Review: Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

Title: Muse of Nightmares

Author: Laini Taylor

Series: Strange the Dreamer #2

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 2nd, 2018

Edition: Kindle Edition, 528 pages

Source: Library

Purchase: Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | BAM

Synopsis:

   In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep.

   Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice--save the woman he loves, or everyone else?--while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the muse of nightmares, has not yet discovered what she's capable of.

   As Humans and Godspawn reel in the aftermath of the Citadel's near fall, a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, and the mysteries of the Mesarthim are resurrected: Where did the gods come from, and why? What was done with thousands of children born in the citadel nursery? And most important of all, as forgotten doors are opened and new worlds revealed: Must heroes always slay monsters, or is it possible to save them instead?

  Before finally starting this book, I encountered a couple of 'negative' reviews, and it did make me a little wary of continuing it. But, now that I have finished it, I think those complaints are... strange. Sure, the mystery of Weep in book one was what made it so compelling, and this one had lost a bit of that aspect a bit. But, there was another mystery to solve in this book. Who Kora and Nova are, how they connect to what's happened in the Citadel. 

The characters are the second best thing about this book/series. The first being a tie between the writing and the world. Minya, I didn't hate her in the first book from what I can remember. But I kind of loved her in this book. She had a fantastic arc, and I just wish she had been part of the Epilogue. But we get to learn more about her, and why she still looked like a child 16 years later.

As for Lazlo and Sari. Their romance still really seems like it came out of nowhere on some level. I mean I get their attraction, but it still feels rushed to a degree.

Ruby, Sparrow, and Feral still didn't get as much page time as I would have liked for how short this series is. But I didn't feel that their page time was wasted. Especially Sparrow.

I wish that Kora and Nova had at least been hinted at in book one. Granted, I haven't read book one since it came out, so it's likely I could have forgotten if Kora had been mentioned.

There was a "holy shit" moment for me that I feel is a spoiler, so I don't know how to address it without spoiling it and I feel odd bringing it up without elaborating. I'll leave this one word... Eretz. Hopefully, that's not too much of a spoiler. If it is, I'm sorry.

While I am satisfied with this conclusion, I still want more. Maybe a spin-off Novella... that takes our characters to certain places mentioned in this book?

I can't wait to read what magical world is created next.