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Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

A Cosmere Novel

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Yumi and the Nightmare Painter

By: Brandon Sanderson
Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
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About this listen

From the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time—#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson adds to his Cosmere universe shared by Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive with a new standalone novel especially for fans of fantasy romances. Narrated by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer.

There is a world. One of endless night, surrounded by an even deeper darkness. Filled with nightmares come to life, twisted shapes that slink to windows and ease open doors, sliding across floors to look down on helpless faces.

There is another world. A bright world, so bright it burns. Filled with stacked stones that call forth miracles, raised by callused hands that tremble in their work, drained with each stone lifted, settled, lifted again.

Between these worlds two souls connect. Collide. Entwine.

A bridge. A path.

A road to both worlds changing forever.

Yumi has spent her entire life in strict obedience, granting her the power to summon the spirits that bestow vital aid upon her society—but she longs for even a single day as a normal person. Painter patrols the dark streets dreaming of being a hero—a goal that has led to nothing but heartache and isolation, leaving him always on the outside looking in. In their own ways, both of them face the world alone.

Suddenly flung together, Yumi and Painter must strive to right the wrongs in both their lives, reconciling their past and present while maintaining the precarious balance of each of their worlds. If they cannot unravel the mystery of what brought them together before it’s too late, they risk forever losing not only the bond growing between them, but the very worlds they’ve always struggled to protect.

Note from Brandon:

Even for a compulsive planner like me, sometimes a story emerges like magic. Unexpected, unprompted. You build an outline in days, craft worlds during a compulsive daydream, and develop characters with a burst of imagination like the brief flash of a firework.

That was Yumi and the Nightmare Painter for me. The unanticipated story of two people who find one another.

May your dreams live as mine sometimes do.

©2023 Dragonsteel, LLC (P)2023 Dragonsteel, LLC
Fantasy Heartfelt Fiction Superhero
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Most relevant
Loved this story and the interplay between the two characters, also another great narration by Michael and Kate.

Fantastic

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Goosebumps and tears and applauds could be seen and heard from My kitchen while I listen to the end of the story. I wish I had Brandon Sanderson's talent with words so that I could put into them how much I love his stories. this beautiful story written for his wife (so cute) is no exception what a beautiful masterpiece!

Perfection in art

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Initially it took me a while to get into this book, but I think it was mostly because of how well written some of the antagonists are. But once I got through that initial hurdle I devoured the rest of this book within days.

Brandon paints, yes pun intended, as always a thrilling and lore rich world that fits into the Cosmere.

Hoid makes a wonderful return as obscure narrator to the events unfolding for Yumi and Painter.

A gripping story, lore rich and keeps you hooked until the very end.

A must read cosmere expansion

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Listen and find out geeze. Loved every character interaction and yearn for more! Yumi and painter <3

Amazing in so many ways!

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The secret project books are a lot of fun and this is no exception and with fantastic narration as always from Kate and Michael.
I love how it and Tress of the Emerald Sea are written in Wit’s voice with his sense of humour and of course Design’s vital contributions (I’d love to read more of their adventures please!).
Yumi and Painter’s story is beautifully written - engaging and emotive, and with Brandon Sanderson’s usual genius world building but for once without an obviously patriarchal society (not really necessary when building a world from scratch but somehow so many fantasy writers can’t get beyond it - I love Brandon’s writing but that is a bit of a peeve of mine)

Unique and beautiful

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