Onto the review! This is only spoiler free for Muse of Nightmares. I do discuss major plot points of Strange the Dreamer in the “characters” section of the review.
I am happy to say that I'm still in love with Lazlo and Sarai and the rest of the crew, including the new characters we met. Taylor's writing is so lush and beautiful, absolutely one of my favorite authors in terms of quality of prose. She also digs deep into the hearts and minds of her characters, and I love that I’m never confused. There’s a fine line between over-explaining and making everything unclear, and Taylor hits the bullseye every time. Muse also had the perfect balance of light to dark, in terms of overall happiness. I get bored when nothing nice happens and when it's all too good, and I was not bored with Muse. The pacing was perfect, and I absolutely flew through the story. It looks like a big book, but nothing dragged at all! Now for the characters, so I can rave about how amazing they all are (this part has Strange spoilers, beware): This cast of characters is honestly one of my favorites, and definitely one I would recommend to readers looking for a dynamic group where tension coexists with love. Sometimes I have a hard time liking side characters and villains simply because of a lack of page time, but that’s not a problem in Muse. Everyone has a purpose, everyone has an arc, and they all make perfect sense by the end. Lazlo: My joy, my heart, my love! It is SO NICE to see a male character who feels feelings unapologetically, who isn’t all “tough guy” bluster all the time. A lot of Lazlo’s page time was with Sarai, which, YES, but I appreciated how he grew independently at the same time. I am fascinated by the concept of gifts, and especially the descriptions of Lazlo moving and shaping the mesarthium, and discovering new parts of the citadel. Sarai: She grew?? SO much?? As a ghost, she doesn’t have all the capabilities a human would, but in a way I feel she got more. I loved reading the chapters where she got to explore living as a ghost and how her powers differed as well. I was a fan of the moths, but I’ll just say that I think her gift is even more adaptable now and I love it. I just love it. I think my favorite part of the whole book was watching Sarai and Lazlo connect in person (and in ghost ;D) in a way they didn’t get to in Strange. Honestly, Taylor’s writing makes their love so enjoyable to read, and I could never get tired of their scenes together. They complement each other well, but the tension around Sarai being a ghost held by Minya ensures the dynamic doesn’t get stale. Minya: I empathize with Minya, yet I find some of her actions appalling. She is an incredibly compelling character, whose trauma makes her morally grey in a very intriguing way. I was surprised to find that I never ended up hating her as I thought I would. She has so many layers, and I love how she was written in Muse. Kora + Nova: Solid characters who added so much to the book. I won’t say too much, but I enjoyed their presence in Muse, especially Nova, who had a fulfilling arc in just one book. I would love to see a third book, but unfortunately I’m pretty sure Muse of Nightmares is 2/2 in a duology. The upside to this is that Taylor’s next book will be a completely new adventure to embark on! Thanks for reading! Pick up Muse of Nightmares here: Barnes & Noble || Books A Million || Book Depository
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
Categories
All
Archives
June 2023
|