Yumi and the Nightmare PainterYumi and the Nightmare Painter
What it's about
Yumi comes from a land of gardens, meditation and spirits, and Painter from a city of darkness, technology and nightmares. When their lives become strangely linked, the two must work together, and learn to understand each other, in this standalone fantasy from Brandon Sanderson.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of Brandon Sanderson's Secret Projects, standalone novels written outside his big series, and many readers call it the most romantic and heartfelt of them.
You'll love it if you liked
Tress of the Emerald Sea
The Emperor's Soul
PiranesiGood to know
It stands alone, though it's set in Sanderson's Cosmere. It has a slow start and a moving payoff.
By the numbers
- Readers94 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller36 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #48 of the 233 romances we rank
- #95 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #128 of the 481 new books we rank
- #710 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking
More by Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings
MistbornTress of the Emerald Sea
SkywardIf you like this, read next
These Violent Delights
The Everlasting
Framed in Death
The First to Die at the End
Iron Widow
The Seven Year SlipExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Yumi and the Nightmare Painter worth reading?
Yes. It's one of Brandon Sanderson's Secret Projects, standalone novels written outside his big series, and many readers call it the most romantic and heartfelt of them. It ranks #710 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Yumi and the Nightmare Painter about?
Yumi comes from a land of gardens, meditation and spirits, and Painter from a city of darkness, technology and nightmares. When their lives become strangely linked, the two must work together, and learn to understand each other, in this standalone fantasy from Brandon Sanderson.
How long does it take to read Yumi and the Nightmare Painter?
About 9 hours (365 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Yumi and the Nightmare Painter?
If you liked it, try Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson, The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson or Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.