Muse of Nightmares
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
Muse of Nightmares is a 2018 young adult fantasy novel authored by American writer Laini Taylor and released by Little, Brown Books on October 2, 2018. As the continuation of Strange the Dreamer, the narrative follows Lazlo Strange alongside Sarai’s ghost, a blue-skinned godspawn, as they unravel the mysteries surrounding the city of Weep and strive to mend the fragile relationship between humans and deities. Their efforts face resistance from Minya, the eldest among the godspawn, while Sarai confronts her own visions and deeper sorrows.
Plot
Picking up after the events of the initial novel, Lazlo learns that he is Minya’s sibling. Minya holds Sarai’s spirit captive, demanding Lazlo’s assistance in orchestrating a massacre of Weep as retribution for their brothers and sisters who perished at Eril-Fane’s hands. The godspawn are responsible for maintaining the Citadel, which precariously leans over the city below. Meanwhile, sisters Kora and Nova reside in a coastal village where elders impose arranged marriages. The arrival of an enormous ship sparks hope that gods have come to rescue them; Kora is taken aboard and transformed into a formidable blue-skinned godspawn through mesarthium under Skathis’s command, while Nova is rejected. Escaping an unwanted marriage, Nova embarks on a perilous journey across frozen landscapes in search of her sister.
Skathis and the gods manipulate mesarthium to assert control over others, abducting children and traveling between realms via portals. It is uncovered that upon their arrival at Weep, the gods created godspawn by assaulting local inhabitants. Although Kora was killed during Eril-Fane’s massacre, she sent her bird spirit to protect Lazlo and other children.
Sarai explores Minya’s dreams, witnessing her daily anguish as she loses many infants to Eril-Fane while secretly safeguarding the youngest. A reluctant alliance forms between Sarai, Lazlo, the godspawn, Eril-Fane, and Azareen to defend a portal connecting worlds. Nova and her godspawn allies confront them; discovering Kora’s death ignites Nova’s fury. Minya awakens and unleashes spectral powers to conclude the conflict. Nova repeatedly inflicts torment on Eril-Fane and Azareen within a time loop but is eventually convinced by Sarai to relent. The inhabitants are expelled from the Citadel as Nova seizes control; she takes Lazlo hostage before vanishing with the Citadel into another dimension. Sarai’s group rescues Lazlo; ultimately, Nova ends her own life by plunging into an ocean teeming with beasts.
With spirits freed, Minya begins aging like a mortal. Together with explorers and godspawn, Lazlo pilots the Citadel across various worlds in search of other godspawn sold by Skathis. Sarai hopes to find someone among one hundred worlds capable of restoring her physical form, which is intertwined with Minya’s soul—a link to "Daughter of Smoke and Bone". Meanwhile, Eril-Fane and Azareen rebuild Weep and welcome a son named Lazlo.
Reception
Thea James from Tor.com commended how the storyline revolves around a heritage of turmoil and resentment, emphasizing the younger generation's challenge to either continue or heal their ancestors’ wounds. Kirkus Reviews considered this installment superior to Strange the Dreamer, praising Taylor’s fusion of fantasy and science fiction elements—ranging from gods and magic to spaceships and alien realms—while acknowledging that some readers might find it either emotionally profound or excessively intricate. Author Katherine Webber described it as "a philosophical fantasy adventure, an epic love story, a daring quest that demands to be read and reread and deserves to be remembered forever."