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The Twelfth World #2
The Cure for Living - Part One
“I’ll tell you a story,” the Visionary said to the young woman. “When I’m done, I promise I’ll undo these chains and let you go.” He met her gaze, his eyes as deep as the space between worlds. “You will stay."
In the oasis city of Qurrâb, wealth, power, and fame all bow to a single ideal: yâsh, the virtue of one's heart. There, a thirteen-year-old girl with a mind like no other resolves to become the brightest soul history has ever seen, inspiring others to follow her example. Her goal? To unite humanity and vanquish the Darkness, the destructive force within all of us that makes the world the wretched place that it is.
When veteran Jespar tre Moreste reaches the fabled City of Sages forty years later, his only concern is finding Loanne, the sister he once abandoned. Little does he know that his journey will soon lead him into the dark underbelly of the supposed paradise, where ruthless crime syndicates mingle with death cults and forbidden schools of philosophy. As old wounds resurface and reality fractures, Jespar realizes that even after the tumultuous events of Kilay, he still has demons of his own to conquer — and that often, the most charming masks hide the vilest of minds.
This is the first part of The Cure for Living, a single story told across two volumes.
Closing Jespar’s saga with a haunting blend of mystery, dark fantasy, and thriller, The Cure for Living examines the cost of obsession, the fragility of identity, and the dark side of humankind
In the oasis city of Qurrâb, wealth, power, and fame all bow to a single ideal: yâsh, the virtue of one's heart. There, a thirteen-year-old girl with a mind like no other resolves to become the brightest soul history has ever seen, inspiring others to follow her example. Her goal? To unite humanity and vanquish the Darkness, the destructive force within all of us that makes the world the wretched place that it is.
When veteran Jespar tre Moreste reaches the fabled City of Sages forty years later, his only concern is finding Loanne, the sister he once abandoned. Little does he know that his journey will soon lead him into the dark underbelly of the supposed paradise, where ruthless crime syndicates mingle with death cults and forbidden schools of philosophy. As old wounds resurface and reality fractures, Jespar realizes that even after the tumultuous events of Kilay, he still has demons of his own to conquer — and that often, the most charming masks hide the vilest of minds.
This is the first part of The Cure for Living, a single story told across two volumes.
Closing Jespar’s saga with a haunting blend of mystery, dark fantasy, and thriller, The Cure for Living examines the cost of obsession, the fragility of identity, and the dark side of humankind
757 pages, Hardcover
First published February 26, 2026
About the author
Nicolas Lietzau
5 books519 followersI’m an independent German author best known for my writing for the award-winning indie videogame Enderal, which grew from niche favorite to cult hit.
Growing up in both the heart of Munich and a bucolic Bavarian farmhouse, my love for stories began by reading German fairytales in the attic and was nurtured by copious amounts of fiction, ranging from fantasy to horror to historical to literary.
Many things have shaped my writing: a turbulent childhood, living in five different countries, and a loss of reality I suffered due to experiments in lucid dreaming. I feel drawn to people and experiences off the beaten path and try to make my work reflect that. I currently live as a digital nomad traveling across Europe as I work on the second Enderal novel.
Growing up in both the heart of Munich and a bucolic Bavarian farmhouse, my love for stories began by reading German fairytales in the attic and was nurtured by copious amounts of fiction, ranging from fantasy to horror to historical to literary.
Many things have shaped my writing: a turbulent childhood, living in five different countries, and a loss of reality I suffered due to experiments in lucid dreaming. I feel drawn to people and experiences off the beaten path and try to make my work reflect that. I currently live as a digital nomad traveling across Europe as I work on the second Enderal novel.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 8, 2026
”The world is ill, Loanne. I have the cure.”
I don’t normally write long reviews, but seeing how barren the review section is for this book, I’ll give it a shot. It’s the least I can do for what will likely end up being my favourite read of the year. This review will be posted for both Parts 1 and 2. I firmly believe that The Cure For Living should be read, rated, and reviewed as one continuous ~950 page story (as it was written) rather than in the two physically separate books it’s delivered in.
Cure follows two characters whose stories first seem completely separate but later entwine in the most delicious way as the mystery reveals itself. We have Jespar, our MC from Dreams of the Dying, a walking disaster of a man who is hell bent on a quest to find his sister. Just like in Dreams, Jespar is once again:
- depressed and drowning in self-sabotaging behaviour
- lowkey a hoe
- hallucinating (this guy’s sanity is CONSTANTLY getting a beating… RIP...)
In addition, we have a new MC: Quriyani, an autistic scholar set on a mission to cure the world of its “Darkness”. I really must highlight just how well written of a character she is. Perhaps in part due to the use of 2nd person POV, she comes alive on the pages, and the autism rep is so good. Nicolas does not pull any punches, he never tries to make any part of her uniqueness palatable (as should always be the case when writing neurodivergent characters!).
I did re-read Dreams before diving into this one, and while doing so did slightly enhance the experience, I think that readers would be safe to read Cure even a few years after reading its predecessor. A quick re-cap of Dreams’s main events is included, which is a good enough refresher. This sequel does reference events of Dreams, but is set in a completely different land and its plot stands relatively alone. And— wow. Allow me to praise just how much effort was put into the worldbuilding. I cannot think of a descriptor other than simply rich in all aspects. There is absolutely no “hand-waving”, as is common in many fantasy books. Everything from the technology to the linguistic idioms is fleshed out to the max, everything has a thought-out explanation with roots in this specific society’s culture. It does get a bit challenging sometimes with so many foreign terms and the fact that everyone has multiple names/titles/honorifics, but the glossary and character index at the back of the book helped out. Nicolas Lietzau is one of the greatest worldbuilding talents whose work I have ever had the pleasure to read. I mean, come on. A modern fantasy book that contains not only one but two professionally developed fictional languages? He could have just used Arabic and called it a day, but The Twelfth Word is such a labour of love and you can feel that any question about laziness in its creation would be a grave insult.
If I had one quibble with the book, it would be that it is very long. Some of the internal monologues can get a tiny bit repetitive. It is definitely a slow burn that rewards you (by God does it reward you) but you have to put in the patience for it to get there. It takes a LONG time for Jespar and Quriyani’s stories to start overlapping, so up until that point it somewhat feels like reading two completely unrelated stories. I think Part 1 could be shaved down a bit. Most of it is build-up for the avalanche that is the entirety of Part 2. This is part of the reason why I think the books should be reviewed as a single continuous story; if hard-pressed to rate them separately, I would probably give Part 1 a 4/5 and Part 2 a complete and utter 5/5, but the excellence of Part 2 is only possible through the groundwork of Part 1 the same way that a lone book’s climax is only possible through the chapters leading up to it.
Cure is a blend of genres ranging from action-packed fantasy to philosophical character-driven drama, but to me its identity boils down to a psychological mystery thriller. The journey we go on - both in terms of plot reveals and emotional arcs - is full of twists and turns that physically pained me. We go to some pretty dark places and our MCs do some pretty dark things. Oh, how I love stories about cults. Death cults? Even better.
Underlying this novel - as well as Dreams - is a current of rage at the state of the world, of the helplessness in the face of all the pain it’s built on. And I think that is what speaks to a lot of fans, myself included. It’s been a very long time since I was this emotionally moved by a book. I thought I was going to hold out on crying, but then the epilogue came: simultaneously gut-punching and healing, bitter and hopeful. Nicolas does not give us the “right” ending, but the “real” one. A raw and authentic conclusion to one of the most raw and authentic characters I’ve ever come across.
All in all? Just so fucking good man. Worth the 5+ year wait for sure.
~
Pre-Review
The release of this book is just another thing I’m adding to my short but ongoing list of “things keeping me tethered to a sane existence”
I don’t normally write long reviews, but seeing how barren the review section is for this book, I’ll give it a shot. It’s the least I can do for what will likely end up being my favourite read of the year. This review will be posted for both Parts 1 and 2. I firmly believe that The Cure For Living should be read, rated, and reviewed as one continuous ~950 page story (as it was written) rather than in the two physically separate books it’s delivered in.
Cure follows two characters whose stories first seem completely separate but later entwine in the most delicious way as the mystery reveals itself. We have Jespar, our MC from Dreams of the Dying, a walking disaster of a man who is hell bent on a quest to find his sister. Just like in Dreams, Jespar is once again:
- depressed and drowning in self-sabotaging behaviour
- lowkey a hoe
- hallucinating (this guy’s sanity is CONSTANTLY getting a beating… RIP...)
In addition, we have a new MC: Quriyani, an autistic scholar set on a mission to cure the world of its “Darkness”. I really must highlight just how well written of a character she is. Perhaps in part due to the use of 2nd person POV, she comes alive on the pages, and the autism rep is so good. Nicolas does not pull any punches, he never tries to make any part of her uniqueness palatable (as should always be the case when writing neurodivergent characters!).
I did re-read Dreams before diving into this one, and while doing so did slightly enhance the experience, I think that readers would be safe to read Cure even a few years after reading its predecessor. A quick re-cap of Dreams’s main events is included, which is a good enough refresher. This sequel does reference events of Dreams, but is set in a completely different land and its plot stands relatively alone. And— wow. Allow me to praise just how much effort was put into the worldbuilding. I cannot think of a descriptor other than simply rich in all aspects. There is absolutely no “hand-waving”, as is common in many fantasy books. Everything from the technology to the linguistic idioms is fleshed out to the max, everything has a thought-out explanation with roots in this specific society’s culture. It does get a bit challenging sometimes with so many foreign terms and the fact that everyone has multiple names/titles/honorifics, but the glossary and character index at the back of the book helped out. Nicolas Lietzau is one of the greatest worldbuilding talents whose work I have ever had the pleasure to read. I mean, come on. A modern fantasy book that contains not only one but two professionally developed fictional languages? He could have just used Arabic and called it a day, but The Twelfth Word is such a labour of love and you can feel that any question about laziness in its creation would be a grave insult.
If I had one quibble with the book, it would be that it is very long. Some of the internal monologues can get a tiny bit repetitive. It is definitely a slow burn that rewards you (by God does it reward you) but you have to put in the patience for it to get there. It takes a LONG time for Jespar and Quriyani’s stories to start overlapping, so up until that point it somewhat feels like reading two completely unrelated stories. I think Part 1 could be shaved down a bit. Most of it is build-up for the avalanche that is the entirety of Part 2. This is part of the reason why I think the books should be reviewed as a single continuous story; if hard-pressed to rate them separately, I would probably give Part 1 a 4/5 and Part 2 a complete and utter 5/5, but the excellence of Part 2 is only possible through the groundwork of Part 1 the same way that a lone book’s climax is only possible through the chapters leading up to it.
Cure is a blend of genres ranging from action-packed fantasy to philosophical character-driven drama, but to me its identity boils down to a psychological mystery thriller. The journey we go on - both in terms of plot reveals and emotional arcs - is full of twists and turns that physically pained me. We go to some pretty dark places and our MCs do some pretty dark things. Oh, how I love stories about cults. Death cults? Even better.
Underlying this novel - as well as Dreams - is a current of rage at the state of the world, of the helplessness in the face of all the pain it’s built on. And I think that is what speaks to a lot of fans, myself included. It’s been a very long time since I was this emotionally moved by a book. I thought I was going to hold out on crying, but then the epilogue came: simultaneously gut-punching and healing, bitter and hopeful. Nicolas does not give us the “right” ending, but the “real” one. A raw and authentic conclusion to one of the most raw and authentic characters I’ve ever come across.
All in all? Just so fucking good man. Worth the 5+ year wait for sure.
~
Pre-Review
The release of this book is just another thing I’m adding to my short but ongoing list of “things keeping me tethered to a sane existence”
Want to Read
December 20, 2025Yes, finally a release date and cover reveal!
Love the cover art, can't wait to get my hands on this, I absolutely LOVED book one:)
Love the cover art, can't wait to get my hands on this, I absolutely LOVED book one:)
May 5, 2026
“But to live life this way, always brooding, always doubting, always judging, was like staring into a pit as life rushed past. No matter how your story ended, you had lived true to your ideals, had tried to make a difference and, in doing so, changed the lives of many, and that was something no one could ever take from you”
Wow. Nicolaus did it again. I won’t say too much because I still have The Cure for Living pt 2 to go but this was by far my favorite book that I’ve read this year. Jespar coming into this one was just as crazy, if not crazier, than he was in the first novel, but this time I felt like I was rooting for him way more and not as frustrated with his decisions as I was in Dreams. Quriyani for me was the star of the show, from her chromatism, to overcoming the Prism Veil and becoming Awi Munthim, Nicolaus does such a great job making her character feel real but also extraordinary at the same time in this world. Everything about the system of yash was well-thought out, going from how it feels like meritocracy a bit and it being well intended to protect its citizens with how safe the city is and how great the law is but also how harsh the system can make its citizens lives’, such as with Yarazi, feeling demoralized and too prideful, which can ruin your life. and I loved how much thought went into the city of Qurrab and their language as well, as Lietzau also did with Makehu in DotD. I honestly feel bad for waiting until I got the physicals to finally start diving into this but once I did, I was once again swept away by the world of ‘Enderal.’ Those last few chapters had me forgetting there was another book for me to go through. What a great way to close out part 1.
“Yâsh culture was the perfect example of how quickly personal adoration can devolve into vilification, a process driven as much by the need to cope with feelings of betrayal and disappointment as by an attempt to impose order on a chaotic world.”
Wow. Nicolaus did it again. I won’t say too much because I still have The Cure for Living pt 2 to go but this was by far my favorite book that I’ve read this year. Jespar coming into this one was just as crazy, if not crazier, than he was in the first novel, but this time I felt like I was rooting for him way more and not as frustrated with his decisions as I was in Dreams. Quriyani for me was the star of the show, from her chromatism, to overcoming the Prism Veil and becoming Awi Munthim, Nicolaus does such a great job making her character feel real but also extraordinary at the same time in this world. Everything about the system of yash was well-thought out, going from how it feels like meritocracy a bit and it being well intended to protect its citizens with how safe the city is and how great the law is but also how harsh the system can make its citizens lives’, such as with Yarazi, feeling demoralized and too prideful, which can ruin your life. and I loved how much thought went into the city of Qurrab and their language as well, as Lietzau also did with Makehu in DotD. I honestly feel bad for waiting until I got the physicals to finally start diving into this but once I did, I was once again swept away by the world of ‘Enderal.’ Those last few chapters had me forgetting there was another book for me to go through. What a great way to close out part 1.
“Yâsh culture was the perfect example of how quickly personal adoration can devolve into vilification, a process driven as much by the need to cope with feelings of betrayal and disappointment as by an attempt to impose order on a chaotic world.”
wishlist
November 22, 2023I can not wait to get this next year, come on 2024!!!!!
May 22, 2026
“Life teaches by taking away.”
My review for parts 1 & 2:
SUCH an interesting and engrossing story. The world building is amazing. I love how the concept of yâsh is such a core part of Khirân society. Qûriyâni is my favorite. Go read it!!
My review for parts 1 & 2:
SUCH an interesting and engrossing story. The world building is amazing. I love how the concept of yâsh is such a core part of Khirân society. Qûriyâni is my favorite. Go read it!!
anticipating
December 17, 2025There's a cover and a release-date! I'm desperately hoping it's real this time! @Nicolas Lietzau, I'm attempting to wait patiently, but I needed this book yesterday.
June 4, 2026
5 ⭐ (I'd give more if I could!)
“I will live.”
This book is about love and friendship, betrayal and hatred, kinship and sorrow. It explores the pain of disappointing someone you love, the disgust of seeing the people closest to you act against your values, and the struggle to cope when everything falls apart. It also touches on mental illness, resilience, oddness, greatness, and the people you carry in your heart.
At its core, this is a story about hope — and about the slow, heartbreaking feeling of losing everything that matters, little by little.
Yes, life would teach you by taking away, again and again and again, each time shattering and forcing you to realign the pattern of your soul until it became the flawed woman the world now remembers as Qûriyanî im Yârdinim. That night, it started to take.
Worldbuilding:
I loved the first book in the series and had been waiting a long time for the sequel. The author has truly outdone himself here. The language he devised especially impressed me, but so did the yâsh system. A lot of the vocabulary becomes clear from context, and for anything else there’s a dictionary at the back of the book. In the hardcover edition, there’s also a long explanation of declensions, prepositions, and more. In that sense, you could genuinely study the language if you wanted to. I find it incredible to invent not just a few words, but an entire system and develop it this thoroughly. It added so much atmosphere and depth and gave the book its own distinct flavor.
I’ve seen similar concepts like the yâsh in other books before, but never as well developed as here. Yâsh can be understood as a kind of social standing. It can be lost or improved. If someone loses their yâsh, they can take responsibility for their mistakes, do good deeds, and gradually restore it. You really feel how deeply this can affect a person’s life toward the end of the book, especially when Nimagh tells his story.
Overall, this book is fantastic. The worldbuilding is spectacular and detailed, but never dull. The system of heartnames also stood out to me. Every khîran has a first and last name, but also a heartname. Heartnames are only for close friends and family and are considered deeply intimate. As the story progresses, they also take on major significance, which I really liked.
It’s clear that every system and every detail serves a purpose by the end of the book.
Characters and story:
The characters are incredibly well written. It took me a while to get used to the dual POV and to the way Qûriyanî’s sections are written. But soon I couldn’t wait to return to her perspective. In the afterword, the author says he needed several drafts to make Qûriyanî feel right, and it paid off. I’ve rarely met a character so deeply wounded, torn, and yet so ambitious at the same time.
Qûriyanî goes through terrible things as a young girl and sinks into her melancholy. She has also always been different: she perceives people and their emotions differently and can see them. Her journey is endlessly fascinating, and early on she decides that she wants to become the brightest of souls in order to unite humanity and defeat the Darkness.
Here’s a ghost in our shadow. It’s born from our darkest fears, our greatest pain, and our most secret desires, and it haunts the present as it haunts the past and the future.
Her friends Nimagh and Yârazi shine through their own growth and storylines, and Jespar also develops further. He confronts his past and sets out with Lissja to find his sister Loanne, whom he left behind years ago despite promising to always stay by her side.
Of course Jespar wouldn’t leave her. Not he, not her brother, whom she loved more than she would ever admit. Why had she ever doubted him? “A team,” Jespar repeated. “Always and forever. I promise.” Loanne sniffled and wiped her cheeks. Then she hooked her pinky around his. “Promise.”
His journey takes him to Khîra, to the city of Quarrâb. There, he is not only always one step behind Loanne, but also forced to team up with a former friend whom he despises for what he has done. Against their will, the two slowly grow closer during their shared journey, as they repeatedly have to rely on each other in dangerous situations.
“You failed, boy,” Father says. “You were too late. She’s headed to the stars.”
I've already started The Cure for Living - Part Two as I can't wait to see how Qûriyanî's and Jespar's stories will develop further.
“I will live.”
This book is about love and friendship, betrayal and hatred, kinship and sorrow. It explores the pain of disappointing someone you love, the disgust of seeing the people closest to you act against your values, and the struggle to cope when everything falls apart. It also touches on mental illness, resilience, oddness, greatness, and the people you carry in your heart.
At its core, this is a story about hope — and about the slow, heartbreaking feeling of losing everything that matters, little by little.
Yes, life would teach you by taking away, again and again and again, each time shattering and forcing you to realign the pattern of your soul until it became the flawed woman the world now remembers as Qûriyanî im Yârdinim. That night, it started to take.
Worldbuilding:
I loved the first book in the series and had been waiting a long time for the sequel. The author has truly outdone himself here. The language he devised especially impressed me, but so did the yâsh system. A lot of the vocabulary becomes clear from context, and for anything else there’s a dictionary at the back of the book. In the hardcover edition, there’s also a long explanation of declensions, prepositions, and more. In that sense, you could genuinely study the language if you wanted to. I find it incredible to invent not just a few words, but an entire system and develop it this thoroughly. It added so much atmosphere and depth and gave the book its own distinct flavor.
I’ve seen similar concepts like the yâsh in other books before, but never as well developed as here. Yâsh can be understood as a kind of social standing. It can be lost or improved. If someone loses their yâsh, they can take responsibility for their mistakes, do good deeds, and gradually restore it. You really feel how deeply this can affect a person’s life toward the end of the book, especially when Nimagh tells his story.
Overall, this book is fantastic. The worldbuilding is spectacular and detailed, but never dull. The system of heartnames also stood out to me. Every khîran has a first and last name, but also a heartname. Heartnames are only for close friends and family and are considered deeply intimate. As the story progresses, they also take on major significance, which I really liked.
It’s clear that every system and every detail serves a purpose by the end of the book.
Characters and story:
The characters are incredibly well written. It took me a while to get used to the dual POV and to the way Qûriyanî’s sections are written. But soon I couldn’t wait to return to her perspective. In the afterword, the author says he needed several drafts to make Qûriyanî feel right, and it paid off. I’ve rarely met a character so deeply wounded, torn, and yet so ambitious at the same time.
Qûriyanî goes through terrible things as a young girl and sinks into her melancholy. She has also always been different: she perceives people and their emotions differently and can see them. Her journey is endlessly fascinating, and early on she decides that she wants to become the brightest of souls in order to unite humanity and defeat the Darkness.
Here’s a ghost in our shadow. It’s born from our darkest fears, our greatest pain, and our most secret desires, and it haunts the present as it haunts the past and the future.
Her friends Nimagh and Yârazi shine through their own growth and storylines, and Jespar also develops further. He confronts his past and sets out with Lissja to find his sister Loanne, whom he left behind years ago despite promising to always stay by her side.
Of course Jespar wouldn’t leave her. Not he, not her brother, whom she loved more than she would ever admit. Why had she ever doubted him? “A team,” Jespar repeated. “Always and forever. I promise.” Loanne sniffled and wiped her cheeks. Then she hooked her pinky around his. “Promise.”
His journey takes him to Khîra, to the city of Quarrâb. There, he is not only always one step behind Loanne, but also forced to team up with a former friend whom he despises for what he has done. Against their will, the two slowly grow closer during their shared journey, as they repeatedly have to rely on each other in dangerous situations.
“You failed, boy,” Father says. “You were too late. She’s headed to the stars.”
I've already started The Cure for Living - Part Two as I can't wait to see how Qûriyanî's and Jespar's stories will develop further.
Did Not Finish
May 16, 2026300 pages in and I'm just losing interest in all of it. The story seems to address all avenues of mind wondering by the author making for an extremely slow pace. Sadly, I can't seem to find sufficient purpose or meaning in it.
Will likely come back to this one when an audiobook is released.
Will likely come back to this one when an audiobook is released.
May 8, 2026
Rating will be on Part 2.
Hard to fully form my opinions as the book isn’t really over but ultimately this is fantastic. Perhaps it’s not hitting the same way dotd did, but it’s hard competition when you’re my most anticipated book of the past 5 years up against one of the most emotionally impactful books Ive read.
The worldbuilding feels so rich and vibrant and the discussions being had so far are so fascinating and engaging. My biggest surprise is Qûriyanî. What an incredible character, her POVs have genuinely been the highlight so far and I’m so devastated for her.
I cannot wait to see where part two goes and how Jespar’s arc is going to progress.
Hard to fully form my opinions as the book isn’t really over but ultimately this is fantastic. Perhaps it’s not hitting the same way dotd did, but it’s hard competition when you’re my most anticipated book of the past 5 years up against one of the most emotionally impactful books Ive read.
The worldbuilding feels so rich and vibrant and the discussions being had so far are so fascinating and engaging. My biggest surprise is Qûriyanî. What an incredible character, her POVs have genuinely been the highlight so far and I’m so devastated for her.
I cannot wait to see where part two goes and how Jespar’s arc is going to progress.
August 2, 2026
Best book of the year, unsure why this masterpiece has so view reviews.
July 10, 2026
Mi libro más anticipado del año! En lo personal creo que le falta un poco para llegar a lo que fue Dreams of Dying, pero lo disfrute muchísimo. Un libro demandante que premia la lectura en profundidad
Want to Read
March 9, 2024Can't wait!
August 18, 2026
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
I read Dreams of the Dying back in 2021--which now feels like a lifetime ago--after some word of mouth recommendations, and I was thrilled when I heard that a sequel was ready to hit the shelves in 2026. The Cure for Living picks up after the events of Dreams of the Dying when Jespar once again becomes entangled in a new investigation. This time, we have a second storyline featuring a character named Qûriyanî, which adds many new layers. to this world and story. I probably won't be getting into too many specifics in this review since this is a sequel, but I was really excited to dive back in this world, and now I'm excited to share my thoughts with all of you!
The Cure for Living is initially a slow-moving story, but I don’t mean that as a criticism. Part One in particular spends a lot of time laying groundwork and allowing us to really settle back into this world and its characters, which I actually really appreciated since it has been quite a few years since I’ve read Dreams of the Dying. There is a lot to take in between worldbuilding, politics, culture, and everything else going on, and Lietzau isn’t afraid to take his time moving through it all. Both volumes have their own pacing that I think works for what they’re trying to accomplish, and although it took me a while to get through the entire story as a whole, I never really felt like there were huge sections that needed to be cut or that anything was extraneous. It all felt purposeful, and the eventual payoff made the investment worthwhile.
The story is split between Jespar’s present day storyline and Qûriyanî's story. I thought the two timelines worked really well together, and I thought it gave the story a very balanced feeling. I personally found myself slightly more invested in Jespar’s sections, that’s honestly pretty typical for me with dual timelines where I tend to end up preferring a one person’s timeline a bit more. That being said, I still really enjoyed Qûriyanî's chapters and never felt like they were something I had to push through; they were still compelling in their own right and offered a lot to the storytelling.
I really enjoyed returning to Jespar as a character and seeing where his life has taken him since the events of Dreams of the Dying. His storyline immediately had me hooked back in, especially as he became wrapped up in his new investigations in this book, but I also appreciated the quieter explorations of his past experience and how those have continued to affect him. Lietzau handles a lot of trauma themes with a lot of nuance, which allows it to remain an important part of Jespar's experience without reducing his entire character down to what he’s been through. There are genuinely thoughtful and thought-provoking discussions surrounding trauma, healing, and what it actually means to continue living after experiencing things that can fundamentally change you.
Qûriyanî's storyline took a little longer to fully grab me initially, but I found her increasingly compelling as I came to better understand who she was, her motivations, and the circumstances that shaped her. She truly ended up being such a highlight of this sequel and I was eventually so enraptured and devastated for her and everything she experiences. The connection between her and Jespar’s storyline also took some time to develop for me, but I thought the eventual payoff worked really and made everything feel worthwhile.
The worldbuilding throughout this story is incredibly detailed, especially when it comes to the cultures, politics, histories, and belief systems that shape the characters and their decisions. There’s a lot to take in, but I appreciated how Lietzau spent time explaining things through the plot and characters in ways that allow us as readers to understand these different elements rather than simply using them as background without a solid foundation. It’s the type of worldbuild and setting that makes everything feel as though it really existed long before the story took place, and will continue on existing long after the events of the story conclude, which is something I always really value in any fantasy.
There’s also a lot going on in this story regarding its themes, which span from trauma and identity, purpose, hope, friendship, mortality, belonging, and so much more. It honestly seems like a lot to tackle in one story, but I never felt like any of it felt like too much or was out of place. It all fit naturally within the type of story being told and the experiences these characters have gone through and are going through, and I found myself fascinated by many of the discussions around these ideas.
One thing that I really loved from this huge second installment--and what I love from any gigantic fantasy volume--was watching how things gradually came together. With two timelines and so many different threads developed across the entirety of the story, there was truly a lot of groundwork being laid and explored, and it took a while before it was possible to see how everything connected. Once it all started falling into place, however, I found the payoff incredibly satisfying. It made me appreciate even more how carefully everything had been constructed along the way, and by the end of it I felt like the time I’d invested was very much worth it.
I also want to note that I was fortunate enough to have received a stunning hardcover copy of The Cure for Living from the author and it is genuinely such a cool book. Not only is it beautiful physically, but the incredible amount of back matter included is amazing. We've got an explanation of the grammar of the language, a dictionary, notes, illustrations, and so much more additional information about everything in this world to sink into. It’s one of those things that’s not at all required in a story, but that adds so much to its vibrancy and really highlights just how much thought and work has gone into making this world feel fully realized and authentic. This hardcover edition is a bit pricier than the paperback, but if you can spare the extra money then I cannot recommend it enough--it’s truly worth the price, in my opinion (I believe you can buy them on the author's website!). And to clear up any possible confusion--both volumes make up a singular sequel to Dreams of the Dying, they are just so hefty they had to physically be split up!
The Cure for Living is certainly an undertaking (especially after reading Dreams of the Dying as well, which isn’t exactly a small book, either), and I found it to be one very much worth reading. This story asks for a lot of patience from its readers, but the characters, plot, worldbuilding, setting, and ideas featured and explored throughout makes it a truly memorable reading experience.
I read Dreams of the Dying back in 2021--which now feels like a lifetime ago--after some word of mouth recommendations, and I was thrilled when I heard that a sequel was ready to hit the shelves in 2026. The Cure for Living picks up after the events of Dreams of the Dying when Jespar once again becomes entangled in a new investigation. This time, we have a second storyline featuring a character named Qûriyanî, which adds many new layers. to this world and story. I probably won't be getting into too many specifics in this review since this is a sequel, but I was really excited to dive back in this world, and now I'm excited to share my thoughts with all of you!
The Cure for Living is initially a slow-moving story, but I don’t mean that as a criticism. Part One in particular spends a lot of time laying groundwork and allowing us to really settle back into this world and its characters, which I actually really appreciated since it has been quite a few years since I’ve read Dreams of the Dying. There is a lot to take in between worldbuilding, politics, culture, and everything else going on, and Lietzau isn’t afraid to take his time moving through it all. Both volumes have their own pacing that I think works for what they’re trying to accomplish, and although it took me a while to get through the entire story as a whole, I never really felt like there were huge sections that needed to be cut or that anything was extraneous. It all felt purposeful, and the eventual payoff made the investment worthwhile.
The story is split between Jespar’s present day storyline and Qûriyanî's story. I thought the two timelines worked really well together, and I thought it gave the story a very balanced feeling. I personally found myself slightly more invested in Jespar’s sections, that’s honestly pretty typical for me with dual timelines where I tend to end up preferring a one person’s timeline a bit more. That being said, I still really enjoyed Qûriyanî's chapters and never felt like they were something I had to push through; they were still compelling in their own right and offered a lot to the storytelling.
I really enjoyed returning to Jespar as a character and seeing where his life has taken him since the events of Dreams of the Dying. His storyline immediately had me hooked back in, especially as he became wrapped up in his new investigations in this book, but I also appreciated the quieter explorations of his past experience and how those have continued to affect him. Lietzau handles a lot of trauma themes with a lot of nuance, which allows it to remain an important part of Jespar's experience without reducing his entire character down to what he’s been through. There are genuinely thoughtful and thought-provoking discussions surrounding trauma, healing, and what it actually means to continue living after experiencing things that can fundamentally change you.
Qûriyanî's storyline took a little longer to fully grab me initially, but I found her increasingly compelling as I came to better understand who she was, her motivations, and the circumstances that shaped her. She truly ended up being such a highlight of this sequel and I was eventually so enraptured and devastated for her and everything she experiences. The connection between her and Jespar’s storyline also took some time to develop for me, but I thought the eventual payoff worked really and made everything feel worthwhile.
The worldbuilding throughout this story is incredibly detailed, especially when it comes to the cultures, politics, histories, and belief systems that shape the characters and their decisions. There’s a lot to take in, but I appreciated how Lietzau spent time explaining things through the plot and characters in ways that allow us as readers to understand these different elements rather than simply using them as background without a solid foundation. It’s the type of worldbuild and setting that makes everything feel as though it really existed long before the story took place, and will continue on existing long after the events of the story conclude, which is something I always really value in any fantasy.
There’s also a lot going on in this story regarding its themes, which span from trauma and identity, purpose, hope, friendship, mortality, belonging, and so much more. It honestly seems like a lot to tackle in one story, but I never felt like any of it felt like too much or was out of place. It all fit naturally within the type of story being told and the experiences these characters have gone through and are going through, and I found myself fascinated by many of the discussions around these ideas.
One thing that I really loved from this huge second installment--and what I love from any gigantic fantasy volume--was watching how things gradually came together. With two timelines and so many different threads developed across the entirety of the story, there was truly a lot of groundwork being laid and explored, and it took a while before it was possible to see how everything connected. Once it all started falling into place, however, I found the payoff incredibly satisfying. It made me appreciate even more how carefully everything had been constructed along the way, and by the end of it I felt like the time I’d invested was very much worth it.
I also want to note that I was fortunate enough to have received a stunning hardcover copy of The Cure for Living from the author and it is genuinely such a cool book. Not only is it beautiful physically, but the incredible amount of back matter included is amazing. We've got an explanation of the grammar of the language, a dictionary, notes, illustrations, and so much more additional information about everything in this world to sink into. It’s one of those things that’s not at all required in a story, but that adds so much to its vibrancy and really highlights just how much thought and work has gone into making this world feel fully realized and authentic. This hardcover edition is a bit pricier than the paperback, but if you can spare the extra money then I cannot recommend it enough--it’s truly worth the price, in my opinion (I believe you can buy them on the author's website!). And to clear up any possible confusion--both volumes make up a singular sequel to Dreams of the Dying, they are just so hefty they had to physically be split up!
The Cure for Living is certainly an undertaking (especially after reading Dreams of the Dying as well, which isn’t exactly a small book, either), and I found it to be one very much worth reading. This story asks for a lot of patience from its readers, but the characters, plot, worldbuilding, setting, and ideas featured and explored throughout makes it a truly memorable reading experience.
June 26, 2026
Nicolas Lietzau's The Cure for Living Part One stands as one of the year’s most compelling and thought‑provoking dark fantasy stories—equal parts haunting, philosophical, and emotionally unrelenting.
The Cure for Living Part One — 4.5/5
“I’ll tell you a story,” the Visionary said to the young woman. “When I’m done, I promise I’ll undo these chains and let you go.” He met her gaze, his eyes as deep as the space between worlds. “You will stay."
In the oasis city of Qurrâb, wealth, power, and fame bow to a single ideal: yâsh, the virtue of one’s heart. A prodigious thirteen-year-old girl dreams of becoming the brightest soul in history, determined to unite humanity and eradicate the Darkness within. Forty years later, Jespar tre Moreste arrives in the City of Sages searching for the sister he once abandoned—only to uncover a decaying underbelly where crime syndicates, death cults, and forbidden philosophies thrive. As past and present collide, The Cure for Living explores obsession, identity, and the deeply unsettling truths of human nature.
“There was an addictive comfort in futility; because sometimes thinking you were powerless was easier than realizing you did have a chance, and if you blew it not a soul was to blame but yourself.”
After reading Dreams of the Dying earlier this year, I was already captivated by the world Nicolas Lietzau built—and this continuation only deepens that admiration. His storytelling is fearless, tackling heavy, often uncomfortable themes: mental health, trauma, war, systemic oppression, and more. He doesn’t shy away from complexity; instead, he leans into it with precision and care. His prose is seamless and immersive, guiding you through scenes so effortlessly that you’re never lost—only absorbed.
The level of detail here is staggering. From the appendix explaining language, to the bestiary, to the richly illustrated artwork and maps—every page reflects an extraordinary amount of care. This isn’t just a story; it’s a fully realized world crafted with intention and passion from beginning to end.
“In retrospect, the oldest thing about your bleak epiphany was how you had not had it sooner... this malevolent force in the human soul that brings out the worst in us, a seductive psychic parasite promising salvation as it leads us to destruction.”
One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its dual narrative. We follow Quriyani in the past—a brilliant, deeply complex character shaped by trauma—and Jespar in the present, still haunted by his own failures. Though separated by forty years, their stories are intricately connected. Watching Quriyani’s formative years unfold adds essential depth to the overarching narrative, while Jespar’s relentless search provides emotional weight and urgency. This back-and-forth structure, reminiscent of Dreams of the Dying, works beautifully once again.
“But you see that just how this world works. The strong terrorize the weak, and the best you can hope is to catch one of them with their guard down so you can give them a taste of their own medicine.”
The story unfolds like a dark fantasy thriller with investigative undertones. Jespar and Lissja’s search for Loanne is both compelling and exhausting by design—each step forward is met with setbacks, reinforcing the emotional toll of their journey. Their lingering trauma from Kilay adds even more gravity to their actions. While the mystical elements take a lighter role compared to the previous book, their presence feels deliberate and impactful when they do appear.
Exploring the nation of Khira is another highlight. Its language, political structure, and history are introduced with patience and clarity, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves without feeling overwhelmed. Lietzau’s worldbuilding continues to shine as one of his greatest strengths.
“The idealist finds a cure and the cynic turns it into a poison.”
Thematically, this novel is incredibly rich. Obsession, forgiveness, and identity all play major roles—but the most powerful theme is honor. Within the yâsh system, reputation dictates worth, elevating some while condemning others to isolation and suffering. Characters like Jespar, Quriyani, Nimagh, and Yarazi are all driven by deeply personal codes of honor, showing how it can both guide and consume. It’s a nuanced exploration of how conviction can either save us or blind us entirely.
“Those fortunate enough to have never gone through hardship... prolonged suffering often makes it harder for a person to envision a life without it, as their predicament becomes part of their identity.”
Ultimately, The Cure for Living Part One is a masterful continuation—bold, introspective, and emotionally devastating. Nicolas Lietzau proves once again that he is a fearless and brilliant storyteller. I’ll be diving into Part Two without hesitation.
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July 15, 2026
The Cure for Living (Part One) is the sequel to Dreams of the Dying and tells the first half of a story split across two volumes that together serve as the second and third books of the trilogy. After confronting his demons during the revolution in Kilay, Jespar is finally ready to return to the younger sister he abandoned. But Loanne has already left home, and his search leads him to the utopian oasis city of Qurrab, where a doomsday cult once shook its society years ago. There, his investigation uncovers a string of disappearances involving young people that may lead him to an answer he desperately does not want. Meanwhile, Quiriyani is a young girl with a strange mind whose life is defined by cruelty and loss, and she becomes determined to vanquish the Darkness and free humanity from its evil.
This novel is split entirely between two storylines: Jespar’s journey in the present and Quiriyani’s story in the past. They tell two seemingly separate narratives that have yet to meaningfully intersect in this first volume. While this is only half of a larger story, I do think it stands well on its own. Both plotlines have satisfying narrative arcs that reach natural stopping points while also ending on compelling cliffhangers. Because of the dual structure, the novel can feel slow at times, but it is never uneventful or dull. So much happens in both timelines, and each remains consistently engaging. Even before the connections become clear, there is a constant sense that the revelations of one storyline will inevitably reshape the other.
Like Kilay in Dreams of the Dying, the city of Qurrab becomes a character in its own right. It is a supposed utopian society where virtue is quantified and dictates a citizen’s social standing. Yet beneath its polished ideals, injustice and inequality remain deeply ingrained, perhaps even more insidious than the stark divide between the haves and have-nots of Kilay because they are harder to recognize. Quiriyani’s upbringing embodies these contradictions perfectly. Told in the second person, her chapters are especially compelling. Her perceived strangeness, which is readily recognizable to us as autism or another form of neurodivergence, shapes not only her character but the very style of the storytelling. Watching her grow from a mute child into an iconoclastic senator is both triumphant and heartbreaking, with every hard-earned victory accompanied by profound loss.
If the first was about PTSD and the psychological scars it leaves behind, then this is about depression and the crushing weight it places on the human spirit. Despite the tremendous progress Jespar made in the first book, he is still deeply wounded. I actually found him a bit more frustrating here because he remains his own worst enemy, repeatedly making painfully self-sabotaging decisions despite knowing better. The novel explores not only the toll this takes on him, but also the strain it places on his relationships, particularly with Lissja and Naka, a painful figure from his past. Still, I can’t help but root for him in his increasingly desperate search for the sister he believes he has failed.
Even as only half a story, The Cure for Living (Part One) delivers an emotionally rich and ambitious journey that is building towards what could be an incredible finale.
*Thank you to the author for sending me a complementary copy
This novel is split entirely between two storylines: Jespar’s journey in the present and Quiriyani’s story in the past. They tell two seemingly separate narratives that have yet to meaningfully intersect in this first volume. While this is only half of a larger story, I do think it stands well on its own. Both plotlines have satisfying narrative arcs that reach natural stopping points while also ending on compelling cliffhangers. Because of the dual structure, the novel can feel slow at times, but it is never uneventful or dull. So much happens in both timelines, and each remains consistently engaging. Even before the connections become clear, there is a constant sense that the revelations of one storyline will inevitably reshape the other.
Like Kilay in Dreams of the Dying, the city of Qurrab becomes a character in its own right. It is a supposed utopian society where virtue is quantified and dictates a citizen’s social standing. Yet beneath its polished ideals, injustice and inequality remain deeply ingrained, perhaps even more insidious than the stark divide between the haves and have-nots of Kilay because they are harder to recognize. Quiriyani’s upbringing embodies these contradictions perfectly. Told in the second person, her chapters are especially compelling. Her perceived strangeness, which is readily recognizable to us as autism or another form of neurodivergence, shapes not only her character but the very style of the storytelling. Watching her grow from a mute child into an iconoclastic senator is both triumphant and heartbreaking, with every hard-earned victory accompanied by profound loss.
If the first was about PTSD and the psychological scars it leaves behind, then this is about depression and the crushing weight it places on the human spirit. Despite the tremendous progress Jespar made in the first book, he is still deeply wounded. I actually found him a bit more frustrating here because he remains his own worst enemy, repeatedly making painfully self-sabotaging decisions despite knowing better. The novel explores not only the toll this takes on him, but also the strain it places on his relationships, particularly with Lissja and Naka, a painful figure from his past. Still, I can’t help but root for him in his increasingly desperate search for the sister he believes he has failed.
Even as only half a story, The Cure for Living (Part One) delivers an emotionally rich and ambitious journey that is building towards what could be an incredible finale.
*Thank you to the author for sending me a complementary copy
May 18, 2026
Posting the same review for Book 1 and 2, as they're really a single story.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Dream of The Dying and was looking forward to the sequels. The books did not disappoint!
Once again, they are quite long, but very easy to read. The story is rich in world building and it sets up an intriguing slow burn mystery. Jespar's character has progressed a lot since the last book, and it makes him a more enjoyable character to follow. Jespar is a troubled person whose trauma sometimes led him to make frustrating decisions. But seeing his progress, I grew to appreciate his struggles in the first book more.
Without going into spoilers, the second protagonist Quriyani stole the show for me. From the way she perceives the world to how her story unfolds - the author has not skipped a beat with that one!
Really enjoyed my time with The Cure for Living, I'd say it surpasses the first book overall.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Dream of The Dying and was looking forward to the sequels. The books did not disappoint!
Once again, they are quite long, but very easy to read. The story is rich in world building and it sets up an intriguing slow burn mystery. Jespar's character has progressed a lot since the last book, and it makes him a more enjoyable character to follow. Jespar is a troubled person whose trauma sometimes led him to make frustrating decisions. But seeing his progress, I grew to appreciate his struggles in the first book more.
Without going into spoilers, the second protagonist Quriyani stole the show for me. From the way she perceives the world to how her story unfolds - the author has not skipped a beat with that one!
Really enjoyed my time with The Cure for Living, I'd say it surpasses the first book overall.
June 16, 2026
Wow. What a book. Like last time it was hard to put down and I enjoyed every minute of it. I'll admit that my head is spinning trying to keep up with everything that happened, and that's not all there is! I am both terrified and eager to find out how this story ends.
March 7, 2026
Going on my dnf shelf as about ten percent of the way in I still had no idea where it was going.
March 7, 2026
No idea how this will play out, but it’s been quite a ride. Really excited for part two.
Want to Read
April 21, 2026Gonna read it when it comes out somewhere with cheaper shipping ;~;
Also why is his last name different? If theres a reason given in Book 2, then sure i guess, but why?
Also why is his last name different? If theres a reason given in Book 2, then sure i guess, but why?
July 22, 2026
Everything about this book is gorgeous and it's exactly what I was hoping for in a sequal.
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