Depending on readers’ tastes, this is ornate, emotionally charged, and poetic-or florid, overdone, overstuffed, and angst-y. Taylor ( Strange the Dreamer, 2017, etc.) dances between fantasy and sci-fi, indulging in gods, magic, alchemy, and lost desert civilizations, only to subvert them with spaceships, interdimensional travel, and alien worlds. Freed from isolation, the godspawn struggle to connect, wondering about their parents-both Mesarthim “gods” and unwilling Weep humans-and their missing fellow godspawn. Also sharing narrative duty: fellow blue-skinned, magically gifted godspawn Ruby, Feral, and Sparrow-absorbed in their own romantic triangle-Minya, literally haunted by lives lost in the Carnage, and the mysterious Nova, fleeing a wintry wasteland in pursuit of her sister Kora and revenge. Grief-stricken Lazlo experiments with his newfound smith powers and reunites with Sarai in exotic, erotic dreams. Yet she remains, anchored by malevolent Minya and still in love with Lazlo Strange. But an explosion revealed their existence and killed 17-year-old Sarai. It’s been 15 years since the people of Weep slaughtered the gods and godspawn in the seraph-shaped citadel, an event known as the Liberation by the citizens of Weep…and the Carnage by the five godspawn who secretly survived. Overall, this novel was still fun and focused more on the past which made way for this long-lasting conflict plaguing everyone’s heart and mind now.Ĭlick here to check out Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor.Love and hatred haunt survivors in this otherworldly sequel. I appreciated how Lazlo stayed true to his morals, although his newfound powers seemed to instill a confidence within him that was fun to see.

The love between Lazol and Sarai was still enjoyable and sweet to read, while other loves, as well, found new footholds. The focus of the story removes itself from Lazlo which upset me, but this change did well to explore more of the characters and entice me into this expanding world. Taylor inserted a new character and perspective which confused me at first, but then found itself falling right in place along with the rest of the story.

All the while a city continues to break itself apart with fear and uncertainty.Īll of the confessions and truths revealed in this sequel pulled at my heart strings and kept me captive along the way. On the other hand, Taylor delves deep into the truth behind what happens to all those children who were forcefully bred in the citadel. Despite the huge progress made towards peace in the lost city of Weep, Lazlo and Sarai still have to persuade a woman-child to not continue in her plans for a massacre.

Taylor, in the beginning half of the novel, immediately addresses the cliff-hanger she left behind.

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor is the sequel to the Strange the Dreamer duology.

Muse of nightmares sequel