Yumi and the Nightmare Painter: Two Stars, Two Souls

Where do I even begin with this one?

Sanderson’s secret projects have been a delight thus far. Mostly because you never know what you’re gonna get! One minute, you’re in a fairy tale on a sea of spores. The next, you’re traveling to alternate Europe for sci-fi western adventures!

So, what did we get this time?

On a world with but one star in the dark sky, Painter fancies himself a hero as he hunts nightmares. On a world as bright and hot as the sun, Yumi fancies herself a chosen savior as she endures a joyless life of tiring magic rituals. Despite being worlds apart, fate conspires to bring their lives together. Namely by having them swap bodies. Why? How? The answers to those questions may dictate the fates of both worlds.

That’s right! It’s ‘Freaky Friday: Romantic Interdimensional Edition’! Or ‘Your Name: Planet Hopping Edition’, depending on your preference.

Also Wit is there. He’s a coat hanger.

Yumi and Painter are a pretty good pair. She’s a naïve do-gooder and he’s a wannabe badass, both with hearts of gold and longing for what they don’t have. For Yumi, it’s freedom. For Painter, it’s respect. They work well as a romantic duo, one I would have lost my mind over back in high school.

The actual plot is… alright. The body-swapping shenanigans get old pretty fast, and the romance is definitely going to appease the teenage audience more than the… well, the me audience. Beyond those two things, it’s a fun fantasy adventure with some world-hopping and mysteries to spice things up.

Funnily enough, the aesthetic was the main thing that really got me with this one. This is one of Sanderson’s more interesting Cosmere settings for me. One world is a dark neon city filled with literal nightmares given form, fought off by the power of art. The other is basically just Japan but hotter and with magic spirits. It’s an interesting pair, and the sheer contrast between them only makes it more so.

Once again, I’m really glad I got the special hardcovers. Aliya Chen’s artwork is downright jaw-dropping! She delivers these amazing full-page spreads that are more akin to paintings than book illustrations! Seriously, check them out, they’re awesome!

Link here. Just don’t click ’till you’re done reading, yeah? Please? For me?

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is pretty good. I don’t enjoy it as much as the other secret projects, but it’s still a really enjoyable read. Give it a shot if you’re a fan of Sanderson’s usual fare, or just need a decent romance adventure to get immersed in for a bit.

That’s three out of four. One left. Can’t wait to see what else Sanderson was cooking.