Yumi and the Nightmare Painter: A Cosmere Novel

Brandon Sanderson

Jul 2023 · Secret Projects Book 3 · Sold by Dragonsteel, LLC

About this ebook

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. Illustrated by Aliya Chen.

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.

Ratings and reviews

Not just my favorite of his Secret Novels, this is unabashedly my favorite story out of all of the already dearly loved Novels by Sanderson. Though it may be best enjoyed becoming familiar with his Cosmere Stories. This particular novel feels like a love note to stories and art in general. If you like stories about romance, self-acceptance, and Giant Nightmare Monsters, this one is for you.

Second only to The Emperors Soul, Brandon does it again with Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. Able to convey the hopelessness of living within a world where either you or everyone else seems to take its toll, and you feel isolated, Connecting (pun intended) with those who truly understand can completely transform your life Romance, comedy, intrigue, betrayal and finally, redemption through self-actualization, follow Painter and Yumi through their frustrating, tedious, but beautiful and meaningful journeys, as they discover who they want to be, and who they already might be

The things we experience make us who we are, and sometimes one single person can change so many things about our world. Sometimes, all you need is a story. If you are wondering whether you should buy this book, yes, buy it. Read it. This is not your average fantasy romance, it is a work of art. It's a story about people: the darkest struggles, the small but important triumphs. It's about human connection and the way our lives entwine with others. Even in unlikely places, we find love. Even in a struggle, we can overcome. And we write our own stories through the decisions we make. So read this book. Maybe it could change your world.

About the author

Brandon Sanderson grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. He lives in Utah with his wife and children and teaches creative writing at Brigham Young University. In addition to completing Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time, he is the author of such bestsellers as the Mistborn saga, Warbreaker‚ the Stormlight Archive series beginning with The Way of Kings, The Rithmatist, the Skyward series, the Reckoners series beginning with Steelheart, and the Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians series. He won the Hugo Award for The Emperor’s Soul, a novella set in the world of his acclaimed first novel‚ Elantris. For behind-the-scenes information on all his books, visit brandonsanderson.com.