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The Skalterra Duology #1
Skalterra by Nightmare
Wren Warrender wants nothing more than to get off the waitlist at her dream school and survive the summer with an insufferable new coworker, so when a group of Magicians drag her sleeping consciousness into a magical realm called Skalterra to act as their weapon each night, she’s less than thrilled.
An old evil is breaking free of his glacial prison, and now it’s up to Wren to keep him from unleashing chaos across two separate realities. The lines between waking and sleep start to blur, and Wren is forced to reckon with the fact that some bad dreams are more than Nightmares.
An old evil is breaking free of his glacial prison, and now it’s up to Wren to keep him from unleashing chaos across two separate realities. The lines between waking and sleep start to blur, and Wren is forced to reckon with the fact that some bad dreams are more than Nightmares.
518 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2025
75 people are currently reading
1334 people want to read
About the author
M.T. Zimny
5 books102 followersMT Zimny is a young adult author in the Pacific Northwest, where she subsists off of rainy days and ungodly amounts of overpriced coffee. She lives with her husband, her daughter, and her golden retriever.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
October 21, 2025
I wanted more books with trichotillomania rep, so I wrote one.
Thank you to everyone who takes a chance on this prickly, unlikable FMC. She is so special to me, and I think she is all of us a little bit.
Thank you to everyone who takes a chance on this prickly, unlikable FMC. She is so special to me, and I think she is all of us a little bit.
December 6, 2025
4.5 stars! I read an ARC of this, and honestly, the beginning of another brilliant series. I loved how the family relationships between characters played such a strong role, and the magic system of Skal. I'd normally prefer some romance, but the friendship between Liam and Wren was sweet enough to fill that craving 🤣👀
Skalterra honestly has me concerned about the possibility of vivid/lucid dreams being another reality, but also - the concept is just very, very cool.
To that one character (iykyk): curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal, you b####rd.
Skalterra honestly has me concerned about the possibility of vivid/lucid dreams being another reality, but also - the concept is just very, very cool.
To that one character (iykyk): curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal, you b####rd.
April 26, 2025
MT Zimny has done it again.
At my age and with my focusing ability, it is hard to sit for hours at a time to read a book. I had no such problems with Skalterra by Nightmare. While her last series reminded me of some popular stories, this one was a unique take on the trope of waking up in another world. I enjoyed every twist and turn of the mystery woven expertly into the plot, only catching on at the proper time, which, if you know me, means that I couldn't predict where it was going, and I love that in a book. There were a few moments where I caught the hints and pondered them for a moment before continuing to read. I have to say, it all paid off and I could not put this book down. My only disappointment is that I have to wait for the next one!
At my age and with my focusing ability, it is hard to sit for hours at a time to read a book. I had no such problems with Skalterra by Nightmare. While her last series reminded me of some popular stories, this one was a unique take on the trope of waking up in another world. I enjoyed every twist and turn of the mystery woven expertly into the plot, only catching on at the proper time, which, if you know me, means that I couldn't predict where it was going, and I love that in a book. There were a few moments where I caught the hints and pondered them for a moment before continuing to read. I have to say, it all paid off and I could not put this book down. My only disappointment is that I have to wait for the next one!
September 21, 2025
Wow. It can’t end like that. Fantasy book but niche not like anything I’ve read before that’s why it’s getting a 5⭐️ very creative and I want more of that slow burn but it can get a little faster next book thanks, I need more interactions and a dual pov would be nice hehe.
Maybe 4 ⭐️
Maybe 4 ⭐️
December 20, 2025
4.5 stars
May 3, 2025
Oh my goodness, what a read!
Skalterra By Nightmare has easily become one of my favorite books. M.T. Zimny always knows to captivate readers and bring them into the world she creates. This time is no exception. I received the ARC of this book about a week ago and I couldn’t put it down!
Have you ever wondered if there’s a world you go to when you’re asleep? This book has the answer. The main character Wren travels to a magical steampunk world when she goes to bed, only to find out that world used to be part of ours. She quickly discovers that both of these worlds are in danger… and she’s the key to saving them. All she wanted was to get into her top collage, but now she’s dragged into this world against her will every night, forced to deal with a flirty villain, a cranky old man who has sealed her fate, and a universe she barely understands. Can her dream alter-ego save both worlds and still find a way to make it into collage before it’s too late?
When you first step into the story, there is so much mystery that it makes you keep turning the pages. You want to know what’s going on in the small town where she’s spending the summer with her grandma, just as much as what the heck is happening in the dream world. That mix between the magical and modern-day worlds is so much fun, especially because M. T. Zimny writes with such a great sense of humor! I instantly loved her characters, too, as always. Wren is a great main character. Like the author, she has trichotillomania, which isn’t often represented in books. There are also plenty of cinnamon roll characters who will become instant favorites. And she even makes you love the villain!
But it doesn’t stop there: her writing style makes you think. Which I find makes reading all more fun! I dare you to try to figure out the plot twist that she has in store for you. I was wracking my brain in every chapter, trying to figure it out. I’m telling you, you won’t regret reading this story. It’s an instant classic/favorite read! So what are you waiting for? Go get yourself a copy!
Skalterra By Nightmare has easily become one of my favorite books. M.T. Zimny always knows to captivate readers and bring them into the world she creates. This time is no exception. I received the ARC of this book about a week ago and I couldn’t put it down!
Have you ever wondered if there’s a world you go to when you’re asleep? This book has the answer. The main character Wren travels to a magical steampunk world when she goes to bed, only to find out that world used to be part of ours. She quickly discovers that both of these worlds are in danger… and she’s the key to saving them. All she wanted was to get into her top collage, but now she’s dragged into this world against her will every night, forced to deal with a flirty villain, a cranky old man who has sealed her fate, and a universe she barely understands. Can her dream alter-ego save both worlds and still find a way to make it into collage before it’s too late?
When you first step into the story, there is so much mystery that it makes you keep turning the pages. You want to know what’s going on in the small town where she’s spending the summer with her grandma, just as much as what the heck is happening in the dream world. That mix between the magical and modern-day worlds is so much fun, especially because M. T. Zimny writes with such a great sense of humor! I instantly loved her characters, too, as always. Wren is a great main character. Like the author, she has trichotillomania, which isn’t often represented in books. There are also plenty of cinnamon roll characters who will become instant favorites. And she even makes you love the villain!
But it doesn’t stop there: her writing style makes you think. Which I find makes reading all more fun! I dare you to try to figure out the plot twist that she has in store for you. I was wracking my brain in every chapter, trying to figure it out. I’m telling you, you won’t regret reading this story. It’s an instant classic/favorite read! So what are you waiting for? Go get yourself a copy!
May 29, 2025
Portal Fantasies are BACK IN FULL FORCE, BABY! This is nothing short of fun, intriguing, and hilarious! Zimny keeps you hooked with her relatable and well-rounded characters, her tight yet descriptive writing style, her unique and colorful worldbuilding, and overall entertaining voice. Like her Apex Cycle series, you'll be kept on your toes trying to figure out what the twist is going to be, screaming at the reveal, and then mind-boggled once to piece everything together that led up to it.
This book keeps the portal fantasy trope fresh and fun and have you begging for the next installment!
This book keeps the portal fantasy trope fresh and fun and have you begging for the next installment!
May 4, 2025
Very grateful for the eArc! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The concept is original and unpredictable, even the first line caught me off guard. Wren is trying to navigate the stress of getting into college while awake and saving the world in her sleep, which comes at inconvenient times occasionally! The relationships that develop are meaningful, in both worlds, and I can't wait for the sequel
May 10, 2025
This was a great fantasy YA read - I love the way this author writes her characters, and I really connected with both settings. I don't want to say much to spoil any twists, but there are definitely some mysterious things going on and I enjoyed how it all played out! Went crazy towards the end and I liked that. Overall, a fun read that also plucked the heartstrings in places. Looking forward to the next installment!
I received an ARC. Skalterra will be released later this month!
I received an ARC. Skalterra will be released later this month!
May 29, 2025
i honestly loved this so much more than i thought i would 🙏 started it this morning intending for it to be a fun casual slow read and finished it before 3pm and so ready to read the next book
June 5, 2025
so good sigh
June 14, 2025
MT Zimny is the queen of twists you’ll never see coming! She continues to bamboozle and delight me in Skalterra by Nightmare, a portal fantasy that is utterly unique and so much fun! The magic system is wildly creative and there are plenty of laughs to be had between our cast of characters. I was having the best time right out of the gate and the fast paced storyline kept me hungrily turning those pages! Things ratchet up about halfway thru and I was STRESSED (in the best way) right up until the end…which left me highly anticipating the sequel! If you like the sound of a YA fantasy with action, humor, and heart all set in both gaslamp and current settings, look no further!!
May 19, 2025
Thank you to M.T. Zimny for the eARC of Skalterra by Nightmare!
This was the first book I've finished this year, but it's sure going to be hard to top. Skalterra by Nightmare is intriguing and fast-paced right from the get-go, making it super easy to pick up but SUPER hard to put down. The story is balanced expertly between Wren's waking life, with annoyingly nice boys and stressful college admissions, and her sleeping Nightmares, with deadly monsters and magic. I never felt the usual "ughh, not this POV again" that's common with books that flip between perspectives, so huge props to the author. Both stories were very different from each other, but both were equally enjoyable.
The concept of Skalterra, a parallel world visited through dreams, is also so cool, and I love how that impacts the way Wren interacts with it. No spoilers, but Wren is amazing, both in her dreams and out. She's a very good narrator.
I could say endless good things about Skalterra by Nightmare, but I'll conclude by saying I enjoyed how this book was written for a little bit older audience than The Apex Cycle, while still being clean and able to be enjoyed by younger audiences too. All in all, this book is VERY well done, and I highly recommend it. I don't have any gripes with it, and I really enjoyed Wren's interest in geophysics and geology. Rocks rock, and so does Skalterra by Nightmare!
This was the first book I've finished this year, but it's sure going to be hard to top. Skalterra by Nightmare is intriguing and fast-paced right from the get-go, making it super easy to pick up but SUPER hard to put down. The story is balanced expertly between Wren's waking life, with annoyingly nice boys and stressful college admissions, and her sleeping Nightmares, with deadly monsters and magic. I never felt the usual "ughh, not this POV again" that's common with books that flip between perspectives, so huge props to the author. Both stories were very different from each other, but both were equally enjoyable.
The concept of Skalterra, a parallel world visited through dreams, is also so cool, and I love how that impacts the way Wren interacts with it. No spoilers, but Wren is amazing, both in her dreams and out. She's a very good narrator.
I could say endless good things about Skalterra by Nightmare, but I'll conclude by saying I enjoyed how this book was written for a little bit older audience than The Apex Cycle, while still being clean and able to be enjoyed by younger audiences too. All in all, this book is VERY well done, and I highly recommend it. I don't have any gripes with it, and I really enjoyed Wren's interest in geophysics and geology. Rocks rock, and so does Skalterra by Nightmare!
July 28, 2025
Thank you to the author for the free book.
My god. Skalterra by Nightmare is uniquely addictive. I have not stopped thinking about it since I finished reading. MT Zimny is the queen of taking a common trope and turning it into something fresh and uniquely her own. I cannot even begin to describe how perfect this story is and all the ways I am obsessed. There’s unique magic, vast lore, witty banter, mystery, adventure, and a delightful love triangle. The FMC, Wren, is the epitome of black cat energy and her extreme reluctance to involve herself in anything outside of normal life made her hilariously relatable. I enjoyed how the story seamlessly shifts between the magical world of Skalterra in Wren’s dreams & the small town Keel Watch Harbor in the waking world. Surprisingly, I’m not sure I could pick a favorite; my favorite moments are pretty evenly split between settings.
BRB while I sit and think about both the sweet bagel boy and the brooding [hot] villain forever. Will I recover from this book? Probably not. Skalterra by Nightmare gets ALL the stars from me!
I RECOMMEND IF:
If you enjoyed the banter in The Apex Cycle, enjoy gaslamp fantasy, portal fantasy, the monsters from Miss Peregrine’s, and twisty stories, you will love Skalterra by Nightmare!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
• first in YA fantasy duology
• if villain, why hot?
• lucid dream, gaslamp, portal fantasy
• reluctant af heroine
• found family
• mystery in the waking world
• golden retriever and black cat friend duo
• dangerous adventure in the sleeping world
• monsters and mayhem
• tension you could cut with a knife
• “yield to me” (me: say less)
My god. Skalterra by Nightmare is uniquely addictive. I have not stopped thinking about it since I finished reading. MT Zimny is the queen of taking a common trope and turning it into something fresh and uniquely her own. I cannot even begin to describe how perfect this story is and all the ways I am obsessed. There’s unique magic, vast lore, witty banter, mystery, adventure, and a delightful love triangle. The FMC, Wren, is the epitome of black cat energy and her extreme reluctance to involve herself in anything outside of normal life made her hilariously relatable. I enjoyed how the story seamlessly shifts between the magical world of Skalterra in Wren’s dreams & the small town Keel Watch Harbor in the waking world. Surprisingly, I’m not sure I could pick a favorite; my favorite moments are pretty evenly split between settings.
BRB while I sit and think about both the sweet bagel boy and the brooding [hot] villain forever. Will I recover from this book? Probably not. Skalterra by Nightmare gets ALL the stars from me!
I RECOMMEND IF:
If you enjoyed the banter in The Apex Cycle, enjoy gaslamp fantasy, portal fantasy, the monsters from Miss Peregrine’s, and twisty stories, you will love Skalterra by Nightmare!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
• first in YA fantasy duology
• if villain, why hot?
• lucid dream, gaslamp, portal fantasy
• reluctant af heroine
• found family
• mystery in the waking world
• golden retriever and black cat friend duo
• dangerous adventure in the sleeping world
• monsters and mayhem
• tension you could cut with a knife
• “yield to me” (me: say less)
October 9, 2025
This is one of the coolest and most original takes on a fantasy-Isekai that I've read in a long time.
The concept of Nightmares is brilliant, and how they are summoned and used in the parallel world is terrifying and awe inspiring in equal measures. The stakes in this book feal REAL because of how the world building is done, and the duality of the two worlds is SO well handled.
Zimny places enough threads through the book to the true story behind everything, but not so much that when the twists hit, they HIT. I guessed...one? Sort of, but it didn't detract from the story at all, and the other twists hit me like a truck in the best ways possible.
This book will have you screaming, crying, laughing, more screaming, and it has THE SLOWEST BURN ROMANCE EVER, but it's also super sweet :D
I am super hype for the sequel, and oh, you should also check out The Apex Cycle by the same author, because she is amazing, and all her work deserves all the love!
The concept of Nightmares is brilliant, and how they are summoned and used in the parallel world is terrifying and awe inspiring in equal measures. The stakes in this book feal REAL because of how the world building is done, and the duality of the two worlds is SO well handled.
Zimny places enough threads through the book to the true story behind everything, but not so much that when the twists hit, they HIT. I guessed...one? Sort of, but it didn't detract from the story at all, and the other twists hit me like a truck in the best ways possible.
This book will have you screaming, crying, laughing, more screaming, and it has THE SLOWEST BURN ROMANCE EVER, but it's also super sweet :D
I am super hype for the sequel, and oh, you should also check out The Apex Cycle by the same author, because she is amazing, and all her work deserves all the love!
June 29, 2025
I was unsure about this book at first. There were a few sentences/moments where I questioned the dialogue and it even felt a bit silly to me. However, it definitely improved over the course of the book and I ended up really enjoying it! 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
The world building is really cool, albeit confusing at times (although I think that's just a given with complex fantasy worlds like this one). A lot of really cool and creative ideas!!
There were some plot twists that I definitely did not see coming and made me audibly say "what is going on??" in the best way possible.
Also, I love how "Just-Wren" became Wren's nickname. I thought that was cute :)
I will definitely be reading the sequel when it releases!
Minor spoiler:
Major spoiler:
The world building is really cool, albeit confusing at times (although I think that's just a given with complex fantasy worlds like this one). A lot of really cool and creative ideas!!
There were some plot twists that I definitely did not see coming and made me audibly say "what is going on??" in the best way possible.
Also, I love how "Just-Wren" became Wren's nickname. I thought that was cute :)
I will definitely be reading the sequel when it releases!
Minor spoiler:
Major spoiler:
October 1, 2025
What a crazy ride this was.
I liked the plot idea, but it was chaotic, to say the least and in the end, I struggled a bit with following everything that was happening.
Because of the huge chaos I couldn't really connect with the characters. There wasn't anything that made me feel anything for them.
I was entertained but after finishing this book, I don't really know if I will continue with the second one when it comes out.
I liked the plot idea, but it was chaotic, to say the least and in the end, I struggled a bit with following everything that was happening.
Because of the huge chaos I couldn't really connect with the characters. There wasn't anything that made me feel anything for them.
I was entertained but after finishing this book, I don't really know if I will continue with the second one when it comes out.
October 22, 2025
“And you’re sure your mold is better than bloodletting?”
“Definitely, but bloodletting isn’t off the table if he comes after us again.”
4.5 STARS
I had such a BLAST reading this. I'm an absolute sucker for anything steampunk, but it's so hard to find good entertainment that fits this aesthetic - and damn did Skalterra scratch my itch! M.T. Zimny wrote an absolutely masterful mix of fantasy, mystery and found family, flavored with some really fun enemies-to-lovers banter.
The difficulty in writing an isekai, especially one where the main character travels between worlds, is keeping the audience engaged with both. When reading about Wren's exploits in Skalterra I kept wanting to go back to Keel Watch Harbor to dive into the mystery unfolding there, and when Wren was awake in Keel Watch Harbor I couldn't wait to go back to Skalterra. The story manages to find an excellent balance between the two, seeking out connections and weaving the events of both worlds together in a way that really makes you devour the plot.
What also makes this such a fun book is the way certain lore gets sprinkled in and revealed. It constantly had me thinking and theorizing, but I often dismissed my theories thinking they made no sense. And then new information came to light, and my theory suddenly became plausible again! As the story progressed, I kept getting the feeling that I had a bunch of puzzle pieces that didn't fit together, and then there was one moment where everything fell into place and it blew my mind. The climax and the reveals made this one of the most satisfying reading experiences I've had in a long time.
I have a few minor criticisms. The beginning is quite rocky - you're launched into Skalterra in medias res and it's a confusing experience that had me struggling through the first chapter. There's also a few language mistakes that managed to escape the editing process, and I unfortunately hyperfixate on that because of my job and my degree. Around the 75% mark the pacing grinded to a halt for a few chapters, but the rollercoaster that came after that more than made up for it. And also: shout out to the chapter titles. I love me a good chapter title, especially here, since they all had a university-course-name format. It was such a nice touch and I like that the author put care in those little details.
I overall loved the characters. M.T. Zimny writes them with a good dash of humor, and while Wren is fairly prickly, she's never unlikable. Her struggles and insecurities are very relatable (well, her real-world ones, at least. Massive respect for how she handles the madness that is Skalterra!). The dynamics between the web of characters had me feasting - the contrast between family and found family, hunter and hunted, black cat and golden retriever, youthful and cantankerous, likeable villain and grumpy ally.
For some reason this book reminded me of Elfenblauw: Het juweel van Silnaris. I devoured this book over and over when I was twelve, and in the decade since not many books have managed to capture that kind of magic in the way Skalterra by Nightmare did. It's an instant favorite and I have no doubt I'll keep revisiting it time and time again. I cannot wait to read the second book!
So, in conclusion, I cannot recommend this book enough! And if all my gushing is not enough to convince you to read it: M.T. Zimny is genuinely such a nice person! I reached out to her with a question on Instagram and she was super kind.
November 14, 2025
Met the author at a convention and was delighted that she dressed up as her main character. It felt like she had a lot of love for her characters and stories.
I ended up reading the entire book in only 2 days. I was totally hooked although I will say the first few chapters were mostly world-building and a lot of information. The characters at first seemed very "cartoony" or cliche. (i.e Galahad and the Riftkeepers, and even "Gams"). But by the end, I felt they all were mostly fleshed out and had unique layers to them.
As someone with severe trichotillomania, the rep felt very real. Shaving the back of her head and having people comment on her pulling out her eyelashes, along with the countless other mentions of dealing with picking/pulling felt more like a real character trait vs being preachy or a condition someone found "interesting" online and wanted to include. I was surprised to find myself really enjoying the character of Wren. She's harsh and very unlikeable in the beginning and I felt her choices were cringy, but I realized she did feel like an 18 year old with anxiety. And I especially loved how her traits, beliefs, and goals stayed with her the entire book. She didn't forget about college or her fears or friends to go along with the plot, like a lot of other books do. They helped or hindered, and I really appreciate that.
I'm very excited to read the second book!
I ended up reading the entire book in only 2 days. I was totally hooked although I will say the first few chapters were mostly world-building and a lot of information. The characters at first seemed very "cartoony" or cliche. (i.e Galahad and the Riftkeepers, and even "Gams"). But by the end, I felt they all were mostly fleshed out and had unique layers to them.
As someone with severe trichotillomania, the rep felt very real. Shaving the back of her head and having people comment on her pulling out her eyelashes, along with the countless other mentions of dealing with picking/pulling felt more like a real character trait vs being preachy or a condition someone found "interesting" online and wanted to include. I was surprised to find myself really enjoying the character of Wren. She's harsh and very unlikeable in the beginning and I felt her choices were cringy, but I realized she did feel like an 18 year old with anxiety. And I especially loved how her traits, beliefs, and goals stayed with her the entire book. She didn't forget about college or her fears or friends to go along with the plot, like a lot of other books do. They helped or hindered, and I really appreciate that.
I'm very excited to read the second book!
May 30, 2025
Skalterra By Nightmare is a fast-paced YA portal fantasy duology packed with action, magic, mystery, high stakes and lived experience trichotillomania representation. Between the unique world building, magic system, three-dimensional characters and plot twists, I could not put this book down and the ending really left me immediately wanting book two.
The story follows Wren as she (very reluctantly) navigates the modern world and a parallel world with magic and monsters that can only be visited through dreams and unknown forces that aim to take control of both. There is a heavy focus on family dynamics, including found family and generational relationships. I loved Wren’s meddling grandmother and her cat Jonquil so much!
While I adored the grumpy x sunshine friendship dynamic between Liam and Wren, a certain flirty assassin had me absolutely swooning! It was giving Rhysand a little bit, especially with his endless witty banter.
Thank you so much to M.T. Zimny for a copy of this eARC! This book was amazing, and I can’t wait for book two!!!
The story follows Wren as she (very reluctantly) navigates the modern world and a parallel world with magic and monsters that can only be visited through dreams and unknown forces that aim to take control of both. There is a heavy focus on family dynamics, including found family and generational relationships. I loved Wren’s meddling grandmother and her cat Jonquil so much!
While I adored the grumpy x sunshine friendship dynamic between Liam and Wren, a certain flirty assassin had me absolutely swooning! It was giving Rhysand a little bit, especially with his endless witty banter.
Thank you so much to M.T. Zimny for a copy of this eARC! This book was amazing, and I can’t wait for book two!!!
June 3, 2025
Some books are just better than others.
Skalterra by Nightmare is one of those books.
It had me laughing, it had me biting the skin of my nails (my affliction similar to the protagonist “Just-Wren”), and it definitely had me in tears, multiple times.
I will never be able to fully explain the depth and complexities of the worlds that Mary creates. They mimic our world in many ways, but always have a fantastical spin to them and I’m always so drawn into them! I want to know every crevice and corner of these worlds.
This story is intriguing and intoxicating, with tales of family history and individual and world imperfection, it made me fall in love with all the characters and kept me on the eve of my seat waiting for what would come next. I cannot wait for the next installment in the Skalterra Duology!
Skalterra by Nightmare is one of those books.
It had me laughing, it had me biting the skin of my nails (my affliction similar to the protagonist “Just-Wren”), and it definitely had me in tears, multiple times.
I will never be able to fully explain the depth and complexities of the worlds that Mary creates. They mimic our world in many ways, but always have a fantastical spin to them and I’m always so drawn into them! I want to know every crevice and corner of these worlds.
This story is intriguing and intoxicating, with tales of family history and individual and world imperfection, it made me fall in love with all the characters and kept me on the eve of my seat waiting for what would come next. I cannot wait for the next installment in the Skalterra Duology!
May 5, 2025
MT is now an auto-buy author for me... and I don't read tons of YA. I just love her writing that much!
The way the author wove this storyline was, in my humble opinion, *masterful*. The foreshadowing was *chef's kiss* and the plot twist... y'all, THE PLOT TWIST. I died, but immediately came back to life because I have to be here when book two releases.
Vibes: At various points, this book made me think of both Jumanji and Guardians of the Galaxy, in the best ways.
A couple fave quotes:
"I bet it's so quaint, with your useless cats." (This character is very Mantis-coded and I'm here for it.)
"What are you going to do about it? Kill us harder?" (Laughed out loud.)
"...There was a chance to stop it if it weren't for the fragile ego of one mediocre man." (SO REAL)
The way the author wove this storyline was, in my humble opinion, *masterful*. The foreshadowing was *chef's kiss* and the plot twist... y'all, THE PLOT TWIST. I died, but immediately came back to life because I have to be here when book two releases.
Vibes: At various points, this book made me think of both Jumanji and Guardians of the Galaxy, in the best ways.
A couple fave quotes:
"I bet it's so quaint, with your useless cats." (This character is very Mantis-coded and I'm here for it.)
"What are you going to do about it? Kill us harder?" (Laughed out loud.)
"...There was a chance to stop it if it weren't for the fragile ego of one mediocre man." (SO REAL)
July 16, 2025
YA Fantasy bringing all your steampunkish portal magician dreams to life. Spoiler free review so I wont go into details but it was surprisingly dark in places and I liked that this book didn't shy away from the realities of these worlds and the decisions some of these people make for what they perceive as the only / better 'option.'
We had a flawed, relatable FMC in Wren and a whole set of unique personalities in the other characters around her. Although I did get frustrated at some situations where the lack of communication led to more 'mess', it is a YA Fantasy where (youth) and trauma play a part, so once again you can understand why the characters do what they do and that to me shows a good Author. Ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, keen to read the next one
We had a flawed, relatable FMC in Wren and a whole set of unique personalities in the other characters around her. Although I did get frustrated at some situations where the lack of communication led to more 'mess', it is a YA Fantasy where (youth) and trauma play a part, so once again you can understand why the characters do what they do and that to me shows a good Author. Ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, keen to read the next one
May 17, 2025
I was fortunate to be given the chance to review Skalterra by Nightmare of my own accord, through being offered an eARC.
This book is amazing. It throws you straight into the action, starting you off as confused as the character you’re following (Wren Warrander), which allows you to figure out a lot of what is happening at the same time as Wren.
Such immersive storytelling, full of complex interesting characters. Wonderful descriptive scenes and world building. Just such a great fantasy story.
I can’t wait for the next book.
This book is amazing. It throws you straight into the action, starting you off as confused as the character you’re following (Wren Warrander), which allows you to figure out a lot of what is happening at the same time as Wren.
Such immersive storytelling, full of complex interesting characters. Wonderful descriptive scenes and world building. Just such a great fantasy story.
I can’t wait for the next book.
July 31, 2025
One heck of a journey.
When looking for this book I was hoping for something epic. And I did get that and a little bit of something else. First off, I just wanna say, I CALLED IT! No spoilers in this review but I needed to say that.
Anyway, this book is YA but dang, isn’t it gruesome. And it had a lot of selective words I wasn’t expecting (lol). As cool as Skalterra sounded it also is terrifying. But overall the ending was super cool. Excited to see where the story will end because this was awesome.
When looking for this book I was hoping for something epic. And I did get that and a little bit of something else. First off, I just wanna say, I CALLED IT! No spoilers in this review but I needed to say that.
Anyway, this book is YA but dang, isn’t it gruesome. And it had a lot of selective words I wasn’t expecting (lol). As cool as Skalterra sounded it also is terrifying. But overall the ending was super cool. Excited to see where the story will end because this was awesome.
July 2, 2025
I loved this book and I can’t wait for the next installment! Two different worlds with very different worldbuilding, yet blended seamlessly together. An anxious and snarky FMC who gets to experience both worlds, while being physically trapped in one. A great cast of characters on both sides that leaves you wishing they could meet each other because you just know they’d be friends. This book just felt so fresh and exciting, I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you to MT Zimny for an arc copy!
Thank you to MT Zimny for an arc copy!
September 26, 2025
This took longer to get into and finish than most books I read. HOWEVER!!!! It was soooooo good! I did not see those twists and mind games coming! Everything you thought you knew just went BOOM at one point!
The dynamics and growth between characters was so good. The jokes, the danger, then tension...just perfect! And to that one character, you ***hole! The world was unique and the magic structure was amazing.
I got to the end and yelled "wait...WHAT!?" and I'm now desperate for book 2.
The dynamics and growth between characters was so good. The jokes, the danger, then tension...just perfect! And to that one character, you ***hole! The world was unique and the magic structure was amazing.
I got to the end and yelled "wait...WHAT!?" and I'm now desperate for book 2.
April 27, 2025
Thank you to the author for the advance copy.
No spoilers, as I want everyone to experience the magic of this book as I did- no prior expectations.
The book starts full pace, immersing the reader straight away. You follow the main character as she experiences the story, and it is never slow or boring.
Brilliant book, already looking forward to the next one by M.T Zimny.
No spoilers, as I want everyone to experience the magic of this book as I did- no prior expectations.
The book starts full pace, immersing the reader straight away. You follow the main character as she experiences the story, and it is never slow or boring.
Brilliant book, already looking forward to the next one by M.T Zimny.
May 21, 2025
absolutely OBSESSED with this book. one of the most unique stories I've read to date. when the plot twists hit?! holy cow do they surprise you! a whole new meaning to the term "nightmare" as well! this was shocking, exciting, sad at parts, and mysterious. such a great story. I love indie authors so much!
May 24, 2025
Firstly, thank you to the author for ARC! ✨
Nightmare what? 😮💨 If you’re looking for an immersive, fast-paced story set in a world with a unique magic system, with a strong-willed and brave character, and want to be taken along for an absolute ride with all the plot twists? Definitely give this a read!
Nightmare what? 😮💨 If you’re looking for an immersive, fast-paced story set in a world with a unique magic system, with a strong-willed and brave character, and want to be taken along for an absolute ride with all the plot twists? Definitely give this a read!
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