This book is nothing short of epic. Brandon Sanderson’s writing style and ability to craft stories is unparalleled. Yumi and Painter were a joy to read- their banter and the quirky humor were so lovely. The story itself spans worlds and time, as Sanderson sheds light on the minute jobs that individuals in fantasy worlds would have. Jobs that we wouldn’t think of as jobs. It was so much fun to read. The layers of the story continued to peel back as the book progressed and the climax at the end was nothing but legendary.

Yumi and Painter are two young people who live very different lives. Yumi is a kind of travelling shrine maiden who appeases spirits by stacking rocks extremely well (this is not a joke, the spirits cannot get enough of this incredible rock stacking action), which makes her an invaluable resource to her people but also leaves her somewhat isolated from them. Painter lives in a world of eternal night in which settlements are surrounded by a strange darkness, and he makes his living by keeping the horrific shadow nightmares that emerge from said darkness at bay by painting them into less dangerous forms. When these two are suddenly thrown into each other's lives without warning, they struggle to adapt to their new situation while sinister forces seem to encroach on both their homes.

This is another winner from Sanderson, with incredible world building, interesting characters, a truly wild plot, and a very fun narrator. Returning fans will eat this entry up.

I don’t think I have read a story by Brandon Sanderson that I haven’t loved. And that is firmly still the case!

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is another excellent standalone story set in the Cosmere. This will tick a lot of boxes for fantasy readers:
- An imaginative setting with astounding world-building
- Engaging story
- Varied characters that behave and interact in vastly different ways due to their contrasting societies
- Slow burn romance
- Well earned character growth

And for fans of Brandon Sanderson and the Cosmere as a whole, there is just enough crossover elements to enjoy without taking over the story that is being told

This was, yet again, another fantastic book by Brandon Sanderson. I absolutely love his writing style and I like that this book was different from the last two secret projects. Each book is so unique and I'm absolutely obsessed with them. Another great side book from the Cosmere that you don't need to read all the books to read and enjoy this one.

I've tried to get into this book 3 different times but each time I put it down I struggle to pick it back up. I already know I'm not a big fan of 3rd person books, so maybe its my fault for requesting this ARC but I really wanted to like it based on the summary.

Even when it felt like a action or suspense part, I didn't feel all that "edge of my seat". I was just so board with the two stories and when it brought them together, even that just left me flat. I may try to read this again when I'm not so busy but for now I just can't give it more than 2 stars

Yumi and Nikaro lead very different lives. Yumi summons spirits to help people but in return must live a very strict life that observes specific rituals and she longs to live just one day like everyone else. Nikaro is a Painter and he helps paint to protect people from Nightmares who can cause harm, but he's viewed as an outsider. Then Nikaro appears in Yumi's world and takes on her appearance, while Yumi ends up a ghost. To prevent chaos, Nikaro must learn Yumi's ways and act as she would. When they fall asleep, Yumi appears in Nikaro's world as herself, though with Nikaro still as a ghost and in turn she must now learn the ways of a Painter. As they travel back and forth, they learn each other's discipline and expand their world view. They're also unsure how their worlds connect and what it means for them to be switching places. They soon learn there is something more sinister going on and are determined to protect the people of both worlds. Overall, a magical story with a bit of romance and mostly focused on understanding one another. The world building was complex and at times a little confusing but the author's note at the end helped explain a bit of it. The tone leans more towards a young adult novel, as do the way the characters were written.

She has spent her entire life serving the people, talking to spirits, and living for others rather than herself, wile he has spent his life patrolling the streets fighting Nightmares dreaming about becoming a hero, yet one faithful night has them swapping bodies and encountering each other... and soon they will have to learn to work together to save their perspective worlds from disaster. Yumi is a Chosen, she is the one that talks to the spirits and helps those in her society. She lives a rigid life of obedience, shelter, and being taught that the needs of society override her own. Painter lives in a world run by Nightmares, literal creatures that come alive and through painting, people can combat them. He wants nothing more than to be an actual hero, to be more than what he is. They both are so alone in their world, yet suddenly they find themselves thrown together, quite literally when their bodies are swapped yet they can both see and talk to one another. They'll have to find a way to work together to figure out how to save their perspective worlds and how they can make a relationship work when they are from two different worlds. This one is a bit odd to me, I can see that its inspired by Japanese and Korean stories, shows, etc, but somehow it managed to feel so slow and boring. I really wanted to like this one but I just found it to be so slow. The entire premise was interesting, especially since its just about two people from different worlds swapping bodies and there being magical creatures/spirits too, yet this one constantly felt like it took. too long to get to the point. This one definitely felt like a young adult novel and Yumi read so young. It's an interesting premise but the overall story kind of felt lacking and the pacing felt so slow. I was drawn in by the premise and the gorgeous cover yet it just didn't live up to my expectations unfortunately. It's not a bad book by any means, it just wasn't as exciting as I had anticipated. If you enjoy magical young adult stories with a very slow burn romance, then this would definitely be for you!

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group, Tor Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was just so wonderful and cozy.

I’m loving the vibes of the secret projects, you can tell how much fun Brandon was having with these and they are all so original and compelling!

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter tells a story of two people finding each other and themselves through a magical connection.

I loved the magic systems (I mean, duh… it’s a Sanderson) and honestly the romance was so great too??? I know it’s been said before but it is a wonderful addition to the Cosmere and there’s lots of Easter eggs for fans to find.

This is a love letter to Japanese and Korean media and I thought continually adding these different cultural representations in the Cosmere makes the universe seem so much more real (y’know, except for all the magic and crabs).

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is the favourite secret project for a lot of people, and with good reason. Pick it up, give it a go, and enjoy!

I have a surprising weakness to Sanderson’s Asian-inspired fantasy works, thanks to The Emperor’s Soul, so I absolutely jumped on the chance to read this when it popped up on NetGalley. (Also that cover!! Tran Nguyen can do no wrong). What a delight this book was. Lighthearted, somewhat sassy narration (in a Sanderson book????), main characters with fantastic chemistry, and the classic Sanderson worldbuilding mysteries.

The heart of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is in the main characters, Yumi and Painter. Yumi, raised in a world of heat and light, knows only her strictly regimented life as a yuki-hijo, one who calls on spirits to help her people survive. Painter, from a land of cold and darkness, has been miserably trudging through his life as a nightmare painter, protecting his city from invading nightmares. Cue the…unexpectedly cute romcom hijinks when the two start switching bodies Kimi no Na wa style and must get to the bottom of this mystery.

I adored these two characters and their coming-of-age stories. Yumi, with her repressed lifestyle and taught never to want something for herself, is able to let loose for the first time and explore her own desires. She starts off incredibly naive from her upbringing, but demonstrates a surprising inner strength, especially when her entire worldview is challenged. I love how Sanderson is able to write her in a way that never loses her core of kindness. Painter I love for much less eloquent reasons. Basically, boy starts off as an absolute loser and embodies the edginess Sasuke Uchiha of all people to make up for the emptiness inside.

The worldbuilding is quintessential Sanderson, cleverly put together magic systems and buried secrets that keep you hooked on reading. The Asian influences stand out nicely in this book, are are shown in two veins, between Yumi’s more traditional country-esque world and Painter’s urban city environment. This book is part of the Cosmere universe, so it straddles that line of is it fantasy or is this sci-fi. For Yumi and Painter, they’re definitely living in their Asian-inspired fantasy world, but for the reader, those Cosmere influences are certainly there.

What surprised me the most is the narrative voice. Yumi is told from the perspective of Hoid, who’s regaling the reader with the tales of his interplanetary travels (I think, I’ve not actually read The Stormlight Archives). Hoid’s voice is surprisingly sassy and spunky, a strong departure from the more formal fantasy narration I’m used to from Sanderson. And shockingly, it works. Hoid keeps the story relatively light-hearted, and injects a lot of his own biting commentary. I suspect there were also some massive Cosmere lore bombs dropped throughout this book, but much like the characters themselves, those went completely over my head.

Overall, I rate this book a 4/5. Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is a delightful romcom story, mixed in with Sanderson’s signature worldbuilding magic. I loved the Kimi no Na wa influences, which the story gives direct nods to and the characters were just a delight.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings us a gripping story set in the Cosmere universe told by Hoid, where two people from incredibly different worlds must compromise and work together to save their worlds from ruin.

Brandon Sanderson is a master of his craft and hasn't produced a dud yet.

There is no world (not even in the Cosmere) wherein I expected to enjoy this book as much as I did!

Yumi and Painter were such fun characters to learn about throughout the story. Both of them flawed and also good in so many different ways. Neither of them really ending up being what we had expected them to be by the end.

I love that all of the theories I had about their worlds were addressed throughout the story. Like, Sanderson knew what breadcrumbs he was laying down and he was like, "Ya know, I can see why you'd think XYZ but actually no." and then we'd get to start a new theory. I love that. Rather than just waiting through the whole book to see if you were right and then being wrong.

The backstory in this book was so, so good. I loved getting the history of the world and how things played so heavily into the plot. Also, loved our narrator (if you've read the Cosmere you know who it is, I'm not very far into all of the series but I know enough to know), they made for a great bit of humor throughout the story.

This book was so, so good! A must read for Sanderson fans. I know he says this is his "most romantic" book he's written, but it's really not that mushy or romantic.

This was a very good read and had all the elements to be a good horror thriller. The characters were diverse and the story line made it to be an interesting one! I will definitely read more from this author soon

Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for providing me an eARC to review!

As someone who isn't a hardcore Sanderson fan, I am getting the impression that these Kickstarter books just aren't really for me. It's nice that he's been able to do these projects for his fans and his wife, but between this and Tress, they have just not been working for me.

In my opinion this leans a little YA, with both characters being kind of naive and Yumi in particular reads quite young. The tone and direct addresses from the narrator were just really not working either, and similar to Tress I couldn't help but feel any time the narrator imparts a message it's Sanderson directly addressing the reader about 'woke' topics which really pulled me out of the story.

I think there were probably going to be some good messages in here about art, loneliness and purpose, but I just really couldn't get past the writing unfortunately. Glad Sanderson is getting to do what he wants, but sadly don't think I am the audience for these books.

Of the Secret Project books written by Brandon Sanderson, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is probably my favorite so far! (I’ve read Tress and the Emerald Sea + The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England. I am awaiting the release of The Sunlit Man!)

As usual, Sanderson’s world building is creative and unique. As a reader, similar to Frugal Wizard, you’re trying to figure out the world building mechanism and what is going on with the characters. The story follows yoki-hijo Yumi of the Kingdom of Torio and nightmare painter Nikaro of the City of Kilahito. She calls spirits by stacking rocks. He captures loose nightmares through painting. These two strangers are transported into each other’s worlds but don’t know why they’re called to one another.

That’s enough of a summary from me! There’s quite a bit of world building and mystery shrouding the story that is better discovered by reading the book! However, as a way to entice you to read this one, here’s a little bit of Sanderson’s inspirations.

In his post script, he says he was partially inspired by the video game Final Fantasy X (individuals with cool jobs) and anime Hikaru no Go (ghostly teachers). Bc of these Japanese influences, he set the world around Japanese/Korean culture. If you know me, you know I love video games and anime… so yes please!!!

A large chunk of this book focuses on character development and growth. It’s about relationships, friendship, and growing affection. It’s about how art is personal and meaningful to the creator and the beholder.

Side note: The last 10% explains what is going on through multiple angles bc I think the mechanics of world building were slightly confusing. Hence, if you’re confused, it’s okay. (Don’t worry, this doesn’t hamper the storyline up to this point at all since 90% of the story is character development and trying to figure out w the characters what is going on, but is def necessary to understand for the ending of the book.)

Received an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is the closest Sanderson has ever come to writing a romance. This fun romp has two people from literally different worlds meeting and figuring out how to come together and learn from each other. If you like other Sanderson works, especially Warbreaker, I think this book will be right up your alley. The pictures are amazing throughout. Would definitely love include it in a high school library.

Yumi & the Nightmare Painter is a breathe of fresh air… and it had absolutely zero business being this good.

A break from Sanderson’s norm, while still taking place within the Cosmere, YATNP is a character driven story following Yumi and Nikaro, two teenagers from very different lives as they find themselves stuck in each others bodies living each others lives.

It’s wholesome, and yet quite witty (to be expected, as it’s narrated by Hoid). In my opinion, the central theme is about choice, and friendship, and most importantly, about art. About what makes art, in all of its forms, so valuable. It reminded me why I fell in love with reading in the first place.

And I loved it. ❤️

“Why do we tell stories? They are a universal human experience. Every culture I’ve ever visited, every people I’ve met, every human on every planet in every situation I’ve seen…they all tell stories. Men trapped alone for years tell them to themselves. Ancients leave them painted on the walls. Women whisper them to their babies. Stories explain us. You want to define what makes a human different from an animal? I can do it in one word or a hundred thousand. Sad stories. Exultant stories. Didactic morality tales. Frivolous yarns that, paradoxically, carry too much meaning. We need stories.”

I’ve read a couple other Brandon Sanderson books, and this one reads far easier and has far better writing. The writing style is easy to follow. The voice of the narrator is clear. I stopped after chapter 2 (4%) but can see this going over well with Brandon Sanderson fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

I was absolutely pumped for "Yumi and the Nightmare Painter" by Brandon Sanderson. An Asian-inspired fantasy with influences from "Hikaru no Go" and "Kimi no Nawa" (aka "Your Name")? Sign me up! However, despite the high expectations, this one just didn't hit the mark for me. Maybe it was a timing thing, or perhaps I was just hoping for too much.

The story felt like a slow crawl, and I couldn't shake the feeling that Sanderson was saving all the good stuff for the very end. Most of the book felt uneventful, and the 'slow-burn' romance didn't strike me as genuine. I wanted it to happen, expected it to happen, but it didn't quite deliver.

That being said, "Yumi and the Nightmare Painter" is accessible even if you haven't delved into the Cosmere before. You might miss some of the deeper lore and references, but it's not a barrier. For those who are familiar with Sanderson's other works, there are some fun Easter eggs that will undoubtedly make you smile.

One undeniable highlight here is Aliya Chen's illustrations. They are downright stunning, adding an extra layer of beauty to the book. In fact, they might be my favorite part of the whole package.

I do intend to give this one another shot when the mood strikes me. There's potential, and I can't help but feel that it might shine brighter on a second read. I'd still recommend it, especially for Sanderson fans and those looking for a unique blend of Asian-inspired fantasy.

In the end, "Yumi and the Nightmare Painter" had its moments, but it didn't live up to my initial excitement. However, I'm willing to believe there's more to it than meets the eye, and I'm looking forward to revisiting it when the time is right.

Yumi is my 8th BranSan book and I think it is my favorite (standalone) so far (the only series i've finished is Mistborn). This story is so layered - it is beautiful, full of depth, and I can hardly put together my thoughts on how much I truly felt while reading this.

Yumi & the Nightmare Painter dives into topics of purpose, self-worth, friendship, institutional and religion wrong-doings, depression, self-exploration, and internal acceptance of not only ones self, but your friendships as well This is one of the more detailed stories from BranSan in my opinion, it was like a movie was playing in my head.

Additionally, Yumi and Painter may just be my favorite characters of all because of how closely I can relate to both of them. I've been in a position where my ignorance was used to benefit others and keep me in the dark, like Yumi. But I've also been so afraid of disappointing others I curl inside myself and choose to do nothing at all at time, like painter. It all feels very encompassing with emotion that goes beyond just the surface level plot of attempting to solve the problems that they are facing, but all the while solving the problems within themselves as well. I truly have nothing but amazing things to say about this story.

Especially when compared to the scale of other Cosmere books, this is a much smaller scope and I really loved it - mostly because it didn't need to be so grand to pass along the message that art is personal, and beautiful, and worth expressing. ***Bonus*** There were so much cute cosmere easter eggs in this book that made me laugh - especially when delved out by my third favorite character of the book, Design.

There were a few portions of the book that didn't hit the mark for me, like the dialogue and parts of the world building. But, honestly, I found enough intrigue and emotional impact from the characters that I did not mind.

After the disappointment that was secret project #2 I kind of was on the fence about this one even though the blurb was really interesting. And in the beginning, it did prove my fears true because it dragged, the style felt very young adultish which I couldn’t seem to enjoy and I kind of couldn’t connect to it. But after seeing soo many great reviews, I was convinced to start again. This time I went for the audiobook and once we get to a partic part in the book at the beginning when the plot actually starts, I couldn’t stop. The plot starts slow, with Sanderson focusing on the characters and their relationship mire in the first half but the second half was one twist after another to finally end on a true Sanderson notes. I literally haven’t cried so much for a book or characters this year as I did for this one. Coming to the characters themselves, I absolutely loved Yumi!!!! She could be Tress’s more naive but passionate sister. Painter on the other hand took time to grow on me. I was incredibly annoyed with him at the beginning but Sanderson’s character development is beyond excellent and in a short span I fell as much in love with Painter as I did with Yumi. But the bestest part was how Sanderson intertwined the character development and the the way their relationship developed. Each filling the gaps of others making teach other grow towards a better version of themselves without ever being imposing. I just loved it sooooo much. Also special credits to Sanderson for the managing to portray the vibe of both animes and historical kdramas in his narration. Even without knowing his influences, I could definitely feel the connection. So in short, this has become another top favourite of the year and I definitely need to get that hardcover edition just for those incredible artworks. I demand you to pick this one up as soon as it comes up for general sales if you have not already because OH MY GOD is it special!!!