Leo Martínez
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is a Cosmere novel by Brandon Sanderson, released in 2023 as part of a Kickstarter campaign. It is the third of four Secret Projects, including Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, and an untitled fourth novel. While it is not necessary to read any other books before Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, some readers suggest reading at least the first book of the Stormlight Archive series beforehand to understand the world and terminology used in the Cosmere. The novel is inspired by Japanese and Korean influences, particularly manga and anime such as Hikaru no Go, Your Name, and Final Fantasy X. It features two main characters, Yumi and Painter, who inhabit different worlds and suddenly find themselves bound together, requiring them to work together to uncover the mysteries of their situation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | Brandon Sanderson |
| Publication Date | 1 July 2023 |
| Publisher | Dragonsteel Books |
| Number of Chapters | 41 |
| Number of Epilogues | 2 |
| Word Count | 113,455 |
| Illustrator | Aliya Chen |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Setting | A mix of Japanese and Korean influences |
| Main Characters | Yumi, Painter |
| Story Narrator | Hoid |
| Story Premise | Yumi and Painter inhabit each other's bodies and must work together to learn each other's jobs and figure out what happened |
| Related Books | Elantris, Mistborn, Stormlight Archives, Tress of the Emerald Sea |
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What You'll Learn
'Yumi and the Nightmare Painter' is a standalone novel
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is a standalone novel, and the third of Brandon Sanderson's secret projects. It was released on July 1st, 2023, as part of a Kickstarter campaign, with a standard publishing release on October 3rd, 2023.
The novel is a mix of Japanese and Korean influences, inspired mostly by Japanese media. The initial concept was inspired by Hikaru no Go, a manga/anime by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata, in which a young boy finds a Go board haunted by a master who teaches him the game. Similarly, in Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, Yumi is taught by a ghostly Painter. Additional inspiration came from Your Name and Final Fantasy X.
The story is told through the narration of Hoid, a prevalent Cosmere character, and is a blend of fantasy, emotion, and philosophical themes. It is set in two distinct worlds: an ancient historical Korean-inspired world where spirits are summoned through rituals, and a modern Japanese-inspired world of darkness, technology, and nightmares. Yumi, a yoki-hijo who can control spirits, inhabits the former, while Painter, who uses art to banish nightmares that manifest as monsters, inhabits the latter. When the two meet, they swap bodies, and must work together to learn each other's jobs and untangle the mystery of their bond.
While Yumi and the Nightmare Painter can be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel, some readers suggest reading other Cosmere books first, such as Elantris, Mistborn, or at least the first book of The Stormlight Archive, to better understand the Cosmere references and terminology. However, the novel was designed to be accessible to new fans, and any spoilers are relatively minor. Ultimately, the choice of whether to read other Cosmere books first is a matter of personal preference.
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It is the third of Brandon Sanderson's Secret Projects
"Yumi and the Nightmare Painter" is the third of Brandon Sanderson's Secret Projects. It is a standalone Cosmere novel, told as an in-world story by Hoid. The story is set in two vastly different locations: the city of Kilahito, in a world covered by a perpetual shroud of darkness, and the land of Torio, where the ground is extremely hot and humanity can only survive around geysers.
In Kilahito, Nikaro, or Painter, works as a nightmare painter, capturing nightmares that slink out of the shroud into the city to feed on the fear of its people. In Torio, Yumi is a travelling yoki-hijo, a rare priestess who can summon and command spirits that serve various necessary functions for Torio's inhabitants. When their lives become intertwined, they must put aside their differences and work together to uncover the mysteries of their situation and save their communities from disaster.
The novel was inspired by Japanese and Korean influences, with the initial concept derived from Hikaru no Go. It was released on July 1, 2023, as part of a Kickstarter campaign, followed by a standard publishing release on October 3, 2023. The Dragonsteel edition is illustrated by Aliya Chen.
While "Yumi and the Nightmare Painter" is a standalone novel, some readers suggest reading other Cosmere books first to enhance the experience. These include Elantris, Mistborn, and the first book of "The Stormlight Archive". This is because "Yumi and the Nightmare Painter" contains references to the Cosmere world and terminology used in other books. However, it is not necessary to read these books first, as the story can be enjoyed on its own.
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The story is inspired by Japanese and Korean influences
Kilahito is a world covered in perpetual darkness, where Painter works as a nightmare painter, capturing the nightmares that feed on the fears of the city's inhabitants. This world is high-tech, with many characters being fans of various K-Dramas and soap operas. Yumi's world, on the other hand, is a land where the ground is extremely hot, and humanity survives around geysers. She is a travelling priestess who can summon and command spirits to aid her people.
The initial concept for the story came from the Japanese media "Hikaru no Go", in which a young boy finds a Go board haunted by an old master who teaches him the game. This inspired the dynamic between Yumi and Painter, where each teaches the other their craft. Additional inspiration came from the anime "Your Name", as well as Final Fantasy X, with Yumi's name being derived from one of the game's protagonists, Yuna.
The story also explores the theme of art, its creation, and its impact, which is another aspect inspired by Asian culture, specifically Japanese and Korean influences.
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The novel is narrated by Hoid
"Yumi and the Nightmare Painter" is a standalone novel by Brandon Sanderson and part of the Cosmere universe. It is not necessary to read any other books before "Yumi and the Nightmare Painter" to understand the story, but readers might get more out of it if they are familiar with the Cosmere universe and its terminology. Some sources suggest that reading at least the first book of the "
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It is a fantasy novel with philosophical themes
"Yumi and the Nightmare Painter" is a fantasy novel with philosophical themes written by Brandon Sanderson. It is one of the four "Secret Projects" that Sanderson worked on during the COVID-19 pandemic. The other three are "Tress of the Emerald Sea", "The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England", and "Secret Project Four".
The novel is set in a world inspired by Japanese and Korean influences, with Yumi coming from a land of gardens, meditation, and spirits, and Painter living in a world of darkness, technology, and nightmares. The initial concept was inspired by Hikaru no Go, a manga/anime by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata, in which a young boy finds a Go board haunted by an old master who teaches him the game. Additional inspiration came from "Your Name" and "Final Fantasy X".
In the story, Yumi is contacted by a spirit from deep below who asks for her help. She agrees, but collapses. Meanwhile, Painter tracks down and scares away a powerful nightmare before falling asleep. When they wake up, they realize they have swapped bodies and are now bound together. They must work together to learn each other's jobs and uncover the mysteries of their situation to save their communities.
While "Yumi and the Nightmare Painter" is a standalone novel and can be enjoyed without reading other books in the Cosmere, some readers suggest reading "The Stormlight Archive" first to understand the world and terminology used, as well as to have an aha" moment with one of the characters. However, this is not necessary, as the story can be enjoyed on its own, and any references can be understood through context.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there is no "required reading" for Yumi and the Nightmare Painter. However, it is part of the Cosmere series by Brandon Sanderson, so you may want to start with other Cosmere books like Elantris, Mistborn, or Stormlight Archives to understand the Cosmere references and terminology.
There is no strict reading order for the Cosmere series, but some readers suggest reading Yumi and the Nightmare Painter after the first Stormlight Archive book to familiarise yourself with the world and terminology. Others suggest reading it between books 1 and 2, or after book 4 of the Stormlight Archive series, as the others have novellas that break up the pacing.
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is a fantasy novel with Japanese and Korean influences. It follows the story of Yumi, who lives in a world of gardens, meditation, and spirits, and Painter, who inhabits a world of darkness, technology, and nightmares. When their lives become intertwined, they must work together to uncover the mysteries of their situation and save their communities.
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter was written by Brandon Sanderson. It was released on July 1, 2023, as part of a Kickstarter campaign and is considered one of his finest books.
