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#Scarathlon Photo Challenge Day 28 prompt: Nightmare

#HHC
@bookmarktavern @dabbe @liatrek @jessclark78 @chrissyreadit @thedaysgoby @vonnie862 @ladyCait84 @sresendez12 @kelli7990 @jessiekb

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5/5)

“Muse of Nightmares” is a satisfying sequel and conclusion to its previous “Strange the Dreamer”. I loved the character arcs and development as Weep deals with the aftermath of the previous book‘s ending and overcoming years-worth of hatred and bias. The introduction of Nova and the ties she had to the story was interesting and definitely not one I was expecting. Overall, this was a fitting end to the duology.

“For that instant, at least, they seemed one and the same, as though all anguish exists in the same deep well, no matter what loss or misfortune leads us to it. We might be at odds, hate each other, and desire each other‘s destruction, but in our despair, we are lost in the same darkness, breathing the same air as we choke on our grief.”

- Laini Taylor

I finished Strange the Dreamer this week! So I‘m ready to start this one very soon… (tonight, after the robot fighting).

If you‘re on Owlcrate‘s new social app The Nest, join us for a read-a-long of this from 1/20 - 1/30.

I‘m definitely having a #JoyousJanuary 📚🌺🌻 Thanks @Andrew65 !

OMFG!!! I LOVE THIS BOOK SOOOO MUCH !!!! Seriously more fantasy books should go the duology route. There is just something about a story perfectly executed in two books and yet leaving you wanting more in a good way. There are so many complex and interesting characters and stories. Minya and Nova are phenomenal characters that absolutely break the heart. I can‘t wait to reread these books.I really hope the author takes us back to these worlds.

The second in the series that started with Strange the Dreamer. This is one of my top books ever and one of my favorite authors, Laini Taylor. It‘s strange and poetic and lovely. #LetterM #alphabetgame @AlwaysLoveToRead @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Do you ever go about your day, doing what needs done, and keep having that nagging thought "I want to get back to that show I was watching and finish it. It's so good." Then you remember that wasn't a show you were watching, it was the book you are reading.
Laini Taylor is exceptional at what she does. The story so well written it plays out like movie within your brain. It is a complicated, magical, and beautiful place to be. ?

This sequel to Strange the Dreamer does not disappoint. Taylor takes the story to new and unimagined (at least by me) twists that fit perfectly with the world she created. All the narrative threads, so patiently woven, came together seamlessly and with authenticity, and all couched in her silken syntax that so delights my English teacher heart. In short, I am a devoted Laini Taylor fan!

I NEED more from this universe!! Dreaming of a future where Sarai meets up with Karou ✨ so many emotions and redemption arcs in this one with a satisfying ending, loved it 🖤

I enjoyed the Strange the Dreamer duology! #LainiTaylor writes a great book.

The Mylar book jacket covers really don‘t cut the glare! They look nice in person.

I love book shopping❣️

Diving right into the next one ✨🌙

Minya gets a story, but so do other characters that were entirely unneeded. For an almost 600 page book, it was pretty boring. I was hoping for a lot more. 😕

Read my full review here: https://www.rainyreader.com/single-post/muse-of-nightmares.

#disappointed #fantasy #YA

Well, is it?!

#lainitaylor #museofnightmares

?"Why should ?? have to disappear just because men are animals?"

#lainitaylor #museofnightmares

I've seen maps but never this, whatever this is.

#lainitaylor #museofnightmares

Loved book 2 in this duology! Such beautiful lyrical prose. A completely original fairy tale. I don‘t really want to say much about the books other then you should read them. 5⭐️ 2 more squares for my #bookspinbingo and another book complete for #NovelNovember

I'm combining #Haunted prompts 18 (Raven) and 19 (possessed) with a favorite of mine (instead of posting an Enchantment of Ravens like I was going to and several other smarties did!). This book comes with a bit of a possession reversal, where the ghosts aren't the possessors, they're the possessed! (Content warnings for implied rape, memory loss, loss of body autonomy, murder, toxic familial relationship, grief). #Ghost

#Scarathlon photo challenge Day 2: Night

Just finished book one of this duology. This isn‘t on my October TBR, but if I don‘t pick it up anyway, it will definitely be on my November tbr.
#teamhendrix

Sadly I'm going to have to give this one 2 stars. I liked the first one but this one was just too lengthy. I got about half way threw the audio and thought wow that was a good sequel, then it went on for another 8 hours. Near the last couple hours and I just didn't care anymore and just wanted to be done with it. There were so many things that could have been cut. And I just didn't like the plot.

So much love for this gorgeous book 🥰🥰
It was full of magic & heart.
Fairytale storytelling at its finest ❤
I always think I like my fantasy novels dense and serious... turns out I'm also an incurable romantic.

Now to try to get some sleep 😅😴

#curiouscovers #stars

I really enjoyed this book. There was some real character development in it that I especially enjoyed. A lot of questions from the first book are finally answered and tensions reach a mostly satisfying resolution. Not everything is black and white in this well written young adult novel.

Really excited to get back to the city of Weep and find out what happens next for my #doublespin 😊😁
Also, it's probably time for a haircut 😂

Ordered Muse of Nightmares immediately on finishing Strange the Dreamer... simply must know what happens next!

Also ordered another book on politics and psychology to continue my non-fiction marathon.

🎧 I loved Strange the Dreamer. This is a perfect follow up. Steve West has an amazing voice! I will relisten to this so I‘m spending my second credit of the year! 😁 This is a slow magical story that keeps you turning the pages. I like the writing style. I don‘t want to give anything away so I‘ll just say that if you liked Strange the Dreamer I think you‘ll love this one! Adding the hardcover to my Amazon wishlist! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

My #bookspin is done! This is a slow moving story but very magical and enthralling. I just loved it. Its hard to describe but I kept thinking about it. I just loved it! 😅
#bookspinbingo

Once again I enjoyed Laini's ability to create vivid flawed characters in the second installment of Strange the Dreamer.

Like the first book, this story is very character driven, probably even more so than the first book. I found the conclusion of this to be satisfying, but IMO it left it open for further stories within this world.

I particularly loved Steve West's narration.

A solid 4 star read.

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

This was such a rich, imaginative duology. I loved Sarai, Lazlo and all the godlings. The world building was exceptional, and I didn‘t anticipate where the storyline was going, but I was happy to travel along. Can‘t recommend these books enough - if you haven‘t read them, you should!

Bk6 of #FabulousFebruary & my #LainiTaylorathon is done. What an awesome story! I really really hope she‘s currently working on the next series of companion novels.I loved how this duology has ties to DOSAB. Highly recommend🙌 #LitsyAtoZ2021 #LetterM #PennyPerPage #522cents #SeriesRead2021 #StackingTheSeries #PickYourPoison #ChunksterChallenge #NerdReading2021 #MountTBR2021 #BacklistReaderChallenge #FinishingTheSeries2021 #BookspinBingo #Pageathon

Probably going to finish off my #FabulousFebruary #readathon with the last book in the Strange The Dreamer duology. Though I really should call it a #LainiTaylorathon as that‘s all I‘ve read this past week! I can‘t believe I‘ve had her whole catalogue on my shelves & never read any of them till now. What was I waiting for?? She‘s now on my list of #TopAuthorsOfAllTime Highly recommend either series🙌❤️

I started this last night and I'm still surprised by this author, in book1 the characters as well as the plot of the story are great, always something new. Then the end 😱 After that said, I'm reading book2, even if it was not part of my #TBR for this year.

P.S. I've been feeling ok for 24 hours, finished a book, had stuff organized, wrote projects for this year. Pls send good vibes so I can keep going. 💙📖💙 #PositiveAF #StrongAF

#12ColorsofDecember ◇ #Silver

Not so many silver books from my 2020 reads, but these were both amazing!

#WinterGames #MerryReaders

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ So I absolutely loved the first book, Strange the Dreamer. And I thought this story was so beautiful as well. This author is a fantastic writer. It deserves the four stars. I just thought this second book felt more like a stand alone. It did not have enough Lazlo Strange or Nero in it though. But still great! This was my #bookspinbingo No. 24 pick.

I wasn‘t sure what to do for #DecemberSong prompt 10: Holy Night. I decided to choose this book because dreams play a major role as an imaginative, beautiful place to hide from generational trauma and real-world pain.

Taylor writes beautifully. I just wasn't nearly as invested in her story as I should have been. I didn't love the characters or the plot ENOUGH. It's a good read, worth your time, and enjoyable, but it fell short for me.

#bookspinbingo @thearomaofbooks
Square 1 ✔️

This week's reading plans:
Finish reading the tagged book.
Read Nottingham (#bookspin)
And the next Newford book (#doublespin)
@TheAromaofBooks

#TBRPile 📚 I LOVED Strange the Dreamer when I read it a few years ago, so hoping I enjoy the sequel just as much

Good!

Loved it! The Strange the Dreamer series was so whimsical and had a very interesting cast of characters! I loved the added plot lines in this follow up & how the series tied up! Beautiful writing & a great fantasy read with a love story in tow!

Finally read Muse of Nightmares which I've had since it was released and I really enjoyed it, didn't love it as much as Strange the Dreamer but it was a good ending and I can't wait to see if Laini Taylor will explore the world more!

Oh I did not enjoy this book. I nearly stopped reading the last 100 pages, but forced myself to skim read through to the end. I still have the same issues as the previous book ( if the romance wasn't so flourished the book would be half its length). Specific to this book was that it had too many non MC povs that contributed nothing to the story. These povs had similar arcs as more important characters, thus being repetitive and boring to me.

Oooh! Finally to the place where the past meets the present! SO GOOD. Fan Art by Francesab on Instagram 💗🌸💗

I could not put this book down. I started in the morning and finished at 11:30 pm! That has not happen for a long time.

Laini Taylor is a genius. There is so much depth in these stories and so many side stories that don‘t overpower the main storyline. The characters feels so real and are so well written and their stories! I bow down to Laini Taylor, she is queen.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(a million stars)

“‘Are you telling me it was your job to read books?‘ Feral asked with as much or more yearning than Ruby had earlier shown for cake.”