City of Nightmares

Ever since Ness her sister became a man-eating spider and slaughtered her way through town Ness has been terrified of nightmares, wether this means another nightmare murdering her or being turned into one. No one is safe in Newham, Ness will do anything to avoid being turned into a nightmare or being killed by one.

I loved going on this journey with Ness, Cy and Priya. I loved this book from beginning to end. The development that Ness went through was amazing and I felt like it went very realistic and smoothly. Everything made sense. The setting of this book was amazing and I loved that the MC in this wasn't some strong, brave heroine like in so many other books. Following Ness from her scared, running away self to the brave and strong MC who overcame her fears was the absolute best and I loved every single minute of it!

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this book!
#CityOfNightmares #NetGalley

I was so excited when I saw Hodder were doing City of Nightmares as I adored Rebecca Schaffer's Not Even Bones trilogy!

I was sucked into City of Nightmares instantly and I was drawn into it by the plot and the characters were interesting, there was one twist I never saw coming whatsoever which was a nice change as sometimes twists are obvious!

Definitely recommend Rebecca Schaffer's books and everyone should preorder this one!

Freakin’ amazing!!! As soon as I started reading I couldn’t put it down, the story, characters and brilliant writing just make you want to read more and find out what happens next!

The main character is Ness, a 19 year old orphan who resides with a maybe-cult, the Friends of the Restful Soul. After her sister became a Nightmare and killed their dad, Ness finds it hard to trust anyone and is fearful of all Nightmares. When Ness ends up on a job for the Friends of the Restful Soul, she doesn’t expect it to be anything other than a simple job, but it turns out nothing is simple anymore! She ends up running for her life with a Nightmare for company!

It’s fast paced, funny, gory and just a bloody good book! I’d recommend for ages 13+ due to the swearing and gore, but it’s all in context!

I absolutely devoured this book within a day. It was fast paced and thrilling to read (especially on a rainy day). Ness was a great character who showed depth and development throughout the story. She is terrified of all nightmares and can’t help but flee instead of fight when she needs to. After begrudgingly teaming up with Cy, a vampire, she learns more about her fear and how to overcome it. It’s a great story that inspires courage but still shows that you are allowed to be scared.

I thought that the plot twist was a bit predictable but either way I loved the world building and the characters. I can’t wait to see where the next book will lead us (especially with Cy and Ness because they are sooo cute together). Im glad the author went with a slow burn and just finished the story with them as tentative friends.

I really enjoyed Rebecca Schaeffers "Market of Monsters" trilogy, so I was looking forward to read her new book!
The different characters and nightmares were very interesting and I loved the concept of turning into your worst fear. Ness was the perfect character to put into this corrupt and cruel nightmare of a world. Her fears, panic and struggles were described wonderfully.

I absolutely adored Rebecca Schaeffer's Market of Monsters Trilogy, so when I heard about City of Nightmares it was an immediate preorder. Ness is terrified. Of everything - the world around her, and the people in it. And who can blame her when people who make the mistake of dreaming turn into their worst nightmares?

The world building in this book is incredible. Combined with a main character that I really developed a soft spot for, and enough twists and turns to give a person whiplash, this was one of my favourite reads of the year.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

4.5★

➴I requested it on a whim and didn't read the description, tbh, so when I read it, I thought the concept of people having nightmares and then waking up transformed into monsters or creatures from their dreams was ridiculous. However, as the story progresses, I realise that the issues raised are not merely surface-level, but are extremely relevant to our everyday lives.

➶ I liked the character development of Ness, who is traumatized, and is afraid to leave her comfort zone or try new things to describe the life of a teenager. Ness is gradually overcoming her fear, though it is not easy. Aside from that, Ness must deal with the Nightmares' terror and the people who want to kill her.

➻ The unusual friendship between Ness and vampire boy Cy keeps me entertained; their exchanges always make me laugh. This book will keep you guessing, some of the Nightmares-related puzzles gave me dystopian vibes, and monsters are always associated with scary and cruel figures, but here you will understand the true meaning of monsters.

➴Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for sending me an ARC. This is one of my favorite reads!

I have been desperate for a new Rebecca Schaeffer book ever since I finished When Villains Rise several years ago and it was well worth the wait.

It took me a little while to warm up to this story and to Ness's voice and perspective but once it picked up I was all in. The premise of this novel is fascinating. In Ness's world, people can become their worst nightmare; whatever that may be. After her own sister became a giant man-eating spider who killed their father Ness lives in constant fear and it significantly inhibits her life.

I adored the character dynamics in this. This was one of my favorite parts of the Market of Monsters series and I was delighted to see the same strong ties and overarching bond between characters in this book too. Cy and Ness are extremely different characters to Kovit and Nita (in every possible way) but their unlikely friendship and constantly developing relationship is just as strong as fascinating as the one in Schaeffer's previous trilogy. Their banter was also charming and genuinely funny. I loved Cy from the very beginning, he's an absolute delight. Ness took a little longer for me to warm up to but her character development was incredible and believable and by the time the book finished I was completely on her side. I was also a big fan of Priya and the relationship between her and Ness.

The worldbuilding is incredibly strong in this. It's incredibly detailed and laid out in such a manner that it's incredibly easy to grasp. I have so many questions about the rest of this world and how things have been set up. There is so much potential in this world and within the narrative itself.

Overall I loved this book and look forward to seeing what comes next.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

"Ever since Ness her sister became a man-eating spider and slaughtered her way through town Ness has been terrified of nightmares, wether this means another nightmare murdering her or being turned into one. No one is safe in Newham, Ness will do anything to avoid being turned into a nightmare or being killed by one."

I feel like the author woke up and went "I crave violence" and I loved every single second of that. The character journeys were engaging and I had to keep reading to know what would happen to them next. And that's partly why it gets 5 stars, I loved every page from the start to end. Ness has an amazing character arc that made sense to the setting and there wasn't a moment where I felt confused or left behind. The setting of this book was wild which adds to the character of it and I loved that the MC in this wasn't invincible, she is human and has fears and needs to grow. Loved every single minute of reading this and I'm going to recommend it to everyone

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this title, in exchange for this honest review.

This book was a gift that kept giving. I loved the characters, the world, the plot and oh my god the twist. The twist! It was so well executed. The story literally almost directly spoiled it once, but immediately drew our attention away from that, whilst sprinkling implications throughout the rest of the story. This made the twist incredibly satisfying, as looking back all the pieces of the puzzle were there, but they were never the focus of the scene they appeared in.

I also loved how this book wasn’t romance-centric, but focused on the main character, her trauma and past, and well, friendship. Incredibly excited for the sequel, because I’m very curious to see what a certain character will do.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ever since her sister became a man-eating spider and slaughtered her way through town, nineteen-year-old Ness has been terrified—terrified of some other Nightmare murdering her, and terrified of ending up like her sister. Because in Newham, the city that never sleeps, dreaming means waking up as your worst fear. Whether that means becoming a Nightmare that’s monstrous only in appearance, to transforming into a twisted, unrecognizable creature that terrorizes the city, no one is safe. Ness will do anything to avoid becoming another victim, even if that means lying low among the Friends of the Restful Soul, a questionable organization that may or may not be a cult. But being a member of maybe-cult has a price. In order to prove herself, Ness cons her way into what’s supposed to be a simple job for the organization—only for it to blow up in her face. Literally. Tangled up in the aftermath of an explosive assassination, now Ness and the only other survivor—a Nightmare boy who Ness suspects is planning to eat her—must find their way back to Newham and uncover the sinister truth behind the attack, even as the horrors of her past loom ominously near.

Ness is someone who has allowed fear to rule her life. Terrified of everything and every potential event, she refuses to push herself in any situation. In the beginning, she rather annoyed me. I felt frustrated by just how scared she was of everything. It felt a little much. But as the story progressed, and Ness started to doubt the things around her, her reactions began to change. Instead of instantly running or cowering, she considered ways of fighting, of helping, of simply doing something other than allowing her fear to rule her. It was with this realisation that I started to like her more and more. Her friendship with Priya was great - I think we would all love such a sassy and seemingly fearless friend watching our back, remaining by out sides despite all the craziness. I feel like Ness has a lot of room to grow and it will be interesting to see how she does this and what direction she takes after the events of this book. Colour me intrigued.
Cy is mysterious in the beginning but then turns out to be such a sweetheart. Despite his monstrous abilities, he is gentle and considerate, living his life as normally as he can to blend in with everyone. Determined to be his own person and not compared to others with more devious reputations. I really enjoyed seeing his friendship with Ness bloom. He helped to bring her out of her fear induced armour and encourage her to stand on her own two feet. He helped show her that not all Nightmares are bad. Their fears may be, but there is still a person beneath it all. I’m excited to see where his character goes.

What a story! I could scarcely put it down! I will admit, at first I wasn’t so sure. The description was interesting and I wanted to give this book a go as it didn’t seem like one I would normally be drawn to. By golly, am I glad I did request this one! The characters felt fleshed out, the plot was pretty solid, there are monsters, intrigue, mystery and great friendships which kept my attention throughout. I liked that the moment the reader gets comfortable with an event, something else happens to turn it on its head and make you question “what the hell is going on?!” I love it when that happens. I love to be surprised by books and this one certainly did that. I’m impressed. It looks like the next book is due out in September - I CANNOT WAIT FOR THAT TO RELEASE! The ending of this story was solid and has me gripped for what happens next. Well done Schaeffer!

Overall, City of Nightmares is a story filled with monsters that leaves you wanting more!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on release day.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review*

I really loved this book. The idea was great and the execution was greater. It was fast paced and I really loved it. The only thing that I didn't like was that Ness was pictured as coward. If your sister turned out to be a man-eating spider who ate your family (don't hate me it's in the blurb!) wouldn't you be afraid? Would that make you coward? No, it would make you human. Other than that I CAN'T WAIT to read the next book.

I was a massive fan of Rebecca Schaeffer’s debut Not Even Bones and the sequels which concluded her awesome Market of Monsters trilogy, which cleverly blended horror and urban fantasy. City of Nightmares is the first part of a duology, with Cage of Dreams following later this year. I thought this was a great, very quirky and highly original read and am definitely sold on the prospect of the second book. Like, Not Even Bones, City of Nightmares has a great main hook which should be an easy sell to teenagers: for the last hundred years or so when somebody has a nightmare, there is a very good chance they will turn into whatever their nightmare is, which becomes real in our world. For example, early on in the story we find out that the main character Ness’s (short for Vanessa) little sister some years earlier turned into a giant spider monster which then ate their father, a couple of other people, before it was killed by an organisation, a bit like the police, that track and kill nightmares. Once you get your head around how things work in the very weird town of Newham (where nightmare have been becoming real for a century) the book gets easier to follow, as there are rules which make survival possible.

The story is cleverly built around the fact that Ness is a coward, the long term and complex effects of losing her family, who is scared to get close to anybody in case they turn into a nightmare and murder her. However, in Newham everybody takes medication which suppress dreams, but once in a while somebody forgets and something nasty nightmare appears. Once turned into a nightmare this cannot be reversed or turned again into a further nightmare, so this might mean that if a nightmare is not dangerous a person spending their entire life with gills or pincers for hands! (depending on what their dream was). The main thrust of the plot puts poor cowardly Ness into the spotlight after she is one of two survivors of a deliberate bomb blast on a boat, involving her in a conspiracy which takes her close to a friendly vampire and the original cause of the nightmares, which will obviously be explored in the second book. The world building in City of Nightmares was refreshing, original and bold, being so good it matched Frances Hardinge, and if you enjoyed her Unravelled you will love this. It was outstanding to have such an atypical ‘heroine’ who had a captivating narrative with big revelations as the plot moved on. Outstanding stuff. AGE RANGE 12/13+

Have you ever seen those book recommendations on tiktok by Siggy Shade and thought..."Im not old enough for this"? Well this book is perfect for you!

This book contains Man Eating Spiders, Lizard Director, Morally Grey Vampire and a wimp.
Its chaotic, loveable, likeable, so weird and strange yet so addictive.. This is a YA dystopian monster/horror book that contains our FMC (Ness) who clearly is a bit of a wimp at the start but is forced into a predicament so has to grow a backbone.

I absolutely adored this book and its way to entice me in from the very first chapter

Thank you Hodder and NetGalley for the arc in return for an honest opinion/review of this book

Welcome to Newham, a city that can literally crawl with villains, where the authorities are more likely to bribe you than help you. It’s mouldy, it’s smoggy, it smells like “urine and dust, barbecue and burnt coal.” It’s also where you’ll find the the cult that Nessa joined three years ago.

“It’s not a cult.”

Uh huh… It’s called Friends of the Restful Soul. Tell me that’s not a cult!

Ness has been a coward (her words, not mine, but she’s not wrong…) for eight years, ever since her sister turned into a giant spider and started eating people.

See, this is a world where your nightmares become Nightmares. Don’t understand the difference? Well, a Nightmare is what happens when you don’t drink the tap water laced with Helomine or remember to down some Nightmare-prevention drugs and allow yourself to dream. Dreaming results in you waking up as your worst fear.

I had such high expectations for this book that I didn’t think it was possible for it to meet them. I wanted to hold onto my hope so much that I put off reading it for weeks. I needn’t have worried. I was hooked by the second page and I read nonstop until I finished.

Ness is living her best scared life. She runs away from any person, location or situation that could maybe. It’s a good thing she has her badass best friend, Priya, to protect her and the brick box that she calls home (previously the janitor’s closet), the only place she feels safe. Our Ness has trust issues.

“I can’t get too close to anyone, you never know who’s already a Nightmare - or who will turn into one.”

Badass Priya runs towards danger and is looking forward to the day when she gets paid to kill sea monsters and sky monsters. Basically, any monster will do. Just let Priya at ‘em!

“If it’s attacking me, I kill it. If it’s attacking other people, I kill it. If it’s not attacking anyone, I don’t kill it. I feel like it’s a really simple distinction.”

Then there’s Cy the sigher. He’s probably my favourite character. When you get to know him, you’ll want to be his friend too.

The Nightmares are brilliant, the mayor has an attack pterodactyl and Ness is definitely a cult member.

“Still not a cult.”

I urgently need the sequel!

Favourite no context quote: “He was still my husband. We just couldn’t communicate anymore because I don’t speak giant cockroach!”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This book calls to readers who love weird and quirky plots. The book is both vibrant and dark at the same time- we get to experience Ness (who has a phobia of nightmares ever since her sister turned into a man-eating monster) find out the truth about the society.

The writing is beautiful- the plot and the delivery of it was done exquisitely. I am definitely excited to read the series as more chaos unfolds. There were moments of laughter and darkness which made the writing even more beautiful.

Overall, this book is a five star read for me due to its adventure.

Oh how rare I find a book like this! 380 pages of pure entertainment, perfect for fans of Gotham (Just like advertised, which surprisingly isnt always a given). The characters are all likeable and I find Ness's trauma/panic attacks realistic and handled well. I dont often say this, because female MCs tend to be on the annoying spectrum for me most of the time, but Ness was likeable and kinda cool in her own way, despite her cowardly personality (again, this was something I actually liked, her being a coward - all books these days have these G. I. Jane personas for women and is getting boring.)
It is original and super entertaining, the humor just fits this kind of story. Major points for the gore and dark stuff, I feel this is usually renderred PG in YA, so extra love for City of Nightmares to go bold on the darker elements while staying within YA boundaries.
Edgy and cool, highly recommend :)

* Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book, will be buying and so will my friends *

I’d like to thank Hodder & Stoughton and Net Galley for this arc of City of Nightmares I was completely consumed by it from the first few pages in!

City of nightmares is based on a story about Ness who is petrified of nightmares due to the fact you become what your nightmares are if you don’t take the medication provided to stop you having a nightmare. She’s frightened of her past and it consumes her present until she figures out a way to over come her fears.

I don’t want to give to much away but I loved this story it was so well executed I loved Ness and Priya I loved Ness and Cy and Priya’s sister and partner there is diversity in this LBTGQ+ it’s just a brilliant over all read and it’s definitely a 5 star read!!

City of Nightmares is available now to PRE Order and is out on 23rd February I can’t recommend it enough!

Sometimes you read a book and you feel like it was written just for you because it is 100% what you love to read about - and that was City of Nightmares for me.

I had this book on my kindle for a few months and I acutally really regret not picking this book up sooner because I just loved it so much.

I think everyone who reviews books knows that it is somehow so much harder to talk about books you loved than books you disliked - I’m finding it pretty hard to pinpoint why I adored City of Nightmares so much but I definitely did.

I was hooked from the first sentence - the world was just so interesting and it is pretty dark, lots of literal nightmarish monsters and corruption and everything is just pretty weird but it’s told in such a fun way. Ness is… not your typical main character I’d think. She’s afraid of everything after her sister turned into a giant spider and ate their dad but she grows so much through out the story and I just loved Ness so much. She’s also one of the main characters who doesn’t forget her best friend as soon as she meets new people, which I thought was great, because I loved the friendship between Ness and Priya. But I also really loved Cy and how Ness was so suspicious of him in the beginning but learned to trust him. I also really liked that there wasn’t any romance in this book. Do Ness and Cy have chemistry? I think so. But I also wouldn’t be mad if they stayed friends. Either way, I just loved all of the characters so much. 🧡

And even though I liked the plot and it was interesting enough, it was my least favorite thing about the book because the characters and vibes just take the cake. The world was so interesting and weird in just the way I like to read about. But I also think this book may not be for everyone. If you love the vibes, you’re going to love the books. If you don’t - well.

For me City of Nightmares worked perfectly, I enjoyed every second of reading this book. It was actually the first fantasy book in a while I didn’t want to put down and where I didn’t read anything in between. It was the most fun I had with a fantasy in a while and I already can’t wait for book 2 later this year.

Ness lives in Newham.... Newham exists in a world where forgetting to take your meds means turning into your worst nightmare when your sleep....

Ness is traumatised from this very thing happening to her sister, when her sister turned into a giant spider, killing their father and some other people on a rampage

Ness now lives at the Friends of the Restless Souls - which is definitely not a Cult - and even with their help is struggling to cope with her fear of Nightmares and also of becoming a Nightmare herself!

In thinking she is avoiding the hard things, Ness takes a job delivering mail via a boat trip where she only has to avoid the party when boom.... her world is turned upside down.

She must team up with the very thing she fears to face more fears - and let's face it, she has a lot!

Such a fun story, but also touching and sweet and thoughtful too... highly recommend and cannot wait to see more in this world after *that ending!!!*

"Ever since her sister became a man-eating spider and slaughtered her way through town" I was hooked from this quote onwards, a fantastic novel and I can't wait for official release

"City of Nightmares" takes place in the city of Newham, a place where nightmares become a reality. The inhabitants of Newham are aware of the dangers posed by their dreams, and they take medication and avoid sleeping without it to prevent their worst fears from becoming real. In this dark and sinister world, the authorities are corrupt, and the city is filled with literal nightmarish monsters and villains.

The story revolves around the character of Ness, a young woman who is haunted by the traumatic experience of losing her family to a nightmare. She has become a coward and lives a scared life, seeking refuge in a small brick box she calls home. Despite her fear, Ness is surrounded by a cast of interesting characters, including her badass best friend, Priya, and Cy, a mysterious figure who becomes a close ally.

The world-building in "City of Nightmares" is both imaginative and original. The city of Newham is described as mouldy, smoggy, and reeking of unpleasant odors, reflecting its dangerous and oppressive atmosphere. The idea of nightmares becoming real is an intriguing concept that is central to the story and sets the tone for a dark and suspenseful journey.

Overall, "City of Nightmares" offers a unique and engaging take on the traditional concept of nightmares and the impact they can have on people's lives. The world-building in this book is a standout feature, making it an enjoyable and entertaining read for fans of dark and twisted fantasy stories.

This book has me absolutely hooked and I can't wait for book two!!!

In Newham you are in danger of turning into your nightmare, literally. Ness has joined an organization that claims to help people but is considered a cult. She is trying to avoid ending up like her sister, who turned into a giant man-eating spider, or become a victim of some other monstrous Nightmare. Going out of town, on a job she is doing for the Friends of the Restless Souls, she survives an explosion along with a Nightmare boy named Cy, who may want to eat her. Crazy things start to happen, making her suspect that the explosion may not have been an accident at all...

The idea of people turning into their worst nightmare is brilliant. The mythology is impressive, all its details are well thought out so it makes sense and answers any questions you may have on how this dangerous, corrupt world works. With this drama queen of a city, it gets you hooked from the very beginning. The on-the-nose descriptions bring you right into the world. The pacing was amazing. You could say I was drinking in the pages to quench the thirst brought on by the intrigue.

Ness is a character you root for instantly, self-deprecating and honest with herself. I really liked that she didn't start out as a super-duper badass, but is understandably traumatized, dealing with fear. Though surprisingly crafty at getting what she wants. With one or two sentences you 'know' each character. No one-dimensional characters here, thank you. I must state here how enamored I was with the character of Priya, one of those fun dynamic people you would wish for a friend. And my appreciation for the existence of Cy.

I smiled and chuckled a lot due to the awkwardness & absurdity of the situation, plus the humorous one-liners. There is a great sense of humor evident here with a peppering of cynicism. The protagonist discovers truths about herself and her world through her musings, delving into fleeting and deeper emotions.

Examining the nature of fear, the foundation of dreams and what constitutes a monster, this was such a pleasure to read. With heart-pounding action and sentences dripping with suspense, this is a terrific first installment to a new more than promising series.

I requested this book mainly because I loved the cover and wow I am glad I did! This is one of those instances where judging a book by it's cover really paid off! This book had such a unique premise and Rebecca Schaeffer executed it so well! This is my first book of hers but it definitely will not be my last!

City of Nightmares takes place in a world where people are afraid to dream. If you have a nightmare when you fall asleep, you risk turning into that nightmare as soon as you wake up! Some nightmares only change your body, leaving your mind completely intact, and some nightmares turn you into mindless monsters, destroying everything in your path! 19 year old Ness, our main character, is more afraid than most after watching her older sister turn into a giant spider as a child and tear their father limb from limb! Now, Ness lives as part of a community (not a cult) called Friends of the Restful Soul who provide free therapy to anyone struggling with the after-effects of a nightmare. When Ness finds out that her place in the community is at risk after one failed job after another, she'll do whatever it takes to keep her home. Which is how she ends up as one of the only survivors of a boat explosion (that may or may not have been an accident), reluctantly allied with a nightmare as they try to figure out who might be trying to kill them!

Yes, the premise of this book was incredible and I absolutely loved seeing all the different ways that the author interpreted the outcomes of nightmares. The mayor has a pet pterodactyl (who at some point used to be human btw), the director of Ness's not-a-cult is a literal lizard person, there are people who transformed into exagerrated versions of their bullies as children and then grew into giants, some people theorize that when people disappear in their sleep it's because they were afraid of getting sick and turned into germs overnight! I could go on and on because the imagination in this book is seemingly endless! The standout to me, though, was the character development!

We got a lot of internal monologue from Ness and I absolutely loved it! I relate to her so strongly (as much as I can relate to a girl living in a world so far removed from reality) and often found myself laughing at how much Ness's thoughts reminded me of my own. I'm not really sure what that says about me considering Ness is suffering from severe PTSD and is afraid of pretty much everything but we'll move on. The growth that Ness experienced was a joy to see unfold on the page! Like I said, she started out scared of everything, running away at the first sign of danger, but as she was put in more dangerous situations throughout the book, she learned to trust not only herself but also Cy, the vampire that she escaped the boat explosion with. Both Cy and Ness were extremely likeable characters and I found myself rooting for both of them the entire way through the book! They both struggled with trusting people and seeing their friendship develop into what it was by the end of the book was one of my favourite parts of this reading experience!

The plot was full of twists and turns and a couple of them were a little predictable but I still really enjoyed the reveals! I found myself gasping and then having to pause and say "wait, I knew that" and then pausing again to pat mytself on the back for guessing the plot twist. There were a couple of twists, however, that I definitely didn't see coming and I'm really looking forward to seeing how all the different sub-plots come together in the next book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it kept me interested the whole way through and I absolutely loved the characters and world that Rebecca Schaeffer created! I would recommend this to you if you enjoy urban fantasy witha slight splash of horror and are looking for a unique premise executed really well! I will definitely be waiting (im)patiently for the next installment in this duology and picking up more of the author's books in the meantime.

I recieved a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publishers in return for an honest review. All of the opinions above are my own.

My 5 star rating should speak for itself. No, wait, that’s a lie. I’d probably give this book more than 5 stars if I could. I loved it, and found myself wildly entertained, even if this book did result in one night of nightmares in which I dreamt I got a large spider stuck in my hair (not fun).

I just loved every aspect of this book. From the get go, it had me suckered in. Ness was a brilliant protagonist, and I was delighted with how she was written. Nothing against the protagonists with the mad fighting skills, the ability to stare fear in the face and carry on, etc etc… I loved that Ness was nothing (mostly — she got better lol, in her own way, #characterdevelopment). Ness was, in her own words, a “coward” and it made the story way more intensely interesting than if she wasn’t. Interesting, hilarious, complex. Seeing the ridiculous (and understandable!) ways Ness ran from any perceived danger was magnificent. I get her, I really do.

Ness, I love you.

And there brings me to by lovely Nightmare Vamp Boy Cy (or shall I say Sigh?). Gosh, he cracked me him. Him and Ness both. Their banter and bickering was off the charts and I loved them. I loved their exasperation with each other, and the eventual friendship that formed. This book 100% wouldn’t have been as enjoyable without that relationship.

I can’t forget to show out Priya, Ness’ best friend. Priya is who you’d expect to be the protagonist. She’s good at fighting, courageous (I believe Ness is too, in her own way — the word has many different meanings) etc. So again, I liked that the roles between side character and main were seemingly flipped. But we got great growth out of both Priya and Ness, and they are each stand our characters. Love them.

I loved the world building in this! I thought the writing was magnificent. Look, it was so vivid that (like I mentioned at the beginning of my review) it had me dreaming about concepts in this book. That’s strong writing! It stayed on my mind that much it wouldn’t leave me alone even in sleep.

I loved the plot, the mystery, all of it. I’ve read the blurb for the second one and let me tell you, I wish I hadn’t. I was already excited upon finishing this, and now I am unbearably excited. Can’t wait!

Amazon Summary
Ever since her sister became a man-eating spider and slaughtered her way through town, nineteen-year-old Ness has been terrified - terrified of some other Nightmare murdering her, and terrified of ending up like her sister. Because in Newham, the city that never sleeps, dreaming means waking up as your worst fear.

Whether that means becoming a Nightmare that's monstrous only in appearance, or transforming into a twisted, unrecognizable creature that terrorizes the city, no one is safe. Ness will do anything to avoid becoming another victim, even if that means lying low among the Friends of the Restful Soul, a questionable organization that may or may not be a cult.

But being a member of this maybe-cult has a price. In order to prove herself, Ness cons her way into what's supposed to be a simple job for the organization - only for it to blow up in her face. Literally. Tangled up in the aftermath of an explosive assassination, now Ness and the only other survivor - a Nightmare boy who Ness suspects is planning to eat her - must find their way back to Newham and uncover the sinister truth behind the attack, even as the horrors of her past loom ominously near.

My Review
I cant express enough how much i loved this book!!! 5 stars i wish i could give it ten.

i loved Ness, she was such a different take on the female MC, she is not a hero or brave, she hides when monsters are near but i just rooted for her for the whole book and there wasn't one character i didn't like.

I loved the worldbuilding where everyone that has a nightmare becomes their worst fear, this means the population takes drugs to keep the dreams at bay but Alcohol nullifies the the drugs effects and some religious factions wont take the drug so there are lots of nightmares roaming the city.

The plot is great, fast paced and full of action. I love Ness and Cy's friendship and how he helps her grow and overcome her fears. The story is full of twist and turns and keeps me guessing all the way through. I love the ending and cant wait until the next book.

I really loved this. Immediately gripping and such a clever premise.

Imagine if you turned into your nightmare? It would certainly change the world. This is the starting point then off we go on a page turning adventure with our drifting, terrified main protagonist as she begins to understand what actually happened to her sister.

It really is a brilliant concept executed perfectly. The world within the pages is insane, vibrant and always unexpected. The story itself is hugely engaging and really well plotted.

Overall I thought it was fantastic. Really looking forward to the next instalment.

This book is weird, it's unhinged, it’s funny, and the guy is not an asshole (however he still is a little traumatized and definitely needs an hug).

The writing is very simple and there were a couple of conversations/rants that I'm not sure I really liked, but it was generally such a fun read that I can easily get over them.

Also, how dare the author rob us of Cy and Priya's actual introductions??? I wanted to see them interact :(

Oh, I'm OBSESSED with this book. Which I honestly wasn't expecting but I'm so glad that's the case, because this book is amazing.

Ness lives in a crime filled city where people's worst nightmares happen to wander the street, just your normal, average, every day type of thing.

When people dream, they have nightmares, and when they have nightmares they turn into their worst fear. So one day Ness's own sister forgot to take a pill that prevents dreams and turned into a huge spider that ended up killing their father.

This eventually led fear-filled Ness into joining a totally-not-cultish organisation that provides therapy for nightmares. And this sets off a chain of events which I can only describe as chaotic. I loved every minute of it.

LITERALLY, from the first sentence I was hooked and I didn't want to stop reading.

This book really feels like YA which is a good thing, because a lot of YA books now border NA, but this one is fine for the younger kids to read.

There's a mystery plot in the background, and by the end it makes sense. I didn't really predict any of it which is another plus.

Our main character Ness starts off as a huge coward who's basically scared of her own shadow, but as the book goes on she faces her fears in a way that felt natural. I believed that she was getting braver and braver.

I also like Cy and the Phantom. Both are cool, and I hope they become a trio in the sequel, they'd be unstoppable.

There's a subtle romance happening between Ness and Cy, me being me though I also ship her with the Phantom so we'll see where it goes.

The world is one of my favourite parts of City of Nightmares, it's so well developed and I'd like to live there despite the fact that I could be killed at any moment. But I'd like to live in Gotham too which this city is inspired by soooooo...

The nightmares are a unique concept that was executed perfectly, in my opinion. No one could've done it better.

And this book sends a good message too, that you are not your fears and you shouldn't let them control you.

I AM ABSOLUTELY GETTING A PHYSICAL COPY OF THIS BOOK, not only because I'm obsessed as I said, but also because the cover is gorgeous. I mean JUST LOOK AT IT, SO PRETTY.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Cheesy, camp, hilarious and so much fun, this was so much fun to read. I liked that it had the gritty, urban vibes of Repo The Genetic Opera and V For Vendetta, plunging us into a dark, grimy city where everyone's just trying to survive day to day.

I wasn't expecting this to be as funny as it is, and the story balances that well with the fear and grief that Ness constantly feels. I loved that she wasn't a complex character, or a savior of the world, she was just a girl trying to get by, wanting to get back to the safety of her small room.

Cy is a more complex character. A boy turned Nightmare Vampire due to the fear of his father who chose to become one, his wit bounces off Ness's sarcasm so well and the scenes they were both in were some of the best. I do want to see more from Ness's friend Priya in the next book, as she only appeared a few times.

I liked that I couldn't predict where this story was going to go next, and I'm so ready for the sequel. This does have a little bit of a cliffhanger ending, leaving me desperately wanting to know what will happen next now Ness's decision seems to have changed her world forever.

This is such a good story. It was like a cross between Gotham and Penny Dreadful. Ness's character development was wonderful and the vampire twist with Cy was interesting. It was very cinematic and would make a great exciting movie. More please .......

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stroughton for providing me with an e-arc of this book

A parody of Gotham. In the city of Newham where you can literally turn in to your worst nightmare?! Giant cockroaches, vampirism, blue scales, growing red warts, the nightmares are endless. To dream, means to put yourself in great peril. And a protagonist who has to team up with a vampire to find the root of a conspiracy.

This book is one of the most inventive and interesting books I have read in a while. I enjoyed the unique world-building of how nightmares came to exist. There were also some surprising twists that kept me going until the very the end. I can't wait to read the sequel and find out about any other books Rebecca writes!