and humanity and never giving up on doing the best you can. It was a lot, at times, but I was always rooting for Cain, and that was great.

"Romanov" remains at the top of my Brandes ranking, personally, but this one's towards the top of the list for sure.

**Content warnings for lots of violence and loss of family members

[Jaiden Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

*screams, throws book across room then retrieves it and hugs it to chest* That was... so, so so....wild...and AMAZING!💖💖💖

Language: One use of 'he' double hockey stick as in referring to a place. A few time where characters say "What—" but never finish. And mentions that characters cursed but not what they said, just that they cursed.

Violence: Lots of fighting and death. Mentions of characters dying in ways like being stabbed multiple times and being eaten by monsters, but it wasn’t graphic at all, it just says they got stabbed multiple times or eaten, it doesn't go into to detail. A character gets stoned, again barely described. A character kills themselves to escape the Nightmare, we don't see it on page, it's just mentioned.

Magic: Nope. The characters can create things inside the Nightmare, but the Nightmare itself and anything inside it isn't magical, the whole world is a program people get trapped in due to a corrupted drug, ImagiSerum, which was invented to trick your brain into believing you are in fantastical worlds, making you feel and smell and see things that are all in your head, until the serum was hijacked, forcing people to go to into the Nightmare by making them fall asleep against thier will. So not magic, it's all like a video game world where you can create things and such.(it's confusing, you should just read it😉)

Wow....wow.....wow......*stares at wall* that was sooooooooo intense! Like man, near the end I was so worked up about the story and characters that I was literally shaking! It was just *screams into pillow* SO GOOD! AND MAN, THOSE PLOT TWIISTS, IM STILL TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND IT ALL💖💖 Everything I thought id figured out turned out to be wrong in the last 60 pages....like....wow! Talking about some master story telling! I was a tiny bit disappointed with the ending, but that's just because I wanted everything to go my way, and it soooo...didn't...lol! But it still like...so amazing! And how everything came to light! SO COOL😱💖
From chapter one I knew this was going to be a whirlwind and boy, it was! It was so hard to put it down cuz so much was going on and I was completely confused, and Cain was completely confused and it was like...intense! feel so bad for poor, Cain! He's really been through the ringer man, but his arc was AMAZING! SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!💖💖💖
Honestly tho, there is no way to explain this book, you just have to read it!! There's never a dull moment!
And the way you can create in the world (especially at the end) as an artist that is so coolllllll! I loved the message that when you create with God it's beautiful but when you create without God its empty. Gorgeous💖

Anyway....yeah, just read it, because my rambling makes no sense...lol...😂

15+

[Rachel Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Such a powerful book. Nadine Brandes’s most recent work is different, but is truly needed in today’s world. Delivering not only true faith content, but also an enticing allegory, this story promises much and delivers on everything. I was intimidated when I started the story, but Cain’s sarcasm among other things quickly hooked me. Cain is such a dynamic character.
His development from beginning to end was entertaining and educational. Following this story’s message can only draw one closer to God. I am stunned by so many aspects of this delightful book.

Content: “h” word is used literally (in comparison), gladiator-style violence (still clean)

*this book was given as an arc from the author, all opinions are my own*

2025 reread
While rereading this book, I took the time to annotate it. I still enjoy it just as much. I don’t have much more to say than what is above. My favorite character *redacted* is such an inspiration. Cain makes for a great character study. Absolutely love this book and can’t wait to see what’s next from Brandes.

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it only took me a year to the-almost-date-it-was-published when I preordered it to read it but it’s fiinnne. I finally read it, so that’s all that counts and it was well worth the wait!

I really liked Cain and rooted for him to find and unravel the truth behind everything going on in the Nightmare and his own heart, even when he made bad or questionable choices along the way, making his arc all the more satisfying in the end.

I LOVED the themes of imagination, creativity, and God using them to bring and draw people closer to Him, not to mention shedding a whole new light on His own creating and imagination—it was beautiful and moving, especially to me, a writer who’s currently struggling with her own imagination and creativity.

I was afraid I wouldn’t understand or get the sci-fi elements with the Nightmare Virus and all that, but it wasn’t confusing at all, making me confident in recommending this book to those hesitant to try it for that reason. There’s also no romance in this story aside from a hint of a potential future relationship at the end, which I was fine with as a romance would honestly have just cluttered things up, in my opinion.

While not my favorite by this author by a long shot I still really enjoyed it and look forward to whatever she writes next!


‼️Content‼️

Language: Hell (to describe a place)

Violence: fighting humans and animals with weapons and “magic” (not detailed); people are locked in cages then chained up, imprisoned, and forced to fight in a gladiator ring; injuries and blood (not detailed); men shoot at a character (not detailed); a character is implied to have killed themself (not shown); a character is staked and stoned (not detailed); a character is stabbed with a lightning bolt (not detailed); characters are shot (not detailed); a character is smashed into a tree by a car and their body is broken (not detailed); a cabin is lit on fire with a person inside

Sexual: it’s implied a guy wants to take a girl for unsavory things (nothing happens)

Alcohol/Drugs: a man smokes

Other: death and grief; a chemical mind virus forces people into dreamworlds from which they will never wake and eventually die in; in the past a character’s dad cheated on their mom and she fell into depression and later died from cancer; “magic” and “magical” abilities

[Coralie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man. I. Love. Nadine. So much. Nadine, I love you.

I've heard it said this book is different from all of her others, and I agree with that statement. Can I explain how? No, not really. It just...is. But different isn't bad. In fact, there's a certain je n sais quoi that carries this story, like a creek you didn't expect to branch off, but is a complete delight to splash through barefoot as you discover where it leads. Does that make any sense? Maybe it makes more sense in my head.

First, this cover is so cool! Second, the comp titles are on point. Gladiator meets Ready Player One meets Inception! SO COOL! And I definitely had lowkey Matrix vibes, but maybe that's because the absolutely EPIC nerd references in this story were THE BEST EVER! I won't spoil and tell you a single one, but I will say there were a few that absolutely made me squee! (Including a certain subtle reference to a previous Brandes book!)

But on to the actual story. Let's start with these characters! Oh, guys. So, typically I'm pretty cut and dry. The noble hero is my jam. I'm the girl who likes the clean cut, good guy Superman kind of character. (Love me some Superman!) But Cain got me, y'all. I related to him on a deep level. The way he wrestled and struggled with what was good and right touches a chord in my heart. He felt like an embodiment of the Romans "I don't do what I want to do and that which I don't want to do, I do." He genuinely just wanted to help people, to make life better, to be good. But no matter how hard he tried, he always ended up sludging through some stuff. His yearning stood out to me. His failure and his heart. His frustration with his lack of understanding and his swirling thoughts he had to sort out. I just loved him.

The setting was soooo much fun! It really felt like Gladiator and an apocalyptic chaos mashed together. The dual/alternate reality, the desperation, and the clear brokenness in both societies. I'm a sucker for broken worlds because I see such brokenness in the world we live in now. One of the things I think Nadine does so incredibly well is bring hope. Her stories are wild and unpredictable and downright messy. This story isn't a pretty clean, fluffy, happy go lucky story. Cain walks through some stuff. The other characters walk through some stuff. And this world is the perfect scenario to showcase the depth of brokenness in their lives. The societal collapse and absolute hunger displays the battle we fight against our flesh and the results of the fall.

While I have to admit, the plot did not turn out anything like I expected, I also have to admit that what Nadine did instead soothes my soul. I kid you not, there were moments I looked down at the percentage on my kindle and was like "What are you doing, Nadine??" It was too soon for this development. What else was she going to do with the other 80% of the book? Over and over I kept wondering where on earth she was taking me. Before I knew it, I looked down at 97% and my heart skipped a beat as I realized there were so few pages left. The twisting and turning and the way she cram packed some stuff into such short spaces delighted me.

And most of all, thematically, the contrast of hope and desperation, of light and warmth with darkness and despair. This is what makes this book so powerful. These are the stories we need. The ones that don't shy away from the ugly, but that don't leave us to wallow in the darkness either. Nadine wields a double edged sword here, and I couldn't admire her more for it. Or be more thankful. This is the kind of story I want to spend time, energy, and money on. This is the story my heart and spirit needs to dwell in.

If you haven't picked this one up yet, strap in. Nadine doesn't pull punches and she won't let you go either.

Content: (whoops, almost forgot this part!) There's no foul language and practically no romance (though I definitely was shipping a certain couple!). There is some fantasy violence, but nothing particularly graphic or disturbing. Thematically, the story touches on grief and loss, violence, depravity, and the consequences of rash, selfish, or angry choices. It's a dark vs. light kind of story in a gladiatorial/post-apocalyptic society, so it comes with some level of darkness and crazy people. But I'd feel fine recommending the story to probably pre-teen or early teens and up.

I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to read an ARC! <3 But I'm also dying for my physical copy to come so I can thumb through it and smell it and lay eyes on that ending again!!!

[Charis (matching with Lindy) {Newt's Version} · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 ☆

-ˏˋ⋆ ᴡ ᴇ ʟ ᴄ ᴏ ᴍ ᴇ ⋆ˊˎ-
Okay, this is the second book that I have read by this author. And I already knew that I liked her style and writing and plotting based on the other book I read, but Nadine Brandes has an uncanny talent for shocking the readers with her shocking plot twists. I don’t even know if I can call them plot twists! More like an absolute plot RECONSTRUCTION!!!!
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

‧₊˚✧Characters✧˚₊‧
Okay, the characters are really well written. At first I really didn’t like the main character when he was in the Nightmare, and I didn’t understand why the author made him like that, but it became clear as the story moved on. Just warning you, he’s kind of really annoying at first. The only thing about the characters that I really didn’t like was toward the end when the main character has some character development. Because when someone says “development”, you’d think something gradual, right? But nope, the main character for this book goes through an instantaneous change. Something just clicks. I’m not really sure how I feel about that at this point. But I definitely like Cain after the development versus before.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

‧₊˚✧Themes✧˚₊‧
So there were a lot of symbolic themes and messages throughout this book, to the point where I couldn’t even go through them all, even though I really want to, because then this review would be endless. So I’m just gonna focus on the main one that is highlighted throughout the whole story.
When Cain enters the nightmare, he is able to escape those endless tunnels and all, and is immediately greeted by people who are in theory going to lead him somewhere safe, away from the danger that exists outside the little world that they created. Immediately Cain is indoctrinated with this kind of ideal, and because he knows practically nothing about the world that he has been placed in, he accepts this misconception. When he reaches the coliseum, he begins to question some things. Starts looking for the reasoning behind things. As he does this, he builds his own understanding of things, and after several very exciting events throughout the course of the book, he realizes that maybe this agenda that he is being fed is wrong. Maybe the majority isn’t telling the complete truth, just feeding into the lies that THEY have been told all their lives.
I think this is very similar to what is kind of going on today, and honestly all throughout history. People just believe what they’re told. Love what they’re told to love. Hate what they are told to hate. But if we go through life like that, then we may never wake up and realize who the real villain is.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

‧₊˚✧Plot & Progression✧˚₊
The plot to this book was AMAZING. I envy Nadine Brandes’ plotting abilities. I’m not even sure how SHE follows her own plot…Some people are just talented like that I guess.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

‧₊˚✧Things that stood out✧˚₊‧
I’m discovering that it is very difficult just to find a couple things that stood out in this book, because there were just so many things. This book was just so packed! But the biggest thing that stood out throughout the book was the message of using your own brain and finding the truth. Not the false truth that the world creates and feeds you. The eternal truth. This was a beautiful book, and I highly recommend it to literally everyone. Nadine Brandes is seriously changing my way of thinking about things, it’s a little concerning. Not actually but my mind is spinning having just finished this book.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

[Brigitte Cromey · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you liked the constant questioning and perplexing ending of Inception, the dystopian reality of Ready Player One, and wish that real life moral struggles came with physical challenges to overcome, you’ll love The Nightmare Virus!

This allegorical take on reality vs fantasy with a sci-fi twist drops readers right into the middle of the action, leaving them to discover the underpinnings of both world and plot along with the main character. While not much is explained or resolved, there’s enough action and mystery to keep lovers of sci-fi turning pages in search of answers—and plentiful payoff in the form of unexpected twists and turns.
And then there’s the faith threads that run through and hold together the rest of the world and plot. Readers who appreciate this element in books will really love the main character’s internal struggle as he moves from holding God at arm’s length to embracing him as the sole escape from a prison of the mind. The ending is—in a word—perplexing, leaving enough space for readers to draw their own conclusions before closing the book. All in all, this is a good character development-focused story for readers who like to add a dash of sci-fi to their fantasies.

***I received an advance reading copy from the publisher, and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.***

[ChrissiesPurpleLibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ I’ve dreaded the battle coming, yes, but determination wins out. I’ve felt life. I’ve lived love. I’ve seen the power of light. Even if darkness seems to be victorious today, it is a farce.”

The story I needed to read. The Nightmare Virus is an adventurous, haunting, thrilling story of faith and hope. The main character Cain was a child of wrath until the sword of truth pierced his soul. This story took me on an adrenaline driven adventure full of monsters, magical creatures and tech specs in a dystopian near future world. Quite frankly it’s hard to summarize this story. So I won’t try to.

However, I don’t think this story will be for everyone. This is a completely nuanced story. It is not similar to any of Nadine’s previous works especially Wishtress. Specifically, there is no romantic subplot or romantic tension. I found this to be refreshing.

Lastly, Jesus, redemption, faith and forgiveness are the foundation and resolution within this story. Allegory is great but every now and then it’s refreshing to read redemptive work of Christ Jesus explicitly set forth in a literal narrative. Straight to the point no chaser.
This book was for the SCI-FI nerds!

CW/TW: violence, grief, death of a loved one, war, intense battle scenes, some monster and magical creature descriptions that might be a bit unsettling

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal dystopian fantasy from Nadine Brandes, it's definitely in my top two books of hers that I have read. It's right up there with Wishtress.

A dream world filled with nightmares where you may never wake up from. When a deadly virus makes you sleep more hour by hour until you are fully asleep and dead. When one brother struggles to save his brother and the rest of the world from perishing.

What a rush reading this book! I couldn't put it down, if you like Ready Player One than you will definitely enjoy this book.

*thank you to Enclave Publishing and the author for a complimentary copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

[Laurel (Yeetarandomwriter) Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait! No! I wrote a review?! Did I not post it?! Did Goodreads eat it?

Okay, let's do this again. ;)

Ready Player One (but better) kind of meets survival vibes (like in a Zombie show but minus the Zombies), but mostly has fantasy vibes (coliseum let's gooo), and a dash of mystery and humor.

The characters are great. I especially love that there are kid characters and they act like kids. Fantastic!

Humor, epic quotes, adventure, and a surprising ending = The Nightmare Virus.

P.S I could visualize it like a movie.

[Jack Saint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! This was so good.
Five stars⭐️

[Maria ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars! wow, wow, wow this was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint. I love the concept of this book and it was executed so perfectly. I loved reading the nightmare world. It was so fascinating and I loved the descriptions. I loved Cain so much as a main character, his internal conflict is so interesting and it is so cool to see him grow throughout the whole book. The faith elements in the story are also incredible. The Bible references and just references to God in general were weaved in so seamlessly and beautifully. I also haven't read very many sci-fi fantasy books where the characters are modern day college students. And I loved that because that meant there could be references to some of my favorite books as well as being in a fantasy world. One of my favorite parts of the second-half of this book were the number of Lord of the ring and Harry Potter references. It's fun to read about characters that have the same favorite books as you. This book did start out a bit slow for me. But once I got to page 120 I finished the rest of the book in one day, I could not put this book down.

[Katherine Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nightmare Virus was a new and exciting ride for me! I don’t normally read sci-fi, and I have never read sci-fi fantasy until now. But let me say, this one was super cool!! The worldbuilding was creative (as it always is with a Nadine Brandes book 😉), and I was sucked in and fascinated by it all! I found it cool to see modern aspects included (e.g. computers, social media, and references to things such as Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings). I’m used to seeing these modern details and fun nuggets in a contemporary book, so it was new, unique, and refreshing to find it in a fantasy/sci-fi novel. I also thought it was cool that Cain (the main character) was college-aged. I’m not used to seeing characters that old in YA, so again, this was refreshing. His age also helped him feel like a mature and independent character, which I think was crucial for this storyline since he lived on his own and had to take care of himself.

It didn’t take long for me to become invested in The Nightmare Virus. As I already mentioned with the worldbuilding, the story and world were engaging, but the characters were great as well! I loved reading from Cain’s perspective! Stranna was also amazing. How she and Cain “technically” first met in the Real World I thought was sweet and the best way for them to first meet in my opinion! The children were precious, and Crixus—I had my theories about him, but how things really turned out with him was a complete surprise! And the plot twist! Ack! That was the biggest surprise of all! I won’t say any more on that end other than it was SO CLEVER! Why did I not see it coming??? XD Also, though not as major as the plot twist, there were other twists and turns as well. So many times I thought one thing only to find out later that it was really another way. For example, the cannibals turned out to be the complete opposites of cannibals. Who saw that coming?? Because I did not.

Okay, if you’ve read any Nadine Brandes book, you probably were expecting this, but one of the best things about The Nightmare Virus was the theme! Eep! It was perfect!! I found it moving, inspiring, and one of the most stunning things about this book. This theme was definitely better to discover along the journey, so I won’t say what it was, but I will say, it made me want to stop what I was doing and go tell people about Jesus. I also loved that creating and, specifically, “creating with the Creator” as Mrs. Brandes often says, had a spot in this book. After hearing Nadine Brandes talk about creating with the Creator, it has changed so much about how I view creating, causing me to focus on creating for God and with God rather than for self or even with putting God as an afterthought. It has been life-changing for me, and I was happy to see this concept included in The Nightmare Virus.

One final note before I wrap up this review is that I wish there was more to the ending. I need more. But other than that, I’m happy and enjoyed the journey so much! This book was amazing!! I’m so glad I read it, and I definitely recommend it!! What are you waiting for? Go read it! 😉

One of my favorite quotes:

“Nole used to say turning to God wasn’t weakness. That being weak is where the true strength came from.”

Magic/mythical creatures:
“Nightmist magic.” Dragons, a chimera, and other mythical creatures. Reference to a vampire. Mentions of cannibals.

Language:
Uses of “blasted” and “idiot.” Mentions of a character cursing.

Romance:
Clean and minimal: hand-holding and one kiss on the cheek.

Violence:
Mentions of murder, stabbing, blood, and wounds. Mentions a character’s throat being slit. Mentions of a sword piercing someone’s skull. Mention of a cannibal tearing off the skin of another character. Someone is eaten whole by a snake. People attempt to stone a character to death.

Other:
Mention of a character killing himself in the Nightmare. Referring to someone as a child trafficker.

*I received a free ARC e-copy of this book. This is my honest review.*

[Ronie · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Isabelle (SimplyLovedBooks=etsy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW. Where do I start?!! Ok so first, this is ALMOST a 5⭐️ … it IS, except for all the gore. Like I get that it is Roman time period stuff and all that but like… it was a lot imo.
But otherwise IT WAS AMAZING!!! I just gave my brother the rundown of the whole book and he was even looking at me in awe like 😱. 😂🤣

This reminded me a little bit of The Lion the witch and the wardrobe because of how it was a fantasy that represented Christian life in little things, but BEAUTIFUL impactful ways!!😍 Also, a little bit like Peter Pan with the lost boys, but in this book it was the “Spores” with all the kids! 🤭

And lastly OH MY GOODNESS, I looovveeed the end! It ended so perfectly! Just how EVERY Christian book should end!🥹😍

There was a little bit… like, a LITTLE bit of romance, but just enough to make it sweet. (SPOILER: a kiss on the cheek, holding hands at the end, wanting to hold her hand again) END OF SPOILER.

So the ONLY reason this isn’t a 5⭐️ is all the gore. Usually I would recommend a great book like this to my (almost) 15yr old brother, but with how much gore was in this book I’m not going to. But for someone not bothered by stuff like that. 1000000/10 ⭐️

(I may be super excited just because I JUST finished reading it, but I’m pretty sure this is a very accurate review😂)

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, this story was... so original! So cool! So surprising! Yes, I had an idea of what the story was about, but you really can't grasp it all until you dive in.

We meet Cain who is sucked into this dreamscape that his brother has been in! The nightmare they've been working to find a cure for. The thought of losing awake time day by day for 22 days until you no longer wake was such an interesting concept. With each passing day you lose time to do everything you need AND find a cure!

I really liked the character of Cain. Even at my age he seemed so relatable. I think young adults (who this is geared towards) will really connect with him in his thoughts and emotions. This was also an exercise in seeing how people react to different situations, and I felt like the author really showed that as Cain entered the Nightmare world the first time.

In this dreamscape, things happen so quickly and wildly, it's hard to know what's going on, how to react, and who to trust. It's a good reminder for us to be discerning, especially when we're in unfamiliar circumstances.

We meet so many characters throughout the story. Stranna is one of those characters. I'm not going to say much about her, other than I really liked her. I know, I'm totally vague booking, but if I say anything it'll spoil it for you! HA!

There's 100% parallel between darkness and light. How light shines in the darkness. That there is a great deceiver. And we all have a choice to make! Of course, that leads me to my next point and my favorite one, the author really didn't mince words. Our hope is in Jesus. There's nothing else. Everything else leads to eternal death. You can't do it on your own, but God can equip you. Man, the author just does it so amazingly in this story! Yes, it's sci-fi ya fantasy, etc, but God is still who He is! I loved it!

This is another one of those stories I just want to immediately talk to everyone about where we get to talk about all of the details and bring out all of the spoilers!

*I received this book for review. This is my personal opinion.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Nightmare Virus" by Nadine Brandes is a young adult sci-fantasy dystopian novel with some impressive spiritual themes! I have read all of Nadine’s books and this one reminded me the most of her “Out of Time” trilogy. It has more of a dystopian, darker feel than some of her more recent books. Nadine always produces such unique, multi-layered stories that pack a spiritual punch. There is a lot of allegory, but the allegory is not obnoxious or in your face, so it can easily be enjoyed just for the great fiction story it tells. I could read it again and I am sure I would catch aspects and layers that I did not catch on this first read through. I love that the main character is a male (we need more of that in Christian fiction) and that it is great for boys, with non-stop action and just a little romance. The plot is gripping, and action packed, and I often could not find a stopping place.

The story is “Hunger Games” meets “Gladiator” meets “Inception” meets “Ready Player One.” I loved the nods to “Harry Potter,” “Lord of the Rings” and other fandoms throughout the story. Nadine includes great themes such as asking, “Where is the light in the darkness?” and encourages readers to examine how they are using their time. “The Nightmare Virus” encouraged me in my Christian walk and had me thinking about it throughout the day.

God most speaks to me through story, so I loved that this was a great, engaging story packed with Biblical truths (although they never take you out of or distract from the main story)! I have a feeling many of my fellow book nerds will feel the same way about this one!

I give this story a PG to PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content are: someone’s dad cheated on his mom; a character’s family member dealt with depression; a man curses, but the words are not actually written; someone possibly committed suicide; there is blood, violence, death, and battle scenes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Nadine Brandes, Enclave Publishing and Celebrate Lit and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Haley Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, I really enjoy the way that Nadine Brandes writes. There's just something about it that hooks you right off the bat. And you feel so connected to the story and the characters.
This book was amazing from the first page. The story concept was intriguing, the characters were relatable, and the word building was well done.
If you are looking for a good vs. evil, slightly allegorical, slightly sci-fi/apocalyptic, a little bit Roman culture, with fandom references thrown in- this is the book for you!

Some things I didn't like: Brandes' propensity for bloody violence. not enjoyable. Also, I didn't like the crossover between the real world and the "dream" world. I prefer them to stay separate as far as who the good guys are and who God is. Most of the book it seemed like there was an allegorical "God" in the dream world, but then at the end it crossed over.

[R.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Nadine pitched this as Gladiator meets Inception, I saw two of my favorite movie titles and thought "well, that's gonna be tough to live up to". But I think she may just have done it.

The Nightmare Virus some of the most creative recent storytelling I've read. The world is so flipping cool—with a little bit of the Roman world of Gladiator and the dreamscape surrealism of Inception, and a whole lot of Nadine's book nerd imagination thrown in—but the world itself is an ode to the power of imagination, hope, and beauty in a dark world. Even though the story was complex and intense with a ton of moving parts, those themes echoed back again and again in striking ways. I might have audibly gasped a little bit at the final magic system touch that saved the day in the story's Climax.

Cain's voice reads very much like your average geeky kid next door, which brought some much-needed humor into the bleak atmosphere of the story. I personally still liked the more lyrical prose of Romanov a little bit more, especially for the more dramatic moments, but Cain's perspective was a whole ton of fun to be in. The massive supporting cast were all well-developed and intriguing, and it's hard not to love a posse of bouncy, realistically written small children. And Nadine pulls off a plot twist like nobody's business—her foreshadowing and misdirection are the best kind, that lead the reader in the wrong direction but also leave them slapping their foreheads when the twist hits and it all makes sense. (I'd totally be down to read a Nadine Brandes fantasy mystery if she ever wrote one...)

I also appreciated how TNV doesn't shy away from the dark, ruthless nature of its post-apocalyptic world—human nature at its worst definitely comes through—but also showed what it's like to rebuild a better world, and how we can become better people. Sacrifice and good vs. evil tend to be pretty standard fare in Christian spec fiction, but Nadine wove them into the fabric of the story in inventive ways I didn't expect and made me look twice.

I'll admit that my main quibble with TNV might have been because I'm probably not actually the target audience for this book—but I wasn't sure how I felt about Cain's conversion arc. I loved so many aspects of it, but something about it felt a bit less anchored in the story world than the other overarching themes. So at times it felt like it slipped into being a bit more on the nose than I personally tend to prefer. Also, given that Cain's anger issues are such a big part of the story, seeing a more nuanced approach to the topic of righteous anger vs. unhealthy anger would have been nice. But again, that's probably me not being the target audience and it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story.

I also wasn't sure how I felt about a couple of the other small threads that touched on more overtly spiritual matters, i.e. Cain's late mom and Crixus's arc. Even though it's hard to tell from a few tiny mentions, I personally felt like the couple of references to the mom's depression and recovery could have used some more nuance, since they came across as "find Christian community and your mental health issues will heal"—even though that might not have been what was actually meant. And I loved all the mystery and twists surrounding Crixus, but I did get a little twitchy about some of the more villainous leanings that came through in his depiction. Especially since he was the only character with known church hurt in the story.

All in all, TNV is a solid 4 stars for me. Even though I had a couple of small bones to pick, the spectacular creativity and intentionality Nadine employed to bring home a beautiful, resonant theme was well worth every minute of reading time. I'm not sure how she's going to top this with her next book, but I'm excited to see what she cooks up!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guys… I seriously love this book 🤩 💕

Nadine Brandes did such a good job with this book! When I went order it online my dad was confused (and maybe a little concerned 😂) that I wanted to buy a book titled The Nightmare Virus. However, I proceeded to tell him that this is a new book by an author I love and I know for a fact that it is Christian fiction.

This book held up every expectation I had placed for it in the first place 😁 (it was worth the $27 and the side eyes from my parents 😂). To add a little bonus the cover is GORGEOUS and so is the spine!! I can’t wait to add this to my library! (Also guys the ending 💕😃☺️😄😄)

Ok now into the actual review 😅:

The Nightmare Virus is a suspense book about our main guy Cain. The book starts out with Cain and his brother Nole in their van attempting to come up with a cure for this virus that will trap you inside your mind.

This book is mainly about Cains adventures in the nightmare and his character development mainly towards God.

This book has a little bit of fantasy violence but it isn’t very detailed. I would recommend this book for ages 13+

(Also *spoiler alert!🚨* I REALLY wish we could have seen more with Stranna and Cain. Their romance would have been extremely cute ☺️ *END OF SPOILER*)

All in all, I loved this book by Nadine and I can’t wait for my friend to read it so I can rant 😁😂 See you in the next book! 📚

[Lyndsey Lewellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nadine is one of my all time favorite writers. This book proved it to me again. If you like wild twists, characters getting into tough situations that actually cost them something to get out of, and so much heart and truth packed into your sci-fi, then read this book.

It's also a fantastic book for boy readers, a demographic that's tough to buy fiction for. Cain is a character who struggles with how to help those in his world and what it means to care for others. It points young readers toward heroism, which is refreshing.

Great read!

[Julia Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love me a hopeful dystopia. They should really be more of a thing!
This was excellent.

[R.M. Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars. Some of the worldbuilding was a little odd in places where it affected minor thematic points. But overall, this is yet another excellent Brandes book!